How are you all doing?

[Stitch147]

Day off today. I had to brave Tesco today as hadn't done proper shopping for almost 4 weeks. After seeing the queues at supermarkets and seeing what it's been like at work I was dreading it. Took a book to read whilst in the queue. Got to Tesco at 10am, in shopping for me and Trev and trevs mum done and back to the car within 1 hour! Won't need to go again for another few weeks.

 

[Davein]

Hi everybody hope you are all OK and I know most of you are far worse off that we are but please allow me to be a little indulgent and have a wee rant and let off steam!
When this all started we set up a village help group centred round the village post office, we are a small village, pub and post office well off the beaten track, nearest other shop is a five mile round trip away.
First the pub, like all the others closed, no problem, then the post office started adding 10p onto the price of anything delivered to them and 50p to anything they had to get from the cash and carry ( danger money, apparently all the corner shops in London are doing the same)
When we complained the post office closed and the post master and his wife decamped back to London to stay with family.
So now we have no basic foods or papers unless someone drives five miles to the next village.
I have depleted immunity because of surgery and medication for breast cancer and currently unable to drive because I have just had cataract surgery and need an eye test and contact lens changes before I am legal to drive, my husband doesn't drive at all.
We can't even get our usual monthly home shop when it's due next week because all the selfish so and sos who could easily drive to a supermarket are making weekly orders because the amount of items are being reduced leaving the rest of us with dates four weeks away.
I suppose I could jump on the band wagon and book a date for four weeks hence but that doesn't help me now.
It's one thing to ask friends or neighbours to grab us a pint of milk while they are out but a newspaper every day or a months worth of shopping? Friendship has its limits.
Sorry folks exasperated rant over. 😡

Aren't there any covid-19 mutual aid groups near you that could help you? Our local one(8 miles away) updates daily and has a list of all the local small shops/businesses who will deliver. If you put in a request there are several folks who will collect your shopping, queue up at the pharmacy and drop off your meds (if you can't get the pharmacy to deliver). We also have Cornwall Volunteer Group which is an established charity that we can request help from and all their volunteers are vetted (unlike mutual aid groups) We are out on the coast but there seems to be many farm shops and the normal tourist businesses that have adapted and now offer food/takeaway deliveries. It obviously takes a little internet searching to find them out.
But there are thousands of vulnerable folks whom the government have forgotten about and are struggling to get supplies in.
I hope your village will remember this uncaring village shopkeeper when/if things return to norma. Take care.

 

[trophywench]

Jackie - like me, you are not in the first flush of youth - what are Help the Aged/ Age Concern doing to assist round by you? What are the Council doing? (Parish, Town, County)

Needs must when the Devil drives mate.

 

[Robin]

A minor gripe here. I ventured out to our small local co-op for milk today. Only 7 people allowed in the shop at once, it is small, so there was a bit of a queue. So when it was my turn next, I could see into the shop. They have removed trolleys, and are only allowing hand baskets, fair enough, it’s a local corner shop. The woman I was waiting for to pay up and leave so I could enter, kept going back to the shelves for more stuff, once she’d put her basket on the checkout. She got a large bag of barbecue charcoal, 4x 2litre bottles of Sprite, 2x 6 packs of some other fizzy drink, a large sack of dry cat or dog food, and several other large items. She already had an overflowing hand basket full of stuff. Then she had to ferry them all in several trips to her partner who was waiting in the car (Chelsea Tractor) on the double yellow lines outside. Incredible! Given that she’d got a vehicle, she could have driven the 6 miles to the larger co-op in the next town, that’s geared up for big weekend shops, and left us our little one to top up our fresh stuff. I may be wrong, but she had 'second homer' written all over her.

 

[JMyrtle]

Hi there TW.
I guess you are right!
City Council couldn't organise " a social event in a brewery" anyway all they are interested is making money out of the tourists rather than us poor saps who pay their salaries!
Possibly if the supermarkets restricted all customers to just one delivery a month we might all get a fair crack of the whip but so many people seem to think they are more important than everybody else.
I'm chairman of the Parish Council and helped setting up the village self help group and don't want to bother anyone to look after us when there are so many others in greater need.
It just makes me so cross that the very people who should be caring for us are more interested in making money, have you noticed that all the major supermarkets have stopped stocking Burgan or high protein bread even before the lockdown?
When I challenged that I was told well you can have glutin free instead, with the amount of carbs etc in that it would probably kill me but apparently the glutin free market is more important than carb free and explaining that diabetics cannot tolerate carbohydrates is something you cannot get thru to the food industry.
Iv'e been trying to get hold of the postmaster for over a week to find out when or if he intends to come back but he won't return my calls and people keep calling asking me what I'm going to do about the closure, kidnap him and drag him back to the village in irons?

