Prepping for a Pandemic... 15

[FuckThisWind]

A lot of us have been here before. We Prepped for Brexit. Some of us are Heathcare workers. We prepare for the worst every day. It's difficult to predict what will happen in our lives. In our lifetime. Will we get Cancer? Will a huge meteorite wipe the world out?

One thing is for sure, this new virus is either affecting us, or is going to affect us all very soon. You are all already onboard. I hope you are prepared and much as you can be. And in the meantime this thread is here to support us all.

This week will bring many new challenges. We are almost certain to have some sort of lockdown. Like other parts of Europe. We aren't special. We aren't different. We are all
fragile souls. But I hope we live to tell the tale.

God Speed.

Regarding online deliveries, do you pay when you book or do they take payment on the day of delivery?

Ocado take payment on delivery day.

Good morning,
@Grandmi Yes I have joined a few and also couple of local support groups. We have been sorting lot of useful things for the community now and I should say it keeps us busy, spreads positivity and health. Our neighbourhood has decided we need to put a pillowcase out the door through the mail slot if some one is in self isolation and need help with groceries (for easy identification and as precaution for others), then message the number about the things they need.

@AlohaMolly @MyHipsDontLieUnfortunately Exactly. And people thinking and acting it’s like a holiday are even worse going everywhere around when they have to be in self isolation is ridiculous. No it’s not that cough in my kid it’s just a normal cold (how do we even know?)

There are no new delivery slots available anywhere online. Where are you people booking them anyway?

@AlohaMolly with Tesco it's paid for once it's delivered.

@nightshade1 we dug up our front lawn a few years ago and now it's a giant strawberry patch. We had six strawberry plants from lidls three years ago and now we get around 30kg of strawberries every year where they've spread so much. We also have herbs out there and garlic in between the strawberries.
The neighbours raised a few eyebrows as everyone else has lawns.

@tinkywinkyshandbag Wye Dean school. I'm in Wales but near the border.

@AlohaMolly @MrsFezziwig my MIL isn't taking it seriously either. I'm trying to think that she's an intelligent individual and she can make her own choices. I've been saying to her for weeks and weeks get food in, take responsibility for yourself, plan for every eventuality including us being ill. But in her entitled head she is the only one who will get ill and we will look after her. I've left it alone now as I don't want to take on the stress.

I'm glad we are still here. I only knew about the WhatsApp group from someone on this thread a few days ago. So to those asking to join I've no idea how to help you sorry.

A WhatsApp group is not for me and I quite like that this is a little quieter. I couldn't keep up or even catch up before. And really prepping is over but I'm happy to stay and chat. I'm scared to eat our supplies and not be able to get more.

From my window I can see b and m bargains and a few roads and life looks normal out there. I took my toddler for a little walk yesterday to a quiet woods and I feel like everyone is being normal. I think the government will have to lock down as people aren't avoiding contact much at all.

One thing that we can still prep for is the potential time at home, and children being off school. So buy play sand and garden toys, paper, pens, shorts and sandals... DIY materials.

I bought chickens yesterday, real live chickens. Should start laying eggs in a few weeks.

Morning all,

Also glad this group is still going. Didn’t get much time to post yesterday but have just had a quick skim read. Hope everyone is doing ok.

DH went to Asda this morning on his way into work and get the holy grail that is kitchen roll! I’m also venturing out today for the school run, although cases seem to be developing in our area now so I’m very uncomfortable about the children going now and think today might be the last day.

Numbers were down in our primary by about 40% anyway so I can’t see it remaining open past Friday anyway. Everyone has been throwing 20th around as the date of school closures, what I don’t understand is, why can’t BJ give people a few days notice!

@84TinsOfBeans yes, I don’t want to be in the whatsapp group either. I like it quiet here.

With regards to prep and outdoor play in the garden, now I am kicking myself of not thinking bees wasps and stings. We have a plum tree which was full of hornets last year. What do you think I should buy if dd or anyone gets stung out in the garden? Kicking myself for not thinking through it before.

I don't think you really want to be putting anything on it. Just give the site a good old wash once the sting is out and then the hard work is getting them not to scratch afterwards.

Well this morning my son has a temperature of 38 and I have a cough I kind of felt coming on last night.

Hello 14 days, we're ready for you!

Although my partner is really struggling with having to ring into work (they're the manager) when they're not ill themselves.

My dentist appointment is today.
I can't NOT go because I have a failed root canal which will only get worse, but I'm genuinely terrified.

Ive been in self isolation for 17 days and the thought of being close to others at the moment is really frightening.

I've got a Facemask to wear in the waiting room but obviously will have to take it off in the dentist chair.

Honestly, I've not slept a wink worrying about it.

We are on the "official" 12 weeks isolation due to my son's liver transplant now.

