I am 77 Garrard and apart from a hip replacement I think I am almost as good as a younger person, even my butcher told me I was sprightly, cheeky man! we are as old as we feel, all this lark about keeping the over 70' s is a load of rubbish, there are a lot of over 70's still working and voluntarily
Louisa Maud
I am confused (a frequent occurrence!)
Having watched the news tonight - am I right in thinking that over 70s CAN go out, but are not supposed to socialise and should just keep distance between themselves and other people?
Or have I misunderstood?
IgorStrav and Dorrie -- thank you, that is what I had thought, but I wasn't absolutely sure.
Pheno -- I didn't hear a statement about those entitled to a free flu jab (ie over 65s) -- so that means over the coming week - over 65s, and those younger, with health conditions allowing them a free flu jab, may be told not to go out for 12 weeks? Is that correct? (Sorry to be so dense).
Johnson raised the likelihood of those over 70 and more vulnerable people, such as those with prior health conditions, soon needing to be “largely shielded from social contact for around 12 weeks”.
By next weekend, those with the most serious health conditions must be "largely shielded from social contact for around 12 weeks"
That is the only part of the guidance that does not apply immediately though.
The guidance is unclear and confusing which is a shocking indictment on those giving the guidance.
Also to criticise people for panic buying while saying that in a few days time people must stay at home for four months seems a very clear instruction to panic buy!
The BBC has just made available the full program on the BBC IPlayer of the briefing:
Compare and contrast....
I just want to say a word of grateful thanks to those working in the NHS and Caring Profession who are working on the front line at the moment. They too are taking risks with their health but because of their professional dedication they just get on with the job in hand.
How they will control us to stop us going out, I have no idea.
We live in a small village with no amenities so have to drive everywhere, there are quite a lot our age and older so whose going to shop for us when we're stuck indoors I wonder.
Meanwhile in America they are lining up to buy guns, not toilet paper. No surprise there. Maybe the guns are to protect their toilet paper.
Debra :)
Meanwhile in America they are lining up to buy guns, not toilet paper. No surprise there. Maybe the guns are to protect their toilet paper.
Debra :)
The BBC has just made available the full program on the BBC IPlayer of the briefing:
You need to have a TV licence to use iPlayer. If you don't have a valid TV licence you would be committing an offence if you watch it.
Here is the official guidance:
Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK and protecting older people and vulnerable adults
Published 16 March 2020 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults)
In all the confusion and madness regarding the caronavirus, surely the medical "experts" have thought of how Edward Jenner started the vaccination of people in the early 1800's to prevent smallpox.
Just get a person how has recovered from the virus, and get some of their blood plasma, and inject it into those most susceptible, with the antibodies with have been created by the recovered person.
My husband is almost 80 but I am a sprightly 58. He is now retired but only three years ago following a heart attack. He is fit and healthy but I worry about him getting this virus. I work part time doing office work in an environment which provides a service for people who are homeless and vulnerable. Following the government advice yesterday I have asked my employer if I can work at home as much as possible to avoid taking the virus home to my husband. I also fear for his sanity if he has to be indoors too long and can't get out to talk to people. My employer is considering my request and I should know later today. But, I was given the impression that I am try to 'skive off' which I'm not. I'm happy to do the work but I don't want to put my husband at risk. What is wrong with that?
Rishile
My husband is almost 80 but I am a sprightly 58. He is now retired but only three years ago following a heart attack. He is fit and healthy but I worry about him getting this virus. I work part time doing office work in an environment which provides a service for people who are homeless and vulnerable. Following the government advice yesterday I have asked my employer if I can work at home as much as possible to avoid taking the virus home to my husband. I also fear for his sanity if he has to be indoors too long and can't get out to talk to people. My employer is considering my request and I should know later today. But, I was given the impression that I am try to 'skive off' which I'm not. I'm happy to do the work but I don't want to put my husband at risk. What is wrong with that?
Rishile
So your employer provides services for the homeless and vulnerable yet they think you want to skive.
The attitude of your employer sucks big time.
