r00lish67
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Post by r00lish67 on Mar 15, 2020 18:21:32 GMT
Enjoy what freedom you have for the moment, UK people (within obvious sensible bounds). I'm in a very quiet place in Spain with very few cases, and yet the Guardia Civil are even here touring around to ensure we all remain homebound. We are allowed to go to the supermarket, but only individually. This is just day 1, and I'm already feeling a bit hemmed in. I probably wouldn't have been out much today anyway, but quite a difference between choosing not to go and not being allowed to  |
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agent69
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Post by agent69 on Mar 15, 2020 18:33:51 GMT
I generally have a few weeks of non-perishables in stock anyway, but that is simply a function of living in inner London and using public transport 9 times out of 10 when going out ... so I normally pick up fresh food on foot en-route back from the tube station, and only do a shop with my car every few weeks. I did however buy extra pasta when Italy started to become an issue, and extra coffee when I saw gaps on the shelves (as noted earlier in the thread, caffeine withdrawal is not something to take lightly).
There are several issues here I think.
- Some things may simply become unobtainable where sourced from a single country (e.g. pasta).
- Some things may be in short supply through panic buying but should be readily replacable in the UK (e.g. bread) - Some people will be on mandatory quarantine - Some people may want to reduce the frequency of shopping regardless - Some people may not have access to online grocery shopping, which may in any case may be out of stock of requested items (and no substitution made), and may have excessive lead times for delivery slots.
Being in inner London I have at least one (and in some cases two) of just about every supermarket brand within a 1.5 mile radius, but I really don't want to be searching multiple shops for items as that just increases the risk of exposure. My last visit to a supermarket was c. 8pm Wed evening .... and there was no bread of any description. Absolutely not normal. But not a problem as I have plenty in the freezer ... along with c. 2 weeks supply of meat.
Which leads to a dilema that I have been pondering today .... is it worth shelling out £120 on a (medium sized) freezer for the garage. Essentially is there going to be a benefit in a) stocking up on say bread when I can find it and b) using more frozen veg rather than fresh to minimize visits to supermarkets. Is the crisis going to last long enough for it to be worthwhile ?
Biggest issue for me is probably fresh fruit & veg ... not a problem in winter as the utility room is unheated and north facing and fruit keeps quite nicely stored in there, but summer in London is a very different picture. The cost of the freezer isn't the problem, it's the cost of building a garage
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Post by mrclondon on Mar 15, 2020 18:45:17 GMT
Most things are still available (far better choice than Tesco on the other side of town).
A tip I received from a friend today for anyone living in larger towns and the cities, if your local supermarket is out of stock of what you consider necessities, try another in a different part of town that has a different ethnic or social mix in the local catchment area. They may well be stocking up on completely different things in the main to those in your local area.
I'll put this to the test some time soon as I intend to have another nosy round the two LP dev sites in Peckham - a walk down the high street there feels like a trip to some very foreign land, yet only 3 miles away from yuppie land.
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james100
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Post by james100 on Mar 15, 2020 18:50:11 GMT
Enjoy what freedom you have for the moment, UK people (within obvious sensible bounds). I'm in a very quiet place in Spain with very few cases, and yet the Guardia Civil are even here touring around to ensure we all remain homebound. We are allowed to go to the supermarket, but only individually. This is just day 1, and I'm already feeling a bit hemmed in. I probably wouldn't have been out much today anyway, but quite a difference between choosing not to go and not being allowed to I'm sorry to hear this and hope you're OK. May I ask is it just a daytime confinement or night time too (when I assume shops and bars are closed)?
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Post by mrclondon on Mar 15, 2020 19:00:16 GMT
You’re all probably busy ordering fridge-freezers online. I’d hurry up and get one before they run out! Indeed so, my first choice has sold out, and currys are accepting orders for delivery in 10 to 21 days time on most items. If you look at the picture of the freezer 20 or so seconds after this page loads, you'll see it claims to have been viewed by over 24,700 people in the last 24 hours. I'm not the only one ! I have now ordered one, but won't be entirely surprised if the order is cancelled by currys in due course.
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benaj
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Post by benaj on Mar 15, 2020 19:06:19 GMT
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r00lish67
Member of DD Central
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Post by r00lish67 on Mar 15, 2020 19:12:31 GMT
Enjoy what freedom you have for the moment, UK people (within obvious sensible bounds). I'm in a very quiet place in Spain with very few cases, and yet the Guardia Civil are even here touring around to ensure we all remain homebound. We are allowed to go to the supermarket, but only individually. This is just day 1, and I'm already feeling a bit hemmed in. I probably wouldn't have been out much today anyway, but quite a difference between choosing not to go and not being allowed to I'm sorry to hear this and hope you're OK. May I ask is it just a daytime confinement or night time too (when I assume shops and bars are closed)? I'm fine ta. Can't complain at all compared to others here (and everywhere else) with underlying health issues or vulnerable relatives. Detail is here but in essence all bars/restaurants/non-essential shops are now closed (I believe they're allowed to deliver in theory, although doesn't really apply here) . It's 24 hours a day, although there are exceptions where you can leave e.g. to buy food, medicine, to go to work if applicable - so it won't be 100% confinement. Apparently you can leave the house to walk your dog - bit of a loophole there. Stuff the toilet roll, where can I get a dog?
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Post by gravitykillz on Mar 15, 2020 19:18:45 GMT
If humanity can survive the plague they can survive anything. Everything will be ok
We must have faith but prepare for the worst. This disease is really putting me off p2p lending. At least for a while.
