Current Affairs

[barney]

One thing is for sure.
She will have to discourage her regulars who liked to pop in for a chat.
So many used to say, I’m not buying and then go ooh that’s nice
Being a small shop, she has decided to click the latch up once someone is in.

[Onelife]

One thing is for sure.
She will have to discourage her regulars who liked to pop in for a chat.
So many used to say, I’m not buying and then go ooh that’s nice
Being a small shop, she has decided to click the latch up once someone is in.

And don't unclick the latch until they have parted with £80 would be my advise

[Manoverboard]

... I think the principal the Government will be working to is that many won't download the app whether that be from ignorance, cyber concerns, or as you say lack of technology know how/ access to phones.

I think it's going to be a case of every little bit helps and l for one will will be downloading the app. As l hope millions of others will be doing the same.... whilst appreciating everyone has different cercumstances to consider....should it be made compulsory due to lack of uptake then the decision is taken out of our hands.

You may have the App but the person you potentially catch the virus from hasn't got the App = you will have a false sense of security whilst hiding behind your App. Sod the Government, my thinking is that Mobietta and I will only venture out when it is 100% safe for us to do so ... and I doubt we will be alone in that thinking regardless of how many phones we take with us.

[david63]

And what about the umpteen numbers of Oldies who do not have Smart Phones / can't read their small screens / wouldn't know an App from a Apple etc. They, imo, will either continue staying at home else be walking about in a state of anxiety wondering who they might / might not come into contact with.

I am sure I read somewhere a while back that for the app to be successful it needs at least 50% of the population to use it which in turn necessitates about 80% of mobile phone users to download the app and apparently this was not a problem on the IOW

[david63]

my thinking is that Mobietta and I will only venture out when it is 100% safe for us to do so

That is never going to happen - no matter what there will always be Covid-19 around. The only virus to have been totally eradicated worldwide is smallpox.

[Gill W]

The app isn't ready yet anyway, and it seems to have gone quiet on that front, so we don't know when /if it'll ever be available.

The NHS Test and Trace launched today doesn't involve the app

Here's the government instructions on how it works

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-test-an ... w-it-works

[Manoverboard]

my thinking is that Mobietta and I will only venture out when it is 100% safe for us to do so

That is never going to happen - no matter what there will always be Covid-19 around. The only virus to have been totally eradicated worldwide is smallpox.

In which case we will be staying in. No way will we risk driving to Barney's shop and coming home in a gift wrapped box.

I choose to believe that there will be a magic jab coming along sooner rather than later if only because the whole World will be striving to make one that works. Recovery in the respirator will also doubtless be refined to a point where pre existing conditions become much less of an issue.

At this point in time it is basically an experiment and I for one will wish you well but will be keeping a good eye open from a safe distance hoping that you also remain safe.

[Gill W]

She could just renage on her lease, close down, sell the stock to a market trader.
But she won’t.
She’ll carry on trading and doing her best.
If it becomes unprofitable, which could happen due to the fact that she’s about 15k down already this financial year, she will then reconsider.
It’s not sensible to subsidise a business.
One thing is for sure, she won’t be continually opening and closing

I was wondering, Barney, has your wife considered opening an online shop? If nothing else, she might be able to shift the excess stock.

[Gill W]

There is now a concern whether you will be able to guarantee the caller is a genuine tracer and not a scammer. How do they imagine the scammers are going to know who has been tested positive, unless they are going to ring everyone?
What level of intelligence is required for TV news presenters?

This service is made up of two parts. You get your test done, and if you test positive, the NHS Test and Trace Service will get in touch by email or text message to tell you how to share the details of the people you have been in contact with. They might tell you to give the info online, or they may phone you. So you'd be expecting a phone call.

In part two, the tracers will contact the people you've told them about. This could be text, email or phone call, and will usually tell you to log into the website, but they may speak to you on the phone. This second part of the process is open to abuse. As people won't be expecting a text or email or phone call (unless you've told them you have C19 and you've given their details to the Test and Trace people) the fraudsters will try and use this opportunity for scams and phishing attempts.

[david63]

I choose to believe that there will be a magic jab coming along sooner rather than later

But even then you will not be 100% safe

[Manoverboard]

I choose to believe that there will be a magic jab coming along sooner rather than later

But even then you will not be 100% safe

But it'll be a whole lot safer than it is right now, if needs be we could arrange with chums / family to have a test prior to meeting up ... something else that will become readily available and possibly instant.

[screwy]

I know that Journalists aren’t totally thick, but by eco some really are close to the limit. I have locked up many people who didn’t take NO for an answer.

[barney]

She could just renage on her lease, close down, sell the stock to a market trader.
But she won’t.
She’ll carry on trading and doing her best.
If it becomes unprofitable, which could happen due to the fact that she’s about 15k down already this financial year, she will then reconsider.
It’s not sensible to subsidise a business.
One thing is for sure, she won’t be continually opening and closing

I was wondering, Barney, has your wife considered opening an online shop? If nothing else, she might be able to shift the excess stock.

