The problem with 'essential'

[YellowCorvette]

Those around me have a very different definition of what 'essential' means. Currently I'm leaving the house to exercise when it's quiet once a day and food shopping every 9-10 days, going without some stuff but I'm okay.

Yesterday my DM drove an hour and half to pick up some Ebay items from a seller. She genuinely believed it was 'essential' because she wanted the items (things for the garden).

I tried to tell her it was absolutely not essential, she was being selfish, and I actually hoped she'd get stopped by the police and fined, but she was adamant about going.

She's also going to the supermarket every day because she thinks it's 'essential' she has fresh salad every day (she'll only buy enough for the day!!!) despite me saying I'll prefer to drop off anything/everything she needs once a week.

But she keeps harping back to 'we're allowed to do what's essential, and it's essential to me'.

Should the government be a lot clearer so people like my DM understand? She really doesn't think she's flouting guidelines. It's so frustrating.

I think people have different ideas of essential and I'm ok with that. I sincerely believe that a few plants or whatever may keep someone sane and feeling close enough to normal just keep going through this.
When we are put on rations and all none essentialt items are no longer available then we wont buy will we. But it's obviously deemed to be ok now.
Try to stop finger pointing at friends and family. It is not an attractive trait in a person.

Tiggerroll I agree with you. The focus should be on 'infrequency' rather than what is bought. I'm managing to go shopping once a week or less, but my trolley will have wine and chocolate in it along with more basic food staples.

Too much focus on 'essential' and not enough on 'as infrequently as possible'.

I could not agree more, and I have tried to say so several times.

Unfortunately people are obssessed with what people are buying, instead of how often.

I don't care what you eat. I do care if you buy it one item at a time from a shop, every day.

STAY AT HOME

and it is ridiculous that they are thinking of opening garden centres.
If we must sell plants, put some trolleys outside supermarkets and only allow sales alongside your weekly shop.