I went out today and panic bought dog food.... I don't mind going hungry with a pooey bvm.. but my boy ain't!!
There will be a lot of people going stir crazy these coming months. For some older people the only time they get out is for a coffee with friends at one of the multitude of coffee shops. Working at home suits some people but for others it's purgatory. It's tragic that the country with the first National health service has fallen far behind other European countries in terms of beds available, and it is about to be overwhelmed. There seems to be quite a lot of people who don't take it very seriously, and this doesn't help to contain the spread. My daughter has only just been allowed to work from home as from today because the staff refused to come in to the City to work. She had to send an intern home because she came in despite her brother having a fever, so fingers crossed for her. Anyway, I've got enough beer kits to make 30 gallons so I'm OK.
Closing every leisure venue is probably the biggest shock to people's way of life yet, along with closing all the schools. No cafe's, not restaurants, no pubs, no cinemas, no clubs. No 'night life' of any kind. The streets of London will feel much more sinister after dark now. No safety in numbers. Less demand on the Police perhaps, but they will still have to be on patrol if only to protect essential service workers. I hope parks and open spaces like that remain open for as long as possible. People have to have somewhere to go apart from shopping trips. Good luck to our doctors, nurses, support staff, all those who have to keep essential services running. That includes the internet, TV and radio of course, and the mobile phone network, as well as electricity, gas and water. They will need massive support. They are the ones keeping everything going now. There is a War on. It's our duty to behave responsibly and look out for each other. Not to cheat or profiteer, or take food out of the mouths of others.
The most important thing to remember though, is that this will pass. Right now it might feel to some folk like the lifestyle they knew is disappearing forever. Many younger people especially, whose lives are so integrated with socialising, are really going to struggle to adjust. Admittedly in many ways things will never be quite the same again, but the bars and the cinemas and the football grounds will eventually re-open. The next year or so is going to be a test of character that none of us were expecting. We'll get through it though.
In a world full of stupid people Brendan O'Neill (and the Spectator) takes the whole cake shop for being the most stupid
So Brendan O'Neill's social life down the pub is more important than saving thousands of lives, and preventing the dreadful wave of grief and suffering that would cause. His right to go and have a drink should be protected, and to hell with hospitals overflowing with critically ill folk, mortuaries overflowing with victims of the virus, health workers breaking down under the strain of an impossible work load, and doctors having to decide who lives and who dies because there are 10 sick people for every ICU bed. That is what the 'sinister' and 'wrong' decisions of the Government are trying to prevent. We cannot just breeze through our lives secure in our civil rights, while taking no responsibility to look after each other and agree to give up some of our freedom of lifestyle choices when there is a national (and indeed global) crisis. We rightly condemn terrorists for putting their political / religious ambitions before human life. People like Mr O'Neill putting his political ideology before the lives of thousands of other people is just as deplorable. He has a right to state his opinion of course. But we have a right to call his opinions a load of selfish, irresponsible horseshit.
We must accept now that a lot of people will die. But if we fail to slow the spread of the virus a huge number will die needlessly, as saving their lives will depend on having an intensive care bed available. If we do nothing, it will not just result in more people dying. It will result in the total collapse of the NHS. No medical treatment available for anybody. People with heart conditions, cancer, and any other serious illness. If the NHS collapses, our society could be consumed by riots and lawlessness. Services like water, electricity and gas could fail. Banks and electronic money could fail. We might descend into anarchy that would kill millions from desease or starvation or violence. Preserving the NHS is the most important thing the Government, and all of us, must help to do now. It is the only moral course of action.
A body blow to Skipper and Elf https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51981653 @Royston Rejuvenated will starve without restaurants @The mighty Elfsborg will die of thirst without pubs Troubling times indeed!
@AllHellLetLoose My phone was humming last night after the announcement, with similar comments As I frantically scrambled in the shed for dated instructions on how to work the oven...my son gave me the news I dreamt of “takeaways will remain open Dad”.
@AllHellLetLoose On the announcement of pub closures I rang the local off licences who confirmed they are well stocked and do home deliveries. #supportyourlocaltrader
@The mighty Elfsborg I was pleased to see that dog owner’s who have pooches with an arses like jet sprays have been banned from exercising them. This is a sensible public health measure, and I’m sure the good people of New Eltham will be highly relieved.
My supply of home brew is endless- always 2 barrels on the go so as never to run out. I hope the NHS staff get the protection equipment they need soon. It looks as though many of them will contract the virus soon anyway. Then what?
I have read that dogs now have to use the owner's toilet. Fouling the back garden will result in a £5,000 fine.
Under new Coronavirus Emergency Legislation, citizens are required to dial a number to report irresponsible dog owners who are continuing to allow their mutts to foul the pavements of places like New Eltham. I confess that I dialled the number yesterday (more than once, just to make sure).
