LIST: Things about The UK you wish you had known

I think that when I'm 'of a certain age' and older I won't dress poshly to go shopping, etc. but I do want to look stylish and elegant for everyday running around.  But I'm a bit vain, I think.

All the chic women in Paris have trolleys, and there are some lovely stylish ones out there! I'm still not sure though ...

All the chic women in Paris have trolleys, and there are some lovely stylish ones out there! I'm still not sure though ...

Yes! This is what I'm talking about. In much of Europe, it's a chic, stylish woman thing. Why is it a 'woman of a certain age' thing here? It doesn't have to be this way, looking to our European sisters. We need to get these trolleys & own them! There are nice ones & some quite expensive with high tech wheels & all.

Yes! This is what I'm talking about. In much of Europe, it's a chic, stylish woman thing. Why is it a 'woman of a certain age' thing here? It doesn't have to be this way, looking to our European sisters. We need to get these trolleys & own them! There are nice ones & some quite expensive with high tech wheels & all.

Well, I don't live anywhere that I would shop on foot anymore.   So it doesn't really make sense for me to use one. But I think for a lot of people, they're the perfect thing!

I'm at an age now where some days I still want to be hip and trendy, and other days I'm all for comfort. Better still, I love to be comfortably stylish.

I, too, have wanted a shopping trolley for a while, but DH firmly thinks they are for "old ladies". I am tired of my arms and shoulders aching from dragging home bags full of groceries. DH has a car but I don't drive, and the shops are only 5 minutes away, and I do enjoy walking around. *Still*, the bags do get quite heavy, and a trolley would be so nice!

Anyone know where to get some really nice, big, stylish ones?

Have a look round Kirkgate Market. Or, if you get over to York, Barnitts. Think you could also order from Barnitts' website.

I got mine from an ironmonger

Yes! This is what I'm talking about. In much of Europe, it's a chic, stylish woman thing. Why is it a 'woman of a certain age' thing here? It doesn't have to be this way, looking to our European sisters. We need to get these trolleys & own them! There are nice ones & some quite expensive with high tech wheels & all.

I am always wearing at least a matching outfit with either a necklace or scarf, I've combed my hair [even if I haven't bathed in days, lol, <<<<Mummy of two preschoolers], the girls are always done up accordingly, and I ALWAYS take my buggy and a few shopping bags if there's any chance of shopping, as I have a spine problem. For the last few years, it's been the double jogger, but lately they want to walk everywhere and that thing is massive, so it's us and the 'trolley' now.

I love living somewhere where I can walk places and CAN'T WAIT to be able to walk everywhere. I hope we can find that where we end up   Definitely not giving up my Georgia ways of being presentable.  I don't wear makeup or fine jewelry, but it's common here not to leave the house with those things as well.  Let's start a revolution! I got a niiiice buggy. Folds completely flat, too, so I can leave it behind the door.

Anyone know where to get some really nice, big, stylish ones?

You can also get a pricey but very pretty one from Debenham's! There's a whole range of them available in the UK, from utilitarian to stylish.

Thanks, all! I think I'm going to order one of these. My arms and shoulders thank you.

Yes! This is what I'm talking about. In much of Europe, it's a chic, stylish woman thing. Why is it a 'woman of a certain age' thing here? It doesn't have to be this way, looking to our European sisters. We need to get these trolleys & own them! There are nice ones & some quite expensive with high tech wheels & all.

I think that when I'm 'of a certain age' and older I won't dress poshly to go shopping, etc. but I do want to look stylish and elegant for everyday running around.  But I'm a bit vain, I think.

This about sums up how I feel. I wanna be practical and stylish, dammit. And I am definitely a bit vain.

ETA: Definitely am vain, as I bought a utilitarian metal one, post-uni, in Vancouver after I carried my dirty clothes to the laundrette in a large black bin bag that broke on the pavement and I was very embarrassed.  Did not want to repeat that experience. 

DH told me years ago that he would divorce me if I got a trolley.......

Anyone know where to get some really nice, big, stylish ones?

Got mine in TK Maxx for about 12 quid if I remember rightly.  It's beige with some plaid on it, which I thought would be more acceptable to DH.  (However he still prefers lugging around a rucksack.)  I think it's the best thing since sliced bread -- soooo much easier to pull along than having your arms stretch a foot longer.    I remember when we had young kids my friend and I moaned about being beasts of burden, with bags of shopping looped over the handles of the push chairs.  Everytime you stopped to get your breath the whole dang thing would tip over.  My trolley does not tip over -- much better!  And lugging all those bags by hand does not look chic any way you look at it.

You just won't find the broad selection of it that you'd find in the US. For instance, my favourite deodorants are from the Secret Fresh Effects range - with all the lovely & different scents (especially the Cucumber-Aloe one but I'm using a Vanilla one now), and those aren't here. 

My Secret "Shower Fresh" just bit the dust    Started on the Dove (made in Russia  ) one I found in Waitrose.  Did remember to bring back a couple of the travel size deodorants last time -- useful for trips away.

I have reusable bags to bring shopping home in.  Reisenthel bags (well made and pretty patterns!  Can't find the ones I have online, but I know I've seen them at The Container Store in the US ) and some canvas bags but I'm short (5 foot 2) and when my arms are fully extended holding the handles, they always drag on the ground.     So they go over my shoulder.   

I got some amazing, really heavy-duty canvas bags when a new Uniqlo store opened in London about two years ago.    I happened to be there when they were giving out free bags (white with Uniqlo and city names all over it in red) and I cheekily got two.    They're really good- besides having a few pomegranate stains (admittedly, white isn't the best colour to use for shopping bags and they were probably intended for clothes shopping) they've held up superbly. 

For big shops, DH usually brings his backpack and if it's a really big shop, I do as well.