The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

Thriftygifty

@Euronorris yes it was me, stocking up as we speak .
@Deleted_User it must be incredibly difficult, however in my own personal case the school must be as disheartened as I am, the class rooms are not big enough to be able to however nor should the front row be turning around to lean across the table to talk to the row behind. The self distancing needs to come from the parents and drilled into the children for it to happen. It will not happen. 

mothernerd

maryb said:

If you've bought anything recently that you are thinking of taking back, don't leave it too long.  Not only are trips to town getting a bit more hazardous with rising case numbers, it could soon be a lot more hassle if,like Scotland, shops are ordered to reintroduce 2m distancing - that's if they don't get shut down again.  If you have to return things by post that will be an extra cost (as well as the hassle of queuing at the post office) - shops don't have to refund return postage unless the item is faulty.  I've just returned something and that is it for me for the foreseeable, quick dashes to the supermarket and nothing unneccesary

I'm running a thread this month and have included suggestions for the festive period (Father C has to shoot an elf every time someone mentions the 'C' word before November). I'm thinking there will be extra pressure on postal services as the staff are in contact with lots of people and therefore at greater risk of contracting Covid. Posting stuff out sooner rather than later or doing a gift exchange/ meet up with relations where this is still permitted and subject to local lockdown restrictions is the way to go.

I got married in September 1987 and following some very thoughtless activity by my partner's relatives the year before (they all left presents at his parents for us - the only ones who didn't have a car and already had a small child, pushchair, nappy bag, our clothes for the weekend, presents for parents, second child on the way and as we visited the weekend before the big day, I had no help whatsoever from my partner who had spent the day playing dj at the staff party, was very merry and was holding onto/ swinging round the lamp post at the bus stop where we started our journey) I had everyone's presents and cards (+ engagement presents for his brother and future wife) all lined up ready for them to take home with them - saved me an absolute fortune. I dealt with the previous year's situation by deciding we would take the boy's presents home with us (squeezed into the space made by using several nappies over the weekend - had disposables for time away, terry nappies at home) and left ours until our next visit.

I have already told mum we will be starting on card writing asap. Not a lot as the list has been cut down and we have a new stamp for her to use - old one had her now deceased partner's name on as well but mum will want to add letters to several cards and they take her about 3 days to write if her hands are working well (if her hands are bad I'll be taking dictation or just rewriting legibly and with all the spelling/ grammar errors edited out). Two eldest sons now live at furthest reaches of the county (one just over the border) so will post hand made gifts as soon as completed/ framed, transfer money through the bank (DS1 asked for a charity donation last year but mostly they buy themselves something they want from me and I buy something I want from them - that way they splash out on the big budget items they think they deserve and I buy myself a small treat from the charity shop or send pigs and hens to Africa). Not sure if I am allowed to buy anything for DS2's gf (only got together this year). 

I was banned from buying presents for DS3's Beloved and my lovely d-i-l for several years (not a gift an obligation - see the Spock DNA episode of Big Bang Theory for a detailed explanation). Beloved has lived under my roof for several years now (even though local lockdown means I am not allowed back under my own roof at present) and anyone living/ visiting my home gets a present (sub £10 per person - included a candle/ choc/ soap/ and novelty item last year) and d-i-l expects presents (DS1 'doesn't do presents' but has learnt to make an exception for his wife) and gets them (since the marriage). I already have presents for d-i-l and Beloved (over bought last year so set a limit and mostly fulfilled it from the present drawer. Haven't seen DS1 and d-i-l and my grandpuppy since March (went into lockdown with mum before the order came into force). Saw DS2 and his gf when they were moving (they brought us 3 items of furniture) and for a couple of hours at the end of August on mum's birthday (we had been temporarily released from local lockdown but they had to sit at a mini table outside the gate because they weren't allowed in the yard and they brought their own camping chairs).

Sorry I only meant this to be a short note. Thanks once again for all your advice from a long time lurker and occasional contributor.

