I dont have transport or local shops. Am in the UK. If I go to websites to order most of the things are listed as out of stock.
What is happening re food shopping now? - Positive Wellbein...
Positive Wellbeing During Self-Isolation
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What is happening re food shopping now?
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wiserlady
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Yes I tend to see it the same way, but that might be wishful thinking. People I know used to laugh at me because I have four huge freezers and lots of cupboards here, the reason being that I have plenty of room for it, and my mother and father barely had a crust in the house when I was a child, I hated being in a house with no food in it so over compensated maybe when it is my own house. But as I have plenty of room why not? It makes me feel safer from starvation. And as I dont live near a shop and have no transport and cannot get to shops often its practical.
My partner is same as you. He isnt one for stocking up. But those who are desperate for biscuits etc should maybe consider jsut for a while to get gluten free ones. They are always available. Because people who do not need to get them dont think of them or dont want to spend extra on them. My partner is a builder/decorator and is similar to your plumber but I hope he soon sees the sense on stopping work while this goes on. Yes he would lose much needed income but to me that is better than risking his life whenever he geos out to a call. I would rather he is still alive in a year or so than taht he earns a bit of money for a bit and then isnt.
• in reply towiserlady
Hi wiserlady,
I'd also suggest trying smaller convenience shops. It's the larger supermarkets seeing most of the hysteria. I also laughed earlier today on watching a vlog on a YouTube channel from someone who pointed out that the grocery shelves of TKMaxx are full of pasta. No-one has thought to look in that kind of store.
wiserlady• in reply to
I am housebound so can only get shopping which is delivered by supermarkets unless someone else gets it and brings it in. The only someone else I have is my partner who is often busy working all day and is now avoiding supermarkets for fear of catching the virus. Like me he is ordering online now. Its one reason I have four freezers and lots of stuff in cupboards. Yes gong into different shops like TKMaxx is good, thinking outside the box. Ive been housebound for years and had to get my shopping delivered by the nearest supermarkets for years. So ideas like food banks, churches, a town 20 miles away, tiny shops , getting non existent family or local friends to get it for you etc have already been examined years ago. There is no point to rethinking the method which works best and has done for many years. Just wanted to know are how it is with supermarkets now.
I work from home. My PA and personal assistant also do - now some bright spark might suggest they come over and help me. Yet whole idea of many being at home is to be safe and not meet people - and they are abroad, a long long way away, I have never met them. Nor have I ever met my other staff, who are scattered throughout Australia, USA, Canada etc. Someone suggested I get my family to get my shopping. I would have already thought of that, I dont have any family and when I DID they were disabled and housebound and hundreds of miles away. Or go to nearest town - 20 miles away and when you are housebound and cannot get to shops which are one mile how do you go 20 miles?
• in reply towiserlady
So glad you are well placed for the time being wiserlady. So good to know there's no immediate panic for you. Take care.
wiserlady• in reply to
No food panic. But coping with serious disability and illness. Which is one reason it is scary when doctors etc are not so available. Hope things are alright for everyone!
• in reply towiserlady
Sorry to hear about your disability and illness I do hope you are alright. I’m just stoically persevering as usual. I’ve always felt like a bit of a soldier.
Hi I got up 5.30am this morning to go to Sainsburys at 6.00am and there was nothing to buy at all. Went over to Morrison's and a completely different story. They had eggs lots of them ,yeah. Makes you feel less anxious going to a shop well stocked. So try them but early. Butchers and a living larder company whonsell veg now delivering to me. So look around small businesses rising to the challenge. Kind regards Jane
I cant get to the shop. I am housebound. I have to order it online or get my partner to go, and we dont think its safe for him to go. Thanks for the info.
Do try neighbouring towns I am sure a butcher or veg shop would deliver to you.
I am housebound and have to get it delivered by supermarkets unless partner or someone is going shopping and brings things in. And the nearest town is 20 miles. Too far too go to and too far for them to come. Anyway during the day when those shops are open he has to be at work.
I am so sorry to hear you have this predicament. Do you have any, young, healthy neighbor that you could pay to pick up some things for you when they shop? Just an idea.
Firstly I dont have neighbours. And most of the people in my area are very old. Secondly, I have had to get food delivered by supermarkets for many years due to being housebound. Paying a neighbour to go to the shop in the hope they can get some bits and pieces is not a guarantee of success, only a guarantee that you are spending a fair bit of money on paying them to go there and then risking catching the virus off of them. The cost of their time would come to more than the cost of the shopping you are hoping they successfully get. And they may well end up coming back with nothing or very little. Nobody I know goes to the supermarket now, none of them dare in case they catch the virus.
• in reply topossum8
I totally agree about the smaller stores possum8. For those who can get out to shop, smaller stores seem to be doing OK with fewer customers.
wiserlady• in reply to
Good idea in theory but no small stores in my area. AND the one that used to be around here, which was also a post office, would never deliver. I would never have used it anyway, too little choice and too expensive. When my guy was going shoppingly he would prefer the smaller less busy shops as safer from disease.
Hi wiserlady,
It's distressing isn't it? And there's absolutely no need for it. I think I'd take comfort in the fact that this is a distribution and stock replacement issue and not real shortages. I know it doesn't help anyone who is in your situation. Are you very short of essential items? It might be that there are subsitutes for some things you are missing, that you can fill in with, until the supply chain settles down a bit, which I'm sure it will.
Jerry has offered help in the way of a list of support groups, so hopefully this will help too. In the coming days I'm hoping to offer suggestions for substituting ingredients for your home recipes, and, if anyone has any they'd like to offer, please do.
