Proper Shopping

After the horrors of yesterdays shopping trip I needed to get back to normality today. This blip is Allendale. It sits quietly in the North Pennines in Northumberland, an area of "oustanding natural beauty".

In the centre covering an area considerably smaller than one of the large stores in the Metro Centre you are able to visit an art gallery, choose between two cafes (the Allendale Tea Rooms is best), post your letters, buy your papers and gifts and then withdraw your money ready for the next phase. Armed with more cash you can buy your lottery tickets visit the local church to pray that your numbers come up, get your car repaired and buy fresh local meat. While you wait for your car you can choose between three pubs. This will allow you to catch your breath before you visit the jewel in the crown, The Allendale Co-op. Apart from all the normal supermarket goods there is paint, firewood, tools etc etc. It is rare that they don't have what you need and not unusual to leave with things you didn't know you needed when you went in. Up to now I have never needed a squirrel trap but if I ever do, I know where to get one.

This is proper shopping and not a single child flying through the air on a bit of elastic anywhere to be seen. (yesterday's blip will explain).