Shopping with a mobility scooter

So I know I'm not the only disabled shopper in the world. As a first experience it wasn't the best,although it was slightly humourous, now i look back on it that is! I think I will be sticking to online shopping.As I don'tthink I will be braving a scoote for some time to come .

Firstly and this probably sounds rather vain, but I hated being in one and the looks that I got! I wanted to shout if you want to know just ask. Then its almost like a pity party of everyone jumping out your way avoiding eye contact or diving in to reach that product that's just a little to high up the shelves for you. Now that may sound extremely ungrateful, and I don't mean to come across that way but.. I was with my husband. Its for me difficult enough being in this position and I will ask him for help if I need it. I have or was always very independent until I met my husband, I still felt like I had some of that left so with people doing that it just felt they were taking strips of independence away. I suppose a little dignity, whats left of it after you have had a baby anyway!

Then as I was upstairs and the hubby had wondered off the blasted scooter wouldn't move. I'd like to point out that at this point the little light was still green indicating it still had battery left. Well it let me reverse but just refused to go forward. I could see people looking at me and felt the colour rising in my face. I felt like asking one woman if her mother had never taught her that it was rude to stare!

So after a few heart stopping minutes the thing starts up again, I go and join my husband and tell him in no way is he to leave me behind. Now I don't drive, so when I crashed in to a display full of clothes my husband said that it was probably a good thing. Luckily the display was sturdy and nothing broke. I however by now am scowling. I look to the little light, we'd probably been in the store for all of 15mins and its on red. So thinking that it turns to red with plenty of time to get you back to the front of I go.

Just as we reached the home stretch it started to give out on me. So the hubby pushed it from behind with the trolley and I made it to the customer service desk- just. I asked for another one. I couldn't use a normal chair as H was in the big trolley that D was pushing and we needed the big trolley. I like shopping and didn't want to have to sit on a bench red faced whilst the hubby finished up. So they give me another scooter...

I didn't get very far before it broke down in the middle of the store. At that point I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. There were no more scooters and it wasn't the shortest walk to the front of the store. No way was I dragging that thing and because it had completely lost power D couldn't even push it far from behind. So it had to be abandoned, bit like the rest of the shopping really.

There were no more scooters and really at this point, even though my husband was highly amused I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry as quite a few people had seen this happen and looking back yes I can laugh. But is it too much to ask that they charge the scooters when they put them back? I wasn't going to take the risk of a third scooter and there was no way I could walk round the rest of the way so it was a case of 'lets go home and D can finish it tomorrow'. Which got my goat a little bit really. I may have had a few disasters with online shopping but at least that's behind a screen!! So until I build up the confidence again I am only left with the choice of online shopping which after having my gallbladder out next week will probably be all I feel up to!

My Guilty Pleasure - Retail Therapy

I have to say it. I must be a typical woman. When your down there is nothing better than a bit of retail therapy!! Especially when you get some bargains.

I had decided to make my way down the stairs. Whilst down there I knew I needed to get out of the house and it not be just for an appointment. So we decided to go to Tesco. D had a voucher for £5 off when you spent £50.

Well lets just say we definitely spent that. Originally I was just going to get a few books and a few more grows and vests in the next size up for H. Seriously though who can resist pretty dresses and dungarees when they are half price.

My husband seems to be a Jeans man. It always tickles me that whenever we go to a clothing shock in deep surprise he will say oh they stock my size. Every time, talk about gold fish memory. Well I did a deal if he wanted new jeans he could have them on the provision of chucking some of his old 8 yes 8 pairs away. Which reminds me I need to get him to actually chuck a pair away.

Hubby cracks me up if a top has a hole in he doesn't want it chucked because, well its a comfy top. If it has a stain on it.. He has a fair few of those then they are saved for decorating. Even though we have done all the decorating we intend to do before we move out. You see we are in married quarters and I would rather not spend a fortune on decorating it to have to put it back to square one in a year to 2 years!

Anyway, I am a pj girl at the moment. Considering I spend most of my time in my bedroom and when my skin is flared, they are the comfiest things to wear. So how could I resist when I saw some bright yellow sponge bob square pants pj's in the sale, in my size. That in my books is a sign. All my husband had to say on the matter was, they were that bright he would feel like the light was on even when he had turned it off humph!!

