Prepping for a pandemic... 13

[FuckThisWind]

Sorry I couldn't find a new thread. If there is one already, I'll have this deleted.

Will get links etc brought over from last thread too.

@alwayscheerful

I use Nest Egg app to record my prepping. It's brilliant; you can add categories, locations & notes alongside expiry dates. Highly recommend.

@Mrswhites True isn’t it. But I don’t agree with this one - everyone else goes to school so you can send your dc too.. everyone’s household and responsibilities, priorities differ - people are either pretending and playing along to look politically right or are too scared and in denial - I don’t know which one

First case in my town.

@Sprayitall Thanks for the tip. I've had paneer in curries when I've been eating out and have enjoyed it so will try to buy some. We don't have much freezer space but I think I could squeeze it in. Might also buy some tofu too. I'm trying to use this as an opportunity to try new things.

Thanks @Readyme. I can't remember what was written on the packet. I've never cooked with tofu so was a little nervous of it, but I'm trying to use this as an excuse to develop my cooking skills.

I would really recommend getting outside today - it’s lovely (here at least) and just hanging the washing out, listening to the birds and taking some deep breaths of fresh air has helped me quell my fears even temporarily.

School putting feelers out re who has a printer to work from home for the kids...

Primary.

Good sign

I can't believe PHE are only advising that only symptomatic contacts of Nadine Dorries self isolate.

@Sprayitall absolutely! I think lots of people would really like to take their children out of school but feel like they can’t for fear of being seen to be exaggerating. Perhaps even myself to a degree but neither the local authority that we live in or the one neighbouring my sons school have any confirmed cases yet, I will definitely take the step to remove him from school if and when that changes. Maybe that will be too late but I just don’t know!

@squirrelonwheels that's a very good idea. I've just been for a run and it's beautiful out. Has done wonders to calm my mind. This waiting game has been driving me slightly bonkers I think. Just packing my bug out bags today after popping to superdrug to get mini toothpastes, cheap toothbrushes etc.

@applesandpears33

Dragonfly tofu can be frozen; silken tofu is liquid & comes in long life packets that are shelf stable. As pp said, you can use to stirfry rice as if egg fried rice. But also press it to firm it up.

Clear spring do both the silken tofu & dried soya which is also shelf stable. When it is dehydrated, it increases wonderfully in bulk. So takes up little shelf space, but provides lots of meals!

Clear spring in many health food shops plus Ocado.

Having a wobble today. Teary, jittery and fearful.

Partner’s scan is on Tuesday at the county’s big hospital about 60 miles away. I’m investigating a hospital flat they have for people being treated for cancer. Sometimes it’s available for people to stay in instead of having to travel back and forth every day. Don’t know what’s better at the mo.

@CookiesAreForEatingNotStoring what a difficult time for you. It sounds like that flat might be a good option considering the distance and frequency you need to travel!

A family member was going through cancer treatment and felt not too bad for the first two weeks, but much worse for the rest of the treatment and wouldn't have wanted to travel. Your partner's consultant may be able to give some advice.

Managed to get the old lady I care for the brand of toilet roll she uses. Not sure if she is unusual or not but she's fussy about things being the right brand. Shopping for other people is getting harder when supermarkets don't have their usual stock. Waitrose has hardly any stock still of toilet roll, wonder if just due to being a smaller store. Local garden centre has got loads in but it's not a known brand name.

I've been eating too much of my KitKat stock, will need to refill when next doing my own shopping.

As I do childcare for a military family I wonder what will happen if Government drafts in military... my work hours could increase a lot.

@CookiesAreForEatingNotStoring So sorry you’re having to deal with this. I second apples - a chat with the doctor might help you to decide.

Thanks for the pet pics! We are welcoming a puppy in a couple of weeks so will return favour in due course.

I went to GP to pick up a prescription this morning and needed to book an appointment for myself - they had one available immediately! It normally is a 2-3 week wait, at least. And it was dead. I guess the worried well are staying home. Good to see that the pressure might ease on one part of the NHS giving resource to the more critical parts? Not sure if it works like that but trying to be optimistic today!

I’m at a crossroads here, I live in the city currently. I have parents in the countryside but one works within the healthcare system- the other has had a case at work. My options are stay in London, move to the countryside or I can go abroad to my parents (empty) house in a country that currently has only 1 case. Their health care system isn’t as good as the UK. I have a heart condition, so I am high risk. Would you stay put, move to the countryside away from the city or go abroad?

Local supermarkets here - no loo roll, low on kitchen roll, no dettol items, no bread mixes or yeast, no pasta, low on tins, no hand wash or gels, long queues at the checkout.

I saw a few ladies with a LOT of baby formula on the checkout belts - not something we need (older children) but be aware fellow preppers!

Catching up as just back from docs.
DD has viral tonsillitis and poss UTI. Sample will be sent off. Have to take her back asap if temp spikes (it's been sitting at around 37.5 for 2 days) or she is any worse in any way. She also had a tiny crickle on her left lung, but that seemed to go away after deeper breaths. My seriously wonderful GP said DD stays off school until she is fully better - and that the viral nature of some of her symptoms could confuse people, so just get the school told. I arrioilsy love my GP. Poor DD. She is so run down bless her. But at least we were prepped.

@CookiesAreForEatingNotStoring Huge Hugs and this is the shittest possible time for this to happen to you and DP. Feel free to vent any time. We will always be here for a handhold.

@WelliAmNot In your circumstances I'd go to the countryside.

@applesandpears33, if freezer space is limited, you can make paneer with uht milk and lemon juice. Plenty of recipes are online. Then you can fit other things in your freezer and not worry about having to use it up in time.

@applesandpears33

...I have however found beanfeast which I haven't eaten since I was at Guide camp decades ago. I did see some tofu in a packet which was on a shelf next to the Beanfeast...

I eat anything - including hospital and airplane food with no complaint. However, if I have to resort to Beanfeast then I know the apocalypse has kicked in!

Can I join in with a small rant?

I've been lurking on these threads for weeks, I was already fairly well prepped up pre-Brexit so I've just been topping up my stocks with an extra bag of pasta here, a few tins of beans there each week. I'm happy I've got plenty to last me through at least 2 weeks of self-isolation or sickness.

My family and friends are of the "Oh it's all scaremongering, it will all be fine" mentality. Until this weekend when of course the panic buying started and they realised they might run out. My friend went shopping and found there was no toilet roll or pasta available. So I've offered her some of mine.

She gratefully accepted whilst STILL saying she thought it was silly to be prepping. I pointed out that all I've done is make sure I've got a couple of week's worth of food, and that is why I'm able to share stuff now. I knew that people would panic buy and there would be shortages, so I took steps to avoid getting caught out.

She said she ALWAYS has a couple of weeks worth of food in... So apparently her keeping her cupboards well stocked is fine and normal, whereas me doing the same is silly and hoarding...?

Does anyone else face this kind of blind ignorance and double standards?