Stormy Weather II

[DracoM]

Forecast I use suggests rain tomorrow [Thurs April 2nd]. So.............

[BBMmk2]

Well, looks a rather uninspiring dull day out there! Humpf!

[teamsaint]

Bit better than the forecast here, quite mild and pockets of blue sky at the moment.

Just been out for a run, and it was very quiet just a couple of dog walkers.

Getting my breath back with tea, toast and Art Blakey.

Decent weather for scraping dead ivy off a wall ready for a new mini greenhouse.
Headphones on for that job I think.

[DracoM]

RAIN, at last!!
Well, for someone living in NW you can imagine that saying that with enthusiasm and some relief is very, very surprising and maybe even tempting fate, but..........rain it is!'

[oddoneout]

RAIN, at last!!
Well, for someone living in NW you can imagine that saying that with enthusiasm and some relief is very, very surprising and maybe even tempting fate, but..........rain it is!'

Well it did make me smile, given some of the bulletins you have posted recently. I hope the rain does what you want rather than cause problems by outstaying its welcome or delivering more than wanted.
It's the generic cloudy with sunny intervals here today , and in the last hour the mention of afternoon rain has disappeared. Here's hoping the bonfire loving neighbour desists today so that we can all enjoy our gardens and get some washing dried outside - but I'm not banking on it.

[Serial_Apologist]

I shall be up in the expected cold first thing tomorrow, and heading over to one of the bigger Sainsbury's branches (Dog Kennel Hill in E Dulwich) to attempt the old grumpies' queue at 8 am. Then I will be all set for the warm weather expected on Saturday, and, in particular, Sunday, when southerly maritime tropical winds ahead of a deep low out to the west are anticipated to raise temperatures above 15 C everywhere - that's 60 F in the old money - and maybe 19 or 20 C here in London. A big incentive to open windows and start on spring cleaning.

[DracoM]

Well, when you get to Sainsbury's tell them at least one of their customer - rural NW, a non-driving, solo living, 70 yr old who lives 15 miles from their nearest store and with an order clamouring for delivery aint' getting it OR receiving contact from them!!

Bah.....humbug ...or something....or just Grrrrrrrrrr!!

[Serial_Apologist]

Well, when you get to Sainsbury's tell them at least one of their customer - rural NW, a non-driving, solo living, 70 yr old who lives 15 miles from their nearest store and with an order clamouring for delivery aint' getting it OR receiving contact from them!!

Bah.....humbug ...or something....or just Grrrrrrrrrr!!

I would get in contact with someone in the village to help out when they are on their shopping expeditions - like I did with a common email to other residents in the block here that constitutes my "village". It was only subsequently that if anybody should be staying in and not making blithe offers of help it should be 74-year old me! If you are likely the only person in the village with a computer I would drop a note through neighbourhood letterboxes explaining your locked-in situation, and ending with the words "Make sure to wash your hands after reading this note!" - an opportunity to test out the much-vaunted friendliness and commmunitarian spirit of "The North" Alan Titchmarsh used to go on about.

[DracoM]

Wow! Is this all teaching me something about supermarket shopping methods, customer helpfulness, their blindspots and operational facilities. Been far too trusting up to now.

[oddoneout]

Wow! Is this all teaching me something about supermarket shopping methods, customer helpfulness, their blindspots and operational facilities. Been far too trusting up to now.

Might be useful preparation for events as yet over the horizon?

[Sir Velo]

RAIN, at last!!

Eh? When did it ever stop????

[ardcarp]

Not a drop for a fortnight in our part of the SW. We'll probably end up with a drought on top of everything else! But it's been a glorious day here..... much sunnier than forecast.

Draco: Have you got any village shops that will deliver? Several around here have started to do this. The local butcher for instance seems also to be delivering bread, green veg. and milk. Not sure about the bog roll.......

[DracoM]

Yes, village shops that will deliver, BUT they of course do not have quite the stock I will need.
Have no fear - kind of you to care - I'll sort something out!
I suppose I'm just pretty surprised by what has happened.

I promise not to mention it again.

[BBMmk2]

We had a ry nice food parcel delivered yesterday, as both of us are shielding. We didn’t know when it will be arriving but as it had, made a pleasant surprise.

Not a bad day yesterday, I think the same goes for today.

[Serial_Apologist]

We had a ry nice food parcel delivered yesterday, as both of us are shielding. We didn’t know when it will be arriving but as it had, made a pleasant surprise.

Not a bad day yesterday, I think the same goes for today.

Well this morning turned out quite a pleasant surprise! I joined the end of an old grumpies queue outside Sainsbury's E Dulwich megastore at 7.30, judging about 60 in front of me. Once the key workers were sorted, our queue began moving at dead on 8. Two or three young 'uns who had tried to join were firmly but not rudely told to give priority until 9 o'clock and there were no quibbles. Luckily I had a friendly old guy in front of me to chat and joke with. I had been advised not to go at the start of the day, but my decision seems to have been sound: I was into the store by 8.15 and out by 8.40, having managed to get everything I needed apart from baked beans - to my slight annoyance I now see the 3 small tins I obtained actually include pork sausages, which is mentioned in very small lettering on the tins, which are otherwise indistinguishable from plain baked beans. Most of the shelves had at least some of the regular products available - the loo roll and paper towel shelves were fully stocked! Everyone, shoppers and staff, seemed in reasonably good spirits. I don't know if all the checkouts were accepting card payments only - mine happened to be, so I was wise taking my cards with me. I was home by 9.15 - a 4-mile mostly uphill cycle ride carrying a heavy back pack - just in time to commence my breakfast at the usual time!

While I have to say finding card payments for everyday necessities annoying, given that it necessitates continually having to check my current account online to make sure I don't inadvertently go into "the red", thereby incurring massive penalties, I have to say I was impressed by how well this retailer, at least, has got to grips with this situation, as compared to last Friday's empty shelves and uncontrolled panic buying. If this is all the sacrifice I will be expected to endure for the duration I am re-assured. Oh, and undoubtedly the good weather conditions played their part!