TROLLIED

I've had enough. What is it about supermarkets that brings out the worst in people? What is it about these places that makes them so inept? 

I don’t have the answers to these questions, but every time I've completed the weekly food shop I find myself spending at least ten minutes reorganising the supermarket trolley park. I know I don’t have to but it seems to me that I’m the only one who cares if things are put back properly. 

Why do I do it? Apart from my obsessive compulsivisms, I'm paranoid that someone will see the state that the trollies have been left in and think that it was me who was responsible. I want to be able to return the trolley without any hassle so I believe if I sort it out then perhaps the next person will appreciate that and maybe act the same way next time. What I don't understand is why people can't put the trollies back correctly to begin with. If the first person leaves a trolley in an empty lot then surely the second person should join the trollies together. Trollies were designed to stack perfectly together; it makes sense that we should use them for that purpose. Do I need to draw a diagram?

Much to Mrs Left-Handed Tea Drinker's frustration, I'm the type of person who will return an unwanted item in a supermarket to the exact place it came from, even if that means leaving her alone at the checkout. You may be thinking that someone gets paid to do this and I should leave it for them to sort out, but if we make one person’s job a little easier then it could be good for all of us. 

Unfortunately, this is not the only supermarket issue I encounter on a regular basis. I’m thinking of drawing up a code of conduct which involves re-educating and if necessary punishing those who fail to use the supermarket checkout dividers. Why can’t people put the dividers out? Do they want to pay for my shopping? 

But first things first ... please, I implore you, let’s do the right thing with trollies. It will save me a lot of time and I'll be in a little less trouble with Mrs LHTD, which is surely good for all of us. And once we've sorted out that problem, then perhaps we can start on the world.

Do you suffer from gripes and disquiets? Please share them by email spurtle@hotmail.co.uk or Twitter @theSpurtle or direct to The Left-Handed Tea Drinker