Going out!
Here we are, day 100 of our lockdown and I’m about to write about going out. You know I write my blog as a way of saving the days and I wanted to record what it felt like to be in Cheltenham on Monday, when my Hero had an errand to run.
Even though it was the usual “school run” time, there wasn’t much traffic and where we’d normally expect a bit of a delay, we passed straight through. Clearly, people are still working from home and most children are not yet back in their routine.
In Bath Road, Leckhampton which is normally a busy shopping area, there are temporary barriers to allow pedestrians to maintain a safe social distance on the pavements. This morning, it wasn’t a problem but clearly it was thought to be a necessary measure to take. Perhaps drivers will now begin to use the car parks instead of leaving their cars on the roadside? We can but hope!
They weren’t parked in this town centre car park though! I don’t think I have ever seen it so empty at 9.45am or any other time for that matter.
The same goes for the shopping centre itself. Hardly a soul to be seen. I had come prepared with my mask and it looked as though I might not need it, even indoors.
The directional signs were there and of course, we obeyed by walking on the correct side even though there was no one else in sight. I guess we just do as we are told!
In the half hour or so whilst my Hero got on with stuff, I pottered about in a couple of shops, including Marks and Spencer. But why? I really didn’t feel like looking at anything closely, didn’t want to touch things and hadn’t any intention of trying anything on - not that there was anything much to tempt me. Asking myself why I was mooching around there, I turned around and went outside again.
It seemed as though others felt the same as me, for there didn’t appear to be anything like the interest in shopping here as had been reported in the news last week. The people I passed were either exercising or running errands. I wasn’t the only one taking photographs either - a young man was there with a “serious” camera recording the scene too.
It all begged the question about the future of towns like this. Why will people like me return to a town centre if the main purpose was/is to shop? I didn’t want to linger in Starbucks, didn’t need the bank and I wasn’t tempted to browse at all in a store wearing a mask and reluctant to touch anything.
Maybe this is the answer? Keith Scarrott is a lovely shoe shop and one I’d consider a “destination shop” were I looking for shoes. Shopping by appointment is more of a temptation, I think, the more so with such a generous discount.
I got as far as the leafy part of the Promenade when my phone pinged - my Hero was ready and we’d meet by the car, parked in the car park just behind Cavendish House, the department store on the left here. Once I had found the single door in use I was greeted by a young woman wearing a mask and holding hand sanitiser. As I made use of that, I was asked which department I was heading for and advised of the route I should take. I felt it was a bit mean to say I was only passing through on my way to the car park, so said “Ladies wear” and headed upstairs! I don’t think I saw another customer on my way, though was greeted by every member of staff, each of whom must have been incredibly bored at having to work in such a soulless environment.
I followed the directions and found my Hero sitting in the car already.
The fresh air and amazing skies never felt or looked so grand as on the way home. I think we’ve still got some way to go before life returns to anything like normal here for sure.
What’s it like where you are?
