Westministenders: Don't forget to stockpile. Again.

[RedToothBrush]

The government is telling pharmacists and drug manufactures to stockpile drugs ahead of the end of transition on 31st December.

In the middle of a pandemic.

What could go wrong?

I don't have a garden, Geist - I discovered nearly 40 years ago that I cba with gardening
However, I have the Rhine and its banks beneath me, to get my painless fill of outdoors.

I found the declutter trick is to tell myself I will do a maximum of this one cupboard, but a minimum of 1 shelf.
I often manage 2 shelves
atm I cba to declutter with the glorious weather we've had here since March, so maybe I'll resume in October

I still have my original Brexit stash in the garage, as it's all still in date. I'm checking and rotating it. We also have a stash in the larder that I'm keeping fully stocked. I like to have at least two of everything we frequently use just in case. And the freezer is bursting with meat.

I need to get some more dried lentils I think. We use them anyway but I finished the split peas the other day. And could do with more baked beans because they were a sod to get hold of.

My mum is hopefully moving house so I'm currently helping her declutter her home of nearly 50 years...
She's in no way a hoarder (the opposite tbh) and neither was my dad but 50 years of stuff is a lot.
Its also a 3 bed house and so its got lots of furniture thats needs getting rid of...
Dh and I emptied my dads shed at the weekend....it felt very sad at times going through his treasure trove of gadgets he never used/forgot were there :(
Some stuff was for the tip (broken kettles etc) but most has found its way into dhs sheds narrows eyes (mum thinks this is hilarious. I do not!)
I spent a happy half hour last night with dads label maker 😁
I found a pile of books he obviously used to read in there. I miss him so much.

Peregrina "anything thrown out before 30 years have passed is deemed as being too hasty to get rid of things"

And so have I often proved for myself. I like your husband's style - but I promise I won't mention it if we ever meet

BCF I envy you your Rhine views and your latest photo reminds me so much of where I lived as a child. Poplars and willows and a slow wide river.

I know all the de-clutter tricks but even so... have done massive stints of this over the past few years and the charity I donated to was happy to collect, but in this time of Covid it's different and I too have decided the next sort-out can wait til the winter months.

This summer it's been a joy to just step out the back door to pluck a handful of this or that and I realised I get quite edgy if I'm deprived of fresh green vegetables for too long (I can't just nip out to the shops these days and I don't drive), so the venture into growing at least some of my own has been a good one. And so is the feeling that I have taken back some control of my life!

Geist I have to have green too, to stroll around in and I love the water
Currently enjoying my first year of retirement, even though I've cancelled plans for outings

I live within easy walking distance of a farm shop and cafes,
but I have a bike for heavier shopping, or when I want to go to the next town

Could you manage a bike, or an e-bike, to stay a bit more connected ?

I've a visual disability too, so haven't been able to drive for many years, but I'm stlll fine on my bike
(although we do have excellent cycle lanes)

PMK with a photo of a banner hung alongside the ubiquitous flag above a town hall near where I live, thanking "the everyday heroes" of COVID.
Not so cheery in France just now, and the practicalities of the coming term/semester/year for the DC and my work are giving me a fair few nightmares, a month early.

Thanks to Red and all WMers.

Australia / Victoria getting v tough to combat their 2nd wave:

Candice Wyattt@CandiceWyatt10 (10 news)

BREAKING: The Chief Comm says there’s a “growing cohort” of people who believe they’re above the law and don’t have to follow Stage 4 rules.

Police are smashing windows at roadblocks and dragging them out of their cars.

I need to revamp my shed so I can start a new stockpile in there - it's piled up with all the big stuff that the council wasn't collecting during the lockdown, but collections are running again. Once I've done that, I can expand the stockpile and top up what I already have.

Thanks Red
Trying to rebuild my Brexit stash as it has been decimated during CV. Quite worried as I have a regular prescription of quite a few meds, so will be putting it in a little earlier each month I feel.

Pmk too.
Ds gets melatonin on prescription and I'm worried that will be affected.

Garden coming into full harvest.
Pickling, freezing and jam making ongoing.
Maximum space devoted to winter veg.
Considering getting chickens.

I’ve wanted chickens for ages. Watch out for rats, apparently.

I am slowly decluttering the house and the cupboards are earmarked for the weekend.

Those poor people in Beirut. That blast was staggering.

Taswama, you can buy melatonin easily online. I've managed to stockpile most of my essential meds, but one is a controlled substance, so nigh on impossible to build up a stash.

Early PMK. Thanks Red. Must start to restock as well. Is there the faintest of faintest hopes that we see some sort of UK-EU deal?

It will make little or no difference to disruption. Deal or no-deal, the U.K. is leaving the single market and customs union and that means friction. Disruption is pretty much guaranteed in the transition from a friction-free system to one that is designed to have a lot of friction. Even if things go well, there will be a catch-up period as inventories need to increase at all points in the trade system, so less will be available to buyers.

Thanks red

Yep - with chickens you need a good plan to manage the rats - it's something that has always put me off. We have cats - but they have really decided they are indoor cats(they venture out occasionally) and two dogs. One of the dogs has the potential...... but he spends time at the stables and has always looked slightly bemused by the terriers ratting......
Having said that I saw someone selling a big chicken run as we go through a huge number of eggs, and we have the space.

How long does flour keep for ? 6 months?

Oh and on the last thread there was a discussion about other European countries banning uk visitors. I was talking to a Greek friend yesterday , I said about UK tourists - as they have had a slight uptick in cases. Anyway the way he answered made me think they will allow tourists for a period , to get what tourist income they can - then shut the boarders. It will be interesting

Shipton Mill reckon white flour is good for 1 year after milling and wholemeal 6 months.

Yoikes I know exactly what you mean about going through their things. I had 3 years where 4 people in my family died. Dad, his sister (who i've met twice in my entire life) and myself are the only ones left. Seeing as she was in remote Scotland and my dad is not exactly "hands on" it fell to me to declutter, pack up and organise each house. I only opened an ottoman to go through it 6 months ago that was my mum's and it still had the same affect. Tbh I think I had had too much at the time and just had to leave some things for "later" pretty sure I hadn't meant to leave it for a decade! but then things/life happens. Good to be ruthless now than life in a museum like I have been as it gets harder each year to throw things out I've found. My mum traveled a lot and every trinket had a story, most of her furniture was antique and she had a great eye for pictures. I prefer old things to new for quality so I struggle to throw out antiques or unusual trinkets and have a "make do and mend" attitude which can collect clutter but have to keep in mind dd won't want this burden either. It's a tough one!

I've just done another ASDA order for stockpile (thanks for the lentil reminder honeysuckle!) and fingers crossed they won't cancel this time!

A belated happy birthday to your dd jesuis

From sky news:
Coronavirus: Quarantine delay let up to 10,000 travellers bring COVID-19 to UK - senior MPs

So...it seems we are pretty chap at managing our borders!

I'm off to ikea today to get a new dishwasher...ugh.

Cannot quite believe that the children's commissioner is having to point out the bloomin' obvious, that pubs, restaurants and non-essential shops should close so schools can resume. You'd think if they gave a time limit on pubs etc there might be a rush and encourage people out to the high street - seems like a missed trick for the govt's type of "wisdom".

crap

Too early
Need ☕

Good luck at IKEA. We were up at 5:30 with the birds (I've already cleaned the windows and tidied up from yesterday and dd has coded her first ever game) but i'm flagging a little now. Thank heavens for coffee!