The C word, R U OK?

[FlyboyAl]

RG1 - you are not alone, and I'm not OK either.
I've gotten over cancelling my US trip - it was a reward to me for a long year.
As a small business owner, who employs 5 staff, I am somewhat terrified at what is coming.
Yesterday, my wife, who does corporate training for local government and at 2 local universities received 3 phone calls cancelling all her work for the next six months!
She now has no income for that period.
Our business is a walk in business, you can't work from home - we are a photo processing lab - we need to be there to look after our customers.
My staff are worried, I'm worried, my wife is devastated.
I'm not used to not being in some sort of control.
Definitely, not OK.

 

[bam71]

We’ve been researching if we can access some of our Super if needed... in our late 40s and worried about loosing our jobs - albeit until this is over

 

[tgh]

Allowing temporary and limited access to super for folks in distress would bean excellent move imo.
Revenue neutral now and a future problem that should be quite manageable in a healthy economy

 

[Stuser]

Yes it's a tough time.

My (non-Australian) partner lives in Lebanon, and I was due to fly out for two months on the 25th March... we were going to have to isolate, but we would be together.

Of course, a few days ago, the Beirut airport was closed until the 29th March. Okay, a small setback but surely I could just reschedule the flight.

Can't do online, and can I get Qatar Airlines on the phone? Can I, f...k.
Flight out from Perth is now stuck on "unconfirmed, with only option to cancel, and no updates from the airline, no emails, nothing.

Yesterday I was a bit freaking out (and I'm usually the calm one), after my flight out disappeared, but we talked about it and yes few days of extra waiting is ok, still should be able to make it.

But now the level 4 travel "advice" today. While before it seemed risky, now it seems reckless to travel. Am I wrong?

Partner is already in isolation, and going stir crazy by herself, and now I have no idea when I'll be able to travel.

Goddammit.

 

[Lawrage]

Well, the flu does kill more people ... each and every year; and for 80% of people (I think that's the figure) it isn't a severe illness; that's not 'denial' - although I'm not sure what they are supposed to be denying ... is it that the virus is a myth?

Maybe we should be doing a bit of a lock down ... or 'self isolation' ... when flu comes visiting. I think doctors will be in a stronger position to suggest this to patients next normal flu season.

I may seem to be like 'those people' because I refuse to run around like a headless chook, regurgitating horror stories and complaining that the government is doing it all wrong. And not buying more groceries than i need for the up-coming week!

Raw numbers yes the flu does kill more people and is serious in its own right but people using that as a way to downplay the seriousness of another virus is what I take issue with.

For the most part in Australia we havent really felt the full effects of this yet but for those in countries where you cant get a bed in a hospital or people are weighing up who to help and who to just leave to die is something I hope we never have to deal with here.

One doesnt need to run around like a headless chook to see whats going on and act accordingly. I am by all means a realist but when you go to the shops like I did after work yesteday to grab a few things for dinner and the entire beef section was gone (no beef of any kind including mince) and out of all the cereal my little one eats it does get you thinking you need to be a bit more prepared. Unfortunately I then become one of these people.

Our government is handling this very well if you ask me, there are a few things I don't quite understand the reasoning behind but for the most part they are doing alright in my books.

 

[Beano]

I'm relaxed now but seem to be spending a lot of time checking news and AFF. I watch several threads and notice like contributors. This self-isolation has knocked 50% of my business because I can't go to OZ. The work was very hands-on. Now looking for alternatives. I may have 6 weeks backlog and then?????

 

[Actos]

Not the best. I work in a hospital in Sydney and we're being pushed to the absolute limit. Normally it's busy anyway, but with staff quarantine and this fiasco, people are burnt out and more likely to snap.
Many medications are out of stock, as well as sanitising substances etc, in part due to panic stockpiling.
It's bleak but hopefully things turn for the better soon.

 

[Aitchgeye]

Hi there
This is my first post.... so does the ’do not travel advice‘ mean I can claim on the Travel insurance that had purchased to cover our European trip leaving for the end of April?

 

[Scash]

I just counted the number of bottles of red I have in the cellar.At 1 per night have enough for 18 months.But the liver might get me first.

@drron I'm with you . We have a chest freezer full of frozen goodies and a cupboard full of red wine. We generally buy in bulk (food and wine!) so we'll be right for a while

 

[Scash]

Have a trip to the UK and Croatia booked for mid July. Flights are QFF award bookings and a number of Hotels have free cancellation so doesn’t make a lot of difference if I cancel now or not. Will just wait and see what happens closer to the time. Not a lot I can do either way.

 

[Pliny]

My wife and I had a holiday booked on Kangaroo Island mid April flying Qantas from Tasmania to Ki and return. All our car rental, accom in Melbourne and KI could be cancelled but we are still to do something about our Qantas flights. My wife has chosen not to continue relief teaching because of our age group so our income has stopped. We live remote so self isolation is no drama. It's fortunate we can still feel connected using social media.

On one of the forums I'm on, a member who lives in a small rural village commented that he was waiting for large delivery from Coles but it was mistakenly delivered to his neighbour. The neighbour refused to hand it over to him so Coles replaced the order minus many items because of stock shortages. and he added "The local cop came and took a statement from my wife but then said basically "Oh, it's definitely illegal but Coles were partly to blame so what can we do?" '
Now that is down right thievery and makes you feel disgusted about greedy people in our community.

 

[chelzmalee]

....
Many medications are out of stock, as well as sanitising substances etc, in part due to panic stockpiling.
It's bleak but hopefully things turn for the better soon.

This was my concern - places we need this stuff most aren't able to access it. I have filled 2 x prescriptions to ensure I have enough for 1 month in case I need to self isolate, but just trying to be practical with everything else.

