At some point yesterday I heard on the news the announcement that pubs would only be able to open at 6.00 am today. That was ONLY at 6.00 am, not before! I was astounded. Angela Raynor, deputy leader for the Labour Party, posted this comment:-
“The PM urges people to act responsibly tomorrow as the pubs open for the first time in over three months, then No10 says they will be open from 6am? 😳🤔”
She clearly hadn’t noted the ONLY. Perhaps they inserted the ONLY later. Apparently, I heard later in the day, this was so that pubs would not organise parties beginning at midnight! Ah, I thought, with some irony, that makes complete sense!! Who in their right minds is going to want to open his pub at midnight? And then this morning I spoke to an old friend as I returned from my run in the rain. His son works in a pub in our area and, being of a younger generation, had heard of a central Manchester venue which had been advertising on social media their intention to open at one minute past midnight. There would be food. There would be music. Punters would pay £20 to get in. That was his relaunch idea. And then along came a spoilsport government and stymied his plan.
Mind you, I bet there were more than a few people opting for a breakfast pint and maybe a bacon sandwich early this morning. After all, there are people who drink pints at 6.00am in airports while they wait for early flights. The holiday starts from the moment you check in your suitcase after all! Not to mention all-inclusive holidays on the costas where some people start drinking alcohol at breakfast time, getting their money’s worth on the all inclusive deal!
A commentator on one of the TV news channels last night suggested that today, a Saturday, rather than a quieter Monday or Tuesday, and what’s mare, Saturday 4th of July, had been chosen for re-opening pubs purely for the marketing value. “Super Saturday”! “Independence Day”! Good slogans to fit in with a policy of government by slogans and soundbites. Only as an afterthought comes the reminder to please be sensible and not overdo things, to not all rush to the pub at the same time.
It’s rather like the gambling epidemic, which I have also heard discussed on news and comment programmes this week. It’s a recognised problem. People become addicted and spend vast amounts of money and get themselves into debt. It’s a problem that needs addressing. And yet as we watch detective series in a range of languages on Netflix our watching is interrupted for adverts, a high percentage of which are for gamblings of one kind or another. Slick, glossy, annoying adverts remind us of how easy it is to start playing and usually end, as another kind of afterthought, with an unctuous or, more often, would-be sexy voice advising us to “Gamble responsibly”, to “Stay in control” and to “Keep gambling fun”. Maybe it’s time for such ads to go the way of cigarette adverts.
As restrictions are eased, we are being told that we can reduce the social distancing measure but at the same that we should continue to keep our distance where possible. Where it’s not possible we should remember to carry out other safety measures, although washing our hands seems to feature more than wearing a mask. I’m still not seeing many of them around. Perhaps it’s different in big town and city centres.
However, face masks are now being sold everywhere. Gap sends me adverts of their beautiful range in a whole gamut of colours and patterns. They are not the only clothes store doing this. Soon we will all have masks to match our every outfit, ready for the day when the government decides to make mask wearing mandatory.
In today’s Guardian online I came across this article about places to go in Spain that are a little off the beaten track, adorned with a photo of Sanxenxo beach in Galicia. It showed a deceptively empty beach, unlike the crowded beach we are familiar with from our yearly trips to what has been described as the Marbella of Galicia. Here is what they had to say about Sanxenxo, which we have not visited this year, for the first time in over ten years:
“The lively resort of Sanxenxo, on a beautiful beach, is popular with Galicians and will get busy. The Hotel del Mar Sanxenxo (doubles from around €80) on the seafront at Playa de Silgar (the town’s main beach) is family-run and a little old-fashioned but offers good value. For a quieter vibe, head inland a little: the small but excellent Quinta de San Amaro hotel (doubles from €155), set in vineyards in Salnes, offers rural comforts plus easy access to the sea.”
There you go!
We are still not going anywhere for a while yet.
Meanwhile I am trying to work some witchcraft on the weather by getting out and wearing some clothes from my winter wardrobe, on the basis that if I am wrapped up warm the temperatures will rise and perhaps the sun will come out.We have had enough rain now to fill up the river again!
Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!
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