Saturday 21 March 2020

End of Strange Week No. 1

I heard someone say "Keep smiling through" which is a line from from the famous WWII song "We'll meet again" and various reporters have mentioned "putting the country on a war footing" but all the Covid19 restrictions are much worse than back then. Although cinemas, football matches and theatres were initially closed/cancelled all reopened and restarted fairly quickly when it was realised that people needed somewhere to go and socialise. Wonder how long it will be before things are re-opened in 2020. Longer than in wartime I think and Suffolk libraries are the latest places to close.

It's not surprising that supermarkets have run short of stock. Very few have big stockrooms like they had in the past and they rely on regular deliveries at times set by how quickly stock usually goes off the shelves. So maybe the normal is one toilet roll delivery a week and of course if everyone suddenly buys loo rolls then the shelves will empty, it would be impossible to get a delivery earlier than the norm - hence the empty shelves.
As I said yesterday I've always kept well stocked food shelves due to Col using the one car we had and only shopping once a month and I remembered  back to our first years at the smallholding when the only places to shop were a small Somerfield and a Co-op and it was quite a common occurrence  for them to have an empty space with the one thing I'd run out of, so I got into the habit of buying double when it -whatever it was - was actually on the shelf. Once you are used to opening the cupboard and seeing it nicely full it's a difficult habit to change. Moving here and being widowed hasn't changed my preparedness - I'm a long way from a shop now.

This is the 3rd post in the first week about the Strange  Times but  back to the ordinary stuff and  the car was serviced and passed it's first MOT test - more expense but good news. I was thinking how ironic it is that diesel prices at the pumps are the lowest they've been for ages but there is nowhere open to drive to!

On Friday Youngest daughter had an important appointment and when the time was changed she asked if I could go over and take Florence to the final Ballet class before that too closed for the duration. Then home to stay in for the weekend.

I have a cunning plan for blog posts because when I went to Eye the week before last for the Weight Management thing, I stopped at the charity shop and found this, a quick flick through and it looks like every day of the year has a Saint.
So that's my plan,  prepare yourself to find out more about forgotten Saints than you ever wanted to know!

 And because of the book I found yesterday -20th - was St Cuthbert's day (some people might know why that's an important one for me😉) and today is the special day of St Nicholas von Flue who in 1481 was a hermit living in Switzerland and known as the wisest person in the country. He became a hermit after marrying and having 10 children!


This week I'm grateful for
  • Keeping well so far
  • The car passing MOT and it will save wear and tear if I don't go out far!
  • Cupboards stocked
  • That 48 loo roll delivery from the "Who Gives a Crap" company. 

Have the best weekend that you can, we've put off mothers day celebrations until this is all over. I'm not in the vulnerable groups It's only because being on my own I'd quite like to avoid catching anything if I can.

I've just seen a local weather forecast for next week - cold nights, chilly wind  but SUNSHINE - good news indeed.

Back Monday
Sue

46 comments:

  1. im not sociable or a joiner inner so nothing has changed im just having to forage more frequently because they dont have transport

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  2. Morrison's had everything I needed yesterday afternoon and was quiet. M&S same in the morning for my treats of ready meals for three days. I went to the library and got one book and people were taking the maximum 15! I then discovered it closes today until further notice. Never mind, 600 pages of Stalin will keep me occupied. Sunshine and blue sky here.

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    1. 600 pages of Stalin sounds like something I wouldn't like!
      So good to open the curtains to sun this morning after lots of grey days

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  3. I too have always kept a full store cupboard. We used to live out in the country and for quite a while I only went to town for groceries once a month. It certainly is a habit you get into, I hate it when my stores run low.
    Hope you enjoyed St Cuthbert's Day! :)

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    1. A busy day yesterday, sunshine and gardening today

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  4. Well St.Cuthbert wasn't much of a dad, if he retired to a hermitage and left his children;) I do love saints by the way and have a glorious book on Welsh Saints.

