This week I have been mostly good and have resisted the urge to zap customers with my scanner. I feel sure they should be zapped to another dimension where they can experience what it’s like to not be able to get to produce that they want, but as mentioned previously, my scanner seems to be broken LMAO.

Work has been intense with some quiet moments but other times the aisles are crazy-busy, and you wouldn’t really know we’re in lockdown to be honest. I don’t think that many are taking it seriously. With politicians flouting the rules, doctors too, it’s not surprising. I take care to be careful and safe, and that’s all I can do really. I do get fed up of some customers complaining about lack of stock though. If people didn’t panic-buy, then there would be enough for everyone. Our store is now limiting toilet roll purchase to one per customer, just to stop people buying too many. Locally, my town and the next one over has had a huge increase in infection rates, and it is worrying. If the pension age hadn’t been changed, I’d be at home, keeping to myself and keeping safe. Several older colleagues have stated the same.

Speaking of, we’ve had a lot of new staff though some have left after just a few shifts apparently. Others have turned up late; not just 10 minutes or so, but an hour, and more, late. The new staff are all young, and some just don’t seem to have a good work ethic. Still, more work for me. We have a nice store manager who is often on the shop floor stacking, picking up rubbish, and talking to us. I have a lot of respect for a manager like that. Last week, she approached me and mentioned my weight loss. She asked if it was because I was rushing around picking orders. So nice that she noticed I’m busy, and that I’ve lost weight too. She further went on to say that they’d have to get me some new uniform soon lol. I’ve tightened my trouser belt another notch; I only have one left before I’ll have to buy a new belt and/or new trousers. I’m wasting away! Lol. Seriously, I’m thrilled with progress thus far although it does seem to stall now and again.

Despite placing an order for dry weather, we have copious amounts of rain and drizzle and fluctuating temperatures. Hard frost one morning, 8C the next. It can’t make up its mind. I’ve taken to hanging laundry on a clothes horse for 24 hours or so, then finishing the laundry off in the tumble dryer just to keep on top of it. Thank goodness we’re only two in the household!

The Ship’s Dog has been off his food, again, and I’ve been crushing his treat biscuits into his dry food and adding a little water to tempt him. If he was over-weight, I wouldn’t bother but he’s a tad underweight lately. Anyway, I’ve recently added ‘wet’ food to his kibble to tempt him. It’s a pouch of food, same brand as his kibble, and I add about a third to his kibble and he loves it! I’m hoping he’ll continue to like it and that it will help him gain a little weight.

I’ve booked 2 days off for next week and arranged it so that I’ll have 4 days off in a row. Nothing planned, just a little R&R prior to what will most likely be Christmas madness. I’m just waiting for the supervisor to start taking names of who is working when over the Christmas holidays. I don’t mind doing an extra shift a week so long as I don’t have to work too many hours in one shift; my back complains, as do my feet lol. They’d give me a full-time contract if I wanted it, but I politely decline. A little overtime here and there, or an extra shift occasionally is enough for me.

Well, that’s enough rambling lol.

Take care, be safe and well, and have a good week.

Additional: I’ve read numerous reports recently of ‘bad’ behaviour in supermarkets. One store, a customer had challenged a man who wasn’t wearing a mask. His response? He started pulling bottles of wine and spirits off the shelves and smashing them. Another news item: a customer was asked to be quiet by another customer during the 2 minutes silence on Sunday to mark Remembrance Sunday. Her response? She started throwing eggs and started a fight with the customer who had asked her to be quiet. Police were called to these incidents. I’m sure there are many more stories like this out there, and some people are simply losing the plot. They’ll need to add ‘danger’ money to our contracts if this nonsense becomes widespread. Be nice to each other, especially in these unprecedented times. Niceness costs nothing after all.