Thread Uimhir a hocht,, the Exit

[Carriemac]

Here it is!

So, looks like indoor dining is postponed for another while. I was really hoping they'd open up the restaurants. Obviously eating outside isn't an issue today, with the sun splitting the stones. But the weather is so unreliable in Ireland. I mean, if I want to meet someone for dinner on Saturday evening, can I assume we'll still have fine weather? Or will I have to wait and see what it's like on the day? Must be frustrating for people who booked holiday on the basis that the restaurants would all be open from 5th July.

It's a bit disappointing, we're going away in a couple of weeks, holiday house in a busy seaside town. Last summer indoor dining was open but we only managed to book for one evening as it was so busy. Other places were open for takeaway but the wait was so long we just couldn't hack it.

It looks like I'll be cooking every evening which is not my idea of a holiday. I might resort to bringing a freezer bag of ready meals.

It must be soul destroying for restaurants and pubs who were hoping to open. I feel for them.

One of my dc had decamped to Germany where everything is open for indoor dining/drinking. You can sit outside without a test but if you want to go inside you need a negative antigen test, there are testing areas all over the city, test takes 10 minutes and they send a notification to your phone which is valid for 48hours. There was an outdoor music event the other day, a couple of cargo bikes arrived with antigen testers to test everyone in the queue. Apparently they send them to crowded outdoor areas. Seems sensible and workable to me but NPHET have a bee in their bonnet about antigen tests so I guess we won't have that here.

I can't see how they will come up with a system to allow vaccinated people only indoors, presumably being served by unvaccinated young waiting staff who wouldn't be allowed in as guests!

It's a real two tier situation they've created here. Young people can't afford to not work, can't afford to buy houses, can't get the vaccination and will be the ones in serving the older, vaccinated age groups who are watching their property values spike upwards. And these are the same young people who were least at risk from Covid to begin with. Just a slap in the face all around for them really.

I can't see how they will come up with a system to allow vaccinated people only indoors, presumably being served by unvaccinated young waiting staff who wouldn't be allowed in as guests!

Sure they've only said they'll come up with a system by the 19th. Conveniently no mention of how long it might take to implement. And then you're into autumn, where they're not likely to open up at all.

Am I right in thinking that restrictions are tighter now than they were this time last year? An absolute joke.

Thats exactly it @SionnachRua like where does this end? The whole point of this is that the two doses will protect the elderly and vulnerable so even if they were still to contract the delta variant I'm assuming they won't get that ill that they'll need to be hospitalised.
I've said so on another thread, where does this end; September-schools back;children mixing, winter: loads of older ppl need boosters , Christmas: too many people inside. All these scenarios means it's not ideal to open inside also I'm sure there'll other variants by then ..
Over 50 percent of pubs in Ireland have been closed since March 2020.
Also the politicians will all have their holidays booked in luxury hotels where they can eat and drink inside... wtaf
I passed a big hotel near us, packed inside the bar and restaurant. I feel so sorry for so many businesses.

The 19th of July! And that's an outline of what night happen , there's a month left of summer then ffs!! God knows what will happen this winter.

I'll be fully vaccinated by the winter so I can eat inside.
Has anyone seen the film Tommy from 1975, by the Who.
I saw it mentioned on another thread. I had no idea that Pinball wizard was In a film or that the film was terrible. I have to keep watching though, even though I have no idea what is going on half the time.

My DD studying in Dublin had her vax in Belfast at the weekend. Just needed An NHS number ( she was born in UK) walk in appointment everywhere for over 18s . Worth the train fare !

Good tip, Carriemac! There's probably a fair few people in that younger age group who've studied or worked in the UK at one time or another (my youngest sister is one of them, so I'll pass that on!)

The thing about the antigen tests MrsMaisel is that we have a very low incidence for now at least in Germany so it's acceptable despite the known issues. We did have vaccinated-only or negative test access to dining, even outdoors, in the earlier opening phase. There was s awareness of the Delta variant here too and we probably won't get away without reintroducing restrictions at some point.

There is maybe a bit of a bread and circuses approach here in the sense of let's have some holidays and merriment otherwise the peasants will be revolting... But the police are breaking up street parties in many different cities here too.

I've never seen that film Iblinked, did you make it to the end?!

@SecondRow DD booked online , when the asked did she have a NI GP you have to tick yes to get through to booking but it's not a requirement and they don't ask for any details .

The confirmation has been cancelled for next week. I know it’s a small thing in the greater scheme of things but we’re really disappointed.

