What s wromg with the UK?

Suziewoozie I included Windrush because it's one of the many things that's wrong with the UK. Thjis thread isn't meant to be just about cv.

Mamie So am I (also on the other side).

If France, Spain and others can accept closures and strict restrictions on movement then why can't the UK?

But they couldn't, Mamie! This is 'fake news'!

We mustn't be selective and criticise our behaviour when European countries were doing exactly the same.

The fact that social isolation wasn't being adhered to is why this major lockdown has been implemented

Plenty of articles about this

Here's just one for you

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/19/the-end-of-joie-de-vivre-france-gets-serious-on-coronavirus

I am genuinely interested to know why the UK is acting differently.

We're not acting differently

The shops still have plenty of food for the health workers though, unlike here

Dinahmo I posted a thread similar to yours on Feb 16!

It disappeared almost immediately. Nobody interested.

www.rfi.fr/en/france/20200317-panic-buying-grips-paris-as-coronavirus-lockdown-kicks-in

No, WW2

Panic buying all over the world

My friend is in Alaska and has the exact same problems that we're seeing here

Oopsminty. The people out in the parks of Paris happened over last weekend. Lockdown started here on Tuesday. The police are now everywhere. I have to say that people were taking it seriously round here before that, but Paris is where the journalists seem to go for their stories.
Believe me it is very serious now.

There are still some shortages because a lot of people went panic buying on Tuesday morning. Tomorrow DH will go to pick up an online shop. He has to go alone, with his self-certificate for shopping. If he goes to any other shops, people queue a metre apart. All shops are closed except food and pharmacy. All bars and restaurants are shut.

Din but I honestly don’t think we can have a coherent discussion about Windrush on a general thread which inevitably will skew towards CV. I’m not being critical - just would like WR to be a proper discussion

Mamie My OH went shopping this morning. I gave him a list of suggestions and he came back with everything! It wasn't a long list and not huge quantities. It seems fairer to just shop for 2 or 3 days, rather than buy masses of stuff.

suziewoozie I take your point and you are right. I think Windrush as been discussed before. It's just that I was enraged by the news and let it all (or nearly all) hang out.

Oopsminty. The people out in the parks of Paris happened over last weekend.

Yes, Mamie

But we're behind France and other countries

Whether that was wise is certainly questionable but we are late to the table as such and even now we're not in a serious lockdown compared to other EU countries

Not fair to suggest that Europeans are behaving better or worse

Dinahmo We had been slowly stocking up for several weeks so tomorrow will be the first trip out for eight days.
I walk in the village with a French friend some afternoons and we decided it was against the rules to go together, so went separately! Did you see the lunchtime news today with the gendarmes cracking down on the people going to the beach to walk? I think you now have to stay within 15 minutes of home. The Parisians are definitely unpopular for going to their second homes for lockdown.

It’s not just us.
A Swedish friend in Stockholm is seeing panic buying, bare shelves, etc. And I dare say many other nationalities would say the same.

On the plus side, I’ve heard of masses of local help groups being set up. Where I live, days ago there were several offers of help for anybody needing it, emailed to dh, who is active in the residents’ association. And more have come in since.

Some GNers seem to me to be very eager to Brit-bash at every opportunity. They seem to positively enjoy thinking that we’re worse than everybody else.

Great post, Witzend

It's baffling

More info about the irrational panic buying that's gripping everywhere

Many stores here are having opening hours solely for the elderly and NHS workers.

Lots of very good people here

www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2020/03/16/Coronavirus-Europe-calls-for-calm-as-food-shortage-fears-spark-panic-buying

Lockdown here and the only places open are food shops and Pharmacies no problems, all schools closed since Monday and online lessons since then.
Many shops have special times but I am using my amazing family run(since 1912) corner shop.
To use a British adage, they saw the area through 2 world wars and I am sure they will help us through this.
The rules are very strict here, but walking is allowed so DGS and I plan to go to the local lakes tomorrow and see if the babies have hatched yet.
Stay safe everyone.

Sadly the main areas where shops have been stripped of goods is where a high population of Brits live ummmm

Oh give over, Felice

Sadly the main areas where shops have been stripped of goods is where a high population of Brits live ummmm

Are you a troll, felice?

That has to be the most pathetic comment I've seen on these boards for a long time

Any evidence?

No. Of course not.

Why frequent a board with many British people when you have such a low opinion of us?

Felice I assume that you're talking about Brits abroad. Well, I live in the Dordogne which probably has the highest percentage of Brits and also some Dutch, Americans and Australians. In my commune, population over 600, there are 19 full time resident Brits and I think it's the same all over, apart from one or two towns so I hardly think that's a high population of us.

Mamie I didn't see the lunchtime news but will look later on. Gardening at the moment. I thought that the certificates allowed us to go for walks for our health (or for dogs) I suppose they think that lots of people will congregate on the beaches. Also, it's a fairly easy target for them - don't have to work quite as hard as if they had to police a densely wooded area.

I am delighted to see the number of help groups that have been created in the last few days in my own local community. Thank you all.

I have been listening to the news reports from the PM and experts and the range of help being given to various sectors. It worries me that there has been a complete lack of priority given to helping our most vulnerable and pensioner living in poverty. We now know there has been an incredible increase in poverty in recent months, though I not sure of the main reason. Is it due to a far better way of reporting or gov cuts in some benefits?

OOPS yes we can prove it, there a high pockets of Brits living in certain Communes here, statistically they were the first ones to have shelves stripped and bring in rationing.

Take care what you say, none of the shops around me are having problems, as I have said on another post our local retailers are sensible and organised and the local population appear to be respecting that.

Only speaking for here but thats the way it goes.

Very high population here but will not be the same after January 2021.

I am delighted to see the number of help groups that have been created in the last few days in my own local community. Thank you all.

Hear, hear, Wiltshiregran. As ever we are very quick to talk our country down by concentrating on the bad elements in our society, slow to praise the many good people. I've lived in another European country and know the exact opposite applies there.

Our local Facebook group is full of people and organisations offering help to the vulnerable and anyone struggling in the current climate. These people get barely a mention in the media.