I’m sure it’s not just me, but…

I’m not saying that I need an eye test or anything. I’m not saying that I get things wrong on a very regular basis. And I’m not implying that odd things only happen to me, but whilst shopping yesterday I felt this was / these were very much the case.

I merrily drove to the local Sainsbury’s (other supermarkets are available) and had to park in the space next to my personal parking space. Somebody else was using my space, and as both cars wouldn’t fit into the same space, I had to go next door. It isn’t as though the space is reserved for me, I have to add, but I have been using it for about eighty years. You’d think the regular shoppers would know where we all park, so I’m guessing this must be someone trying the store out for the first time. I don’t mind anybody using my space, as I’m not at Sainsbury’s for that long a time, and it would be silly to have the space standing empty if it was needed, but I would like to think that the space is available for me when I go. Usually it is, but yesterday it wasn’t. I don’t go all diva-like and demand that the owner is removed from the store to move their car out of my space when it is being used, that wouldn’t project the kind of image I am after. I just drive into the next space. There are usually three spaces together that I class as mine anyway.

So, I parked my car. I looked in all of the mirrors before getting out of my car, as there is a small company in operation on the car park who clean your car while you are shopping, and I didn’t want mine cleaning. None of this cleaning crew were around, so it was safe for me to make my way to the shop. Stealthily I dashed to the main entrance so I could avoid other members of the cleaning crew. I was about to go inside the store when I realised I had to go to the cashpoint just outside. And there was a queue.

I stood in line, and the lady before me was one of the people who worked in the shop. There are two machines at the cashpoint beside each other. The one on the right was in use when the one on the left became free. The lady in front of me walked over to this one, and a few seconds later looked at me, and the lady behind (who was someone else who worked in the shop, coincidentally!) and pulled the facial expression which means ‘this cashpoint is working but it isn’t taking my card; the other one may do, so I’ll re-join the queue and try that one when it is free’ – I’m not the best when it comes to interpreting people’s faces, but this one was obvious, especially when she waited before me. I nodded to the machine when it became free, and thought that I would try my card in the left machine. At first, my card wouldn’t go in, but as I was about to give up and re-join the front of the queue, it went in. Hurrah! I obtained my cash, got my shopping trolley and walked into the store.

Usually, I get the shopping trolley with the wonky wheels, but this time I was in luck. I think I had selected a newer model shopping trolley – it felt smooth to the push. I was able to walk forwards without fighting with the trolley to stop it from veering to the left or right, and it glided along the floor, rather than feeling as though I was pushing it over a roadful of broken cobbles. Even when I put items into it, it remained smooth, so I’ll look for this model the next time I go.

Nothing much of interest happened whilst I was meandering up and down the aisles. Hair gel was on special offer, two-for-one, but since my haircut I didn’t need any – although it brought flashbacks to mind of the severe flick from the other week. Oh, and the strawberries were half price, so I paid full price and bought two punnets. I walked passed the special offer section on my way to the freezers, when something caught my eye. A ‘Twilight’ incense pack.

I dashed around the freezers, and filled my trolley with what was needed from there, ran back to the loo roll aisle because I had forgotten something from there, and then started back to this special offer section. In my mind, I was imagining what the incense would be like. I was trying to guess how the manufacturers would embody the essence of the vampires and werewolves and youthfulness of the movie into the smell from the incense sticks. I was imagining the smell being musky, spicy and invigorating, and I was looking forward to buying a couple of packs, as anything to do with vampires makes me want double.

I approached the special offer section, which was full of all sorts of different things. Long life milk, batteries, left over red noses, Easter Eggs, and this ‘Twilight’ merchandise. Only it wasn’t an incense pack. It was a pencil set. It came with a ruler, an eraser, and a pencil sharpener. I didn’t know whether to feel disappointed or laugh. A certain voice in my head said “Time to get your eyes tested!” At least I’d had the pleasure of imagining the smell, which I wouldn’t have done if I hadn’t mis-read the packaging. I didn’t buy the pencil set. I paid for my things, and left the shop. The cleaning crew leave you alone when you have a full trolley, so I walked confidently back to my car.

I know that it isn’t only me who gets things slightly wrong, but when I do, I do. I enjoy shopping – you never know what may happen!