Tuesday 18 January 2011

The milkman and me

Get your minds out of the gutter!! Its not what you think!

I still have a milkman to deliver my milk and eggs. Friends say it is cheaper to buy milk in the supermarket - but I know it isn't. The last time I popped into Asda for just milk, I spent £80 - and I did really only need milk! I leave him my empties, and they get reused lots more times and so I don't have those horrible big plastic containers to dispose of, and he never misses a day - even when it is really bad snow. He delivers it at 4am, so its always fresh for my cornflakes. He also delivers my eggs. I know that he picks these himself from a local farmer, and I often end up with a box full of double yolkers. He takes the boxes back when they are empty - so no land fill there either. When I see how much plastic my pals recycle - just from milk and eggs - I am astounded.

My son also pointed out that we are keeping him in a job too, and for that reason alone, I think its worth keeping the milkman.

31 comments:

Living the frugal life in France said...

I do agree with you. When we were in the Uk we always used the milkman. Now on bin day I have at least one large yellow bag full of plastic milk bottles, we get through about 12 litres of milk a week between the 4 of us mainly cereals and tea, but also for cooking.
MOH has started to keep certain shape bottles so that he can use them to cover the heating and water pipes after he has insulated them - maybe!!!
Sue

love those cupcakes said...

We have a daily milk delivery, too. Now you've got me wondering if he does eggs, too.

Rebecca said...

Oh what a lovely post! We always used to use the milkman but no longer have one that will deliver round here. It is so true about all the waste, it is quite upsetting when you think about it.... I always recycle as mush as possible, it is my weekly task to see how little we can fill the bin! x

love those cupcakes said...

Oops, too many toos there!

Jo said...

I used to have a milkman but he was so unreliable that I stopped using him. Nothing worse than having to rush to get dressed and go shopping first thing on a morning just for a pint of milk.

WinnibriggsHouse said...

I'm afraid we gave up our milkman because he started calling a bit late..usually after we had gone to work and with no neighbours to take the milk in we often came home to it curdled. It wasn't his fault, just cut backs and he had to try to get 2 rounds in!!. My current neighbour still has hers though and he seems to come in the early hours so I think I might try again. I must admit the sound of him going down the street takes me right back to my childhood.

Vintage Tea Time said...

We live right on the edge of town and our garden backs onto meadows where the local dairy farmer (who delivers milk) grazes his cows in the summer. Because it's not far from the river, its a flood plain - hope that'll stop it getting built on when the farmer gives up. However they seem to be able to deal with flood plains if there's enough money - Asda built a huge store the other side of town on land that flooded - they put in huge, costly defences.

Diane said...

I always had a milkman right up to the current economy drive, and I have to say that he is a lot dearer than the supermarkets. I KNOW supermarkets are under-cutting the dairy farmers at the moment, and when I can afford to support them again I will do. But I cancelled my milk more than 5 years ago because he was charging 47p a pint. I can still get a pint of milk at the supermarket for 45p.

cottonreel said...

Thankyou Diane for the birthday wishes ,77 got to be lucky .
I also have my milk delivered by a milkman . I swear the milk is a better flavour for being in a bottle ,and he leaves me a christmas card .
Now onto favourite music , at present mine is Poalo Nuttini ,the cd is called Sunny side up ,
£4,97 Asda ,Brrrrrilliant--cottonreel

Jo said...

I've left you an award on my blog. Don't feel under any pressure to accept it if you don't wish to do so, I just wanted to let you know that I enjoy reading your blog.

Jennyff said...

Great post, makes me think about good service and good people. We have a wonder milkman too, he delivers 4 times a week, is totally reliable and if you ask me is someone who does deserve a big fat bonus. It's beyond me why everyone else in our road ventures out for milk, it's at least an 8 mile drive to the nearest shop.

andamento said...

We get our milk delivered too, it used to be 6 times a week but he's had to cut it to 3, this means we get 7 pints on a Friday - there's not enough space for 7 milk bottles in our fridge (they're too tall for the shelves and only fit in the door). We'll still keep getting deliveries but will cut back on the Fri one and top up at a shop over the weekend - still better than buying all the milk from shops. I'm sure you're interested in all these details really, hehe!
I think we'll start getting eggs too now you mention it though.

A garden just outside Venice said...

I remember people coming to my house for buying milk when I was a child and we had 2 cows!
They still come for eggs though :)
xxxx

Gilly said...

We still have a milkman, and he delivers really early come rain or shine!

But I don't have eggs, as I get mine - free-range - from the Butcher, and they are really good. Still get the odd feather on them!

And re-usable bottles are definitely a good thing!

