Thursday 26 February 2009

Me thinks thou protest too much ...

I had an appointment with the optician after work today. I normally wear contacts but I had an unfortunate incident involving my finger, some make-up remover and my eye resulting in an 'abrasion' to my eyeball and a red eye for a week.

I have been wearing my glasses for four weeks which make me feel like Timmy Mallet.

I had a lecture from the grumpy optician who didn't believe I wasn't drunk when I poked myself in the eye and after a bit of cajoling she reunited me with my contact lenses.

Next door to the opticians is an M&S Food. It felt rude not to go in and buy dinner. It's payday after all. We'll be eating beans on toast for the other 29 days of the month.

I decided to 'Dine in for £10' which really seems very reasonable until you wander the store and find a couple of other bits and pieces and the legendary Percy Pigs.

As the woman on the checkout put the wine through the scanner she looked at me and said "You are over 21 aren't you?"

There wasn't even a hint of irony in her voice.

I pretended to look behind me and did the whole mock "Who? Me?". Then I fell about in hysterics. I told her how hilarious that was. She eyed me suspiciously over her glasses. I've never been asked for proof of my age, not even when I was 13 and the best option in my group of friends for buying cigarettes, or 15 and buying cider.

I suggested in a jokey fashion that she visit the optician next door, she didn't flinch and watched as I wandered off chuckling to myself, muttering under my breath "21?".

I told husband when I got home about the crazy blind lady in M&S Food, he gave me a sideways glance ... I think he thought I was lying too.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

FANTASTIC!!!! That's the best thing ever. I love it.
I got 'carded' (asked for over 21 ID) at the grocery store a few weeks ago and I phoned everyone I knew and posted it on my facebook status too, I was so chuffed.
I'd say WELL worth the tenner.

Anonymous said...

Brilliant! I wish someone would ask ME if I'm over 21. I don't think I was even asked that when I wasn't under 21, not that I was out buying alcohol for myself and my friends every Friday night and the occasional Saturday whilst underage - honest!!

Lucy Filet said...

That is totally awesome! That has never EVER EVER happened to me in my whole life. When I was 20 and had my first child, the nurse commented to me about how my older child was coping.

Older child was husband.

Yeah. I look that old.

And the drinking age is 21 in Britain? I thought it was 18 all over Europe.

Laura - Are We Nearly There Yet Mummy? said...

Mothership - Yes - definitely worthy fo a Facebook status update!!

Rosie - Honest? Hmmmmm ...

Kylie - Hilarious, was your husband pleased or mortified?! You have to be over 18 but I think because young teens are looking older by the second they now ask if you are 21.

Expat mum said...

Oh what a mood-lifter. We get carded all the time over here (asked for ID) and it's not even a compliment 'coz there's no way I look anywhere near 21. However, some of the shops require you to look 30 before they'll sell you booze, so one lives in hope.

Almost American said...

LOL! I remember being VERY annoyed when my 30 year-old housemate got carded and I didn't. I was 26 and thought at 30 she was WAAY older than me!

Obviously I've been out of the UK too long as I don't get the reference to Percy Pigs.

There's an award for you on my blog.

Local Girl said...

LOL! I can't remember the last time I was asked for ID :) hope you're eye is feeling better nothing worse than not being able to wear contacts x