I’ve been avoiding buying groceries for a number of days now.
First, I know that a few days living off tinned food and stuff out of the freezer isn’t going to hurt me.
Second, last week is was just too bloody distressing. It wasn’t just the empty shelves. It was other people – everyone stressed and anxious – people working in shops, customers. Last week in one supermarket I came close to sobbing as I watched an elderly woman who was also very frail with a shopping list with two items on it standing in front of empty shelves. She looked bewildered.
But today was the day. It was time to try again. Day 2 of lockdown.
I headed out and walked down some side roads to avoid much of my local high street. Arriving at a local supermarket, I joined a very civilised queue. We all stood in line, about 2 metres apart. A staff member was on hand to point folk to the back of the queue if they made the mistake of thinking we were all just hanging about, a mistake that one chap made. He was so very apologetic when he was pointed to the back of the queue. I was person 5. They were letting in one or two people at a time as people came out. It took a couple of minutes but it was all pretty relaxed.
I chatted briefly to the member of staff managing the queue. It’s amazing where us Aussies show up. I’ve been in the UK since 2000. She’d been here even longer. She’d originally planned to be here for a few weeks.
I headed in and grabbed a basket on wheels. I pulled out my shopping list and grabbed what I needed. One banana, a bag of oranges etc. While the shelves weren’t overflowing, at least on the fruit and veg, there was a decent supply. I got enough to cover me for the next few days. There were a few empty shelves, they were low on milk, most tinned food, rice and pasta. They didn’t have lentils (I make a damn fine lentil soup). Perhaps next time. Next to the shelf with eggs there was a sign saying that customers could buy a maximum of two cartons. I got one carton, so half a dozen eggs.
And being the nosey person I am, I had a look at what other people were buying. No panic buying from what I could see.
While there was still no toilet paper (though I’m OK on that front at the moment), I did manage to find some rubbish bags…it’s the little things…and they had bread so I got some for my neighbour.
After delivering the bread to my neighbour, unpacking, getting some stuff done, I headed out for a walk. At present under lockdown we’re permitted to go out once a day for exercise, this was my exercise. It’s going to take a little getting used to. I was doing some work this morning and needed to clear my head. Usually I’d walk around the block, pat a cat, whatever, to get some headspace. I can’t do this at the moment. Well I could, but the way I figure it, if we all ‘bend’ the rules a little, we’re all screwed.
So back to the walk around my local park. I have to say it, social distancing is weird. And it means counteracting normal and very human responses to things. There was a family – mum and dad on bikes, the two girls on scooters. The parents and older girl were a little ahead when the youngest fell off, she is maybe about 4. Nothing serious but normally I would have gone over to check on her. This time, I had to maintain my distance so I shouted ‘Oi’ to the parents and waited till they turned their bikes around and got to her. They were maybe 30 metres ahead if that, not far. I waited until they got back to their daughter. She didn’t cry, I think just a little stunned. I apologised to the dad for not helping his daughter up but we both know what the deal is.
On this Day 2, I’ve noticed a real improvement on the social distancing front. People are getting it. It does feel weird. I think there would be something wrong if it didn’t.
So that’s it for Day 2. Stay safe, stay well, and stay home!