No panic sensible prepping for second lockdown

[Etinox]

This is not an alarmist thread, I hope there’s not a second lockdown & I’m not planning anything which will involve waste or depriving others. It’s more an accountability and planning thread. Whatever happens I’m very likely to woh and live in central London with 2 adults (last time 2 more adults returned- this is unlikely to happen this time until christmas). Lots of what others are doing (basics like milk pasta loo roll, I don’t need) not navigating school closures, nappies & baby milk etc. Last time bumbling DH accompanied me, standing too close to other people in busy town centre and buying a big bag of smelly rice which were still working through. Today I’m leaving him at home and planning on getting the following in, I’m not going to queue for anything- I’ll do without.
Clear out freezer, we have a tiny one but I reckon I could make space for better supplies. We also have garage space- buy another freezer?
Coal it’s cold this time round and having a warm fire/ glowing ritual will make the evenings better
Cash out particularly lots of £2 coins to tip amazon delivery
Eyebrows/ pedicure not sure whether this is justifiable but I want to support my local traders and it’d be a treat
Baking cook up last of windfalls for crumble for next door and fil who we’ll visit tomorrow and sit in his garden.
Find and wash all the lovely reusable
masks I bought a month ago and have 2 left
Spend £20 in Poundland if there’s not a queue last lockdown I was visiting fortnightly for £5 of materials for work needs but I could get ahead.
Buy solpadeine not for covid but I get through a packet a fortnight
Check household goods we’re running low on. Nothing obvious, I’d like to get a big bag of potatoes in but that would involve asking fil to get them as village shop shut tomorrow- keep an eye out for stores locally with big bags outside
Other prep I've done is car full of petrol, we have food in, but maybe book supermarket delivery for 10 days time? Have stamps.
Please add your own suggestions and/ or use this as your accountability thread.

We've been in a local lockdown for weeks. Nothing has changed apart from socialising so there is no need to prepare.

I have thought of something I need to get, a replacement battery for the thermometer. Needs to be an eBay job.

We are ok for light bulbs, still have a spare (non standard) for the one light from last lockdown and the quest to get them. I don't fancy sitting in semi darkness in autumn and winter waiting for them to be delivered.

Amazon drivers here are back in the van before I can get to the door so I'd never catch them to give them a tip!

We recently had to wait for a Covid result (negative) but as we are the main careers for elderly mum who lives alone it did make me think about what would happen if we all had to isolate. So I did a stock up shop for her so that even if we can’t get round, she will have enough to keep her going for a few days until we can sort something else out.

I have been adding extra things to our shopping since the last lockdown, just an item or two at a time. As well as food and cleaning products/toiletries, things like batteries, stamps, night lights/candles, head torches(for cars and power cuts), paracetamol/ibuprofen. We get loo roll and laundry capsules delivered (Who Gives a Crap and Smol). Since last time I have learned how to make soda bread and yoghurt too.
In terms of Christmas, most presents are bought now and thoughts are turning to food and drink.

It’s just about being organised and it gives me some peace of mind.

Get a couple of hand creams in.Hand sanitiser dries them out.

Things like stamps, sellotape, batteries. The kinds of things that don't make it into a regular weekly shop so you're more likely to run out without realising. Under normal circumstances you'd pop out to the shop but if I am trying to minimise shop visits it could be a bit of a pain. It's not so much worries about stocks or closures but trying to avoid any unnecessary trips beyond a weekly grocery shop. And also save a bit of money by getting these things from cheaper places now.

The kinds of things that don't make it into a regular weekly shop and also the kinds of things that you might have to go to a separate or specialist shop for.

Ooh Im posting to join this and read later.

So much for us hangs on if they close schools or not. Psychologically when schools close we can batten down the hatches. But either way we want to minimise trips and be stocked for aupply chain/brexit issues.

We have a weekly tescos delivery.

I have started getting xmas presents sorted, paracetamol and regular medicine, paper and printer ink and pens.

Will read up properly though!

I got an extra bag of cat food in the last time it came in handy when my supplier failed the other day

[quote Juniperandrage]@Legoandloldolls

what are you doing for mental health prepping?[/quote]
I have made sure I have catched up with everyone I was missing during lockdown for a start. I drove to see my mum yesterday so I feel much happier now if I then couldn't see her until after Christmas.

I'm a member of a botanical garden which I have booked myself to go to at least once a week. I go when the kids are at school and take photos and it's quite a good escape from life.

