Saturday 13 October 2007

Shopping

We’ve just taken the elderly James shopping in Asda. This store isn’t much of a treat for us, but James was quite bright eyed and chirpy at the thought of it.

There was a dodgy moment when he nearly lost his trousers in Asda car park, but we rescued them by hitching his belt up another few notches, and James hobbled cheerfully off with Himself while I attended to other things.

It wasn’t till we got home and unpacked things that I realised Himself had got a curious assortment of things:
Granny Smiths instead of Bramleys.
Powder washing powder instead of liquid.
No fruit. (I don’t count Granny Smiths)
No washing up liquid.
No water.

I could go on but I won’t.

James bought
a stapler and box of staples.
A packet of Ginger Nuts.
Packet of shortbread.
A packet of plastic plates. (???)
A packet of plastic spoons (???)
and a packet of plastic knives. Again, ?????

Anyway he seemed pleased with his purchases and took them proudly back to his room where I loaded up his stapler and we had a lesson in How To Staple things. When I put it away for him, in his stationery pile, I noticed – yes, you’ve got it. Another stapler, plus packet of staples.

The last time we got him a hole punch, he couldn’t get the hang of it at all, and rang several times over the weekend to ask how to work it. Poor fellow still can’t do it, so saves things up for when we got there.

I’m just waiting for the Staple phone call.

15 comments:

Cornish Dreamer said...

You're so good at getting James out and about, although it's sad when they need to be taught how to do simple things. Just as well he has you two for friends!

RT

laurie said...

oh dear. that sounds hard!

i hope that wasn't a food-shopping expedition for james. he's going to have a hard time getting those staples down.

Flowerpot said...

RT - yes it's sad trying to explain to a very intelligetn man some very basic things. Still, he just loves getting out right now.

Laurie - he does get fed at the home thankfully otherwise I quite agree - staples dont make a good diet!

Irene said...

Lovely little incompetent man. Good thing you're there to keep an eye on things. Is he getting enough to eat? There must be some logic to the staple buying. Maybe he is trying to tie up lose ends.

Akelamalu said...

I think himself is planning a surprise party! The plastic cutlery kind gives it away and the stapler is to put up the decorations. Is it your birthday soon? :)

Anonymous said...

Supermarkets are completely hectic for anyone! I hate them. Every time I take Amy we end up with many more items than we intended to buy, but nothing from the list?????

Well done on taking James though.

Crystal xx

the rotten correspondent said...

He's a lucky man to have the two of you.

Not quite sure what to say about the staples.

Elaine Denning said...

I won't mention the words 'staple diet.'

Th mind boggles. It's not even picnic weather, is it?

Flowerpot said...

sweet irene - yes he does get enough to eat but he has avery sweet tooth and he needs to put on some weight!As for logic - well, he has dementia so there's not a lot of logic attached to his shopping!

Flowerpot said...

Ak - thats a lovely idea but I think not! And bless him, he cant remember what day of the week it is let alone anyone's birthday!

Crystal - I quite agree. And waht about that bloody musack they always play? Aaagh!!

correspondetn - no teh staples had me stumped also!

Flowerpot said...

MissU - very good! I like it!

Lane Mathias said...

James sounds a dear - and I like his taste in biscuits:-)

Anonymous said...

Have you thought of taking him to Staples? No sarcasm intended - he might love it!

Flowerpot said...

lane - he's a real dear. We recently introduced him to shortbread and he adores it now but his true love is chocolate!

Flowerpot said...

G - that's a very good idea. He could buy even more stuff he doesnt need and be in seventh heaven!!