Ding! Ding! All change, please... (now replaced with new diary on MFW)

Makingabobor2

Hope you can get your specs sorted. I have heard so many people using them and having problems. We always use an independent one and although they might be a bit dearer, the quality and the customer service is brilliant and we'd never go anywhere else. Just had to pop in there today actually and they were so helpful. 

Hope you get a better offer on the flat. 

Ooh sausage and mash...can I come for dinner. Lovely comfort food. When I do mash now, I do twice as much and save some for another day to microwave it. 

As for the cheapo porridge, DH loves it. Stirs in some cinnamon and a few blueberries on the top and its fine. 

rtandon27

EssexHebridean said:

...I didn't like the prices on offer so have bought value ones and we'll be having paupers porridge for a bit. ...

EH - we dropped down to the value stuff as well, but honestly after adding flax, chia, raisins, nuts & frozen berries, it tastes exactly the same as the dearer stuff!

themadvix

I prefer porridge oats rather than jumbo oats - they make a better porridge in the microwave!

Sorry to hear about your spec though - although I'm afraid I've never heard a good word said about SS, so I'm not surprised.

milann

I hope you get the specs sorted. I have to say I’m impressed with my branch of the spec store you went to. It’s the only optician that has mentioned a condition I have that shows up in the eyes. They even mentioned it by name whereas a lot of doctors haven’t heard of it….after she’d gone all around the houses asking health questions in case I wasn’t aware of the condition 👍 I was less impressed with one of the hearing aid trainees of the same store and her instructor who kept telling me there was nothing wrong with the mould she’d cast for my ear. I knew it wasn’t right - they weren’t having any of it until I went back with a blister and bleeding ear 😡

Humdinger1

S***s***: I used to go there, until they moved premises, sent out an appointment letter with old address on and threatened me with a cancellation fee when I turned up at the old empty shop if I didn't get to the right place in 10 minutes...I swear I heard the music to 'Chariots of Fire' as I stormed up the High St. Now use the local independent one who I love.  Onwards and upwards love Humdinger xx 

EssexHebridean

Humdinger that made me chuckle imagining you storming up the road - cheeky blighters, honestly!  We have one local independent opticians MAB but my Mum used them not so long ago and was very unimpressed so I decided against using them. By contrast, both she and my Dad used SS's in the town and were delighted so... Milann that's shocking about the hearing aid thing, but the eye care you got was clearly outstanding, roundabouts and swings I guess. 

RT, TMV, I find I prefer the texture from the jumbo oats but realistically there wasn't enough difference to justify paying the far higher price for the jumbo ones - if I can get them on offer I will, otherwise though it's paupers porridge all the way!  

Been for a lovely walk in the sunshine at lunchtime - decided not to bother with a coat as it looked so lovely out there and it really was - I was almost too warm even then! I think for my after work cycle tonight I'll do a loop that takes in various bits of Wanstead Flats and the various ponds - it's a good way of getting some extra distance in and plenty to stop and look at on the way if I want to as well. Just hoping the sunshine sticks around now! 

Baileys_Babe

I prefer my porridge made with jumbo oats.

We also buy gluten free porridge oats which is useful if we want a quick visual check that we haven't accidently used the "wrong" oats when making something to share with the resident coeliac.

When going away self catering we just take gluten free porridge oats to save space and reducing the chances of contamination.

We use both at home as it is more economical with gluten free oats usually being 2 or 3 times more expensive.

redofromstart

Another vote for (good local branch of) SS, me, DS1 and OH all well looked after, including when I had a query.  VE on the other hand I would never use again if they were the only ones in a hundred mile radius. 

jwil

Annoying about the specs, but good to stand your ground and make sure they properly check.

Hope you get a better offer.  I also blame Kirstie and Phil, they often make offers hugely below the asking price on their programmes.  I guess if you don't ask, you don't get!

beanielou

Independant all the way.