Stock Up Now Or Else

By Shona McGough – shopping correspondent

Panic

In a series of articles based around the festive season I’ll be taking a look at how Sligo people get a handle on it all. This Friday 21 December – the winter solstice – will see the official start of the panic shop for Christmas. Any purchasing up to now doesn’t count as that stuff will surely be ate way before the big day.

Madness

This isn’t the last minute smash and grab raid to complete the present list but the usual, end of the world, grocery shopping madness. Already car parks are filling up earlier each day but come Friday the madness will be here. Some shoppers think if they get there early they’ll have one up on the competition – and it is a competition – but then when everyone has the same idea it becomes an exercise in mundane futility – it’ll still be mad.

Expect

In another article I’ll look at a complete and reliable shopping list that every man/woman/child can take with them to the supermarket. But being honest it’ll mainly be women. For now here’s a flavour of what to prepare for and expect.

Fights for car park spaces

Parking accidents

Annoying carol singers wearing Santa hats

Screaming children

The same piped music in every shop

Those f(*&ing Christmas jumpers

Unbelievably long queues at checkouts

Forgetting something important