The Shopping List

_^or The Unfolding Saga of an Folded Envelope

(continued, sort of, from previous blog post)

The Shopping List : How it began

During Lockdown of 2020, the world hit a new low, but human resilience, in it’s many amazing forms, found a way through the darkness. Everyone found little ways to battle through the greater nastiness of the times.

Shopping became hard, sometimes impossible and I’m not ashamed to admit we, as a family, relied on help from outside sources, ordered shopping online (rarely) or shopped locally, keeping to covid-based rules. I’ve always doodled silliness, painted silliness and I’m a generally silly person amongst my several personalities. So a logical course for me was to cheer up a mundane task by adding a bit of illustrated humour.

It’s impossible to do daft doodles on every shopping list, our life is a complicated one as it is, so time is valuable. But if there is time, perhaps when Vikki is deciding between items, or we’re doing a list whilst doing something else, it does bring a bit of sunshine to a shopping list. It’s also not a new thing, apparently Michelangelo did the same! More on that later…

The Shopping List : From Tesco to Facebook

As mentioned briefly in my previous blog post, on Sunday 26th March 2023, we went shopping, not a week’s shopping, just some things we needed. The Oven part of our cooker randomly stopped working on the friday, so this meant we weren’t as happy as a family with a fully working oven, even though we were relatively happy.
Nevertheless, because no oven = no pies or cakes, we chatted over biscuits and a cuppa, that perhaps a stew that evening would be a possibility, cheaper than a big roast and very tasty. Like a naked pie with added potatoes, veg etc.

The list evolved (we were watching a film on Talking Pictures TV) and I doodled away, like many sporadic times before as Vikki relayed things we could check out prices of, or stuff we might need. We went to tesco just before 2pm, and I wheeled myself around the store in my wheelchair, whilst Vikki pushed the trolley and checked the list. As usual, she chuckled at some of my silly doodles and even though we ended up with a few extra bits, we were done about 2.40pm, put the shopping in the car, and went home.

How one small mistake can lead to something that leads to something….
So that was that, or so we thought. The stew went really well, very tasty. The shopping and list a semi-distant memory.

Until a friend popped up on Facebook messenger to ask, “Just wondered if this list is anything to do with you by any chance?” Followed by some screengrabs from Facebook – The Shopping List had been discarded in a trolley, taken around Tesco again by a couple shopping (oblivious to it’s future fame), then found by a hard-working trolley guy.
It made him smile at the end of a Sunday shift, so he took it home to his partner, who posted it on a Facebook Group, ‘New Thanet Chat’ – Photos below.

Litter Disclaimer:
Normally, we 100% take our litter with us, we always have a bag in the car, or always use bins. Just disregarding litter was instilled in us at an early age and apart from the rubbish that frequently blows into our front garden (which we also put in the bin) we always take care not to litter the countryside, or leave stuff behind.
(Ahem) Soooo, every time I’ve done a daft shopping list, they’ve gone straight to the paper recycling, I haven’t even taken any photos of them, they just get binned. Responsibly.
Imagine then, if you will, how in a way my heart sunk, knowing I’d left a bit of my silliness to litter the world. Some might say it’s ‘Scrote – like behaviour’* (see below).
However, it was Vikki who was in charge of the list – my conscience was clear. She however, was embarassed.

The Original Facebook Post

Screengrab courtesy of Marie Thomas

Facebook – The Response

Turns out, just as a side story, or background info, the original poster of the Facebook post, Chantelle Parker, is one of the sisters of a friend that goes way back, but her name didn’t ring a bell for me, it was Vikki that remembered and made the connection later on!

I don’t really have a ‘style’, I have a few. One minute it’s a photo-realistic portrait, the next it’s a wild scrawl or a doodle. So for Marie, then slowly one or two others to recognise my scribblings, was a surprise at first, but after reflection, I guess I do draw a lot of grinning objects. Here’s an example from 2009: Keep an eye out for the can in particular.

I’d been spotted, it had traced back to me within a very short space of time and the responses were rapid and despite one comment about people having too much time on their hands, every comment was positive. (True at the point of typing this, but there may be more hate coming, who knows?)
I’m a humble bloke really. One half of me is still the painfully shy boy who hid behind his mother rather than talk to people. The other half is still the class clown, but I don’t like to brag, I don’t know how to accept praise and I’m my worse critic, art-wise AND self-wise. Not that I don’t like praise, I’m just not egotistical, but The Shopping List had opened the gates suddenly and the comments were being added.

I’ve tried to like or heart (or laugh with, some of the comments are very funny) and thanked everyone by typing a thank you post in the main thread, because it’s the comments and reactions that have given body to something normally easily ignorable or perhaps uninteresting to some, into something that has spurred me on a bit more as I battle with my own demons. The comments that have let ME know that sometimes a bit of love, or a bit of silliness that we only really share within ourselves, or within our homes, that can brighten up someone else’s day, even for a moment or two.
Anyway, I’ve gotten a bit deep, but I do appreciate people taking their time to show some love.

I thought of screengrabbing some of the comments, but I’d rather ask everyone’s permission for privacy and that would be a headache, but if I just type them, it’ll look like I’m just typing words in a list or blowing my own trumpet. Although before I’d popped on to Facebook to say ‘it was me what did it guv’, it was funny to see posts like ;”Banksy”/”I feel the same”/ and “wow, keep that, it could be the next Banksy” or even “Would love this on my Gable end wall!” did make me chuckle.

But a special comment was one that highlighted the fact that Michelangelo doodled on his shopping list! Click here to see a pic!

