Lidl et al and the Triple Dip Recession

Both Lidl and Poundland are excellent shops.  The value for money provided by both retailers has come into its own during this period of Triple Dip Recession.  It may be a Double Dip Recession elsewhere in the U.K. but in this part of Wales it certainly seems to be a Triple Dip Recession.

Extremely high local fuel prices that are forced up by a retail monopoly and which is compounded by a U.K. central government that in the main appears to constantly fail to get to grips with the Petrol Pump Rip Off.  High food prices out in the sticks with the absence of ASDA and Tesco, both of whom are sorely needed in order to drive down local food and fuel prices, and to increase employment. 

The purchasing power of my static Occupational Pension seems to dwindle weekly.  Worse still with such poor and unreliable public transport systems; the majority of people in this area are forced to run one or more cars.  We all know how much running a car costs, in simple terms, too much.  Everyone is after your coin, and I'm sorry folks but there doesn't seem to be enough coins to go around while the economy is taking a pounding and my Occupational Pension is fixed.  Healthy food costs more here, fuel costs more here, the gym and swimming pool costs, and you need a car to get to and from the Sports Centre and that also costs a lot with the inflated fuel and other costs.  Parking the car costs, repairing the car costs and I could tell you a lot about that one, but I had better not go there today.  All in all they reckon a person in a Rural location is about £2000 per annum worse off than someone living in an Urban location. 

Tell me about it, I don't know where they got their data, but they can have my confirmation material anytime.

So with all  of this in mind; thank you Lidl for the bargain £6.99 Sensiplast Pro Comfort Knee Brace complete with 3 year warranty and moisture wick system.  I wore it in the gym today and it kept the knee joint neatly in place.  Initial results suggest that although my capacity and Performance Index will need to be reduced for one or two weeks, but the bottom line is, with the knee brace it is possible to still work out.  Oh and thank you Screwfix for the £7.97 three setting shower head in chrome effect, and thank you Poundland for opening in Aberystywth.  Well done to one and all!

Athletes

The New Balance 940 shoes have arrived and I am well impressed.  Ordered late Saturday night from Runningshoes4U and courier delivered with pre-arranged one hour slot appointment on Tuesday.  I opened the box and there they were.  Two gleaming New Balance 940’s trainers: one left foot and one right foot.  Both shoes are the UK size that I ordered and a 4e width fitting.  I stood there for a while wondering what was the catch. This cheap and this quality of service and the right things arrive.  Well done Runningshoes4U and a special thank you to New Balance across the Pond who have messaged me quite a few times on a social network site to help me obtain the correct shoes.

Keeping on the athlete theme; Lidl £6.99 Sensiplast Pro Comfort Knee Brace c/w 3 yr warranty and moisture wick system.  In sizes XS-S, S-M, M-L, and L-XXL, you can guess which one I bought.  On sale tomorrow in our part of Wales BUT I snaffled one up today with a bit of cheek and charm.  Tee hee he, I have a sports injury.  I don't know whether or not to be chuffed or sad.  I mean the only sport I used to do was watch the World Cup and Euro thingy, and now it's a 4 hour on campus session (even with the injury today).  Although breast stroke apparently is not allowed as it involves rotating the knee, never, I normally use my hands :-)