Uncertain Times 1

Last week felt like things were going down the zombie apocalypse slide. Most of my colleagues were tense, worried even angry. Uncertain times like these tests our emotions and the way we behave.

As our numbers dwindled, the few staff that were left picking up the pieces, serving customers as best as they can, keeping themselves healthy and not hoarding food, hand sanitisers and toilet paper. 

Pasta, meat and bread is also being hoarded. If we all take what we need, there will be plenty to go around. 

We work at Opticians X. Just like you, we don't know what will happen when everything shuts down. It seems like we will get our full pay this month. The next few months, 80%. As far as we know. 

There are amazing companies out there that are paying their staff full pay while they're temperarily closed.  This is amazing! I wish more companies would learn from them and be human.

We don't have the luxury to work from home. To not use public transport. To not deal with rude angry customers.  Managers don't have to deal with customers shouting at them. Please be kind. We are also human. 

If work shuts down, we will isolate ourselves.  It seems like the world is falling apart.  NHS heroes are putting themselves on the line. Look after yourselves, your community might need you if they get sick. Some of my neighbours are helping people who are self-isolating / vulnerable with food, toilet paper and picking up their pensions. This is amazing! It would be amazing if we all helped each other like this. 

I read on Twitter that crime has continued since people started self-isolating. Offenses include drug/drunk driving, assault and theft. Please report crime to them on 101/online orlo.uk/Report_Online_. Please see below. 

Stay indoors if you can and practice social distancing. 

Take care.

Wonder Woman XXX 💜 

Fear and Hysteria

These are strange times we're going through. It feels odd. It feels uncertain. It feels sort of anxious. 

It feels like it's spreading a lot faster than expected. People are freaking out and panicking. They're stockpiling toilet paper, bread, chicken. Most processed meat is still on the shelves. Some dairy is still available. A lot of tinned food is gone. The cleaning shelves are wiped out. I couldn't get sponges. There's no bleach. No EGGS! WTF? Nuts. 

So a lot is gone. I think supermarkets are trying to restock. Well, a lot of snacks were left. Yeah! Snack lovers unite. 😂 Chocolate is still available. Thank God for that. 

At work, several people are off with symptoms of you-know-what. We are scared that if work closes, we won't get full sick pay. I hope we do. There are a lot less customers coming into the building where we work, some customers are worried about collecting their purchases. Which is fair enough. They are being posted out to vulnerable people who are self-isolating. 

Everyone who comes into the building is made to wash their hands. We regularly sanitise and wash our hands. Public areas are wiped down every 30 minutes. These are good measures.  

We are noticing that people are behaving out of the norm and being rude, overly anxious and panicking over pretty much everything. Hysteria is very real. I guess these aren't normal times. 

These are my opinions and observations including some of my friends experiences. 

How are you going through these testing times? Are you managing well? Do you have basic supplies? Let me know. Take care of yourselves. 

Wonder Woman XXX