NewWave

Thank you this is really valuable to know. As I for one am finding it extremely difficult dealing with anxiety at the current time

I received an email from UBER saying they were offering free transport to NHS workers and they seem to have put quite strict criteria in place for drivers and passengers in case you were nervous of being in a car journey with a stranger

Today I went to do my grocery shop and wanting to support the smaller independent traders as well as being mindful to eat as fresh food as possible in this time I went to the shops on Lordship Lane. and the lack of social distancing inside left me leaving empty handed and upset. Moxons; was great no more than two in the shop and a wide enough aisle for me and my fellow shopper to purchase and browse safely. William Rose; 3 allowed in the shop at any time and marked spacing in the queue outside-HOWEVER inside they'd roped off the area in front of the counters leaving a very narrow space for myself and my other shoppers to circumnavigate in-in fact any form of social distancing between customers was pretty impossible it was in fact very crowded-suggestion-perhaps they should do 1-in-1-out policy with no more than 1 shopper (2 if in same household) in at any time, granted it would mean a longer queue outside but for heavens sakes its not like most of us have to rush to be anywhere! SMBS: (I think thats correct name?) no social distancing or queue system in place outside-due to the till area being right near the door where fresh produce is displayed there was a real bottleneck created where it was impossible to buy from that display and keep a distance..I glanced beyond and shop looked crowded so I left empty handed. Suggestion-no more than 3 in shop at any time with queuing in place outside? Organic Village (again unsure name correct the one nearish Costa) Utter shambles..no queuing no limit to people inside narrow aisles with staff filling shelves people pushing past impossible to keep any decent form of distance especially as other customers in there just seemed so unaware (or careless) of any form of spacial awareness.-again I didn't even venture to back of the shop where they had what I needed because it was too cramped and full with people browsing and milling about. As I stated at the beginning of this thread I REALLY REALLY want to support our smaller shops and I use my grocery shop as part of my daily exercise (killing two birds with one stone so to speak!) But I came away feeling anxious and empty handed. Numbers do need to be limited in shops with limited space within the aisles. And also other customers please try not to 'zone out' when within these smaller shops just maintain a distance these are extraordinary times and we all need to be a little more mindful of each other. thank you.

drewd Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I am taking the opportunity to take daily walks to > get fresh air and exercise. Where it?s possible to > take a detour to avoid getting too close to people > I do so. But sometimes it?s impossible to avoid > staying on the path or pavement and I am getting > frustrated by families walking two or three or > four abreast and taking up all the space and not > thinking about the fact that it would be safer for > everyone if they all went single file when they > see someone coming towards them. I have hung back > on occasion in the hope that people will get the > message. Sometimes they do, but very often they > don?t. Please can people exercising as a > household show some consideration for those of us > on our own. Yes I've noticed the same. When out walking with my husband at the weekend we made a point of going single file when people were coming towards us-on one occasion a young couple walked towards totally unaware of the space around them despite us being single file they were still much nearer than the 2m not paying attention at all-we stepped back and waited in the entrance to a front garden which then got sniggers and dirty looks from the couple when I glanced behind me when we stepped back onto the pavement they were still looking over their shoulder sniggering and rolling eyes at us. very annoying! can't people just have spacial awareness and respect. dont snigger and roll eyes at those older than you who are being rightfully cautious.

Zig-Zag Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I walked alone in the park yesterday, very > studiously maintaining my distance from people, > but I was always the one having to move out of the > way, which is fine but you might think they would > want to be careful for their own sake. Two joggers > side by side came up behind me, so I was unaware > of them until one actualy knocked into my arm as > they passed. Amazed at the arrogance and > stupidity. Ditto same thing happened to me. and with cyclists brushing right past me on the pavement heading to the park. Some people are just ignorant arrogant and foolish

heartblock Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Bike, food, bakery, butchers all allowed to stay > open. And Breweries and off license

Siduhe Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > janmac Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > shouting at people and condemning people has > its > > own negative consequences. We have to be able > to > > function as a society during and after this > health > > crisis. > > For me that's exactly the point - people should be > taking steps to put society first, and their own > personal preferences second. I wouldn't dream of > calling out someone who is taking reasonable steps > to keep 2m apart from others while jogging in the > park, but someone who is running around without > any care of the people around them, expecting them > to get out of his/her way is something else. And > I'm absolutely fine with someone taking a > different view of the risks to their own health of > the coronavirus, but much less fine with someone > who knowingly chooses to put other people's health > at risk, so as not to be inconvenienced in their > daily life. That's what functioning as a society > means to me at least. Bravo well said!

