General Chat

A friend of Mr Owl’s is a delivery driver and has this week delivered items including coal, patio furniture, trampolines and go karts. Apart from coal are these items really essential enough to put delivery drivers at risk.

Tawny, even though I think ordering trivial items at the moment wrong, I can see reasons for those.

Trampolines and go karts for children - to keep occupied and give exercise - some exercise dogs on trampolines.

Patio furniture - to get outside so you aren't stuck indoors, you can leave it outside so you aren't moving it all the time. I have a husband with a bad back and he looks deceptively very fit and I couldn't manage regularly moving chairs and a smallish table on my own without dragging them and possibly damaging them.

I understand why people are ordering things. The company he works for is now trying to deliver 25% more items than they do at Christmas and delivery drivers all over the country are struggling with the extra work load.

Shops though that are closed are trying to keep afloat with online shopping so that people ordering are keeping businesses going

Essential shopping is for folks going out to shop I thought

My son in law and grandson are both lorry drivers and still working and it’s keeping the families afloat money wise as it’s no work no money as they aren’t salaried so wouldnt qualify for state assistance

Grandson too is still doing continental runs

They both do commercial deliveries

I have to agree what might seem trivial things are in fact helping to keep people in work. The companies have to ensure the drivers are protected as much as possible.

Surely it's better to 'struggle' a bit to keep businesses afloat? Enough companies are folding.

Putting my hand up and admitting to waiting for new patio furniture.

The last of the wooden chairs finally gave up.

Delivery companies that don’t manage to get deliveries out can get fined which depending on the margins could affect the drivers jobs. It’s about finding the balance of enough deliveries to keep drivers working without it costing jobs because of an unmanageable workload. I am also aware of the difficulties faced by owner drivers as they need to keep the vehicle on the road and if they can’t then their job disappears.

I see buying online as keeping my favourite companies afloat, all the brick and mortar places are closed except for "essential services" such as grocery and liquor (!!) stores.

If I planned to buy new patio furniture this year, why not buy it now and have it delivered, so I can enjoy the sunshine???

I've just ordered some clothes, some books,some sleep well relaxing lavender balm, and some special chocolates, all online..

Do I really need the clothes, or the sleep aid?? Probably not right now. I would have ordered them online anyway in "normal times" ............. but it helps me. It also helps the stores, and it helps, in my case, to keep the Post Office working.

The only item that I would have normally bought right now would be the chocolates, and I would have sent OH out to the chocolatier on his usual once every 2 week shop there ;-)

We had a garden bench delivered, it was in a large box in five parts. The delivery driver brought it around the side to the garden and social distancing was observed at all times.

I erected it under OH's close supervision in the sunshine which we spent the best part of a morning but it was something we did together and survived to tell the tale :-D

OH can now slowly walk down the garden have a sit down and then can slowly walk back. He can also sit on the bench and play fetch with the dog.

Was it essential in the true sense of the word.....possibly not:-0 But as OH can't venture out it has now made the whole garden more accessible for him :-)

Sounds a lot more essential than ours ( will be once we get it ;-) )

I just ordered some new knickers which are very essential in Windy Wales
:-D :-D :-D

do you mean bloomers, Ann????

I well remember the navy blue bloomers that were part of my school uniform, way back when :-D :-D

Our school bloomers were even worse...they were maroon :-0 :-0 :-0 :-D :-D

:-0 :-0

I wonder which colour really would be worse??

I used to see large white bloomers on some of the washing lines back then ..........no children in the house, so had to be the adult lady(ies) :-0

Oh yes for sure...I remember my Nan having a bloomer boil wash many a time..they were made of very sturdy material back in the day.

:-D :-D :-D

:-D :-D :-D :-D

My daughter will argue the junk food she orders is essential too :-)

:-D :-D