What would you gift self isolators?

Polnan.

Flowers.

One of my sons sent me a text on our family WhatsApp after listening to Boris Johnson's speech this afternoon. It said: "Mother, lock yourself away, seal up the doors, send dad into the garden with his tent. We'll see you in the autumn. Love x."

Although his tongue was firmly in his cheek, his advice was followed up later by my (ICU/ECMO specialist) daughter who holds a very senior nursing position - and she agreed with the sentiment. She said that because I have underlying health issues it's unlikely that if I become very ill I will be offered further support, whereas because my husband is fit and healthy, and ten years younger than me, he would most likely be offered supportive treatment.

What an awful position for the poor health professionals to be put in - having to choose who gets the rationed treatment. Especially as many of them will themselves have parents and grandparents who are also unlikely to receive appropriate treatment.

After returning home from a holiday we put ourselves in self isolation for 14 days, just in case. We are now only going out if essential.
Flowers ,fresh veg and fruit are great. However the best thing is communication, be it e-mails, wattsap or ‘phone calls. Just to know people care

A daily banana notelet: -

(Stay strong - and stay away)
(You are beautiful - from a distance)
(Wash your hands) etc

A sense of humour otherwise I fear all will be lost oh and a good supply of gin and tonic

Yes Notright what on earth has happened, everyone seems to have lost the plot !

It's not about being a snowflake. If someone has an underlying condition (or more) and wants to stay indoors, they have every right to do so without being judged.

Having said that, 14 days seems a bit arbitrary, but anyway. . .

I'm another with plenty to read and plenty of yarn to knit, and I would imagine that most avid readers and knitters would have. If I have an internet connection and a working TV as well, I could happily sit it out for quite some time, but what about a journal, if she likes writing? A fortnight is long enough to have time to think about things that she might like to record for her children if she has them, or just for herself.

I am always happy with nice notebooks, but if not, what about colouring books and pencils or pens?

Baloothefitz - I don’t see evidence on GN that ‘everyone’ has ‘lost the plot’, just that some people who have ongoing health problems are taking actions appropriate to their medical circumstances.

As I mentioned up-thread I have a daughter who is an ICU nurse-manager. She, having a full and intimate knowledge of my health problems, has very strongly urged me to self-isolate as quickly as possible.

In my circumstances would you ignore such advice?

Surely if you are going to self isolate ‘ just in case ‘ it is going to be a lot longer than 14 days ....?

What a lovely thread, maybe the government can include it in it's list of televised' Things we should do in a crisis'
It would be lovely to have gifts left on the doorstep and then randomly to do the same for others once your own isolation has passed !! ....in our DREAMS, but judging by the way people have grabbed loads of everything in the shops, it may be every man, woman and cat for himself

People are being kinder as well . Our local food bank has never received so much food this month

We got sent this over Christmas- a really wonderful surprise : https edibleblooms.co.uk/

Shepherds pie or a nice casserole,cos if they can't get out to buy supplies it would probably be quite welcome?

PS: Plus if they are feeling unwell, they may not feel up to cooking

Where are you polnan !just be someone close by who could get you something.x

I gifted my DD 4 loo rolls , and a pack of part baked bread rolls, despite her mocking my storage cupboard.

I just hope that I can replace them!

She rang to say that she had run out, and has a streaming cold, so it wasn’t really a gift....