The Loss of Normality

[Norder]

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we went out (now yesterday) .....essential nutrients only of course, it was a sad affair, for myself, much sadder than normal even, as to be stood in a queue, separated by some unseen force, was most creepy indeed....but stocked up and back in the car, up high went the music, as if to wash ourselves of that most unhealthy of events - We were glad to get away..."wow, that was some severe fruitcakery" I said, then thought, to cheer up Mrs Norder with a question ( the answer she knew)...."why was it that folk were having a fit buying Toilet Rolls"...."thats easy" she said " if one sneezes then a hundred Shlit themselves"

....Not far from home, and without deviating from our necessary route- there is a small independent garden centre, now we all need some prettiness around us dont we, and as what flowers etc we had at home already, need essential nutrients too - stop we did and in we went.....though, not very far did we go, as just after entering, another couple, must've been late seventies , were on their way out - " we can't have any flowers" they said...."but why" we replied, "they've been told they cant sell them"...but what was most shocking to us...was the look they had, the feeling conveyd - it beyond any upset, any irritation or anger - more an outright confusion, they were lost, disorientated, it was as if they'd been transported to some other time and place, detached from anything they knew, somewhere unreal, absent of all rationality - " Flowers, Flowers" he said...." she replied "we only wanted some flowers"
Incredulous we naturally were, though still attempted to console, but off they went, I dont think they heard us.
We continued in, and other than a few staff, were alone...."whats this we hear, no plants or flowers allowed now, is it ? " "yes thats right, said a girl "we've been told by the Police we cant sell them, though we can sell hardware, so this areas open for now".....then along came the manager, "i'm sorry, there's nothing we can do" "what was their reasoning" I said...."didn't say, other than that the Government had told them, so that was it, we have to comply ".
The conversation continued, what will happen to the flowers the veg etc, and the many acres of it growing elsewhere... "its everything crossed".... he said. "Well at least we can get some more seeds" I said...."sorry again" they told us to close that area too" "but how could that be, it's in this area, the open area" as we walked toward it and noticed it shuttered off and barred of entry" Seeds ?.....for a short second, there was that feeling the old couple were stuck in, "what is going on ?" - "I know" he replied, " but we can sell grass seed, and bird seed, and if you want flowers, Tesco can sell them, as can the other big chains".....there it was, that word, "Chains"...I thought, says it all.


Cheers.