Nargleblast

I am going to watch the lunchtime news in a bit, I am sure a national lockdown is on its way. My pantry, fridge and freezer are well stocked to the end of the month, and beyond for some things, so no worrying about going to the shops. If anyone is on a limited budget they need to work out how they can build up a storecupboard, even if it's just a tin or two extra a week. One thing this pandemic has taught us is how fragile our situation can be, with businesses losing money, people being laid off work etc. We need to have more control over what happens to us, and know that we can survive whatever happens.

maryb

According to the Daily Wail (I know, I know, mea culpa) when the Tier 3 restrictions come in, it's not clear what is going to happen to hairdressers.  Get that haircut in while you can.
I decided to grow my hair during lockdown given that DH flatly refused to trim it for me and both my girls said 'don't look at me!'.  So I went through the awful stage when everyone else did.  I'm not there yet, it still has layers right at the back but I reckon in a month I'll be able to tie it back and keep it tidy.  Not having to have my hair trimmed every six weeks will save me a fortune

elaine241

Update: unfortunately BIL has had a positive test. We do not know if he caught it from the school, wife or children. Worst case scenario is the children that were at MIL house were the carriers and given to their dad. This would mean they were infectious when they went to grandparents and that both of them are now more likely to get the virus. All the family  are now having a test and fingers crossed that it is just the BIL who caught it from the school. If the kids are positive it is a watch and wait scenario for both grandparents. MIL is in denial , still maintaining it is "not her fault", despite being a qualified nurse and knowing full well that what she has done is just plain stupid.

GreyQueen

Oh elaine, what a thing! Are your parents-in-law to be tested? Really hoping they haven't contracted it. I can see why you're fit to spit tacks, after all your efforts as a family to prevent their exposure.

I'm taking advantage of a day of no other committments and am sorting out my OTC meds. Without wishing to overshare, until quite recently I had a medical affliction which was extremely painful, and the whereabouts of the parrots'eatem-all was of paramount importance. Mercifully, that time has passed, and I only need enough to see me through the usual lumps and bumps and to take if getting the pre-migraine aura. Have sorted them into order of expiry (the longest dates are 2024 and 2025) and will know which packet to reach for next, and that I definately don't need to buy anymore!

If I can bear more sorting, I shall start on the first aid supplies next............. toddling on.

euronorris

Sorry to hear that Elaine. Hope your parents in law don't come down with it.

Thriftygifty

Oh no Elaine fingers crossed for your inlaws. 

Si_Clist

GreyQueen said:

 Have sorted them into order of expiry ...

Oh good.  About this time yesterday my Lady Wife emerged from the bathroom having done a major reorganisation / stock check of the medicaments, wondering aloud how many other folk there might be whose paracetamol stash is numbered in use-by order. 

elisamoose

Deleted_User said:

I lurk on here and stay on Flylady mainly, just popping in with my two penneth lworth. I teach in a large inner city comprehensive school with >2,000 students. My smallest class has 28 students in. 

Despite our absolute best efforts of putting a one way system in place around school, giving each year group a 'bubble' (laughable really when there's around 350 in each bubble) it's own entrance and exit point to school, constant hand sanitisation, cleaning desks at start and end of lessons (which it is my responsibility to do) and students wearing masks, things are not perfect and the compromise to get all these kids back into full time education is that social distancing is not possible. Schools simply don't have the space. 

Every day I am dealing with children who are anxious, parents who are anxious, parents who are angry, staff who are anxious and feel isolated (we cannot leave our classroom other than for a comfort break, lunch is to be eaten in our room and any interaction with other staff has to be via Teams. The staff room is shut). Kids feel antagonised by our constant reminders to wear masks properly, sanitise hands on entry/exit of classroom, follow one way system etc etc. 

I know some schools are handling this well, others not so well, and we all have so much anxiety around COVID anyway. I suppose the point of this is to say however it might seem outwardly with big gaggles of kids walking to school together, we are absolutely doing our best as staff from the minute they arrive in school to the minute they leave. I am surrounded by teens all day, and fear I will bring it home to my primary age children. I cannot see anybody else in the family as I am in the thick of it all day every day, and I cannot risk passing that on. But I do it because I love the young people I teach, and I love my job albeit I am finding it very very hard at the moment. Teaching for 6 hours with a 15 minute break for lunch, whilst wearing a visor, in a well ventilated (AKA freezing) room with no heating on is as much fun for me as it is for my students. Keeping my handful of SEN students calm when the world seems to be changing constantly is an exhausting mountain to climb each day, but we do. 

I hope someone can take some comfort from this behind the scenes insight into life in a secondary school that we really are doing the best we can, and for many staff that's at great personal cost. 

Take care all xx

This but at a primary. No hot drinks unless you bring from home- I hate flask coffee!
No hot meals provided until we can get the cashless software up and running ( think there is a high demand for it so we are still waiting). Even our new reception children walking in on their own as no parents allowed on site. Our operating procedures are 72 pages not including risk assessments.