Stocking food ?
By topffer
@topffer (42156)
France
May 24, 2016 4:58pm CST
Since last week we have picket lines in front of petroleum refineries to forbid to trucks to get oil to supply gas stations. In the Northern part of France many gas stations are lacking of oil now.
Two days ago the government sent the police to remove a picket line in front of the largest oil refinery, which is in Normandy and produces 40% of our gas. I listened the news at the radio this morning and heard that the workers in this refinery which is no more blocked have voted and decided to strike.
Our government was telling us that we would not lack of gas, but there were 1700 gas stations lacking of oil yesterday, and 2500 today...
I heard also this morning that many prefects in Brittany, Normandy, Picardy and North took yesterday restrictive measures by prefectoral orders to limit the number of gas liters delivered to a car and to forbid the use of jerrycans.
I disapprove the blocking of refineries : annoying people needing oil to go to work never managed to make a strike popular
.
But I also do not like to be took for an idiot, and to wake up tomorrow with a prefectoral order forbidding me to fill my tank
.
I am more a cicada than an ant, and I rarely stock anything, but I decided that it was time to fill my tank. I went to my usual gas station at 10 AM. I was not the only one to have had this idea : I queued about half an hour
... Then I saw that the price for my gas was increased by 6 cents/liter since the last time I filled the tank, 3 weeks ago. I should have took several jerrycans to sell their content at gold price later
.
I am asking myself now if I should not stock a few basic things, like sugar, tea, rice, etc 
? My freezer is full, but the fridge is always quite empty as I do my shopping several times a week at a supermarket near my home. I do not need oil to go there, but if they cannot be supplied, they might lack of basic things.
Last news : today another picket line has been removed by the police. The result of this police intervention is impressing : now the workers in ALL French refineries have stopped to work by solidarity with the ones blocking the access to their refineries
.
And a strike is announced for Thursday in nuclear power plants. If you do not see me Thursday on myLot, it will be because I will have no electricity.
Would you stock some food "just in case" or not ?
.
But I also do not like to be took for an idiot, and to wake up tomorrow with a prefectoral order forbidding me to fill my tank.
I am more a cicada than an ant, and I rarely stock anything, but I decided that it was time to fill my tank. I went to my usual gas station at 10 AM. I was not the only one to have had this idea : I queued about half an hour... Then I saw that the price for my gas was increased by 6 cents/liter since the last time I filled the tank, 3 weeks ago. I should have took several jerrycans to sell their content at gold price later.
I am asking myself now if I should not stock a few basic things, like sugar, tea, rice, etc ? My freezer is full, but the fridge is always quite empty as I do my shopping several times a week at a supermarket near my home. I do not need oil to go there, but if they cannot be supplied, they might lack of basic things.
Last news : today another picket line has been removed by the police. The result of this police intervention is impressing : now the workers in ALL French refineries have stopped to work by solidarity with the ones blocking the access to their refineries.
And a strike is announced for Thursday in nuclear power plants. If you do not see me Thursday on myLot, it will be because I will have no electricity.
Would you stock some food "just in case" or not ?14 people like this
15 responses
@topffer (42156)
• France
24 May 16
@enlightenedpsych2 I am alone, so the deck of cards is not useful. Thinking of candles... the electricity strike is only for Thursday, but I will buy electric batteries to be able to charge the phone (I have an emergency charger working with electric batteries) and for flashlights. Thank you, I would have forgotten that. I add batteries and water on the list.
1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
25 May 16
@enlightenedpsych2 For sure, you helped. I did not thought at solitaire
. I have a lot of books at home, it will be an occasion to reread a few books
.
. I have a lot of books at home, it will be an occasion to reread a few books.1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
25 May 16
50 km of a grocery store is really far
. If you forget something I hope that you have neighbors ready to help.
I had a supermarket up my street in my previous home. I need to walk a bit more now, but living in a city center I do not usually feel the need to stock anything.
. If you forget something I hope that you have neighbors ready to help.
