Yesterday evening (19 March), I received a text from a friend saying, “There is literally nothing left in the shops!”.
Whilst I have not experienced there being “literally nothing left”, I have, regularlly visited my local Sainsburys only to find no toilet rolls, canned tuna or other items which, usually fill my shopping basket.
My local Sainsburys in Upper Norwood has, as with all Sainsburys (and many other supermarkets), limited shoppers to purchasing a maximum of 2 of any 1 product so, for example I can only buy 2 packs of tissues (assuming of course that there are any tissues left to buy)!
Given the panic buying by vast numbers of the British public as a consequence of COVID-19 (the Corona Virus), I am wholly in support of Sainsburys and the other stores who have introduced limits on the number of items shoppers may purchase. However, in London I can report that this sensible (and morally correct) policy is not working.
Talking to store employees, I am frequently told how people buy 2 lots of an item, leave the store and, shortly afterwards come back to buy a further 2 of the same product. Staff are sometimes abused when trying to enforce the 2 item limit (on any one product), while families may go to separate check-out lines in an attempt to beat the limit.
Yesterday (Thursday 19th March), my local Sainsburys opened between 8-9 am purely to serve the elderly, pregnant women and other vulnerable customers. Being registered blind, I entered the store at a little after 8 am and was escorted round by a helpful employee. Whilst the lady did her very best to find the items I needed, many of them where, quite simply not in stock, which meant that I either found an alternative or went without. For example there where no rubbish sacks. I was, however able to purchase bin bags when I visited the store later in the day (although they had almost sold out of this essential item).
Whilst some people are behaving in a selfish manner, I have been touched by the kindness of other individuals. While shopping between 8-9 am yesterday, a heavily pregnant lady brought across a box of ceareal which the store employee had not spotted and thought was out of stock. I have also received offers of help from friends to assist me shop. As John Donne famously said, “no man is an island”. We all have duties and responsibilities to one another and its at times like this (the COVID-19 emergency), that we see both the worst and the best in our fellow men and women.
Since Tuesday, I have been working from home (my employer has now instructed everyone to do so). Whilst I relish the opportunity to home work once a week (almost always on a Friday), I am finding it socially isolating to work from home every day. There is much written about how technology can enable remote working and the benefits of working from one’s own home. Home working does, indeed have many benefits, for example cutting down on the carbon emissions produced by travel, however (apart from the problem of isolation) I find that I miss the convivial chats in the work kitchen. “Oh did you see my email?” said to a colleague one has just bumped into, is likely to prompt them to go back to their desk and look at said message. Such a question (put with a smile) is likely to ilicit a positive response, whilst sending a follow-up email may well just get lost in a colleague’s ballooning inbox.
Whilst this is a poetry blog, I will, from time to time continue to put out the occasional post concerning my experience of the COVID-19 situation.20
Kevin
K Morris - Poet 
Thanks for sharing! We do need to go through this together. I appreciate reading your real experience.
Many thanks for reading and commenting on my post, Angela. As you say, we do need to go through this together. Best, Kevin
It is indeed bringing out both the best and the worst in people. Stay safe, Kevin.
Thank you Mick. I had people let me go in front of them in a supermarket queue this morning, which was incredibly kind. However, on the other hand, a colleague was telling me of fighting outside another supermarket. You also, take good care of yourself. Kevin
I honestly feel completely and utterly weird working at home all alone, Kevin. Well, the boys are here doing their virtual classrooms and studying, but I feel cut off from people and work. I know how you feel and I think most of us are experiencing the same thing. Hugs to you and Trigger.
Thanks Robbie. You take care of yourselves (you, the boys and your husband). I try to catch the news on Corona maybe twice a day, as I don’t feel that its healthy to constantly be checking developments on the COVID-19 front. Its good to have time for writing etc. All the best, Kevin
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I’m disgusted by the behaviour of horders, how people are fighting over supplies, and cheating the system. Especially since it then makes things difficult for the rest of us who just want to pick up our weekly shop. Things are much the same in our local supermarkets and other shops as with yours, but I have the added complication of being vegan (partially by choice, admittedly, but a choice I made due to allergies, and health concerns, so not entirely by choice, if you know what I mean). I even had to go on Amazon to order pet food from there, and then had to get different brands, because they’ve even cleared out the pet food and treats from the supermarkets and petshops.
The being at home thing doesn’t bother me. I’m used to it. Mind you, I also have Kelly and the animals, so I’m not completely isolated. I expect it’s harder on a social kind of person like you.
Thanks for commenting, Tori. I’m sorry to read that you are having similar problems to those experienced by people living in London. Sometimes I think the whole country has gone a little mad. I’m glad that you managed to get pet food from Amazon, and that you have Kelly and the animals for company. All the very best, Kevin
Stay safe.
You to, stay safe Tori.
And now we’re on lockdown officially! Stay safe ^^
Thank you. You to, stay safe and well.
Cheers ^^