Full Lockdown!

jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
Just seen Sean’s comment. To echo his points, my GP friends helping out in hospitals are telling me that the occupancy rate is 80% at present. While less than expected, it’s close to capacity and they are already struggling to find enough ventilators! So be safe chaps!
That's good, last year the NHS ran at 90% average occupancy! The average since 2010 is 85%.
 

yellowz

Club Member
That's good, last year the NHS ran at 90% average occupancy! The average since 2010 is 85%.

Not really. It means we have 20% spare capacity now with current cases, and we are nowhere near the peak yet.

To me it has been a matter perception. The public have not seen the issue in the same way as you see an earthquake or a motorway pile up, so it is not real. It will only become real for them when we look for the people who are no longer here.......................
 

jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
I agree that steps need to be taken to manage the capacity of the NHS. My point was really about taking numbers like '80%' in context.
 

uk66fastback

Club Member
I went to Screwfix at the weekend - and was greeted outside by a guy who was only letting ONE person in at a time and then only if you'd done the click & collect which I had. I had to stand behind a yellow and black taped line on the floor - while the guy went and got my ONE small pack of compression joints (£4.99 for two) for the rad I was putting in - he brought it in a bag, then ALL THREE counter staff in unison took two steps back and I was asked to walk forward to pick it up. I duly did so, turned and bade them farewell..

Although they're now shut!
 

Rob Gaskin

Treasurer
Staff member
Site Administrator
Dan and Ali, why do you think 'stay at home' doesn't apply to you?

80+ people have died today.

This is not a game for others to play.
 

AliK

Vehicle Dating Officer
Staff member
Club Member
It does - I’m staying at home from 11:00am today onwards until further notice. We even have home delivery booked to avoid the supermarkets etc. But couldn’t get anyone to deliver the stuff I need to fix the leaking roof and ridge tiles so I had to go pick up by myself.
 

SacCyclone

Club Member
Latest from the States;

I have been on lock down for 9 days now. Food stores have been open the entire time but many shelves are bare and they are cleaned out as soon as they are filled. Many have already watched on the TV of the shortage of TP, paper towels, 70% alcohol and aloe vera gel for making hand sanitizer, clorox wipes and many canned food and frozen food items. Lots of food items that keep in the pantry are being hoarded too. Been on Amazon everyday trying to order items but still not in stock.

Still plenty of food to buy but maybe just items you don't normally eat.

I only say this as you may want to buy things that you like and use a lot of sooner than later. I have plenty of food for a few months and all cars are fueled up but so far fuel stations are no problem and fuel prices are dropping.

Most stores have closed last week except for food, fuel, big box Home Depot types, and drive through fast food types as well as banks. All have adjusted to shorter hours!!!!!

We will likely be in this lock down past Easter for sure and maybe longer.

Stay safe, Mike
 

yellowz

Club Member
It does - I’m staying at home from 11:00am today onwards until further notice. We even have home delivery booked to avoid the supermarkets etc. But couldn’t get anyone to deliver the stuff I need to fix the leaking roof and ridge tiles so I had to go pick up by myself.

Good!

Off the wall example that makes the point.

A glider crashed yesterday and the pilot received life threatening injuries......................... If I had my way I'd have left him in the crashed glider and got his mates to fix him up. Tied up resources which could have been used to help people ill through no fault of their own.

I'm spending my days teaching NHS staff how to work from remote locations to treat patients by video or phone links. Amazing to work with such dedicated people.

Ali, don't fall off the roof!
 

jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
Dan and Ali, why do you think 'stay at home' doesn't apply to you?

80+ people have died today.

This is not a game for others to play.
About 1300 people died in the UK today. Most of that 80 would have been in the 1300 with or without corona virus. Let's understand the numbers for what they are.
 

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
About 1300 people died in the UK today. Most of that 80 would have been in the 1300 with or without corona virus. Let's understand the numbers for what they are.

Because it's contagious - you can't catch falling under a bus or falling off the roof or hitting another car......and if you were inside, none of that would happen.*

And do the 80% bed all have respiratory equipment to keep you alive whilst treated and your body fights the infection ? Here, they've commandeered vetinary equipment - better than nothing !

However, there is an increase in domestic accidents and violence and I expect the birth AND divorce rate to go up. We're expected to stay like this until the end of April at the earliest. They're expecting the peak (in deaths - that's what the peak is) to be early April here - in the UK it'll be just after Easter and the end of April for the USA.
 

AliK

Vehicle Dating Officer
Staff member
Club Member
Trust me, if I had it my way I wouldn’t be up there - but having spent well over £1000 on three different monkeys so that I didn’t have to go up there, only to find horrors, I don’t really feel I have a choice - especially when it drips through the ceiling and the sort of rain we have had and can expect.

