Tomorrow is Good Friday, and if things were normal, the town would be heaving with visitors. The park would be full of people walking their dogs en route up to the prom, eating in one of the many cafes, visiting the pubs and restaurants (what few we have actually) and for those self catering in the umpteen caravan parks, stripping the supermarket shelves bare.
Oh yeah, that’s happening anyway.
Hubby was walking Maggie this morning and saw two strangers coming out of the park.
They were ‘large’ people as they took up the width of the pavement and made their way to the restaurant/bar by the chippy.
Both were closed, with signs up to say that they would remain so for the foreseeable future. Hubby said the two seemed surprised and a little miffed.
Coming towards him was a lady who lives in the next road with her little dog. She’s a chatty and friendly person normally, but Hubby said she was far from it today.
‘Bloody tourists!’ she said from about 10 feet away. ‘Wish they’d bugger off home! We don’t want them here! Can’t they see the town’s shut?’
Hubby nodded in acknowledgement and agreement as the two started making their way towards them. He went up on the grass but the lady stood her ground as they made no effort to avoid her.
‘Social distancing applies to all of us you know!’ she shouted in no uncertain terms.
Apparently they turned off back into the car park.
We are seeing this, a few people coming into the town and expecting things to be ‘normal’.
The local radio stations have all sent out regular messages that the resorts here are closed and for people to stay away, but some aren’t listening. There is nothing to do here as all the entertainment arcades, crazy golf, fairground rides, pubs, gift shops and eateries of whatever description are closed. Yet they come and stay in their chalets, caravans or holiday flats, bored stiff at being unable to do anything other than watch a different telly, shower in a different bathroom and wash up at a different sink.
I saw some yesterday evening when we went shopping, trolleys loaded with beer, wine, crisps, TV dinners, snacks, ice cream, pizza, as well as several cartons of milk, loaves of bread, veg, fruit and everything else for a weekly shop, when we know of residents who cannot get anything.
We were able to get hi-fibre cereal, rice cakes and cranberry juice (all apparently not that popular), but there was no root veg, and what was left of the fruit was bad quality, damaged, or stuff we don’t have or simply can’t afford.
I’m not saying I know everyone in the town (some 12,000 so that would be a novelty!) but I do know a lot of faces from playing darts, Slimming World and walking the dog since our arrival in September 2017. Outsiders have a different body language and air about them. Many have no respect for our town, not clearing up after their dogs and leaving litter in their wake. We tolerate it because it’s good for business, and know it is only for a few months.
It’s different now. There is no business open, and our tolerance has slipped several notches because of their selfishness and disregard for our well-being.
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pensitivity101 
Do these people have the same disregard for their own homes? It’s just disgusting.
Makes me angry Fransi. I’ve seen two guys older than us go out with a shopping bag and come back with hardly anything in it. Both have wives that are in the higher risk bracket.
It would infuriate me as well. I know it’s very difficult to police, but the stores somehow have to do a better job of imposing limits and helping seniors or those with compromised immune systems get what they need. I see limits being set here now and how much of any one item you can buy, all large grocery stores are open very early for seniors only — like from 6:30 – 8 am so they can get first crack and also when everything in the store is at its most sterile and now a lot of smaller grocery stores are only delivering to seniors. It’s still not easy but it’s better and more fair to those who the most vulnerable.
We have similar ‘senior hours’ and it was getting better. We shop later to avoid people so it’s double edged, and we take pot luck over what’s left. So far though, we haven’t gone without any of the basics, and the alternative TP we had to buy ain’t bad!!.
I haven’t been able to get everything I’ve wanted, including some basics, but overall I consider myself lucky.
likewise. What we couldn’t get isn’t life threatening.
I totally agree.
We have the same going on here, just makes no sense to travel at this time
We are having to go further afield to shop so only doing that every 10 days or so if we can’t get what we need locally.
Most of the beaches here are closed too. The government shut down rentals. You can only go to a seaside community if you own a home there. We got good news today. The curve in our state is flattening. That means less new cases but it does not mean that we stop social distancing. There will be many more deaths in the days to come.
That is good news Kate! Our numbers are still going up, and the number of recoveries stands at just 135, which it has for what seems like weeks. Hopefully our PM with make it 136. No cases reported in our part of Lincolnshire according to the chart, but with usual holiday makers coming from the Midlands, they could easily bring it here. The park, beach and prom are still open, but only for walks, no cafes, sweet shops, chippies or ice cream parlours. It’s going to be with us for quite a while.
They had to block off the beaches because people would social distance on the streets then all sit together on the beach as if the salt air would make them immune. It’s the death of common sense.
I know. 😦
This is a justifiable cause for feeling angry.
I hear your frustration, and I agree with you. It’s the same here. While most of us are struggling to find supplies and maintain our distance by staying in our own homes (really, how much TV can one watch?), there are those who think this situation is merely an extended vacation. Several families on my street seem to think it’s the perfect time to have a mini-block party every single day, with kids and adults all running amok. Pisses me off, but so long as they stay at their end of the street, I won’t say anything.
We are keeping ourselves to ourselves and shopping ‘off peak’ to avoid crowds. Our estate is mainly retirement couples so we have concerns for a lot of them, but they seem to be coping OK as we always ask.
I know that feeling. My sister lives in Florida on a very popular beach. The college kids usually spend Spring Break there but were all told (in multiple ways) that the beaches and shops were closed. They came anyway. They were shooed off by the police. They congregated in the hotel. They went home – and no surprise they got COVID-19. They were all under the impression that being young it wouldn’t matter to them. *shakes head* At least the groceries here are limiting some items and we are being discouraged from purchasing more than what we need. Most are following the rules but there are always the rule breakers….
The beach at our end of the town is open to dogs all year and so quite popular. We see police in patrol cars and in one of the major towns talking with people in a supermarket queue. When we saw the gathering of the local winos in another town, there wasn’t a copper anywhere.
Groceries are hit and miss, but so far we are managing pretty well.