Shopping now

Thursday is market day in Fishguard  but only food sellers  are allowed to operate at present. Crafts, books, bric a brac have gone. So we have Phil the fishmonger on the right (not visible) followed by two butchers (the one at the end has a lovely selection of cheese). Opposite is Mr Batak's Syrian food stall, then a young man selling sourdough loaves made from locally-grown wheat,  a stall with home-made cakes (and some knitted toys, shh!). Finally, out of sight on the left, is a fruit and veg stall. Covid distancing was managed with  chairs and tables placed to create  queuing space  and waiting areas but last week all these barriers and tapes appeared. Phil said the town council had spent £1500 on them.

Then on to the Co-op supermarket. It's a small one to serve a small population and the aisles are narrow. It's raining and  a queue forms outside to wait for the red light to turn green (see extra) as shoppers leave the store.  Once inside there is hand sanitizer available and a one-way system around the aisles. Most people don't wear masks.

It seems extraordinary to be doing this after a lifetime of conventional  shopping and yet at the same time we accept it as the new normal.  I can't quite get my head around it. In a year or so it could be all forgotten. Or not? We live with so much uncertainty.