Well I Golden Wonder

Remember a few years ago Jamie Oliver looked to promote healthy eating in schools and the kids' mothers pushed chips through the school fence to the youngsters.

Well, I'm not a great fan of Mr O: his cockerney geezer persona gave me an excuse not to shop at Sainsbury's - though he does a mean recipe for baking salmon in the oven with anchovies and tomatoes.

In the medical journals, the five a day mantra is now being replaced with a push towards nine a day as five is really a bare minimum- sometimes you just know things aren't gonna happen. I think I eat fairly well but don't think I can manage nine regularly.

Anyhow - I always thought the healthy eating push was unfortunately doomed to failure and I saw two perfect examples this week. As you can see from the picture - if you are going to eat unhealthily - then you might as well do it cheaply - and here we have a Chippy loyalty card and discount scheme for kids in a local town. Don't want to promote but if you send me a message I will pass on the details.

And secondly, yesterday was a lovely day in Glasgow. Buchanan Street was busy with shoppers soaking up the rays. But the busiest place wasn't a shop but the area around the three wheelie bins of Golden Wonder crisps being doled out. Free Tomato Ketchup, Salt and Vinegar and Cheese and Onion crisps were to be had by all. As they say - owt for nowt, be there with your barra. Took a couple of packets for the snap boxes this week - but wondered if a fruit based equivalent would have been so successful!!!!

Women of the world take over

Went to the Blue Spine exhibition at the Mitchell library in Glasgow yesterday. The artist had invited the 500 plus women who contributed books to attend a photo shoot. Around 200 looked like they turned up and there were a smattering of menfolk. I was asked a number of times about whether I felt nervous among the bevy of womanhood.

At the point where all the contributors were on one side of the room - this left a collection of guys on the other side of the room - a bit like those old school discos with everyone lined up against the walls.

It was a great event - the sun shone through the library's glass ceiling and I got myself a funky t-shirt that can be seen in the picture for a fiver - great deal.

What difference does it Flake

I am sure many of you remember the Mike Leigh play - Abigail's Party. We went to see it at our local Theatre a while ago. The day before we saw it the actor who played Laurence actually did fall ill during the climactic heart attack scene and it sounds like they did have to ask if there was a doctor in the house!!!

Before the play we had a themed tea - culminating in a version of the classic 99 - Musselburgh made di Rollos vanilla ice cream, homemade strawberry sauce and a Cadbury's Flake - mmmmm.

This started a little research project as it seemed to me that when I made this particular dessert (which I have done since) - irrespective of the number of Flakes available - couples would share the Flake but single chums would take the whole bar, pulverise it into flakey chocolate dust and pour over their ice cream. Dear reader - more research is needed on this topic.

Anyhow - the reason I raise this now is that I always think Flakes are a treat due to their relatively high price - but the Co-Op on Leith Walk - and maybe others, are selling multipacks of four for a pound at the moment.

Appropriate Yourself

Time for a bit of navel gazing and looking back at the posts so far. When did self referentialism ever become a crime - or even a real word.

Not as good as the free salmon - but the same issue at the supermarket led to free tatties this week. Keep checking those till receipts.

Found the designs for the Captain Value super hero suit and felt should post. Thanks to La Presidenta for her contribution - a woman of many talents.

And finally - despite a number of visits at 6.30 on a Sunday the flashmobbers don't appear to have returned - shame - I was hoping to have a battle of wits over the 10p pork pies

Dig the music Mr DJ

It's been a quiet week in the World of Captain Value but after a bit of an hiatus I have been stocking up on some new tunes.

It's relatively easy to go down the rapidshare route but there are some good sites which allow for legitimate downloads.

My two favourites at the moment offer differing experiences. Daytrotter.com gives you access to four song sessions by emerging and established bands. Recently they have posted sessions by such diverse folk at Kris Kristofferson and Lambchop. Great chance to get a taster of new things and hear live versions of favourite tracks. I'd highly recommend The Antlers session from October 2009 and The Acorn from February 2009.

I am also a fan of Zunior.com - which is a Canadian site which every two weeks has a free download of an eight track sampler. There is always something of interest and for the ears to prick up.

Another site but for podcasts is the music section of NPR.org - the US public radio service. There are a couple of podcasts available - All Songs Considered - provides an update on new music and most recently had John Lydon as a guest DJ. There are the tiny Desk Concerts and also First Listen when a new album is available to stream. the presenters really sound like they love their music and have a jocular interplay that reminds of the best of BBC Radio Five Live's Fighting Talk. You know - no holds barred - but go for a pint together afterwards.

And the flames rose to her roman nose

There seems to be something about three for a quid offers. i have already mentioned the card shop in Leith - but another recommended one is at the Hearing Dogs for the Deaf charity shop in Musselburgh. It starts with a strange tunnel - like entrance which opens out into a chasmesque shop that seems to go on and on. There is a small book room, furniture and a wide selection of pots and glassware. Strangely when i was last there I would swear i could hear pigeons in the roof.

i have to admit that I'm sometimes disappointed by charity shops which price material at almost a commercial rate. However, at the Hearing Dogs you can get any three videos, CDs and books for a pound - excellent value.

There is a down side to this though - I am sometimes loathed to donate these items where I think they have a higher intrinsic value and therefore pass them on somewhere else.

As you can see from the picture above - it's a great place to buy a copy of The Full Monty

I'm Till Ill

Simple scenario this week - just done the shopping and heading for the exit. But something is nagging that Value conscious part of the brain - sure I have spent more than expected.

So checked the till receipt and the smoked salmon (yes I am a great fan of the better things in life) - has been scanned through twice.

So went to Customer Service where the policy is to give you back twice the overcharging. So the outcome for me - some very pleasant Shetland smoked salmon for free.

But how many people check the till receipts - with everything automated there should be less chance for human error - but there still is.