I work in a pharmacy so that’s an essential service. If the government says go to work unless you can work from home and you then decide that you won’t go to work even if your place of work is open you won’t get paid! If you are self employed you won’t get any help financially at the moment. In my job it’s impossible to maintain social distancing correctly but when I get sick my company won’t pay me. Realistically people are going to be working because they need money to live.
I wen't to the allotment this afternoon as Michael Gove said it would be acceptable to do so and got the rest of the spuds in, good job I did as when I got home I have just seen that the allotment association sec forwarded a message from the council allotment officer and all allotments are closed for a minimum of three weeks, I think that this is the right decision but glad that I was able to get done what I wanted to.
As for professional gardeners while I was on the plot I noticed that the council contractors were grass cutting on the estate opposite.
Thanks @Lyn, I tried that and it didn’t work for me either. However, seems a bit flippant posting a link to an amusing video in the light of forum member’s families getting the virus. My thoughts are with you all.
@Perki, I totally agree, from reading UK press and speaking to friends and family there - it is absolutely NOT a full lockdown like in other European countries and many factories and businesses including retail businesses such as hardware shops and newsagents have not been ordered to close and thus people are expected to work there or patronise them. And who do we think are processing, packing and delivering all those online orders or educating the children of key workers? @Obelixx those people are expected to go to work and absolutely cannot stay at home!
BTW in my experience here is Spain, and I can only speak for my area of course, everyone is being extremely obedient and observing all the precautions and restrictions politely and respectfully.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
The answer @AnniD is to wipe the letterbox and gate thoroughly [if you need to use it] and wash your hands thoroughly after touching the card/paper.
@Perki- I understand the problem only too well, but ask yourself this: Do you get payment by Direct Debit or similar? If not, do you clean your hands thoroughly after handling a cash payment/envelope Do you clean and 'disinfect' your hands after each session in a garden? Do you take care to do that after you go into a petrol station to fill up your vehicle? Do you go somewhere to buy your lunch or snacks etc? Do you then do the hand cleaning afterwards? Is everyone in your household following similar rules?
If not..... you can create a risk to others, and they can also be a risk to you.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
There always needs to be some trade-off between keeping the economy going and the quarantine. It's not money vs lives trade-off but more people directly affected by the virus vs people affected by the inevitable economic downturn (think lost jobs, no money for bills, looting, violence etc.). I personally believe businesses should continue as long as they can do it reasonably safely. If nothing is done, one infected person infects 4 people. We only need to lower this number to less than 1 to turn things around. Online shop also should continue, even though there are workers packing non-essential stuff. Three weeks of no economic activity other than essentials would mean a death sentence to at least half of all small businesses and a significant number of medium and large businesses.
@Fairygirl Payment are any cash / bank transfer cheque etc clean hands with baby wipes until hand sanitizer back in stock Mainly mowing and handling own tools so in out Plenty of gloves in the van roughly 20 pairs and petrol station have gloves home for dinner and work and live with dad so we are in the same boat.
The problems are does sitting at home pay for the bills for the self employed, what about food , I am I / others going to starve - lose my home and everything else which has took years or a lifetime to build. It alright sitting at home if you have something to fall back on employee rights / saving / family but millions of people live week by week.
The government needs to sort this out and fast
It is like a part lock down @Nollie , I don't even understand going out for exercise if its supposed to be a lock down it can be abused multiple times a day and going to the supermarket .
I don’t know whether or not my gardener is coming on Thursday but what would be the issue? She leaves her house, drives six miles to my house, gardens for 4 hours and drives home. She interacts with no one and I will not get any closer to her than about 5 metres.
I know perfectly well it is not an essential service but if she does not work she does not get paid. How does she feed her two children? Her other source of income is a holiday rental property which has had all bookings cancelled.
One issue is that the more people drive unnecessarily the more they have to go to fuel stations, they also run the risk of breakdowns or accidents. It also contributes to a culture of people not taking it seriously and thinking ‘well she’s out so i’ll just do XYZ it’ll be fine’.
I do understand @Perki, please don't think that I don't, but it's so important to minimise all risk. Baby wipes won't do anything I'm afraid, so if you handle money that someone infected has handled, that's the problem, right there. My daughter, despite all precautions [food retail ] has symptoms, so anyone who has been in contact with her is at risk. That could have been you, if you lived near here.
Please take care, and think carefully about everything you do, for your own sake, your Dad's sake, and those whose gardens you're tending
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
As for professional gardeners while I was on the plot I noticed that the council contractors were grass cutting on the estate opposite.
@Perki, I totally agree, from reading UK press and speaking to friends and family there - it is absolutely NOT a full lockdown like in other European countries and many factories and businesses including retail businesses such as hardware shops and newsagents have not been ordered to close and thus people are expected to work there or patronise them. And who do we think are processing, packing and delivering all those online orders or educating the children of key workers? @Obelixx those people are expected to go to work and absolutely cannot stay at home!
BTW in my experience here is Spain, and I can only speak for my area of course, everyone is being extremely obedient and observing all the precautions and restrictions politely and respectfully.
@Perki- I understand the problem only too well, but ask yourself this:
Do you get payment by Direct Debit or similar?
If not, do you clean your hands thoroughly after handling a cash payment/envelope
Do you clean and 'disinfect' your hands after each session in a garden?
Do you take care to do that after you go into a petrol station to fill up your vehicle?
Do you go somewhere to buy your lunch or snacks etc?
Do you then do the hand cleaning afterwards?
Is everyone in your household following similar rules?
If not..... you can create a risk to others, and they can also be a risk to you.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Mainly mowing and handling own tools so in out
Plenty of gloves in the van roughly 20 pairs and petrol station have gloves
home for dinner and work and live with dad so we are in the same boat.
The problems are does sitting at home pay for the bills for the self employed, what about food , I am I / others going to starve - lose my home and everything else which has took years or a lifetime to build. It alright sitting at home if you have something to fall back on employee rights / saving / family but millions of people live week by week.
The government needs to sort this out and fast
It is like a part lock down @Nollie , I don't even understand going out for exercise if its supposed to be a lock down it can be abused multiple times a day and going to the supermarket .
One issue is that the more people drive unnecessarily the more they have to go to fuel stations, they also run the risk of breakdowns or accidents. It also contributes to a culture of people not taking it seriously and thinking ‘well she’s out so i’ll just do XYZ it’ll be fine’.
Baby wipes won't do anything I'm afraid, so if you handle money that someone infected has handled, that's the problem, right there.
My daughter, despite all precautions [food retail ] has symptoms, so anyone who has been in contact with her is at risk. That could have been you, if you lived near here.
Please take care, and think carefully about everything you do, for your own sake, your Dad's sake, and those whose gardens you're tending
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...