|
Post by onlyMark on Apr 2, 2020 21:22:32 GMT
(I have spent many an unhappy hour at Frankfurt Airport, flying all over the place and never have I had a good experience there. Mind you, Madrid Airport is even worse. And don't start me on Cairo.......... Heathrow, Gatwick etc etc. I sometimes prefer 'third world' airports. At least you expect chaos.)
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Apr 2, 2020 21:29:03 GMT
I was happy to see it again since I haven't been there since about 1983... with my mother. Of course it didn't look like that in those days.
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Apr 2, 2020 21:52:24 GMT
Note Peru’s odd sexual segregation of grocery shoppers. (From the latest State Department Advisory: Event: Two flights will depart tomorrow, April 3, one each from Lima and Cusco. Currently, the last U.S. Government chartered repatriation flight is scheduled for Sunday, April 5. We will continue to work with the Government of Peru and the private sector to arrange additional flights. Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra announced additional quarantine measures, including a gender-based limitation on visits to grocery stores and banks, and other routine business. Men will be allowed to leave their homes only on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Women will be allowed to leave their homes only on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. No one will be allowed to conduct routine business on Sundays. These measures will take effect on Friday, April 3. The Peruvian government will provide additional clarification on these measures this evening, but our current understanding is that it will not affect repatriation efforts. All manifested travelers should carry a copy of their transit letter at all times. To ensure that we are aware of your interest in repatriation, if you have not already done so, please register at bit.ly/3bx5ons. DO NOT register multiple times. We are working hard to bring #AmericansHome. For Assistance: U.S. Embassy Lima, Perú Avenida La Encalada cdra. 17 s/n Surco, Lima 33 +51-1-618-2000 LimaACS@state.gov pe.usembassy.govState Department – Consular Affairs +1-888-407-4747 or +1-202-501-4444 Peru Country Information U.S. Embassy’s COVID-19 Webpage To receive alerts, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Need help? Email: CASTEP@state.gov Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
|
|
|
Post by rikita on Apr 2, 2020 22:14:35 GMT
maybe they want to ensure that way, that only one family member does the shopping instead of them going together?
i read that some shops in various places (read examples from the UK and also one from germany) are taking the one person only rule very strictly by not allowing children to enter the shop with their parent, including refusing single parents with young children (like, too old to sit in the shopping cart, but too young to be left alone). fortunately, the shop i usually go to doesn't seem to plan anything like that. though i always worry when shopping that i might be behaving wrongly, as sometimes i act automatically the way i am used to (like, i can't move through the store quickly in one direction, i move back and forth in the order of my shopping list, rather than in the order how items are placed in the shelves ...)
|
|
|
Post by questa on Apr 2, 2020 23:25:06 GMT
"Mummy, What does 'crowd' mean?"
|
|
|
Post by lagatta on Apr 2, 2020 23:32:29 GMT
There are women only carriages on railways in quite a few countries (of different cultures) where groping and sexual violence is a serious problem. Perhaps that measure is in response to such complaints.
|
|
|
Post by onlyMark on Apr 3, 2020 6:09:07 GMT
....the shop i usually go to..... If you usually go to it, you probably can imagine the layout in your mind. So me being the organised smartarse and again having a usual supermarket, I cut my visits short to give others chance to shop and to minimize my exposure to others by writing my shopping list as I think of things between shopping trips, then write is quickly again just before I go, but in the order of which shelf is which on the route through the supermarket. I sometimes have to cross over my path but it is rare I have to re-trace my steps and dodge about here and there, up and down, back and forth to work my way down the list. But that's just me. There could be a simple solution, for me anyway in your shoes, to the problem of if you go with a. and in the unlikely event they don't let you in because there is more than one of you. "Ahh sorry, but I'm a single mother and there's nobody else to look after her. If you just amuse her for fifteen minutes or so, I'll be as quick as I can. She likes to play hopscotch and watch Pippi Langstrumpf. Thank you. And don't give her any sweets. See you in a bit." The one person rule may be in good intention, but it isn't up to you to find a solution to that or any other rule where a person doesn't fit cleanly into it, it is up to the rule maker or their proxy, in this case the guard/manager at the supermarket. Don't be afraid of calling somebody out to find a solution to they rule they made or are enforcing because you can't comply with it for good reason.
|
|
|
Post by whatagain on Apr 3, 2020 8:51:48 GMT
One in a shop is a rule in Belgium. With some arseholez enforcing it strictly.