I'm also doing dusk walks with my teen son so we can feel autumnal. As there will be no bonfire or Halloween get togethers its actually quite nice seeing the season changing just being outside more.

I'm also just making sure keeping my house tidied and less cluttered so that keep me more busy when at home and away from.the news.

I guess just little things where you take more time with details like looking at leaves changing colour and digging to the back of the wardrobes. Which normally I wouldnt. It's like using up time and energy on worrying but redirecting it. If I'm busy, I then to think and stew things over less. Bonus is my house is slightly more tidy too ( which is good as the kids trashed it during lockdown and I felt I couldn't keep it with it all)

As pp have said it’s about minimising trips out if we are locked down again. Like @Legoandloldolls I’ve visited relatives this weekend so if I can’t, or have to sit in their garden, it’s not so urgent. I didn’t go shopping before I saw them so tomorrow when I’m in the town centre for work I’ll get postal bags and boxes, bed linen I need and (if it doesn’t feel reckless) my brows and feet done 😳

Dog to vets ✔️
Feet ✔️
Coal on order ✔️
Relatives visited ✔️
Bed linen✔️
Work shopping done ✔️
Postal bags still to find ❌
Eyebrows postponed ❌
I deliver a weekly course (a series of workshops as I didn’t want to stop half way through) and I’ve got all participants on speed dial in case I need to cancel ✔️

I think your very thorough and have thought of most things. I only have two suggestions.
First is something to entertain you at home, whatever your into. Puzzles, crochet, knitting, learn the tin whistle....the tv and even books can pall when it's the seventh dark evening in a row..
Although if your a reader then Amazon are doing good kindle deals today and kindle unlimited is good.
Second is if you have a slow cooker or crockpot, you can make up the spice mixes for some meals and freeze them. Then just toss frozen veg and meat if you like with the spice mix into the slow cooker for a very easy meal if your unwell/very busy.

Thanks @M0rT
Funnily enough I’ve put a meal in the slow cooker this morning before work. As for entertainment I unfortunately have a massive workload and would always have something I should be doing.

Tea. Coffee. Loo roll. Kitchen roll. Tissues. Wipes. Hand sanitiser. Cleaning sprays. Bleach. Pasta. Rice. Tinned tomatoes/tuna/sweetcorn/fruit. Cooking oil. Jam. Bin bags. Foil. Painkillers. Mouthwash. Toothpaste. Shower gel. Soap. Shampoo. Sanpro. Batteries. Sugar. Spices. Squash. Cereal. Porridge. Chocolate. Biscuits. Noodles.

All worth having a few spares of, ime.

Gosh, do people tip the amazon delivery people? They come once or twice a day to our house

Another order of logs for the burner.
Bought all the springs bulbs this morning so that will keep me busy.
Started ordering Christmas presents from Etsy, nice and early to make it easier on the sellers as I know how manic it gets.
Need Christmas and Birthday cards.
New dog walking boots on order.
Dogs meds from the vets and stock up on their food.
Buy some brushed cotton bedding.
Have a bonfire and get rid of the summer garden rubbish.
Need to fix the boot of my car and buy de-icer.

My big start to prepping is doing a massive clear out. I've got bags for the rag bin and bags for the hospice shop. I'm working my way through upstairs and plan on having finished downstairs by next week.

Actual prep wise, I've bought most of DS birthday and Christmas presents. He would like a bigger balance bike and I know they'll be like hens teeth to get hold of if we end up on local exercise only again.

Foodwise I think we'll be ok. I don't mind doing a weekly shop. I've been getting little Christmas bits in ready. For example the hot chocolate melty snowmen from Aldi, they're for the Christmas eve box but my friend works there and they've been going like hot cakes apparently. And apricot lebkuchen, but if that makes it to Advent then I'll be shocked

DH has an exercise bike if the gyms close again, and I have wool for crochet and a couple of books that I've had since before DS was born nearly four years ago to read.

I’ve just bought 6 tubes of toothpaste as I can only use certain ones and I’ve topped up my Gaviscon supply as there seems to be a shortage at the moment. I’ve got Ocado deliveries booked until the end of October (and our Christmas delivery). Everything else seems to be topped up as I don’t tend to check what we need before I order!

@JS87

Gosh, do people tip the amazon delivery people? They come once or twice a day to our house

Working conditions and