P&O Cruisers - What are things like where YOU are?

[Eglesbrech]

22 minutes ago, wowzz said:

Much if the Christmas range of food has already been produce, and is sitting in storage ready to be shipped. 

That’s good to know. I assumed they may not have been so far ahead this years as they cut a lot of lines to concentrate on basics eg making more standard loaves but difficult to get fancier breads, bagels etc.

[Eglesbrech]

1 hour ago, Harry Peterson said:

Interesting point you make about Christmas cards - will it mark the final end to them? Somehow doubt it, but I'm not sure younger people send that many these days.  Problem's easily solved though with 24 hour quarantine areas for paper and 72 hour areas for plastics etc!

 

I'm less concerned about pared back Christmas ranges as pared back January basic food items and general shortages of food and medicines in the increasingly likely event of no deal.  Kent looks likes becoming one large lorry park, but I doubt the queue will stretch to Scotland!

Yes pared back January is a bigger concern. If there are ever shortages in the supply chain we get hit up here first. The last time there was a really bad spell of snow our supermarkets were empty for a good few days after it ended.

 

As I’ve said on here before I keep a good store cupboard every winter just in case but this year I am considering what we might need if the “B” word causes problems. I will say no more about it as it only causes grief and arguments.

 

Back to Christmas (it is after all September) perhaps this will make it all a bit less commercialised and more meaningful, I can live in hope.

[grapau27]

1 hour ago, Eglesbrech said:

Yes I saw the article re the mince pies coming on sale in a few days. I make it a point not to eat them until December or I would end up looking like the Christmas pudding.
 

It will be a strange Christmas this year. A lot of the traditional activities may not be there (or be changed beyond recognition).I also think that there won’t be the normal range of foods available. The supermarkets have all reduced their ranges so I suspect that Christmas ranges will be pared back a bit as well.

 

On the bright side I have started to stock up on wine, Champagne, port (and brandy for the brandy butter). If a combination of issues makes supplies short (bad weather etc) at least I can console myself with my wine cellar🍷. 
 

I also think there will be fewer Christmas cards this year. They were already in a bit of a decline but people won’t want to send potentially contaminated paper to each other’s houses if there is a viral surge at the time.

 

Then again we may have a vaccine by then and get life back to more normal.

 

Most Xmas chocolates are manufactured early and stockpiled which I know after 30+ years selling chocolate.

When you buy your Xmas selection boxes,tins and box chocolates look at the best before date which is usually around March/April.

Graham.

[wowzz]

1 hour ago, Harry Peterson said:

Interesting point you make about Christmas cards - will it mark the final end to them? Somehow doubt it, but I'm not sure younger people send that many these days.  Problem's easily solved though with 24 hour quarantine areas for paper and 72 hour areas for plastics etc!

The chances of receiving a significant viral load from a Christmas Card, or indeed any form of mail, must be infinitessimal. 

[Eglesbrech]

4 minutes ago, wowzz said:

The chances of receiving a significant viral load from a Christmas Card, or indeed any form of mail, must be infinitessimal. 

You are probably correct Wozz however it is about perception.
 

At the beginning of all of this we were all advised to leave mail for a day or 2 and to wash shopping etc. While it now appears less likely to get anything from paper / plastics people will still want to exercise caution.

 

I am still cautious with deliveries, better that than sorry. 

 

 

[terrierjohn]

25 minutes ago, Eglesbrech said:

That’s good to know. I assumed they may not have been so far ahead this years as they cut a lot of lines to concentrate on basics eg making more standard loaves but difficult to get fancier breads, bagels etc.

Not sure where you are shopping Eglesbrech, but I have not noticed anything not available for anything but a few days.

[Harry Peterson]

19 minutes ago, wowzz said:

The chances of receiving a significant viral load from a Christmas Card, or indeed any form of mail, must be infinitessimal. 

I'm sure that's true, but if you happen to be amongst those at extreme risk from the virus you tend to play very safe indeed.  The risk of contracting it may be small, but the risk from contracting it could be very high.

