What would a holiday in England be without extensive shopping? That’s what we’re doing today at the Bluewater Shopping Centre. At the same time, LucY is charging at the Supercharger. Just like yesterday, the charging stations are located here and thus exactly where people spend time. These so-called destination chargers in Bluewater have been around for many years and are exactly what is needed.

A lot has changed since our last visit. This means above all: shops and restaurants that we liked to visit no longer exist – either the branches here, or the whole chain. Thanks to Brexit. Even the Mexican Wahaca, which we had planned to have for lunch, is no longer there – at least not here. But where one shop or restaurant closes, a new/new one opens soon. Instead of the Giraffe restaurant chain, there is now Slim Chickens. And we like to eat here too. Their deep-fried pickle wheels, which are popular in the southern states of the USA, are hardly available in Europe. We enjoy them outside by the pond. It’s really cosy here. You could also rent pedalos or play mini-golf.

After dinner, we continue shopping. This often means simply admiring the beautiful displays and offers without buying anything. But then we do: at Marks & Spencer there is a whole rack full of Percy Pig and one with Colin the Caterpilar. It’s incredible how the originally modest range of fruit gums has developed into a whole way of life.

After a doughnut from Krispy Kreme (with a great new doughnut-shaped screen with great animations) and a milkshake from Five Guys (doesn’t come close to the one from Ed’s, of which there are also hardly any branches left), we buy dinner to take with us.

That’s what we eat in the hotel: a Poké Bowl (more or less: sushi in pieces) for me and a rice box from Leon for Gabi. Too bad: they replaced my beloved Moroccan Meatballs with veggie balls last year and have now discontinued them altogether. But the Poké Bowl is also great. And the bright spot tonight: a new season of my favourite sewing show “The Great British Sewing Bee” starts. Wednesdays at 9pm UK time / 10 pm Swiss time on BBC One, if anyone’s interested.