I’ve always been a big fan of grocery shopping. I know a lot of people (my Mother included) hate it with a passion, but I’ve never really understood what’s not to like; food and shopping combined is surely the best of both worlds, right?
A few things over the past few years have changed my opinion on this issue though, namely moving to Sydney, getting rid of my car, and moving in with Dante.
Anyone who has ever been to Broadway Shopping Centre on a Sunday afternoon will know what I’m talking about, and can stop reading right now. It feels like all of Sydney has been given orders to converge in the aisles of Coles at the same time, every week.
Not that other times are a lot better anymore. Having wised up to the Sunday afternoon nightmare that is Broadway we sneakily decided to sneak in Saturday afternoon and try to beat the crowds. Not only were there still throngs of people around, the shelves still had their usual empty-because-everyone-is-stocking-up-for-the-holocaust appearance, and yet again my plans to buy chick peas were thwarted.
As for long weekends/public holidays. Seriously, if you want to keep your sanity, forget about it!!!
Getting rid of the old bomb of a car I had has been great in a lot of respects. I don’t have to worry about it breaking down, I don’t have to pay ridiculously high petrol prices, and I now have a beautiful little Vespa to get around on, which often takes less time than driving somewhere would. Not to mention the fun factor.
One thing that is more difficult is grocery shopping. Especially since moving in with Dante, because now I buy for two people. The amount of milk, yoghurt and OJ we go through in a week boggles the mind. It’s all bulky and heavy too, and doesn’t leave room for much else on my bike.
So inevitably we resort to trudging down to Broadway and fighting our way through all the people milling about. Without fail we always end up fighting both whilst shopping (yes it does take that long to pick out 4 perfect apples), and then afterwards, while he insists we get a taxi, and the cheapskate inside me wants to get the bus.
The solution we recently stumbled upon: Coles online.
Now I know this isn’t a new service by a long shot. Hell I even did an assignment on it way back when I was doing my first degree. But I’m a recent convert. Sure it does take a big of organization - you have to know 2 days ahead what you want and when you’re going to be home - but yesterday’s traumatic experience has convinced me it is so worth it.
Even if they did break my eggs last time!