Prepping for a pandemic...12

[wheresmymojo]

Thread 12!

I can't seem to carry over the clicky links in the OP of the last thread. Can anyone else?

@Posharmchairs I haven't had good results with using baking paper in the dehydrator with fruit leather :/
I've tried 3 times with increasingly more expensive types of baking paper and the fruit leather is delicious but has stuck horribly every time and has taken hours to peel the baking paper off in tiny little scraps.
I'm quite possibly doing something wrong somewhere but have given up trying now till I get round to getting some silicone sheet to cut down for liners.

@56Posharmchairs

Those tins of chunky soups are quite good, generally have a decent amount of veg in them. Also, half size tins can be good if you're getting beans etc, then they don't have to eat same thing for ages. Mini jars of jam were good for my grandad, tempts them to eat even if it's just toast and again, don't have to eat same thing for ages. Rice pudding might be good, and maybe some fruit, you can get individual pots meant for kids if you don't mind tinned type fruit, or just the usual satsumas etc. Tinned sardines/pilchards can be easily mashed onto toast of they like it.

The SEN schools thing is scary, they are more vulnerable and should be protected.

and for everyone this morning.

Why does the government website still only say 2 people have died???

@fuckthiswind I still can't bring myself to ring the doctors to ask for a chat about my asthma and inhalers without coming in. Mostly I'm scared about having to go in and pick up my prescription and then go and wait in the pharmacy for it

I'm about 1 week away from changing my flights from April and May to the summer but which summer......

@Posharmchairs that's nice of you...... hot chocolate with marshmallows.... dairy milk :)

@puppycorn I wouldn't go. My DS has a birthday party soon..... not happy for him to go at all. It's not the kids that's the issue it's the parents lol

@rhij86 that's my Mum's attitude. It really pees me off. How do they know and why would we want to take the risk for us and for others

@HasaDigaEebowai What......... Have they rung 111 about it?

@itsnotjustflu I didn't expect him to be running around like chicken little -'the sky is falling!' Hell, I didn't even expect him to be as anxious as me (it's just who I am) but I did think he would be a bit more concerned by now.

Hope you manage to get something sorted RE inhalers. Do your pharmacy do a delivery service?

@rhij86 My DH is even more paranoid than I am. He'd go into lockdown today if it was possible. They don't deliver no :(

@Posharmchairs @bellinisurge
Can I ask your advice on which dehydrator you would recommend.
I want to buy on under the guise of a birthday present for my husband. But when I've previously looked it's a minefield.

We have a small house with little space. I was also worried about the time it's on it terms of electric bills and worktop space.

@itsnotjustflu here's hoping the govt come to their senses soon regarding working from home, isolation etc.

That's a pain about delivery. Could you give the pharmacy a ring and ask when the best (quietest) time would be to go in? clutching at straws here for you.

Hi, my local area has (seemed) to be sold out of hand gels for a good few days now. I picked these up from m and s, they do contain alcohol I just don't know how much. If anyone is looking for hand gels and going near m and s anyway it maybe worth a try.

In regards to Sen schools and Sen kids in mainstream I think families should as a minimum be given the option of keeping them at home. I worry as I've read claims (unevidenced that I've seen) that if the NHS is pushed then they will choose who gets resources based on likelyhood of survival (I think it's been referred to as three wise men protocol, where three drs have to sign off but could be wrong) I can imagine thus happening and worry my child will end up at the back of the queue.

Photos didn't attach for some reason to my last post.

Just ordered an inhaler online via Superdrug..... that saves the going to the doctors and pharmacy worries. It's cost me but I don't care

Can I ask your advice on which dehydrator you would recommend.
I want to buy on under the guise of a birthday present for my husband. But when I've previously looked it's a minefield.

I'm not one of the posters you asked but I am long term on the prepping boards (from the outset) andI do have a dehydrator. I have the rectangular Andrew James one and would recommend it. Ive had mine for about 6 years. It has about 6 trays and they are large. To be honest though unless you are going to be using it regularly, have large amounts of food to process (for example if you grown your own fruit and veg) and you either eat an awful lot of dried fruit or you cook a lot and don't mind using dried food then I would say think carefully about whether you'll actually use it more than about three times.

Don't expect the rehydrated food to be like normal food. Its more like the little chunks of stuff you get in packet soup. Slightly chewy and hard but better than not having it... Apart from dehydrated pineapple which is the food of the gods. You can easily end up with jars and jars of dehydrated food which you never eat since fresh is available and always a better option.

