Welcoming sight!

As the world got quieter during the lockdown goats, sheep, foxes, deer, buffaloes, wild boars and even unicorns came out to play (OK I made that up about the unicorns 😛)

When I returned home I was so delighted to have 2 hornbills and spotted doves in my own back yard

What a joy to see mother nature reclaiming her space

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Hoarding/Stockpiling is ugly and selfish !

If the virus is going to wipe out human race you will not need instant noodles, bags of rice and toilet rolls…..

While I was in London friends were sharing photos of panic buying back home

Some no brainers even found delight in showing off their bomb shelters stacked full of food

Have people gone mad? 😵

I am at a loss for words. What made these people take the wrong turn?

When I am confronted by such a situation I think of the extreme opposite

What happens to people who do not have anything to hoard like in conflict zones or refugee camps

How to stockpile when they have to struggle to buy basic foods

By sheer luck I found some relevant tips offered by a war correspondent, Nick Paton Walsh (NPW) from Cable News Network (CNN)

Link to article : https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/17/opinions/panic-nick-paton-walsh-oped-intl/index.html

War correspondents are a special breed of people. They run into danger, risk their lives to get the best story first hand

I have seen them sprint to get out of harm’s way (bullets and other weapons meant to maim and kill!)

They witness death and destruction in conflict zones. A perilous job. Gutsy indeed!

Special correspondent Paton Walsh saw the panic buying in UK and gave his perspective

I echo his advice

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1. NPW - Don’t worry too much about food

The bags of rice may end up as rice dust due to the grain pests having a feast

Singapore is such a well organised country! It is not likely that you will starve to death!

Be like my Australian friend Jen Nee. During lockdown she got a recipe from my book on Osteoporosis - Your Bones Matter and made a yummy and healthy paneer. (Very similar to cottage cheese)

2. NPW - You don’t need toilet rolls

You do not need so many toilet rolls unless you have bouts of diarrhoea.

People who study toilet habits conclude that you only need 9 sheets of paper to wipe clean

Our Singapore toilets are fitted with a bidet spray for a clean wash

Washing the butt reduces bacterial infection of the urinary tract especially in women

Washing is more eco-friendly

3. NPW - Be nice

I do not stock up when I travel. My fridge was empty and I had no masks or sanitisers

After my quarantine, my niece and friends dropped off bags of food, sanitisers, moisturisers and surgical masks at my doorstep

I am nice inside out so I have been told 😚

4. NPW - Don’t worry about things you cannot change

One thing you can change is your attitude

Anger and frustration is not a strategy to cope

Talk to friends who are happy and optimistic

Write your happy thoughts or your achievements on strips of coloured paper

Put them in a cookie jar

It will always bring on a smile

A quick fix to feel good

Top of my list :

I have been a filial daughter

I gave forever homes to 10 abandoned dogs

5. NPW –Things get better, often much faster than you expect

Our resilience and courage will get us over the other side

6. NPW - Even in wars, nearly everyone gets out OK.

True ! My friends and relatives are safe

Louisaz says hoarders please Zoom Out and donate all your food stuff to charity kitchens