Try not to worry too much. I see in your response to Jerry that you have plenty of capacity for storage, so I hope you'll be able to get by. Best wishes to you.
wiserlady• in reply to
My four freezers and loads of cupboards are well stocked,no point to them having empty space in there. But one has to think ahead to when they are not.
thelady2003uk• in reply to
Hopefully the British are doing what they always do when they have just heard about something awful they panic, as I presume people all over the World do, the nature of being human I guess. But the British are also very good at supporting each other, so hopefully when we have got through the panic phase people will behave more decently and think of others. I feel that there is not been enough basic info been given out on the television, things that the average member of the public want to know. I tweeted yesterday that BBC2 ought to take off all their programmes throughout the day and have a question and answer time where we could email questions or for those unfortunate people who haven't got a computer use the old fashioned method that a lot of older people prefer telephone them. They always say to people go online and look for blah de blah - they automatically presume that everybody has a computer they don't! Take care everybody xx
Think their main concern would be that most people do have a computer and people would not be using the alternative or bothering to watch it, with low viewing figures etc. Think there are a few programmes on about it it this week any way but supposedly in a supportive and informative manner where they tell you the "FACTS" rather than people just chatting and asking questions, where you may well find out more. The other problem with people firing questions at them is that they can hardly say they will go off and research the answer and get back to them later.
Very true and also they wouldn't get many questions in because they like the sound of their own voices so they waffle too much. I was saying to my husband after PM question time yesterday, Boris & Co talked for an hour and all I gleaned from it was the schools are closing on Friday. At least Trump is talking to people at their level, he is on now and to me he is talking like a human being and not a politician unlike Boris and Co.
Yes. People keep telling me that the schools are closing - why tell me? I am 62 and have no family whatsoever. I want to hear things which are relevant to me.
That's exactly how I feel, I mean obviously they have got to tell people relevant info for their particular circumstances, but they could fit a lot of topics in an hour if they didn't waffle and keep saying the same thing over and over again only in slightly different ways. We know that so why the hell don't they realise it or why don't one of their hanger on very well paid advisors tell them. I am 59 with COPD and asthma, I have been on anti-biotics and steroids for the last 7 days for a lung infection , I am very lucky I have a house and garden and have not left the house/garden for a week, thank goodness my infection is gone but not very good timing - typical me! I couldn't get to sleep last night thinking about how staying in for the next few months is going to be, it will drive me mad. I don't go out very often because of other health problems but of course because I could go out when I wanted to that was fine, but now I am been told I can't go out which I wouldn't anyway if I could with this coronavirus I am climbing the walls already - the brain is a strange thing! I fortunately don't have mental health issues or am living with domestic violence, it is those people that I am very concerned about how they will manage with having to stay in is a real worry. I am also extremely concerned that poor homeless people are in such a vulnerable position, how can they self isolate - awful!
You have so much sense. Yes yes yes. I am like you with COPD asthma and lung condition, often on antibiotics and steroids and despite having been on them for a course about a month ago am already struggling with breathing etc. I am used to being at home, am housebound, but not used to worrying that if I order from the supermarket most of what I ask for will not come or my partner cannot go to the shop for fear of catching the virus. Had never thought of the homeless. But I CAN tell you that years ago before I was housebound I met a guy who was homeless, he often slept on a local bench. I chatted to him and found out a bit about him. When I sussed he was probably more sensible than some of the others I offered him a job and a place to live for free for a year so that he could get on his feet - he did not want to know - he loved being out and "sleeping under the stars" as he put it. It wasnt about him being lazy it was about him hating to be indoors and preferring to do a lot of walking - so I bought him an umbrella, a rucksack, pair of good boots and some other bits.
You don't live in Warminster, Wiltshire by any chance do you? We used to live there now live up north, there were two homeless guys that I helped in a similar way to you. But I remember one of the guys telling me that a lovely lady had bought him an umbrella and a pair of boots, if it wasn't you what a co-incidence that is, good to know that some people help the homeless - there but for the grace of God and all that!
No cant have been me, dont live anywhere near there.
Just another kind soul then. Take Care
• in reply tothelady2003uk
Hi the Lady People all over the world are not behaving as the British do, well not in my corner of France anyway, big cities yes fights and panic buying, here shelves are full and restocked daily, fresh food freely available. We are under strict lock down, have to have a legal paper that we sign and date each time we go out and that is only allowed for work if you can't do it at home, food, doctor, helping old/infirm relative, huge fines if caught without legal paper or ignoring directives. I can take my dogs out to the forest 6kms away for MY health as well as theirs as I need to walk to keep my lungs as fit as possible. I am in the very high risk category, over 60, on oxygen with 4 lung diseases, I shop at about 1.30 pm and am usually the only one in the supermarket. Have to keep a certain distance from the cashier, preferable to pay by card not hand over cash. Belgium is also on lockdown and Germany this week end I believe I am rather glad not to be living in the UK under these circumstances, worry for my kids that are still there though I really do not think that Boris is doing nearly enough and that only half of the population is using any common sense.
wiserlady• in reply to
I dont know how the UK compares to France and Belgium with this, but can think back to other things where it seems to me that the UK were immature or naive or getting it all wrong. A while ago my partner said to me that people were buying up all of the toilet rolls. I said to him we must do taht too. You cant just let them all get them and then there are none left for us. Now we cannot get them. But we did stock up. How long that will last goodness knows. You can harldy go to the toilet less so that it lasts longer.
It must be hard for you with your lung diseases and worrying and all this.
• in reply towiserlady
My son and daughter live in Wales and apparently buses and bars are full and people are carrying on as normal !!! My niece is a nurse in London and she has said that people aren't being tested as the results would show just how bad the situation is, do hope that isn't true.
I'd send you a car load of loo rolls if I could lol.
