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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to ask family to bring their own food?

439 replies

borntobequiet · 28/02/2019 09:36

I have family visiting for Easter. I know they have been "forward purchasing" in case of shortages caused by any no-deal Brexit, as have I. Would I be unreasonable to ask then to bring their own food to avoid depleting my store? The children will eat up all my pasta and pesto in next to no time. And I don't want to waste freezer space on fish fingers, which I never eat.

OP posts:
crackofdoom · 28/02/2019 13:40

Surely the stuff most likely to run out is that which can't be stockpiled in advance- ie fresh produce?

Doesn't bother me, I've got a fine crop of lettuce growing in the polytunnel already. In the event of a no deal Brexit I plan to go and sit on the garden walls of all the locals who displayed Leave posters over the referendum period, eating my fresh lettuce and smacking my lips Grin.

SinkGirl · 28/02/2019 13:40

He’s still on Neocate Junior too, so even if I struggle with getting oat milk, at least I know he will still have that as a back up if need be

Definitely stock up on that - it’s not a stock item for most pharmacies, they order it in as needed, so try and get some extra from the doctor (or ask the pharmacy to order in more before Brexit).

I’m on a controlled drug produced in Germany and they won’t give me more than I need because it’s controlled - has to be ordered in every five weeks so I’m screwed if things go awry.

LightAsTheBreeze · 28/02/2019 13:43

We always have 1 - 3 months non perishable stuff in anyway, I have never shopped just for the week, I always make use of offers and think many people do the same, I have never seen this as stockpiling just being sensible and cost effective.

IDoN0tCare · 28/02/2019 13:43

I plan to go and sit on the garden walls of all the locals who displayed Leave posters over the referendum period, eating my fresh lettuce and smacking my lips grin.

On a home made veggie burger on your home made bun. Grin

TheElementsSong · 28/02/2019 13:44

Damn it, people, I’m at work and getting emails from MN Grin

Here ya go (although I think we’ve had enough Bingo hits for multiple Houses already)

Brexit Bingo

Y2K
WWII
Armageddon
Zombies
Obesity crisis
Scaremongering
Hysterical
Toughen up
Locally-grown
Eat something else
Not going to starve
Panic
Posh elite
Apricots/avocados/asparagus/foie gras/Tomatoes/lettuce
FIIIIIIIIINNNEEE
Crystal Ball
Echo chamber

TheElementsSong · 28/02/2019 13:44

Dictionary

Updated definitions in the new Brexitannian English Dictionary:

PANIC : taking gradual action, in January, for an event in March (see also: HYSTERICAL, PARANOID LUNATIC).

SMUG: having taken gradual action in January (see also: HYSTERICAL).

SHORTAGES: something that will definitely happen in January, when supply chains are not disrupted, due to PANIC (see above), but somehow will definitely not happen in March, when supply chains are disrupted.

CAUSATION: people who buy smoke alarms in January cause fires in March.

BLITZSPIRIT: something apparently very good and quintessentially British, a highly desirable state of the nation, which will come about in March (but not in January) due to the SHORTAGES (see above) which are not going to happen in March (but are in January).

OBESITY CRISIS: an undesirable state of the nation, caused by European strawberries, and which will be cured by the SHORTAGES which aren’t going to happen, or alternatively by a patriotic government mandate for the thin people to eat slices off the fat people.

ARMY: SMUG (see above) group who are UNPATRIOTICALLY PANICKING (see above).

BELITTLING: asking basic questions of someone with whom you are in conversation in order to identify whether you are both proceeding from the same level of comprehension of the relevant issues.

STOCKPILE: simultaneously
(1) a hoard of essentials literally taken from the mouths of proper ordinary people by posh elites who have pushed prices up and CAUSED (see above) SHORTAGES (see above),
(2) a hoard of luxurious irrelevant fripperies like caviar and au pairs, that only posh elites care about thus irrelevant to proper ordinary people,
(3) a vast load of stodgy unappetising inedibles, not proper food, that no proper ordinary people would want anyway, and which will end up being thrown away and wasted thus destroying the environment thanks to posh elites.

CRESS: Level of agricultural and food distribution expertise required to assure everybody not to STOCKPILE (see above).

CRYSTAL BALL:
(1) A Heisenberg quantum device permitting Leavers to accurately predict that “it” will be “FIIIIIINNNEE” after a “short term” of “some adjustment” but which, when asked for measurements of “fine/short/some” ceases to exist.
(2) A device that Remainers definitely don’t have, which is why they PANIC (see above) and CAUSE (see above) SHORTAGES (see above) without any evidence for their actions.

STARVATION: an often-fatal and previously undesirable condition. Due to BLITZSPIRIT (see above) anything less severe than this is no longer deemed worthy of discussion. (See also: MAD MAX, ARMAGEDDON, END OF THE UNIVERSE).

GULLIBLE: keeping, for unapproved reasons such as Brexit, a STOCKPILE (see above), however keeping a STOCKPILE (see above) for approved reasons such as “just because” is FIIIIIINNNEE especially if you use a euphemism like “Why, I always keep months of food in my shed, isn’t that normal?”. (See also: MASSIVE HYPOCRITE).

FLAT-EARTHERS:
(1) people who think that a No Deal crash-out Brexit might result in supply chain disruption
(2) NOT people who believe that a No Deal crash-out Brexit will produce no discernible effects on anything whatsoever, or even attract golden unicorns.