The last monkey that went up to re-cement ridge tiles not only forgot about the cement (hence all the sand he put up with spit washed away) but broke 15 roof tiles in the process which he forgot to mention! [emoji849] £6k quote for new gutters and fascia!! The dear builders installing new gutters broke the clips on the joins and didn’t bother to replace them - and on their second attempt to get the fall right they managed to have “several falls” going back on itself so when it rains the gutters are overwhelmed and/or drip off the sides.

Hang gliding is more of a leisure activity than a necessity though! I totally agree with the point about pitting unnecessary strain on emergency services. On that note, how do we feel about people smoking and drinking still? The lack of alcohol and smokes in the supermarkets says a lot about how seriously people are taking this and their health.

The good news is, being up a ladder does make my bottom hole twitch - A LOT!! I have several eyelets in the wall to tie both sides of the ladders. The ones on the chimney connect to a climbing harness around me! This is not the time to be in hospitals or unable to take care of the family.

Joking aside on grabbing fuel for all the cars, the fuel to me is important in case of emergency with the kids and elderly parents miles away in light of unforeseen future events. Having lived through the Islamic revolution and the Iran/Iraq war, I remember fuel and food shortages all too well and rather make my own luck in an emergency where I may need to go somewhere I hadn’t planned to and fuel may not be available.

Because of the behaviours we’ve witnessed surrounding toilet rolls, during the war, we queued 48-72 hours for fuel and over 24 hours at the bakeries. People even used to add a second tank to their cars so that when they got to the pump they got double!! Thank goodness that isn’t our reality in Britain. At least we can look forward to Brexit at the end of the year and taking back control of the borders - if anyone is allowed anywhere that is!
 

jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
Trust me, if I had it my way I wouldn’t be up there - but having spent well over £1000 on three different monkeys so that I didn’t have to go up there, only to find horrors, I don’t really feel I have a choice - especially when it drips through the ceiling and the sort of rain we have had and can expect.

The last monkey that went up to re-cement ridge tiles not only forgot about the cement (hence all the sand he put up with spit washed away) but broke 15 roof tiles in the process which he forgot to mention! [emoji849] £6k quote for new gutters and fascia!! The dear builders installing new gutters broke the clips on the joins and didn’t bother to replace them - and on their second attempt to get the fall right they managed to have “several falls” going back on itself so when it rains the gutters are overwhelmed and/or drip off the sides.

Hang gliding is more of a leisure activity than a necessity though! I totally agree with the point about pitting unnecessary strain on emergency services. On that note, how do we feel about people smoking and drinking still? The lack of alcohol and smokes in the supermarkets says a lot about how seriously people are taking this and their health.

The good news is, being up a ladder does make my bottom hole twitch - A LOT!! I have several eyelets in the wall to tie both sides of the ladders. The ones on the chimney connect to a climbing harness around me! This is not the time to be in hospitals or unable to take care of the family.

Joking aside on grabbing fuel for all the cars, the fuel to me is important in case of emergency with the kids and elderly parents miles away in light of unforeseen future events. Having lived through the Islamic revolution and the Iran/Iraq war, I remember fuel and food shortages all too well and rather make my own luck in an emergency where I may need to go somewhere I hadn’t planned to and fuel may not be available.

Because of the behaviours we’ve witnessed surrounding toilet rolls, during the war, we queued 48-72 hours for fuel and over 24 hours at the bakeries. People even used to add a second tank to their cars so that when they got to the pump they got double!! Thank goodness that isn’t our reality in Britain. At least we can look forward to Brexit at the end of the year and taking back control of the borders - if anyone is allowed anywhere that is!
Yeah, if only we'd got brexit done last year, this wouldn't have happened. [emoji102]
 

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
Yeah, if only we'd got brexit done last year, this wouldn't have happened. [emoji102]

I won't rise to the bait - I won't rise to the bait but I'm sorely tempted.:rolleyes:

I'll just leave you with this - another 240 people died directly from Covid-19 here in the past 24hrs taking the total over the 1000 mark.
 

Bazzateer

Club Member
Brexit? Sounds like a biscuit.
Can't get home delivery at the moment so had to go to the supermarket for essentials. Nice and quiet, no queuing and plenty of fresh food, tins were a bit scarce but as it's just a 10 minute walk I can do my daily exercise and pick up fresh food.
I might even risk a run out in the Z in this beautiful weather. I'll be self isolating in the car throughout so won't interact with anyone.
 

jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
Same, I just went to Sainsburys in Bolton, it was empty of people and there was loads of food.
I was a bit miffed that the lady on the checkout sanitised her hands as soon as I picked my bag up, but that could have been down to my southern accent.
 

AliK

Vehicle Dating Officer
Staff member
Club Member
Same, I just went to Sainsburys in Bolton, it was empty of people and there was loads of food.
I was a bit miffed that the lady on the checkout sanitised her hands as soon as I picked my bag up, but that could have been down to my southern accent.

I always think you’re very posh Jon! However I suspect it was your greasy hands from all the work you’ve been doing on the car!
 
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