Wednesday, November 21, 2007

It'll never catch on.



A crisp Autumn morning and being out there early, the sun is on the fronts of the shops. The astute will notice a few changes. Where once was the only real bakers shop, (10 years ago, at least) now we have a Subway, replacing what was, until recently Olives Bar. Olives has now moved upstairs where no one can see it. Consequently I doubt whether anyone will frequent it, when there are other bars that you can peer into before committing to entry. Can’t see Subway making anybody rich either. It’s just not Clarendon Parky enough. Further down the road is the Post Office. Those with a long memory will recall it was run by a very grumpy bloke called Giles, who thought he owned the whole road. He retired, but still haunted his replacements Dave and Reane, by barging to the front of the queue. I was in there once when Dave reminded him, with considerable assertion, that he had to queue with everyone else! The Post Office is now run by two very efficient and friendly Indian brothers, though, no doubt, doomed by threatened cuts any any moment.

5 comments:

regiopendler said...

Was the bakers called Greasley's?

On the topic of grumpy shopkeepers, is the delicatessen near Howard Rd still in business?

Diplomate said...

looking forward to you getting to Jeff Hardware DIY - looks like my kind of shop, Does Jeff sell mantles for Tilley lamps ? Always a good opener.

Toby Savage said...

Yep. It was Greaslsey's, but when old man Greasley retired it went down hill rapidly run by a bloke called Logan who had good intentions, but little else.
Jeff's, you'll be surprised to learn, is run my an Asian Muslim. It is a marvelous shop and probably would have a mantle for a tilley lamp. I did get a shock there last month though. Years ago they sold parrafin by the galon from a big tank for about 50p a gallon. Due to H&S issues (Don't start me) you now have to buy it in a 5 litre plastic bottle for £4.95!! I only wanted a pint for my Primus.

Toby Savage said...

Sorry Regoipendle. Yes Christopher James deli is thriving. A real deli that smells of food from around the globe where you have to queue on a Saturday as one should in a good deli. I wouldn't say h was grumpy, more short.

Peter Ashley said...

I went to Sunday School with two of the Greasley girls. I think I slightly alarmed them by going up to them and sniffing, to see if they smelled of fresh bread. They didn't. They were very shy and wore matching coats.