Monday 15 August 2011

Hellholes, Dereliction and Blazes


We haven't been food shopping for weeks and as tea last night consisted of some broken crackers left over from a dinner party, the crusty end of a piece of Cheddar and the sad-looking remnants of a jar of Greek olives we thought it was high time we stocked up on supplies.



I won't bore you with the banality of the hellhole known locally as "The Asda" so instead here's me posing outside the building opposite. This is one of many derelict pubs in the town centre. 


Built in the Eighteenth Century, like many of Walsall's boozers, The Market Tavern had a market licence which allowed it to open from 6am on market days to serve alcohol to traders and shoppers alike.This was still in practice up until a few years ago. Now you have to wait until Wetherspoons opens at 9am for a pre-shopping pint.

1970's Lewis Barnett, London maxi (£1.66, eBay), vintage sunglasses and 1970's Sheffield Steel pendant (both from the Salvation Army)

Helga and I were chatting this morning about how New Zealand had endured everything recently from floods, blizzards and earthquakes but (touch wood) no fires. Talk about witchcraft, when we left the supermarket we discovered our town centre was ablaze.


This saddlery has been standing since the days of the Industrial Revolution although thankfully it's no longer in use. 


 Anyway enough of this chatter, there's a full fridge and a hungry woman waiting to get at it. 
See you soon.

60 comments:

  1. Beautiful outfit Vix.
    I'm just about to brave "The Tesco"
    my belly says dinner time,
    my fridge says no :(

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  2. Beautiful dress Vix. Sad about the fire, heard it on the news as I was driving home. Hubby was texting me about it too.

    I hate food shopping! I tend to cheat and get it delivered, last thing I want to do on my day off after being in a store all week is go shopping in another one. But as you say a girl must eat!

    X x

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  3. Hi, Vix,
    If you haven`t been shopping for a few weeks, you`ll probably have noticed a hike in many of the prices! People are losing jobs, benefits are being cut, yet the cost of food just keeps going up - good thing we frugalites know how to make the most of every penny, eh? x

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  4. That is a lovely dress, such a pretty pattern & fab bargain!

    I must admit to having my shopping delivered. I also find that I spend less doing it that way too :) x

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  5. Man, the West Mids in having no luck at the moment. I hope no one has been adversely affected by the fire.

    We get a veggie box delivery which negates the need for much supermarche shopping, thank goodness. We can just pop out for whatever else we need and because we live in a multicultural area there are loads of little food shops to choose from

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  6. @ Lynn. You're right, we spent a lot more than usual. It's a nightmare, isn't it? x

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  7. Love your dress! And I wish we had tea time in America. I just really find the whole idea so comforting and cozy...

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  8. Hi Vix -

    Looking Fab as usual Vix ! i love the other post as well- the 60's suit is so out of this world!
    I love when you post pics of your town even though some of it is derelict, this a new word for me i love it!

    Big news! Helga left a comment on my blog, so excited i just love the woman!

    Take care Vix - lots of love

    Ariane xx

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  9. I love your outfit vix!!

    we either go to Sainburys (in town) or Morrisons (30min away). either way, only having to spend £16 on food and booze this week is... let's just say a challenge!!

    Julia @ Retro Jules

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  10. Love the outfit Vix the print is bvery pretty.

    lol at 'The Asda' (some of the people in there don't even get me started)!!!

    xx

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  11. Oh my goodness you witchy woman -- be careful what you put out there! That photo is quite dramatic and sad to see an old building go. But at least you looked fab doing the groceries!
    XXX
    Suzanne

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  12. Gorgeous building for a gorgeous blogger! Are you sure you weren't having a secret Walsall riot with that blaze!

    xx

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  13. Your looking lovely amongst all the drama amor,You bruja (witch) love your feathers in your hair.I love Asda low prices ay, but the people,lol

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  14. Gosh what a blaze - hope no one was hurt. I love the sound of a pre shopping pint... xx

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  15. I love your local history posts, Madame Ambassador for Walsall. The dress ain't half bad either!

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  16. I'm behind once again with my commenting! Sorry to have been so slack.

    We had cheese and crackers for dinner last night too, but it was more to do with laziness than lack of food. Supermarkets are the devils work, I do an online shop every month for dry foods and get everything else at our local barrow. So much less stressful xx

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  17. "The Asda" ha ha. I'm glad that's not just a Liverpool thing, along with "the Tesco"! Sad about the fire. Do they suspect arson?

