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[STEMO]

Wifey is going straight to Meadowhell  from work tonight to do some shopping, and grabbing something to eat while she’s there. She’s just rang me and said she might be a good few hours and did I mind?
Mind? I’m fickin ecstatic. I wish she’d stay out till the new year 

[Bigron]

Lucky you! 

Ron.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Could be meeting a young fit fella.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Wifey is going straight to Meadowhell  from work tonight to do some shopping, and grabbing something to eat while she’s there. She’s just rang me and said she might be a good few hours and did I mind?
Mind? I’m fickin ecstatic. I wish she’d stay out till the new year 

Yes, but you have to give the impression you do mind. something like "well ok then, if you must. If its what you want then I will live with it". 

[Varche]

Meadowhell! 

A new fair sized shopping centre opened at Granada. We went there and it could have been anywhere in the world. All the same clothes shops, expensive coffee outlets. The highlight was the electrical shop Media Markt. Roads in off motorway were well signed unlike the roads away....

I see the company that owns Brent Cross and dozens of other huge shopping centres in the Uk is merging with another outfit and taking over building and running what will be the largest shopping complex in the Med. It will have all manner of none shopping attractions like a circus, climbing wall . Watch out if you have an innocent holiday to the Costa del Sol.... 

[tunnie]

I want to Meadowhall when I was teenager, felt modern, new and huge then. Went again last year, thought it was dark, cramped and needed big over-haul, when you compare it to the likes to Westfield it felt like 1960's shopping centre.

[Lizzie Zoom]

Wifey is going straight to Meadowhell  from work tonight to do some shopping, and grabbing something to eat while she’s there. She’s just rang me and said she might be a good few hours and did I mind?
Mind? I’m fickin ecstatic. I wish she’d stay out till the new year

Just a few hours shopping?  If I had your bank cards / had a joint account I would stay out shopping continuously, then book into an expensive hotel, staying there until the New Year!

Be careful for what you wish for STEMO! Maybe she is staying there with a dishie young man!!!:

[STEMO]

I want to Meadowhall when I was teenager, felt modern, new and huge then. Went again last year, thought it was dark, cramped and needed big over-haul, when you compare it to the likes to Westfield it felt like 1960's shopping centre.

I think it’s getting a multi-million pound facelift soon, not that I’ll ever see it.

[redelitev6]

For Meadowhall read Metro centre , once you're in there you can't tell them apart , not my idea of a fun day out     

[Lizzie Zoom]

For Meadowhall read Metro centre , once you're in there you can't tell them apart , not my idea of a fun day out 

One of the best ones is of course The Trafford Centre, Manchester.  Now I could shop there all week!

[Andy B]

For Meadowhall read Metro centre , once you're in there you can't tell them apart , not my idea of a fun day out 

One of the best ones is of course The Trafford Centre, Manchester.  Now I could shop there all week!

I can't think of anywhere I'd least like to go to. It's bad enough driving anywhere near it. The first Christmas it was open, it was taking over 2 hours to get off the 11000 spaces car park .... a little better now that the exit is slightly altered.

[Andy B]

......  it felt like 1960's shopping centre.

Did we have shopping centres in the 60s? 

[Lizzie Zoom]

......  it felt like 1960's shopping centre.

Did we have shopping centres in the 60s? 

In short no, or least nothing like on the scale of today.  Then the High Street and local parade of shops ruled

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

And much better it was too. I hate shopping centres with a passion. In fact the last time I was in one was Westfield during the Olympics.
Hopefully the last time too.

[Sir Tigger KC]

Could be meeting a young fit fella.

Be careful for what you wish for STEMO! Maybe she is staying there with a dishie young man!!!:

Maybe poor old Uncle STEMO is happy for a younger man to take over the strenuous aspects of his marital duties?     

[Lincs Robert]

I want to Meadowhall when I was teenager, felt modern, new and huge then. Went again last year, thought it was dark, cramped and needed big over-haul, when you compare it to the likes to Westfield it felt like 1960's shopping centre.

I think it’s getting a multi-million pound facelift soon, not that I’ll ever see it.

Facelift? Thought she was going shopping 

[STEMO]

Could be meeting a young fit fella.

Be careful for what you wish for STEMO! Maybe she is staying there with a dishie young man!!!:

Maybe poor old Uncle STEMO is happy for a younger man to take over the strenuous aspects of his marital duties?     

I don’t do strenuous aspects any more. I don’t even like to think about them. Yuk.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

A case of "I'm going to sleep, pull my pyjamas up when your finished". 

[STEMO]

A case of "I'm going to sleep, pull my pyjamas up when your finished". 

