Coles And Woolworths Have A Lot To Answer For

Friday 12th April, 2012

The two duopolies Coles and Woolworths,  have a lot to answer for in this country  At the moment they are forcing out small businesses all over the country and importing cheap crap food under their own labels.

Today another South Australian owned company has been forced to go to the wall............Spring Gully.  Apparently Coles and Woolworths have cancelled their contracts with them.  Maybe I'm being a bit harsh on them as it is also their customers who are at fault, they obviously buy the cheaper brands that they offer and not the local brands.

Spring Gully was established in 1946 and make a range of sauces, jams, chutneys, gherkins, pickled onions, and produce honey under the name of Leabrook.  We love the Spring Gully green tomato pickle, gherkins, pickled onions and the honey.

I don't shop at Coles or Woolworths unless I absolutely, positively have to.  I prefer Foodland, a good old SA icon.  They also sell a lot of South Australian produce.   I only go to C or W when I can't get what I want at Foodland which is not very often.  Many people think that Foodland is too expensive, but we have found it not to be the case.  Some items are dearer but overall I think they are fairly competitive.  Having Woolworths and Foodland at our shopping centre is good for making each other honest.

Woolworths own the majority of hotels and pokie venues.  They also have a large proportion of the liquor stores, fashion stores, discount variety stores, and Caltex petrol stations.

Coles have some hotels and pokie venues. fashion stores, discount variety stores, office and school stationery stores,  liquor stores and the Shell petrol stations.

They are now talking of wanting to be able to sell alcohol in their supermarkets.  This will force a lot of small family owned liquor stores to close their doors.

If you shop at either of these stores and spend over a certain amount ($30) you get a voucher for 4 cents off per litre for your petrol.  They have been running a promotion since before Christmas for 8c off.  It's no real saving as you are paying for it when you buy your groceries.  Since these corporations have taken over the petrol stations hundreds of small operators have gone out of business.

Currently there is a storm brewing with the dairy farmers.  Many of the farmers have walked away from their farms as they can't survive what is being paid to them by these companies.  Coles and Woolies have been selling milk for $1 a litre, way below the production costs of the farmers.  By the way I buy South Australian milk, Paris Creek or Fleurieu Milk.

Once these companies force out small business and farmers one thing will happen.  Prices will go up and the consumer will be left wondering....why?

We have to vote with our feet.  We should boycott their stores until they start to supply Australian made produce.

In the not too distant future I can see other iconic businesses going to the wall, the likes of Beerenberg, Bickfords, Balfours, San Remo and the list goes on.  We HAVE to start supporting these companies!  If we let Coles and Woolworths get away with it where will the jobs be in the future for your children and grandchildren.

While I'm on my soap box, several months ago I wrote about the government handout that was given to Holden's supposedly to help them secure the future of Holden in Australia.    Well during the week they announced that 400 workers here in South Australia will lose their jobs plus another 100 in Victoria.  This will also have a flow on effect for other job losses by companies that supply automotive parts to Holden.

Nice one State and Federal Governments!  No amount of money will guarantee to keep GM in this country.
Their sales have been slipping only because they are making a car that no-one wants to buy.  When will the powers that be at Holden wake up and realise this.  Why is Mazda and Hyundai and Toyota outselling Holden?  Perhaps it's time to visit Korea and Japan and see what the average car buyer wants.  

Fork On The Road

Friday 12th April, 2013

This week has been one of great weather.....temperatures have been in the high 20's........actually it has been way above average for the month of April.  I haven't heard anyone complaining except for maybe wanting some rain.  They are promising that for us on Sunday, fingers crossed.

Tonight after Tony came home from work we went back into the city to "Fork on the Road".  We first heard about it during the Fringe Festival and Tony and his work colleagues sampled the food back then but I have always wanted to go and see what it was all about.  Well tonight was the night.  I don't know how much longer it will go for seeing that daylight saving has finished and winter is fast approaching.

This time they had it set up in Light Square.  It consisted of around 50 food and drink vans all selling various food such as Mexican, Spanish, Chinese, Indian, Cambodian, Burgers, Grills, Gelato, Ice Cream, Churros, Cupcakes, Macarons, Lemonade, Coffee and the list goes on.  Tony said that they went there for lunch today.....this time they had Burgers.   After his burger he tried a Tarragon Icy Pole but wasn't impressed.  He said there were hundreds of people there for lunch.

