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Original poster

The ‘essential’ police - please stop

284 replies

TheDogIsKeepingMeSane · 04/04/2020 16:50

Until we are issued what is deemed an essential shopping item ANY food/drink item is ok to buy.
I’ve been working today outside. It’s hot.
On my way home I stopped at my local independent shop & bought myself 2 bottles of cold beer.
I live alone & work alone & it felt great to chat with the shop owner (2m apart) .
When I left the shop a cyclist said me ‘ hardly an essential item is it’

Just stop it .
I’m ashamed of what my fellow human beings have become.

The beer is cold & I shouldn’t be made to feel ashamed for buying it

OP posts:
Mlou32 · 04/04/2020 21:29

@Eggysmom so you go pretty much twice a week. There is no issue with that. That's reasonably infrequently, as per government guidelines. It certainly isn't every day as some strange folk seem to be saying is necessary for "many people".

BakewellGin1 · 04/04/2020 21:37

Well today... I have been to buy our essentials it's been 9 days since the last shop. Seeing as I was out for essentials at the supermarket I also added gin, cider, treats for DC and Easter Eggs because we probably won't shop again beforehand.

aphrodites · 04/04/2020 21:37

Ignore people, it shouldn't matter what you buy, surely it's about reducing frequency?

We've started driving to get essentials because the local convenience store has a 1 bottle of milk per customer limit, we go through 4 a week of their size as we're a large family, if I was walking to the shop I would be going in quite often just for milk & bread.

Flymetothetoon · 04/04/2020 21:39

Not bothered that my last remark had been banned.
Happy that my meat thermometer has arrived via amazon.

And awaiting 2 dvds via amazon

Talk about that vipers!

emilybrontescorsett · 04/04/2020 21:40

There is no way the government is going to stop the sale of alcohol, the consequences would be too much to deal with.
Enjoy your beer op.

Pulpfiction1 · 04/04/2020 21:46

I was queing for The Range and the women behind me was spying at what people were walking out with and saying to her husband "that's not essential".

My first thought was, this is the range there is nothing essential here that you can't get in tesco. So Mrs judgy pants more than likey didn't need to be there either. I doubt her and the 60 other people all had DIY emergencies. I then realised that she was out with her fucking husband. Hardly following the rules.

Fwiw I was buying screw drivers and stuff for the dog, but I did by some stuff to brighten up the home I'm currently stuck in too, and I would judge anyone for doing the same. Sanity is important too.

Micah · 04/04/2020 21:49

Schools are closed, kids arent allowed to see their friends, go to the park, play football etc fuck it lets just take easter away from them aswell, actually while we're at it we can cancel christmas also

Yep all those kids who desperately want to be at church celebrating the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ will miss out Hmm.

Easter eggs have been on sale since bloody christmas. How is anyone “taking easter away”? As long as kids get chocolate and a few weeks off school I doubt they care much about the particular day.

You’re coming across a bit hysterical.

LilacTree1 · 04/04/2020 21:50

I just googled The Range

Surprised it’s open. If I was in there and heard someone saying that, I’d tell them off.

Our Homebase is shut but there’s a plumbing shop open for emergencies. Again, is this a London thing maybe? Because we have the highest number of cases? I hear other DIY shops across the country are open.

Flymetothetoon · 04/04/2020 21:53

Laughing my fucking back off!

I've been on here for ever!

Mumsnet you know you can check

What a fucking joke!

Smilethoyourheartisbreaking · 04/04/2020 21:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Silvergreen · 04/04/2020 21:59

If someone says anything about my shopping which has wine in it, I'll be telling them I'm an nhs worker and to go fuck themselves.

Pulpfiction1 · 04/04/2020 22:00

Round here (South not London) Homebase are shut but b&q and the range arnt. They all come under hardware. Not sure why homebase chose to shut.

Mumto1girl3boys · 04/04/2020 22:04

*Yep all those kids who desperately want to be at church celebrating the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ will miss out.

Easter eggs have been on sale since bloody christmas. How is anyone “taking easter away”? As long as kids get chocolate and a few weeks off school I doubt they care much about the particular day.*

Who the fuck said anything about going to church?????

Your the one the seems hysterical. Have a cup of tea and calm down

NiteFlights · 04/04/2020 22:09

Does it matter if i went for a full shop or rice pudding?

Of course it fucking matters, how can you possibly not have understood that?

Pishposhpashy · 04/04/2020 22:12

I’ve only been to a shop once in lockdown but I can’t really imagine anyone in this area having judgey pants on, it’s very....down to earth here.

