COVID19 - How it's affecting you

Well, as of the last few days, my third and final option to get home (the RAF flight) has had to be suspended. We usually use the Falklands airbridge between the UK and Cape Verde (which runs twice a week) and then an RAF cargo plane between Cape Verde and Ascension (which runs every 3 weeks or so).

The Falklands airbridge was all fine until Thursday, when Cape Verde said it could refuel there on the way down, but not on the way back... which meant the whole flight had to be cancelled, because they would not have been able to get back to the UK! They're working on a solution at the moment, because the flights to here and the Falklands aren't just for passengers, they are our resupply chain (food, drink etc.) and we need them to come in. But we're not sure what's going to happen yet - we're just waiting to hear more.

They're also implementing social distancing measures here now - they've installed 2 sinks and soap outside the dining hall, and as of tomorrow, lunch and dinner will be in 2 sittings, entering through one door and exiting out a different door, with the tables/seats spaced apart, disposable plates and cutlery, and we won't be able to serve ourselves anymore (not even to make toast). I think they're also going to prop the doors open so people don't touch them. They've also spaced out the machines/training stations in the gym and have limited the number of people allowed in the weights room.  The gym is small and not many people use it (I'm usually the only person in there when I go), so hopefully it will stay open.

The Falklands military personnel are getting their monthly internet allowance doubled from tomorrow too, but no word yet on whether we will get the same here.

Are you still working while you're waiting to hear about a flight out or are you loosing work while you wait?
I Hope they get it sorted for you soon.  Although it's possible that you might be in the best place right now?  What are the medical facilities like there?

I tried the line sainsbury's has for vulnerable people and it said it was closed until tomorrow? Which number did you use KoD?

Not sure what number my husband dialled. Think it was the normal sainsbury's helpline (vs line for vulnerable people specifically)


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We went for a shop today and rode our bikes to get there.  First we went to a neighbourhood middle eastern store and then a big Morrison's and they seemed to have almost everything tp and flour, and of course eggs.  Don't know about you guys, but eggs have turned into the can't get item now.  I talked to some people who said Tesco had pretty much everything.  Hopefully this is all dying down. 

My personal take on the whole panic buying thing is that actual hoarders are pretty rare.   If you look at other social media, you would think that half the population is sitting on vast supplies of food and laughing at the other half of society who are of course perfectly innocent.  I think the real truth is that few are buying just to be greedy, after all we've had purchase limits for at least a week now.  People are just buying what they would normally buy, which equals %100 of the store capacity and then want to buy a little more because it's rational.  The empty shelves are because the stores can't deal, not because people are evil and greedy.  The stores can't deal because before the crisis they set their capacity at precisely what is needed for a normal day because every bit over that is a waste of money.  That makes perfect financial sense until a crisis hits.   The end result is that the big grocery stores have encouraged us to blame each other rather than admit the real problem is that they are unprepared.

So, what is the cost to society for this lack of preparedness?  People are nervous and angry because they feel insecure about the food supply.  People stand in line longer than they should and NHS workers have more to worry about.  Worst of all, people have lost faith that their neighbours are fundamentally good people and we are divided and distrustful of each other at the time we can least afford it. 

I'd like to see the focus of anger here change from the hoarding boogie man to where it actually belongs: the big grocery stores that are happy to profit from us during the good times but fail us when times are tough.   

They simply don’t have enough vehicles and qualified drivers.  The drivers could be sorted quite quick...  vehicles are much harder

I’m trying hard to convince the Council that we need to do this for vulnerable people....we have staff.....we have vehicles


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I’m trying hard to convince the Council that we need to do this for vulnerable people....we have staff.....we have vehicles

Great idea Rick. These special shopping times for the elderly are all well and good but ideally they should all be at home isolating already.

Midweek slots are starting to open up on the Tesco website for my area. I've left my delivery as Sunday, even though I'm having to pay for it instead of it being a "free midweek" so someone who may need it desperately can have it.

No eggs on the Tesco site, and many other things I wanted as well. But they seem to be in the shops again.

The supply ship only comes here about 4 times a year... I think it’s due sometime in April and then later this summer.

Other than that, our fresh food comes from the UK via the RAF plane every 3 weeks or so.


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So you would leave on the supply ship, then?

Jimbo, I think you’re spot on

I'd like to see the focus of anger here change from the hoarding boogie man to where it actually belongs: the big grocery stores that are happy to profit from us during the good times but fail us when times are tough.

I agree entirely. I will be focusing on finding more local solutions after this, the farm shops seemed to be the only ones not severely impacted. Unfortunately I can only do that if we can afford to, and I'm slightly concerned funds might be an issue! I really miss the true farmers markets back in the US, maybe they will make an appearance here in the post brexit world.

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Jimbo, Tesco is the direct cause of my company’s blood bath this week.  They are responsible for £25 million of our annual turnover.  They locked us out and we are left holding the bill.

Well, the company owners are the cause, but Tesco locking us out was the catalyst.

I really miss the true farmers markets back in the US, maybe they will make an appearance here in the post brexit world.

Wokingham has a farmers market and Bracknell did have one inside the old part of the Lexicon (not sure of the schedule though, sorry!)

Friends moved up north and said there's been impromptu farmer's markets happening so might be the start of a more mainstream farmer's market everywhere?



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Are you still working while you're waiting to hear about a flight out or are you loosing work while you wait?
I Hope they get it sorted for you soon.

I'm working - I still have more than a month left of my detachment, and there are only 2 of us covering shifts 7 days a week.

My replacement was due to arrive on April 2nd, with me leaving on April 24th, but we just don't know what the flight schedule will be like yet.

Although it's possible that you might be in the best place right now?

Yes, exactly - today, for example, I went to the gym, then went to the USAF base for 'American brunch', then to the pool for swimming and sunbathing. Dinner is in an hour, then champagne with some of the girls for Mother's Day and finally the cinema to see Bombshell tonight!

I've offered to stay here even longer if they need me (i.e. if replacements can't get here), because all my reasons for needing to get home soon are gone now (holidays to Italy and France in May and June, respectively).

What are the medical facilities like there?

Not so good. We have an RAF Med Centre with 1 nurse and 1 medic, plus one appointment/exam room, then a small hospital in the town, with 1 doctor, a couple of staff and 1 bed (or at least 1 bed for serious cases). If anyone get seriously ill or injured, they are MedEvac'd back to the UK or another country.

So you would leave on the supply ship, then?

No, that's not an option - the ship goes halfway around the world... it would take months to get home!

I just have to wait for a flight to come in... hopefully they will have the flight service set up again in the next few days/couple of weeks.

No, that's not an option - the ship goes halfway around the world... it would take months to get home!

I just have to wait for a flight to come in... hopefully they will have the flight service set up again in the next few days/couple of weeks.

Fingers crossed for you ksand!

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Wokingham has a farmers market and Bracknell did have one inside the old part of the Lexicon (not sure of the schedule though, sorry!)

Friends moved up north and said there's been impromptu farmer's markets happening so might be the start of a more mainstream farmer's market everywhere?



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Except those aren't actually farmers markets, at least in Bracknell. They order produce from the same central distribution as everyone else and sell it there, and mainly its just takeaway food without a local focus on ingredients. I really hope supporting things from the area becomes a more common thing! I haven't made it to the Wokingham market because I keep hurting my legs and they closed the parking near it for a bit, thankfully the council has sorted that for now.

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