Colin

I wouldn't have quite put it that way but, if the cap fits, wear it.
It might also be worth noting that just outside of living memory, the British Government fought a war with China in order to gain a market for Opium.  Ho hum...  Pick your poison..
FWIW; 
it is obvious (to me anyway) that the so called 'War on Drugs' has failed.
I have thought for years that the best way to deal with addictions is to put the same substances (clean) in the hands of the NHS.  That way, registered addicts are taken out of the hands of the drug 'overlords' and into the community where they can be supervised and maybe weaned off the stuff.  This approach should(?) cause the dealers to be faced with a shrinking market for their poisons and, if there is no money in it, they will move on.
If that fails, just build a bunch of padded cells and chuck the addicts inside them. 

Price is definately a guide point when buying your dinner but, perversely, I find some of the cheaper tins of beans (from Tesco) taste better (to me) than the big brand names..  One man's meat.., I guess..
As XAM7102 pointed out, there is not much quality difference to choose with staples like pasta's/potatoes/etc.  and Tesco often sells them for pennies.
As for the Co-op; I don't find them much cheaper, if at all, than some country shops.  They are just a big country shop in the middle of town.. 

You can borrow my tin hat if you want...  It's a bit thicker than most, and covers bits that others cannot reach.. 

All fair comment, but like yourself, I do not want to pay any more than I have to.
I have noticed that some country shop charge a 'premium' on some items, and it is not unknown to be charged a whole £1 extra for a packet of ciggies.  I don't like price gouging anywhere, and I only get burned (sic) once, preferring to go without until I can get into co-op/tesco.
Strange really, because the country shop then loses out on the other stuff I might have bought at the time.
As for 'price marked' goods, there are still plenty about, but at the same time, I know of country shops that refuse to stock them!!!
The moral is that some country shops need to try and meet their customers halfway instead of treating them as a resource to fund a comfortable living.  If they were to do that, then they might stand a better chance of surviving.
 

yawn

I wasn't going to bother responding but, seeing as roachmill seems to be making a point os stalking/trolling my posts, and evil inky seems to making a point of stalking/trolling GR's posts,  it's beginning to look like a conspiracy.  Just an 'opinion' of course... 

** Moderator edit - this thread was split from the Vaccination Cards thread **
Agreed. It was reported earlier and after giving a chance for GR to self-moderate, I've removed the post.

Is it really worth having ?  IMHO, NO!!
Anyway, why would anyone want 'secure personal information' on a vaccination card.  That's just ID Cards via the back door.
If you want one, and they are available, then just apply for it but, there is no way that it should be mandatory.
It seems to work for Driving Licences, Passports etc.

https://theguideliverpool.com/fred-olsen-launches-welcome-back-cruises-departing-from-liverpool-in-the-summer/
Given the current state of affairs, and given the relatively little they spend here, do we REALLY want cruisers to 'step ashore' this year ?
It's being presented as a 'given'.  Will we get a choice ?

OK, 2 walls.   Must have left your sense of humour behind one of them...

No way !!!   I don't do 'PC'...  

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-56245100
Isle of Man was just about the 1st to end restrictions and open up, now they have a 'spike'.  Shows just how fragile things are, and that it only takes 1 person to bring it in..

I would guess that you might have to (at least) double the amount you are prepared to pay for a place. 
I would also wonder if people would like to have their floors messed up with paint, even if it is a washable(?) watercolour.
Best of luck anyway.
 

I'm corrected twaree folk, and da conversation usually goes alany da lines o
Sooth person: "...The Shetlands..."
Me (with an accent): "It's actually Shetland"
Sooth person: "Shiitland?!! The land of shiit?"
Me: "The Shetlands is fine"
--
Apologies tae da admin folk - I'm bypassed da swear filter because it wis ruining my  anecdote by correcting Shiitland to 'Turdland'. I'm fly, so I added an 'ii'  
 
** admin edit - given the dialect context, your 'ii Shiitland' is permissible! **

Yis, dir 'saft arrrs*' seem tae be da main budder.
(*soft pronunciation of the letter 'r', rather than pliable buttocks)

I would guess that the global media is as washed up as the surfboard. 

I've been here 40 years and, as far as I can tell, I still speak pretty much the same as the day I arrived. 
I have to admit though, that some local words have crept in.
I tend to agree that newcomers(?) who try to speak 'Shetlandic' (?) can sound a bit funny..
Same can be true when done the other way around as well..
Puts me in mind of a young lady at an office answering the phone to a high flying BP exec that her boss was 'kinda busy this morning, but he would be here in a little start...'
 

Don't take it personally.  No slur was intended.
FWIW;
I don't have a clue either.

Probably the best pension in the world.. 

Probably the best pension in the world.. 

Probably the best pension in the world.. 

I think that this question was answered last time around.
If you have paid in to the current system, then you are entitled to receive your pension no matter where you live.

It most likely means that it has become cheaper to make it here than elsewhere..
Anyway, there's always time for chocolate.. 

"Shetland Islands off of Scotland’s east coast"
Looks like the author really did his homework..

I was a little surprised that Crown Dependency was omitted, and maybe Denmark should get a ention as well.