First ministers briefing

[Trichford]

Is there one on today? If so what time will it be? Thanks

I don't know, I have my doubts re her hair. She seems to have quite difficult hair to begin with and she seems to be achieving a similar dye job as well as cut.

And the end of the day, it feels like my house is the only one not doing what the feck they like now anyway (I'm sure there must be others though )

I’ve just read in the Sunday times Nicola sturgeon is going to announce more easing of the lockdown next week (golf courses opening and garden centres etc.) Most folk appear to jollying around near me and mixing households anyway.

yep, not interested in golf courses or garden centres to be honest. Most folk seem to be getting garden stuff anyway, be that from online or supermarkets or whatever. Half the kids in the street are out playing together - apparently social distancing but you know how that goes....

Then the family who have a toddler with health difficulties (inc a heart condition) staying with them and are meant to be be shielding for 12 weeks seem to be out in the car daily, having multiple on-line deliveries and their teenager has had his girlfriend over staying sometimes. Then last night the had a party in their garden attended by other teenagers. To be honest, most of this stuff isn't necessarily high risk on an individual basis but it really annoys me when my (adult teen) son would love to see his girlfriend but understands it's not allowed. And that's despite my DH working with Covid patients and the belief that both our and his gf family believe we've already had it.

Another family drove down for a trip to the beach yesterday.

I'll not even mention the folk who were out "exercising" 4 times a day before the relaxation or the other family who don't seem to be always staying in their own house....

I know we should just ignore and get on and do what we know we should be, but it's clear how it deteriorates when people see others not adhering.

I'm not spying by the way, I just spend a lot of time in my study at the moment and the window faces onto the street so you really can't miss it.

What the First Minister said at her last briefing was that she would tell us this coming week what the phases of easing the lockdown would be. She's been saying that for several weeks now, I think if it doesn't happen this week, people will start to tolerate the current situation less. Especially when they see headlines showing how different the rules appear to be in England.

Agree We need some concessions now or people will just vote with their feet (even more than they are now)
Re golf I have less than no interest in the game but can see no reason why people can't golf if they want to

I’m really just looking for some indication of when childcare will be available again, and not just because we’re both trying to work from home full time as well (as utterly shit and exhausting as that is, we have carved out kind of a routine to deal with it). The really heartbreaking thing to watch is the effect lockdown is have on my primary age son. He really misses his friends, is bored stupid, and seems borderline depressed at times. His behaviour is deteriorating and he’s said several times he can’t do this any more. That’s before you even factor in the damage to his education and social development. It is getting harder to see other parts of the country opening up knowing we can’t, and is especially frustrating when the available data seems to suggest that children don’t spread the virus much and hardly ever get ill from it.

I also see cracks appearing and more social visits happening, and I really don’t think people in Scotland will tolerate this much longer.

The First Minister said she wanted to have a grown up conversation with us, which I think helped people with complying with the lockdown - however, since that statement was made, there hasn't been the opportunity to put forward to enter into a conversation, only her briefings saying that she's not changing things.

YOuCannOtBeSer1Ous - I think the issue in your post is one that more attention needs to be paid to. As grown ups, the current issues are difficult to understand, so there needs to be measures to help children come out of it unscathed. Several of my friends have said their kids are saying similar, that they cant do this any more.

In a similar boat @Y0uCann0tBeSer10us

Yes, this ‘adult conversation’ does seem to be mostly one way, although quite honestly I’m not sure I want the general public in charge of policy as very few will understand all the issues. Maybe it was just a sound bite to appease people. Whatever the case, I’ve heard very little that convinces me that the well-being of children is being considered in this ‘conversation’, since it’s been known from the beginning that they are at extremely low risk of disease, and there’s never been any real evidence that they are major spreaders (quite the opposite).

Yes, the adult conversation. Given that it's not that recently that the SNP view was that those adults were unable to decide how to raise their DC without supervision, i was never buying that. It's really now about how they can differentiate themselves.

