Covid - 19: How is it affecting you?

[OFSO]

No, if I did I would have. All house moves discouraged by government and if you are a decrepit oldie like me, obviously about to pop off any minute, absolutely no. We would have bought some where else by now but no estate agents in business and no public transport that we would take.

[Ex-Ascot]

Got our first cases 4, one has died. With our medical facilities here any bad cases don't stand a chance. Told from Friday we have to have a permit to travel. In our case that means to go shopping. Not told where to get it from though.

[probes]

Oh, Gosh, some aspects do look real bad.
Hoping things will work out somehow - let us know, will you (both and everyone)?

[Ex-Ascot]

It seems that strictly speaking our staff have to be laid off. Only essential work is allowed. As far as we are concerned that includes our PPO. The gardener and housekeeper have to make their own decision. They only walk about a kilometer through the bush to get here. The police do not have a car in the village which is 5 kms away.

All these people laid off we just do not know how they are going to survive apart from thieving. How are they going to flog stolen goods if no one has any money. The safari camp has closed. All staff laid off including security. The manages stay on full pay until the end of the month. These camps can't be deserted they will be stripped. At the one up river the manager's house is in the corner of a fair sized area. It would be easy to strip the tents of beds, tables, chairs even wash basins. Stupid laying off security. Most luxury camps in the Delta closed. Just had a house sitting application from a Scottish couple here on holiday. They said they are stuck in the country could they house sit for us! I said guess what, we are stuck as well. Pretty dull, they should have seen this coming. Most tourists are out.

[G-CPTN]

The UK government is going to commission airline to fly out and rescue UK citizens - don't know whether that includes Scots or when the flight to and from Maun will happen.

[Fliegenmong]

I feared that may be coming to your parts Ex-A, from afar it seems Africa (in particular West Africa) can go very bad very quick. Thoughts with you both!

[Capetonian]

It will go very bad very fast, where you have 10-15 people living in a hut, sharing bedding, no running water.
I understand the ZA government are dishing out bars of soap. That's about as useful as giving a blind man glasses so he can drive a car.

[TheGreenGoblin]

Pretty dull, they should have seen this coming. Most tourists are out.

I guess there are a lot of disconsolate young pilots sitting in Maun, too poor even to follow the example of their older bush pilot mentors who are, no doubt, drinking themselves comatose on KIipdrift and Coke, until, even their funds, like their glasses and hope run dry!

[Alisoncc]

Got cupboards full of staples. Flour, rice, pasta, etc. etc. But want something yummy to eat. Big thick slice of cheesecake, sticky bun, slab of chocolate. It's late and the shops are shut. Bugger.

[TheGreenGoblin]

I have just looked at the blue recycling box and realized that it was full of empty wine bottles... I really must have a word with my better half, she must be drinking more than normal...

- From the ladies of the Majestic

I'm normally a social girl
I love to meet my mates
But lately with the virus here
We can't go out the gates.

You see, we are the 'oldies' now
We need to stay inside
If they haven't seen us for a while
They'll think we've upped and died.

They'll never know the things we did
Before we got this old
There wasn't any Facebook
So not everything was told.

We may seem sweet old ladies
Who would never be uncouth
But we grew up in the 60s -
If you only knew the truth!

There was sex and drugs and rock 'n roll
The pill and miniskirts
We smoked, we drank, we partied
And were quite outrageous flirts.

Then we settled down, got married
And turned into someone's mum,
Somebody's wife, then nana,
Who on earth did we become?

We didn't mind the change of pace
Because our lives were full
But to bury us before we're dead
Is like a red rag to a bull!

So here you find me stuck inside
For 4 weeks, maybe more
I finally found myself again
Then I had to close the door!

It didnt really bother me
I'd while away the hour
I'd bake for all the family
But I've got no bloody flour!

Now Netflix is just wonderful
I like a gutsy thriller
I'm swooning over Idris
Or some random sexy killer.

At least I've got a stash of booze
For when I'm being idle
There's wine and whiskey, even gin
If I'm feeling suicidal!

So let's all drink to lockdown
To recovery and health
And hope this bloody virus
Doesn't decimate our wealth.

We'll all get through the crisis
And be back to join our mates
Just hoping I'm not far too wide
To fit through the flaming gates!

[Smeagol]

Sorry to hear of the impending doom in the Ex-A's neck of the woods.

Here in semi-rural Norfolk things appear not to be too bad. My local supermarket (Lidl) has almost everything in stock including toilet rolls and tissues and I think they are begging people to buy fish products as there was a big sign saying "No restrictions". However, I believe the bigger supermarkets, Tesco, Asda etc are still full of empty shelves (does that make sense?). I am told that similar supermarkets in our only large(ish) city, Norwich, are still decimated of many stock items.

Glad we live in the sticks!

[OFSO]

Tesco Express local to us has everything. One out, one in, well spaced, and a charming young lady not wearing anything under her loose-fitting jogging suit made my day.

[Ex-Ascot]

It will go very bad very fast, where you have 10-15 people living in a hut, sharing bedding, no running water.
I understand the ZA government are dishing out bars of soap. That's about as useful as giving a blind man glasses so he can drive a car.

Absolutely true Cape, like our staff. Discussing it only the other day with friends. And a S.A friend, whom you have met, pointed out that what they can't see they don't believe in.

Bonus. Our Internet is on a business satellite. Speed is up.

[TheGreenGoblin]

I note this from down South. I know we have one registered surfer on this site. Let this be a salient warning to him!

Actually he lives on another continent but I suspect the same rules apply there...

No more endless summer...

[CharlieOneSix]

Just got my "you are at very high risk" letter from NHS Scotland. It advises complete lockdown for 12 weeks but we are already just starting week 2 of that. A well written multi-page letter with good advice which says I will be contacted to ensure I have food and my usual medication. Mrs C16 has joined me in lockdown to make life easier living together. We shall have to think again - separate bedrooms and bathrooms, towels, distances etc - if she has to go to the shops but we are well set up at the moment and a weekly ASDA delivery starting on the 7th should ensure that continues.

I shall still be able to roam one of our fields once a day with the dog - won't see anyone. One of the advantages of living in the sticks, relatively speaking.

Thinking very much of the Ex-Ascots and hoping they will be safe out there.

[Pontius Navigator]

Heard on YouTube of trouble in South Africa- violence like. What news?

[1DC]

Went to the sons of Morris to pick up food from our click and collect slot this morning, i was quite surprised to see the car park nearly full. A lot of substitutes to our order and a few things not supplied, including bread. I stopped at the village Coop and picked up most of what was missing. We have one more slot for next week and dont seem to be able to get another one so will give up on the majors and use the local store. May have to start buying the Daily Mirror to put in the toilet, haven't seen a toilet roll for sale since the panic started, otherwise we are fine. We are also down by the head with mince, the stuff we ordered wasnt available so they substituted larger packets so we have three times as much as we wanted! All went in the freezer though.

[1DC]

The country must be decorating,Mrs 1DC wanted some wallpaper paste and none to be had anywhere..Pity,wallpapering would have kept her quiet and too busy to think of jobs for me..

[TheGreenGoblin]

The country must be decorating,Mrs 1DC wanted some wallpaper paste and none to be had anywhere..Pity,wallpapering would have kept her quiet and too busy to think of jobs for me..

Not like you can use flour to make your own paste either, flour being as rare as wallpaper paste at the moment, in these parts anyway!

[1DC]

Here too..