 

[Port Power]

March trip cancelled and credit voucher organised. Who knows about the May and September trips, but they are totally in the hands of the TA/tour provider, so nothing for me to do. There’s enough cash on hand, as well as loo paper! My biggest problem is not keeping Platinum status in 2021. That is hardly a life and death problem, so yes, now I can relax and be at peace.

 

[StevoQFtraveller]

@drron I'm with you . We have a chest freezer full of frozen goodies and a cupboard full of red wine. We generally buy in bulk (food and wine!) so we'll be right for a while

Got a winery and sheep farm, so will have a reasonably pleasant lockdown.....

 

[dajop]

Not me, and not linked to COVID-19, other than obliquely, but my partner's mother was a bit upset to learn this morning that her pension is being cut by $180 /fortnight due to increase in value of her super. I am sure she's not the only one. Her super is most definitely not stellar at the moment (that's the COVID-19 link), and she wouldn't be so upset if her super was as good as it was at the end of 2019. Shows how much things have changed in the last 6-8 weeks.

 

[Melburnian1]

I don’t normally post but these aren’t normal times.

I’m not okay.

A solo trip I had booked for the end of April is in the process of being cancelled.

It was to be my reward/respite from supporting my husband through the past 10 months of chemotherapy for a blood cancer. Besides the chemo there were 2 ambulance rides and a separate ED admission for him.

While initially split between Italy and Germany, it was changed to just Germany. I was going to visit Frankfurt, Berlin, the home of Steiff teddy bears and Legoland Deutschland. A stop in Dubai on the way back to visit Legoland Dubai.

Add in the bushfires which threatened my parents house and significant upheaval at work and I don’t know how much more I can take.

You're in my prayers to the Lord. Hard to do, but try to remember that there are many in other countries, and some in Oz, who never get the opportunity to travel. Some I've met in countries like Bolivia, India, Peru, Philippines and Thailand have never been more than 10 kilometres from their village, and have no conception of overseas travel.

It may seem far off, or 'impossible', but in time, things will improve. Often it can be when we least expect it.

For the time being, support from friends or if you have them, family other than your husband can be extremely helpful, as can trying to focus on other simple pleasures you enjoy. But for all who love travel, yes, you have a burden that must seem like a personal Cross to bear.

 

[Melburnian1]

..On one of the forums I'm on, a member who lives in a small rural village commented that he was waiting for large delivery from Coles but it was mistakenly delivered to his neighbour. The neighbour refused to hand it over to him so Coles replaced the order minus many items because of stock shortages. and he added "The local cop came and took a statement from my wife but then said basically "Oh, it's definitely illegal but Coles were partly to blame so what can we do?" '
Now that is down right thievery and makes you feel disgusted about greedy people in our community.

The one solace is that in a small rural town, the person wronged can - carefully - spread the word to others about how in adversity, people show true colours.

 

[Julesmac]

I just got home from Mrmac's checkup with his ENT surgeon - a big tick, now we just have the hopefully final checkup with the Prof at the Alfred - and that's the cancer spectre gone. Not being able to buy toilet paper kind of pales in importance.

I am sad my brother and I cannot go on his 70th birthday gift, a trip to the UK to meet cousins he's never seen. Cancelled the tickets 3 weeks ago & took a hit but minus some $$ the refund from the TA has hit the bank. England will be there next year. And we are relieved we are here, safe and healthy

When I was awake and worrying at 3am I came up with a few good things and some positives: You can finally use up all those anonymous lumps in the freezer; ditto all the weird stuff in the pantry (2 jars of anchovies and 6 tins of passionfruit pulp and 6 jars of jam that we don't eat anyway);you can sort and file all those loose million photos; read War and Peace & all those other books you think you must read - Angela's Ashes anyone?; spring clean the house; cull the wardrobe; watch all the Fred and Ginger movies ever made. Do some gardening, walk in the sunshine & enjoy Autumn, the best season of the year; eat healthier. Exercise more - in the middle of an oval perhaps.

Maybe this is a chance to re-set our society. We've been on this crazy and ever increasing wheel of consumerism. Be kinder, simplify your life, stop wanting/buying 'stuff', retreat from all the media a little, revisit the values our parents' generation exhibited through 2 wars and a depression. You can't for one moment imagine they would have indulged in some of the shocking behaviours we've been seeing. Not being able to buy absolutely everything in the suerpmarket you want instead of what you actually need is not the end of the world, people.

A friend works in an aged care facility. They've been told terrible decisions will have to be made. The decisions about who gets treatment and who doesn't. That, my friends, is dreadful. Not whether you have 300 rolls of dunny paper.

 

[Seat0B]

This was my concern - places we need this stuff most aren't able to access it. I have filled 2 x prescriptions to ensure I have enough for 1 month in case I need to self isolate, but just trying to be practical with everything else.

Lucky you. I live in Canberra, and trying to follow advice about having 60 days supply of essential medication (I have high blood pressure), I asked for 2 refills and was firmly rejected and all but publicly shamed for even asking "we have to prevent unnecessary and inappropriate stockpiling by members of the public". This was right after they told me, again, for 3 months in a row that the reflux medication I also take was out of stock everywhere in the ACT and next due in 3 January 2023. That is not a typo. On the plus side, I can now uneqivocally say the reflux medication was not doing anything at all (I don't think I have reflux despite the doctor saying I do), so I don't really care about that. Blood pressure medication, I do care about.

 

[wandering_fred]

Discuss regulation 24 scripts with your doctor. Normally issued with respect to travel....

Holding off on wandering
Fred