Prepping for a Pandemic - Thread 16

[Sprayitall]

I don’t know why another thread hasn’t been created yet , so here you go. Now as we prep ourselves to the peak of this pandemic, let’s all face it together and appreciate how fragile our lives are and how we need each other to survive and flourish.

Had a positive day today after being unable to.sleep last night. Went to the garden centre to buy seedlings, potatoes to grow and a big bag of compost. I don't have green figures but needs must right now! And will give me something to do if we go into lockdown.

Garden centre wasn't that busy and they said they didn't know whether to be ordering more produce as they didn't know if they would be forced to close soon.

That's terrible @Oxyiz I wouldn't want to be a police officer right now. I'm so grateful to everyone on the frontline - police, healthcare, fire, armed forces, supermarket and pharmacy staff, delivery, refuse collection, all others. Thank you.

So sad thinking of all the shops, garden centres, businesses having to close. I'm starting to question my reasoning but surely earlier proactive measures would've meant a shorter period of disruption.

I wonder what happens to people who develop symptoms (not Covid) that require investigation. Will they have to wait? What if they have an undiagnosed underlying condition that puts them at increased risk? I didn't know I had anything for ages before diagnoses. Could that be why many younger people are so ill in Italy?

I think it's precisely because of the extra time that we've had the panic buying.
And it's rocked the whole supply system with such unusual shopping patterns.
I do hope it settles soon.
I joined a local fb group for people looking to get hold of/donate items that people can't get, but I'm finding some of the more ranty posts upsetting. They are being moderated, but I'd hoped to be able to help the odd person out (not by admitting to my preps, but simply bailing somebody out if they were desperate)
But instead I've come away feeling uncomfortable and over privileged with my 'hoard'.
Instead, I donated money to support Jack Monroe in getting copies of Tin Can Cook, and I will make weekly drops to the local food bank from said 'hoard', as well as doing my bit by staying well away from the shops as I have no need to be there.

*getting copies of tin can cook out to food banks I mean

I've been here since the start of these threads but just name changed for this post.

Can I just come and have a moan. I really can't stand having to spend time with my husband. I love him but I don't want to have actually spend any time with him.

@tryingtoprep they've stopped our garden rubbish bin collection

I'm finding I'm starting to get in a muddle with what I have in and what's coming in deliveries and delivery slots are getting harder to get.

I really wish Johnson/the govt would set clear rules on supermarket shopping now.

Delivery's for those who really cannot shop in person only

Limit sales of the most sought after products properly. I'm really feeling like the in store shoppers are being prioritised over delivery customers.

Goods should be getting split between the two. At least.

Any tips on doing an inventory? My heads a mess!

Need a helper to do the inventory. Much easier. DD helps reading dates, sorting etc.

What are the new rules about shops? What is closing?

I inventory by location. All lists in roughly the same order. Usually breakfast stuff first. Maybe tinned veg together, dried carbs together,etc. I try and include dates. It is very hard to keep up with it though.

Only places where people meet to socialise are closing. Pubs, bars, clubs, cafés and restaurants. If they can convert to take away that is ok.

Also theatres, cinemas and gyms I believe.

Thanks, I half heard shops. I need to panic buy yarn... ( Ok I am reasonably prepped with yarn, but even so...)

Press conference at 6 pm on March 20

47021 total cases

currently positive people are 37860
4032 dead
5129 recovered.

Among the 37860 positives:

16020 hospitalized with symptoms.

2655 in intensive care
19185 are found in home isolation

YESTERDAY

41035 are total cases

33190 people are positive for the virus today
4440 people were healed
3405 have died

15757 patients hospitalized with symptoms
2498 in intensive care
14935 are in home isolation

Shops do not have to close yet, just restaurants, bars, cinemas, gyms etc.

Omg I'm so disorganised!

It's just me.

Just found I have 4 packs of fig rolls! Wtf! I mean I like them but still...

I find it painful and difficult to move so I'm lazy and keep certain snacks and drinks in bedroom plus my kitchen is TINY so I've got crates with brexit stash.

I'm fine for junk! It's healthy/fresh I need.

And cleaning stuff!