@Puppycorn your HT sounds like he/she has poor judgment skills! 'other family vistors' are highly likely to be grandparents seeing as many will be retired.
Is the school actually outstanding? I've come across a few that were rated highly during inspection yet I wouldn't have considered them excellent in comparison to the local rated Good school.
Can you afforded to be fined? If you really don't want to withdraw the only option is unauthorized absent risking a fine. If it were me and I could afford a fine I would keep her at home for 2 weeks then make the decision to withdraw once we know more about the UKs response.

I’m furious now. The complacency here is atrocious.

1. The Gp’s has said the case has visited twice - on two days- last Monday and Tuesday apparently. Dh was there to pharmacy on Tuesday evening but it was exactly 5 to 6 minutes including parking and walking time to the block (funnily enough I have texts from dh to calculate the exact time along with him acknowledging my advice to use auto doors and to go in without touching anything and wearing antiviral hand gel - See being OTT sometimes has its advantages -I also sprayed everything once he came back lol)

2. They have deep cleaned yesterday only after the results of the suspected person has come back positive. Ideally the place should be deep cleaned once there is a suspected case visit. Leaving a one week gap isn’t going to help. Isn’t it? Seriously??

3. That leaves me thinking - it looks like it takes atleast 5 days to confirm a case here and only then any action is taken. All the results by county might also reflect that - which means the numbers we see are off by atleast a week atleast. I don’t want to cause panic but this lack of information is making me upset. What do you all think..

In tescos- seen one person with quite a serious looking mask on and gloves. most flour is gone, the pasta is completely empty, oats own brand are gone, tins are healthy- they just have signs stating that they’re rationing to 5 per person. Only expensive brand left with toilet paper. Bleach and other cleaning items rationed- All dettol and antibacterial items gone. Water has quite a few gaps, it’s also rationed. Otherwise, it’s looks pretty normal

Oh but everyone seems to have stocked up on Ben & Jerry’s and Haagen-Dazs😂🤔

That seems like a good solution @itsnotjustflu

My appt is next Friday. No doubt I'll be having serious jitters about going to into the surgery by then!

DD is off today. Looks like shit. Totally run down. Feels sick. Prone to water infections this time if year. I thought nah fuck it. Shes only 8.

Received a Tesco delivery this morning. No hand gel, antibac wipes or spray. No tins of soup - out of stock and apparently no substitutions available. No ordinary beans - they brought sugar free ones. Obviously people are stocking up on easy food in case they’re ill? No chicken either - people stocking up the freezer? The delivery man said everyone is doing large orders with lots of tins and complaining about the lack of antibac products. And he said he’s never unloaded so much powdered milk and Smash dried potato.

Puppy remove from school now

There is growing but not huge pressure on boris to close schools. The worse it gets in Italy, the more the pressure will grow. Italy isn’t “worst hit”, it’s furthest along

I spoke to my friend this morning, he is feeling worse. He agreed to speak to the midlands clinic about his results - texted me there’s been a mix up with them, he’s quite confused but says he’s not sure if they haven’t tested him for Covid19 after all so is calling 111 now.

He’s staying with his elderly parents as they have both had flu jabs, he’s got a 8mo baby at home

I REALLY hope he doesn’t have it. If he does, some damage has been done 😫

@NatoPMT that's horrendous!! I hope they HAVE tested him for it and the results were correct?! please keep us updated. You must be so worried

@NatoPMT that’s horrible. Why wouldn’t they test someone with worsening symptoms I wonder. That’s very worrying.. Sending you love x

There's a big difference between elements of the NHS being 'under pressure' and being incompetent - and we're all just about to see lots of both.

I wouldn't trust my local GP health centre to test whether or not I had a pulse, to be honest. They have floundered ever since the previous senior partner retired following the CCG changes.

Ditto many schools following academisation. Even our local flagship special school has become an academy. Now they can and will do what they like. These schools are businesses.

We have close family members returning from a world cruise next week. But they're also booked on another cruise to the Canaries 10 days after they return. Both in 60's with pre existing conditions. Really worried about them. Not sure we'll be seeing them in between cruises - though they haven't been to Italy and Asia was more than 2 weeks ago, they said a lot of new passengers boarded last week.

I've been thinking about what they will need on their return - they left a simple shopping list; milk, bread etc but they have nothing in their fridge or freezer.

@PurpleCalm are they going to go on their second cruise? How do you feel about that?

It might be worth picking up some freezer/freezable basics for them if you can. I'm sure they will be very grateful.