Jump to content

Coronavirus


mick
 Share

Recommended Posts

If the current situation in parts of Europe is anything to go by, and with the worsening situation here in the UK, it looks like we have an uncertain future ahead of us. What is certain is that our lives are going to be disrupted like never before. I believe that the Coronavirus poses a real threat to the health of everyone but especially so to the most elderly among us and that it's vital that we all heed the warnings and follow the advice being given.

We went to the supermarket earlier in the week, though many of the shelves were empty, and the only other time I've been out was to pick up some compost so that I could plant this years potatoes. We have no plans for going anywhere else anytime soon but the longer all this goes on then obviously there'll be a need to venture out for food once again. You can't plan what to do in advance because the situation changes daily.

Isolation isn't anything new to me lately - I've spent days on end up in the attic emerging only for food strangely enough, but for the majority of people I imagine it's going to come as a shock with no pubs, restaurants, cinemas, gym's or indeed shops open. These are indeed unprecedented times.

So far the Coronavirus in our area is all 'news' and I'm not aware of any actual confirmed cases locally. How are things where you are? Are you facing the same difficulties obtaining your weekly supplies? How do the restrictions imposed by Government affect your daily lives? What does it all mean to you?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There have been 3 deaths in this area Mick. We don't normally keep big stocks as we have a good parade of smaller independents nearby which meet most of our needs. So last week when it started to get silly, I did a dash to two supermarkets and got toilet roll and stocked up on some staples. I have something like 9 big supermarkets within 5 miles or so, plus Aldi and Lidl and then B&M etc. All are pretty well wiped out, but by popping between then, I managed to get stuff like tinned fruit, Rice pudding, a bit of pasta, and we now have cupboards up to Christmas levels. The behaviour has been sheer lunacy and greed. I went to Asda last Sunday morning for printer ink. I passed about a dozen packs of 24 toilet rolls. Saw that my ink was not in stock, and in those few seconds the toilet roll was all gone. One man had 4 packs of 24 in his trolley. Disgraceful, just as another man with 4 packs of 24 Rice Pudding. Come on, that is just stockpiling. Toilet Rolls on Ebay are being advertised for as much as £6 a roll would you believe if you include the postage. This is Black Marketeering to my mind and should be punished with a jail sentence. All very well laying aside an hour for old folk, but there is nothing on the shelves, and everybody is allowed in to stampede anyway. It's people that frighten me Mick. I hope Nature is thinning the World's population by 20 or 30%. If I go, then I am not leaving much behind to miss am I? We are teetotal, and don't eat out, so who cares about pubs and clubs and these other places. I have a damned good mind to just get into my old camper van and clear off to the West Coast of Scotland for the duration. Surely that counts as self isolation.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We have had one death in this area and 12 people admitted to the local hospital according to the local newspaper.

We also have lots of local shops and several large supermarkets close by but there all selling out of food, toilet roll and cleaning products. My wife went to Asda yesterday at 6am for a few bits for us and my elderly parents the cues were beyond belief! My wife waited patiently as they allowed elderly and disabled in first however people were shouting and swearing at staff while this happened. She only purchased a few items we needed but certain people ran into the store buying as much as they could and were fighting over items absolutely disgraceful! But what makes me so angry is there now buying my special dietary food I’m gluten intolerant leaving little or no food for me selfish and greedy morons.

I am like Roddy teetotal and don’t eat out and not hugely into socialising much, So I’m more than happy to be and home with my family as people recently have show there true colours self self.

 

one last thing a lot of model railway items are manufactured in China and I was recently on EBay and noticed prices are soaring 😭

 

Rant over

Deano

 

 

  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 hours ago, roddy said:

.... I have a damned good mind to just get into my old camper van and clear off to the West Coast of Scotland for the duration. Surely that counts as self isolation.

That sounds like a damned good idea to me Roddy and it's the best form of isolation you could prescribe.

I hope that now the pubs, cafes and restaurants are closed that people will start going to the supermarket to stock up on wines, beer and crisps and leave the bloody toilet and kitchen rolls alone!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

43 minutes ago, DEANO said:

...I am like Roddy teetotal and don’t eat out and not hugely into socialising much, So I’m more than happy to be and home with my family as people recently have show there true colours self self.

