Ruth’s Birthday

A vintage list from 7 years ago. A deceptively large shopping list as there are multiple items on each line.

This shopper has planned their menu for the next week with, for example, gammon and squares(?) on Thursday. It looks like Saturday night may have been a night out!

Dog owner.

Found Sainsbury’s, Calcot, Reading

15th September 2016

Shopping List from Dudley

This list was very kindly donated by Matt from Dudley.

Firstly, pink pen and beautiful cursive script is not a common occurrence in the world of shopping lists. A colourful and welcome addition.

Secondly, the reader of the post on tittles will notice the circle above the first letter i. Circles are replaced by dots further down.

On apostrophes, there is ‘Choc’s’ and ‘Dogs Food’.

Other items include some staples including crisps, gravy, biscuits, cheese and jam. What is slightly unexpected are the ‘bum wipes’ and two types of shampoo.

What a great list. Thank you Matt!

10th September, Aldi, Dudley

Mouse Treats

Very nice neat handwriting here, lots of items fitted on a folded A5 spiral bound piece of paper.

Likely a mother of children at school age, with pets. Mouse treats, “kid’s” crisps/snacks, cookie dough, lollies.

Meat captured in a separate area of the list in large parenthesis. Chicken, prawns, muscles, bacon, ribs, sausages.

Orzo pasta suggests a cook in the house.

Sainsbury’s, Reading, UK, 2nd June 2022

Whisky + American

This shopping list owner likes detail, 2 bananas precisely, “Kellogg’s”cereal rather than just cereal, “Ryvita Rye Crispbreads” when Ryvita would have sufficed.  In fact I think this list was written for somebody else to do the shopping, the numbers and brands are instructions.

 Does whisky and American mean whisky and whiskey?

Tomatoes, Mediterranean vegetables x 1, strawberries, apples, bananas x 2, salmon x 1, sweet potatoes, milk, small red milk, bleach, rinse aid, kitchen rolls, bread, lime cordial, still water, Kellogg’s fruit and fibre (purple pack), Ryvita rye crispbreads, whisky + American.

Found Aldi Reading

27th August 2016

Crumble Mix and Custard


Crumble mix, custard, small puds, spray clean with bleach, baking soda, margarine, cheese, sausages, coke.

Somebody who bakes their own cakes. Has a sweet tooth. Having sausages for dinner. This is not a big weekly shop, rather a top up for required items.

Found Morrisons, Reading

August 11th 2016

Posh Coffee


Cat food, cat litter, fruit juice, milk, tinned fruit and evap, posh coffee, bleach, disinfectant.

Such a short list but what a pleasure. 

What is posh coffee, are we talking Nescafé gold blend here?

Tinned fruit and evap is a new combination, this is the first time I have seen evaporated milk on a list.

Found Morrisons, Reading

12 August 2016

Pink Bleach


Apples, satsumas, salmon, lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, mint, orange, crisps, antiseptic wipes, surf, conditioner, blue milk, orange juice, fizzy, lemonade, eggs, bread, crusty bread, BBQ sauce, mustard, bleach, toilet roll, kitchen roll, benecol, yoghurts, extra ham, salami, steam fresh?, lollies, prawns.

This is a big weekly shop. Salad on the menu. Maybe children are involved as there are lollies listed.

What is steamfresh?

Found Tesco, Reading

9th August 2016

Sunday Roast


New potatoes, apples, bananas, oranges, cabbage, bread, eggs, corned beef, baked beans, ketchup, joint, bacon, ham, cheese spread, yorkshires, tea bags, cream crackers, toilet rolls, bleach, wet wipes, spray, bowns?, tablets.

The joint of meat and the Yorshire puddings suggest a roast dinner. Maybe there were other potatoes in the house as the new potatoes here might not be ideal for roasting.

Non food items have their own column.

Found Morrisons, Reading.

22nd July 2016