I went to Wetherspoons for breakfast and now anyone who enters the establishment will be asked to write their phone number for track and trace details. This is basically a surveillance system about which I want nothing to do so I refused and sat at my table. An enthusiastic young assistant bought me a track and trace form with a pencil and asked me to fill it in, and then reminded me. Having done his duty, he left me alone. I ignored it and left without filling anything in.

Today is as good a day as any for a visit to Wells, wherein lies the famous cathedral and the ancient market. We were glad to find a goodly number of people at the market that the number of stands allowed one less than normal. About 60% of people were not masked by people who still responding to the so-called government guidelines of masking up in the shop irrespective of what is on sale there. Having said that, most people are laid back on the matter because I think customers are more important than sticking to the lesson of the law.

After buying a selection of beautifully fresh vegetables at the market we went on to the bishops gardens; we were given two months extra credit because the garden had been closed for two months.

The 800th Anniversary of the Cathedral

The market in fairly full swing

In the bishops garden

Where the Swans nest, now covered with feathers. Were there are lots of fights?

Near the source of the spring. How lovely and clear the water is

Dying Vegetation Viewed through 1 Foot of Clear Water near the Spring

in the allotment gardens

The gardens have been going ever since 1893

Back to the gardens

The Cathedral cafe has moved people outside for social distancing with very pleasant results

People love feeding the ducks

One of the best spoken about community cafes in Wells

I do not recall seeing this design of swan in the high Street. it may have been re-painted

somewhat premature for autumn but amusing nevertheless

Whilst we were having our coffee in the aforementioned cafe we met a very interesting local lady who told us that there was a reduced annual fee of £15 a year for going around the Bishops Gardens. They wanted to encourage people to visit the town frequently and of course spend money when they were there.

We also discussed the Whole Food cafe, which earlier in the day we had found to be virtually empty. Evidently, at the height of the lockdown, the proprietor insisted that there were only two people in the establishment at any one time and that others had to wait on the pavement. She thought that this had been a major off put to the customers who seemed to have deserted in droves.