Westministenders: The Virus

[RedToothBrush]

Its like living in a Bad Disaster B Movie.

If you thought Brexit on your TV every day was Bad, The Virus is a whole new level.

The 5pm broadcast with Johnson and friends, and the public infomation video with the unblicking Chris Witty (who has such unfortunate mannerism he makes me think he's me a Dr Who alien akin to the Slitheen).

Who knows what will happen. Just that everything has changed and our entire economy is now on life support whilst we figure out how to deal with the crisis and what on earth our exit strategy is.

Johnson has however refused to join a joint EU purchase scheme designed to assist countries through the crisis.

Meanwhile the US is about to go nuts... so what does that do to a trade deal?

More money for the NHS? More hospitals?

Well its possible that might just happen...

The old bread flour will be fine. It's " best before" not " Use by".

As long as the flour doesn't have black bits ...

I'm working too (NHS, from home, lots of data crunching and making sure redeployed staff go where they are 1) needed and 2) safe. DD1 is writing her uni essays and crafting, DD2 is doing her school work and writing a novel, fostered teen is writing/drawing a comic alongside her school work. There's stress, but I'd say we are all mentally well.

I signed up to learn Portuguese (as found the language wholly baffling every time I went there) and was doing OK until Sunday morning when Babbel scolded me for not making enough effort. TBF it was mostly typos on the iPad but I felt quite cast down (and resorted to Netflix).

I'd use old flour in the breadmaker - my crumpet loaf was also 2019, so perhaps that is why? We toast each slice anyway and no ill effects so far!

The stats on this are going to keep on giving I feel as time goes on and discrepancies noted. I'd love to know more about the data collection. Amongst my friends there's a keen interest in the Oxford study suggesting we had this, or a strain of it, before Christmas but it wasn't recognised.

Also while I'm here, can anyone explain the ACE2 receptor? I tried to read up about it a few nights ago after seeing that ex smokers might be at higher risk than current smokers, due to the ACE2 enzymes being in different cells in the body to the lungs? I've lost the paper that triggered it now, but as an ex smoker I was a bit . My anxiety makes me want to know everything about any threat but I've reached a wall. I'm sure someone here will know?

Your cats are spectacular!

And can anyone explain phantom smells? I kept smelling Witch Hazel the other day, something I've not used since I was a child! It actually triggered me buying a tree of it to be delivered (amongst other things) as it signifies sorrow and I thought it would be a good marker of the pandemic (and the smell reminds me of my mum)!

Also got a lot of ppl wanging on about wet markets on fb. How do they think them signing a petition here in UK will have any effect whatsoever on the Chinese State? Oh Xi, we must stop! Debby from Halifax has signed an online petition because she thinks it looks disgusting!

I’ve tried using out of date bread mixes in the bread maker before - they don’t always work (guess it depends on whether the yeast is still active or not).

Thanks all for the flour reassurance. I’ll start with the Dec 2018 bag and work back.

As long as the flour doesn't have black bits ...
A friend told me to check for mites, so I know what those black bits are. 🤮

A friend told me to check for mites, so I know what those black bits are.

I quickly learned to transfer flour to a sealed container and check before use when living in the southern US.

Have you ever considered binning it all, except for business ?
I have about 30 fb friends and only people I love to bits who aren't local. Apart from one who I regret adding but lives around the corner. She's currently muted and will be binned in due course. Other fb friends are fairly okay tbh. I have a strict rule that I only add people I'd go for a pint with but can't just nip around with.

Other than that my social media is twitter which is fine as my account is tuned to news not drivel.

And WhatsApp groups. Its the WhatsApp groups I can't leave as they relate to real life community and what I'm having problems with. (Though ironically pokemon go players seem to be currently the most well balanced and sane).

I do think creative types are doing a lot better. And computer nerds. Dh is having more social functions than usual! He has had pub quiz, work pub social, caught up with old online buddies - and he's been able to suggest online alternatives to a number of groups who thought they had to stop completely.

He's got home brew on the go and bought a bike turbo so he can cycle against his mates at home. Hes currently threatening an online canoeing activity... (don't ask)

I've got less time than normal, trying to keep a 5 year old entertained. He's a good kid and generally is good especially since he's an only child. Animal crossing has been a godsend though.

My garden is progressing more slowly and my plants are suffering (need to get them outside ASAP)

I have come to the conclusion that tbh I'm a somewhat unsociable bastard who is quite happy on my own and I generally don't actively like other people. I'm feeling somewhat intruded on by bored / struggling parents in my sons class.

It's definitely a question of quality not quantity for me and right now it's people I'd rather not go for a pint with who are doing my head in, rather than people I choose to be around. Strangely enough my good friends are keeping well entertained and busy.

How do they think them signing a petition here in UK will have any effect whatsoever on the Chinese State? Oh Xi, we must stop! Debby from Halifax has signed an online petition because she thinks it looks disgusting

Exactly what I had to restrain myself from saying. I'm sure they all feel good about themselves for making a show of how much they care about the animals, but changes fuck all.

The one who said 'I'd never heard of them until tonight' gets a special 'I must avoid' sticker for clearly living under a rock.

I am clearly the oddity in the room.

Weevils.

Organic flour has more problems with weevils.

I considered the kneading part of my daily exercise

Kneading bread dough is such good therapy. If you are in a good mood you can smooth and caress it; in a bad mood, give it a good thumping. Either way, it doesn't seem to matter, the yeast does its own thing and rises.

