Stocking up?

The world has gone completely mad! I cannot understand why people are emptying supermarket shelves of toilet paper because of the threat of a respiratory virus. If someone can explain the phenomenon, I'd appreciate that. Currently, I can only put it down to herd mentality.

I believe the run on toilet paper has spread to other countries. This pandemic could end up being worse than coronavirus!

I won't lie; it took me a while to cotton on to what was happening. I was at Aldi late last Saturday afternoon and was surprised there was so little pasta, canned lentils and tomatoes - very not like Aldi. I wasn't after those things so didn't give it much thought. The woman in front of me at the checkout did a dash back to the bean aisle before starting to check out, arms laden with tinned chickpeas. "The beans have been restocked', she gasped, clearly relieved. I had no idea why she was saying this to me, so just smiled vacantly (as I sometimes do).

On to Woolworths where bays had been cleared of god-knows-what because there was nothing there to identify the normal inhabitants and I had no interest in investigating.

Now, of course, social media is awash with memes and comments on the doomsdayers, like 'Haven't they heard of wine??'

In the last day, a man in Tamworth was tasered for grabbing a fellow shopper by the throat in an altercation involving toilet paper. Seriously - I am not making this up - here's the news link

Even in the unlikely event that supermarket supplies run low, I'll reckon we'll be okay. We live within walking distance of seven cafes, a pub, a wine bar, a few restaurants (Indian, Thai, Vietnamese and Italian) and a couple of bottle shops - we're so fine!!!

Ironically, with the kids both temporarily out of town, I did think this might be an opportune time to eat our way through the freezer. It's overflowing. There are vegan burgers, prawns, gozleme, pizza bases, pasta sauce, jars of rocket pesto, chicken stock, turkey gravy, boa buns and goodness knows what's underneath those things. It'll require a reconnaissance.

And if we end up in lockdown, we'll be the ones living off the stash of Man Shakes (protein powder) and wine! I could afford to lose a few kg and that seems like a fairly appealing way to do it!!

Who Gives A Crap?

I love this concept and have Facebooked about it - but here's some more info and a new chapter....

Basically, you have your toilet paper delivered to your door on a schedule that works for your household. It's inexpensive, recycled paper, wrapped in paper in a cardboard box and 50% of the profits go to building toilets and improving sanitation in developing nations. Okay - the paper isn't the most luxurious but the cause far outweights a bit of 'digital break-through'. (I spent some time in big ad agency land working on toilet paper and that's technical speak for when your finger pokes through the paper.... possibly collecting some poo...)

Anyway, how cute are the wrappers?

Do check them out - they're very funny! - and please order some. Here's their website. And just reminding you - although you hardly need it - no-one, and I mean NO-ONE pays me to promote products. (Let's not explore that too closely, I might be a bit sad....)

But, there is another part to this....

We got a delivery late last week and I asked Elle to put it away. Naturally she didn't. So when we got home from the footy on Saturday, with a friend and his 10 year old son, it was still just inside the front door.
Me - annoyed tone:  "Elle! I thought I asked you to put the toilet paper away??'
Elle - moany voice: 'I'll do it now...'
Friend's 10 year old, loudly: 'Who gives a crap!'
Friend - appalled: 'ETHAN! Don't you speak like that!
Us - all laughing - point at the toilet paper as Ethan gets a hasty apology from everyone.

So there you go kids - it also gives you a chance to use the word CRAP and not get into trouble!!

Travel Tips

I've never really considered myself qualified to passing out travel tips - I don't think I'm that good at it - but on this work trip in Thailand, instead of kids and family, it seems I have picked up a few things worth passing on.

• Pack a power board - that way you only need one local adaptor plug to charge all the electronics we seems unable to live without
• Ladies, forget the hair dryer. Most hotels have one even if it is a bit crappy - but do pack your hair straightener. Especially essential is Asia in the wet season. Hair spray will also help keep the frizz away - just buy a small can at your destination if you need to look slick

My power board to accommodate my iPod, iPhone, laptop, 2 x iPads, hair straightener, etc

• Pack some wet wipes, disinfectant gel, a couple of band aids, sunscreen, paw paw ointment and antiseptic cream - ideal if anyone stubs their toe at the pool or on wonky footpaths
• When travelling in developing nations, grab the shower cap from the hotel bathroom, toss in your wipes, the spare roll of loo paper from the bathroom and if you're travelling with little kids, spare undies. A cheap cloth washer (that you can throw out) is also not a bad idea. You can deal with a runny-bottom incident in the pants with ease!!! Throw the whole pack in your tote and you're ready for anything
• I don't bother with a handbag - just a tote for the above reason and also for your book, iPad, sunglasses, passport, etc - much easier. A handbag is just another bag to carry
• For grown ups, I just pack the essentials below - not many temples and wats have loo paper so you have to BYO - or drip dry...

Before.....

....after!

• Portable DVDs or tablets loaded with entertainment for each kid are ideal. Even if you are flying a fancy airline with individual screens, there are often long van rides to see sites and sometimes even between town, not to mention hanging around at airports and train stations
• If you have a DVD player or laptop, you can also check the quality of any discs you purchase
• My brother-in-law packs cables to hook the portable DVD to the hotel TV - so the kids can have some down time in comfort
• Throw in an in-car charger - also very handy for van trips to charge iThings

• We prefer to buy a local SIM and you can text your local number to anyone who needs it - it's much cheaper than travel SIMs from home (here in Thailand, the SIM cost about $10 and the credit goes a long way) 
• I've been using Skype to talk to Sass, but just pick what you like - some are using Viber, or FaceTime - but they're all free
• Try and keep toiletries to the minimum - they weigh a tonne and you can usually buy what you need at your destination if you run out
• We don't usually take much cash - just use ATMs (better to use an ATM card and not a credit card as it may come out of that account and you'll be paying the brutal cash interest rate. Alternatively, top up your credit card before you go). ATMs charge a fee up to about $6 depending on where you are so get a reasonable amount out when you do
• Don't use the hotel laundry - it's outrageously expensive. Walk out of your hotel and chances are there'll be a laundry service with a block. Here in Chiang Mai, the restaurant over the hotel does laundry for less than $3 a kilo

Do you have any tips? I'd love you to share them...