One thing that does annoy me though is how difficult it is to shop. I have to hold on to H in the wheel chair and D puts big bags for life on the back and fills them up, that's the only way we know how to do it at the moment. H loves it as she can see so much more than she can in her pushchair. But I do get annoyed when people come up and start touching her. I think its a bit rude!

So we left Tescos a lot lighter, with far to many clothes for H. And a few more clothes for ourselves. I don't know whether this would be seen as a good or bad thing but my hubby is better at picking clothes out for me than I am. But not always great at picking stuff out for himself!

So what do you do when your feeling down and want to cheer yourself up?

The Hubster And Shopping

My Husband has been trained well ha ha. Well at least I have tried to train him in budget shopping. There are certain things though that I cant stand the cheap versions of and that's sweet corn and peas. I also don't like cheap bread, to me it tastes different. That's mainly since I was pregnant though, because even the smell of bread made me heave.

Many a time my husband would come home and ask where the bread was, to which my reply was in the bin. You see he had a habit of keeping it in the fridge which stunk the fridge out and made me loose my appetite.
As my regular blog readers will know I can't get about so I do the main shop online. Then if we run out of anything things like milk and bread (Its always milk and bread)  I send the hubby out to the shops.

I will always say to him, do you want me to write you a list? You see I know what he is like! He always forgets at least one thing. I tell you his memory is shocking especially when he is stressed, and at this moment in time our life is quite stressful.

So the other morning, I sent him out to get my prescription, as we had forgotten to get it on the Friday. I was panicking because even though I had seen posters in the surgery advertising Saturday appointments, I wasn't confident that it would be open.

So off he goes. I nod off and wake up about an hour or so later. He isn't home yet so I am quietly confident that doctors were open and its taking him so long to wait for the prescription. I knew he had said he would get some bread and milk (again) and a few other bits and bobs as T and P are down next week to look after me and H.

So anyway I hear the front door open 'Honey I'm hooomee!' he yells and then comes bounding up the stairs like an excited little school boy about to show his mummy his latest drawing!
I couldn't quite figure out why he had brought the shopping upstairs. Then he starts getting all excited and gabbering away 'I hope you don't mind.. but look what I got.'. he the proceeds to pull out a variety of clothes for H in the next size up. Of course I don't mind him getting her stuff, in actually fact I think its really sweet.

He then goes on to say... yes this phrase has come back and bit me in the arse... look how much money I saved us because it was in the sale. I laughed and said yes you did save money because I suppose it is needed, but that's the only way you save.

Then he goes oh and just in case you were mad at me for getting some bits.. I got you some more nighties, as
I know you like your PJ's and nighties (mainly because that's the most comfy thing to wear with my skin at the moment).

Guess what folks he came back without half of the stuff he was meant to get. Including no prescription !(docs wasn't open). Still managed to spend enough for 5p off fuel. I'm telling you that's some expensive bread and milk. Mind you not as expensive as the lamb chops we brought. When I was about 8 months pregnant and we still had the Mazda we knew we had to get rid. Anyway this one day I was craving lamb chops on the way to the shops we went past a car garage and I told D to turn in to see how much we would get for a part exchange. We ended up leaving with a brand new car and no lamb chops!!

Now before I tell you about his next purchase I have to explain something. The first new years eve we were together we were at his parents and were about to go to London for it. It was bitter cold and we were looking for hats to wear. He then comes out with a flat cap. Me, A and N were all laughing. I suppose when he hasn't shaved he looks pretty good in one. Still it reminds me of an old man.

He then for months afterwards is sulking because he can't find one to buy. So imagine my delight when in December before Christmas I found one. So he gets his beloved hat Christmas day and I swear for about a week the only time he didn't wear it was he had a shower!

Then T and P came down just before H was born. When T left she picked up the coats hanging on the banister. They go home. A few hours later I get a phone call of T 'Er I picked up D's flat cap by accident' laughing I say 'thats fine!'

D whilst I'm still on the phone comes in looking a bit upset.. Where's my flat cap babe? So I tell him whats happened. He seemed to go a bit pale. Tears seemed to be filling her eyes, as he knew it was going to be a while before we would go to Swindon and before they would come here. Tell her to post it back! He yells. I'm not impressed I love that hat and its the right weather to wear it in!!

