I was hoping to venture out and do my weekly shop this morning, regular readers here will know that I am a menu planner so my shopping lists are based on the bits I need to cook those meals. Whilst I was sitting writing my list last night it occurred to me that maybe some of the shops I usually visit, the small independent food shops, might not be open any more as social distancing would be quite difficult to achieve once inside. It turns out they are open, but you need to phone through an order and pick it up the following day. It is wonderful that they have found a way to stay open and keep themselves safe by reducing contact with their customers. My shopping has been put back by a day.
I found the information I needed on Facebook with which I have a bit of a love-hate relationship. I joined to keep up with home education groups and events, it appears I might have to start using it in a different way, starting with liking local shops so that I can keep up with what it going on. Its facility for video calls and that of other social media sites has been a lifeline for us, particularly Alice, and will continue to be for the weeks to come. I have managed to organise for her to have video play dates with her friends on most afternoons of this week.
My regular weekly shop is an important part of my week, I love to visit the small independent shops, chat to the staff that are there week after week. They have watched my children grow, ask how they are doing. It feels strange that that will no longer be possible.
We are a social species, isolating ourselves is tough.
The physical connections we have with people is only one part of our connection to the people in our lives, we can learn from nature which builds amazing, often symbiotic, relationships to continue our connections to those people that are important to us, without seeing them on a regular basis. Perhaps they will change and become better, deeper as we find the time that we perhaps haven't had in the past, wouldn't that be a wonderful consequence. If we look out for a few people, if they too do the same, we can build a web of support which we are all part of, all of us integrated into a vast network.
I have read this week about the important of connection though blogging, words which I totally agreed with. I had thought with so much of what I do not happening any more I would have more time for posting on here but that hasn't been the case just yet. I don't seem to be any less busy, which is somewhat baffling but I will save that for another post.
In the meantime I do hope that you have found ways to lessen your isolation despite being isolated.
As always an interesting and thought provoking post. I do so agree with you and I too hope that some of the lessons we will all hopefully learn from all this will make for a better more caring world. Again like you I am finding I have less time rather than more these days and can't think who these people who are having to find things to occupy themselves might be!! I don't need to find things to occupy myself at all and am trying to find time to do nothing for five minutes in my day without success! I agee too that we are a social species and although some of us are loners most need physical contact with other people I know I do!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I have that hope too, that we will learn from this and that we will become a more caring society. I am glad to hear there is someone else out there who has less time rather than more, it makes it easier to manage when you know you are not alone and yes to five minutes to do nothing - now wouldn't that be lovely!
DeleteBeautiful and pertinent words, as always. Blogging has always been my ‘web of support’ and continues, especially lovely are the “behind the scenes” emails.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with FB, I am still managing to survive without it, long may that continue.
Thank you! I love that blogging is a web of support for you already, I do hope that continues to be the case for you. Receiving emails from bloggers is rather wonderful isn't it. I reached out to a blogger who hasn't posted in ages and got a wonderful reply back, I hope it is the start of another line of communication.
DeleteOur connection through blogging is so important isn’t it. Everyone seems to be going the extra mile to see that essentials are still available. Long may it last. B x
ReplyDeleteThey do say that a crisis can bring out the best and worst in people, I am trying to ignore the worst bits and concentrate on the best bits. I too am grateful for the amazing people out there who are keeping our country going.
DeleteI think children especially will find social distancing hard, they're used to playing with friends and learning social lessons through contact with them. I'm glad you've found a way round this, technology is a lifeline to people at the moment and though we can often see the bad things that social media has produced, it has so many benefits too as we're now seeing.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jo, for your thoughtful kind words. Technology does get a bad press doesn't it but it does have its benefits and I know that navigating through the next few weeks and months are going to be so much easier for having it in our lives.
DeleteI've found myself phoning friends more as well as/ instead of connecting on Facebook which is nice. Have joined a Facebook helpers group in my local area too , which shops for vulnerable people. I shopped for a lady yesterday who has ms. She was so grateful and it helps to do something useless. I also have a dog so we have an hours walk every day away from others. Hoping this can continue. My partner actually works in a tissue factory, so this will probably continue! My job in a cafe has ended for now. Stay safe and well
ReplyDeleteXx
It is good to keep those connections going isn't it. I hope that I can find the time to continue with that after things are settled and back to normal.
DeleteIt's wonderful to have a web of support and this time must be even more challenging for those who don't have it in one way or another. Strangely enough I seem to have been in touch with friends much more often than usual right now. Long may it continue once we are over the worst. X
ReplyDeleteYes, I cannot begin to imagine what it must be like if you don't have a support network around you. It is so good that we have more time for our friends and yes I hope that will continue into the future too.
DeleteBlogging and social media have really come into their own at the moment. I am also enjoying the crafting videos on Youtube. I went out to do some shopping this morning and most people are being sensible and staying pleasant. I did notice a few who weren't social distancing at all - idiots!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes
Ellie
I noticed an article on the BBC this morning about what it would have been like if this pandemic had hit in 2005 when technology was rather different, I am sure we would all have coped as that is all we knew back then, but I agree that technology is definitely helping.
