Latest Moan From You and Me 2023

I keep getting parcels again at our front door which are addressed to someone else so far 8 this week and 3 knocks on the door again with parcels for someone else, you would have thought with all this modern tec ie GPS and what 3 words they could get it right first time, i shell stop taking them to the people they are addressed to and leeve them outside to get wet

Must be Christmas is coming

 

The house phone rang, a fairly rare event. Couldn't get there in time, thought "Oh, if it's important they will leave a message". Looked up the number: probable scammer.

 

We get a lot, landline and mobile ... but don't answer. We figure if it is important, they will ring back.

 

Supermarket chain Booths is axing almost all self-service tills in its stores in what it says is a response to customer demand.

All but two of the 28 stores run by the company, which trades in northern England, will have staffed checkouts.

Here's a shocker - people go to the shops because they want to interact with other people - online is not always what shoppers want.

Our local Morrisons has installed a load of self serve checkouts - which are largely empty - people would rather queue for the staffed tills.

 

Our self check outs are fairly busy however there is that "creepy" feeling of being scrutinized like a common thief when using one. The grocery store that I mostly use due to their fair deals, has the same attendant on hand pretty much every day so she has gotten to know me and I believe it has made check out a bit more civil.

 

If I'm doing a large shop I prefer to use the normal checkouts, but for smaller shop I prefer to use the self checkouts it's better than getting stuck behind a person with a monthly shop.
Can't say I ever feel I'm being watched, in fact the opposite as when I by alcohol the red light starts flashing but it's often a while before anyone comes over.

 

I prefer the self service checkouts, because I'm a grumpy old git and don't like the checkout girls saying 'Have a nice day' with a wide smile across their faces, as they do everywhere you go these days ...
And they always send the goods along the conveyor belt faster than you can put them in your carrier bag

 

The main problem I have with self service checkouts is it never tells you which side you put the basket and which side is the packing side, and then I keep getting it telling me some confusing dribble, until it gets reset, it asks if you brought your own bags, I say yes, and then at the end it asks how many bags you have bought.
If that's AI god help us.

Never heard of Booths, I thought they made Gin.

 

Too many options!

We had a pub lunch today, mine was a rump steak and the child wanted a beef-and-ale pie. Off I went to order.

"How do you want your steak done dear?" (OK, prepared for that)
The menu stated that my steak would come with chips, peas, grilled tomato and mushrooms. Not as simple as that.

"How would you like your chips, is it plain, cheesy, herby, mash, half a jacket, roasties or boiled or a swap for a side salad or... " (I'm sure french fries appeared too but I had already stopped listening and started panicking).
Me: Just chips please.
"Any toppers or sauces, peppercorn, creamy, herby butter, jalapenos, chargrilled..."
Me: No thanks that's all


"And with the pie, will that be plain chips, cheesy..."
Me (meekly): Just chips please.

Me: and can I have a large glass of house white wine and a glass of water please?

"Sure, would that be a small, medium or large glass of wine, Chardonnay, Pinot, ..."
Me:(WHATEVER BUT MAKE IT BIG AND FAST PLEASE ) Large Chardonnay thanks (I dislike Chardonnay but it was the first one of the options)

Paid and done! Well, nearly.

"Would the glass of water be half pint or a pint?" Half please

"And what would you like in the water, ice, lemon...."
Me: NOTHING PLEASE ALL IS GREAT THANK YOU

The food was nice though

 

I can understand your frustration @Selleri but I tend to get the problem the other way round in restaurants. They automatically assume I want dressing on salad so that doesn't get eaten. Chips were always ready salted by the time they reached the plate. I don't use salt. A glass of water nearly always turns up with ice and lemon - I don't want either!

I've been gluten free for almost four years, can you imagine the hassle I have with that? That's assuming that I can find somewhere that serves gluten free food. Why do restaurant staff always think they know better about what I can and can't eat. Frozen chips are taboo for me because most have a wheat coating (although you can't see it) and it's not written on the packaging, so staff automatically assume they are safe for me to eat.

 

I didn't know that. Maybe that's why I can't eat them. I can't swallow them. They always stick in my oesophagus and I end up not being able to breathe.

 

I'm sorry to hear that @Michael Hewett. As you can gather I've learnt a lot in the time I've been gluten free. Anything that contains a grain crop, wheat, rye, oats and barley contain gluten, but packaging that states gluten free is often wrong. Rice is the alternative. There are traps along the way too, malt vinegar and mustard are the first that come to mind. Also modified starch. Don't be fooled buy packaging that supposedly contains gluten free grain crops either, they are not 100% free.

If you look at the packaging of the food in your cupboards it might surprise you how much contains the above. About 95% of pre-packed food in supermarkets is off my shopping list. I have to prepare and cook most of my food from scratch - misery for someone like me who hates cooking.

I could go on but short of starting a thread on the subject, I'll leave it here.

 

That's interesting to know. One doesn't realise these things. It must be very difficult for you.
I hate cooking too, although sometimes I bake cakes