Into Lancaster

Yesterday was hospital day. It is not often we go into Lancaster on a Saturday. Like most cities it has always been so busy.

We crossed the River Lune to enter the city. We’ve lived in & around Lancaster for over 40 years now. Never have I seen the river so low. A thin trickle threaded its way through the mud banks on either side. The grassy edges seemed far from the trickles. It seemed hard to remember only last winter, the Lune was bursting its banks flooding part of Lancaster shopping centre. This really is a reflection of what a hot dry summer we’ve had. I don’t remember the Lune being this low even in 1976.

Still today is trying to refill it. Rain came last night. The Morecambe Carnival parade is due this afternoon – another incentive for rain!

The roads to the hospital were incredibly quiet. For once there was no problem with parking. The review went well. We decided to venture into Lancaster shopping centre to do some shopping. The Fox needed some new shoes. We’re reluctant to buy shoes on-line when sizes & fit vary so much.

Lancaster centre was also very quiet. Where have all the Saturday shoppers gone? We soon came to the conclusion that most of the shops seem to have given way to pubs, coffee shops & eateries. We could only find one shoe shop left. There used to be half a dozen. Fortunately we did find a pair of shoes that fit.

We had a further look around Lancaster. We bought some lamb at a butchers’shop. We looked into a fabulous looking fish shop window. I don’t think I’ve ever seen fresh whole brill for sale before in the north of England. 

We then made our way back to the car to find a street market was being held. There was some fantastic fresh veg, a couple of farmers’ meat stalls, a Fleetwood fish stall. If it is as quiet as this every Saturday, we may well think of going into Lancaster on a Saturday for the market if nothing else.