Do you remember the good old days before the lockdown?!?

So lockdown mark II has started today, until the 2nd of December, allegedly, although rules are a bit different from mark I. Some differences: you can meet up with ONE person from a different household, providing it is outside, for example on the beach or in a park (plus you may have a child with you, if not at school); oh yes, and children and young adults are remaining at school/college/university (I shan't go on about how I feel about that here); dentists and opticians are remaining open; there is no formal shielding; public toilets should remain open; BBC for more information. 

There are many similarities, pubs and restaurants are closed, but takeaway and deliveries of food alcohol are allowed. I've seen that most takeaways, eg many McDonald's, KFC etc are staying open, but not for sitting in. Hairdressers will be closed; libraries will be closed (although they hope to organise a click & collect service from Monday); Household Waste Sites will remain open; the Registry Office will be closed, but birth and death registrations can be arranged by telephone and appointments. And exercising is allowed, but not limited; so that's me walking the miles again daily.

Please be careful folks and remember social distancing, face coverings where appropriate, and wash your hands regularly, look after yourselves!

Covid-19 and have people, pubs and bars lost it?!?

I wrote about the latest Government advice about drinking and eating in pubs, bars and restaurants in a blog at the beginning of July, and it appeared pretty clear what licensees were meant to ensure was carried out on their premises if they wanted to reopen and stay open. The first 2 weekends, 4th/5th and 10th/12th of July saw a not unexpected heavy police and licensing authority presence touring the licensed premises of Hastings, indeed, bars were closed down and/or had their opening hours curtailed.

Added to lighten the blog

However! It appears that many licensees have forgotten they could, and probably should, be closed down because it appears they are now being totally disrespectful of the rules, disrespectful of their staff, and disrespectful of their customers and the general population. What is not to understand?!?

I am not a 'going out in the evening' regularly person, getting older changes your habits, but I have heard from 2 separate sources from the Saturday evening just gone (22nd of August) that most of the pubs and bars in George Street were, frankly, completely disrespectful of the rest of Hastings population! I shan't name and shame particular pubs/bars, but it appears that few had 'track & trace' facilities being carried out, 'social distancing' rules were completely ignored, people were standing up drinking rather than sitting at tables, indeed tables were not being cleaned/sanitized, toilets were dirty/not sanitized and up to 6 people were seen in a pub/bar toilet at a time, entrance and exit door policy was ignored by many, and there was insufficient staff on duty to ensure that safe rules to ensure the Government expected 'mitigations' were in force.

Don't be surprised when pubs and bars get closed down again...

Hastings Library Reopening Monday 13th July

Hastings Library, Claremont, is reopening this Monday with new opening times (see below) to allow for other changes brought about because of the Coronavirus Crisis, Hygiene/Cleaning, Social Distancing etc. There are also other changes, including restricting the number of visitors allowed into the building at any one time (website).

There will be fewer books on the shelves so less browsing, no DVDs, newspapers or periodicals, fewer computers and less time allowed on computers (45 minute sessions, and staff will clean each computer in-between users); you are advised to book computers in advance (eg online), although a member of staff will be available at the entrance to book a computer for you if you don't have internet access elsewhere.

Because of the fewer books available in the library, a Select + Collect system has been set up to enable you to take out up to 20 books at a time, usually available within 5 days, but you will be contacted when they are available. These can be ordered either from the online catalogue or by telephoning the enquiries number 0345 6080196. Books can be returned at the bookdrop outside the library.

Further details an be found by reading the Libraries Reopening Plan (website).

Hastings Library Opening Times: 

Monday/Tuesday 10.00am to 4.00pm;

Wednesday 10.00am to 12.30pm; 

Thursday 10.00am to 5.00pm;

Friday/Saturday 10.00am to 4.00pm;

Sundays CLOSED.

Sunday Sunny and Windy Walk About...

These days I don't usually wander around Hastings during the afternoon, and very rarely weekends at the best of times, but I wanted to have a look around and see how Silly Saturday plus was getting on, so I wandered out via Claremont to the seafront, and was surprised by how quiet it was! Sunday afternoon, 1.30pm, and I took the above photograph of Pelham Beach, as you can see it was very quiet, although I wasn't really too surprised as the water was rough, no swimming, and quite a strong wind too at about 25 mph with gusts of up to 40 mph. But the car park was full! 😕

Intrigued, I looked for the quietest way to the Old Town and followed the now running Miniature Railway to The Stade (above), as there were certainly more people walking alongside the main road; nice to see the railway having customers too, 2 trains running and both had people aboard. I was looking for someone I know to enquire about yesterday, but it was busier along Rock-a-Nore Road, and the main road, so some intended sources were busy, but I did manage to have a chat with Oliver and Becky at The Jolly Fisherman (blog), which is continuing with its takeout business at the moment (blog). They were open yesterday evening too, for people who had booked tables, and it could be worth keeping an eye out for them opening for people to sit down inside for table service, indeed, they are considering their options...

