Pick 'N Pay Memo

Pick ‘n Pay – one of only two big grocery shops in Grahamstown, and thus an interesting subject for a story.

Most Grahamstonions and students shop at Pick ‘n Pay regularly. It is always busy, so it is easy to find someone who has some time to talk while shopping…

Santisha Chattergoon, third year student at Rhodes University, does most of her regular grocery shopping at Pick ‘n Pay. She lives in digs about two and a half kilometres from campus. She passes Pick ‘n Pay on her way to campus every morning, which makes it more convenient for her to buy something on her way rather than go to Checkers.

Santisha finds that Pick ‘n Pay stocks most of the products which she requires, and that the prices are reasonable. She walks towards the 2 minute noodles and grabs about five to stock up for those days when she cannot deal with cooking, saying that “Pick ‘n Pay’s 2 minute noodles are the cheapest”.

She slowly walks through the aisles, glancing at the shelves, thinking about what she needs and what she should get. The word “jambos!” is exclaimed at the entrance to the biscuit aisle. Jambos are for a treat and when she needs something sweet, and it is fairly reasonable. Santisha is disappointed when she cannot find any passion fruit flavoured Pick ‘n Pay no name brand juice. She admits that she is a bit of an addict when it comes to passion fruit juice, and it gets her by the long nights in front of her laptop.

At the food counter she gets two round rolls and some fresh chips, she has not had lunch yet. Next stop is at the fridge where she picks up a 500ml lemon & lime Twizza, and heads to the tills.

What's for lunch?

The construction workers look at me strangely, this awkward little person coming in and ‘invading’ their lunch time. I then question them about their lunch. How could they not find this strange? However, a few of them decide to come to my aid and allow me a peek into their lunchbox…

The average construction worker has about a loaf of bread and some polony or tinned fish for lunch. Some carry a flask of tea or coffee, or a bottle of water or juice. A meal of this sort is convenient and affordable. It is nothing expensive and does not have a huge affect on their budgets.

A meal of this size is required as they are doing continuous strenuous work and their energy levels are fast depleted. They need a large meal in order to sustain them throughout the day. It is also very tiring to be working outside in the draining heat at times. The weather takes a toll on the workers. “I carry heavy things up and down all day. My lunch time is my time to rest and fill up my stomach”, said one of the workers. A fulfilling meal is thus very important to these men. “Sometimes we share our meals between a few of us for a bit of variety and exchange a few words”, said another worker.

A balanced diet is very important for the well being of everyone. However, your diet is determined by how much you earn. And so your job, along with your culture, determines what sort of food you will eat. A manual worker earns a minimum wage; therefore he cannot afford a fancy meal. He has to make do with what suits his budget as well as his stomach.

Abused and Misused Words

So, as a class assignment, for writers, our lecturer thought it would be good to go through a few 'abused and misused words'... So here some examples, and a few ways in which they SHOULD be uses. I was given a 100% for the assignment, so I do hope that they all make sense, if not, I'm open to correction :)

1. affect-effect
2. allusion-illusion
3. angry-mad
4. bring-take
5. complement-complement
6. council-counsel
7. emigrate-immigrate
8. flaunt-flout
9. farther-further
10. fewer-less
11. imply-infer
12. lay-lie
13. lend-loan
14. principal-principle
15. rebuke-rebuff

1. -He was not affected my her silly pranks.

- The laxative had a great effect on him.

2. - It is an allusion to think that they are equals.

- The food I saw in front of me was a mere illusion.

3. - She was angry with her little brother for destroying her room.

- She was mad at her brother for what he had done.

4. - It was decided that she would bring the refreshments.

- He was to take the cool drink to the car.

5. - His shoes complement his shirt.

- It was a compliment to be told that he was well dressed.

6. - The town council held a meeting.

- She counselled her friend on her relationship.

7. - He wishes to emigrate to Canada.

- They immigrated to South Africa.

8. - She flaunts her good looks.

-

9. - The further they way, the more worried they became.

- It is a farther distance than was assumed.

10. - There are fewer girls in the class than boys.

- There are less dogs than cats.

11. - She implied that it was his fault.

-

12. - She lay awake all night.

- One must lie in ones bed.

13. - He asked her to lend him her notes.

- He obtained a loan from the bank.

14. - He is the principal of the school.

- One should never lose ones principles.

15. - His mother rebuked him for what he had said.

Not the most exciting examples, or use of the words, but hey, it was a class assignment done in a limited space of time... And I'm not the most descriptive person around...