@Sprayitall as PP said above, wash well with hot water. anthisan cream helps with the itch and sting

@Sprayitall with wasps vinegar can help the sting. I think its bicarbonate of soda for bees.

We are self isolating here due to the smallest member of the family having a cough. I have just been on the phone talking to my dad about growing vegetables and how to increase space in a water logged garden.

It's my fault the thread has gone quite I joined mumsnet so i could stopping lurking and it went quite.

How do we get on the what's app group??!

Guys stop stressing about the whatsapp group. It isn't an open group its just a group of posters who have been frequenting this board for a long time and so sort of 'online know one another'. You cant just join in. They're just friends who are now chatting mainly elsewhere.

We had a power cut yesterday morning, power was off for an hour or so and I realised I ought to grab some batteries for things like the radio if I can- I'm not envisaging power outages but I'd like to be prepared

Dh calling at the feed mill later to see if he can get a sack of potatoes and carrots - avoiding supermarket chaos as we have enough of everything else (and if he can't get any we will start on the frozen stocks next week- still have enough fresh for now)

2 groups of friends in isolation and symptomatic have offered knock and run delivery service if they need anything

Couldn't get yeast so am starting a sourdough starter today

@fourtea Oh alright then. I don’t know how to take a sting out though 😓 hope dd stays out of any trouble.

Just use a pair of tweezers. It usually gets brushed out when you swipe the bee/wasp/hornet away when it stings you in any case.

Now the shit is actually hitting the fan, my whole extended family are actually angry at me for warning them it seems...

I have been telling them since the start of February that this is going to be bad and they need to get food in because there is going to be stockpiling, like always happens when times are uncertain. At that point they just ignored me really but now, my own brother jumped on my Facebook post where I literally only shared an independent article about who had died that day, saying that I'm "scaremongering" and it's not helping by sharing "stories" and that it's sensationalising.....

So now I'm blocked on Facebook buy him and his fiance and my mum is just totally ignoring me on messenger.

My mum is carer for my profoundly disabled brother, yet didn't stock up. She has no hand gel and the supermarkets are empty.... Why are people like this?? I told her and told her 😭

I've not been posting too much recently as (ironically) I've been really poorly. So we are all in isolation and re prepping I have realised I have prepped the hell out of basics but am lacking in the "treats" for the DC. In fairness I didn't genuinely expect all of us to be completely locked in for two weeks and they eat loads. We will manage.

Re the WhatsApp group I have been on the boards since we begged MN to set it up (and it's hard not to feel a sense of smug about that which makes a terrible person I know!) but NC regularly for privacy reasons so although I feel I "know" regular posters I realise they won't "know" me. Still, hearing about it gives me the (sadly very familiar!) feeling of always being the last one being picked for teams in PE! (I can't even tie my own laces without falling over). It's like the Preppers board version of Mouldies. It is a bit off putting to be honest, and sad after these particular threads have been running for so long - and we have all done so well with our preparations from coming together as a MN community (community spirit seems to be sadly lacking in RL at the moment and it infuriates me when preppers are being blamed for empty shelves).

Does anyone have a fool proof technique for a sourdough starter? I had one previously but it wasn't particularly successful.

@VivaLeBeaver - make sure you have plenty of feed stored for the chickens. They eat a lot for such small things. They basically eat all day so you need a lot of feed. We also feed ours on kitchen scraps despite the fact that technically its illegal (which is frankly stupid). Also be prepared for the fact that you will need to move their run frequently since they can dig up a patch of lawn in about ten minutes - particularly if you don't leave out enough feed.

And finally (sorry) unless you have a very large garden and can keep them right in the middle, away from boundaries and buildings you should maybe think about having some sort of rat deterrent in your stockpile. We have never had a rat problem in ten years of keeping chickens but we live very rurally in a wood with limited rats around and the run is right in the middle of a large lawn. My parents live on the edge of a tiny village with a small garden and when they chicken sat for my sister for a couple of months their garden was quickly overrun with rats. You could sit at the kitchen window and watch them popping into the chicken run for lunch.

I wouldn't generally sound so negative about keeping chickens its just if we are potentially going into lockdown you need to have the things you need to hand.

I'm sorry to hear that, how frustrating for you. 😭

I keep feeling guilty actually. I know that by prepping I'm actually making more available for others right now, and that my buying stuff months ago isn't taking from those struggling now. But I still feel a twist of urgh when I hear about the elderly trying to find loo roll etc. I've got back in touch with my old employers at the food bank to offer my services if/when schools close, and have volunteered with the local groups set up for the purpose but I still feel urgh.

That's must be really hard offwarren. It sounds like they have made you the scapegoat because they are scared. It'll probably blow over when they recalibrate to this new normal. It the meantime it might be worth just chatting to them about other stuff and ignore the elephant in the room. They'll get there because there won't be much choice.