Can't really say I am worrying, taking precautions that other people wouldn't think of, to protect myself, but as I haven't got a very long shelf life what will be will be.
wiserlady• in reply to
So you live alone and are self isolating apart from when you walk the dogs? I have four little dogs but they run around in the garden, am not able to go out to walk them. I know a nurse and cant see how a nurse would be privy to such special information as to why people arent tested, think they can only guess. Surely it would cost millions to test everyone, it mean a lot of nurses having to risk catching it in the process, and then once the person has moved on they can catch it a few days later anyway, cancelling out any results they got a few days before. Testing people is totally pointless unless you can make sure they dont go off and get infected after being given the all clear.
• in reply towiserlady
I am in isolation because by law we are obliged, luckily I live out in the sticks in mini mountains, I do have a huge garden but I cannot walk even the slightest slope, so drive to the nearest flat area which is the forest and me and my dogs walk there, never saw a soul there before this crisis.
• in reply towiserlady
By testing I meant test the sick people
thelady2003uk• in reply to
Hi Reglois, When I said about the way the British behave I was thinking more about the old days, when people used to care for each other. But there was still panic buying back then, I remember when I was about 13 there was a sugar shortage announced and my mom who was a tea addict went and bought about 20 bags of sugar, the panic she was in just in case she didn't have any sugar for her constant cups of tea - bless her. I think it's absolutely disgusting how our government are handling (or should I say not handling) this dangerous situation. I really cannot understand and I think I speak on behalf of a lot of people when I say the UK is an island we are in the perfect position for a complete lock down and instead the majority of people are just carrying on as though this was a common cold, let's face it we haven't even closed our bloody borders! I am so angry that government are saying "We are asking you please do not go out go unless absolutely necessary" when they should be saying DO NOT GO OUT OR YOU WILL FACE A FINE OR PRISON. They are coming over as wimps who are worried about their cushy jobs when this is all over instead of worrying about saving peoples lives right here, right now . I never write things on social media but this situation has made me so angry, I feel that we don't matter and we damned well do, so I hope that and pray that somebody up the top is reading my posts and they do something sensible before it is too late. I wish I was over there with you I would feel a lot safer than I do here. I will pray that you kids are kept well and safe. God bless us all. Take Care everybody!
• in reply tothelady2003uk
Still got that *care for each other* here. Definitely safer over here, good clean air, no pollution I live an almost back to the 50's life, get the wood in for the fire, used to chop and stack but now have to pay to have that done, cook from scratch, convenience foods are only just, unhappily, creeping into the shops. Used to have a huge veggie patch when my husband was alive, widowed 8 years, we were both poisoned from
I agree your governments directives are very wishy washy, the fine here for being caught out of doors, country wide, for no good reason is from 135€ up to 375€ depending I suppose how bad the *crime* is.
I worry for my grandsons wife, she is three months pregnant with my first great grandchild.
thelady2003uk• in reply to
I wanted to go and live in France a few years ago but decided to stay to look after my parents. They have both now sadly passed away and I have no family so it's quite a lonely existence. I would much rather be where you are, a back to the 50's or 60's (I was born in 1960) lifestyle would suit me fine now I'm getting on. It is very worrying for anybody but I certainly would not like to be expecting a baby now, I said to my husband if I was pregnant and due soon I would have the baby at home, I wouldn't go anywhere near a hospital unless there was a complication of course. Hopefully, we will be through the worst of it when your first great grandchild is born - how exciting, it certainly lifts your spirits when you are hearing about deaths on the television to know that brand new lives are growing at peace totally oblivious to the hell that's going on right now. I just pray to God that the government plan works or millions could die, it breaks my heart for the families of the 144 families that have lost people already. You take care of yourself and don't worry, your grand daughter will be looking after herself, her natural instincts will say UP YOURS to bloody coronavirus!
• in reply tothelady2003uk
She works in a hospital, is that good or bad for her? don't know. Yes I do hope she has the family's *up yours* attitude to things like that. At least it gives me something to aim for, September, the dire prognosis I was given runs out in August, have every intention of beating that, mind over matter, my nephew beat his cancer verdict of10 months survival by three years, so I can do it too
thelady2003uk• in reply to
Of course you can - there's nothing better than a Positive Mental Attitude. Keep saying UP YOURS to cancer, UP YOURS to coronavirus and one day soon (hopefully) we will win both battles! Keep safe!
• in reply tothelady2003uk
I haven't got cancer, I have CPFE + 2 others.
wiserlady• in reply to
sorry do not know what CPFE is
• in reply towiserlady
I have Pulmonary Fibrosis and Emphysema = CPFE, Systemic Scleroderma plus GERD plain greedy that's me.
wiserlady• in reply to
not heard of first one before, know a little about GERD, do you know what causes it in your case and what do you do to help it?
• in reply towiserlady
Pulmonary Fibrosis is where the lungs get stiffer and stiffer. Both my husband and I were poisoned at work by zinc chloride, now used in chemical warfare, no health and safety in those days. There is absolutely nothing that can be done as all the diseases are progressive, I am on steroids and a tablet to help the GERD, there is a tablet that some people with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ( I haven't got the idiopathic bit) take cos it MAY help slow the progression, for me don't want it as it has horrific side effects and what is the use of maybe slowing down one disease and feeling ill when I have two others that will continue to destroy my lungs, no, feel fine, just can't breathe.
wiserlady• in reply to
Thanks for explaining. Am so sorry you are struggling with this, must be hard to enjoy life and be positive. And all so unfair. Presumably the thing you take for the GERD is a ppi? lansoprazole or something that does the same? Is it caused by the les valve not opening and shutting properly?
wiserlady• in reply to
burning wood in the fire is bad for your lungs/polution.