T laughingly refused to post it and told him he would just have to wait. I think it was about 4 months before he got the hat back and I swear I saw him kiss it and caress it telling it he would never let it out of his sight again.

His cousin told me not to worry its just his Yorkshire genes coming out and if he ever asks for whippets its a no no!! So going back to the shopping, out the bag he pulls out a pink flat cap designed for babies. I didn't even know they did flat caps for kids let alone babies. But somehow my hubby managed to grab one and bag a bargain in the process ( I reckon its because they weren't selling ha ha!)

He's took his obsession to a whole new level. Now he is determined to get her an outfit that matches, even though the hat is a little big for her. H however, seems to like the hat and I have to admit it doesn't look that bad on what do you think?

My little adventure

Before I start today's post I just want to give you a link to my guest blog that was kindly posted today its called The Luck Gene  http://www.curlyandcandid.co.uk/2011/07/15/the-luck-gene/

Well as my regular readers probably know, most days I am pretty much bed bound. The only time in the last 2 months that I have been out the house is to doctors appointments or hospital appointments. The hubby had decided that this just wouldn't do and I needed to get out. Even if it was just to Tesco.

The past few days had been particularly painful so I have pretty much been taking my painkillers and sleeping all day. Today the pain level  was more tolerable. So I suggested timidly that maybe a trip in to Drakes Circus in town may be in order for the day.

Now that's a task and a half. I have to balance Holly on my knee whilst Dave obviously pushes us. What you don't think about is how the hell are you supposed to shop?! Its fun, especially when we saw a bigger bath for H as her one is just too small for her now. So I had that balanced on the arm of the chair with my other arm firmly round H. That meant a trip back to the car before starting again.

I have to admit both me and D are shocked. We spent a fair bit, and none of it on us! We got H a lot of clothes in the next size up because there are sales on! Anyway as we were queuing in Superdrug I got a bit off a whiff in my nostrils... Oh O time to change H.

So the other half suggests going to Cafe Nero. He gets the drinks tries to pay by card but their machines are down which means he will have to go get cash. More importantly he needs to change H first. He trots upstairs to the toilets and tells me theres no baby changing bit. I said to him try the back of the store pretty sure they have a toilet which is also a changing station. Nope Mr B knows best. Off he trots.

He comes back the waitress pops over to our table and I ask is there any disabled toilets.. guess what folks Mrs B was right! At the back of the cafe.. and in there.. hey presto one changing station. One flushed Mr B. We go back to the table and D goes to get his drink. The woman on the table is chatting away. I am feeling awkward, but H attracts them all in.

She continues to chat and I don't want to be rude but I really have to get my phone out my pocket at this point which would mean turning away. However, H sorted that problem out. The next time the woman looked at her bottom lip came out and the uuuuu sound..

D comes and sits back at the table and we are chatting away. Then once again D my knight in shinning armour comes to my rescue, when out of nowhere this massive and I mean massive burp escapes without me realising. OH MY GOD! I just want the floor to open up and swallow me. D in the mean time turns to H 'good girl H, such a good girl, that was a nice big burp'.

Who said babies weren't good for anything? ha ha! H just smiled almost like she was in on the joke. Apart from the odd nearly crashing me in to shop displays, good steering there hub! It was a nice day. It made a nice change to get out.

I also thought oh whilst I am out I will get my eyes tested. I explain about the odd double vision and the odd bout of blurring in one eye. After she had finished examining my eyes and telling me my prescription had changed quite dramatically she said it didn't account for the double vision or blurriness as it wasn't happening all the time and wasn't accompanied by the migraines. She asked me if I had been referred to a Neurologist because if not she wanted to refer me. So looks like my option was a damn sight better than my GP!!

So I picked up some different frames two different pairs who can resist a BOGOF, I was even more impressed when it turned out that even with the cost of the eye test it cost me less than £100 I will be sticking to speck savers in the future!

