Sainsbury’s was its usual self this morning for our shopping run. We have this down to a fine art now: I go off for my items while Tigger starts the main shop, then we meet up and do the rest together. This worked so well last week that by the time I had finished mine, Tigger was already in the checkout queue, unloading the trolley onto the moving belt. Today we left home at 11 am and were home again before midday.

Entrance to Sainbury’s

Chapel Market was, if anything, a little less busy than usual. Perhaps the weather had something to do with it.

On my way through Chapel Market

After lunch, we thought about going out. The weather was not really conducive to wandering about on foot. Perhaps we should go on a bus ride?

Lingering stalls, Farmers’ Market

We walked along Chapel Market where a few stalls of the weekly Farmers’ Market were still lingering to catch last-minute sales.

Cally Road

We arrived at Caldonian Road (known locally as “the Cally Road”) where we were thinking of catching a bus.

More Cally Road

Tigger realised – fortunately before the bus arrived – that she had left her Oyster card at home. In view of this, we decided to stroll home again, having coffee on the way.

Dead pub

We passed this old pub, now apparently residential. You can probably see that it still sports the Courage gold cockerel on a red background between the first and second-floor windows. So many pubs have closed and been repurposed or demolished. What is the reason for this? Changes in people’s drinking habits perhaps, and/or the availability of cheap booze in shops?

Tree with blossom

Walked through the back streets, we spotted this tree: even though it has lost most of its leaves, it has a few flowers. This shows how mixed up the seasons are at present. The tree doesn’t know whether it is winter or spring.

Copperhouse

For coffee we tried somewhere new (new to us, that is). It is in the upper end of Chapel Market and bills itself as a chocolate maker. Called Copperhouse, it also sells coffee and cakes and has comfortable seating inside.

We ordered coffee and cakes, over which we dawdled for quite a while, seated in comfortable armchairs, until we decided to return home.

This was a quiet day as our Sundays go but that is also pleasant in its own way, a moment of tranquility before the onset of a new week.