Post 2 – Where to start
Well there is no time like the present to get started, even if it is baby steps. I took a trip round the corner to Arbury Court.
1) 
Art of Meat (1 shop) – run by Jon West who is a font of knowledge. He stocks local meat, with a variety of cuts and sausages he makes on site. I was making spaghetti bolognese and just needed meat (I had everything else in the cupboard – where I will go to replenish it is a good question.
Bought: 500g of minced Riverside Beef
Cost: £4.40 (Tesco £4.00, plus an offer of 3 for £10)
Notes: Great quality meat, especially in the taste (a lot more beef!)
2) Dorringtons Family Bakery (16 shops) – a family business established in 1919 whose shops are all within a 50 mile radius. I usually buy a Hovis white slice, but I must admit I do prefer a good granary loaf, which is hard to find in supermarkets these days (I’m no fan of the multigrain batch they seem to stock).
Bought: 1 large granary cob loaf (sliced for me)
Cost: £1.95 (Tesco Hovis granary loaf £1.45)
Notes: I am pleased that the freshness is lasting longer than expected
3) Les Ward Greengrocers (3 shops est.) known in the Cambridge area as they have a number of shops and a wholesale business. I was in need of a snack so rather than grabbing a chocolate bar from the newsagents I grabbed an apple. I was pleased to discover that they also had a range of pulses, grains and dried herbs from a local supplier.
Bought: 1 x British Gala apple
Cost: 20p each (Tesco 31p each)
Notes: It was cheaper!
4) LLyods Pharmacy (1,587 shops) not as small company as I thought (misperception on the high street is something to be explored in the future). I have been meaning to go to the chemist and pick something up, so as it was there I did just that.
Bought: sundries
Cost: £3.29 (Boots equivalent £4.49)
Notes: Cheaper purchase, but still a chain. Independent chemists are probably a rare thing.
Lesson 1: a good reminder what is round the corner and interesting to find that some things can be cheaper.
Carri Pavitt 
There’s a really well-stocked and helpful independent chemist in Linton.
That’s great to hear. It does make me stop and think about the shops I use. I am sure there must be some independent chemists within Cambridge.
Stock up on dry goods like pasta, rice, flour, pulses etc. here:
http://www.dailybread.co.uk/cambridge
I spotted an independent-looking chemist in Mill Road on Tuesday, will have to find out the name.
I since have realised that is a independent chemist very close by to me on Milton Road.