Jens Blog
Jens Blog
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For car parking, the ticket machine is on Hickmott Road, nearest to Ecclesall road.
Press the green button to get 20 mins free parking, or pay to stay longer (0.90p an hour - up to a 2 hour stay).
As the covid-19 saying goes: "Stay alert - avoid a fine!
OPEN - Tuesday 10- 4pm
OPEN - Wednesday 10- 4pm
OPEN - Thursday 11- 4pm
OPEN - Friday 11- 4pm
OPEN - Saturday 10- 4pm
CLOSED - Sundays
CLOSED - Mondays
Wednesday 6th December 2023
There will be a few new 35mm films in stock in the next few days:
1. Street Candy ATM 400 35mm black and white film. Read more here
2. Orwo Wolfen NC 500 35mm colour film. Read more here.
Today I am wearing FOUR thermal tops under my jumper in the shop, and I am STILL cold?! Got to be the coldest day in here this year. I could win 'Seal Pup Impersonation Of The Year' award!
Tuesday 5th December 2023
Saturday 2nd December 2023
I'm planning to send the next batch of films of on Monday11th December, and they will be ready to collect by Wednesday13th or Thursday 14th next week. So get your films in to us by the end of Saturday, to get them back with the next batch!
Friday 24th November 2023
I am back to full hours again, having recovered from a pig of an illness. Being a Christmas fan, I have sneaked in lots of decorations to secrete slowly around the shop in homeopathic quantities so that 'Scrooge Boss' (the Xmas hater), doesn't hardly notice them. Ha!
Wednesday 22nd November
Many apologies for the shops opening hours being a bit random this last few weeks, and less hours than usual, but this is because the efficient, hard-working member of the team, (Moi), has been off ill nearly 2 weeks!
Hobbling around the shop today with bad back ache, the result of 5 children jumping on my back all at once last night in an ambush. OW.
We have some good offers on 35mm colour films -
Kodak Gold 200 36 exposure films now £10.99 a roll
Wednesday 18th October 2023
Since 'lockdowns', more people than ever are taking up bird and nature viewing and study. Why not have more fun and join a local bird watching group? I've put information about local groups on a web page here.
Tuesday 10th October 2023
Opticron have brought out an ugraded binocular model, and we have the new Savannah R PC Oasis 8X33 in stock now, see here for more details. £114.
New product alert - Nedis 4K UHD action camera, £62.99.
For details, see here.
Read an article in the papers about the differences between 'Generation 'Z', Gen 'Baby Boomers' etc etc. But they missed out a new category, which I've just created - 'Generation HD (Home Delivery)' - those born after 2010 and obsessed with 'Deliveroo' and 'Just Eat'.
This is the result of countless arguments with my son over food. Every time I mention having a pizza for tea: "Ooo! Can we get it home delivered?" . "No, it's too expensive, and I have a car to collect if I wanted. Aldis sell them at £0.99p".
Mum: Shall we go for a MacDonlads?" Son: "Get it delivered mum". "No, it's too expensive and arrives cold".
What is this obsession with Home Delivery??! As a 'Gen X', I just DON'T get it! I LIKE sitting in a restaurant, I like eating out. But my son goes ballistic with me lol. A true 'Home Delivery' generation.
Snoop Dogg has a lot to answer for!
Saturday 7th October 2023
For discounted items for sale, see our new 'Sale items' page:
WD-40. What a great invention! No house should be without it! Curtain rails jamming - WD-40. Squeeky door hinge - WD-40. Mechanics sticking - WD-40!
Wednesday 4th October 2023
Sorry for lack of communications this last week, but I've been off sick a week with covid. Poor me.
35mm colour films have arrived back in the shop, in abundance yay!
For all prices, see here.
Kodak Pro Image 100 ISO 36 - £11.00 SALE (was £12.99)
Gold 200 ISO 36 exposures - £11.99
Kodak Ultramax 400 ISO 36 - £12.99
Tuesday 26th September 2023
I am planning to dedicate a couple of pages of the website to feature local analogue film users - what films they like, what they like shooting, a couple of their favourite photos etc etc. Now just need some film user victims to step forward lol. Not looking for 'the best' photographers, just everyday enthusiasts.
I am especially interested in people shooting films like Lomography, Polaroid, Washi, Flic, Cinestill, Infrared films, 126mm, half-frame, panoramic, 127mm etc.
If you fancy a bit of free publicity for your hobby, see me (Jen) in the shop, or email me a bit of info about yourself (j-darwin@btconnect.com).
Opticron have brought out a smashing pair of new pocket-sized binoculars - the Natura WP PC 8X25 (£154) and 10X25 (£164) For details, see here.
