P&O Cruisers - What are things like where YOU are?

[Josy1953]

5 hours ago, Harry Peterson said:

What’s the fuel supply situation like near you?  Curious to know whether this is mainly a southern thing, because reports from the north suggest there’s far less of a panic up there.

 

Drove to near Ashbourne, Derbyshire, and around that area yesterday to see our son’s new house, and there didn’t seem to be a huge issue. Fuel available, very short queues on occasion, but no obvious panic.

I went to Tesco this morning and I  noticed that there were signs up saying no fuel but on the way back from picking the new car up ( it had a full tank ) we noticed that small local garages that we passed all seemed to have petrol and no queues, possibly because they are more expensive.

 

[terrierjohn]

3 hours ago, Harry Peterson said:

That is true (unless Essar Energy and its Stanlow oil refinery go under, as reported in the financial press over the weekend) but it's very easy to blame 'panickers' for a critical underlying supply/transport problem.

 

A lot of those 'panickers' are just people desperate to fill a tank for a long journey, or to enable them to do the basic commute, or carry out their nursing, care or other duties.

 

Yet another supermarket delivery this morning with missing items - and they weren't items people would be panic buying.

Apparently there are no shortages of tanker drivers, they are at the premium end of the pay scale and an ex driver says that getting a job with BP or ESSO, is very difficult and it's rather a case of dead man's shoes. He also claims that this started as a very limited incident in the South East, but the RHA leaked a BP  document to the media as part of their recent campaign to get low paid east european truckers access to visas, which they hope will depress the wage demands of general HGV drivers where wages are escalating and hitting their profits.

All second hand info but it sounds plausible, although if there are shortages of HGV  drivers throughout europe, then I doubt it will be successful.

[Harry Peterson]

3 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

Apparently there are no shortages of tanker drivers, they are at the premium end of the pay scale and an ex driver says that getting a job with BP or ESSO, is very difficult and it's rather a case of dead man's shoes. He also claims that this started as a very limited incident in the South East, but the RHA leaked a BP  document to the media as part of their recent campaign to get low paid east european truckers access to visas, which they hope will depress the wage demands of general HGV drivers where wages are escalating and hitting their profits.

All second hand info but it sounds plausible, although if there are shortages of HGV  drivers throughout europe, then I doubt it will be successful.

There are shortages of HGV drivers across the world, John.  But only the UK has shortages of fuel, shortages of food in supermarkets and crops rotting in the ground for want of pickers.

[terrierjohn]

1 minute ago, Harry Peterson said:

There are shortages of HGV drivers across the world, John.  But only the UK has shortages of fuel, shortages of food in supermarkets and crops rotting in the ground for want of pickers.

That may be correct Harry, but I would think that is down to our population. We panic buy st the first hint of a problem, and we refuse to accept agricultural jobs and would rather live on benefits than accept minimum wage jobs.

[brian1]

5 hours ago, Son of Anarchy said:

For tea use a glass held in a old silver tea glass holder I got in Russia just after the Soviet Union collapsed.  Most cafes in Russia serve tea in a glass.

 

Also have an old Soviet electric samovar, as well as a pre-Russki Revolution proper samovar, but that doesn't work.  Very pretty though.

You have to steer clear of that Novichok blend,it's strong.

Edited September 27, 2021 by brian1

[P&O SUE]

5 hours ago, davecttr said:

At 9.15 this morning there were queues at Hempstead Valley petrol station. By 10.00 there was no queue, it was closed.

We’ve just been up there for some shopping. John hasn’t got any petrol since this thing began because he didn’t need it. He’s now starting to get a bit twitchy as he has a 20 mile journey each day to work. We thought we’d look at the petrol station but not bother if there was a long queue but as you said it was closed. We looked at another garage on the way home - sign up ‘ no fuel’. John is starting to get worried.

[P&O SUE]

Interesting morning for me as instead of taking calls at my desk I went to observe a Spirometry clinic. (It’s a breathing test for people with respiratory problems) I book people into this clinic but don’t really know much about it. It was very interesting and the  nurse was lovely which is just as well as we should have seen 5 people and we had 2 no -shows! So we had a good chat. Meant I got off early which was nice as I went on the bus. I got a bit wet going in though 🙄

[Josy1953]

32 minutes ago, Harry Peterson said:

There are shortages of HGV drivers across the world, John.  But only the UK has shortages of fuel, shortages of food in supermarkets and crops rotting in the ground for want of pickers.

We have shortages because we have stupid people panic buying.  Who remembers the pictures in the media of piles of rotting food that people had bought and thrown away because it was out of date.

[P&O SUE]

5 hours ago, Dermotsgirl said:

Our car is currently just over half full with petrol, which is fine for our needs as we don't use it very much at the moment.

 

However, we are booked to go away at the end of October - I thought it might be Covid that would stop us going, it might yet be a petrol crisis that puts paid to the holiday! 

