Debenhams department Stores: Which stores are closed? Why? What's open? What about toilets? And Deliveries!

Are you in Britain orwre pallning a trip back, or a staycation, or just a shopping trip and day out? What is on your list? Debenhams? The locations are all over mainland UK, Northern Ireland and Denmark. The buildings range from hsitoric to ultra-modern. Some were traditional family businesses bought up. Others were established in new indoor shopping centres.

Here I am wearing a smart tee-shirt with the label Principles. That is the own brand of Debenhams department store. I seem to remember I bought it in the Harrow Branch. Or maybe in Watford in Intu. 

I wish I had kept a dress diary, or a page at the back of my diary of all my year's purchases of clothes and shoes.

All over Britain there are Debenhames department stores in shopping malls and high streets. (Americans say main streets.)

Watford
The latest I read was that the Debenhams in the Intu complex in Watford is closing. that is a blow. I would come down in the lift from the car park next to the department store.

Harrow
But the Harrow branch is staying open. I wondered why the difference?

When I read that the stores in the Intu shopping malls were closing, I was surprised. I associated high streets with falling footfalls, mainly because of parking.

The flagship department stores bookend many indoor shopping malls, such as Watford's Intu. I thought, 'How can that be? Surely the big shopping malls are huge, their own business?'

Intu - In Trouble?
Then I read online that the rent is paid to the owner of the mall, Intu, which is itself suffering financial problems.

What About The Workers - and Customers
What does this mean for the customer? If things go well, maybe the Debenhams department stores will be bought up and restored under the same name or a new name. The shop workers might be rehired if still available. The shoppers will still have a department store.

What About Covid-19
Those stores which are still open have safe distancing measures. That is good news.

Toilets
Now for the bad news - toilets are not open! So, if you used to use the department store toilets, thinking they would be more hygienic, no chance of that. Go before you leave home.

Online Shopping
Meanwhile, Debenhams is still operating online. You might not be able to order online within the store. Nor to click and collect.

Delivery
But you can have items delivered. And you don't need to touch those hand-held devices for sign on delivery. Providing you give the deliverer permission to sign. You have to open your door and say so. (I have done this with other suppliers. The deliverer takes a photo of you and the goods to prove he or she has delivered.)

Debenhams has had more than 100 branches. At the start of this year they had branches in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland (Eire) and Denmark.

Useful Websites
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debenhams
https://www.debenhams.com/content/latest-updates
https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/shopping/debehams-stores-closing-list-store-closures-branches-uk-coronavirus-lockdown-end-425757

Useful Websites

OK, so you can go. Which airlines will take you?
https://www.skyscanner.com

About the author, Angela Lansbury

I and my family have lived in the UK, Spain, the USA and Singapore. I am a travel writer and photographer and teacher of English A level and English as a foreign language.

Please come to a Toastmasters International Club where the English clubs have a language evaluator or grammarian.  We also have French, German, Mandarin Chinese, Tamil and other language clubs based in Singapore and many more online around the world which because of Covid-19 are now meeting online.

I am President of Braddell Heights Advanced, meeting the first Wednesday of the month, Usually on Zoom. But the other Wednesdays have workshops on app learncool.sg

Incoming president Faith from Wed July 15th 2020 change dates and platforms so please contact the club.

Latest is only two meetings each month.

For meetings learncool it is quicker to type and easier to remember: 

 tinyurl.com/BHACOOL

Useful Websites On Speaking and Languages

https://www.toastmasters.org/find-a-club
translate.google.com
duolingo.com

https://www.duolingo.com/enroll/vi/en/Learn-Vietnamese

https://www.facebook.com/groups/polygotcommunity/

Other Useful Posts By Angela Lansbury Author

https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogs
https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2019/04/how-to-say-thank-you-in-several.html
https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2019/05/introducing-yourself-in-english-spanish.html
https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2020/01/second-set-of-portuguese-words.html 

Please share links to your favourite posts

Xmas light switch on November 15 Thursday 2018 at Intu, Watford - here are previous year's lights

Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

The Christmas light switch on in 2018 is November Thursday 15.

My favourite pictures of Christmas season lights at Intu, Watford, NW London, England, UK.
http://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2014/12/christmas-lights-at-intu-formerly.html

Meghan's Wonderful Wedding Dress - You Can Get One Like It - But Which Fabrics?

Problem
I received an exciting email from Intu, the shopping mall in Watford , North west London, England.(Intu have more malls all over the country). Meghan's wedding dress inspired dresses with boat necks at unbelievable prices (low! affordable! -  to high) but missing an essential fact - what's the fabric?

