By my reckoning we’re now into our third week of the UK lockdown. I can only say thank God for the ability to read and for the internet because I would have gone mad by now. There is a limit to the number of 8 letter words you can find on Countdown (requotes today thank you so much for asking) whilst noticing that it is one of the few quizzes that already practice social distancing. That at least could continue. But Pointless would have to go. You can’t stand that close to someone these days without being forced apart by a cattle prod. I’m thinking of ordering one of those from Amazon by the way. It would encourage the correct distance on pain of electric shock and provide entertainment as well.
It would appear that we have at least another 3 weeks of this lockdown to go. They’re talking about May 11th but it will be a long time until we are back to “normal”. And anyway, what will normal look like? Will we all decide to hold more food in the store cupboards? Will we remember how to shop on a whim without a list? I find it a comfort that the British have remembered how to queue. But the balance of power has changed I’ve noticed. Before the customer was always right. Now, the customer will get in the queue and be happy with the level of service we choose to give you. As an example I was stood in the queue to pay at a Sainbury’s Local* where I could see 5 members of staff. The manager was serving customers at the till. The only one serving as the queue trailed around the shop. The other 4 were discussing how Barry had said they didn’t need to listen to complaints from customers anymore. If any customer complained (about anything) they were to ask them to leave the store immediately. Now I don’t know how bad the abuse has got for store assistants during the lockdown but generally speaking I have only seen the public responding well to the difficulties in their every day lives which have suddenly appeared. We are all adjusting to the new reality and a bit of patience and understanding wouldn’t go amiss.
So moving forward we might not even have the same shops we’re used to being in. Debenhams has gone, Oasis and Warehouse are in administration. This, of course, will have a massive knock on effect on the High Street which was already struggling. Maybe we should all make a vow to visit our nearest High Street when we are freed and spend like a drunken sailor in port. The old adage of use it or lose it has never been so relevant. Think about what you’re going to do when the lockdown is lifted and make those choices wisely. More than just your convenience relies on it.
Remember this too will pass. Stay safe and well Stranglings and I’ll see you on the other side.
*Other inefficient local supermarkets are available