It can get chilly in Ian and Sarah's attic room. Normally, I sleep in my birthday suit but because of the chill up there, I wanted to purchase a long-sleeved T-shirt.
No luck in Marks and Spencers so Shirley directed me to "Primark" - a clothing chainstore that I had never entered before though of course I knew the name. Three shop floors of competitively priced clothing - mostly made from cotton. Tons of the stuff. I believe that "Primark" are notorious for marketing cheap, replaceable apparel - often from dubious foreign suppliers.
I found my new light blue XL T-shirt on a pile but it was quite crumpled. As an opportunistic prankster, I took it to a member of staff who was sorting clothes nearby and complained about the crumpling saying, "Excuse me but if I buy this T-shirt do Primark operate an ironing service?"
She mumbled something about the store's steaming facilities until she realised I was just joking and laughed. I think it brightened her day.
At the checkouts there were eight members of staff on duty and fifteen customers in the queue when I first got there. I know because I counted them. And do you know what - right there in the heart of England's capital - I was the only one of the twenty three people present whose physical appearance suggested that I might belong to the white British host community. Everybody else had characteristics that suggested foreign origins from Syria to the Caribbean and from Somalia to Bangladesh or Hong Kong.
London has become an incredible melting pot of cultures which is quite plain to see even though that observation is not applicable to many other towns and cities on this island where the host community remain predominant.
We walked back to Fulham, stopping off at a traditional cafe run by a Portuguese family on Fulham Palace Road - for light meals with hot drinks. I had poached eggs on toast with a latte.
Soon we were back at Ian and Sarah's house to watch England beat France in a Six Nations rugby match. However, Sarah was not there because she was at this big game in person - played at Twickenham in West London.
We got back to Sheffield this evening. It had been good to see them all - especially our grandson Zachary. He continues to develop nicely and I sang:
You cover a lot of territory just to buy one lousy T shirt! Globalization has allowed people to move to any place on the planet.
ReplyDeleteHow dare you call my T-shirt lousy! I looked so cool in it as I climbed into bed.
DeletePrimark is big in Germany, too, but for the reasons you have mentioned I don‘t buy from them. I am sure, though, that in my teens I would have liked their pocketmoney friendly prices and fast fashion.
ReplyDeleteDid you go by car or train this time? I know you have done both before.
Train this time. We booked three weeks in advance and with our "Two Together" discount card paid £84 in total for the return journey.
DeleteLondon is a melting pot just like many other cities. Do you remember the song about a melting pot turning out coffee coloured people by the score? I think I prefer the many different colours, I would hate the blandness of everyone being the same shade. While we are all people and all the same under the skin, we are also blessed with individual differences.
ReplyDeleteYour views chime with mine.
DeleteI remember buying a garment from Primark. I was surprised at the quality of the fabric. Upon examination, the label said it was made in Bangladesh, rather than China as we were used to. I mentioned to Ray's sister that it was a bit embarrassing to carry a Primark bag back home on the bus. But if you can carry a Primark bag back to the oh so posh Fulham, I feel better about it now.
ReplyDeleteThey asked if I wanted a bag but I said no. Was the garment you bought from "Primark" a kangaroo onesie?
DeleteOur charity shop's rails are full of donated Primark clothing.
ReplyDeleteWorn once then just given away.
It is so sad that there isn't a Primark store on The Isle of Man as I am sure you would be shopping there all the time, saving money you could pass on to the tax man/woman.
DeleteWill it make the streaming charts?
ReplyDeleteIt might need a few more verses...
DeleteTasker, Tasker, just ask her
To share a bowl of fresh pasta
She'll gobble it down much faster
With greedy Tasker Dunham.
Funnily enough my daughter who is a manager in a charity shop (actually making thousands each week) bins Primark, you pay for the rag men to take away stuff. But interestingly yesterday someone said, that by sending all these clothes over to Africa, you are not doing anyone a service, as you rob them of an economy of producing and making clothes.
ReplyDeleteMaybe your daughter could rescue some Primark clothes for you Thelma. You would feel so warm and look so cool in a Big Bird* onesie.
Delete*from "Sesame Street".
It's called Penney's over here in the Emerald Isle YP. I recently bought a pair of jeans and a pair of trousers for ten Euros. Very reasonable.
ReplyDeleteI understand that the American retailer J.C. Penney fought a long legal case against Ireland's Penneys over the name. I wonder who came up with name "Primark"? I would have called the chain "Jumble" as in 'jumble sale'.
DeleteMost of the world's clothing is made someplace in Asia.
ReplyDeleteNice song for Zach. Does he love it?
ReplyDeleteWe have Walmart. I guess that would be essentially the same thing. Cheap, cheap clothing from dubious sources. Of course they sell everything, not just clothing.
now i don't know much..... as you well know...... but i find the clothes sizing in primark to be not very helpful..... i always say their clothes are for fat people who are vertically challenged..... amd. as a fat person without vertical challenges...... the clothes are always too wide and too short.... just my two-penneth
ReplyDelete