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  18. @ Lucy, no mention yet but our buildings have an unfortunate habit of burning down during the school holidays. x
    PS The Argos is popular, too!

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  19. Ah, 'The Asdas', with the last syllable pronounced 'daz'. How we love it! I remember my hairdresser (in Wolves) once saying to me 'my sister's so stuck up, her always does her shoppin' up the Asdas, her does'. :-) x

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  20. Not more riots behind that plume of smoke I hope! Looking lovely in that maxi. It's sad that old pubs are just left to become derelict buildings. It's got a great door and facade, surely something could be done to renovate it.

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  21. Wow scary looking fire! At least you looked fabby as ever ;)

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  22. Gosh I bet that smoke was a bit of a shock! I hide away from food shopping - one of the few remaining joys of living at home lol

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  23. Well as it's The Asda here in Farnborough too, it appeals to be fairly universal ;o)

    We so often have no food left in the house, very occasionally it's lack of cash but usually cos it's cos I can't face either The Asda or The Tesco!

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  24. You look stunning and I adore your dress. I am also in love with these old buildings. Here in the US, we don't have many buildings over than 50 years old. And once they hit the 50 mark, we tear them down. It's disgusting.

    I'm sorry to see that fire though. I'm glad no one was hurt!

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  25. The Market tavern aka Punch & Judys, many a Friday night I spend sneaking in there in my youth !! I hate that Asda , it is dreadful.

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  26. Oh dear, your cupboards sound like they were as bare as mine. I shop day to day for what I need as I don't have a car and can only carry so much - not an economical way to do it though! xx

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  27. It's sad when a building of character becomes unloved and empty. The red brick and paint of the tavern tie in well with your beautiful dress. The picture just stands out as a moment out of any particular time. This picture makes the building loved again. It positively glows with you stood in front.
    I hope nobody knocks this one down (or sets fire to it)!
    Love from Mum
    xx

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  28. so ironic that you should walk outside to see the town center a blaze! Your jewelry is particularly lovely today! I really love the necklace, very unique!

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  29. *Sigh* I hate when old buildings burn down or get demolished it always makes me sad. It has ever since I was a little kid.
    I hope they got all the fire out.
    You look lovely and your pendant is pretty amazing.

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  30. Looking fabulous, the old pub makes an amazing photo backdrop :o) Scarlett x

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  31. Ha, we call is The Asdas too!
    You look delicious as always but I especially love your pendant it's a beaut!!
    Hugs
    Kandi xx

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  32. You look lovely, and by far the best dressed grocery-shopper I have seen. Nobody likes food shopping, though stocking up the fridge sure is a necessity xxx

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  33. Wow! That pendant looks absolutely gorgeous and rather amazing! I'd love to see a close-up of it!

    Pyf & I get an Asda delivery on a Sunday morning as neither of us drive - saves us having to go inside the place and lug shopping home on the bus!

    I could sooo see you and Jon owning a pub - I bet it would be amazing inside too!

    My friends and I have a favourite pub in Wells that we go to every time we're all together, It's called The Full Moon and it's so cozy and comfortable! About a year ago it was put up for sale so we were all very sad :( Now it turns out my brother and his husband have purchased it and they will be re-opening it around Halloween after making a few changes inside...They also run a pub called The Red Admiral in Weston-Super-Mare but my brother will be moving into The Full Moon so he will be closer to my mum - she's already bagsied free cups of tea from him! Needless to say me and my friends are super duper excited! Eeeeek! xxx

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  34. It was probably your royal hotness that set that fire off,darl!Phwoar!G and I really like the fit of this frock!That pendant is rather fab!
    At least you're all stocked up now....it's looking like we might have another snow day here,8am and we're apparently going to be getting another blast in an hour or so...think we'll stay in bed!!
    Lovely to chat,my darling twinny!!
    Love YOU!!
    Helga xxxXXXxxx

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  35. Grocery shopping has to be THE most soul-destroying experience. The walls of that pub could tell thousands of stories, I'd love to hear some.
    Not the most cheering of days for you Vix, but at least you are lookin' damn fine. Is the a colour you can't pull off?

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  36. I love how your photos here could have been 35 years ago - gorgeous dress and I love your blue ring (is it Lapis?)

