For folk in their 80’s who have been going for 60 plus years it is a large part of their limited social life.
of course, but there are plenty of others whose otherwise limited social life has been curtailed. Meanwhile, if someone in the central belt wants to walk up a Corbet or Munro on their own for their own spiritual benefit that is not acceptable.
My post was ( mostly) to give an insight into how the churches are set up, not compare attending one to anything else. But you probably knew that.
Looking for what’s allowed travel wise from Friday. My dad passed away at Christmas and I never made it home for the funeral (I live abroad). I am finally going to visit/stay with my mum this weekend. She has a long list of jobs for me to do while I am there and need to get to garden centers/b+q etc. My mum lives in Menstrie, clackmannanshire and B+q/wickes are about 4 or 5 miles away in Stirling,, can I go or do I need to go over to Falkirk which is further away at about 15 miles? More importantly, to her, is her hairdressers is also in Stirling and I think she has made an appointment.
The rules say that you must stay within your LA, unless for an essential purpose. Personally, I'd go with the most local option.
Hairdressers open on Monday but I don't think visiting one would be classed as essential, so not within the rules to travel to another LA for one.
I reckon Clacks should be a special case given it's so small.
@andy4d - going to buy essential materials for maintenance of a household is a legitimate reason to leave your own local authority. Not sure why you'd go to Falkirk (its also not in Clacks). No doubt someone will want a debate about whether a tin of paint or packet of grass seed is an essential material - but since the shops selling those are open and have no constraints on what they can sell I think you can take it that this is mostly about common sense and avoiding excessive travel/mixing (just in case you actually need a garden centre - I think they are closed but B&Q garden dept will be open). You can be almost certain that there will be no police officer checking up at Springkerse retail park! I have similar dilemmas - drive 15 miles from where I live (with currently very low local cases) to one of the worst hotspots in the country (still within my LA) or drive 3 miles to another LA area that also has virtually no cases. I know what I would do!
The haircut is probably more of an issue, at least by the rules. The expectation is she would stay within Clacks for the haircut. If they've accepted her booking (and she's presumably provided her track n trace details) then in your circumstances - taking a recently widowed (presumably fairly elderly) woman to her regular hairdresser a short drive from home, which will probably cheer her up a bit, I'd be inclined to go with it! A very cynical approach might say - most likely outcome: nobody says anything, very small possibility - police officer tells you to go home, even less possibility a police officer issues a fixed penalty (which if you pay it quickly will be £30)! Personally, I'd consider paying £30 to make my mum feel better in those circumstances!
Thanks. Poly I am getting confused with LA/ county/Forth valley etc, I just remember her complaining last year that she had to go to M+S in Falkirk rather than Stirling for some reason, might of been when my Dad was in hospital there. I guess I am ok going to Stirling then to get the ‘essential’ B+Q/wickes bits then. Just wanted to check as currently I have to drive through 2 police check points each day going to work here so not sure what the set up currently is in Scotland. I will tell her to get the bus for her hair if she wants to be a rebel 😂.
Just wanted to check as currently I have to drive through 2 police check points each day going to work here so not sure what the set up currently is in Scotland.
Where are you? I presume you are aware of the quarantine rules? Far more significant penalties by breaking them by going shopping. You could get stuff delivered though and do the work whilst in quarantine (if you are allowed to quarantine at home).
I think you'll find Police Scotland have much more of a passive approach to enforcement!
I will tell her to get the bus for her hair if she wants to be a rebel 😂.
she'll be safer if you give her a lift (assuming you are out of quarantine)
@ Poly, I am in Republic of Ireland so no need for quarantine etc coming over as it’s part of common travel area (but I am getting a test to be sure anyway) so I can just travel to Scotland with no issues as far as I know. It harder getting back in to Ireland as that involves filling in passenger locator form/ negative PCR test and quarantining at home on my return.
I'm in Clacks and have been regularly and legally visiting Stirling for essential DIY supplies without issue. To my knowledge, there are no DIY chains in Clacks at all. There is a family run hardware shop in Alva which is handy - it can be cheaper for bits and bobs than Wickes or B&Q. Jewsons and Beatsons builders merchants in Alloa but from Menstrie you're closer and better connected to Stirling anyway.
I have managed to avoid a few journeys though as both Screwfix and Toolstation do brilliant next day delivery - always worth remembering if you can plan ahead a bit.
