Tuesday 30 December 2008

Just looking

Today we paid our first visit to Liverpool One, the recently opened shopping centre in Liverpool. We chose Liverpool for our post Christmas sales trip because we wanted to go to a John Lewis, which is sadly missing from our local shops. When we first moved up here from Surrey it was some time before we managed a trip to the John Lewis at the Trafford Centre and I was beginning to think that we had moved to the back of beyond, such is the lack of variety and choice offered by the local shops.

The shops at Liverpool One look attractive enough, but even the throngs of sale shoppers could not raise the temperature, from the just above freezing, in Liverpool today. We only go shopping, now, when we really need to buy something. I am no longer the shopaholic that I once was. As I spend most of my time decorating or gardening I do not need a wardrobe full of fancy clothes. Today we were looking for a duvet and pillows. As we approached the bedding department we were asked by at least two assistants if they could help us. Usually when you want help there is not an assistant anywhere in sight and unless I really need help my standard response is that I am just looking. I once said this to a friend who approached me in a shop! Then realised that she was not staff. We knew what we wanted and no salesperson was going to persuade us otherwise. Having secured our purchase of a duvet and four pillows we arranged for them to be taken to the collection point so that we did not need to carry them around with us. We then had a wander around the other shops with the aim of doing some window shopping and I managed to drag my husband into Debenhams and Marks and Spencer to see how they compared to the Chester stores. Shopping, with a bored and reluctant husband in tow, is hard work and if I want to do more than just look I need to shop on my own.

12 comments:

Tim Atkinson said...

But how busy was it? I can't believe the crowds out shopping here - anyone'd think Christmas hadn't happened!

Akelamalu said...

I'd rather go shopping with a friend than hubby, he just isn't interested! :(

Suburbia said...

I totally agree! I can only do serious shopping alone and never go with husband!

Maggie May said...

Oh it is so off putting when they look at their watches all the time & yawn.They sometimes come in useful for carrying!
By *they* I am of course, referring to husbands.
Better to be alone, I think, when at the shops.

Dottie said...

Husbands should not be allowed into shops. If only Hamish would just go to Man-Crèche and let me go on my own, instead of coming too and having an "opinion" to share with me...Sigh. This opinion is usually "Do you really need it?". I dare not voice the same opinion in a gadget shop!
Happy New Year x

cheshire wife said...

The Dotterel - it was busy. There were queues to get into some shops and horrendous queues at some tills.

Maggie May - I agree husbands are useful for carrying. I couldn't manage a duvet and four pillows on my own.

Dottie -brilliant comment. I wish that I had written that myself.

Working Mum said...

Yes, I go shopping on my own or with my mum. Much less stressful than with husband.

On another point - I'm so sorry that John Lewis has moved from their City Centre spot in Liverpool. They were called George Henry Lee there and occupied a beautiful old building with sweeping carved oak staircases. My mum and dad shopped there all the time. We just have the glass and chrome ones over here in Cheadle and the Trafford Centre. Excellent service though, I agree.

Gill - That British Woman said...

I have yet to hit the sales on my own, as one Boxing day I had the whole family in tow, and since then I have been sick. The only good thing about all of this is my purse and credit cards are having a well deserved rest!!

A Happy New Year to you and your family,

Gill in Canada

Gone Back South said...

I'm not much of a shopper either. I prefer to go, if I have to, on a normal term-time Tuesday morning at 9.30am when there is nobody around. Otherwise, it's sheer torture. Happy new year to you up there in Cheshire!
GBS x

French Fancy... said...

I've got one of those men here - The Reluctant Shopper - and know exactly what you mean.

Oh I do miss John Lewis. Well done on just buying what you set out to buy. That seldom happens to me although, to be honest, I do most of my shopping online these days - I hate crowds these days.

French Fancy... said...

maybe if I read my comments before posting them I wouldn't keep repeating myself :)

imbeingheldhostage said...

I shop the internet--that way no one gets hurt ;-)