Yesterday I managed to freeze away some of my special sausage rolls for Xmas munching ...lots of filling with thin short pastry encasing them...not forgetting a hint of apple ...yummy if I say so myself.
Had to show you these photos ...this one is Jake Ben and Olly meeting Santa for the first time
Lastly a blast from the past for me... a group of us at work in 1987 ish the manager Liz (grey suit and big grin) sent it through facebook. Those were such happy days. We worked in the 3rd biggest Department Store in the UK.
There were nearly 2000 staff in total counting office and the others behind the scenes ....and Christmas was the best .... for customers and staff alike. The grotto back then was magical ...even parents fell under the spell ...I wish I had photos ...every year was different.
Sadly the company had problems during the last decade and gradually the 40 odd stores closed ...finally the last...the flag ship and the largest (where I worked for 18 years) shut its doors this year ....150 years after they first opened. In its hayday it was the best ever retail establishment ....it was what retailing was all about ...the customer ... but when they forgot that, the rot set in.
Good Bye Allders ...and especially Allders of Croydon.
We have increased our animal family ....by one little Pigmy Hedgehog ...who loves cats. She is called Holly and I will tell you more and show pictures on a future post ....and yes I can hear you all mumbling 'Is she mad' ...but it was nothing to do with me ....she is Vicki's.
Take care xx
3 comments:
Hi Shozzy
Just love the old photo.
I often look back and wonder, was it really better then or am I just being an old grump.
I'm sure there were chairs for people to sit in and I know when I worked in shops you used to have to be nice and helpful to the cusomers.
I hate shopping now, its so stressful and nobody seems to give a heck if you're there or not, that's if you can find a member of staff.
I worked in various shops in my time but the shoe shop was the one I had the most laughs in.
Let's see.....Chip shop, shoe shop, dry cleaners, sweet shop, card shop, hardware shop, Greens factory, American Express, and various other offices. Hated most of them. lol
Rather be home any time.
Anyway, have a lovely Christmas and look forward to your posts next year.
Briony
x
With each year I am less prepared for the holidays. I do think they used to be nicer--much more home-based!
Hi Angie, I can identify with the to-do lists ... I'm just treading water today, maybe tomorrow will be better. Lovely Santa photos and great to see the photo taken just a few years ago ... you all look as though you were having a great time. Shame about the store closing down ... I still miss a lot of the old stores, Home and Colonial, Liptons, C&As, Woolworths, to name but a few ... sigh! The pygmy hedgehog sounds cute - look forward to seeing photos. Elizabeth xx
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