Thread Uimhir a hocht,, the Exit

[Carriemac]

Here it is!

I read a comment recently from a teacher who said that in her opinion teachers/bus & train drivers/shop staff and everyone who kept things going during the lockdows were "essential workers" but only doctors/nurses/paramedics etc. were actual "frontline workers" as they were dealing with covid patients constantly and therefore the personal risk to them was far higher. I'm inclined to agree and I suppose the Government needs to be clear about who's going to get a bonus - essential workers, frontline workers or both?

The government seem to have wandered into a rather complicated, potentially expensive mess.

@LifeInAHamsterWheel

I read a comment recently from a teacher who said that in her opinion teachers/bus & train drivers/shop staff and everyone who kept things going during the lockdows were "essential workers" but only doctors/nurses/paramedics etc. were actual "frontline workers" as they were dealing with covid patients constantly and therefore the personal risk to them was far higher. I'm inclined to agree and I suppose the Government needs to be clear about who's going to get a bonus - essential workers, frontline workers or both?

That's a very good point.

It's like the lockdown debate (all over MN ) over who was a legit keyworker and needed a school place, isn't it?

I think it will be a bonus for frontliners and a bank holiday for everyone else, tbh. Seems to me like there's simply too many essential workers for it to be extended to them.

I will be (mildly) pissed if HSE back office staff are eligible, though! I know I shouldn't be, really. Following the grand aul tradition of Irish begrudgery.

My daughter was frontline all of last year. She reckons receptionists, people who wheel the records round, lab staff etc. were also frontline. Nobody knew exactly how transmissible the virus was.
Shed be happy with her registration fee being paid for a couple of years. 100 euro to have her name ticked on a data base.

Ah don't remind me about registration, I'll just get pissed about being forced to send money to that useless Teaching Council quango every year.

Won't even answer calls when you need them either, I've threatened to arrive at their door before to get shit done. The most they've ever managed to do is leak my bloody data.

It's not just that doctors and nurses put themselves in danger but they also must be traumatised by seeing people dying alone. Holding their hand, their to comfort them. They really deserve something more than a pat on the back and something more than everyone else.
I know people say "that's their job, they signed up for it " they didn't though, not to this degree.

The most they've ever managed to do is leak my bloody data. this cracked me up

I agree with you @Iblinkedandiamold

I honestly think people have more respect for teachers now after this whole pandemic. Homeschooling etc. opened people's eyes. I know my family members who are teachers really stepped up when this all happened. And my DC teachers too (well the primary one, and some of the secondary ones )

I just hope the Bank Holiday isn't in bl*ody November. It's 'flippin freezin' and a horrible time of year.

@eggandonion

The government seem to have wandered into a rather complicated, potentially expensive mess.

Agreed. And it's a mess of their own making. They should have just declared a bonus for frontline health staff and drawn a line under it. So many other groups of people worked continuously during the first lockdown - bus/train drivers, essential retail staff (grocery shops, supermarkets, pharmacies, post offices), postmen, binmen, veterinary staff etc. It's really hard to know where to draw the line.

Has anyone set up a poll for the Bank Holiday yet? My vote is for February.

To be honest I'd take a bank holiday anytime!

Does anyone have an echo or dot? My Alexa is being really disobedient! Since Thursday she won't play Irish radio stations other than the RTE ones which I think is because they're online. But the "tune in" ones don't work. If I ask for Newstalk I get London Newstalk! I've checked my location settings etc and all ok. Driving me mad! I like to come down to kitchen in the mornings, put radio on and have my coffee. I don't want to hear news that has no relevance to me!!

I have one but I mostly listen to Spotify, books and RTE stations.
I just tried to play I radio and it told me it wasn't available on Tunein.
Yep London newstalk too.

Are any of ye preparing for black outs. My friend's husband works for the ESB and has said that they are just about managing to keep the electricity on. We've come close a number of times to a black out. I'm not going mad but I going to buy a little camping stove and a stronger flash light. I have scented candles by the dozen here.

