Grocer’s Apostrophe

A5 Lined note paper with blue biro. Consistent use of the grocer’s apostrophe.

A grocer’s apostrophe is a spelling mistake caused by placing an apostrophe before the s of a plural word. In English, the plural form of a word is most commonly shown by adding an s to the end (e.g., “cats,” “bananas,” “pictures”). Don’t add your own apostrophe!

Not sure what Mary (Nurpac) is.

Waitrose, Didcot, UK, 13th April 2023

Biscuits and Cookies

A shopping list written on what looks like an upside down page taken from a diary. Red biro.

The author has written biscuits and cookies. I presume the differentiation is the biscuits are pre-packaged hard types and the cookies are the larger softer doughy variety.

Also on the menu are milk, cream and cough mixture.

14th January 2023, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

Hob Wok – Eggs 12 – Dog

A substantial shopping list. Torn paper, black biro.

This person has taken the trouble to enumerate their items:

  • Eggs 12
  • 2 Bags of spinach
  • 1 Carrotts
  • 2 Tomotenen?
  • 2 Pkt garfee?
  • Feet blackberries x 2?

The bottom right of the list makes for an interesting read, sliced chicken, sliced ham, frozen chicken, dog.

Morrisons, Reading, December 2022

Christmas Shopping List

A Christmas shopping list.

Vibrant pink paper.

Some seasonal Christmas food here. Parsnips, nuts, ingredients for trifle. Even Xmas is listed as an item.

The list is from Morrisons yet some items have been specified to be sourced from Costco, Salmon and Pepps (peppers?).

This person enjoys an abbreviation, mushs = mushrooms, pots = potatoes, rasps = raspberries.

Morrisons, December 2022

Porridge

Standard list of staples. Bread, milk, butter, cheese etc. interesting the items are grouped into categories. Biscuits appear twice.

Ruled paper has rounded corners on the left hand side and slight tear marks on the right, suggesting it has been torn from a note book.

Morrisons, Reading, 27th November 2022

Jammy Dodgers & Mouthwas

Predominately non food items. Of the 3 items which are edible, it is unusual to see gum on a shopping list.

After sun speaks to warm weather or a holiday.

Jammy Dodgers are sandwiched biscuits with a sugary red jammy goo exposed in a heart shape.

A5, spiral bound, in pencil.

Sainsbury’s, Reading, 5th July 2022

Spa Water

A small piece of paper, torn on 3 sides. Maybe belonging to an older hand.

Unusual to see a particular brand of water required.

What is W.U.L? Ah – washing up liquid 🙂

I suppose Bis is biscuits. Ch Burgers are chicken. Marg is margarine.

Lidl, Reading, UK. 2nd June 2022

Choc Dig

White paper, 145mm x 100mm, cut with scissors. Staple torn from upper left indicates that this sheet was once not alone.

This person has a sweet tooth. Items include Choc Dig (what is dig?), custard cream biscuits, cake and ice cream.

After all the sweetness, this shopper was planning the main meal. Diced beef has been crossed out and replaced by chicken thighs, to be served maybe as a stew with vegetables and mashed potato.

Lidl, Reading, UK. 2nd June 2022

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

It is the weekend of Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum Jubilee in the U.K. (June 2022). It is a glorious warm weekend. The Queen has not been feeling too well but took the trouble to make a couple of very welcome appearances to the cheering crowds.

The Friday mentioned on the list is the 2nd June 2022. This person is celebrating by buying:

  • Lunch
  • Nibbles
  • Drinks
  • Water

For other days they need, milk, mushrooms, two types of chocolate with numbers, shortbread and something called ‘gold lustre spray’. I presume gold lustre spray is this, used for add edible gold for cake decorations and other edible delights.

Sainsbury’s, Reading.

2nd June 2022

Victoria Biscuit Selection

Baby Pot, swede, butter, cherry tom, sweetheart, broc rice, royals x 4 and of course, mange.

Vegetarian menu, two types of potatoes.

This list is written on the reverse of a label. A price label from a supermarket shelf. Did the person find the label at the supermarket and write the list there. Or did they get the label on a previous trip, take it home and write the list? Or maybe, they work at a super market, take these labels home in bulk and use them for general notes and list making.

The label is for this fine product, McVities Victoria Biscuit Selection – “Turn any occasion into a celebration”. You can buy them here:

https://amzn.to/3QBHltp

Nice!

Found by Andy, with thanks, at ALDI, Didcot, UK

October 2019