A Quiet George Street

Anyway, they informed me that it was quite quiet yesterday (Silly Saturday), certainly in the Old Town, which is not surprising really, because it wasn't exactly the nicest day of the Summer. Indeed, there weren't that many pubs and bars open in the Old Town, and the ones I saw open today appeared to have their places organised very well to ensure social distancing was maintained.

However, it appears that a certain bar in Queens Road was 'rammed' yesterday, but, when I walked back home via the town centre and Queens Road this afternoon, everywhere seemed very quiet, including said bar. Let's hope it continues... 

Government Covid-19 Guidance, July 4th Weekend and Pubs etc

It seems like we get daily new 'guidance' (law, basically!) regarding Covid-19 and the Coronavirus Crisis from Her Majesty's Government, well, I'm sure you must be aware that newer guidance will be in force from the 4th of July, but hardly 'independence day' (website). So what major changes will there be from tomorrow? 

Your household will now be able to meet up with one other household, indoors or outdoors, however, you need to continue with social distancing from people not in your household or bubble (a group larger than 30 can be broken up by the Police!), and it continues that you may meet up outdoors as long as you maintain social distancing in a group of 6 maximum, from up to 6 different households.

Social Distancing will remain at TWO METRES or ONE METRE PLUS (website), that is "plus mitigations" which will depend on the setting. "For example, on public transport, people must wear a face covering... In other spaces mitigations could include installing screens, making sure people face away from each other, putting up handwashing facilities, minimising the amount of time you spend with people outside your household or bubble, and being outdoors."

All this is pretty much passing responsibility on to others, quite frankly, because, as we all know, the economic cost of the Coronavirus Crisis has been quite high to the Government, and they appear to want to get out of paying to support businesses, particularly in the Hospitality Sector, as early as possible, but not necessarily at the most sensible speed health-wise. So, guidance has been written up for Restaurants, pubs, bars and takeaway services (website) to 'support' pubs, restaurants and bars to reopen, and visiting such places ain't gonna be what we're used to!

I am not going to say 'yay' or 'nay' to whether people should visit pubs, bars and restaurants, that is our personal choice, bearing in mind the restrictions within the guidance offered by Government, how this is interpreted by local authorities and the Police and Courts, and not to forget, how the publicans, restaurateurs and managers interpret and implement guidance. It's a pig's ear frankly!

I have been asking around, and it looks like less than 50% of establishments in Hastings & St Leonards will reopen on the 4th, with many planning to open on Monday the 6th, quite a few later bearing in mind work being carried out in the meantime, some much later. I have added a photograph (above) of The Tower pub in London Road, which will be reopening tomorrow morning (it has been making off-sales during lockdown - blog) with details of changes to how it will appear, should you visit the pub.

The landlady has advised me that they are continuing today with the off-sales, as per my earlier blog, and will be open at their usual hours from the 4th of July, 11.00 am to 11.00 pm I believe. There will be table service only, no standing at the bar, so all customers will be seated, and no reservations in advance. I think this is pretty much the way it will be everywhere, except those with outside gardens/patios may have a few differences. Hygiene will be maximized and hand washing facilities and the use of sanitizing gel will no doubt be increased everywhere. Best wishes to Louisa and others! 

I can't provide details of who is opening, or when, throughout Hastings, but feel free to add proper details in the comments section, cheers! Certainly in the 'old town' it appears that more pubs and bars will be closed than those open over this weekend. 

Enjoy your weekend, whatever you do, but do be careful folks!

Battening Down the Hatches this Weekend!

This was the Pelham car park earlier this week, and evidence in the background the RNLI Lifeguards are back, if only at this one place on Hastings beach, plus evidence it wasn't too busy in Hastings... Well this photograph was taken not long after 9 am, and already people were turning up in their cars, so ignore that last comment! Personally, I tend to avoid beaches at the best of times when the sun worshippers are around/in the summer, and it's not just on the beach it's busy, on my way walking back from the blood donor session up on The Ridge (blog), Monday afternoon, I came back down through Alexandra Park, and it was packed, it was like the summer holidays it was so full, and this was only on Monday, the temperature to carry on increasing until yesterday!

And this was the scene at Bournemouth yesterday, where they had to declare a major incident because of the overcrowding, and we are well aware of the problems there has been recently, including yesterday, in nearby Camber Sands (Kent Live News)! Again, because I'm not a beach lover, consequently, I have avoided the seafront like the plague after 10 am, but please feel free to add a comment and tell me what it was like in Hastings. Whatever, it will only get worse this weekend... 

and I dread what it will be like Saturday week, the 4th of July, with pubs reopening, and social distancing being reduced to one metre plus!

