Bassonia Shopping Centre (previously Comaro View Shopping Centre) welcomed a new SPAR to its centre just over a week ago and of course I went along to check it out. What Bag Lady would miss out on a new offering?
If you are just going to SPAR and not shopping elsewhere in the centre, park on the upper parking deck and walk over the bridge into the shop. The layout is nice and on entering the shop, the fresh fruit and veggie section awaits you, where a small selection of fresh flowers are also available.
Walking towards your right you’ll come to the bakery counter with a well-stocked choice of homemade biscuits and cakes, as well as freshly baked bread and rolls.
Then the rest of the store opens up with all the usual SPAR offerings in groceries, etc.
It may have been because it was the first day of opening, although I hope not, as the staff were extremely friendly and all were smiling, which is quite something these days.
Another thing which is great, is having the SPAR here will be good competition for Woolworths, on the level below. When they first opened up the new revamped store the staff were also super friendly but that has worn off a little over the months. Funnily enough though, the last few times I’ve been there since SPAR opened its doors, the staff and management have upped their game and are once again greeting customers with lovely smiles! Competition is super.
I wish SPAR lots of luck for their future in Bassonia Shopping Centre. My shopping experience at this store was good. I’ll be back!
Mushrooms for breast cancer? Yes!
So come on South Africa, here’s your chance to help breast cancer survivors in financial need, regain their confidence and self-esteem.
For the entire month of October, pink punnets will ‘mushroom’ onto Pick n Pay’s fresh produce shelves nationally. One rand from each punnet of 250g whole white button mushrooms, 250g sliced white button mushrooms, the 250g budget line and the 400g whole white mushroom punnets sold, will be donated to Reach for Recovery’s Ditto project. A remarkable initiative that provides silicone prostheses to women who, after breast cancer followed by a mastectomy, cannot afford to purchase a prosthesis even less so undergo reconstructive surgery.
Reach for Recovery’s Management board chairperson, Stephné Jacobs, is passionate about the positive impact of the Power of Pink fundraising campaign on the success achieved by Reach for Recovery’s Ditto Project. She believes that women in low-income categories, diagnosed with breast cancer, deserve the same access to support services as anyone else as these could be life-saving, literally and figuratively. “No one can understand the self-esteem, financial and family challenges these breast cancer survivors face unless they have walked a mile in their shoes. We who are breast cancer survivors themselves and volunteers, understand that journey all too well, and through the Power of Pink, they have the capacity to assist these women in reshaping their lives.”
The South African Mushroom Farmers’ Association (Samfa) and Pick ‘n Pay, Power of Pink campaign partners since its inception in 2010, have been tireless in their support of breast cancer survivors who find themselves in an even more difficult financial situation after a mastectomy. Over the last 9 years over R4-million has been raised enabling the campaign to change the lives of more than
6 000 women.”
To celebrate the 10th year of the Power of pink campaign, Pick n Pay will be donating 1 400 mastectomy bras for prosthesis recipients.
“The generosity of our partners and the support of all South Africans make this campaign possible. We are therefore asking everyone to be on the alert for colourful pink punnets of mushrooms in the veggie aisle of your local Pick n Pay during October. Be sure to pop a punnet or two into your trolley. It’s a lovely healthy way of giving a gift of hope and healing.”
Brought to you by: The South African Mushroom Farmers’ Association
Festive shopping
Most stores have begun to display Christmas décor and gifts on their shelves and once again, in my opinion, Woolworths is coming up tops, especially with their glam packaging. Wait a minute though, maybe I shouldn’t be going overboard on this, where will it all end up after Christmas? Hopefully Woolworths has created most of its packaging using biodegradable materials.
I’m just window shopping now but I’ll be sussing out some great buys for the whole family in the next few weeks.
For now though maybe it’s a good time to start stocking up on non-perishable food stuffs which have a shelf life to take you into 2020, and are used over the festive season. I always make sure I have plenty of crackers – the biscuit variety (perfect for all those cheese boards you’ll be serving), tins of fruit (handy if you need a quick dessert), a few extra tins of tuna fish, olives, mustards, tinned tomatoes, pasta and of course, bottles of wine!
You can also purchase festive serviettes now, tin foil, cling film and kitchen roll. These products will be used readily over the festive season.
Guests and family coming to stay
I don’t know about you but if we are going to have family to stay over for Christmas and New Year, I like to make sure I have some divine body products available in the bathroom, especially for the ladies. Beautifully fragranced hand soap and hand cream, shower gel, creamy body butter or body cream, bubble bath or bath oil and of course fluffy towels.
Over the top
I know, I know, and I also love to put a small welcome gift on the bed. It could be a gorgeous chocolate or a miniature size bath gel or hand cream. The Body Shop sells a gorgeous range and often also stock a festive range.
Cocktails at News Café
Thursday night I went out with some close friends and we enjoyed a cocktail at News Café Meyersdal, before going for dinner. I chose a Glamber, so divine! It was described as “This Gram-worthy gin-fusion, glams up your glass with a burst of bubbles and a dash of gold. Go on, be extra.”
Our waiter, Musa, was professional and friendly with a huge smile, and the manager, Norbert Ncube, really went out of his way with his staff to make our “happy” hour there special. Cheers Norbert, it was great!
That’s it for this week. Shop till you drop!
Julie
