Just as we thought that spring was here, the temperature has slipped down a few points (9°C) and the sun has yet to put in an appearance. Then again, the path of British meteorology was never smooth and our weather can change from one minute to the next.

Crossing lights out of action
Photo by Tigger

It’s usually not too hard to cross the main road at 10:45 on a Sunday morning but it wasn’t helped today by the crossing lights being out of action. At least repairs are in hand.

A touch of mist

There was even a touch of mist in the air as I tried to show with this photo of White Lion Street, but the mist is so slight that you probably can’t see it.

We found a queue at Sainsbury’s

We had intended to reach Sainsbury’s somewhat after 11 am in order to avoid queueing but, guess what, we arrived earlier than we meant to and found ourselves in a queue.

Queueing outside shops used to be thought of as a quaint memory of wartime but, under the influence of Covid, it has returned. It is noticeable how calmly people queue, showing that it is now considered a normal everyday activity. There is no impatience, no pushing and shoving, just a kind of dull acceptance.

Happily, the queue began moving shortly after we reached it and we were soon inside the store.

I think we went round the shelves in record time today and found a checkout with no one waiting. So fast we went that, as we left, I almost expected to meet ourselves arriving!

Not many stalls but still busy

There were fewer stalls open in Chapel Market than is usual for a Sunday but it was quite busy even so.

Queueing for Marks & Spencer’s

As usual, I went in ahead of Tigger to buy the coffee but I stopped to take a photo of another queue, this one for Marks & Spencer’s.

When Covid is finally beaten (and I prefer to say “when” and not “if”, as some pessimists insist), will we look back on queues, masks, distancing and “bubbles” as a strange nightmare interval in our history, never to be repeated? I hope so but I also hope that what we have learned from this pandemic will enable us to meet any future repetition better organised, though I somehow doubt that the lessons have really been learned by those responsible for our safety and wellbeing.

Old market wagon

There are still a few of these old market wagons in use. They are no doubt as useful now as when they were first made though with passing time fewer and fewer of them remain outside of museums.

The world from inside Mercer’s

Yesterday, we heard the sad news that one of our favourite coffee places, Jusaka (mentioned often in my posts), will not open again. Like many businesses, it has fallen victim to the pandemic. Finding myself the only customer in Mercer’s today made me hope that that this is not a bad sign and that they will survive the crisis.

Life will be different after Covid, I think, perhaps in ways that we cannot quite see just yet. This, combined with the idiocy of Brexit, may mean that hard times lie ahead but what we cannot change we must perforce endure.