I then go onto ASOS, and I see more of the fabulous designs. Again, not enough information. I see one or two captions mention lace, but most give no indication of the material.

Answers
What I like about Amazon and ebay is usually see what you are getting. Ebay even has reference guides to: types of fabric; silver; and so on.

I have worked out the meaning of sand-washed silk and other types of silk. One word, or rather phrase of description which confused me this week was Ice Silk. As far as I can see it's almost a brand name, a synthetic, not silk from a silk worm. I was on the point of sending off a complaint to ebay when I thought about it and had second thoughts.

If they banned thre phrase Ice Silk, maybe they would have to stop advertisers using the term Thai Silk. I love Thai silk. I often search for Thai silk. Thai Silk, which is not silk, is a term I understand.

Thai Silk
After a long time thinking Thai silk was always real silk, then I found out it's usually a patterned synthetic fabric with a lovely gloss or sheen, and looks expensive.  I am happy to buy it again and again.

Ice Silk
However, the term Ice Silk is new to me. I feel it should be Ice Silky or Thai Silky.

Faux Leather
The same caution grips me when I read 'faux leather'. I don't feel outraged. I feel confused, afraid that I am being cheated, foolish, stupid, gullible. If nothing else, it wastes my time giving me pages of synthetics when I am trying to buy the real thing. Therefore, I run out of time and patience and go away buying nothing.

It took me a while, and a couple of wasted purchases, to find out that noil silk is not soft and smooth but bubbly.

Fresh
I am also bothered by a brand of juice called Fresh, because now when I look at menus I can never tell whether the Fresh juice really is the brand or made freshly squeezed on the premises.

I recall the phrase 'buyer beware'. I'm sure the sellers are making a fortune and have many happy customers. I am not yet one of them.  What do you think?

At least, with a name like faux leather, or Thai silk or ice silk, you can google away until you find out what the fabric really is. Because I speak French fluently, I know that faux means false. But when there's no description, how do you know what you are getting?

I can see for myself if it looks boat-neck, or pleated, or lace. But will it turn out to be backless? Is it lined? Elasticated? Could I wear it more than three hours? (Before it fell apart!)

If you are buying goods for a wedding or honeymoon in the summer heat, you may be concerned about the fabric. Is it lightweight, cotton, washable, crease-free, stain repellent, soft, scratchy, machine washable, dry clean only, hand wash only - what?

Replica of Kate's wedding dress, from Chinese source. Wikipedia.

Useful Websites
https://intu.co.uk/inspire-me/meghan-markle-wedding-dress-dupe?utm_medium=Newsletter
http://www.asos.com/search/wedding%20dress?q=wedding+dress

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Christmas Light All Around: Breakfast with Santa in happy Harrow, plus Intu nationwide and London's Oxford Street

Problem
What's new? What am I missing?

Answers
All over England, and indeed the world, log into your nearby Shopping Centres to find out about the lights, activities and novelties and offers.

Dickens talked about the spirit of Christmas past. Here's my glimpse of the past lights.

Lights and train in 2016 at Intu. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Intu and Watford and More
Intu at Watford is a centre I know, which has lovely white lights, but the good news is Intu also has malls all over the UK.

Harrow
Harrow Harrow sent me an email and I discovered I can log into the St George's Centre which has its own website.

St George's has the handsome apprentice star turning on the lights. New this year (new for me) is breakfast with Santa. Another Santa opportunity elsewhere in a Santa bubble is an opportunity for a selfie with Santa and a competition.

If you don't want to spend any money, at least enjoy the new loos which are prettily painted with clouds and balloons.

In Harrow, which part is St George's and which is St Anne's? That always used to puzzle me. Then one day I looked up inside St George's and realised they had pictures of St George around the top.

From Harrow, it's quick and easy to get the train into London and see the London lights.

Oxford Street. 2017 lights. Photo by Trevor Sharot. Copyright.

https://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/christmas-lights-in-london

Handy Websites
intu, Watford
https://intu.co.uk/watford/event-archive/intu-watford-christmas-light-switch-on-event

St George's, Harrow
https://www.stgeorgesshopping.co.uk

Switch on dates
http://www.harrow.gov.uk/news/article/423/tis_the_season_for…_christmas_lights

London
https://www.visitlondon.com/tag/christmas-lights

http://www.regentstreetonline.com/events/the-spirit-of-christmas-by-regent-street-–-17th-november-2016



Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Shoes and Boots With Changeable Height Heels

Cinderella - my free biscuit from Intu shopping mall, Watford, came in this promotional wrapper. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression. High heels such as those of the brand Jimmy Choo certainly make an eye catching first impression.

