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I am not pedantic when it comes to germs. I don’t disinfect my house using bottles of bleach. I am a firm believer that we need some germs. It is documented that no germs is actually worse for our immune system. This theory works especially well when I think of pulling out the vacuum and then don’t .

BUT I am a believer of covering your mouth when coughing, or washing your hands after blowing your nose to at least try to prevent the common cold from attacking our noses. A cold has to be the most single annoying ailment ever! A little bottle of hand sanitiser can be a god send, especially when you are treated to a public toilet whilst out and about.

I encountered an interesting situation the other day whilst out grocery shopping.

I dislike grocery shopping at the best of times.  I am not a chatter at the check out. The faster you can pack my things the better it will be….  I want out of there even before I arrive.

This particular day it was quite busy- more often than not supermarkets choose to have LESS staff on. And don’t get me started with self check outs. They are fabulous for a few items, but if I ever have weighed produce then no, they are often not fabulous and end up beeping at you to find an attendant because your product doesn’t exist or the product has jumped in to the bag itself and upset the apple cart-so to speak.

So I had too many items for self check out and really just wanted to find the quickest one to move on through and bust out of there pronto.

I find a checkout, go to unload and look up…. The girl is frantically blowing her nose into a tissue…Ughhhh cold germs… I was going to be pedantic because I could not afford to get a cold or pass one on as my youngest was having surgery the next day.

She is looking at me and waiting. I was not about to start unloading until she had washed her hands.

It was a stand-off at the check out. Eyes bearing down, both waiting.

I finally break the silence and ask if she has anything to wash her hands with. Ummm you just blew your nose and now want to touch my food? Nah huh, not on your life….

Oh it computes, and she remembers she has instant hand sanitiser at her beck and call.

Germs are one thing, but I was more shocked I had to ask for such a simple display of hygiene!

Would you have done the same? Or was I just being picky?

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  • I think it is gross when people cover their mouth with their hand when coughing or sneezing and then touch everything with their hand so the germs spread to the next person who touches the same hand rail, or pedestrian button etc.

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  • Have you ever noticed how many women don’t wash their hands after going to the loo? Very gross.

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  • Awkward situation, but you are well within your rights to say what you did. I would probably have done the same, as I’ve done many times when people cough or sneeze without putting their hand over their mouth and nose. We shouldn’t have to ask or tell people what to do in those situations, but unfortunately we sometimes do.

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  • Haha nice light artical. A good reminder too. I will be recommending this ;)

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  • we love the antibacterial hand washes, everyone enjoys using them

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  • It surprises me in this day and age how so many people seem to lack hygiene! The number of people who don’t cover their mouths when coughing is disgusting!

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  • If she hadn’t washed her hands (and yes, I would have asked as you did), then I would have gone to someone else to serve me. You can’t prevent getting bugs passed on to you, but you can (and have the right to) do everything within your power to minimize it happening.

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  • Thanks for this I enjoyed reading it. I do dread winter and the checkouts, but most of the checkout do clean their hands, but yes the coughing and sneezing! If they are that bad, maybe they shouldn’t be in that area of the store or stay at home.

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  • Its even worse when they stand next to you and they sneeze on you and cough in your face

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  • Thanks for your good story

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  • haha at least the woman at the checkout was blowing her nose, could have been worse. I have seen people wiping their nose on their arm sleeve, not once but twice (and no they werent children)

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  • we say wash your hands.

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  • YOu gave me a good laugh at the check out lady blowing her nose. Love it and can totally relate.

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  • Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed reading it.

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  • Good on you! definitely would do the same thing if I were you!

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