What is it with all of the bread making? My social media feeds are full of people baking bread. I hadn’t realised we had so many bread lovers around the world.
I think there was initial panic-buying of bread and milk (as is always the case when we’re in danger of flooding, bushfires, cyclones, long weekends…) but most bakeries still seem to be open. And trading. Perhaps though, there is still a shortage of bread. Which I gather has led to the panic-buying of flour as lots of people assume they’re going to go all Martha Stewart or Little House on the Prairie and bake their own.
Sourdough seems to be a bit of a thing at the moment. And banana bread.
And yes, I’m being glib. I really don’t care that people are baking their own bread. Fortunately, I’m actually not a huge bread fan… and I say fortunately as it’s the thing most coeliacs miss after being diagnosed as good gluten-free bread is like some sort of utopia-like pleasure-dome. Or unicorns.
It’s very surreal this world in which we’re currently living. Most of us—particularly we avid (Gen X or above/below) social media users—haven’t been privy to anything like this before. Sure, there’s been short-term, or brief and isolated catastrophes (floods, fires, hurricanes) but nothing like this. Most of us weren’t around during world-wide wars or ‘the great depression’ when everyone ate tinned spam and and traded favours with American soldiers for silk stockings.*
We’re unaccustomed to the fragility and scarcity that comes with it. I can’t believe I’m living in a world where we’re having conversations about the availability of tinned tomatoes or chicken.
I ran out of lemon juice last week. It’s hardly an essential item but I have some fish in my freezer and use bottled lemon juice. I have no idea why there’s none available, but there was none to be found.
So I had to forage like in the old days and buy actual lemons. To squeeze. I’ll be growing and harvesting my own food next. Or maybe not.
But amidst the chaos there’s hope. We saw it here in Australia after our recent bushfires. The kindness of strangers. The generosity of neighbours. The unlikely heroes. Then: volunteer firefighters and passers-by rescuing koalas from burning trees. Now: medical and health personnel, supermarket staff , people putting teddy bears in their windows and local businesses banding together to work out ways to continue to operate.
I saw a delightful feed on Twitter the other day. I mean it’s early days… our lockdown is only just about to start in my part of the world, but others are imagining a life after the Coronavirus threat. Happily it’s not just their Sunday brunches and avocado turmeric acai bowls they’re missing. Most talk about hugging friends and family. Human contact. Being able to be close to someone without being arrested.
And then there’s this.
A reminder that ‘some’ good may come of this. And I’m not meaning to diminish the tragedy this will bring to many lives. But, time spent with family; reconnecting with the basics; finding more flexible ways of working; a reminder of what’s important; and government stepping up (mostly) to remember there’s no point in focussing solely on an economy if there’s no one left to enjoy it.
Have you started baking bread? Planting crops? Doing jigsaw puzzles? Any positives for you at all?
* Some of my historical knowledge may solely be from television and movies.
Image sources (Facebook): What Guys Like | Becoming Minimalist
March 30, 2020
I haven’t made any bread yet as have a couple loaves in the freezer but have spent more planning meals. I do also think it’s time re-evaluate what our lives can be.
March 30, 2020
Yes, I think the shortage of certain foods (even temporarily) Margaret has meant most of us have had to plan ahead a bit more. And yes… I’m wondering how different lives will look after all of this? Will we appreciate (the things we took for granted!) more I wonder?
March 30, 2020
Tbh the only difference I’m seeing is that we’re not eating out. I bake anyway but haven’t given in to the temptation to grow my own sourdough starter – which I think is a tad like tamagotchis for the 30+. Meal planning requires a bit more thought and forethought, but I’m busier than ever with the day job & RWA stuff – and am grateful the that, in the day job at least. Sarah & Grant are doing jigsaws & I’m helpfully adding a piece in here & there.
March 30, 2020
A few people I know tell me they’re trying to buy takeaway from their fave cafes / restaurants though I’ve noticed more and more are ‘closing’ after originally thinking they’d offer takeaway / delivery. Hopefully it’s all temporary.
I don’t actually have / do that many hours of work a week (ie. 1-2hrs/day) but find myself envious of those who are officially ‘not working’. It’s ridiculous given how many free hours I have each day. I hate that I tend to have a degree of guilt (over stuff not-done) lurking in the back of my mind constantly. (Even when it doesn’t make sense!)
I was actually going to go and buy a jigsaw (it was on my ‘Kmart’ list along with kitchen scales) but haven’t gotten around to it yet.
I can’t even imagine how busy you are with the RWA work as well. I suspect this is all impinging on the nature of your day-job as well. Ugh. Take care…
March 30, 2020
It sure is impacting the day job – it’s really all ramped up… I hear you re the not working thing, I said the same to hubby only this morning. People are saying ‘what will you do in iso?” Umm the same that I do every day lol.
