Voting, shopping, writing... it’s never ending.
Today is Election Day in the UK (what do you mean you hadn’t noticed?!) and for the first time ever I haven’t yet decided who to vote for. I will vote. People died so we could have this privilege. I just haven’t quite yet made up my mind where to put my cross, but don't worry. This is not going to be a Brown v. Cameron v. Clegg blog. I want to talk about other (more important!?!) decisions.
I’m in the middle of a really busy week right now and I’m trying to decide whether to drive to the supermarket or ‘go’ Internet shopping.
‘Treat yourself to an Internet shop!’ I can hear you all shouting but is Internet shopping really that wonderful?
GOOD: I won’t have to drive to the shop, push a wobbly trolley, unload at the checkout, pack into bags and load up the car.
BAD: But I won’t get away from the house, get a change of view from the computer screen and (even worse) the kitchen and I won’t have a chat with the friends and neighbours who I invariably bump into.
GOOD: I’ll be able to work out how much I’m spending by the running total on the screen.
BAD: But it’s so easy to order extra items that I’ll end up spending more than usual.
GOOD: A repeat menu comes up on the screen which is a bit like having all my old shopping lists in my hand and so I don’t have to think so much.
BAD: But I won’t be able to check on the size of each item (I once ordered an apple pie for visitors and a tiny individual one arrived.) and I can’t pick out those really juicy pieces of fruit and vegetables.
GOOD: As I won’t have to carry the shopping home I can order in quantity.
BAD: But I don’t have enough cupboard space to store it all.
GOOD: I’ll save petrol and wear and tear.
BAD: But delivery costs between £4 and £6...
...so what to do?
It seems that decisions in my writing life are no easier. I’m about to embark on a mammoth writing adventure with Merrilee’s Creativity Workshop, twelve short stories to be written in twelve weeks. (Yes! I know! I don't really have the time especially as I'm also doing the NaPiBoWriWee challenge of 7 picture books in 7 days but...) First I have to decide what my precise goals are going to be. So now I’m going to settle down and try to make yet more decisions...
...after I’ve been to cast my vote of course. Happy polling day!
I think the best way to make decisions, in writing and in life, is to go for a walk. Therefore I cast my vote for going out to the shops. Who knows what inspiration you might find out there? And while you're there, you can vote on that other small matter...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the visit, Allison. I took your advice and feel much better for the outing... and I've voted. Thank goodness that's over.
ReplyDeleteI don't think any of our stores have that option. But I don't think I'd use it - even though I'm not a shopping fan, I do like to get out!
ReplyDeleteHope the election turns out well for you all!
I agree about walking to make decisions - I do it a lot! I got husband in and out of polling booth first thing before dog walking - the element of surprise always works I find!
ReplyDeleteIs that for real, Jemi? You don't have Internet shopping in Canada? It's rife here in the UK.
ReplyDeleteI love dog walking to make decision too, Sue, even though I don't live in such a BEAUTIFUL area of the country as you do. But I don't manage to make any decisions while I'm walking round the supermarket. Sometimes I can't even decide what we're having for supper.
Try living in the absolute middle of nowhere and not having those options. Definitely no internet shopping, and only a couple of small grocery stores in driving distance -- and there's no delivery here, not even of Chinese food (there is one crappy pizza delivery place, but it's so bad and undependable, we avoid it like the plague. ;)
ReplyDeleteHowever, we live as near as you can get to your food supply, and the milk and the strawberries are delicious and fresh, and you can meet your meat on the green pastures, out in the fresh air. I suppose that's something.
Gosh, Meredith. In my naivety I thought everyone had Internet shopping. I'm sorry about that. I'm so parochial. But all that fresh food sounds good.
ReplyDelete