Rosie said...

Haven't had a milk delivery for ages. We've never had one whilst we have been living here. I just have skimmed milk in my tea and coffee as hubby drinks fruit teas then just a little for breakfast cereals and cooking with. I don't think we have a milkman deliver around here but I expect we wouldn't need enough to warrent a daily delivery. I love the thought of a milkman though takes me back to my childhood when milk would be delivered before the household got up for breakfast and Mum would leave little tokens for it in a tin on the back step:)

lesley@cookingwiththejoneses.com said...

Hello Diane!!
After many weeks of being a stranger here I am back in the www..........I know I know it's been a while but I had lots of looking after to do!!! Whew! anyway, I've been grazing through your posts, they're always a pleasure to read! & cheer me up!
As far as the milkman goes...as long as he doesn't look like Benny Hill... you're ok!! I wish we still had ours! I haven't seen one in years!! But....we have a really lovely postman who hands me my post at the door telling me if it's a bank statement or a water bill or whatever, it always makes me smile...I wonder if .... no ..he wouldn't lol xx

Diane said...

Ok, missus. I just re-hired my old milkman - and it's YOUR fault. Tomorrow's blog is dedicated to the same story, but I decided that an extra 13p a pint, or an extra 91p a week, or an extra £4 or £5 a month, was worth easing the guilty conscience.

sarah-jane down the lane said...

Hi Diane,
I am right with you - I love my milk bottles waiting for me at the crack of dawn, such a thankless job but one I really value.

Sarah x

Clare said...

I might have another go at this. I realy wanted a milkman when we moved to this new house so got all excited and logged onto Milk&More and arranged a delivery. To my dissappointment nothing arrived!! I called and they apologised so I set it up for the following day... still NOTHING!! So I gave up... wish I could find a smaller local firm doing deliveries as M&M seems terribly unreliable (although I have seen the van out and about)
C
xx

topchelseagirl said...

Ooh the milkman. The one we had when we were young was great. Haven't had or seen one in years. Such a shame.

Young at Heart said...

how brilliant .....4am!!!....I want those eggs!!

Kathy said...

We still have a milkman too, for all the same reasons as you ... I'll have to think about eggs now!
xxx

Fay McKenzie said...

YOu're great and have reminded me I wanted to order 2-3 pints a week to save those £20 baskets when I've only run out of milk!!

xx

And, what a hoot as my mind was in the gutter sniggering first

(sorry!)

cieldequimper said...

We used the milkman too in London. Nothing like that wonderful tradition here.

Lyn said...

There is a milkman that calls down the road but it's usually during the day, fine if you don't work and can get it in. But I would love a milkman to deliver before we get up, that would be perfect-I think Michela beats you though-she had cows!
love
Lyn
xxx

Cybèle said...

I started using the milk man a few months ago, as we don't drink that much and if it was more expensive than the supermarket, it's only by a few pennies. Mine turns up so early, I've never even heard him (and I sleep at the front of the house). I love finding bottles of milk by the front door, and the recycling box doesn't fill up nearly as quickly now that we don't have those plastic containers anymore. I like my milk man!

diane b said...

They are a dying breed here. I remember when I was little we had hot bread and creamy milk delivered. Your son should start a business here. I think the supermarkets make it difficult for delivery milkmen by undercutting them.

lazylol said...

I started getting my milk delivered again this very week!! We haven't had a delivery for ages but a local milkman decided to knock on all the doors and see if anyone wanted a delivery. The first delivery was yesterday morning and I was surprised to see almost every house had a couple of milk bottles on the step. i just wish I could get fresh bread delivered too, that would save me a lot of hassle!

Deb from WhatsInMyAttic said...

Oh, the memories of having milk delivered...when I was a child we also had bread delivered! It was great, and we were always so excited when our mom bought something extra from the milkman, like cottage cheese! hehehe...we thought it was soooooo exotic! funny how things change. Now I can have all the cottage cheese I want to make "fancy pear salad" but I have to go to the grocery store to get it...where not a single person knows my name!! Lucky you to have a bit of civility left on your side of the Atlantic!

Carol said...

I don't know what I would have done without our lovely milkman during the snow in December. He never once failed to deliver our milk and we were able to add bread, potatoes, fruit juice and even cat food to our morning delivery.
I'll be keeping our milkman too!

molliecolley@talktalk.net said...

I love my milk home delivery, only problem is that I have a greedy blackbird and, again, I have found foil top of milk on the ground with 4 small holes in it and about 2" of milk less: Please, I have searched for a suitable covered container for my bottle of milk but without success. Can anyone help me to trace one?