I just went shopping and they have changed the trolleys. They used to be shallow so that you didn’t reach down too far into them. The new ones are small, but deeper. If you want to get shopping out of it you have to reach down into it. Because I have Parkinsons I feel like I’m tipping forward and in danger of falling into the trolley.
If I use a basket I have to use a walking stick and it’s hard to put things into the basket without finding somewhere to put the stick down. Sometimes I hang it off shelves. Also the weight of the basket seems more everytime I shop.
I know this is a first world dilemma and I should be grateful to have supermarkets. I just feel frustrated that even when disabled people are catered for the company can change it’s mind and make things worse. I just want people to recognise the problems we can face.
I live on a steep street with limited parking outside terraced houses. The parking spaces are for residents only or their visitors. As long as you have a pass you should be OK.
Today started OK, I went out for a couple of hours then came back. I was able to park outside my house. I don’t have a disabled bay because I think you have to pay extra for it? Anyway, then I went to the doctors and then the pharmacy. Off to get some shopping from the supermarket because my fridge was empty. Fine..
But when I got home all the spare spaces were taken. I had to park 50 yards up the hill and carry the shopping and medication down, but I managed.
I decided to see if a space became available later. Yes! I walked up the hill, it was getting dark and I drove up and round a roundabout then back down. But I was followed down the hill by another car, it’s headlights dazzling me. As I got near to the space I realised it was too small. So I drove back up to the space I had been in all afternoon. But I know they would need their space, so I knocked on my neighbours door and asked them to move their car a yard or two so I could fit?
By then I was tired and grouchy. But I went up and down the hill again only to see someone else had slotted in the space! But there, lower down, was a smaller parking place?
I decided to try and park up, but I was on the wrong side of the road, driving into oncoming traffic, so round the corner, round the other roundabout. As I was coming back to my street I saw a friend. She helped me by seeing me back into the tiny space. Well sort of. I’m about two feet away from the pavement and my wing mirror is likely to be knocked off.
If one of the cars moves I’ll try and get a better position.
I went to a garden center a couple of days ago. It’s full of all sorts if stuff, a bit like temu in a big shed. To get to the plants you have to walk round lots of displays. There used to be a way through to avoid them but they’ve blocked the routes. If there was ever a fire I think we would be trapped. There’s jewellery, glass ware, pottery, clothes, shoes, houseplants, garden furniture and other stuff. Once you get to the plants there are a miriad of different garden plants (dinosaur included). I didn’t buy any as I need to sort my garden out first. On the way out we looked at toys and sweets and cakes. There were also three separate cafes/resteraunts. It was full of people, that’s where I think I caught this sore throat.
I went to my art group for mental wellbeing this morning and decided on the way home because the weather is sunny and burning hot. So I went shopping to save having to go out again later. While I was in the supermarket I treated myself to a chocolate frappachino? Is that what it’s called (milkshake) it was so cold I got real brain freeze! (drawn in Artrage app).
It’s about 30°C outside and I was in the car which was incredibly hot. No air conditioner so I had the windows wide open. I was so tired and overheated when I got home I’ve just come in and kicked my shoes off. Now for a rest!
What a day! Rain so heavy it must have weighed a ton! A few sunny spells. So cold I put the heating on, snuggled down and snoozed.
As I type I can hear the cars splashing through the rain outside and loud drips falling against the window round the back. At least my new plants and hanging baskets are getting well watered. I need to do some more gardening. Potting plants on, but it’s easier to shiver inside.
What else did I do? I watched a few YouTube videos and got out to get some cat food. Sheer excitement. Hence the pretty flowers, it’s less boring than today.
Things cost too much so I try and be selective in what I buy. I go to a few different shops and try and buy what’s cheapest, but of a reasonable quality. I don’t want to buy a tin of beans only to find out half of its weight is tomato sauce.
It turns out a lot of own brands can be as good or better than the more well known ones. So they can be cost effective to buy. I also buy food close to it’s sell buy date, it means there are savings to be made there too. I live close to shops so I can pop out and top up with things relatively easily.
As to other things, anyone who knows me knows I’m not into fashion or expensive objects. If I have money it gets spent on bills or repairs or art supplies.
I hate adverts, I never buy things I see on TV or online. It doesn’t tempt me to see expensive perfume or clothing. I’m not a brand buyer, I can’t be bothered with merchandise like handbags or shoes.
I go to a (nameless) supermarket that used to give discounts if you purchased shopping from them and used their discount card. I would build up a bit of money over the year and use it towards my Christmas shopping.
Recently they changed the system. Now if you use your card you should get a discount off some products and ‘everyday essentials’ (like milk and broccoli???). I’ve asked a few times how I find these products, apparently they have an extra blue sticker on them. So now I have to spend time looking round the shop for stickers? It also means that I have to choose what the shop wants me to buy to save money. Today I saved a whole 20pence on a tuna sandwich. That’s 20 pence off £26.40. When I asked the manager she said customers nationwide had asked for it? I wasn’t consulted.
Other information is that as theirs is a small shop they have less discounted products. If I go to a bigger store I will find more! Guess what, they are further away and consequently cost more to get to! Wow, wonderful (not).
Mallaband-Brown 