A Useless Shopping Trip
This afternoon, I decided to go shopping to get some clothes from my holiday next week. I took the Overground to Stratford and walked into Eastfield.
It was not the most fulfilling of trips.
For a start, when I walked in, I thought I might like a tea or a cappuccino. Before the Olympics, I used to get this in the Starbucks by the station entrance, but since the Games, I’ve avoided it, as it only sells drinks in cardboard cups. These are for takeaways, not sitting in.
I then walked through to John Lewis and thought I’d see if there was a suitable coat. I need one with a large internal pocket on my left breast, that is big enough for my newspaper or my small Samsung Tab 2. Despite the attention of a very personable and professional sales assistant in an hijab, they couldn’t find anything, which fitted my requirements.
So it was on to Marks and Spencer, where I tried to get a second pair of cord trousers like those I was wearing. Despite having bought them only last week, I was again unlucky, as that style wasn’t stocked at Eastfield.
So I then retreated back to the Overground and came home.
That was a very unproductive shopping trip. I’ll try again in Oxford Street tomorrow. I should find the trousers, as they had quite a few pairs last week, there are a couple of Carluccio’s for some tea or coffee, but I doubt I’ll find the coat, as big pockets are so two years ago.
The Only Starbucks I Habitually Visit
I don’t generally go to Starbucks very often, but I will use this one in Bold Street in Liverpool.
The Only Starbucks I Habitually Visit
In the 1960s, I’m fairly certain, it used to be La Bussola, which was the coffee bar, where everybody went.
Home Via New Barnet Station
After my walk through New Barnet, I intended to come home using the Northern line from High Barnet station and I informed the driver of the 384 bus, I boarded outside The Warwick, that that was what I was doing.
But I changed my mind, as the bus stopped in the forecourt of New Barnet station, so I thought I’d come home on the main line train.
It was really sweet and totally professional, as when I got off, the driver questioned if I was at the right stop. Little bits of service really improve a day.
On the platform there is now a little cafe/shop.
Frothy Coffee At New Barnet Station
Something that would never have been there when I used the station in the 1960s or 1970s. and if it had been it would have been a terrible British Rail monstrosity.
Things are looking up for those who want to travel and drink. I think it’s a case of the more the merrier!
I’m Keeping Out Of Starbucks
It must be some time since I went into a Starbucks to have some coffee. It could have been after I saw Skyfall. But it was certainly no later than this post, where I mused about the dilemma. That would be eight weeks without a Starbucks coffee.
Am I Allergic To Coffee?
I’ve not been feeling well the last few days and it reminds me of a time about thirty years ago, when I thought I got a mouth infection from a dentist. I had a very sore mouth and ate fairly soft food for a couple of weeks. In the end, I think the doctor gave me some antibiotics to clear it up. At the time, I also found that coffee seemed to irritate my mouth, so for twenty years or so, I never drunk coffee, until I discovered cappuccino.
My mouth now feels the same and for the last two days, I’ve stayed off the coffee and I’ve just been drinking beer, cider, milk, water and tea.
It seems to be getting better.
It’s strange that this problem has returned, but I have moved to London in the last couple of years and it so easy to get a coffee.
Grand Cafe Cappuccino
I had lunch here before I caught the bus to the airport.
The last time, I’d been here was with C on that birthday holiday in 2007.
As with the Caballito de Mar, they knew their gluten free.
Starbucks On Southern
I was offered a cup of coffee from the trolley on the train back from Worthing today.
I refused, as the trolley had the Starbucks logo on the side.
Has the anti-Starbucks protest got to me? I think so, but we had actually discussed this at lunch.
I’ve not completely got them out of my life, but where there are alternatives like Knot Pretzels at Clapham Junction, I use them.
Not The Best Shopping Trip!
I tried to do a bit of personal shopping today. I need a couple of pairs of decent cord trousers and I want to get one of thse new-fangled tablet computers to see if I can blog on the move.
The only pair of trousers I tried on, were a pair in Armani with a button fly. And I hate button flies!
I’m also still no nearer to finding a tablet computer for my requirements.
In the end, I gave up and had a coffee and a snack in Carluccio’s before buying my supper in Marks and Spencer and coming home.
Coffee And Pretzels At Clapham Junction
Not for me the pretzels, but the coffee was good in my pit-stop at Knot Pretzels at Clapham Junction station.
I do love their innovative use of an old trunk for the sugar and stirrers.
The Anonymous Widower 