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  37. Gosh that fire looks pretty bad, though at least its an unused building.
    You look effortlessly stylish nipping to asda :)

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  38. Love the maxi dress! Just beautiful x

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  39. Oh I heard about the fire on Twitter. One of your local policemen is ace on there - updates about his patrols and "Fox Watch" on the nightshifts which I find endlessly entertaining - and he took some photos of it earlier.

    Wouldn't it be lovely to buy up some of the old pub buildings and turn them into houses? Sadly I can just see them crumbling away :(

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  40. Shame about the fire - I think you've got pyschic powers though!

    As-derzzz, as it's known round these parts, hate the place but at least it's relatively cheap and we usually get stuff delivered if we have to stock up. We try and buy as much fresh food in the local shops.

    You're looking good as usual x

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  41. Gorgeous dress! I'm seriously sure you must wear a different thing every day!

    xoxo.

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  42. Gorgeous frock - especially love the sleeves, and your hair looks especially gorgeous today, amor. Such a shame about the abandoned lovely old buildings - and the ones gone up in flames - hopefully there'll be a massive shift in the economy and your town will come back to life. Wishful thinking, huh?

    Love, Sarah xxx

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  43. SO is that where you do all of your grocery shopping? I am trying to get a sense of where you live. I am right in the middle of Suburbia and surrounded by tons of shops...how about you guys?

    You always look so lovely, even just running around. Now go eat my dear!

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  44. So sad when places that have local history go into flames.
    Your maxi is fabulous and I always enjoy seeing you out in your town and reading about your city.

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  45. so was the Saddlery alright after the fire?? Hope it was nothing to do with the riots?

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  46. Oh dear, that looks like a terrible inferno....
    I'm sure you've brightened up many's a day in One of the World's Prettiest Dresses. How gorgeous! xx

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  47. Gorgeous dress, love the colour! Perfect with your vintage sunnies. Am also loving your silver bangles.

    That's a nice old pub, shame it's no longer trading. The old pubs with their tradition of opening for market traders and shoppers early in the morning is just one of the things I love about our history - Wetherspoons opening at 9am just isn't the same!

    'The Asda' - ha! Love it.

    Nicki xx

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  48. Such a beautiful building - I love bricks and red door)
    Also - your pendant is gorgeous <3

    http://tri-skelos.blogspot.com/

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  49. What a wonderful old building. When our cupboards are bare we always go and raid the campers store cupboard, theres always something yummy in there, so you should go raid Gilberts just in case theres something left over from the festis ;)

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  50. That is a terrible fire.....you look gorgeous grocery shopping....adore your pendent!

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  51. That frock is adorable.

    Derelict buildings across Cov keep mysteriously catching fire too, it smelled like bonfire night lastnight, which is quite sad really. Xx

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  52. Urgh, food shopping, I get distracted by flowers, clothes and the beauty aisle. :)
    I love that pendant, gorgeous.
    A pint at 6am? Blimey bit early even for me, but it'd be rude not too. :)

    xxx

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  53. Dearest Vix,
    I spotted that dress on eBay, when the auction was on the go ;)
    It looks beautiful on you and I have to say that your hair looks spectacular at the moment...I've just been over at Helga's to marvel at her stunning flame coloured mane...hair envy, ME? never...och, maybe just a little then ;)
    It pains me to see derelict pubs, which may very well come across as odd especially as I'm a teetotaler but pubs are not just about drinking, they also serve as an invaluable hub of a community, a place where both strangers & friends can meet and chew over what's going down in the world and hopefully get together and right some wrongs. I for one am convinced that a lot of the closures are directly linked to the much cheaper (unregulated) supermarket booze prices...the fact that you can get 24 cans of lager for the price of three pints at the pub (scary London prices) is just madness.
    Hope all is well with you & Jon.
    Lot's of love,
    Jennie
    xXx

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  54. Ah, Asda. I do love the bargains but it's just toooo hectic!! I often drive an extra mile to go to more genteel Morrisons ha ha! Worra snooty mare I am!

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  55. Such a pretty dress.I am saddened when I see old places and shops empty There is so much history to them.

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  56. Love the pics, you look fab!!

    No way, you live in the same town as i do!!!! I saw the fire yesterday too.

    Sadie xx

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  57. Love the print of your dress. Also love the pendant!!!

    I like when you post about and around the town ... though sorry about old stores closing and fires.

    ♡ from © tanvii.com

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  58. What a shame about the fires! The Market Tavern is a lovely old building.

    Love the dress and pendant. Love you xx

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Lots of love, Vix