Belmont Park

Near our apartment, there is a lovely little park which Will and I enjoy very much. It is called the Belmont Pleasure Ground and consists of a garden, children's playground, and various sporting areas. Will discovered it one day while walking home from a classmate's apartment, and he took me on a walk the next day so that he could share it with me. Now that spring is almost here, flowers are beginning to appear in the garden and everything looks bright and cheery. This is definitely one of my favorite spots in Exeter.

Recession!

While many Americans still argue over whether the economic crisis in the U.S. has indeed reached the level of a recession, Brits seems to be in near universal agreement their their country is experiencing one. In Exeter, the visual evidence is overwhelming. Numerous empty retail spaces clutter the High Street and Sidwell Street, and they have become increasingly prevalent over the past few months. Since our arrival in Exeter in late September, Will and I have seen several shops which we used to pass daily permanently close their doors. Among them are two clothing stores, Miss Selfridge and Wallis, a wine shop called Odd Bins, a hobby shop known as Model Centre, and, of course, the legendary retail chain Woolworths. Around town, many other shops have gone out of business, and many workers have lost their jobs. While none of this means that the crisis is technically a recession, around here no one seems to question it.