After encountering gridlock when we ventured on into town on Saturday, having sorted some more stock out to put in the Unit, we vowed we would not be going back on a Saturday until the New Year. I needed to go to The Range, and knowing that the car park by Currys and The Range would be chock-a-block, I walked there from the fuel station behind it whilst my OH was putting in diesel, made my purchase and came out just as OH was driving down the approach, so he didn't even need to get snarled up in the traffic there.
Anyway, today I HAD to do some shopping for Christmas cards, presents, and birthday presents as we have two family birthdays between now and Christmas. I got one unusual and gorgeous present in Dyfed Crafts in King Street. I always buy birthday cards from there, as I like to support local artists. Today I was looking for a necklace but came out with something totally different and beautiful which I hope our middle daughter will appreciate on the appropriate day.
I walked across the town, looking for appropriate presents in TK Maxx and Argos, and made a couple of purchases. I made sure I had myself completely in check, so I didn't buy anything I didn't actually NEED. So the Fruit book of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's was put back on the shelf (though it was discounted down to £7.99 from £25). I shall hope to find it remaindered in The Works next year, or else turn it up at a car boot sale. Likewise the prettiest mugs were sighed over and not even touched for fear they would end up in my shopping basket. I would like to upgrade my coffee mugs, but there is no need to do so. A gorgeous glass dish in scarlet and gold (perfect for Christmas) was likewise not even touched. In fact, I came out empty-handed as I couldn't find the items I had on my shopping list in there. (If my daughters read this, I am not giving them a shopping list, just writing about temptation overcome!) I even marched myself past the tree decorations and glitzy bits without LOOKING as I know I have a weakness there too!
My final port of call was Charlies. I like Charlies (OH hates it nearly as much as he hates The Range, which he considers to be full of tat which just puts a pressure on natural resources when they are made and transported. He has a point . . . ) Anyway, Charlies DOES have a very good kitchen section and I love browsing in there. I needed - and bought - a Silicon pastry brush to replace the new-but-moulting wooden handled ones I had (but no waste with those as OH will be using the wooden handles for something as they "looked useful" when I handed them to him, knowing he'd think that.)
I also bought a little ceramic soap dish as we are going back to using solid bars of soap because liquid soap is expensive and doesn't last long. I found some beautiful RSPB Christmas cards which I bought, so I have supported a good charity with that purchase and they are LOVELY cards too.
Then I blew 99p on a new wire nut net. I have several - with holes in - and the peanuts are being stolen whole at a great rate of knots, so as we are going through the sackful far faster than I want to, it seemed a wise move. There was an alternative - at £9.99 (how can they justify that price hoik?) which was a taller wire nut net made of heavy-gauge wire. Well, I was given one of those last year and yup, THAT has a big hole in it - Jackdaws I suspect, rather than Woody Woodpecker. Meanwhile, I shall get my OH to effect a lasting mend on the damaged one.
The lady in front of me had spent £44. I only saw the last of her purchases going in the bag, and they were preserves with alcohol in. Lord knows what she had paid for those, but goodness they are SO simple to make! I guess she has never been shown how. I know that Charlies had 3 little jars of "special" jams and chutneys in a cardboard container and those were nearly £10.
Anyway, I have decided to do most of the rest of my Christmas shopping on-line as I have more choice there for the half a dozen items I need (plus some of them are only available on-line).
I wonder what you are all doing about Christmas shopping this year?
