I nipped out this afternoon to do a little last minute shopping for Christmas, just for ‘bits’, as you do.
I found a parking space at Sainsbury’s (other supermarkets are available) with little trouble, and found a shopping trolley… one of five that remained. It was a pleasure to use – it must have been in new condition as it would have been one of the ones that were stacked at the far end, so not used as often as the others.
I actually felt like I was gliding around the store. Well, when I could move that is.
I have a feeling that the rest of the world had decided to nip out for bits this afternoon as well, and chose my Sainsbury’s. I should have realised this with the trolley shortage, but didn’t. There were queues everywhere. Queues for the potatoes. Queues for the sprouts. Queues to get around the queues… queues to get around the groups of people who, it would seem, haven’t seen each other for a while and had met up at the end of each aisle. Trolleys akimbo, if ever they could be, causing more of a blockage and bottleneck.
It also seemed to be family day, as there were hundreds of full families running in and out of every aisle. Some children having fun playing hide and seek around the shelf-stacker’s trolleys that also added to the queue volumes.
There was no way one could walk in a straight line there today!
I’d realised when I was in the furthest corner possible that I’d forgotten the satsumas, so I trekked all the way back, meandering around every aisle and smiling with a bigger smile after almost colliding with another shopper going around each and every corner. Luckily, they were finding the experience just as funny!
It was also lucky that I’d had to go back to the fruit and veg, as I’d also forgotten the tomatoes. And I then had to go all the way back to the other corner again for another loaf of bread. This toing and froing continued for a short while, and then I decided to use the list, rather than shopping by memory. Which helped immensely.
I’d gotten a few more items than were on the list, as they were needed, and before long my trolley was full to overflowing. And still it was a pleasure to push… until one of the front wheels became caught on a discarded pen by the pet section. I soon realised what caused the problem, and again was on my merry way.
I went to the checkout, where there was no sign of a queue. All of the people were too busy chatting at the end of the aisles to think about paying, so I got served pretty quickly. £180.00 (give or take a few pence) on bits is pretty good going.
Although I did forget the Aunt Bessie’s carrot and swede mash, which was one of the important bits I’d actually gone to the shop for. Which means, I will have to go again tomorrow. Christmas Eve.
Last minute last minute shopping.
Oh, the queues.
Oh, the joy!
The Mansionic Perspective 
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