Current Affairs

[Onelife]

We can’t turn back time which is why the butcher, baker, and candle stick maker can all now be found in Tesco’s…we’ve come a long way this past 40 years?

Our lifestyles have all been programmed into the new era of armchair shopping, (which I do on a regular basis). That being said I still use our local butcher, paper shop, hardware store, tea rooms and numerus clothes shops … sadly due to Covid our Edinburgh Woollen Mill shop, ‘Ludlow’ which has been my regular clothes shop is due to close shortly. Many small towns, such as Ludlow still remain attractive to shoppers and will continue to do so as long as the town retains its vibrant independent shops, (complemented by the many fairs and social activities that take place throughout the year}. We have both Tesco’s and Aldi in Ludlow but our independent shops seem to thrive. If you want a lovely day out in a small town full of character and independent shops you should mark Ludlow down for a visit…make sure you bring loads of money.

[david63]

I suspect that Great Torrington and other similar places are, and will remain, "destination" shopping venues and because of their uniqueness will survive. I also suspect at the other end that the major city centres will survive, albeit in a slimmed down format, because again they are "destinations". The issue will be with the majority in the middle.

[Onelife]

Interestingly Sky News is reporting "Boris Johnson and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen have agreed their negotiating teams will continue talks next week" Now a strong likelihood that a deal unsatisfactory to both sides will be cobbled together?

There is no doubt that Johnsons's bluff has now been well and truly called and he is now in damage limitation mode. He knows he needs a proper deal from somewhere which is why he spent so many years cosying up and kow towing to Trump, but the American clown leader has now been kicked out (finally).

Johnson now has to start building new bridges with Biden (and I see he has already started that - which is good news). However when it comes to the UK Biden has shown that his 'loyalty' is more balanced towards the ROI and therefore Europe. He has made it clear that one of his primary focuses will be to strengthen ties between America and other countries, we just need to find out how far down the queue the UK will be there. On the plus side the senate had already laid out much of the details of a trade agreement with the UK (which was obviously biased towards US needs), it is likely that he will run with that because it did get cross-house approval.

I suspect many of you will have missed this one?…. when a reporter shouted out to Biden “British BBC”, Biden Replied “I’m Irish”

Doesn’t bode well for Trade Talks….I want a recount

[oldbluefox]

I suspect many of you will have missed this one?…. when a reporter shouted out to Biden “British BBC”, Biden Replied “I’m Irish”

Doesn’t bode well for Trade Talks….I want a recount

I heard that as well. I thought he was American.

However I don't take too much notice what they say as they will do what suits them. For all Trump's bluster in any trade talks we may have had with him he would always put America's interests first and Biden will do exactly the same. That's the name of the game.

[barney]

The name of the game is a win/win with general trade increasing on both sides due to the reduction in barriers.

Had we not been in the EU, we would have had a free trade agreement many years ago with the USA.

They are our natural trading partner, not eastern Europe.

Those wishing our country to fail will gleefully latch on to any potential problem with anything to do with leaving the EU.

We'll have to live with this for a generation, I expect.

What ever happens in the future will have been better had we never left the EU according to some.

[Frank Manning]

I have a small window into the divisions in US society. One of my fb friends was one of my team until the early 2000, when I was able to facilitate a promotion and transfer for him to the USA. In the intervening 20 years he has gone from a fairly quiet lad into a real Redneck gun toting Trump follower. Looking at his fb page now two days after the result of the election I see no sign of acceptance. Merely conspiracy theories about Biden and the supposed frauds. I think Joe will have a massive task on his hands. Luckily Kamala Harris is a very accomplished politician.

[barney]

I agree Frank.
Just because Trump will be gone, Trumpism is thriving.
He managed to convince 70 million people to vote for him.
Figure that one out folks ?

[david63]

He managed to convince 70 million people to vote for him.

Not all were "convinced" - many would have voted Republican if Mickey Mouse was the candidate. Like many countries the electorate vote for the party not the candidate.

[Ray Scully]

We went to our big Asda this morning.
Can anyone explain how they can be selling their clothing range while we, as a small independent have been forced to close our door?

It’s 100% safer in our shop than a supermarket.

It very unfair.

It will cost us about 10k

We may make some back with Xmas but there’s no guarantee of that.

It stinks in my opinion.

Barney, is it just following the trend? We in Southport have lost our two mid sized department stores, admit a lot of outcry. However if you don't use it you will lose it. Having being retirees for some time, we would supermarket shop weekly diving our purchases as to where the best value was in town. Since lockdown we have been purchasing online and having found it so convenient are unlikely to revert to our old ways, particularly in the winter months. Similarly other purchases we would have 'shopped' for we now buy online, Undoubtedly those retailers with an online offer have upped their offering. The trend in our small market town has been noticeable as retailers close down, they are even left empty or become cafe's mini bars or charity shops. I fear that with the lack of footfall the remaining small retailers will become isolated, or perhaps I am too pessimistic and once we see the end to the pandemic we can start to once again enjoy the pleasure of shopping.

