Wandering Off Topic

[Anthro]

It has just been confirmed that South Africa has its first case of the  Covid-19 virus. The person had travelled with a group of 10 people to Italy and developed symptons on 1 March.

Here, we have 51 confirmed cases. Major sports and cultural events have been cancelled and at least 3 schools have now closed. Wits University in Johannesburg has also just announced a student has tested positive for Covid-19. It has also come to light that personnel at OR Tambo International have not used the scanning devices during the first 5 days of been issued.

[Brietta]

I can't go to supermarkets any more due to walking and carrying problems. I normally have a week's food in as I shop online and in case of illness I have some 'emergency' food in too. I have added more to my emergency store because online shopping has increased so slots are difficult to find. I can now manage for two weeks if I can't get a delivery slot and will keep that topped up as slots become available. I feel for those who don't have the finances to stockpile, especially those who have to use foodbanks which are also suffering shortages. I have dug out my small camping stove also in case of power cuts. I must have a cup of tea!

My 'essentials' are Buxton sparkling water and Rose's Lime juice cordial and I must admit to having laid in a stockpile of those.

What really defies logic are the toilet rolls!!!!  First sign of panic and the first thing we Brits think of seems to be buying them up.  Must be something in the National psyche.

[ShiningInLuz]

In some instances there are now controls over how-many-customers-can-enter-at-any-time e.g. one supermarket and one chemist are definitely doing this.  You queue outside of these if you want to get in.  I've got no idea if this is national practice or not.

Baptista in Luz is still open to all, but quieter than normal.   

[G-Unit]

My 'essentials' are Buxton sparkling water and Rose's Lime juice cordial and I must admit to having laid in a stockpile of those.

What really defies logic are the toilet rolls!!!!  First sign of panic and the first thing we Brits think of seems to be buying them up.  Must be something in the National psyche.

I'm baffled by the toilet rolls too. My mother's weakness was sugar; I think it was the war that did that, but she always had a pile of it.

[sadie]

I'm baffled by the toilet rolls too. My mother's weakness was sugar; I think it was the war that did that, but she always had a pile of it.

An answer is a bidet


But IMO, good quality loo roll is a better answer, unless you relish the chore of washing the bidet each time.

[Eleanor]

Buy Kitchen Rolls and cut them in half.

[G-Unit]

Buy Kitchen Rolls and cut them in half.

My daughter told me they're all gone too. It's going to be newspaper squares and string like the olden days at this rate. 

[sadie]

My daughter told me they're all gone too. It's going to be newspaper squares and string like the olden days at this rate. 

I read somewhere that asian families have a kind of spray container that they fill with warm soapy water that they get used to using. 


A bit tricky until practiced well, I would think




Then there is one of these toilet squatty stools which would help with a lesser clean up job, I would think

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=toilet%20squat%20stool


BTW, I can understand the squares of newspaper, but what do you do with the string ?   The mind boggles 

[G-Unit]

I read somewhere that asian families have a kind of spray container that they fill with warm soapy water that they get used to using. 


A bit tricky until practiced well, I would think




Then there is one of these toilet squatty stools which would help with a lesser clean up job, I would think

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=toilet%20squat%20stool


BTW, I can understand the squares of newspaper, but what do you do with the string ?   The mind boggles 

This isn't newspaper, but it shows what the string was for.

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-emergency-toilet-paper-on-a-string-at-beamish-museum-118154728.html

[misty]

I'm baffled by the toilet rolls too. My mother's weakness was sugar; I think it was the war that did that, but she always had a pile of it.

I thought the toilet rolls would be a cheap substitute for paper tissues if you have to "catch it, bin it, kill it".

[misty]

Buy Kitchen Rolls and cut them in half.

Our water companies have requested people don't flush kitchen roll down the toilet as it bungs up the pipes & sewers. It doesn't degrade as quickly & easily as toilet roll.

[sadie]

This isn't newspaper, but it shows what the string was for.

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-emergency-toilet-paper-on-a-string-at-beamish-museum-118154728.html

Thanks Gunit


About 57years ago, we made our first trip abroad and staying at Lloret de Mar had a day trip to San Sebastion.  There I needed the loo.   Saw some wooden huts with 3/4 doors, in the park, which turned out to be drop down loos.  There was a dangerous looking big rusty nail sticking out of the wooden wall


Was sitting there doing what one does and sudddenly two rough pieces of torn stiff brown paper appeared over the door, clutched in a gnarled hand  and wham, they were slapped on the nail


Travel is wonderful, one finds out about foreign peoples that way and their lifestyles... and so much more.  We were early to Spain and flights / ferrys abroad and soon adventured farther afield.   All finished now but happy memories.

[Robittybob1]

In some instances there are now controls over how-many-customers-can-enter-at-any-time e.g. one supermarket and one chemist are definitely doing this.  You queue outside of these if you want to get in.  I've got no idea if this is national practice or not.

Baptista in Luz is still open to all, but quieter than normal.   

Should make it easier to control shoplifting.

[G-Unit]

Our water companies have requested people don't flush kitchen roll down the toilet as it bungs up the pipes & sewers. It doesn't degrade as quickly & easily as toilet roll.

Strange really because when I was a child there was no soft toilet roll, there was something named Izal toilet paper. It was hard and shiny and tough enough to write on but it didn't block the sewers for some reason.

[Lace]

Thanks Gunit


About 57years ago, we made our first trip abroad and staying at Lloret de Mar had a day trip to San Sebastion.  There I needed the loo.   Saw some wooden huts with 3/4 doors, in the park, which turned out to be drop down loos.  There was a dangerous looking big rusty nail sticking out of the wooden wall


Was sitting there doing what one does and sudddenly two rough pieces of torn stiff brown paper appeared over the door, clutched in a gnarled hand  and wham, they were slapped on the nail


Travel is wonderful, one finds out about foreign peoples that way and their lifestyles... and so much more.  We were early to Spain and flights / ferrys abroad and soon adventured farther afield.   All finished now but happy memories.

      When in Thailand,  we were in a taxi taking us to another part of the area and we stopped at a garage,  needing the loo we got out and went to the toilets.   A hole with wood either side which you stood on,  there was a bucket of water to throw down the hole!!   Very difficult wearing shorts!! had to take them off with pants and try to stop them getting wet from the floor whilst doing so!!