To be more scared now than I was of Covid?

[Thesupercosyquilt]

I know IABU. I need to get a grip.

I wasn't frightened of Covid. The first few weeks were scary, all the uncertainty etc. But once my kids school closed, life for our family kind of carried on somewhat normally. DH and I were both out working at that point. I never thought we would catch it, we're all relatively healthy. I understood people felt differently and was sympathetic towards that, despite some of the more extreme opinions.

But now, with fuel price hikes, food shortages and now petrol being rationed, I am actually scared. It feels like all the panic of March 2020 all over again.

Don't worry, I'm not going to panic buy five million loo rolls. But I have such a sinking feeling knowing this is the start of really crap times ahead unravelling right before our eyes.

@Dollyparton3 I think that's just your specific circumstances though. Yes, you can now WFH, but most people actually can't, roads round me are still chocca, there hasn't been a significant reduction in traffic. And the last time petrol was rationed it was due a protests blocking refineries. When the protests ended, the supply was restored. This is not due to a protest (or even close to similar circumstances) so won't end as quickly as a protest can end.

[quote Zotter]I’m worried about the fuel bills more than anything. Then food prices. It looks like shit times ahead. Yet house prices still rising?

@Hihelp, this article may be of interest to you.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/26/boris-johnson-tories-economy-rising-house-prices-wages?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other[/quote]
Wow,thank you for that.
My feelings exactly

@Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow

Petrol being rationed? Since when?

Probably from today. If the queue at my local supermarket this morning is typical I’d be surprised if there’s any petrol left to buy, never mind rationing.

[quote worriedatthemoment]@Peregrina its more than brexit though other have posted the numbers and people actually bought more at the beginning of covid , people were panic buying left and right then
Not having hgv tests for months is also an issue , conditions is a big one many hgv drivers have posted saying , maybe people need to read all rather than blame one thing all the time as thats convenient and if it was all brexit a quick fix would be to dd hgv on the fast track skilled list
Its more than just brexit and if people didn't panic buy that would help
A poster here said they filled up which will last them a couple months, inplying they usually just buy a little
If we all do that then it will be hard
I think i read bp are closing garages in turn so that each place goes without for a short period [/quote]
People are not panic buying atm though.
I don’t think anyone has seen any issues with loo rolls and the like.

Where I am, you have a nice queue the petrol station, like ANY friday.
That’s it.

Too easy to blame people again. For covid. spreading , empty shelves, petrol rationing

@Macncheeseballs

Not everyone uses petrol

Delivery drivers do. Shortage of drivers; shortage of fuel. It affects us all.

I think a good way to deal with panic buying petrol is to have a minimum charge every time you fill up of say £30 ( maybe different amounts for motorbikes etc) That way you don't just go and top up 'Just in case. You go when you actually need petrol. I'm not suggesting we do this all of the time, just when there may be supply and logistics issues . I think filling up more than 1- 2 cans should be banned as well '

we drive diesel cars sometimes we just need 5 litres of petrol for lawn mower or strimmer a minimum charge is a silly idea but no one needs to fill 8 cans above and beyond a full tank

a max charge would be better no more than 50 litres at a time

We were told Brexit wouldn’t result in lowering standards but as soon as we face our first crisis lorry drivers can suddenly work more hours and haulage driver license tests will be made easier. More accidents here we come.

We were told...

We were told by people we knew were lying. Nobody of average or above-average intelligence can legitimately claim they didn't know those claims were untrue.

Interestingly, the people who stood on the shopping street in my town campaigning for EU exit are the same people who are now there capmaigning to ban vaccines and face masks.

campaigning

not capmaigning

But I'd like to find a use for the word capmaigning.

So long as they prioritise fuel for e.g. transporting food rather than just people filling up their individual cars, it’ll be fine. Big rises in fuel bills are a big concern though, especially heading into winter and stuck working from home so needing to heat my house all day.

So long as they prioritise fuel for e.g. transporting food rather than just people filling up their individual cars

So mumsnetters won't complain if teachers, GPs, etc. aren't at work because they can't get fuel to drive there? Really?

@CMZ2018

I must have passed 20 petrol stations yesterday none had queues or were even busy.

Maybe they had small cones in front of every single pump, like the one I visited yesterday. I drove in thinking, great, my choice of pump! Then I noticed the cones, even where people had pulled up to a pump.

Luckily the petrol station is an M&S food hall one, so I parked in the mini car park there & bought a few things. Still haven't got any petrol, though.