Saturday 23rd September 2023
We are reducing the price of some of our Opticron binoculars (due to them being discontinued models). See you 3 binocular pages for details. Grab a bargain bino!
Wednesday 20th September 2023
I love this time of year when the new and older students return to the area, and it's buzzing around here again. Welcome back, y'all!
Tuesday 19th September 2023
A wet start to the working week! Open till 4pm.
NEW films in the shop today! Rollie Infrared films, in 35mm and 120mm, plus super-affordable Fomapan black and white films in 35mm and 120mm.
Lomo 'Metrolpolis' 35mm film has arrived too, and Lomo 'Colour 92' 35mm. Also, 'Washi 'F' film in 120mm, and Lomography 'Berlin' 400 ISO black and white 120mm films.
Saturday 9th September 2023
I pulled a most successful 'April Fools' joke on the boss 5 months ago (I convinced him the shop was burning down). But he got revenge yesterday: I am in the habit of having a Chinese takeaway on Fridays when my son is away at his dads' house. The takeaway knows me very well, so when I ring up I only need to say: "Hi, it's Jenny, can I order...." and they know it's me. So I scrolled down 'Recently Used' phone numbers on my phone, and hit the number for the 'New Zing Vaa' on Ecclesall road. I started ordering, but a new Chinese guy answered, who I assumed spoke very bad English. He rambled on so nonsensically, that eventually I rang off, totally frustrated with his rants about 'sick squid'. Then I saw that I had re-dialled boss John by accident! I rang him back, and he was laughing hysterically at me. Humph. Feel such an idiot!
Wednesday 6th September 2023
We have some new camera bags in stock, from K+F concepts.
Tuesday 5th September 2023
Just tripped over the pooches water bowl in the shop when a customer came in. Nothing like giving customers a good first impression eh?
Friday 1st September 2023
It is the 5th anniversary today of moving our shop onto Hickmott road. Yay!
Saturday 26th August 2023
Am in the process of writing a shop bio web page.. Having a laugh, dredging up some of the past events in the shop over the last 30 years.
Friday 25th August 2023
We have some new items in stock - Koday Gold 200 ISO 120mm's at £9.70 a single roll. Also, for 35mm film users, we now have Parterson negative files, with packs of 35mm neg storage sheets.
Wednesday 23rd August 2023
My sons gone away with his dad on a holiday. Usual breakfast for me - boiled eggs and soldiers. Todays child-free brek - Walkers smoky bacon crisps!
Tuesday 8th August 2023
The car park on Ecclesall road, in Berkeley Precinct, has changed its parking rules. It is no longer free for an hour: now it's free for only 30 minutes. Or pay £1 to stay for up to 2 hours.
Tuesday 1st August 2023
I could write this book:
Wednesday 26th July 2023
We have CineStill films back in stock:
Meet the staff!
Tuesday 25th July 2023
This Facebook 'Memory' came up recently.. made me laugh.. what am I like?!
Wednesday 12th July 2023
You know it's not a good idea to eat a whole quiche at once, as I've just found out lol.
Now in stock- new 35mm film alert! 'Flic' 35mm films, 'Washi' films, and 'Lomography'.
Wednesday 5th July 2023
A reminder that we will match local shop prices on the rare occasions that we are not the cheapest.
From now onwards, when you collect your developed 35mm or 120mm film from us (whether scanned or printed), you will find a money-off voucher in your envelope, with the negs/prints. An example is below:
So even if you've only had scans, you need to pick up your negs or you will miss out on a possible saving.
This Facebook memory came up a while ago. It made me chuckle, so thought I'd share it!
Saturday 1st July 2023
Much cred to the Spar shop on Ecclesall road, who allow dogs into the shop. Now I can pick up a newspaper on a dog walk without fear of having the pooch stolen!
Friday 30th June 2023
We appreciate people who take the time to give us a 'Google' review. Follow this link to review us please.
Wednesday 28th June 2023
NEW in stock - Polaroid Now Generation 2 instant film cameras! On offer at £109.99
Tuesday 27th June 2023
Sometimes, only cheese hits the spot.
Wednesday 7th June 2023
To be wearing thermal vests in the shop in June is an abomination!!
Tuesday 6th June 2023
We are processing and printing loads of films for our analogue film fans - but what are they doing with those stacks of prints building up on bedroom floors? We have storage and display solutions! From dedicated print boxes to hold 700 6"x4" prints, with index separation cards, to actual photo albums. Come on, you know it makes sense to get those prints more organised!
Wednesday 31st May 2023
Just put a few old slides of me from the past on the website.
