Leaderboard

I have already mentioned I hate flying, but love airports, and you have confirmed why. It's not true of Camden Market any longer, but UK airports (as Camden used to be) places where; if you were going to see someone with two heads THAT'S where you will see it. The throughput of diverse people is staggering. I have experienced similar at Waterloo, Liverpool Street and King Cross rail stations, but airports produce the most glamorous opportunities. As for people watching.... I would have a holiday for two reasons; Swimming in clear water. Spending the evening after dinner, sitting in a street café watching people walk past. In our hotel, other guest would get nicknames or titles. For entertainment, I would weave imaginary tales and lifestyles to each group we saw.

I know what you mean about Tesco (and others) with misleading labels and bulk-buy savings what ain't. Caution is always needed. I don't find much in the way of short-dated discounts at the local Tesco - except perhaps about half an hour after Sunday opening, when a lot of Saturday leftovers are nicely priced - and it's even better at Morrisons (which is, admittedly, a larger shop). I'm not often out at either on a Sunday morning but I can be sure of a quick kill if I happen to be there. I agree with your approach to reviews, whether of consumer products, holidays, restaurants, books or anything else. Probably 50% of all reviews (if readable at all, considering the ignoramuses who often write them) are so bigoted, biased or irrelevant that they should be discounted. Of the others, one does need to eliminate the out-of-date or mistaken (e.g. someone not realising what the reasonable limitations of the purchase were, or misusing it). Surprisingly, one of the best vacuums I have ever known and used was (and still is) a cheapo Argos 'Challenge' bagless vertical cylinder type, given to me at least 6 years ago by my son after he had used (and abused) it for various tasks. It has been my 'DIY' vac ever since, sucking up all sorts of on-site debris without complaint, provided the filters are kept clean (not difficult). I did, early on, have a problem with a wire to the switch fracturing, but that was easily repaired. Such cleaning is not a task I would entrust to a Miele (too delicate!) but the latter is excellent for normal household tasks, including pet hair etc (if you have any - we don't).

Good points, Freddy. The cost/weight ratio is very important; it is not always the larger pack that gives better value. My wife dislikes shopping of all types - particularly as her eyes are sensitive to fluorescent lighting - and never shops more often or for longer than is absolutely necessary. I quite like wandering round a shop, whether buying or browsing (apart from heel-spotting), so am happy enough to do the major supermarket shopping etc - which ensures that it is done 'properly' . I assume you are saying that you find Asda unreliable at recording discounted prices properly, rather than most reliable; is that so? (I cannot say I have had that bad experience with Asda - although I do find it adept at advertising 'specials' which are nowhere to be found on getting to the branch. And when did you last see any sort of discount coupon issued by Asda?) I do quite often shop there; the local branch, although not large, is quite convenient. (It was formerly a branch of Wickes; alas, no plasterboard or sand available.) Reliable reviews of consumer goods are a must. There are some (e.g. Revoo) on line, or Which? is available in the library. (Avoid those, such as typical of Argos site, which consist of little more than a purchaser saying 'I bought one last week and I like the colour ...' which says nothing about usage.) I've just been persuaded to buy a new vacuum cleaner; Which? (and others) pointed at Miele being by far the best for a standard cylinder type (borne out by our own experience) but they ain't cheap. But the optimum model for us (not the dearest of several variants, some costing £200+) was available from a retailer we know of in Brighton at £130 'collected' (£20 less than anyone else) and easily bought online and picked up a couple of weeks later when I was visiting family in the town; a result all round. I could have bought something 'satisfactory' for half the price but here I think the extra cost for proven reliability/performance was worthwhile. But it's thin gruel for the next week until our finances recover ... (either that or the butler's wages are cut).

Mrs Freddy can 'nose out at bargain' at the supermarket, now she has a handle on the "xx" per £ or per kg label they often provide. She likes using the one supermarket though as she does the bulk of the shopping and it is a chore. She insists the familiarity of the venue allowing her to minimise her time there. I would and have tried others, with ASDA being my preferred choice (on balance). There is an ALDI not far away, but parking isn't a pleasant experience. 'Standard procedure' is to check the items bought at discount were actually registered at the till as discounted products. Some supermarkets are legend for this, and the one we use is the leader-of-pack for it. Overall, Mrs Freddy is less resistant to a 70% off 'bargain' when it comes to clothing for herself. She has two large wardrobes here, literally crammed full, most of which I'm adamant hasn't seen the light of day .... Her version of my shoe collection I suppose. These days we seldom buy household goods or electricals, without some reference to retailer reviews or a review site.

