St.Georges Girl

No I didn't see that, but it doesn't surprise me. I hate Coles fruit and veg anyway. Did you know that Woolies (and no doubt Coles) 'fresh' chicken breasts are actually frozen and then defrosted before they go out as 'fresh'?

northernbird

It was a current affair I wasn't surprised. I used to work for a company who were responsible for the transport and storage of food in the UK and it isn't any better there.

Hutch

Thing is (and believe me I'm not saying things are much better here in Oz) - I hate the whole idea of chain pubs. One of the few things I genuinely loved about the UK was the individual boozers, catering to all tastes - chain pubs, no matter how they're done, are always going to soul-less affairs. Same beers, same wines, same decor, same menu - not where I'd choose to go for a drink and I'm no beardy real-ale drinker.

esperanza

The Wetherspoons that I used to drink in (in Devon, so maybe different to more commercial city centres?) were in lovely old buildings, restored very nicely, with local ales etc on tap, at VERY reasonable prices and always had a real mix of people in them. I also saw something in the news in the last few months about how they are not encouraging parents to go on drinking sessions there, which I thought was excellent. Not that parents can't go and have a drink, but that if they have taken their kids then the kids should be kept under control and the parents should not stay drinking all afternoon/evening. (Sure many will disagree with me, but that's what I think anyway!)

Amazulu

He's from Northern Ireland:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Mar...businessman%29

asprilla

I completely agree with this gentleman.

Having said that, Esperanza, I know where you are coming from. Back in 1995 when I was at Exeter uni, Wetherspoons purchased an old mansion with extensive gardens, only a 100metres or so from our house near st. david's station. It was completely renovated and became an excellent boozer. There was an orangerie (that's a big old greenhouse for tropical plants) that was given a facelift, and it became the focal point, with marble stairs leading down to a large open area. The gardens had numerous picnic tables. All in all, these were happy days.

esperanza

Yes, that is the 'Impy' (Imperial) where I spent many a happy afternoon! My uni halls were just along that road. It was a lovely building and apparently one of the largest beer gardens in the country, they had a beer festival every year. It's exactly the one I was thinking of!

Hutch

Never let the truth get in the way of a good argument.

St.Georges Girl

Each to their own. I was never much of a pub goer, only went in them to have a lunch or meet friends then go on to somewhere else. I did like the atmosphere in the few JD's we've eaten and drank in though.

Hutch

I loved pubs and clubs. Lived in Bath for a decade and was spoilt for choice. But over the years I was there, plenty of excellent individual boozers were bought up and transformed into super-pubs and branded experiences. Made me sad.

St.Georges Girl

It is kind of sad in a way, but that's progress, make that business for you. No point in running at a loss. St.Albans has some really quaint pubs, some I even had to dip my head to get through the doorways they are that small and I'm only 5'3". I would hate to see any of those change, but I doubt pubs like that ever will.

rabsody

That is ridiculous! I though it was a health and safety issue if you refroze meat? 9 times out 10 I end up freezing some of my chicken breasts every week. I thought they had to let the consumer know if something had been previously frozen? :curse:

Recently I noticed their 'fresh' whole chickens were frozen on the bottom. I called the manager about it afterwards concerned it was a H&S issue and he said he'd get it sorted. Next time I went in, same thing.

Don't get me started on the amount of food out of date, particularly perishables. They don't seem to give too much of a shit about this stuff over here. I guess the rule is, only buy the absolute minimum at coles and woolies and get everything else at butchers/fruit shop.

bcworld

Ya, but in the Current Affair segment, even the apples they bought from a fruit market were 8-9 months old! Looks like you might have to grow em yourself!

Amazulu

Go to a market that only stocks local produce. There is a market in Midland that we go to that lists the part of WA that the product comes from. 90% of their stuff comes from WA.

why

i have just had the visitor from hell staying with me from the UK
she came out with the attitude that she was going to hate Australia and she did!!!
it then makes me defensive about the place
i know a few people who have been here/and also not been here who don't know Australia and just take delight in "bagging it"

all i can say is

DON'T COME HERE THEN!!!!!!!
(i am saying this about my departed visitor)
i hope i never have to see her or speak to her ever again!!!
to make things worse we have more to come in April!!!
my husbands family and he hates them before they arrive

HELP!!!!!!!