Pandemic personal consequences

[Epona]

A good way to look at the holiday pay issue (just on the offchance anyone sitting reading this thread is struggling with why people should get holiday leave carried forward) is to take a hypothetical scenario thus:

Person A and Person B both work for the same employer, they are on the same pay, and get the same amount of leave per year. Lets say they work for a bar, which is completely shut and they cannot work from home. Their annual leave year starts at the same time in April. They will both be furloughed during lockdown.

Family A went to Greece last summer for 2 weeks.
Family B had a spring break planned for 2 weeks in March, that was cancelled due to Coronavirus and then lockdown started, leaving them with their leave unspent.

Both are now sitting at home scratching their arses and worrying about their loved ones. Person B is at a disadvantage compared to Person A if they lose their holiday pay, or have to take their holiday during lockdown when their colleague is furloughed.

 

[Epona]

Also the thing about being furloughed from 2 or more jobs - it isn't the case that the person was getting 2x the wages of someone with just 1 job when they were working and would be rolling in it being furloughed from both - if you work 2 or more jobs, you're only 1 person and it doesn't mean you're racking up 2 or more times the income, it means you have no job security and are probably on a really shit hourly rate working long hours from multiple agencies to make ends meet.

EDITED to add this, because the post below pointed me to the right page to grab the official quote from that I knew existed, thank you chainsawjob !

If you currently have more than one employer
You can be put on furlough by one employer and continue to work for another. If you’re put on furlough by more than one employer, you’ll receive separate payments from each employer. The 80% of your regular wage up to a £2,500 monthly cap applies to each job.

 

[chainsawjob]

Jumping in here (without catching up on all that's been said), but my employer has just let me know that the government has said that while I'm furloughed I'm allowed to take on other temporary work and still keep my furlough pay. My job is p/t minimum wage zero hour contract. Based on the hours I worked in February I'm getting furlough pay of about 1 day a week's pay, as there wasn't much work in February/March (the season was just about to pick up ). I thought it might be useful info if others are in this position and able/want to take on other work.

If your contract allows, you may undertake other employment while your current employer has placed you on furlough, and this will not affect the grant that they can claim under the scheme. You will need to be able to return to work for the employer that has placed you on furlough if they decide to stop furloughing you, and you must be able to undertake any training they require while on furlough. If you take on new employment, you should make sure you complete the starter checklist form with your new employer correctly. If you are furloughed from another employment, you should complete Statement C. Any activities undertaken while on furlough must be in line with the latest Public Health guidance during the COVID-19 outbreak.

From Check if your employer can use the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

 

[existentialist]

My pandemic personal consequence...

Having worn jogging bottoms for the last couple of weeks, I put on a pair of jeans, and spent ages trying to do up the belt, before realising that the last hole on the belt was nowhere near where I expected it to be.

I'm either going to have to make another hole, or eat a LOT of pies

 

[Epona]

My pandemic personal consequence...

Having worn jogging bottoms for the last couple of weeks, I put on a pair of jeans, and spent ages trying to do up the belt, before realising that the last hole on the belt was nowhere near where I expected it to be.

I'm either going to have to make another hole, or eat a LOT of pies

It's actually a bit of an issue here, Nate normally eats a lot at work for free (seriously, working in kitchens the low pay is offset some by getting really good quality free meals, when he works in kitchens he normally wouldn't eat at home that day or would have a sarnie when he gets in and is regularly scoffing a soft crab confit with samphire foam or whathaveyou for lunch) and due to health issues struggles to keep his weight up - keeping up with the 3,000+ calories a day that he needs while we are both on lockdown with limited shopping trips and reduced household income is tricky and expensive! (I joke about it but it is slightly worrying, he is fairly underweight atm).

 

[two sheds]

My pandemic personal consequence...

Having worn jogging bottoms for the last couple of weeks, I put on a pair of jeans, and spent ages trying to do up the belt, before realising that the last hole on the belt was nowhere near where I expected it to be.

