COVID-19 coming close

It is a strange feeling as a business owner looking at a promising year business wise having everything ready to go (our season starts in April when airlines start flying more frequently Buy on Board).

Then COVID hits. Our cold-stores are packed as we needed stock ready to jump into April. Contracts signed suppliers ready and then without any fault from our side everything stops. Our business has lost at least 80% already for 5 months. It seems we are not getting back on track for at least 5 till 7 months as flights are far from their old schedules. And Buy on board has taken a dive. Like a stone you drop in the water we still experience the wrinkles in the water. However, we are also still at float and will survive this. Threats will become opportunities I am 100% sure.

Last week kids went to school again, holidays over and things back to“normal”. Until I got a really sore throat last Friday. got a bit of a fever and naturally your immediate thoughts are COVID 19… Luckily, in the Netherlands, where I live it is really easy to register online and get an appointment to test the next day.

So, I went alone in the car Saturday afternoon with depressing typical Dutch weather. I had to report next to my beloved stadium of NAC BREDA the soccer teamI support. The place where I have already experienced so much sorrow as we never win anything J

This important place had now become the place for the moment of truth for me. The tests are done DRIVE IN (with bike also, since it is the Netherlands) lanes. The process looked orderly and efficient. First a worker would appoint you a lane 1/2/3/4, I was placed in lane 1.

At the first tent people are normally dressed, but with gloves and mouth protection, asking my data and check if I was in the computer system. I was quickly found and sent through to the next tent. In the 2nd tent people were packed like in the hospitals. Completely in plastic, but I could see the friendly eyes that immediately comforted me. COVID had never came closer than this moment…

The test was Quick and painless. Driving out of the tent was like leaving a mac drive except I was not taking an order but leaving saliva. The test was done Saturday at 15:00 and I had the online confirmation the next day at 15:00, with the result being tested negative for COVID 19. I never would have imagined these hours in between testing and getting the results being so hard. I did not sleep next to my wife for 2 nights I could not hug her or hug my kids… That was the worst part of it all. No problem you would say. I agree minor thing compared to other much worse things in the world. But still these things we are so common like hugging the kids and my wife where really getting to me after 48 hours (I was in quarantine already the day before testing). This distancing will have its effect on our young people growing up now. We need to make sure we keep hugging hold each-other shake hands when we meet show our warmth and affection.

SO, WHEN AND IF WE MEET AFTER WE HAVE A VACCIN PREPARE FOR A BIG HUG FROM ME AS IT IS COMING….

Lots of love and stay healthy,
Jeroen Kosterman

snackboxtogo.com

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