• in reply towiserlady
I have no choice, they are closed fires, can't afford to run the oil central heating and besides that stinks outside even though the flue is well away from the house, makes me really ill. I really do live out in the sticks my nearest neighbour is hundred of metres away, though we all have wood burning fires or stoves, 10 houses here.
wiserlady• in reply to
fair enough, sorry I jumped to that conclusion, its when they are open fires its bad.
• in reply towiserlady
That's OK, open fires comforting to look at as they are they are very wasteful heat wise, birds love them though, they get toasty warm up on the roof whilst humans shiver below lol.
wiserlady• in reply to
oh dear. i have lorts of birds in my back garden, it sounds so nice to hear them sing and chirp, but one of my dogs is a bird dog so he tries to catch them and play with them and doesnt understand they are living things. he ends up hurting them and killing them when he succeeds
• in reply towiserlady
One of my dogs is a lizard and mouse fiend, always having to worm her as she eats the poor things. I have loads of birds as I have a large bird feeding set up, dogs don't touch them as it is higher than them on a post. Even get Woodpeckers and Hoopoos
wiserlady• in reply to
Your place sounds wonderful, we dontd get lizards , woodpeckers etc, just sparrows and very boring birds.
• in reply towiserlady
It really is a lovely place to be I have absolutely no regrets, the health care is superb and fast. I really hate it when my dog gets the emerald green male sand lizards. Ordinary green woodpeckers and the black and white ones, at the moment getting clouds of little siskins coming out of the forest to feed.
Wish I could send photos, have a lovely one of my little Yorkie in the wild daffodil field the other day, she loves it and is very careful not to crush any flowers, as she is only 19cms tall she is not much taller than the flowers themselves. At least with this confinement we are not getting the busloads of Parisians coming down and cleaning out the fields of flowers to sell in the markets up there, they crush everything else and absolutely ruin the ground, rivulets and marsh flowers
wiserlady• in reply to
Something I had never thought of is people coming to ruin the scenery and steal the flowers.
• in reply towiserlady
City folk making money with no thought that they might be killing the goose that lays the golden egg, in their greed.
wiserlady• in reply to
Yes can see that. But like you say at least while this is going on you have more privacy and peace too.
Tried to send you a direct/private message and not allowed to. Never mind.
• in reply towiserlady
Actually out here in the sticks there is very little difference except that we don't pop into each others houses.
Just read that the *house arrest* is likely to be extended, trying to support my daughter and son in law as they are self employed and can't work, my little holiday home had, had being the operative word, really good bookings this year and as I can't do the cleaning etc my daughter was having most of the money from it as she learns how to run it, in French of course, have to* parler* with the clients, almost all of which are French
• in reply tothelady2003uk
I think some people are saying that the thing about a virus is that it can reoccur and it could possibly reoccur anywhere on the planet. In other words, stopping it is no easy feat. Did people used to care about each other more? If so, I wish it were like that now for I have experienced a lot of woe because of other humans. A lot of people can behave like a virus.
thelady2003uk• in reply to
I quite agree Tyrre, we live in a beautiful World that unfortunately has a lot of horrible people in it. People who are profiteering from this disaster and it's disgusting, I have seen them charging £10 for a packet of paracetemol which usually cost about 0.65p, this is medicine people need to help them get over this illness if they don't catch a bad dose of it and to make money off the back of peoples suffering breaks my heart. I feel so sorry for the people who can't afford to buy a lot of food and need to use food banks, which are of course empty of food themselves. I just keep praying that God will work hard to protect us all and get us through this frightening situation. Take Care of yourself.
• in reply tothelady2003uk
Who did that? Yes, either they’re profiteering or maybe they didn’t want the paracetamol stocks to be depleted. If the price goes up people won’t buy more than they need usually unless they are richer. Then, as usual, whether intended or not, the richer people will get more anyway if they want more. The thing about food banks is that most of the food isn’t fresh food.
thelady2003uk• in reply to
It was a pharmacy chain in Birmingham, I saw it on the news last night, after they got found out they issued a press letter apologising for a system error! I agree those at the top will be ok - they always are. Yes people do need fresh food, so if nobody can get any people will start to suffer from all the diseases associated with lack of vitamins. All we can do is hope, pray and go out in the sunshine to get some vitamin D.
Not quite sure of some of this. The vitamin most people are deficient in is vitamin d, which you get from sunlight not food - though you can buy mushrooms that have had a burst of vitamin d or buy mushrooms and put them out in the sunshine all day and boost them yourself before you eat them. If we are all staying indoors cooped up we will be deficient. But many take vitamin d in capsule form anyway and many take far more than they need. Its hard to take too much. Housebound people should take it. Most of the fruit and veg available now has very little in the way of vitamins and minerals in it, frozen has much more. Tinned veg has none at all. Just calories and maybe fibre. Multivitamins are very popular yet they have been proven to be of no benefit and surveys have found they often shorten a life. You need to take vitamins separately anyway otherwise the different ingredients fight against each other and cancel each other out. Many do not bother to research all this and take things willy nilly. Its no good taking calcium or dairy for bones unless you also take vitamin k to make sure it goes to your bones instead of in your blood system clogging up your arteries. You should be concerned about vitamins/minerals but also antioxidants equally. Know the antioxidant benefit or lack of in each thing you eat. HOW NOT TO DIE is a great book tell you how to make sure that your diet helps you prevent or help with illness. Everyone should be making sure they have lots of fibre to prevent bowel, pancreas, gallbladder disease and much more and that can be done simply by taking fibre capsules regularly. You can go to a list of all foods and their antioxidant properties here file:///C:/Users/Rosemary/Downloads/1475-2891-9-3-S1.PDF
I think you may have misunderstood me, I just meant that if we can't get any decent food to eat, organic, fresh, farm shop etc., then it stands to reason that we won't stay as healthy as before because basically we are eating less nutritious food. Sadly some people will have no choice other than eat tinned food or food low in vitamins etc instead of a balanced diet, which is why I said that going out in the sunshine will help our vit D levels and also be good for our well being. Of course we need other nutrients but all I'm trying to say is if there are no alternatives available make the most of the sunshine, get some Vitamin D it's good for you. But yes I agree the food these days does not have the health benefits that it did when I was young.
