We have a revised system in Tesco. At the end of your shop, you now need to queue along aisle 11 before being taken to an appropriate check out. This is a Good Thing. Irrespective, shoppers were very few at Tesco, this morning. Given the weather this weekend, perhaps they've all escaped to Eryri/Snowdonia or the Lake District¹. Or perhaps we've all stocked up so much that we no longer need to get out at all. I see little evidence of increased home deliveries. They would be noticeable, as estate road traffic is now at a minimum.
Rhuthun/Ruthin's Chatwin's is closing today. Over this dreadful period, it's been like a lighthouse in town (and, as the clocks changed, literally a beacon), open and bright, selling bread, cakes and takeaway food. It closed its café immediately when told to do so. Now, its staff will take gardening leave. On March 24th, Chatwin's announced three shops in Chester were to close, two more in Cheshire, alongside its Rhosllannerchrugog, Wrecsam and Llangollen branches. Chatwin's had hoped to remain open elsewhere, to support the local community with food essentials. And, in our turn, we in this household supported them in their efforts, but fully understand the position in which they now find themselves.
Ruthin Wholefoods stays open and continues to do better than usual, as people who haven't always patronised it are doing so. Stocks are largely getting through, other than some frozen products and a run on bread flour. The owner is more often than not staffing the shop herself, these days. She's allowed her staff to go home. Some are older and at least one is vulnerable, as we understand it.
There's been someone in the former Jan's Cards doing work but we don't know why or for whom.
Today, we learn that the Feathers public house is opening up its guest accommodation free of charge to any national health service worker who is forced to self-isolate. The Feathers can take three people. They boast the usual luxuries. Such an act of altruism is in total contrast to the small number of pubs in Rhyl which are opening under lock-in. The police and Denbighshire licensing enforcement officers visited the premises yesterday evening, putting themselves at risk, all because of the selfish attitude of the landlords and their patrons.
We hear talk of the wild goats of Llandudno's Y Gogarth/Great Orme finding their way into town. I've not seen Ruthin Castle's peacocks strutting or sashaying around Rhuthun but there are bible black corvids—not sure which species—pecking in the centre of the road at times when you'd expect traffic to chase them away. Or dare we say "drive" them away.
I promised myself I would read "This is Going to Hurt" by Adam Kay. It's recommended by my daughter-in-law who, herself, works in health & social care and who is now required to undertake very different duties to her usual workload, mostly by phone and by a proprietary video chat telecommunications application. The book's a little coarse in parts, though I like Kay's use of similes and metaphors. From the book, it's quite clear that the NHS was under strain long before the coronavirus epidemic and I find tears pricking at the back of my eyes every time I hear some unexpected miracle from what are clearly desperate and difficult circumstances. What the situation must be like now, I can only imagine—with some horror.
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¹ I am being facetious, of course I am, although acts of stupidity such as going miles to exercise is far from amusing.
To assist queuing and physical distancing, Chatwin's introduced hazard tape on March 27th
Rhuthun/Ruthin's Chatwin's is closing today. Over this dreadful period, it's been like a lighthouse in town (and, as the clocks changed, literally a beacon), open and bright, selling bread, cakes and takeaway food. It closed its café immediately when told to do so. Now, its staff will take gardening leave. On March 24th, Chatwin's announced three shops in Chester were to close, two more in Cheshire, alongside its Rhosllannerchrugog, Wrecsam and Llangollen branches. Chatwin's had hoped to remain open elsewhere, to support the local community with food essentials. And, in our turn, we in this household supported them in their efforts, but fully understand the position in which they now find themselves.
Ruthin Wholefoods stays open and continues to do better than usual, as people who haven't always patronised it are doing so. Stocks are largely getting through, other than some frozen products and a run on bread flour. The owner is more often than not staffing the shop herself, these days. She's allowed her staff to go home. Some are older and at least one is vulnerable, as we understand it.
There's been someone in the former Jan's Cards doing work but we don't know why or for whom.
Today, we learn that the Feathers public house is opening up its guest accommodation free of charge to any national health service worker who is forced to self-isolate. The Feathers can take three people. They boast the usual luxuries. Such an act of altruism is in total contrast to the small number of pubs in Rhyl which are opening under lock-in. The police and Denbighshire licensing enforcement officers visited the premises yesterday evening, putting themselves at risk, all because of the selfish attitude of the landlords and their patrons.
I promised myself I would read "This is Going to Hurt" by Adam Kay. It's recommended by my daughter-in-law who, herself, works in health & social care and who is now required to undertake very different duties to her usual workload, mostly by phone and by a proprietary video chat telecommunications application. The book's a little coarse in parts, though I like Kay's use of similes and metaphors. From the book, it's quite clear that the NHS was under strain long before the coronavirus epidemic and I find tears pricking at the back of my eyes every time I hear some unexpected miracle from what are clearly desperate and difficult circumstances. What the situation must be like now, I can only imagine—with some horror.
__________
¹ I am being facetious, of course I am, although acts of stupidity such as going miles to exercise is far from amusing.