The Chill Out Zone

[RPWC]

Originally Posted by trikey

Morning all, dry and overcast here today.

Cloud building here now,it’s mild though.

[Lancpudn]

Yeah the sun has disappeared here now I'm planting up the seeds I bought yesterday at Wilko's, Nice & mild in the greenhouse though.

[reworht]

Evening all - to quote George Dixon of Dock Green

Had an early start today - hence my late arrival on the boards.Took the missus to the doctors first thing, and then off to the Club at Great Ayton to oversee the installation of a new door security access system. This took hours, fighting with a recalcitrant PC monitor, fighting with things that wouldn't transfer from one system to another - aaargh!
After that - a long discussion with other officials of the Club about events to be cancelled in view of the coronavirus. It's looking like we may as well close the doors altogether - the trade has dropped off the edge of a cliff to the extent where we're probably not taking enough to pay the electricity bill - never mind owt else.
Luckily, we've always maintained a substantial rainy day fund, so we could survive at least 9 months without getting into trouble - but we would end up with a massively depleted rainy day fund. I suspect we are in a better situation than many similar establishments.

[trikey]

Evening Rod, I reckon there will be a lot of pubs, clubs and small businesses will close because of this, most were just scraping through at the moment.

[reworht]

Originally Posted by trikey

Evening Rod, I reckon there will be a lot of pubs, clubs and small businesses will close because of this, most were just scraping through at the moment.

Too true mate.The licensed trade has suffered massively in the past few years - dirt cheap alcohol in supermarkets and changing habits in people's leisure time have both had an impact. This could well be the final straw for many.
I've been on the management committee of the Club for over 30 years now and have often had to defend having a 'rainy day fund'. Our usual justification was because our building is very old, we would one day cop a big bill for refurbishment. Never in our wildest nightmares could we have imagined the damage a virus could do in such a short period of time. I think some of the new breed of micro pubs will not survive - by sheer definition they are small, and you can't avoid bodily contact in them. Funnily enough, we actually made a small profit in both January and February - but that will be wiped out by March - and we're only half way through the month.
We have a disproportionate number of members in the age range where they need to self isolate, so that just speeds up the decline in turnover.

[trikey]

Difficult times ahead Rod, at least you had the good sense to have a fund in the first place, hopefully this wont last too log (Although I doubt it)

[RPWC]

Atm I am lucky enough to be able to continue working as normal. I work outdoors, alone and don’t have contact with people other than to get paid . I intend to continue until the threat to shoot on sight is given for those who continue working when lockdown has been declared.
My mother is 87;has diabetes, asthma and an irregular heartbeat, so she has had to self isolate for her own safety. The wife has had a cough since long before all this kicked off, so I won’t be going to see my mother on Mother’s Day.Not going to see her for a couple of weeks at least. She doesn’t have internet and wouldn’t have a clue what to do with it even if she had, so phone calls every couple of days instead. Sh has a carer who goes in twice a day and she is carrying anti bac wipes with her and wearing gloves all the time, so she is taking all precautions.

[dattrike]

My 89 year old mum had a fall today, just got her back home after having a CT scan, not allowed to the hospital with her. Got a phone call to pick her up after 5 hours. Drove to Gloucester hospital from her home and back again on main beam most of the way, not done that since starting work in 1969! Passed pubs in Longhope and Birdwood both closed, although one pub in Huntley was open. Can't believe how empty the roads are.

[coolcat]

Morning all,

Hope everyone is keeping safe and well?

Looks like another sunny day out there. At least that is a small bit of positive in the otherwise negative times we are all witnessing !

[FLYING BANANA]

Morning everyone.

Overcast here with a light drizzle.