[Mr Skrunts]

Just  down the road from me, Been 3 times in total, Hate the place.

[Rods2]

Happy to say I've successfully avoided all shopping centres for over 3 years now. Can't stand them or the vast majority of multiple retailers with their same as everybody else poor selection, high prices and untrained 'tards for service. Now out of the way shopping places with their small Victorian shops packed with specialist retailers are interesting, but sadly rare and gradually dying out. Aldershot, North Camp and Emsworth were three good examples, but I must admit I haven't been to any of them for quite a few years. I was in London last week for a Christmas drink with some friends and did enjoy two undercover markets with their wide variety of goods and talking to their knowledgeable owners.

These days apart from our excellent old school local hardware store, Lidl, Aldi and occasionally Tesco (when they send me 10-15% off vouchers) I tend to buy everything else online.

[Lizzie Zoom]

Happy to say I've successfully avoided all shopping centres for over 3 years now. Can't stand them or the vast majority of multiple retailers with their same as everybody else poor selection, high prices and untrained 'tards for service. Now out of the way shopping places with their small Victorian shops packed with specialist retailers are interesting, but sadly rare and gradually dying out. Aldershot, North Camp and Emsworth were three good examples, but I must admit I haven't been to any of them for quite a few years. I was in London last week for a Christmas drink with some friends and did enjoy two undercover markets with their wide variety of goods and talking to their knowledgeable owners.

These days apart from our excellent old school local hardware store, Lidl, Aldi and occasionally Tesco (when they send me 10-15% off vouchers) I tend to buy everything else online.

........and that is the way the retail trade is going and most of us will be purchasing our goods.  Another reason why cash is being assigned to history.  

[Shackeng]

Happy to say I've successfully avoided all shopping centres for over 3 years now. Can't stand them or the vast majority of multiple retailers with their same as everybody else poor selection, high prices and untrained 'tards for service. Now out of the way shopping places with their small Victorian shops packed with specialist retailers are interesting, but sadly rare and gradually dying out. Aldershot, North Camp and Emsworth were three good examples, but I must admit I haven't been to any of them for quite a few years. I was in London last week for a Christmas drink with some friends and did enjoy two undercover markets with their wide variety of goods and talking to their knowledgeable owners.

These days apart from our excellent old school local hardware store, Lidl, Aldi and occasionally Tesco (when they send me 10-15% off vouchers) I tend to buy everything else online.

So your the b**ger searching through his purse for them when I'm waiting impatiently in the queue.

[Varche]

Happy to say I've successfully avoided all shopping centres for over 3 years now. Can't stand them or the vast majority of multiple retailers with their same as everybody else poor selection, high prices and untrained 'tards for service. Now out of the way shopping places with their small Victorian shops packed with specialist retailers are interesting, but sadly rare and gradually dying out. Aldershot, North Camp and Emsworth were three good examples, but I must admit I haven't been to any of them for quite a few years. I was in London last week for a Christmas drink with some friends and did enjoy two undercover markets with their wide variety of goods and talking to their knowledgeable owners.

These days apart from our excellent old school local hardware store, Lidl, Aldi and occasionally Tesco (when they send me 10-15% off vouchers) I tend to buy everything else online.

........and that is the way the retail trade is going and most of us will be purchasing our goods.  Another reason why cash is being assigned to history.  

Cannot be many of us that havent been to a shop, to look at, handle,listen etc to goods and then gone hme and bought cheaper online. And yet big shopping centres still thrive. The new ones have other activities in addition to just shops and food outlets. Still my idea of hell.

[Rods2]

Happy to say I've successfully avoided all shopping centres for over 3 years now. Can't stand them or the vast majority of multiple retailers with their same as everybody else poor selection, high prices and untrained 'tards for service. Now out of the way shopping places with their small Victorian shops packed with specialist retailers are interesting, but sadly rare and gradually dying out. Aldershot, North Camp and Emsworth were three good examples, but I must admit I haven't been to any of them for quite a few years. I was in London last week for a Christmas drink with some friends and did enjoy two undercover markets with their wide variety of goods and talking to their knowledgeable owners.

These days apart from our excellent old school local hardware store, Lidl, Aldi and occasionally Tesco (when they send me 10-15% off vouchers) I tend to buy everything else online.

So your the b**ger searching through his purse for them when I'm waiting impatiently in the queue.

