Covid-19

[charlesf6]

Clever, my man..very clever indeed!

[Kal2020]

Originally Posted by AnonYMouse

SB show news story

I hope the local vendors can work out something with the international and regional vendors, buy out their stocks or third party sales or something.

Does anyone have any info on those vendors who came from overseas after the Santa Barbara show was cancelled at the last minute? I heard some of them suffered great financial losses and had possibly put them out of business for a while.

[Diane56Victor]

Bit of a drama in my house yesterday. The freezer broke down!
I tried everywhere to get another freezer, but due to people buying second freezers because of the worry over not being able to get provisions delivery was going to take weeks, with my freezer supplies I didn't have that kind of time.
So I bought a fridge freezer combo, trying to do the right thing I bought online and tried to pay online....wrong! The system was so overloaded with people paying by card I just couldn't get through. So I ended up having to drive into the store to pay by card anyway as I didnt want to miss the delivery spot I had been promised.
So today...a far calmer day...the broken freezer is outside, old fridge has been moved into the garage and we are waiting for delivery.
My old fridge may get a second life as my son has a party caravan business as well as his truck driving job. So when this virus has eventually run its course people will again want to party so it may help to keep the beer cold!

[early]

Originally Posted by Diane56Victor

Bit of a drama in my house yesterday. The freezer broke down! ma
My old fridge may get a second life

That was more than a bit of drama!
And you can try to make an extra freezer, maybe, by turning to refig to its coldest temp. My old refrig sometimes freezes if the setting is too high.

How is your county with number of Covid 19s ? I have not read anything about Australia in a while.

[ArronOB]

Originally Posted by early

That was more than a bit of drama!
And you can try to make an extra freezer, maybe, by turning to refig to its coldest temp. My old refrig sometimes freezes if the setting is too high.

How is your county with number of Covid 19s ? I have not read anything about Australia in a while.

No answer from Diana so I’ll answer.

Cases = 6400, deaths = 61, population = 25million

Australia was lucky for three reasons:

1. Being in the Southern Hemisphere the virus struck in late summer when respiratory illnesses are at their lowest ebb. It’s rare to get the flu in summer and Covid19 is spread in much the same way. You may already have noticed that all Sthrn Hemisphere countries have comparatively small tallies compared to Nrthrn hemisphere and equatorial countries.

2. Australian urban design does not promote contagion. Although the country is 83% urbanised they tend to be spread-out cities, not high density. Also, there isn’t much inter generational living in Australia.

3. The exceptional bushfires that ravaged the East Coast this year had an upside. The majority of people were appalled at the political handling of the bushfire crisis, especially the Gvts denigration of experts and scientists in favour of lobby groups and their narrow financial base. When the pandemic started, the Gvt initially acted in the same way but it quickly became clear, with the scale of the crisis overseas, the public would demand an expert-led, non-partisan, non-political approach. The effect of this was to bring the genuine health/epidemiological experts to the fore in policy making (and I think it’s accurate to say they are now the major inputs to policy decisions), Parliament was dismissed (removing the destructive right wing ideologues from public influence), and a ‘National Cabinet’ of Federal Prime Minister and State Premiers was set up (forcing states and federal to work together regardless of their party of origin).

It seems to be working, but of course there have been plenty of missteps and things to be not proud of too.

The number of new infections is trending down quite sharply but I do despair of how exactly we are going to transition from locked down to the new normal without multiple recurrences.

I wish you well in your own management of this virus.

Stay safe.

[Diane56Victor]

Originally Posted by early

That was more than a bit of drama!
And you can try to make an extra freezer, maybe, by turning to refig to its coldest temp. My old refrig sometimes freezes if the setting is too high.

How is your county with number of Covid 19s ? I have not read anything about Australia in a while.

Yep that was first thing I did, fridge temp right down, we ended up with frozen tomatoes, they went in a casserole and a frozen cucumber....beyond redemption! Bag of not so frozen chips got cooked and our 3 chickens got a treat, which they seemed to enjoy.

Not to belittle the enormous loss in other countries, as well as those who have lost people here, as each death means the world to those who have lost someone.

Australia seems to be faring well considering the figures from overseas.
As of 3pm 15th April,
6447 cases countrywide,
63 died
371000 tests have been done.

I heard on the radio they are pushing for more people to be tested over the next couple of weeks too, even if its just a sniffle or sneeze..

