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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

OK, this isn't funny any more. Where's the army?

999 replies

Orangejuicemarathoner · 27/09/2021 18:53

One quarter of staff and students late to school this morning, and 10% didn't get there at all. It has been announced that, excepting physical disability, any student within 4 miles or adult within 6 miles will be expected to walk in, but Its expected to be worse tomorrow with a good chance we will be closed by Wednesday.

AA reporting over 100 "incidents" on the road within a 10 mile radius of the school - mostly roads blocked, and mostly by queues outside petrol stations.

I struggled to get home by bike, because of the chaos on the roads - I got off my bike and walked several miles of it.

I called in at a supermarket on the way home. The shelves were more than three quarters empty. No bread or milk. So I'm sitting here drinking black tea planning rice for dinner instead of cheese on toast.

I know its not a catastrophe that I spent an extra hour getting home, and dont have milk in my tea, but what is that saying about the state we are in?

AIBU to say the army should be called in. What have we got an army for? Surely, an organisation of thousands of fit, capable, organised individuals, with vehicles and capacity and skills in logistics is exactly what we need to be utilised in this situation right here right now.

PS, is it ok to feed dog food to cats? does anyone know?

OP posts:
SpringRainbow · 27/09/2021 19:55

Where I am it was very bad Friday afternoon to yesterday.

However, this morning everyone I know who has struggled to get petrol since Friday, managed to get petrol just fine this morning.

Yes there was queues but nowhere near as bad as it has been the last few days.

The shops in my area also still have the plenty in stock as well.

I understand some area are not this ‘lucky’.

However, rather than drag the army in, they should be focusing resources on areas that are struggling.

However, they will probably do absolutely nothing until everywhere is in complete and utter crisis (or it all just sorts itself out - whichever comes firstHmm).

GiraffeClimber · 27/09/2021 19:55

I’m the North West - all the filling stations on my route home now back up and running, no queues.

Soupseason · 27/09/2021 19:55

Was the Army involved when the fuel tanker drivers went on strike?. What was that about 20yrs ago?. I can remember only being allowed £10 worth of fuel.

DdraigGoch · 27/09/2021 19:55

@orinocosfavoritecake

Electric car drivers must be feeling pretty smug.
Wait until they get their next bill.
FedNlanders · 27/09/2021 19:56

I'm in East Anglia and it's been nasty here. Really nasty. Actually quite scary and a sign of things to come.

Original poster
Orangejuicemarathoner · 27/09/2021 19:57

@QueenoftheKarens

Please stop blaming Brexit.

It's down to covid as well. DVLA need to get their arses into gear and fast!

well, every other european country has also had covid, but they are not having these issues.

Relatives in France report the French are watching the chaos unfolding in the UK with utter bemusement.

OP posts:
FinallySomeNormality · 27/09/2021 19:58

Yep - I'm wiht you OP.

I'm based in Cambridgeshire and its mental. Literally haven't been able to get petrol for my car since last Thursday evening and my car has been on red light since Friday - so I'm not looking to panic buy, I genuinely need petrol! Half petrol stations here are closed - they open for a short while when delivery comes and suddenly the whole town is gridlocked from queues to get to petrol station, and then it closes after a while when it runs out. Shops have been quite empty for weeks now, but even our local corner shop is noticeably barer shelves than usual today.

As no petrol in the car, I had to take myself and baby on the bus from our village to town today as we somehow finally managed to get booked at the GP for an appointment. The bus ended up sat in traffic for over an hour due to the petrol station queues and ended up missing the bloody appointment. Decided to walk the 3 miles back instead of take the bus - got caught in a downpour that soaked us both (baby was in carrier). I know it's all a bit 'first world problems' but I can't say I was a happy bunny today!

Original poster
Orangejuicemarathoner · 27/09/2021 19:59

@iloveeverykindofcat

Just to answer the one part I have some knowledge on - I'm afraid dog food is a very different nutritional formulation to cat food. It won't hurt them if they eat a little but it doesn't have what they need. For a meal or two you'd better off feeding some dark poultry meat if you have any - it has the taurine they need for their eyes and heart. If you don't have any, see bowwowinsurance.com.au/pet-community/pet-talk/human-foods-for-cats/ for other human foods cats can eat in an emergency
Thank you for this
OP posts:
AcrossthePond55 · 27/09/2021 19:59

I went through the US/OPEC oil crisis back in the '70s. We had a strict 'odds/evens' rule. The last number in your license plate determined when you could fill up; odd plates on odd numbered days, even numbers on even days. And there was no filling more than one can.

