" Born to shop"

This snug corner of our local shopping mall in Stirling came as a pleasant surprise when I ventured in for the first time since lockdown.
 
Sadly, it occupies the entrance to the now closed Debenhams store.
 
It’s place for people to sit, relax and chat – a far cry from the old 20th century mantra “ born to shop”.
 
Yes there were some shop closures. I counted ten, maybe more. Sometimes they had been so tastefully boarded up that it was difficult to tell.
 
It was reasonably busy though I am told that this morning it was packed out. 
 
And to round off my first venture into city life again I even had a coffee and scone from a café in the centre with outdoor seating.
 
There was no mistaking the air of optimism about as folk passed, masked of course, laden with shopping bags. I made a modest purchase of a new sketchbook.
Life after Covid is different and there is an edgy nervousness about it. Quite how different we are about to find out in the coming months.