NSW (2886 cases) and Victoria (1299 cases) seem to be the worst hit, but the cruise ship the Ruby Princess was allowed to disembark in Sydney on 8th March while 13 people were undergoing testing for 'flu like symptoms', cant for the life of me understand why anyone was allowed to get off ship, let alone travel to tourist destinations.

No doubt heads will roll after the immediate danger passes.

My state, South Australia has 433 cases with 4 deaths. One was a 20 year old nurse in a city hospital just yesterday.

There is a known cluster of cases at the airport and the Barossa Valley (tourist wine region)

The government is pouring out money to help those who have lost their jobs and to businesses whose turnover is reduced and employees have had hours reduced.
Whether its enough remains to be seen, I think economic recovery is going to be just as difficult.

Emphasizing on social distancing, dots on floors to remind of the distance required, reducing the number of people in banks etc at one time, plexiglass screens at supermarkets, along with shortages on some items, although it is getting a bit better, less panic buying.

We only go to the supermarket, and I go once a week to see my 90 year Dad who wont come and live with us while this is going on!
My sister lives closer and her hours are reduced at work now. I live about 2 hours drive away.
Dad's took it in his stride but he misses going to his social club for bowling, snooker and Thai chi.
He has a better social life than me!

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Diane56Victor

So today...a far calmer day...the broken freezer is outside

Good to hear that you're all sorted now Diane. That's one thing that is a real hassle - fridge/freezer breakdowns - or long time power outages (which then stop freezers).

The power outage issue was solved with a portable generator bought from Bunnings. I have at home two fridge/freezers (indoors). Both are filled up though hahahaha.

But - just to bring some orchids into this, as this is an orchid lounge ....... I will reveal that - near my orchid patch (growing area) ....... under the light-blue tarp (which was also purchased from Bunnings) is a back-up freezer ..... empty and unpowered, but fully functional. My cat normally sleeps on the top of it in the day time hahaha.

blue tarp freezer covering. The secret is out.

The tarp is just there to protect the freezer from U.V. damage only.

[Diane56Victor]

That's a very pretty plant.

[WaterWitchin]

Well, this thread died down for awhile. Now we're at June 1st. Here's hoping June brings all of you continued health, or quick recovery.

I tend to be more of a homebody the last five or so years, so don't really feel overwhelmed that often. About the only thing we've changed is we buy for a longer time when we go to the feed store or grocery store. Never were much for eating out, other than the occasional take and bake pizza or a sub sandwich.

So we set foot into WallyWorld a couple of days ago for the first time in many months (well before the lockdowns) to purchase mulch and cortisone. I attempt to only visit this particular store when my back's to the wall and everyone else is out of what I need without driving miles. (Brown mulch)

Only one "in" door open for a quarter mile wide store. Only one "out" door. Separated by a piece of yellow caution tape. Aisles all now "one way." I only noticed this after walking a few steps down an aisle to grab some cortisone... a sheep looking at me with crazed eyes, vehemently pointing at a sign with an arrow. Apparently at a loss for actual words. So many folks with darting glances, no eye contact, scurrying up and down the appointed lanes.

No elevator Santana music attempting to up my shopping experience, or elevator classical music attempting to make me stop, linger, glance longingly at random plastic displays. (Okay, that part wasn't so bad) But instead, a ceaseless voice looping over and over about social distancing, hand washing, how long to wash hands, how to sneeze... you get the drift. Both inside and broadcast outside over speakers.

I truly felt like I was seeing some sort of surreal Twilight Zone... told my husband it was like a cross between an Orwellian tale, The Hunger Games, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. It bothered me all day, and still bothers me today.

In the midst of all this, my hope is when the dust settles our "new normal" has found compassion and kindness again, or at least the attempt to head back that way. The experience made me start thinking of a novel I'd read as a teenager during the sixties that seemed significant at the time. I may need to read it again...

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair. ~ Charles Dickens.

[DirtyCoconuts]

i hear that Orwell reference loud and clear.

i have no problem telling someone to observe the signs or stay a certain distance from me but i don't want to so i don't go out. the idea that i have to tell other people how to be basically considerate and respectful is so disappointing that i just order stuff and do "put it in my trunk" pick ups.

i am only a short drive from very rural areas so we have been getting a weekly box of produce straight from the farm and skipping the shopping as much as possible.

i snuck through the barricades for a shore dive last week and got a few meals worth of ceviche