It was a gloomy day today so I decided to head into the town for some bright lights. Having nothing in particular to do, I decided to explore the Lanes, a higgledy-piggledy area of small streets and independent shops between the ancient (only 800 years old) Market, the High Street and St Martin's Square.
I'd been looking for Nada Zero Waste for a few weeks now, planning to go there as part of the #evergreendecember Challenge run by 
Today was different: I had no distractions or errands that I had to do and came across it straighaway. blissfully empty at that time of the afternoon, so I had the run of the place to take photographs.
It's a lovely pleasant space with a beautiful shopfront.
If you don't have any containers with you, there's a selection to get you started. Alternatively, you can have your goods wrapped in paper bags.
Nada stocks a wide range of dried goods and non-food items ... collapsible keep cups ...
... muslin bags, toiletries and sanitary products ...
... spices (five types of peppercorns) ...
... dried fruit and flours (the flours were available from dispensers above the dried fruit jars) ...
... cereals - I liked these enclosed dispensers. I had been worried about open tubs of food products. I wouldn't have been able to buy them ...
... vegetable oils ...
... I splashed out on 500g of red split lentils (I know!) ...
I spent a grand total of £1.50, the best I could manage as I didn't really want anything - my cupboards at home were full and groaning. I was just showing willing, really :) but I'll go back another time when I need to re-stock.
It's great to have a shop like this right in the heart of the city centre, easily accessible on foot and by public transport. Currant Affairs, one of Leicester's whole food shops, is just down the road, too. I popped in there for some yeast and a slice of lemon and yoghurt loaf. They also do wonderful samosas.
As I came out of Nada, I spotted St Martin's Coffee Roasters opposite and went in to fondle the coffee making machines lovingly and try their coffee. They have shavings of chocolate on top of their cappucino, rather than powder. Very nice. I picked up a leaflet about Leicester Jazz house, too.
Crafty Sew and Sew, Leicester's very own shop catering for people who want a #handmadewardrobe, is round the corner. I went to check their patterns and accessories ...
... range of fabrics ...
... wall of Brother sewing machines (you can try any or all of them) ...
... and workshop area. You can book private tuition sessions - earlier in the day a mum and dad and their two children had been in - or join a workshop. I was pleased to learn about the weekly sewing club, two hours on aTuesday or Thursday evening. The shop staff and I ended up reminiscing about Singer hand machines.
It was nearly closing time, but I had a few minutes to slip into Just, Leicester's Fair Trade almost-department store. There's sustainable toys, gifts and accessories on the ground floor, housewares in the basement and clothing and luxury foods (read: chocolate) on the first floor.
I had a quick look in the clothing department - I'd seen several items in the window that I'd liked ... I didn't have time to try anything on ... but I've earmarked a skirt to try next time ... :)
I'm going to add this to 
It's not often I have time to just browse and investigate (I'm usually on a mission for a zipper or replacement pocket). It was a lovely way to spend a dismal post-Christmas afternoon. Also did a good few steps :)
