A Solstice Town Fire

There was a horrific fire in town last night which completely destroyed Budgens, our only supermarket, in less than two hours. My collage shows the shop as it was (taken last year), the smoke I could see from my garden at 9:40 yesterday evening, how it looked from the high street shortly afterwards and the sight this morning when firefighters were still damping it down. The sound of small explosions and partial roof collapses last night and the smell in town this morning were things I won't forget. At the peak there were 100 fire service personnel in attendance, 12 fire appliances, two aerial ladder platforms, two water carriers and the high volume pump unit from Thetford. Holt has a population of  under 4,000, 40% of whom are over 65 and Budgens has been a lifeline particularly during lockdown, both for those able to get into town and as it does home deliveries. It's also the Post Office, has a cash machine and an external laundry facility, plus it's a major employer, so its loss at this particular time will be devastating. A local partners group including MP, town council and district council has already met by video conference. Fortunately the shop was empty and nobody was injured. 

Such terrible news about the terror incident in Reading yesterday where 3 people were stabbed to death in the park. I just don't understand it. 

Day 98 / Day 90 of Lockdown / Day 21 of Step 2 (for my record only)
UK deaths up 43 to 42,632 (beware lower no's Sun / Mon). Deaths in Brazil pass 50,000. R number in Germany is 1.79 after several outbreaks. A doctor in the UK reports that patients appear less badly affected now, a similar report came out of Italy a few weeks ago. Matt Hancock accuses Apple of 'intransigence' over software changes requested to make the app work.