CONTROL, TAKING BACK:
(1) a patriotic act by means of once-in-a-lifetime pencilling an ‘X’ on a small piece of paper, by supinely accepting any ensuing events, and by emoting positively.
(2) an undesirably treasonous, unpatriotic undermining of national interest by means of STOCKPILING (see above) to secure supplies, or to pre-empt anticipated price-rises.

SUPERMARKET PROMOTION:
(1) ordinarily a regular and unremarkable marketing strategy encouraging seasonal purchasing or attracting shoppers of a frugal, thrifty nature - unless they are TAKING BACK CONTROL (see above) in which case see below (2).
(2) a treasonous, unpatriotic undermining of Brexitania due to encouragement of PANIC (see above) buying of STOCKPILES (see above) causing SHORTAGES (see above).

PROPAGANDA:
(1) factual information given by experts, the government, anybody tainted by possible foreign sympathies, or in fact anybody with knowledge gleaned from sources other than the gutter press.
(2) a bona fide male goose

SparklySneakers · 28/02/2019 13:46

Get your cress seeds ready! All they need is some faith and Blitz spirit and we'll be well fed for months!

IDoN0tCare · 28/02/2019 13:46

Yay Star poster TheElementsSong

dances around larder

FuerzaAreaUruguay · 28/02/2019 13:46

Element, how could you forget 'Project Fear'?

ChocChocButtons · 28/02/2019 13:48

Oh bless you, I don’t think you’ll need a store of food come because We have these ppl in England called “farmers” these people produce food for us to eat...we also have trade deals with all sorts of country’s not currently in the EU.

I think you’ll be ok providing hosting a few meals.

TheElementsSong · 28/02/2019 13:49

how could you forget 'Project Fear'?

Shit, I’ll have to make sure that’s on the next bingo set!

doIreallyneedto · 28/02/2019 13:52

@hickerydickerydockmouse - Consumer behaviour, i.e. people like you who are stock piling will create problems for others because you are trying to hoard as much as you can which can actually cause shortage for others and then there will be a delayed in supply as you guys have taken everything off the shelf and it takes time to deliver things!

Panic buying causes problems. Stock piling doesn't. Stock piling is responsible behaviour and can be seen as the equivalent of buying car insurance that provides you with immediate alternative transport if you are unable to continue your journey because the road is impassable.

Panic buying is irresponsible behaviour (but understandable) and could be seen as the equivalent of trampling underfoot the others who can't continue their journey, in your attempt to get on to the limited capacity bus provided to bring people to their final destination.

FuerzaAreaUruguay · 28/02/2019 13:52

Oh, god, Element, good ol' Choc just reminded me of another required entry: WTO.

Bluntness100 · 28/02/2019 13:54

In the sad event this is real, then op, you understand that no deal, or the "absence of government action", is now effectively off thr table and will be formally on the 13th right?

So you can dig into your stock piles and replenish till your tummies are full.

SparklySneakers · 28/02/2019 13:55

ChocChocButtons HmmConfused😂😂😂😂

SinkGirl · 28/02/2019 13:56

We have these ppl in England called “farmers” these people produce food for us to eat...we also have trade deals with all sorts of country’s not currently in the EU.

😂😂😂😂😂

What percentage of the UK’s food is grown in the U.K.?

How does all the lovely food from places outside the EU get into the U.K.? Might it be... through the EU (you know, those borders that will be completely fucked in the event of a no deal Brexit).

Is anyone really this naive?!

Best of luck!

Hollowvictory · 28/02/2019 13:57

UK farmers don't grow pine nuts! Essential for the pesto!

ChocChocButtons · 28/02/2019 13:57

I’m a farmer lovely haha hardly naive.

SinkGirl · 28/02/2019 13:58

You’re a farmer?!

Then you know that U.K. farms don’t produce nearly enough food to feed our population.

SinkGirl · 28/02/2019 13:59

And the bit about trade deals outside of the EU - do tell me how they’re going to get it into the country, if you’re not naive?

ChocChocButtons · 28/02/2019 14:00

There’s no point arguing with remoaners who have read every scare mongering article they can get their sad little hands on.

MyBreadIsEggy · 28/02/2019 14:01

SinkGirl we’ve had issues with our dispensary only giving us 2 tins at a time, meaning that I’m having to order again when we’ve finished the first tin to make sure I’ve got a replacement when the second tin runs out. But I spoke to the dietician last week and she was mad that they were giving me so little! She said she’d send an email through, and the next day I picked up 8 tins instead of 2! So hopefully if I time the next prescription order well, I’ll have plenty to tide us over

SparklySneakers · 28/02/2019 14:03

What kind of farmer are you?

IDoN0tCare · 28/02/2019 14:04

I’m a farmer lovely haha hardly naive.

I’m born and bread on a farm and I’m actually cringing for you.

Please rest assured, most farmers are more knowledgeable about food supply than that poster.

doIreallyneedto · 28/02/2019 14:04

@ChocChocButtons - Oh bless you, I don’t think you’ll need a store of food come because We have these ppl in England called “farmers” these people produce food for us to eat...we also have trade deals with all sorts of country’s not currently in the EU.

Oh bless you. You haven't a clue. These people called "farmers" in England (not sure why they rest of the UK doesn't get a look in) produce nowhere near enough food to feed anywhere near the population. Even if they did, we have this thing in England (and many other countries, including the rest of the UK) called the hunger gap, when winter crops run out and early summer crops have not yet begun, so farmers will have even less available to feed the English. But hey, old potatoes and cabbage make for a lovely diet.

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