I'm either going to have to make another hole, or eat a LOT of pies

It's the belt mate. I spent ages noticing my dog's collar needed another hole and thinking she'd been losing weight when my neighbour said to me she'd noticed her dog's collar needed another hole and realized the collar had stretched.

 

[Epona]

Can I just say that I find shopping a very trying experience at the best of times.
Things I am finding difficult at the moment are people who clearly don't know what 2m is, and people who stand in front of a shelf deciding which item it is they actually want, sometimes while talking on the phone about something that has clearly digressed from the subject of shopping.

I snapped at someone in Morrison's when I was last in there to shop, there was a couple in front of the reduced to clear cabinet for full on 10 minutes, I was standing 2m away watching them chat and handle everything, and chat some more - I ended up barking loudly (ok almost yelling at them) "Will you fucking get out of the way so I can have a look".
They rapidly moved, I noticed Nate had his head in his hands (they are letting couples in, good job as I couldn't carry everything myself) and barked at him "And you can stop fucking touching your face!"

 

[chainsawjob]

I'm finding shopping so tiring. Apart from the fact it takes twice as long as usual (queuing to get in, queuing again at the till, the slowness of waiting for people to get out of the way, yes ^^^ some people are frustrating in their dithering and inconsideration), it just takes so much mental and emotional energy. Hypervigilance of a different sort to what I'm used to I guess. There feels such a responsibility to get it all right and not do things that might endanger myself or others. Getting masked and gloved up, remembering to hand sanitise before gloves, sanitise the trolley handle, remembering to stay 2m away, following the arrows in the right direction. I decided to register for and use the self scanner the other day, so that's another aspect of this all being different to normal (I'll return to using tills when this is all over, I regard scanners the same as scab tills, but thought it might protect more shop workers if I self scan atm. Plus it's quicker, or will be once I get used to juggling scanner, list, pen, and the item I've just got from the shelf). And the responsibility of getting other people's shopping right and tracking down unfamiliar stuff (I've shopped for 6 other people as well as my own family of 4 so far, I'm doing most of next door's shopping as one is shielding the other, plus I've done minor amounts for the others). As I leave the shop I realise how tensed up I've been the whole time, as my shoulders return from being somewhere up around my ears.

I find wearing a mask for just an hour or so quite tense-making, so how people cope with being PPE'd up for a whole shift of their job... respect. And shopping is nothing compared to working a job under these circumstances. I guess it's getting used to a new normal. I've been to a supermarket 3 times now (pharmacy twice, corner shop twice, pet supplies once), I guess it will become more second nature, the way things now are, the longer this goes on.

 

[Epona]

Oh they don't have any "sanitation station" that I have seen in any of our local supermarkets - when you pick up a shopping basket you could be picking up more than your shopping.

I don't go to anything like those lengths, I wash my hands before I go out and when I get home, and I have a box of sterets (injection site swabs) that I use for cleaning stuff like cans that will come into contact with our mouths if we drink out of them

I try to be careful and clean stuff, but within reason if that makes sense.

(And yeah I would normally wear at very least a dust mask and often safety goggles at work depending upon what I am doing - very fucking uncomfortable and hot, and it restricts your breathing - actually if you are a bloke or a younger person who has not gone through menopause, wear facial PPE while working for a few hours - when you get to the point where sweat is rolling off you and you are panting for breath, that is a bit like how a hot flush feels )

 

[ginger_syn]

I havent had an anxiety attack or since this started and feel better generally, well apart from the dodgy back and legs and arthritis, its unsettling as I have stuff to worry about.

 

[Epona]

I havent had an anxiety attack or since this started and feel better generally, well apart from the dodgy back and legs and arthritis, its unsettling as I have stuff to worry about.

I experienced something akin to (I suppose) a low level of sense of relief - this washed over me at the worst part of "we're fucked" with financial worries - I felt as if ok this is all out of my control now, and somehow knowing that there was absolutely fuck all I could do about anything was strangely calming.