And don't get me started on UHT milk. I don't know why it is my husband's preferred choice, but we always take 3 or 4 UHT soya, and 4 UHT cows milk. Since the crisis began we have only been able to buy fresh cows milk in plastic containers.
Nick seems to be very knowledgeable about a lot of things :)
So do you have to carry that and show it if stopped, Mike?Yes, and the gendarmes do stop you and check.
Yes, and the gendarmes do stop you and check.
What if you don't have a printer or have run out of ink? Are they distributing blank forms to people who might need one?
QuoteWhat if you don't have a printer or have run out of ink? Are they distributing blank forms to people who might need one?
You can copy it it (ie write it out manually) on blank paper. One of my sons works in the food industry, so he'll be needing it every day.
Hope no one takes offence about this, but it made me laugh
You can copy it it (ie write it out manually) on blank paper. One of my sons works in the food industry, so he'll be needing it every day.
Exactly that. We've filled the top part in with ink but the tick boxes and date with pencil so that we should get away with just one form.
Groom - No offence taken as I am still laughing at the cats ;D
We must keep our sense of humour or all will be lost.
Dorrie
The toilet roll panic is quite simple.
We have been asked to cough or sneeze into our elbows, therefore people need lots of toilet paper because most people can't tell their arse from their elbow.
:
Nick seems to be very knowledgeable about a lot of things :)
Preparing for an emergency and/or isolation was a fundamental part of my childhood. Where we lived made it essential.
As for not mingling, I have every intention of going to bowls each week, to allow OH some respite from having me around all the time ;DMany of the indoor clubs around our way have now closed down until further notice.
Crumbs, I can't remember Ipswich being that exciting and edgy in the 1970s..... ;D ;D ;D
....my favourite wine was on special offer, £1 off per bottle so I had to panic buy and get 6.
"I was able to pick up a shower gel"
What's a shower gel?
Spoilsport :)
Crumbs, I can't remember Ipswich being that exciting and edgy in the 1970s..... ;D ;D ;D
;)
I was living in a wilder part of the county, with fewer creature comforts than the town dwellers.
Regular power cuts in the Autumn, snowed-in during the Winter, plus the impact of strikes in various services.
Also having USAF families for neighbours was a constant reminder we might only be days away from bright flashes in the sky followed by an urgent need to stay at home and survive on what we had in the house.
I imagine in the future people will be talking about 2020 in the same way people of a certain age talk about the Cuban Missile Crisis - except this time it will be about what actually happened, not about what might have happened.
On the plus side I got to learn all about preserving and bottling fruit, what can and can't be frozen, keeping cupboards full, growing your own food, the importance of being neighbourly, and most importantly... to look for solutions to problems rather than complaining that someone else hasn't fixed it for you.
That last skill has come in handy doing family history research. ;D
"I was able to pick up a shower gel"
What's a shower gel?
Can you freeze iceberg lettuce?
Martin
Nick, I'm only 62, so I am still a free man.
Nick, I'm only 62, so I am still a free man.
Apologies Martin, I didn't mean to imply otherwise. :)
But I guess before long we will be following the French model and needing a very good reason to be out and about. Not sure if 'buying wine' will be on the list. ;)
Nick, "following a French model" sounds like an excellent idea.
Mart - Viktoria won't be too pleased with you if you do that. Although only yesterday she was hoping to nab a young policeman to escort her home --- so yes - get your own back!
Also having USAF families for neighbours was a constant reminder we might only be days away from bright flashes in the sky followed by an urgent need to stay at home and survive on what we had in the house.
I've just been stopped by the gendarmes on the way back from the vet. I'm glad I had my attestation filled out - instant fine otherwise.
My guess is that they'd be OK, as it would be easy enough to explain to any gendarme what they were doing. I think most spot checks would be in and around towns rather than on the motorways. To be on the safe side, though, I would print (or write out) one of those forms and fill it in, just in case they meet a particularly awkward officer.I've just been stopped by the gendarmes on the way back from the vet. I'm glad I had my attestation filled out - instant fine otherwise.