Mind you for the moment we hear of whole shipments of masks being redirected to US. some guy renegotiates at the airport offering 3 times more and the masks go to US instead of going to France.
We are all going to love it.
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Apr 3, 2020 9:00:41 GMT
Walking home from the store a few minutes ago, I saw a car go past. The window was down and the driver had her mask pulled down so she could smoke! Worried about her health, I guess.
|
|
|
Post by questa on Apr 3, 2020 10:17:30 GMT
A woman in Melbourne who has a small business sewing clothes has had her machines modified so she and her 6 staff could make masks. She has just employed more machinists. She has definite orders for a hundred and 45 million masks by early June. She will only deal with the Govt direct.
Another woman, same city, used to make designer clothes. She could see the design faults in the 'scrubs' which made them uncomfortable when the wearer had things draped over themselves. She has designed and made up 2 dozen sets and the nurses bought them all in a few minutes. She, also, is going into mass production.
|
|
|
Post by onlyMark on Apr 3, 2020 11:25:07 GMT
You'll never believe what happened today and concerning my last post on here. I went to the supermarket this morning, they are enforcing just one person to enter. No queue to get in but as was behind a middle aged man and his quite older father who was walking with the aid of two sticks as I got to the door. The security man stopped them and told them only one person etc etc. The younger man mentioned about shopping for and with his dad so they he got the right things. The security man was adamant. Only one person.
The younger man said the the security person, ok, you hold onto him then as he's a bit unsteady on his feet. I'll go in and keep bringing stuff to the door to see if it is ok for him. I was stopped from going in by them blocking off the door and that meant a woman behind me also got blocked. She came around me and told the security man to stop being an idiot and an 'Arschloch' (arsehole) and let them in. He did.
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Apr 3, 2020 13:32:06 GMT
Mark, I call that following orders BUT the order giver had not anticipated a case where two people have to shop together and was probably terrified to use his discretion until forced to. Glad someone showed him the way.
|
|
|
Post by onlyMark on Apr 3, 2020 14:00:07 GMT
I think the main problem is the security people are not from the supermarket but from a low paid security firm. That's what they looked like and I expect a lot of places have had to quickly contract out to these firms in order to fulfill the instructions given from HQ. Hence little flexibility or initiative. I vary my supermarket shopping places from time to time and have noticed this in all of them. My local one now has a guy on it who seems to always be there and knows what he is doing now.
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Apr 3, 2020 14:47:24 GMT
Rikita, taking only Mark’s organization to a more OCD level, I have for many years maintained a shopping list organized by section of the store, so I rarely have to backtrack and can get in and out quickly.
I used to write headings on the blank pad: dairy, meat, frozen in the left column, dry goods and canned/jarred foods on the right, produce occupying most of the lower part of the page, followed by miscellaneous/non-food items.
After awhile the titles became superfluous and I just write the list items directly into the space they belong. The list hangs on the fridge and as I get low on or use up something it goes down on the list. I never have to rewrite my list before a shopping trip.
Now if I could just make out my hen’s scratching!
|
|
|
Post by lagatta on Apr 3, 2020 15:13:13 GMT
The small supermarket (Supermarché PA, in the Mile-End neighbourhood just south of mine) had a very competent and pleasant young man (the size of a rugby or American football player, so nobody would mess with him) advising us how to behave and spraying disinfectant on our hands. But yes, this is not always the case. I'm always afraid I'll sneeze or cough (seasonal allergies I get every year).
Our mayor, Valérie Plante, has been sensible overall but said a few weird things yesterday, like people should only shop for groceries every other week. She lives in my neighbourhood and knows full well that lots of us have small (but usually pleasant) flats with little kitchen storage space.
