In praise of chemists shops that sell...

[GrumpyGregry]

... minty arse lard.

Stocked in all high street chemists hereabouts. Assos and other brands.

What surprising stuff have you found in overseas chemists/pharmacies and thought

"Why don't chemists sell that in the UK"?

 

[classic33]

Gramoxone 100, in Ireland.

 

[Pale Rider]

Gramoxone 100, in Ireland.
View attachment 107344

Ah, Gramoxone, beloved of farmer's wives who wanted to do in their husbands.

A teaspoonful in the brute's gravy tasted fine and would do for him in minutes.

 

[classic33]

Ah, Gramoxone, beloved of farmer's wives who wanted to do in their husbands.

A teaspoonful in the brute's gravy tasted fine and would do for him in minutes.

Not speaking third hand here I hope. Taste it left I'd have thought impossible to disguise.

 

[Pale Rider]

Not speaking third hand here I hope. Taste it left I'd have thought impossible to disguise.

The original stuff, as supplied in gallon containers to registered farmers, was stronger because it was designed to be diluted in a bulk sprayer, ie many hundreds of times.

It had a rich smell of molasses which bordered on pleasant.

I know of one case where the gravy trick worked - the wife was convicted of murder.

From what I recall of the murder case, the evidence was a small amount of neat Gramoxone in gravy would not adversely effect the flavour.

The farming Gramoxone was banned because, I believe, it was deemed to be too brutal on the plant environment.

 

[vernon]

Bag Balm. Widely available in the USA.

 

[classic33]

The original stuff, as supplied in gallon containers to registered farmers, was stronger because it was designed to be diluted in a bulk sprayer, ie many hundreds of times.

It had a rich smell of molasses which bordered on pleasant.

I know of one case where the gravy trick worked - the wife was convicted of murder.

From what I recall of the murder case, the evidence was a small amount of neat Gramoxone in gravy would not adversely effect the flavour.

The farming Gramoxone was banned because, I believe, it was deemed to be too brutal on the plant environment.

Still available. Made in Huddersfield.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Bag Balm. Widely available in the USA.

I'm sticking to Sudocreme for my bags.

 

[classic33]

The original stuff, as supplied in gallon containers to registered farmers, was stronger because it was designed to be diluted in a bulk sprayer, ie many hundreds of times.

It had a rich smell of molasses which bordered on pleasant.

I know of one case where the gravy trick worked - the wife was convicted of murder.

From what I recall of the murder case, the evidence was a small amount of neat Gramoxone in gravy would not adversely effect the flavour.

The farming Gramoxone was banned because, I believe, it was deemed to be too brutal on the plant environment.

It was the Steak and Kidney pie in one case! Susan Barber, June 27, 1981.
"The next day Susan slipped a deadly weed poison known as Gramoxone into his steak and kidney pie."

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Ok. Well the thread took an unexpected turn, that's for sure.

Does anyone else remember when a chemist's shop was the only place you could buy olive oil?

 

[Old jon]

Certainly do remember buying olive oil at the chemist, but only north of the river (in Leeds). All you got in Hunslet were blank looks . . .

 

[subaqua]

Ok. Well the thread took an unexpected turn, that's for sure.

Does anyone else remember when a chemist's shop was the only place you could buy olive oil?

Yes. Bentleys on daisy hill. And he used to make up proper potions and stuff for sore throats or muscle aches. Then regulation of medicines came in and he retired. He also used to develop films on site too IIRC . Bloody clever bloke.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Certainly do remember buying olive oil at the chemist, but only north of the river (in Leeds). All you got in Hunslet were blank looks . . .

Slightly out of Leeds, I remember, what was Clifford Sheards Chemist on Carlton Lane (just off A61, Leeds Road, at the junction with Long Thorpe Lane/Jumbles Lane - near the bridge over the M62) selling Sherry from plastic barrels in the shop

A similar, missing site nowadays, are the garages that used to have pumps dispensing paraffin, for the purchaser to fill their own containers

And, returning to the area of Sheards Chemists, but on the Wakefield side of the M62, there was a garage, by the end of WestGate Lane, that until 5-6(?) years ago still had attended service!!!, the chap came out & filled your car up

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Slightly out of Leeds, I remember, what was Clifford Sheards Chemist on Carlton Lane (just off A61, Leeds Road, at the junction with Long Thorpe Lane/Jumbles Lane - near the bridge over the M62) selling Sherry from plastic barrels in the shop

A similar, missing site nowadays, are the garages that used to have pumps dispensing paraffin, for the purchaser to fill their own containers

And, returning to the area of Sheards Chemists, but on the Wakefield side of the M62, there was a garage, by the end of WestGate Lane, that until 5-6(?) years ago still had attended service!!!, the chap came out & filled your car up

I got caught out in Derbyshire somewhere a few years back in the noughties. Sunday. Really low on fuel, didn't realise 24x7 petrol stations aren't the norm outside SE England, finally found a place that was open, leapt from car, thought "oh, this is old school", starting filling up and next thing I knew there was a hand on my shoulder and a cry equivalent to "Oi, what's your game!?!". Attended service.

Bunners, a hardware store in Montgomery still sells Paraffin from the pump, and red diesel too iirc.

 

[Fnaar]

Buying my first pack of condoms in the chemist felt traumatic back then.


I guess trying one on wasn't the best idea.