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    1. It was the other one Nicholas von flue who became a hermit. St Cuthbert was much more well known

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  5. Glad to hear you are well stocked (thought you would be) and I am sure you are getting busy sowing things in the greenhouse too. I'm going to start some leeks off today, and I'm about to go and start beanshoots too. I have some peas soaking to grow on the windowsill for peashoots for stir-fries. We have our "own" Ramsons growing about the place, so will get some Pesto made I think.

    Seeing "some" empty shelves is one thing - seeing supermarkets completely EMPTY of stock is terrifying. I keep a good storecupboard, and am surprised at how little we have got through this past week, being very careful.

    Thankful for a HUGE pile of unread books and then bookcases galore to rummage through!

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    1. My ramsons planted a few years ago before the dry summer are just about hanging on but haven't got any bigger.

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  6. P.S. Looking forward to the Saints. I have several books along those lines from my Archaeology degree days (and since).

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  7. I wonder how lipstick stocks are holding up? (Not as trivial a question as it seems - it was decided during WWII that lipstick, along with dances and cinemas were essential for moral.)

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    1. Hopefully there shouldn't be bulk buying of lipstick! Though it wouldn't bother me as I don't wear any

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  8. A lot of memes/gifs/quotes are floating around the internet, one saying 'our grandparents were sent to war, we are being sent to the sofa' or words to that effect. And it's right. It could be worse, we're just being told to stay home for very good reason.

    That said, it's not normal life and it all feels scary and strange. But we are keeping calm and carrying on, can't do more than that. And I'm sure everyone has a stack of books on their TBR list which will finally be read!!

    Nice little coincidence with the St Cuthberts day! It is indeed cold but sunny today, makes a lovely change!

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  9. The supermarket I worked in was Somerfield who sold out to the Co-op just after I retired and went to Wales. I have a discount card for the Co-op, but hardly used it because there wasn't a shop/store near us in Wales or here now in Devon.

    I always celebrated St. George's Day on 23rd April at the supermarket by wearing a red rose and it's surprising the amount of people, customers and staff (hate the word colleague), who asked why I was wearing it. The same with a little England badge I always wore on my uniform, which was before we won some football or rugby match since when everyone knew what St. George's flag looked like. As you can guess I am very patriotic, lol.

    Glad you had some good news with your car this week, puts your mind at rest.

    I could go on, but I've written too much already. Yes, see you tomorrow. Take care.

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    1. Have a good weekend - we have sunshine in Suffolk

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  10. SO glad about the car passing the test! Was Nicolas Von Flue wise [a] because he had 10 children, or [b] because he left the overcrowded family home and lived by himself? I for one will absolutely LOVE your Saints Posts! thank you. This is a time in Blogland for us to encourage one another, and to post cheerful and helpful posts. I hope there's a decrease in the garments-to-die-for, this-years-must-have type blogging, and more sharing of links to sites which are good for our mental health. One week ago I was on a train to Manchester, for 36 hrs with my wonderful daughter, a posh meal out, and then her baby shower. Now I do not know when I will see her again - or if I will be able to go and stay after the babe arrives. SO grateful for WhatsApp/internet etc. Vera Lynn was 103 this week. If she keeps smiling through, that should encourage the rest of us

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    1. People seem to be blogging more often which is good for keeping in touch

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    2. Interesting watching follower numbers

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  11. Pretty sure it was men who decided St Nicholas von Flue was the wisest person in the country. Wonder if that decision was made before or after he left his 10 children? ;)

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  12. Looking forward to your new book, I have learnt so much from your blog even thou my readingspelling is not good since the stroke.
    I finally but my sweet peas in.
    It's very windy here but dry so the washing is in the machine so I shall have a walk this afternoon. I think about the people who can not get out it's going to be a long while for them.
    My daughter works in a small care home and has she was a hairdresser for over 30 years is going to look after the patients hair she is a cleaned now.
    Have a nice weekend Sue and everyone else.
    Hazel c uk

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    1. Hope you have a sunny weekend and a good walk

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  13. I could understand becoming a hermit after 10 children, but what about his poor wife? I'm looking forward to your saint-a-day posts! -Jenn

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  14. Looks like vulnerable group has changed-not just elderly now here in U S
    Prayers

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    1. I don't think categories have changed here - yet

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  15. I think if my first marriage (I was too old when I married the farmer) had produced ten children I could easily have become a hermit Sue.