Someone said that people should not shop in neighbourhoods other than our own. Technically, Mile-End is in a different borough (the Plateau) separated by a railway line, though the road under the railway overpass was all re-done with dedicated safe paths for cyclists and for pedestrians, and PA is no farther from me than the Jean-Talon Market. The only grocery closer is Milano, an Italian supermarket that is good but quite pricy; I can't afford to do a whole shop there while watching my funds closely. PA is Greek and has much the same Mediterranean staples, including cheese I can eat, and is generally much less pricy.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Apr 3, 2020 15:51:36 GMT
God deliver us from the literal-minded! The accounts of a parent with a small child or the son with his elderly father being turned away are not only infuriating, they're scary in how they demonstrate the "I was only following orders" aspect of humans. Our mayor, Valérie Plante, has been sensible overall but said a few weird things yesterday, like people should only shop for groceries every other week. She lives in my neighbourhood and knows full well that lots of us have small (but usually pleasant) flats with little kitchen storage space. I don't think it's all that weird in the sense of trying to get people to figure out ways to go out less often. I don't refrigerate most of my produce and because of my proximity to the market I was in the habit of wandering over there almost every day. But if we're going to be serious about isolating ourselves, we're going to have to change our habits. Yesterday I was forced to finally go replenish supplies and felt as though I was undoing all my previous good work of isolating.
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Apr 3, 2020 16:13:11 GMT
Mrs Cactus wanders left to right, up and down, backwards and forwards....
In the supermarket that is....
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Apr 3, 2020 16:14:58 GMT
If you aren’t already, everyone should keep a log of their movements and contacts, so if you DO get the dreaded call saying someone you’ve been exposed to has contracted the virus, YOUR contacts can be easily listed.
I save the grocery receipts which include not only the store name and date, but the time, checkout lane and the name of the checker.
The baggers remain anonymous. Perhaps I shall bag my own next time.
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Apr 3, 2020 16:46:53 GMT
Don't American supermarkets change stuff around? In France, every once in a while things are moved to another aisle or area of the store, forcing people to wander up and down looking for their usual purchase. The idea is that while they are doing so, they will see things they hadn't thought of before and buy them. It's called marketing.
No baggers in France. French customers bag their own groceries. Nice cashiers will slow down a bit if they see someone is having a hard time. But in discount stores, like Lidl or Aldi, the counter is very short so the cashiers are forced to go quickly and people don't have much time to bag their stuff.
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Apr 3, 2020 18:09:30 GMT
Bixa you said:." Yesterday I was forced to finally go replenish supplies and felt as though I was undoing all my previous good work of isolating."
We were right behind you! But in our case no going into the store itself but we simply sent an email with a list of groceries, telephoned them to check they had opened it and arranged a pick-up spot outside the door of the supermarket. We were told the amount on the check-out slip, got the exact cash ready in an envelope. Driving into the carpark two bag carriers spotted my husbands truck and dumped the bags into a large bin container on the back. He passed the money through a small gap in the window and drove off. BUT, this was the easy part. Upon arriving home he unloaded still wearing a mask and spraying every item with an alcohol based disinfectant. All bags disposed of into the garbage and things like cokes and a bag of potatoes will stay outside under cover for 5 days. Probably will spray them as well. He was determined not to break the fact we have had no contact with another living soul. I'm a fussy shopper so having someone else select my groceries is very painful - especially when you ask for Mature Cheddar and you get Mozzarella. Well I suppose we should be grateful that will probably be the only shopping required.
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Apr 3, 2020 18:27:09 GMT
One thing that is very strange in France is that in the outdoor markets that have been allowed to reopen, it is out of the question to touch any of the produce. But in the supermarkets, you can touch and select all of the fruits and vegetables with no restriction.
In both cases, you are obviously supposed to rinse everything that you bought.
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Apr 3, 2020 18:51:39 GMT
Don't American supermarkets change stuff around? In France, every once in a while things are moved to another aisle or area of the store, forcing people to wander up and down looking for their usual purchase. The idea is that while they are doing so, they will see things they hadn't thought of before and buy them. It's called marketing. Yes, they “re-set” our supermarkets too often. But that doesn’t affect my list, because meats are still with meats and dairy is generally with dairy and the produce is always in one area. The dry goods, jars and cans, etc., are usually all on the center aisles. I don’t worry about exactly where. I’m not THAT OCD! 😉
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Apr 3, 2020 18:57:46 GMT
My daughter has just left to go to the grocery store. Other than our two walks each day in the park, it’s the first time she’s been out since her arrival from New York City on March 18. Our local area has been under stay-at-home orders for the past two weeks, while our sate has been left practically wide open by our republican governor. Fortunately, his stay home order issued a couple days ago should help to force people in counties outside of mine from congregating at the recreation areas with privately owned swimming holes, as well as the retirement community oldsters to the south of me who have continued to host large community gatherings.
