Rachel Reeves Sale

(NB Rachel Reeves is our Chancellor of the Exchequer. Retailers like Beales, Shoe Zone, and New Look argue her measures (National Insurance hikes, Minimum Wage Increase, Business Rates Relief Reduction, Inheritance Tax Changes, combined with existing challenges like online competition and high rents, have accelerated closures)

Nice start to the morning tho' much cooler again. Just returning from Poole after a wander on the Quayside and to see how the new Hall & Woodhouse Pub was coming on (sadly not open yet). So returned to Wetherspoon but for some reason they didn't have any Aspall.

Beales is closing in Poole (Bournemouth closed a couple of years ago). In recent years a tacky, over-priced store, selling everything you don't need. A shadow of its former reputation. Good try blaming Rachel Reeves!

Have to be back by 4pm for 5th visit by an EE engineer in less than a year. EE useless in my location. BT offloaded private customers to EE which is part of the same group. Not happy since the change. Sadly they won't let me leave their expensive contract which has another year to run.

Friends coming at four-ish. Last-minute arrangement so we'll make dinner with what we have! Probably spaghetti all'aglio e olio and side salad. Burger for their 5 year old.