@HaHaVeryBunny thanks for the tip- I definitely need to pick some of that up. She brazenly demanded I come up and open the bedroom door yesterday and then marched in and peed on the rug like it was a luxury litter tray. She’s lucky I love her!

Morning everyone, I agree with all those who are saying how unfair this latest 'reopening' situation is. My God, did we ever think we'd still be at this now? It's hard to stay positive when it's all so much doom & gloom. I get that this is a new virus and we're all just feeling our way but I believe that we could have handled things differently by now. My heart goes out to anyone trying to run a small business that is in any way customer-facing. What a nightmare.

@thelegohooverer sorry to hear that the confirmation has been cancelled, it's very disappointing for you all. A family member has been trying to arrange their baby's christening for some time now and can't, again very disappointing. And the thing about confirmation is that they need to do it before they move on to secondary school don't they? Have they said when it might be postponed until?

We had a city break booked for 10th July, had booked restaurants for dinner (and even brunch the next day!) but with indoor dining now not going ahead I don't think we'll bother. I really don't like outdoor dining especially at night when the food can go cold. And we were struggling to find suitable places that offer outdoor dining. First world problem but still it's disappointing. @MrsMaiselsRedCoat I'd feel the same as you about the holiday and I think your idea of loading up with ready meals is a great one! At least make it as easy on yourself as you can, and there are some really good quality ready meal options available - even getting in lots of quality 'nibble' things would be a good idea. I hope you manage to have a lovely time regardless.

@SecondRow yes I did. The story is a good plot just the delivery was a bit strange. It was like an opera but in English and with pop music.
I also think the latest decision is a bit strange.
How are they going to police who's fully vaccinated

I could easily scribble in a second date on my card.
The fact that I also read the Dail bar is open makes me more angry.
What also makes me angry is people booking tables in restaurants and not turning up. I have seen so many posts by restaurants on Facebook saying they are charging deposits now because of no-shows.

@LifeInAHamsterWheel we have also booked a break away, we had hoped to eat out too now we'll probably just cook at the house.
You can't guarantee the weather can you, like you said, food gets cold quickly.

MrsMaiselsRedCoat can you stop in avoca or somewhere like that and get some fancy ready meals ?

@MrsMaiselsRedCoat, I have namechanged but am a regular poster.
We got away last week to Cork. We stayed in a hotel and it was lovely. Breakfast served up in the hotel dining room and somewhere "new" rather than our own county.
We ate outside in restaurants which wasn't a problem - they had outdoor heaters installed and we dressed for the weather.
Most didn't take bookings and I can understand why.
It's a real foodie village and you did have to queue for the good / popular restaurants, but that was a choice we made.

I think with this pandemic / lockdown / restrictions you just have to make the most of it.

(Some of )our parents,our grandparents, great grandparents etc had to live through worse - war, poverty, famine.
We are here because of their resilience and luck.
We can get through it.

Ah thanks everyone for indulging my moaning! Sorry if I sounded self indulgent, I completely agree @ceannsaile this is definitely a first world problem, we are lucky to be going anywhere and I'm grateful for that!

Because of extended family and dc's friends I reckon there will be a core group of 12 and on some nights 17 to cater for 😬😬😬 and teens eat a lot! Then we have vegetarians and some gluten free. I need a spreadsheet!

Less a holiday and more a military campaign 😂

@ceannsaile that sounds like a lovely break, maybe dh and I should try to plan a weekend to ourselves after the 'family' holiday!

@MrsMaiselsRedCoat you’ll need a holiday after that holiday! I’m exhausted just thinking about it.

@LifeInAHamsterWheel it’s hard to know if it will happen at all. It had been organised so well, with the classes split across different days, and everything as covid safe as it could possibly be, and only days after the end of term when they’d still be part of each other’s bubbles. If that can’t go ahead in the height of the summer, I can’t see it being “safe” later in the year either.

Its there any website where we can see the latest numbers broken down by age?

You might get some stats here

@ceannsaile I was going to ask you where you went, but I worked it out! I'm really annoyed about the delta variant, I'm taking it very personally. I'd like it to delta off.

When I posted last time, I said I couldn't bare to think of what was coming round next Autumn/Winter with the next variant. Well, it looks like I'm going to have to get my head round it sooner, for feck's sake!! I agree about trying to to make the most of things and support local businesses as much as possible.

Is anyone else experiencing a delay with their second Pfizer jab? It's overdue by a week.

So communions, confirmation and christenings are postponed "until further notice"..
Hard to imagine when that will be..