Over the last few weeks I have been doing the weekly grocery shopping for a friend whose husband had recently been diagnosed with leukaemia. I donāt enjoy shopping. Throw in COVID with people not wearing their masks properly and not keeping their social distance, it doesnāt take long for the red mist to surface.
During previous lockdowns (weāve had a few!) and over the last few months, my husband and I have alternated the weekly grocery shopping. I just need to get out! Even if itās only once a week and it entails shopping! When my turn, I go to the local āupmarketā supermarket. I shanāt mention names! My husband really dislikes my choice. He insists that the prices are outrageous and the quality inferior unless you buy Prince Charlesā organic āDutchyā brand. Weāre all entitled to our own opinions….. Because I now need to go every week I decided to join my husband. I would give his favourite store another chance!
Bad move!
I didnāt set my alarm as Iād had a wakeful night. We left late. I was warned that it meant empty shelves! Surely shelves were continually being re-stacked? Where I frequent, the aisles are always busy with employees filling all the empty spaces! They are also invaluable help. My friendās grocery requirements arenāt the same as ours. Her lists often include items I canāt find!
So, Friday morning was different. Very different! Because we were late (I had been warned!) many shelves were bare. Few staff were visible and when I did manage to find one, unhelpful. Now, I could try to understand if the empty shelves contained perishables. What I cannot understand was that it applied to things like tomato purƩe, lemon juice, a specific cereal, gravy granules and black currant jam! This is just bad management and heads should roll! Throw in those wearing their masks beneath their noses, others on their phones with their masks pulled right down and masses of little super spreaders running around unattended, it was not a pleasant experience! No one checked the numbers allowed inside the store and the tills were heaving! Is it any wonder our infection rates remain high?
Next week Iāll go back to the local āover-pricedā supermarket. Iāll wait patiently in the queue outside. Iāll have my list and any number of willing assistants to help me find non standard products. They will have tomato purĆ©e, a common brand of salted butter, blueberries, raspberries and daffodils! Iāll go at a time that suits me!
Iāll always be a āshopophobeā! One day weāll get rid of this virus, or learn to live with it and life will return to normal. My husband, like his mother, loves grocery shopping! On our numerous holidays (when the world was our oyster!), the pair of them would gravitate towards supermarkets, even if we had our meals provided! Something I could never understand!
So, when the world reopens, Iāll spend Friday mornings in the gym. Or having a long walk. Or even doing housework! Itās that bad! Anything other than grocery shopping. My husband will leave early and go to his favourite supermarket alone. He will wander around the aisles without any distractions, happy as Larry.
Boris is sharing his roadmap with us on Monday. Itās only a roadmap, I have to keep on reminding myself. It will not be the fastest route out but weāll get there in the end. And lockdowns will be consigned to the history books!
But itās the weekend. Iām sitting with a glass of wine and looking forward to ……… no rain tomorrow so that I can get out for a walk. Some sun would be good! Maybe a cowboy movie after dinner? Iām not really asking for much ……..š
Jenny Burrell 