Have you been non-essential shopping yet and was it busy?

[PuzzledObserver]

We went to Solihull yesterday - nearest big shopping centre, 15 miles away. Seriously exciting to get outside of home turf for the first time in months..... not that Solihull town centre is exciting in itself, just that it’s the furthest I’ve been from home since July.

I wouldn’t say it was particularly busy, either in the streets, or inside the shops we went in. Apart from Marks and Spencer - we had to dodge people in there.

Sad to see several empty shops. Especially since one of them was Cotswold Outdoor, which was our main reason for going there.

Massive queues outside the likes of Debenhams and JD sports when passing. I didn't bother

Won't be going shopping for "enjoyment" while face masks and convoluted one way mystery tours around shops hunting whichever randomly assigned route you're meant to know about going down that day are a thing.

I went to retail park with ikea, next Tk max, wilkos and didnt queue to get in any.

We went to Leamington today. A bit busier than Solihull last week, but still not rammed. Encountered a traffic jam inside the mall caused by a mum with a buggy parking herself in the middle of one side of the one-way system and at the entrance to a store, rather than to the side.

The cafe we wanted to have lunch at had all its tables full. But we compensated with coffee and cake later at one near home, where we had the courtyard garden to ourselves.

I went to Cambridge yesterday and met my student DD. It was reasonably busy but not totally packed. Just nice.

The weather was lovely and it was so nice to see shops and cafes open and trading (even if just outdoors/takeaway), buses running, people out for coffee and for lunch and a town/city centre that didn't resemble a ghost town. Just about everyone seemed very happy to be out and I really enjoyed it. It gave me a great lift and reinforced to me that although I am not big on going out shopping and socialising, I do like to have the option available.

I'm planning to go to the city this week when my daughter is at preschool, as shopping with a 4yo is no fun!
This week I went to the local town to clothes shop, toy shop and bakery. Pretty quiet really, like an average weekday.

I hate shopping at the best of times. Too many people consuming.

Been to Next, and Dunhelm and the concessions that are now open in our local Dobbies. All of them very calm and quiet.