Yes I UNDERSTOOD. Organic is often no more nutritious anyway just costs more. But Ive always been very aware of nutrition and diet etc, and you can use vitamin d capsules and stuff like knowing about nutrition to put right any other deficiencies.
Yes the food that's good for us is always expensive and the junk food is always on a BOGOF offer - the mind boggles!
No. Fruit and veg quite cheap and very good for you. Meat costs a lot more and is bad for you. Refined and processed foods are bad for you and cost more.
Yes but it's not often you see fruit and veg on a BOGOF offer, it's usually crisps, pizzas , chocolate etc all the stuff that's not good for you
Yes. See what you mean. But it is cheaper to eat healthily than eat junk food if you overhaul all of your eating habits. And arent drinking and smoking helps a lot too.
In an ideal world we would all be cooking meals from scratch instead of grabbing ready meals, much better to eat healthy home cooked food than a ready meal that's been through loads of preserving processes. They don't even teach DS in school anymore do they?
I am not sure what they teach in school now. Not got kids or grand kids etc. THINK they should teach it, also, also preventative health care, also how to take care of money, and maybe something along the lines of general home stuff like changing a fuse or how to save and take care of money, the stuff we need to know as adults? in my day we had a choice of woodwork of cooking and had to do sewing. I cant see cooking meals from scratch taking off anyway. Most of the people I know work full time. They arent going to come home at 6 pm and start cooking and eat at 8 or 9 and then go to bed. I used to cook stuff from scratch but sensibly would do 5 big meals at a time so it covered quite a lot of meals. Anyway a lot of these home cooked meals can be unhealthy. Its not healthy just because you did it yourself. If its all meat and potato or pastry or pasta, which is always the white refined processed pasta to most people -I use the brown whole wheat pasta - then its not much better than the shop mass produced stuff and probably costs more.
In the 60's my mom and dad worked full time and so did many others and we ALWAYS had a freshly prepared, healthy home cooked meal every night. People just can't be bothered to do that anymore, easier to stick a ready meal in a microwave
• in reply to
But there would be shortages if people stockpiled too much and then they let all their food go to waste instead of giving it to the poor and needy. Humans have the normal propensity to do that. A lot of food goes to waste. We as humans need to try our best not to waste food and try to share more
wiserlady• in reply to
Very much doubt that people stock pile food that goes to waste. Its toilet rolls, tins etc they stock pile, things they can still use in ten years time. Not wasting money.
My food delivery for today of 15 basics like potatoes and rice was cancelled because they don’t have food to sell...in New York City
Oh dear. How much have you got at home to tide you over? When I next get shopping I will concentrate on things that last a long time - dried pasta, dried rice, tins of meat and veg, chocolate etc and get as much as possible.
• in reply toDarryl
Hi Darryl,
It's a frustration and a worry isn't it? I hope you have a few things at home you can fill in with, and I guess we are going to have to use new thinking around being flexible in our menu planning and cooking. Maybe we can help each other with that by suggesting alternatives for missing items and ingredients. Take care and good luck with your next delivery!
wiserlady• in reply to
Your idea is good but many men dont cook or bake, nor do many women. Many just buy bread and make sandwiches or ready meals nowadays.
Wow...I thought America is a land of plenty and this would never happen 😳 Try some charities or food banks if needed. My fridge is empty, ain’t bothered really. I have 5 kilos of rice and 2 cans of Tuna, this is enough and I ate my lunch in an empty cafe today 🤔🤔
People I know wont go in cafes now in case they catch the virus.
Due to ache and pain I find it hard to cook...I take everyday as it comes 🍁🌾
Must be very difficult. Do you snack or eat sandwiches or ready meals?
Generally make easy food like tuna salad, but when I crave hot food and unable to cook I eat in a decent cafe) can’t cook from scratch and if I do it’s once in a blue moon), main diet is eating nuts which do not require cooking but you put on weight
So for your tuna salad what would you use? Because much of that is perishable isnt it where you cant get it today and get loads of it and keep it for in two weeks. And you cant go to a cafe now can you? Here we cant or choose not to for safety. Buts are really good for you and quite filling and they keep. I quite like a tuna and gherkin sandwich.
Plan to drive to Waitrose this evening, see if I can find my favourite tuna, All the best till next time xx
How did your trip to waitrose go? My partner went to Lidl and managed to get quite a bit, just not the thigns we would have prefered.
Got a pack of tuna, only 4 not 100 and mouthwash. It was quite, suitable for me, I am always on guard just a small touch on my shoulder drives me insane...it’s a fibro thing...
Good you got what you wanted, now I have got obsession with toilet rolls, but all in vain x
Dont think anywhere has toilet rolls. And think its wise to think ahead. I am not giong to assume that I can nip to the shop when I need things. What if they have closed down? What if they are understaffed because of illness and death? The same with the factories that produce food. Am not the only one who thinks this way, sales of freezers have soared. Am getting as many as possible of tins etc in case shops cannot give me enough food later.