Jimmy Choo, second from left. Photo by Jerine Lay in Wikipedia from Flickr.

But can you walk in them comfortably? And for how long? Even model Naomi Campbell, who must be more conscious than most of how to walk, fell over on the catwalk when wearing a pair of high heels.

Problem
I have shoes which are too high to walk in. Whether for a day out, a day on holiday, I need walking shoes for the day and higher heels for the evening? What can I do?

Answers
1 Shoes which can be prettied up for evening with clip on bows or straps.
2 Shoes which fold up small as spares for travelling home.
3 Shoes with changeable heels.
4 High heeled shoes which claim to have a more comfortable design.
5 Pick pretty flat shoes and sandals.

1 Ebay And Clip Ons
Ebay has a selection of one off second hand shoes, or as some prefer to say, pre-loved.
Amazon
Amazon has various clip on fur or fur style pom poms:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/ERaBLe-TM-Clips-Women-Decoration/
Cost from about £6 to just under £20.

2 Roll Up Shoes
http://rollasole.com

3 Shoes With Changeable Heels
Mime Et Moi
https://mimemoi.com/en/

Tanya Heath, Paris.
https://www.tanyaheath.com/en
Heels from 3 cm-11 cm, costing 175-205 Euros for the shoe without the heel, then about 50 Euros for each heel. They come in a large number of colours. I was offered 15% for signing up to their newsletter.

4 Designed For Comfort High Heels
Thesis Couture
http://www.thesiscouture.com

5 FLAT SHOES & SANDALS
EnBrogue
www.Enbrogue.com
Blog about flat shoes and boots.

6 Indoor-outdoor Slippers
Slippers with detachable soles so you can wear them outdoors then remove soles when you come indoors.
https://mahabis.com

7 Elegant Sandals In Silver And Gold
www.Hotter.com
They have a catalogue to mail to you, online ordering, and shops in malls such as Intu in Watford High Street, NW London, England. You will periodically get offers of reductions on one pair or if you buy two.
Shoes and sandals with touch and close fastening and pretty colours and also gold, rose, gold, silver or pewter.

When buying silver and gold shoes to match a handbag or other item, silver comes up in at least two shades, a dark and a light shade, and the same goes for gold, which also comes up in rose gold. If you can buy your evening bag and shoes from the same shop to match that's easiest. The alternative is to buy one item, then tour the shops until you get the right shade to match.

Hotter shop window in Intu, Watford with a 3 for 2 offer. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

(More details and pictures later.)

Jimmy Choo High Heels
http://www.jimmychoo.com/en/home

Problems Caused By Shoes And Heel Heights
http://www.parkerpodiatry.com/blog/multi-height-heel-could-be-solution-for-some-foot-pain.cfm

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. I have earlier posts on sandals, hiking boots, carry on luggage, learning languages and destinations. Please bookmark and share links to your favourite posts.

Stanmore Lights, trees and memories of best Watford lights

Where are the best lights? Go north to Intu shopping mall by car or train to Watford High Street, and you can enjoy an indoor mall with a train ride for children (small fee to ride about £2), Sant'as grotto and lovely lights up the columns and entertaining activities. If on the other hand, you do not get out of the car, you will pass different light in high streets driving into London via places such as Stanmore.

Taken from a moving car, but a reminder of the lights in Stanmore in 2016. White lights in the trees.


Driving through Stanmore, I noticed that the Apollonia restaurant had a banner saying they can offer kosher catering for events.
http://www.apollonia.co.uk/events.php

I have more and better pictures of lights around London this year on other posts, plus photos from previous years in London and Singapore.
Here are a couple of my favourites:

Putting up a Christmas tree in Hatch End in a previous year.
Previous year's decorations in Intu shopping mall in Watford.

It's good to be able to look back and compare. Memory can play tricks on you. One year I thought that coins were getting smaller. I got out a box of old coins, all stamped with the year they were issued. No, I was wrong. Coins were the same size as my childhood. So if you think last year's were better, or not as good, those old photos can tell you the truth.

Previous year's lights in Stanmore - look the same to me.
A later, better photo is in the post on Dec 6 2016.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
type in Angela Lansbury, author or travel writer or poet. Fortunately there are only four people with my name. Most people I look up on Facebook and google and linkedIn have twenty namesakes worldwide. As for people called Patel, Cohen and Levy, Singh - several million of those.
Follow me on Facebook and like my pages here and there and everywhere including linking to me on LinkedIn, Watching me on YouTube.