Same here. We don't drink much either though we do enjoy the occasional glass of wine or cold bottle beer, especially when the weather's nice and you can sit outdoors. As for eating out, I've experienced a few, shall we say, less than delightful meals and some rather expensive ones to boot. Nowadays we get most pleasure from cooking ourselves and you know you're always going to get decent food when you make it yourself.

I wonder if the majority of railway modellers fall into the same category? Are we all into staying home and in small social circles? Perhaps it's who we are and why we enjoy model railways so much.

I just worry about what all those young people who spend their hard earned over the weekend in pubs and clubs are going to find to do now? No doubt it will be something that annoys the hell out of the rest of us.

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My big local Tesco's is the one shown in a lot of the papers with people queueing out side at 5.30 am to panic buy. Luckily it's just me and my 96 year old mum at home now so don't need much. Up until this week had no real problem, except for toilet roll, and worked round what l couldn't get. This week though went to get the weekly shop and after sitting in an unmoving queue for the car park for ages turned round and came home. Now just shopping local and buying what l can if in stock. Still have my milk delivered so that's no problem and they can supply other stuff if you can get through on line. Lot of I'll feeling for one local shop who is reportedly profitering by selling stuff over the printed RRP on packets. Has loads of fruit and veg , at a price but people are paying for it. Worked out what time my Sainsburys local gets its daily delivery some time my shopping for then. Unfortunately not the only one and Friday was like the first day at the sales! Sunday lunch could be interesting as it looks rather like boil in the bag roast beef.!!

Stay safe and well everybody.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, jimbob said:

....Stay safe and well everybody.

Yes, you too Jim. It must be doubly difficult having your mum to consider as well but it's extremely difficult to isolate yourselves completely when even the slightest contact with someone or something? else could result in the virus being transmitted. As our household supplies dwindle there's no option but to go out and get some more. If you attempt to place an online order there's a waiting time of 2 weeks or more and currently many items are unavailable. Things may change over the coming weeks.

I'm sure we all understand the seriousness of the situation so everyone take extra care and stay safe.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Unsure about local stats but there have been deaths in Wiltshire. The virus seems to be making its way down the M4 corridor from London, town by town.

Big supermarket shelves are empty - started with toilet rolls & hand cleaner, then beans, ketchup, pasta & bread. As of yesterday, add beer & lager to the list. I popped into Lidl yesterday morning and managed to get a few items to keep meals ticking over, but that was all. I wanted toilet roll, but completely missed the stack, until deep in the checkout queue 😂. I am concerned about what will happen if we are locked down - we have our normal stocks in, which, at a stretch, could last us 14 days, but we would be resorting to some odd combos.

I've loads to keep me occupied if I'm confined to barracks, but 3 adults live in my small property and It stretches the wellness of my mental health at times, without this (I love them both, but I am a person that must have some personal space and solitude for a small part of most days). We all need to stay healthy, so I can go to work and remain sane! I pray that I wont receive the Dr' letter this week, telling me to self isolate for 12 weeks, because I am at risk (both my Wife and I have underlying health conditions which could make this a reality).

BUT! Ive loads of building material in the back garden and a cement mixer to use - that has been my stockpiling!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 20/03/2020 at 21:29, roddy said:

... I have a damned good mind to just get into my old camper van and clear off to the West Coast of Scotland for the duration. Surely that counts as self isolation.

Probably not such a good idea as I originally thought 😳 I hadn't considered the consequences of thousands of others having the same idea and it's not just the West Coast of Scotland raising concerns but many other coastal and rural areas of the UK. I don't think it will be long before we are all ordered to stay at home and, quite sensibly, that's probably the right decision.

Pubs and clubs and all similar public spaces are closed, primarily it would seem to protect the most vulnerable in society which includes the elderly, but it amazes me that local hair salons are still open for business serving the needs of elderly ladies. I'm not sure what category hair salons fall under or whether it's right that they are still open for business but it does seem odd that most public entertainment for mainly younger people is cancelled while the elderly seemingly go about their normal daily business without a care in the world.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, ba14eagle said:

...I've loads to keep me occupied if I'm confined to barracks....

....BUT! Ive loads of building material in the back garden and a cement mixer to use - that has been my stockpiling!

