On Line Grocery Shopping
It was reported today on BBC Breakfast that on-line grocery shopping is not being the great success it should be.
As a widower, who lives alone and who is very computer literate, you’d think I would do a lot of on-line grocery shopping. When my wife was alive, we did quite a bit as we both worked full time and I actually worked at home to take in the deliveries.
Now, I’ve had a serious stroke, can’t drive and have moved to Dalston and although I buy lots of goods like books, furniture and electrical items on the web, I haven’t bought any groceries on-line.
Last week though, I saw the future. I went to my local Waitrose in Upper Street, did a large shop and then they delivered it an hour or so later. As I had a job to do at home, it only meant, I had to get the bus home to arrive before the delivery did.
The only problem was the driver had left his pen at the previous delivery. So I gave him one of my many spares.
But it was just so much less hassle than waiting in at home to collect some goods that might be quite not what you want. As after all, I had chosen them in the shop, so if they were wrong, it would have been my fault.
As shopping innovations like this get more common, on-line shopping will continue to lose out. And in some cases it will replace driving to the supermarket.
Branas Boxes Bite Again
I have a new delivery of some IKEA furniture tomorrow and to finish it off I need some more Branas boxes.
As I was going to have a coffee with a friend in Covent Garden, I thought that I might go on from there. But getting to Covent Garden had been difficult on the Piccadilly line as someone had stupidly been hit by a train at Southgate. So the obvious route back to IKEA at Edmonton which involved using the Piccadilly line to Manor House and then a 341 bus, was probably a no-no!
So I decided after my coffee to take the circular route from Embankment of a District line train to Wimbledon and then the Tramlink to IKEA at Ampere Way. Afterwards I intended to continue on the tram to West Croydon to get the London Overground to Dalston Junction.
The Chimneys at IKEA Croydon
The two chimneys of the old power station that give the road its name are still there.
As are the concrete blocks, that sit in the pedestrian entrance to catch the drunk, the lame and the elderly.
Welcome to IKEA - Again!
They may have been moved since I last visited the store.
I did have a nice lunch in IKEA before I bought another eight boxes.
Or should I say seven and four-fifths boxes? As when I checked out, a bottom was missing! I did check them, as I’d been caught once before, but I obviously didn’t check well enough! It meant another walk through the store as punishment to get a replacement. At least I didn’t take it home and now will be plotting a return.
IKEA at Croydon at least has one advantage over Edmonton. It is easy to take a trolley to the tram stop. Not that I did as many had done and dump it somewhere awkward for pedestrians, but I was able to leave it in a handy trolley park to shorten the walk considerably.
From Ampere Way I took the tram to West Croydon to get the East London line to Dalston Junction.
Overground Directions at West Croydon
The picture shows the excellent signage at the West Croydon interchange.
I actually changed trains between West Croydon and Dalston Junction, at Surrey Quays, so that I got on a train that ended its journey at Dalston Junction, which meant I only had a short walk to the lift.
It was then a couple of stops on a 38 bus home.
It would be so much easier, if I could buy the Branas boxes online in fours.
Frock Horror
As a man, this is a problem I don’t have!
I suspect though that the two women cared!
Although one might have cared more than the other, as she actually paid for the dress.
But who are Bar Refaeli and Victoria Silvstedt anyway?
An IKEA Linen Bin
My current bedroom is not as large as my previous one, so space in some ways is at a premium. I have given away some of my larger furniture and replaced my bedroom chests and dressing table with Expedit ones from IKEA, mainly with Branas baskets.
A Branas Basket as a Laundry Bin
For a single man living alone, the one next to my bathroom makes an excellent linen bin.
Incidentally, I’ve put my old laundry bins on eBay. They are stainless steel and wood by Miller of Sweden and are in very good condition.
Annoyances In Sainsburys
This morning, I had to show friends, where to park their car, whilst they did a day’s business in London and then get them organised with a Travelcard at Dalston Junction.
So this meant, as I wasn’t near my usual paper shop, I had to go to Sainsbury’s to get one, as I have a pre-paid voucher and not all shops accept them.
I also needed some toilet rolls, but unlike Waitrose who do them with handles so they are easy to carry, Sainsburys don’t do this. The only one with a handle was a nine of Andrex.
And then to pay for my two items, I had to wait, as no tills were open and vouchers aren’t accepted in the self-service machines. Eventually, I used the tobacco kiosk, but had to use a card, which didn’t work too well, because of my gammy fingers. It’s funny but I never have trouble with cards except in Sainsburys.
So I doubt I’ll be visiting that Sainsburys early in the morning again.
Why Do I Want To Win a Cake Stand?
I bought some very nice strawberries from Waitrose on Friday.
Strawberries From Waitrose
Why would I want to win a cake stand?
Don’t Blame Me I Voted Yes!
Usually, I’m the one who gets blamed for everything. After all, I’ve had so much bad luck and sorrow lately, that people feel that to heap a bit more on me won’t do any harm!
But if you’re disappointed that you voted Yes to AV and didn’t win, then you can’t blame me, as I did the same! At least though after the result and a good lunch with a friend in Carluccio’s, I had enough strength to take back the bottomless box to IKEA and get it replaced and buy another four!
One of their guys told me that bottomless Branas boxes are a bit of a problem. So when you buy them check you have the five parts and they are all strapped together. After all, what use is a Branas without an as?
The Duchess Goes Shopping
Waitrose must be laughing their heads off, with all the pictures of the Duchess of Cambridge in their store in Menai Bridge in papers like the Mail. They won’t get an advert like that, for under a seven figure sum.
This country has problems and we won’t solve them without a bit of feel good factor. Let’s hope that the Duke and Duchess can provide it.
Struggling To IKEA
Well not really struggling, but you wouldn’t have thought that getting a few simple baskets would be so difficult.
IKEA Branas Basket
The picture shows one of their Branas baskets.
To fit out my bedroom I need eight. So I thought I’d buy them on-line when I bought the storage frames that will hold them. But and this annoys me so much about IKEA, they were one of the products that can’t be bought on-line. But they did have lots in stock at Edmonton. As I did have a couple of spare hours and I wanted to take some pictures close to their store. I decided to go and get some this afternoon.
So I took the Victoria line to Tottenham Hale and then got a 192 bus to IKEA.
I had worried that the boxes might not be flat-pack, in which case they would be difficult to manage on the bus, back to either Tottenham Hale or almost to home if a 341 turned up.
But my worst fears were unfounded as the boxes were flat and I reckoned I could carry four, in two IKEA blue bags. So perhaps half-an-hour soon after arriving and after perhaps ten minutes in the queue to pay, I was back at the bus stop, waiting for a 341 to move up to the departure stop.
Shopping on the 341 Bus
As you can see from the picture, the two bags with their cargo of boxes fitted in the luggage space on the bus, which sped me to within two hundred or so metres from my house.
Three boxes were quickly put together, but the fourth lacked a bottom and will have to be returned.
I did phone the store to see if they could post me a bottom, but rules is rules and it will have to go back to store with the till receipt.
So instead of two trips for eight boxes, it will now be three!
At least though, I don’t pay the fares for the bus and tube.
Discount from a Dutch Flower Company
I’ve just been offered a discount from a Dutch flower company, because we have a royal wedding. Are the Dutch getting excited too?
The Anonymous Widower 