As usual, there is a queue at the cafe in Sainsbury’s at Arnold. The woman behind the counter is working hard but the system is against her. So is the customer she is serving, who can’t make his mind up.
I have two scones – one cheese, one fruit. Julia sticks with a single cheese scone. We select them, then we wait in line. They are small, neat and hexagonal.
Eventually I go to find a table because my knee is playing up.
The first two tables are too dirty to clean by wiping with a paper napkin. The third is passable, but dirty underneath. They have at least four staff and I’m not impressed. I think of writing a stiffly worded letter of complaint but it won’t do any good and the insincere reply will annoy me even more.

A dirty floor – Sainsbury’s, Arnold
The cheese scone feels hard as I slide the knife in. It is not a light and fluffy scone, though I had expected this from the small and regular shape.
There are specks of visible cheese, and it tastes good.
The fruit scone is moist inside, in a doughy way, rather than a good way. It still tastes good but looks strange in the camera viewfinder.

A slightly doughy fruit scone
At one time we would have ordered the cream tea but we are getting too old for all the sugar and fat.
evening draws on
the rotund blogger
photographs his food
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I feel the same as you about writing letters of complaint!
🙂
I used to be quite the “Letter of Complaint” writer, back when I was young and thought someone might give a damn. Now, I’m pretty sure it is a waste of time.
Sadly, I agree with you. 🙂
I think you could be right, Jodie.
Oh, dear! At least you got some poetry out if it.
🙂
Loving this series of scone articles. Great investigative reporting.
Thank you. 🙂
Oh dear, oh dear. At least it resulted in a good haibun
Very kind. 🙂
Right? I LOVE that – it was the perfect ending to the post.
Thank you. 🙂
Have you run into any blueberry scones on your travels?
Not yet, but if I find ant I will definitely try them.
Mmm scones.
They tasted good, despite the denseness, and the staff are always pleasant.
That is good. Where did you have the scones.
Sainsbury’s in Arnold.
They look rather disappointing to me I am forced to say!
The taste was OK, but they were small and dense. You could, I suspect, play ice hockey with them.
Scones pictures and poetry…who could ask for anything more?
It certainly ticks a lot of boxes. 🙂