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Post by auntieannie on Mar 17, 2020 17:40:32 GMT 2
So, we're in a state of special situation until after Easter at least. This was announced yesterday, to start from that evening.
I'll try and do it journal style, maybe. We'll see what happens.
Feel free to post your own tales of self isolation/lockdown, etc...
So, day 0 was Monday 16th March 2020. The local government announced just before lunchtime that we were going to be closing all non-essential businesses from that evening and until further notice. I was at work, so I informed my manager and prepared the shop for several weeks of closure. At 5PM, the Federal government announced a state of special situation until 19th April at least. AT 6h30PM, I closed the shop and finished readying it for weeks of closure.
The situation in public transports was already quiet as schools had been closed the previous Friday.
Day 1, Tuesday 17th March 2020. Some people are having to realise what "all but essential businesses are closed" means. It means no hairdresser, no DIY store, no sports club, no fitness centre....
Like Slowcoach's Spain, the streets are empty. Although we are experiencing a wonderful springtimey weather. really agreeable.
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Post by tzarine on Mar 17, 2020 18:27:44 GMT 2
it's quiet here but people still walk their dogs. businesses shut up & down the streets groceries slowly restocking. the bicycle deliverymen are out en masse
i spoke to 2 of my neighbours for the first time. they were the members of the drunken frat delta omega gamma that my building had become. young males in finance, partying as if they were the only ones around, trashing the stairs w their beer cans. maybe they have learnt some manners
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Post by auntieannie on Mar 17, 2020 19:14:27 GMT 2
Day 1 - second part: Today was almost normal for me. I got up, did the laundry as I often do on Tuesdays. tidied up the flat a bit.
Went out to bring food to a relative, enjoyed strolling in the warm sunshine.
I do have a few things to do over the next few days. Many ideas come to my mind...
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Post by shrjeff on Mar 17, 2020 19:15:51 GMT 2
we've been super busy handing out laptops to our students... with the university and college classes limited to distance learning and no libraries open, no personal computer means failing...
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Post by OnlyMark on Mar 17, 2020 19:48:29 GMT 2
Did a few errands today just in case, but near everything is more or less normal during the day. Most shops are open for now but I think the restrictions start in the morning. Nipped to a large supermarket for essentials but a lot of shelves empty, so went to a smaller local one and they had just about everything.
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Post by tzarine on Mar 17, 2020 19:55:34 GMT 2
same here, mark
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Post by Baz Faz on Mar 17, 2020 20:28:07 GMT 2
Many shelves are empty in the supermarkets. I got the last pack of chicken breasts at Waitrose. I would have preferred thighs but there were none.
I enquired at Waitrose about home delivery. They have no slots available for the next two weeks. However I can click and collect which means my order will be at the reception counter so there is minimal exposure to other people.
Walking back from Waitrose I saw one pub closed and two others with only 4 or 5 customers.
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Post by OnlyMark on Mar 17, 2020 20:38:24 GMT 2
I've got a Ryanair flight booked for the middle of April. I'm now getting messages from the saying I can change it for no fee. Methinks they don't want to pay out for when they cancel it completely if I don't move it.
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Post by Voy on Mar 17, 2020 23:08:56 GMT 2
here too -tho not mandatory, things are very slow. hardly any traffic. actually went to the supermarket last night -- got the last cabbage ( well duuuh St P's Day)but there was plenty of fresh vegs.. at least those of you in Europe (and Lumi in Asia) have governments that make sense. unlike us with the cheetoh.
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Post by rikita on Mar 18, 2020 0:11:28 GMT 2
various shops here now have the rule that you have to wait outside, and only enter in small groups. so did a faux pas at the ice cream store, as someone stood outside and i thought they were still deciding if they wanted to get ice cream. they ended up going inside the same time as us, but only when we left i saw the sign and realized a. and i should have waited outside until they were done shopping. at the bank i got a scare when i saw the line outside, thinking it started inside - but it was just the usual amount of people, just waiting outside instead of inside. a few people cut the line and just walked in, when the security guard wasn't looking (probably not realizing either, that they should wait outside).
as for the ice cream shop, not sure how long that'll be allowed to stay open - it is food, but i guess not essential (though some might say it is) - i am currently not eating ice cream due to fasting, but maybe i should get a few more for a. as long as it is still possible (bought frozen mango, though, so i guess we can make mango sorbet at home, and as that is just pure fruit, i think i could eat that, too).
playgrounds are officially closed, but there were some kids playing football on the small field at the playground, and i saw some people on the playground itself, too. very nice weather, so also quite a few people out in the streets ...
