How would you have prepared?

I wouldn't have done anything different to what I normally do. Always have bleach/Dettol or/and Zoflora--bathroom and front step. Never over-buy t/rolls. Why ?

Have enough Paracetamol from Christmas. Usual filled freezer drawers so that it's not running on empty and it feeds me for a month when I do a large shop such as 3 weeks ago---1 week to go, but I'll manage.

To be fair I'm on my own. There are many who aren't so there's no saying how I'd be in their shoes.

I would have stocked up on vitD, C and zinc. They were on my survivalist shopping list but I forgot to get them. My partner got me some vitD on his last shop before self isolation and thankfully a lovely lady who runs a market stall has some zinc and vitC that she is posting to me. I've also bought some for both my children which she will post to them; I have this daft idea that it will keep them safe in some way. I didn't have a tooth crowned last year that needed one as the last filling seemed to be holding up; I'm terrified of it crumbling now even though I assume there are still emergency appointments. #Iwishi'dlookedaftermeteeth....

Got super fast fibre optic broadband.

We live in the middle of the countryside and our nearest small supermarket is 7 miles away. Since moving here 11 years ago I have always been paranoid about running out of things so I always have plenty of loo roll, pain killers, milk, bread etc. However, I really didn't notice this coming until it was here. I still can't work out why.

I would not have gone to my winter home on Lanzarote. As soon as we became aware of the situation we booked flights home. So far two have been cancelled and now booked for the 3rd April. I am not convinced it will happen. We have now been in full lockdown for two weeks exactly. I live this Island but there is only one hospital and they don’t need old English folk taking up their places. I also, after two weeks of isolating, terrified of being among people on the plane and at the airport.

I agree Maddyone I'm baffled by the concentration on hand sanitizer and masks. Both things we are repeatedly told are not useful (maybe masks are for a short while if you are coughing, but if you are coughing you should be strictly isolated). The vast majority of hand sanitizer isn't alcohol based.

I would not have done anything differently apart from buying a few more books to keep me occupied. I did download two last night on my Kindle. Ive nowhere to store tons and tons of food, so would not have bought much extra than my usual shop.

Actually, I think we would have had a party! There's four birthdays looming, two of which are for children and sadly we won't be able to all get together for any one of them?

I would not have procrastinated about getting my hair cut. I always do it (childhood trauma thing I think). I should've just gone and got it done.

I could kick myself. I knew it was coming but didn’t prepare much. I bought a couple of small bottles of sanitizer and sorted some stuff out at the bank. That was it.

I should have done a huge online shop and stocked up on medicines AND bought masks. Now they’re all out of stock. My Chinese friends tell me to wear a mask and don’t understand when I tell them the UK doesn’t even have them for medical staff.

I would not have done anything differently. I started in december, my cupboards and freezer were full by mid february. I stocked up with paracetamol, hand sanitiser, masks, tissues, gloves, soap, disinfectants and toilet roll. None of it stock piling, just prudent preparations, 8 packs of paracetamol, 7 for the virus and one for normal aches. Orders for seeds and gardening equipment were all brought forward, masses of compost bought throughout february and stacked ready for spring planting.

If anything, I would have had my hair cut at 4 weeks and shorter

Goodness Craftyone eight packs of paracetamol!

I bought one pack of 32 at the chemist’s the other day, and thought I had done well.
I realise you had yours in already.

Labaik, there are no emergency appointments for the dentist. Dental pracices have closed down except for advice or prescriptions for antibiotics. I would buy a temporary repair kit. I used to take a kit on holiday with me and actually used it once. It worked. Also NHS dentists are being asked to help staff the new hospitals

each pack was a day`s worth of paracetamol ie enough for 7 days of covid. Yes I just bought 2 packs at a time when there were plenty on the shelves and I stopped when I had the optimum amount in

MawB, hope your grandson recovers well and that the virus doesn't spread in his immediate family.
It's curious what some see as prudent foresight and others see as hoarding resources we all need.
We usually have one pack of paracetamol in the house, we still have one pack as it was one of the first things to disappear from the shelves, along with soap and toilet paper of course.

If I'd thought on, the first thing I would have done is bring that spaniels groom appointment forward. She looks gorgeous with her long silky coat but the amount of brushing and combing needed every day to help maintain that is huge.

I would have signed up for the local milk delivery and for deliveries from the supermarket in our village. It's impossible to sign up currently despite hours sent on the site. We are over 70 and I'm in a high risk category. We did one of the 'vulnerable elderly' 7am shops 10 days ago, awful, we won't be risking that again.

I would have made appointments for me and my furry family at the vet and dentist. It's a bit alarming to get a toothache in the middle of this mess. I did stock up on (but didn't "hoard") essentials at the beginning of the month when I read info. from the WHO and CDC, etc., so feel OK there.

stockpiling takes place when many people want the same items and then stockpiling is grabbing more than is needed.

Many on GN have been prudent and having lived through rationing after the war and with mums who saved every bit of string, believe me being prudent is well ingrained. TBH I cannot say how many times having a good stockcupboard has been the saving of my family, from flu in 78 and living miles from anywhere, whiteouts, being snowed suddenly for 6 weeks. I kept everyone well fed and looked after. That is being prudent

As soon as the corona concept entered people`s mentality, that is when I abandoned shopping, except for milk. Leaving the stores entirely to those with minimalistic stockcupboard ideas, no cashflow or no forsight.

I'm not sure that I would have done anything too differently. I tried to stock up on my preferred painkiller weeks ago but the supply has always been intermittent - now it's out of stock.
Hand sanitiser is something I always keep in the glove box and it's about half-full. Again its supply is intermittent but I would've bought one more if it was available.
I would have gone to the computer shop to sort out a small problem if I could - now it's shut for the duration so I'll have to put up with it.
I would have liked to have prevented the small attack of oral thrush which delayed my implants. As the dentist is shut I'll have to go about with a gum full of ironmongery until he opens again. The dentures go in when I leave the house. Ho hum.

craftyone; I do have one of those repair kits, after having a crumbling tooth one Easter whilst on holiday in the middle of nowhere at a bank holiday! Flossing had dislodged a filling! I am being very careful with what I eat; brushing very gently and rinsing with chlorhexadine [sp] mouthwash on a regular basis; also using Corsodyl toothpaste sometimes. I so wish I'd had it crowned at my last check up; dentist was quite happy to do it....

Booked a dental appointment. I know I need some work doing. I did get eye test and new glasses.

The only things I would have stocked up on is pasta and wine. DS are back at home because universities are closed and they eat lots of pasta. Well they did eat pasta. They are on rice and potatoes now. And wine because the three men in the house are proving difficult to live with.

I should have made sure we had compost and top soil for the planters. We did get some delivered yesterday but had to pay over the odds for it.

I would have cuddled the grandchildren more. I am so thankful that I did get to see and hold my newest grandson. He will be three months old before I get to hold him again.

Had a hair cut. Bought a small freezer so supplement the tiny one we have and done a whole lot more of batch cooking, leaving room for some bread for Mr C. Somehow got the family together, hugged them all, even the son who hates being hugged and enjoyed a relaxed and happy time with them.

Gone to the dentist. Seen my GP about some things that now wont get delt with as not "emergency"

I would have made that overdue appointment with the optician and got a new prescription and new specs.

And gone out with different groups of friends instead of us all saying 'we must meet up for lunch soon'

labaik, good, I ordered one. The old one has disappeared and is old anyway. Dd is a dentist but they are closed down for the forseeable, thank heavens a filling was replaced just 2 weeks ago. I too keep corsadyl in, hardly ever use it but it is a back up just in case.

It is going to be a long 6 months ahead