Panic buying

On the worst days our milkman left 3 pints instead of our usual single one and I thought how sensible as he delivers between 2am and 5am around us from Paradise Farm way out. Next night we got 3 more pints and then another 2 by Saturday morning. Made a lovely warming rice pudding.

As a child I remember the days before we had a fridge when meat and other perishables went into a 'meat safe' outside the back door. Shopping had to be done daily, on foot as we had no car, apart from Sundays when the shops didn't open. My mum always had a full store cupboard but I don't remember how we got through being snowed in! It certainly used to happen back then up in the North West. I can't imagine being without a fridge-freezer these days. I recently had a sort out of my cupboards and threw out a few very out of date items but most out of date stuff is still fine. Unfortunately I found a sticky black substance on the back of a shelf. Turned out an old tin of pineapple at the back of the cupboard had 'blown' and the contents had leaked out and sort of caramelised on the shelf. The tin itself felt completely empty! Took ages to clean up! Note to self - keep better control of store cupboard. That's what comes of have a large walk in larder that I don't walk into often enough - just reach for the stuff at the front of shelves and all sorts remain hidden at the back!

Went to the local co-op yesterday to pick up a few things for DD Lots of customers all wandering aimlessly. No bread, milk or eggs. Vegetables and fruit aisle absolutely empty. . The girl on the till said they didn't know when their next delivery was going to be.

I always keep a packet of bread mix in the cupboard (I've been caught out before) but pay attention to the use by date & make sure you use it up - then replace it with a new one!

I do rotate the stores in my cupboards and make sure I don't have anything for so long that it isn't nice to eat but dried stuff lasts ages so I don't worry about dates on things. I use my senses of taste and smell and common sense of course.

Chatting to my neighbour who is in her 90s and she was telling me how her mum kept stuff to bake a cake for her dad coming home and he was a prisoner of war for nearly 4 years. Her Maltese friend, same vintage, said that her mum wouldn't tell them what they were eating - but they all survived! They were both bemused by the panic buying that seems to have been going on. Different times eh!

Greengage me too! We haven't bought anything in for at least 10 days and we could last much longer if necessary. My DS was telling me last night just how old fashioned I am as nowadays he thinks everyone in the food chain operates according to the 'just in time' system but why ever would you take the risk of running out if you don't have to?

Have always kept a well stocked freezer and a store cupboard so can survive for ages in bad winters etc. Am currently using up a few items from the store cupboard which are a lot older than just 2 years past their Best before date, Jalima1108 !!!

That’s a coincidence granny23 my son’s milkman did the same this afternoon. He left double on Wednesday with a little note saying that he anticipated not being able to get out and do his rounds in the next few days and was concerned that having 3 children they may run short. He also added that if they did not need it there would be no charge. How kind and thoughtful.

My faithful milkman delivered a double supply of milk at 6.30 this evening.

Only thing I need on Friday was a pint of milk as my lovely milkman couldn't get through. My nice neighbour (young & fit) needed milk as well so he walked to another local shop & into Town for supplies & a pint for me. My little local shop quickly sold out Friday morning (stock was all from previous day) & had no deliveries. Saturday morning they had both milk & bread (from local bakery) plus lots of fresh fruit & veg.

I went into Newton Abbot today to collect DGS's Birthday present from ASDA, car park & store were manic, no milk or bread (I didn't need either), some shelves were empty but I suspect they haven't had deliveries due to A38 etc being closed. I couldn't believe how much some people were putting in their trollies

I don't have a lot of storage space & only a fridge/freezer but I could manage for at least a week. I was brought up in Yorkshire, small village, DM didn't drive so she always had a well stocked pantry & store cupboard. That has stayed with me. I shopped Thursday morning for essentials before we got snowed in.

