It's time to start digging up those Squirrelled Nuts!!!!

Sea_Shell

With no holidays...we might break last year's low spend record!!!

I have Jigsaw puzzles and a stack of books for now.   Fingers crossed for great weather this summer, my garden beckons.

Thrugelmir

westv said:

Does this crash put the SWR debate to bed for a while? 

Everything is cyclical. Once the last person has left the building who remembers the event. Someone will come along and make a miraculous new discovery. 

Thrugelmir

Sea_Shell said:

This situation is at the tipping point of seriously disrupting our lives, and so many people are still in out and out denial or it's just not on their radar, as they already have a million and one other things to worry about.    I'm so hoping that people will get the message and start to make changes.     I really do hope that in a few months time everyone can tell me, "see, there really was nothing to worry about"

Current planning is for a peak in 3-9 weeks time. 
Contingency planning in the NHS for older / elderly patients with serious conditions relating to the virus is that they will effectively either recover or die. There's insufficient capability to cope with a major outbreak. 

Up to each of us individually to assess how much risk we should expose others to. 

Audaxer

Sea_Shell said:

As for the financial markets, all bets are off!!!      However, we might move some equity between our ISA funds, towards the one that's down the most, in the hope that that one has the most to recover.   However, we're going to hold on to our cash buffer for now and not invest any additional cash (other than keep up pension contributions), as it may need to last longer than one can usually expect it needing to.

With your level of annual spend, I don't think you've anything to worry about whatever happens in the markets. Like you, I'm holding off investing additional cash for now, although I am tempted by some good ITs now with very good yields.

DairyQueen

Thrugelmir said:

Sea_Shell said:

This situation is at the tipping point of seriously disrupting our lives, and so many people are still in out and out denial or it's just not on their radar, as they already have a million and one other things to worry about.    I'm so hoping that people will get the message and start to make changes.     I really do hope that in a few months time everyone can tell me, "see, there really was nothing to worry about"

Current planning is for a peak in 3-9 weeks time. 
Contingency planning in the NHS for older / elderly patients with serious conditions relating to the virus is that they will effectively either recover or die. There's insufficient capability to cope with a major outbreak. 

Up to each of us individually to assess how much risk we should expose others to. 

The SMO today gave an estimated '10-14 weeks' before we hit the peak. It's expected to last for several weeks plus an additional few weeks of high levels either side.

Seems the tactic is to delay, extend and flatten the peak in order that the NHS has some chance of coping and that the population develops herd immunity to guard against recurrence.

I agree with your conclusion re: the vulnerable. There will be far too few ICU beds to meet demand and tough decisions will be required. The best individual defence for those at high risk seems to be to avoid infection.

Have already discussed with my 80-something parents (both have underlying health problems). They would rather accept months of social isolation than risk infection. They are now in lockdown and we have arranged things such that I am the only visitor (I help care for disabled mother). Mother is mostly housebound throughout the winter months anyway and they are prepared to accept this status quo for the rest of the year if necessary. This means that I must take extra care to avoid infection. I have therefore cancelled all activities that involve social contact and tomorrow will be my last day of volunteering for the foreseeable.

OH is just beginning 7 days of self-isolation (he has some symptoms) at our other property. If he is clear then he will join me in purdah next weekend.

I am amazed at the complacency of the general population. I was volunteering at a community shop today. Within 30 minutes of arriving a young mum accompanied by a constantly coughing tot showed-up. The wee mite was only encouraged to cough into her sleeve after I raised my eyebrows.

YM (sheep-faced): "She's too young to understand."

Indeed so (thought I) so why the hell are you taking her out-and-about? No thought whatsoever of the danger the poor, little thing posed to others. Chances of her dying if that was Covid-19 = 0%. Chances of my dad dying if I passed it on to him = 20%.

Impact of the virus on my life is already dramatic.

Sea_Shell

Self isolation TV viewing sorted...

Box sets of "the Last Ship" 
DVDs of "Outbreak" and "Deep Impact"

  

crv1963

Self isolation on GP and 111 advice- I'm sure it is only a heavy cold but told to take no chances- cardiac history (but managed) and having a cold now (if it's not the Covid-19) means reduced immune system in the event I meet someone with it, had to advise Mum of what she needs to do if she shows any symptoms- took her shopping yesterday for pet food and cat litter as I wanted to be sure she had a months supply of both in case she needs to self isolate.

I fully expect my planned week in Croatia end of May will be cancelled as Croatia is putting UK visitors into 14 days isolation on arrival- I was only going for a week! Maybe I need to contact the Travel Agent and ask about a refund- I did pay by credit card so hoping I don't lose my money!

MallyGirl

I hope it is just a cold - I am in week 6 of my horrid cold now but I work from home and hate shopping so I do it online which means I have mostly been self isolated anyway. I did go to a couple of gigs this week though - my symptoms do not match Covid-19, I just have the lurgy. Both sets of parents are struggling with health issues at the moment so we are steering well clear of them. DD is just hoping that school keeps going till they break up on the 27th. She sits her A levels in June and they haven't finished teaching the full syllabus yet.

AlanP_2

crv1963 said:

I fully expect my planned week in Croatia end of May will be cancelled as Croatia is putting UK visitors into 14 days isolation on arrival- I was only going for a week! Maybe I need to contact the Travel Agent and ask about a refund- I did pay by credit card so hoping I don't lose my money!

2 weeks for the price of 1 - that's taking the MSE approach a bit too far. Hope it works out for you.

crv1963

MallyGirl said:

I hope it is just a cold - I am in week 6 of my horrid cold now but I work from home and hate shopping so I do it online which means I have mostly been self isolated anyway. I did go to a couple of gigs this week though - my symptoms do not match Covid-19, I just have the lurgy. Both sets of parents are struggling with health issues at the moment so we are steering well clear of them. DD is just hoping that school keeps going till they break up on the 27th. She sits her A levels in June and they haven't finished teaching the full syllabus yet.

It was when I developed a few of the symptoms which I still think are a heavy cold but got to follow their advice rather than pass it onto others or come across someone with it and add it to my cold. Meeting others is the basis of my work- face to face assessments so I have no choice who I see at work.

Mum is 81 so I wanted to warn her to be careful and not have to carry heavy shopping as a none driver she needs help getting her pet supplies- I'll do an on-line shop mid week for her and get it delivered.

There doesn't appear a basis to close schools yet according to what has been said by Boris et al so far. Personally I'm not convinced by the Herd Immunity approach but I am no expert in virology at all. I hope that it isn't political pressure that brings about their closure but the science. There are some interesting political discussions to take place though but I think there are other places for these.