• in reply toPainny
When I first tried to be independent after moving out of my parents house, nobody knew I had autism and I was living by myself and I couldn’t get to the shops and I didn’t think of online shopping because I was quite young and have learning difficulties and didn’t have a computer anyway so at that time in my life I wasn’t eating enough. Nobody knew because I didn’t communicate it to anyone. Earlier, at school other children used to think I was anorexic but I wasn’t I just couldn’t go into the lunch hall so much. It was difficult. I used to go somewhere else to be on my own. No adults noticed.
wiserlady• in reply to
Yes understand. But its important to make sure you take care of yourself now isnt it. In anyway you can. My way is to stock up because for all I know the shops wont be stocked in a few months time - maybe so many people are ill its impossible. And I wont meet anyone. I am not going to a friends funeral or another friends wedding.
• in reply toDarryl
Wish I could send you some, plenty of everything here.
Have you tried Amazon?
wiserlady• in reply to
Think the trouble with Amazon is that they take a few days and it costs a fair bit for each delivery of each item. It can more than double the cost.
• in reply towiserlady
Oh ok. As I haven’t got my usual weekly online shopping this week, I looked at the Amazon website but I didn’t get far with it because all this change is difficult for me to deal with. Luckily I know someone who is willing to go to the shops with me if I need help or will also go to the shop for me if I can’t go. I can go to the shops sometimes but I need someone to go with me a lot and I can’t always deal with shopping. The person who helps me regularly is elderly so I wish that I had more support with this and other things since I don’t like to ask an elderly person for too much help but I need it
wiserlady• in reply to
I know that asda and tesco are fully booked with click and collect and deliveries for three weeks; And many are preferring to click and collect than go into the shop for fear of catching it. More and more wont go shopping due to that risk. If you do order shopping you get very little of what you ordered and probably different to what you ordered. My partner went to Lidl this evening and very little there but worth going. In the UK the government are rushing through bills that give them permission to ban this and that for fear that some silly person wil do somethign unwise and then infect others and so on.
I usually get online shopping once a week but I can’t for this week. I’m not sure what is best for me to do
wiserlady• in reply to
I dont need to yet but will concentreate on foods that last and arent perishable when I do - chocolate, dried pasta and rice, dried mash potato , atinned veg and fruit, etc and get as much as possible.
We are supposed to be away but flights cancelled so had to go to supermarket to stock up. Since a lot of stuff was not on the shelves, I have tried ordering in advance for an online delivery (we are both over 75) at the end of the month. There are no slots and they tell you to let them know you're self isolating but you can't do that unless you get a slot. Meanwhile, the orders I have placed with Sainsbury's and Tesco are disappearing as my items are becoming unavailable. I need vegetarian mince and pieces and my partner needs potatoes because he's Type 1 diabetic. Not available. We see that the milkman will deliver potatoes. So will go down that route. Am feeling depressed. I do think it will calm down but basically if the elderly can't get to the shops early they will have to go without essentials. We make our own bread but there was no flour on the shelves and not much online. It's almost as if we need a prescription for these things as my partner cannot survive without them. We would have stocked up before but we thought we were going to be abroad.
My partner is going to Lidl tonight in the hope of stocking up with as much as he can in the way of non perishables and tins, just to be sure we are ok for as long as possible.
Lidl doesn't normally have as much as the bigger stores so we didn't stop there. In any case I would've been too tired, as our shopping takes so long to do. I will be going again at some point though, when we really need to, but we should not be going out at all, being at risk.
My partner has just come back from Lidl. He got quite a bit, its a case of compromise. Where we would normally get dry dog food we had to get tinned. No toilet rolls etc. But you can get 4 of each thing.
We managed to get trays of roasting potatoes which will last a few days in the fridge, but I will try Lidl for potatoes when we run out as it's only five miles away. At the same time, I should not be going out. I'm actually very resourceful but my partner has to have potatoes as being the best carbs for him, and we had none. You don't buy potatoes when you are going on holiday! But we didn't get to go.
My partner has just come back from Lidl. He got quite a bit, its a case of compromise. Where we would normally get dry dog food we had to get tinned. No toilet rolls etc. But you can get 4 of each thing.
I don't eat dog food or any kind of meat.
For click and collect just go on website and follow instructions and use common sense. The click and collect can take three weeks too and most of the supermarkets will not look further than three weeks. You need to hurry up. If you look and it says there is a slot in three weeks and you hesitate it will be gone ten minutes later to someone else who didnt hesitate. And be prepared for the fact that most things are out of stock and if you order 100 things you wil probably only get 20 of them.
Just a thought. YOu said you had a delivery booked until later in April. Click and collect? YOu can always increase what you are ordering and make it a big order of tins and stuff to keep you stocked up for a bit. And if you can manage without asking a friend or going to the shop in the meantime minimise your risk and their risk of catching it. Dont be surprised if you ask someone to go and they say no for fear of catching it.
• in reply towiserlady
I could have managed fine if I had my usual delivery. I can’t manage without going to the shops until my delivery since I don’t have online delivery and not much food at home in stock due to my low income. I would not expect anyone to go to the shops and I wouldn’t be surprised. I’m not scared of going to the shops (although I’m finding the recent changes difficult to deal with and understand) I would always go by myself, even now rather than ask for help, it’s just I find shopping usually difficult because of autism and I have needed help with shopping and going to shops for years. Online shopping is the best thing ever for me and getting shopping.
wiserlady• in reply to
Do you arrange your usual delivery online? for click and collect or to be brought over? The tesco and asda site say no deliveries for the whole of the book up time - 21 times - but if you go to the last day on the list there may be a slot for click and collect and if you wait for midnight then you can get to the next day before the other people do when it switches by a day. It must be hard for you all this, plus the shopping, with the autism, am sorry. A lot of people are buying freezers now.