Dawlish rail line, sea wall repairs held but high Spring tides washed over & dislodged railings etc, no damage to the line, had a few openings & closings of the line as some of the trains can't cope. High tide & winds mean waves often come over track & train. All should be back to normal for most of us, rain & warmer temperatures = thaw Life goes on

Happy to say we never buy sliced bread . I do not eat any bread at all if I can help it because I am diabetic. The only things we ran out of , because we were snowed in, were milk and red wine .DH could live without the first one not the second .

I always have red lentils, a brilliant staple, in my store cupboard Jalima.I keep them in a sealed glass jar. They seem to keep forever.
I used some the other day to make a lovely thick soup with bacon and tomatoes, and they were absolutely fine. However, I tried to buy some more today, and the shop had none. I think that perhaps everyone has been buying them as they are so versatile. As for dried beans though, I do not know if they have a 'sell by date' as such.

Whilst my daughter was in her local supermarket on Thursday.
A man with an empry trolley swept all the bags salt in to his trolley.
The checkout staff allowed his purchase.
I just hope they had plenty salt to replenish the shelf.

Waitrose was out of sliced bread yesterday; Aldi had a few left today. What has got into people? I blame the media for hyping the 'beast from the East'.

Just nipped to aldi for cereal loads of bread but no baked beans and we needed cereals and beans!

Second there should be their. Must learn to preview.

On Saturday, we were in Sainsbury’s and there was no milk as they had not had there usual deliveries, so as others have said not just panic buying.

I always keep a couple of cartons of long life milk in just in case and have a loaf of bread in freezer at all times. In Midlands I was able to shop as normal plenty of milk, bread and fresh produce but we have a lot of motorway network. My sister used lots of milk making whole family hot chocolate and when she walked to shop in south west could not get milk or bread as lorries could not get by with supplies.

Saturday about 2pm at Morrisons Paignton, Devon, no bread, no eggs, no milk (not even long life,) virtually no veges, no potatoes.

So today we went to Tescos in Newton Abbot, no fresh milk and bread shelves empty. The fresh baked french sticks were being fought over; no Queensbury Rules. We settled for hot cross buns for lunch; very tasty.

I've resorted to a daily diet of porridge and stovies. Luckily I had just made the latter before house arrest arrived. Also I love both so feel no deprivation without bread. Isn't it a case of wanting something more because it can't be had. Adapt and survive is the name of the game. Have to confess to slight withdrawal symptoms at the lack of raspberry ice cream on a stick!! Salivating at the very mention.

We live in Embleton (been here a month). Finally got out of village to go to Alnwick on A1 to do some shopping yesterday.
Pleasantly surprised got everything I wanted on my list at Sainsburys, plenty bread and fresh veg available.
However we were ok the previous three days, I made soup and we had the freezer well stocked.

I live in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, and have not had any bother finding bread. Always have milk, because I buy some fresh and some long life every week. No problems at all, apart from trying to keep the house warm, difficult because this estate is made up of prefabs, with no cavity walls so no wall insulation.

I buy some packs of bread mix just before Christmas ‘just in case’ , also instant milk powder, this is the first time I’ve needed to use them for years. (Normally I try to use them up before Easter.)
Freezer always has frozen veg in it. So we usually get by .
As long as we have power we are good to go.
We do have a couple of those small gas burners, so we can always boil a kettle plus a fireplace for heat.
However I think next November I’ll have a bit more stuff in the freezer and be more prepared.

I think it's families with teenagers who buy all the extra bread. Snow days from school means neighbours' children come round and they eat endless toast from boredom! Those families probably buy lots of bread normally but when supermarkets are not getting supplies we notice the difference. My local supermarket stocks less bread than it did some years ago, fewer are buying it so it runs out quickly when there is a weather emergency.

I went into my local Tesco yesterday (Sat) lots of empty shelves -veg/fruit/meats even the freezer section - and we have no snow whatsoever here. Apparently deliveries come from Bristol etc and the lorries haven't been able to get through.

Been pouring with rain since last night so maybe back to normal later.