Will not attempt to sing what Bob did but yes indeed it is a fitting start. COVID-19 continues to ravage the globe; some areas hit harder than others; some experts claim it is reporting methodology that results in misleading information; some say it is a hoax to upset the global economy fixed by the superpowers…well whatever it is it is real and it is causing a lot of turmoil, grief and damage around the world.
Like millions of others I have been doing a lot of online shopping. More than what I usually do, which can sometimes get a little carried away. However…due to certain people who eat up the fear factor aspect and have been hoarding, among hand sanitizers and cleaning supplies (which I can see some sense to – disinfecting and cleaning is good….) – toilet paper. There is still a decent supply of food in the stores, one just has to wait a little longer to get it due to the social distancing rules. No big. But there is no toilet paper, no paper towels, no napkins, no tissues. What may I ask are these hoarders planning? Some are purely in it for profit and place it online for about 10 times the price. I think the major online companies shut that down pretty fast. Selling it on the side out of their back door, in parking lots or back alleys? Really? Wow. No shame at all.
One of my online shopping items was something I never ever ever thought I would be adding to my cart….yes to the above…toilet paper. I had a package left and was doing alright but was getting to the point of needing some. Actually needing some. So I had a search through Amazon and lo and behold…..scads of it. The really cheap stuff I was a little wary of and read the reviews they were not what they claimed to be but the big brands (kittens and bears) pricing pretty similar to what I would pay in the supermarket although out of stock for about a month. I can wait. I caved. Two packages of fluffy soft TP added to my cart. I felt a little guilty ordering TWO. But I did not order TWENTY. I recently received them. They are legit. The real thing not a hoax. I am happy. Content. I feel safe. I have my TP. Enough for a while. Hopefully to take me through the transition as we start to head back to normality although things will never be quite the same again. The new normal.
I am more concerned about eating. I did buy a little more flour than I need at the moment but I also bake bread on a regular basis so I thought it was an ok thing to throw that 10kg bag of flour in my cart. I have never been much for canned goods but I did buy a few cans of beans and tomatoes but I will make the other stuff. If anything this whole situation has made me look deeper into my cupboards and use what I have. That is a good thing.
I would like to give most people the benefit of the doubt in terms of being kind, courteous and having a shred of common sense. As we grow ever daily in our global population it seems all the above shrink away at the same rate. Is it so difficult to be kind to others? Help someone out who needs it or asks? And to all you hoarding, rude arseholes – you will get your due reward….in the meantime I hope you plug your toilet.
Tata, stay safe…