The Bushel, Bury St Edmunds

The Bushel in St John's Street has been beautifully decorated and it's a lovely place to go for a reasonably cheap meal.  The menu is not amazing but will suit a lot of people's tastes. I'm informed by friends that it is almost the same menu as Dog and Partridge, but I haven't been there lately to verify. I would recommend anyone to at least try the Bushel. My neighbours said their roast dinner was excellent value. I liked the mulled wine on tap.

Eat Well, Do Good (for British forces)

That is the name of a current range in Waitrose (by Red Lion),  whereby 100% of the post tax profits from the sales goes to UK forces charities and causes.  I say 'range'. On this occasion I only noticed sausages and bacon - British pork of course and the offer was two packs of either for £3. I've tried the bacon and it was good - as I don't eat a lot of red meat I feel obliged to support British farmers by eating bacon - it's a dreadful hardship.

After complaining that Asda didn't have much of a range of British bacon, I noticed that Waitrose only seems to sell British. Good for them - I do like eating for England.

Small Shop, Big Service

This little shop on Risbygate Street is a great example of the benefits of dealing with small and local  businesses. It seems to me that Peter Watts - a shop that sells and repairs domestic appliances, has been in this spot as long as I can remember, but I've only been using it for a few years since my present dishwasher first broke down. My regular 'repair man' had informed me that he didn't repair the brand of dishwasher that I had and left me to it. I ended up enquiring at Peter Watts and they fixed it for me at a reasonable cost.  After a couple of years when it needed a new element they returned again, and the machine is still going - but I don't think it will be long before I need a new one, and then I will follow my daughter's example an buy a new one from Peter Watts. She worked out that they did the best deal when taking into account their costs and service.  From my point of view too they have been obliging, efficient and reasonable in price, and I now feel reassured that I may never have to look further than the next street for white goods - that is to say 63 Risbygate St. Bury St Edmunds (Tel: 01284 768586)

Your eyes can deceive you

This bin is outside Bury Library. I wonder how many people resisted putting rubbish in it before others filled it up?

Buying British

A popular chef (French) was complaining on TV a few nights ago about how British plums are so delicious but people just aren't buying them anymore, and yield has gone to waste this year. It's a bit late for plums now, but with this information a few weeks ago I would have gone out and bought some. They can be delicious ....and nutritious,as the song goes, but I guess there are people like me who don't often think of buying plums. But I am now going to take this man's advice and plant a tree of my own, to keep British plums 'alive'. I try to buy British fruit whenever I can. I try to buy British whenever I can.  I was annoyed to find in Asda recently that there was very little choice in British bacon - something that this country produces well. We know on this side of the channel that there are many movements to keep the raising of animals for produce humane, but we also know that we need to support our local farmers and producers. For some families it is down to price and I understand that - especially when raising children is their challenge, but I really believe if people stop and think a little more about their shopping - if it's only one item at a time, it would make all the difference to Britain's farmers if adjustments are made to support them.   Generally,Waitrose actually has a vegetable section, which is composed of local produce.

On my recent visit to Cornwall I tried a great range of local cheeses - some of which are competing admirably with their French counterparts. But it's fair to say, I spent £5 on raspberries off the local market during the course of this week - and I haven't a clue where they came from. I tell myself they tasted British. Must be that Indian summer.