I thought I start an"I'm going a little mad thread".....

[Pulcinella]

Perhaps this very serious matter should be on the Coronavirus thread, but does anyone know what's happened to flour supplies? Completely empty shelves in my local supermarket on Tues bar 4 bags of spelt flour, which was fortunately just what I was after!

Apparently, loads of it (designed for 'industrial' use) is in packages that are too big to sell/pass on and don't conform to the sort of regulation required (sell-by date, etc).
Our local baker has started selling bread flour, though, presumably from some of this stock: white, wholemeal, and a delicious malty/granary blend.
The breadmaking machine is doing valiant service (as luckily I have lots of Dove's breadmaker yeast).

[teamsaint]

Apparently, loads of it (designed for 'industrial' use) is in packages that are too big to sell/pass on and don't conform to the sort of regulation required (sell-by date, etc).
Our local baker has started selling bread flour, though, presumably from some of this stock: white, wholemeal, and a delicious malty/granary blend.
The breadmaking machine is doing valiant service (as luckliy I have lots of Dove's breadmaker yeast).

Some really interesting info about UK food supply chains here, around how difficult t can be moving from supplying one sector to another.
Amazing to read ( I think) that half of all food supplies prior to Covid -19 were going into the prepared food sector.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/16/farmers-union-optimistic-uk-workers-will-rescue-the-harvest-covid-19

[kernelbogey]

Just scanned the headlines (online) in my preferred paper, The Guardian, and recognise, for the first time in weeks, that I don't want to read any of it.

Overload...!

[Pulcinella]

Just scanned the headlines (online) in my preferred paper, The Guardian, and recognise, for the first time in weeks, that I don't want to read any of it.

Overload...!

I had to dig quite deep, but found this:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/16/home-birds-how-to-spot-20-of-the-most-common-species-from-your-window-walk-or-garden

Sadly, not many in our garden (new estate) yet. We're hoping that as gardens get more established then more birds will venture in.

[oddoneout]

Apparently, loads of it (designed for 'industrial' use) is in packages that are too big to sell/pass on and don't conform to the sort of regulation required (sell-by date, etc).
Our local baker has started selling bread flour, though, presumably from some of this stock: white, wholemeal, and a delicious malty/granary blend.
The breadmaking machine is doing valiant service (as luckliy I have lots of Dove's breadmaker yeast).

The industrial stuff is, as Pulcinella says in large bags, but apparently there is another problem I found out just a few days ago which is that it may not be ready for domestic use - I'm hoping this doesn't affect a friend who was happy she'd managed to get hold of a large bag and was looking forward to reducing trips to find supplies.. There needs to be a period of maturation whereas the 'green flour' can be used for the industrial(Chorley process) bread making straight away. The 'artisan' mills can't keep up with demand because their milling techniques are slow - one miller said that if he speeded up the grinding rate you would just get kibbled wheat not flour. Some farmshops round my way having been getting the big sacks and repacking into domestic size quantities - one at least does this anyway with speciality flour from a local mill so they are set up to do the necessary weight/date admin stuff.
This from the Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/food/202...ment-139748769 Comments BTL suggest ways of dealing with green flour

[Bryn]

I had to dig quite deep, but found this:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/16/home-birds-how-to-spot-20-of-the-most-common-species-from-your-window-walk-or-garden

Sadly, not many in our garden (new estate) yet. We're hoping that as gardens get more established then more birds will venture in.

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/gardening-for-wildlife/animal-deterrents/cats-and-garden-birds/bird-friendly-gardens/

[Serial_Apologist]

This morning I arrived at the St Sprees 8 am queue, whereupon one of the straps on my common folk's face mask snapped, I dropped my specs, and one of the lenses fell to the ground and was handed to me by somone standing in the keyworkers' queue. On returning home everything had to be de-contaminated, including that lense!

[Old Grumpy]

This morning I arrived at the St Sprees 8 am queue, whereupon one of the straps on my common folk's face mask snapped, I dropped my specs, and one of the lenses fell to the ground and was handed to me by somone standing in the keyworkers' queue. On returning home everything had to be de-contaminated, including that lense!

