Some seem to think that it is impossible for a male and a female to have a friendship without it becoming sexual. I think that says more about them than the people they are maligning.

Totally agree Tania — I have always enjoyed friendships with both male and female friends — which
are not based on sexual interests. But I also have friends – female – who cannot understand how I
could participate in these friendships!! In this day and age – hard to understand.

A beautiful , really touching piece, Tania.

I agee, really touching, thank you Tania

Anne Marie, I am sorry to hear that Malcolm Passed. I know That you were very good friends with him.
It would have been nice if you could have met…Thank you

Hi Tania, I buy Duck eggs from a lady who lives a few miles away, she also sells free range eggs and other produce, Jams Chutneys she has made…….fresh flowers and veg…..but on my last visit she remarked that its all getting a bit much now, she has a huge garden and her allotment just up the lane….near enough 24/7 work…..I pay £ 1.60 for 6 Duck eggs….

Well yes, I can add a little to this, when my father gave up the grocery trade we were quickly into the war years, and he ran a smallholding with a few pigs and free-range chickens and it was my morning task to search for the chicken eggs – There were times when eggs exchanged for butter!

Quite right too, Tania. Our local parade of shops has about 14 shops in it, but these include fish & chip shop (run by Italians) Chinese takeaway, Turkish restaurant, Indian restaurant (with takeaway area), a bakery doing everything from sandwiches on store baked bread, various pies and sausage rolls through to specialist cakes made to order and finally a take away pizza place. Our own little United Nations, which is all very well, but, like you, I despair of the mess left behind despite there being plenty of waste bins on the parade.
I blame the lack of consideration on the parents leaving the kids to educate themselves on a computer rather than being instructed (with the occasional back hander to get the message home) in how to behave.

Hi Tania….fast food excepting the occasional fish and chips is not to my taste……..I will buy the odd meat pie from the local bakers because they taste nice and are not devoid of filling….other than that its good old fashioned food for me…….but it does amaze me how some can afford the take always three and four times a week……

I remember going to the corner grocery store with my mother when I was a child. The grocer always invited her to sit on a chair by the counter whilst he put up her order. Always a smile and pleasant conversation , sometimes these days your lucky if you get a grunt ! My local supermarket is replacing plastic bags that one puts loose fruit etc in but now one has to BUY a reusable net bag. This I think is a bit cheeky and I’ll bring a bag from home to put the items in. I’ll look forward to the comments when I empty the bag on the conveyer belt at the checkout ! 😆 One does have a huge variety of goods to choose from at supermarkets but the older among us miss the good old days when the customer was king and personal service was the order of the day.

TTania , Yes growing up in a small town in Greencastle , Pa. there were small family owned grocery stores but there also was a A& P and Acme in the late 40’s . Today the small family grocery stores are gone and there are 2 grocery store that are out on Rt 11. and now are downtown anymore . Enjoy reading what you wrote on the shops.