Tag: Shopping

The Westquay Epiphany

Last Monday, I was in Southampton, and with the pull of the Westquay shopping centre impossible to ignore, I found myself “just browsing” in nearly every store it had to offer (much to the disappointment of several sales assistants). When we tell someone that we’re just having a look around, I think a lot of us are saying it just to politely get them off our backs. In my case, though, I’m telling the truth. The whole truth. Nothing but the truth. I might see plenty of items I like and am tempted by, but very rarely do I feel a burning desire to part with any cash – or anything that strong at all.

In these tough times, you could be forgiven for thinking that I’m just being somewhat frugal. Subconsciously, perhaps I am, but I don’t think that explains everything. Of course, my reaction to something can vary depending on what it is. If it’s a meal or a new book, for example, then that’s something I could share with others, something to be fully consumed and savoured (in drastically contrasting ways, obviously). If it’s an item of clothing, on the other hand, my response – or lack thereof – couldn’t be more different. It’s closer to indifference.

I think it’s at its worst with clothes, as a matter of fact. You can point something out to me and I might agree that it looks nice, but that’ll be the end of the discussion. Either that or I’ll just tell you what I think you’re expecting to hear. I’ve been doing a bit of soul-searching to try to find out exactly why that is – why I feel so little towards what I wear – and that’s what led me to force myself to make some purchases in Westquay. When I’d managed to prise myself away, I had a new T-shirt, as well as a short-sleeved, smart casual summer shirt covered in mountains, yachts and palm trees. I’ve got a Spanish holiday coming up at the end of June, so the latter seemed particularly appropriate, I think you’ll agree. But my God, was it difficult to choose! Not because there was a wide range of options, but because I didn’t actually know what I wanted to look like. After so much deep thought, there it was – the grand revelation, hitting me in real time.

You see, for the first 26 years of my life, I haven’t really had much input into my own image. It might sound like I’m complaining about that, but I’m not. Mum, Dad and numerous other friends and relatives have meant well – I’ve just found it all too easy to accept everything I was given on birthdays or at Christmas. Maybe I was equally grateful and relieved, because each gift meant one less wardrobe dilemma, and we all know how people can struggle with those – especially in adolescence. In my twenties, however, I don’t honestly feel that things have gotten any easier. I can’t tell you how many laps I did around the M&S racks before settling on what to buy. With each one, another question would go round and round in my head, and all of them related to what other people would think of what I went for. Whether I liked it or not was the last thing on my mind, because what do I like? It looks like I ought to find out. Trusting myself, backing myself and liking myself a little bit more surely can’t do any harm – my life as a whole will be better for it.

Mason

Operation Bottom Shelf

My long-time subscription to F1 Racing magazine recently came to an end, and following this I realised that it would be pointless to renew it before my move to Winchester. I will therefore acquire them individually in the meantime, but even this has so far proved to be easier said than done. In my formative years, and prior to my subscription, I would enthusiastically visit newsagents in various places to pick up my copy, knowing that Dad would be there to hand it to me from the shelf. Now I am older, I am going to such places on my own, and I generally do so eager not to draw too much attention to myself. All I want to do is glide in as quietly as possible, find the magazine, pay for it and glide out again. I want to do this without appearing to struggle, and to be almost completely unnoticed even in my conspicuous and cumbersome chair. As you might expect, however, the layout of many shops means that this is not possible. Lots of interesting magazines, including F1 Racing, tend to be positioned only within reach of those who are much higher up than me, so no amount of groaning or straining from my chair will bring what I am looking for.

I could just ask for help, of course, but it always seems so silly to interrupt someone’s work or browsing just so they can remove something from a shelf for me (it was different with Dad – he was there primarily for that reason). In addition, I would feel like I was admitting defeat too easily – and it’s a magazine, for heaven’s sake! Why shouldn’t I be able to buy one in the same way as everyone else? To answer this question, I have to search far and wide, going from shop to shop on my own personal mission. As I do this, I have to make sure I don’t look too strange as I circle it carefully before exiting without buying anything. I slowly weave my way around to where the magazines are located, trying not to obstruct any other customers, and I stop next to the shelves so that I can scan them as closely as possible. The motorsport magazines are generally grouped into the same category as the regular motoring ones, so I know the titles to look out for – F1 Racing, for instance, can usually be found near Autosport or Motor Sport. 

If it is on the third shelf up or higher, any efforts I make will be in vain. Whilst I understand that not every magazine can be placed on a low shelf, my constant inability to independently collect what I want without any fuss does start to grate after a while. I can generally rely on one shop in my local area to always place F1 Racing on its lowest shelf, although there are admittedly a few I haven’t yet looked in. Said shop is occasionally without its copy, so maybe my next trip out for one should feature another mission to these uncharted territories?

Mason

 

The Pull, Part 9

Yesterday morning Mum and I were poised and prepared to go shopping for university, and I for one was very excited. I have never been as eager to write a list as I was when I sat down – once again at the kitchen table – to compile one on Friday night. As I look at it now, it features 15 items, although I am pretty much certain that I will have overlooked others of considerable importance. I was assisted in my efforts by my laptop, and a blog post written by a past student featuring everything that she had put in and around her room. Some were essentials and others were sentimental in nature, but I obviously focused on getting those in the former category down first – although I’m sure some reminders of home will join them before I move. My beloved Scrabble mug will definitely be accompanying me!

The hastily-scribbled selection of items we took was as follows:

  1. Notepads and stationery.
  2. A cheese grater (it may be random for this to be so high up on the list, but Mum insisted I include it before either of us forgot).
  3. Pots and pans.
  4. Cutlery.
  5. Mugs and glasses.
  6. Bed sheets, pillows and cushions.
  7. A doorstop, which is good for sociability.
  8. Toiletries and towels.
  9. A bin, unless one is already provided in my room.
  10. A plentiful supply of wipes.
  11. A selection of wardrobe additions.
  12. Any desired oven trays.
  13. Kitchen utensils.
  14. A kettle and toaster, if necessary.
  15. A microwave lid to go over any food (as an afterthought, we did consider that we might actually need a microwave as well when the time comes).

We came home with most of what we were looking for after a day of frantic but inspired trolley dashes that wouldn’t have looked out of place in Supermarket Sweep. The shiny new haul is now waiting patiently in the corner of my room for the big day to arrive in just over a month, but there is still plenty that needs to join it. The acquisition of what remains will depend on seeing the accommodation when I move in – that currently consists of the stationery, bed sheets, doorstop, bin, wipes, kettle and toaster, and the microwave and lid. Extra thought needs to be put into them anyway, and whatever else I might not have considered – I will keep you posted on my progress. Any suggestions you may have would be greatly appreciated, so please feel free to comment on this post if you think of anything!

Mason