When we got there at around 6.45pm there were still hundreds of people enjoying the beautiful balmy night and the great food that they had on offer.  Tony and I opted for Indian.  It was so yum, we thoroughly enjoyed it.  I would have loved to try the Spanish paella but we were so full from the curry.  We also had an icy cold lemonade made from freshly squeezed lemons and bought some Macarons for later.

Now typical Adelaide and it's wowsers!  There are some who don't like this idea of setting up food vans.  They say it is hurting the food businesses that have their stores and have to pay rent and shop overheads.  There is talk of the city council cutting these food vans down to around 20 if it is going to continue to allow them to set up "shop" throughout the city. Then there are those people who think that these vans might not have health and cleanliness as their top priority.

Well to those businesses who provide lunch to city workers and shoppers I say maybe it's about time to "cook" up some new ideas.  Perhaps the general public are sick of baguettes, foccacias, and sushi.  As they say "variety is the spice of life" and it's about time some of these food vendors realised that.  No matter where you go in the city there's a sushi shop within 20 paces of each other or a baguette shop.  Glad I don't have to buy lunch in the city every day.

Several hundred people can't be wrong.  Over the course of the day there would have been several thousand people that visited these food vans.  They obviously want more than what's on offer for them at the moment.  

Long live the food vans!!

Clowns and Scarecrows

Sunday 7th April, 2013

Today we decided to take a drive to the Valley.......Barossa Valley.  They are holding their bi-annual Barossa Vintage Festival and again had lots of scarecrows out for the public to enjoy.

A circus had also come to the valley and so we saw lots of these advertising it.  I think there may have been more of these placed throughout the towns than scarecrows.

Two years ago when we were here a house in Tanunda had several  scarecrows in their front yard.  Again, this year they put on an excellent display.

We drove through the main towns, Nuriootpa, Tanunda and Angaston.  I don't think there were as many scarecrows as they have had previously.  We photographed the ones we liked. 

We also noticed that Easter Bunny was still around.........

The Barossa Valley is a premium wine growing area producing some world class wine.  Wineries such as Penfolds, Jacob Creek, Orlando, Seppelts, Wolf Blass, Yalumba to name a few all have vineyards here.

It Was Tempting

Saturday 6th April, 2013

The weather has been on the improve here over the last couple of days and we are going to have temperatures of around 27C - 29C until next Thursday at least.  This is what I call perfect weather.  The nights are beginning to get cool but at least it makes for some good sleeping and getting cosy under the blankets.

This weekend daylight saving ends.  I love daylight saving but for the past month it has been hard getting out of bed early as it is still dark until way after 7.00am.  I think sunrise this morning was closer to 7.30am.  I'll be counting the days until it starts again as that means warmer weather for us.

Yesterday evening I went into town to meet Tony.  While in there we went off to Rundle Place as I wanted to see this wardrobe made completely of chocolate.  WOW! absolutely amazing is all I can say!!!

The chocolate was sourced from the Fruchocs (Robern Menz) factory here in Adelaide and more than 300 kilos was used.  

Prudence Staite, from the UK, was brought out by Harris Scarfes to sculpt the chocolate.  She has done an amazing job.  Her website can be found at "www.food is art.co.uk"

They wouldn't notice if I broke off a small piece from the models dresses would they......believe me it was tempting!

This display is expected to be at Rundle Place for several more weeks.  I wonder what will happen to all of the chocolate.  Surely it won't be made into Fruchocs and resold .......ugh!

Yes Sir, No Sir, Anything Else Sir?

Friday 5th April, 2013

Why does this country bend over backwards to satisfy other countries and/or religious demands?  Take today for example, Qantas, our international airline which recently joined forces with the Emirates airline company have taken pork off their inflight menu along with any alcohol based meals because it is against the teachings of Islam.

 Qantas no longer flies to Singapore on its way to Europe, instead they now fly through Dubai.  Why is it that these Arab countries and/or their people have so much say in what we do?  Who the hell are these people?  Why are we so scared of upsetting them? 

We personally don't eat pork so it doesn't bother me if they serve it or not, but for the people who do enjoy it why can't they still eat it.  If you don't eat it, order something else or let them know at the time of booking your tickets that you don't eat certain foods and I'm sure they will cater to your requirements.