Sprised you can see to write this, S_A!

In pre Covid times we went for a ride on rented bikes on the Tissington Trail in the Peak District. We stopped for refreshment in the rather nice café in Tissington village. I took off the cycle helmet, thought nothing of it and went in for a nice cuppa and a scone. On exiting and donning (as one now does) the helmet, I realized I didn't have my glasses on. Long story, short:. I found them, crushed, on the ground next to the bikes. They must have come off when I'd "doffed" the helmet before going in.

OG

[Serial_Apologist]

Sprised you can see to write this, S_A!

In pre Covid times we went for a ride on rented bikes on the Tissington Trail in the Peak District. We stopped for refreshment in the rather nice café in Tissington village. I took off the cycle helmet, thought nothing of it and went in for a nice cuppa and a scone. On exiting and donning (as one now does) the helmet, I realized I didn't have my glasses on. Long story, short:. I found them, crushed, on the ground next to the bikes. They must have come off when I'd "doffed" the helmet before going in.

OG

All too easily done, OG!

[Beresford]

The level of fear and anxiety you can pick up from Supermarket shoppers in these times is horrible. When I was parked in town recently, a very tense driver had three goes at parking behind me, then drove gently into my towbar; he was so concerned about getting his plastic gloves on, to go into the bank, that he didn't notice the bump.
Logically, the anxiety does not help anyone, but the emotions like fear are running quite strongly, and are more difficult to avoid.

I don't think clenching fists will help much here (but it probably would with performance anxiety). Singing softly (All Things Must Pass) or chanting may help, but I haven't yet found a reliable way of fending off the anxiety of other shoppers.

[Jonathan]

It's really strange. In my previous career, I would never have been able to work from home but now I can. It feels like all the days are running together into a stream of time. I'm not sleeping well and having very vivid dreams (I don't usually dream). I've also lost my piano practice time as my girlfriend works from 8am in the dining room (where the piano is). I also can't be bothered to write anything as I already spend about 8 hours in front of the laptop and spending longer doesn't appeal. At least our allotment is walking distance and we've gone there a couple of times after work. Everything is all just a bit muddled up. At least there is music to listen to!

[LeMartinPecheur]

... I haven't yet found a reliable way of fending off the anxiety of other shoppers.

It may be just me (often is!) but down here I'm not sensing that much anxiety in my fellow-shoppers. Care and consideration yes, some quantity of protective masks and gloves and a good deal of wry amusement

[oddoneout]

It may be just me (often is!) but down here I'm not sensing that much anxiety in my fellow-shoppers. Care and consideration yes, some quantity of protective masks and gloves and a good deal of wry amusement

Same here, helped by the fine weather. It's often been cold thanks to the wind, but dry, and often sunny. I suspect that goodwill might have been in shorter supply if getting the shopping meant standing in the rain for prolonged periods.

[oddoneout]

It's really strange. In my previous career, I would never have been able to work from home but now I can. It feels like all the days are running together into a stream of time. I'm not sleeping well and having very vivid dreams (I don't usually dream). I've also lost my piano practice time as my girlfriend works from 8am in the dining room (where the piano is). I also can't be bothered to write anything as I already spend about 8 hours in front of the laptop and spending longer doesn't appeal. At least our allotment is walking distance and we've gone there a couple of times after work. Everything is all just a bit muddled up. At least there is music to listen to!

Do you need to keep strict 'office hours'? I ask because if you could arrange to spend some more time at the allotment - extended lunch hour perhaps? - it might help. Not necessarily to complete any specific task but just to get away from the laptop into fresh air and proximity to what is a glorious time of year, and wildlife making the most of reduced human interference. There might be other people to exchange greetings with - social distancing often happens by default on allotments anyway as plotholders call across to neighbours. Take a notebook and pen in case the writing urge resurfaces?

[greenilex]

I use an ink pen (but have trouble finding cartridges...I know there must be some left somewhere) and scribble at least thrice daily in my pretentious moleskine.

No allotment, but muddy dog and as much Common as we can cope with.

Not much in the way of dreams or poems, which is unusual for me. And the notebook will run out next week.