OS from Sunny Suffolk and east Anglia

catznine

I am in Essex so can try to help with info on shops around here. Wish I was in Norfolk or Suffolk though, have spent many lovely hols on the Broads.

Essex-girl_2

Essex here too (unsurprisingly).

Used to be South essex now more mid essex. Live in rural area with loads of farmers markets and shops nearby.

nickinoodle_2

vivw wrote:

nickinoodle : whereabouts in Essex are you? Although now living in Suffolk [Ipswich to be precise] I was brought up in Essex nr Billericay. My family are in Billericay, basildon and Chelmsford.


Hi, I live in Basildon actually

susieb

I'm a Norfolk girl, and would love to join in

vivw_2

Hi and welcome to all those who have posted since I've been shopping - [susieb, Essex-girl,catznine,

I've just been out on my first non-supermarket shop. Living as I do on the outskirts of Ipswich on an 1980's development, there are no local shops, but I thought I would have a drive out and see what I could find. One set of shops[2 miles away] I found, were awful, so I decided against them.
The second set, [1 and a half miles away]I found a convenience store but their range was very limited esp of baking ingredients, but I did buy a local paper. Found a lovely butchers where I bought a pork chop and some chicken breasts [ very competitively priced] and had a chat with the assistant and another customer - so civilised. The greengrocers was well stocked and I bought some daffs and a red pepper [didn't need much!] but unfortunately the assistant was more concerned with talking on his mobile than me.
The third set [approx 1 mile away] had no butchers or greengrocer and the grocers was a Spar, so will probably use that for milk etc
This afternoon I plan to go to Felixstowe about 6 miles away to see what that would be like for shopping. Has a pleasant high street so might be okay. Am hoping to find a good fish store, as we love fish...will report back.

sahmx5

Hi, What a good thread! I'm from Essex as well. My main gripe is that there is no greengrocer in our local shops. I can't visit the local market as I have other commitments on market day and they have packed up before I get home. It really is a case of Tesco killing off the high street.

Sarahsaver

vivw wrote:

livinginhope;thanks for the words of encouragement. I was a little worried that people would feel that region threads would be a little elitist.
I hope that it can help us all to be more OS and also make friends.
Whereabouts on the border are you?



Sarahsaver;thanks for that. Have been to Bury a few times but since its 35-40 mins drive away I don't tend to go there often. Will remember the market next time I visit

Distance changes when you move out! Now I don't like to have to go too far (more than 15 minutes by foot) becauseI am a city dweller now, but as a kid thought nothing of the 1 hour long and winding road to Bury from home. There used to be a scoop and save in Bury near the catherdal. Dunno if it is still there.

vivw_2

Sarahsaver wrote:

There used to be a scoop and save in Bury near the catherdal. Dunno if it is still there.

Forgot about scoup and save. Used to use the one in Norwich when my kids were young. I wonder where the nearest to me is.....surely not Bury.

I am also concerned about not having to drive too far...reasons money and its not very green.

Its amazing how limited local things can be when you start looking. In the butchers thay had photos of the local shops in days gone by and it all looked so busy. Just shows what the big boys have done to our localities

vivw_2

sahmx5 wrote:

Hi, What a good thread! I'm from Essex as well. My main gripe is that there is no greengrocer in our local shops. I can't visit the local market as I have other commitments on market day and they have packed up before I get home. It really is a case of Tesco killing off the high street.

Welcome sahmx5

My problem is that I usually work full time [off sick at the moment]and that limits availablity. The supermarkets have become too convenient

Queen.Bess

I too am from Suffolk, Bury St Edmunds in fact, and would love to hear people's recommendations of farm shops or markets from this region! I go to King's Lynn a lot too and would love to find good farmers markets or farms shops up there!

Sarahsaver wrote:

There used to be a scoop and save in Bury near the catherdal. Dunno if it is still there.

Alas no scoop and save anymore, I believe it's an Art Gallery now! (If I'm thinking of the same place as Sarah!)