I'm thinking a spread sheet with:

Rows - generic name for the item eg "biscuits" then dates across the columns starting with today what I already have in and then next date is what I've ordered/received in shopping?

I'm gonna have to get on top of dates it's too easy with stuff with long shelf life to use the most recently received and allow older stuff to get out of date.

@tinkywinkyshandbag the to DD if she's been in school with them up until now lunch and hugs won't make much of a difference.

I did an inventory but I didn't put their location! Need to fix that spent ages trying to hung down a tin of curry.

@VenetoResident the UK imports most of its food, even stuff we can grow here pretty well is often imported too. Alongside the supermarkets 'Just in time' style of stocking means our food supply can be easily interrupted most typically due to bad weather.

I few years back I worked nights stacking shelves for a supermarket I was really shocked the tiny warehouse apparently in the old days the shop floor was smaller and the warehouse bigger.

@tryingtoprep - rubbish is being collected as normal.

Haven't seen any police but they've made thousands of masks now that aren't good enough for hospitals but are ok for the public so I'm sure they'll have something.

There's no testing that I'm aware of yet unless you're in hospital or medical staff. They said they were going to up the testing but starting with front line staff.

I have no inventory. The DC and DH eat what they fancy when they fancy it so it wouldn't work. We've got masses of food. We'd survive for a month on pasta and sauce if we had to but there are no signs of any supply issues yet.

I've no idea where the food I buy comes from. 😬😳

@Graphista I am similar except I have put them all in dining room over one another. There is this app called “No waste” a food inventory app which I am using now. So far it’s good but I am just trying to learn if it has any alerts included etc.

Hi everyone, new to this thread. We are in the States and both my son and husband are home. School is all online for my senior in hs, dh is working from home. I am home today, but back to work Monday. I work at a foundation that provides basic necessities (food, school supplies & clothing) to the vulnerable children in our school district.

Fortunately I work with only three other people, and usually only one other person. I believe it will only be a matter of time that our state will have the stay home guidelines, though I’ll still be able to work as our foundation is considered necessary. Thanks for this thread.

Only food shops and chemists open here. The huge supermarket today had the clothes, toys, stationery and household goods (inc batteries) cordoned off. They were literally only selling food, cooking utensils and household and personal cleaning products. So think of non-food things you might need!

My dd doesn't badly need shoes she still has school shoes but no trainers or summer shoes with toe. I'm kicking myself now for not taking her this past week as the clarkes shop is 5 min walk away.

On the other hand from homebase last night I got, grow bag plastic greenhouse, and 3 shelved growing mini green house. As well as compost.
No grow bags and I nealry drove past the local independent garden center. I swung in and they had loads and loads.

I've never actually grown tomatoes or lettuce before so I'm hoping it will be successful.
Dh couldn't believe it. He keeps asking me, why so much compost.

I explained the window for shops remaining open is closing rapidly. We have a long garden that needs soil anyway, and we may need to grow our own food!

Now clarkes is shut and homesense and every other shop....

I've finally finished work today. I feel very upset that we've had two weeks of prolonged agony, running the covid gauntlet in further education.

I did so well washing hands and putting gel on, then one-day I had an upset and a colleague kindly got me some water in a disposalable cup from the staff and student communal water machine.

I couldn't turn it down.

That was last Thursday. Then on this Tuesday I felt dizzy, jittery, had strange dioreha. Now I'm concerned I've caught it.

I can't believe it. The students rest their water bottles up in the spout of the machine as do staff.
I should have turned it down. And said water makes me feel sick. When he offered to get me some I said no thanks.

Dh has nealry drunk ALL of his orange juice. 6 cartons supposed to Be drunk once a week. He's already eating the pot noodles and doesn't understand why we need to hold back on goods that last longer.

He even tucked into a uht the other day because he couldn't be bothered to go to the shop!

My main worry is bread and milk now.

I'm hoping when we go shopping it will be for quick targeted items and we won't have to hang around the shops.

I just wish we had taken these measures two weeks ago. Did anyone see the article on Japan posted on the corona boards?

Veneto.. Strange question but why 200 meters from home?

Wouldn't that encourage more people to stay near each other?
That must be hard. Have you had any indication for how long you'll need to do this?