While many of us scan supermarket floors in the hope of finding dropped change, Ingrid Swenson goes in search of a very different treasure: discarded shopping lists. Over several years, the curator has collected an astonishing 1,500 of these paper time capsules, compiling her favourites into a new book.
All the lists were found in a north London branch of Waitrose, so alongside the bog-standard need for eggs and bread, there’s an unusually high demand for peppercorns, almond milk and oxtail stew. Hidden amongst the groceries are tantalising, humorous glimpses of the people who buy them: there’s the hopeless romantic who can’t decide whether they should fork out on flowers, the relatable parent who wants “frubes or equivalent (whichever is cheapest)”, and the stressed individual who crosses out “chicken” and “card for dad” in favour of bulk-buying “GIN”.
The principal joy stems from discovering similarities to your own lists. I found solace in the fact I’m not the only one who thinks ‘coleslaw’ is spelt ‘cold slaw’ or panic buys ‘salady stuff’ when they’re on a health kick. While it won’t appeal to everyone, for the people-watchers, curious or just plain nosey, this is a goldmine of information, offering a humbling and humane insight into everyday life.
Shopping Lists, Ingrid Swenson (Cheerio)
Price: £9.99. Info: here
words RACHEL REES