Coronavirus

[Trainee neophyte]

.........The thrust of this mythical expert's argument was that the UK imports 50% of its food, and there is no warehousing capabilities because everyone runs on a just-in-time system........

You know this is twaddle without me having to tell you. All the supermarkets have "distribution centres", which are giant warehouses. When a no deal Brexit looked imminent supermarkets built up big stocks in these distribution centres. Obviously imported firuit and veg don't have a long shelf life so large stocks of those can't be held, but all other stuff can be. If you have to miss out on one of your 5 a day now and then I wouldn't have thought it was the end of the world.

On a general note, if you want to find a Youtube or Facebook clip of someone making a doom and gloom prediction you can on any and every subject under the sun. Every nutcase on the planet is hard at it right now. What we would hope of fellow posters is that a minute or two's thought would go in before posting codswallop dreamt up by some snotty teenage Trump-alike in his bedroom. Think......verify......filter......post (with links). That would be my suggestion. And keep clear of American prepper and religious websites.

Mike, I certainly don't want to fall out over this, because food security in the UK is of absolutely no relevance to me. I mentioned the Chanel4 report because every time I watch Chanel4 news, they have some lunatic ranting about how the government is trying to kill everyone. Being new to this particular news outlet, I am wondering if it is a common theme for Chanel4, of just a new Coronanvirus enthusiasm.

And about everything else, I really, really hope that life caries on as usual, and everything is perfect and lovely. Forgive me if I make a few minor adjustments to my circumstances to ensure that, if it isn't, I won't be too materially affected. I will refrain from suggesting other people do too, because defeatest talk is frowned upon, it would seem. Keep calm, and carry on!

.

 

[RogerS]

OK...so here's the thing. All very well telling us wrinklies to order online. Anyone tried it ? If the supermarkets' IT systems aren't crashing due to overload then there are no available slots. No choice but to get in the car.

I seem to recall entering my DOB when I created my online account. If so then simple....modify their IT system. If you're over-70 then you can place an order. If not....on yer bike or use the car!

 

[Cheshirechappie]

In these times of trial, it is essential that we all pull together and support initiatives to keep businesses afloat. I'm doing my bit...


Placed my order

That's the way to beat this health crisis - give up exercise and drink more beer!

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Went out for my daily walk this morning. There were lots of people about, including some of the 'regulars'. One lady I see from time to time had a carton of milk with her.

Lady, "I'm just off to deliver this to my mum. She locked the doors and won't come out at all."

Me, "That's a bit over the top at the moment, isn't it?"

Lady, "Yes, it is, but it doesn't half make my life quieter!"

 

[MusicMan]

and vulnerable grandparents who would be looking after them. Needs to be coupled with a childcare plan.

 

[Nick.]

......
So why not close schools - children are just mobile petri dishes. ......

Because there are rather a large number of essential workers....doctors, nurses, etc.. who would then have to stop working to look after their children perhaps ?

I wonder if an alternative might be to allow those that do have childcare to stop attending? Keep the school open for the rest. Might help reduce things at least.

At my daughter's school, the numbers attending have dropped off, many with parents with conditions and other such reasons.

This is the logical approach I agree - I don't understand why it hasn't been implemented - I'm now working from home and have cancelled all visits/meetings - I'm OK to look after all my kids - my eldest daughter has Down Syndrome and although she is healthy I find it worrying her special school is till open, knowing the vulnerability of some of her classmates.

 

[thetyreman]

went to the supermarket today and there were no eggs, first time I've ever seen that in my life, it was a bit eerie and not many people there.

 

[Lons]

went to the supermarket today and there were no eggs, first time I've ever seen that in my life, it was a bit eerie and not many people there.

My mate has 80+ hens so he might give us a few eggs, wouldn't like to live on them though.

The rabbits, pheasants and pigeons around our property could be in danger going forward, now where did I put my air rifle?

 

[Trevanion]

Might have to resort to eating the moles :shock:

 

[RogerS]

Some nice new-born lambs by us. :twisted: I could make a deer and lamb casserole.

 

[John Brown]

Might have to resort to eating the moles :shock:

William Buckland, whose ambition was to eat through creation from A to Z, once said that mole was the worst thing he'd ever tasted. Later in life he changed his mind, and said that the bluebottle fly was worse.

 

[Gerry]

17 staff and skilled redundancies announced at work today due to supply and demand difficulties caused by the virus (automotive manufacturing) . Nissan, Just up the road and one of our major customers suspending production on a day to day basis for the same reason this afternoon too.
This is just the start and I can see the next several month being life changing for many.

Gerry

 

[Lons]

Might have to resort to eating the moles :shock:

Even the neighbours cats which are quite happy to kill moles refuse to eat them. There was a dead one in our field for several days during all that rain when I refused to venture out to pick it up, had it been a rabbit, mouse or rat the local buzzards, sparrowhawks, owls or magpies would have picked it up pdq but it seems they don't like them either.

 

[Lons]

Some nice new-born lambs by us. :twisted: I could make a deer and lamb casserole.

That throws up another potential issue Roger. Poaching and sheep rustling are more common than people realise, I'm sure that will increase and lambs are easy targets. You'll know it's happening if the supermarkets run out of mint sauce!

There was a local facebook advert a few weeks ago offering several hundred hens foc to anyone who could offer good homes, my daughter forwarded to me to see if my mate wanted to add to his already large flock, they were in a rough area of the north east and within a few hours the ad was deleted on police advice due to a number of undesirables scaling 8' fences to steal them for butchering. :roll:

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Some thirty inches from my nose
The frontier of my Person goes,
And all the untilled air between
Is private pagus or demesne.
Stranger, unless with bedroom eyes
I beckon you to fraternize,
Beware of rudely crossing it:
I have no gun, but I can spit.

W H Auden

 

[Jake]

Schools haven't been closed because under the mitigation strategy they were happy for the spreading to take place for 'herd immunity', now they've realised suppression was the only viable strategy after all that was a nuts policy but they can't back off immediately because they previously said it wasn't necessary and was very a last ditch measure, and also presumably need some planning time because they aren't ready to roll out the surrounding policies.

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Schools haven't been closed because under the mitigation strategy they were happy for the spreading to take place for 'herd immunity', now they've realised suppression was the only viable strategy after all that was a nuts policy but they can't back off immediately because they previously said it wasn't necessary and was very a last ditch measure, and also presumably need some planning time because they aren't ready to roll out the surrounding policies.

It seems that decision is on scientific advice, not a political decision. Here's a clip of Sir Patrick Valance, Chief Scientific Officer, explaining his advice to a committee of MPs earlier today.

https://order-order.com/2020/03/17/schools-not-shut/

 

[Deadeye]

The schools issue is nuanced by the fact that if all the kids get sent home a big chunk of hospital staff disappear.
Italy has run out of Oxygen in some hospitals.

 

[porker]

Company asked us to work from home this week. Today they told us there is a suspected case in our office. Asked us to self isolate and warned us we may be working from home until the Summer. They have a specialist team in now for a week deep cleaning our offices. Already going through a redundancy round so I have serious doubts whether I will have a job in the next few months. Could be worse though and feel for others whose business is under threat.

 

[doctor Bob]

I'm a creature of habit, on the way home I call into Sainsbury's most days, buy 2 apples and a snack for lunch the next day plus milk for the next day at work.
I have never seen the shelves so bare. 2/3 empty, put the shhitteers up me a bit no fresh food at all no frozen, no dried. Just the bollooxs no want wants in a time of crisis and chocolate.