I hope everything goes ok for you

 

[chainsawjob]

I felt as if ok this is all out of my control now, and somehow knowing that there was absolutely fuck all I could do about anything was strangely calming.

Yes this ^^^ and in an odd way it has put some things into perspective.

At the same time, I've just come out of a period where staying home (due to health) has been my norm, so I feel well accustomed (to a large degree) to the idea of social isolating. It helps to be fairly content doing stuff around the house and not having a massive hankering to be out socialising, or to be climbing the walls cos I'm unused to it.

That's good about the lack of anxiety attacks ginger_syn, long may it continue.

 

[existentialist]

I'm now starting to have to talk to my creditors about not paying things. Starting with the credit card, but I'm going to need to extend my overdraft, and then it's probably time to talk to energy supplier, etc., etc. I'm determined that there will be no shame around this, fuck 'em, it's just The System and it's only money.

And there are plenty worse than me: friend D's son, just recovering from a heroin addiction, decided to move back in with his ex, a lady with a history of making false allegations to the police, at lockdown, and she accused him of domestic violence and rape yesterday. So his mum who, like me, is beginning to find this isolation a little bit of a strain anyway, was climbing the walls. A lot of supportive hugs have been banked

At least, just as my money runs out and I can't afford any more booze, my home brewed beer should be ready...

ETA: A few months ago, I moved some of my debt onto a zero-interest MBNA card, even though I've always thought of MBNA as a profiteering bunch of scuzzbags.

BUT. I have banked with Nationwide for well over 30 years, and think of myself as a loyal customer. Any advice or support from them over this business? Nah, not a thing. Any proactive moves from them to relieve, eg., overdraft interest? Nope, not a bit of it. Payment holidays on the credit card? You're having a laugh. Not a fucking thing. So I used their online messaging thing, two days ago, to ask for one. Any response? Get real.

Meanwhile, with about 3 clicks and a moment's thought, I responded to an email from MBNA saying that if I wanted to ask for a payment holiday, all I had to do was fill in a form. Just that. Clickety-click, job done. I'm awaiting a confirmatory text, but I would be surprised if that didn't happen.

It's not just governments and big business who might face a reckoning after this: the banks would do well to look to their laurels, too. Because, if Nationwide doesn't come up trumps PDQ, I'll be fucking them off at the first opportunity, and finding another bank who'd like to bank with me, instead.

 

[chainsawjob]

Liked for your positive no-shame approach to your creditors, and for the home brew existentialist

 

[jontz01]

Haven't posted properly for an age but I just wanted to share...

We hit the road in November, touring NZ north island in our very basically converted bus. We have no power or running water on board. No lights but torches, no fridge, no shower. Cassette toilet. The holiday was going great until this all hit. We were due to fly to the UK at the end of May to regroup with family. And have a baby. My wife is now 6 and a half months pregnant. We have a four year old in tow... We're on full lock down here. Living in a paddock with cold running water and access to power for phone and laptop etc etc. We wash in a tent with tepid water from a solar shower. All our cooking is done in one frying pan with a lid. We have limited supply of gas canisters. Its getting cold. Like UK mid October cold. When we arrived here 2 weeks ago it was lovely. Now the nights are cool and it's starting to rain. We've got fuck all chance of flying back to the UK and our house in nz is tennanted until Nov at the earliest. In good news, we have a great community of bus dwellers around us. I just brewed 14L of strong beer in plastic buckets with cling film on top, from a kit that was supposed to make 23L. We just had happy hour and all got pissed up on homebrew. We've managed to secure emergency temporary housing in a beautiful holiday home a stone's throw from a stunning beach. Mount maunganui central. Life here, despite its difficulty is actually a nice place. It's quiet. People are kind and willing. Kids can cycle on the road without fear. I really feel for those who are in worse positions than us. And I'm grateful for all the memes, banter and info that this place brings. Big love to you all.

Lurker 4 realz. X

 

[xes]

Online funerals. Got one of these today. Feels a bit weird.

