On today’s exercise walk, we set off through the Brewery Development in Abingdon where there is a sculpture called Barrel – seen here darkened against the clouds.

We walked up Conduit Road – where the Plane trees are growing back after being pruned last year.

The pavements have been decorated like a school playground in one place.

In Albert Park there are many trees.

Prince Albert stands above them all.

He must have noticed a difference in recent weeks. There has been blue sky and clouds but no jet trails.

There have also been fewer cars and no school students. People are not going to church. There are no weddings.

No bells. Everything has slowed down. The economy has gone into recession.

Today was the day when the government started to ease the lockdown rules to restart the economy. People are using the phrase ‘the New Normal‘ and wondering what the New Normal will be. New Normal was a term that referred to the financial conditions following the 2008 banking crisis.