Elmlea Husband strikes again!

[ElinorRigby]

I posted a few days back about my husband, who was given a shopping list with 'cream' and 'orange juice cartons' on it. He returned with a) Elmlea and b) cartons of orange squash - despite the fact that both of us always have real cream and pure fruit juices.

We had a conversation in which I said if the shop did not stock the products on the list, it was better to return empty-handed.

I asked him to take the squash back and he did so, telling me he'd now go some apple juice in exchange. (In fact he had got multivitamin fruit and carrot juice.)

Yesterday the handle of our smaller bucket snapped. We have one heavy duty bucket - the kind used for outdoor jobs - and the smaller bucket that I use for soaking and handwashing. I said 'Could you get me a small 8 litre bucket while you're out.'

He returned saying he had had to look everywhere in order to find a small bucket. He then showed me quite a large bucket with a label on the side saying '13 litre capacity.'

I said, 'This is too big.'
He said, There weren't any small ones. I went to lots of shops.'
I said, 'Did you get a receipt'
He said, 'No.'

I took the 13 litre bucket back intending to ask for a refund and then order one of the right size from Asda Click and Collect. But the woman at the shop said, 'We do have smaller buckets'. So, because she was being helpful, I got a 7 litre one from the display at the front of the shop.

Is this a '3 strikes and he's out' situation?

[Waitingonasmile]

I feel slightly sorry for him and can't believe you made him take the squash back .

[AndNoneForGretchenWieners]

Why does it matter the capacity of the bucket? I have had a similar conversation with my DH but if what he brought back was close enough to what I wanted it would be fine. I feel a bit sorry for him.

[onesilencetoofar]

At least he is trying

[MiladyThesaurus]

Maybe he didn't realise Elmlea wasn't actually cream. I'm not sure DH would realise because he pays no attention to the world. Does he refer to squash as juice? (lots of people call it diluting juice or juice for short).

I think the bucket thing sounds like horrible nerves having been sent back to replace squash with fresh juice. You specifically asked for an 8 litre bucket and they didn't have one. So he looked in several shops and then brought home the larger bucket from a 7 or 13 litre choice.

You are coming across as quite demanding and difficult here.

[MiladyThesaurus]

Also if it's cartons of squash (possibly labelled orange juice drink) rather than a bottle of squash I can see how he might make that mistake too.

[Addley]

I've always wondered who buys Elmlea. Seems it's people who think they're buying cream

[metspengler]

I find it helps to be overly specific - the darlings sometimes seem blind to detail if it isn't interesting detail. DH is very bright normally but when it comes to shopping, if I give him a list I will include size, brand and if applicable the colour of the packaging, and straightforwardly tell him what to get if he can't find it.

Also you shouldn't discipline a man for the bucket thing. You asked for an 8 litre bucket, out of the ones you mentioned a 13l bucket is the smallest one that can hold 8l, so back he came with that one and probably quietly patted himself on the back for how clever he is and expected a cookie.

[LakieLady]

LTB!

[MiladyThesaurus]

It's not like you asked him for eggs and he came back with a captain America DVD, some batteries and a packet of mini eggs instead.

I once asked DH to grab a box of 12 large eggs from the shops for me. He brought in medium ones. It was mildly inconvenient as I was using them for baking but I didn't even say anything to him about it. I do the shopping and I don't think he's ever realised that eggs come in sizes. He probably thought the large referred to it being 12 rather than 6 eggs. I can't imagine getting annoyed with him and making him go back for the right thing.

[Stressalot42]

You sound like a fucking nutter.

Can't improve this on this!

[Oysterbabe]

I'm surprised they let you return the squash. I once picked up decaff by mistake, went straight back to try and change it and they said they couldn't change food or drinks once they had left the store. I guess I might have injected poison into it or something.

Also I do feel a bit sorry for your DH.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

No he's being a bit hopeless. I have zero tolerence for that sort of thing. I suspect some people fake incompetence to get out of doing jobs.

[PotteringAlong]

You made him take the squash back? And 2 buckets?

You sound like hard work

[Bobbiepin]

Wow you're being quite harsh on the poor guy. If you have such standards on what shopping you get, why are you not doing it yourself?

[HooplaLoopla1]

Personally, I'm hoping your husband tells you to go shopping yourself in future!

[senua]

We had a conversation in which I said if the shop did not stock the products on the list, it was better to return empty-handed.

Did everyone miss this bit?
It astounds me how men get on in the world of work because they are obviously so much better than women but the moment they get home and are asked to do a simple task they become incompetent.

[MiladyThesaurus]

I find it helps to be overly specific - the darlings sometimes seem blind to detail if it isn't interesting detail. DH is very bright normally but when it comes to shopping, if I give him a list I will include size, brand and if applicable the colour of the packaging, and straightforwardly tell him what to get if he can't find it.

To be fair, there's lots of things where DH has an opinion about some kinds of specific detail that I don't care about. He once changed something we were watching on Amazon prime from the 1080p to the 4K version - I hadn't noticed and didn't care but it mattered to him.

Just because I care about the difference between large and medium eggs or cream and Elmlea doesn't mean that everyone must. DH doesn't bake so he's never needed to take note of egg sizes, and both cream and Elmlea are a white liquid you pour in top of cake.

[ShapelyBingoWing]

He can't do right for doing wrong really, can he?

Be specific in your lists...

• fresh cream (not Elmlea)
  
• cartons of fresh juice (not diluted)
  
• an 8litre bucket (smaller is fine, bigger is not)
  

Personally I think the bucket thing makes you sound nuts. You can fit 8 litres (your original stated capacity) into a 13 litre bucket but not a 7 litre one. I'd have gone a size up too. And the only reason I know Elmlea isn't cream is MN! It's next to the cream and as cream shouldn't require an ingredients list, I'd never looked. I grew up with my nana referring to it as cream.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Next time he asks for something get it wrong.

If he asks for a marathon bar buy him a kinder egg.

[MiladyThesaurus]

The shop did stock buckets though, just not in the exact size the OP asked for. So he went for the option that could hold 8 litres.

She'd probably have been equally annoyed if he came back empty handed saying they had 7 and 13 litre buckets but I didn't get anything because you said 8 litre.

[TatianaLarina]

I hear ya OP.

It's amazing how intelligent men can be so shit at shopping. My father is exactly the same. It's just laziness. And a feeling that it's not their job.

Luckily my husband is switched on.

[BlondeB83]

You sound like hard work! Poor bloke!

[Madbum]

Today 11:38 user1469914265

You sound like a fucking nutter.
This!

[BumWad]

Fucking hell you. One across as a right knob.