Diary

We went shopping yesterday evening. It wasn’t a surprise that a lot of the shelves were empty. I had 20 years in food retail management and at times even planning Christmas could be challenging and that happens at the same time every year. Despite all the planning that goes in the festive period some stores can easily get it very wrong.

No one has experienced anything like the Corona Virus so to expect stores to operate anything like normal isn’t realistic. I went into our local Tesco at 8 am this morning. No milk. No bread. Not a single loaf. No eggs. No toilet rolls (obviously). The stores have abandoned 24 hour shopping so that their night teams can fill the stores up but having seen the store yesterday evening and seeing it early (ish) this morning there is something going very wrong. The greater demand for goods will have added a huge strain on the distribution teams and they don’t seem to be reacting well. Of course they are probably losing a lot of staff to the virus or self isolating but the food retain system has always been slow to react. On the way home I went into the local convenience store which is almost next door to Tesco. They had milk although only full fat. No bread but they had toilet rolls. I know where I’ll be going first in future.

Until a couple of days ago I was promoting the Tennis Trading Guide. The feedback that I was getting was that people were interested in having something to read and study but as this situation is clearly going on for a lot longer than initially expected and the tennis season was extended further yesterday it just doesn’t feel appropriate to continue to promote it.

The trading guide is still available if anyone does want something to study and I am more than happy to respond to any email queries. Its not like I have much to do right now!

My heel problem is improving. I think with total rest if would have recovered fully by now but the dogs still need exercising. Walking any distance is still quite painful and I strained a muscle in my leg by trying to protect my heel and not walking normally! Happy days.

 

I’ll try to post daily. Not a lot else to do right now!

A lot has happened in the 5 days since the WTA and ATP tours were cancelled. I had read last week that the WTA was suspended for 5 weeks but it really depends where you get your information from! It’s probably 6 weeks like the ATP.

The UK Government have suggested that we practice social distancing. They said that we are a nation of intelligent, responsible individuals and that it was unnecessary to enforce it. They ( the Government ) really should get out more. That’s only suggestion.

I took the dogs out twice yesterday. I didn’t come within 10 metres of anyone. I have never seen the pub car park so full. It was full at 11am. Its amazing how many people had to make a vital trip to the pub.

There a people all over the news and on social media asking the nation to stop being selfish and to stop panic buying. Do these people live in a different country to me? As a nation I wouldn’t say we cope well. The old “stiff upper lip” has become a quivering bottom lip. If they get scared they are going to panic buy. Also the problem with panic buying is a bit of a snowball effect. If others are panic buying and clearing the shelves then others are forced to do the same. If things get worse (and that seems likely) and steps are not taken to control the situation there will be fights and in some areas food riots. We are already seeing people taking items out of other shoppers unattended trolleys.

The French Open has been moved to September. Just a week after the US Open ends. The players have not welcomed the move.

World number 93 Vasek Pospisil, who sits on the ATP Players Council, slammed the decision as “selfish” and “arrogant” and added that it showed the players had no say in the running of the sport.

“This is such a difficult time, everyone is being impacted by this catastrophe. Enhancing communication and working together to find solutions should be the priority,” he posted on Twitter.

The new date for the French Open means it will coincide with several other tournaments. Roger Federer’s Laver Cup team tournament also clashes with the new date for the French Open. They have said they will still go ahead with it.

The US Open tweeted about their own plans which was clearly prompted by the French Open announcement.

As I said a lot has happened in the last few days so no one can say with any certainly what will happen in the next 5 weeks.