DeleteI really, really do not understand the mentality of people who are not social distancing.
Social media has been a lifeline for me for years. I worked with people I had nothing in common with except the job, and most of my family and friends are hundreds of miles away, literally. So being able to visit them online has been wonderful. After I retired and now spending most of my time in our isolated place, it became even more valuable. It has its faults, certainly, but I am a big supporter :)
ReplyDeleteI am glad to hear that it has been a lifeline for you. We can choose how isolated we want to be with social media, can't we?
DeleteI sounds wonderful to live in a place where there are independent grocers and I am really glad to hear that they continue to be open for the communities they serve. Big city living means fewer small independent shops that sell useful things like food. The exception are butcher shops, there are several near us.
ReplyDeleteI am a bit less keen to use online tools to stay in touch with friends and family. I spend so much time online for work and now all meetings are online also, not just teaching and learning. I do love reading blogs though, such a lovely way to wind down for me. I met two bloggers in real life, it was wonderful to spend time with someone I had connected with online. It was a bit like meeting an old friend. I have come to realise that I am not that bothered by the relative isolation (for now) but my younger children miss their outdoor football games and playground adventures and my 16 year misses all her normal teenage happenings. Ah well, one day at the time. Take care x
I am glad to hear that you are not currently bothered by the relative isolation for now, it effects us all in different ways doesn't it. It is hard for children isn't it, not being able to meet face to face and run around playing.
DeleteI do feel so lucky to have so many wonderful independent shops in my local town, there are more than just food shops, most of the shops are independents. I do hope that those that have had to close will be able to reopen once life is back to normal.
Other than blogging/reading blogs, I find myself avoiding social media even more these days...which probably sounds odd as everyone seems to be enjoying it so much. I'm finding it too loud...more loud than usual..which is not surprising of course, as everyone is spending more time there! :)
ReplyDeleteI love that vision of visiting independent shops...I remember doing that when I was in university..there was row of shops -- a bakery, a butcher, a green grocer, a tea/coffee/spice trader....ah, it was brilliant. I wish there were more of those. I'm glad that you're still able to support them though, with the delivery service. It's been wonderful to see small businesses adapting this way...it's very encouraging. xo
I totally get the volume thing, that is such a good way of describing it. I am feeling more and more that I need to take a step back from everything except blogs which are such a lovely sanctuary.
DeleteI love my local town, it is full of independent shops selling not just food. I do hope those that have had to close are able to weather the storm and re-open when things are a little calmer. It is also wonderful that the food shops have found a way to continue to provide a service to the community.
I am trying to go to the grocery store only one time a week. While there are parts of the store that are not stocked (it's a supermarket) I always find what I need and that makes me happy. There are signs all around to stay six feet apart which is easy to do except in the aisles. I hope my breath and hope for the best. the online shopping feature is three or four days out and I don't trust that what I order will be filled because of shortages and I want to be the one to substitute not them. I'll see how it goes.
ReplyDeleteI only food shop once a week normally, so that has not changed for me. It's a 25 mile round trip so one I only make once a week. Like you I would rather visit the supermarket, where I buy all the bits I cannot get elsewhere, than do online shopping I have heard their substituting is interesting!
DeletePeople are resilient! Little shops, finding a way, to keep open, even in this time!
ReplyDeleteAnd we need to remember, that people are resilient! This will be over. And when it is, it will be a huge job, to bring life back! But look at these examples, of how people are working on doing things, in a different way. We all see them, locally. We will come back, from this! We must remember that we are strong!
Ohhhh Yesssssss!!!! I said this, at the very beginning. That Pretty Blog Land should be even more busy! Holding each other's hand, as it were. Knowing we are ALLLLLL in this together. Sharing ideas... Sharing helpful ideas, we have come across...
Even just being here.... So much more important, in such a time of trial.
Let's hope, this vision, will continue, even after. It will be over. I hope, the surge in blogging, will not be over, with it.
🌸Gentle hugs🌸
I too hope some of the really positive things that are happening in the world right now continue for many years to come. Your are right we are strong and it is good to remain positive.
DeleteWe've noticed that, if anything, we're more busy than we are usually as well, but I suspect that will start to tail off as we get into the swing of our new "normal" and don't feel the need to try to do everything in a short time. I think it's probably a good indication of how we try to live usually, cramming as much as we can into hours around school and commuting - I hope this enforced "rest" will be good for all of us! xx
ReplyDeleteI think that is probably true, that we are trying to live as we usually do by keeping continually busy when actually we should be using this time as rest time. Thank you for your lovely comment.
DeleteThank you for your kind words. I am so grateful for the friends I have in my life right now, they are such a good support network for me.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I'm just busier than ever! There will be benefits and globally I'm hoping that there will be changes and lessons learnt. At least your kids are used to being home schooled so it's just their friends they'll miss. Good to know facebook is good for kids having playdates.xxx
ReplyDeleteI am, I still have no idea how fitted everything in! I too hope there will be changes going forward, good ones I hope xx
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