Confessions of a trolley fetischist

.............Wheeeee!!!!!!!!

Anyone who knows me knows that I would not be where I am today without my shopping trolley. The shopping trolley is one of the best contraption ever ever invented by man. It is a vital tool for weekend grocery shopping and house moving. This is my story of all the trolleys that have gone through good and bad times with me on my life journey (cue : sad volin music)...

On 19 Feb 2005, my mother beckoned me to her room.

Mum : "Boy (Yes, she still calls me that!), I have this trolley you can use for your marketing over there, you wan or not?"

Me : "Yee, dun want, shopping trolley for what? So girly....."

Mum: "Its blak carler, where got girly. Its very useful, so you don't have to carry until so jiak lat from the market. Plus its foldable, so convenient. Take lah, you'll be thanking me when you go over!"

Me : " Ok lah, but I may not use it."

Forward to 25 Mar 2005, my heart was pounding with intrepidation as I held the foldable trolley in my hand. Today is the first day I will attempt to use the trolley. A million questions are running through my mind. Questions like "Will everything fit in there?", "Will it burst and I will have to chase rolling apples and oranges down George Street?", "Will old ladies at Chinatown point their fingers and hurl abuses like "Si-ssy! Si-ssy!!" at me?", "Will I still have friends?"

Ok, I will try it once and if I hate it, I will bandish the trolley to the eternal depths of my cupboard together with the rest of my amassed from the 80s. Getting to the market was easy enough, with the trolley folded and tucked under my hand. I bought my fruits and meats and veggies and stuffed everything in there. It was amazing, the bag felt like it was bottomless and it was so easy wheeling it around. I looked around the market and for once, I felt like I belonged. Trolleys of all different shapes and sizes surrounded me, twirling around me like a kalaidescope of ecstatic hummingbirds. It could have been a scene striaght out of Mary Poppins the musical, except the shouting of "Oranges! 2 dollars a kilo! Best in the market! Best in Sydney!" didn't seem to quite fit in. The trolley has passed the test. It will now be my faithful companion that will acompany me every Saturday to the markets. Who needs dogs? Can dogs carry your groceries? Goodbye plastic bag strangled fingers and hello Trolley Dan!

We had a great relationship, me and Dan. Saturday mornings were always special for us. I always decided what to cook for the week, and Dan always carried them for me, never uttering a word of complaint. I thought we would last forever, until 16 April 2006, while back from a trip with Polly and Harley to Narooma, we stopped at a little town called I Can't Remember and my roving eyes caught a shapely modern trolley called Shop and Go. It was truly a trolley in a class of its own...............

A commercial featuring zooming trolleys and breakbeat music immediately played out in my head.

The all new Shop & Go

It’s all systems go for the “espresso” among all shopping trolleys. After eight successful years of the S&G model series, its successor will take pole position amongst compact shopping trolleys. Featuring an improved outlook, the new Shop & Go is once again both a trolley and a fashion accessory.
Trolleys that truly captivate the senses are few and far between. The new Shop & Go is one. Its arrow-like body, striking nose and breathtaking lines never fail to inspire. And the powerful new Fluid Bearing wheels ensure it feels just as special as it looks. During the development of this new trolley, the emphasis was placed on increasing the dynamism and sportiness of the design, technology and equipment even further.

As a result, the Shop & Go impresses with ergonomic polycarbonate handles, 4 seperate zip compartments, lightweight but sturdy bag frame and wheels with direct steering for maximum agility. Whether the bag is full or empty, the compelling proportions of the exterior convey a sense of power and dynamism. The interior of the new Shop & Go is constructed with a high quality polymer and fibreglass blend material, ensuring maximum durability and resistance to organic spills and stains. The significantly wider range of optional extras includes a world first: COLDSTORE – a revolutionary cooling system which generates cold air from the wheeling motion to envelope the food and ensure maximum freshness. It’s all systems go for the new Shop & Go!

I was sold!!!! 2 hours later, Trolley S&G was sitting pretty in my laundy room while Trolley Dan started making friends with my clothes amassed from the 80s.

Trolley S&G remains my faithful Saturday companion up till today.