Temperature Checks and Toilet Rolls

Today I treated myself with a trip to the supermarket. Last week I'd taken stock of what I had in the apartment, and had been slowly emptying the fridge-freezer of any fresh/frozen produce. At last, I was finally down to the last sad looking sweet potato and had to venture out beyond the community gates. It was time. Sorry neighbours.

The community had sealed off the usual route I take, closing 2 of the compound's gates so we could only and enter through the one checkpoint. The rudimental barriers and security guards added to the low-security prison feel, and I felt the need to justify myself to the guy on duty as I left through the North gate. He merely grunted, as if scurvy should be the least of my worries when there's a deadly disease out there.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect as I made the way to the supermarket. The shops along the front of the building were closed, except one hot pot place offering takeout. You know China is in big trouble when even the hot pot restaurants are quiet. The supermarket had reduced their opening times to allow for extra thorough cleaning (always a bonus), and my friend Katie had already posted pictures of her local store, so I was hopeful there wouldn't be any shortages and a limited chance of catching anything. I passed the temperature check and entered an eerily quiet supermarket.

Oh it was glorious! They had everything and then some. As I was still slightly recovering, I didn't want to go too crazy and have to carry everything back, especially as using the other gate added a little extra to my walk. However, given how long it had been since the fresh fruit and veg market had come to our community, and the fact that I had barely spent anything in the last week, I was more than ready to 'splash the cash'. Especially as there was hardly anyone else there. I felt better about buying my fruit and veg when there wasn't an old lady pawing her way through them all to find the freshest ones or some guy picking his nose next to them.

I also bought flushable toilet roll. I wasn't sure if I was more excited about no longer having to empty a bin of used toilet roll from my bathroom, or the fact that I could read and understand the characters on such an obscure subject. I spent the next few moments playing the crazy-foreigner and grinning about my new find. I mean, this is life changing. Anyone who has ever visited a public bathroom can attest to how stinky those little bins get. I got a few odd looks from customers and staff, and wondered if they thought my happiness in the middle of such a dire situation was caused by the (fake) news that caucasians can't catch the coronavirus. No, I was happy about flushable loo roll. This is what my life has been reduced to now.

11 days to go?

I hobbled back to my apartment and made a smoothie. Fresh never tasted so good.

As of Feb 13th:
1,379 unwatched YouTube videos on my 'to watch later' playlist.
505 unread emails.
7 unread paper books (+ 1 kindle).
4 cartons of soy milk.
3 dogs and a hamster.

Copious amounts of fruit and veg.

224 episodes of Friends left to watch.