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Post by tzarine on Mar 18, 2020 0:28:48 GMT 2
i've seen that, too, riki shops making customers stand outside waiting for their food. many are take out or delivery only
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Post by slowcoach on Mar 18, 2020 17:26:14 GMT 2
You have them, we have them, so do the Italians, French, who doesn't have stringent movement and other social restrictions imposed?
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Post by rikita on Mar 18, 2020 18:37:56 GMT 2
playgrounds aren't officially closed yet here, after all, apparently i misread that ...
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Post by tzarine on Mar 18, 2020 18:48:07 GMT 2
they closed my private garden
got a notice dear leader has closed the us- canada border
flotillas of bicycle delivery fill our streets way more rudea#$%^&*()_ joggers as the gyms gradually shut
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Post by auntieannie on Mar 18, 2020 23:30:48 GMT 2
Day 2 - after going to bed really early last night, I woke up feeling really good. But decided to not go out today anyway. Well... I carried my binbag to the "molok" disposal unit, and I sat in the sun with a book (with hat on) for a while.
My parents insist on going shopping. Their usual supermarket, better reached by car, is not so busy, but they went to another one for a particular article on sale and that other one was busy.
We really are supposed to stay home unless on necessary errands.
Still gorgeous warm spring weather.
A neighbour has come back from hospital. She'd been there since before all this thing exploded. Another high risk person around. hoping she'll be fine.
Interestingly, the weather forecast is expecting the weather to remain mostly nice, but the temperatures to lower. Let's see.
I wonder about lots of things. Like if the planes that were reportedly still flying empty to keep slots are still flying.
But what marked me most today, is the news that this virus is airborne after all. that is crap. And explains rates of spread.
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Post by auntieannie on Mar 19, 2020 9:41:54 GMT 2
Day 3 - Interesting how I'm happy to go to bed relatively early and wake up early, too! This is excellent!
I've been taking it as a mini-holiday for the moment, but I am planning a more focused approach from Monday.
Plans include: waking up with some meditation/exercise, then shower, breakfast, probably the morning online/working on computer matters, then lunch then afternoon offline reading/crafting/gardening/shopping/sorting the basement - evening meal, then some time online some reiki/meditation then bed. Or iterations of those.
Preparing tomorrow's shopping trip (today is a bank holiday), I note that there is a month's worth of toilet paper left (4 rolls). Will the toilet paper usage be more or less the same in these circumstances?
I was happy to hear we have more time to hand our taxes declarations in, but it's going to take some convincing for me to do it quickly now. drat.
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Post by OnlyMark on Mar 19, 2020 15:23:24 GMT 2
Similar to my day Annie. I get up, make two cups of coffee, take one into Mrs M in bed, the other I take into the toilet with my Kindle and sit down for a while. Check mails, facebook and things like Buzzfeed on the computer, go out for a walk, play a game or two on my pad, go to bed. I'm working up to the meditation/exercises/reiki thing and saving it until I'm bored.
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Post by Voy on Mar 19, 2020 15:34:55 GMT 2
My days, too, are assuming a pattern - tho unlike Annie mine seems to be going to bed later and getting up ditto.. but get up, get breakfast, the computer - including reading the NYT. then read on the porch. lunch. nap. go to pool for exercise. come back . shower. quick computer for mail etc. supper. then crafting ( needlepoint ) while sort of half watching tv - mostly old episodes of programs that I liked. One final computer bit for my treat of the day's NYT xword puzzle. One thing I am really enjoying is basically never having to "get dressed" ! I have 4 long and 2 short muumuuus. and that's it for now ( well, one at a time !) cool, comfy and perfectly ok to go out in or talk to people thru the screen .
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Post by auntieannie on Mar 19, 2020 16:25:52 GMT 2
Day 3 - second part
Today is a bank holiday, so I put on a dress and had lunch with my parents. (should I, shouldn't I? saying no makes them really really angry - I have kept my distances and not kissed them at all for a good month now. I am hoping for the best) Made the mistake of staying to watch the one o'clock news on TV. The news are terrorising. They're seemingly preparing the population for months of special circumstances. Urgh. I'll need to find some way of earning money.
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Post by rikita on Mar 20, 2020 2:10:27 GMT 2
for me, today didn't go that well - a. is slightly sick (had a cold for a while and her earache seems to be coming back), so she was cranky and didn't feel like doing school work, except for the school app at the computer. i had various work calls, and in general a lot to do, and even when she finally had done her school tasks, she came all the time saying she is bored and doesn't want to play and can she use the computer again etc. ... in the end, i finished work when it was time to start making dinner (and i work part time) ... well, tomorrow afternoon her dad is here, so that is good, and then it's the weekend ...
