Trip into town
I have not been into town for a period of I think of about six weeks but decided to go in today as I needed some more stain remover from Wilko. However, Waitrose is on the way into town so I had a quick run around there before finally getting into town. I had planned to go back but I had bought out some bits namely my Cranberries to make some Cranberry and Apple Jelly and some Apricots for my Apricot Chutney. This goes beautifully with cooked ham.
The initial plan for me going into town was that I would go to Wilko and then have a quick look around John Lewis as I needed some sewing bits and bobs, nip into M & S and then walk back to Waitrose and do some food shopping.
I was in quite a reasonable mood when I walked into town. I had a walk around Wilkos and managed to get my stain remover and then had a quick look around as I needed some other cleaning bits and bobs as well. There were areas such as the kitchen gadget area of the store that were bare.
From there I went to the £ shop. Found some nice battery powered lights for the Christmas table/some Candle Lamp holders that I have. I did find two tealight candleholders in the shape of a star so two of those came home with me as well.
Then went to John Lewis and had a look around there. Went to the sewing Department such as it is and managed to find some tapestry needles and some general needles that I was after. Also some wreath bases for making wreaths for the door or to decorate the Christmas table.
This is a base for a proper outdoor wreath. There is only one in the packet for £1.50 and a larger size than those I already have so have purchased two.
The one below was £2.
I then had a mooch around the kitchen section/tableware department. Nothing screaming out of me apart from a beautiful tables cape done in blue and white with gorgeous blue glasses decorated opulently with gold. £10 per glass, several styles, including Champagne, Cocktail, goblets, gin glasses, drinking glasses, half glasses (on display). I did a search for them and this is what came up:
John Lewis Blue Metallic Stars
It was beautiful. I cannot afford that at the moment, but it was lovely. Now if they were to offer designs through the year people could save up for them until they get the place settings that they would like that would be fantastic.
From here I went to the Christmas decorations area. There were lots of lovely decorations but some of them cost an arm and a leg. I found a beautiful ballerina in the Margot Fonteyn style think Swan Lake, with a feather skirt. She was lovely. However I was not paying £12 for just one. I did see some decorations though that I was quite taken with. However I did not dip my hand in my pocket as I wanted to think about things first. So I left the shop.
Next shop was Tiger Tiger. I love this shop I think perhaps everyone can find something in here that they would like. The prices are more than reasonable especially for Christmas bits and bobs. However, that is not why I had gone in - I wasn't going to but they had a musical biscuit tin in the front window for £5. I am a sucker for musical items.
To be fair though I had gone in to see what crafting stuff they had. I was not disappointed as I came away with several different ribbons including wired and velvet for the stash in both red and green.
These were £1 a card think there is at least 3 metres on each one. Thought it would go with some twine I have.
This green metallic ribbon looks lovely and will go with some ribbon I have had for a long time. £1 a reel.
I also found two small wreaths as well. I also found my cake toppers for my Christmas cakes for myself and for my brother.
I do need to go back in here again though as there is something I saw here which will fit in with part of my Christmas table theme this year now that I have decided on it.
From here I then went to M & S. They normally have such lovely stuff in there, but instead the store was not full like it normally is and seemed a bit desolate. I headed downstairs to look at the Christmas decorations and basically they hardly had any. I do think that M & S are suffering from the effects of the pandemic but in comparison to other stores they seem to have closed down large areas of the food hall during the pandemic where other stores such as Waitrose carried on as normal. Footfall is needed in shops and if people cannot find what they are looking for they go elsewhere. There was nothing to tantalise today at all. There was hardly any meat available and hardly any stock on the drinks department. They normally have a tranche of all different mixers or liqueur type drinks and I saw nothing today.
The Queensgate Centre has not had its decorations put up this year which I can understand but it did kind of give everywhere a desolate air. There was however a gentleman playing piano on his own in the Centre and he was really very good the notes echoing through the vastness of the Centre.
I then had a quick look around Lakeland and intend to go back again. I was weighed down with four bags of shopping so only did a quick scuttle through. Maybe tomorrow but the shop did feel very festive.
Before leaving however, I did go back into John Lewis to pick up my not muchroom decorations which I had been thinking about. I am going to build this year's Christmas table around these decorations. They will also come in useful for other seasonal decorating not just for Christmas.
They are a set of "Magic" Mushrooms. I bought two the same size these were £6 each. There was a larger version of this which was £12. Might go and get that yet as well. Will see. However I do love them.
I also managed to find these two glass Christmas tree baubles that either hang upside down or clip onto a tree branch. These were £5 each.
I still have another part of town to navigate perhaps will nip up tomorrow and I would quite like a trip to The Range, but will have to see how we get on.
Hope everyone has had a really good day. Please take care wherever you are and most of all keep safe.
Catch you soon.
Pattypan
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