[Eglesbrech]

14 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

Not sure where you are shopping Eglesbrech, but I have not noticed anything not available for anything but a few days.

We still can’t get basics like flour (particularly rye)  and yeast easily, I have ordered the last 4 shops and nothing. There are several other little annoyances, products that used to be readily available but aren’t now eg block coconut, various types of pulses, my usual olive oil, miran,  rice vinegar, sourdough bread, whole meal wraps, extra smoke smoked salmon, fish in general is really limited in choice, lamb stock cubes - I could go on. You order things and they are on the list but off by the time the delivery comes or not available to even select in the first place. None of these things are monumental loses in themselves but product lines have been cut.

 

It is fact that the supermarkets and producers did significantly cut their ranges to simplify supply, google it and you will see numerous reports about it. There was a really interesting tv programme about it as well presented by Gregg Wallace.
 

Choice has got a bit better in the last month or so (still can’t get the things mentioned above) but as we move into winter with perhaps more people sick, local lockdowns etc and perhaps bad weather I suspect it will revert.

 

So if you can spare some yeast or black turtle beans feel free to send then north 😀

 

[Adawn47]

1 hour ago, grapau27 said:

I had a 8.30am ultrasound scan at the hospital this morning.

The car park was nearly full but the hospital was practically deserted.

I was in and out within 10 minutes so pleased about that.

Back home now, Pauline is working from home so I will ring a few customers while I sit in the sun.

I hope all is still well with you Graham👍

Avril

[PORT ROYAL]

3 minutes ago, Eglesbrech said:

We still can’t get basics like flour (particularly rye)  and yeast easily, I have ordered the last 4 shops and nothing. There are several other little annoyances, products that used to be readily available but aren’t now eg block coconut, various types of pulses, my usual olive oil, miran,  rice vinegar, sourdough bread, whole meal wraps, extra smoke smoked salmon, fish in general is really limited in choice, lamb stock cubes - I could go on. You order things and they are on the list but off by the time the delivery comes or not available to even select in the first place. None of these things are monumental loses in themselves but product lines have been cut.

 

It is fact that the supermarkets and producers did significantly cut their ranges to simplify supply, google it and you will see numerous reports about it. There was a really interesting tv programme about it as well presented by Gregg Wallace.
 

Choice has got a bit better in the last month or so (still can’t get the things mentioned above) but as we move into winter with perhaps more people sick, local lockdowns etc and perhaps bad weather I suspect it will revert.

 

So if you can spare some yeast or black turtle beans feel free to send then north 😀

 

Flour, yeast and much more, direct from mill

https://www.shipton-mill.com/flour-direct-shop/flour/bread-flour

 

[Adawn47]

55 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

Most Xmas chocolates are manufactured early and stockpiled which I know after 30+ years selling chocolate.

When you buy your Xmas selection boxes,tins and box chocolates look at the best before date which is usually around March/April.

Graham.

I've noticed the short dates on them. It doesn't worry me though, they never last longer than a week anyway😋

Avril

[Adawn47]

17 minutes ago, Eglesbrech said:

We still can’t get basics like flour (particularly rye)  and yeast easily, I have ordered the last 4 shops and nothing. There are several other little annoyances, products that used to be readily available but aren’t now eg block coconut, various types of pulses, my usual olive oil, miran,  rice vinegar, sourdough bread, whole meal wraps, extra smoke smoked salmon, fish in general is really limited in choice, lamb stock cubes - I could go on. You order things and they are on the list but off by the time the delivery comes or not available to even select in the first place. None of these things are monumental loses in themselves but product lines have been cut.

 

It is fact that the supermarkets and producers did significantly cut their ranges to simplify supply, google it and you will see numerous reports about it. There was a really interesting tv programme about it as well presented by Gregg Wallace.
 

Choice has got a bit better in the last month or so (still can’t get the things mentioned above) but as we move into winter with perhaps more people sick, local lockdowns etc and perhaps bad weather I suspect it will revert.

