Ranting about Primark and Others

I can't believe it!

As Christmas is approaching and I’m trying to be good. I just need to get out a few rants and then I’ll be ready to be good!  Josie at Sleep is for the Weak is the Prompt Queen in her Writing Workshop.  I just love that Josie…she always gives me something to write about…thanks Josie…please never stop!  So, are you ready? I can be vicious but I’m going to get it all out and feel much better afterwards…ready, steady…RANT:

• Primark is on my list of RUBBISH STORES!  I had never experienced the horror that is Primark until about a month ago.  Hubby, Little Miss and I went on a mini-break to Stoke-on-Trent (thanks to Amy at And 1 More Means Four) and stopped at the Stoke-on-Trent shopping centre.  Primark was a major fixture and I have heard so many people rave about it.  I’ve also heard many people moan about it because of the supposed sweat shops and slave labour in Third World Countries that are used to make the ridiculously cheap clothing.  We ended up getting the following for Little Miss: A fleece lined raincoat, 4 pairs of trousers and a shirt for all of £23.  A steal!  I now know why!  It’s made of completely rubbish material that will last maybe one or two uses and then lose any shape it might have originally had.  We bought a pair of leggings for Little Miss, sized 18-23 months.  As she wore one pair, throughout the day they got bigger and bigger and bigger…I could have fit 2 of Little Miss into these bloomin’ leggings by the end of the day!  Rubbish!  Yes, the clothes are DIRT cheap and are probably suitable for “throw away” clothes.  But DIRT cheap is only suitable when you can get more than 2 uses out of something.  There’s a certain air of desperation when you walk around Primark.  Everyone seems desperate to fill the bags they provide you with…no matter what it is!  I bought a pair of jeans there 2 weeks ago- £8!  I know I’m not the size I used to be but by the end of the first wearing my jeans were BAGGY on me…they had expanded as well.  And I don’t think that was down to me!  So guess what Primark, you may have cheap clothes but I’m not going to waste my time on you EVER AGAIN!
• Avent is the maker of bottles, sterilisers, etc, etc, etc…for babies everywhere.  A reliable and sound brand that many people love and trust.  We are firm users of the Avent Soother/Dummy.  In our house, we don’t subscribe to the “character” dummy.  We have the clear, minimalistic dummy.  I don’t want Little Miss’ face decorated.  I prefer to see her face!  We have always been able to find the clear dummies…UNTIL NOW!  For some reason, Avent has decided that the 6-18 month size dummy is in need of a bit of JAZZING UP!  I cannot find, in our area, a clear 6-18 month dummy to save our life.  They are all DECORATED…and not very nicely either.  Little Miss is down to her LAST Avent 6-18 month dummy as Daddy managed to lose the other one last weekend.  WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO???  Avent…DO YOU HEAR ME???  We need/want/must have CLEAR, 6-18 month dummies to the Peterborough area PRONTO!!!  Little Miss’ last dummy won’t last for long!
• My local Sure Start Children’s Centre does not offer hardly ANYTHING for my daughter’s age!  There’s a messy play session once a week and a music class on one morning each week (which we participated in from 3-13 months) and that’s it!  Everything else is for Mums and Newborn Babies or for School Age children.  What about our girls?  I can’t afford to send her to Tumble Tots or to other classes that cost money (unfortunately) so that’s what a Sure Start Children’s Centre is supposed to be for…those of us in NEED!  And they are definitely filling the bill for the wee ones and the school age ones but it’s time to think about all the children in the middle who are being left out.  Please oh please, consider getting something for Little Miss to do…we are desperate!
• I’m going to be a grammar and spelling snob now.  I REALLY can’t stand to read posts that have appalling spelling and grammar.  I know I am not perfect by any means and I don’t always use spell check or get things right but if you know you don’t write particularly well and struggle with spelling, couldn’t you just use spell check and proofread your post before you hit publish?  It’s just that I can’t see anything but your spelling errors and ridiculous run-on-sentences!  It doesn’t seem to make a difference to the popularity of your site or traffic statsof these people but really, couldn’t they possibly TRY to spell properly?  (I’m hoping there are no spelling errors here now!)

Phew…I feel a bit better now!  That wasn’t too bad was it?  I’m becoming a bit more mellow in my old age, I think.  I thought I would have a lot more to rant about but that will do for this year.  What “does your head in”?  How do you feel about Primark?  Are you an Avent rep who would like to gift me with several clear, 6-18 month size dummies?  Let me know!  Happy Holidays!