to think that a sewing needle is not such an outlandish item to stock in a convenience store?

[Ormirian]

I needed to turn up the hem on DS2's school trousers last night. And I seem to have lost my sewing box. I had thread but no needles. I went to the shop across the road assuming that since they have odds and sods of household bits as well as over-priced food and drink, that they might have a needle.

They didn't.

But the shop assistant didn't just say no, she said 'No-oo!' and rolled her eyes at me as if I had asked for a set of stocks or a mangle. Very odd.

In a shop that sells sticky labels and staples, surely to goodness a sewing needle isn't that unlikely?

Had to use wonder-web which is crap because it will come down in a day or so.

I LOVE Wilkinson. Like an old-fashioned Woolies but better! But ours was out of preserving pans and it was shut when I had the Sunday night needle crisis.

a preserving pan?
you mean, like a big saucepan?

seriously, that's what I use for making jam - I've got a huge saucepan with straight sides (and those little handles rather than a big saucepan handle) - i also use it for soups.
(the jam thermometer fits fine)

I think a preserving pan is thicker metal and stainless steel. Also it has a spout like thing for pouring. The only pan I have that is big enough for proper batches of jam is a stock pot and too thin - sugar would burn and stick. So far I've had to make small batches of jam - 2lbs of fruit worth - in a smaller pan - bit of a pita TBH.

mine's a stock pot.
it doesn't have a pouring spout.
It's also aluminium, so you have to make sure you use a wooden spoon, not metal.

It's not a problem.
(i do know there's sucha thing as a preservign pan, i was just trying to make yo ufeel better for not being able to find one )

This stock pot is a cheapo crappy one - I know it's a bit thin because I managed to set fire to the first time I used it by letting oil get too hot ! I have some good quality thick saucepans but the biggest one is only about 4pts. Actually, that's what I need - a proper BIG saucepan regardless of spouts and stainless steel!

aha.
there you go then.

you can get those in wilko's

I think our local petrol station does. They have a rack with odds and ends like shoe laces, safety pins etc. We are rather rural so may be we still do old fashioned things like mending.