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Preppers

Prepping for Pandemic... 14

999 replies

FuckThisWind · 12/03/2020 18:55

OK folks, we have been prepping for a Pandemic for 13 threads now. And a Pandemic we now have.

I think we all know this has gone beyond prepping now. And most of us agree that the UK Government has not really stepped up to the mark. We have had shared advice here from our Italian residents and those in other countries who have taken much more stringent measures.

So this thread continues to be about us being prepared. But it is more than that. It is about support, sharing of information and advice. It is now a community. A community who acknowledged a long time ago that this was always 'Not Just The Flu'

I thank you one and all for being here. We have tough times ahead. But we are all still here. Please share, rant, whatever. The great thing about these threads is that they have always been supportive and non judgemental. I like to think it's a safe space for all of us who are concerned. And trying to do our best. For ourselves. For our loved ones. And for our community and beyond.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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pemberlyshades · 14/03/2020 18:36

@Sprayitall I don't think cabbage gets freezer burn- aren't we advised to put cabbage leaves in the freezer when breastfeeding to sooth sore boobs?

AlohaMolly · 14/03/2020 18:39

If you were in our situation (contact with someone awaiting their coronavirus test results) would you fully stay inside? We are self isolating from others but we live in the mountains so could access places via car (parked on our doorstep) where we wouldn’t see people for outside adventures.

Would you?

VenetoResident · 14/03/2020 18:41

@ooopsupsideyourhead

All the time in the world 😂 Actually I'm super busy sorting DC and their school work. It's a welcome distraction!

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  1. How are services such as rubbish collection and post affected? Seems to be business as normal. Couriers aren't waiting for signatures - just dropping and running. Lots of people use Amazon locker here as they're in apartments. Post offices keep closing for 'deep cleans'. The guidance said they can't shut, even if they run out of PPE. 😕

Green waste was collected for the first time this week. 🌱🌿🌷 Hopefully Spring is on the way and the ☀️ will help to sanitise the streets.

2)Are food shops well stocked, or is it mostly basic provisions available?
Friends are reporting isolated shortages. Someone will say they tried three shops for eggs, another got them in the first shop. No veg when we went the other day, friends hadn't noticed issues. Some smaller supermarkets are limiting numbers, we've only been to massive shops which are super quiet so no need to limit shoppers. No hand gel obviously! But no other continuous shortages. Loads of pasta, loo roll etc.

  1. (frivolous!) are the TV stations showing anything distracting, like family films? No idea - we don't watch Italian TV. I'll ask! DH has been watching the snooker all day - couldn't understand the lack of applause and realised it was behind closed doors.
VenetoResident · 14/03/2020 18:42

AlohaMolly - loo stops or petrol stops either way?

middleager · 14/03/2020 18:46

Veneto can you be our PM please? Your posts inspire me, thank you Flowers

Pebble21uk · 14/03/2020 18:46

PancakeFiend - yes you can order on your account. It lets you put in another address / details etc - or Tesco's which I use does. I do this for my very elderly parents. I pay online for their shopping and they pay me back (usually in cash as elderly people do and I end up with a wodge of bank notes!!)

Pebble21uk · 14/03/2020 18:49

Can I ask about masks - sorry if it's already been covered numerous times! I have some Force 8 press to check P3 masks... does anyone know if they are effective against coronavirus? (Not sure I'd be brave enough to wear one out yet though!!)

Readyme · 14/03/2020 18:49

@Sprayitall it depends what you are using egg replaced for but you can use Gram/chickpea flour as a binder just mix it with water. We often do this for pizza bases and pancakes.

ooopsupsideyourhead · 14/03/2020 18:50

Thanks @VenetoResident! Flowers

Legoandloldolls · 14/03/2020 18:50

On a cheerful distracting note. I turned my ropey potatoes into my first ever bambay potatoes.

Dh said its hotter than the devils arse so I will take that as a complement ( I was blotting the tomatoes with garlic and noticed a whole glove was intake so blitzed it in the pan forgetting the massive dried chilli I was going to fish out at the end - whoops!

I'm going to try to throw no food out and try new recipes as a distraction. This will make a great bulking side for curries. Next to try is lentals and a veg side curry

Prepping for Pandemic... 14
AlohaMolly · 14/03/2020 18:51

@VenetoResident we’ve both got full tanks so could drive for 20 minutes each way every other day for as much as three weeks maybe?

It’s a bad idea isn’t it Sad

Graphista · 14/03/2020 18:51

Potatoes - cool and dark! It’s light that stimulates sprout growth. My parents still buy in sacks and store in cupboard under stairs (their house is bloody freezing!)

Regarding keeping kids occupied there’s a few articles doing the rounds on Facebook etc. I’d also recommend checking out guiding and scouting sites for indoor activities too

https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/what-we-do/our-badges-and-activities/activity-finder/

https://scouts.org.uk/activities

I’d also recommend buying/getting in if you don’t have already:

Decks of cards
Dice - ones with colours for prenumerical dc
Spare counters for board games
Books - reading but also colouring, dot 2 dot, word search...