Tuesday 3oth May 2023
I wasn't feeling well yesterday, and my son offered to put some pate on crackers for me as I was peckish. Wow, I thought, what a treat, yay. He produced them 10 minutes later, on a plate. I started eating them, wondering why the pate surface was so pitted in appearance? He proudly told me that he had put the pate on by hand and made finger prints in them as decoration. There ensued an elaborate act of pretending to eat them, distracting him, and carefully hiding them under a magazine whilst ninja-ing into the kitchen to dispose of them without being seen. Followed by some gentle advice on food prep for next time, about always using a knife, no matter how clean hands may be after washing lol.
Wednesday 24th May 2023
Agfa black and white APX 100 films are back in stock, at £6.99, plus Kodak Pro Image 100 ISO colour films at £11.70 a single roll. Have now started stocking Fuji Instax Mini photo albums too, at £11.99. Available in blue, and lilac too.
Tuesday 23rd May 2023
Being a child of the seventies, family entertainement in the evenings included listening to old 78 records, and setting up the projector and screen to view my parents' slides. My brother set up the projector and screen the other day, and we all had a laugh looking at our 70's and early 80's fashion failures and (Suzi Quatro) hair cuts. Here's a few:
NB: I am NOT the one with goofy teeth and glasses!
See more here.
Tuesday 9th May 2023
Today, I am mainly red. The result of a 6 hour street coronation party on Sunday, in the sun. That will teach me not to sit in the sun for 6 hours without sun cream on eh?
Our streets' kids' view of the royal family:
Saturday 15th April 2023
Please follow us on Instagram!
Tuesday 11th April 2023
Birdwatching and general interest in nature is a passion that often develops in our youth. Why not have a look at our childrens optics page, and get your kids into loving nature now!
Tuesday 4th April 2023
I still have a set of the shops keys, not a 'P45', so It's all good today!
Saturday April 1st 2023
Pulled a most succesful 'April Fools' joke on the boss, who was about to set off on a 5 day holiday with his partner. I rang him, and said there had been an electrical fire in the shop, which has resulted in a total power outage and lots of damage. After much blaspheming and frustration and stating that they will have to cancel their holiday "FFS", I put him out of his misery by saying that it was a good job it's April Fools day then innit. Think I still have a job eek..
Friday 31st March 2023
Friday 17th March 2023
According to Tesco's (Eccy road), ALL children are born between April and August, and none between September to March . How do I know this? Because when seeking hot dog buns there today for my sons birthday party, I was told by a young man that Tesco: "Only sell hot dog buns in the BBQ seasons". As hot dogs are one of the most popular chidrens party 'food', I can therefore only assume that Tesco believe that no children are born in the winter months. Well, it gave me a chortle!
Tuesday 17th January 2023
Our film processors also develop older more obscure film formats such as 110mm, 620mm, half-frame, APS etc. Cal in for prices.
Tuesday 3rd January 2023
Wondering what days our analogue films will be collected for developing, or when they will be returned? Check out the 'Film Process, scan and printing' page for more info. This will now be updated regularly so you can plan when to drop films off or collect more easily.
Also new - an Agfa 35mm reusable half-frame film camera £31.99
More info, see here.
Tuesday 13th December 2022
First day back at work after a horrible illness, to find the boss had forgotten to leave the heater on defrost over the weekend, and the shop is now 6 degrees C. Then discovered that he has totally, unnecessarily, badly rearranged a perfectly good bag display that took me ages to create just before I got ill. Grrr!
Wednesday 23rd November 2022
This Facebook 'Memory' came up in my news feed recently. Had a big chortle!
Saturday 12th November 2022
Natashas clothes shop has opened up next door to us today. I have been 'forced' to celebrate with a glass of Prosecco. Hic.
Tuesday 18th October 2022
The Tesco self-service till flagged me up as needing assistance this morning over the purchase of a packet of cheese savoury Jacobs 'Tuc' biscuits. Am I on the Binge Police's list of 'Most Wanted'?!
Tuesday 6th September 2022
NEW in stock - Nedis 'Gorilla Pods' at £15.99
Saturday 20th August 2022
Have you seen the film: "Fatal Attraction", where the rejected lover boiled her exes kids rabbit at the start of a revenge campaign (leading to the joke about 'locking up your rabbits'. meaning you have a psycho stalking ex)? This Facebook memory came up a few days ago:
I am sad to report that I must have aged badly since then, as I no longer have a need for a 'rabbit cage' ..!
