Christmas Spirit

Friday afternoon and one of my regular tasks at that time is to do the regular food shopping, which, I must confess, I find boring in the extreme. I am one of those people who is really not interested in food or cooking at all. Left to myself, I would quite happily exist on cheese on toast every day. However, as Keith is definitely not of the same persuasion, I find a weekly trip to Sainsbury's or some local equivalent is expected.
So, this Friday, off I went to Sainsbury's. The cashier at the check-out asked me if I would like help with packing and, as I said I would, began to pack my bags. Half way through, she lost interest (as they often do) and by the time the last few items had been scanned, I was on my own.
Thus it was that the total was announced and I was left to juggle my credit card payment and finish packing simultaneously. Card, retrieved, I moved to the end of the checkout and finished sorting out last lot of shopping, replacing credit card in purse and folding up receipt, whilst also moving trolley out of the way (so I thought) of next shopper. This (foreign) 'gentleman', however, was unimpressed by my efforts to get out of his way and, after glaring at me, suddenly used his trolley to ram mine out of his way.
"If you could just give me a minute..." I said.
"I've given you five minutes," was the reply. "You could see we were waiting."
"Rubbish!" I replied (Deputy Head mode asserting itself automatically.)
"You are rubbish," came the ripost.
"No," I replied, thoroughly nettled by this time, "Actually, you are rubbish!"
By this time, heads were turning and I was almost out through the door, to do battle with the endless queues snaking out of the carpark, hooting at each other in exasperation.
Christmas spirit comes early round these parts.



9 comments:

cha0tic said...

You should have kicked him in the shins.

Jennytc said...

Pity I didn't think of that, Lucid. :)

Silverback said...

Ah your report of such pithy banter has made me homesick for UK supermarket shopping.

Here such incidents are quickly settled with a blade in the ribcage or a .44 in the head if the incident spills over into the car park.

Actually I never have to bag my own purchases here as someone's grandad always seems to be on hand to do it for me - a sort of Supermarket Herbert if you like.

(little Family Guy humour there)

Ian

Jennytc said...

Maybe he's lucky I didn't happen to be carrying a knife then, Ian! :)

gemmak said...

I just detest food shopping....the lack of help at the sharp end of the conveyor and the consequent 'juggling' usually results in my leaving a number of items behind....lost forever in the pile of bags and rush!

Jennytc said...

I would love not to have to do it, Gemmak.

Yorkshire Pudding said...

I never thought you would indulge in racist behaviour. That poor foreign gentleman. How must he feel about the rudeness he encounters in British supermarkets?

P.S. Tongue firmly in cheek.

Dale said...

Frankly, I quite enjoy grocery shopping. I like cooking it and I especially enjoy eating. And yes, Mimico has its fair share of impatient and offensive foreigners. Poles, mostly. And Russians.

"Vee are vaiting werry longue time."

Honestly ...!

Daphne said...

It's when they say "Are you all right packing?" with that sing-song lilt because they say it every five minutes. I hate it.

Plaster board and dust

So, we're still no further forward on the British Gas smart meter front and I've given up making non-existent appointments with them...