If they don't like the food we serve up on our planes let them fly Emirates or Etihad.  Before long the domestic flights will be adopting the same catering rules, if they haven't already.

This country's freedoms are slowly being eroded away.  I shudder to think what sort of country Katie and her children will be living in in another 30 or so years.

Easter Over For Another Year

Monday 1st April, 2012

Easter is over for another year and I trust that everyone has had a lovely Easter with family and friends.

Good Friday was a lazy day for us.  Easter Saturday we went out for lunch to celebrate Kahra's birthday, which was on the Wednesday.  Katie came back with us to spend the remainder of Easter.
  

After lunch we took a drive down to Sempahore.  The annual kite festival was being held there.  Just as we arrived so too did the showers.  We didn't stay for long.  A lot of the kites were not flying, there wasn't too much of a breeze plus it started to rain.

We went off to do some food shopping and then decided to go home.  We ended up watching the movie, Narnia....The Witch, The Lion and The Wardrobe on Saturday night.  Katie mentioned that they were learning about it at school.  

Katie didn't seem to be as excited for Easter Bunny to come as she has in previous years.  I don't think she believes anymore but is too scared to say anything just in case she doesn't get anything.......lol.  She did ask whether Easter Bunny was going to come tonight.

In the morning when she woke up she looked by the side of her bed but there was nothing.  She got up and went out to the family /dining room and there was nothing there either.  She came back into her bedroom with a disappointed look on her face, but it quickly turned into a smile when she saw her Easter goodies on the cupboard.  She was happy with her eggs and bunny candle and she also got a hair straightener.

Sunday Katie wanted to go-kart racing.  Firstly we took a quick trip up to Woodside and Melba's Chocolate Factory.  We had been given some Easter goodies by some friends and so I thought we had better get them some too.  

We came back and Tony and Katie went racing.  We couldn't stay too long as we had to go back home and get ourselves dressed to go out for dinner.  We picked up Robyn and Bob, and then drove to Lyndoch Hill (previously known as Barossa Chateau) for dinner.  

This was the first time Katie had experienced 5 star dining.  She said she felt very special, especially when the waitress placed the cloths (napkins) on her.  She loved the way they kept coming over to refill her glass with water and how fancy they served the meals.   "It wan't like a pub meal, was it Nanna?" she commented later.

The food was absolutely fantastic!  We enjoyed every course.  Katie even tried foods she had never eaten before, like asparagus, mashed swede, and avocado.  For dessert she wanted to try the Blood Orange Sorbet but at the last minute decided to go for the baked chocolate mousse instead.  Tony ordered it instead so at least she could get to try it.  She said it was nice but whether she would have eaten it if she'd ordered it was another matter.

$396.00 later we decided it was worth every cent.  It's not a place you'd go to once a month, maybe not even once a year, but for a special occasion I would highly recommend it.  It was surprising the number of diners that were there.  The dining room was full and they ended up taking people upstairs where tables had been set up. 

She asked Robyn and Bob if they would like to come 10 pin bowling with us on the Monday.  They said yes and so she was happy.  They came around 1.30pm  and so we walked up to the Bowling centre.  I didn't bowl, Katie, Robyn, Bob and Tony did.  I think they all need a lot of practise......lol.  No-one got over 100 points.  Still it was a great afternoon.

By the time we got back home, it was time to leave and take Katie to meet Kahra.  After dropping her off we came back home, had dinner and put our feet up.  We have just had another great Easter!

April Fool's Day

Monday 1st April, 2013

I wonder how many people fell for this and have gone to Monarto Zoo today hoping for a glimpse. 

This morning while reading the Adelaide Now website I came across this............it was an article about a baby "Zebracorn" that had been seen at Monarto Zoo last Friday.

"The mythical creature appears to have a horn-like growth on it's
forehead.

Zoo keepers were surprised and shocked when they found the unusual
arrival on Friday, giving the filly a befitting name, "Zebracorn",  for its
unicorn-like similarities.

Monarto Zoo curator, Beth Pohl, said it was an unbelievable sight.

"This is the type of  thing you only read about in children's
stories," she said.

The bub is already displaying it's cheeky nature after it was captured
poking its tongue out exclusively for the Adelaide Now readers."