The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

[Deleted User]

Would you really jkO? it would mean that should you be unfortunate enough to get covid-19 your only option would be to shut yourself in your home and suffer the consequences of the illness whatever they may be, from 'mild symptoms' to death. The 'mild symptoms' from what people have posted who have had covid are anything BUT mild, painful and frightening discomfort and many side effects that need vigorous treatment with strong antibiotics and debilitation for months after recovery. I would for one be very sad if it happened to you or any one of the posters who frequent this thread.  Life in lock down is frankly tedious on some occasions and there are many freedoms we miss deeply but the thought that we may die if we get the virus is a very good set of brakes when we get fratchety and acts like a bucket of ice cold water across the mood.  We have family we love dearly, we'd both like many more years with them, you are only young and have more years of life likely than we do, don't risk them needlessly, life is too precious to waste!

ivyleaf

I used to enjoy Peter Hitchens' columns until I read a novel about the newspaper industry and there was a character based on him.  The author (annoyingly I can't remember who wrote it, as I read it quite a long time ago, but it was a household name in journalism) commented that the character simply wrote what the owners of the paper wanted him to write, because they knew what their readers wanted to read.
I didn't bother with Peter Hitchens any more after that 

mrs_motivated

On the subject of people wearing face masks, I did my weekly supermarket run on Friday and I would estimate about 20% were wearing masks. In terms of following social distancing since lockdown I have shopped at a number of different supermarkets including Sainsbobs, Aldi, Asda and Waitrose and my local corner shop.  Without doubt in my area the only two where everyone stuck to the 2m rule was Waitrose and the corner shop.  Asda was quite scary, queuing was fine but a free for all once inside.  So for the foreseeable I am sticking to Waitrose and my local shops, the downside is I am spending more on food than normal, however, it’s where I feel safest and that is more important to me at the moment.

DigForVictory

We unwillingly warned my folks off their local Coop as there's an active building site next to it, so instead they've been going to Waitrose & enjoying it, bless them. (Well, m'father has, mum sits in the car. He does slightly more of the cooking though so I think she's happy.) He doesn't seem to think there's any call for face covering (but he's 80 something, does distance & does listen to hardcore scientists - just not the TV ones as he "can't see their numbers"...)

Cheapskate

Hello, folks, missed a lot in the last few weeks! 
I've been going shopping once or twice a week (much less than usual), and most of our shops are ok re social distancing, smaller ones much more so. Shop in the village only allows 2 customers in at a time, all staff wearing face masks and gloves, letting you pay by cash or card. The SM are strict about how many in at a time, M&S seems to be the best and their customers much better at keeping their distance. Sainsbugs is a mix - good control outside, excellent at tills, only cash is at self service tills, but a minority of customers are real divs when it comes to keeping their distance. Had plenty still saying excuse me and stretching across me to reach !!!!!!!! My adult daughter works in a Sainsbugs, and her customers are nightmarish, poor lass! I've not been able to get masks anywhere, so am as careful as I can be, and leave the littlies at home when I have to shop.  
This is the only time in my life that I'm glad my parents have passed away, it would be a nightmare logistically.
I know this is a really difficult time for lots of people, and I know people who have had it or sadly lost people; I'm missing seeing family and friends properly, and my MH is not good at times, but I'm glad for the slowdown, time to just be without rushing, and am spending time evaluating some important areas of my life.  I wonder if people will be taking the opportunity to do that, if they can? 

A xo

[Deleted User]

One thing I do notice during this time of lockdown is the adverts on the TV for all the skin products that make you look radiant and the ones for hair dyes and make up 'because we're worth it' and the saddest ones for summer clothing and for villa holidays that no one can take.  It's given me perspective about what is necessary and important in life when you have to worry more about when  your next supermarket slot will be found rather than trying to book a villa with a pool in the med! The cosmetic ones have always amused me but now seem a bit overindulgent when you have come to understand that bar soap is your best friend in the fight against coronavirus!

boultdj

That's why we record everything and fast forward through the ad's, it's all for stuff we don't want, don't use or haven't a clue how to use it, then there are the life insurance one's, it's just me and him, so we've got so much put away to bury the first one of us that pop's off, and they can sell everything to pay for the second one, as there is no next generation.

[Deleted User]

This is a time to focus on what IS important to you isn't it? for me it's the family, everything else has dropped away and all that's left is the family being and staying safe and us being and staying safe through this pandemic and being that way if and when it's over and a memory.  None of the other things really matter, not the holidays or clothes or new cars and furniture or anything else.  Pared down to its bare minimum the needs are family, ongoing health, the roof over our heads and enough to stay warm, dry when it rains and enough to feed us every day nothing else is actually a necessity.

Zentimes

MoneySeeker1 said:

jk0 said:

Leftie warning: Mail on Sunday link ahead.

For the open minded, this column is everything I have thought throughout this crisis. https://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/2020/05/peter-hitchens-were-destroying-the-nations-wealth-and-the-health-of-millions.html

I've taken to reading his columns latterly and thoroughly agreed with his latest ones and subscribe to his Facebook site.

It's a very surreal experience for me to read what he says - because my father (died 2 weeks into Lockdown) was a great fan of his and often quoted him. Hence I tend to read his columns with attention - and it's just like hearing my father talk sometimes in the way he did before so much illness got the better of him and his mind. So it does help a lot to read an intelligent, thoughtful person saying these things - whilst I know that, at the moment, I'm in a minority of 9% of the UK population that thinks this way and it's frustrating knowing that a noticeable number of the 91% that don't are going to change their minds and agree with us at some point - but they don't just yet.

Perhaps not everything Hitchins says is correct? Will you be willing to change your mind in that case? There are other intelligent people out there (and in here) who think very differently. I like to think I have an open mind, but not so open that my brain falls out. Some of the things Hitchins says:

"the coronavirus is not as dangerous as claimed." - It is if you have a severe case of it, and at this point we simply don't know what future implications this could have on one's health going forward. For many it is mild, and some don't even know they've had it, but it is devastating to an appreciable % of the older population, too much so to just ignore it (in my opinion - others may differ).

"The actions we are taking against it are gravely out of proportion and will destroy the lives of thousands and the prosperity and health of millions." - We won't really know how accurate this is until much later. The economy is certainly taking a beating though. But if we just let Coronavirus run its course without any lockdown then we would lose far more people.

"Aren’t you alarmed by the creation of a creepy cult of state-worship, celebrated every Thursday night – in a country where church services and normal public gatherings are banned?"  - Erm... they're only banning gatherings of any sort to lower the infection rate. It's not a sinister thing. And the clapping on Thursdays? Goodness what a twisted view of it, how is it a cult of state worship? When I go to clap (and I'm actually no fan of elements of the NHS at all) I go out to clap those who are working very hard to help people, and that (for me) includes those in care homes. People should still social distance when doing that, of course some will not do so.

We are facing a hard recession in the near future. Whilst I'm no fan of 'Mr Bumble' Johnson, similar situations have been going on all around the world, it's not just here. There will be a hard reckoning later on. It will be interesting how this period is viewed by historians of the future.

daz378

Livelyhood   verses lives is a debate....but how do you assess  the incidental costs    of a restricted economy     none covid a and e attendance,   poorer lifestyle consequences  eating/heating   against the consequences      higher infections  more deaths  especially medical personnel ....its dificult   achieve the ethical balance.   Split shift  today down on staff....come back to do his tea.....stay safe