March 30, 2020
I’m a bit the same. And I live alone so very much used to the isolation thing! 😉
I was worried you might have to be giving people bad news in the day job.
March 30, 2020
No, thankfully.
March 30, 2020
We haven’t had shortage of bread where I live. The positive is I have a little bit more free time but not too much. I baked a blueberry clafoutis and a dozen banana muffins because I had blueberries and three ripe bananas on hand. I haven’t started any jigsaw puzzles yet. #lifethisweek
March 30, 2020
I’ve seen a few bakeries selling their bread at additional locations at the moment so would be surprised if there’s a shortage here as well. I think it’s like the toilet paper. One person starts buying it all and then others do and then it’s assumed there’s a shortage.
I saw someone online saying they’d bought flour the other day – having never bought flour before, but assuming they were going to need it!
March 30, 2020
I like that quote! I have been watching Netflix and indulging in choc. Next – jigsaws.
March 30, 2020
I’ve never been a big jigsaw person but my brother’s in-laws do one each Christmas and I find it passes the time nicely so did think I should get one.
March 30, 2020
I’m not really into baking anything, much less bread which is very involved. Perhaps that’s why people are baking it now? Not used to having so much time on their hands?
I’m reading, reading, reading and drinking even more tea than usual. Napping more too!
March 30, 2020
I’m still ‘supposedly’ working (even though – as I said – I don’t do many hours a week) so have a thing about not reading or watching TV during the day when I’m ‘working’. I am napping a little more though as my night-time sleep is a little more disrupted.
(PS. I could be reading or writing more during the day…)
March 30, 2020
I’m on leave, as I can’t do my job from home and doctor advice says I’m not to be in the workplace due to my various respiratory illnesses. So, I’m reading a lot, but being a bit strict with myself about TV. One episode of something while eating lunch only. I have a tendency to binge otherwise and I really want to use this time to catch up on some books I’ve been meaning to read for ages.
March 30, 2020
I’m the same with TV… which is why I love TV online (same way I liked DVDs back in the day). No waiting… the episodes are all there!
March 30, 2020
I don’t bake! Too many rules. Snore haha.
I do have a lemon tree in my yard but they’re not ready to pick yet. It’s a young tree. If that’s a thing in tree-land. I don’t know tree stuff. They finally look like lemons apart from the fact they’re green. It’s progress I guess.
March 30, 2020
I’ve got a dwarf lemon tree. At least I think it’s lemons. Maybe it’s limes… They’re small and green, but I’m sure they’re eventually meant to be lemons! (Look at us, both blossoming farmers. Or not!)
April 6, 2020
The owner of our house told us it’s a lemon tree so I’m just trusting him!
March 30, 2020
I’m still working and slightly envious in lockdown. We are selling so much flour. As soon as it hits the shelf it’s gone. Customers tell me that while they have the time they are learning to bake. This could be something good that comes from what we’re going through at the moment -#lifethisweek Shared
March 30, 2020
I actually thought about trying to do some sewing. I can’t sew but my mum has an old machine and if I can remember how to thread it I could buy some pre-made curtains at Spotlight and chop them off and hem them. I think I could sew hems… I’d just need to go and buy some curtain material. But I’ve been saying that for several years now!
March 30, 2020
I have no understanding of why all the flour and sugar disappeared and is yet to reappear on the shelves – are people baking cakes?? There’s plenty of bread available so I won’t be baking any and no cakes here either. We have a teddy in our window for the bear hunters and I’ll be digging out a jigsaw soon. Next I have to get back into the online library because ours shut last week and I’m down to my last two books. I’m actually loving being a housebound hermit – there is definitely an introvert hidden deep inside me that is singing for joy at not having to socialize!
March 30, 2020
In all honesty it’s not much different for me anyway Leanne. I work online (remotely). I used to go into the office but the boss rented out extra space so it wasn’t feasible, which is fine as I only called in once a week or so. I only went out a few times a week anyway, so that’s no different. Groceries, bottle shop and post office really… Occasionally to a cafe. But yes, the hermit thing is fine with me. I think my mum will struggle though as she usually has multiple things on each day.
March 30, 2020
As an introvert, I’m quite happy to stay at home with my husband and the dog but I realise that a) we’re lucky to have each other and b) we get along! I love that Dave Hollis quote and I too hope that when all this madness (because it really feels like madness to me, either that or I’m living in a sci-fi movie) is over we’ll be kinder to each other, more grateful for what we have and we’ll all be able to take a step back and enjoy the little things. I draw the line at baking bread, mainly because I want to support my lovely local baker, but I must admit I’ve bought a few jigsaw puzzles! Don’t judge me 🙂
March 31, 2020
I actually had a KMart list that included going to buy a jigsaw but then our PM made that statement about them and now I worry I’ll be like the toilet-paper-buyers and people will think I’m just doing it cos everyone else is!!!