 

[two sheds]

Online funerals. Got one of these today. Feels a bit weird.

How does that work??

 

[xes]

How does that work??

Password and login ID, sent by text from the widow. It was on wesleymedia a crematorium streaming service, the video opens on the page so you don't have to download anything. It froze up a few times and I had to log back in but other than that it went quite smooth.

 

[andysays]

All of you forced to endure lockdown, uncertainty about food supplies and worries about the health and even survival of yourself and your loved ones, please spare a thought for those who are really suffering because of the pandemic

‘We won’t get a refund on our £17,000 chalet’

IT consultant Alex Hilton and his wife Jenny had planned a skiing holiday in France with university friends they had stayed in touch with over many years. Last July, they made a booking for 20 people to stay at the Chalet Amelia in Val D'Isere this April.

The total cost of the chalet alone came to £17,000. The coronavirus lockdown means they cannot go. But they have been told that they are not entitled to a refund or rebooking on the chalet.

#NotEnoughs

 

[two sheds]

Password and login ID, sent by text from the widow. It was on wesleymedia a crematorium streaming service, the video opens on the page so you don't have to download anything. It froze up a few times and I had to log back in but other than that it went quite smooth.

Your cremation went quite smoothly?

Sorry I'm not following this at all.

 

[xes]

Your cremation went quite smoothly?

Sorry I'm not following this at all.

It wasn't actually my cremation. But if it were I would think that there would have to be some sort of community cremation truck and you wear a gopro?

 

[Anju]

I'm now starting to have to talk to my creditors about not paying things. Starting with the credit card, but I'm going to need to extend my overdraft, and then it's probably time to talk to energy supplier, etc., etc. I'm determined that there will be no shame around this, fuck 'em, it's just The System and it's only money.

And there are plenty worse than me: friend D's son, just recovering from a heroin addiction, decided to move back in with his ex, a lady with a history of making false allegations to the police, at lockdown, and she accused him of domestic violence and rape yesterday. So his mum who, like me, is beginning to find this isolation a little bit of a strain anyway, was climbing the walls. A lot of supportive hugs have been banked

At least, just as my money runs out and I can't afford any more booze, my home brewed beer should be ready...

ETA: A few months ago, I moved some of my debt onto a zero-interest MBNA card, even though I've always thought of MBNA as a profiteering bunch of scuzzbags.

BUT. I have banked with Nationwide for well over 30 years, and think of myself as a loyal customer. Any advice or support from them over this business? Nah, not a thing. Any proactive moves from them to relieve, eg., overdraft interest? Nope, not a bit of it. Payment holidays on the credit card? You're having a laugh. Not a fucking thing. So I used their online messaging thing, two days ago, to ask for one. Any response? Get real.

Meanwhile, with about 3 clicks and a moment's thought, I responded to an email from MBNA saying that if I wanted to ask for a payment holiday, all I had to do was fill in a form. Just that. Clickety-click, job done. I'm awaiting a confirmatory text, but I would be surprised if that didn't happen.

It's not just governments and big business who might face a reckoning after this: the banks would do well to look to their laurels, too. Because, if Nationwide doesn't come up trumps PDQ, I'll be fucking them off at the first opportunity, and finding another bank who'd like to bank with me, instead.

I spent the whole of Tuesday intending to make the we can't pay calls and despite having fuck all else to do managed to not make any. Got on the phone yesterday and it was actually a nice experience. People were all sympathetic and payment holidays sorted, apart from First Direct credit card who wouldn't give a holiday on minimum payments.

My wife has an MBNA card and was really impressed that they had contacted her.

Feeling much better now that stuff is on hold and hopefully I can make a ridiculously low repayment plan for everything. I once paid off £1900 on a loan I defaulted on at £20 a month.

 

[two sheds]

It wasn't actually my cremation. But if it were I would think that there would have to be some sort of community cremation truck and you wear a gopro?

