General Chat

Given my age away now Dee (broken biscuits). I even remember when sugar was weighed out and not pre-packed in a bag - how about that eh!

Not sure who issued green stamps Gloria, bit I remember collecting them and the pink stamps ;-))

Used to have one just up the road from me in the days when shopping was ciivilised.. lol.... the shop is now a kebab/burger/pizza takeaway - how times have changed... Lyndax

The was all bought up by a firm named allied supplies,they had a big tea blending foctory .near bishops goods yard .and over the years changed their name several times Liptons Presto's finally they were Safeways Allied also had a huge Bacon Department I used to install lifts in their shops all over the country.I did loads of work in Wales perhaps thats why Im here now Bill

We had a Sainsburys, with sawdust on the floor and people to weigh out what you wanted. beautiful tiled floor and tiled walls. early 60's i guess

My hubby who is 2 years older seems to remember his mum having books of Green Shield Stamps which she got from David Greggs I think he may be getting them mixed up with the dividend stamp that the Co-Op used to give out.....not 100% though Gloria.

Lynda, I agree with shopping being civilised back then Hi Bill, seems all the little chains eventually got taken over, doesn’t it? Jess, those tiled shops were lovely weren’t they Gloria and Donna , I used to collect my green stamps for things for the home when I was first married ;-))

Bill, I remember now that you have said. Am I wrong or have Safeways been taken over now? June xx

June Safeways is now Morrisons, caused a lot of trouble here in Kent did that takeover ;-))

Somerfield took over Kwik Save, but who took over Somerfield?

Hi Dee If my memory serves me right there was a Home and Colonial Store in Bradford years and years and years ago lol. We had a Co-Op also that sold broken biscuits a penny a bag. It had sawdust on the floor and they sold all your sugar, flour etc loose in great big sacks. Funnily enough there is a Italian shop in Perth that still does the same thing. I go and get all my dried fruit from there as it is much cheaper. Like you say a little bit of dirt never hurt anyone. I save big dollars by going there. I love the smells. They have pepper, chilli, and all the lovely spice smells, also sell my coffee beans loose. I like to grind my own coffee, hate instant stuff. I also remember when our milk man delivered milk with a horse and cart and you took a jug out to him and he would ladle the milk out of a big churn. Boy I am getting old. Regards Jackie

I remember International....I used to like their stuff. We had a David Greggs in Hitchin, they used to sell provisions...butter, cheese, meats etc.... Viv

a little off topic lots of places gave out Green shield stamps- Tesco and the local petrol station that i specifically remember. they were green, obviously, whereas Co-op were turquoise blue

when i was a little girl i remember my mum sending me to the corner shop for a 1lb of broken biscuits. she would send me on a saturday coz my my uncle and cousins were coming for sunday tea. she would serve bread and butter (echo margerine YUK!) and greengage jam, broken biscuits and home made rock cakes! the thought of them happy sunday's bring absolute fear my throat! (its the greengage jam!)

Donna – don’t know the answer to that one, sorry Jackie, the shop you describe sounds fascinating, wonder if they will re introduce them over here sometime? I don’t remember milk being delivered that way, but my Mum had a baker deliver fresh bread when I was young, scrummy ;-))

On the same theme...remember Mac Fisheries and Mac market? Viv

International, Home and Colonial, David greggs were all in Portsmouth and later so was Liptons. Somefields have not been taken over, they still exist. Waitrose took over Gateways, Morrisons took over Safeways. Who took over Fine Fayre (anyone remember them?) Ann Glos

I'd forgotten about Mr Cripps the baker. He came round every monday, wednesday and friday, when he came round to the back door and collected the money. What ever we did with ''2 cut loaves -and-a danish-'' 3 times a week I'll never imagine. I guess we ate a lot of bread! Jess x

Jess, it was so much more fun collecting the stamps than these infernal loyalty cards don't you think? Dee ;-))

Viv and Ann I remember MacFisheries and Fine Fare so many small shops have gone, haven't they? ;-))