Elphinstone's Army

Has anyone successfully booked a viewing here : I ask as I have been trying for weeks and moved onto 'eventbrite' which says, sold out, but the page will not move further than 11.30 am. I cannot find a phone number on the site.

southeastelectric Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Wrong section for this post shocking comment

6.30 - 6.45 Coop type q's, salad and veg section on the left as you enter looked as though a swarm of locusts had been through, and what's with the wine section, red/white/rose, all mixed, if I want a red Chilean I have to search? (just supposing) and trolleys and boxes in the aisles? How could M&S not realised the surge of interest/ purchasing their long mooted opening would engender and not stock up and no bread? This is the optimum coming home tired and weary time which we all agreed would be good to collapse into M&S for instant, nutritious, good range to choose from, shopping. I know it is early days, but v disappointing. And why only 2 check outs and when paid, have to negotiate the automatic pay machine customers, it'snt exactly streamlined. This morning three suits stood in the doorway, shop floor staff busy, shop cold, 6.30, shop busy, open until 11.00pm, for what? I wish M&S had asked a consortium or cross section of locals, as we all can run the shop better than they.

pop, I thought there was one earlier, either way, it came out of the east, was v loud and heavy, and the noise woke me, still awake (obviously) now going to close the window. It is cooler out there now, we will be complaining of the cold before you know it.

purplehaze Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Think it's a brilliant colour choice well you would say that, wouldn't you Jimi

Barn Seeker Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > That's the easiest 25k I've ever made. > > And to all those who went today...I'm having a > wild guess here...but was it kind of like all > their other stores? You can sneer and gloat as much as you can carry, we had fun today, in our lookalike Marks and Spencer

jaywalker, : your dinner sounds good only missing a glass of crisp white wine - I thought the card section was out of place, as we are not short of excellent card shops on LL and NCR so perhaps your remarks are prescient and this will disappear to make way for a mini deli. It was lovely to be in a brightly lit, clean shiny well stocked, colourful, good quality fresh food, shop. after the dismal Coop, third rate offerings and ennervating queues. Yes I noticed the Big Issue seller, he said he had done well today. I bought figs and coffee, was tempted by pizza, it is no place for the weak willed and prevaricating shopper, although as I am both, I will probably be in again tomorrow. Happy shopping, y'all

DulwichFox Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Sounds like people will be able to get served > super fast at the Co-op now with smaller queues > there.. > > Silver Lining .. Hey -oh. > > Foxy Foxy, you will be a one man queue

Purple !! and definitely not Annie Sloan

Is this a philosophical question to take us away from our real lives, as you are answering your own questions, which seem obvious in today's world. If you have the means to purchase a boat or motor home and a means of earning money and the luxury of choice then you cannot possibly know the meaning of homelessness or are likely to. Have you any idea how spoilt you sound? Renting for many is a way of life necessity, compromise. Disappointing news? Be off with you and your whim to change a lifestyle you are not happy with in this country in this day and age. And spend a few moments reading the Solomons Passage thread.

Pop is a girl? Poppy you sound deranged. It hurts my head reading your posts.

Gosh

Sue I recall that you would jump in to defend the Coop, now at least you have seen for yourself the valid reasons for peoples frustration. Sainsbury is increasingly expensive, it's true. We are currently raiding Savers, for toiletries, hand wash and Fairy liquid ?1 and half the price of SDKH. The nearest one is Rye Lane. Not too far from the tip! happy shopping

I wondered if it was just me... I felt quite light headed reading the professional bloggers pitch

DulwichFox Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Elphinstone's Army wrote:- > > I believe they were taken over by Lipton's, Foxy > will know, and were smartened up. > > > Between 1924 and 1931, several stores, including > Liptons merged with Home & Colonial to form a > company with over 3,000 branches. > > Crikey.. I'm not that old... But I sort of > remember Home and Colonial Stores possibly from > Bargoed in South Wales where my grand > parents(dad's side) lived .. > > > https://www.peoplescollection.wales/sites/pcw/file > s/styles/item_detail/public/images/2015/November/A > unty%20Eileen%20Thomas%20at%20work.jpg?itok=5AJfIS > O_ > Home & Colonial Store in Bargoed in the 1950?s or > 1960?s > > How times things have changed. > > Foxy hello Foxy, thank you for this ! The shop I am remembering was in Nottingham, - this would have been 1960/l ish, as we moved back at that time. I recall that shopping was a complex serious, lengthy process, which is why there was always a chair at the counter. Is this your family photo you are sharing with us? Thank you, this is better or as good as a memory.

Well done nxjen! I was slow off the mark there wasn't I, another piece of history uncovered, and how respectful and clever to name the restaurant Chardon.

Louisa Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > On the topic of the future of Londis, I was under > the impression Bill's were interested. They are a > higher end small chain of restaurants, with the > nearest branch being Greenwich I believe, possibly > Clapham too. A modern take on traditional > favourites, they also serve breakfast. Initially I > was under the impression Nando's were the likely > candidate, but it's still all a little hush hush. I have been into Bills's in cambridge, it is seriously funky and studenty as you would imagine, wood and hard surfaces and barrels. However they did not have a vegetarian/vegan dish or the sea bass, sold out, so we left and had the best breakfast ever, (at midday) at a tea shop opposite, very pink and chi chi, life is full of surprises. harrietts on Green Street (I just looked it up) should you find yourself lost and hungry in Cambridge, looking for Kettles Yard. Anyway, We were informed that Londis would morph into Costa this time last year. However, it could have been used as a generic term for coffee shop in much the same way we say Hoover or Corn Flakes, who knows. I use it for the occasional bottle of wine when on offer and to pay the water rates. That's all. However it is open round the clock for shift workers, must be a boon to them, and KCH staff, and those with a late late night thirst. > > Louisa's