Mike, do you know what the situation might be for people travelling, in a motorhome, through France en route for the tunnel? My friends got out of Spain, into France, a few days ago but have to travel up to Calais for their crossing on Friday. Just wondering?
The UK police don't (yet) have the powers to fine people on the spot, so being escorted home might still be an option. But Viktoria needs to get a move on as I think the emergency legislation coming later this week will give the Police peacetime powers none of us have ever seen the like of in the UK.
I rather suspect, despite the advice given in that work of fiction, namely the "Protect and Survive" booklet, that should you have seen those bright flashes in the sky or anywhere else, then you would not have had a home and, should you have survived initially, you would have not lasted very long thereafter.
I've got a terrible confession. I went out to a local small supermarket to get salad for the next 3 nights and my favourite wine was on special offer, £1 off per bottle so I had to panic buy and get 6.
Martin
Thanks Mike, I shall probably be in touch with them later so will let them know - if they don't already. :)
Thanks Mike, I shall probably be in touch with them later so will let them know - if they don't already. :)
Not sure about that. Last night it was said that it will be reviewed in three weeks and if people haven't been following the request to social distance, and to stay away from bars, restaurants etc then they will bring in laws to enforce it.
A friend who is a mobile hairdresser works two days in a care home, so she's been told not go in. Family are not allowed either unless someone is on their death bed. She was telling me there is on lady there who has been married 60 years and her husband visits her everyday, but he's not allowed in. Very sad.
Gen...My SIL and BIL have travelled from Spain through France in their motorhome, they went out by ferry in January but travelled home yesterday via the channel tunnel and have stayed over in Canterbury and will be home tomorrow.
They have brought us back several boxes of wine ;D
Carol
I've just had the same conversation with my French neighbour. She advises actually writing on the form something like "Driving home to the UK via the Channel Tunnel". That's what we're going to do tomorrow.
BUT you only had to forfeit 2 bottles, I think. At least that is the rule in our local Aldi at the moment, no more than 4. :-\
Just announced - TNA is closed from 7.00 this evening :'(
I wondered how long it would be non-urgent surgery cancelled ::) :
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51933410
Carol
You are understandably worried about your son Carol especially as he is so far away from you.
Take care,
Dorrie
Hang on, you forget I am a pre war model!Nick, "following a French model" sounds like an excellent idea.
Be careful, her boyfriend might be a young policeman.Mart - Viktoria won't be too pleased with you if you do that. Although only yesterday she was hoping to nab a young policeman to escort her home --- so yes - get your own back!
The UK police don't (yet) have the powers to fine people on the spot, so being escorted home might still be an option. But Viktoria needs to get a move on as I think the emergency legislation coming later this week will give the Police peacetime powers none of us have ever seen the like of in the UK.
"a cheap drug that has been safely in use since 1945 to treat malaria"
Chloroquine. I'll have a look around, I think I might have some old leftover tablets. I wonder what its shelf life is?
Just heard on the radio that some of the "panic" buyers are driving out to the country towns around Melbourne and Sydney, and pillaging the local supermarkets. They are going out in mini busses with a trailer.
Much suspicion regarding the end place for the purchases. Some think over to China, for inflated prices, or even worse, local markets, again for inflated prices :-X :-X :-X :-X
. We also bought 4 500gram packets of mince. OH had to take two to another checkout, as only two allowed at a time.
Oops a filling came out this morning. Phoned the dentist. Was asked my date of birth and as I have just turned 70 was told that new Government rules mean that they can't treat me! Suggested that I go to the pharmacist and buy some do it yourself filling material. Is it just me or does anyone else feel that this is getting out of hand? ju
I' m away to find my Black & Decker drill!
Suggested that I go to the pharmacist and buy some do it yourself filling material. IBob Mortimer on Would I lie to You once said he did most of his own dentistry! I cancelled a appointment or Thursday as I have a cold [YES only a cold!!] & was given new appointment for April 3 - and I am well over 70 so are different dentist following different regulations ???
