Dom excelled himself with my birthday present and bought me my first piece of original art. I had spotted this painting a while ago when trawling through an online gallery and absolutely loved it - it's even better in the flesh.

Bully With Bubbles 1 by Janet Nowotynski. You can buy more of her art at www.artvitae.com and more affordable original art at www.zerooneart.co.uk

Labels: buying

I have to admit I never really gave much thought to chicken welfare until I saw Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's TV programme, launching the Chicken Out campaign a few weeks ago. He conducted an experiment rearing some chickens as free range and some chickens in a cramped, smelly barn - the way we rear 95% of the chickens we eat. It was disgusting.

I wasn't shocked in the sense that I knew in the back of my mind that conditions were bad, but I was appalled and ashamed that we, as a nation of consumers have bought chickens for so long without questioning the lives they have led. How could we have let it get like this? It is disrespect en-masse.

Dom and I don't eat whole chickens often, but after the show we immediately started buying free range eggs. Then when it came to buying a whole chicken from Asda, they had ran out of free range. I refused to buy anything else and sent a complaint email to customer services.

A week later, I checked Morrisons. There were some chickens on the shelf, but myself and two others were questioning whether we should buy them. The labels said they were RSPCA approved, but when you read the small print, they were actually kept in barns.

It turns out that Hugh and Jamie approve of the Freedom Food label. So it's better than nothing (it's still not good enough). At least if people buy the RSPCA approved chickens the supermarkets might shift their supply to meet the demand for ethical food.

I finally bought a chicken yesterday from Somerfield. It was the last one on the shelf that bore the Freedom Food label.

Now, I don't know whether it was just psychological, knowing that the little animal had lived a better life, but that chicken was possibly the best roast chicken we had ever tasted.

Support the campaign. Get Chickens Out!

Labels: buying, cooking

Dom bought my engagement ring from the jewellery quarter in Birmingham. No particular reason - I found a website, saw a ring I liked and he tracked it down. It was when we went to a high street jewellers to buy our wedding rings that we realised just what a great place the jewellery quarter is - the high street rings are three times the price!

We figured that £30 worth of diesel and a few hours' drive was nothing compared with the savings we'd make on the jewellery. So today, off we went.

I have to reccommend J.E. Marlow and Sons for great service, and beautiful quality jewellery. The assitant was so experienced she could size up my finger at a glance and we bought the first ring I tried on. Dom's was re-sized while we popped over the road for a sandwich.

Labels: buying, wedding

There are lots of benefits to buying local, but to be honest, when I bought these Garden of England Chutneys by Bennett Opies I was only thinking of my stomach.

We tried our Plum Chutney with English Rose Wine with roast gammon - boy did it taste good - the best chutney ever!

And we're still to sample the Bramley Apple Chutney with Biddenden Special Reserve Cider.

Good news - you can buy online.

We bought these from our nearest supermarket, Asda. They do have a couple of local food stands at the end of aisles, apparently this is a policy. However, I have a feeling that these chutneys are actually stocked nationwide, and just marketed in store as local.

Oh well! They taste damn good!

Labels: buying

I tell you what, this company has got it going on. I have never been a Sky customer before, but a couple of weeks ago we made a double leap to subscribe to Sky+ and it's like we've entered another world!

I love it that when I want to top up my wine or pop to the loo I can pause live TV, and that when Location Location Location is on one side and Rick Stein is on the other I can record both. I love it that I don't have to watch London Tonight and count the stabbings because the satellite has picked up where we actually live and sends us South East Today. In fact, if I wanted to pretend I was in Newcastle I could even tune in to North East Tonight.

And it was so easy. I signed up online, I chose a date for the install, three days later I received letters confirming the subscription and the install. The night before the install was planned, Bob, the engineer called to let me know we were his first call and he'd be there at 8.30am. Bob turned up, he was friendly and polite, he gave us a quick demo and we were away!

Last night I received a call from Sky to check that I was satisfied. I told them how impressed I was. Then, as if this magic TV wasn't enough, the nice lady told me about some of the extra features. Did I know that I can order a Dominoes pizza from my Sky box? Did I know that I can buy a lottery ticket from my Sky box? How cool is that?! Then I went exploring for games and there's a bazillion of them!

Great product and excellent customer service - what a refreshing change!

Labels: buying

I was most pleased when my new wellington boots arrived this morning. Roll on wet english summer, I'm ready to take you on!

Labels: buying

I saw Bill Granger on TV last Saturday and went out to buy his book, 'Bill's Food'.

There is one recipe in there that inspired me to buy, but I thought the rest were a bit too fussy for someone who claims his food is 'pared down'. Disappointed. I might return it.

Labels: buying

My family (and the dog!) are coming to stay with us next week which is sending me into a frenzy of finishing jobs and just when we least need it, our fridge has broken. We can survive this, but I don't think my parents will be able to cope without fresh milk for tea.

So, last night we bought this Liebherr fridge freezer. As fridges go, it's very sexy! All stainless steel and very spacious. It's resting at the moment from having it's gasses shaken up on the car ride home (we managed to fit it into Dom's Astra Estate!) but tonight it will be installed and turned on. I can't wait!

Fridge Update: We are very happy with the Liebherr's performance and, after getting sick of smear-wiping I did a bit of web research and tried olive oil applied with some kitchen roll. I couldn't believe the results. All smears disappeared in an instant and the surface looks immaculate. Now I know I need not worry about buying other stainless steel appliances. So much for the over-priced e-cloth that Comet sold us. Personally, I found it useless.

Labels: buying

Bought lots of nice clothes. Time to clear out the wardrobe.

Later, Dom is cooking a Sunday roast - pork, with roast potatoes, snips, yorkshire puds and apple sauce!

Labels: buying