Somebody Else's Problem
Speaking of SEPs, I did a terrible thing a few weeks ago.
Felix had a friend round after school. The first thing he does when he gets home from school is demand a snack. Fuck knows where he gets that from. *cough*
So we had a look in the fridge, and his friend spotted some cheese triangles (small cheesy snacks). Felix doesn't like them but his friend scoffed happily away. And after they'd eaten about half of it, they commented that it was kind of wet. And it was then that it occurred to me to check the Use By date. Which was February 2007.
Oops.
So I had a bit of a sniff, and it smelt fine. And those things are packed with preservatives, right? And it had been in the fridge all that time? And... er...
Well, you see, and this is where I do become very ashamed, honest I do, but what I thought was... if they get ill, it won't be me who has to clear up the vomit. And anyway, if I make a fuss I'll only plant the possibility of psychosomatic illness in their head.
So, rather than take the cheese away from them instantly and alert their parents, I let them eat it. And kept quiet.
And spent the next few days worrying they were going to die of food poisoning and it would all be my fault. And wondering whether to dispose of the evidence (remaining cheese triangles, now relegated to the bin) or keep them for the health inspectors. And forgetting to ask my son whether his friend had been in school or not, despite setting myself several reminders ("Ask F: X still alive?") in my phone.
They're not dead, by the way.
So that's all right then.
___
Felix had a friend round after school. The first thing he does when he gets home from school is demand a snack. Fuck knows where he gets that from. *cough*
So we had a look in the fridge, and his friend spotted some cheese triangles (small cheesy snacks). Felix doesn't like them but his friend scoffed happily away. And after they'd eaten about half of it, they commented that it was kind of wet. And it was then that it occurred to me to check the Use By date. Which was February 2007.
Oops.
So I had a bit of a sniff, and it smelt fine. And those things are packed with preservatives, right? And it had been in the fridge all that time? And... er...
Well, you see, and this is where I do become very ashamed, honest I do, but what I thought was... if they get ill, it won't be me who has to clear up the vomit. And anyway, if I make a fuss I'll only plant the possibility of psychosomatic illness in their head.
So, rather than take the cheese away from them instantly and alert their parents, I let them eat it. And kept quiet.
And spent the next few days worrying they were going to die of food poisoning and it would all be my fault. And wondering whether to dispose of the evidence (remaining cheese triangles, now relegated to the bin) or keep them for the health inspectors. And forgetting to ask my son whether his friend had been in school or not, despite setting myself several reminders ("Ask F: X still alive?") in my phone.
They're not dead, by the way.
So that's all right then.
___
Labels: Philosophisering, Silly
14 Comments:
Personally, I'm a firm believer that a few microbes never did anybody any harm. That stuff doesn't actually contain anything organic anyway. :-)
Puss
My OH always points out that it's just a guide that you can get away with it even after the Use By. His Dad is a convert to this idea - He buys as much of his shopping as possible from the reduced bit in the supermarket rather than paying out full whack no wonder my SIL is so picky when it comes to food lol
They last for ever, that sort of thing. Like honey out of the pyramids. Good for the immune system, anyway.
A little bit of poison helps the body. You're a homeopath! :)
Not at all relevant to the cheesy triangles thing, just wanted to say that you were in my dream last night, and you'd had a little baby girl...called Bacon. Even in my dream I thought that was a bit odd but you were most insistent!
The little lambs probably spend their off time licking the floor. A little beyond-sell-by "cheese" product isn't even a challenge to the immune system of a small boy.
Licking the floor? Is this some kiddy craze I don't know about?
I take all your points about Sell By dates only being guidelines, and I regularly do eat things that are past their dates... but out of date by 15 months? Seems a little over the top...
Bacon! Damn Lucy... how did you know?
Another friend recently suggested we should call it Alison (if it's a boy)... think about it.
Oh Claire..you do make me laugh a lot...and thsi made me gigge loads
I stumbled across your blog via my friends blog A post box.....I had a look at his out of friendly duty and this opened me to teh world of blogging and let me to yours
Whenever I am having a vacant moment at work, i read yours to cheer me up...i have to restrict myself to your blog otherwise I would certainly get fired
I just wanted to sat thank you for making me chuckle every day and to wish you a happy birthday and all the best with the new arrival..Alsion or Bacon
Aw Lerato, how nice! Well I'm very glad you enjoy my ramblings so much.
You are the mother I wish I'd had.
oops.
I just remembered. I sent a package of chocolate pudding for a little boy with his papa.
I forgot to check the expiry date.
I must phone his mama.
eek.
Haha GG, glad it's not just me!
Gordie: Eh? On all the posts you could have written that comment on, and you chose this one? Surely you mean I'm the mother you wish you never had?
Au contraire, Clare: You would not believe how worrisome, over-protective and generally awfulising my mum could be.
You've written plenty of posts that moved me to cut and paste different extracts from your profile into the sentence "You are the ---- I wish I'd had", but this is the first time I've wanted to choose "mother".
Oh well, in that case, I'm flattered!
Awfulising is a great word, but not a great way for a mum to be...
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