Garden Wildlife UK

Well, we might as well begin this Topic; hopefully it won't run and run .....
The trigger for me has been the news that the over-70s (that's moi) will, in the next few weeks, be told to self-isolate for up to 4 months. Fair enuf, we're more vulnerable than the average slice of the population, and anything which keeps down the hospitalised total has to be good.
My immediate reaction was, "Fill the petrol tank and get your hair cut !". So I have a hairdresser's appointment now on Wednesday morning and my tank is almost full.
I have my groceries delivered anyway so there'll be no change there - however, my next door doesn't have a computer so I'll have a word to see if she wants me to order her stuff and Sainsco will deliver to her. In fact, all of us here in the compound can help neighbours in that way.

Thing is, COVID-19 must be different from, say, SARS, bird flu, swine flu, Spanish flu, Asian flu and any other type of flu judging from world governments' reaction to this. The Army on the streets is unheard of, which has been mentioned by the media, and worst of all Cricket has been globally postponed.

Note to Self: Buy a l-o-n-g book !!

Covid-19 isn't especially different, it's just that the transmission is by contact and we don't have a vaccine yet so the spread is quite rapid.

We're having a meeting at work on Monday to formulate a plan to keep our labs open. The hospital has even asked us for specific reagents for the test kits as they've run out! I'm not overly worried. I'll just carry on as usual and use the hand gel we've got at work. I've made a list of jobs to do if I get isolated. I'm ok for food (enough for 4-5 days) but I'm just doing my usual shop anyway. It would be fine if it wasn't for the stockpiling imbeciles. I passed Tesco this morning and they were queueing to get in. Every space looked taken. They were all ready to rush the doors as soon as they opened at 10am! Ridiculous. The supermarkets really need someone next to the tills taking half the stuff out of the trolleys of the hoarders. I also passed Aldi a few minutes later and one guy was literally running out of the door up to his eyes in loo rolls!

Stay safe everyone!

I too am in the "at risk " category but I have no immediate plans to hunker down either voluntarily or by governmental edict. There have only been one or two confirmed cases in my immediate area so I don't feel particularly threatened.
I am more concerned for my 90 year old uncle. Although his home is on the edge of his village he does go to the local shop for provisions. He has little ability to store food for a long time. In the past the local shop has delivered to him I'm thinking he may have to resort to that if we get "locked down" as in other parts of Europe.

I to wont be happy that I may have to hunker down. As of last Friday there was one case 0f CV19 in the greater Plymouth area. When I went shopping last Saturday I took a wet wipe type thing and cleaned the trolley handle. But I did notice the buses that I went on were very clean on the inside. But I was still trying not to touch the hand rails. But gave my hands a good wash when I got home.

I do my grocery shopping online and I'm going to have a chat to my next door to see whether she would like me to do the same for her when things get tighter.
I usually order, for instance, on a Tuesday and get the goods on a Thursday. Yesterday it occurred to me that an early order might be a good thing. I brought up the website and was told that I was in a 'virtual queue' of over 15 minutes wait. Finally gained access at 9.50 pm and the first delivery shot was NEXT SUNDAY at 7 am. So I took it . Thing is, the website was only accepting regular customers, not just anybody, so my thought must have occurred to shedloads of usual customers too !!

What I can't understand is how the authorities know how many people are infected when the advice is "Don't ring 111 to report that you've succumbed to the virus unless you're seriously ill." My suspicion is that many more folk have it than anyone knows about.

I think this will run and run and the best tool for survival will be a computer, which of course is least likely in the over 70's age group which is worrying given the fact that the Government is saying "maybe 4 months self-isolation".

Have been reading though it cant be verified hat the actual number could be 10.000. But I also understand at the moment that our age group will be able to go shopping, once a week. Also if we are isolated that the police could be given powers to fine those who don't comply. The fine being a thousand quid. Also powers of arrest for those I take continually flout the new rules and even prison. Interesting times ahead.

But it will pee me off no end, knowing I may not t be able to get out for my videos. May have to put up with the garden. Am hoping against hope it wont come to that.

The Ministry of Fun has decided to shut down all likely avenues. We oldies will be permitted to go for a walk in the fresh air on the condition that we interact with no-one else. It all seems a bit Draconian until you read what Spanish citizens are being told to do .
At present the Government are trying to appeal to our better nature and are requesting us to co-operate but it could and might take a much stricter way of achieving their aims.

I read "10,000" as well. Wouldn't surprise me 'cos no-one knows.
From the scenes on TV I reckon "better nature" goes out of the window when humans are faced with a crisis.
As this has verifiably started in China, I think that a few home truths have probably been conveyed to Xi Jinping by other world leaders !!

Well at least I can still do my walks, for the time being anyway. And the weekly shopping if there is anything left.

myself and Mts JS went into our local town today for possibly the the last time for a long time. Our favourite coffee shop proprietor was wondering how much longer they would be allowed to be open much as we were wondering when we'd be able to sample their goods again. I feel very much for all the businesses trying to see a way forward amidst all the forecasts of impending Armageddon. Their main clientel are retired folk like ourselves and we are likely to be confined to barracks for at least 3 months so I hope their landlords and bankers will be sympathetic to their plight.