I had a supermarket up my street in my previous home. I need to walk a bit more now, but living in a city center I do not usually feel the need to stock anything.1 person likes this
@Drosophila (16573)
• Ireland
24 May 16
No! you should get a ticket out of France until this is over?
that's what I'm doing, encouraging my friend to return the visit, and cook for me in Ireland. :D
2 people like this
@Drosophila (16573)
• Ireland
25 May 16
@topffer he moved back to Tours.. now am trying to convince him to move back
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
24 May 16
oh dear 
that aint a good thingy? i'd be stockin' the basics post haste if'n i was'n yer shoes. wonder if'n those folks realize they don't get paid whilst they're picketin'? i know one's gotta go to 'xtremes from time to time jest to get their point 'cross, but 't what cost? they'll no doubt be complainin' o'er the higher prices'n lack'f goods 'emselves soon.
that aint a good thingy? i'd be stockin' the basics post haste if'n i was'n yer shoes. wonder if'n those folks realize they don't get paid whilst they're picketin'? i know one's gotta go to 'xtremes from time to time jest to get their point 'cross, but 't what cost? they'll no doubt be complainin' o'er the higher prices'n lack'f goods 'emselves soon.2 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
25 May 16
The best would be to withdraw the draft bill responsible of these strikes. I do not see the end, as new strikes are announced everyday in any sector of activity and are supported by 70% of the population. What happened today confirms it : they removed a picket line in front of a refinery, and the result is that all refineries are on strike now. Actually the government says that they will not yield. I would bet that they will finally withdraw it ; they are just waiting the right moment to do it while holding their heads up. It will be possible next month after the debate at the senate. During this time, the strikes are costing millions to the economy.
I will buy enough food for 2 or 3 weeks tomorrow...
2 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
25 May 16
France has about 4 months of strategic reserves of oil, and the government has decided to use them. The problem is that people are panicking and are filling their tanks and that strikers are trying also to block access to the reserves. There were 4000 gas stations lacking of gas today, it is about 1/3, but things should go better soon : in 2010 we had a strike in oil refineries that lasted 3 weeks and at the end, the gas stations were correctly supplied by oil coming from strategic reserves.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (159008)
• Boise, Idaho
25 May 16
Always good to have extra food anyway. Hope this all comes out okay.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159008)
• Boise, Idaho
25 May 16
@topffer ....Yes, I would like to buy groceries every two weeks but on a fixed income that is difficult. It is always a good plan to have something extra on hand.
@topffer (42156)
• France
24 May 16
It is against a draft bill modifying our labor laws. I gave some details in a response to @Corbin5. It has been modified and does not change many things now : both bosses and workers do not want this bill, but the government has decided that they would not yield. Three weeks ago they engaged the government's responsibility on it and were not censored by their majority, so they think that they cannot withdraw it now, and everyday we have new strikes, and we are at a point where the country risks to be paralyzed in a few days. The strikes are supported actually by 70% of the population. It might change if people have no more gas for their cars and no electricity...
After tonight news, I was decided to buy food for 2 or 3 weeks tomorrow.
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
29 May 16
Oh dear - a shortage of anything in a country and make one a little worried, Sorry I have been away so missed this post. I always say if the fridge has milk and eggs, and my flour and pasta are all stocked up in the cupboard - I am ready for any crisis. Everfresh milk helps with this, but they have not yet designed everfresh eggs and I wont use the egg powder!!
1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
29 May 16
The government has decided to use the oil strategic reserves to supply gas stations, and the situation is stabilized now, with about 1/4 gas station lacking of gas. But 6/8 oil refineries are still on strike.
Egg powder, what is this ? I did not bought eggs, but I bought enough to eat for a month.
? I did not bought eggs, but I bought enough to eat for a month.1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
29 May 16
@Inlemay I did not knew that. I just read that powdered eggs are "ideal for vegetarians"
. I will stay away because I would not like to deprive them of it
.
I bought sugar, milk, oil, etc, a stock of canned boxes and a can opener that was lacking in my drawer. I usually eat only fresh food, or ready-to-put in the microwave dishes, but I am ready if my supermarket was lacking of fresh food.
. I will stay away because I would not like to deprive them of it.
I bought sugar, milk, oil, etc, a stock of canned boxes and a can opener that was lacking in my drawer. I usually eat only fresh food, or ready-to-put in the microwave dishes, but I am ready if my supermarket was lacking of fresh food.1 person likes this
!
@BlissfullySilent (476)
• India
25 May 16
ohh dear lord!!
take care and stock probably everything
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
27 May 16
Top? I would have started stocking food supplies when the first refinery was blocked to trucks that deliver gas to the stations! Let others worry about how they will get gas to go to work, you should worry about how you will have gas to work and food for your table.
