THANK goodness for the large store in Blackburn town centre where you can buy one pan, one plate, one spoon, etc. instead of having to buy a set of three pans, a 21-piece tea set, six spoons or items of cutlery.

I find most shops and supermarkets now sell only sets of this, that and the other.

We also get 'Buy one, get one free,' 'Buy two and get one free,' clock batteries in packs of two, small lemonade bottles in packs of six.

The list is endless and quite hard on one's pension. Also it makes people greedy when it involves foodstuff.

The other day when I asked for one ice cream I was told it would cost me 75p through they were being offered at two for £1.

It won't be long now before its a case of two three-piece suits, two beds, etc.

G ASPIN (Mrs), Ramsgreave Road, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.