My column in today’s Lincolnshire Free Press has also been published on-line today. Feel free to go and have a look.
It’s all about my favourite butcher and baker who are both closing down because their owners are retiring.
Here’s the link: hope you enjoy it.
Bereft without our butcher and baker.Â
Boil in the bag curry – there's a blast from the past! Good one, seemed longer than the last. I enjoyed it.
Vesta curries!
It was about 100 words longer. I felt it was much better than the previous one. X
Oh no, your poor husband! What a shame that no one is taking over the shops. Actually, the same thing happened where my mum lives. The butcher retired, sold the shop, and it's now a useless insurance office.
If you had trouble in a British butcher's, imagine how much fun it is for me in a French one. Their cuts of meat are different, and they remove all the fat. I have to ask for fat to be added to the minced beef when they grind it in front of me. And trying to get a joint of ham, goodness, what a palavar! As a result, I have a very matey relationship with the butcher and his wife. đ
I do hope someone does take over the shops – it would be such a waste. I'm not hopeful for the butchers as it's in between a few empty retail spaces at the moment.
Thank god I live in the UK as there would be no hope for me.
I actually saw a packet of Angel delight butterscotch flavour this week in Aldi. It was my husbands childhood favourite, I have bought it for him but I expect it will stay in the cupboard untouched till it's sell by date!
I used to buy it for Rory as a treat too. Never goes past it's sell-by date here!
I have been enjoying your new column. We have virtually no independent food shops here, perhaps in the bigger cities.
Oh it's such a shame. I can see it happening over here too and yet, although I use independents, like many others, I still use supermarkets for convenience so am not helping the situation.
As I said, I hope you will find suitable replacement, it is so sad when shops like these close.
Looking forward to the next one. xx
A new farm shop, Wimberly Hall, has opened locally so have started going there, particularly for the meat. They do bread too – loaves super but Dougie still not convinced about the white rolls!!
Highlights perfectly the sad death of the High Street… and the communities they engendered.
We have a growing number of empty shops in our town now. I know these two are going because they are retiring, but I can't see new people taking them on.
Your article this week confirms to me that you are in the Rolls-Choice category of newspaper columnists.
Rolls-Choice! Groan.
I've written next week's column with you in mind – I expect some wordplay in the comments! You'll have to wait until Tuesday to find out.
What – you mean in the newspaper website's comments? No pressure then!
Oh yes! You'll be in your element, I promise you đ
Not enjoying the thought of Dougie's alimentary canal emitting a howl of anguish! Wow – Vesta curries – I'd forgotten all about them….and Olive oil which only came from the chemist in a tiny bottle. Hope you manage to find something to satisfy Dougie's Delicate Digestion soon!
Vesta curries were in an orange packet I think.
Am working on finding replacement rolls – but he's so particular.
Loved the story about the Bargain bucket! đ So sad that these institutions are closing down though… I did notice a bit of a resurgence in small independent shops in our area when I was last at home… Fingers crossed for your area too, who knows, maybe someone will take them on now!?!? x