Marks & Spencer Food Shop at Central Festival

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

Marks & Spencer has opened a food section in one part of its store on the lower level of the Central Festival Mall. It sells "Quintessentially British" foodstuffs, mostly sweets, biscuits, jams, teabags and other dry and pckaged goods with a long shelf life. I didn't have much time to look, but there seemed to be a lot of wine as well. The shop already has Christmas pudding on offer; I imagine more Christmas items will hit the shelves in the coming weeks. The prices aren't for the faint of heart.

 

Evil

 

 

Edited November 5, 2014 by Evil Penevil

[jimmac 66]

Nice addition to Central Festival. I may visit there in a couple of weeks. Thanks for posting.

[izzyg 37]

Do they have chocolate bars? The stuff you buy in Thailand doesnt taste as good as the western stuff.

[atlas2 4,329]

Went yesterday. Loads of good chocolate.

Christmas pud was something over 1000 baht.

But the large biscuit selections seemed worth it.

I will get an advent calendar as a treat. One chocky a day ain't bad

[jacko 8,827]

Do they have decent tea bags?

These yellow things I got from Big-C are awful.

 

Great heads up OP, M&S Food dept in the UK offer really good selection and quality and I hope this is reflected.

[atlas2 4,329]

Do they have decent tea bags?

These yellow things I got from Big-C are awful.

 

Great heads up OP, M&S Food dept in the UK offer really good selection and quality and I hope this is reflected.

 

Yes they have 3 types ….2 special and one labeled 'daily'…Wine as well……Preserves look good and the gourmet breakfast cereals. As Evil says not cheap…...

 

But it's Christmas soon and my mouth is already watering for a taste of 'it'.

[Obsession 571]

Is this good? That Thailand is becoming more like a British High St, minus Romanian beggars?

 

On the food. They change the recipe so often nowadays, that your favourites are unrecognizable. Sorry to be negative! Just don't spend big on anything and expect it to be anything like it was last year, never mind many years ago.

[Parkwahn 61]

It seems to be aimed at the Japs, with the London theming .....

[atlas2 4,329]

Is this good? That Thailand is becoming more like a British High St, minus Romanian beggars?

 

On the food. They change the recipe so often nowadays, that your favourites are unrecognizable. Sorry to be negative! Just don't spend big on anything and expect it to be anything like it was last year, never mind many years ago.

 

There are certain things I miss from England…….Little things I stock up on and bring back here……Tea is one….Right now I've a cup of Fortnum and Mason's best by my side. When thats gone it will be nice to just be able to pick up some from M&S. White sports socks and underwear…..Blue Harbour linen shirts…..

 

There's not much I hanker after but now being available here there are a few reasons less to go back.

 

I know what you're saying Obsession…. Thailand is changing….but then again...

 

Yesterday after M&S I went to Welcome Inn……..Not been there since the first year I retired…so over 6 years ago.

 

Same old place…..Some of the same old 'girls'

 

"Hello OumTan' rang out as I entered through the back…….Half the girls mimicked the lifting movement, (oumtan) with their arms that I employed to such memorable effect it seems when shagging in the old days. Several remembered my actual name. Some had gained weight and lines…..Well so have I.

 

The rooms were a little more spruce…..and 50 baht more. But the girl I took was still delighted with a 1000 baht.

 

I was ruminating how nice it was to be remembered and how little things had changed in all that time. Then I looked round the car park and saw the skyline……... new hotels had appeared in every direction.

 

Whatever the building developments the fundamentals during my time here have been pretty consistent………

 

Things like the Android TV box……and M&S now just add to the pleasure of life here.

 

'Appy Days'

Edited November 6, 2014 by atlas2

[Obsession 571]

 

There are certain things I miss from England…….Little things I stock up on and bring back here……Tea is one….Right now I've a cup of Fortnum and Mason's best by my side. When thats gone it will be nice to just be able to pick up some from M&S. White sports socks and underwear…..Blue Harbour linen shirts…..

 

There's not much I hanker after but now being available here there are a few reasons less to go back.

 

I know what you're saying Obsession…. Thailand is changing….but then again...

 

Yesterday after M&S I went to Welcome Inn……..Not been there since the first year I retired…so over 6 years ago.

 

Same old place…..Some of the same old 'girls'

 

"Hello OumTan' rang out as I entered through the back…….Half the girls mimicked the lifting movement, (oumtan) with their arms that I employed to such memorable effect it seems when shagging in the old days. Several remembered my actual name. Some had gained weight and lines…..Well so have I.

 

The rooms were a little more spruce…..and 50 baht more. But the girl I took was still delighted with a 1000 baht.

 

I was ruminating how nice it was to be remembered and how little things had changed in all that time. Then I looked round the car park and saw the skyline……... new hotels had appeared in every direction.

 

Whatever the building developments the fundamentals during my time here have been pretty consistent………

 

Things like the Android TV box……and M&S now just add to the pleasure of life here.

 

'Appy Days'

 

I can understand expats wanting home comforts. Don't expect the old M + S quality for clothes though! Prices are just as expensive, but the quality has gone.

[keyman 1,417]

Do they have decent tea bags?

These yellow things I got from Big-C are awful.

 

Great heads up OP, M&S Food dept in the UK offer really good selection and quality and I hope this is reflected.

 

I'm out in 2 weeks, Jacko, would you like me to bring out some T-bags?

