Being up north has been a blast from the past.  Not just because we’ve been spending time with friends but visiting the city I spend three happy years as an undergraduate student.  Leeds is a remarkable city and seems to continue to thrive. But nevertheless it is a big city and for a country mouse like myself it now feels big, bold and ever so slightly overwhelming.

There are some things that don’t change much though.  I was keen to revisit the victorian shopping arcades to see how they might have changed over time.  It’s fair to say that they have been preserved and enhanced to create a very picturesque retail experience.  Sitting here enjoying a coffee I was reflecting on how retailing in the UK has changed, or not.  MT was I think just enjoying the coffee.

The sheer volume of shops is what stands out for me and the fact that every town has a similar set of shops.  Chain stores have been a fact of life in the UK for a very long time but somehow I’ve forgotten how cookie cutter it makes the retailing experience.  Walking around towns and cities I also feel a pressure to buy.  There are special offers, cheap prices and constant encouragement to part with your money.  I’ve been resisting the temptation not on principle but for the fact that in truth I don’t need lots of stuff.

That’s not to say I haven’t enjoyed seeing what’s on offer but in truth I was more interested in the architecture of the victorian arcades than what was in the stores themselves. Once again I’ve been confronted with the longevity of what’s here.  These arcades have existed for over 100 years. Whether you like Victorian architecture or not you can see that the people of the time invested in the best.  They built something meant to last.

My overall impression is that nowadays things are not built to last.  Things are disposable, even clothes that are so cheap it almost wouldn’t matter if you wore things a few times and then they fell apart or you just didn’t wear it any more.  Or would it?

I’ve always been a shopper looking for value – for me this is the balance between quality and price ranked against how it will meet my motivation to fulfill personal need.  Right now I’m seeing lots of stuff here in the UK I just don’t think are good value regardless how cheap or expensive it is.  Also, I’m seeing stuff that is so cheap I’ve got to question how can it be? What are the consequences for the people who make, ship and retail a t-shirt in Marks and Spencers that is for sale at £5. Right now I’m still throwing all these thoughts around my head and as a result I’ve not plunged in an bought anything in particular.

If time had permitted I would have spent some time poking around the Leeds City Market.  This was certainly bargain heaven for me when I was a cash strapped student.  I spent many late Saturday afternoons getting the bargains at the end of the trading week – meat, fruit and veg were true bargains.

Away from the shopping precincts I can see that development and restoration has made Leeds an intriguing mix of old and new.  There are however some symbols of Leeds I haven’t forgotten.  It was nice to have a peak at them again.

But our trip to Leeds City was not just about shopping and walking tours.  The primary reason was to meet up with friends.  These are people I’ve known for many many years who travelled down from the far North East to come and see me.  The lovely Eveline and Kay – my North East Mum and her little girl.  Or at least she used to be a little girl.  Now she’s all grown up and a graduate herself.

I think the sign of true friendship is that even though there is a long gap in time between seeing each other you can pick up conversations like you only saw them last week.  With the friends we are seeing during this trip certainly fall into that category right now.  It’s not all about looking back to what you’ve shared but about the hear and now and what your planning for the future.

There is one special family that is very much living in the here and now and we’ve just spent a wonderful weekend with them.  Aside from us having lots in common and enjoying each others company we are all rooting for Seth who underwent a pioneering stem cell bone marrow transplant at Easter.  He is progressing well in terms of battling the cancer but he’s still a very sick little boy with a daily battle to get fitter and healthier.  He had his best few days whilst we were staying and it was a total joy to listen to him chattering on, play with him and see his gorgeous smile.  His sister is a total charmer too and together they bring sunshine and happiness to all those people around them.  We can only wish, will or pray that Seth will continue to grow stronger every day.  You can also help others like Seth.

As every day goes past I am relishing my trip back the homeland more and more.  It is of course the people that make the trip so special.  Although I can’t help but enjoy the historical context that is missing from New Zealand.

For the next few days we’re going to enjoy some family time in the West Midlands before heading to Oxford towards the end of the week.