Another comment, which stood out for me, was “Nice to see a bit of humour for a change” – It’s SO true. Adverts have become less humorous, music doesn’t have any sporadic one-hit wonders (bar a sausage roll every xmas). There isn’t the silliness of Python, Goons, Everett, Hill, Abbott or The Goodies in the mainstream. I doubt one man’s lunacy will make a difference, but on this occasion, a humble shopping list made over 1,000 people smile, dozens to comment and that tells me otherwise.

So I’ll continue to be a vigilante for silliness, thank you again facebookers.

The Shopping List : Stop The Press!

As a result of the original post getting so many responses, I was messaged by Brad Harper from KentOnline who asked if I was available for a chat, he phoned and asked me the story behind the Facebook post amongst other things, like background, how many kids etc, it felt like I’d laid myself bare, but i guess there’s boxes to tick.

But, it went online today. A couple of hours ago, in fact. From a scrap of torn-off envelope to the heady heights of the Local Internet-based Newspaper.

Here’s a link to the Article, and Brad’s story. (opens in new tab) It’s a little less detailed than this story, but at least he tells you all the facts.

A couple of different screengrabs from the KentOnline article

The Shopping List : A little bit of negativity goes a long way.

I’m all up for constructive critisism, but there will always be ‘haters’ or a negative Nora, and there might even be more yet. But so far, the only negs so far are :

KentOnline negatives:
*cough* “BrianBlessed” wrote; ‘ “accidently left in a trolley”, much like the detris of paper, papers and other shopping list just abandoned in trolleys by dirty scro ates that can’t be bother to tidy up after them. ‘
I deliberately left it as is, with all mistakes left in. A grammar-conscious pedant would pick it apart, but I’m always making typos. He makes a valid point, we all need to be responsible for our litter. (See disclaimer above). I think calling my wife a ‘Scro ate’ (scrote aka scrotum i think he meant) is a bit harsh, it was an honest and unintentional mistake.

FactsOnly wrote; ‘Congratulations. This is the worst article I have ever read.’ This possibly the winner of something, especially as it won -63 which means 63 people clicked the thumbs-down button. I don’t think anyone was prophessing this was going to epic news, but I’ve read worse.

I only have one negative comment in all the Facebook comments so far .. and it’s great.
David Sh wrote ; ‘Nice to don’t have nothing to do in life‘ –
I took it to mean that he has some opinions on how much society should be sitting around doing nothing on a Sunday. I commented that it was my day off. Which was ironic, because it wasn’t my day off. I don’t get a day off being me. Far too busy.

The Shopping List : What does it all mean?

• Here’s a list of the list. If you’re a list lover, you’ll love this list of a list.

• Title : No shopping list needs one, so I don’t know why I always do this. Money is always short so i added coins.
• Tesco – we sometimes shop seperately for seperate items, so i usually split the list, we didn’t have much time to do aldi, so it didn’t get added
• Salad : Well, it’s rabbit food, isn’t it?
• Tats : Double meaning, Tats, short for potatoes, and tats as in saying ta-ta or goodbye.
• Bananas : We get through a bunch a week, and I’ve drawn this little fella for 30 yrs. He’s called ‘Nana’!
• Grapes: Just cute little shiny, purple faces.
• Steak – This was for our Stew as mentioned earlier in the Blog Post / story. Obviously a cow. The cow’s important because I’m currently drawing a cow for an exciting project that’s been YEARS in the making! (more soon!)
• Milk : TwoferOne, Also the same cow. Value for money.
• Ham : Little piggy. Usually a piggy for ham or bacon.
• Bread : ALWAYS on the list. isn’t it always on eveyone’s?
• Pancakes : 50p a pack, they make a change during the week for the kids, sloshed in maple syrup, naturally. (or fruit)
• White Vinegar : I pondered over a doodle for this for a while, but then thought ‘it’s an Acid’ so went Old Skool Raver for a bit and drew a smiley.
• -container for baking powder- : we bought a cheap 3.50 bell jar. We have a kilo of baking powder, but that’s a whole other story.
• Marmite : I nearly left it wth just the devil-type jar, because I hate the stuff, but Vikki loves it, so I drew an angel one for her.
• Cherry Coke : just some cute cherries and a can really, I can’t drink alcohol thanks to my meds, so it’s my vice. So is drawing cartoon cans (see earlier picture).
• Water – I’ve been called a drip before, another simple cute one, but i think one of my favourites!
• Juice : Another tricky one, do I just draw a bottle of juice? Nah, not silly enough. This definitely got a a lot of comments.
• Persil : Just a bubbly washing machine.
• Flash : (ah-ah) I mean, who doesn’t sing it if they write the word ‘Flash!’ (see? you did it again, didn’t you?)
• ‘Look at £ of toilet rolls and then faint’ – The price of everything is bad so it coud’ve been anything, but I wanted to see which were cost-effective. However, we never made it to that aisle as the Easter Eggs distracted us. Happy Kids, dirty bottoms. Just kidding, the eggs are for me. (also, just kidding).
• ‘Look at Microwave Dinners whilst oven is out’ : I mentioned before, the oven isn’t working so we thought about it, but didn’t make it to the microwave dinners. There are countless other ways of eating anyway.
• ‘This shopping list is made from 100% recycled envelope.’ : Just doing my bit for the environment. 🙂

The End……?

So that’s that.
Or is it? I’ve already had some neat suggestions, including the possibility of further list-drops, to further spread some happiness and generate some more interest in my work,

Still, even if it IS all over, it’s been a laugh and it’s re-awoken something. Thanks everyone. YOU are the talented, hilarious, geniuses.

I’m just silly.