A document for shopping
The next time you visit a supermarket, keep a keen eye out for a stray, lost shopping list. They can be found in the bottom of a trolley, basket or adjacent to the checkout. Once the navigation of shelves and refrigerators is complete they become worthless, to some – but to the anthropologist they are a fantastic, anonymous window into the lives of those who compose and thereafter disregard them.
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As these are private documents, not created to be seen by the wider public, they often contain spelling mistakes, have elements written in a private ‘shorthand’ or code and use typography to emphasise products that must be purchased above all others.
The example below – thank you Linda – Aldi (Chip Lane, Taunton – 1st March 2026). A torn page from a notebook – written in two colour ink. Possibly composed over two days with the final line demanding ‘2 x Liqu alsrts’ (presumably shorthand for two packets of liquorice all sorts). The circled text (2 bunches Daffs – possibly for Mother’s Day) demands the attention of the shopper – a typo/graphic ‘do not forget’ headline.
From a graphology perspective the letterforms range from very upright to slanting left, with a definitive flourish on the lower case letter i – each one having a circled rather than the normative dot. If the dot is a round circle that’s much bigger and noticeable – it could be an indicator of the playfulness or desire for attention of the writer, But if the dot is hastily made with a sharp angle within it (like a tick) the writer may be fiery or “prone to irritation and anger.” Also according to Poizner (graphologist) someone who can write in a straight line without needing some type of guidance (lined pages) on the page to do so demonstrates a strong work ethic, a good constitution and the ability to steward energy in a way that makes one reliable and consistent.
From a medical perspective (Linda and her families health) – the consumption of three types of bread (Cheese rolls, Soda bread and Tiger bread) coupled with ‘frozen meals’, custard doughnuts, crisps, biscuits and choc bars denotes the road toward type two diabetes – for goodness sake Linda get some fruit and veg on the list!
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© Carl Middleton – July 2026.
If you find a shopping list you don’t want, please don’t throw it away – I am always happy to receive them.
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