We’re both off work next week and I was hoping to go National Trusting a couple of days! We will have to wait and see- last year we went to Devon so I’m glad we’re not doing that!

[purplesea]

Been out and about a bit today. First took my car to the garage for it's MOT and passed a small queue there getting petrol. Have been up to Truro and back in hubby's car as my daughter had a Dr's appointment there and the queue for our local Shell garage was queuing on the roundabout blocking all the traffic on the main road. Coming through our village  the first petrol station has a very small queue in the road and the garage where my car was only had cars on the forecourt. Car's passed it's MOT, without too much damage to my pocket🙂 and as I had quarter a tank of fuel did fill up while I was there.

With regard to table settings, I have sets of nice glasses which get used on special occasions, but only have the crockery which we use every day!

[Angel57]

I have just done a 200 mile round trip from Dorset to West Sussex and back to Dorset today to pick up my dog as he’d been staying with a friend whilst I moved.

I think I passed only two petrol stations only that were open and had petrol (albeit with enormous queues). I’ve a third of a tank left and aim to not drive anywhere until this panic buying eases.

Gill

[Snow Hill]

Up early today to take car in for service, expected to get it back at 4pm, but was ready at 1pm, serviced and washed and cleaned inside, drove past 3 petrol stations a Shell Garage which only had N98 petrol, Sainsbury’s which was closed as no fuel and Asda which had a shorter queue, but I had heard they were restricting motorists to £30 max and giving key workers priority. 
 

Our set top box went faulty last week, I new one arrived Saturday, went to install this afternoon and found wrong type of box, rang up to complain, ended up with new version of STB and upgraded broadband to a mega speed and a monthly reduction in payment of £20, I call that a result.

 

My web designer managed to recover and update my business website, which had developed some issues last week which took it offline. 
 

Get a small rebate on my car insurance from the last year due to low mileage. 

 

Also entered ballot for Commonwealth Games tickets for next summer will have to wait for a while to see whether successful or not. 
 

in all a very satisfying day so far.

[Guest ccpm]

Strange day here. It started with heavy winds and rain, now it is very sunny.

 

I had to go to Fakenham for a B12 jab and could not get past the turn into Morrisons for the folks queuing for petrol. Rang and cancelled after an hour its not life threatening if I don't have it today, did a three point turn - not easy - and came home. 

 

Actually I do remember the fuel shortage back in the early 70's? I was a new driver and Dad had bought me a small Hillman Imp. We both had to go to the post office to collect our fuel vouchers. Living in the back of beyond we both had  30 mile drive to work so needed fuel but we never had to use them. I also remember at our wedding in 1974 our best man made reference to my late husband finding a wife worth her weight in sugar which was then or had been in short supply. Never ran out. My Dad and grandparents actually didn't worry about it at all they just said they had lived through proper rationing when the world was at war and not producing much. They got by. It will all blow over.

 

Best but very bittersweet news today is that my friend who is/was a higher grade restaurant manager on P&O has now been told 2 stripe officers (his term, whatever they are) are no longer required by P&O and he can apply for a lower grade post for which he requires even more skills. It seems the Eastern Europeans they employed didn't work out too well. Luckily my friend trained in a 5 star hotel in India and was the first manager of the initial Glasshouse so he can apply for the job and is (he has to after almost 2 years) but for less money. My heart bleeds for them all after so many years service for P&O. As a solo traveller the managers have all been very kind to me and I hope they can all get jobs.

[AndyMichelle]

2 hours ago, terrierjohn said:

That may be correct Harry, but I would think that is down to our population. We panic buy st the first hint of a problem, and we refuse to accept agricultural jobs and would rather live on benefits than accept minimum wage jobs.

It's not just the low paid jobs John. 

Due to expansion, we have various vacancies from labourers, drivers, sales, skilled tradesmen, marketers and managers and are getting hardly any applicants. 

We pay above the going rate for all our roles and if I had advertised these before Covid, would have had plenty to choose from. 

We have engaged recruiters and specialist head hunters but still no luck. 

The world has gone mad... 

Andy 

[Snow Hill]

3 hours ago, terrierjohn said:

Apparently there are no shortages of tanker drivers, they are at the premium end of the pay scale and an ex driver says that getting a job with BP or ESSO, is very difficult and it's rather a case of dead man's shoes. He also claims that this started as a very limited incident in the South East, but the RHA leaked a BP  document to the media as part of their recent campaign to get low paid east european truckers access to visas, which they hope will depress the wage demands of general HGV drivers where wages are escalating and hitting their profits.

All second hand info but it sounds plausible, although if there are shortages of HGV  drivers throughout europe, then I doubt it will be successful.