Sorry not guilty. I have a shopping list as I can't get round and get out of crowded supermarkets quick enough, without the list much will be forgotten in my rush. I'm all organized as I'm used to Lidl and Aldi checkout speeds where they have productivity targets they have to reach, whereas Tesco are always on a go slow in comparison. As soon as I'm served register contact-less Tesco Club card, shopping is thrown back in the trolley and voucher handed across with debit card at the ready. Then when I'm outside away from the shop & crowds I pack my shopping from the trolley into shopping bags.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

I shall take swmbo to Sainsburys tomorrow. We will arrive at around 2pm and its unlikely we will leave before 4.15pm. 
I should add that I will spend most of this time sat in the car reading the paper. 

[Steve B]

Happy to say I've successfully avoided all shopping centres for over 3 years now. Can't stand them or the vast majority of multiple retailers with their same as everybody else poor selection, high prices and untrained 'tards for service. Now out of the way shopping places with their small Victorian shops packed with specialist retailers are interesting, but sadly rare and gradually dying out. Aldershot, North Camp and Emsworth were three good examples, but I must admit I haven't been to any of them for quite a few years. I was in London last week for a Christmas drink with some friends and did enjoy two undercover markets with their wide variety of goods and talking to their knowledgeable owners.

These days apart from our excellent old school local hardware store, Lidl, Aldi and occasionally Tesco (when they send me 10-15% off vouchers) I tend to buy everything else online.

So your the b**ger searching through his purse for them when I'm waiting impatiently in the queue.

Sorry not guilty. I have a shopping list as I can't get round and get out of crowded supermarkets quick enough, without the list much will be forgotten in my rush. I'm all organized as I'm used to Lidl and Aldi checkout speeds where they have productivity targets they have to reach, whereas Tesco are always on a go slow in comparison. As soon as I'm served register contact-less Tesco Club card, shopping is thrown back in the trolley and voucher handed across with debit card at the ready. Then when I'm outside away from the shop & crowds I pack my shopping from the trolley into marks and spencers shopping bags.

[Sir Tigger KC]

I shall take swmbo to Sainsburys tomorrow. We will arrive at around 2pm and its unlikely we will leave before 4.15pm. 
I should add that I will spend most of this time sat in the car reading the paper. 

Does it really take that long to read the Express Albs?     

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

How very dare you. 

 

[Mister Rog]

Happy to say I've successfully avoided all shopping centres for over 3 years now. Can't stand them or the vast majority of multiple retailers with their same as everybody else poor selection, high prices and untrained 'tards for service. Now out of the way shopping places with their small Victorian shops packed with specialist retailers are interesting, but sadly rare and gradually dying out. Aldershot, North Camp and Emsworth were three good examples, but I must admit I haven't been to any of them for quite a few years. I was in London last week for a Christmas drink with some friends and did enjoy two undercover markets with their wide variety of goods and talking to their knowledgeable owners.

These days apart from our excellent old school local hardware store, Lidl, Aldi and occasionally Tesco (when they send me 10-15% off vouchers) I tend to buy everything else online.

........and that is the way the retail trade is going and most of us will be purchasing our goods.  Another reason why cash is being assigned to history.

And sadly, part of the reason there are so many empty shops in our high streets

[Mister Rog]

How very dare you. 

 

Ah yes, the Beano maybe ?     

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I hate shopping.

[Sir Tigger KC]

I hate shopping.

Me too! 

Man shopping however is tolerable, we know what we want, we go straight to the shop buy it and go home. 

Woman shopping is a right PITA, where you have to stop and gaze in every window and aimlessly wander about every shop just in case there might be something you like and then there's the returning of stuff from previous expeditions which despite trying on and endless reassurances that your bum dosn't look big you decide you don't like it when you get home!   

[ronnyd]

Happy to say I've successfully avoided all shopping centres for over 3 years now. Can't stand them or the vast majority of multiple retailers with their same as everybody else poor selection, high prices and untrained 'tards for service. Now out of the way shopping places with their small Victorian shops packed with specialist retailers are interesting, but sadly rare and gradually dying out. Aldershot, North Camp and Emsworth were three good examples, but I must admit I haven't been to any of them for quite a few years. I was in London last week for a Christmas drink with some friends and did enjoy two undercover markets with their wide variety of goods and talking to their knowledgeable owners.

These days apart from our excellent old school local hardware store, Lidl, Aldi and occasionally Tesco (when they send me 10-15% off vouchers) I tend to buy everything else online.

So your the b**ger searching through his purse for them when I'm waiting impatiently in the queue.

Sorry not guilty. I have a shopping list as I can't get round and get out of crowded supermarkets quick enough, without the list much will be forgotten in my rush. I'm all organized as I'm used tos Lidl and Aldi checkout speedwhere they have productivity targets they have to reach, whereas Tesco are always on a go slow in comparison. As soon as I'm served register contact-less Tesco Club card, shopping is thrown back in the trolley and voucher handed across with debit card at the ready. Then when I'm outside away from the shop & crowds I pack my shopping from the trolley into shopping bags.

