Ghost

I've talked about my friends Pete and Martin who own a small chain of craft beer pubs, mostly in London with one in Brighton, before. We meet Pete today (and waved at Martin, who was on his way out) for a quick catch up. He's really struggled over the last 18 months and has had to close 50% of his business. He looks, and is, absolutely exhausted. Most of the pubs rely on office trade and with everyone working at home he just doesn't have the business. Unless people go back to their offices four days a week he won't survive.

It was a good evening but really brings home how bad things are behind all the headlines. Our cities will become irreversible ghost towns if we  don't do something about it soon. And by we I mean you, me and all our friends.

FIAF pizza, on Thursday, followed.  No. 2 is back tonight ready to get up to MK for 0900 tomorrow to start her job induction ready for Monday. No. 1 also started her first ever paid employment yesterday, working in a Covid testing centre on the M25. She had to be there for 0600.... she's not a morning person so I'm extra super proud, if a little bemused.