Trip to Staines on the train

Hello my friends. I’ve had quite a nice day. It was a “me” day when I did things I wanted to do. I’ve been worrying quite a lot about other people in my life recently so decided to focus on myself today.

This morning I made beef and anchovy stew and it’s been cooking in the slow cooker all day. It smells divine. I think I’m going to do some new potatoes to go with it and serve it in our big, deep white stew bowls my sister gave to me a long time ago. I hadn’t used the slow cooker for a while. Today was a day to do other things I hadn’t done for a while too, like go to Staines and look at clothes.

The beef and anchovy stew… this picture does not do it justice. We are really looking forward to this 😋.

I cycled to Windsor & Eton Riverside Station and got the train to Staines, once I’d figured out the new ticket options. Super Off Peak does not exist any more, but new “Evening Out” tickets exist on South West Trains. This means a return ticket Windsor to Staines is usually £7.00 but if you get a train after 12.00 midday, like I did, it is £5.00 return with an “Evening out” ticket. The ticket machine would not sell me this ticket at 12.00 midday, but by 12.02 with the helpful ticket lady staff, I was able to purchase the ticket. One of them wished me a nice evening, which was nice, but a little out of kilter as I was just going for an afternoon out 🤣.

Anyway, I had a good wander around Staines. After several hours (!) I didn’t buy much at all, but that actually suits me as I don’t want to clutter up my house with stuff again. I got a new watch battery from Timpson’s with my lifetime watch guarantee so that was free! Yippee. I returned a parcel via the post office inside WHSmith’s. I vow never to use this post office branch again. Huge queue both at lunchtime and later on with only one desk open. Tediously boring waste of time.

I bought a couple of greeting cards in Card Factory. Excellent shop.

I could not find any pyjama bottoms I liked anywhere. The fashion at the moment is all too skinny with cuffs at the ankles. I will be back to online shopping for them, and most other things it seems.

I stopped off for a sandwich and a Diet Coke, and later on a cappuccino. I am much better at buying food than clothes….!

I found a lovely little jacket for Spring in TKMaxx but it was a size too snug for me. I have since ordered it online click and collect for Windsor. I have also ordered online a 3/4 sleeve pink stripey t shirt from John Lewis. I am buying a few things for my Spring capsule which will start in March. My winter capsule is probably too big already.

There is no M & S clothes shop in Staines any more ☹️. There is a big H & M instead.

The new M & S food store is by the Two Rivers car park. This is a truly beautiful new shop. I’ve never seen an M & S food like it. It’s lovely.

I bought a small loaf of bread for 55p, last of the big spenders me! I have proper food shopping coming from Ocado tomorrow, but we were running low on bread for tomorrow’s sandwiches.

Debenhams has long gone. Very sad. We had our wedding list at this branch.

So, would I go to Staines shopping again? Probably. But more for an outing on the train or to meet a friend for lunch than for shopping. Or to go to Hobbycraft. I ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ Hobbycraft but didn’t visit today.

The cheap fashion on offer at Matalan, Primark and Next wasn’t for me today. Acrylic jumpers that look old and misshapen already. Jeans in material that’s thinner than proper denim. Dresses in floral patterns that would crease horribly the moment you sat down in them. I am now sounding like my mother! With my capsule wardrobe I limit myself to a couple of colours each season. I’m going for dark brown and dusky pink for Spring 2022. You heard it here. On The Waffle….trend setting website of the year 🤣🤣 where if someone’s planning a party I will definitely know about it, impromptu cake or no impromptu cake. Bla bla Boris bla bla!

Off to do the spuds now. À bientôt! Xx