No she hasn’t Gill .
It would totally defeat the point of being a local independent that offers excellent personal service.
She won’t even buy from a clothes supplier who sell online.
She has a niche that has so far, been successful.

[Onelife]

She could just renage on her lease, close down, sell the stock to a market trader.
But she won’t.
She’ll carry on trading and doing her best.
If it becomes unprofitable, which could happen due to the fact that she’s about 15k down already this financial year, she will then reconsider.
It’s not sensible to subsidise a business.
One thing is for sure, she won’t be continually opening and closing

I was wondering, Barney, has your wife considered opening an online shop? If nothing else, she might be able to shift the excess stock.

No she hasn’t Gill .
It would totally defeat the point of being a local independent that offers excellent personal service.
She won’t even buy from a clothes supplier who sell online.
She has a niche that has so far, been successful.

We have a good few independent shops in Ludlow and they are what gives our town its character…long may they continue

[barney]

Mrs B is in Torrington and last count, there was 51 independents.

[Kendhni]

She could just renage on her lease, close down, sell the stock to a market trader.
But she won’t.
She’ll carry on trading and doing her best.
If it becomes unprofitable, which could happen due to the fact that she’s about 15k down already this financial year, she will then reconsider.
It’s not sensible to subsidise a business.
One thing is for sure, she won’t be continually opening and closing

I was wondering, Barney, has your wife considered opening an online shop? If nothing else, she might be able to shift the excess stock.

No she hasn’t Gill .
It would totally defeat the point of being a local independent that offers excellent personal service.
She won’t even buy from a clothes supplier who sell online.
She has a niche that has so far, been successful.

I know she may be really happy with her chosen market but she is missing a trick if she does not create even an eBay presence ... totally different name, totally unrelated operating as a separate entity. It is forecast that we may go back into lock down a few times before this is over, so an online presence allows the business to tick over during those periods (and maybe get rid of slow moving stock). She can still offer excellent service.

Having said that she may not want the hassle of online buyers (who often buy stuff just because they are bored and have every intention of returning it).

[Onelife]

I was wondering, Barney, has your wife considered opening an online shop? If nothing else, she might be able to shift the excess stock.

No she hasn’t Gill .
It would totally defeat the point of being a local independent that offers excellent personal service.
She won’t even buy from a clothes supplier who sell online.
She has a niche that has so far, been successful.

I know she may be really happy with her chosen market but she is missing a trick if she does not create even an eBay presence ... totally different name, totally unrelated operating as a separate entity. It is forecast that we may go back into lock down a few times before this is over, so an online presence allows the business to tick over during those periods (and maybe get rid of slow moving stock). She can still offer excellent service.

Having said that she may not want the hassle of online buyers (who often buy stuff just because they are bored and have every intention of returning it).

Hi Ken, l'm sure Barney will be along shortly but l have heard Barney say on several occasions that his wife's shop has a specialised niche element to its sales, so one would presume it's the kind of shop were you need to see it, feel it, then buy it.....kinda shopping outlet.?

[Manoverboard]

Mrs B's shop is, I suspect, a warm experience where coming into personnal contact with one's customer is so much more important than just sending a bag of goodies to a faceless purchaser .... just a guess

[barney]

You are absolutely correct guys.

We moved down here to retire (well me anyway) even though I’m years away from the state pension.

After a decent break, Mrs B decided she wanted to continue working so first summer she took a job in Clovelly and the second, decided to return to what she does best, which is ladies retail.
She was once regional manager for Windsmoor so knows the business.

It was never her intention to ‘get rich’
We are already comfortable.

She was looking more for a lifestyle business which has turned out well, up to now.

Online doesn’t appeal at all
She’d rather just call it a day.

She loves her little shop and she loves her lovely customers who have been so supportive.
We think there’s life in Inside 11a yet

[screwy]

It appears the French Navy have been caught out, escorting boats of migrants across the channel to hand them over to Border Force/Dover Lifeboat, and like the soft sods that we are we are accepting them instead of turning them round.

[Onelife]

It appears the French Navy have been caught out, escorting boats of migrants across the channel to hand them over to Border Force/Dover Lifeboat, and like the soft sods that we are we are accepting them instead of turning them round.

I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't helping them into backs of lorries as well .....let's hope they pay a heavy price for their fishing rights.

[screwy]

It seems talks haven’t been going too well for the Eu.It appears that the remainers are trying to push through a 2 yr extension? Do they forget , the government have a healthy majority.?

[Manoverboard]

It seems talks haven’t been going too well for the Eu.It appears that the remainers are trying to push through a 2 yr extension? Do they forget , the government have a healthy majority.?

Shouldn't this be on your NON Covid channel

[screwy]

Indeed it should Moby, or even Brexit.

[david63]

I see that we have a new statistic being rammed down our throats by the media. "7% of people are estimated to have had Covid-19 which means that 93 out of 100 are still liable to get it".

If I heard that once yesterday I must have heard it a dozen times.