Wednesday 30 November 2011

Shop? I'd rather drop.


I battled the shops today with two kids. In my heart, it was to be a fun day full of festivities, Christmas shopping, a little mooch in the cherry tree shops, a stop for a well-earned hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows, time spent leisurely marvelling at the wonderful toys and generally enjoying the fact the teachers are on strike.

The reality? A bored, whingeing toddler trying to escape a dodgy, mouldy, wonky-wheeled, semi-collapsing stroller. Which, as the day went on, became more likely to collapse as it got laden with so many carrier bags, I needed one of those lorries behind me, warning everyone of the Wide Load (no, not my bottom on this occasion...something even wider).

The relaxing light luncheon (notice I go for the fancy term) which I envisaged would be in John Lewis (it is quite sumptuous in there in the run-up to Christmas) didn't go according to plan either. The Princess decided she wanted to go to McDonald's for a treat.

Now, I hate Maccy D's with a passion but I thought for a rare treat, why not?

After queueing for 40 minutes (would rather have teeth extracted by Captain Hook) and people-watching (someone tell me, why do ALL boys aged between 9 and 16 look like members of One Direction and wear mustard-coloured chinos which fall off their backsides?) we finally got our mediocre meal, which we ate in seven minutes and then felt starving hungry after. Why do we do it?

Then the Princess decided to hide from me in H&M and I couldn't find her in all the crowds. This also happened in Primark (which is hell in itself). Then the Prince shouted out "I hate you" (he gets it from the Princess) at the top of his voice to me while I tried to put his shoe back on for the six hundreth time (I eventually  took them off and shoved them in a bag).

It seemed the world and his wife were in Reading today. Everyone seemed stressed or pissed. Think I'd rather have been the latter, given the choice.

My mum swears by "what I call" Clickmas. Basically any online shopping and she has a point. It definitely has its merits.

Although I bought some gorgeous vintage Christmas cards, edged with glitter, and all of the husband's presents which I normally struggle with.

On another recent (more relaxing) shopping trip, I bought this Flat Stanley book from Oxfam which I read as a kid. Stanley Lambchop. Love it. Today I didn't get a second to nip to a cherry tree shop (not that I would have fitted in the door anyway, far too wide).


99p for retro capers with Stanley (he's flat, you know)


I never even got that hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows either. Think that's what hurt the most...

 Sometimes I wonder where the hell my children get their energy from. They like a mini disco every night before bed. I literally sit and watch, wondering what the heck has gotten into them. Then they sleep 12 hours through. They'll do it again when they are teenagers. Thought I'd share last night's moments with you!


Tomorrow I am out all day shopping with a friend, something we arranged weeks ago. Only her baby and my toddler in tow. Will I EVER learn...


13 comments:

Gem said...

Oh. Can someone tell me why this video won't play.......can you put videos on Blogger???
Help.....

Gem said...

Kids, great aint they, I can't wait ha ha. (by the way lovely, the video isn't working) I'm sure you love them really :D x x x x

Gem said...

Oooh it works now. Goody!

Gem said...

Ahh just noticed your comment above, you must have been typing that at the same time as me. No idea how you do it love, sorry x x x x

Gem said...

Oh bless them, I love how he follows her round and copies, so cute ha ha x x x x

Gem said...

Oh my god can we stop crossing in the wires please!!!!! x x

Sarah said...

Oh dear, that sounds a nightmare!! But at least your have hubby all sorted for Christmas.

Lol, bless them - kids energy levels never fail to amaze me, I wish I had half their energy!!

hugs,

S x

Grateful4Crochet said...

Reading- setting for one of my favourite TV shows- Beautiful People! I loved that show so much!!!!
Hope u end up getting your hot chocolate with marshmallows!
PS Video wouldn't work for me

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Oh Gem....you make me laugh...AND I KNOW 9 year old boys TO A "T".....why IN THE BLOODY *&%$ do they wear their pants that way! I TELL THEM TO ENTER INTO THE CLASSROOM PROPERLY! I will not have them gross out my girls!!! teeheee

Oh dearest, so sorry you didn't get that cuppa of chocolate....you are JUST BLESSED WITH THE WORDS!!!!! Anita

Anonymous said...

Oh dear Poor you,Gem. We went to Bath yesterday for a day out for our daughters up and coming birthday and although we arrived early it was MANIC. Online shopping I agree has its big advantages. Hope the shopping goes better today and that you get that longed for hot choccie with marshmallows.I came home to such a lovely parcel of goodies ,you touched My heart dear Gem and I cant thankyou enough :O I will treasure My gift forever,Thankyou hun.xxxxxxxxxxxxxx julie.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Lakota [Faith Hope and Charity Shopping] said...

Oh dear, Primark and Maccy D's would leave me pretty short of festive cheer too! Love Flat Stanley though - I discovered last year he has other adventures as well which I didn't read when I was little, did you know he becomes invisible in one book? And goes into Space?

Faye said...

Hi Gem,
Wow what a day out! I was like you, I often went out with my daughter on a Christmas buying trip when she was younger, hoping for a pleasurable shopping experience, coffee at Costa etc, but the reality never lived up. She is now seven years old and still not really a fan of shopping. Fingers crossed it will be more of a pleasure when yours are a little older too. My daughter now regularly asks to go shopping, but it's for the hot chocolate and cake and not the actual shopping LOL.
xFaye

Kate said...

I LOVE Flat Stanley!! I'm always trying to get my kids into books i loved as a child, some successfully, some not. Your shopping trip sounds very, very familiar. Last time i tried that it was hellish, i was pregnant with E and knackered, L kept moaning about walking round everywhere, only wanting to look at things she wanted to look at, and T whinging in the buggy til i shoved a gingerbread at him lol. The video still wont play for me :( I wanna see! And yeh, what is it about pants round their backsides that these boys find so appealing?? Hope T doesn't go for this look when he's older, i'd laugh him out of the house! Glad you got your hubby sorted for, still got mine to do, men are so hard to buy for aren't they? K xx