Living in Covid times no 3 - eating out

[Pasty]

And you keep on your tin hat, and stay scared of being traced in your imaginary police state.

Will do.

 

[DrWazzock]

It’s just not worth the hassle any more so I don’t bother. Socialising with the public had fairly limited appeal to me before Covid, now it has none.

 

[primmiemoo]

We haven't been to a restaurant/pub restaurant to eat since New Year, but I have gone out over the last couple of months to meet and catch up with individual friends and work colleagues at Nice Places and Gardens which has included lunch whilst there.

There's an unhappy theme of small helpings of overly packaged, unexpectedly basic food (provenance given, but ... ), along with tepid drinks, and most recently not the freshest bread, all charged at getting on for 50% too much, all things considered.

We weren't insulted by music, though.

 

[Princess Pooper]

We booked a meal for under six of us at a Harvester type pub. Arriving at the pub we donned our Chinese face masks and approached reception. A girl behind the 10mm perspex screen pulled down her visor and asked our names, owing to the masks, visor screen etc this took a couple of attempts, but then we were told to follow her at 2m before washing our hands and then following her again to a table at the farthest end of the building. She showed us the menu which consisted of a QR symbol stuck to the table alongside a "this table is clean" cardboard tower. We were told not to go to the bar but use the app and they were on cloud ! Receiving blank stares I explained we could not do this as I haven't a smartphone because we can't get a mobile signal where we live, could we have a hard copy of a menu ? She wandered off after turning the background music on - the 90's greatest hits -remix at 110dbA so we didn't feel lonely. The menus appeared, could we order a drink ? Yes, no draught beer, can't get deliveries, but foreign lager. Could we have a tab ? Yes, but the card reader didn't work in this part of the restaurant, she would take it to another table and someone would need to use their card after of course putting their face mask on to leave the table. As we had "used" another table this had to be disinfected. The lukewarm meal on cold plates was not worth mention and I couldn't be arsed to queue for the loo maintaining a 2m social distance.
Eating out isn't what it was.

Go to an independent pub.

 

[Princess Pooper]

Went to local village independent pub for Saturday lunch, belated birthday treat. Phoned beforehand. One way system in operation, sanitiser and NHS QR code on entry, but happy to take name and phone number manually. Sign at bar ' please select a table, table service throughout'. We sat in (deserted) bar. Cheery bar maid arrived, we ordered a pint of Wherry and a pint of IPA and explained we had booked for a meal. Laminated menus arrived which we saw her later wiping down. Apologetic that no A La carte as chef's day off but we both had 2 great couses off their set menu (2 courses £12.50, 3 for £15). Just a pity we didn't risk another drink as a full afternoon's work awaited. A few locals came in for a drink, a few more couples came in to eat. A bit of communal banter about the QR code as it was the first day it was in use - but it worked. All very friendly and very safe. Proper village pub run by an Asian family who excelled themselves with takeaways during lockdown (still available). Lovely food - I had home made chicken liver pate and onion marmalade and Prince Pooper had home made root veg soup, we both had fish and chips (theirs is the best we have ever had, home made tartare etc) Had to give dessert a miss as no capacity left. Pleased to support them.

 

[czechmate]

Because they have already done enough damage to my livelihood plus the wonderful business I worked with and this nonsense over a fake second wave when all the science says it will be mild could be used against me again. Trace and trace app? fudge that. Testing, fudge off. IMHO it is pathetic to want to live in a police state and deny our children their future in a free and democratic country. Don't smile, laugh, dance, sing, have fun, be a student, go out, look at each other, hug, kiss, have sex facing each other and so on. Any sane person would rather be dead which is probably why we have seen a spike in suicides. Meanwhile the bed wetters seem to be lapping it up and I can't really understand why.

Lots of french hospitals are now full again. You need to take it a bit (well a lot) more seriously

 

[arcobob]

We went to our village restaurant last Friday, booked online, wore a face covering until we got to our table , paper disposable menu , our order was taken at the table - overall a very well organised place to eat .

But while I was there I received a phone call. Lo and behold I received a text next day from the NHS telling me to download the app. Talk about big brother, this is scary. Next time the phone will remain at home.

 

[Pasty]

Lots of french hospitals are now full again. You need to take it a bit (well a lot) more seriously

Well prepared then as usual.

 

[The Agrarian]

I think the sector is doomed. I'm running out of comedy names to use when I sign in. Done Mike Hunt, Chris Peacock, Hugh Gengine, Danny Kendall, Tucker Jenkins etc.

I loved by job at the pub and was good at it but I wouldn't want to go back now, even if they needed me for the 15 minutes a week they are allowed to open.

I trust you still have Ben Dover and Phil McCrackin on standby?

 

[czechmate]

Well prepared then as usual.

Thankfully yes.
Much better than folk running around mocking...

 

[Pasty]

I trust you still have Ben Dover and Phil McCrackin on standby?

Seymour Butts too.

 

[Exfarmer]

But while I was there I received a phone call. Lo and behold I received a text next day from the NHS telling me to download the app. Talk about big brother, this is scary. Next time the phone will remain at home.

Both me and wife received this text, it went to every one you numpty!

 

[arcobob]

Both me and wife received this text, it went to every one you numpty!

How was I meant to know that, I only have my phone?

 

[bobk]

Both me and wife received this text, it went to every one you numpty!

I didn't get one ......

 

[arcobob]

I didn't get one ......

Theory disproved then.

 

[Hindsight]

But while I was there I received a phone call. Lo and behold I received a text next day from the NHS telling me to download the app. Talk about big brother, this is scary. Next time the phone will remain at home.

Think you are over reacting old fella. Both my phones have received that text inviting download of NHS app. And that was without me visiting any pubs or hospitality venues. Just been walking fields around the fens.

 

[Hindsight]

How was I meant to know that, I only have my phone?

Well old fella it was worth a good guess. NHS and government ask mobile phone providers to send a text to all phone numbers. O2 Vodapone etc hardly going to say NO in the current circumstances.

 

[bobk]

Think you are over reacting old fella. Both my phones have received that text inviting download of NHS app. And that was without me visiting any pubs or hospitality venues. Just been walking fields around the fens.

You must be on the list ....

 

[Highland Mule]

You must be on the list ....

He probably gave the doctor his number at some point, or the local hospital. The mobile companies wouldn't be allowed to send unsolicited messages under GDPR rules, I'd imagine.

 

[Hindsight]

He probably gave the doctor his number at some point, or the local hospital. The mobile companies wouldn't be allowed to send unsolicited messages under GDPR rules, I'd imagine.

My GP surgery I assume. No idea. But I wasn't surprised to receive a text. In fact on reflection I would be surprised not to receive some form of communication about the app. All fun.