Shopping – It’s not for wimps
Yesterday afternoon Mr Blogs and I hit the high street of the nearest town. We both had a list of things we wished to purchase, unfortunately, I made the mistake of suggesting Mr Blogs obtain his shopping first. I say unfortunately, because it has been a while since I shopped with him, and I had forgotten the fact that he shops like a girl. In fact, worse than a girl. Imagine all the negative things men say about womens’ shopping habits, multiply them by a hundred and you come close to realising the horror that is a shopping trip with my beloved.
He wanted to buy a pair of training shoes, some clothes and a couple of cds. We began with the footwear, in shoe shop one he didn’t like anything on offer, shoe shop two had a couple of possibilities but he dismissed both because they were white. So we trailed around shoe shops three, four, five and six, where the footwear on offer was declared to be too white, too dark, too gimmicky, too much like something his father would wear, too expensive, too cheap (no, I didn’t know that could be an issue either) too sweaty (?) Finally we returned to shoe shop number two and bought the first pair he was vaguely interested in.
So, that just left the clothes and the cds. We went in search of the cds next. He found both very easily, but decided that they could possibly be cheaper elsewhere. So, yes, you’ve guessed it, we went on a tour of local music shops. What fun. I really can’t think of anything more enjoyable than standing around surrounded by spotty teenagers who fling you suspicious glances as though they believe you have no right to maintain an interest in popular culture over the age of 25. Several shops later he found the cds at a price he was willing to pay (cds it seems can’t be too cheap) and we went in search of clothes.
At this point I was feeling somewhat frazzled – Mr Blogs seemed to pick up on this. I’m not sure how, maybe it was the way I was clenching my teeth, rolling my eyes and responding in growls. So he suggested we try the newly refurbished and expanded indoor shopping centre, the logic being, he may go to many shops, but at least they would be close together. It didn’t quite work out like that though. He didn’t like any of the items on offer (see the reasons for not buying certain trainers) and we ended up in a department store outside. Once there I pointed out certain items I thought would suit him perfectly and left him to browse – making sure he understood that if we left the shop sans clothes a visit to the solicitors would be a distinct possibility.
I decided to amuse myself testing new and interesting perfumes, and was happily doing so when I was attacked, viciously with a buggy being pushed by a woman in her sixties who then had the nerve to tell me that aisles were for walking along not dawdling in. Gritting my teeth even harder and managing to refrain from a string of expletives ( a small child was present) I pointed out that a) she had caused a gash on my ankle* which was bleeding as we spoke and b) the displays were placed there for people to examine and if she wasn’t capable of fitting through the large amount of empty space maybe she ought to consider slimming down a little. This was very rude I know, but by this point I had really had enough. She considered this for a moment, then went on her way muttering to herself.
I headed for the householdwares section, this was quieter, and devoid of malicious buggy pushing grandmas and sarcastic adolescents, so I wandered around in safety and actually bought something! Some glasses which we did need and a teapot which we didn’t, but it was half price and very pretty. Finally, I met up with Mr Blogs again, who complained that he had been looking for me for ages, but who had bought some clothes. Hoo-bloody-rah!
Finally, a couple of things I found on my t’internet travels:
A group of blogger who couldn’t take part in the main blogathon did their own last weekend in aid of a small town which was badly affected by Hurricane Katrina. Drop by to find out more about the clean up, which is still ongoing, and if you feel generous you can still donate.
And this is something that makes me so angry – hoax calls to the emergency services. Why do people do this? It defies logic. Anyhow, go here to read about first hand experience of the problem on the blog of an emergency services worker.
*This is particularly annoying because the heel of the same foot has only just recovered from an incident involving an elderly lady and a shopping trolley.
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Diddums
1glennia
wrote on 8 August 2006 at 16:16
This was so funny! Mr. Blogs must be related to my husband. He has this “rule” that we have to see prices from at least 3 vendors before making a purchase. Unless it is electronic equipment. For himself. Then it’s only on impulse.
Blogathon has still not contacted me about how to pay up. I guess I should go there and find out. Thanks for the Hurricane Katrina bloggers link–that’s one near and dear to my heart.
2Matt
wrote on 8 August 2006 at 17:48
You clearly displaied more patence than I would have had.
