March 4th 2020
(I re-posted day one again today as I originally posted it in the wrong place!)
I know we are fortunate enough to be in a position to be able to self isolate. We have our pensions, a home in a rural community and no children of school age. Nor are we currently in hospital or sheltered housing. Plus, neither of us currently have caring commitments for our parents. We are well placed.
In addition, we have also been "preppers" for some time, although maybe only in a half serious way. We certainly don't have a large house for storage. It could probably fit into a basement of many of those American houses they show on TV. We don't have a garage or a garden. We have a few pots of potatoes and herbs in the front yard. Still, we've done what we can. We have done this knowing that family and friends may need to come ask for our help in an emergency or crisis.
If this virus does not hit us the way everything currently indicates it will, I see this at least as a learning opportunity - a dry run if you will. I'm already beginning to think 120 tea bags is not enough for a British lass for any extended period of crisis time!
We have two friends, a couple, we are concerned about. One is a supply teacher who will not be paid if they close schools. The other runs an air bnb, as well supplementing gig economy jobs. Both could find themselves income-less and unprepared. Obviously, I don't know their economic status but in the UK (like literally everywhere else) low interest rates have not been conducive to saving.
Today BoJo (UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson) announced workers will get sick pay from day one. This follows last week's campaign by the Trades Union Council (TUC) demanding every worker get sick pay from day one. Until recently they had to wait until day 4 to qualify. Even then the amount is a paltry £94.25 a week. Meanwhile 2 million workers don't earn enough to qualify, plus there are 23% of workers in Britain now on zero hours contracts. In this emergency the precarious nature of the much vaunted gig economy will be fully exposed.
Meanwhile, there is still much denial in our erstwhile leaders that there is any kind of crisis coming. BoJo visited a hospital to shake hands with people who may or may not have the C-virus. Prince William has been joking about spreading the C-virus (I knew those Windsor's were a genocidal mad lot!) and has opined that the C-virus is a "little hyped up". Meanwhile, the Queen handed out some honours today whilst uncustomary wearing gloves. Well she is about 150 years old. We don't want her to catch a cold like the Pope.
In UK news one of the largest regional airlines Flybe has gone cap in hand to the UK government asking for a direct bailout. It should be noted that like many businesses (also economy, despite the rhetoric) Flybe was in trouble before the C-virus. This has just pushed them to the brink that bit quicker. Reports from London City Airport this morning state there were as many staff as passengers.
C-virus cases have now reached 87 in the UK. The Government has announced it will now stop announcing locations daily. As people are still being told that wearing face masks will not help halt the spread of the infection they are coming up with their own novel ways - follow this link to see crazy things British people are wearing.
Meanwhile Camilla, Queen in waiting?, found herself an ideal location to self isolate.
[Evening Standard}(https://www.standard.co.uk/topic/camilla)