So I shall be battening down the hatches over the next few weekends, as soon as I get indoors following lovely peaceful early morning walks, fingers crossed. 😾

Another Weekend - What is Normality?!?

Another weekend is upon us, the FOURTEENTH without pubs being open, and we are hoping to return to 'normality' some time soon? Holiday parks are soon to reopen, but with limitations, public toilets have reopened with limited hours, shops have reopened, well some of them, but with limitations, takeaway food and even drinks have got going again, but with limitations, from this weekend there will be a RNLI Lifeguard on Pelham Beach, so you are limited to swimming in that 'safe' spot... You can meet up with up to 5 people from other households, in an open space, and providing you all stay at least 2 metres apart, indeed, you can go into a partnership with anyone and make your own 'support bubble' and behave as if you live in the same household as that partner. In England you can drive to anywhere you like, in England, but you cannot travel on public transport to anywhere you want unless you have a reason agreed to by the Government, or whatever officialdom interprets as an acceptable reason... 

In fact, you are actively discouraged from travelling by public transport, which creates a divide regarding civil liberties, people with cars are allowed to travel to wherever they want, in England, but if you do not have a car or motorbike you are stuck within walking distance so you have not got true freedom of movement. Also, after years of trying to convince people that for health reasons, and environmental reasons, they should use public transport and get out of the car and walk, we are now being told to jump in a car and drive to anywhere we want, which is okay if you have a car, but what a contradiction! I can go into a 'support bubble' with anyone I want to, providing they want to too, indeed can hug that person if we both agree to, but I cannot visit my next of kin and hug family members. This is NOT normal... 

Trying to get frustration off my chest, thank you 😥

Have a good weekend and stay safe...

What can I do now then? Latest Guidance...

From today, the only real changes in England to Social Distancing and Lockdown rules appear to be that up to 6 people from different households may meet up, including children, in an outside area and remaining 2 metres apart from each other. People previously isolating as they had been deemed clinically vulnerable are allowed out now, however, they are still advised to stay at home as much as possible and, when out, to avoid contact with people from other households as much as possible. People deemed clinically extremely vulnerable should remain 'shielded' (more at BBC).

Please be careful still folk, and stay well.

A Sad Sight...

They went to all that bother to get it ready for Easter, and here it is this morning (on my way home from my approved by the Government exercise/early morning walk, have to add that to avoid being reported on by informants to the Coronapolice 😉), 'our' Ferris Wheel, and it still hasn't been used in 2020, what a year... 😒

Seafront Roadworks now over and other news...

The roadworks that were announced to last for 13 weeks (blog) have, indeed, done so, and the seafront is back to normal today (above), well, as normal as it can be these days, although the pedestrian crossing isn't working again yet, not that it's needed!*

* I have since read (overnight 05/06 April, many thanks Rod) that the update to the gas supply hadn't been finished in the 13 weeks, so expect more disruption later in the year.

Fewer people about whilst I was out for my daily permitted exercise earlier, perhaps more people will emerge to ensure their daily Vitamin D requirement is reached (NHS).

I also noticed that parking at Priory Meadow is free at the moment, which, I presume, is for the few shops still open there, M&S Foodhall, Grape Tree, Post Office/Smiths  and Boots indoors, and Poundland and Superdrug; although there's not much else to do in the town centre... 

Whilst talking about town centre shops, the Sainsbury's Local is still opening at 08.00, whilst Tesco Express is now opening at 10.00, although this morning (Sunday) they appear to have a 'technical problem' and there is a notice that it is closed until solved; definitely open again on Monday 6th April, I just shopped there.

Despite there not being much to do in the town centre these days, the 6-8 usual gregarious 'social drinkers' appear to be very happy congregating there. No 'social distancing' for them it appears...

Finally, has anyone received the 'letter to the nation' concerning Coronavirus that our Prime Minister said he would send to you a week ago? Despite the cost being estimated at nearly £6 million, I still haven't received it yet either! However, this website tells you what it says, if you want to read it, although he provides no new information.

Well, that's the latest news from me, be careful folks!

Hastings Police Information and News

I have found that the easiest way to gather up to date information from Hastings Police concerning Coronavirus related issues, and other news, is to go to their facebook page, or twitter, for example, concerning police officers on foot in the town centre yesterday reminding "people to stay indoors and away from the town centre" and maintaining "social distancing." Indeed, my thanks and respect to the Hastings Police, NHS Staff, and all other Emergency and Essential Services, including fire fighters, ambulance staff and paramedics, refuse collectors, street cleaners, shop workers, transport workers, the list goes on... Please be careful!