After a lifetime of buying/reading the Sunday Times, I've just made a change. By way of background, I'd got totally disenchanted by the volume of paper that I never read, colour magazines that focussed on female fashion and obscure culture issues; rambling stock-market business details; acres of print on rugby union but zero on rugby league and so on. Additionally the broadsheet size was unwieldy for reading outdoors in even the slightest breeze.
I bit the bullet last week and changed to The Observer. Should have done it years ago. Tabloid size, just about every page is relevant to me and my interests and 40p cheaper
I used to read the Sunday Observer like you Alan. Must be at least 10 years ago I'd drive to the local shop, buy the paper and perhaps a a box of maltesers to improve my chances, only took a couple of minutes. Exiting my drive is a bit tricky although the traffic is negligible I have to be cautious so it takes a few seconds. The last time I went for a paper on returning a huge branch had broken off an old oak tree, (no yellow ribbons), barring the entrance to the drive. I calculated the chances of me being there when it happened were less than 1000 to 1; so I don't go for a paper any more.