Why do women have a bag, in a bag, in a bag?

woohoo_postingid

Stolen from a Bill Bryson book but still rather hilarious:

Although the store had only just opened, the food hall was busy and there were long queues at the tills. I took a place in a line behind eight other shoppers. They were all women and they all did the same mystifying thing: they acted surprised when it came time to pay. This is something that has been puzzling me for years. Women will stand there watching their items being rung up, and then when the till lady says, That's four-twenty, love,' or whatever, they suddenly look as if they've never done this sort of thing before. They go 'Oh!' and start rooting in a flustered fashion in their handbag for their purse or chequebook, as if no-one had told them that this might happen.

Men, for all their many shortcomings, like washing large pieces of oily machinery in the kitchen sink or forgetting that a painted door stays wet for more than thirty seconds, are generally pretty good when it comes to paying. They spend their time in line doing a wallet inventory and sorting through their coins. When the till person announces the bill, they immediately hand over an approximately correct amount of money, keep their hand extended for the change however long it takes or foolish they may begin to look if there is, say, a problem with the till roll, and then - mark this -pocket their change as they walk away instead of deciding that now is the time to search for the car keys and reorganize six months' worth of receipts.

And while we're on this rather daring sexist interlude, why is it that women never push toothpaste tubes up from the bottom and always try to get somebody else to change a lightbulb? How are they able to smell and hear things that are so clearly beyond the range of human acuity, and how do they know from another room that you are about to dip a finger into the icing of a freshly made cake? Why, above all, do they find it so unsettling if you spend more than four minutes a day on the toilet.

Tina20

When I go out I carry my bank card, cash, driving licence and keys.

I tried using I bag but it had nothing in it! So I just use pockets.

provista_2

I work in a shop and have had ladies knickers pulled out of handbags when they have caught on purses, the look of shear horror on the customers faces is priceless

roadiegirl

provista wrote: »

I work in a shop and have had ladies knickers pulled out of handbags when they have caught on purses, the look of shear horror on the customers faces is priceless

I have done this myself. Whilst at college, and had everything in one large carry on style bag, purse on the top and when I went to get it out in the bus station to find my pass, I launched my pair of knickers across the bus station.

Gingernutty

I have one bag into which I put a foldaway shopping bag for when I go home past the supermarket.

There is a little pocket inside for the wallet, the bus pass and the spare key.

Every morning when I'm queuing for the bus, the women who astound me are those who, first thing in the morning, are carrying the 'good' bag (usually a shoulder bag) on one shoulder AND one or more shoulder bags that consist of the 'eco friendly' shopper type on the other shoulder. This is sometimes augmented with a plastic carrier bag.

Every bag is rammed full. When these sherpas get to the driver's cab, can they find their passes? Their purses for money?

Can they 'eck!

mttylad

I thin my wifes handbag once belonged to a time lord and is made out of TARDIS material.

Sometimes its handy to pass her something when out to put in her bags - there is always space.

What I object to is it being placed on the table or counter after the places it goes.

p00hsticks

meritaten wrote: »

youre supposed to always have them on!!!! to save your embarrassment while the docs save your life apparently.

I've never really understood the logic of having a clean pair of knickers on in case you get hit by a bus (and yes, my mum used to say it too).

As I always used to reply to her - even if they're clean before you get hit by the bus, chances are they won't be afterwards ;-)

Esqui

I don't understand it either. I never need to take extra clothes out with me!

Which is just as well. I went out yesterday with no bag, and I stuffed my purse, keys, phone and buss pass into the tiny pockets in my jeans. Makes me look like MC Hammer