Basic crafting materials like crepe paper, paints and brushes, felt pens etc

I was a single mum mostly raising dd and it was just the 2 of us and she is VERY much an “outdoor cat” so at times when she couldn’t go out (bad winters, illness either her or me) I had to find ways to stop her going stir crazy.

Remember physical activity IS possible indoors too, can be combined with games especially if 2 or more dc at home:

Star jumps, squats, running on the spot, “rowing” on the spot... I’m sure nowadays there’s LOADS of kids fitness videos

Go retro playing games like I spy

I rely on home delivery already for repeat prescriptions and have one due at the moment, I called yesterday and was told still running as usual. Gp surgery is limiting face to face consultations to essential appointments though and saying not to go in or request one if you have cv symptoms

@PancakeFiend I think you’ll need to set your relatives up with their
own account including a new email address but email addresses are easy and free to set up and use. I have 4 which I use for different things.

1 for general use
1 is a really old one that mostly gets spam but is the one I used at uni and so it’s my main way of staying in touch with some from uni plus all my work is there and I do refer to it sometimes
1 for mn (which even thought I’ve only ever used for mn I also get spam on 🤨)
1 from when I was job hunting over optimistically a few years back which has a more “professional” address and I’m hanging onto in the hopes I’ll return to work at some point - weirdly this current situation may make this easier for me as really I need something I can do completely from home and with many potentially working from home with this I’m hoping one silver lining may be that more employers realise it IS possible

I’m also hating the othering and minimising re “elderly” and “those with underlying conditions” I’d be VERY interested to know just how much of the population that actually covers because (please bear with my crap maths) out of 168 Facebook friends and an additional 11 relatives not on Facebook I have in my circle alone including myself 46 people that fall into those categories - some under both factors. That’s around 1/4? Anyone able to tell me fraction/percentage for definite?

I’m allergic to NSAIDs anyway (both triggers my asthma and ibs) but I’ve also seen reports they aren’t advised to be used when risk of covid present.

wheresmymojo · 14/03/2020 18:55

France now closing all non-essential places

youkiddingme · 14/03/2020 18:58

I keep hearing that wearing a mask can make things worse if you do it wrong but I haven't been able to find detailed instructions on how to do it right.

Anyone got any links please?

pemberlyshades · 14/03/2020 18:59

@Graphista you're back! Thought you'd gone a-lurking!

VenetoResident · 14/03/2020 19:01

@middleager 🥰🥰🥰

pemberlyshades · 14/03/2020 19:01

@youkiddingme I think there are instructions in the packet- I've left mine untouched incase they are contaminated so I can't confirm this.

FuckThisWind · 14/03/2020 19:20

Hi folks. Missed half the thread due to the joys of supermarket retail.
Exhausted. But will try and catch up.

OP posts:
Mum2jenny · 14/03/2020 19:20

I’m struggling with my dp. He is in total denial and thinks because I’m concerned it means I’ve had too much to drink.
Fuck, I’ve had 2 gins, like him, so I’m now apparently drunk. He does not like my point of view, so I think he’s scared.
How can I move forward? I think the shit has now hit the fan and we are very much in uncharted territory.

boomboom1234 · 14/03/2020 19:26

I'm wondering why people are stock piling water?

tryingtoprep · 14/03/2020 19:29

www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks

I saw the anti inflammatory thing on another thread. I've been cooking with loads of anti inflammatory food. Thinking it was helping us. Confused Whether it's different than with the drugs I don't know.

@Graphista I don't know figures but I'd wager the at higher risk groups include a large proportion of the population. The age risk seems to increase even at 40, and so many people of all ages live with some kind of underlying condition (many won't even know as they're undiagnosed). Yes the othering is disgusting.

tryingtoprep · 14/03/2020 19:33

@Mum2jenny No advice as I'm in the same position. DP refuses to discuss it. I can tell he's scared and wants to pretend it's not real. That's why I'm on here so much.

applesandpears33 · 14/03/2020 19:33

This may be of interest to people. Radio Scotland have a regular programe called Kitchen Cafe and this week they were focusing on making meals from storecupboard ingredients including using chick pea water as an egg substitute

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000g466

Bought some more stuff today and tried to fill up the freezer. Next on my shopping list are some living herbs. I have some hardy herbs in the garden but would like basil and corriander to grow on the windowsill for the next month or two.

Giggorata · 14/03/2020 19:35

I bought a shedload (well, a packet) of dried egg for my stash a few months ago (keeps for 3 years, according to preppers’ site) and made a test batch of scrambled egg - delicious, with butter and black pepper. Will now use it as an ingredient.
Thank you for the info about rings - I wear many usually and now they are all put away..
We have ensured that the dogs' vaccinations are all up to date and will be buying another sack of dog food to put by.
I think we will brew some beer when we isolate ourselves., as well as some small garden food growing.
I would be self isolating now, if it were not for our lovely government changing our pension dates and having to work more years... heigh ho.

Mum2jenny · 14/03/2020 19:49

tryingtoprep it’s very scary and isolating when your life partner is not on board and dissing all your decisions. I am really struggling tonight and do not know what I should do.
I think I need to be told I’m doing the right thing and just ignore the negative vibes I’m getting.
Maybe I should just find like minded ppl and fuck off to their location??