On Monday the ‘stay-at-home’ restriction was lifted. The advice is to ‘stay local’. So, with good weather here, it was time to board a bus for the first time since December. I wanted to go into Kingston have a look in Food For Thought (health food shop) and get some sort of veggie or vegan ‘roast’ for Easter day dinner. Firstly, the Thames was calling to me.
We (I was with one of my son’s) got ourselves a takeaway hot chocolate and headed towards the river and the Queen’s Promenade where we sat down to drink. We then headed back, went under the bridge and headed towards Canbury Park Gardens and onwards to what is known as The Half Mile Tree. A slow walk back into town to pick up supplies and then back on the bus home. What we noticed was how quiet the town was (non-essential shops don’t open until 12th April), and how many shops had closed down and wouldn’t be returning. In my own town similar things have happened, and right across the UK this is one of the results of lockdown, and so many people now buying goods online. Sadly, there will be more to come.
On Tuesday I met a friend at Wimbledon Park. The last time we were here it was autumn, now it is spring. The park was very busy with tennis coaching, and school kids having lessons. Lots of mums and babies and toddlers too. The cafe was open for takeaway and it was the hottest day of the year so far, getting up to around 24c. It was a lazy day in the sunshine with a chance for a good catch up.
COMING NEXT WEEK a look at Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens and Westminster.
My London+ 