Tuesday 16th August 2022
I have done well not to be banned from local shoe shops. Having wide feet, it often takes trying on 10-15 pairs until I find one that fits. Indeed, in TK Max recently, I created a mini flurry of fellow shoppers rooting through the mega pile of shoes that I had discarded after trying: they assumed it must be a pile of extra discount bargain shoes!
Wednesday 5th May 2022
When you accidentally drop a 4 X 2 Litres pack of mineral water on your big toe from a one foot height in Aldi, it hurts. Ask me how I know.
Wednesday 4th May 2022
Got a notification from 'Boots' chemist that my prescriptions were ready to collect. When they gave me a big bag, I said: "OMG! Is there 3 months supply of 'Oestrogel' in there?" She said; "Yes!", and I did a hop and a skip with joy to be getting my precious HRT. Our shops customers will not get shouted at by me for at least the next 3 months then!
Tuesay 3rd May 2022
My son is auditioning for the next 'Alien' film, as a hatchling alien:
Tuesday 12th April 2022
It's been a funny sort of morning. I got back into the gym this morning, my first session since Covid half killed me (Ok, ok, man-flu. syndrome). Bought some food from Tesco on the way home, and drove home looking forward to my eggs on toast. But getting out of the car, a plastic pot of minestrone soup fell out of my bag, scattering spirals of pasta and tomato sauce onto the road, creating what looked like a crime scene. Because the lid had cracked and I was hungry, I ended up having minestrone soup for breakfast.
Wednesday 30th March 2022
Still off work sick. Poor me.
I have been able to do some pottering round in my back garden though, ready for 'Jens Big Fat Post-covid 2022 Garden' project. I post lots of my progress on the shops' Facebook page. My first gardening tip of 2022 is this:
Tuesday 22nd March 2022
Thursday 27th January 2022
Just had a phone call from someone obviously very medically vulnerable and scared of catching Omicron whilst getting a passport photo taken here. My advice for anyone scared is to come in at 11am when we open up, as we will have had a 'UV3 Ozone' lamp on after closing the shop the previous day, so you will be coming into a sterile environment with only either me or John attending. The only hazard you may face at that time of the morning is one of us if we've not had enough coffee before work and are grumpy!
Wednesday 12th January 2022
You know how Facebook brings up random anniversary posts? Well this one popped up from 13 years ago,... totally baffled!! Haunted teabag??!
Saturday 23rd October 2021
We have a new loupe/viewing aid in stock. The Opticron The Opticron 57107 Pocket folding inspection magnifier is suitable for close up inspection of plants & insects as well as reading a variety of small print documents.
Saturday 9th October 2021
We have a new DSLR bag in stock, to fit a DSLR small to meduim sixed DSLR camera, also suitable for micro 4/3rds cameras. Made by Dick Smith, it is £24.99. No appropriate emojis.. titter...
Saturday 3rd July 2021
We've been asked more and more for filed lenses/loupes recently, due to the lockdown nations' increasing interest in all things nature. From £12.50 to £19.99, you can now call in and see a few.
Tuesday 27th April 2021
To add to our collection of weird fruit and veg, here's the latest find in Aldi!
Add your own caption lol!
Tuesday 20th April 2021
Today is my first day back at work since December! I've been a bit of a nervous wreck to be honest - having spoken to my other local shop workers, they too report that they found it very anxious coming back after this lockdown.
My bosses idea of a joke: What a wind-up merchant!
Bizarrely, remember the 2020 covid toilet roll panic buying? Well I've just run out of the March 2020 stock, almost a year to the day that I stock piled it!
As of 5th January 2021, we regret that due to the 3rd Covid-19 'National Lockdown', as a non-essential shop we have to close untill Boris Johnson allows us to open again. Keep safe folk, we will miss you!
Saturday 4th July 2020
I'm BACK!!!!
My first days work since lockdown. I'm here until 3pm today, then John will be in the shop on Tuesday and Thursday 11am until 4pm.
Monday 30th March 2020
My son made me laugh yesterday when he said: "Mummy, I hope that the animal which infected the first person in China has been shot!". I said I was sure it would be dead by now, so my son then had an imaginary rant at the dead animal: "I hate you! Look what you've done to the world you stupid animal!" I replied for the animal:"Oops, sorry everyone! Left a bit of a mess behind me..."
Friday 28th February 2020
Old photo needing restoration? Ripped, damaged? NO problem! Drop it off at Sheffield Photo, 18 Hickmott Rd S11 8QF. From £4.00, and takes approx. 5 days!
Saturday 11th January 2020
Stand still in certain areas of Sheffields' 'Botnical Gardens', S11, and this is what may happen!
Saturday 23rd November 2019
Please have a look at my Instagram photos!
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