Coronavirus - The Thread :(

[portland_bill]

Toddled off to the supermarket yesterday. Went to a large ASDA as there are things there I can't get at my usual Saisnbury's. I was expecting a queueing system, and there it was. The store is about 200m wide. Door at one end shut, queue from the other end, everyone a nice distance apart, stretched along the front of the store, up the car park to the end, did a U-turn and came back to about half-way along the store. My guess is about 4-500m.
Most people quite happy to queue, a few left mumbling, but I doubt they'd find better elsewhere. One comment from the queue, "This is what the British do well, queueing."
Rather than let us in one at a time, they'd count those leaving, and then let us in in batches of 6-10, so the queue stood for a while, then moved a fair distance. Took about 45 minutes to get into the store, so not too bad. Sun out, but in the shadow of the store, a bit chilly. The car park rises a little, so for some time I had a good view of the whole queue. It occurred to me that no-one looked underfed. Some people leaving had large trolleys full.
Once inside, most things were available, including toilet rolls, a choice of brands and pack sizes, but few tissues, no pasta, and no dettol wipes. (Have to use them in the learner car frequently, but redundant for a while.)
Overall, quite a relaxing time, standing in the queue, just people-watching.

A few people were wearing masks, of various designs, none of which I think would have kept the virus out, but I suppose it makes them feel better. Strangely, a woman ahead of me wore the mask while queueing, with a good separation between us all, but once onside, she took it off, while we were all at imes much closer together.

 

[09 johno]

In our local shops, we have 3 grocery stores on the island!
Tesco uses a queue system, co'op doesn't and nor does the new Lidl.
However the local constabulary have put notices in all shops (including news agents), that family groups are not allowed, only one person per family are to enter the shop at any one time. At least it stops the non the wiser kids from running around shops grabbing all the food stuffs. however my OH is disabled but knows what 'essentials' we need, now its up to me to second guess the shopping list...……….I've not got it right yet! :bang:

 

[portland_bill]

In our local shops, we have 3 grocery stores on the island!
Tesco uses a queue system, co'op doesn't and nor does the new Lidl.

It has been a while since I've been back to the island, 5 years at least I think, maybe more. No family or friends there any more.

Presumably the Co-op is still in Easton Square. But I can't picture either Tesco or Lidl.

Is there anything still in Fortuneswell, or is that now completely dead?

I miss the fresh air (gale force much of the time), but not the salty moisture on the car on spring and autumn mornings, or the 7 miles before you start any journey.

Ah, memories.

 

[09 johno]

Fortuneswell is dead even the British legion closed down, although the pubs have survived, the Co'op there was ram raided for the cashpoint and closed for about 3 months I think it is open again now but otherwise not a lot going on down there apart from fish and chips! Lidls opened up just before Christmas on the mere (old air-station) Tesco was built 4 years ago on one of landfilled quarries just to the south of Easton square.

I live 150 meters away from the Westcliff so 80mph is just an every day breeze! ( highest recorded since living here in 1991 125mph across my front garden! even today its gusting 45mph already.....

At least it might keep the virus at bay!

 

[DaveMcT]

Watch this and join the campaign.

Chinese government have blood on their hands - Dan Wooton Talk radio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z217fnL6cwU&t=2s

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Big day today.

Some years ago my oldest boy was injured in his last week of training to be a Royal Marine so, tragically, couldn't continue with the career he'd wanted since he was a school boy. He's presently driving home food delivery vans for Sainsburys.

Mrs J and I are self isolating (in our 70's) quite successfully we think, with our wonderful neighbours bringing bread and milk to us, but grocery shopping is a little more difficult. No problem Dad, said our boy, I'll just pick up anything you need from the store whilst I'm at work and then you don't need to go to the shops at all. This sounds like an ideal solution as he's got to go there anyway for his job, except that he lives on the other side of town from us (about a half hour drive) and he's working "silly" hours trying to keep up with the deliveries and cover other drivers who have self isolated. He's also running messages in his own time for some of the old folk he's delivering to - I'm immensely proud of him for this. Not surprisingly this leaves him very tired and we don't want him then driving across town and back too.

So, thinking about this, Mrs J said "I can't see much in the way of increased risk to us if we jump in the car and get him to put the shopping on his door step and close the door. Then we pick up the bags from the door step and put them in our car and go home again - got to be less risky than us going to the supermarket?" A subsequent quick chat with them at the front door and us at the end of their path would probably be Ok too? If we think carefully about what we need I think doing this once a week would probably suffice.

Anyway he's getting stuff for us today as he's on early shift and we're going to try the run late afternoon. If we get stopped by the "boys in blue" I wonder how they will view it?