Oh I lied when I said I didn't get anything, obviously I have my glasses which hub will be picking up Friday. Also he brought me some lovely sunflowers. What a darling. Even if I did have to excessively hint. *cough cough* them flowers are beautiful, would really cheer up the bedroom, seems as you killed my purple plant *cough*

On the way home it was a case of oh bugger. Guess what we didn't do. We didn't pick up my prescription I am pretty sure the docs is open on a Saturday I bloody hope so.

I did notice a lot of people staring. And for once I was unsure why, was it the psoriasis the wheelchair or the baby! But I didn't care because H was giving me beaming smiles as well as charming the passers by. Seems that having a baby is a great ice breaker!! I'm glad I went in to town. I was nervous as hell but didn't want to become institutionalized. I am shattered now and could sleep for a week. But I did it. Admittedly will be a while before I do it again so online shopping watch out.. I just will try not to make the same mistakes ha ha!

Online Shopping

Online shopping is brilliant. Especially for me at the moment. I can get what I want or need at the click of the button. It's amazing - until it goes wrong that is!
Around the time of the royal wedding I had done an online shop and ordered it to be delivered on the day of the royal wedding. I was surprised they were doing deliveries that day but figured that's why the delivery charges were a bit more expensive! We had family coming down that weekend to visit us and meet little H. So because it was coming towards the end of the month we had hardly anything and needed that shop. So on the morning of the delivery I get a phone call from the head office of the shop (I think its best I don't mention the name as I don't know the legal implications) anyway, they were phoning to say that they were unable to deliver the shopping on that day did I want to schedule delivery for another day. No I said, I have family coming down and need that shop it also has baby milk which I also need. Not to worry I was told if I was able I could send someone in to pick it up and it would be waiting at the customer service desk. So off trots the hubby to go and get the shopping. I get a phone call from him asking could I remember who I had spoken to? No I couldn't what did it matter. Long story short the shopping hadn't been done and the attitude my husband received was a case of, probably best if you delete the order and start again or just go and pick it for yourself. Your not the first person this has happened to. Now surely if that had been other customers going into pick up shopping you would have thought that common sense would have prevailed and that they would maybe think to get a list of customers and ring them to apologise and explain the situation.
So my hubby not being one for confrontation took a delivery slot for the next day and a voucher for the store and came home. Hormonal and not one to be messed with I tried ringing the store, only for someone to answer and hang up again. Unacceptable!! Long story short again, I rung head office to be told it was a special day and allowances should be made because nothing in life is guaranteed. As I pointed out to the lady on the end of the phone, it may well be a special day but as a business you prepare for that and make sure you have enough staff on and why couldn't someone just pick my shopping so we could go back in and get it. Well she tried ringing the store and couldn't get through. I asked did I have any guarantees that the shopping would be delivered the following day to receive the same there are no guarantees in life but  I can ask the store to ring you.
The store never rang, the shopping turned up late, and reading for the list after being told we wouldn't be charged for delivery they had actually charged us more than the original delivery charge. So unimpressed.
I then realised after hubby had unpacked the shopping that I should pay closer attention to the size of things, the quiche that I had planned on us having for lunch was bite size. I wont be making that mistake again I told myself...
So yesterday I did the monthly shop to be delivered online and seen that some of my favorite chocolates were on special offer, who could resist that. I also saw some plastic bowls which looked fairly big like they would be good for salads and putting crisps and nibbles in when having people over...
My hubby shouts up do you want me to bring your chocolates up? Oh my mouth is watering! I can nearly taste them I can't wait to slowly work my way through them. No-one gets between a woman and her chocolate.. I can hear him chuckling to himself as hes coming up the stairs. He comes towards me and hands me the tiniest box you have ever seen. FOUR BLOOMING CHOCOLATES!!! If something seems to good to be true then it must be!!
He then comes up the stairs again and says planning ahead are we. HUH? What are you talking about and he precedes to show me the tiniest bowls ever. He said are these for H? I could so have got away with it, but I fessed up and told him no. At which point he laughs even more.
I think I may have learnt my lesson now. I am heartbroken over the chocolate. Especially seems as its still that time of the month and lets face it that's when chocolate becomes a matter of life and death! I am laughing now, because otherwise I think I would have actually cried. I'm glad my hubby was so amused. Its ok I'm sure karma will bite him in the bottom!! hahaha!!