Plastic free shopping.

An interesting morning out.

First to try the new trains. We took the 09.20 from Arnside to Ulverston, just four stations up the line. With cheap off peak day returns and one third off with our senior railcards it was good value. The brand new trains lived up to the hype. The free wi fi worked and they were comfortable, smooth and air conditioned. As good as Swiss trains at last.

One reason for the trip was to inspect a recently opened plastic free shop. You take your own glass bottles and bags, weigh them, fill them and weigh them again. And you can fill bottles with things like washing up liquid. So its not just nuts and raisins. Is it just a gimmick? Well some of the big supermarkets are trialling these systems.

Then it was coffee and toasted teacake at the characterful tearooms run by the parents of a very talented young lady who is a classical saxophonist, who has performed in the BBC Proms and who has a great following.

Ulverston was the birthplace of Stan Laurel of Laurel and Hardy fame. There is a good museum dedicated to them. As my extra shows at least one local business has taken advantage of their fame.

A most enjoyable excursion.