If they don't lock me up somewhere I'll get back on here tonight or tomorrow and let you know how it goes.

 

[KPat]

If I might make some (potntially useless!) observations, which I feel there might be a lot of agreement on?
1) The world has suddenly changed.
2) Not for the better either.
3) This change will continue and develop many other terrible aspects.
4) There will be no going back to what we had, in many respects.
5) Pretty much all that can be done now is damage limitation.

Not helpful, but these I see as simple facts we can mostly agree on. Six months ago, I was dissatisfied with many aspects of daily life, but now? As ever, ''you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone!''.

I'm staying in as far as poss as I have heart failure, as does my wife.

I think mother nature has gone to def-con 1. Her way of trying to put a stop to global warming. If the human race goes the way of the dinosaurs the earth will not miss us.

 

[varesecrazy]

Thanks Jock
Re. Home delivery..
Thats pretty much what weve done for the inlaws..

I grab a basket shop at 19:30
Drop it on their doorstep at 06:30 enroute to work .. they have a home delivery slot booked but it was @18 days away

So we just propped them up with fresh stuff every few days.

Had to do shops for our son too..
100 miles from the inlaws.. but needs must

Just wary of passing on something that they will struggle with..

We have lost our 'home delivery' slot..
Rightly so.. so will do click+collect
To my mind..thats no bigger a risk than greeting a random driver on our property

Will attempt to see if I can get Asda to divide my shoppings packaging.. so my elderly neighbours can grab stuff straight from delivery.. untouched by me
(They should be getting a free slot too due to age and disability....but cannot see that happening in the next week)

 

[The Pretender]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAk7aX5hksU

 

[stewy]

Saw a nice touch a little earlier when I took the dog out in Sprowston (Norwich). A 25ft banner saying "Thank you NHS" in the garden of a big house. Echoing the sentiments of all normal folks. Good on 'em. Stewy

 

[dave]

Watch this and join the campaign.

Chinese government have blood on their hands - Dan Wooton Talk radio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z217fnL6cwU&t=2s

we need a campaign to make the people pay who have kept up voting for cuts to the nhs for the last 10 years.

 

[stewy]

Here in the UK we should be very, very thankful for our NHS. Some other countries don't have this luxury. If our taxes increase a bit to recoup some money. So be it. We can handle that. If & it's a big "if" this all did come about by eating bats, why would anyone in any country want/have to eat an animal that's one of the main carriers of rabies. I doubt I'll ever understand. Stewy

 

[portland_bill]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAk7aX5hksU

This is quite a long video, but worth watching through to the end. Better information than I've seen anywhere else.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Big day today.

No problem Dad, said our boy, I'll just pick up anything you need from the store whilst I'm at work and then you don't need to go to the shops at all.

Mrs J said "I can't see much in the way of increased risk to us if we jump in the car and get him to put the shopping on his door step and close the door. Then we pick up the bags from the door step and put them in our car and go home again - got to be less risky than us going to the supermarket?" A subsequent quick chat with them at the front door and us at the end of their path would probably be Ok too?

Anyway he's getting stuff for us today as he's on early shift and we're going to try the run late afternoon. If we get stopped by the "boys in blue" I wonder how they will view it?

If they don't lock me up somewhere I'll get back on here tonight or tomorrow and let you know how it goes.

Just back in from collecting these groceries. All went extremely well. No contact with anyone. We did follow a police car for a lot of the journey, around 20 minutes, and I did wonder whether to turn off our route and follow a parallel route, but he didn't seem interested in us and we lost him when we turned into the road end where my son lives. We were in the Ibiza which is bright "Emocion" red. Bulls and red flags come to mind!

My boy is obviously very worried about us - bless him - and made us stay in the car until he'd put the shopping on his door step and closed his front door then we got out the car and collected the bags. We sat in the car with the window down and he talked to us from his open living room window which was very nice as my young grandson could show us the colourful drawings he'd been doing by holding them up to the glass.

So it's all looking pretty good at this time. Of course if he falls ill - God forbid - we'll have to have a rethink but I think that will be the least of our worries in that eventuality. We went for a walk this morning down through the park round the harbour and back through the village and another park. Hardly saw a soul and those we did see were all practicing stringent separation. I tend to smile and acknowledge people with a smile if they look at me and it was nice that most people were smiling and waving back.

There's a new Sainsburys local opened nearby which we walked past on the way. Shelves looked very well stocked (viewed from the pavement) and there was hardly anyone in it. Maybe not many know it's here yet. Could be a good bet if we have to go ourselves.

By the way I discovered a pack of old masks and some surgical gloves I bought for spray painting when I resprayed the Imp many years ago. Wonder if they would offer any protection?