Window Shopping - the Disappearing Santa Cake

I saw this amusing cake showing Santa disappearing nose into the snowy icing, in the window of one of my favourite shops for window-shopping. The shop is Genuine Cakes of Hatch End and they have a counter in the middle of the upstairs of Intu shopping mall in Watford.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Happy Halloween Cakes from Genuine Cakes

Genuine cakes always has interesting displays. See them in Hatch End or inside the Intu shopping mall in Watford. I love Halloween cakes. My favourite parts of Halloween are pumpkins and cakes. All the amusement of Halloween with nothing really scary or dangerous or immoral (unless you are dieting).

I took the photos from outside the shop and got reflections in the window glass. However, the reflections on the white cake are striking - I like them.

Any excuse for a cake or a party. If you have a birthday, or want to entertain the children indoors over half term, keep them occupied with decorating and making or eating a cake.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Happy Hallowe-en

Hallowe'en has arrived in the shops. The month of October. Here's a window in John Lewis, Watford with a display.

I remember when Hallowe'en was almost unknown in England but the Americans made a big thing of it. Now all the supermarkets in England are full of Hallowe'en costumes.

Here's a cake in the window of Genuine Cakes, who have a shop in Hatch End and a stand in the centre of the mall in Intu in Watford.

If you bought Hallowe'en hats or fingers or face paints in previous years, you have time to get them out, ready for your home or away parties. As you travel your trip will be enhanced by the hallowe'en window displays and decorations.

If you are on a budget, try poundshop.com
If you need to stock up on hats or outfits for any other occasion, they will be cheaper the day after Hallowe'en.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Ice cream in London - and your security at kiosks and queues

Alcoholic ice cream? Cheesecake ice cream? You probably don't associate London with ice cream but every High street and shopping mall will offer you two or three or more outlets which specialise in ice cream or have an ice cream selection on the side. The same goes for Singapore. Maybe the same applies worldwide.

Two great countries have influenced this. The Italians brought ice cream to London. The Americans offered us not three but severn or 30 or 31 flavours, a new one for every day of the week. Finally in London such luminaries of innovation, top chefs and restaurants, started introducing savoury and novelty ice creams.

A few for you to look at or try:

Top of the range of surprises:

Dinner restaurant in what used to be the Mandarin Oriental opposite Harrods. The dessert ice cream is made in front of you on a trolley. They've been doing this for over a year but if you want to sample it please check with them before going and see the prices for lunches and any special offers because it's very expenses.

Petrus - again top of the range of restaurants so look for special offers for lunches. The surprise is the solid ice cream chocolate spare or half sphere which cracks open and inside is the melting ice cream.

Check ice creams in your area in your local high street or mall.  Here are some I found recently.

Intu shopping mall, Watford.

You get a teeny lick on a miniature flat spoon. Enough to see if you like it. I tried two. The pistachio was disappointing, not much flavour or after taste. My preference was the cheesecake and fruit flavour.

These two far left are alcoholic. I haven't tried them yet. Next time.

By the way, secure your bags if you are buying from a stall. Whilst you are talking to a member of staff somebody may come up behind you to look at the ice creams and jostle you. You open your purse or pocket to get out your money, have ice cream in one hand, an open pocket or purse. You walk a few yards and realise your pocket is still open.

 Fortunately everything is still there, passport, money, etc, and the family of three, mother on one side, children jumping about the other side, were a perfectly honest family just looking at ice cream. But what if they hadn't been? Plan to keep your money for a purchase separately, or already in your hand. The same goes in a queue in a busy shop at sale time. (In Britain say queue. In America say line up.)

Shake away have a kind of ice cream drink. They came out at lunch time one day offering tastings. Crunch bits. Very good.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Intu Shopping Centres Around UK Expanding, Watford exhibition of photos shows

Intu exhibition of photos in Watford shows developments around the UK.

If you thought your local Intu was the only one, there are several more. All our being redeveloped.

Here's the one which caught my eye. A Sea Life aquarium and Lego Discovery at Intu Trafford Centre.

A new modern look.

Bright and spacious, like it is now, but even better.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.

What's New At Intu?

The Intu shopping mall in Watford is expanding. They are building a new department store, Debenhams, as well as space for several more shops and eating places. When will it be finished? Not this year, not next year, but the year after that, 2018.

Meanwhile, Intu has John Lewis, W H Smith, Boots (offering sight tests), Marks, BHS, Primark, Lakeland, Apple, Costa, Timpsons key cutting and lots more.