• in reply towiserlady
Yes good idea. I have a freezer. The thing about frozen food is what if the electricity goes off? Yes, delivered to home. I’ve never done click and collect. I can go to the shop sometimes but not for long as it usually becomes too much. It depends on various, sometimes varying factors. It helps immensely if someone I know goes with me as I have learning difficulties in some areas and I find it difficult to understand a lot of things about this planet and about people. It’s like a feeling of being constantly alone even if there’s loads of people around. If the environment is too difficult then I can’t stay there. Thank you for your sentiments. I do hope you are alright.
wiserlady• in reply to
Ive already got four freezers. But cant have too many at a time like this. What if there is no food in the shop for months? I stock up on tins and packets in case of. You can do the click and collect on your computer, you cant phone them or do it any other way. But you have to be sharp or its a long long wait. And then there is very little in stock. So if you order a huge amount some of it arrives. If you just order a normal shop you parobably are lucky if you get any of it at all.
• in reply towiserlady
I would not want to phone them anyway as phoning is difficult for me. I think that the only reason there wouldn’t be any food or hardly any food in the shop for months is if people stockpile too much. Too much would be based on individual factors of course. For example, someone who lives further from the shops or a source of food or has severe disabilities should understandably stockpile more but otherwise, people should prepare for only about 2-4 weeks of food stores initially for this virus case. Otherwise, there is not an issue of food shortage or famine here in the UK ( but there is elsewhere sadly), so as long as the supermarkets can hopefully manage to accommodate the recent rise in people using online shopping, for example by trying to employ more delivery staff and updating their websites, then there would be enough. In these sorts of times it is important to think clearly and logically and to not be selfish and to think of other people especially the elderly and vulnerable. I would volunteer to shop for elderly people or anyone if autism wasn’t stopping me. I care about other people deeply. I tried to volunteer but people there abused me. I also tried to get a job but I was ostracized and bullied.
wiserlady• in reply to
Yes I see your point but.... its going to be hard to get more staff when its temporary and they need training and they will be reluctant to take on such a job because its boring and badly paid and endangers their lives. The caring people who go around to the severely ill are now deciding not to go - and I dont blame them. They are on awful wages and risking their lives. Doctors are turning patients away or only helping them on their computer or on phone where its safe. EVERYONE is and should be taking care of themselves. People ought to do this and that because of consideration for others wont work. They put themselves first. They will hoard food rather than maybe run out later. To them not going hungry in the future is more important than playing fair to strangers. I know someone who is autistic and he says very much the same. He often talks as if everyone should be fair to others. But the world doesnt work like that. Unfortunately if a job seems dangerous etc they are likely to not do it and so on. So how do you know the shops will be stock in a month or even open then? Half of their staff could have got very ill. The other half might have decided its not worth risking geting ill and staying at home. Have you got a car to collect with if you do click and collect?
• in reply towiserlady
Yes I see your point too but delivering food shouldn’t mean that they get a virus from the person they deliver to as they can leave the shopping outside. In the case of not sufficient delivery workers, everyone should order, for each delivery at the moment, their usual amount at least multiplied by the amount of weeks they will wait til their next delivery and however much more depending on what percentage of their initial grocery order they expect to receive (which is difficult to ascertain). For example, for my next shop I will get much more than I usually do based on those factors since there will probably not be enough delivery staff to allow me to get the next weeks shopping at least and the stock shortages or non-existence of some items will reduce my actual order. From analysis of the situation,
I do not think that all the food shops will stop delivering food but some have temporarily or some might more permanently. The shops may shut to customers but food could still be delivered and left outside people’s houses. Unnecessary stock piling and selfishness is more of a danger to some people possibly being left without much. If humans can (and it may not always be possible I agree with you, for humans do have a natural individual survival instinct) we should be compassionate and consider others. For if a person doesn’t consider others and if that were a rule of the universe, then that person would not receive compassion either. That would be sad if the universe had a rule like that. Where there is selfishness and uncaring we should sow love and compassion. Not everyone can take care of themselves. In addition, humans may be on the planet but they are not the planet. True what you are saying about the world- it is harsh and a terrible place for many but humans think and have feelings. Some humans are great examples of compassion.
I agree with you-I think a lot of people do that job because they are retired from a previous intellectually challenging (for them) job and they need a break, or there’s no alternative (they should be paid more). Carers should also be paid more. I think it is despicable. In fact, a lot of people should be paid more. There is no logical reason why they shouldn’t be paid more.
If someone is severely ill and can’t go out it is unlikely that they will have the virus unless a carer or healthcare worker gives it to them. Obviously protective clothing is the only prevention if someone needs personal care. There should be key workers who get suits for this purpose (if suits can’t be given to all carers and healthcare staff) of giving essential personal care. What are your thoughts on how to protect healthcare workers so they can continue to help with personal care?
wiserlady• in reply to
I see your points but some of them are not that simple. The people Ive met who work as delivery drivers were not at all educated or intellectual. If they were they would prefer a much more interesting, mentally challenging and well paid job or own their own business. I cant see why they would study and pass exams or go to college for years to end up as a delivery driver through choice. They arent going to pay educated people more when normally they can get uneducated people cheaper and they are good enough - and taht would mean putting the prices of the food up.
Carers are now given face masks and even then they are short and asking many to wait for theirs. And I dont believe the face mask is enough. I think many will prefer to stay at home and self isolate rather than run around working and taking risks for peanuts.