Anyway that's us all set for another week of isolation. We'll still be taking a daily walk - weather permitting - and talking with neighbours at a distance, (from one side of the road to the other) but absolutely no close contact with anyone.

Kindest wishes to you all. Stay safe
Jock

 

[KPat]

This is quite a long video, but worth watching through to the end. Better information than I've seen anywhere else.

Intelligent, informative and thorough explanation. Better than being spoken to like children by some of our officials.

 

[Bernievarian]

Just back in from collecting these groceries. All went extremely well. No contact with anyone. We did follow a police car for a lot of the journey, around 20 minutes, and I did wonder whether to turn off our route and follow a parallel route, but he didn't seem interested in us and we lost him when we turned into the road end where my son lives. We were in the Ibiza which is bright "Emocion" red. Bulls and red flags come to mind!

My boy is obviously very worried about us - bless him - and made us stay in the car until he'd put the shopping on his door step and closed his front door then we got out the car and collected the bags. We sat in the car with the window down and he talked to us from his open living room window which was very nice as my young grandson could show us the colourful drawings he'd been doing by holding them up to the glass.

So it's all looking pretty good at this time. Of course if he falls ill - God forbid - we'll have to have a rethink but I think that will be the least of our worries in that eventuality. We went for a walk this morning down through the park round the harbour and back through the village and another park. Hardly saw a soul and those we did see were all practicing stringent separation. I tend to smile and acknowledge people with a smile if they look at me and it was nice that most people were smiling and waving back.

There's a new Sainsburys local opened nearby which we walked past on the way. Shelves looked very well stocked (viewed from the pavement) and there was hardly anyone in it. Maybe not many know it's here yet. Could be a good bet if we have to go ourselves.

By the way I discovered a pack of old masks and some surgical gloves I bought for spray painting when I resprayed the Imp many years ago. Wonder if they would offer any protection?

Anyway that's us all set for another week of isolation. We'll still be taking a daily walk - weather permitting - and talking with neighbours at a distance, (from one side of the road to the other) but absolutely no close contact with anyone.

Kindest wishes to you all. Stay safe
Jock

I really like your way of seeing life and all the crap that runs around, keep on posting !! won't tell you to stay home ...

BRs, Bernie

 

[chris3234]

By the way I discovered a pack of old masks and some surgical gloves I bought for spray painting when I resprayed the Imp many years ago. Wonder if they would offer any protection?



Kindest wishes to you all. Stay safe
Jock

The gloves would likely help with picking up object's ect as long as you don't touch your face after

The masks are un likely to do anything unless a full respirator type
Theres doubts as to how much protection the surgical type masks being worn in hospital's are offering at the minute

 

[stewy]

As far as face masks go. I'd be very wary (especially if you have a beard). For my job as a bricklayer/stonemason, I have a proper, almost gasmask style mask. That I've been "face fitted" for. Face fitting is done by having your mask on &a Ned Kelly type bin/bucket over your head. After which a bitter tasting spray is administered. If you can taste it your mask don't fit properly. How big a particle of the spray is compared to a spore of the virus I don't know. But from what I've seen on TV & the way folks are waring their masks. I think they're more of a placebo effect. If you've got a beard don't bother with a mask you're most likely wasting your time. I feel for our NHS staff & all hospital workers around the world. There seems to be plenty of them contracting the virus. I know they're in the frontline, but I think their kit leaves a lot to be desired. Stewy

 

[Joiner]

Having watched the Korean video, as per the link above, and yes it is 35 minutes but very informative, I feel that any mask has to be a help.

As detailed, the means of entry to your body are the virus droplets from a contaminated person via the mucus of the mouth, nose or eyes.

If a mask only even stops you putting your filthy finger up your nose or in your gob then surely it must be some help..........
Doctor even says a pair of spectacles are a help.

The virus can not go through skin, so really it is only the holes in your body that are vulnerable.

Be VERY careful with old latex gloves etc as they do perish and can be easily torn.

Neighbour thought she was ok with knitted gloves !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[dave]

Here in the UK we should be very, very thankful for our NHS. Some other countries don't have this luxury. If our taxes increase a bit to recoup some money. So be it. We can handle that. If & it's a big "if" this all did come about by eating bats, why would anyone in any country want/have to eat an animal that's one of the main carriers of rabies. I doubt I'll ever understand. Stewy

its too little too late the time to thank them was at the last 3 general elections, only thing keeping our NHS going is the amazing people in it. for 10 years the majority of people have crapped on them same people by ignoring their pleas not to vote for more cuts.
as you can see by all the money being chucked about now the money was there when it was asked for but not given, we could have been in a much better starting position if the nhs staff had the tools to do their job.