Would you use public transport for this?

[QuornHub]

I've not used any PT since 12 March. I've no access to a car so have been doing the grocery shopping on foot, three times a week or so. DH comes with me when he's available but he's working long hours at the moment so he can't do it often.

I have rheumatoid arthritis so I can only carry a limited amount each trip. After all these weeks it's beginning to take its toll - I'm in increasing amounts of pain and I'm not able to have my usual steroid injection to alleviate it. My feet and hands are particularly badly affected - not good when you're walking 2 miles with heavy shopping!

I'm considering getting the bus for the return trips at least when I'm laden, but I'm not sure if a) it's essential travel or b) how safe it is. I've avoided it for this long but honestly, I'm not sure how long I'll be able to continue like this. Where I live is a hotspot currently, it's the second top area in the UK for infections. So a bus into town is a little daunting.

So as not to drip feed, I don't have any friends or family near me to help and I haven't been able to get a delivery slot since early March (our local Tesco is notorious for crap substitutions anyway and I've always had to go back out after a delivery to replace stuff!). And anyway there are people far worse off than me who could make better use of any slots which do become available.

WWYD?

I have RA as well. I also am a non driver. Fortunately my cat has taken to outside toileting during Lockdown.

Can’t you order cat litter on Amazon, or from a local pet shop, or is there a local Good Neighbours group who could help with heavy stuff? Put out a request.

I hate asking for help, but I have learnt to do so. People like to help. With RA I have learnt that taking liberties with it just means it bites back even more viciously.

The other day I met a friend who also has RA but can drive at the local Lidl. I got my shopping. She dropped it home for me. I walked home.

Can I second what @MaskaBuzz said; shop online for the cats. I use Zoopla for all my cat stuff and even at the very start of this I was able to get over a month's worth of supplies for my cats, which is lots of cat litter! Delivery is free over £39 as well.

Thirding ordering the cat stuff from alternative places for delivery. I think pets at home deliver and we ordered a load of food from zoo plus which came quickly.

You can source a lot of stuff online, Amazon is pretty good for groceries if a bit of a pain to search it all out separately if your not in one of their grocery areas and cleaning stuff and toiletries can be bought online. That would only leave the fresher stuff and bits to carry home.

(But yes, use the bus and take precautions)

Public transport is essential for you, OP.

Of course use the bus. Other people are using it for shopping, which is considered an essential trip. The only reason not to is if your risk is high, but supermarkets are also best avoided if so anyway.

You may not be able to get grocery deliveries, but get can you get your cat litter delivered?

Yes I would.

I've used PT (bus) recently for the first time in months. I live in an urban area, avoided rush hours and the bus was almost empty

Found it to be OK and the bus driver commented that he wishes more people would use it

I didn't use a mask or gloves. Just had some hand santiser gel

...or alternatively ring your local council and see if you can get a volunteer to shop for you. They are really good and I'm sure will help you if you are in pain with RA

Get the bus, definitely. There AND back. RA is awful, I know, and debilitating in soo many ways.

Use it, I was walking 3 miles to go shopping there and back. Which may not seem far but lugging home shopping made it difficult and it’s all up hill where I live. That was also with a toddler in a pram and a 6 year old who was finding it tiring. I’ve started getting the bus again as I couldn’t do it any longer. I bet a lot of those commenting have cars.

It is essential, we all need to eat and regularly. Nopoint in trying to tackle covid if people starve to death first. The buses are fairly quiet around here. All I'd say is try not to touch rails if you can (I'd hook my elbow around) and put hand sanitizer on if you do.

The only place you can get an online delivery around here is Iceland, but my friend can't get one for her parents in another area. Some of the larger supermarkets do click and collect - not sure if you could time it for your DH to collect on way home from work and then you unpack.

I’d book a slot for delivery if you can , they are more readily available now and tick the box for no substitutions , failing that I would use a taxi .

In your position and I had no alternative, I would but I’d use a mask or face covering. I’m not sure how much use gloves would be, but would take hand sanitizer if possible.

I’m not sure why a taxi is better than a bus.... taxi drivers have suffered badly from covid and are presumably therefore more likely to be carriers. In other words, you’re more likely to be close to a carrier in a taxi than on a bus.

I am really surprised you can’t get an online shopping slot. People had problems at the start but most supermarkets have upped their numbers of slots.

This. I really wouldn’t be a martyr and not try and get a slot in your position. It’s very public spirited of you but unnecessary. There were problems weeks ago but now it’s not too hard. I get my shopping delivered and am not in a vulnerable group.

If it’s any help, I buy all my heavy cat stuff from I spend enough to get the free delivery and order in bulk. The food is usually cheaper then the supermarket and can get better quality stuff. I usually buy a mix of cheap Felix and throw in some cans of something else too.

I don’t know where everyone else is but shops round near me are still a months wait for delivery. Can get an Iceland’s but they are very limited with what you can buy there.

Have you checked all the supermarkets for deliveries? Where I live online delivery isn't that difficult to get anymore. For Asda you can always get slots but they tend to be around 1 week-10 days away. For Iceland you can get a slot 2 days away and there are tons. I didn't get any deliveries for ages as I assumed from online it would not be possible and also I didn't want to take slots from more vulnerable people. However that's not an issue around here any more, anyone can get a slot especially with Iceland so I've started getting odd deliveries again when I need to stock up on heavy non perishables etc. I would get the bus in your circumstances or a taxi if you can't get shopping delivered. If I could afford it I would choose taxi, probably safer and just overall more convenient and pleasant. Our taxis here all have screens in between you and the driver, I reckon the risk is less than a bus.

@PumpkinP

In Suffolk and have no issues... Also family in West Midlands have no issues either

I’m in se London And the next tescos shop is 1st of July! And I have “priority slots” I’ve checked Asda and that’s not as bad but still not till the end of the month. I have to say Iceland’s have been really good can get them next day but they don’t do nappies etc so always end up having to go somewhere else and just use them as a top up!

In your position id look at delivery slots. Its not as bad as it used to be, there's more staff and more slots, and peope are no longer panic buying so more availability. I think you need one

Pumpkin you just have to keep looking. I looked this morning and Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrison’s and Iceland all had slots. This evening none of them do. Maybe it’s a London thing but I’m shopping for 4 families in 4 different parts of the country and still getting slots.

I’m in the SE and withTesco it is a matter of just looking at random times , I’ve been managing to book slots for a few weeks now and a couple of weeks in advance .

You’ll be safer now... everyone will need to wear a face covering!

Definitely try to get cat stuff delivered via Amazon, a supermarket or online somehow to help you with carrying.