Our largest supermarket with the most comprehensive selection of fresh produce is a Tesco store in Douglas, about 9 miles away. There are a couple of supermarkets closer to us - a tiny Co-Op and a branch of a smaller, local supermarket chain - but these don't always have the range of goods that we want.
I know how it is going to pan out before we even get there so I am already stressed before setting foot in the door. P will dash off in front to get the trolley then leave that with me while he zooms around the store picking up all his "essentials" - like his favourite biscuits, crisps and cheese - coming back every so often to dump them into the trolley. I prefer to go up and down each aisle in turn so that I can see what they have available that week and if there is anything that catches my eye.
He says that I am a little OCD as I like to place items into the trolley according to type to make it easier for me to unload onto the belt and repack at the end. So, I will put all the fruit and veg together and keep "smelly" stuff like detergent, soap and bleach separate from the fresh food, etc etc etc...
When he finds me, in whichever aisle I happen to be, he chucks in another of his grab-and-go hauls. I usually reach over and rearrange it in the trolley, which drives him mad. We then sometimes have a free and frank discussion on what is wrong with me(!) before he dashes off again to find more essentials.
At the checkout I try to load everything onto the belt in the order that I will pack it. P gets impatient and just chucks everything on in a big heap so soft items get squashed and it takes me longer to sort and load it into the bags. He refuses to help with the bag-loading as he says he would only do it all wrong so why bother.
Sometimes, I just can't face doing the weekly shop with him so I ask him to do it by himself, which to be fair he does willingly. Although it means we then end up with just the bare essentials, squashed fruit and not always the freshest, in-date produce, I am at least spared the hassles.
I hate food shopping, too, but I nearly always go by myself. I, too, organise my purchases in the way you do and I like to walk up and down the aisles so I can spot any bargains or any new items. I also have a list - but that doesn't stop me forgetting items, unfortunately! Why don't you go by yourself and save all the hassle?
ReplyDeleteWhen I was working full time P would always do the weekly shop as he had more free time during the week. He has come to think of it as his area of expertise now and I would have a fight on my hands to go it alone now!
DeletePete and I have worked out a pretty good system. We rarely shop together. Since he is the main cook in the household (his choice!) he does most of the shopping for our main daily meals. I take my Mom grocery shopping every week, so when I'm there with her, I get all of our other groceries - bread, fresh fruit, dairy, paper goods, animal supplies, sweets. And we each get to do it our own way! It sounds like you're going to have to grin and bear it...
ReplyDeleteI know Sue. Luckily I am usually a fairly patient person :)
DeleteI'd love to hear your 'free and frank discussion'! Would make shopping even more interesting. I go up and down the isles but only so I don't miss out on anything. Supermarket shopping is a treat. Our supermarkets on the island are definitely not super, more the mini kind. Essentials and a few surprises. We go almost every day, usually him, not me, for bread and a few fresh veges.
ReplyDeleteWell, we do like to do our bit to entertain the other shoppers :)
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