How are we getting through it?

[mmcv]

You can bulk buy a lot of that stuff online anyway if you really need it. We also have always tended to bulk buy bog roll and certain larder staples (dried beans, etc) as it's more economical and it's not like it goes off...I don't really understand panic buying mentality though. Especially this time round as it's more to do with staff shortages than supply shortages. Apparently it's something about feeling in control psychologically. Plus some people seem really resistant to trying things outside their comfort zone, like a different brand...  the horror...

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

(P.S. If anyone wants loo rolls...gimme a shout.... One roll...£100* to you, sir.....Bargain !...)

Picked a 12 month supply eariler in the week. £3 Not noticed any shortages in the local ASDAs although stock was very different - memo to self - check Brombrogh as well as Woodchurch and Birkenhead !

[toxicpixie]

We've had constant short orders and missing stuff and wildly entertaining but unusable replacements on our deliveries from all the supermarkets.

The rare occasions I've not avoided going in they've been OK, but recently have nose dived.

Problem with bulk buying is where do you put it? We've squirrelled away stuff all over the house, but then we have a house, with loft and extention which is pretty privilieged. If I was in a flat, or in multioccupancy housing, it would bloody difficult at best.

[Heedless Horseman]

Just last week, I 'popped into' a shop and was 'mortified' to realise that I'd forgot to mask... didn't even get a 'look', tho. Will continue to mask and glove for some time yet!
'Stockpiling'! Before Ma's Head 'went'... (and looking back, the signs may have been there for a 'long' time)... she was a great cook and always carried MASSIVE stocks of food and also non-perishable stuff. PLUS, her 'emergengy' staches of tinned/ dried staples!  
Still have FIVE freezers stuffed to capacity! Just hope we never get a long loss of power! Some shelves. I have never looked at... and there are the tubs of 'unidentifiable' gloop!
Tinned produce... have almost finished the cases of Corned Beef got in for 'Work' sandwiches nearly 4 yrs ago. Still good. Other tins... no way would I touch! Last year, I dumped her 'emergency' stache stockpiled for 'The Millennium Bug'! Think current record was a tin of Chicken with a 95 Date!
So, not likely to starve... though death from food poisoning a possibility.  
Rater Sad, chucking her 'Cake Baking' stuff out, though.      (But... why would she have possibly needed 3 tape sealed Big coffee jars each, of Dried Fruit, Caster Sugar and Almonds?).   
I continue to 'bulk buy' some stuff when possible and 'on offer'... 6 months supply of 'Dog tins', or 3-4 9 packs of Bog Roll... but there is absolutely NO space left in the house... apart from 'The Loft'.... and I AIN'T GOING UP THERE!  

[Techno II]

So, not likely to starve... though death from food poisoning a possibility.  

Don't go there, Keith......Von and I have both been suffering from that for the last couple of days.....(Not proper food poisoning...a very mild symptom of heatstroke..but somewhat unpleasant.)

Mind you..there's an unopened packet of very nice ham in the fridge....that should have been used by yesterday.....I won't risk it......Bin...or if it doesn't smell 'off'..I know a couple of our for legged friends  who will wolf it down. (Oh, for the extra acid they've got in their stomachs, to kill 'germs'.)

Cheers - Phil.

[Orcs]

Don't go there, Keith......Von and I have both been suffering from that for the last couple of days.....(Not proper food poisoning...a very mild symptom of heatstroke..but somewhat unpleasant.)

Mind you..there's an unopened packet of very nice ham in the fridge....that should have been used by yesterday.....I won't risk it......Bin...or if it doesn't smell 'off'..I know a couple of our for legged friends  who will wolf it down. (Oh, for the extra acid they've got in their stomachs, to kill 'germs'.)

Cheers - Phil.

Unless it smells or looks dodgy of the pot has "Blown" I eat it . Only thing I am careful on is Shell fish.

[Heedless Horseman]

Apart from well frozen Scampi or cooked Prawns, shellfish has never been part of our menu. Even when guaranteed fresh, I don't trust the stuff. Once stayed with a relative on Yugoslav coast. He would don a Snorkel, take a hammer and 'waddle' out of water with his trunks stuffed with some sort of Bivalve! His wife cooked VERY tasty 'stew'... BUT, 'Adriatic Tummy'... and no water supply in mornings... does tend to put one off!  

Our freezers set high... frost/ice on packaging. Sometimes wonder about 'Supermarket Frozen'? Always 'dig' into the compartment. Ma never bothered about dates on Frozen, and we never had problems... but time is passing on freezer contents.
I AM a bit 'dubious' about 'Chilled' that was immediately frozen. Some really nice meals in freezers... but, hmmm... might leave a little bit longer!  
Fridge Chilled...'might ' go a day or two after date for self. Ma, I'm more careful... But, given MY booze intake, HER guts work better than mine, anyway! LOL!
Bread... usually WELL past... but the odd GREEN fleck , picked off, doesn't harm. Too much... or other colours... bin.
Tins... 'probably' good for a year or two past date... ain't dead... but DO NOT ADVOCATE!

Animals... Dog, Cat or Foxes / Birds... if I won't eat it, they ain't getting it either. Dog... 'BIG' GSD... so 'doggy' 'Bad Guts' is to be avoided...!  

[Steve J]

Well cases have risen by around 200 in just a couple of days here in South Glos, with us now the highest rate in the West country . At 888 as of last night, near as damn it double the highest rate at the peak of the pandemic. Not good, not good at all and given the almost complete lack of mask worn in shops over the past few days, it's only going to get an awful lot worse.

