Nice people thread part 3- Nice as pie

michaels

I think Dunelm more charges a lot more than Argos/Wilko for similar quality stuff - can't see the attraction.

vivatifosi

PasturesNew wrote: »

Today a Dunelm Mill opens just 20 miles away .... never been in one. It's one of the big annoyances about MSE for me that people who want stuff are always advised "try your local...." well, mostly I don't have any "local" anythings. But this Dunelm Mill opens down here today, so in a couple of weeks (once the mad mobs have eased off), I'll be popping in to see what they actually have.

Also, found out about some shop called Hobbycraft, in some other forum, where somebody said "... your local Hobbycraft..." - yet again another great looking shop (online images) that's 200 miles from me.

GDB2222 wrote: »

My local Dunelm Mill is just 7 miles away, but that will take me 45 minutes each way. Yours is effectively much closer. Even in terms of petrol, my 7 miles of stop-start driving will probably use more fuel. Never been to Dunelm Mill. If you make it, tell me if it's exciting. Went to Lakeland once, very dull.

My local Dunelm Mill is close and very easy to get to so I go there quite a lot. If you don't find Lakeland very exciting GDB, chances are that Dunelm won't exactly inspire you, though its product range is much wider.

Pastures, larger Dunelm Mill stores do sell crafting materials incl for jewellery making and they are pretty cheap, certainly much cheaper than the further away Hobbycraft. Things like jewellery making trays, wires and glass beads are pretty reasonable, though probably not worth a long-distance trip on a regular basis.

vivatifosi

silvercar wrote: »

My friend is a hobby expert, but she claims that Hobbycraft is expensive and a jack of all trades master of none. Only advantage is you will find what you want, but could get it cheaper by searching a local specialist.

That's exactly what my crafting friends say too silvercar. I don't know if your friend is into card making, but Poundland of all places had some incredibly cheap card making accessories last week. Not sure they are still there, but if local may be worth a look.

GDB2222

The Cambridge branch of Lakeland has a couple of chairs near the front door, so husbands don't have to venture too far in and can read the newspapers whilst their wives marvel at the fantastic plastic gadgets that apparently can only be found in this shrine.

You can tell that I'm not a great fan, I guess.

tomterm8

vivatifosi wrote: »

That's exactly what my crafting friends say too silvercar. I don't know if your friend is into card making, but Poundland of all places had some incredibly cheap card making accessories last week. Not sure they are still there, but if local may be worth a look.

I'd probably never go to hobby craft, but then I am luck that we are in a crafty area where there are small shops for practically any craft I am likely to take up.

GDB2222

vivatifosi wrote: »

That's exactly what my crafting friends say too silvercar. I don't know if your friend is into card making, but Poundland of all places had some incredibly cheap card making accessories last week. Not sure they are still there, but if local may be worth a look.

Some US friends decided to go into the card making business, together with caligraphy. We helped them put together some lavish cards for a wedding. When they worked out the costs, the materials were more than they were charging for the whole job. This was their first job, so they didn't mind, but I wondered if this was one of those hyped-up home businesses that don't really work.

vivatifosi

michaels wrote: »

I think Dunelm more charges a lot more than Argos/Wilko for similar quality stuff - can't see the attraction.

Maybe Argos is a "man" store. I don't like Argos because you can't touch and feel things. According to DH, when we go shopping I have to touch everything and this is very annoying. He would much rather sit on the loo at home while choosing some random item in a box that plugs into a wall socket from an Argos catalogue then go to store and hand over a docket to get it. Pretty much everything he buys has a plug, I think this is a man thing. I on the other hand would rather go out with my girlfriends, touch a lot of stuff, drink coffee, gossip and then buy a new duvet. Dunelm is perfect for me.

SingleSue

I've never even heard of Dunelm! Not a scoobie if we have one near.......

Viva - I would rather not go shopping at all, if I do, I know exactly what I want, go in, buy and get out....my idea of torture is a visit to a shopping centre as I really can't see the point in wandering around looking at things when you can't afford to buy them (can you tell I am not a window shopper?).

Once had an interesting conversation/misunderstanding with my one and only love interest since the divorce....there is speedway at a place called Lakeside which is just down the road from the shopping centre Lakeside. On my birthday, there was a speedway meeting at the track and as it was an under 21 championship, I wanted to go, so we arranged to meet up at the track etc. About 3 days before my birthday, love interest suddently piped up "How about going to the U21's after"..."Eh? I thought that was where we were going", "Oh, I thought you might like to look around the shops", "Why on earth would I want to torture myself like that?", "Well, all woman like shopping"..."Erm, keep telling you, I am like no woman you have obviously been out with"

To make matters worse, after telling him I have no interest in handbags and shoes (apart from a practical viewpoint) and would much prefer a practical item rather than a waste of money, he goes and buys me a handbag for my birthday as "I know how every woman likes handbags and shoes"

He didn't last long, I can't abide with being treated like a complete airhead.

michaels

Be fair, it can be difficult for us guys, women have been known to say things like 'don't worry about Valentines this year as I know money is tight' and then not be best pleased when you take them at their word...

SingleSue wrote: »

I've never even heard of Dunelm! Not a scoobie if we have one near.......

Viva - I would rather not go shopping at all, if I do, I know exactly what I want, go in, buy and get out....my idea of torture is a visit to a shopping centre as I really can't see the point in wandering around looking at things when you can't afford to buy them (can you tell I am not a window shopper?).

Once had an interesting conversation/misunderstanding with my one and only love interest since the divorce....there is speedway at a place called Lakeside which is just down the road from the shopping centre Lakeside. On my birthday, there was a speedway meeting at the track and as it was an under 21 championship, I wanted to go, so we arranged to meet up at the track etc. About 3 days before my birthday, love interest suddently piped up "How about going to the U21's after"..."Eh? I thought that was where we were going", "Oh, I thought you might like to look around the shops", "Why on earth would I want to torture myself like that?", "Well, all woman like shopping"..."Erm, keep telling you, I am like no woman you have obviously been out with"

To make matters worse, after telling him I have no interest in handbags and shoes (apart from a practical viewpoint) and would much prefer a practical item rather than a waste of money, he goes and buys me a handbag for my birthday as "I know how every woman likes handbags and shoes"

He didn't last long, I can't abide with being treated like a complete airhead.

SingleSue

I think I was perfectly fair, I tend to plain speak rather so everyone knows where they stand (comes from having autistic kids)...he asked if I wanted a handbag for my birthday and I replied with "Why ever would I want another handbag, I have a perfectly functional one already.....to have more than one is a complete waste of money".

He even asked for a list.....and no where did it state a handbag.

His problem was that he didn't listen (not just on handbags either) plus his history of going out with girly girls didn't help either....he used to placate his ex wife with handbags and shoes as she was really into them and he thought every female was the same!

Edit - To give him his dues, it was a nice handbag with plenty of room and I am using it now (although it is needing to be replaced shortly) but I was almost scared to use it as it was not cheap and my lifestyle is not compatible with expensive items....I generally spend around a fiver at the market for a handbag (unless it is a Radley............my one concession to being a female!:rotfl:)