Can't believe your employer can be that insensitive! Madness, glad to hear you've decided to work from home yours and your husbands health are most important! As treetotal says Hysteria gone mad.I have decided to try on-line shopping which I have never done before. I also thought that I would do that today although I did a weekly shop (well, almost) yesterday. Hopefully I can get some for a couple of weeks time. However, I have just seen that Sainsbury will be giving over 70's and disabled priority slots. That may help a lot.
My daughter has made a good suggestion for us - to order shopping online for delivery in a couple of weeks time when things may be more difficult than they are now, she has done this just in case.
I managed to get onto Waitrose website last night to check but haven't made a list yet... tried this morning ... not a hope! So I'll make my list and around midnight when it's gone quiet I'll place my order for mainly fresh stuff.
Caroline
...Was asked my date of birth and as I have just turned 70 was told that new Government rules mean that they can't treat me!
OH had to take two to another checkout, as only two allowed at a time.
At the moment I feel like the world has gone completely mad! Panic and anxiety is being inflicted upon us all.
My local newspaper arrived this morning - front page - big headline 'We'll have to show stiff upper lip' - AND 'Pandemic in E Lancs Pages 2 - 7'!!
I am actually feeling guilty if I step out of my front door. I realise many won't agree with me, but I just think all the constant bombardment is over the top. OK -- we have the message - keep our distance from others and be sensible - but issuing all these changing guidelines is very confusing.
Why should we risk total disruption of society to delay the inevitable.
Mike, Ever the devils advocate :) :)
Agree totally with you, let’s keep a sense of proportion, 98% of people might get a bit of a cold, the other 2% me included, might suffer more but we would if we got a “normal cold” or the flu.
I would prefer not to spend my last months in solitary confinement.
Why should we risk total disruption of society to delay the inevitable.
SUPERMARKETS FIRST HOUR TO BE RESERVED FOR SENIOR CITIZENS.
So than means millions of us oldies will have to get up at 4 AM to have time to kickstart ourselves, have breakfast, take a shedload of medicines, do the long period in the bathroom, spend 1/2 hour trying to find the car keys then driving to the Supermarket to be there for 7 O’Clock only then to be mown down by the fellow oldies hell bent on getting first to the aisle with the loo rolls.
Oh joy
Just read that some distilleries in Scotland are stopping production of gin/whisky to concentrate on high concentrate hand sanitizer.
Does that mean I can drink the spare gin and vodka ;D ;D ;D ;D
Is it 4 bottles of the same or do they regard all types of wine as just wine?
We've got a big order from The Wine Society coming ;D
SUPERMARKETS FIRST HOUR TO BE RESERVED FOR SENIOR CITIZENS.
So than means millions of us oldies will have to get up at 4 AM to have time to kickstart ourselves, have breakfast, take a shedload of medicines, do the long period in the bathroom, spend 1/2 hour trying to find the car keys then driving to the Supermarket to be there for 7 O’Clock only then to be mown down by the fellow oldies hell bent on getting first to the aisle with the loo rolls.
Oh joy
No worries, your local authority action plan will spring to life, After it’s passed committee and the full council and been referred back to committee for reconsideration and... and..
Mike
Some people just don't get it.OH had to take two to another checkout, as only two allowed at a time.
But surely by doing that you’ve deprived someone else of their allowance >:(
I'm sure at a time like this you wouldn't make humorous comments about the inefficiencies of the NHS or the competence of doctors and nurses. So please - a friendly request - have a bit of consideration for other people who right now will be working very hard to help prevent Covid-19 turning into an absolute disaster.
...but a reasonable question would seem to be when are these plans going to arrive.
Probably not, as everyone can see how hard the NHS is working.
I've had nothing at all from my local authority either by post or by email, so no idea what they are doing to keep things going. Perhaps if they kept people updated we wouldn't have to ask.
I rather suspect, despite the advice given in that work of fiction, namely the "Protect and Survive" booklet, that should you have seen those bright flashes in the sky or anywhere else, then you would not have had a home and, should you have survived initially, you would have not lasted very long thereafter.