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  16. Looking forward to your saints posts! Tomorrow is my birthday as well as Mother's Day but I've cancelled all our plans. Like you I'm not in a vulnerable group but also living on my own means I'd rather take action by self isolating than risking it. Years of living rurally and feeding a family of 5 means I've got a well stocked cupboard and freezer all the time.

    Love the idea that bloggers can help keep spirits high by keeping our blogs positive! :-)

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    1. Happy Birthday and Mothers day for tomorrow.
      Yep, we should say only positive blogs allowed I think

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  17. Miss Sue - hello from North East Texas in the Piney woods! I am a new follower and am really enjoying your posts. I laughed so much at the being grateful for the loo roll delivery from the who gives a crap company! I had to check them out and they are totally wiped out now, on waiting list. We have been self isolating for a week now and learned yesterday we have a confirmed ill person in our county. Scary! There have been runs at the stores and toilet paper. paper towels, cleaners, rice, beans and now some dairy and fresh meats are out or very limited supply. Luckily we have a chest freezer that is full with a heavy bucket of kitty litter on top to help hold the lid shut, ha ha. Your life sounds so peaceful and pleasant! I read through your recipes but don't know what some of the items are,will have to google them. Also, what are the birds in your photo? Thank you ! :)

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    1. Hello and welcome to reading.
      The birds are Goldfinches who like Niger seed and Long Tailed Tits who like suet things and peanuts. Both often seen here on the feeders

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  18. I shall enjoy reading about all those saints - I'll be able to impress my boss when I get back to the office - I work in a church :-)
    I too always keep a good pantry even though I'm on my own - having some mobility issues and being on public transit means that I've always been careful about that sort of thing. Friends have laughed at me for years over my preparedness - but they aren't laughing now. They won't starve but having to stand in long lines day after day is something I won't miss doing.

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    1. I had no idea there was one for every day of the year

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  19. Self employed here so we always have a filled pantry of essentials. You never know when work might dry up. Like now!
    Have a lovely weekend

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  20. We are under a mandatory stay at home for 30 days which can and most likely be extended. My husband has an essential job so he is working and out of the house. I text him my grocery list and he does the shopping. There are smaller markets where the line isn't out the door and shelves are stocked. More costly though.
    I usually have my tomatoes in the growers by now but nurseries are shut down and there are huge lines at where I usually buy them. Guess we'll wait and see.
    I had a lives of the saints book that I bought years ago. It was quite interesting. I can see it from here as I sit and listen to the news.Guess I'll pull it out.
    Enjoy your books and your garden.

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    1. I think that will have to happen here as TV news showed towns and shops were all still busy

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  21. I have also always had well stocked cupboards, Sue, so no need to panic buy, but I do understand people feeling anxious at not being able to get what they need. We are ok for now and (hopefully) I have my on-line shop arriving next week. Frightening times. Look after yourself. X

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  22. Looking forward to your saints' posts. I wonder how many of them will be Europeans brought in by the Normans to replace our native Anglo-Saxon and Celtic saints. Glad to hear that all is well with you. I've been reading your blog for years but seldom comment.

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  23. Yes there is a Saint for everyday of the year, sometimes two or three (at least in the Catholic church). I shall enjoy hearing and learning more about them.

    God bless.

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  24. Supermarkets get their deliveries based on what they have sold thanks to the EPOS system. So the poor toilet roll delivery companies are working flat out at the moment. It's ironic that that is one of the things produced in huge quantities in this country. If folk would just stop buying them for a couple of days the supply and demand chain would right itself again.

    I think Sunday closing for shops should be brought in again, at the very least during this crisis. It would give shops time to restock and get ahead with the next days delivery due in BEFORE the shelves are stripped bare. Once folk see the shelves all full again maybe the panic will stop.

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