Things can only get better

Sun_Addict

So far those booked in 4 weeks have been cancelled with full refund. Glad I’m part of the FB groups so at least I know what’s happening. So many people have been disappointed.  All bars and restaurants in Lanzarote closed from Monday for 2 weeks. I really feel for the owners as they rely heavily on tourists to survive and they are all such lovely people I hope they come through this. Will wait to hear from Jet2. At least we’ll get our money back if cancelled and can rebook for October. Our health is a number 1 priority right now, holidays can wait. 

Sun_Addict

Afternoon all  

Still no word from Jet2, I expect they are working there way through the list and getting to those who were due to fly soonest. Everyone being cancelled is getting a full refund though so there is no concern there.  My cousin is half way through his holiday in the Canaries and is on lockdown in his hotel, not allowed to go anywhere other than the supermarket, police are giving out fines to anyone going on the beach or walking on the promenades. The lockdown took people by surprise as it started at midnight yesterday rather than Monday as first advised. People are still being flown home. Some of the restaurants in Lanzarote are trying to salvage their trade by delivering takeaway food to those stuck in their apartments. Apparently only 4 people have the virus in Lanzarote and they are all in hospital.

DD has just got back from her shift at Mr M and she says the shelves are empty even things like crisps. 

Finances are done.  As predicted have gone £18.41 over budget this week, mainly due to spending extra on groceries.  I had several things I was running short of and under normal circumstances would've held on until next week but I've had to bring the purchases forward in case they go out of stock because of panic buying. I've decided that what I've got in now will be my stocks and whatever I use I'll try to replace to keep a small stock going. Mr SA is worried about running out of beer and thinks he should get a stock in - nice try 🤣

Scores on the doors at the end of week 1 of the budget:
VSP £125.35 
Emergency Fund £3780.00 - added another £30 this week, not as much as hoped due to overspend in budget
Monthly Saver £2250.00
Tesco CC £0 - paid off the balance today 
Overspend £18.41
Today has been NSD4 of March.

The August holiday fund is on hold for now. If the April holiday is cancelled the refund will roll forward to the August holiday (if that one is still going ahead!!) and I won't need the extra. Hopefully we will be able to go back to Lanzarote in October as originally planned, starting to wish I'd booked it now as the prices might go up with everyone re-booking for later in the year.

In the office tomorrow, I don't think it'll be long until we're told to work from home every day, we've been warned it's on the cards. Working from home Tuesday and Thursday this week.  Meeting up with a friend on Wednesday for a drink and meant to be doing lunch with another one on Friday, it's still on up to now but she's over 70 and she might not want to risk going out. 

One good thing is that Mr SA doesn't want to go out anywhere as he's very vulnerable to the virus with his reduced immune system, he gets every bug going as it is.

I hope everyone stays safe and well in these frightening times 🤞

HairyHandofDartmoor

I know panic buying is not good but in a way I can understand why people are doing it when they say elderly people and other vulnerable people may be asked to self isolate for twelve weeks! I'm sure we can all manage without crisps though 🤣.

It's good that you walk to work as being in the fresh air is much safer. I would imagine that large open plan offices are not much safer than schools, etc, as there are many people herded together in one room. Mr SA will drive you potty if you have to work from home every day 😱.

I hope you hear about your holiday soon, uncertainty is annoying!

Sun_Addict

We have enormous tubs of wipes at work to clean our desks/keyboards with because of the hot desking policy, although they're struggling to get fresh supplies, I've got my own. We often have people come down with infectious diseases such as mumps and even Legionaire's Disease at one time 😮

Onebrokelady

badmemory said:

Nothing is changing here, I have always stockpiled.  I mostly started when living in an area that could get cut off for a couple of weeks in winter.  Then the sugar shortage (over 40 years ago now) just try coping with a kilo bag of sugar when 2 people in the house take 4 spoons of sugar in their tea!  I am not buying any more than I have always done, but I think I may well buy extra flour so that i can make more of my own bread.  Then the only problem will be milk & I am not going to drink long life, so I am just gong to have to drink black.  But then I am over 70 & therefore approaching the danger zone.  Also if we go anything like Italy they are going to be refusing to treat people over a certain age!  I am far too bl**dy minded to let them stop me getting my state pension!

These shortages seem very patchy.  Lots of baked beans here got my usual 4 tin pack with no problem.  No ibuprofen to be found, tried 5 stores, it isn't like they let you buy stacks either, 2 only anywhere I've been.

Just to really cause hopefully an interesting conversation, someone I know deals in medical stuff & when asked about face masks said don't bother, you will be better off using a sanitary towel!  It seems that the face masks the likes of us can get hold of go damp in a very short time & are then actually worse than useless!

Talk about living in interesting times!

Do you have room in your freezer for milk,it freezes well 😊

Onebrokelady

It will be a shame if you can't go on your holiday but better to be cancelled now than get stuck in a lockdown once your over there, there's going to be lots of tour operators going bust over this though 😟

milann

Like you say SA health is more important than a holiday. I really feel for you though as you need that time away. I’m pleased Mr SA is being sensible about the virus but I do worry about folk going stir crazy and for their mental health when they are quarantined inside for weeks on end. I was going to call in to see my brother today but he has self quarantined- he and his wife ( who actually adore each other) are in danger of driving each other crazy without seeing anyone else🤪🤪

Sun_Addict

Those of you who followed my previous diary will remember that 7 years ago this very month I was just 2 weeks away from going to Lanzarote when Mr SA suddenly became extremely ill with his brain tumour, totally out of the blue. I had to cancel that holiday plus the one booked for August. It just seems like here we go again. If the April holiday gets cancelled I’ll cancel my 2 weeks leave with work as I don’t want to waste it stuck at home. All the money I’ve saved will go towards the August and October holidays. It will be disappointing but not the end of the world. I just want to know where I am so I can get it straight in my head. These are certainly unique times and we need to get through them as best we can 🙏

Cherryfudge

I'm sorry you've had to cancel, SA, especially when it brings back these memories. Perhaps you could go for longer on one of the other holidays?
Yes, not the best of times, but it will pass. It's made me realise how important it is to have something nice to look forward to, even small things help.

badmemory

What is that curse?  Something along the lines of - May you live in interesting times!  Whilst I am very rarely bored in my personal life, I really like it if the news of the wider world is extremely boring!