[barney]

We currently have only one empty shop in the town Ray and all of the units in the Pannier Market are also occupied.
Maybe because Torrington town is within easy walking distance for the majority and has a vibrant buzz about it, it will continue to buck the trend.
We still have two butchers, two bakers, two green grocers plus everything else including a sewing shop and a big pet food shop.
We’ve even got an outdoor shop that sells guns. How about that?

Even our local celebrity Charlie Watts is regularly seen about town.

One sad thing that has happened since covid struck is that the Black Horse has closed and not reopened.
It coincided with the lease being up and the family that run it decided against renewal.
It now looks a smart decision considering it was a foodie pub.

The Plough Arts centre had proclaimed their massive reopening for November 5th.
Unfortunately, after all that work to get it ready, it couldn’t happen.

[Manoverboard]

When we first moved to Dorset there were lots of interesting small shops to browse in places like Sherborne, Blandford Forum plus Dorchester, even Yeovil, but after a while their High Streets all started to look the same. They became bland and lost their appeal so lost their customers too. In our case we travelled to Salisbury to meet up with chums from Winchester but that came to a stop when the Russians arrived.

[towny44]

He managed to convince 70 million people to vote for him.

Not all were "convinced" - many would have voted Republican if Mickey Mouse was the candidate. Like many countries the electorate vote for the party not the candidate.

But most pundits expected that many traditional Republican voters would stay home, clearly that did not happen.

[screwy]

We went to our big Asda this morning.
Can anyone explain how they can be selling their clothing range while we, as a small independent have been forced to close our door?

It’s 100% safer in our shop than a supermarket.

It very unfair.

It will cost us about 10k

We may make some back with Xmas but there’s no guarantee of that.

It stinks in my opinion.

Barney, is it just following the trend? We in Southport have lost our two mid sized department stores, admit a lot of outcry. However if you don't use it you will lose it. Having being retirees for some time, we would supermarket shop weekly diving our purchases as to where the best value was in town. Since lockdown we have been purchasing online and having found it so convenient are unlikely to revert to our old ways, particularly in the winter months. Similarly other purchases we would have 'shopped' for we now buy online, Undoubtedly those retailers with an online offer have upped their offering. The trend in our small market town has been noticeable as retailers close down, they are even left empty or become cafe's mini bars or charity shops. I fear that with the lack of footfall the remaining small retailers will become isolated, or perhaps I am too pessimistic and once we see the end to the pandemic we can start to once again enjoy the pleasure of shopping.

Hi Ray,
Southport has lost Bhs,Debenhams and Beales .Not to mention the empty shops in Wayfarers and Cambridge arcades. Lord St is a ghost Street.The 2 major Hotels,that were once Grand are a disgrace, Prince of Wales and the Scarisbrick., the latter full of Migrants. Southport has become a disgrace and we call it a Seaside resort, the ruling Council based in Bootle, see us as a cash cow, they don’t give a toss.

[oldbluefox]

That is such a shame. We used to go to Southport literally for a day out because it had so many little shops as well as the usual ones you find on the High Street. The hotels themselves were old and quite elegant, still retaining the aura which goes with history as opposed to some of the more modern rather sanitised hotels. The fronts were a bit delapidated as the Pleasure Beach (which had belonged to one of the Thompson offspring from Blackpool) had closed but Southport still had its independent shops and plenty of little cafes.
So sad if it's all gone.

[screwy]

The 2 hotels mentioned are now owned by ‘ Brittanania ‘ hotels group, they also own Pontins Southport, apparently it is filthy, the government have put 2000 army personnel in there to run the mass testing in Liverpool, poor sods.
The council closed the fairground due to making a loss, it was eventually taken on by an individual who has made it a good place, Lo and behold the council want back in.

[oldbluefox]

On the other hand the powers that be in Morecambe have really tried to tidy it up. For years the Midlands Hotel stood derelict and was a real eyesore but it has been renovated back to its Art Deco best and is beautiful inside and out. The fronts have been tidied up with some lovely bird sculptures (cormorants), a pleasant pier/jetty walk. The old Wild Frontier fairground which lay abandoned for years has been cleared away and the area tidied up. Nice to see the old railway station has been renovated. Last time we were there there is still work to be done but it's good to see that resorts which for years had been in decline were being reconfigured.

Whilst we are still in that part of the world what a fascinating place is Lancaster. The area around the old prison/castle has loads of history and is a very pleasant area to explore.

(One of the kids at school told me he was excited to be going to see his dad. He said he lived in a castle. I was thinking millionaire, baronet etc. The castle he was referring to was Lancaster Castle ie prison!!!)

[david63]

Southport has become a disgrace and we call it a Seaside resort,

Southport started going downhill the minute that it became part of Merseyside.

[Onelife]

That is such a shame. We used to go to Southport literally for a day out because it had so many little shops as well as the usual ones you find on the High Street. The hotels themselves were old and quite elegant, still retaining the aura which goes with history as opposed to some of the more modern rather sanitised hotels. The fronts were a bit delapidated as the Pleasure Beach (which had belonged to one of the Thompson offspring from Blackpool) had closed but Southport still had its independent shops and plenty of little cafes.
So sad if it's all gone.