I hadn't really considered it @Iblinkedandiamold although we'd a long power cut recently one evening. You forget how much we rely on electricity. I couldn't put the kettle on for a cuppa. I couldn't watch TV or listen to the radio. I could use the laptop and my phone but there was no internet signal. I couldn't read comfortably because it was getting dark. Good thing I'd cooked dinner earlier.

Thank you for the heads up @Iblinkedandiamold.

What do we need in the event of a blackout ?
Candles.
Charged up mobiles.
My hob is electric.

I don't tend to get very angry about politicians (I think!) but did any one else the Green Party guy's comments last week about we are going to have a few tough winters ahead really rage inducing? Like, if you know that do something about it, don't just shrug your shoulder and go oh well!
Data centres as going to become a focal point for the people's irritation - but why couldn't they have been build with photo electric rood panels - so at least some is being generated?

Why can't home suppliers supply into the grid?
Why can't the old coal burning power plants be retrofitted to incinerate waste instead of sending it to landfill? Or why get rid of the fossil fuel power plants before there was an alternative?

All good points @sillysmiles but unfortunately we don't have a very good track record for being forward planners...

Good suggestions for supplies in case of a powercut, I hadn't even thought of it but I think I'll get a box together just in case. We have a really good powerbank for charging mobiles/ipads etc. so I'll make sure to keep that charged up and maybe even buy a second one. It was around €50 but it is a nice neat size and can charge two iphones at the same time, think it has about 5 full charges in it.

My DH was in the local barbers at the weekend and they were giving out that Alexa wasn't playing the radio properly!! I still haven't found a fix for it but I have discovered that if I use the Alexa app and go to 'recently played' then I can get her to play from that. Bit of a faff but better than nothing. There must be something up if we're all having this problem (which is a first world one I know!)

@LifeInAHamsterWheel can you share a link to the power pack. I haven't needed to use one for ages, but probably should look into getting one.
As we live in rural area, or heating - though oil, requires electricity for the pump, our fire, though a stove, has a back boiler and requires electricity for a pump our cooking and chest freezers are also electrical.
We do have a burner camping burner in the shed I think!

@sillysmiles I can't share a link as I bought it in a local shop that sells phone covers and fixes phone screens etc. I just had a look on Argos and every single powerbank is 'out of stock' And I've just noticed that I can't seem to buy any from Amazon - even Amazon Germany! Must be some regulation thing? I'll pop to my local shop and buy the same one again (when I'm home I'll try to remember to take a photo of it so you can see what it looks like if that would help)

@sillysmiles

I don't tend to get very angry about politicians (I think!) but did any one else the Green Party guy's comments last week about we are going to have a few tough winters ahead really rage inducing? Like, if you know that do something about it, don't just shrug your shoulder and go oh well! Data centres as going to become a focal point for the people's irritation - but why couldn't they have been build with photo electric rood panels - so at least some is being generated? Why can't home suppliers supply into the grid? Why can't the old coal burning power plants be retrofitted to incinerate waste instead of sending it to landfill? Or why get rid of the fossil fuel power plants before there was an alternative?

Great points. It's like the government just do what they like.. and don't think of any consequences until they are about to happen. If anyone complains now it will be "oh well we did tell you" And not to mention the prices going up for electricity. I worry for my elderly parents this winter if power cuts/ black outs are to happen.

We forget how much we rely on electricity! We are lucky to have a gas hob and I think we can light it with just a match if we're stuck. Definitely invest in a camping burner if you can!

Actually, on a separate note, has anyone had to pay charges on orders from Argos?

No, what sort of charges? Do you order from .co.uk site? I only ever order from the .ie site and then collect from store, have bought a few things recently but no extra charges

I have a letter from an post stating I owe customs charges. Doesn't say for what and the only thing I can think of is an order I placed with Argos.
Can't be sure whether it was .ie or not. Had hassle placing the order and never got a confirmation email so I'm it even sure it is Argos.
It's a very realistic looking letter yet I'm sceptical.. too many scams about!

halfpast The real customs letters / emails don't contain a link but instead have a customs reference number and tell you to go to the An Post website, click "pay customs charge", and enter the number etc. Or just bring it to a post office and ask them to scan the barcode.

If it's a fake, none of that will work!