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Post by gravitykillz on Mar 15, 2020 19:21:09 GMT
I have started gardening as well. I have some tomato and courgette plants growing on top of my old scanner. Maybe becoming self sufficient is the key?
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james100
Member of DD Central
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Post by james100 on Mar 15, 2020 19:32:32 GMT
I'm sorry to hear this and hope you're OK. May I ask is it just a daytime confinement or night time too (when I assume shops and bars are closed)? I'm fine ta. Can't complain at all compared to others here (and everywhere else) with underlying health issues or vulnerable relatives. Detail is here but in essence all bars/restaurants/non-essential shops are now closed (I believe they're allowed to deliver in theory, although doesn't really apply here) . It's 24 hours a day, although there are exceptions where you can leave e.g. to buy food, medicine, to go to work if applicable - so it won't be 100% confinement. Apparently you can leave the house to walk your dog - bit of a loophole there. Stuff the toilet roll, where can I get a dog? I am basically the dog. I need to run at least 25 miles a week else I will chew the place up 
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Post by stuartassetzcapital on Mar 15, 2020 19:33:36 GMT
If humanity can survive the plague they can survive anything. Everything will be ok We must have faith but prepare for the worst. This disease is really putting me off p2p lending. At least for a while. I hate to think what the stock market is making you feel then ! It will pass. and why I say that is the most interesting fact available today, and one that there is an inability for anyone to explain .... and that is the following chart ... China cases etcNo material new cases leads to the question... exactly why is China closing its now empty hospitals and had just 10 new cases yesterday ... www.newsweek.com/video-shows-smiling-medical-workers-wuhan-taking-off-masks-coronavirus-outbreak-slows-1492181 If anyone knows the answer then answers on a postcard please !
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Post by df on Mar 15, 2020 19:42:19 GMT
I generally have a few weeks of non-perishables in stock anyway, but that is simply a function of living in inner London and using public transport 9 times out of 10 when going out ... so I normally pick up fresh food on foot en-route back from the tube station, and only do a shop with my car every few weeks. I did however buy extra pasta when Italy started to become an issue, and extra coffee when I saw gaps on the shelves (as noted earlier in the thread, caffeine withdrawal is not something to take lightly).
There are several issues here I think.
- Some things may simply become unobtainable where sourced from a single country (e.g. pasta).
- Some things may be in short supply through panic buying but should be readily replacable in the UK (e.g. bread) - Some people will be on mandatory quarantine - Some people may want to reduce the frequency of shopping regardless - Some people may not have access to online grocery shopping, which may in any case may be out of stock of requested items (and no substitution made), and may have excessive lead times for delivery slots.
Being in inner London I have at least one (and in some cases two) of just about every supermarket brand within a 1.5 mile radius, but I really don't want to be searching multiple shops for items as that just increases the risk of exposure. My last visit to a supermarket was c. 8pm Wed evening .... and there was no bread of any description. Absolutely not normal. But not a problem as I have plenty in the freezer ... along with c. 2 weeks supply of meat.
Which leads to a dilema that I have been pondering today .... is it worth shelling out £120 on a (medium sized) freezer for the garage. Essentially is there going to be a benefit in a) stocking up on say bread when I can find it and b) using more frozen veg rather than fresh to minimize visits to supermarkets. Is the crisis going to last long enough for it to be worthwhile ?
Biggest issue for me is probably fresh fruit & veg ... not a problem in winter as the utility room is unheated and north facing and fruit keeps quite nicely stored in there, but summer in London is a very different picture. The cost of the freezer isn't the problem, it's the cost of building a garage I don't even have a space to build a garage, but I have a medium size freezer, which is always full anyway, and a cellar. I always had this habit to stockpile food and other essentials, so when the fuel crisis came about I didn't even bother going to shops until it ended. Apparently at the time there was a proper fight over remaining loafs of bread in my local ASDA.... This time it will probably take much longer for things to normalise. Although I have enough supplies for about a month, I went to ASDA on Friday and bought some more food whilst it's still available. It's unusual to see empty sections, but a lot of food was still available. My wife went to a corner shop today and they don't seem to have any shortages yet.
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registerme
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Post by registerme on Mar 15, 2020 19:43:58 GMT
My freezer is full of ten year old packs of bacon, and fifteen year old lamb chops :/.
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Post by df on Mar 15, 2020 19:54:53 GMT
I have started gardening as well. I have some tomato and courgette plants growing on top of my old scanner. Maybe becoming self sufficient is the key? I have an allotment, so some proportion of my food supply comes from there - still have some onions in the house from last year harvest and plenty of Jerusalem artichokes in the ground  and plenty of jam in my cellar
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Greenwood2
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Post by Greenwood2 on Mar 15, 2020 20:51:13 GMT
I have started gardening as well. I have some tomato and courgette plants growing on top of my old scanner. Maybe becoming self sufficient is the key? I have an allotment, so some proportion of my food supply comes from there - still have some onions in the house from last year harvest and plenty of Jerusalem artichokes in the ground and plenty of jam in my cellar Just dug the last of the potatoes, lucky it wasn't a very frosty year, purple sprouting, leeks, carrots, sprouts, sprout tops still in the ground (not a lot but nice to have) + over wintered cabbages and cauliflowers a few weeks away to harvest, some leaves spinach and chard leaves left in the ground over winter which may crop a bit before going to seed. Starting to plant seeds and potting on for this year. Made Grape Jam for the first time last year pretty good!
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and plenty of jam in my cellar