geneie Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The Lordship Kane equivalent for Home and Colonial > stores was the wonderful David Greigs shop, with > all the things Elphinstone's army describes. I > loved going shopping with my mum there on a > Thursday, which was when she collected her > housekeeping money from the Midland Bank, moving > from counter to counter... hello genieie, I looked this up and it is Le Chardon, and apparently still has the original tiled floor. We are all now sleuths and historians, and architectural detectives are we not, housekeeping money, I remember my Mum having that and a red Accounts Book, carefully, prudently and meticulously accounted. And asking for a rise in the housekeeping when my little brother was born. It was lovely to read your sentimental post...

titch juicy, thank you, for your kind comment,

Louisa Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I have always found Sainsburys to be vastly > overrated. It is the same as Asda, Tesco or > Morrisons but tries to market itself as a > competitor to Waitrose and M&S. If I'm being > perfectly honest, Lidl and Aldi offer cheaper and > better quality produce than Sainsburys and excel > in their smaller format shops because they're easy > in and out jobs, no messing around. Louisa, you are the Planning Department scout so you will know first anyway : M&S at Peckham Rye station? it is a main conduit after all - and perhaps their stake would encompass or restyle the Iceland already there? I was surprised that a mini M&S was not on the slender site next to East Dulwich Station, they will be everywhere like triffids. > > I don't dislike M&S, I would shop at M&S over > Sainsburys any day of the week. It is better > quality and it isn't much more expensive. My > problem with M&S Dulwich is the fact they've > picked the wrong location IMHO. They should have > opted for Peckham Rye station after the > redevelopment. A much better punt. Leaving Iceland > intact. > > Louisa.

Louisa, It isn't M&S fault that Iceland pulled out of it's site. M&S do not do vegan or dairy free sandwiches or wraps for example, so it will not provide all things to all shoppers. We can't be the only meat/dairy wheat free family for miles around? Through health/diet/ethical reasons (we all have different reasons) and expect soon enough this essential dietary necessity or eccentricity will be catered for along LL for those of us who would not touch such cheap eggs (poor hens Louisa) butter, cheese and definitely not fishfingers which you lauded as reasons to shop at Iceland. I remember the old Home and Colonial shops, with tiled frontages, floorboards with fresh sweet smelling sawdust, a cashier on the left, in a mahogany throne, a cheese wire to cut massive round cheeses, the smell of freshly ground coffee, and the grind of the machine, large biscuit tins in their sides so you helped yourself (hands in the biscuits)! for them to be weighed, the bespectacled old gentleman who had been there since Adam was a lad, and greeted us all by name, and best of all, the bacon slicer. We three would stand transfixed whilst the assistant, would slap a piece of ham or bacon onto the blade, and press his hand against it, firmly. It was far more exciting if the piece was flat, and better still if it was small, as the machine whirred and the slices plonked down onto waxed paper laid on the other side, the prospect of nails, flesh and blood flying across the counter became excitingly imminent. Alas, the operator was skilled as a matador and we walked home despondent disappointed and ready to try again next week. Saturday morning, my Father would park right outside, to collect The Order. I believe they were taken over by Lipton's, Foxy will know, and were smartened up. At the time, who would have guessed how times and shopping would change. When I told my children this fascinating social history they rolled their eyes : it was of no interest to them, my experiences were out of their time. Iceland here was out of time and out of sync. The shop could not continue for you, the same as the Coop will not keep going for dbboy and his bread. The High Street is evolving, we will have a new shop next to Rose's at last, then possibly the Irish Shop will be a cushion and fascinator store, Londis is threatening to become a Costa Coffee and Question Air will be moving on soon. The Coop will be transformed into a Waitrose and Lidl will rebuild the Grove Tavern. My own desire which is well documented, is that a busy, clean, delivering, modern store selling fresh fresh veg with a juice bar will materialise. A modern take on what we knew as a greengrocer. With apples and eggs from Kent, potatoes and root veg from Lincolnshire and salad from Hertfordshire or even nearer, all realistically priced, local honey and brown paper bags. sigh. Louisa you cannot look upon Iceland as your own Bali Hai and be left behind : it isn't as though there isn't one at Peckham Rye should you need a fix : it was a charmless place - what if all the friendly staff had left of their own volition anyway, would you still be as enamoured? I am sorry you are despondent - however - embracing change and progress apparently keeps us young in spirit, interested and interesting. Iceland is gone now from Lordship Lane and you are still in mourning. I feel I am offering grief counselling : but come out with us and explore this bright shiny new store, do not be sulking - there might be champagne ! (Cava) Hand on heart I swear I will never again mention the Home and Colonial Stores.

They will do collect by car? so if you have a trolley full this will be processed and removed to a back door : you can then walk a mile to where you left your car and come back for your shopping. I agree, the driving to M&S and parking will be self correcting. Perhaps a minimum spend delivery service will be offered.

BrandNewGuy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > High prices, poor stock control, rude staff, huge > queues, rotten fruit and veg... well said, succinct and brutal

mandy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Can anyone recommend a good psychic/tarot reader Mandy, you could try this post in The Lounge section for a better response - when I was looking on the internet about a year ago, there was nothing, but these clairvoyants are often word of mouth and do not advertise.

Louisa, were the staff local? I need to know this before I expound my theory then fall flat on my face