This week started with an eagerly anticipated address from the Prime Minister, with many of us hoping that lockdown restrictions would be eased and life could start to return to some semblance of normality. In reality, the new policy of 'Stay Alert' seems to have left many people feeling baffled. Why for example, are 4 and 5 year olds likely to be heading back to school in June, whilst students who have paid their tuition fees can't go to university? Does it make sense that I can work all day with a colleague, but can't sit in his garden after work for a chat? I know l'm not allowed to go round to my parents' house, but if I put my house on the market with a newly re-opened estate agent, can I get them round for an impromtu viewing? And all that's before we tackle the thorny issue of where we go to get our daily-dose of unlimited exercise. North Somerset Council's news release entitled "Wish you weren't here" suggests that visitors planning lengthier day trips this weekend may not receive the usual warm welcome. Still, if ever there was a time to take up golf, this is it! Many of the UK's 3,000 clubs have been suffering declines in membership over the past decade, but are now set for an unexpected revival. It's just a shame the "19th hole" pint in the clubhouse remains firmly out of bounds.

Many UK retailers were already facing up to the challenges of generational structural change long before the pandemic dealt them a cataclysmic blow by forcing all "non-essential" retailers to close their doors. On Thursday, The Weekly therefore joined the Knight Frank UK Retail Market webinar to get some detailed insights into how different retail players are being impacted. In the words of Stephen Springham, Head of Retail Research, the retail sector is facing the "ultimate stress test" with an 83% average year-on-year decline in footfall. In the initial period of lockdown only 17% of the UK's total retail stock remained open for business, with some "essential" retailers (i.e. DIY stores) actively choosing to close to protect staff and customers. And whilst food stores reported huge surges in demand at the outset, Knight Frank were quick to stress that the pandemic restrictions have not resulted in a boom for the supermarket sector. Far from it. Many supermarkets are now reporting stymied consumer demand, whilst the costs of operating under Covid-19 restrictions have sky-rocketed. The shutdown has heaped pressure on a sector already suffering from structural pressures such as over-supply, over-geared balance sheets and brand devaluation. In the short term landlords and tenants are having to actively engage to find a way through the crisis, but (never one to dampen the mood on a Sunday morning), The Weekly delved deep to find some positive take-aways. First and foremost, there will be greater understanding of the co-dependencies of online and physical stores. There is also likely to be acceptance that the current retail lease structures are outdated, the 1954 Act essentially obsolete and the business rates system in need of a drastic overhaul. But, perhaps what is most intriguing is that consumers may also emerge from the lockdown with a greater appreciation of physical retail and a realisation that online shopping is no substitute for the in-store experience.

The Weekly took a rather 'hopeful' look at the BBC sports pages this week to find that the top billing for the weekend was Germany's Bundesliga, where professional football has now re-started. For many of us the idea of watching a German league play the beautiful game whilst our stadiums remain empty may feel rather galling. Germany are the English national team's arch rivals after all! In a bid to find you something to watch, The Weekly therefore scoured the rather bare sporting calendar for some alternatives, with mixed results. You may (or may not) be excited to hear, for example, that French horse racing resumed on Monday. Alternatively you could always get stuck into some Belarusian football (apparently the Belarus Premier league has attracted a new global following). And, if neither of those tickle your fancy, why not tune in this afternoon for some high-level Ukrainian and Chinese table tennis. No? Thought not. Another round of golf anyone?