The Lockdown Diaries – Day 3 Schools and Shopping.

Don’t worry, I won’t bore you every day with an update, this could go on for a very long time, it’s a tad scary. I’m glad we started self isolating when we did. Getting in early means we are most likely not to be carrying the virus and should be able to stay safe. This is hard though. And we are only on Day 3.

The number of cases in my city is now 20, five more than yesterday. Still not a lot, but it will rise, and when it does I’m sure it will be quick.

There are two things I want to talk about today, shopping and school.

Shopping

Last week I had this idea that it might be good to get my online order done early, you know, just in case. I usually do it on a Saturday afternoon for delivery on Monday. Sainsburys already had no slots available until Wednesday and that seemed too long. So I tried Asda and managed to get a slot on Tuesday. I booked both, there are some things that my kids will only eat, or drink, from Sainsburys.

So with both shopping sites open I split my shop into two. I didn’t double it, I couldn’t afford it for one, I am on a budget. I just bought what I could from Asda while putting my essential Sainsbury items in the basket too. Then I left it. In the few days afterwards, the shopping situation seemed to be getting worse and worse with so many photos on Social Media of empty aisles, or massive queues.

I added bits and pieces to my shopping. My idea was that if there was too many items missing from the first shop I could add them to the second. I just wanted enough to get us through until the end of next week.

The first shop, from Asda was pretty good, only a few things swapped and nothing missing.

The second shop from Sainsburys had tons of substitutions and loads of stuff missing. Too late, I should have spent more at Asda. There are no shopping slots now for weeks!

The story gets worse but I’m going to leave that for my post on Friday.

Panic in the Aisles

So we are warned to avoid crowded places and what does everyone do? Go crazy in the supermarkets. I’ve never seen such madness, ten times worse than Christmas. Not only that but all these people could be carrying the virus and spreading it among themselves. That’s great, Mr Johnson would cry, it’s what we want, herd immunity. Let all the healthy people get sick and then while they are at home feeling like crap and not wanting to eat all the food they stripped off the supermarket shelves, the so far isolating carers of the elderly and sick would be able to venture out and replenish their cupboards from the now replenished supermarkets and avoid the crowds. Maybe, maybe not. It’s a nice idea. (not that loads of people get sick, but that some sort of normality could return.)

I really don’t get it, it’s so selfish and stupid. Yes, you may be holed up for weeks on end, but the food will still be available, and providing the whole house isn’t sick there will be someone to go and fetch it. What about the elderly and vulnerable. Or what about those that can’t afford six weeks food in one go? What about those that can’t be around crowds of people that may be carrying the virus? Every needs to take what they need when they need it just like they do every other week. The shops aren’t going to disappear overnight and even in a total lock down people are allowed out to buy food supplies. It’s just greed and selfishness.

School

Personally, I don’t think they have left it too late to close schools. People need to work and school takes care of their children while they do it. It’s risky to send the now, probably infected, children to stay at their grandparents. With more places closes and more people out of work, then hopefully childcare will not be too much of a problem. Self isolating is something we will all have to do eventually, or we’ll be forced to do it.

Children seem less infected, but you also have to think of the staff that take care of them while they are at school. They may have to go home to elderly or vulnerable relatives, or be pregnant or vulnerable themselves. Closing schools had to be on the cards sooner or later.

What happens now? Parents find it difficult to cope with school holidays as it is.

How are we doing with our lockdown plan?

I thought we would be okay. I mean we spend some holidays, like half term cooped up inside, not venturing out. We’ve even spent entire summer holidays with just a few days out. We like being home. The kids can occupy themselves and even when we restrict screen times there are other things to do. The schools are setting up online lessons for the older two. I’m not so sure about the younger one yet. Education will resume somehow.

What I didn’t count on was the other adults being cooped up too. Graham hates it, he likes to escape as often as can even if it’s just to the shops, or to visit his Mum. The older two also like to go out occasionally, just to prevent the cabin fever. Even I don’t like being cooped up too long. We are all going to drive each other insane.

What if one of us gets sick? We’ve thought of every option and tried to figure out what we would do. It’s not easy living in a family with vulnerable people. I’m just glad I don’t have elderly relatives to care about too, what a nightmare that will be for some.

It’s just so hard to get your head around. A few weeks holiday, stuck at home, I guess a bit like Christmas is okay. But, this could go on for much, much longer! And people are scared. And scared people are scary!

How are you coping? Do you have any strategies? I want to hear from you and if you’ve written a post, please don’t forget to link it up. Oh, I’ve not mentioned COVID-19 yet!

Here’s my first post.