Crystal ball - will coronavirus effect our travel (public and private)?

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

Which is why one uses an antibacterial essential oil too.

[broadgage]

I have counted my toilet rolls and confirm that I have 221 rolls. 2 large cartons each containing 108 rolls, and 13 loose rolls.
1 carton of 108 rolls lasts very roughly a year. I re-order when down to roughly one carton.

[JayMac]

I have counted my toilet rolls and confirm that I have 221 rolls. 2 large cartons each containing 108 rolls, and 13 loose rolls.
1 carton of 108 rolls lasts very roughly a year. I re-order when down to roughly one carton.

Crikey. Prepared for a nuclear winter with that lot, not just Covid-19.

Or, a particularly bad case of gastroenteritis.

[onthecushions]

I have counted my toilet rolls and confirm that I have 221 rolls. 2 large cartons each containing 108 rolls, and 13 loose rolls.
1 carton of 108 rolls lasts very roughly a year. I re-order when down to roughly one carton.

It's Coronavirus (a bad cold - not 'flu) not Norovirus - you've stocked up for the wrong one!

Having had Norovirus on a cruise, I can tell you that you've forgotten to pack a good pair of running shoes....

OTC

[TonyK]

Alcohol based hand sanitisers usually contain about 70% alcohol, popular brands of vodka are 37.5% or 40% and may therefore be less effective.

A leading doctor on telly said that to be effective, the mixture has to be a minimum of 60% alcohol. That rules out all drinks bar certain eastern europen concoctions, that Arak I drank by sort of accident in Israel (believing the Islamic population was completely teetotal) and Absinthe, none of which I shall wash my hands with.

[Celestial]

I have counted my toilet rolls and confirm that I have 221 rolls. 2 large cartons each containing 108 rolls, and 13 loose rolls.
1 carton of 108 rolls lasts very roughly a year. I re-order when down to roughly one carton.

Do you not wait for the Buy One Get One Free offer? BOGOF in more ways than one.

[broadgage]

I have counted my toilet rolls and confirm that I have 221 rolls. 2 large cartons each containing 108 rolls, and 13 loose rolls.
1 carton of 108 rolls lasts very roughly a year. I re-order when down to roughly one carton.

Do you not wait for the Buy One Get One Free offer? BOGOF in more ways than one.

Bulk buying from trade suppliers that primarily supply institutions is generally cheaper than buying from supermarkets. Also more convenient as one large carton is far easier to store and handle than loads of smaller packages.

Other purchases are from a supermarket home delivery service. I think nothing of purchasing relatively large volumes when prices are attractive.
As an example I enjoy a certain brand of chocolate biscuit, but try to limit myself to two packs a week. Some people would buy two packs each week, but I think nothing of purchasing a dozen or twenty packs when reduced in price. These often last until the product is next reduced in price.
Similar arguments apply to most non perishables.

[TonyK]

Anyway...
The official advice seems to be keep calm and carry on, but always wash your hands before picking your nose.

[rogerw]

Anyway...
The official advice seems to be keep calm and carry on, but always wash your hands before picking your nose.

And afterwards surely 

[broadgage]

The irony is that when people stockpile hand sanitizers, they are stopping loads of other people from using them which ends up exposing the very people doing the stock-piling to more risk.

If anyone is concerned by the scarcity of alcohol based hand sanitiser and the often inflated prices of remaining stocks, it is easy enough to make your own.

One suggested formulation is as follows.

Isopropyl alcohol-----------------------75%
Hydrogen peroxide solution-------------4%
Glycerine---------------------------------1.5%
Purified water to 100%

The isopropyl alcohol should be virtually pure, not the formulation already diluted with water.
The hydrogen peroxide presumes use of a solution containing 3% of the active ingredient, other concentrations may be used if the volume used is adjusted accordingly. The purpose of the peroxide is to kill anything in the original ingredients.
The glycerine should be of cosmetic or food grade, its purpose is to prevent excessive drying of the skin.
The water should preferably be distilled or de-ionised, but boiled tap water may be used, if of drinking quality.

If only "rubbing alcohol" is available which consists of 70% isopropyl alcohol and 30% water, then this may be used but is not ideal. Add about 2% glycerine. Add no water to rubbing alcohol.

Isopropyl alcohol, glycerine, and hydrogen peroxide are all readily available on line.
The isopropyl alcohol and the glycerine store almost indefinitely in sealed containers, but the hydrogen peroxide spoils in storage.

Edit to add, the above was true when posted, but isopropyl alcohol is now in short supply and very expensive when located.
Ethanol is an alternative but requires a slightly different mix, details a few posts down

TAKE CARE isopropyl alcohol is very flammable, and when diluted as described is still somewhat flammable. Best handled outdoors.

[TonyK]

Isopropyl alcohol, glycerine, and hydrogen peroxide are all readily available on line.

Isn't hydrogen peroxide useful in the manufacture of improvised explosives? I thought that would be a little harder to come by of late.

[broadgage]

Yes, hydrogen peroxide can be used in improvised explosive manufacture.
It has so many legitimate uses that it is hard to control or restrict sales.
A search on fleabay will reveal numerous suppliers.

[Bmblbzzz]

Isopropyl alcohol, glycerine, and hydrogen peroxide are all readily available on line.

Isn't hydrogen peroxide useful in the manufacture of improvised explosives? I thought that would be a little harder to come by of late.

Hence 'peroxide blonde bombshell'. 

[broadgage]

If anyone wishes to make their own hand sanitising mixture, the isopropyl alcohol to which I refered a few posts back, is now in short supply and has trebled in price.

An alternative formulation uses ethanol, which is widely sold as a fuel. A slightly larger percentage is required. One suggested formulation is as follows,

Ethanol------------------ 83%
Hydrogen peroxide-------4%
Glycerine------------------1.5%
Purified water-----------to make 100%

The ethanol should be of the approx 98% pure grade that is widely sold as fuel. Avoid ethanol motor fuel as it contains a small percentage of petrol.
The hydrogen peroxide presumes use of a solution containing 3% active ingredient, other concentrations may be used if the amount used is adjusted accordingly.
The glycerine should be of cosmetic or food grade.
Distilled or deionised water is preferred, but boiled and cooled tap water may be used if fit for drinking.

TAKE CARE the pure ethanol is highly flammable, and is still somewhat flammable after dilution. Preparation best done outdoors. store in sealed containers.

[TaplowGreen]

For Heaven's sake - SOAP AND WATER!