I have all the supermarkets (except, alas, Aldi) within easy reach and absolutely no store-loyalty. We have little brand-loyalty either; we avoid most branded items unless they have demonstrably better qualities than own-brand or unbranded items. My wife and I shop wherever is cheapest at the time for certain items, balanced by overall convenience - we don't go to three or four places in the same shopping trip but would take advantage of best buys when in each shop or area. A quick (but not slavish) check on a website such as http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/ (recommended, but not infallible) gives a good invitation as to the preferred source. And of course any sensible discount coupons (such as £5 off a £40 spend) are taken into account, with immediate needs bolstered by non-perishable extras for future use if a target has to be reached. (I pride myself on adding up the cost of items in my head as I walk round, and usually stop when I reach the 'target'. I am rarely wrong with my total at the till, unless something has been mispriced - in which case I may be prompted to query it - or can only be estimated until it is weighed.) If all this sounds like a Scrooge-like fetish, it is justified not only by the real savings that can be made but also by the useful mental (and physical!) exercise required. My wife does not have quite the same nose for, or pursuit of, a 'bargain' as I do, and sometimes deludes herself when shopping. By that I mean that she will buy something that we need (or she thinks we need) because it is 'on offer' without thinking about the real worth of what she buys as well as alternative sources that might be better/cheaper. I can't really blame her for falling for the first trick in the seller's portfolio but it would be better if she considered the bigger picture. The above considerations apply similarly to non-supermarket purchases. Brand-avoidance may be more difficult (or dangerous) but a little research pays dividends, especially when buying consumer durables - everything from an electric kettle to a range cooker, or a TV or a car. Here, ease of use/reliability/longevity are key factors and the game is then to find the best price for the preferred item, allowing for any advantages or otherwise in the seller's location, service etc. What I will not do is to spend money without thought on any non-trivial impulse buy, however flush I may be. Or buy something that may be both good and desirable in itself but which is so expensive that I could never regard it as giving a worthwhile 'payback'. So, the YSL boots at c£800 will never be mine, however much I may admire them, and however big the likely discount. (That said, if I saw a pair at £100, I would probably surrender!)

Welcome to the perennial problem of clothing sizes for women. Almost every brand differs from every other, meaning the 'standard' is quite flexible. Some tips: 'Young shopper' sizing is likely to be 'true', meaning a size 10 might actually have the 26/27" waist it should, a 12, 28/29" waist. Places like Top Shop, River Island, Dorothy Perkins, Miss Selfridge being typical, though they too are getting a bit flexible .... Zara is a Spanish outfit, with European sizing. Their Medium would likely compare to most brands XS (Extra Small). 'Intermediate' shops, like H&M and Primarni, who have a foot in both camps, can be a bit hit and miss but tend to be a little more generous. I would take a 12 in Primarni, but a 14 in H&M sometimes. Primarni shoe sizes for example, are generous compared to every other retailer. 'Ladies' shops, like M+S, BHS, and most supermarkets, are quite generous. A size 12 is generally somewhere between a 30" (though more likely a 31") and a 32" waist. The word 'on-the-street' is that flattering customers, brings in sales. Women don't tend to do measurements, rather dress sizes. And, "I'm a size 12", sounds a lot better than "I'm a Top Shop 16". (Although I'm probably a T/S 12-14 in a trouser as I don't have hips ..... ) Other considerations ..... "Rise". This is, -in case you don't already know- is the measurement from the crotch to the waistband. For the past 10/15 years, 'waists' on womens jeans/trousers have been set low, probably for commercial advantage. Less material=more profit. Thankfully, the tide is turning. A "classic" rise, the sort we men grew up with, is currently referred to as a 'high waisted' product. It isn't, but compared to a mid or low, it is high. "High" should mean touching ribs ... Mrs Freddy has some truly high waisted trousers she wore to a wedding some years ago. It showed off her small waist and made her legs look as long as Shirley Maclaine's. The height of the heel on her shoes helped. She looked stunning, and I wasn't the only person to notice. If I can find a photo .... For me, anything less than a 10 inch rise is pointless. 11 inch rise is okay, and is typical. 11½ to 12 inches, ideal but almost unheard of. I have an 11 year old pair of straight legged (stretch) jean from M+S with an absolutely classic cut that couldn't fit me better if they had been made for me. M+S are pushing their waist position upward as this can be more flattering, though a "mid-rise" (at circa 10 inches) can help hold in a loose belly. On a lady, her hips hold the jeans up on a low or mid rise. As with most men I don't have hips or a backside to speak of, so I need a rise that will tolerate a belt to hold them in the right place - on my waist. Although it's effectively a fetish/sex shop, I would look at places like Honour for things like PVC trousers. I have looked on the world's leading auction site for shiny stuff, and it isn't simple by any means. Anything from China, about 80% of what's on offer, will only ever be making a one way trip. If it doesn't fit - tough. That said, even items from the UK that might arrive at £5 posted, might be uneconomic to return. Chinese sizing comes up small to very small - no surprise there. A great deal of the shiny leggings I have seen advertised on the auction site, come with an undeclared mid rise waist, and some even with a (declared) low rise. Using reverse logic, a high waisted product is more unusual rather than usual. Finding the right shaped article is a struggle, much less size, and then just how shiny is shiny? Going up about 10 or 12 posts, the Daisy Street High Shine PU leggings are ideal, and one I've yet to see elsewhere. (So far.) I expect to try some from the auction site, but I'm not yet satisfied I've found an adequate product. I also expect to order from both ASOS and Boohoo, as they have garments that might be suitable. I believe Daisy Street is either an ASOS brand or part owned by them? "PU" (polyurethane) and "faux leather" are synonymous for meaning - not real leather. Leather leggings worth considering typically start at around £150 and go upwards. I'm sure they are about for less, but I would doubt the quality, and the cut will likely be awful.