Day 3
Donald Trump is being
vilified for saying that the Corona comes from China and has caused a bit of a diplomatic incident. Not for the first time, but is this more offensive than the previous incarnations of Asian flu, Spanish flu and
even Bird flu? Nobody complained about that, least of all the birds – who,
I notice, have plenty of food at the moment, and unlike the rest of the world, are still flying. But then as Trump says in this situation
with the Corona - “people are dying who have never died before”. Although I'd personally be more worried if people who had died before were dying now. Is this situation now in danger of turning into a zombie apocalypse?
Unfortunately my Happy 40th Birthday badge plan has backfired as they have now announced hourly slots for over 70s to do their shopping…unfortunately
it’s very early in the morning so not sure if I’ll make it. Do you think they’d
give me an alarm call and a taxi? I need to look old or vulnerable or both. My friends
laugh at the suggestion I have a vulnerable side – no idea why as I cry at
anything - Gone with the Wind, puppies, small children (as long as they’re
well behaved), many things! As for looking old I am not really prepared to go to that much effort to disguise my youthful looks I’d rather just take my birth
certificate with me. It is early though so makeup could be a problem.
I know they said these
slots were going to be for those
most in need...unfortunately it's hasn’t been age related until now and I found
it was the ones who shouted loudest about being in need. As a shy and retiring type I'm not that
desperate....yet... but next week is another story of course.
Best news of the day today….wine is now classed as an essential food so I was restricted to only buying 3
bottles. I have of course known this fact about wine for years and am only surprised
it has taken the government so long to work it out. It needs a virus to get
people to think logically obviously and when the army are delivering my food at least I know I can order the essentials.
Dinner tonight is
interesting as all I could find was a small sachet of sardine flavoured cat food,
a large jar of Marmite, a rose scented
air freshener, and a turnip. I think Masterchef ask contestants to create a meal
with a few ingredients so perhaps anybody who has been on that show could give me
some ideas? This raiding of the shelves is no more than legalised looting. They may come to regret allocating me that exclusive early morning slot to conduct my own trolley dash, with only fellow oldies to beat to the loo roll and pasta aisles...
As I was writing, Daughter sent me an F. Scott Fitzgerald letter, written while he was quarantined with the Spanish flu. I suppose letters were the equivalent of a blog 100 years ago. I leave you with the extract below which clearly illustrates how little some things change...
The officials have alerted us to ensure we have a month's worth of necessities. Zelda and I have stocked up on red wine, whiskey, rum, vermouth, absinthe, white wine, sherry, gin, and lord, if we need it, brandy. Please pray for us.
shy retiring??? struggling a bit with that observation but enjoying all the others!
ReplyDeleteShopping yesterday was a different experience, our local farm shop had queues before 9o'clock.
ReplyDeleteDoors opened and everyone dashed to the butchers as if it was the January sales.
"Before we start, there are no eggs and no chicken" the butcher said politely.
This could answer the old age question, what came first the chicken or the egg?
Today I have found the answer while shopping with the over70s in Marks and Spencer's.
At 8.30.am there were a few chicken portions and about half a dozen fresh whole chickens.
No eggs so I think that has answered the question.
It made my day for the member of staff to look at me twice before letting me in to this select group of shoppers.
Keep safe and smiling.
Life has slowed to a full stop. Hardly anyone venturing out in this part of the world - obviously the inbuilt Cornish community spirit is a real bonus at a time like this. Apart from all the local shops offering to deliver, my little community has a system of not getting any without enquiring if anybody else needs anything. One of us has managed to secure an online delivery slot on 1st April (hope this isn't a wind-up) and offered to add to their shopping list.
ReplyDeleteI made my last contact with outside life yesterday when I needed to collect a parcel that temporary postman had not left in usual safe spot. Our post office is also the aforementioned hardware shop (unusual I know, but this is Cornwall). I thought I would sensibly stock up on plastic bags to portion bread and batch meals. When I told them it was the last time I would be out before isolation and I needed plastic bags - I was greeted with "there you are my lover, I don't like to think what you are going to do with them". I am hoping that the embarrassing incident will have been forgotten after my isolation.
On a cheery note, I had a large envelope delivered this morning and thought "ah nice, a Mothers Day card". It was from my Son and Daughter-in-Law but it contained 3 face masks - it's the thought that counts.
Cornwall is a very welcoming place but the natives are not happy at hearing people are going to ignore the no travel advice and escape the cities to enjoy holiday cottages down here. Everyone here is doing their bit to contain the lurgy but does not welcome outside influences beyond our control. We have minimal NHS facilities and, of course, more imporantly, a limited supply of toilet paper!
On a very positive note, one of my community has just received what must have been one of the last scheduled NHS procedures - a complete knee replacement. He went with trepidation to a small hospital in Hayle and said if it was on Trip Adviser he'd give it 5*** for every single part of his experience. Nice to remind ourselves that whilst the NHS is good sometimes it is excellent and this is what will see us all through this.
Keep well and as I like to say in this part of the world "Water-ma-Trout".