[Redway]

“Brands” in this context could (in-line with however you choose to interpret it) be anything to-do-with cars, food, clothes/sports-merchandise, T.V. shows, supermarkets and/or everything in-between. I’ll get the ping-ball rolling.

1. Selfridges (because I said-so)

2. Tesco. It’s convenient and not-too-expensive (which is important in these grave economic-times) but it’s a bit of a cliche (and I’ve never been hot on £3 meal-deals). I like big-Tescos but otherwise I’d much-rather do a decent spot of grocery-shopping at Morrisons, Asda and (on the rare instances that I can actually afford-to) Waitrose/Costco.

I’ve never liked Tesco that much. Anyone who goes to the superstore/s (which do actually tend-to be quite nice) is obviously making a deliberate effort to shop at Tesco-Tesco but otherwise I feel like it’s just there for convenience. It’s not terrible by any means but it’s just not my kind-of shop.

3. Hollyoaks. I know it’s only-really for teenagers anyway but I just feel like Waterloo Road (which I actually really like, at-least the first four seasons, and binge-watch when I can to this day) is there for good entertainment, that both teenagers and adults (including teachers) can enjoy. I saw two episodes of Hollyoaks circa Year 8/9 and told a 5-minute lie at school that I was starting to get into it (not that the lads I spun that to even wanted me in their esoteric Cheshire-teen. fan club) but like I say I wasn’t being serious. It never actually did anything for me.

4. Emmerdale. I still watch EastEnders and Corrie - I picked both up again properly a Christmas-or-so-ago after getting more-bored-than-usual with them over the 2020 side of the pandemic but I just can’t do Emmerdale, no matter how-bored I might be on any-given weeknight. There was a time I tried to hop-a-board (albeit for all-of 10 episodes max.) 11-ish years ago (Jimmy, Kelly and Rhona were quite-prominent then) and I think I vaguely-liked what I saw but evidently not enough to have me back for more. Enough was enough way before the 40th-anniversary.

4. Manchester (as a city, not any of the football clubs). It’s definitely not bad and it’s good for a day/night out (and MediaCity is just-amazing) but the city’s culture by-and-large just comes-off as a bit grim, toxic and unfriendly to me. I much-prefer Liverpool, Cheshire and London.

5. Even the game football (it’s good and-everything and I’m obviously a Reds-supporter but it’s not even in my top-fifteen list-of interests, compared to blokes who literally-obsess the life out of every poor pig whose skin might get used to make the next football).

6. Clubbing. I don’t know if it’s naturally because I’m quite socially-introverted (or at-least reserved) but pubs and (when I can afford-to) are two places outside of the invariable comfort of my own space I’d much-rather spend my Friday-and-Saturday-nights. I’m not the sort of person who’s particularly-sensitive to external stimuli (not that I love loud noise) but I’ve just never been into clubs. I’ll go if someone invites me (which doesn’t happen a lot anymore because people know how I’m set and I’m getting a little old for the scene anyway) and probably have a decent night but I can think of a million places I’d rather spend my free time.

7. Gucci (not that it isn’t still good)