Does this pair suit me? Maybe not.

To keep children entertained, the little train chugs around. You can ride it for a small fee.

In front of the Enquiry desk is an area where children can sit and draw. You can usually pick up a free wrapped mini pretzel.

My eyeball, seen in Boots. Photo by Angela Lansbury

Outside in the High Street you'll find another branch of Boots and a couple of discount stores. I have several previous posts on Intu showing the train, Xmas decorations and shops.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Sales and Skates: Shops Open and Sales Starting Boxing Day (Saturday 26) or Sunday 27th 2015

Check online to see which stores are opening, and who has a sale on. Fenwick is opening.

Even the little shops such as Tesco Express have signs in their windows that they are opening Boxing Day (January 26th). Some of the shops which are opening won't start sales until Sunday 27th.

John Lewis in Watford's Intu said they would start their clearance sales on Sunday 27th.

Or maybe look for an ice show for the children or adults.
Nutcracker on Ice at the Royal Albert Hall, 28 December (Monday) until Jan 2nd. Tel:020 7838 3100. Half price tickets for children under 16, on some ticket prices.
royalalberthall.com

Later in January there's a novelty ice dance performance, Vertical by Le Patin Libre. From Tuesday 12th Jan to Sat 16 2016.
Tel:0844 453 9017.

If you still haven't got your Xmas present sorted, of you've got money as a gift and owner who you can spend it on, for Torvill and Dean fans there's a tribute lunch .
www.variety.org.uk

See my previous post about ice skating in London and worldwide.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.

Watford's Winter Lights at Intu

The descending white lights in Watford's Intu mall. The John Lewis sale starts Dec 27th 2015.

See also my previous posts on lights inside and outside Intu, the Santa grotto and more.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.

Santa's Grotto, Intu Shopping Mall, Watford

Santa's Grotto

Place for a photo

Opening times

Angela Lansbury. 

Travel writer and photographer. Author and speaker.

London Lights Delights - Intu shopping mall, Watford

Angela Lansbury. Travel writer and photographer. Author and speaker. 

Lights and What to see in Winter London: Wembley, Watford and Singapore streets and malls

In central London the major lite streets are Oxford Street and Regent Street. The major window displays are Harrods by the Knightsbridge station, Selfridges near Bond street, Carnaby street near Oxford Circus station, hamlets toy store in Regent street nearer the Oxford Circus station, but many people like to walk from Piccadilly and Piccadilly station along Regent street.

Wembley Arch
Travelling by bus or train, you can travel into London to see the lights. If you are travelling out of London, or into London, by train, you can see the Wembley arch lit up at night from the Metropolitan railway as you pass. Have your camera or smart phone ready.

Many shopping malls have lights. For example, Watford's Intu. Most of the London malls have more lights inside than out. Plus a Santa's grotto and entertainment in the middle.

Suburban Watford's Intu

Train for children to ride at Intu shopping mall (for a fee).

Double decker view of lights on columns at Intu, Watford.

Lights on one level at Intu, Watford, England at night.

Intu lights in the day time - still a fairyland.

Singapore's Changi and Orchard Road
Changi airport has changing exhibitions in the departure and arrival halls, even on the carousels. Expect Christmas lights, Christmas trees and piped music of carols, instrumental or with words.

Singapore has lights along Orchard road, the main shopping street with several large malls. You also hear carols. Singapore tends to have the big displays over the front of the mall, sometimes overhead above pedestrians, best seen from across the road or from the upper deck of buses or from the overhead light railway in the suburbs. If you want refuge from the rain or to hide from the haze, an indoor walkway runs under Orchard Road from the huge underground shopping complex below the central Orchard station on basements one and two. You can come up again at any of the malls, such as Ngee Ann City towers.

Diwali
In London Diwali is celebrated with fireworks. Diwali will be celebrated with lights in Little India in Singapore.

Chinese new Year
Chinese New Year decoration will be all over Singapore, in the centre, and the atriums of the larger hotels, as well as in Chinatown's streets and malls.

Red and orange lanterns appear everywhere in Singapore, for Chinese festivals, including swimming pools and public areas and walkways of government and private housing estates.

More information and photos:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3323408/Aux-armes-citoyens-Fan-s-video-shows-incredibly-emotional-Wembley-moment-English-French-supporters-joined-sing-La-Marseillaise-tribute-victims-Paris-attacks.html

See later post Nov 19 2015 for photo of Wembley arch in tricolour. 

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.
Pictures will be added later today, Wednesday.