Which the RHA have categorically denied

 

https://www.rha.uk.net/News/News-Blogs-and-Press-Releases/News-Updates/detail/rha-categorically-denies-accusations-of-creating-fuel-supply-panic

[Splice the mainbrace]

7 hours ago, wowzz said:

 

 

It looks like our Princess cruise next week is now not stopping in Cork !!

 

Edited September 27, 2021 by Splice the mainbrace

[Josy1953]

21 minutes ago, Splice the mainbrace said:

 

It looks like our Princess cruise next week is now not stopping in Cork !!

 

Have Princess told you this?  We have had nothing from them and looking on their website it is still showing Cork as a stop.

[Splice the mainbrace]

1 minute ago, Josy1953 said:

Have Princess told you this?  We have had nothing from them and looking on their website it is still showing Cork as a stop.

 

Haven't heard from P&O or TA but booked excursions have disappeared from our account and there aren't any to book on line. Others on the rollcall are finding the same. There was speculation a week or so ago because the Irish Times was saying cruise calling at Cork would start and 2022 no mention of 2021, and the Cork port call schedule didn't include cruises.

Might be wrong but signs are not looking good.

[Splice the mainbrace]

4 minutes ago, Splice the mainbrace said:

 

Haven't heard from P&O or TA but booked excursions have disappeared from our account and there aren't any to book on line. Others on the rollcall are finding the same. There was speculation a week or so ago because the Irish Times was saying cruise calling at Cork would start and 2022 no mention of 2021, and the Cork port call schedule didn't include cruises.

Might be wrong but signs are not looking good.

 

Or could be another Medallion app fault !!!

[Josy1953]

4 minutes ago, Splice the mainbrace said:

 

Haven't heard from P&O or TA but booked excursions have disappeared from our account and there aren't any to book on line. Others on the rollcall are finding the same. There was speculation a week or so ago because the Irish Times was saying cruise calling at Cork would start and 2022 no mention of 2021, and the Cork port call schedule didn't include cruises.

Might be wrong but signs are not looking good.

I hope that you are wrong but I think that you could be right.☹️

[Adawn47]

4 hours ago, terrierjohn said:

That may be correct Harry, but I would think that is down to our population. We panic buy st the first hint of a problem, and we refuse to accept agricultural jobs and would rather live on benefits than accept minimum wage jobs.

What was wrong with the old system? Many years ago the unemployed would trot down to the 'Labour Exchange' and sign on. There was no picking and choosing, you were found a job and took it, or you lost your dole money. If that system were in place today there would be far less unemployed and no need to rely on migrant workers.  Both Frank and myself had to take low paid menial jobs when we were first married, just to make ends meet. There's too much molly-coddling imho.

Avril

Edited September 27, 2021 by Adawn47

[terrierjohn]

1 hour ago, AndyMichelle said:

It's not just the low paid jobs John. 

Due to expansion, we have various vacancies from labourers, drivers, sales, skilled tradesmen, marketers and managers and are getting hardly any applicants. 

We pay above the going rate for all our roles and if I had advertised these before Covid, would have had plenty to choose from. 

We have engaged recruiters and specialist head hunters but still no luck. 

The world has gone mad... 

Andy 

Surely it will get back to normal next month when furlough finishes and the unemployment rate goes up.

[Harry Peterson]

20 minutes ago, Adawn47 said:

What was wrong with the old system? Many years ago the unemployed would trot down to the 'Labour Exchange' and sign on. There was no picking and choosing, you were found a job and took it, or you lost your dole money. If that system were in place today there would be far less unemployed and no need to rely on migrant workers.  Both Frank and myself had to take low paid menial jobs when we were first married, just to make ends meet. There's too much molly-coddling imho.

Avril

True, but I suspect ill health, or at least claimed ill health is used as a barrier. Agricultural work is hard (I did it as a student, and working night shifts on a bread production line) and none of the locals will do it any more, hence the EU immigrants we used to have. Now the farmers are talking of transferring the work abroad where the labour is.

[AndyMichelle]

21 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

Surely it will get back to normal next month when furlough finishes and the unemployment rate goes up.

Possibly John, but we have lost a lot of potential, slightly older people from our trade that have just got used to living on less and are not willing to return... 

We shall see... 

Andy 

[Snow Hill]

1 hour ago, terrierjohn said:

Surely it will get back to normal next month when furlough finishes and the unemployment rate goes up.

Not sure, the top 5 areas where furlough is still use according to HMRC

 

Passenger air transport: 51%
Travel agency and tour operator activities: 46%
Photographic activities: 35%
Creative; arts and entertainment activities: 28%
Clothing manufacturers: 26%

 

HMRC also indicate around 900,000 of those still on furlough are either under 25 or over 60, so the skills gap is not necessarily going to be filled by those who lose their jobs when furlough ends.

 

With the birth rate falling and people living longer, the employment gap is going to be more difficult to fill over the next decade without further immigration.