Monopoly

I’ve been buying my groceries online with Ocado (Waitrose) and Tesco. The Ocado bills are astronomical compared to that of Tesco’s. I love the Ocado service and more importantly their quality. However, after months of complaining of how damn expensive they are, I switched to Tesco. Then I spent 3 months complaining how disgustingly tasteless Tesco’s fresh produce are. It was only during in a conversation with a friend, that EUREKA! I’d buy my fresh produce from Ocado and branded household products from Tesco. Err…dumbo!

I’ve never received any marketing proproganda from Ocado. And up until recently, no marketing emails from Tesco. However, about 3 months ago I started receiving weekly marketing and promotional emails from Tesco. This is annoying as it requires two clicks of the mouse to delete these emails. They have even sent petrol vouchers for discounts petrol, which of course is completely useless to me, not unless I get a petrol operated bicycle! I have accumulated over 3000 points with Tesco Club card, but the card is not valid for discount trade off as the card is registered to my previous address. What fuck up rule is that? I’m not even going bother to fight this one, as like the 2 clicks of the mouse, it’s just a damn waste of time.

Astonishingly, I received an email tempting me to buy pet health insurance yesterday. This email, struck a core within me, as Sam (my cat) was hit by a car about two month ago. Lucky Sam survived after two days hospitalisation. The vet bill totalled £660. Ouch ouch ouch. Tesco’s marketing sprill boiled down to was “that’s only 15p per day to insure your pet”.

Is Tesco psychic? No, most definitely not! This is probably just a chain mail they send to all customers. Alternatively, they have an automated computer system that sieves through clients shopping lists, presumably categorising us into product gullibility slots so they can fire more promotional products that we really need.

If so, why can’t their system identify that I have a new address?! Then my mind began to wonder what sort of products they would try to sell to me if I start buying condoms and KY jelly?

How on earth can any other businesses complete with this super giant? They have absolutely no chance.

This is the fundamental problem with UK’s retail sector; there are probably 4 to 5 companies which have the complete monopoly. People do not think twice about other alternatives, but are there really any other alternatives? And if there were alternatives, they would fail miserably as they simply do not have the infracture to provide a complete service. Take Morrison supermarket for example. I’ve only ever been to a Morrison once in my life, whilst visiting a friend in Hull back in the dark ages; however their recent adverts promote British produce and have their trained butchers to prepare your meats however you desire. (Unlike Waitrose which has a butcher counter, but the butcher behind is not really a butcher as he/she is not trained or allowed to touch the meat. They are basically there to pick up a piece of meat (with rubber gloves), place it in a plastic bag, weigh and price it before handing it to you!)

I don’t want my strawberries from South Africa or America, I don’t want my lamb from New Zealand, nor do I desire grapes from Peru. I want British products, or at least European. I’m not a macro-bioticists, I simply want my food fresh! Is that too much to ask? Morrison meets most my culinary expectations, yet is there a Morrison near me? Fat chance! Can I buy online and have my grocery delivered? In my dreams!

A brand new Tesco Express opened this week in the once derelict pub which sits at the bottom end of Heath Road leading up to central Twickenham. Every one seems to be pleased with the new store, as it gives another excuse to spend spend. Spending not for the sake of spending, but really to bulk out  Sunday afternoons. Yes, folks, people go shopping as a hobby, spending the day at a shopping centre like Westfield or Bluewaters is the norm these days. So a walk down to and stroll in Tesco Express would still qualify. Sad gits.

Anyway, the nearby convenience stores (one ran by Indians and the other by a Chinese man) have no chance. We have already seen a Pakistani convenience store down the road gone out of business early 2010. The other two have no doubt been struggling; Tesco Express opening would just be a nail in the coffin.

So what option of independent retailers do we have in Twickenham? Not very much really. Just an extremely over priced fishmonger between M&S food and the post office, a greengrocer which sells rotten vegs and fruits. The butchers went out of business years ago so they tell me. Even the once a week Farmers Market which runs only on Saturdays from the car park behind M&S is desperate to get punters passing. Not surprised, being stuck in the damned car park! There is ample space along the river front, why doesn’t Richmond council move the Farmers Market there or perhaps even to Twickenham Green?

