Tescopoly!

Watching the likes of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Jamie Oliver a while back and their campaigns for chicken welfare prompted us to do what we had been talking about for ages, namely getting our own hens. We now enjoy scrumptious eggs from the most spolit hens in the world.

Contact www.bhwt.org.uk and see the work that they are doing to re-home these poor creatures.

In reassessing our whole attitude to buying food, we came to the conclusion that we were spending far too much of our income in the mighty Tesco. Besides throwing food into the basket in gay abandon, I had got into the habit of buying shoes, stamps, clothes, household items, dvd's topping up my mobile..etc, etc. If asked, I would reply much the same as everyone else in the world it seems, that they are cheap, it is all under one roof and I am passing the door on my way home from work everyday and how convenient to be able to just pop in for a couple of bits now and again, (or every day if I am honest). Of course, I never just went in and bought the can of dog food or the loaf of bread. Generally, something else would catch my eye and that was it, I was hooked. Of course I am weak and feeble (as I am constantly being reminded by man person), but in all honesty, how many of you have succumbed to their cunning plan? Because it is almost foolproof isn't it? Go on be honest.

I must stop at this juncture and say that the Cath Kidson bags on my last post were allowed as they are Cath Kidson, they are gorgeous and I just had to have them! Tesco does have it's uses.

Just in case you missed them yesterday!

However, I digress... We have a greengrocers come butchery come bakers shop not too far from where I live. So, it is a bit out of my way, and with petrol being the price it is you might question the validity of what I am doing. But this is not necessarily about saving money, it is about the redistribution of wealth..my wealth such as it is. Most of the produce is grown by local farmers, a chicken I bought last weekend had been running around a local farm the day before, and I stress the running around bit. The prices are comparable, and in some cases cheaper, so all in all, I feel like I am achieving what I set out to do, which is break the strangle hold that Tesco has on us as a family and enjoy locally grown food that actually has some sort of taste and texture to it.

I am not going to save the world and Tesco probably couldn't care less one way or tother..but my world is a little better for it and those strawberries were so scrumptious.

I am leaving you with a couple of snippets from Housekeeping Monthly dated 13 May 1955 for all you slovenly, lazy and drab house wives out there (more to follow in future blogs). The comments in the brackets are mine not theirs.

When your husband returns home from work, make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. (Forget that you have been on your feet since 6am).

Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.(dont shriek like a banshee over the top of the Basil Brush Show or Dick and Dom).

Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you will be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. (Don't forget the baby sick, jam, crayon, poo, paint etc).

Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift, and one of your duties is to provide it. (No baby talk allowed, train journey, not choo choo etc).

We all nearly died of laughter when this was read out in the office and we have vowed to be better wives in the future...now where did I put that ribbon!

Dev X