COVID19
 

I’m surprised there isn’t a thread on this already!

i was wondering how our members in the UK are coping during these uncertain times. Is it as bad as the press would have us believe...stampedes in shops for loo rolls etc? Is anyone sick or experiencing symptoms?

it would be really nice to hear first hand what’s happening there.

Re: COVID19
 

Fortunately, I’ve only been in Tesco when there was absolutely NONE of certain key products (toilet roll, paracetamol, active dried yeast for instance.) The time there might be a stampede would be when there’s (say) three packages of toilet roll, and four shoppers who want them!

Re: COVID19
 

thanks for replying Robin. I was surprised to see the amount of tumbleweeds blowing around this forum. I thought the forums had picked up a bit over the last week or so. Maybe more will post, when they get fed up of being stuck at home with little to do. :fingerscrossed:

Re: COVID19
 

In our local Coop Supermarket yesterday no toilet paper, no pasta, no rice. To an old hand like me, who has lived in rural Africa at the time of The Second Chimurenga and in the Balkans in the period of transition to a free market, this is not a problem ! Dealing with shortages is easy - you should just learn to improvise.

Half the population of Planet Terra manage quite well without toilet paper !

Re: COVID19
 

Schools in Scotland to close on Friday 20 March. For an indefinite period.

Re: COVID19
 

yup it’s time to pull our belts in.

I don’t think they will open until Sept...if then.

Re: COVID19
 

One positive is the ad hoc communities that are emerging. I live in a new-build block of flats in a small town in North Norfolk. Just ten flats, of which five are owner occupied and five tenanted (currently.) Owner occupiers are mostly elderly, renters tend to be “young professional” types.

I’ve been here five years, since it was built. Virtually no contact with any of the other residents, except for one elderly couple downstairs who I’m pretty friendly with. Now I’m in phone and/or email contact with all but one or two of my neighbors! And one young man, who, to be honest I’ve never even seen, has offered to do people’s shopping, pick up prescriptions etc., for people especially if they choose to (or need to) self-isolate.

We’ll see how it develops, but it’s very promising.

Re: COVID19
 

Thanks for posting that Robin, it put a smile on my face. That community spirit is so important at time like this.

High rise condo buildings could become a nightmare. Our condo in Downtown Toronto has 28 floors. The management have closed all community facilities and unlocked the fire escape staircase so people can use the stairs to avoid using the elevators. We went there this morning at 5 am to collect food and supplies which were there. I thought it would be a good time to go and avoid people in the elevators and it was.

Re: COVID19
 

Hi missing my family in the UK right now, but I hear they are doing fine and preparing for the worst. My mom's friends and neighbours are helping one another which makes me feel a huge relief. I'm stuck in the USA due to no flights and must say the attitude of many here is very black and white. While some are taking the COVID19 very seriously others are totally the opposite...

Re: COVID19
 

My daughter’s friend who lives in London said yesterday Primark was packed. :eek:

Re: COVID19
 

The population are now under effective house arrest ! "For the duration". Maybe we should revive that expression from the days of Vera Lynn ?

Re: COVID19
 

https://www.thenational.scot/news/18...nities/?ref=eb

And tourists are not always welcome.

Re: COVID19
 

Interesting article. There was a similar one in The Guardian yesterday (if I remember correctly) about Cornwall. Apparently the number of people staying in their second homes & rented holiday cottages is much higher than the usual for this time of year, so it can be assumed that many of them are escapees from cities & suburbs.

Re: COVID19
 

The article about Cummings saying that the economy is more important than pensioners is interesting. He backed tne herd infection strategy.

Re: COVID19
 

https://metro.co.uk/2020/03/22/scotl..._Xi1zZjuYtn5Ow

Stay away !

Re: COVID19
 

We were told today at The Dialysis Clinic that, apart from trips in patient transport to the Clinic 3 mornings a week, we MUST remain at home.

Fortunately I have a retinue of admirers ready to do my shopping !

Re: COVID19
 

We were reasonably well stocked up to begin with as I've always made a point of filling the cupboards when I've had access to auto transport but the loo roll situation is starting to get me a bit edgy. Lots of wet wipes in the cupboard if need be. Online grocery ordering has been interesting but I've got delivery slots for this week and next. The orders are constantly being amended to plan around what's going out of stock and going to plan "B" as required. I prefer getting my meat from the local Co-op but I'm hearing that pickings are rather slim. I could murder a steak at the moment and hubby the chocaholic nibbled his way through the last of the chocolate covered Digestives the other day. I reckon we'll be "settling" for homemade beef barley soup and chocolate cake 😋. Thank goodness for our local green grocer and the milkman; they've not let us down.

