Tuesday 29 November 2016

Interesting.

I never thought that I would live to say this, but friend W and I had an interesting and quite enjoyable morning this morning doing something that I have never done before.

As I have said before, we live very near to Catterick Garrison, the largest Garrison in Western Europe, although you would never know it as you drive through a couple of miles of pleasant, neat, well-kept - and green - landscape.

They have recently built a new shopping complex
just across the road from quite a large Tesco store.
W and I decided to go and take a look at it this morning.   Most of the shops are the sort of shops I never go into - and what an eye-opener touring round them proved to be.  I bought quite a lot of vegetarian food to put in the freezer for Christmas from Iceland (my son is vegetarian and catering for a different menu on Boxing Day is really a chore too far).   We went around the Pound Shop and Yorkshire Trading and also around Aldi.  All of the shops had plenty of customers - young mums with babies in the main - presumably wives of young servicemen.

We ended up with a cup of coffee in Costa coffee, which was also obviously the meeting place for the same young mums and babies.   What a lot of babies all in one place at once.

I arrived home pretty footsore at just before lunchtime.   The farmer had been sitting in the house all morning waiting for a call from the Aga engineer to say when he was coming as we are still without any means of cooking.   But no call so far, so fish and chips for lunch - a long time since we had them and we both quite enjoyed them.   No more for me today though as I am still quite full.   The farmer paled at the thought of no tea, so I shall go now and rustle up a ham sandwich for him.

Sitting here at the computer, looking out of the hall window I can see the most glorious deep orange sunset.  Looks like another cold but clear day tomorrow.   Today the temperature never rose above three degrees and the day began with a severe frost.

16 comments:

Sue said...

We had the same temperatures here today, a hard frost this morning that never went away, but some lovely sunshine.

My son served the last six weeks of his Army duty at Catterick on sentry duty. He was really a Tank Transporter driver, but loved the change for the last few weeks of service because he needed to be nearer home for his son in Cumbria.

Joanne Noragon said...

Loved the line, the sort of shop you never go into. They are truly amazing. When we had to set up housekeeping all over again when we moved in July, I went to shops for pots and pans, for silver, for knives, for towels--for everything! Lots and lots of babies to be seen.

jinxxxygirl said...

Well that sounds like a fabulous day out with your friend! We actually have an Aldi here in Arkansas although i have never been in it as i'am a Walmart shopper...lol Hugs! deb

The Broad said...

Nothing like an adventurous day out with a friend! Hope you get that Aga sorted out soon. Although it is a bit of a holiday for you! I also hope the farmer enjoyed his ham sandwich! It's even frosty here on the Irish Sea. Unfortunately, we are not in a position to enjoy the sunsets when they come...

Derek Faulkner said...

Blimey Pat, did you not feel guilty doing shopping the modern way rather than in your little village shops. We had the same bright orange sunset down here in Kent this evening and it's due to drop to -5 overnight.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Derek - we have no village shop here, so no guilt feelings.

Terry and Linda said...

We are terribly cold here...a chill wind is blowing making the temperature feel very close to 0. A shop about would be a nice treat.

Linda

Sue in Suffolk said...

I had to smile at the farmer going pale at the thought of a missed meal, so glad you found him something! 3 meals a day is a must for most men I know. :-0

Simon Douglas Thompson said...

I wish my flat was warm with a wood burner or some such thing! By heaven cycling in was agony this morning, -6 out of town where my work is, my hands were so painful. Believe it will be worse tomorrow.

Heather said...

Similar weather down here - a glorious winter day. It is interesting to shop somewhere different sometimes, and breaking one's usual habits can be quite enjoyable. Glad you took pity on the farmer and found him a sandwich!
Our son started his Army career in Caterick. I believe he spent a few days there looking into various regiments before choosing the Grenadier Guards.

Rachel Phillips said...

It is nice to do something different once in a while. I know exactly what you mean. Silly, not much but out of your usual what you do, and all part of the rich tapestry of life of everybody.

PAk RUDI DI SEMARANG said...
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Cro Magnon said...

I once went on an Officer Training Course to Catterick. I don't think I even knew where it was. We went by coach, and returned by coach. I could have been anywhere, and saw nothing of the area.

Librarian said...

When I'm in Ripon, I like browsing the shelves at The Yorkshire Trading Company, although I hardly ever buy anything there. Aldi is the supermarket just 5 minutes on foot from my house, and since I don't drive, I do 99 % of my shopping there - and am happy with their products nearly all the time.

Sorry to hear your Aga has still not been repaired. I hope it will soon be sorted.

Derek Faulkner said...

Sorry Pat, I've always formed the opinion that you mainly shop in your local town and by doing so, support your local shops/farmers market.
Myself I shop almost exclusively at the local Morrisons and prefer the fact that there is a wide variety of choice at such places, something that, as much as I would love to support them, small local shops cannot compete with, in variety or price.

Barbara said...

I'm so glad you made the farmer a sandwich. I would pale at the thought of missing my supper, too!