Tag Archives: lifestyle

no such thing as a ‘quick-stop shop’…

27 Aug

fruit and vegesI know I should try harder with the whole environmental thing, and I do TRY to remember my envirobags when I head to the shops…but there are those times that I get caught short and find myself relying on the plastic tear-off bags for my fruit and veges.

Today was one of those days, and it reminded me how tricky a ‘quick-stop at the shop’ has become.

There I was, just popping in for one or two items, with my wallet, car keys, phone and reading glasses in my hand. Next  minute I’m trying to juggle said items, dropping them clumsily amongst the avocados while feeling for firmness with one hand and the trying to tear a bag off with the other. Finally I manage to rip my bag off … but the next challenge was to actually separate the plastic layers to open it.

No matter how hard I tried I could not part it (having dropped my glasses, I was flying blind, and it took a while to realise that I was trying in vain to open the sealed edge…). But I stood there determined that the damn thing was NOT going to beat me … I mean it can’t be THAT hard…. can it ?

Success at last !! Then… to complete my ‘quick stop’ I headed to the self serve checkout – another habit I have tried to avoid…. but I was rushing…ok?envirobags

Well there I was, balancing my bits and pieces (now along with the added complication of my shopping) … and trying to manoeuvre a bag open to drop my goods into… Again it won’t play!!! The bags were all bunched together and stubbornly refusing to be budged with my one free hand.

So I guess  I can say I have taken the hint …and my envirobag collection is once again tucked safely in the back of the car.

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a woman’s perogative

24 May

I am the first to admit that I sometimes get things wrong … BUT for many years I have argued a point that is debated in households across the globe; and believed I was right…That is, until today!toilet paper

Since the advent of toilet paper, the question of which way it should hang from the roll has been the topic of much domestic disharmony…

In fact, just recently I laughed when a young newly-wed came to work with this exact issue…he and his new bride could not agree and the argument was on …..  ‘against the wall’ vs ‘free falling’….who would win?

Personally I have ALWAYS been a ‘wall girl’, insisting that it was tidier…BUT for some reason this morning I had a complete change of heart and actually reversed the roll almost without thinking …and it immediately felt right. I have no idea what happened to cause this brain snap and it surprised me enormously but hey I’m a ’50 Something woman and I’m not dead yet’ so it’s my perogative.

I wonder …which way do you roll?

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robo-shoppers…

7 May

I hadn’t been to a K Mart store for ages; that is up until today when I rushed in after work…. and I must say I was  (mostly) very impressed. It was light, bright, fresh and cheap…. I just wish that I was in less of a rush so that I could take it all in.

BUT  when it was time to pay and leave the store ….I couldn’t find the checkouts. I thought to myself how in the hell can you lose a bunch of cash registers and check-out staff ???? Well let me tell you….it’s easy when they don’t exist.self serve 2

Eventually I saw them…. the bank of self serve robots obscured to the side of the shop. No staff, other than the ‘trouble-shooter’ who comes when the robot machine yells at you to ‘bag your item’.  or ‘remove your goods from the bagging area’…..and yep she yelled at me…loud and clear as I fumbled to ‘pack n stack’ my bulky goods, while simultaneously balancing my wallet, phone and glasses… AND swiping my card at the same time.

With nowhere to put things down,  a sense of panic mounts as this monotone machine seems to be stuck on repeat  getting louder and louder each time..

Up until today it had been my mission to avoid self serve systems… (my small and somewhat vain protest against getting rid of humans and saving jobs)…BUT it appeared I had little or no choice in the ‘new look’ K Mart; although I later discover there are a few humans tucked away at a kiosk in the middle of the store….clearly hidden to avoid drawing attention to them….we couldn’t have them busy and showing up the robots now, could we? .

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the party’s over…time to detox

17 Jan

Sadly all good things come to an end, including holidays. You know that time has arrived when you begin craving a daily routine… and lettuce leaves.

Having abandoned all diet rules over these past weeks, I thought it might be good to kick start a return to the real world with a ‘foot spa detox’ at the local massage parlour.  With promises to ‘suck the toxins right out of your system via the soles of you feet’… it seemed an offer too good to refuse (and perhaps too good to believe)…but what the hell?  If there was ever any doubt, the thought of a relaxing foot massage at the end, certainly sealed the deal.

Now first up I must say there was something a little unnerving about sitting with my feet in a tub full of water and an electric current running through it… but hey, what could possibly go wrong? Anyway… I’m here to tell the story.

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The effect was obvious within minutes. Swirls of colour began to appear and the water gradually started to look like the sludge of a slow running creek. To think those oily slicks, bubbles and flecks of crap were emerging from MY body was enough to make me want to puke… but at the same time provided enormous amusement….so I guess the experience was worth it for the entertainment value alone (not to mention the massage).

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I am keeping an open mind, but emerged feeling very relaxed and   ‘cleansed’, almost virtuous and pure (and with very clean feet). Apparently the full effect and sense of wellbeing will peak within 3-4 days, but for now I can say that I immediately felt lighter … not sure if that’s due to the removal of toxins or money from my wallet….we’ll just have to wait and see, meanwhile bring on the lettuce leaves.

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