I backslid yesterday morning and went shopping on the way back from the hospital. I’ve let things slip a bit on the kitchen logistics and am short of a few things. This does not include carrots. We have enough carrots to eat them every day for the next week. In fact, we are going to have to eat them every day to make sure we get through them.
Julia made tea last night. I bought a bag of beansprouts while I was in the shop because they called me as I walked past. This was one of the high points, as were the four fresh rolls, the packet of ginger biscuits and the bunch of flowers. They didn’t have any decent marmalade, I didn’t see any mustard and there was, as usual, no flour.
It was tricky shopping because it was a spur of the moment thing and I didn’t have a list. I didn’t actually forget anything, but I did fail to find a few things that were probably there, such as the mustard. It was probably somewhere in the shop but it was Aldi and the aisles are narrow so going back would entail passing too close to people. At the best of times you get too close to people in Aldi, and there were several people shopping who didn’t seem too bothered about maintaining a proper distance.
The new flowers – artistic silhouette, or badly underexposed? The blue statice is the last survivor of the previous flowers.
I probably shouldn’t have gone shopping because we could have lasted until next week, but I’m beginning to crack under the pressure of lockdown. I did want a few supplies, and I did want to get something for Julia but I also, I admit, wanted to do something normal like shopping.
As you may be able to tell from the header picture, there is a possibility that Julia is feeling the pressure too. Look past the luscious fresh vegetables and the delicious chilli tomato sauce. Where, I ask, are the noodles you would normally expect with a stir fry? It did taste good with pasta, but it was a bit of a surprise.
I think the lockdown is starting to get to all of us in different ways…
It turns out that there are some advantages in being old and not having to worry too much about the future!
I will adopt that outlook – having less future to worry about might be just what I need to turn me into an optimist.
That stir fry looks amazing! And, yes, to starting to crack. I hate to be a whiner, but this feels like it’s getting harder, not easier. I have nothing real to complain about – everyone I know is safe and well – but I want to complain anyway.
The first three weeks were like a holiday, then I lost my enthusiasm. All seems to be going well but I suddenly slipped back. I don’t think you’re whining yet, merely stating a fact.
Thank you.
🙂
It seems to me to be within the sprit of things to shop on the way back from an essential medical trip out.
I think that is OK, it’s just that I’d set myself the target of not shopping until my click and collect slot on Thursday.
Lisa is right, we are still in training; and with our global 24 hour lifestyle, this won’t be the last new contagion to come through as a pandemic. Bad bugs can spread rather quickly. The bad news for the current pandemic, as I see it, is this is only the first wave of the virus coming through, and there is still no vaccine, and no tried and true effective drugs, yet. The vaccine won’t be available until next year at best, and most likely is several years off in coming.
My state has just lifted the lockdown on routine visits to doctors and dentists. As the experts learn more about the virus, the various lockdowns will probably be modified, but life will no longer be what we once knew and enjoyed.
Here is something from the American writer and historian Heather Cox Richardson: “In a sign that we are in this for the long haul, the editors of the New York Times announced today that, for the duration of the pandemic, they are replacing the “Travel” section of the Sunday newspaper with one entitled “At Home.”” She publishes a daily newsletter that chronicles these weird and scary times. If you have a chance, check her out.
That is a sign of the times. I will make a note to check it out.
PS – I see she’s from Maine, so no bias there… 🙂
She is, she is!
🙂
Yes, I think we are all starting to crack in various ways. I certainly wouldn’t want the responsibility of managing the current situation – damned if you do, damned if you don’t. More and more, for example, I am hearing discussions on the radio about the hidden problems which also need to be addressed.
Yes, I imagine we will still be suffering from the consequences of the virus and lockdown for years to come.
I’ve been listening to some interesting radio programmes which have been discussing various aspects of potential long term consequences. I imagine some of them could be positive but there will be a lot of harm, too.
Yes, it will be a mixed bag. Looks like will be queuing for shops until Christmas, and after that there will be a generation of counselling and various ramifications…
Yes, lots of ramifications. I don’t mind the queuing, in part because most of the places I acquire my food doesn’t require any. But I am concerned about useful and important businesses going under… And of the state of the nation’s physical and mental wellbeing.
We will have to see how the government scheme for the self-employed goes. I’m hoping it will keep a lot of businesses going, including the one I work for.
I’m beginning to suffer from a lack of exercise and society, and I imagine that I’m not alone in that.
Definitely not alone. I could have sworn I saw more people out and about yesterday when we went to collect our raw milk. Before, streets had been consistently empty.
Anyway, I hope the business you work for will be okay. I realise because of social distancing you couldn’t work there at the moment but do you think it would be safe for the owner to go in and package goods up for customers?
We discussed various formats but it still involved use of the post office, where distancing is difficult (the shop is only 3 feet wide where the post office counter is situated). There are other problems with postage and couriers and in the end we decided on a total shutdown.
Seems the best solution!
I think we’re just in training…
I hope not!
🙂 I can barely control my enthusiasm for graduation…