Panic buying

[Mobyturns]

We don't panic buy as such - however being a good Boy Scout, well Cub for a while, the "be prepared" motto stuck.

We also constantly face cyclones in FNQ so those of us who have been around for a while tend to build up the grocery shopping list with tinned foods & other staples (pasta, rice, flour, dehydrated veges / meals, powdered milk etc) even the old Spam and tinned corned beef from Aug through to Nov; then run them down from April through to July. Dunny paper as well! You can still enjoy great meals like a good hearty fried rice (rice, reconstituted dehy veges & Spam etc) or corned beef fritters with some good old 'mater sauce etc when the chips are really down. Sadly many are on very tight budgets an do not have the luxury of being able to prepare. We are amused, but also saddened, by the panic buying of perishables when a TC is on our door step!

Being a surveyor who worked in quite remote areas for a couple of decades has honed those skills.

I tend to do the same with wood working / turning consumables - always have on hand plenty of sand paper, finishes, commonly used drill bits, spare saw blades, even plenty of PVA & CA glue and CA accelerator to avoid those embarrassing "$hit I've run out" moments at the most inconvenient times! But occasionally the supply interruptions are longer than anticipated - my favourite CA accelerator stocks are almost depleted!! Damn!

[Pittwater Pete]

Pete

That prediction is a little disturbing given that here in QLD cases reported per day have escalated from 500 to 5000 to 10000 today over the course of a week and that may only be the reported cases if markharrison's comment in post #2 is correct! NSW and VIC are already way worse than this I realise. The peak is maybe a month away? Supplies are not going to get any better!

I might have to scavenge in the "wood tip" at work. Trouble is it is predominantly second grade pine.



Regards
Paul

Even with these high, and quickly growing numbers, the good news is that getting Covid is not hospitalising most people. I feel for those that are though.

It will all pass in time, we just need to ride it out and look after each other the best we can in the meantime.

Be well.

Pete.

[Simplicity]

Victoria as 51,000 cases at present.
So cases numbers are definitely getting up there.


Cheers Matt.

[woodPixel]

My son and SIL work at a local IGA (he's an excellent employer).

They had two big supply trucks not turn up this week, but still have managed to keep everything on the shelves... even the On Special magnum ice creams, which are my favourite (4 for $4.90!)

This will sound harsh, but we live in absolute luxury when looking historically and at other countries.

Only this Christmas, we had the close family over, and the FEAST we put out on our very tight budget was mighty indeed. I made the comment of "if this were 200 years ago, kings themselves would not have had such splendour".

I think this is true.

Being put out by not being able to buy all the things we need, immediately, at the local shops, is not the end of the world.

A little... deprivation... will make us more appreciative of our good times.



I'm also reminded of a journey I had when 25. I went to Chile, Peru and Bolivia on an extended trip.

I hiked through the Andes and over some of the most hell-forsaken desert and majestic mountains one could conceive of. Part of that trip was the western end of the Amazon. I often went through places that the only language was Quechua. These people were POOR.... really POOR. They had almost nothing. Most were famished and I'd say some kids starving. It was a harsh, harsh lesson on gritty in-the-dirt survival.

Each time I went through a settlement (village?) I ensured to give the kids some little breads, some cocoa "chocolate" (its AWEFUL) and some coca de mata leaves (a local thing). I'd stock up on these in towns before travelling out. Besides being nice, this ensured we were not attacked and robbed either by the locals or the shining path chaps. The other travellers, especially USAmericans, were attacked and robbed all the time. Some were killed (USA esp). A little generosity was vastly appreciated.

When I finally arrived back in Oz I was astounded by the wealth. The absolute availability of everything. I'd forgotten the incredible luxury we live within and have grown accustomed to (in fact, I was revolted by it).

I still rankle when I see in the papers, online or news about Australians in "hardship". Those in hardship here have no concept of hardship. (I admit, I still see it in terms of want, greed, stupidity and entitlement).

Its with this in mind that I say that a little deprivation wouldn't do us any harm. It may even remind us of the privilege we enjoy.

[woodhutt]

Not sure about lockdowns but there is certainly a case for grabbing what you want asap due to supply chain problems.
I need a new cordless drill and want one using Li-ion batteries. (My old one has Ni-cads and, while the drill is OK, the batteries are at the end of their life and will only accept a minimal charge). I've found the one I want at the price I want but, while they are listed at my local tool shop, they are out of stock and likely to remain that way for some time due to supply problems.
So, yes. Grab it while you can.
Pete

[woodPixel]

Not sure what this may mean, but on AliExpress and AliBaba (industrial) there are a great many vendors no longer selling on it.

Id say about 1/3rd of my bookmarks no longer point to the business/s.

[ian]

Anybody want to buy 3247 rolls of Costco brand toilet tissue?

shipping from CA might be a little bit exy