…and what’s up with your bloke? (are you sure he is not gay?) perhaps you should introduce him to foogle (comparison prices by google). If price matters that much get a good idea of the best price before you go and get to know your local retailers then you can cut the crap and go to the cheapest off the cuff and see if they can beat amazon (often not). That’s what I do.
I hate shopping, in my opinion it’s “gay”!
3Diddums
wrote on 8 August 2006 at 20:46
Ouch! I hope the foot heals up quickly… again! Reminds me of someone quietly parking her child in a pushchair right behind me in a book shop when I was standing looking at a book, and then coming round the other side of me. I took a step back to give her more room… fortunately I looked round and saw the pushchair in time. I felt trapped between her and her child, so squeezed out and slipped away, and when I turned, she was having a conversation with her child through the space I had been standing. I felt I had deliberately been edged out. It was irritating but the worst thing was her parking her child right where I could have fallen over it.
4Cherrypie
wrote on 8 August 2006 at 21:46
You a veritable saint, Kate. I hate shopping for other people. I once went to the same place that I think you are referring with a teenage boyfriend who had just had his first pay cheque. I trailed around Burtons, Top Man and various other boring places. In the end, I went and had my ears pierced, ‘cos it was all I could afford after I’d paid the train fare. He fainted. It was priceless!
5Stegbeetle
wrote on 8 August 2006 at 22:20
Confronted with buggy-driving-loony-granny, I think you were very restrained in not opting for the string of expletives. A classic example of “I’m old, therefore I can get away with anything.” Don’t get me started!
6parnellpr
wrote on 9 August 2006 at 1:08
Good for u for giving that STUPID woman a piece of your mind. I hope you were very rude. People like that just set my teeth right on edge and are a definite material for a foad thursday! Shopping- maybe it might save your sanity to split up whilst out and about. Pippa
oh and not be pernickerty but it’s froogle you should check out here http://www.froogle.co.uk. It is really good.
7St Jude
wrote on 9 August 2006 at 9:02
Pensioners with trolleys… they shouldn’t be allowed out :0) You can borrow my halo next time if you like, you sound like you deserve it.
8Kate
wrote on 9 August 2006 at 13:25
Glennia – Yes, mine can buy electrical equipment without a second thought. He recently bought an ipod in less than three minutes!
I have had an email about your donation to MSF – thank you
9Kate
wrote on 9 August 2006 at 13:27
Matt – I can see why you would think he might be gay LOL But, no he isn’t – I would have noticed by now. In every other way he is very blokey, he just has this thing about parting with his cash.
I try to steer him away from Amazon – he always ends up in the 10p section where he buys the most appalling crap. I have tried to tell him the items are priced at 10p for a reason but he doesn’t seem to remember this.
10Kate
wrote on 9 August 2006 at 13:29
Diddums – that woman was very rude. It does sound as though she was trying to move you. It’s lucky you saw the buggy, it could have been nasty if you had fallen on it.
11Kate
wrote on 9 August 2006 at 13:35
CP – oh I wish I had seen that LOL I bet he was so embarassed.
The shopping centre in question is now new and improved, but Top Man is still there.
12Kate
wrote on 9 August 2006 at 13:48
Steg – you are right. She did seem to have that attitude. I’m all for respecting older people but not if they are going to be downright rude.
13Kate
wrote on 9 August 2006 at 13:50
Pippa – yes splitting up would be a much better idea. In fact I had intended to go into town on my own, but he had the afternoon free so he tagged along. Never again LOL
Thanks for the link, I have never tried Froogle, I’ll have a look.
14Kate
wrote on 9 August 2006 at 13:52
St Jude, thank you, I think I deserve one LOL And you know about the dangers of pensioners with trolleys far better than me. I’m beginning to think someone should issue them with warning signs and flashing lights.
15Attila The Mom
wrote on 9 August 2006 at 15:20
Oh dear. He IS worse than a woman!
Jude needs to relinquish the crown.
You’re St. Kate! LOL
16Kate
wrote on 11 August 2006 at 21:42
Attila, I am aren’t I LOL Mind you, I think Jude deserves the halo more, she has to put up with the morally challenged – they must be worse than indecisive hubbies and grannies with buggies.