The main center should be heaving with people yet this is even quieter than normal and was a little shocked.
Looking down on the main entrance and you can tell how bad things are.
Where is the Christmas rush as everyone has vanished?
This morning I did my usual 24th December last minute Christmas shopping like any normal male does. Men never learn and there is nothing wrong with last minute as it is the thought that counts after all.
Every year I head to Rosebank which is an affluent suburb in Johannesburg as they have two shopping centers right next door to each other and it is rather simple. The beauty about it is the area is predominantly Jewish so it should be quieter than the other chaotic areas as they have most likely gone away for the holidays plus they don't celebrate Christmas. That is my thinking anyway and it normally works as it is rather painless and a quick hassle free shop. There are normally crowds,but not masses which suits me just fine.
Today I drove through other areas en route to my destination going past queues of cars trying to cram into other shopping centers and kept my fingers crossed. I arrived at a leisurely 10.30 am and was out by 12.30pm having had a bite to eat and all the shopping done. The whole experience was rather strange being greeted by shop owners standing in their doorways hoping for any customers to pop in.
There was literally no one around and even the supermarket was empty and I was the only customer in the store. The place was abandoned and I actually felt sorry for the shop owners and staff as how are they going to survive? This was like a Monday morning and not the day before Christmas. Rents are sky high in this place and there is no way independent shops will make it through this.
Starbucks is normally busy at midday yet the place was empty. Tried to get the lighting right and it could be my crappy camera phone and thankfully have a new phone which I will use from next week. Just gives you an idea of how bad things are really.
The Starbucks may have had 10 people inside and that was including counting the staff behind the counter. I have not been here since last year as we were locked down in March and this was like me getting out and the furthest I have travelled for shopping since last Christmas. Local shops closer to home are doing well but that is food shopping and not present buying. Maybe everyone has bought online or there is something else like no money.
I have seen many businesses close down over the last few months and after today I can see many more disappearing in the coming months. What we have to remember is these businesses rely on the trade running up to Christmas to make it through to Easter and this is going to be rough for many. I literally cannot see them making it through.
People just don't have the money and maybe rely on bonusses or a thirteenth cheque to get by over this period and looking around maybe many received nothing. The economy needs to get going again and fast as people are suffering and it is blatant to see. Obviously we all new it was bad, but this is shocking.
Hearing first hand news from my niece on how full hospitals are as she is a doctor at a major government hospital this is far from over and things are getting worse. ICU's are full and with no beds available her advice was just avoid car accidents as treatment will be hard to find right now. The sad thing is patients are dying when normally they wouldn't as at least they would of had a fighting chance.
The terrible year of 2020 looks like it will go deep into 2021 and we have no end in sight. The vaccination wont help as we all know it is a con and a money spinner and I wont be fooled by the lies. One of the companies under Pfizer's umbrella is based in Wuhan so that should say something.
Crypto now needs to do well for me over the coming years as everything else seems to be eroding away at a frantic pace and I do have some serious concerns. I have been blocked up until now seeing new customers as they have their protocol's and bubbles and nothing will change until their is stability in the infection rate.