I noticed yesterday that Gails in Dulwich Village were open with queuing outside and selling bread and takeaway coffee I think they were allowing 1 person at a time inside. Today whilst on my morning excersise I was desperate for a takeaway coffee and I must confess was pretty damn gutted when approaching the shop at around 11am seeing a sign on the door saying they were closed until further notice and staff with face masks cleaning. I dont even like Gails (I avoid chains wherever possible)but it was an any port in a storm moment. Funny the things we miss and at the moment its takeaway coffee (we dont drink coffee at home dont know why its a foible of ours)I guess I should save the ?3 a day I'm not spending on it and put it in a jar to give to charity when all this is over.

womanofdulwich Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > We could pin A4 sheets on ourselves indicating we > want a 2m distance maintained, Shouldn't everyone want that? Aside from my partner I have dilligently maintained a minimum 2m distance between myself and others. This is to protect them as much as myself. Please be mindful whether on a bike walking or jogging this illness can kill.

doody Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Also, groups of 3 or 4, walking abreast taking up > half the path- please drop into single file to > facilitate distance when passing others. And > remind your cycling children to keep their > distance as well. So glad someone other than me has flagged this. today in Dulwich park joggers and cyclists not following the minimum 2 meter rule and even worse on the pavements outside people jogging two abreast (if you must run two abreast and you see a walker on the pavement have a quick glance and if the road is clear run into the road in order to pass the walker it only takes a moment) and leaving it to me to be the one to step off the pavement into the road in order to avoid them running either side of me very closely. And also not ideal adults cycling on the pavements -not everyone is agile and able to dodge out of the way and why should they?

Bread is food. end of.

May I add something to this discussion. Today I went for a solo walk to Peckham Rye park. 90% of walkers in the park were very respectful to the 2m distance-as was I ..we hung back if needs be to create the distance or stripped onto the grass to let the others pass. However on the pavement outside the park (opposite Harris school) which was pretty narrow no less than 3 lots of joggers ran straight towards me on the pavement huffing and puffing and brushing right alongside me (the pavement being too narrow to keep enough of a gap unless I'd flattened myself to the railings). In one case it was 2 joggers both running side by side straight at me causing me to have to step off of the pavement into the road to keep any more than a couple of feet between us. Thankfully the road was pretty empty of traffic so I was able to do this but the same thing happened on another road jogger on pavement huffing and puffing right beside me. once more the road was clear of traffic so they could have stepped off of the pavement safely and gone well past me. I would ask that Joggers remain mindful of social distancing and if needs be upon seeing a walker on a narrow stretch of pavement take a quick glance and if the road is clear of oncoming traffic just go round them.

Blackcurrant Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Even the worst masks stop people touching their > mouth and nose, which cuts the chance of > infection. FFP3 masks filter out nearly every > particle (if fitted properly) and allow healthcare > workers to work in relative safety in covid wards. > But they are needed by doctors and nurses, so the > public shouldn't buy them. > > Brits have a cultural aversion to masks that isn't > really rational. It might be partly fear of > embarrassment at being seen in one when nobody > else is wearing them. Its true about the Brit's having a weird attitude towards wearing masks. When I was undergoing Chemotherapy I took to wearing a mask whilst travelling on public transport for the days when I knew my immune system would be at its lowest. I got sniggers, stares, and some schoolkids on a bus started taking the p*** out of me really loudly. In the end I stopped wearing the mask because it made me feel really awkward due to others ignorant reactions

Renata Hamvas Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Yesterday I spoke to the owner of Krystal > Pharmacy. He has run it for 40 years. He has > suffered verbal abuse from people who have been > his customers for many years. I have seen the > invoices for the hand sanitisers, I have been > emailed copies of the correspondence with his > suppliers if anyone doesn't believe me. He is > making pennies in profit for the hand sanitisers. > The supplier who used to charge around 85p for a > 50ml sanitiser wanted ?6 plus VAT. Muslin tried > various other suppliers and managed to get it for > a bit less than ?5 and is selling it for ?4.99. He > even looked on Ebay to see if he could get it > cheaper! When his old stock ran out and he found > the prices had rocketed, he dithered for a few > days as he knew the prices were so extortionately > high, and he wasn't sure whether to purchase any > stock. Local residents have kept coming in and > asking him for it and that's why he bought it at > such an inflated price. He now wonders if he made > the right decision as the high prices that are > outside his control have caused so much backlash. > > Other products have also shot up in price at the > wholesalers eg pine disinfectant has tripled in > price over the last fortnight and paracetamol is > about 5x the previous price. Please do support our > local businesses. > > Renata Thank you so much! I am not a business owner but it has grieved me greatly seeing the poisonous dangerous finger pointing on the site

Spare a thought for all those in in the retail and hospitality sector-not the highest paid jobs on the market many of the staff relying on tips or commission to boost their income. Suddenly they find themselves in an uncertain position as to when they will be able to return to work or indeed if they'll have jobs to return to. People in these industries are the least likely to have a savings safety net often living from one wage packet to the next. They will be terrified. kids will get their qualifications they live at home and needn't worry about paying rent and putting food in their mouths-Please spare a thought for the bar tender, shop assistant, waiting staff, what about them???

