A Nasty Taste in the Mouth

Robbie is a bit of a mixture, in some areas of life he is very open to new ideas, in fact it is hard to keep up with him at times, but when it comes to changing a brand that he is used to it is a very different story. He is fastidious about hygiene and he has to have the right brand, 'flavour' and size of the many toiletries he uses. If a brand changes the shape or size of container, or heaven forbid if they change the fragrance I know that we will be in for a difficult few weeks. Last year we faced a couple of problems like that, his trusted brand of deodorant not only changed the shape of the container, they changed the contents.  I had to agree with him that the new fragrance was horrible, it made me cough and according to Robbie it wasn't nice on the skin. After lots of moaning he grudgingly agreed that he had to change and I set about finding a suitable replacement with the right smell and a container that met his specifications. I was lucky I stumbled across a less well known brand that met his needs perfectly - and peace was restored.

Then horror of horrors they discontinued his flavour of mouthwash. I scoured the town looking for it, but in the end he had to face facts and try another brand. I bought several, but he wasn't impressed, then we found one that met with his approval. It wasn't cheap and he gets through it remarkably quickly, but it was worth it for a peaceful life. Then towards the end of last year the supermarket had his mouthwash on offer, it was better than half price so I stocked up. During the offer period I bought about a dozen bottles, which were left in the kitchen for several weeks because there was no logical place to store them. In the end I prevailed on Robbie to find a space and put them away. Imagine my surprise when he told me last week that he had run out of mouthwash and he needed me to buy more - at full price! I couldn't believe it, and under close questioning he conceded that he may have put the bottles away and forgotten where they were, but he thought it was more likely that I was mistaken and perhaps I had brought my son's brand rather than his. I am rarely mistaken! He wouldn't let me search for it at the weekend as he had tidied up, but I had my suspicions about where it was and when I had the house to myself today I played hunt the mouthwash. I found it stashed away next to the freezer (not sure why) so he now has 9 bottles to keep him happy!

Shopping 15.11.07

I had to go to town today. Everyone else in the family would jump at the chance of a trip to town, but I am just the opposite. I can always find a reason not to go, and when I can avoid it no longer I have to force myself to go, but after braving a couple of shops I am ready to head home again. A long time ago I had an inner ear infection called labyrinthitis and it has left me with a bit of a problem with my balance. At the time I didn't think much about it, but over the years I have become increasingly troubled by crowded places, noisy places and places with 'busy' carpets. All those things make me feel dizzy or disorientated and it just makes me want to get away.

Today I had parked my car and I was walking down the main shopping street towards the central shopping area when my ears were assailed by an unspeakable noise - someone was playing the bagpipes! It was so horrible that I almost gave up before I had even started. I couldn't help wondering why. I mean whatever possessed him to think that shoppers would appreciate listening to that row, and if the noise wasn't bad enough he was proudly displaying the most unattractive knees! I suspect he hoped that people would pay him to go away! If so he had underestimated our town, he got no money, just lots of disapproving comments, in fact many people actually covered their ears as they scuttled away to seek sanctuary.

My first port of call was Marks and Spencer. The store has been refitted since I last went there and it felt very busy and confusing. They don't seem to set shops out in any logical order these days. I wanted a jacket, but it was set out in such a way that I had to walk all around the store tracking down randomly placed jackets. I didn't like any of them. Most of all I didn't like the chaotic nature of the store. It was so badly designed that all the customers were totally bewildered and wandered around in ever decreasing circles. I had to get out of there before I lost the will to live.

Good old BHS was marginally better, but whatever gives these shops the idea that all women are over 6ft and a size 10! They only need to look at the people in their stores to realise that most women are not that shape. I looked at some nice skirts but all were too long, most would have dragged along the floor! I was so triumphant when I found one that actually fitted, that I bought it. I also bought the only jacket that fitted, most had sleeves so long that they must have been designed by a gibbon! At last I was out of the shop and heading home. The bonus is that parking costs are much cheaper these days, I hardly ever need more than an hour.

When Robbie got home he found my encounter with the bagpipes rather amusing, but he took matters a little too far by finding some bagpipe music and playing it at full volume on his laptop. I had to run for cover, it sounded like Bjork being strangled! I threatened him with cruel and unusual punishment - I am going to play him the complete works of Cliff Richard!!!