While typing the paragraph above, I received a call from my physician’s office, located at the regional medical center here in town. It was weird, and I was waiting to hear I’d been exposed to someone with the virus. Fortunately, they were just calling to say they needed to reschedule my July check-up appointment to a different day. Whew!
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Apr 3, 2020 19:03:41 GMT
Sheesh -- two weeks! The trip to the grocery story must seem like fun at this point. When was the last time you went out, Htmb?
Glad the dr.'s office call was nothing!
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Apr 3, 2020 19:25:18 GMT
Our Florida HOA (homeowners’association) has been informed by our insurer that for liability reasons, we must close both our swimming pools and the tennis courts, to avoid liability if someone using our facilities becomes ill or dies and the family tries to sue us for damages. Evidently, pandemics are not covered by our insurance.
I’m gladder every day that we did not fly off to Florida when we were sorely tempted last week. Though the weather sounds lovely and walking, biking and beach-walking/shelling are still do-able, as it warms up the swimming pools become essential to daily life.
Speaking of warming up, Montana sure isn’t! ☹️
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Apr 3, 2020 19:28:34 GMT
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Apr 3, 2020 19:46:41 GMT
Bixa, I started my quarantine when S arrived because she’d possibly been exposed in NYC, and spent 17 hours driving with her friend who’d also possibly been exposed. Thus, S could also be exposing me. We’ve done our best to stay apart while in the house and have kept everything clean. The long walks with the dog have saved us. I learned yesterday that the friend had taken a NY city bus across town the day before they left. Because the friend’s mother had a heart attack and needed triple by-pass surgery, the two "girls" left with just a few hours notice and only grabbed a few necessities, plus the dog. They’d also gotten out of the city before it had gone into lockdown, though S had been working from home for the last ten days.
So, neither S, her friend, or I have shown symptoms. Now the friend can hug her mother and father, cook their food, and play nurse. She’s also moved into the house from an old out-building where she’s been staying for the quarantine. The mom is doing well and recovering from her heart surgery, thank goodness.
|
|
|
Post by cheerypeabrain on Apr 3, 2020 20:43:46 GMT
Mark, I do the same with my list. We have a pad and pen in the kitchen where we all make a note of what we need/want from the next trip to the store. The morning we decide to go I have a quick scan of the cupboards,fridge and freezer and add items to the list. I know the layout pretty much of 3 Leicester grocery stores...so I rewrite the list in a logical fashion so that I SHOULDN'T (ahem) have to retrace my steps. In theory we can whizz round. What usually happens is that Jeff takes the trolley and is a couple of aisles ahead of me as I scuttle along after him with my arms full of the ACTUAL SHOPPING...*sigh* he's quite intolerant of other shoppers too...knocking trolleys out of his way etc...I'm behind him mouthing sorry' at the affronted customer...
At the moment all the big stores have a 'one trolley, one customer' policy so I leave Jeffers in the car and take my own sweet time. It's actually quicker, and I'm not missing stuff because he won't wait. If I go to Asda or Tesco I can use the self scan thing so I actually pack as I go and pay at the end, rather than load all my shopping onto the conveyer at a manned till to be checked out.
Today I had to go to the small local Tesco, a 5 minutes walk from our house, they only allow 3 customers in at a time which is reassuring. I was overjoyed to find eggs, peppers and salad leaves AND a Guardian newspaper. There are marks on the floor to remind customers to stay 2m apart when queuing, and all the tills now have perspex screens up to provide a certain amount of protection to those serving. I did notice that they seem to have a lot more variety in there...the shelves were stocked with all sorts of produce that they don't usually have...
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Apr 3, 2020 20:51:35 GMT
Our Florida HOA (homeowners’association) has been informed by our insurer that for liability reasons, we must close both our swimming pools and the tennis courts, to avoid liability if someone using our facilities becomes ill or dies and the family tries to sue us for damages. I have to admit that I am totally disgusted by insurance companies that are worried about "liability." I don't even want to imagine how the suing parties would try to prove that disease/death was caused by the swimming pools or tennis courts when there are a million other ways to be contaminated. I don't think that there has been a single case in Europe concerning possible contamination litigation concerning Covid-19 because it is in the air and everywhere
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Apr 3, 2020 21:49:23 GMT
The issue, I think, is that people CONGREGATE and socialize at these places, violating the group size and keep-your-distance guidelines.
They COULD have allowed family groups to schedule time slots to use the pools, like they’ve always scheduled tennis court time, instead of just closing them to everyone.
|
|