It worked.

PegorySpeck · 27/09/2021 20:00

Why do people lead such chaotic and disorganised lives though? I mean why wait until your car is running on fumes before you decide you need petrol, or why wait until you’re on your last drop of milk or slice of bread before you get some more?
I honestly could not live like this, it’s so dysfunctional , it’s just asking for drama.

DdraigGoch · 27/09/2021 20:00

@lifeturnsonadime

We have no shortage of ADR drivers. One of BP's contractors pissed off its drivers and they left but that only caused five stations to close. There is no supply problem, instead we have a demand problem.

This is nothing like toilet rolls. I don't know anyone panic buying fuel. I know plenty of people locally who are concerned that they can't fill up. Are you seriously expecting people to drive around with empty petrol tanks and saying that filling up an empty car is panic buying?

Only a few posts above yours a poster has seen their WFH neighbours unloading five jerry cans. That not panic buying?
BeepingBB · 27/09/2021 20:00

I'm in the SE and it's fine here, got petrol today.

Shelves are full, the only thing I haven't been able to get for weeks is sparkling water.

Coogee · 27/09/2021 20:00

well, every other european country has also had covid, but they are not having these issues.

They might if their press announced that there was a shortage of petrol… even when there isn’t.

GiraffeClimber · 27/09/2021 20:01

The word “chaos” is doing a lot of heavy lifting recently.

Kendodd · 27/09/2021 20:01

I'm beginning to think the entire cabinet work for Putin given the damage they've inflicted on the country.

mpsw · 27/09/2021 20:02

The army doesn’t need to deliver fuel because fuel drivers can deliver the fuel

Oh -so everything that commentators have been saying about shortage of drivers (and the potential need for more visas) is utterly wrong?

nancy75 · 27/09/2021 20:02

@PegorySpeck

Why do people lead such chaotic and disorganised lives though? I mean why wait until your car is running on fumes before you decide you need petrol, or why wait until you’re on your last drop of milk or slice of bread before you get some more? I honestly could not live like this, it’s so dysfunctional , it’s just asking for drama.
Because they had petrol on Thursday & haven’t been able to buy any since? That’s the case for loads of people where I live.
Porfre · 27/09/2021 20:02

Apparently all you have to do, is keep repeating " there are no fuel shortages " again and again.
It's a magic chant that fixes all.

DdraigGoch · 27/09/2021 20:02
lifeturnsonadime · 27/09/2021 20:03

Only a few posts above yours a poster has seen their WFH neighbours unloading five jerry cans. That not panic buying?

That's one incident. It is not what is happening in my town.

No one can get fuel. This has been since Friday. There are 3 petrol stations in a 1./2 mile stretch. None have any fuel at all this evening.

longwayoff · 27/09/2021 20:03

Boz says army wont be called on so we should expect them around the weekend. Did someone upthread say please stop blaming Brexit? GrinGrinGrin. How many thousands of foreign workers left this country? Thousands across many low paid fields of work. Where are their replacements coming from? Happy Christmas.

Chloemol · 27/09/2021 20:03

No issues with shops here, east of England. Yes muppets are queuing for petrol but my local station is getting new supplies everyday

Original poster
Orangejuicemarathoner · 27/09/2021 20:04

@GreatPotato

Your school has put out a directive insisting staff need to walk six miles each way?

That's just so unlikely I wonder if there's a little exaggeration in this story?

We've suggested staff car share where possible this week.

Well, the school said 4/6 miles. Some people were saying they can't come in because its 3 miles, and others walked in 10 miles. The management then sent an email around saying healthy people could reasonably be expected to walk 6 miles in, but not more,

so it was partly setting out an expectation that staff walk 6 miles in, and partly excusing people who had to come further.

We have a high number of covid cases, and car sharing is banned by the covid risk assessment, so thats not an option right now

OP posts:
DdraigGoch · 27/09/2021 20:04

@mpsw

The army doesn’t need to deliver fuel because fuel drivers can deliver the fuel

Oh -so everything that commentators have been saying about shortage of drivers (and the potential need for more visas) is utterly wrong?

We're short of HGV drivers in general, yes. We are not however short of ADR drivers.
Anjo2011 · 27/09/2021 20:04

East of England here, just been to drop some shopping to my elderly parents . Tesco pumps were closed but open in the way back ( an hour later) ans there was a tanker on the forecourt. Another garage on the main road not far from them was open , cars queuing but no more than
5 or 6. Let’s hope it calms down everywhere over the course of the week.