 

KM

[Nightrider 340]

 

I'm out in 2 weeks, Jacko, would you like me to bring out some T-bags?

 

KM

 

Take him a box of " Yorkshire Gold Teabags " they are the best i have tasted in a long time.....Jacko will love them.......

[jacko 8,827]

Yes please, Yorkshire Tea, gold or not or the big round Tetley bags.

[atlas2 4,329]

A bit off……but here's another British retailer…... John Lewis' Christmas Vid

 

To remind all you grown up kids of……?

 

[jacko 8,827]

Shit, now I have to go buy another teddy bear for her!

[atlas2 4,329]

Shit, now I have to go buy another teddy bear for her!

 

 

Ahh touching…555!

 

You have the Christmas spirit of this bloke Jacko

Edited November 7, 2014 by atlas2

[keyman 1,417]

Shit, now I have to go buy another teddy bear for her!

 

 

Be aware that those stuffed penguins in the ad are being sold by John Lewis at 95 pounds each!!!

 

 

 

KM

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

The Christmas decorations should be up in short order at Central Plaza.

 

 

Evil

[jacko 8,827]

 

 

Be aware that those stuffed penguins in the ad are being sold by John Lewis at 95 pounds each!!!

 

 

 

KM

Blimey, does it do tricks?

[Obsession 571]

 

 

Ahh touching…555!

 

You have the Christmas spirit of this bloke Jacko

I thought Papps lived in a bedsit!

[keyman 1,417]

Blimey, does it do tricks?

 

 

Yes - it makes money disappear!!

 

 

 

KM

[Gonzo 419]

Hi Jacko,

 

There was me thinking you only drank San Miguel in you spa, when you are not moderating. I switched from coffee to tea a fair while ago as it allows me to sleep much better. In the last few years before I retired we worked a lot of shift work on the wharves (docks) or rig tenders. Quite often, after working a 12 or 16 hour shift, I was called out to drive a heavy crane in middle of the night to take a new drill bit or steel casings to the oil rigs to replace damaged ones. You worked in the oil industry and probably knows how it works. I drank as many as 10 cups of black coffee to stop me from falling asleep. The money was great, but it totally stuffed up my sleep cycle. It took a long time to be able to sleep normally again and get a good night's sleep.

 

 

I had a look at my collection of tea bags. From Australia I brought back Lipton green tea imported from Ceylon. Mrs Gonzo, whose face still looks swollen, but improves every day, bought Lipton green tea with orange mandarin flavour. I just had a look at it and it is imported from Russia. It tastes all right. I bought at Friendships a couple of 25 bag boxes fully imported Dilmah tea last year, which the missus put behind a stack of books and were hidden until last week, when I was sorting out my collection of books. There was an unopened bottle of Extra Virgin Olive oil as well. I also have a few bags of Twinings of London green tea bags with mint, which is pretty good tea also.

 

 

 

At the moment I am trying to finish a box of black tea we brought from Australia. Tea is rich in anti-oxidants, which is supposed to get rid of free radicals and therefore may prevent cancer.atlas2 mentioned eating a bit of chocolate now and then. Dark chocolate has the same health benefits as tea.

We have enough green tea to last us two years. We will probably go back to Australia for another 3 month visit next April. I can bring you some tea to the Expat Club, the next time they have a decent guest speaker, whenever that will be. Alternatively, you can pay us a short visit at our modest place at the JBC, when you get your visa extension. Send a PM if you decide to do so.

 

 

Edited November 10, 2014 by Gonzo

[jacko 8,827]

Green tea tastes like shit, nor do I go for flavoured teas too much (other than some Earl Grey I have).

When I was working in China in non air-conditioned heat, all the tight buggers supplied was hot green tea and I learned to loathe it. I was also concerned as it appeared to make the teeth rot out of their heads.. along with the incessant smoking. I don't buy tea in 25-bag boxes as that would not last me very long. 100 bags is much better. My past morning wake-me-up was a big mug of coffee, proper stuff not instant. But it was giving me problems and I had to stop it. I shall take a look in the M&S shop soon, haven't been yet, I am sure there will be some excellent overpriced Christmas items.

 

I have an unopened box of loose tea a Sri Lankan gave me years ago, but I don't have a tea pot so it never got used. Since the heat is back my afternoon tea habit (with a couple of jammy dodgers) has stopped, so I simply have one in the morning.

Edited November 10, 2014 by jacko

[atlas2 4,329]

I drink a lot of tea………Thanks to being forgotten about at my dentist in the 90's and having to sit there a lot longer than necessary I discovered thumbing through the trendy magazines this stuff……..

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pu-erh_tea

 

The first cup of this is pretty strong but reheating the leaves 2 or 3 times more produces gentler flavours…..

 

I think it's benefits outweigh the one draw back……I'm told by those 'who would know' that it makes my sperm 'Kom' or taste bitter.

Edited November 11, 2014 by atlas2

[Gonzo 419]

Saying green tea will rot your teeth is nonsense. Both black and green are rich in antioxidants. Poor hygiene and too much sugary food will damage your teeth. I brushed and flossed my teeth all of my life and have 6-monthly check-ups with my dentist to scale my teeth and to apply fluoride. I still have all of my own teeth, which is rare for people in my age group. Drinking tea and coffee will stain your teeth in the long run, which does not worry me, as long as I am still able to eat any food I like, no matter how tough t is.