Dave, the charity shop/thrift store shopping isn't just greener, it's very practical. At least for the time being people are setting aside some fairly new, rarely used, really good stuff that I could never have afforded new. And all because they have the next big thing at their house (for many these days it is an Instapot or an Air Fryer). I'm happy to use the electric skillet or convection toaster oven at my house or rehome it to family or via eBay.) And if anyone is in the market for really good crock pots, they're filling the thrift store shelves now.

As to the death of an MP, that is horrible. Here in the US it seems there are some congressional folks who rarely if ever see their constituents even in controlled (safe) settings, and this kind of thing gives them all the more excuse to not start seeing their voters now. I imagine it's the same over there. (US Congressperson Gabby Giffords was shot at one of her in-person events, and she miraculously survived a serious head injury, but that was mostly due to good luck and the close-by surgeons at the University of Arizona hospital system.)