@ Poly, I am in Republic of Ireland so no need for quarantine etc coming over as it’s part of common travel area (but I am getting a test to be sure anyway) so I can just travel to Scotland with no issues as far as I know.
apart from by my reading you should not be travelling to scotland unless its for one of the exemptions listed.
have i got that wrong?
Travel between Scotland and the rest of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man
Under current Scottish law, given the state of the epidemic, unless you have a reasonable excuse (see exceptions) you must not travel between Scotland and:
England
Northern Ireland
Wales
Republic of Ireland
JerseyGuernsey
The Isle of Man
apart from by my reading you should not be travelling to scotland unless its for one of the exemptions listed.
Is visiting mother following death of father not a 'reasonable excuse'? Even if it's not I wouldn't blame anyone for doing it.
I obviously missed a critical post. what a fud. apologies
Is visiting mother following death of father not a ‘reasonable excuse’? Even if it’s not I wouldn’t blame anyone for doing it.
There are a couple of possible reasonable excuses which apply - either compassionate reasons relating to the end of a persons life, or caring for a vulnerable person. I think Andy faces far more risk of being stopped and grilled at the airport/ferry and having to justify these reasons than he does at B&Q once he is here.
but I am getting a test to be sure anyway
Whilst that is a sensible precaution keep in mind: 1. No test can 100% be sure of picking up the virus even if you are infectious; 2. All tests will miss the virus for a period of time from infection - hence the isolation periods for contacts; 3. Your mother is, presumably, old enough to both be particularly vulnerable and have been vaccinated. If she was vaccinated more than two weeks ago there is a good chance, but definitely not certainty, that she will have some protection - but whilst 90% sounds very good, it’s 90% less likely to get very sick (but still a risk of nasty virus at home sick) and don’t forget that 10% chance - there are still small numbers of >70s being admitted to hospital, most of whom have been vaccinated. If there are any underlying immune disorders etc it increases the risk the vaccine won’t be as effective on first dose.
Providing care for a relative is most definetly a reasonable excuse.
I live in causewayhead so close to the council borders and often on and the roundabout you turn left to to get to b and q from clacks to take mrs. to work (pretty much on the boundry line)
It is absolutely heaving with traffic coming from clacks into stirling and beyond. You will have no worries!!
lockdown is as good as over apart from some shops being shut.
lockdown is as good as over apart from some shops being shut.
What about gyms. swimming pools, pubs and restaurants?
Depending on your interests, a lot of the economy is still in lockdown.
I think he's referring to the amount of folk cutting about.
Don't worry though, this lovely weather will have them back indoors again until we're all allowed out on Friday 😉
lockdown is as good as over
Happy days.
Any news about opening up travel restrictions, and when travel to the Islands (specifically Mull) will be permitted for us heathens from south of the border? Sturgeon said she would be consulting the island authorities about opening up at end of april, but I haven't seen anything since. Not sure whether to cancel and book somewhere in England rather than be left until everywhere else is booked up. Going away from 10th May.
@rapidrob I believe the consultation exercise ended only last Friday. I'd give them a couple of weeks to agree the phasing. Likely we'll get an announcement 3 weeks from yesterday. 10th May looks a bit optimistic, though not impossible. I'm booked for Uist in June and hoping that'll be OK.
last I heard was the comment they were going to discuss with the island councils about opening back up. Islands will be going straight into lower tiers so they won't want another Shetland incident.
Further restrictions ease on the 26th and we are back into tier systems depending on local authority. I think May is too keen
Edit - basically what Scotroutes said
Cheers, yes it is looking unlikely. I'd rather have a definite no, than the maybe that we have at the moment. First world problems I know...
Some of the islands are already in Tier 3. If the ongoing restrictions prevent cross-tier travel then who knows what'll happen? The islands could go to Tier 2 just as the rest of us go to Tier 3. 😊
A lot of the local spikes in cases seem to be school related. The current approach gets these identified, contacts traced and tested, and seems to snuff them out over a week to 10 days, although it seems to be tasking a bit longer in West Lothian.
We are waiting on confirmation that it is 100% that all pupils return to school after the Easter Holidays.
No news here in Shetland yet whether we'll go from tier 3 to tier 2 (or variation on it), or whether we'll be allowed to travel off island when the rest of mainland Scotland will be allowed to travel freely.
