Reflections, Sunday 2nd August

Arch Bridge (Rakotzbrucke or Devils Bridge) in Kromlau, Germany

What I’ve noticed

I think the changes we've seen over the last few months are more systemic and less episodic than I had thought.

This week, I went into my nearest city mall to have my annual eye test - something that, as yet, I can't do online. Not having been in since lockdown started, I was startled by the changes. Not just the absence of people, and the number of closed shops, but the way in which the whole place operated.

I'd had to make an appointment, and wasn't allowed in until ten minutes before - no problem with that, but with all shops employing Virus security measures, casual wandering just isn't possible. Using up some of the spare time to go into Boots to get some toiletries, I found the range had been significantly reduced, I guess to support stock levels and cash flow, but it just meant that what I wanted wasn't there. And whilst I fully support wandering round with a mask on it's just uncomfortable.

As the for…