However, there is a ray of hope. On Church Street (which lies just behind Twickenham high street) there is a row of independent businesses. Airy fairy boutiques selling small household furniture and gifts, shoes and clothing. None stock recognisable brands, but all offer something that the High Street doesn’t. There is a tiny 5m2 shop that sells cup cakes (fairy cakes to me and folks born before 1990) it’s an aesthetically perfect shop with its pastel coloured cakes and florals. But a set of 4 thumb sized cupcakes will set you back at £6.00. Still, they offer a great alternative to Gregg. On this road, is also our favourite coffee stop, Sion. It’s a medieval looking delicatessen and coffee bar rolled into one. They have Parma ham from Italy and Chorizo Iberico from Spain. But the best is the hot chocolate, which is served in  a tall glass of boiled milk and the chocolate on a stick. Basically, you have to dip and swirl the chocolate dip into the hot milk to make your drink. It’s a ritual that the kids love. And I like the café as it’s the best place in town for a half-decent coffee. Still very poor by Spanish standard, but heh, we’re in England now, so am not complaining. The antique shop has been abandoned ever since I moved to Twickenham, and there has been a To Let sign in the window for a few months. Just hope that this will be the only To Let sign to go up in this street this year.

I just don’t understand why people fight for individualism and freedom of choice in many aspects of their lives, but subconsciously allowing the Big Brother to rule their daily lives. It just doesn’t make sense.

England has changed almost beyond recognition, the psyche and personas of its people have changed. I just don’t buy the Americanisation of words (e.g. Cupcakes instead of fairy cakes, errands instead of chores) nor the changing of our Britishness. I voted for Labour in the June elections, but in many respects am glad that they did not win. The last Labour government, sold everything we had, our language, our companies, our way of life and more so our individualism.

Take TV for example……..hmm perhaps another day perhaps! Let’s just say, the girls are banned from watching the following programmes:-

Blind Date (new version)

Four Weddings

Come Dine with Me

Friends

Desperate House Wives

Hannah Montana

Zac & Cody

………..basically all American trash!

Blackberry Summer

The blackberries are perfectly ripened for picking. Yesterday, I managed to harvest a bowl full from merely 4 blackberry stems in our garden. Maxine asks: 'Why it is when Kelvin is around, the blackberries ‘starts’ and then ‘finishes’'. The answer is simply that it has been exactly 1 year since I’d moved to Twickenham. Kelvin’s timely summer holiday return marks a full cycle.

Much has happened and much stayed the same. We have moved to a new home in the same area, but with a real difference. The new house is big with ample grounds which include a swimming pool and 2 ponds. There’s a fire place and the distribution of the lounge and dinning is exactly like that of the flat in Barcelona. Excellent!

It has been a pleasure potting round the garden. Though cleaning the 7 years old abandoned pond was utterly disgusting. I had the wellies, but didn't imagine a face mask would have been handy. We  now have  three gold fishes along with water lilies. The swimming pool is now in full working order. I’ve calculated that it costs around £25 to fill the pool each time. We’ve filled it 3 times already!!!! However, with the filter fully restored, we can turn on the pump and add chlorine tomorrow.
The year started off with a real bang. There was the High Court hearing, Legal Aid battle, Nuria’s hip operation, clinical visits, getting pleural effusion (water in the lungs). By late spring things kind of died down until the house move which took place on 14 June. Then I was summoned to Barcelona. Hearing suspended through total incompetence. Pues paso! I had become a law specialist of the Hague Convention and it looks as if I will become an expert of the Brussels II Revised Convention too! Arhhhhhhhh…………

And so here we are. The future is unmarked and vague. However we have a lovely home and I shall endeveaour with all my might to continue with life in total freedom and enjoyment. So am still looking at last minute get-a-ways. The options so far are:-

- 1 week horse riding in Cornwall, all inclusive with board and meals. Hmm!!!! Certified by the British Horse Riding Society…. Hmmmmmmm!!!!

- Four nights boating on the Norfolk Boards. Seems idyllic, but perhaps I need something with less responsibilities. Navigating the bridges and locks with two kids is not exactly stress free, especially as Maxine has a tendency to sit on the sides with her legs daggling over.

- 1 Week half board on a Greek Island. Though, seasonal high prices will mean a 3 star only hotel for us. I’m having difficulties envisaging a picture of cool swimming pool decked with the well designed loungers, bougainvilleas sweeping over the edges and in the background a mirad of calm sea which nestles in the background of the picture, just below the swimming pool’s rim. Min 4 star, surely!!!???

- Pontins (UK Holiday Park) at Bognor Regis.  Maxine’s been seeing adverts on TV. I have no comments with this option, other than it isn’t a viable option for me at least, though I’m looking at the lodges instead of holiday parks.

Surprisingly the total cost of going abroad is equivalent to that of any UK holiday.

The uncertainty with the holiday dates means that I cannot confirm yet. We have a slot between our Summer BBQ and Franz’s visit to London, around beginning of August.

Alternatively we can stay in Twickenham by the pool!

I need to read some non fictions, make future plans for Habac and basically chill out. Fabiola calls me a champion. It would seem to others that I challenge hurdles with great ease. In reality  it requires great amount of energy in preparing and executing. I can truly say that I'm, physically and mentally, exhausted and would like nothing better but to keep things simple. Once the parasol arrives, I will have everything I need right here.