 

[eggyg]

First thing I did was tackle the humongous leg of lamb I bought on line by mistake! I don’t do online grocery shopping I like to choose my own stuff but needs must. It was 2.5kgs and cost £30! I thought I was buying a one for £12 but it was £12 per kg! I made the biggest pan of lamb madras seen this side of, well, Madras! I have divided it into three portions of two. There’s enough left on the joint for tomorrow’s Easter roast and Monday and quite possibly Tuesday! I think that the Tesco pick staff will have alerted the police who will be staking out our house tomorrow expecting a mass gathering! After all that cooking, I FaceTimed my friend for a half hour natter. We had absolutely zilch to report as we haven’t done anything exciting all week. We’ve promised to at least try and do something different before next Saturday! Mr Eggy and I ventured out into the big wide world for a short walk as back not 100%. Limped for first 10 minutes then it eased off, very busy as we were just pavement pounding. Social distancing was adhered to, lots of jumping into the road. We might not catch Covid 19 but could possibly get run over! Managed half an hour without any more limping. Fingers crossed it’s on the mend.

 

[AndBreathe]

Has anyone else noticed how many more people speak or otherwise acknowledge others when out walking these days. As both my partner and myself always greet people we encounter, we have each commented on the change.

This afternoon on my round trip stroll to the pharmacy, I encountered 2 (separate) young men. Both loudly greeted me with a cheery "Good afternoon", and each went on to ask how I was. Obviously I returned the greeting and was happy to hear each was well.

I feel pretty certain in times past, those two young men would have strolled silently past.

Perhaps they were happy to exchange a few words with someone not their mother/father, or social distancing is good for manners.

Either way, it's fine by me.

 

[Robin]

Has anyone else noticed how many more people speak or otherwise acknowledge others when out walking these days. As both my partner and myself always greet people we encounter, we have each commented on the change.

This afternoon on my round trip stroll to the pharmacy, I encountered 2 (separate) young men. Both loudly greeted me with a cheery "Good afternoon", and each went on to ask how I was. Obviously I returned the greeting and was happy to hear each was well.

I feel pretty certain in times past, those two young men would have strolled silently past.

Perhaps they were happy to exchange a few words with someone not their mother/father, or social distancing is good for manners.

Either way, it's fine by me.

Yes, I have noticed that in our area. We live in a place where it is the norm for older people to say good morning, or hello, as we pass, but it’s suddenly much more friendly from all ages, and with a big smile and more eye contact.

 

[grovesy]

Not noticed here.

 

[Felinia]

29th day of lockdown, and I've been out just the once, to the unmanned farm shop for eggs. I get human contact by using the phone and email, and contrary to some advice, I stroke the cat and sit out in the garden. I expect to remain like this until the end of September at the earliest, as I WILL NOT interact with people until this virus has a vaccine or treatment, or there are NO cases or deaths in my county for at least 2 weeks.
Paranoid? Yes. Scared? Yes. Am I washing all post and deliveries with plastic gloves on, before opening or storing them? Yes. Am I washing every surface from floor to ceiling, and all items from cupboard contents, to steps, to laundry baskets daily? No - it would be physically impossible for me in a day. Am I disinfecting the toilet and washing every metal and plastic surface each time I use them? No but I am cleaning a lot more than before, and I've got through a whole soap dispenser. Life will NEVER be the same again.

 

[Eddy Edson]

Lovely Easter Sunday weather.

Parks filling up with family groups riding bikes - kids looking deeply unhappy at having to hang out with parents & more so having to ride with them instead of watching TV & playing with the computer; parents looking unhappy at not having any live sport to watch and having to ride around the park with the kids. How long can this last??

The damn corellas have had enough & if they don't start behaving the authorities are going to lock us down forever:



Meanwhile, 11 new cases today in the whole country and zero in my little state ...

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Be kind to yourself @Felinia - it’s wise to take precautions, but you have to look after your mind and mood too, particularly the longer this goes on.