It has become quite fashionable to mock "Protect and Survive", but some of the comments are based on a misunderstanding of what it was really about. Obviously you won't survive if you are very close to a nuclear explosion, but for people further away it was important to know what to expect and to use simple mitigation techniques to try to maximise the chances of survival.
It's the end of civilisation - the Eurovision Song Contest has just been cancelled - :o :o :o
:)
We are sitting on top of Britain's Nuclear arsenal here, where is Ipswich?
Skoosh.
Can I lighten the topic just for a minute? it does us good sometimes in dark times to see some humour.
Can I lighten the topic just for a minute? If you are easily offended then please read the next post instead of mine.
Someone on an internet group of which I am a member shared a comical scenario she had encountered that morning. A delivery driver had called at her door with a parcel & had said, with a straight face, “I'm sorry, you’re not allowed to, touch my thingy anymore”.
Many people had a good laugh about it & the responses were very funny, it does us good sometimes in dark times to see some humour.
Keep safe everyone x
Just reading in my newspaper that energy saving experts are warning that people shouldn't watch too much television during the virus outbreak because of the impact on the planet of the increased carbon dioxide emissions. It seems that if the virus doesn't get us climate change will.
For the sake of my sanity maybe I should give up reading newspapers so that I don't end up reading this nonsense.
It implies that she'd touched it on previous occasions. :o
A delivery driver had called at her door with a parcel & had said, with a straight face, “I'm sorry, you’re not allowed to, touch my thingy anymore”.
Lots if brushing with a repair claiming toothpaste,
Well, being public-spirited I thought I would try ordering my groceries for home delivery. I am over 70 but reasonably fit and well, in the sense that I'm not on any medication. All went well until I came to the 'checkout' . . . I won't be able to eat for the next ten days as the next available delivery is 28th March :o
The best news is that after 2 weeks of internet but no telephone we had our telephone fixed. We had, at various points, between one and three engineers with us for 5 hours, replacing the cable between the front of our house and the street. I then tried phoning two friends to tell them the phone was working and neither of them was at home.
Martin
I rather suspect, despite the advice given in that work of fiction, namely the "Protect and Survive" booklet, that should you have seen those bright flashes in the sky or anywhere else, then you would not have had a home and, should you have survived initially, you would have not lasted very long thereafter.
It has become quite fashionable to mock "Protect and Survive", but some of the comments are based on a misunderstanding of what it was really about. Obviously you won't survive if you are very close to a nuclear explosion, but for people further away it was important to know what to expect and to use simple mitigation techniques to try to maximise the chances of survival.
I am not mocking and I understand what it was meant to do but the fact is Protect and Survive was the biggest load of rubbish ever produced. It was meant to reassure rather than be of much practical use. If the blast didn't get you then radiation sickness etc., etc. would eventually get you. Furthermore, it wouldn't have been just one bomb and there would have been utter devastation across the country; every city, every military installation, every seaport and airport
I am not entirely ignorant of what would have happened and what the result would have been. Today's problems pale into insignificance compared to those which would exist as a result of nuclear attack.
I am fully aware of the plans because I was one of those who would have been required to do his bit, but whether or not I would have been safe is highly debatable and I rather suspect that I, together with my colleagues, was expendable. Furthermore, we were never told what would happen to our families whilst we were out there trying to preserve law and order anywhere we were required across the country.
During our "Protect and Survive" training, such as it was, the consensus of opinion was "in the event of a nuclear war stick your head between your legs and kiss your a*** goodbye". Despite your protestations, this thought is something which, even to this day, I cannot argue with.
I am also aware that the authorities will have action plans in place to deal with our current situation and, I would suggest, these will be more easily implemented than those which were in place in the event of nuclear attack.
:)
We know that doctors and nurses are working flat out, but very few people are first-hand witnesses to it.Having spent 43 years working in NHS hospital laboratories, I know lab staff often get forgotten. They'll be coping with huge amounts of extra work too.
Just done an 'inventory' on our "other stuff" (food inventory was conducted and topped up to normal levels on Monday). In our mid-70s, and healthy - i.e., no underlying conditions.