Why would you think that those of us in London are any less down to earth than anyone else?

manicinsomniac · 04/04/2020 22:13

For people who are saying there is no reason to need to shop every day and no reason to spend ages in shops hanging around the shelves:

well, I know it's probably a minority group in most people's experience, but those with mental health issues around food and substances are finding the lockdown restrictions yet another stumbling block in just keeping going.

I've had an eating disorder for more than 20 years so my circle of friends and acquaintances obviously has a hugely disproportionate number of people with similar problems in it.

I'm 'ok' with the current system because I have children which gives me a certain level of responsibility and stability to what and when I buy and how I keep it. I can make do with a fortnightly shop, no problem. And I can go with a list, get what I can on the list and leave.

But I know many who just can't.
Some can only have that day's food in the house otherwise they will eat everything that's there and purge it.
One friend in very shaky, early recovery can't have any food in the house at all and shops for each meal individually.
Some binge and purge on hundreds of pounds worth of food a week. They can't get that in one weekly shop. With current restrictions, they can't even get it from one shop.
Some have alcohol dependency and go to off licenses most days.
Some buy food then get afraid of it and eat nothing till it's all gone off and they need more.
Some are very limited in what foods they can eat (I do have this problem myself) and, with the restrictions in place, can't get enough of those same items so have to go to different shops because they can't just choose something different that isn't in their plan or routine.

It might sound childish and 'just get over it' but the struggles are real and frightening.

Smilethoyourheartisbreaking · 04/04/2020 22:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mrhodgeymaheg · 04/04/2020 22:23

I saw this and thought it was quite hypocritical since a) taping shit to bins is neither essential or exercise and b) it was probably filthy and likely to harbour lots of viruses/bacteria and possibly Covid-19.

People talk about natural selection taking place when people go out for a run (which they are allowed to do!) , but I think the person who did this might fall victim to it too.

The ‘essential’ police - please stop
HeIenaDove · 04/04/2020 22:24

We have got people on this board chiding ppl for buying food and yet we also had people say they understood why others HAD to go on holiday AFTER the fact as they would lose the deposit.

Wonder if there is a correlation.

AWryGiraffe · 04/04/2020 22:26

Ugh, 'Covidiot'.

HeIenaDove · 04/04/2020 22:31

My local Tesco gave me a bunch of free daffs yesterday. Very nice gesture. Should i have done the MN cats bum mouth and refused them? You know being as how they arent essential?

PurpleDaisies · 04/04/2020 22:41

I’ve tried to buy daffodils every time I’ve been in a supermarket recently and failed. Envious of you helena.

I think it’s being missed that most of the posters on this thread don’t have an issue with exactly what’s classed as an essential. It’s going shopping more frequently than is essential.

Bornfreebutincovidchains · 04/04/2020 22:44

Op I've only read page 1, I agree.
Luckily your not suicidal. You may have been.

That cyclist was disgusting randomly berating a stranger like that.

Bornfreebutincovidchains · 04/04/2020 22:45

I ve not step foot in a supermarket or any other shop for over 14 days.

Do I earn the right to enter a shop and buy something I want?.
Because I've been savvy and lucky with forward planning and on line delivery?

Flaxmeadow · 04/04/2020 22:48

Some people? You mean Other People surely.

I mean some people.

In the general population I believe there are some people who are addicted to shopping and buying things. I think for some it isn't even about the actual things they buy, it's just a habit they find difficult to break. It's as if the money is burning a hole in their pocket and they become distressed if they cannot go to the shop whenever they like.

Some posters say they will have a mental breakdown if they cannot buy their favourite chocolate everyday or if they cannot wear perfume. It isnt what they're buying, it's that they feel control slipping away of being able to buy, get the fix.

Post after post is saying it's not what you buy during the restrictions, it's how frequently you buy. You would think this is common sense to most people. But some of the replies to it are bordering on hysteria.

As if someone is trying to take away a family heirloom from them, when its just a bar of chocolate or a fizzy drink they used to buy from a local Tesco metro everyday or a new cushion cover from Mark's and Soencer, and when told it might not be a good idea to linger in a stuffy supermarket in the middle of a pandemic (possibly airborne), then its meltdown and the prospect of cold turkey because the shop fix is so powerful. This is why you see so many jokes and banter about 'things', their purchases, there are whole threads devoted to it ATM . it's a nervous reaction and coping mechanism but better than an addicts anger I suppose.