Any consultation seems to have been with various business groups and agencies, not the public at large. No idea what the overall response was from here.
Publicly there's very mixed feelings up here about it all, but from my point of view of youse can travel throughout the mainland travel to England too, I would like to too.
Cheers, yes it is looking unlikely. I’d rather have a definite no, than the maybe that we have at the moment. First world problems I know…
OK then NO.
This was the situation we were in last summer. Too much maybe, and if, and not on the day you wanted, and not sure the local population really wanted us - so we cancelled: an early "NO" is completely your own decision to make.
FWIW, *I* think Mull is probably more likely to open than some of the more remote islands. But I just saw a headline that Calmac have staff issues so maybe it will not be just a Scot Gov question.
an early “NO” is completely your own decision to make.
But there might be financial implications if the OP needs a refund that is only dependent on an official no.
I have a ferry ticket booked as a bike and walk on for the 28th April to Barra, I have deliberately not cancelled it as I am certain CalMac will do it for me and save me a tenner. Even with the ongoing better news recently there is no danger the wee islands will be taking visitors.
We're due to travel to Mull next week (essential travel) but we won't be hanging around. We've seen a big spike in cases locally here in Moray which I expect is to do with schools re-opening and no doubt will be repeated across the country. It wouldn't surprise me if lockdown is extended rather than relieved until the incidence rate goes down - not all the high risk groups have been vaccinated yet (due mid-April)
Looking at responses on one of the Mull local FB pages, they're not really ready to open up yet.
We’ve seen a big spike in cases locally here in Moray which I expect is to do with schools re-opening
A lot of them were from the Walkers factory in Aberlour. It's disappointing as we were doing so well and now look like a black stain on the map.
Yep, it doesn't look good. It's only about 27 cases that's caused that ^
Although Aberlour is actually in North Speyside and my house is about 50m from the border of South Speyside 😉
But there might be financial implications if the OP needs a refund that is only dependent on an official no.
Thats exactly the boat I was in and lost money as a result (still arguing with travel insurer - but will lose excess at least). But you can't have it both ways - open up if we possibly can (which has to be based on the latest information) OR say its closed early.
I have accommodation booked on Orkney for first week in July; it's refundable until middle of June, not so sure about cancellation policy on the ferry though 🤦♂️ 🤪
Oldtennisshoes which ferry company to Orkney? Northlink will give straight refunds on cancellations with no issue.
Oldtennisshoes, I was a wee bit over £21 to Barra, £10 admin fee for a refund, it was the same for cars.
My own little adventure is booked up for the end of May. Cutting it tight with things opening, but cautiously optimistic now. Was meant to be getting the train in one direction but booking is a bit ropey still so switched to 1-way car hire for around the same money (and actually makes a lot more sense anyway). If things get changed/delayed cancelling isn't an issue.....or i'm suddenly going to need a load of bivvy kit!
Yep, I will lose money if I decide it's a no. Already postponed from last May so can't postpone again ie carry the deposits over.
A bit of social distancing last night. Stretching the rules slightly but less risky than mixing with the hordes at the local country park.
An Argos Pro Action 1. Cost about £30. Long out of production. That one is about 15 years old. Has stood up to storm force winds and heavy rain and kept me dry. Still going strong after being used for around 120 nights touring in the USA. Only downside is weight at around 2kg. But it sets up fast and I am confident it will stand up to almost anything. Fits on top of my back rack. Great headroom. At 6ft 3 I have around a foot and a half spare either end.
It was a rip off of an American design the Sierra Designs Lightyear. THe Lightyear was about 500g lighter by using thinner materials. Not sure the same design in thinner materials would have stood up to the use this tent has had. THe LIghtyear also had the flaw many American tents have that the flyshhet doesn't get close enough to the ground to stop wind driven rain getting underneath.
PA1 was a magnificent tent, Great to see one still in use.
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Lockdowns are unlikely to be needed again as Britain learns to treat coronavirus like flu, Prof Chris Whitty has said.
The chief medical officer said that up to 25,000 people die in a bad flu year without anyone noticing and that accepting some Covid deaths would be the price of keeping schools and business open and allowing people to live a "whole life".
Hopefully this. Get back to normal life.
Well the Eldest had his day back at school on Tuesday and now has to go for a test as one of his friends in his class/bubble has tested positive.