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Post by auntieannie on Mar 20, 2020 8:49:09 GMT 2
day 4 - my dad wants me to go find his breakfast cereals at the supermarket. It's a special brand and they're having a sale of it. Hopefully it won't be too crazy in there.
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Post by kuskiwi on Mar 20, 2020 9:34:26 GMT 2
Don't hold your breath re crazy. Even here with staid pragmatic no nonsense kiwis have created a run on the supermarket for basics. Now they have reduced hours which will only cause more problems. Can you tell him to take one for the team and eat whatever you can get safely without putting you at risk?
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Post by auntieannie on Mar 20, 2020 12:04:19 GMT 2
day 4 - second part: I got the cereals. Because dad insisted i had to go in the morning, I went. So there were people, but it wasn't overrun. The fear is palpable.
Some people are ridiculous, travelling in cars with masks, gloves... even saw some with what looked like the old fashioned surgeon's blouses. Wondering if people have private costume parties in their homes.
Today, I keep my windows closed as a worker is tiling my terrace. This is good. then I'll just need the awning and I'll be set for summer.
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Post by Voy on Mar 20, 2020 17:07:55 GMT 2
Annie - I can't tell you how much you are going to love that terrace. I am spending almost all day on my screened porch - as soon as the sun is off it...whoosh, I'm out there. sometimes with the ceiling fan on, sometimes not. Even way into the evening if there is nothing on tv... it's like being outdoors and not as stir-crazy-making as being in the house.
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Post by tzarine on Mar 20, 2020 17:26:07 GMT 2
bc a doctor said fresh is good tzar & i have been exploring the abandoned piers near us usually all the dinner cruises embark from there: www.facebook.com/
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Post by auntieannie on Mar 20, 2020 18:38:11 GMT 2
day 4 - part 3 - this afternoon, I went to do the planned shopping for myself. Because we were all expecting to be told we were in confinement from tonight, I bought a bit more fresh vegetables so I wouldn't have to leave the house too early next week.
The confinement order didn't come. What our government did was ask everyone to collaborate and they tightened the rules. it was clear that should we not abide by the rules, we'd be confined next time they speak. They don't want to force everyone to stay confined as they estimate it has a poor following elsewhere. Also, confinement where I live is fine, I've got an outdoors and private green spaces around the building for the residents to use. In larger cities, it is more complicated. if you live all on top of each other... But there are still way too many people not paying one bit of attention to what our government asks of us.
Our health minister asked that anyone with medical training announce themselves to their local authorities to offer help. I have sent an email, but doubt they will take my offer seriously.
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Post by rikita on Mar 20, 2020 21:06:53 GMT 2
i think here they said that they will see if people are responsible over the weekend, and then decide about confinement. well, i didn't go outside today, either, and the days before just for shopping - but still, it will feel worse not being allowed to leave, especially when it gets warmer (and the only outdoors i have is a small balcony, well and i guess we could go to the backyard of the house, there is a small area where a. could draw with chalk on the ground) ...
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Post by auntieannie on Mar 20, 2020 21:07:44 GMT 2
oh, there was not a roll of toilet paper to be found today. I have enough and my parents have enough, so we will share with our neighbours.
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Post by kuskiwi on Mar 20, 2020 23:11:54 GMT 2
I slipped out to buy a small table to use as an office desk. In the rush I set up on the kitchen table as an interim measure. Plenty of them available. Same place has a garden centre. Plenty of flowers but NO veggie plants and very few seeds of things like carrots. Most will die as they will have been purchased by non gardeners panicking. Chaps at work were doing the special tests that happen on certain days in supermarkets (usually Thursday or Friday). Pallets of stuff out the back (one supermaket had `14 pallets of toilet paper) but getting it onto shelves and out through the check outs is becoming a problem as many of the staff are older and have resigned and a lot of younger ones don't want to be involved. Coming home the carpark at my local supermarket was full with a tail back onto the main road. I'll try Monday as my hours have been cut and I'm still doing a mix between home and the office for certain tasks.
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Post by slowcoach on Mar 21, 2020 6:36:43 GMT 2
I have no first hand news of the outer world here, we have not been out of the hamlet since Tuesday are sha'n't be venturing out again until next Thursday, having missed out Tuesday's visit to the now non-existent market.
It will be the first Tuesday for a long, long time, that neither of us has shopped.
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