Our town set up a network of volunteers offering to bring in shopping, prescriptions etc. for those who need it and apparently there are volunteers assigned to each neighbourhood. Our next door neighbour is a teaching assistant at a school for children with special needs so she's still working and out and about and she asked if there was anything we needed. At some point one of us will have to go out for necessities but ok just now.

With the colleges closing last Friday hubby is now home and frankly I'm very relieved. We're just taking the opportunity to do odd jobs we've been putting off and my Kindle's getting a good workout. I think we can all muddle our way through this by just exercising a bit patience, flexibility and resilience.

Re: COVID19
 

do you mean “There’ll be loo rolls over the white cliffs of Dover” ?

Re: COVID19
 

We spent 3 weeks in a small town just outside of Edinburgh looking after my wife’s sister after her open heart surgery. It has 2 “Scot-mid” coo-op stores and with the exception of toilet paper, hand sanitizer and eggs was well stocked each time we walked down to shop. There is a very large Sainsbury’s a few miles down the road that we drove to twice and it was the same story, very civilized, plenty of stock with the usual exceptions on toilet paper and sanitizer. The last time we visited was Saturday March 22nd and again no problem with buying what we needed. On Sunday we drove back down to Yorkshire and went shopping on Monday for ourselves and again all the shops were open, quiet and well stocked. We went into a chemist for something my wife needed and they were selling hand sanitizer and paracetamol, 2 bottles per customer.

Isolation now, I feel really sorry for folks stuck in apartments, at least we have a garden, plus we have lots of countryside right outside our door in which to take our daily exercise walk.

We have 2 friends here in their late 70’s who have confessed to breaking the curfew on the elderly every day by getting up at 6am, driving a short way to more remote spots and going for a walk, making sure they are home for breakfast before 8.

Re: COVID19
 

Yeah my place is a second floor flat. I have a nice view out of the back, field, footpaths, and ancient oak trees and hedgerows. I have an allotment about three quarters of a mile away. I go out for about two or three hours, four mile footpath walk, and if I feel like it, maybe an hour on the allotment. If you’re in a flat you need more outdoor time than folks who have a garden.

Interesting that I’m seeing far more people out walking and cycling than I do in normal times (on the same paths.)

Re: COVID19
 

I just heard that I have the coronovirus. Feeling better now than I did last week. See you all on the other side !

Re: COVID19
 

I am sorry to read this Scot. I hope you have the mild version of the virus. We have a thread for those who have symptoms or have been diagnosed the virus...

https://britishexpats.com/forum/loun...s-only-931863/

take care and good luck. :fingerscrossed:

Re: COVID19
 

Bugger :( I hope you have someone to help you with things like shopping, and to check on you regularly to make sure you're still feeling ok. I hope this is just a blip for you and you're completely recovered very soon.

Re: COVID19
 

A retinue of admirers cater to my every whim and fancy.Off to Dialysis Clinic again tomorrow thanks to Scottish Ambulance Service who pick me up

Re: COVID19
 

Good to hear about your retinue - you may as well take a bit of advantage and ask them to peel you a few grapes :thumbsup: Glad you're getting the support and care you need, hang in there mate.

Re: COVID19
 

Hope you have a speedy recovery and are feeling better. :thumbup::fingerscrossed:

Re: COVID19
 

Thaaks from your old adversary

Re: COVID19
 

Rats!
Please get well soon you celtic curmudgeon you.
The same for all your family spread all around the world.
I'd like to read good things there when you have a mo.

Re: COVID19
 

Gah, missed this. Do please take care of yourself and keep us posted.

Re: COVID19
 

Scot, how are things going? Hoping you're still at home and are recovering.

Re: COVID19
 

He was last online last night, so hopefully recovering well. :thumbup:

Re: COVID19
 

Thanks Scamp :thumbup:

Re: COVID19
 

I got over the virus. Like a very bad influenza in my case. As a Dialysis patient I am still in the category that requires "Shielding". Scottish Government is coordinating delivery of basic food supplies, and of mt prescription renewals.

https://www.gov.scot/publications/co...tial-supplies/

More info on these ScotGov Shielding pages.

Re: COVID19
 

glad to hear you are ok. :thumbsup:

were you tested for Covid19 Scot?

Re: COVID19
 

Yes I had it
Then I got two furher tests to check

I am now clear

Nursing staff could not get tests, but patients with symptoms were tested.

Re: COVID19
 

good to know. Thanks.

Re: COVID19
 

Good news Scot, you must be a tough old bugger :thumbup:

Re: COVID19
 

Good to hear, glad you got through. Keep safe. :thumbup:

Re: COVID19
 

Scary news is that those who had the virus might get it again in a different variant. I am staying at home. I wear a mask when I go for my treatment at The Dialysis Clinic.

Re: COVID19
 

stay safe Scot.