Effects of the Lockdown

Just thought I would have a little "rant" over this ...

Just tried to order some coal from Lerwick and was told that there would be no delivery as the driver had been "furloughed". so, instead of a quick and easy "contact free" transaction where the coal would just appear at my gate;

I now have to traipse all the way to Lerwick via bus (as I no longer drive), meet the people in person, pay using a card machine, and hire a taxi to fetch the coal home...

The additional expense of hiring a taxi is not a problem but, being in close proximity to the sales staff, taxi driver, and bus driver (and passengers) who all may, or may not, have had close contact with an infected person(s) IS.

Other tha appearing to be a cheap way to get the Government to pay part of the wage bill, anybody care to explain the "wisdom" of furloughing a delivery driver of such essential(?) materials ?

Dunna be surprised when you're interrogated by the bus driver and taxi driver asweel.

Some folk seem to be salivating at the opportunity of being given a peerie bit o power to hold ower the heads of us mere mortals.

Be prepared to bite your tongue and give the whole "yes sir, no sir three bags full sir" (To any driver's who might read this I'm just poking fun, i realize you've got to be the most stressed out of almost everyone right now)

 

 

Other tha appearing to be a cheap way to get the Government to pay part of the wage bill, anybody care to explain the "wisdom" of furloughing a delivery driver of such essential(?) materials ?

Alot of what the government considers "essential" businesses in Shetland don't seem to consider themselves that important. I do feel sorry for businesses that might not consider the handful of customers they're getting each day to be worth keeping the doors open for and i understand trying to cut back workers as an attempt to compensate for loss of revenue.

I don't know where you live or where you get your coal from? Have you tried getting coal supplied from anyone else? I'd certainly try to explore all options before i risked an arduous trip into Lerwick. Some of the more rural shops have coal on hand and are doing deliveries.

 

 

I don't know where you live or where you get your coal from? Have you tried getting coal supplied from anyone else? I'd certainly try to explore all options before i risked an arduous trip into Lerwick. Some of the more rural shops have coal on hand and are doing deliveries.

Seeing as coal isnt mined in the UK besides very insignificant operations which are mostly a hobby now,

the extra cost of importing it and room to import it is being considered so they may be deliberately throttling COAL.

Keep in mind coal has been something people have been pushing the government to kill off especially civilian use thereof.

Would get a gas heater to be on the safe side since they may not be able to restock as easily in the future some are mostly sheet metal anyway so they would be delivered easily.

^Personally, I wouldn't burn coal when the islands are covered in peat.

^Personally, I wouldn't burn coal when the islands are covered in peat.

Excellent point, He could probably find out where the nearest place to buy the stuff when its dried out maybe they deliver!

Probably not going to be too much of an adjustment to use that in this existing coal fires

Try to keep your cash in the local economy whenever possible Oil price down and tourism down and major recession looming going to be a tough year at least!

OK with the comments.

1st, I live in scalloway so, Lerwick isn't so much of a "trek".  It just struck me as rather "curious" that, if I had oil fired central heating, I could get fuel oil delivered, without physically having to meet anyone, with no problem. 

There are two coal suppliers in Lerwick and, they both seem to have the same method.  "Come and get it" !!

2nd.  I already have a gas heater, and it's quite good.

3rd.  I guess that some here have tried "casting peats".  I have, and it's damned hard work, takes a long while, and a terrible(?) waste of time.  More to the point, it doesn't burn for so long, and you need lots of it for "proper" heating.  It can be bought, but the cost quickly becomes prohibitive.

Hi Colin, there is a portable gas heater for sale in classifieds  ane on FB too.

Mal.

3rd.  I guess that some here have tried "casting peats".  I have, and it's damned hard work, takes a long while, and a terrible(?) waste of time.  More to the point, it doesn't burn for so long, and you need lots of it for "proper" heating.  It can be bought, but the cost quickly becomes prohibitive.

Coal is heavily dependent on the supply chain which is losing manpower and having a greater strain than usual.

Appalachia being of strategic importance in upcoming elections will see a US administration Keen to see extraction and export of coal continue as to keep the region going till election day and slow down Deindustrialization.

Russia and Chile where we get the lions share of the remaining coal may experience some issues that affect their ability to export it as there may be some political turmoil in their regions.

The problem with Peat is "it doesn't burn for so long, and you need lots of it for "proper" heating"

So its not "Energy dense" Enough!

Are Compressed Peat Briquettes any better?

Or are you already using that?

Do they compress them if not maybe somebody who has tools and time on hand could look into doing that for the customer.

Honestly weekend projects are in high demand lately.

Peat, the heat is in the workin’ o dem!

^Peat, and getting Pete to dig it for you

Last time I tried, I was told it had been a good while since a tushkar had been seen pushing someone around. 

Lerwick Brewery put tushkars in bottles, do they no?