I browze fridges. And you? (lighthearted thread)

Must say, and each to their own- I really don't like those year round Christmas shops! For me Christmas begins in December and finishes in December. Wonderful, but all in its own time.

nanna8

Shoes and plates. I prefer the big stores for shoes because there is no pressure to buy and you can just look and try them on . I bought some plates with an upturned rim round the edge and love them. I only got 4 but haven’t seen any since, can’t match the colour, so if we have family round there aren’t enough.

Matching crockery is soo old hat now. buy another 4 in a different colour. Enjoy!!

Kitchen shops, far more interesting than clothing or shoe shops!

Shoes and plates. I prefer the big stores for shoes because there is no pressure to buy and you can just look and try them on . I bought some plates with an upturned rim round the edge and love them. I only got 4 but haven’t seen any since, can’t match the colour, so if we have family round there aren’t enough.

Callistemon21

DH loves an old-fashioned hardware shop.
There aren't many left now.

There's a great one in Kirby Londsdale. DD and I encourage the men in while we go for a coffee and chat, they always come back with something usually never used again. Also a lovely linen shop and an independent shoe shop a rare find these days.

And another one!

Once Upon a Christmas, Gift Shop Dunoon, Scotland

Kate and Marydoll, you're obviously on my wavelength

It's hardware shops every time for me. I adore them. Not so much Lakeland though they sell lovely things, but Scotts in Peebles, Robert Boa in Biggar.
www.robertboa.co.uk/
www.facebook.com/scottbrospeebles/
Good old fashioned shoe shops. Not many left.

I like stationery shops too.
The last one in our town is kept running by volunteers.

I absolutely love The Works, full of so many desirable things - stationery, art materials, games, toys, books and so much more. Everything is so reasonably priced - it must be heaven for kids with a bit of pocket money to spend. I hardly dare go in though because I always buy something.

Grannmarie, I think there is also one in the Royal Mile. Well there was before the Pandemic!

Grannmarie There is an all year round Christmas shop in Stratford Upon Avon. We spent many happy hours in there when our granddaughter was small.

French markets, all of them. I also love our local Asian cash&carry, all the vegetables, fruits, spices, cooking pans breads, never mind the freshly made samosa, it smells amazing too.

I used to use this route to go to work- and remember the lights very well.

A Sainsbury's? Wow.

Near us, there used to be a Thorn lighting factory that was fabulous at Christmas with thousand of bulbs!. It's now a Sainsbury's

Doll's houses and furniture.

Christmas shops!
Many years when ago we went to Universal Studios, at Easter time, I spotted a huge, very American all year round Christmas shop. I was in my element, spent a small fortune on mindings and had be persuaded that there was a huge theme park waiting to be explored.
Pitlochry and I think Inveraray have all year round Christmas shops.?

I just love a foreign supermarket, the cheese counter, the fish counter, the breads, the wines, omg I love it all!

I boggle at the many little shops in Knightsbridge that sell tiny cakes. They are all so individual and pretty - they look like wedding hats.

For fans of hardware shops I used to live near one with a window display boasting 100 different light bulbs in stock. Who even knew there were 100 different light bulbs?

Sadly, I don't go so often now DD3 has moved closer to us. Do sometimes go on craft courses but not lately.

I replaced our broken cafetiere inner at the one in the next village.

A great place to buy presents for keen cooks though. I broke the glass to our Cafetière when in Italy in October, and was able to buy a replacement there at Christmas- they do lots of sizes!

There is also a brilliant independent Cook shop just up in the alley.

I avoid that one Kali, so much lovely stuff! You will remember the hardware and cookshop in Loughborough-right by the entrance to the car park. Far too tempting. Luckily they stopped selling cookware. Now they only sell jewellery, clothes and handbags!

DH loves an old-fashioned hardware shop.
There aren't many left now.

Marydoll

giulia

Yes, I also love cooking equipment. Was tempted recently to buy a kind of flame thrower device (for caramelizing). Had to talk to myself very sternly in order not to!!!

I have one! I can't resist kitchen gadgets.

I'd just live on crème caramel if I had one ?

It used to be bags for me, handbags and travel bags.

I also love hardware shops, stationery shops, garden centres and souvenir shops because you never know what you'll find. They are perfect for browsing.

I always head for the birthday cards because they have some unusual ones I can't buy locally and I can stock up for the coming year.

Re the fridge freezer thing. I feel weird anytime I stand near that section. I was in Labour with DS1 while my husband and mother were busily haggling over the price of a freezer in Comet …. I was tentatively asking if we could maybe get a move on and go to then hospital……

As it happened child took another 8 hours to arrive via forceps !