Kathy73
I thought you lived in Austria or Switzerland, Kali2, or am I mixing you up with someone else?
I live in Switzerland indeed. But lived in the UK for 40 years, and still have very strong links. And an appartment where we come (not as much last 2 years due to Covid- but still managed 2 long visits last year) regularly, in a small Midlands market town. So many great, varied, independent shops and cafés, a great market, with special days (antiques on Sundays)... meat, fruit, veg, clothes, haberdashers, hardware, local crafts, etc. Also great butchers, fishmongers and bakers. The Baker shop near us makes all their own bread and cakes, and on days before Christmas, the queue was about 30-40 people!
I love it. And yet, at least 4 good stores closed last year- and either not replaced or replaced with more of the same, and yet more cafés. As said above, we only go to independent cafés now- and no longer to Nero, Costa or Starbucks, etc- to support local people.
I so hope our town centres will bounce back after Covid- and that the majority will support this.