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AIBU?

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Original poster

Are you doing anything to prepare for a second wave?

416 replies

Emlou07 · 31/05/2020 02:16

Historically we are going to get one. Seeing pictures of places rammed is scary.

So if so, what are you doing to prepare? If only to make another potential lockdown a bit easier.

I've been picking up a couple of extra tins a week and some UHT milk. I've also put some bits aside for the kids to keep them entertained.

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 31/05/2020 10:12

That playdough thread was batshit.

DivaLasVegas · 31/05/2020 10:12

The supply chain is fine.

Yes it is now and no doubt it would work better if there is a next time after lessons learnt. However, for me it is not the availability of goods necessarily. It is about going out and being in freezing cold queues for an hour, going to multiple shops or going out 3 or 4 times a week. I would want to keep my excursions to a minimum which means having stocked shelves and going out every 2 weeks without getting a Tesco slot because I can't get one anyway and I am not shielding so that is not fair on those who are.

NeutrinoWrangler · 31/05/2020 10:13

Ugh, and *mouths, not months! Blush

Eckhart · 31/05/2020 10:14

Science often gets things wrong, and so do experts. But quite often, they get things right. Tedious as it is, I don't think this is one to play chicken with.

Coronavirus is SO annoying. Especially for those who've had loved ones die. That's very tedious indeed.

AlternativePerspective · 31/05/2020 10:15

@ SoupDragon and the amount of people who agreed with the OP. Shock

SockYarn · 31/05/2020 10:17

I couldn't bear to be living in a pessimistic haze like so many on here. China - the worst affected country - hasn't had a second wave or second lockdown. There is no evidence to say we'll have one either. Many experts are now saying they think the virus will burn itself out. Whatever happens, there'll be no second lockdown. We have to learn to live with this and mitigate the risk.

I also don't get the angst about people being out. All the evidence shows that to be at risk of "catching it" you need 15 minutes in close proximity to an infected person. Walking past someone in a park or a beach doesn't fulfil that criteria. It is exceptionally low risk.

But if you're the person stocking up on chickpeas, quarantining your post, bleaching your fruit and washing all packets in soapy water, you;ll be relishing the idea of a second wave, second lockdown and another shot at gold in the suffering Olympics.

SuitedandBooted · 31/05/2020 10:17

I don't prep as such, as I always keep a pantry of food (and plenty of loo rolls) as I can't be bothered to do a 7 mile trip if I need a tin of beans.

There may be local action, but we won't lock down fully again, - the country just can't afford it. Shops and business would just be getting back up to speed, and we do it again? Not happening. My company is a very successful niche manufacturer, and has lost £1million +. It never fully shut, and I have been back since 4 June. They have restructured, and made a number of people redundant on Friday. This will soon be happening everywhere.

I reckon the truly vulnerable will be supported to carry on with shielding, and the rest of us will just get on, because we must.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 31/05/2020 10:17

unless you are a large family or live in a very small place why can't/don't you have at least 2 weeks of food in the house? Two weeks is nothing

You do realise that many people can't afford to shop for two weeks at a time?

implantsandaDyson · 31/05/2020 10:17

LovingLen yes jigsaws were the bane of my life for about 3 weeks. I was trying to get them for my Dad and it turned into a "thing" as my kids would say. They got both expensive and disappeared from stock quicker than cheap ibuprofen.
The Works eventually came through for us, although when I was talking to him a few days ago he told me that those new jigsaws were a lot more difficult than the ones he usually liked - it's as well we were on the phone and not in the same room!

lynsey91 · 31/05/2020 10:19

@frazzledfatty shops may have only run out of things for "a day" where you are but that certainly was not the case across the country.

My facebook was full of posts of people saying they could not get tea bags, flour, toilet rolls, pasta, tinned tomatoes, tinned beans, tinned fruit, yeast, sugar, soap etc.

Even now friends are saying they are having problems getting eggs and often flour

@Footywife I think buying bread has been a problem. Lots of shops sold out and did not replace for a time. Again, maybe different where you live.

lynsey91 · 31/05/2020 10:20

@PinkSparklyPussyCat you DON'T shop for 2 weeks at a time. You gradually buy extra and then once you have a decent stock you only have to add to it when needed or when you wish to.

