Newland Avenue , Hull – It’s quite an experience!

 

 

I’m off shopping. I’m really looking forward to it. I love going down Newland Ave. I like wandering. It’s really interesting and there’s loads of different things down the road.

 

Oh I don’t know. That’s fine if you have the time. Me, well, I prefer to get everything all in one place.

 

Don’t you think you end up spending too much that way? I know I do. I get the special offers but then I’ll spot something else and put it in the basket. When I get home I look at the bill and realise first of all I didn’t need it and secondly that it definitely wasn’t a bargain.

 

Yes that’s all very well but if you are in a hurry you just want to be able to nip in, isn’t it easier to take the car and pull up at the big supermarket.

 

Sometimes it is but if I do that I never just get what I want. If I go down Newland Avenue and I need vegetables there’s three greengrocers with really good prices. They get a great variety with exotic things and local produce in season too. I got some cracking Victoria plums last week. But actually if you prefer it, there are two supermarkets there too, though there’s three butchers, two bakers, a wet fish shop, two Polish, one Chinese, one Asian, one afro Caribbean shop, two delicatessens. Then there’s two pharmacies, four hairdressers, two carpet shops. I could go on but actually the choice is amazing.

 

When I think about it I suppose you’re right. You get into habits with the way you shop don’t you. I really enjoy stopping for a coffee or lunch down Newland Avenue. There’s a lot of different restaurants and cafes. I like it spicy but if my Nan comes she loves her fish and chips, although it’s not too good for the diet! My boyfriend thinks that new clothes shop is classy and Newland avenue is the only place I know where you can get fancy dress outfits, designer clothes, classic vintage clothes and a great range of second hand bargains in the charity shops all within a 100 yards of each other!

 

 

Don’t forget the accessories. Posh handbags, wonderful costume or gold and silver jewellery. And gifts and cards. You can always find something different down the road for a special present.

 

Yes but going back to what you were saying, don’t you find the smaller shops expensive?

 

Yes on some things but on others because you get the follow up service it works out better in the long run. I mean the bed shop took my old one away free whereas one of the national companies wanted to charge me £35 extra. It’s the same with electrical stuff. My tumble drier conked out. I chose a new one and it was delivered and fitted the very next day.  

Listen, I’ve got to go. I need to go to the pharmacy.

 

Oh is everything alright?

 

Fine. It’s just the boyfriend and I had a little accident earlier on and I don’t need any more surprises!!

 

Oh I didn’t know you could go there. Isn’t all a bit too open? I mean you’ll have everyone else listening in don’t you?

 

You, you’re so behind the times. When did you last go into a pharmacy? There’s a consultation area where you can speak to the pharmacist in private and all the staff are really friendly and approachable.

 

Doesn’t that worry you? If they’re that friendly aren’t you worried about what they tell their friends?

 

I’d be horrified. They are all qualified and I know they have to sign a confidentiality agreement so they’d be sacked on the spot if they gossiped.

 

Will you look at their multivitamins and their glucosamine for me while you’re there. I usually send for them from the magazine but I’m going to run out before they arrive.

 

I think you might be pleasantly surprised you know. Have you checked out their own brand? They are as cheap as the leading multiples, you can buy smaller packs and there’s no postage and packing.

 

Little chemists are really expensive on most things aren’t they?

 

No, not at all. I know that’s what people seem to think but it’s just not true. It’s the same with their own brand equivalents on lost of things. Their own brand cream for cold sores is nearly £2 cheaper than the leading brand and much less than the supermarkets.

Actually I must remember to ask the pharmacist to look at Jess’s rash while I’m there?

 

I noticed him scratching it yesterday. He has eczema doesn’t he? I thought you would have taken him to the doctors. You get prescriptions free anyway.

 

Yes but I would have to wait for an appointment and I can get stuff from the pharmacist now free on the pharmacy care scheme. I just have to make sure they have his national health service number. If I need to go to the doctor the pharmacist will tell me. And I can order his repeat medicine from there while I’m at it.

 

I think I’ll wander down with you and have a look around. They’ve got baby stuff as well haven’t they and actually while I think about it I’ll look at the nicotine replacement stuff. I really must give up. I cough like an old women and I don’t want the kids growing up watching me.

 

One of my friends gave up using the patches. Some of the staff from the pharmacy are trained counsellors and you can enrol on a 12 week course. It really helps you know.

 

Do you know it sounds a really great place. I’ll check it out.