Covid 19 2020

[Barbs]

The last few Months have been to say the least been a bit weird. Not quite how I imagined my Retirement would start a Countrywide lookdown. Hopefully the next few months will be a little different although I am not sure we will ever return to the life we had before. From tomorrow we can go back to Pubs, Restaurants and other places (I think we will be giving them all a miss for now.).


Hopefully We can start to plan for a meet, don't worry if it is posted on Facebook it will be posted on here.

So let's hope that 2020 can now start again but remember 'Wash you hands' and 'Stay Safe'.

[pittstop]

Yes: a really weird time for all of us.

As you say let's not rush things; especially when one sees what's happening at some of our beach resorts.

That said: Bluewater; our nearest major shopping centre; is now open but so far no crowding problems. We visited today & proper one way systems are in place with most people adhering to social distancing. 

We should have been on one of our a road trips to Italy; Como City via the St Bernard Pass Switzerland; at the end of June but I won't try to re-book it until June 2021.

Shame: The Wind was fully serviced & ready to go!

[bigjase1972]

Yes the country is supposedly beginning to open back up slowly.
Let’s hope everyone uses their common sense and it doesn’t end up causing a second wave of the virus 🦠
I do think it will be next year now before anyone gets any confidence up for car meets and such.
I keep looking in my classic car magazines, but the best ones have all been put off till next year.

['Old'SeaDog]

Hi guys...Lets all just keep ourselves and our families safe for the time being
I must confess that the powers that be may be putting financial worries and the economy in general before health concerns.....but if we all take the correct sensible precautions then we will be limiting our chances of contracting Covid and protecting those around us.
It would be great to meet up sometime next year though....fingers crossed

[bigjase1972]

I totally agree Old Seadog!

[j.hale]

Just bought my WIND and am loving every minute of it! Not seen another yet so looking forward to meeting up with some other owners! Has anyone replaced their horn? Mine sounds a bit naff! (Very quiet)

[bigjase1972]

Hi there J. Hale
Welcome to the forum and Wind ownership!
Have you joined The Renault Wind Owners Club UK on Facebook?
Currently 225 members on there.

[j.hale]

Thanks big jase. I hadn't, but have now. I'd joined the forum one before.

[bigjase1972]

Glad you could join the club!

[Barbs]

Thanks big jase. I hadn't, but have now. I'd joined the forum one before.

Think of the Forum as a filing cabinet as well as a place to chat. Both have a a place and membership of any club is good. A lot of the Wind Clubs have both Forum and Facebook pages across Europe and as they are Wind Owners they are all friendly.

[bigjase1972]

We both try to work together for the best of all our Wind owners don’t we Barbs!

[Barbs]

We both try to work together for the best of all our Wind owners don’t we Barbs!

Yes, Jason the main thing is Wind owners and how we can provide help.
Doing a great job Jason x

[bigjase1972]

And you Barbs!

[Barbs]

How is everyone coping with the new freedom?

I get out to do my weekly shopping Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon when I think the shop will be quiet. Haven't been into the Town centre since March not sure I feel comfortable with that yet.  We had a couple of runs to the nearest seaside but when we went last week it was so busy we just carried on eventually found a little place that we have only recently heard of and there was miles of beach with hardly anyone there, probably because the car park was small.  We have taken out membership of RHS (used Tesco Clubcard points as they are worth 3x their value) and hopefully we will be visiting some Gardens as they keep saying it is safer outside.  

Anyone else found things to do?

[Timtnx]

Hi barbs, I know what you mean about not feeling too safe with the opening up. I've only been into centre of Norwich a couple of times and some of the behaviour I saw makes me sad. I know people have struggled with the isolation of lockdown but the rudeness to each other and shop staff is so unnecessary. No thought for distancing and then when challenged total over reaction and abuse. Thankfully this is in the minority but it makes everyone feel uncomfortable. The seaside towns in Norfolk have been overrun over the last few hot days with traffic jams adding to the pressure and temper level. At the moment we're tending to stay away from tourist type places, NT have ticket systems which seem to work well and I'm sure RHS will be similar. Take care everyone, I just hope the second wave is not as severe as is being suggested.

[bigjase1972]

Yeah it’s so frustrating isn’t it.
We aren’t going out much at all! I’d rather stay safe and not bother going to supermarkets or pubs and looking round shops wearing a mask is definitely not my cup of tea.
We have just ended up spending lots of time in the back garden having a lot more bbq’s than usual.
Just end up ordering things we need online and then having the odd drive out in the country in the Wind!

