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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if your essential meetings involve sitting around in the garden with wine and cheese, with your spouse in attendance?

653 replies

AlexaShutUp · 20/12/2021 08:27

So the justification for the pictures of Boris in lockdown is that they were essential work meetings and therefore allowed. The wine and cheese was apparently because people were working long hours. I have seen no explanation of why Carrie was present.

Do you have essential work meetings of this nature? I don't.

AIBU to think that, in the midst of a pandemic, I'd rather that our decision makers stayed off the booze while carrying out their essential functions? And that unelected individuals who are not employed by the government in an official capacity have no business sitting in on such meetings?

OP posts:
CorrBlimeyGG · 20/12/2021 18:40

There's a more serious issue here, the impact this has on vaccine/ booster take up. I know several people who are not having boosters because all they see is the government taking the piss.

SueSaid · 20/12/2021 18:40

'I hope we're all enjoying watching the dopier right wing denizens of MN embarrass themselves trying to defend Johnson'

If we ever see him at a party I'll be as fummin as the rest of you. So far we've had a virtual quiz and an outdoors workplace discussion. I await the party snaps..

Wheresmywoolyjumpers · 20/12/2021 18:40

I am not a fan of Dominic Cummings, but wasnt Carrie being over involved part of his beef? As for having a drink - I work in the public sector. I am lucky if I get a coffee at a meeting (and have to put money in for it). We would never serve booze on the premises, and in my opinion, it should not be served in the seat of power either. Whether that is Downing Street, or the House of Parliament - god knows there are horror stories about MPs behaviour after drinking. Just don't drink at work. it is not hard. Unless you are a gin taster.

OldaRailer · 20/12/2021 18:41

I'm not fummin'. More eye rolling.

Getyourarseofffthequattro · 20/12/2021 18:41

@JaniieJones

'I hope we're all enjoying watching the dopier right wing denizens of MN embarrass themselves trying to defend Johnson'

If we ever see him at a party I'll be as fummin as the rest of you. So far we've had a virtual quiz and an outdoors workplace discussion. I await the party snaps..

What part of "it wasn't allowed" do you not understand?
OldaRailer · 20/12/2021 18:41

Westminster is notorious for the drink and more.

SueSaid · 20/12/2021 18:44

'know several people who are not having boosters because all they see is the government taking the piss.'

It's a strange mentality, like the thickos last year who started having housefuls because 'well if Cummings can do as he likes I will innit'.

Seeming to completely miss the fact that the restrictions are to protect you as well as others.

SueSaid · 20/12/2021 18:44

'What part of "it wasn't allowed" do you not understand?'

What part of they were work colleagues at work don't you?

Getyourarseofffthequattro · 20/12/2021 18:46

@JaniieJones

'What part of "it wasn't allowed" do you not understand?'

What part of they were work colleagues at work don't you?

But that still wasn't allowed Grin they're not social distancing, someone's wife is there, they're not actively working so I doubt it counts as something that absolutely had to go ahead.

It wasn't allowed.

Roussette · 20/12/2021 18:48

What part of they were work colleagues at work don't you?

I don't think anyone has denied they are work colleagues.

They just weren't at a work meeting.

CurzonDax · 20/12/2021 18:48

@Frankola

Well we all know this excuse of it being a meeting is absolute twaddle.

However, Carrie being there is the easiest for them to explain. She lives there. It's her garden and she's entitled to use it.

I live in my house. Does that give me the automatic right to sit in DH's office when he is in a meeting? I'm sure his boss and customers won't mind if I hear all their private information. Afterall, I have every right - I live there.

Or should I just respect the fact that DH is working and just leave him to get on with his work without me needing to sit next to him? We have other rooms for me to occupy, I don't necessarily need to crash his meetings.

BBCONEANDTWO · 20/12/2021 18:50

@itsgettingwierd

Yes what you said.

VikingOnTheFridge · 20/12/2021 18:51

@Roussette

Nah Viking it's doubling every two days doncha know Grin
Touche...
VikingOnTheFridge · 20/12/2021 18:51

@JaniieJones

'I hope we're all enjoying watching the dopier right wing denizens of MN embarrass themselves trying to defend Johnson'

If we ever see him at a party I'll be as fummin as the rest of you. So far we've had a virtual quiz and an outdoors workplace discussion. I await the party snaps..

