Elderly / disability shopping hour

[sospan]

The Iceland chain announced today that they are giving store managers the option of opening an hour early to allow elderly shoppers the chance to shop before the main opening.

I thought what a great idea, especially if they extend it for disabled / special needs people as well.

Many of us don't like crowds, need more room to negotiate the aisles and sometimes need some extra time at the till to sort out the payment and packing.

Hopefully the rest of the retail chains will adopt the idea as a permanent feature

[Hidden]

I saw this just now on our local papers website, our Iceland is OAP only for the first hour of the day on wednesday.

I agree with you, I do hope they and other shops extend this to less abled people too.

Online slots locally here are booked up 3weeks in advance now and at the end of this week my wife and I will likely begin 12 weeks of isolation so food supply will be challenging.

[sospan in reply to Hidden]

My wife developed the "dry cough" so we are in self isolation.

[cat3]

I don't have any Iceland stores near me but, as I mentioned previously, I go to Tesco after 10pm when I can have the store almost to myself. But good on Iceland for their common sense.

Hope your wife's cough is, at worst, a common cold symptom Sos… xx

[sospan in reply to cat3]

Thanks for the kind thoughts.

Oddly she started to have a racing heart beat over the last few days and with the dry cough they weren't sure what to do with her. Eventually, the 111 service decided that she go to the local A&E for a ECG. Fortunately, all is well in that department.

Frustratingly I heard on the radio this morning from a GP, that there is another virus going around that has similar symptoms, so many people will be self isolating and still be vulnerable to the Corona Virus

[cat3 in reply to sospan]

Oh I'm glad she's been checked out. And I'm guessing she had a rudimentary check for infection (temperature). I hope she'll be reassured and that you'll both sidestep the dreaded lurgi !

By coincidence I was at the hospital yesterday to have a 24 hr heart monitor fitted (covered head to toe in antibacterial gel) …...just back from returning it.)

I suppose there'll still be seasonal flue doing the rounds so there'll be no knowing which one's which.....🙄 I'm sticking to house & garden (& late night shopping) for the foreseeable future. Take care you two... xx

[sospan in reply to cat3]

Glad everything went well at the hospital.

It was very surreal last night driving to the hospital. It was around midnight and we were the only car on the A road and motorway and the A&E had about 5 patients waiting.

Oddly no hand gel for the patients and family and the nurses weren't wearing any PPE - do they know something we don't

Next week should be a blessing for us gardeners - from Sunday onwards it is going to be sunny for at least a week

[cat3 in reply to sospan]

Strange times indeed ! But yes, the garden is a great sanctuary. I spent 4 hours after the hospital yesterday cutting the lawn (1st mow 😧) edging and cutting back etc and it was a nice surprise when I finished to see it was almost 7pm and still fairly light.

Might risk my quiet local nursery next week for some bedding plants then a week of serious gardening. x