HEAR-SAY

And welcome to one and all this merry wintertide. And to start with it is my greatest pleasure to announce to you all the news that Tesco have finally opened a compact, neat and airy food-hall in what was the empty Woolworth's space under the clever guise of Sainsburys local! Ho Ho I hear you titter What's he on about? Well I guess for some the news that Sainsburys had beaten Tesco to it so to speak was reason for celebration. Yep there would no longer be any threat to the local economy and to the local shopkeepers as they could now rest in the knowledge they would be safe from the harm from the ruthless retail giant. Of course Saint Sainsburys would come, open their doors from 7am till 11pm and all would be fine. Then again they (Sainsburys) would never dream of stepping on the toes of already well established small businesses would they? Oh no they wouldn't possibly go into the trade of selling anything to endanger the livelihoods of other small independent traders like what, bakers for example (next door but one) or, let's see um. Oh yes they would of course never jeopardise the local newsagents, off licences or chocolate sellers would they. But hey come on it is a convenient store after all, and as such their prices reflect it, so nothing has changed their then! But, and it is but a positive triumph for shop sales in Sheringham, they do stock and sell trifle sponge! Yes you heard it here first folks.

Sadly me thinks they missed a trick when deciding on what to stock their fabulously light shopping extravaganza, the powers at be forgot to add a shelf containing the one thing Sheringham does not possess and that is a music counter. No, instead we have to endure endless reams of glossy magazines and Sainsburys own brand wine listings. Sadly though for me, not a drop of Asti in sight. I cast mine weary brain back a few weeks to the opening ceremonies of this new and to be fair, first of it's kind for Sainsburys. And recall the shameless stampede from local women to be one of the first to get free gifted by the management. I remember the squeeze and queue for the tills reaching out to the street. Oh and not to mention the young lady bereft of job description for the day as she was ordered to partake in that farce by standing to attention complete with placard in hand encrypted with an arrow at the town clock. Presumably to direct any passers by who hadn't already been accosted by the scrum to get in across the street, as to where they should head for round two.