To all those saying don't panic, we got through other shortages - yes, we did. It doesn't mean people weren't affected though. I remember the farmers complaining about fuel prices (always seemed to me they just didn't like having a Labour government). I had physio-type health problems back then, & couldn't get to my much-needed swimming & exercise sessions, & some were cancelled by the teacher because we all had no fuel. Yes I survived, but it was worrying, bad for my health & completely unnecessary.

Yesterday my husband faced having to work from home today due to having no petrol for his commute - but he managed to find some fuel on his way to work, otherwise that was it for the foreseeable future.

This stuff DOES affect ordinary people.

Just seen on FB that some garages in a nearby town are reporting queues of cars waiting for fuel deliveries, and the media reporting this online is fuelling the panic buying,.

Just arrived home. The queues are building up at petrol stations and of course are causing traffic jams.
Ridiculous behaviour I can’t believe they all need petrol.

It’s what the country voted for. But yes I am feeling apprehensive, much more than with covid.

@RobinPenguins

So long as they prioritise fuel for e.g. transporting food rather than just people filling up their individual cars, it’ll be fine. Big rises in fuel bills are a big concern though, especially heading into winter and stuck working from home so needing to heat my house all day.

So I’ll just walk the 16 miles with no public transport to my job in food production shall I?

@Underamour you are right, do not try to control those things that are out of your control. That way madness and sadness lie. However it does make sense to make some adaptations to prepare. Eg buying a camping lantern in case of blackouts. Cancelling one of your streaming subscriptions and saving extra for a rainy day.

There is literally no petrol in our town and for miles around. Some of us are carers to elderly people, so it is a concern. Most people can manage walking to the shops and using public transport, but our parents live rurally.

Just been to get petrol as my petrol light was on and need my car for the kids, quite a big queue so gave up and went to a nearer one which is more expensive. It's frustrating when most of the people queueing probably didn't even need petrol and are just panic buying

Yes @pinkpanther84 it is really frustrating! I wish people would leave it for those who need to attend to vulnerable people or can’t get to work/ school any other way .... not be a you need to drive to do your weekly shop... you can do it on foot in more trips if necessary.

Most people can manage walking to the shops and using public transport, but our parents live rurally.

Depends where you live.
And let’s be honest, bringing the weekly shopping by bus isn’t much fun either. My 4~5 reusable bags are hard to move around when you are on your own.
That’s assuming there is a bus between said supermarket and home of course….

I’ve just been to the local supermarket on my dinner break. It’s a 4 minute drive.

The queue for sainburys was backed to the main road (quite a long stretch of road) and they had attendants trying to direct the chaos. The other two petrol stations (1 BP, 1 Shell) were out of fuel and closed.

That’s not a normal traffic for a Friday people are panic buying

I needed petrol as well!

We were told by people we knew were lying. Nobody of average or above-average intelligence can legitimately claim they didn't know those claims were untrue.

We were told Brexit wouldn’t result in a drop to our living standards, but to be fair, as a PP has pointed out, this exact scenario featured in the government’s own Brexit planning and risk assessments.

I’m told that Brexit voters are absolutely not thick, racist and uninformed. So I can only conclude they were aware it was a risk and decided it was worth it.

@RancidOldHag

Anyone else remember the rptanker drivers strike of 2000?

That was the last time we had fuel rationing.

I doubt it would be as bad if (huge 'if') it similar happened now. Covid experience might be useful - more people are set up to WFH - reducing need for fuel for their commuting. And less congestion on the roads means better fuel economy. More capacity for supermarket deliveries too - one van rather than several cars

I was a child in 1956, when the Suez crisis happened. Yes, some people panic bought petrol. Some people always will grab everything. I was a young adult who could drive, by about 1972, and some time in the 1972/3/4, we were issued with petrol coupons because a shortage was expected. I still have my coupons from then. In the event we never needed them. I don't remember my fuel being rationed in 2000, but I expect it wouldn't have worried me much by then! Stop losing your lives to worrying about things that aren't worth worrying about. Human beings are very resilient and they usually respond well to emergencies, if those emergencies actually happen. In the 1950s most people had one or two sources of heat in their houses, but no all-pervading central heating. Those people didn't die, they just wrapped up more and had hot water bottles and probably ate a bit of a different diet from now, and all sat together in the living room, not too far from the coal fire, instead of being scattered around in different rooms looking at screens the way they do now.

Diceychoice, when I inadvertently became unemployed in the later 1970s, and I believe the tax rate was far higher than 20% then, I took a temp job in a warm factory. I didn't work 12 hour shifts but I worked 13 days out of 14, and took the day off which was dictated to me by the rosta. A friend of mine worked 12 shifts on a regular basis and there are certainly people in my area who work those sorts of hours in factories. Best of luck. My friend and I both survived.