Exactly the same here Iain. The people who will feel confinement the most are those who have no hobbies or interests and there are surprisingly a large number of people like that. It's the same when people talk about retirement, those who are keen to continue working usually have few or no interests outside the workplace. Of course, in the type of confinement likely to affect us during this virus outbreak it helps if those interests are home based and fortunately we fall into that category!

I've been stockpiling for several years now(!) but never did I expect to be in the situation we find ourselves in at this time. At this time of year I would certainly be doing other things and spending some time away but as it doesn't feel right to do so then it's as good an opportunity as ever to crack on and get some weathering done on those wagons and locos.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We chose to close our coffee shop while the government dithered. I now have a lot more time to model.

https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/health/coronavirus/yorkshire-couple-lose-only-income-after-closing-coffee-shop-protect-customers-2504168

It's natural to point the finger at shocking and irresponsible behaviour. But remember that we all tend to behave in our own best interests. The shelves aren't empty because a few people are buying tonnes of stuff. It's because millions of people are buying a little bit more. There's £1 billion worth of extra food in UK homes. There's 25 million homes. That is £40 of extra food in each home. Or put it another way "up to Christmas levels."

It's going to be very rough for a very long time. Blaming "the other" isn't going to help. I'm not sure what will help, but I put these up around the centre of my community early this morning.

c5bc8921-0c23-461a-830d-3fe7dee0b0e3.thumb.jpg.5716bb9abf4e24eb5626f4d39f1cb613.jpg

Stay safe, Stay Home, Save Lives.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I quite agree Chris re serving our own interests.

I'm also getting completely fed up with people posting photos of empty supermarket shelves on facebook, ranting at people for selfish panic buying - imho these posts are compounding the problem, making more people scared, thus increasing panic buying. I've started turning off notifications from any of my friends who post these or any other ranting posts i/c/w covid 19.  

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, chris said:

We chose to close our coffee shop while the government dithered....

I feel for you both Chris but you have made the right decision and it's the route many others should now be following. I'm pleased to learn that the government will be helping small business owners out, even if it is in only a small way, but I truly hope you can get the business back up and running in the not too distant future. Only time will tell what happens but at the moment it's all looking rather bleak.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

With the new powers being given to the Police today re flouting of unessential movement, how essential do you think going to feed and attend to your horse is? I am concerned that my Wife may not be allowed to perform, what we consider, an absolute essential function. (The animals live about 8 miles away, in the countryside, where there is no need to come into contact with others).    

Edited by ba14eagle
Further info required
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can't see that being a problem at all. It's an essential duty of care, albeit care of an animal. There must be many other people in similar situations and I wouldn't imagine for one moment that we'd have hundreds or indeed thousands of animals being neglected out in the fields due to restrictions placed on our movement. I would certainly be attending to them.

The restrictions are all a bit vague. One moment there's someone telling us that it's okay to drive to a nearby location and go for your daily walk/exercise and then there's someone else pointing out that cars parked up in the countryside shouldn't be there - 'not an essential journey'. Just wish someone would make up their mind and tell us exactly what we are and are not allowed to do. In fact why not let us use our common sense some of the time?

At the supermarket today there was a notice at the door stating that no more than 30 customers were allowed in at any one time. I'm not sure how the customer is supposed to know how many people are currently inside as there was no-one on the door policing the situation. They warn you to stay 2 metres apart of course but at Lidl checkouts there's no way you can stay further than 2 feet from the cashier because there's no conveyor belt to pass your purchases along and you're almost touching hands just picking up the items as they are scanned.

It's scary out there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Common sense is always in short supply with some people. Can't see that feeding a horse is any different to feeding sheep or cow's in a field. Some farms rent fields miles away from the rest of there land. Biggest moan round here is some corner shops profiteering,  £7 for a pack of four toilet rolls, and idiots are buying them.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, roddy said:

Isn't there now a plan to prosecute these charlatans?  

I'm assuming you mean the people profiteering as mentioned by Jim.....I've said all along that there needs to be more severe punishment for anyone taking advantage of the current situation. It's simply unacceptable and it's about time that these shops and businesses were totally boycotted. I wouldn't ever use them again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Apparently eBay is trying to take some action. If you see a blatant profiteering offering you should scroll down to "Report this," then choose the subject "gouging". Wikipaedia has a definition of what that means. They have suggested they will not only delete the item but also close the perpetrators account. Time will tell!

Edited by Riddles
Typo.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...