I haven’t been to the supermarket for the legendary Christmas Big Shop. This year was supposed to be no exception and I had a plum delivery slot booked (surely there’s no beating 10am on 23rd?) But we cancelled it yesterday morning for the very good reason of visiting our new cousin/niece who is finally coming home today after surgery and a spell in NICU.
So, it was decided that DD15 and I, being the ones who couldn’t think of an excuse quickly enough went to Waitrose at 9am. We briefly considered the giant Tesco but they were queuing around the corner for the car park by that time.
This was the biggest Big Shop in years for us. We were buying for ourselves (2 adults, 2 teens, Labradors with greed issues, a ravenous 12 year old) plus various guests (most invited, plus a few girl/boy friends and a couple of friends of guests at a loose end coming along for the ride) everyday from Saturday-Boxing Day.
DH had helpfully added to my A4 tabulated shopping list with illegible scrawls (we bought him 4 frozen petit pains instead of what was apparently a pork pie.) We hauled around a big trolley and a small ‘booze and eggs’ trolley trying not to flatten Barbour-clad chaps trying to remember if Liz said halibut or monkfish. It was moderately busy, the shop staff had headsets, like government bodyguards.
At one point we were unable to manoeuvre the primary trolley and I called out foodstuffs while DD ran about retrieving them, Challenge Anneka (the reference was lost on her) style. She obviously also brought back multiple items from
the baby section which were very much not on the list.
Finally we got to the checkout and realised we’d forgotten Disaronno (for DD14’s experimental syllabub tonight) and potted shrimps (for Grandpa) so we did a short round two before hauling a million bags into the boot/back seat of my Mini and heading off in search of tea and a mince pie.
We forgot the Christmas pudding so it’s Quality Street for Christmas Day pudding unless anyone else goes to get one. DH headed to the farm shop to collect the Christmas meat at 8am this morning, DC’s are cooking dinner for 10 this evening. Today, I’m unavailable for any activities other than baby worship.
I’d love to hear any other Big Shop observations. Actually, I’d most like to find your shopping list.