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Post by kerouac2 on Dec 1, 2019 5:42:50 GMT
Yes, this was a Franprix. What's even stranger is that Franprix and Monoprix are owned by the same company.
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Post by onlyMark on Dec 1, 2019 8:35:51 GMT
I'll be arriving in Germany the Sunday before Christmas and will need to go food shopping - can I find a supermarket open on that day? Can I buggery. Sunday trading laws as I remember there are Draconian. (There are options I have, like leaving it to the next day or buying a bit of stuff to tide us over from the main railway station) When I first went to Frankfurt, years ago, I couldn't believe how many shops closed early afternoon on a Saturday and some weren't open at all, just weekdays.
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Post by mossie on Dec 1, 2019 9:25:02 GMT
Reverting to the complexity of English reminded me of an old poem which really proves that it is simple
When I laughs, I pees iself
and then I legs go rusty
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Post by mickthecactus on Dec 1, 2019 12:35:22 GMT
Not necessarily a pet peeve but definitely a peeve.
At 4.15 this morning I was woken by a crash which shook the house and thought the big wall next to us had collapsed. Shot out of bed, checked the house and outside. Nothing.
Found out this morning that it was a sonic bang after a couple of fighter jets were scrambled.
Frightened the life out of me.
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Post by kerouac2 on Dec 1, 2019 14:31:35 GMT
I saw it was mentioned on the news.
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Post by bjd on Dec 1, 2019 16:13:58 GMT
Mark, I'm sure Rikita would know but it's possible that German opening laws have relaxed a bit like they have in Holland. We have Dutch friends who used to drive from Toulouse to Leiden, leaving on a Saturday. Knowing they would arrive late, they had to pack food in the car because shops closed in the Netherlands on Saturday afternoons and all day Sunday. In the past few years, things have become easier with some stores open later.
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Post by onlyMark on Dec 1, 2019 16:16:29 GMT
I had a quick flick through several supermarket websites for their Christmas opening hours, but drew a blank. I am optimistic though even though none mentioned the Sunday before Christmas anyway.
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Post by kerouac2 on Dec 1, 2019 16:25:24 GMT
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Post by onlyMark on Dec 1, 2019 19:12:47 GMT
Hah, I did spot that when I was searching in English. Interesting as to the history.
Huckle, at the airport are a couple of places open on a Sunday, one is near the airport train station, and I've used them to stock up on Leberwurst as I'm flying out. I'm sure we'll survive even if it means we have to eat out, which is no hardship. A doner or a Chinese is easy enough to obtain.
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Post by rikita on Dec 2, 2019 22:21:29 GMT
well, berlin has a "verkaufsoffener sonntag" on the 22nd of december, so big stores like karstadt are open. i suppose this is geared more to things like clothes and present shopping, but i suppose their grocery area will be open, too. no idea what it is like where you are going, though - but maybe google the name of the town and "verkaufsoffener sonntag" ...
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Post by onlyMark on Dec 3, 2019 4:22:22 GMT
Thanks Rikita. There are a couple of websites devoted to giving details of "verkaufsoffener sonntag" in different areas. Berlin seems quite well served, Hessen though, specifically Frankfurt on the 22nd, is closed.
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Post by rikita on Dec 3, 2019 21:42:35 GMT
i suppose then you'll just have to travel to berlin instead
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Post by onlyMark on Dec 4, 2019 6:39:10 GMT
Maybe you could do the shopping for me and bring it down to Frankfurt? I'll send you a list?
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Post by whatagain on Dec 4, 2019 7:02:51 GMT
Went a few times to hanau close to Frankfurt. The quintessial boring getman city in my eyes. Hearing your footsteps at 7 pm. Everything shut and an eerie air of the day after.
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Post by onlyMark on Dec 4, 2019 7:54:19 GMT
No idea what a getman city is. Towns and cities in Germany are little different to many in other countries whereby the centre closes down after the workers have gone home. Many parts of London are the same. It can be strange for sure but Sunday evenings are the worst. Frankfurt has areas, like Niederrad, which are just office blocks and after about 7pm it is as though the world has ended. But the city centre, along the Zeil, usually retains some activity.
It also had a reputation worse than in reality when you are living there. I initially expected it was just a money city with little character and not really German because of the higher level of internationals living there. Once getting to know the place it was very pleasant. I lived just off a street called Leipziger Strasse in the suburb of Bockenheim and it was always full of life.
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Post by kerouac2 on Dec 4, 2019 10:59:32 GMT
I don't understand how earpods can get so tangled all by themselves. I suspect that all of those people who wear giant headphones instead switched just because they were tired of untangling the wires.
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Post by bjd on Dec 4, 2019 13:23:32 GMT
I too think Frankfurt tends to be underrated (like Brussels). I once had a 13-hour delay on a flight so instead of going to a hotel during the day, I went to the centre of Frankfurt. It really was quite okay, it was warm, there were lots of people about, musicians playing in the street and big tables set up selling wine and beer to what looked like local workers our for a drink with colleagues. Nothing particularly "picturesque" for tourists but it certainly seemed like a pleasant enough place.