That said, i don't think anyone has or could have handled this perfectly as it's all a bit of an unknown, so slagging off and targeting people isn't really the way to go at this point. That's not to say we shouldn't continue to challenge as appropriate.

there hasn't been the opportunity to put forward to enter into a conversation

did you see the links in the document about coming out of lockdown that took you to pages to put in your ideas and thoughts about coming out of lockdown? it also came up on my facebook feed as a link. I went in quite a few times and read the thoughts and ideas people were posting.

www.ideas.gov.scot/covid-19-a-framework-for-decision-making/home?sort_order=most_comments

It is now closed, but you can see the comments that were added. It was mentioned several times in the briefings that they wanted input from the public and this could be done through the scot gov website. I remember it being mentioned several times as each time it was dh would ask me if I'd been in yet and if I had looked at it/added anything (as he is too lazy to do it himself!)

Interesting to see that the schools question was the second most commented on. It’s obviously affecting a lot of people. Still, ultimately we have to abide by Nicola Sturgeon’s judgement on the issue (as she’s said herself many times), so I hope she really is aware how much damage this is doing.

So why are we not hearing from the likes of John Swinney or any of the rest of the team?

Is it because they can't be trusted? I definitely appreciate that Nicola has been doing the briefings to maintain continuity but apart from Jeane, I don't think we've heard from anyone else? Not that I watch every day though, could easily have missed them.

Also notice it says

This dialogue will be open in the first instance until 10pm on 11 May 2020. Longer term and broader engagement plans are in development, meaning that this will not be the only opportunity to participate.

Will need to keep an ear/eye out for future opportunities. Perhaps with the limited feedback they have received this time they will either change how they engage or publicise more as it looks like many people didn't pick up that this was possible.

I picked up that it was possible but took the view that it was probably a waste of time, partly an exercise in politics and partly busy work to make people think they are doing something. At the end of the day, they will do what they want/what the experts are telling them rather than caring that Billy in cambuslang would like to go fishing or Jean in ecclefechin would like a socially distanced BBQ...

Agree, it would be good to have John Swinney on to give an update on at least what the plans are for the education that is being missed, even if it is just to say they recognise the problems, it is too early to say how much education will be missed, they are working on it and what their priorities are.

It feels like Scotland (I always think, maybe incorrectly, the education boards are mostly about GCSE and A Levels) has been waiting patiently so far for some information on education. That patient will run out soon. Unless the expectation has been HT's will keep parents informed of plans at a local level, which means the quality and quantity of the messages will vary greatly school to school.

John Swinney's in hiding as he moves from the train wreck that is SQA results to the expected train wreck that'll be social distancing in schools.

patience!

There really is a lack of talent, I've made no secret of my dislike of the SNP and Nicola but she is a decent politician so I'm not surprised she doesn't let the rest of them get involved. Jeane is certainly an improvement on Nicola's pal Shona Robinson, it's a blessing that she had already gone.

Now that the initial health phase is settling, we should be hearing from some of the rest of the cabinet about finance/economy/social security/community etc etc.

Just announced 28 May for easing- but tbh, it better not just be garden centres, golf and fishing🧐 Only history will tell if doing things 3 weeks after England was worth it/made any difference. Something will have to give in terms of movement for the ‘school holidays’ even just to enable a day trip outside the local area. We are seeing school friends in a local park every day as part of daily exercise, it’s not a time we arrange, there’s just enough kids around our local area out at the same time - kids are waving or running together (different sides of the park) it’s bringing a little light into each day for the kids and adults. We’re all being grown ups and using our common sense, in any way which works best for our family situations.

I think that date has been given in order that the compliant folk amongst us will carry on being patient as we have something to look forward to. I think it will be even less of a loosening that England already have to be honest.

I am in general a very compliant person and as a family we've done what we've been told but I'm increasingly wondering what the fucking point is when people who have more vulnerability than we do are already doing what they like (some justifying it). A lot of the activities are not particularly risky - I've seen people going for a distanced dog walk with a friend etc but i think the socialising that's going on along with the failure to take proper measures re care homes etc means the numbers are going nowhere fast and I'm sick of being penalised for it. I'm sure i'm not the only one feeling like this.

I am a bit lost here.
I have noticed that merchants have been reopening of late. Even B&Q has reopened. I wonder why/how.
Also, why were tips shut? Never been close to anyone when there.
And yes, there are more people around, at least during the day.