It is sad foxy…. we hear a lot of well-intentioned ideas about rejuvenate and adapt but the simple truth is that there is no future in town shops… less of course you live in towns such as the ones me and Barney live in. Shopping outlets cannot compete with the Amazonians of this world and this will continue, if there is any future for towns such as the one Screwy describes there is only one way forward to my mind… “let them decline further” until such time that all shopping is done at out of town shopping parks. Once this has been achieved the developers can move in and turn towns into desirable accommodation only towns.

I could expand on this but I think I’m in enough trouble with what I’ve posted already

[oldbluefox]

In our nearest town Workington there are hardly any independent shops and certainly no specialist shops so we are forced to either use the standard chain shops you see in all towns but otherwise you have to go online. Add to that the council trying to force you into paying for parking and it is little wonder the town is struggling. We have the smallest M&S possible and a Debenhams but through the pandemic we have seen Laura Ashley, Bon Marche and other shops close their doors. Every week there are more and more empty places.
Cockermouth fares better for shops with good butcher shops, newsagents, clothes shops but after two floods and the centre being dug up to put in flood defences they too have struggled and yet again, tight parking restrictions put people off staying.
Sadly I can understand why people go to out of town shopping malls where there is plenty of free parking and a wide range of large shops.
I disapprove strongly of those who go to the shops to try clothes on and then buy the same online for cheaper. Cheeky at best and disastrously damaging at worst. Neither is morally acceptable.

[screwy]

Foxy, it’s interesting that you talk about Morecambe as it’s my home town. I lived in Middleton village just outside Morecambe until I joined the Army.Yes, it has changed for the better, it is a much nicer place than Southport.
David is right,Southport went downhill once it was put into Merseyside in 74.

[Kendhni]

I disapprove strongly of those who go to the shops to try clothes on and then buy the same online for cheaper. Cheeky at best and disastrously damaging at worst. Neither is morally acceptable.

There is no moral issue whatsoever. I use price comparison all over the place including insurance, electrical goods, holidays, cars etc. etc. If the shop is offering the same product online for a cheaper price then why would/should I pay the higher price? Just last week I ordered a pair of boots for Julie, in the shop Julie told me they were a little over £100, but on their own website with discounts and a few quid extra from Quidco I got them for almost £45 cheaper (that is before I include the cost of petrol, parking and my time). In fact it was actually beneficial to the store as well, because Julie found they were small fitting so she needed the size up - therefore I could order the correct size instead of ordering 2 different sizes and sending one back.

But then as the old saying goes, a fool and his money are easily parted.


Society cannot be expected to evolve if it bases itself on old fashioned ideas and made up moral values. Someone somewhere will always be able to manufacture some irrelevant reasoning to disapprove of someone else's behaviour, for example zombie bank accounts, stoozing, cashback sites, tax avoidance, incentives offered by gambling sites - to name but a few. Yet all are perfectly legal and available to be used.

[Kendhni]

That is such a shame. We used to go to Southport literally for a day out because it had so many little shops as well as the usual ones you find on the High Street. The hotels themselves were old and quite elegant, still retaining the aura which goes with history as opposed to some of the more modern rather sanitised hotels. The fronts were a bit delapidated as the Pleasure Beach (which had belonged to one of the Thompson offspring from Blackpool) had closed but Southport still had its independent shops and plenty of little cafes.
So sad if it's all gone.

It is sad foxy…. we hear a lot of well-intentioned ideas about rejuvenate and adapt but the simple truth is that there is no future in town shops… less of course you live in towns such as the ones me and Barney live in. Shopping outlets cannot compete with the Amazonians of this world and this will continue, if there is any future for towns such as the one Screwy describes there is only one way forward to my mind… “let them decline further” until such time that all shopping is done at out of town shopping parks. Once this has been achieved the developers can move in and turn towns into desirable accommodation only towns.

I could expand on this but I think I’m in enough trouble with what I’ve posted already

It is known as evolution and is often planned many years in advance. In my own town one of the shopping malls and a nearby hotel are both now re-zoned for residential. It is the hypocrisy though that gets me. In some cases it is those that are complaining the loudest about destruction of the town centre that also choose to buy much of their goods in malls and online.

[xmaslisa]

We live in a village within a town in Worcestershire we have the shopping centre a 5 min drive - which to be honest had some vacant shops prior to covid and even more now we lost our large M&S and I wouldn’t be surprised if debenhams is next...
The village still has some independent shops a butcher, bakery, florist etc along the high street we have 2 schools, a number of pubs and still have our own carnival... how long these independent shops will last or how much people will keep using these as the population in the village changes who knows... will be a shame if they start to close aswell... I’m guilty of mostly shopping online for convenience with 2 kids and a busy job I just don’t have time these days

[oldbluefox]

I blame xmaslisa!!!

[david63]

Some good news at last - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-54873105

Just have wait now for the naysayers to debunk it (probably on Twitter! (other social media platforms are available))