A Pint of Milk

‘A pint of Milk’.(718)

My life is on hold. I am not the only one. Across the globe there must be millions of us. I mean there are over 60 million in the UK. Most of us cooped-up at home. I am not complaining though – even if it has helped the NHS one per-cent, then it has and will be worthwhile. To stop the spread of this horrid Covid-19.

Up to now, there have been at least 16,000 deaths in this country – far too many…

Yesterday, in total pent-up frustration, I finally threw my mobile phone onto the carpeted floor. It just refused to charge.  It was the final straw. For a few days I had nursed it to get close to 1% let alone 40% charge.  Consequently, I took immediate action in search of another phone charger and drove the 2 miles to Curry’s but alas it was of course not open. B&Q seemed to be though, but getting primer and white paint for my front door frame, was not as pressing as trying to keep my phone pulsing. That can wait.

So, I rocked-up to the nearby Sainsbury’s. It was getting warm and I argued to myself that I may as well try now that I was there. If I had gone back home it would have been a wasted journey. An image loomed in my head of the poster that was put-up, in my best Uncle Albert voice, ‘during the war’ that questioned, ‘Is your journey really necessary?’. At that particular moment, with my week long annoyance bubbling-up, ready to explode again – I argued that it was. I simply needed my mobile working – just, just in case, anything happened.

Presently I joined the queue to get in. At least Sainsbury’s indicated the gap everyone should be social distancing themselves by. I felt a tad safer at that.

Whilst wearing my gloves and getting a basket, I noticed that there were no wipes available – like in Aldi. I made the best use of being there though and got some lemons, sausages and my favourite garlic bread – well, of course, before actually seeing if they had what I wanted in the first place. I picked-up one or two phone chargers and dismissed them, conscious all the time that maybe I did not really possibly, need to be there. But I was. Fortunately, a young lad who worked there came and within two minutes had recommended the right plug-in charger. For the sake of £12, I could not lose; only gain.

I thought there was an easy passage to a checkout. Tidy. However, I heard a voice say, in a polite manner, ‘Excuse me mate’. Oh my. I had only tried to jump in ahead of a chap hidden just in an aisle, who was social distancing himself.

‘Sorry mate’ I said as I saw his laden full trolley, brimming with food.

‘I’ve come to get my tea’ he said and we laughed, as I stood more than two metres apart.

As he got to the conveyor belt, a girl said that I could use the self-service machines. Yes, I had not thought of them. Idiot.

After putting my items through, and using my contactless credit card which is all too easy to click and watch my money go, the girl removed the security tag off the charger and even put it in my Aldi bag.

Just for a change I took the old road home. Past the bus garage -which would have been a mecca for my late dad, as he loved buses and took thousands of snaps. Then, after I went through the crossroads, I surprisingly saw three cop cars and a van by the lay-by. Cars had been stopped and as I saw a copper lean onto the road, I was not sure if he wanted me to stop but he did not put his hand out, so I carried on.

If the policeman had stopped me and asked what I had been doing on the road, I wonder what he would have made of my answer; that I had just got a new mobile charger. The thought which struck me then was the clear message that a recovering Covid -19 patient had said, ‘Don’t go out; not even for a pint of milk…’

Tuesday, 21/4/20.