 

So if you can spare some yeast or black turtle beans feel free to send then north 😀

 

I've been surprised be the lack of certain products that were always in constant supply. Flour, eggs, rice, pasta, noodles, oil, caster sugar etc, the staples.  I even have problems getting a tub of Wall's ice cream!!

Avril

[Eglesbrech]

37 minutes ago, PORT ROYAL said:

Flour, yeast and much more, direct from mill

https://www.shipton-mill.com/flour-direct-shop/flour/bread-flour

 

Thank you that was very kind of you to post this.  

[Eglesbrech]

14 minutes ago, Adawn47 said:

I've been surprised be the lack of certain products that were always in constant supply. Flour, eggs, rice, pasta, noodles, oil, caster sugar etc, the staples.  I even have problems getting a tub of Wall's ice cream!!

Avril

Yep, noodles is another one. I can get rice but only bog standard white or brown, none of the more interesting ones. He ho at least there is something available.

[PORT ROYAL]

2 minutes ago, Eglesbrech said:

Thank you that was very kind of you to post this.  

 

The quality of their products are superior to the Supermarket offerings.

Excellent delivery packing/service

Sign up - Order - Enjoy

Happy to help, as I know from my DW what pleasure baking brings 

[Adawn47]

2 minutes ago, PORT ROYAL said:

 

The quality of their products are superior to the Supermarket offerings.

Excellent delivery packing/service

Sign up - Order - Enjoy

Happy to help, as I know from my DW what pleasure baking brings 

Thank you for the post. I've just had a quick look and it's a very interesting site that I will be taking full advantage of.

Avril

[Adawn47]

12 minutes ago, Eglesbrech said:

Yep, noodles is another one. I can get rice but only bog standard white or brown, none of the more interesting ones. He ho at least there is something available.

I can still get aborio and jasmine rice occasionally, so when it's available I stock up. Creamed coconut is another problem too. Frank is begining to suffer withdrawal symptoms from lack of Coconut cream and Pineapple tart😄

Avril

[Eglesbrech]

4 minutes ago, Adawn47 said:

I can still get aborio and jasmine rice occasionally, so when it's available I stock up. Creamed coconut is another problem too. Frank is begining to suffer withdrawal symptoms from lack of Coconut cream and Pineapple tart😄

Avril

Now that sounds like a nice pudding.

[grapau27]

1 hour ago, Adawn47 said:

I hope all is still well with you Graham👍

Avril

Yes thanks Avril.

[grapau27]

1 hour ago, Adawn47 said:

I've noticed the short dates on them. It doesn't worry me though, they never last longer than a week anyway😋

Avril

That was me,I would eat a box of chocolates quickly.

Since my HA in December I have eaten no chocolate or sugar confectionery so Pauline has had them all to herself.

 

[Adawn47]

2 hours ago, Eglesbrech said:

Now that sounds like a nice pudding.

Oh yes it is. Even better when I substitute the pineapple juice with Malibu for a special occasion.😋

Avril

[Eglesbrech]

18 minutes ago, Adawn47 said:

Oh yes it is. Even better when I substitute the pineapple juice with Malibu for a special occasion.😋

Avril

Now that sounds even better.🥳

 

Any chance of sharing the recipe?

[kalos]

2 hours ago, grapau27 said:

That was me,I would eat a box of chocolates quickly.

Since my HA in December I have eaten no chocolate or sugar confectionery so Pauline has had them all to herself.

 

Good man and remember to keep them salts low too Graham 

When it comes to an expensive drink, mines a Benecol pot these days 

Hope your  results are good from today's scan you had .

[Harry Peterson]

Incredible.  The UK public rates our performance even worse than Americans rate theirs.  This is not good, and probably accounts for a lot of the non-compliance.
 

Edited September 1, 2020 by Harry Peterson

[wowzz]

2 minutes ago, Harry Peterson said:

for a lot of the non-compliance.

What non-compliance?