I do most of our shopping in small trips, using the bike (cycle) and rucksack. It,s good exercise and convenient too. Never worry about someone with a huge shop in front of me as Aldi checkouts are so fast.

[STEMO]

In Asda, on the odd occasion we go together, shopping for food, I look around and she’s gone! ‘Where’ve you been?’. ‘Looking’. ‘Looking at what? It’s Asda FFS, what’s to look at ?’ ‘I’ll look if I wanna look’.
Jeez............

[ronnyd]

In Asda, on the odd occasion we go together, shopping for food, I look around and she’s gone! ‘Where’ve you been?’. ‘Looking’. ‘Looking at what? It’s Asda FFS, what’s to look at ?’ ‘I’ll look if I wanna look’.
Jeez............

The delights of George high fashion?

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Yep...man shopping is not so bad.

I don't mind shopping for a new car.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I quite enjoy tyre shopping. A nice chat about cat related subjects that women wouldn't understand over a  cup or two of free coffee.

[redelitev6]

I quite enjoy tyre shopping. A nice chat about cat related subjects that women wouldn't understand over a  cup or two of free coffee.

You talk about pussies at the tyre place 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I quite enjoy tyre shopping. A nice chat about cat related subjects that women wouldn't understand over a  cup or two of free coffee.

You talk about pussies at the tyre place 

Freudian slip. Car becomes cat. Cat becomes moist inviting pussy.

[TheBoy]

......  it felt like 1960's shopping centre.

Did we have shopping centres in the 60s? 

I grew up in Aylesbury, and we had the excellent Friars Square, in 1960s grey concrete. It was fabulous, and had the excellent "underground market" for smaller, local shops, underneath the open air market above.

Then in the earlier 90s, they redevloped it into a pointless, useless shithole that it is today, with nothing there to make it worth going to.  And the shut the underground market and reopened as a much smaller area full of overpriced arty/boutique type crap.

Thats progress apparently.

[Bigron]

On a similar note, I was born in the East End and loved Petticoat Lane (no petticoats anywhere, just a name), before it became one enormous sari market; obviously I have no use for a sari, so I don't go there anymore.
In its postwar incarnation it had loads of army surplus electronics components at low prices and all sorts of weird traders selling snake oil - anyone else remember those days?

Ron.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Today we left home at 12.30, went to Colchester Christmas shopping, then to Uni to collect son and belongings, then Sainsburys food shopping. Got home 10 minutes ago. #knackered. 

[STEMO]

Today we left home at 12.30, went to Colchester Christmas shopping, then to Uni to collect son and belongings, then Sainsburys food shopping. Got home 10 minutes ago. #knackered. 

Picked my son up today too. 


Colchester? You love that place, don’t ya? 

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Hate it with a passion and try to avoid it. Ive somehow spent two days there in the last fortnight though. hopefully that will be it until this time next year. 

[TheBoy]

Colchester? You love that place, don’t ya? 

I used to have to go there 3 times a week.  I got kicked out of pizzahut one day (mind you, I did in oxford as well, and got barred from the one in Milton Keynes.

[pscocoa]

Back to the topic - was asked to accompany my precious to Sainsbury and M & S  in Ashton. She wanted 2 cards for 2 family members. After 30 minutes of looking I got pissed off and said to hurry up.

We left car park and half hour later we were in Glossop. She then says has forgotten to get one of the two cards and suddenly it is my fault "for rushing her". No wonder the country is in chaos.

[TheBoy]

On a completely unrelated note pscocoa, is your VW a diesel?

Friend of mine is borrowing a 3.0d one, and even driving steady (he's steady most of the time anyway), he's struggling to achieve 30mpg.  Is that about right?

[Doctor Gollum]

On a completely unrelated note pscocoa, is your VW a diesel?

Friend of mine is borrowing a 3.0d one, and even driving steady (he's steady most of the time anyway), he's struggling to achieve 30mpg.  Is that about right?

It has four wheel drive, a slush box and weighs north of 2 tons... What does he expect

[pscocoa]

On a completely unrelated note pscocoa, is your VW a diesel?

Friend of mine is borrowing a 3.0d one, and even driving steady (he's steady most of the time anyway), he's struggling to achieve 30mpg.  Is that about right?

Mine only does motorway stuff and it gets me about 550 to 600 miles on 90litres. I will do the maths in the morning!!! I think 37/38 mpg on a run is about right. It is 2.5 tonne 4 wheel drive.

