Day Four - Avoiding the Shops, the News and the Social Media

I thought I'd struggle to maintain this in terms of having enough to write about. When you're social distancing and you aren't interacting with people socially or going anywhere of note I thought there'd be little to say. That may be so, it's only Day Four!

I got up later today. I'm normally one of those irritating early birds who bounces out of bed. Well, I used to bounce. Now I'm older I can't. Today I just stayed in bed until nearly 8 wondering what I was getting up for.

I watched that heartbreaking video on social media yesterday of the critical care nurse who came off a 48 hour shift to find no food in the supermarket. I've a friend who works for the NHS, in an administrative role. she can't work from home, it isn't an option. She's feeling very vulnerable because one of the surgeons who was in her office is now in intensive care with the virus. She's been unable to get the food she needs. She can only go before or after work. The other day she managed to get some cuppa soup. Yesterday she couldn't get eggs or bread. Today she fared better because of a  supermarket opening up the early slot to certain people only, key workers etc. But this whole panic buying, stockpiling situation has made me very sad. It tells me people are out for themselves primarily. We used to have a more caring society when in the event of a crisis people pulled together and shared.   What's worse is that this needn't have happened. If people had calmed down and just bought what they needed everything would have evened out, there would have been enough for everyone and supplies could have been replenished without ever actually running out. We manage during the `Christmas/New Year fortnight don't we? I think some blame must be laid at the feet of the supermarkets. Once they realised what was happening - and it must have been pretty obvious - they should have imposed some limits sooner. They've done pretty well out of this.

I pretty much decided that I will stay away from shops now until my food runs out and then take my chances. I still have my organic fruit and veg box but I had an email today advising me of the changes they are making because of the current crisis. They've reduced the variety of boxes and fixed the contents, no choice. My usual weekly order of apples has been removed. That's a blow because I'm an apple a day kinda gal. But we all have to adjust in a crisis. It might mean I have to eat my words and go to a store though!

I went for my clifftop walk again today. A handful of people up there, several dog walkers and some joggers. I saw two women practising social distancing perfectly. They were a good six feet apart and having a conversation at the tops of their voices! Further on I saw a parent and her three children. she was clearly homeschooling them and they were writing in exercise books. Well, two of them were! The third was racing as fast as she could along the paths. I used to be in the 'ed biz' and I firmly believe that education is a 24 hour thing and does not begin and end at the school gates. I think some valuable learning could take place with some committed parents who can utilises the environment to motivate their kids.

From the top of the cliffs I can see down to our local station. Normally the car park there is choc a bloc but I could only see a handful of cars. So many people working from home. The railway company has reduced the trains. People were surreptitiously trying to maintain a decent social distance. I could see them changing paths to avoid going too close to others. There's something both sad and touching about that. I met Leon. the postman, on my way back. He had a parcel for me and I think that was the closest I came to anyone today. Strange. I've had emails and texts and Whatsapp messages! My friend's little granddaughter clearly doesn't quite understand social distancing as she sent me a voice message urging me to come over to her house to see some pictures and to come right away. It was all said in one breath and I suspect her Mum didn't know she'd done it! Hard for kids to understand all this. It's going to impact on things like birthday parties.

I have a dear friend who moved to Gran Canaria some years ago to care for his partner's elderly father. The regime there is strict. He says there are police and army on the streets ensuring people do not go out unless it's essential. I think there would be chaos if that happened here. People are just too selfish and self absorbed.  I still fear though that social distancing isn't clearly understood.  I suppose you could argue that my daily walk is not essential but I feel it is essential for me and I am striving to distance myself from people.

I've avoided the news and social media today. It was getting me down. So plenty of reading and writing. Always does the trick!