All change

Look where I was today Edinburgh blippers! I haven't been here for over a year with the combination of lockdown and the store being renovated. This much photographed Edinburgh view is across the Picardy Place roundabout looking down across Leith and the Firth of Forth and across to Fife. On a clear day you can see well over ten miles, today, less so. It's taken from the 5th floor restaurant in John Lewis. So far as I can see, the last time I blipped it was here, https://www.blipfoto.com/entry/2562432489402400810 in April 2019, in my extra today is the view of the new mall being built around it. Coincidentally that is the extra in the above link too if you want to compare. According to the staff member I spoke to, the new mall is opening on 24th June, it's been a very long time.
Today was a rushing day, I rushed to pick Ali up first thing to take her to Fort Kinnaird to buy something she'd seen on Sunday when they were shopping. We then rushed to IKEA to buy a chest of drawers. The latter's customer service, normal very good, was sadly lacking - for health and safety reasons the warehouse staff are now no longer able to help you put things (like flat pack wardrobes) into your car, you have to do it yourself. However they don't tell you that until you get to the warehouse counter! This is putting things into a car out of doors remember so not in a confined space. The result was that the car park was full of customers, mainly older than me, struggling to help each other to fit large, heavy, packages into their cars..... I'm not convinced that was the ideal scenario somehow, staff were apologetic, but that didn't really help. I've heard of more and more delivery companies who are only delivering to a kerb side. For many people that is not much help either. I think that they need to be looking at health and safety guidance and considering whether wearing a mask, wiping surfaces etc and wearing fresh disposable gloves for each delivery might not be considered sufficient precaution. After all with the opening up of shops and hospitality, people are mingling far more.
We finally managed with help, so it was back home to Ali's to unpack, with help, and then a cup of tea.
Back home at last and then Colin drove me into town to JL to take something back, more than four months after I bought it. Mission accomplished though.
We watched the last couple of episodes of Innocent after dinner, it seemed rather contrived though. We're on the lookout for the next series to watch now. We've given up on most other TV.
Keep safe everybody, don't go lifting heavy flat packs, it's not a good idea!