Another reason to hate the Greens.

I am no fan of supermarkets, none of them seem to ever have enough staff on the checkouts, what should take no more than two or three minutes invariably takes at least fifteen as you are forced to wait in a long line to exchange money for the goods you want.

Anyway, I popped in to get one item, I proceeded to what they laughingly call the express checkout and began waiting, as you do when forced to stand in line my mind began to wander, eventually it was my turn.

I placed my one item on the counter and the checkout lady asked me if I wanted a bag I said "Yes please", no sooner has I uttered these words than a female voice behind me (in an American or Canadian accent) said "you do not really need a plastic bag for that one item do you?"

I have to admit that for a moment I was stunned into silence, I guess a form of automatic response kicked in and I was about to say "I suppose you are right" out of politeness when the bare faced cheek of what she said hit me.

Instead I said to her "what possible business is it of yours if I decide I want a plastic bag or not? how about you keep your nose out of other peoples business"

I said it quietly, I did not want to draw attention to myself or to her, amazingly this stupid bloody Shelia was not about to give up, "do you have any idea what damage that one bag does to the environment?" was her next question, she followed this up with "I wish more people would think about the damage they are doing before they decide to use plastic bags, the damage you are doing to the environment is always my business".

This last statement she made in a tone that one would use if you were talking down to somebody, perhaps a classroom of school kids, however that was enough for me, I am stuffed if I am ever going to be lecutred to by anybody.

Again I asked her politely (although being polite was becoming increasingly difficult) "what possible business is it of yours if I decide to take a plastic bag or not? and what makes you think that you have the right to talk to me in that fashion?"

"Sir" she said, "I am a Green, I believe that it is my job to help save the planet and to help educate people as to the damage a simple plastic bag can do to our environment"...next came the real doozy...."we see it as our role to help people who are ignorant of the environmental damage their lifestyle causes"

This was enough for me, I calmly looked her directly in the eyes and said "Madam, I am not a Green and therefore I am not one who feels he has to stick his nose into other peoples business, nor do I offer unsolicited advice to complete strangers they happen to be standing behind in the supermarket, however, on this one occasion I will make an exception, the advice I am going to offer you is more of a direction, and that direction is this"

Just fuck off!