Exhibit A...
IHateCoronavirus · 20/12/2021 18:52

The other parties were bad enough but this one really gets to me.

While this was going on my TA and I were teaching one of the bubbles (and doing online lessons for my own year group who weren’t in). Due to not mixing bubbles we didn’t get a break or lunch. We were with the kids permanently.

At the end of the day, my TA who I used to car share with under normal circumstances, had a three mile walk home because even though we had been together all day, we were not allowed to share a ride. She was shattered and earning a bloody pittance for the privilege too.

Did the tax payer pay for the cheese and wine?

HelloCovid · 20/12/2021 18:52

It does explain some of his decisions if he's been pissed up half the time.

CurzonDax · 20/12/2021 18:53

@JaniieJones

'What part of "it wasn't allowed" do you not understand?'

What part of they were work colleagues at work don't you?

I'm clearly behind on the news, because I didn't know Carrie was one of Boris' current work colleagues. When did this happen, and how did I miss it?
Roussette · 20/12/2021 18:54

Itt's not just about 'him' though is it? Not just Johnson? It's the whole culture he brings to it all.... Raab saying this morning they'd been doing gruelling work and that's why they were having wine and cheese.

The public are - understandably - hacked off with the lot of them. Well... some of the public, not all. There are others on this thread who seem to think they can do what they like because the dim public won't mind.

Frankola · 20/12/2021 18:59

@vikingonthefridge oh I totally agree with you!

My point was more that this is the easiest element for the spin doctors in no.10 to try to "explain" Grin

Mrssebastianstan · 20/12/2021 19:01

It is not an essential f2f meeting if no one has a SportsDirect freebie mug.

VikingOnTheFridge · 20/12/2021 19:04

[quote Frankola]@vikingonthefridge oh I totally agree with you!

My point was more that this is the easiest element for the spin doctors in no.10 to try to "explain" Grin[/quote]
Mmm, and I thought it was very interesting that they went for that option considering how much criticism there's been of Carrie's involvement and influence already. This is pretty much a gift to anyone wanting to stick the boot in over that.

Suspiciousmind20 · 20/12/2021 19:12

IHateCoronavirus

The other parties were bad enough but this one really gets to me.

While this was going on my TA and I were teaching one of the bubbles (and doing online lessons for my own year group who weren’t in). Due to not mixing bubbles we didn’t get a break or lunch. We were with the kids permanently.

At the end of the day, my TA who I used to car share with under normal circumstances, had a three mile walk home because even though we had been together all day, we were not allowed to share a ride. She was shattered and earning a bloody pittance for the privilege too.

Did the tax payer pay for the cheese and wine?

This post totally illustrates why this was wrong on so many levels. Most people made huge sacrifices. And, yes, I’m sure we paid for the wine, just as we pay for the bar in West Minster.

Eleganz · 20/12/2021 19:31

@JaniieJones

'know several people who are not having boosters because all they see is the government taking the piss.'

It's a strange mentality, like the thickos last year who started having housefuls because 'well if Cummings can do as he likes I will innit'.

Seeming to completely miss the fact that the restrictions are to protect you as well as others.

I tell you what is a strange mentality. Believing that people will follow the rules made by a political leadership that won't follow them themselves to the letter and in spirit as well.

The fact is, that it doesn't matter if these people are thickos, the fact is that they are out there not following the rules in their thousands citing the behaviour of those at the heart of government as a justification.

Yet you continue defend Boris and those in power. Therefore you are also part of the problem here and so have no right to point the finger at others.

AshLane · 20/12/2021 19:32

I call breach of confidentiality if that is a work meeting.

Carrie should not be there.

Eleganz · 20/12/2021 19:40

@JaniieJones

'It seems amazing to me that the justifications that this is okay is because it is okay for dodgy businessmen who conduct important business over boozy lunches and drinks on the back of yachts. '

Now you're making stuff up, I didn't say this at all.

What I did say is you don't need a pencil case and a projector to have work related discussions. Maybe something was recorded on a phone. You can do allsorts on phones nowadays it's just just snap and WhatsApp y'know.

You are just trying to make excuses and it is so obvious. Do you think that I've never been in a meeting or something? Do you really think that no-one else has any clue about how the world works to the degree that you think your shit actually sticks?

I meet with politicians, civil servants and others across the public sector all the time. This was no formal meeting.