From 15th June....

It won't be enjoyable looking over your shoulder constantly in case anyone's too close for comfort.
Not as relaxing a pastime as it used to be for a long time to come unless you've got a short memory.

The furloughed, newly unemployed and those whose small businesses won't recover are hardly going to be stampeding to the shops just to make the economy 'bounce back' for Boris.

The furloughed, newly unemployed and those whose small businesses won't recover are hardly going to be stampeding to the shops just to make the economy 'bounce back' for Boris.

That's true enough but small, independent shopkeepers and retail staff will be desperately glad of your custom because it will help to keep more people in work. The bigger picture.

It depends what they're selling Chewbacca. Locally grown food - brilliant, yes please. Pointless plastic tat, soon to be landfill, no thanks.
The even bigger, global picture.

Can anyone explain why shops are being reopened but face masks are not being made mandatory?

Stores may be open, but Hairdressers are not, pubs are not coffee shops basically are not going to be on that date, so even those who will be waiting on the doorsteps of the shops on the 15th, won't be able to get a cup a coffee or a drink or snack in the pub or restaurant or even cafe.. which is half the joy of going shopping for me anyway .
...and just thought , probably there'll be no public toilets open either..
I just wish that Dentists could open sooner , I've had a toothache for weeks

The retail industry, which provides employment to thousands of people, consists of more than just "locally grown food" outlets and shops selling "plastic tat". And even the "plastic tat" shops provide employment to their staff and the shop owner contributes by paying business rates and vat, so whilst you and I might not want to frequent them Happiyogi, they are a contributory part of the economy.

Judging by the queues on the pavement outside our butchers and pharmacy, I think there will be a lot of people struggling to stay 2 metres apart outside all the shops!

Good point MayBe masks should be compulsory in shops, public transport, and other indoor venues. Shops when they reopen will have safety measures in place. Just look at other countries abroad, there is no other way. Yesterday I ventured into a supermarket near closing time so hardly anybody there. Won't go when it's busy though.

Charity shop volunteers are often older or have health conditions.
These volunteers cannot see their grandchildren, but they can go and rummage through sometimes mucky stuff. Some charity shops are preparing to open in mid June.

Shops can open where numbers of people are in close proximity to others indoors, but caravan sites, open air and the occupants spread out, are not. And after the hypocrisy of the Cummings debacle, I have no faith whatsoever in the government making sound judgements on leading us through this.

I was told off yesterday outside Home Bargains. I wanted to buy plants but a couple were buying as many as they could get in their trolley. I was standing away from them but the woman snapped "you are too close, move back from us". I was mortified and with everything that's going on I nearly started crying. I went back to my husband who was in the queue to enter the shop. We watched the couple go to the front of the queue and ask if they could go straight in as they were just buying plants. The idiot at the door let them do that. Things like this make shopping an ordeal for me.

I am with you Happiyogi

I will stick to online shopping as long as I can..
too much tat and stuff from China... I know... we sent the manufacturing there,,, time to bring it back here?

I am looking forward to markets opening. I am not one to go shopping anyway...I actually do not do shopping. I enjoy buying plants and fruit and veg in markets but that is all.

Shops can open but no word on the most important thing, when can we meet up with family who do not live nearby? I can cope without shopping but would like to have some idea when I can meet up with my sons and grandchildren again. Or are they just afraid to tell us we won’t be able to do this in the foreseeable future?

I've been food shopping all the way through anyway.Not just for us but neighbours too so it will not make that much difference.
I do need some makeup & decent shampoo though.
TBH the person I am missing most is my hairdresser! I was due a cut & highlights the day after lock down. I go to a friend in her own house & have just heard from her that she is supposed to be going abroad on holiday shortly. I am selfishly hoping they won't be able to go as I am sure are all her clients.

MayBee....because this government is a joke and haven’t the sense to make face masks mandatory. I am conservative and will never be labour , but a child of two could have managed this pandemic better than our government . Close borders early, track and trace, keep 6 feet apart and wear face masks, and wash hands all the time.

I've been using local shops for fish, meat, bread, and vegetables because if we don't use them they will close.

The only supermarket slot I found declined my order as I hadn't spent enough as there was a £40 minimum spend, and I haven't managed to access any othersupermarket deliveries.

Dentists. Please!

I live in North Wales so our rules are different but we will be catching up in the near future. It all seems so confusing and I know there is the economy to think of but people's lives are important aren't they?

Essential services are still very restricted which to some are more important than non essential shopping. I have a friend whose husband has not been able to have his cancer treatment, another friend's husband has been seriously ill in hospital and should have home visits from physiotherapists and speech therapist but this is another severely restricted essential service.

Do the new rules apply to everyone apart from the people who are shielding? Will shopping be a 'free for all' or only for essentials? Do the new shopping laws include the over 70s? I take it non essential travel is now a thing of the past?

There may be restrictions on how many people go in a shop , will you be allowed to touch anything? Some of the supermarkets have introduced a rule if you touch it you buy it is that going to be the same for non essential shopping?

I know all these closures do not only affect the immediate business it is also the knock on effect for the suppliers etc. It's already been mentioned are people going to have the money to spend anyway?

It is all so confusing and frightening. All I want to do is to be able to see my family.

The government guidelines are to wear a face covering when in an enclosed space were social distancing is not always possible i.e. public transport, using my common sense if I go into a smaller shop I shall cover my face.

I’m hoping the pet grooming parlours can open soon. My dog gets very uncomfortable when his curly hair gets thick and long. The very small grooming parlour I use has a simple system - walk in, she unlocks the flap in the counter for the dog to walk through, leave dog and rings up 2 -3 hours later to collect. We can dispense with any chitchat - do that when making an appointment ? She does a lovely job, too. x

The uplifting part of this is more people back to work and able to pay their bills.
Life will look more normal, and we will have more choices.
I’ll continue to support small businesses whenever possible and place orders online, by ‘phone or e -mail , collecting or having home deliveries. Shops will no doubt be having ‘ Sales’ and the thought of possible crowds will deter me from a morning out shopping in the town for a long while yet.

The thought of department stores trying to control soecial distancing horrifys me. People will be lingering, dawdling about, changing their mind on direction oblivious to others. Don't think I will be queuing to get in for a long time. Perhaps a craft shop for supplies and only one I can see how many folk are inside and how they are behaving. I will wear a mask and be annoyed at others who don't
in these encloses environments. They should be mandatory, definitely. Would like to see BJ and partner walking about in the "new world" amongst the plebs without a mask on.