I will not be proofreading this so it will be a bit of a mess:
In my last post I used the word ‘hoarder’ a lot. I was quite disparaging towards ‘hoarders’. I was grumpy after a quite hard shift at work. Having had time to reflect, I wish I had kept those thoughts private. Since then I have worked two more night shifts. I have had ample chance to get used to the new situation myself and neighbours currently find ourselves in.
Most shops on the high street are closed. A significant amount of them might very well not open again. The supermarkets are generally still open for business. It is only natural with the amount of scaremongering being conveyed to us via the numerous media outlets that people are going to want ample supplies to keep themselves as comfortable as they can be in this time of uncertainty.
Lots of people who have been food shopping on several occasions only to find the shelves empty. It is only logical to go shopping for food at the time the store opens.
Day by day the situation in the supermarkets is improving. Despite the shortage of various goods, there is plenty of stock being delivered to the stores and most of it is being put on the shelves each night.
There are still some rude and abusive customers, but there are always rude and abusive customers. Most that I notice in the morning ‘rush’ are kind and courteous, often quite talkative. There have been some interesting conversations, exchanges of useful information. Polite debates about current affairs. There is no panic in the air. There is justifiable fear in our voices. The common reaction if the word ‘Boris’ gets a mention is a dismissive eye-roll.
We might disagree on what should or shouldn’t be done by our elected officials, but this compulsory lock down is not popular among the people I’ve been taking to with two yards between us.
In each other’s company we are polite and softly spoken. I am quite sure the tone of voice is more animated with our familiars. Over the last week or so we have been getting used to the craziness going on around us. Things have calmed down considerably. Most people that I can see have got used to the sensible advice – washing our hands, keeping a couple of yards away from one another if possible, not gathering in large crowds.
In the mornings now a 1 in, 1 out policy has been introduced at the giant supermarket where I work. At the time the automatic doors are unlocked about 20-30 customers are permitted to enter, then as one leaves, one more is allowed in. It’s very simple stuff, and it sensible and proportionate to the situation we find ourselves in.
This is despite the panic mongers- bungling parish clerks called Boris, hellfire preachers called Piers.
And now we seem to be under house arrest. I wish I had the time to be able to articulate well what I think about this. I hope the house arrest doesn’t apply to me, I dont fancy getting fined six nights a week when walking to work.
I only have a few minutes before I take a nap or the nap takes me. I’ve woken from a rather healthy six hour sleep, but a two or three hour nap is on the cards. My better half will be back from work soon. And I like to give her space when she gets in, to de-stress from her long day of wage-slavery without me excitably pecking at her head.
I will leave some links to articles and videos that contain some calm and level headed analysis of what is happening. Whatever the politicians and the media outlets are playing at, there seems to be mass psychosis among a large proportions of social media users.. I must sign out. Take care. Don’t be a serf if at all possible please.
1:
“A recent interview with Professor Dr Sucharit Bhakdi, an infectious medicine specialist. The Professor is one of the most highly cited medical research scientists in Germany. He was head of the Institute for Medical Microbiology at the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, one of Germany’s most distinguished seats of learning.”
2:
Is shutting down Britain – with unprecedented curbs on ancient liberties – REALLY the best answer?
by Peter Hitchens
3:
Hang in there, Frank! It’s the silent heroes like you that are keeping us going…. not our illustrious government officials. So than you for being on the front line.
David.
That should say “thank you”