I attempt to interest my husband in a (rare these days) grand retail adventure,
"Why don't we go to M & S at Blackpole - you wanted a new frying pan - Home Sense is close by and usually has a good selection at less than Lakeland prices... We can also try out our new facemasks ahead of their compulsory use, which comes in on Friday."
At the thought of a new frying pan, DH agreed that this was an excellent plan and off we set.
I know the way to my husband's heart...
Arriving at the retail park, we donned our facemasks, lovingly created by DH on his manual singer sewing machine. The first family mask-wearing moment was duly recorded for posterity.
Getting out the car I discovered that the KHT's mask was excessively loose, and also tied completely wrong. Having made the necessary adjustments we hit the shops - a unusual experience for my husband, who has only ventured into any store a couple of times since lockdown began.
We began our retail adventures at Home Sense, emporium of plant pots, pans, pens, pouffes, plastic containers and other paraphernalia. Having located kitchenware, DH spent some time weighing up the relative merits of different surfaces, materials and handles of frying pan.
I decided to help speed up the decision-making process with helpful suggestions...
"Why don't you buy the cardboard one," I suggested, obviously considering the green credentials, but DH wasn't fooled.
"That is just the packaging! The frying pan is inside..."
After much deep pan, dead pan deliberation DH finally selected his new weapon for future culinary delights from the display.
Meanwhile, I was missing,
having wandered off to the exotic delights of the gardening section.
I returned to find two blue masked faces looking at me, accusingly...
Fortunately masks deter their protests at my temporary absence.
We made our way to the tills where in addition to DH's frying pan, the KHT purchased coat hangers and toiletries
and I started my Christmas Shopping....ARGH!!!!!
Next stop M & S, but first we have to join the extensive queue of two people outside the store, before being permitted to enter the hallowed aisles, where once St Michael may have been.
Strawberries, a months supply of cheese, soup and the essential milk were amongst our purchases.
In view of the fact that mask wearing in shops will be compulsory from Friday it seemed a good plan to have a trial run.
How did we find it? Initially it was rather a shock, but I soon forgot I was wearing one until I wanted to talk to someone. Having said that, it was a great relief when I was able to remove it and breathe more freely.
I would estimate that masks were worn by only about 5% of shoppers, slightly more in M & S than Home Sense, which were the only shops we visited.
Given the predominance of bare-faced shoppers around us, it was very tempting to pop our masks in our bags and not to wear them on this trip. However, as we will be required to wear masks in shops from Friday, it made sense to have a trial run and begin to get used to this particualar aspect of the 'new normal'.
Wearing matching masks is not our intention - though we could do some fun masked family photos for Christmas 2020 if we are still required to wear them at the end of the year. These were the prototypes, manufactured by DH on his manual singer sewing machine from old t-shirts sacrificed to the cause. The KHT may have prefered pink and sparkly, but BHS Mens colour range 2010 is our current anticorona fashion default. Who knows what colour/pattern the next batch will be!
Later the KHT was quizzing me on my shopping habits
"If you had a choice between buying the same toiletries, or choosing something different, which would you choose?"
"If I find something that works I stick with that."
"You are not exactly wild are you?" she pronounced, condemning me to the comfort of middle aged mediocracy.
"Me, I see something exotic, I want to buy it! A different one each time!"
"You are a marketeer's dream," was the official pronouncement!
"That is just the packaging! The frying pan is inside..."
After much deep pan, dead pan deliberation DH finally selected his new weapon for future culinary delights from the display.
Meanwhile, I was missing,
having wandered off to the exotic delights of the gardening section.
I returned to find two blue masked faces looking at me, accusingly...
Fortunately masks deter their protests at my temporary absence.
We made our way to the tills where in addition to DH's frying pan, the KHT purchased coat hangers and toiletries
and I started my Christmas Shopping....ARGH!!!!!
Next stop M & S, but first we have to join the extensive queue of two people outside the store, before being permitted to enter the hallowed aisles, where once St Michael may have been.
Strawberries, a months supply of cheese, soup and the essential milk were amongst our purchases.
In view of the fact that mask wearing in shops will be compulsory from Friday it seemed a good plan to have a trial run.
How did we find it? Initially it was rather a shock, but I soon forgot I was wearing one until I wanted to talk to someone. Having said that, it was a great relief when I was able to remove it and breathe more freely.
I would estimate that masks were worn by only about 5% of shoppers, slightly more in M & S than Home Sense, which were the only shops we visited.
Given the predominance of bare-faced shoppers around us, it was very tempting to pop our masks in our bags and not to wear them on this trip. However, as we will be required to wear masks in shops from Friday, it made sense to have a trial run and begin to get used to this particualar aspect of the 'new normal'.
Wearing matching masks is not our intention - though we could do some fun masked family photos for Christmas 2020 if we are still required to wear them at the end of the year. These were the prototypes, manufactured by DH on his manual singer sewing machine from old t-shirts sacrificed to the cause. The KHT may have prefered pink and sparkly, but BHS Mens colour range 2010 is our current anticorona fashion default. Who knows what colour/pattern the next batch will be!
Later the KHT was quizzing me on my shopping habits
"If you had a choice between buying the same toiletries, or choosing something different, which would you choose?"
"If I find something that works I stick with that."
"You are not exactly wild are you?" she pronounced, condemning me to the comfort of middle aged mediocracy.
"Me, I see something exotic, I want to buy it! A different one each time!"
"You are a marketeer's dream," was the official pronouncement!
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