Sorry I really wasn't sure what was going on - I thought you were booking one as a sort of plan for the future. It was somewhat insensitive of me if it was a friend or rellie

 

[MickiQ]

Four of us at home all the time now, It's the first week of the Easter Hols so Mrs Q has been at home all week. She isn't going back when Easter is over, Her headmaster has decided that she is too great a risk since she might catch it off Son's G/F and bring it into school and infect the few teachers and kids that are there (key workers kids) Come the re-opening of school she will be fully on teach from home duty whereas up to now he has been rotating teachers.
Son was furloughed yesterday at least till the end of May, he still has to get up to take his G/F to work though. Given the hours she's working Mrs Q doesn't want her riding the bus or driving herself even though she can drive and is on my Son's insurance. He planned to volunteer for the NHS but apparently they have had so many around here they have temporarily stopped taking on.
Youngest has at last stopped moping around and settling in for the long haul, She is a major Joe Wicks fan and is working out at least twice a day, She is going to be very fit if this goes on.She is also helping her mother plan lessons for the new term. She is spending even more time on social media though.

 

[xes]

Sorry I really wasn't sure what was going on - I thought you were booking one as a sort of plan for the future. It was somewhat insensitive of me if it was a friend or rellie

lol, no worries. No offence taken at all.

 

[William of Walworth]

Haven't posted properly for an age but I just wanted to share...

We hit the road in November, touring NZ north island in our very basically converted bus. We have no power or running water on board. No lights but torches, no fridge, no shower. Cassette toilet. The holiday was going great until this all hit. We were due to fly to the UK at the end of May to regroup with family. And have a baby. My wife is now 6 and a half months pregnant. We have a four year old in tow... We're on full lock down here. Living in a paddock with cold running water and access to power for phone and laptop etc etc. We wash in a tent with tepid water from a solar shower. All our cooking is done in one frying pan with a lid. We have limited supply of gas canisters. Its getting cold. Like UK mid October cold. When we arrived here 2 weeks ago it was lovely. Now the nights are cool and it's starting to rain. We've got fuck all chance of flying back to the UK and our house in nz is tennanted until Nov at the earliest. In good news, we have a great community of bus dwellers around us. I just brewed 14L of strong beer in plastic buckets with cling film on top, from a kit that was supposed to make 23L. We just had happy hour and all got pissed up on homebrew. We've managed to secure emergency temporary housing in a beautiful holiday home a stone's throw from a stunning beach. Mount maunganui central. Life here, despite its difficulty is actually a nice place. It's quiet. People are kind and willing. Kids can cycle on the road without fear. I really feel for those who are in worse positions than us. And I'm grateful for all the memes, banter and info that this place brings. Big love to you all.

Lurker 4 realz. X

Loved this post!!! Really cheered me up, because there were so many positives (as well as negatives). I hope you're able to keep posting on here from time to time, bus dwelling man! ( jontz01 )
And that all goes well for you and your partner

 

[Epona]

Day 16 of lockdown:

Nate (on the phone to his mother, and rolling his eyes hard): How can you claim to be interested in words? You don't even know the origin of the word "pedant"

It's going to be a loooong weekend...

 

[two sheds]

Does he know the origin of origin though?

 

[William of Walworth]

If I was ever tempted to be a conspiracy theorist, which thank the internet I'm not sir , I'd be posting "evidence" that Covid-19 and its lockdown are coinciding with the best and most prolonged UK spell of sunny and pleasant Spring weather for years!

I'm sure once a festival season** resumes, there'll once more be bucketing down mudbath consitions ....

**(in 2023 )

 

[mx wcfc]

If I was ever tempted to be a conspiracy theorist, which thank the internet I'm not sir , I'd be posting "evidence" that Covid-19 and its lockdown are coinciding with the best and most prolonged UK spell of sunny and pleasant Spring weather for years!

I'm sure once a festival season** resumes, there'll once more be bucketing down mudbath consitions ....

**(in 2023 )

September is going to be even better!