No frequent flyers in sight amidst the silence of the tills – Susan Morrison

Well, the folks who hate the annual shenanigans will be happy. We can get on buses and walk pavements without young folk shoving flyers in our faces and sit where we want in restaurants and bars, observing social distancing, of course. We welcomed the world. In 2012, London puffed itself up no end because they moved millions of people in and out for the Olympics. Well, we did that, every year. No fanfare, just got on with it, because our city was the hottest show and the coolest party on the planet for a month.

Now there’s an eerie quiet, made deeper by the silence of the tills. Oh yes, all those people could be annoying, but oh my, those pounds, dollars and euros, they were handy.

Some would have preferred visitors to arrive, leave their money on the platform at Waverly and then naff off, but they didn’t. They stayed and they spent and we all felt that cash flow.

From the print shops banging out posters and flyers, to the venues renting space, those flats charging the sort of rent that gets you a sea-view suite in Monaco, the bars slinging gin and the staff getting tips in restaurants, hotels and pubs. All money in their pockets.

We’ll miss the dosh, that’s for sure.