[pscocoa]

Sorry - yes it is a diesel. The 90 litres for 600 miles is 30 mpg but I recall that I refilled on empty signal but in fact 10 litres still left - so basically 34 mpg mainly motorway with some small amount. around town at destination

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Colchester? You love that place, don’t ya? 

I used to have to go there 3 times a week.  I got kicked out of pizzahut one day (mind you, I did in oxford as well, and got barred from the one in Milton Keynes.

Believe me, it hasn't improved any. Its got a lot worse tbh. Massive amounts of housebuilding with no increase in infrastructure to cope with it. Rush hour isn't much better than London. I burnt a lot of petrol going nowhere yesterday, And that's one thing that really goets on my wick.

[STEMO]

When I was there in the 70’s, as a young soldier, I remember it was always night and everything looked blurry. 

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

  Even the bars on the windows ? 
The thing that struck me yesterday was the number of people sleeping rough in doorways and the number of beggars on the streets.
All the ones I heard speaking were eastern European.
Colchester used to be a reasonably civilised place during the day, and a place to avoid at night time*.

* Especially in the 70,s. 

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Anyway, to get back to the topic. There wasn't really any need for any posts on this thread. The title itself would have sufficed. 

[TheBoy]

Sorry - yes it is a diesel. The 90 litres for 600 miles is 30 mpg but I recall that I refilled on empty signal but in fact 10 litres still left - so basically 34 mpg mainly motorway with some small amount. around town at destination

Thanks for info, I'll pass on tonight.  We were discussing MPG down the pub a couple of weeks ago, and how disappointed he was in the MPG - otherwise a lovely car, but too big for him being the LWB version, he found too cumbersome around town and carparks.  His normal driving style allows him to get 50+ from his (currently broken 1.9TDi A4), so I think he found it as a shock, esp when he was getting 25mpg from a clapped out 740 from the late 90s.

I didn't realise they were that much over 2 tons though , that's Range Rover type weights . Certainly helps explain the economy

[pscocoa]

I use the Astra (1.6 petrol auto) around Sandhurst/ Farnborough Ststion but only get 27mpg from that. Phaeton would be scraped on regular basis if left at station.

[Kevin Wood]

Sorry - yes it is a diesel. The 90 litres for 600 miles is 30 mpg but I recall that I refilled on empty signal but in fact 10 litres still left - so basically 34 mpg mainly motorway with some small amount. around town at destination

Thanks for info, I'll pass on tonight.  We were discussing MPG down the pub a couple of weeks ago, and how disappointed he was in the MPG - otherwise a lovely car, but too big for him being the LWB version, he found too cumbersome around town and carparks.  His normal driving style allows him to get 50+ from his (currently broken 1.9TDi A4), so I think he found it as a shock, esp when he was getting 25mpg from a clapped out 740 from the late 90s.

I didn't realise they were that much over 2 tons though , that's Range Rover type weights . Certainly helps explain the economy

Won't be clapped out yet, surely? Got another 20 years in it, I reckon.

[Shackeng]

......  it felt like 1960's shopping centre.

Did we have shopping centres in the 60s? 

I grew up in Aylesbury, and we had the excellent Friars Square, in 1960s grey concrete. It was fabulous, and had the excellent "underground market" for smaller, local shops, underneath the open air market above.

Then in the earlier 90s, they redevloped it into a pointless, useless shithole that it is today, with nothing there to make it worth going to.  And the shut the underground market and reopened as a much smaller area full of overpriced arty/boutique type crap.

Thats progress apparently.

SWMBO comes from Waddesdon and we met at the jazz club that used to run once a week in the Grosvenor hall just below the old Bull's Head. In those days there was just a nice open market square with a lovely market on, I think, two days a week. There were some really decent old pubs in Aylesbury then, most of which have been destroyed. In fact I think the town is an utter sh1t-hole these days.

[TheBoy]

Sorry - yes it is a diesel. The 90 litres for 600 miles is 30 mpg but I recall that I refilled on empty signal but in fact 10 litres still left - so basically 34 mpg mainly motorway with some small amount. around town at destination

Thanks for info, I'll pass on tonight.  We were discussing MPG down the pub a couple of weeks ago, and how disappointed he was in the MPG - otherwise a lovely car, but too big for him being the LWB version, he found too cumbersome around town and carparks.  His normal driving style allows him to get 50+ from his (currently broken 1.9TDi A4), so I think he found it as a shock, esp when he was getting 25mpg from a clapped out 740 from the late 90s.

I didn't realise they were that much over 2 tons though , that's Range Rover type weights . Certainly helps explain the economy

Won't be clapped out yet, surely? Got another 20 years in it, I reckon.

I doubt it, its had a hard life . A very hard life.