Canalside Walk

There was a brief interlude between periods of rain this morning so we headed to Brewood and the Avenue to Chillington for a walk before lunch.  Part of the walk is along the Shropshire Union Canal as it goes through the village in cutting.

It also coincided with the briefest of sunny interludes which helped this image.

Afterwards we had lunch at a local pub.  The owner said that it was like Valentine's Day with all of the couples booked in for lunch.  The area went in to Tier 2 yesterday so people can only eat in single households or with someone from their support bubble.  Of course this all changes in England on Thursday so we sympathised with the owner who is considering whether to do a click and collect service.

Still it didn't stop a group of 7 turning up while we were there.  The pub is the area I work so I was interested.  There were three men probably all in their 50's, three women of similar age and an older woman who I heard one of the younger women call Mum.  They sat at two different tables, the three men together and the four women.  I got the impression it was a mother with three of her daughters and/or sons and their respective partners.  It's impossible to know and despite my new duties we are not there to confront the public with their behaviour.  That is a police matter.

I couldn't help but speak to the owner as we left and I immediately felt sorry for him as the group had told him they were all in one household.  How was he supposed to challenge this once told?  The benefit of any doubt had to be given.

At the end of the day while businesses can do everything they can to comply with the Coronavirus regulations, they need the support of their customers.  I certainly wasn't going to criticise him for not refusing to serve them.  Hopefully the stares the group were getting from other diners would make them think twice about doing it again. But then again if they were willing to break the rules once, it would get easier next time. Of course I am condemning them without proof but it would be an unusual household to come across in this day and age.  I stand to be corrected.

It will be interesting to see how things go come Thursday.  I felt that there was a very respectful compliance from the vast majority of the public during the first lockdown but I have my doubts that it will be as well observed this time around.  It also has to be questioned whether the decision to leave education and universities open will result in the desired impact on the R value.  There are already plenty of scientists placing the increase in cases fairly and squarely at the door of students and school children returning to full time education.