March 30, 2020
No bread making here – I don’t get it, but then again, I’m not much of a baker! And I haven’t had any spare time to fill either.
I’m struggling to see the silver lining TBH. My book is out next month, but my tour is cancelled (of course) and I’m worried that no one will know that that it’s available, or even worse that if they do, they won’t be able to get hold of it. I know there are people worse off – one of my best friends is in real danger of losing her business and possibly her home – but this is a big deal to me. Two years of work, a book that I put my heart and soul into (not to mention it’s how I earn my living) and now it might all be for nothing.
I’m trying to remain grateful – my husband works in an essential service so he still has work, so that’s something – we can still eat!
Work wise, I’m busier than ever: trying to write a new book while trying to rejig my whole publicity campaign is taking up every minute that isn’t filled by disinfecting stuff! All three people left living in this house are at high risk for complications if we get the virus, so we’re trying to be extra careful. To top it off, I’m not sure when I’ll be able to see my two older sons who live away from home. Possibly not for months.
Sorry to not be on the positivity train. Not having a great day…
March 31, 2020
Oh that’s horrible Lisa. I completely understand how upset and frustrated you must be about your book launch. It IS your baby and it’s two years of your life…. so it means so much to you.
I hope your family stays safe over the next few weeks and months. xxx
PS. I requested a review copy of your book. Back in early February Lucy said they’d run out of preview copies but I think she put me down for a final copy… x
March 31, 2020
Oh thanks for letting me know re the book! I’ll double check to make sure one is on the way.
March 30, 2020
That quote is spot on Deb! I can’t find any flour on the shelves ion our supermarket. I’m loving comfort watching – things like Anne with E from my days of reading Anne of Green Gables and I feel much better! Enjoyed your post 🙂 #lifethisweek
March 31, 2020
There was another nice quote I saw on FB yesterday but I couldn’t find it that mentioned that spending time at home, cooking, eating meals together, reading etc was perhaps some sort of message to come out of this whole coronavirus thing.
March 31, 2020
Yes they are quite right in lots of ways.
March 31, 2020
Thanks for the laugh this morning! Imagine…having to squeeze your own lemons just to get lemon juice! Now if only I could figure out how to make toilet paper out of leaves…
April 1, 2020
Laurie, my mother thinks it’s funny as she prefers ‘real’ lemon juice (ie. from lemons she squeezes rather than mass-produced and probably diluted) whereas I always opt for the laziest option!
April 2, 2020
I hear you on the shortages and also on what people have experienced before. In 1976 we were young teachers living with our then 4 yo daughter in remote NSW and we were cut off from any chance of going anywhere by road for 10 weeks thanks to flooding and then roads being impassible. I remember well the excitement of the plane or helicopter bringing in supplies and we made do. I also learned there to make ahead and freeze. Always to have something on hand too. I am still of that ilk. My local Coles had more supplies on shelves today but flour no…I don’t know what or how this will work out but I do know that learning how to improvisation is a skill we all have to tap into.
Thank you for linking up for Life This Week. Next week, the optional prompt is 14/51 Self-Care Stories #2. 6.4.2020 and I hope to see you link up then too. Denyse.
April 4, 2020
I lived in developing countries in the 90s (doing international development work) and remember not eating meat for months on end, living off potatoes and rice. And… being spectacularly excited when the international supermarket got diet coke in on occasions. Even just getting to the store was an issue cos of security / safety at times. I think that left me with a bit of a phobia about ‘running out of stuff’ I’ve never quite rid myself of to this day. That, “What if I can’t get this again?” fear!
April 3, 2020
Haha, I wondered the same thing. I guess it just sort of becomes its own cycle. I’ve baked bread a few times over the years (usually when between jobs or something, so maybe there’s something to that), but with all the bread baking going on out there I can’t help but think to myself that it might be time to whip out the yeast. I mean, I have no idea why? Though, my consumption rate of such things is THROUGH THE ROOF right now. Maybe it would save me money? (See what I mean? I’m about to start baking, it’s a thing!)
April 4, 2020
I suspect there’s a sense of feeling productive as well. It’s like we’re doing our bit for the country or something… food shortages and we’re ‘making do’.
I remember when bread making machines were a big thing a few years ago and wonder if they’re making a comeback as welL!
April 5, 2020
That’s it, productivity and who doesn’t love the comforting smell of fresh bread. (Well, I’m sure there are exceptions, haha). And you’re right, this could be the resurgence! Too bad I ditched mine about 10 years ago.
April 5, 2020
I’m not a huge bread person (good thing given gluten-free bread options) but I LOVE the smell. I wanna know if the rumours are true about Subway having some sort of scent they spray that smells like fresh bread to lure customers into the store.
April 6, 2020
Lucky. Haha. I’m sure that’s a struggle for most.
Oooo, we should investigate! I know a couple of people that have worked at Subway over the years, I wonder if they’ll tell!