Has the heatwave arrived?

For weeks now, weather forecasters have been predicting, to mounting scepticism, that another heatwave is on its way. The “August Heatwave” never appeared but today, the sun is shining in a blue sky and the temperature is unusually warm for September. Has the heatwave finally arrived or is this just another flash in the pan, typical of this meteorologically uncouth land?

Amwell Street

Today, in a reversal of our usual habits, we went for coffee first and shopping second. We may adopt this as our usual pattern, at least when the weather is fine as it is today. Accordingly, we trundled the shopping trolley round to Myddelton’s in Amwell Street.

Sitting outside Myddelton’s

Perhaps because of the unusually clement weather, three of the deli’s table were already occupied, leaving only one free. But, then, we need only one! We sat and enjoyed our coffee in the peaceful mood of the street.

Coffee and croissants

Tigger had not had breakfast and proposed having croissants. I had had breakfast but don’t mind having a second one so we both had croissants!

A busy Pentonville Road

We then had to make our way to Sainsbury’s, crossing a busy Pentonville Road in the way.

Penton Street

We crossed into Penton Street which was also fairly busy – perhaps the unseasonably warm weather has stirred people into activity.

The Farmers’ Market

Everything looks more cheerful when the sun is shining. At least, that’s the case in the UK though whether it also applies in those lands where the sun always shines, I have no idea. As I usually do, I photographed the Farmers’ Market, which operates only on Sundays. Its absence during the first lockdown was a major factor in the feeling of strangeness deriving from the pandemic, at least, for me.

In Sainsbury’s

Going for coffee first made us later than usual at Sainsbury’s which was busier than usual in consequence, though the weather could also have played a part here as well.

Empty shelves
Photo by Tigger

We are used to this branch of Sainsbury’s having gaps on the shelves but today, the problem was altogether more remarkable. There were many empty shelves and we failed to find some of the items we wanted and either had to substitute others or – as in a couple of cases – go without. Is this a sign that the problems caused by the shortage of lorry drivers, combined with difficulties caused by this idiotic Brexit, have reached us? How bad will it become?

Queueing at the checkout

Perhaps because of the later hour, queues at the checkouts were longer than we are used to. The lockdown system of having a single queue for each pair of checkouts has become permanent. That makes the queues longer but they advance at twice the speed. Occasionally, a customer unused to this system goes straight to what looks like a checkout without a queue, only to be put right in no uncertain terms by people in the queue!

Chapel Market in shadow

When I walked back through Chapel Market, I noticed that the stalls, that had been sunlit through the summer, were now in shadow, testimony that the sun is now lower in the sky.

I didn’t call in at Mercer’s, of course, because we had already had our morning coffee. It seemed rather odd, as though something was missing from the usual programme of events, and, as I had no coffee to carry, I was even able to take a turn at pulling the shopping trolley!