Getting recreation and leisure up and running again.

Not remotely objective. Highly subjective. I’d rather chance it, be moronic, potentially reducing the length of the pandemic and save however many lives than appear a selfish poster child for Trumps America/Boris’ Britain where the most important person is me me me...objectively speaking of course.

As someone who has been managing asthma for the past few years, I found I couldn't wear a mask as it stifled my breathing too much and I couldn't wear one for more than a few minutes. So, on my weekend trip to London, I had a face shield.

Problem solved! I could breathe a lot more easily, and still felt protected and able to behave normally. It got me through all the public transport there, through and back home. Hotel public areas, Theatre at Regent's Park, the Tower of London and London Zoo, all enjoyed with no fuss or unwanted challenges. The only problem was forgetting I was wearing it when trying to put food in my mouth!

I’m going tonight for my first inside dining experience. I’ll be interested to see what it’s like. I’m going for the most expensive steak I’ve ever eaten for a more normal price and I’m very excited! I’m hoping to take my family out on bank holiday Monday but as it’s bank holiday and the last day of the scheme I think everyone might have the same idea.

I’m glad that’s it’s been such a success and it seems that lots of places have had more bookings that on a Monday - Wednesday in a non pandemic week. It also shows that people are very willing to go out given the right conditions!

Well hope you have a great night out and enjoy your steak. In our area lots of places are involved and most will take bookings so you at least know you have got in!

I’ve been trying out lots of independent small cafes (I had something called a Salted Caramel Cruffin yesterday) though I have to admit to popping in to Westfield to stock up - I do eat in if I can find a table but the way their food markets are set up you have to take the food away anyway, so why not buy twice as much and enjoy the rest the next day?

Good news for horse racing fans. Yorkshire leads the way again, with Doncaster's St Leger festival selected as a pilot event. With 3,640 racegoers allowed to attend on day 1, and 6,202 on days 2, 3 and 4, this is going to be a 'big' test, in all senses of the word.

Face coverings will be required at the turnstiles, and while inside, but not when outdoors.

You'd be forgiven for thinking, BurlyBeaR, that I'd written the Q&A section of the Doncaster Racecourse website. Track and Trace is used throughout, with not a single reference to Test and Trace. And although I was still half asleep. I think even Nick Ferrari got the two mixed-up this morning, before correcting himself.

Notwithstanding the above confusion. I think it's important to keep reminding ourselves that we are getting there!

Nick consistently gets it wrong. 
 

It is a pity they didn’t get their stuff on the internet, better still on the telly, off the bat. They need the public on their side. Let’s face it Shakespeare is the only solid on the school curriculum ( whatever you think of that) and they haven't put enough out for the general public. There is stuff there I know for the education service. I don't know how much the teachers have used it during this time. I would love to have seen - see now - an evening of our Willy on the terrestrials From the RSC and a dedicated youtube platform.

What happened to the 1.57 billion? Has anyone seen any of it? If the national theatre and Bletchley park museum, both key national assets, are not getting support, whats it there for?

Is it a case of the patient dying while the Government goes through the paperwork and teh Treasury penny pinchers keep on redlining the figures?

I have taken advantage of the Eat Out.. scheme 5 times - one evening I would have gone out anyway, and another I chose to go on a Wednesday rather than Thursday, but my 3 lunches out were only because the scheme was in place. Twice I went with my mum and we struggled to spend £6 in total between us! 

I have felt safe each time I was out (I had already been out for coffees, and food, on a couple of occasions in July) even though the experiences differed between restaurants. One national chain coffee shop only had 4 tables available for eat in (out of about 20) so we were lucky to have timed it right. I understand the need for social distancing, but other local coffee shops in town have removed some of their tables to be able to spread the remaining ones out more and serve more people. I suppose the chain think if people want their coffee they'll be happy with a takeaway, but a couple of times since then mum and I have chosen to go elsewhere to be able to sit in.

We've also been to a national chain pub, which we think did really well, as they haven't had to remove many tables, but have lots of screens up between them. Our £6 got us two paninis, a dessert, a cup of tea and a glass of wine, so we were very pleased - most places (outside of the offer) wouldn't have given us much more than the wine for that!!

I agree it's great to be getting somewhat back towards a bit of normal.

Wow that's a lot of food?? Does that equate to eating twice on one night?

We took advantage of the scheme each day it was on, even if just for coffee and cake some days. It definitely encouraged you to eat out. know a few chains are continuing to offer discounts , some for another few weeks and Wetherspoons until November on selected food on Monday to Wednesdays.