NHS Western Isles has been doing a great job in respect of the vaccination of the Western Isles population.
I ordered some gardening gloves in the middle of March from Amazon. They haven't arrived. The order is apparently with Amazon EU. They are supplied by a German company. They are made in China. The order page tells me that they are 'on their way' but that I can now get my money back. Of course if I do that they will turn up in the next day or so.
What is interesting is the tracking information. Quite clearly it isn't just 'the little man' who is having problems with the the UK's new found 'independence' when it comes to trade with the EU
75% vaccinated is pretty impressive. The Amazon delivery, not so much.
ReplyDeleteJayCee, my Amazon orders usually arrive very quickly - about half the next day despite us being on an Island. This was shipped by Amazon EU and somewhere a container obviously didn't tick the right boxes for the new EU/UK arrangements.
DeleteWow, 75%. Here, I think we've only reached like just over 10% yet. (That's for the whole of Sweden.) As for Amazon, it's been a long time since I ordered any "physical" items from there. But from the past, I vaguely recall mystical messages seeming to tell me my package had arrived in Copenhagen and I could pick it up there (while in reality I suppose the goods were just being transferred to another truck to continue to Sweden - as whatever-it-was did eventually arrive, and I did not have to travel to Denmark...)
ReplyDeleteI have to say, Monica, that living on an Island Amazon has been a benefit for getting things not stocked on the Island or which are needed quickly. I probably use it more than I need to because I got into the habit during lockdown.
DeleteAs others have stated 75% vaccination is impressive. As for Amazon, I don't use them so I must refrain from comment. I buy books from a discount outlet regularly and delivery has always been impeccable, and during the pandemic I have ordered three times from Staples with equally good service.
ReplyDeleteDavid, I simply quoted the Amazon example because it shows that even multi-nationals are getting caught up in the bureaucracy that is now involved in getting goods from Europe or sending good to Europe.
DeleteI think I missed that nuance, Graham, not really being tuned in to Brexit and its various ramifications, although your final sentence makes it clear that was your point.
DeleteI once sent a very clearly addressed parcel (I did it myself) to my son's Mother-in-Law in Sweden. It went to Ireland, where it stayed for about a month before someone actually bothered to read the address.
ReplyDeleteCro, the Post Office is a strange organisation. They sometimes go to extraordinary lengths to get incorrectly addresses letters to people but on the other had some simple things correctly addressed can turn up almost anywhere in the world.
DeleteWe get work gloves from the Agricultural suppliers. I got a free pair with a load of barbed wire last year. Very posh they are, red elastic back, kevlar palm and leather fingers. Far too good to work in. You have a similar place in Stornoway, it's not far from the council offices. I know because I loaded a tipping trailer onto a lorry bound for them. Crofting Supplies I think they are called.
ReplyDeleteAdrian you are absolutely correct in that there are many places on Lewis where I can get work gear and I often do. I just happen to like a particular gardening glove which is no longer stocked here so I ordered it from Amazon. The last order (I checked) arrived in two days. This one looks like it is lost and gone for ever. At least with Amazon money back is instant and hassle free.
DeleteSorry about your gloves 😩
ReplyDeleteI was watching Andrew Ditton's podcast from North Uist last night and he said the Western Isles were now vaccinating 40-somethings. I am glad to hear it because when travel restrictions are eased I suspect the only thing which will keep visitor numbers down on the Islands is ferry capacity.
Yes, Jayne, we are vaccinating 40+ year olds. We are already having problems with people braking the rules and coming to the Islands in camper vans. We have been having problems with full ferries for a few years now (not last year of course) which can be a real problem for attending hospital appointments on the Mainland or families coming home for funerals.
DeleteWhat is 'eligible' adult population? Great stat if it means everyone over 18, not so impressive if it means everyone over say 50 and 25% of them have declined. I did see that the rate of infection in the Western Isles had dropped by a whacking 82% (or something like that) so something is going right. Population density probably means natural social distancing, and there is plenty of wind to make any virus in the air is well diluted.
ReplyDeleteTigger, it is dangerous to question data parameters. PCR testing is suspect when it comes to false positives. The only numbers that are hard to fake are deaths and hospitalisations, the former can now be signed off by one signatory and not two, the latter are not excessive. I have tried to analyse ONS records but post 2019 it is impossible for an innumerate like me. Best just to get on with life and ignore the lies and nonsense whilst remembering to keep a wheather eye out for the real agenda.
DeleteTigger, on the Island we are vaccinating over 40s and the take-up is very high. We haven't had any positive tests for 14 days which is encouraging but with people visiting it's inevitable there will be more cases. Hopefully they will not be serious enough to need hospitalisation. Ironically socialising on the Island is usually very high with people visiting in other's houses being common (when things are 'normal'). Outside the wind is a great dispersant as you say!
DeleteI don‘t know the current numbers of vaccinations over here, but it is certainly well below 20 %.
ReplyDeleteAs for ordering anything from the UK or sending anything there, it has become much, much slower and much more expensive - hardly surprising.
When I have flowers sent to my mother-in-law and others, I have for years been using a service from the UK so that no borders need to be crossed. It always works a treat.
Meike, the problem is simply that trade between the EU and UK is not as easy as everyone in the UK was led to believe it would be. With the Irish situation still to be resolved I think we may be a long way from a new 'normal'.
DeleteTracking pages aren't always what they should be.
ReplyDeleteI hope your gloves arrive some day.
Maywyn, I've given up and will get others.
DeleteI use online shopping a lot...just this morning I've ordered a new, replacement remote control via online. I prefer online to having to drive to the Gold Coast or to Brisbane to purchase items I can't get here where I live. I do all my grocery shopping etc., up here are a local supermarket, but for all else that I can't get here...I use online. Touch wood...I've not yet had any problems...double touch wood! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not one who enjoys wandering around crowded (or un-crowded) shopping centres...or battling traffic to and from, and amidst...the cities. That's just me...how I am!
Lee, our nearest shopping opportunity for anything unusual is a 2½ sea journey and 60 miles away so online ordering (mail order as it used to be known) is common here. I don't enjoy cities these days either except for the galleries and concerts.
DeleteI'm an on-line shopper too. In fact the Covid stay-at-home order here did not inconvenience me. I'm a loner anyway and much prefer to communicate via the Internet. I do frequent my local market for groceries with a dash in and dash out, don't make eye contact, don't breathe and rush home to wash hands and be thankful.
DeleteJill, I sometimes like to see and assess what I'm buying particularly when it comes to clothes but the service that Amazon gives here is very good and I use it a lot. As for food shopping I do prefer to see what I'm buying and get ideas at the same time. Our supermarkets are never busy at the time I shop.
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