Thursday 3 December 2009

Shopping - an ugly rant

I do not like shopping any more - I'm not counting the weekly supermarket trip, I do not consider that to be shopping as such, what I mean is window shopping, browsing, choosing and spending.  I don't mind the spending bit,  if I find something that I want, I'll go for it, but I can never find what I'm looking for!



Getting to the shops is the first hurdle, and this time of year it is even worse. I want to know WHY AREN'T ALL THESE PEOPLE AT WORK? When I was working I imagined empty car parks and echoing shopping malls, but they are full of  people - and not all of them look like pensioners like me. If they are unemployed I feel very sorry for them, but what are they doing down the shops? (I know that is horrid of me, but I am in a very grumpy mood). When I do find a parking space and fight my way through the crowds no one has what  I want. Don't start me on clothes,  I am not slim, not eighteen but not yet ready for 'classics'.  I want clothes that are warm and washable and a bit trendy - why have chunky jumpers got short sleeves this year? I get cold arms.
I also want a birthday card for an 18 year old nephew  - not a decent one anywhere, of course the shops are full of Christmas cards - I know I should have got one last month and I know I could make one, but 18 year old lads want something  a bit cutting edge.
Even the craft shops in my local shopping mall has run out of the craft paper and the pens I want. Everyone is making birthday cards for nephews.
Back home to my journal - a few old magazines, glue, paint, a touch of Teesha Moore and I'm feeling myself again. I can make do with the clothes I've got, wait for paper and pens 'till I make that special trip to the art shop and  the nephew will have to put up with the only card I found in Luton, I'm sure he won't care after that first legal pint! Aah that's better, who needs retail therapy - it's blog therapy for me.

PS I'm thinking of making a January calendar challenge for all those of you who have said you are going to make one - what do you think?

11 comments:

Lalabibaby @ Dreaming of The Simple Life said...

Ooh you poor thing Jill .... I avoid LTC like the plague and can't remember the last time I shopped there .. why don't you try Hitchin ... Tim's Art & Craft Shop is good for everything arty and crafty (there's a little car park round the back too. Hope your mood has lifted now ... I'm planning a calendar quilt for next year .... one block per month inspired by the lovely colours in your sketch books. x

LAC EMP 2020 said...

Oh Jill, I do sympathise. I know you said you were grumpy but this post made me laugh so much. I read it out to my husband and he says we must be kindred spirits because I'm always asking where all these people in the shops come from! As for the chunky knits with the non existent sleeves.... I'm with you there too - and what about all those silly people who walk about in the pouring rain or sub zero temperatures without wearing a coat... oh, now you've started me off.....

thekathrynwheel said...

Spooky! I just posted my first ever art calendar page (inspired by you of course, and I linked to you on my blog) and I was just wondering who wanted to do a 365 challenge for next year. Count me in for your january challenge :-)

Marigold Jam said...

Oh Jill - I laughed out loud as it is all so true. I'm with you on the clothes front - why can't somebody design something a little bit trendy/ethnic/with it but at the same time practiacl since like you I expect a thick jumper to have sleeves or a coat to come up to my neck - if it's cold enough for thick then we need our arms covered or chilly enough for a coat then we need out chest and neck kept warm. When I was at college I remember our craft tutor sying that good design meant something lovely to look at that was at the same time suitable for purpose!

I'm in for the challenge - but do remind me about it as I am apt to agree to join in and then forget what it was I agreed to do!!!

Jane

Leenie said...

I have a hard time getting in the shopping mood as well. We have a lot of grandkids and we have gone to giving them cash. That way we don't compete with "Santa" and I just hate going to all the effort to buy a gift that will probably be the wrong one. The moment Thanksgiving is over I am forcefed Christmas music at the office until I could scream. I love what Christmas should be. But I am grumpy that it is not that much any more. Working on being cheery.

Grammy said...

I love the card you did for today. It is beautiful! When I lived in St. Louis you would have to take the high way to avoid the mall traffic. I would not be shopping at this time of year. Here in the country it is new to me as there is never any thing to buy. I have to shop on line.
Or go to a bigger city. And there are no cloths that every one else already is wearing. So I have resorted to sweats.and what I have that still fits. Till I get back to St. Louis again. I do miss that choices, every thing at your finger tips. But I do not miss the madness, of bargain time. Have a wonderful weekend.

menopausalmusing said...

It's all a nightmare, isn't it? Still, at the time of writing, the sun is shining on a frosty outlook........ and that makes lots of things better! (Have to go to the shops later, so am steeling myself..) x

Unknown said...

Goodness - so many people who don't enjoy shopping. I don't either - my ideal is to walk int oa shrp, see something I like, find it works on me, buy it and go home, all in about 15 minutes. But that doesn't happen as often as I'd like.
A January challenge sounds fun.

Caroline said...

Hi Jill, I hope you wrote this with a half-smile. I agree with you on so much of what you say. At the same time, my grumpyness is often comic to me at least. I am old enough to remember the time BEFORE shopping malls. You went to a store because you needed something. No cappuccinos, no hot pretzels, just goods. I like your challenge idea.

pinkfairygran said...

Hate shopping too, in fact I am becoming a real old curmudgeon!!! I will do the food shopping, but that's it. Other than books if I happen to be near a bookshop. But all we have within half an hour is Smith's and Waterstones, you have to drive an hour for an independent and a secondhand bookshop, so we don't often go. Clothes, presents, craft materials all bought via the internet these days, saves mixing with people!

flutterbycrafter said...

You may not see this as I'm looking at your blog on 23 December. You have really made me laugh you sound so like me. I hate shopping, am a'pensioner' (hate that word), not slim, and am also wondering what's with the short sleeved jumpers, I get cold arms as well. Would love to join the Art Calendar challenge, ordered my Pink Pig, can't wait to get started. Have a lovely Christmas.