I experienced the strangest thing yesterday. I was at my local health-food store stocking up on a few essentials we were running low on, when I got chatting to the shop assistant, like I always do. She remembered I’d been in there buying ginger lollies the day before we left for Vietnam, hoping they may help ease Ada’s travel sickness, so she asked how our trip was. She’d just finished serving me, handing back my change as I answered her question in the most condensed way I knew how. We’d chatted for maybe 30 seconds after the money was exchanged when the older lady behind me chimed in “excuse me”, but not very nicely. The shop attendant looked straight at her and said “sorry, I’m just finishing up with this customer, I’ll be with you in two seconds”, as she grabbed the ladies purchase to weigh and price while we finished up our 3 sentence conversation. Exactly 5 words later, the lady stormed off in a huff saying she no longer wanted to buy anything. I stood there stunned. I know we all have bad days, no one is immune to this. And I do know how annoying it is when you get stuck in a long line when you’re in a rush. But this situation was neither of these, the line was not long (she had only lined up behind me about 10 seconds before butting in) and I saw her a little later walking around the vegetable shop a few doors down, not looking in any great hurry at all. She had been waiting approximately 30 seconds after my purchase time was officially over, not 5-10 minutes, so really what was the problem?!
I’d love to say it was just a one off for her, a bad day or something, but judging by the if-looks-could-kill glare she gave me when our eyes met in the vege store, I hate to say it, but I think that is just how that particular lady lives her life. Angry with the world and beyond intolerant of others. It made me sad. I held my tongue and didn’t say anything to her, but all the way home I was wishing I’d gone up to her, gently grabbed her arm and said “can I please give you a little unsolicited advice? If you’d just chill out a tad, your life would be so much more enjoyable. Life really isn’t that bad.”
I guess her actions hit me harder given that we have just returned home from Vietnam, where people have lived through hell and most have nothing, but still they celebrate life with a smile on their faces and a spring in their step. Ever since I was 10 years old when my family travelled to Bali, Indonesia for the first time and I got to see how so much of the world lives, I’ve been saying if only everyone in the world were able to travel, the world would be a much better place. I mean, there’s nothing like a little shock to the system seeing people sleep on the street or peeping into a house the size of our bathroom, where a family of 6 live and sleep together to kinda put things into perspective now is there? I am so thankful for all that I have and I wish more people could just see what they have and give thanks, ya know? Maybe what that lady really needed, was someone to talk to. To give her a hug or help her out. I will never know. Or maybe what she really needed, was a popsicle! That would chill her out, no? 🙂
We love homemade popsicles (ice-blocks for my kiwi readers and icy-poles for my Aussie friends!) in this house. And I pretty much have at least one tray on the go all the time throughout the hot summer months. These lemon berry ones are super simple to prepare only requiring a handful of lemons, some honey and whatever berries (or other fruits) you may have kicking around and are a lovely way to cool down on a sticky hot day. If you’re looking to try a bunch of popsicles out this summer, make sure you check out my other recipe links below… (the roasted strawberry ones are also featured in the current issue of Elle Magazine, whoop, whoop!).
Roasted strawberry, orange + pink peppercorn posicles (vegan)
Pink grapefruit + rosemary popsicles (vegan)
Strawberry coconut popsicles (vegan)
Pineapple + mint popsicles (vegan)
Mango yoghurt popsicles
Happy New Years! Celebrate life + smile xx
24 Responses
This has happened to me too, Emma… and it was at a farmer's market, where people tend to be less highly strung when they're shopping. I think, given what you've said, if you had gone up to the woman she may have become violent with you, so best not to do things like that.
On a more pleasant note, love your recipe, looking forward to hearing about Vietnam…. and one of your images is not showing.
Happy new year : )
Cheers for the heads up love! The photos all sorted now 🙂 I'm tackling the mammoth task of editing photos from Vietnam as we speak! Not easy given there's around 1500 of them!
p.s I know going up to the lady would have been a bad idea (which is what stopped me), but I still kept thinking about it all afternoon wishing I had! 🙂
Not everyone approaches like you and I …. love your popsicles.
I've come to understand, sadly, some people are at their happiest being miserable. I don't know why, but it seems to be that they are uncomfortable with being happy and others being happy around them. I think you did the right thing though, not going up to her. In my experience people like that don't want to hear what you have to tell them. We should just thank our lucky stars we are happy 😀
Gorgeous popsicles, and I love your beautiful photos.
Cheers love xx
I've seen people behave like that (and even worse, I'm pretty sure I've behaved like that it times). You're so right though that it's totally a matter of perspective and it's so important not to lose sight of that. Happy new year lovely! Can't wait to hear more about Vietnam – some friends of mine are there at the moment and having an amazing time by all accounts! xo
Vietnam is so awesome, hopefully I'll have some photos ready to share next week xx
Oh how I wish it would be summer already so I could enjoy one of these popsicles in bright sunshine with my feet in the water… 6 months to go! I'm sure these would even bring the embittered woman from the store a smile to her face.
Have a lovely weekend,
Sini
Same to you Sini! xx
it's a balmy 15F here and how i wish i could crank on the heat to Australian temps to enjoy these treats!
happy 2014. don't let cantankerous folk keep you from enjoying what the new year has to bring.
Happy New year to you too Lan! xx
Holy cow! That lady needs a popsicle in her life ASAP! Chatting with people at the check out counter is important, in my opinion. They deal with hours of people rushing around and it's always nice when someone makes pleasantries with you – I know from experience! Love this recipe. It's pretty too!
I agree Katrina! xx
A little over a year ago, I traveled to Thailand, and was amazed by how happy everyone seemed to be. Many of the happiest people had next to nothing to their name. It really is a state of mind, and a way of living.
Absolutely xx
I love popsicles! And these look so beautiful with their pastel colours… Counting the days until summer, though, here in London – sadly don't think that we'll be having one of these for a few months yet…
Congratulations on your feature in Elle, by the way – yay!
Thanks Skye!
I had a similar incident at a market stall here in London many years ago now – some grumpy middle-aged man yelled at me…when I was letting him be served first! I held it together at the stall but cried my eyes out when I got home! (I'm quite a sensitive soul)
I think your gut instinct about the lady you encountered is right – that's just how she is and how she lives her life. And sadly saying anything to her probably would have made her worse – people like that never want to hear about their own shortcomings because, in their world, it's everyone else that's the problem 😉
I'm so looking forward to the summer….the rain, hail and grey skies today have had me making soup rather than popsicles!
Your lovely pictures on Instagram have made me quite desperate to go to Vietnam! It sounds like you had a great trip. Looking forward to hearing about it.
I think this is the first time I've commented – I really enjoy your site and your recipes 🙂
Thanks so much for your comment Philippa! I'll hopefully have some pics from Vietnam ready to share next week xx
Icy poles are definitely a great way to chill out indeed! I'm having frozen banana and raspberries for breakfast- yummo!
Glad you had a good trip, and Happy New Year!
Same to you love! xx
This woman wouldn't last five minutes in NZ, It's compulsory for the chat with any sales assistant. A custom not to be hurried :o) Have been loving your instagram from Vietnam a place I have on my visit list. Wishing that these ice lollies (British) were warming as that's what we need right now in chilly, windy Wellington. Happy 2014.
Ice lollies! Now that's a term I don't hear often! You could always make this into a syrup to add to boiling water as a hot drink 🙂 xx
mmm, tasty!