There are increased risks, but the vast majority of PWD would only have a mild illness, even if they did come into contact with the virus.

You have to do what feels right and makes you feel comfortable, of course. But you can allow yourself a few freedoms too - and cat stroking is important 🙂

 

[PMUK]

Today's dawn - Happy Easter...

 

[Felinia]

Be kind to yourself @Felinia - it’s wise to take precautions, but you have to look after your mind and mood too, particularly the longer this goes on.

There are increased risks, but the vast majority of PWD would only have a mild illness, even if they did come into contact with the virus.

You have to do what feels right and makes you feel comfortable, of course. But you can allow yourself a few freedoms too - and cat stroking is important 🙂

Thanks - I'll try to stay positive. I was told by my Consultant a few years ago that I have a very poor immune system and that is why I get every infection under the sun, despite my great care. If it ends in itis I get it, from nose to toes, and it knocks the stuffing out of me for weeks. Despite having annual flu jabs, I have twice picked up winter infections on a plane, and spent last Christmas and New Year flat out for 2 weeks, then rough for a further 2, with no idea where I picked up the bug. No doubt why my GP told me to self isolate for 3 months before anyone else had thought much about it, as I believe if I get it I am one it would hit very hard.

 

[Grannylorraine]

Happy Easter,

I had a lovely day sitting in the garden yesterday, despite trying to keep my head in the shade my nose caught the sun. Was just for a few hours able to almost relax and feel like normal, the main thing that gave it away that it wasn't normal was the sky, in over 4 hours only saw one plane and 3 vapour trails, when usually the skies over us are congested with planes.

Did think a group of magpies and some doves we trying to re-enact a scene from the birds, as there were 5 magpies all lined up on my roof and 2 doves on neighbours ariel, all looking menacing.

Going to sit out again later before it turns cold tomorrow.

@JMyrtle - sorry you are having problems with food supply being in a rural community and the only sho has closed and the postmaster fled in your hour of need. Living in a densely populated part of the country we have almost the opposite, plenty of supermarkets here, 2 within walking distance, but queues for all of them are around 2 hours, although well stocked once in there, or so my hubby tells me, but that of course means so many people are out of their houses, people seem quite happy to go many times a week, rather than as little as possible, plus still have the same issue of no delivery slots for those who cannot get to the shops or are self isolating. Hope you do get some help with getting food supplies to your village.

 

[atoll]

Just checking in folks.

Hope everyone is coping, and has managed to find the level of separation/isolation that they are happy offers them reduced risk, while also allowing life to continue.

Anyone found any particular difficulties or (even better) any unforeseen benefits and opportunities from this peculiar stage in all our lives?

Any top tips to share?

Any long-forgotten hobbies being resurrected?

Is ‘working from home’ working out (if you’ve been able to arrange that?)

Any book or box set recommendations?

Hang in there folks. It will all be over by Christmas (as they used to say in the war!)

into nearly five weeks isolated on the yacht in a beautiful bay,still got enough food left for another 5 months,but getting low on booze......cigarettes ran out weeks ago .
starting to get bored with fresh oysters caught at low tide from the dinghy.
anybody got a recipe for making rice wine,we still have 50 Kg to get through !
BTW Happy Easter !

 

[trophywench]

Gosh @atoll - lovely whilst weather is fine and seas calm, but not so idyllic when it ain't of course. I used to have enough trouble walking etc on dry land after 2 days in the channel so heaven knows what I'd be like after a protracted time!

 

[atoll]

Gosh @atoll - lovely whilst weather is fine and seas calm, but not so idyllic when it ain't of course. I used to have enough trouble walking etc on dry land after 2 days in the channel so heaven knows what I'd be like after a protracted time!

after 2 circumnavigations this is a doddle,we don't even need to do a night watch holed up in the far reaches of the eastuary at anchor.
lots of wild life to watch during the day when not doing small boat projects,cooking,listening to local radio or commenting on various web forums.
pictures of my front yard and back yard!

 

[eggyg]

I managed a walk today, back held up for three miles. Thank goodness. I also got all my ducks in a row! 😉

 

[Stitch147]

Got some acetone today and soaked of my acrylic nails. I normally get the done every 3 weeks, I last had them done on the 21st March. So not knowing when I'll be able to get them done again off they came. My hands now feel really strange. Hopefully I won't get to the point of shaving my hair off, it's already getting long for me!!!