Are posters being deliberately thick?

frazzledfatty · 31/05/2020 10:22

We also were not responsible for the shops selling out of toilet roll, pasta, flour etc. Unprepared people and idiot panic buyers were

I'm still not sure how you distinguish between the 3 groups and surely if everyone decides from next week to add a bit extra to their shopping that creates shortages?

frazzledfatty · 31/05/2020 10:26

@lynsey91 I never said it was the case everywhere & likewise shortages were not everywhere. I had zero problems getting bread & milk. Pasta was short for a bit but so what? It's really not a big deal to me if I can't get something we can just eat something else.

MilkTrayLimeBarrel · 31/05/2020 10:26

I started having bread delivered by Milk and More when this all started - I have been a milk customer for several years and they are extremely reliable - I have now added cream and sometimes a cheese to my order. People who are having trouble getting bread should maybe give them a go.

Eckhart · 31/05/2020 10:27

There is no evidence to say we'll have one either

You want proof of what's going to happen in the future? Well, McFly, when you find it, let us know and we can all go to the races!

There's a lot of proof that it's very likely. That's as much as we'll ever get until we can time travel.

SockYarn · 31/05/2020 10:27

yes jigsaws were the bane of my life for about 3 weeks. I was trying to get them for my Dad and it turned into a "thing" as my kids would say

There has been a LOT of (socially distanced) swapping of jigsaws round here.

Frustrating thing is that i'm a charity shop volunteer and know exactly where there are at least 50 sitting in the back shop. But I can't get to them.

amusedtodeath1 · 31/05/2020 10:29

I genuinely don't think many people are getting a kick out of this. IF some people are over reacting then they probably have very good reasons which are no one's business but theirs. I don't blame them, no one knows if it will get bad again or simply tail off. There are reports from China some area's are back in lockdown, but corroborating anything coming out of China is like platting piddle.

While I wait to see what will actually happen I feel happier knowing IF it gets bad again I can stay safe at home till the worst is over. I may be wrong, I may not need to have done that, but I don't care if anyone thinks that's nuts! I'm covering all bases and that gives me confidence in these uncertain times.

Eckhart · 31/05/2020 10:29

@SoupDragon

I still have my emergency 4 pack of loo roll in the bathroom

So you did buy just a little more than usual last time, then?

frazzledfatty · 31/05/2020 10:30

@lynsey91 but say I started adding a bit extra this week & a 2nd lock down happens in a month. I don't have enough food from a extra tin or 2 to bunker down. So should I be buying an extra one of everything each week?

YetAnotherSpartacus · 31/05/2020 10:31

I'm not coming out of the first lockdown. I don't need to and so I won't. I will continue to shop once a week at most and only go to shops that have the necessities. This does, by the way, include wine. I need to stock up on canned goods such as beans (I'm vegetarian) and also a few other basics and so I will.

I will continue to exercise by taking walks in my fairly rural location.

I'll come out when I have to and only then when I need to.

I'm taking calculated risks but I'm still hunkered down.

SoupDragon · 31/05/2020 10:31

China - the worst affected country - hasn't had a second wave or second lockdown.

Yeah... they've handled the loosening of lockdown somewhat differently to the U.K. it really isn't comparable.

implantsandaDyson · 31/05/2020 10:33

SockYarn my Dad usually gets his from a local charity shop, passes them around 2 or 3 of his friends and then they get brought back to the shop. They've had a jigsaw circle for about 5 years now. To be honest we did all take the piss in a loving way out of him until the past few months and they've been an absolute life saver. He's not a reader and I'm afraid my mum watched Normal People with him and scarred him for life.

frazzledfatty · 31/05/2020 10:34

How do people find the time for all the planning, stock rotating, booking slots, etc?

What with working p/t, homeschooling, more cleaning, more cooking, exercise, zoom social events I've never had less time. Barely even watch tv anymore.

Are lots on this thread retired, unemployed, children grown up/childless etc?

sixthtimelucky · 31/05/2020 10:36

Is it only on Mumsnet so that many people have pantries? Never hear this in real life, ever!

SoupDragon · 31/05/2020 10:37

So you did buy just a little more than usual last time, then?

I'm not sure what your point is because it clearly isn't linked to what I was saying at all. I never said I didn't have any extras.