Shopping

My DH and I have a good system that works for us. He drives us to the supermarket, drops me off and takes the re-cycling, gets fuel then goes and sits in the carpark and does his sudoku and crossword until I ring him on his mobile - 3 rings.

He then comes in and unloads the trolley onto the conveyor belt whilst I pack the bags in my preferred order. He used to do the bag packing whilst I unloaded the trolley but was too prone to just bung everything in together so we swapped roles!

He then puts the bags in the car, takes the trolley back to the parking area and drives us home. He unloads the bags into the kitchen and I put everything away then make our breakfast.

I always ask if there's anything he needs or would like to eat for meals when I am preparing my shopping list but usually he just leaves it to me. We are a good team.

I'm one of the lucky ones too. My OH likes grocery shopping (hates any other type and in particular clothes for himself), always drives, always pushes the trolley , packs the bags (sometimes gets a bit huffy if I try to help), always pays, unloads bags into and out of car - then goes and sits down and goes to sleep. Something obviously goes wrong right at the end isn't there?

If I am unfortunate enough to have company shopping -
DH does not keep up with me
Wants a cup of coffee every 20 mins
Puts stuff in the trolley we don't need
Disputes stuff we do need
Chats to anyone and everyone
And.... Puts heavy things in bags on top of delicate things
Then grumbles about how much it costs
Apart from that it is a dream!

? Phoenix, I knew you would come up trumps. Made me giggle re Mr P. Ta.

DH does lots of the shopping and is excellent at sniffing out bargains. He also does a lot of cooking. However,washing and ironing, housework, gardening and DIY are impenetrable mysteries to him, and I shudder to think what DDs would have to contend with, should he be left alone. He would eat well, but the house would be filthy and he'd have no clean clothes!

Auntieflo just read your op, would love to help, but giggling too much!

Mr P is generally a decent chap, but does (of course) have his little peccadilloes, which include sometimes leaving empty packets in the fridge, eating a cold sausage that I was looking forward to, and adding insult to injury by leaving the plate in the fridge Grrrrr! I won't even go into the onion bhagee incident, it happened in 2001 but I'm still traumatised

But one of his other episodes involved the only time he did the washing. I explained which programme to use, and also about separating the laundry into 2 lots, one light colours and one dark.

He duly did this, making 2 neat piles, which he then put into the washing machine together

My OH comes food shopping with me occasionally, I pick something up , he says,, we don't need that, I pick something else up,,he says, I don't like that we don't need it, I have walked off and left him in the shop before now, and he wonders why I won't let him come with me anymore, !!

OH sent to buy some milk from the local supermarket. Comes back with UHT in cartons.(Ugh) Asked him why; he said he had walked in, seen the milk on the shelf and bought it. Asked him where we keep our milk; he responds 'In the fridge'. When asked why he hadn't gone to the fridge in the supermarket he became arsey. This is the same man who, when asked to watch the chops under the grill stood there and watched them burn. (Hadn't been asked to do anything other than watch them.) It's a great tactic for never being asked to shop or assist with the cooking again.

Blinko I used to do that at Waitrose but one of the managers came over and told me that it was not necessary. I try not to do it but at times I still do, especially in the freezer cabinet which is frequently overloaded.

DH often goes shopping on his own, we make a list and off he pops! I never have problem with what he buys. I think he would make a good internet order picker!

He likes to go shopping without me because I can't help tidying the shelves.....

DH popping to the local shop: Anything you want while I'm there?
Moi: Could you bring a mango please? DH returns with a butternut squash.....

On another occasion having spotted aubergines a day or so before: Could you bring aubergines, please?
DH on return: Sorry, but there weren't any.
So when I nip across to check (sigh), yes, there they are, nearly a basket full. Just not at eye level.

I despair!

Emelle, best wishes for a speedy recovery to your DH. My supermarket has changed all the stock around. I bet he would hate that, I certainly do!

Emelle19......... love and hugs to you both x

Good wishes for your DH Emelle.DH has been brilliant at doing the shopping while I have been ill, I do go with him when up to it but he loads the trolley and the belt then packs everything into cool bags.

Emelle all good wishes to your husband, it's a worrying time I know.
I am one of the lucky ones too, my husband does all the shopping except toiletries and all the cooking,. Seems I have a lot to be grateful for.

Emelle - I do hope his health improves and he's back shopping with you again soon.

Yeah, I've got one like that inishowen and it makes me bl**dy mad - were you cross?

Emelle19 - I tidy up all the loose trolleys too - I know it's sad but I quite enjoy it.

Emelle, for you and hope that his treatment is successful. My OH is a help/ companion on our supermarket trips. ( he does return the trolley) but I would love him to have some of your DH organised ways. I also enjoy tidying up the trolleys in their shelters, when I shop on my own

I had been out one morning and when I came home the keys were missing from the back door. DH refused to admit he'd lost them, and accused me of throwing paper into the recycling, and throwing the keys too. Two days later he dashed out and searched his car. Came back and said he was going to search the recycling bin. Two minutes later he was waving the keys at me and saying he had found them in the bin. I was flabbergasted and told him I knew he'd just found them in his car. He had to admit it in the end. The lengths he went to blame me was unbelievable.

emelle your husband sounds a star! and your closeness and love shines through,

Best wishes for him and his treatments.

Me, I took the attitude when undergoing chemo "this is WAR! There'll be casualties but the good Guys are going to Win .

20 years on, I wasn't proved wrong!

Actually, a pet hate of mine are the husbands, now perhaps retired, who go along with their wives, to 'help' . A quick whizz round then becomes an hour-long trek, frayed nerves, and, anyone else see this? They check the receipt while still at the till ...

My ex brother in law used to go shopping with Sil and when she wasn't looking put back anything he deemed too expensive or unnecessary! She regularly got home and found she was missing stuff she thought she had bought. I would have killed him ?

My late DH used to push the trolley & I would direct him to the aisles we needed - his worst habit was browsing (I like to be in & out) & picking up things we didn't need, usually nice treats but not budgeted for. I would never have let him go shopping on his own.

Now I have Tesco delivery (most supermarkets don't deliver where I live) & use Milkman & local shop for fresh fruit & veg plus little top-ups

pinkshoes you should really use your local shop or one day when you need it they will not be there. Our local fuel station is expensive but it would be more expensive if we run out and they are closed down so we fill up there at least once a month

Emilie you need to take a photo of your trolley and send it to him, then he will hurry up getting better.