Books - piles of them waiting "when I get a Round Tuit". (It appears that the Round Tuit is now available.)
Packs of cards, Scrabble, draughts, dominoes and Yatzee dice.
Houseful of chores (awaiting said Round Tuit)
Good-sized garden - currently STILL too wet to work but good weather is apparently just around the corner. Contains greenhouse with fairly good stock of seed.
One pair of legs each, in good working (or walking) order (save my knees, which gamely put up with whatever I throw at them - mainly paracetamol).
Have I missed anything?
Oh, and btw who has all the toothpaste? Shelves empty today!
Earlier in the week I read that sales of chest freezers are up 200%.Why would anyone want to freeze their chest ?? ;)
Oh, and btw who has all the toothpaste? Shelves empty today!
Guilty as charged M'lud. I bought two tubes last week because we were booked to go on holiday this coming Tuesday. I don't need them now. Well, I probably do...
Rishile
"Why would anyone want to freeze their chest ??"
Have you never seen the effect on a chest that the cold has ??
Malky
Oh, and btw who has all the toothpaste? Shelves empty today!
Guilty as charged M'lud. I bought two tubes last week because we were booked to go on holiday this coming Tuesday. I don't need them now. Well, I probably do...
Rishile
Oh how very dare you ! :o When my choppers have dropped out I’ll be after borrowing yours. In the meantime I have some salt, can anyone send me some soot ;D ;D
Who has been buying all the blackberries
Oh, and btw who has all the toothpaste? Shelves empty today!
Guilty as charged M'lud. I bought two tubes last week because we were booked to go on holiday this coming Tuesday. I don't need them now. Well, I probably do...
Rishile
Oh how very dare you ! :o When my choppers have dropped out I’ll be after borrowing yours. In the meantime I have some salt, can anyone send me some soot ;D ;D
I'm really sorry. You can have some if you want it. It's very cheap. Just £20.00 per tube.
If I had known the Canary Islands was going into total lock-down I wouldn't have bought it as I almost had enough to see me through a couple of weeks.
Rishile
£20.00 a tube for soot :o Now you’re just black marketeering, shame on you Rishlie ;D ;D ;D. Think I’ll make do with the salt....
Does anyone know why it was soot and salt by the way.? Can you imagine trying to rinse soot out of your teeth.
Could it not be that all these nasty viruses and natural disasters like hurricanes, landslides, volcanoes etc are all Mother Nature's way of controlling the rapidly expanding population.
Emeltom
Does anyone know why it was soot and salt by the way.? Can you imagine trying to rinse soot out of your teeth.
QuoteDoes anyone know why it was soot and salt by the way.? Can you imagine trying to rinse soot out of your teeth.
Goodness knows, but you can buy fancy charcoal toothpaste now which I suppose is based on it. It is supposed to make your teeth really white. Which it does...
The first time you use it, but only until you have abraded away all your enamel.
Another old toothpaste was sage and salt. That appeals to me more.
Of course there is always the old bi carbonate of soda. This has added advantage it is alkali which helps combats acidity in mouth caused by too frequent snacking now everyone is sitting at home.
I suppose you could chop up some sage in that to make it a little more palatable.
Even better would be to chop up some fluoride tablets in it!!!
Get that Mortar and Pestle out
Really serious issue! Haircuts! I have my hair cut every 5 weeks as it grows very quickly - if we have to self isolate - I'll be like Rapunzel by the time I'm let out.
My son says newspapers can carry the virus for up to 3 days
I had a friend who was a newspaper reporter and he would never read library books because he said that paper would carry germs for agesMy son says newspapers can carry the virus for up to 3 days
Where has he got that information from? I've tried Googling it and not only can I not come up with anything from a reliable source I can't find it from any unreliable ones either! So many tales flying around and no idea what we should believe. Please don't tell me he read it on Facebook. ::)
Newspaper info is from his friend who is a doctor. I couldn't find anything either but banknotes can carry it. Thanks, will ask him if I am allowed to iron it.Not a good idea with the plastic Australian notes ;D