"online canoeing activity... (don't ask) "

red I won't < sorely tempted emoticon > 🤔
I'm visualising a turbo rowing machine at home - or your OH is livestreaming himself in the bath ,,,,

Bewitched I'd never bin MN - because of course we are anonymous and any of us can switch off
I was suggesting banning all the other stuff - I should have been clearer

I have a punchbag and boxing gloves,

usually excellent for stress relief,

but I used to be able to hang up the bag in the gym; my current flat doesn't have a ceiling hook and I obviously can't hang it up outside atm

I have a little standing punchbag too, so I'm looking around for where to safely tie it down

I used some up from 2017 the other day and am still here.

I thought the black bits in old flour were mice droppings? Definitely store it in a closed container.

I have sooo many things I'd like to do and I'm jealous of everyone getting in with projects that they can't usually do. I would be in my element if it weren't for the fact I have a 7 months old baby ( I think I was congratulated on one of the earlier Westminstender threads!) And actually, nothing has changed for me. At all.
I can't do anything. And I had just started doing baby groups and he was enjoying being socialised and it only lasted two mere weeks and now everything has stopped. So for me, it's actually worse. I was feeling strained and had just organised with my mum a plan to keep me from having a breakdown that she would come down and baby sit for a day or afternoon and then I'd go to hers for a day or afternoon...didn't even manage that.
I was up all last night with the baby and I'm exhausted, my husband has had to call in to take a days annual leave and now I can't even sleep...typical

Yes, I've been dubious about UK death totals
but at least it has been confirmed that only hospital deaths of tested people are included, as we suspected.

Also, I'm not sure why anonymised death figures would have to wait for relatives to be informed, or for contact tracing - which the UK seem to give up on v early anyway.
I can understand a couple of days to collect figures from hospitals around the country,

The mayors in Lombardy have made it clear their toll is multiple times higher
and the total in some towns for deaths of all causes has rocketed, far more than the CV stats

We need to compare total deaths from natural causes with the same months in 2019
Of course, traffic accidents and work accidents could be much lower, so excluding accidents

Some here in France have indicated that figures will only be clear(er) once they can compare with expected rates.

BCF I've never really done boxing, and am aware this won't compare, but if particularly stressed I like to "plump the pillows". I stand on one side and punch them over the bed, run around and do the same back. This worked particularly well after a break up to keep my pillows dust free

I need more "special avoid stickers" in my life. It's been very peaceful without my nutty Leaver friend and her daily calls. I might pass on some of those man ideas Red, I think there is a big niche for things for men to do online.

horehound 💐 It's much more difficult for those who aren't curmudgeonly introverts like some of us here
Or feeeling trapped indoors with small DC, struggling with money, mourning wrecked careers or small businesses ....

It's important that while we post on other threads about the importance of lockdown in flattening the curve,
that we also acknowledge the stress that many are going through
That gets dismissed too casually

It is necessary, but some are paying the price much more than others

BCF I think also the testing times are varied across UK. A friend says near her in Surrey they can turn them around within a day, other places it's still 2 to 4 days. Could explain the delay on test for those already dead as perhaps they are using the slower tests?

We need to compare total deaths from natural causes with the same months in 2019
Of course, traffic accidents and work accidents could be much lower, so excluding accidents

www.gov.uk/government/statistics/weekly-all-cause-mortality-surveillance-2019-to-2020
Weekly all-cause mortality surveillance: 2019 to 2020
How the actual number and type of death registrations in England and Wales compare to predictions for each week.

I had a look through this the other day.

So far, I think there is only one or two weeks this year apparently showing no statistically significant excess mortality.

I believe the same has been observed in Italy.

However we know we've had unprecedented numbers of deaths in Italy in some areas because mortuaries and crematorium have been so overwhelmed they have had to have the army come in and take people away. Bergamot has had a number of deaths significantly higher than normal.

Trying to get my head around this, I wonder a) what the statistical margin of error is, so if the covid-19 death rate is low it might not show easily b) whether this year's unusually mild winter is hiding a statistical difference as less people would have died more than normal combined with a highly localised pattern of death associated with covid-19 c) whether we might later see a deficit in deaths as people have died now rather than later.

It's intriguing as we do know something unusual is happening but the way we record data apparently isn't picking it up. That doesn't mean something isn't happening, it means we are not observing it in data.

It suggests that covid-19 isn't perhaps as deadly as feared, but it doesn't mean there isn't a problem, and I have to be honest it's slightly concerning me that there isn't something showing up. There has to be an explanation and the failure of an adequate explanation is a concern.

Is the data too generalised and not localised enough? Is it not properly adjusted for certain factors? Have we overreacted in some way (we have not as its not just about deaths but also hospital capacity)? Will there be a delay and a later excess for indirect causes (eg cancer deaths go up in six months time)?

I don't know.

Intriguing whatever the reason.

horehound a friend of mine is putting her sign and rhyme sessions online for her regulars. If you like I can ask if I can send you the link (as long as you promise not to disclose it as she isn't allowed to upload it). She might not, but if you think it might help I can ask. All I can suggest are long walks with the buggy, audiobooks for you with husband in total control of baby for an hour a day and not trying to be everything to everyone at this time - don't look at what others are doing and compare.

Re; Wuhan death toll - those keeping an eye on this are incredibly suspicious. A shipment of 30,000 funeral urns turning up at a funeral home is a little 😱...... that little fact was from a reliable source .... maybe buried in a guardian article ?
I have deleted Facebook from phone because of all the div's ..... those saying it's just a cold.... please sign this petition...... Red - I agree with you, and maybe it's this mindset that bought us brexit.... a group of brits signing an online petition is going to change how the population of an actual super power lives.......