Its a good idea for you to get much more in your next shop but dont forget that if you sign online now to order click and direct they are all fully booked. And it is easy to get those than a delivery. You have to be the first one on there at midnight to get the slots for day 22 from now or it is all booked by the time you do. YOu can only order 3 of whatever it is you want and very often it doesnt turn up or you get substitutes. Many of the things are impossible to get now - toilet rolls for example.I believe, and I am very sorry to say this, taht as more people get the virus and die people willbecome more selfish and stocks will run lower, so you have to plan ahead and do things you would not do if things were normal.
• in reply towiserlady
There’s no reason why more educated people should be paid more
wiserlady• in reply to
Well we are all entitled to our opinion. But I know plenty of well educated people, some famous, some very affluent, some very important. None of them would have gone to all of that bother to do a boring, menial or badly paid job. Think most would give up work altogether if that was all there was, seeing as they have enough money to live on already. Remember that educated people are never short of money and need an incentive to do something boring all day. They would be better off just having fun otherwise.How are you getting on with your shopping?
• in reply towiserlady
I think that it is more of a bother to do a low paid job than it would be to do more studying than would be required to be a delivery person and then be unable to get a relevant job after all the studying so to become a delivery person. At least after all the extra studying one would have a hope of earning more money while being a delivery person even if in the short term one couldn’t get suitable employment.
What you’re saying simply isn’t true. Educated people can be short of money.
Thank you, I’m doing ok with my shopping at the moment- someone helping me with it.
I hope you’re doing ok too.
wiserlady• in reply to
I dont know any well educated people who are short of money. And most of them are very wealthy and own their own business. People who are well educated tend to be people who have active busy brains and would die of boredom menial easy jobs, even if you paid them a fortune.
• in reply towiserlady
Well I know someone who used to have a highly intellectual job for more than 30 years and then decided to become a food delivery person since he retired. Just because you don’t know anyone who is well educated and short of money doesn’t mean they don’t exist. I am well educated and short of money. I agree with you that the sort of people who want to study more would usually prefer a more intellectually stimulating role where they could put their particular skills to use to, as you say, avoid boredom. I urge you to reconsider your viewpoint on well educated people always having enough money.
wiserlady• in reply to
I think you are in a minority and maybe it is connected to health problems. And I CAN assure you I know loads of people who are very well educated and smart and very capable. They dont have anxiety issues etc so they would not be happy to do something boring all day even if very well paid - let alone for poor wages. Nor would they have been happy to do a lot of studying and passing exams to get there. I doubt you would be unemployed if you had a choice. I know a very well educated guy who retired. HE NOW GETS VERY BORED.Some person suggested he works in a supermarket stacking shelves. They are fools. he would die of boredom and frustration and not using his brain then. He would much rather play gold or go on lovely holidays than do a boring job. You also forget that very smart people are used to being the boss or being self employed and not having to take orders.He would be better off buying a shop or setting up another business which pays him properly for his time and is more interesting. An educated person can be dumb. They may have an education and pass exams but be too stupid to be work out solutions to problems i.e. I cant sort out how to get my food now - or set up and run a business. I am talking about smart educated people who can do both. I meet people through work and socially and family who fit into this mould. I wouldnt go by just one or two person or just by myself, thats too blinkered and biased. YOu wont get me to change my mind, I am 62 and know loads of people. If I were you I would concentrate on getting enough food etc.
yes obviously already happened
I employ a lot of people. I get a hundred apply to my office/secretary every week. Most have no abilities, talents or qualifications to make them employable. They are either just trying to get money or just trying to stop being bored - without thinking through what use they could be to an employer and why the employer would pay them anything or waste time on them. Businesses have to be careful how many people they employ and how much they pay them, they need to cover costs and make a profit. IF you are educated and smart you can work this out and set up your own business. I dont know any educated smart people who apply for jobs and rely on others to give them a job. The all own their own business or are self employed.
You are good with English and writing. You could MAYBE set up a blog website and write articles for it. But it costs you money to set it up and it doesnt pay much and if you pay someone to advise you as you go along everything you earn and more goes to pay them for their help.
Not the ones I know and it depends on what they job is. I used to know a top scientist. He had to work for others because such a person is never self employed.
Well,i have only popped out once in 8 days to Asda to buy what i needed but i was horrified at how greedy some people are,but like you wiserlady i do have a huge chest freezer,but only one,unlike you with four,and i am trying to use up a lot of stuff which has been lingering for months,possibly for longer.
i just needed milk,bread,cream and of course food for my 3 wee dogs.
i do buy the filtered milk which keeps fresh for weeks.
Ive had four freezers for more than 20 years - I didnt get it because of the virus. When I was a child my mum and dad never had any food in the house and my mum hardly ever went shopping for food. Now and then she would allow me to go and get some with a tiny amount of money and I was supposed to get a weeks groceries for four people with just a few pounds. There was never any of the things you would expect in a kitchen, a jar of marmalade, some crackers, nothing. Every little scrap was counted and monitored and rationed. When I left home I found out there were foods that were quite ordinary and normal that she had never bought or talked about, that I had no idea existed. I am now 62. A few months ago I told my mum,who is now 82, that I like avocados. WHAT ARE AVOCADOS? she said. Typical. So when I had my own place and money one of the first things I did was buy four big freezers and fill them. But there was also the fact I was often unwell and living alone and had no transport and so on, sometimes there was a lot of snow and delivery drivers could not get to my house. So this was my way of making sure I always had food and no longer needed to worry. And obviously over the years I would eat some and replace it. Samewith my cupboards. But like you I still need things that are fresh like tomatoes. Bread I freeze. And with four little dogs I need to make sure Ive got that too. Now if I were to be in a shop to get dog food I would get as much as I can because I have no idea of if and when I can get more, and Ive risked catching the virus to go there and dont want to have to do that more often than needed.
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