‘I think people are getting the message at last’
Left the house for my daily walk this morning. The streets are much quieter than they were yesterday at the same time. People in my local Co-op are standing two metres apart from one another. The queue in the post office meandered out of the building and around the corner. The odd police car passed me as I was walking home. I think people (at least where I live) are getting the message at last. Sad it has come to this, but it was a necessity. danros_
‘In construction, it feels a little precarious’
Business as usual here, construction is carrying on and for the moment it’s actually better than normal as our lorries are getting about far quicker than usual. How long it lasts before there is a crucial break in the chain of things we need in order to operate is another matter though. With Swedish trucks, French forklifts, Korean diggers, American dozers etc. it feels a little precarious. Warspite1944
‘I am over 70 and can’t get any food delivered to me. I have given up’
I am over 70 and supposed to be self isolating. So, I signed up for Waitrose online, having shopped with them for 20 years but they are not delivering. I suppose they can’t cope with the demand or maybe they are just delivering to long term online customers. Sainsbury says it is taking no new registrations. Today I signed up with Asda online in the hope that they would deliver groceries to me but when I had painstakingly done a big shop I found their delivery slots were all booked up. I have given up. Defeated. Will have to carry on driving to Waitrose each week and take my chances on the virus. bluemonkey5
‘My work has all but vanished in the last few days’
Lovely to have dogs and walk in the park first thing. Everyone appropriately social distancing. On another note, together with most other self employed people I have already paid half my tax for this year as the government make an assumption about my income based on my last tax return. HMRC have the data – of course there will be variation – but surely this offers a starting point. My work has all but vanished in the last few days. PixelDog64
‘If we sit tight and are patient we will get through this’
I’ve been doing much of my work from home for a few months, for the duration I will be only working from home. I’ll walk round to the local store every four/five days for food and supplies rather than driving a couple of miles to the supermarket. Other than taking rubbish out I’ll not be stepping out of my front door. I am single so it is easy for me to adapt, it won’t be so simple for many others. When you are out and about have some respect for all the key workers, not just the healthcare workers, but the postmen, delivery workers and shop staff. Make sure you’re not obstructing them in any way. If we sit tight and are patient we will get through this. BrianP1967
‘Is company, a home-cooked meal and a bit of help around the house not also an essential human need?
We have a lovely friend who lives alone, an hour’s drive away, who is stage four pancreatic cancer. He’s got a couple of months, possibly only weeks. We’ve been careful to socially isolate for a while, so we don’t think we’re a risk to him, but can’t be 100% certain, so it’s a difficult decision whether to continue to visit him. He has food and the district nurse goes in once a week. Is company, a home-cooked meal and a bit of help around the house not also an essential human need? I’ve been having this conversation in my head in case we’re stopped by the police. Loneliness in the face of one’s oncoming death is surely another form of starvation? Feel damned if we do – or don’t – take the risk of visiting him. RusticRita
‘All of my colleagues at school are being truly inspirational’
Skeleton crew at one of the schools I lead. Keeping open for critical worker families and the ‘extra specials’. All of my colleagues are being truly inspirational. Providing high quality education and pastoral care remotely. Came to work on the tube yesterday. Very shocked that it was packed with non-key workers! No longer using public transport as I think the risk is too great. Driving every day now. Why am I not surprised that ‘our esteemed leader’ makes no mention of schools now and those that are leaving their homes to keep schools open for those that need it! Marcel23
‘In economic terms we are burning down the haystack to find the needles’
Working from home is no big deal for me, just depressing and isolating. The first thing to go out of the window is flexitime, as that cannot be administered without clocking in and out. The IT infrastructure is found lacking. Still, I am not making social media videos of myself as if this was some Herculean challenge and sacrifice. Of more concern is that now we face a global recession and long-term insecurity. A couple of months ago I was thinking of getting a new car. Now I am thinking of walking and living off baked beans. If this is the ‘phoney war’, I await the powdered egg. In economic terms we are burning down the haystack to find the needles. OpenSociety
‘I fear my colleagues, the customers, and my life is on the line for a tin of paint and a roll of wallpaper’
I work at a well known DIY store. There are at least five hardware stores in less than a mile in my area who will all remain open. I am off today and have just phoned my manager. I asked him if we are just selling vital items and he said no it’s open for anyone to buy whatever. My neighbour has just knocked on my door to find out when we open tomorrow. I wouldn’t mind putting my life on the line to feed the nation but I fear my colleagues, the customers and my life is on the line for a tin of paint and a roll of wallpaper. Annasb
‘The information on the government’s website is ambiguous’
It’s ludicrous. My wife’s employer continues to work. They are not running an essential service – their only context of essential is to make sure orders to their customers (other retail outfits and wholesalers) is kept up. The products they provide are not essential and their customers are not services or entities that are fighting or supporting the state. She is not being sent home and when you look at the government website no wonder. The information is ambiguous. And yet my son was sent home this morning and told that he cannot do his job online and therefore is to sit at home on 80% of his salary. Go figure ... MrTitan
‘We are very very lucky’
I run a catering company with my husband. We have lost all work until the summer. And a lot of that is moving to 2021. We are making food for the local shelter and have signed up to help the NHS although we’ve not heard back. We have twin three-year-olds so we’ve been doing lots of baking and crafts, TV and cuddles. My husband and I have enjoyed catching up with family on Zoom and drinking. We’re worried about our parents. We’re worried about our work and income and we’re worried about our children being delayed as they’re not at preschool. Overwhelmingly though – I would say we are very very lucky. bellyjewell
