When it really happens: SHTF...

[Flying10uk]

Today was the first time that I ventured into my local supermarket wearing a full respirator, fitted with both charcoal and P3 dust type filters, and, as previously mentioned, is the sort of respirator that one may use to spray certain types of paint. Last week I had taken the precaution of checking with customer services who, in turn, checked with the manager, that it was acceptable to wear this type of mask in-store.

I wanted to give the appearance of complete normality, nothing unusual, just doing my shopping, apart from wearing a full blown respirator. To this end I was completely relaxed and just did my shopping as per normal, while wearing a full respirator, and I observed other people's reactions. I did detect a few slight smiles from a few of the younger females in-store, but no great reaction and several others were wearing thin dust masks.

We have been told to try and limit our visits to the supermarkets and so I thought that I had better get the maximum amount that I could into my basket but I couldn't get too much as I was only visiting the shop on foot.

With the basket full I decided on the "EXPRESS CHECKOUT" and being carful to thread on the correct piece of floor, in accordance with the shop's social distancing rules, placed my basket on the counter. Here's where my problems began, I was wrestling with an umbrella which kept trying to open, while I was trying to remove my backpack in order to access my reusable plastic shopping bags. The straps for my backpack were entangled with the strap of my respirator bag which was round my neck and I was also trying to hold onto my lunch bag all at the same time. I didn't want to put anything down in case it got "contaminated".

With my 2 plastic bags now available and my backpack and respirator bag back on again, I started the job of packing my shopping. Unfortunately, it soon dawned on me that I had a problem, I was struggling to get all of my shopping into the 2 bags that I had allotted. I could have taken my backpack off again but I didn't feel that I could face another wrestling match with my umbrella, the straps of my bags etc and besides I only have 2 hands to carry all of my bags.

While still halfway through my "packing" a slightly snooty female said over my shoulder "Do you mind doing your packing at the other end of the counter.". In reply I said, through my respirator, "Are you going to pay for my shopping?" The lady replied "I can't hear a word you are saying.". The assistant said "He hasn't paid for his shopping yet." The lady left the queue, presumably for a Non-Express checkout and in the hope for a more speedy checkout.