[Techno II]

...and then there's the 5 day (?) lag on the figures, Steve......So what it's actually doing right at this mo'....

Cheers - Phil.

[FierceKitty]

Apart from well frozen Scampi or cooked Prawns, shellfish has never been part of our menu. Even when guaranteed fresh, I don't trust the stuff. Once stayed with a relative on Yugoslav coast. He would don a Snorkel, take a hammer and 'waddle' out of water with his trunks stuffed with some sort of Bivalve! His wife cooked VERY tasty 'stew'... BUT, 'Adriatic Tummy'... and no water supply in mornings... does tend to put one off!  

Our freezers set high... frost/ice on packaging. Sometimes wonder about 'Supermarket Frozen'? Always 'dig' into the compartment. Ma never bothered about dates on Frozen, and we never had problems... but time is passing on freezer contents.
I AM a bit 'dubious' about 'Chilled' that was immediately frozen. Some really nice meals in freezers... but, hmmm... might leave a little bit longer!  
Fridge Chilled...'might ' go a day or two after date for self. Ma, I'm more careful... But, given MY booze intake, HER guts work better than mine, anyway! LOL!
Bread... usually WELL past... but the odd GREEN fleck , picked off, doesn't harm. Too much... or other colours... bin.
Tins... 'probably' good for a year or two past date... ain't dead... but DO NOT ADVOCATE!

Animals... Dog, Cat or Foxes / Birds... if I won't eat it, they ain't getting it either. Dog... 'BIG' GSD... so 'doggy' 'Bad Guts' is to be avoided...!  

Nothing tastier than seafood stews from that region, swimming in olive oil and singing of garlic and saffron.

[toxicpixie]

...and then there's the 5 day (?) lag on the figures, Steve......So what it's actually doing right at this mo'....

Cheers - Phil.

We're at a worse stage on infections than ever, fortunetly whilst the various vaccines aren't good enough to reliably prevent you catching it they DO mitigate the symptoms. Just a shame we've said "f*** it" as a country and decided to abandon all hope. That said the general populace here in B'ham seems mostly reasonable, at least until beer's involved.

My clubs just restarted and the Committee have put a fair number of measures in place (over some members objections, who have decided YOLO but they got overridden!), but as it's indoors with a couple dozen people I'm not going unless I can organise a game outside and minimise inside rebreathing air for hours with people.

Especially as I somehow caught a bloody cold which has developed into sinusitis - think my eldest got it going swimming (MOAR CHLORINE WALSALL COUNCIL, MORE CHLORINE!), and she's also ended up with an ear infection, and the combined symptoms meant we all got pinged to isolate - waiting on PCR's to coe back but the repeated LFT's came up negative which is good. Ofc mine might have been caught at the club last week, despite large table and outside and masked up, which shows how easy it is to transmit - just a good job no one DID have Covid, as a good chunk of the club is half again as old as me and have undelrying health issues....

[Steve J]

Yep, the rate is doubling at just under 7 days now, which is very worrying. In the previous tier system we would be on pretty much full lockdown again!

[toxicpixie]

Yep, the rate is doubling at just under 7 days now, which is very worrying. In the previous tier system we would be on pretty much full lockdown again!

True dat.

But hey, freedom!

It's small consolation but I'm betting a lot of peoples mental health has improved now they can legally have a pint/party/hug their granny.

[hammurabi70]

Unless it smells or looks dodgy of the pot has "Blown" I eat it . Only thing I am careful on is Shell fish.

Agreed! We seem to have become overly obsessed with use by dates; we discard based on smell. However, in the hot weather increased caution seems a prudent move; mind you the fermenting pineapple tasted great.

[DecemDave]

It's small consolation but I'm betting a lot of peoples mental health has improved now they can legally have a pint/party/hug their granny.

But I'm a teetotal sociopath whose Grannies died 40+ years ago.

Those with mental health issues should try becoming wargamers   collectors of unpainted figures , its worked for me 

[Raider4]

. . .  should try becoming wargamers   collectors of unpainted figures

Ahhh, so it's not just me then?

[DecemDave]

who have decided YOLO

  Its because I only live once that I would like it to last as long as possible!!   

Peeps pretty sensible here in those shops I've been in.  But then I am in a small town on the Costa Geriatrica .

[Ithoriel]

But I'm a teetotal sociopath whose Grannies died 40+ years ago.

Those with mental health issues should try becoming wargamers   collectors of unpainted figures , its worked for me 

I have long accepted that I have largely moved from wargamer to planner of, and collector for, projects that will never be started, let alone completed.

[Raider4]

Don't forget "thinker about".

I spend hours thinking about what I should do next - buy, paint, build, read, etc.

It may look like I'm just sitting in my chair sipping tea/coffee, but there's an awful lot of thinking about going on.

[toxicpixie]

  Its because I only live once that I would like it to last as long as possible!!   

Peeps pretty sensible here in those shops I've been in.  But then I am in a small town on the Costa Geriatrica .

I had a long discussion with a fellow club member, who has decided he CBA anymore, it's fine and manageable and it only happens to other people, anyway he's bored and wants to play games so GTFO.

That's great, proper bit of "no such thing as society" thinking there, but it's *not him he's risking*.

I'd suggested that people take an LFT before attending the club, and that may have triggered him.

He's no spring chicken, but he's very much an individual. Meanwhile younger attendee's are testing regularly and other club members also chimed in with "ignore that, here's some sensible measures similar to your suggestion 'cos we don't want crippling either"... so, eh.

It's definitely relaxed everyone but some are more relaxed than others, and I'm not sure age is much of a factor?