I have done it!!!! I have survived two big grocery shops in my new house and am so proud of myself. The second one went a lot better than the first but nevertheless we have food in the house and I am attempting to make everything here and not buy take out (our staple food for nearly a week).

The first shop was the biggest. I had to stock up my pantry with all the basics as well as make sure we had enough to get us through the week. I had been planning this shop for months, mentally going over in my mind what I had to buy and where I had to go. I arranged for Nige to be home one afternoon so I could go without the kids which was a fab idea. The whole thing took me three hours!!!!! I stopped off at the fruit and vege store and stocked up there. I bought so much but it was lovely to have summer fruits like peaches, nectarines and apricots in my house to munch on. Then I hit the big supermarket. It is HUGE!!!! As I walked around I was talking to myself and encouraging myself at evey step. Everytime I finished an aisle I would pat myself on the back and prepare myself for the next one. A couple of times I found myself just standing and staring at all the items on the shelves. It felt like I couldn't move. I was frozen on the spot and my mind was totally muddled. Would I buy the green label or the blue one? Which is bigger? Which is better value fr money? Sometimes I would just have to pick up something and buy it without all the fiddling around with prices. I don't know if I got good value for money or not sometimes but, for my own mental sanity, I needed to keep going. Only once did I feel the tears start but I pulled myself together and moved along.

Now, for those of you who have never experienced changing supermarkets from a foreign one to your home one this may all seem quite strange but I know I'm not alone. I have spoken to many missios who have struggled to know which bread to choose. When there are very limited choices overseas, coming home to a whole aisle of breads is quite overwhelming.

This last time I went it took just over an hour and I felt a whole lot better. I don't think I talked to myself once, except perhaps when I had to go into the chiller section to buy the cheese, yoghurts and butter. Perhaps next time I will find it even easier.