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Post by kerouac2 on Dec 4, 2019 14:41:09 GMT
Oh, I see those products quite often.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Dec 4, 2019 15:11:21 GMT
It is getting ridiculous. In our city centre small businesses are failing. Now the shop where I buy fabrics is closing! The combination of exorbitant rent and rates, and unfair competition from online giants are closing all the lovely little shops here. Now, aside from bigger stores like John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, W H Smith's etc all we have left are vape shops, pound shops, pubs and cafés.
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Post by mickthecactus on Dec 4, 2019 15:18:32 GMT
Sounds like Ware. Just add charity shops.
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Post by fumobici on Dec 4, 2019 15:29:05 GMT
Because I am so tired of hearing "cheap" as in "What is the cheapest hotel? What is the cheapest fare from CDG to central Paris? Where can I buy___________ cheap" and all the other cheaps I read on travel forums, hear from people at my my pool, read in the newspapers, I really liked this article in today's Guardian. In case Anyporters haven't read it www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/04/french-shoppers-rejecting-cut-price-capitalism-nicolas-chabanne "Chabanne could ask for no greater validation of his idea than the fact that all bar one of France’s notoriously aggressive, commercially cut-throat supermarket chains are now convinced of CQLP’s approach and stock its products."
I would like to support this effort but have not seen any of these products in the Paris stores where I shop. Any sightings? Any ideas? Our system cruelly puts the squeeze on suppliers, just so it can turn around and give out multi-million dollar bonuses, stock options and other shenanigans to people who already have too much money. And then we're told that the system isn't a gigantic scam, but a natural result of "the invisible hand" of markets. What a load, we should be hanging them from utility poles instead of listening to their BS.
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Post by bjd on Dec 4, 2019 19:38:22 GMT
I too have bought some of those products, particularly butter. I buy fresh milk rather than long-conservation stuff, so it doesn't work for milk. I often also see meat packaged with the name and photo of the producer and his/her location in France.
And my local Leclerc supermarket rearranged things recently and have opened a section with not only bulk grains, cereals, pasta, dried fruit, but also an area where you can get unbranded detergents, soaps, creams and household cleaning products. You can either bring your own container or else buy a reusable glass bottle.
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Post by kerouac2 on Dec 4, 2019 19:46:11 GMT
I expect that out where bjd lives, the trend is already much more dynamic than in Paris, where it is very difficult for us to feel connected to the producers. But people are definitely much more interested now in paying a fair price for food. This is not really all that new, because the Max Havelaar fair trade label has existed on lots of products (particularly coffee, chocolate and rice) for well over a decade. What is new in France is being able to finally help local French producers, particularly of dairy and meat.
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Post by questa on Dec 5, 2019 1:12:18 GMT
I heard an interesting discussion on Public radio last week. It seems that the big chains have set out a program in 3 parts, starting now. They know that people buy according to price, no need to push that for a while. What they will promote is the relationship between the producer and end customer. Cue farmers harvesting fruit and veg, pretty girls rolling loaves of bread, jolly butchers trimming meats etc. Message is 'we are part of your life, we share your life and values.'
I missed part of the 2nd stage but again nothing said about prices, sales, specials. I think it focussed on the workers, delivery trucks, orders clerks, store managers shelf stackers and check out staff. Message how they all worked as a team for our benefit.' My store has really nice people'
Third stage is back to retailing again but now we put a bit more stuff in the trolley and don't scream if the price has gone up 20% for our usual things. There are new things to 'try out'and the man stacking fruit said the apples were good...of course I trust him. Message...your'e hooked...well for a while.
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Post by bjd on Dec 5, 2019 7:21:36 GMT
Other than smiling supermarket workers on flyers, none of the producers whose faces are on meat or butter packages look like anything but farmers. And about buying by price: those who really buy by price only go to discount supermarkets, which have had to adapt and provide brand name products as well as their cheaper ones. I see people shop and many buy specific brands, not necessarily the cheapest.
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Post by whatagain on Dec 5, 2019 8:51:23 GMT
We get now more and more posts on Facebook and in the newspapers telling us it would be a good idea to buy from small shops and not amazon. I can't buy a book on amazin for example. I go to my bookkeeper - on foot - discuss and ask him what he liked etc. Besides that fact that he would be jobless and his assistant he pays taxes. None of this applies to internet giant - and I like macron idea if taxing them. Of course Trump doesn't. But one day when there are no shopkeepers and no tax paid how will the delivery trucks arrive to my house ?
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Post by rikita on Dec 5, 2019 21:28:50 GMT
sure ... my rate is 200 euros per hour it takes me for shopping and delivery ...
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Post by rikita on Dec 5, 2019 21:29:44 GMT
I don't understand how earpods can get so tangled all by themselves. I suspect that all of those people who wear giant headphones instead switched just because they were tired of untangling the wires. well in my case the earpods won't stay in my ears. always have to hold them there on one side. though i must admit, the untangling is tiring, too.
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Post by kerouac2 on Dec 9, 2019 18:49:33 GMT
I am horrified by all of the commercials showing connected devices that can actually turn on the lights at home at the sound of your voice. Is this actually supposed to be an improvement in the quality of life for non-amputees? What about voice activated toilet paper?
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Post by bjd on Dec 9, 2019 19:06:11 GMT
So if you get a sore throat and your voice gets raspy, you have to wander around your house in the dark? Or, horrors, have to press a switch by hand?
The more I hear about connected devices, the more I feel like doing things manually.
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