[pittstop]

You are right: for a variety of reasons many people have become apprehensive about going out. Our nearest covered shopping centre: Bluewater has shut car parks to reduce the number of people in the centre but to date what they have left open has not been filled.
Within the centre is a one way pedestrian system which even has marked "crossing places" & each corner of the mall is signed up as a pedestrian roundabout!
Despite this what reduces the time we spend there is just how long one can bear to breathe through a mask! Taking the mask off to drink a coffee in a socially distanced cafe is a real relief. That said we do mask in many areas being in our 70s & in a "high risk" group.
Unlike the bad behaviour experienced in some places our trips to Bluewater  & also: our local supermarkets; coastal places such as Whitstable; Nat Trusts & Kent Country Parks have mostly shown the better side of human nature.
There are still plenty of "good guys" out there thank goodness.
Sadly it's the don't give a damn crowd that will increase the risk level for everyone.
Think positive: A top down drive in the country is both enjoyable & safe.

[Timtnx]

I didn't mean to make Norfolk and Norwich sound like the worst places to be, they most definitely are not and are great places to live. However the low numbers of cases we have here seems to be growing complacency about how much people need to take care when they're out and about. That's what is concerning for me mostly.

[Barbs]

I didn't mean to make Norfolk and Norwich sound like the worst places to be, they most definitely are not and are great places to live. However the low numbers of cases we have here seems to be growing complacency about how much people need to take care when they're out and about. That's what is concerning for me mostly.

I know what you mean about complacency. All we can do is do what we feel comfortable with. Not keen on the masks but can cope. Friend bought me some washable ones but they make me feel even hotter but it is about staying calm, I have disposable ones which are cooler but seem to end up riding up into my eyes... maybe I just need more practise.

[Barbs]

Anotherr month on and sadly we have cancelled our second holiday. We were scheduled to go to Scotland in early September but the place we were staying is only a little village think it's about 10 houses only 1 lived in permanently the others are holiday homes and they have all be full according to the people that own the cottage we stay in. After a long chat with the Owners we decided things that we would normally do while on holiday there won't be the same and I don't want to spoil good memories.
Hoping that by the end of September things might feel a bit safer.

Hope everyone is keeping well and staying safe.

[pittstop]

As you say why spoil good memories. Wait until you can enjoy properly & kids are at school.

Each year we mark up our calendar with school holiday dates to make sure we avoid them!!

Grumpy old gits I hear you say.

Having cancelled Como City etc we are considering a dog friendly cottage; with daughter; partner & two Labradors sometime in Oct. 

A very different format to our usual trips but one that has made a nice change in the past.

Tried a 50% off meal last night. Very enjoyable & under current regulations the restaurant was better spaced out so felt less crowded & more relaxed.

Stay safe.

[Barbs]

Still haven't taken advantage of the Eat Out scheme. Think I might have to go and peer through some windows to see what it looks like. Did have a lunch sat outside a couple of weeks ago but think the weather has put a hold of that.

[pittstop]

Went to Blue Water today. 

M&S has signed up for the gov 50% off food & drink scheme.

2 scones & 2 coffees for less that £3.50!

[Barbs]

Welcome to lockdown 2....

Amazon have partnered with Morrisons to get same day deliveries or next day if you order late in the afternoon with a 2 hour timed slot.

[Barbs]

I broke my record today did 5 miles! (In the car)

['Old'SeaDog]

My car insurers have written to me offering a discount at my next renewal if I do less mileage tlhan usual due to Covid....so I might get a nice little refund on this years premium

[Barbs]

Another month slips by soon be Christmas it will be like everything else this year different... we talked to friends about gifts and we decided that we would give presents a miss this year. The tree has 
been up since December 1st needed to bring some sparkle we have a a  few BBQ's  just the 2 of us to break up the routine.  Let's just hope the Vaccine gets rolled out quickly.

[pittstop]

Seem to be going down the same route as you Barbs.

We decorated etc early Dec when we thought Family Christmas at our place was still a possibility but although, currently, we could "legally" merge 3 families plus a support bubble we've decided to stay safe & shelve the full family Christmas & there will be just 4 of us for Christmas this year.

With mutual agreement we have also reined in presents except to closest family. Something we've thought of in the past but it takes something like Covid to make us all look at what our priorities are.

Did give the Wind an early Christmas  present yesterday in the form of a new N/S track rod end following an "Advisory" at MoT.

['Old'SeaDog]

A Wind is for life.....not just for Christmas
Especially after sprouts

[Barbs]

Well peeps an update...
Mr Barbs (Graham) and I have both been jabbed. We are still doing a click and collect on a Wednesday, it must be bad as I don't have to give my name any more he sees me and gets my shopping. We had a run out to a garden centre yesterday and a trip to a Farm shop. 29th is on Monday and some of the rules are changing we can actually meet people in their garden. Yeah.

The Pubs with gardens are opening on the 12th April but still  not sure I will be anywhere near one. Although nearly 30 million have been jabbed that still leaves at lot that haven't.

But the good news we will be able to go for a drive in our lovely Winds without a fine.

Where will you be going too?

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