They say you are never too old to learn!...This was proved to me yesterday when I went into Whangarei to do our fortnightly shopping. This was the first time in about 38 years my wife wasn't with me owing to her being unwell with a viral complaint…although she had written the grocery list out in the order of the aisles (to save me having to spend time looking for the correct location) I realise now what an incredibly difficult job it can be filling a trolley with the right size, the correct brand, the freshest produce etc…
I have worked in retail (back in the days when it was counter service) and I have worked in a supermarket environment, also many years ago and I am really amazed at what a complex situation greets those who are innocent in the customer shopping stakes!...IT IS DEMANDING!
As soon as I hit the produce department just inside the turnstile, I realised this was not going to be an easy peasy joy ride…I had to almost check each individual fruit for bruising, ripeness (was it over-ripe) how many of each item, which were the specials, how to unroll a plastic bag and then tie it in a knot so the delicate fruit didn't roll around the trolley. I have terrible arthritis and without the little green plastic thingy's, it is very difficult to get it right first go. Of course when you ask the checkout operator to assist, they do it with that professional touch that you thought you already had.
(I will remember for next time).
I read that for some of the meat items I could choose whatever I thought would be useful for future meals, bearing in mind we had someone in a delicate health situation, so lean meat and chicken were top of the list for me, but no shellfish and as our local butcher excels with fresh Flounder every Wednesday, I didn't need to worry about my favourite food type. Fortunately I am a reasonable cook and like most men who don't have to cook every day, I like experimenting with food, so we often have a menu slightly out of the ordinary but quite often meals that have proven to be favourites in the past.
Having a list written in the correct order helped immensely and as I have had experience of helping "MRS SHOPPER" with selecting the goods, it wasn't too much of a burden from then on. I will admit to grabbing a few "treat items" while I had the chance (normally I have to surreptitiously slip them in the trolley when the trolley driver is distracted elsewhere and I jokingly tell the staff at the door that I have been "sent to the car" for putting too many expensive goodies in the trolley. In actual fact, I often leave early so I can have a quick read before we drive home.
Then came the moment of truth, I negotiated the checkout, managed to insert the pin correctly, remembered to offer the "special in-house card" and staggered out to the car. MAN, IT WAS HOT!!.. The car had been sweltering in the heat and I could hardly touch the bodywork…. The next performance began as I had to unload the chilly packs and fill the chilly bins with the correct items while hanging on to the trolley which had decided on taking a cruise towards the exit ( you know, the one that is actually the Entry point for cars!)..
WOW!..Thank goodness I remembered to keep a cold orange juice handy, which was demolished in 60 seconds flat!...Having safely secured everything in the back, I headed off home to negotiate my way through the hordes of Log trucks, school holiday traffic, and tourist camper vans.
In Conclusion, I want to say, "My Hat goes off to all those people, mainly Women, who do the regular shopping for the family. You have my admiration and I realise that "practice makes perfect" but having to face this experience with all the drama involved is definitely a character building exercise….(Probably why us males don't offer to do this chore on a regular basis, no matter the rewards offered!... WELL DONE!
