The cost of perfection

3 November

Why am I not surprised about what was shown on telly about all the waste of food from the supermarkets? Farmers have been on about the strict conditions they demand for years now, so it’s not really something new. However, the amount of waste at the farm in that programme last night, was new in that it showed just how much was being wasted; and did you catch that field of carrots being ploughed back into the ground, not a good sight at all. Add in the issue of low prices they pay for their milk and it’s really no surprise that farmers are not happy.

Now here’s the thing though, it’s a chicken and egg situation isn’t it? Supermarkets claim that their customers will not buy wonky or ugly fruit and veg. Why is that I wonder? Is it because we shoppers genuinely demand cosmetically perfect goods, or is it that we have become so used to having them on the shelves of the stores. To their credit, the Co-op used to sell so-called ugly f & v, and no, I didn’t buy it. But the reason for that was the high price they were charging at the time.

As it is, we rarely go into the Co-op now for a number of reasons, price is just one of them. The odd time I have been there looking around, they have a very poor choice of all groceries on offer, and a lot of their stuff we don’t like anyway. Now we do all our shopping at one place so we can cut down on the fuel usage and the amount of walking we have to do, and that really is a major concern for us.

Likewise using the local independent shops on the high street. Here in Dorktown we have just one green grocer, a couple of chain bakers who cater more for the sandwich/snack/cakes trade, and just one butchers, which is good. There is no fish monger now, although there is one at the market where fish is sold off the back of van. There are butchers and veg shops in various out ton areas as well. So for most things we really do have little choice other than either Asda or Sainsburys.

Farm shops are an option of course, but again they are a good way out of town, and not many of them at all. The best and most popular one in this area closed down after the owner threw his toys away when the council refused him planning permission to expand his sales area. But you know what, sitting here thinking about it I can only think of three now, and all are still a good way out of town. A quick look on Google threw up just three within easy driving distance from here, one of I knew about. Maybe it’s time for a ride out and see what we can find.

As for that police incident I mentioned yesterday, it happened in the area where I used to walk Cindy-pup twice a day, and here is a shot of the area I got a few years ago … 

So far I think it’s five people have been arrested, all local that sort of area around Mount Street, Poole Bank Street and Duke Street (where incidentally, Billy Breen came from; don’t know him, what about Larry Grayson?). Not that it matters but I thought I’d throw in in for nowt.

That shot was taken in a heavy frost, so today’s photo is another of the same park, taken on the same day … 

It won’t be long before we start getting those frosts again methinks.

Today’s funny …

A child asked his father, "How were people born?" So his father said, "Adam and Eve made babies, then their babies became adults and made babies, and so on." The child then went to his mother, asked her the same question and she told him, "We were monkeys then we evolved to become like we are now." The child ran back to his father and said, "You lied to me!" His father replied, "No, your mom was talking about her side of the family."