Enjoying yesterday’s sunshine
To shop or not to shop?
Should we be buying non-essential items at the moment? On the one hand, continuing our shopping habits (but online of course) helps to save jobs and keep our economy floating. On the other hand, should we be asking people to work outside the home to create, pick and deliver goods to the nation? What is the ethical position on this?
The Government advice to consumers has not be clear, so I posed it as a question to my Facebook friends. And I learned that businesses have been told “Online retail is still open and encouraged.” But it took me quite a bit of searching to find the primary source of that quote, which is bizarrely in an article headed Further businesses and premises to close: guidance (23rd March).
In full it says:
Takeaway and delivery services may remain open and operational in line with guidance on Friday 20 March. Online retail is still open and encouraged and postal and delivery service will run as normal.
It’s a pity that hasn’t been conveyed clearly to us, the consumers.
To be honest I’m not in the mood to buy new clothes. But we have Easter and some family birthdays coming up so it is good to know that I can still share those occasions. Our local garden centre has moved online, which is very useful now we are spending more time working on the garden. (“We” is rather euphemistic – I enjoy watching my husband doing the garden!)
The one thing we have bought online since being in self-isolation is a new vacuum cleaner. We usually have someone to clean the place every week, but we are strictly not admitting anyone to the house at the moment. We divided up the jobs between the two of us but then discovered that neither of us could carry the (newish) vacuum cleaner upstairs easily! We are here for the long haul and don’t want to leave everything dusty for what could be several months, so we ordered a new lightweight cordless cleaner. It arrived very promptly and does the job well.
Which reminds me – don’t forget cleaners, home hairdressers and other self employed people who offer services in the home. They are finding life really difficult financially at the moment. In our case, we have set up a standing order to cover our cleaner’s pay in the interim. As I’ve mentioned before, those of us who are not suffering a financial kickback at the moment should be doing our best to support those who are.
So the message is: carry on shopping!
Please note
We have been in full self-isolation since 16th March to protect my husband whose immune system is compromised.
If you are in self-isolation then join the Lib Dems in self-isolation Facebook group.
You can find my previous Isolation diaries here.
* Mary Reid is a contributing editor on Lib Dem Voice. She was a councillor in Kingston upon Thames, where she is still very active with the local party, and is the Hon President of Kingston Lib Dems.
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11 Comments
Mary Reid: “We divided up the jobs between the two of us but then discovered that neither of us could carry the (newish) vacuum cleaner upstairs easily!”
I own the upstairs vacuum and the downstairs one, which reside in different closets. They occasionally meet.
We have solved the cleaner problem, she now takes the ironing home.
My wife an I use the same local doctors’ surgery and have done for decades. Both our appointments today have been cancelled and converted into telephone appointments.
we both got bossy text messages from the government, who could learn better manners.
Gardening is my hobby, so the instruction is to do what I would be doing anyway on dry days.
When David Cameron resigned as an MP there was a bye-election. I saw a man sitting in a chair in his front garden vacuuming up fallen leaves. I was unable to find a cordless version of his gadget, so have used the cordless lawnmower from a firm which also makes cordless machinery for use inside the house. The fallen leaves have thereby been shredded and composted, mixed with coffee grouts.
I have enquired about a walnut tree, but they grow to about 100 feet high, which would be OK on our sloping site, near a sequoia sempervirens, blocking a view of an industrial estate. The books say that walnuts are best planted from seed and are vulnerable to honey fungus in the ground.
for those who don’t see Mary’s facebook page, this is what I unashamedly suggested on that for those interested in buying online. It isn’t just buying things we need or want, it is actually helping some who cannot sell in another way too.
Traidcraft are in the very difficult postion of having bought in the Easter Eggs in the expectation of selling mainly through Churches and their stalls, but of course that isn’t going to happen. If they aren’t sold for Easter they aren’t going to get sold, and of course they are dated. They also sell items like Easter cards and crosses for presents. It would be VERY helpful indeed if peoplel have a look online to order ( or buy from their local Traidcraft person, if known, who have stocks they cannot move). https://www.traidcraftshop.co.uk/easter/easter-eggs…
The lasses at my local Polish grocer were erecting Easter banners. That is where I will shop for decent chocs.
Thanks, Suzanne. I followed your advice and have ordered eggs from Traidcraft.
That will keep you rolling along Mary. Enjoy.
Well, that makes patronising the online West Yorkshire specialist beer supplier (Belgian etc.) seem slightly more virtuous!
I ordered a new monitor online on Thursday, with Amazon Free Delivery, so it’s supposed to take several days to arrive (the auto email said it would arrive by 31 March). It arrived on Friday lunchtime left in the foyer of our block of flats as is the new practice with deliveries that do not require a signature. Maybe people aren’t ordering electronics online now, although I find that surprising. I ordered it because my previous VDU (a 10yo flatscreen TV) doesn’t work satisfactorily with my computer equipment. One could certainly argue it was essential because i need it for working from home, and as I could be doing so for many months, I need a suitable home office environment. Many models were already out of stock when I checked online, so people must have been ordering them. It would be interesting to know whether online retailers are prioritising electronic devices, and if so whether they can distinguish between those purchased for serious purposes or for, say, gaming.
I’m definitely getting plenty of emails from retailers who are keen for my online business, but I wish there was a way of knowing which ones were adapting their warehouse work practices to ensure the best possible safety and welfare of their staff. All while mindful that COVID 19 isn’t the only ‘risk’ out there.
This isn’t a short-term thing. Buying things that help us to stay at home and to keep going safely over the coming weeks are reasonable. If we end this period of social distancing and self-isolation with very high unemployment and no money to spend on public services then there will be a whole new set of problems for public health and the NHS.
Those who didn’t routinely work from home may have a substandard working arrangement, so getting the right monitor, keyboard and/or laptop stand will save your eyes, your back, your wrists and your sanity.
Being able to keep your home clean isn’t just about creating a nice environment, it keeps us healthier. The last thing anyone needs when there is a pandemic of a disease causing respiratory distress identified by coughing is to live in a dusty environment. Although I think a lot of us clearing out cupboards are experiencing a few temporarily concerning coughs!
Some may think that decorating and gardening aren’t essential, and not all of it will be, but we need to use our judgement. It’s much easier to persuade people that their life isn’t being wasted cooped up at home if they can do something constructive with their time and it’s a great way to stay active without having to leave your own house or garden, leaving more space for everyone else.
The last trivial items bought on line were delivered a few day days ago. I ordered them 28 days ago. Two reasons for that.
One: I thought they would pass through the supply chain in time; more or less what I thought.
Two: I have five fingers on each hand and that is all I need to work out basic arithmetic.
If I don’t need it, I can live without it,.