Our Beloved Ship Shop

At 12:30pm every weekday the doors of the ship shop open and there is a rush to get there before the crowds. You enter the shop and begin the one way loop of the two aisle super store. Grab your basket. Walk past the cleaning and stationery supplies. Pass the water bottle carriers on their stands. Make a left at the baking supply section. Grab your eggs & juice from the fridge. Turn left at the gummies (grab one, if you must). Saunter down the back aisle and dilemma over which type of cookie you might crave that evening (Dutch, English, American?). Then resign to chat with people as you hit the ship shop rush hour traffic. At this point, you are only halfway through the store, but have reached the far end of the check out line.

Then there it is....my find of the day, never have we seen it on the shelves before. To some, you might not feel it's a big deal, but to a Brit on a ship without access to their normal home supermarkets...it is heaven, and news soon spreads fast amongst the Brits as they join the rush to grab a jar. Yes it's.........

BRANSTON PICKLE

(Chutney to others, enjoyed with cheese on a sandwich)

It is easy to stay cool from here on in. The line moves at a mellow pace and allows you to browse any toiletries you may be running low on. Skim a chapter of a book, if you like. Try to find a shirt above size small. Examine all the hand made local crafts.

Okay, you are nearing the checkout. Stay calm. Keep relaxed. Shoulders back. Head up. Mentally scan your memory to see if you have forgotten anything. Choose your favourite pringles flavour and place everything on the counter in front of our dear shopkeepers. Not forgetting the 2 toilet rolls that Nathanael always picks up for you whether you want it or not!

Your items are being scanned in. At this point you hold your name tag up so the cashier can punch in your name to charge to your account. Done. If all has gone well, you will have remembered everything and won't need to repeat the circuit. You are good to go....CONGRATULATIONS you survived the ship shop rush hour!......just another glimpse of our lives on board