TheCat Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Some positive news....from the graun.... > > NHS to get thousands more beds, ventilators and > extra healthcare staff > The NHS has struck a deal with private hospitals > to provide thousands more beds, ventilators and > extra healthcare staff from next week to aid in > the fight against coronavirus. > > The extra resources, which include nearly 20,000 > staff, will also help the NHS deliver other urgent > operations and cancer treatments. > > The deal with independent hospitals is thought to > be the first of its kind and will include the > provision of 8,000 hospital beds across England, > nearly 1,200 more ventilators, more than 10,000 > nurses, over 700 doctors and over 8,000 other > clinical staff. > > Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said: > > This is great news for the hospitals and staff > doing everything they can to combat coronavirus. > > Under the agreement, the independent sector will > reallocate almost its entire national hospital > capacity to the NHS and will be reimbursed at > cost. > > Sir Simon Stevens, the NHS?s chief executive, > hailed the deal with the private sector, saying: > > We?re dealing with an unprecedented global health > threat and are taking immediate and exceptional > action to gear up. > > The NHS is doing everything in its power to expand > treatment capacity and is working with partners > right across the country to do so. > > David Hare, the chief executive of the Independent > Healthcare Providers Network, said: > > We have worked hand-in-hand with the NHS for > decades and will do whatever it takes to support > the NHS in responding to this pandemic. > > This significant additional capacity across the > country will be a major boost to the NHS?s efforts > to treat those patients that need hospital care > over the coming period and the independent sector > stands ready to maintain that support for as long > as needed. This is what I've been saying we should do. without this kind of intervention our beloved NHS staff will suffer even more. As an example of what its like out there a nurse friend of mine who had a mastectomy just after new year has been asked to go back to working on the wards next week -I stress she did not need Chemotherapy so her immune system is not impaired but she certainly is not up to doing long shifts and lifting patients yet

Renata Hamvas Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I did speak to Kristal Pharmacy and can verify > that the high prices they have been charging for > hand sanitizer are totally due to the inflated > prices that are being charged by wholesalers. > Others have even viewed their invoices and have > verified this! Another pharmacy has told me that > paracetamol prices at their wholesalers have been > increased 6x. Thank you for for verifying what I suspected. Now is the time to support our small independent businesses (apologies if I'm sounding like a cracked record here!) Not point the finger at them without proof on a public forum.

See my above post

Snowpanda001 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hello, I live on Sydenham Hill, just up from the > Horniman museum. > > Happy to help anyone in isolation and wondered if > there's any groups already set up for this area? Go onto the SE23.com forum Or start your own WhatsApp group with your neighbours thats what we've done

Try B&Q or any DIY store Farmers on LL had them as did the other DIY shop near Celestial good luck

I actually dont approve of naming and shaming local businesses and accusing them of profiteering. My reason being that we have to take the posters word on this and although I 100% dont condone profiteering in a health crisis Karma is a bitch and will surely bite the arses of those who do try to take advantage of the current situation. Therefore I would direct my anger at chains like Sainsburys charging more for items in their 'local' branches than they do in their superstores. The independent corner shop is probably scared that if he can't compete with the big boys on getting in stock at this moment in time he won't be able to pay his rent feed his family and so forth-so rightly or wrongly he may be hiking prices to cover his a** in these choppy uncertain waters. Please guys lets Name and shame the big chains with their local pricing policy (superdrug for instance being more expensive on Lordship lane than in other south london branches on certain items) But DONT name and shame small local shops when we only have to take your word for it and you could damage someones reputation and livelihood Thank you

seenbeen Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > In November/December there was a bad cold with a > cough going around. Relatives in Slough had it and > in Kent- although they all use trains from and to > London on a regular basis. It necessitated time > off work. 2 of the young ones were vulnerable and > developed pneumonia needing hospitalisation? Just > an observation I had that, It was awful..in fact everyone in my department got it and it took 2 weeks at least to go..I was living on Lemsip

I think that as long as Public transport keeps running in London doors on Overground and Southern Rail as well as busses should open automatically at the stops. I'm still commuting to work in W1 and it feels so unsanitary having to push the button to open the doors of the overground. Also because I was fumbling to cover my fingers to press the bell to get off the bus I was a bit late in doing so and the driver didn't open the middle doors of the bus..I'm 60 years old and not the fastest on my feet and therefore he'd shut the front doors and driven off before I could get out then told me off for not pressing the bell in time. I have taken to wearing leather gloves however on this occasion I had forgotten them. I thought I'd add this before anyone suggests I wear gloves on public transport

Our cat needs special dietary dried food only available from the vet. We've been there two days on the trot all gone people have been stockpiling cat food. Vet kindly agreed to save a pack as delivery was expected today and I explained I need to work and would come in later on. I phoned first as it is not directly on my route home. Delivery still hasn't arrived and they had run out of their medical neccesites too. If push comes to shove we could feed our cat normal food (not ideal but he wouldn't starve) But more worrisome is medical supplies not reaching the vet. This country is in meltdown and its only the beginning!