What Did They Expect?

[ToraToraTora]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-53773914
This is exactly why I won't be travelling until this madness is over. Why are these eejits so desperate do visit another country? Now it's a field day for the travel companies who can charge what they like. This was always bound to happen.

[Deskdiary]

So try and keep up Teacake - the odds are much greater than that now, and your ‘thinking’ recently that they would shrink has been proven wildly wrong.

[BAKERS DOZEN]

We go to France every year for 4 wks in April/May and then 4 wks in Sept/Oct. If its nice weather and the fishing is good we often stay another couple of weeks each time. April was cancelled and we got a full cash refund in 10 days. Been looking forward to Sept but looks like that may be cancelled. We drive down to the Eurotunnel where the booth recognises our number plate and lets us through once it as printed our ticket. The only human we see is at passport control. We drive onto the train and sit in our car for the half hour journey and then drive three hours with no stops to our destination - two large carp lakes where he fishes and I read. We go to our favourite
restaurant once a week - ok we will miss that and go for a chinese buffet another day and we'll miss that also. Can't stand beaches and loads of people. We may see a couple of people each day so all that is much preferable to another 4 wks of sitting at home watching goodness how many repeats on the box. At the end of the holiday I'd be quite happy to self isolate for 14 days as that's what we do anyway. Both in our 70's and both with lung diseases. Only fly in the ointment is that our travel insurance is null and void if we go but we have 4 weeks to go yet so will hope things change for the better. We have friends who live in France where we could stay if there was total lockdown once we arrived. Smallest glimmer of an opportunity and we're off.

[Deskdiary]

Quite right BAKERS DOZEN, go for; the chances of you catching it or passing it with interaction as little as that is as close to zero as it’s possible to get.

[Deskdiary]

TTT - is there a village in the UK called Spain.

Bravo.

I reckon Teacake lives there as well.

[diddlydo]

Desk Diary, NJ and Bakers Dozen - well said! I'm 71 and want to get up and go rather than hiding behind the settee preaching gloom and doom.

[jourdain2]

Agreed, Diddly. At 87 Mr J2 is fed-up of being told to 'Take Care' and 'Stay Safe' because, as he says and I agree whole-heartedly, the minute you are born you are at risk. Life is fraught with dangers. We both know that there can't be many more good times to come (both still fairly healthy and mobile) and would like to use our time as we wish; if no-one minds. Don't think about us, please, just open up the country and get back to normal. We'll look after ourselves, thanks, we are not stupid and have somehow managed to live quite a long time.

[Deskdiary]

I have so much so much admiration for you and yet husband’s attitude J2 - I totally agree with every word you have said.

I’m trying to sort out our back to the office schedule at the moment, and I have a healthy 30 year old who says she’s “too scared” to come back!!!

[New Judge]

//We both know that there can't be many more good times to come (both still fairly healthy and mobile) and would like to use our time as we wish;//

And there’s the scandal. This government has taken upon itself to embark on a course of action which does not enable people to use their time as they wish. Why this is continuing is a little mysterious. I don’t know the government’s current aim with the virus; I’m not sure they do. But whilst they’re doing it people and businesses are being seriously inconvenienced.

A 30-year old too scared to go back to work? Simple. Lay him off, then he can spend more time in the pub and wherever else he is spending his day – until his cash runs out.

The irrationality and paranoia that has developed in this country over such a short period is terrifying. What on Earth is the matter with people? Whatever strategy the government is pursuing it does not include enough encouragement for people to get back to some semblance of normality. It’s a scandal the likes of which I have never seen and hope that nobody ever does again.

[Apc2604]

I would not stay in this country because I was scared. I would stay because of all the uncertainty world wide about restrictions. No way would I enjoy a holiday wearing a face mask or having to obey another country's covid rules and regulations.

As it is, these days I have many health issues and am disabled. Insurance is sky high and I can't face air travel any more. I have done my fair share of travel and am content to stay put. Living where I do is one long holiday anyway.

[dave50]

Out of interest, if you have to quarenteen yourself for 14 days, how is it policed? Do they depend on nosey neighbours or what? From what people have said to me, there wouldn't be many who would lock there selves away for 2 weeks 'just in case'.

[BAKERS DOZEN]

Even if you are in quarantine you can still go shopping for food and other essentials if there is no-one else to do it for you. I only shop once a week now so nothing would change for us.

[Jackdaw33]

Wait till the furlough payments stop; then we'll see who is willing to go back to work.

[Mamyalynne]

I never really got bitten by the wanderlust bug, so I feel for those who are missing their travel and overseas holidays just now.

[Peter Pedant]

// I never really got bitten by the wanderlust bug,//

yeah there really has to be a ruin or museum ( or both or more than one of either) to get me er lusting
wander anywhere really

hurghada - o god there was nothing to DOOOOOOOOO !
answer er yeah that is the point and why so many people go.
me - - - oh

[tonyav]

4 hours 24 mins to get back !
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/coronavirus/france-quarantine-day-of-travel-chaos-as-britons-race-to-beat-4am-deadline/ar-BB17YcwM?li=BBoPWjQ

[ToraToraTora]

diddly: "We were intending to go to France in May, July and September - all OFF and no prospect of going for the foreseeable future. We feel totally cheated by this inept, make it as you go along, government. " - how has the government cheated you? Unless, presumably you think the governments of the world should have done nothing to combat the virus so you can go abroad. What a strange thing to say.

[ummmm]

I suppose it's our governments fault when other countries put travel restrictions on the Brits.

[dannyk13]

TTT // What a strange thing to say.//
Is that not perfectly what you would expect from Diddly?

[ToraToraTora]

"I am sure that Jackdaw can stand up for himself but Diddles please grow up. How old are you? Educated to what level? Reading age? " - she's educated in Oxford you know!

[Prudie]

It really is pointless arguing about this as people have their fixed views and that's it but do want to point out the government made a big deal of announcing airbridges to a selection of countries in June giving everyone who wanted to go ahead and book holidays their backing, airlines and holiday companies grabbed everyone's money - then with no warning they changed their mind and everyone is left being treated abominably with nowhere to turn. The travel sector won't answer the phone and refunds are very hard to obtain. The shutting of these airbridges was almost overnight with little or no help to travellers. It has absolutely been inept and make it up as you go along. The people stuck in this situation didn't book against advice - they booked when according to the Govt it was fine to do so.