General Chat

We do carry so much stuff don’t we? Being usually on my own out and about I have devised a few ways of carrying stuff. I have a couple of large cross body bags, about 12 inches across and maybe 8 inches deep without measuring. They are made of fabric that is sort of plasticised so the bag alone is not heavy. It has two large zipped compartments one with a. Inner zip pocket. Then one zipped pocket on the outside on one side of the bag and another on the other side and also a Velcro Ed flap pocket. As long as I stick to the same compartments for things it is fine. I do have smaller smart cross body bags as well. But, in the winter months I have a coat that I wear that has a zipped pocket each side at the top front. One will just about take me phone and one my purse with bus pass. In the summer months I wear cargo trousers and phone and purse go in the lower leg pockets.
On holiday I have a very useful bum bag that takes, camera, phone and purse.

I've had one of those healthy bags for at least 15 years, bought from the American company L L Bean. It's large, black leather, and has several pockets. I bought it because 2 close friends said how good they were.

But we all found that there were problems with them. Mine is too large, and I've only used it a couple of times because it just was not really comfortable or convenient to use. It's just hanging in the closet waiting for something to happen!

My friend Pat relegated hers to using only when they went on trips. It was medium size, and she would wear it across her front so that tickets, boarding passes, passports, etc were all handy and safe.

Janet just gave up on hers after a couple of years!

I've found that the combination of a very small or small crossbody bag combined with a day time back pack that can be used as a handbag-substitute is the best for me.

Money, cards etc go in the cross-body, and the back pack is just about large enough to carry a book, phone, water bottle, and other extras.

I have several larger cross-body bags that I also use.

We're in a spell of cooler weather here, temps down around 12C daytime and 9 or 10 at night!

Florence, I noticed! Yes 20 packs for £7.99 is very good, 40 pence a pack instead of £2 each or thereabouts.

Well each to their own.
I am very happy with my ergonomically designed bags , they have served me well over the years and I don’t suffer from the pain in my shoulder which I do when I use an ordinary bag, so to me they are worth it.

After a lovely morning, it became cloudy and much colder this afternoon. While it was nice, I changed the two hanging baskets on the front of the house from the ones with pansies in, to the summer ones which I have had in the greenhouse. There are two large tubs in the front and two chimney pots with plants in the top of them. They still need changing to summer bedding, but the pansies in them are still fine at the moment. I have also put three haybtrough type baskets on the garage wall in the back garden. They look nice and break up the expanse of brick

I’ve had a look too. Much too big or much too small And very expensive.
When I use it I find a rucksack takes the weight a Ross the back and shoulders whereas that doesn’t look so evenly spread.
Weren’t they first designed because kids always carry their back packs on one shoulder?

Thanks, Linda. Interesting!

However, I think I would need one smaller than the "small", but bigger than the "baglet".
My present ordinary cross body bag is 27 x 27 cms, and is just the right size for day-to-day use.

They are quite flat AG. A lot of the photos are of the large bags which you could use for all your clothes for a weekend away. I have the small size which is still quite large. My iPad fits in it no problem at all and zips up. I usually wear it on my front, but not right on the front as they show in the photos. I have it more on the side, under my arm , but the main body is to the front, that way no one can get into it when I am in a crowded place.
I do have some smaller more traditional handbags for special occasions, but I find them annoying to wear.

Hmmm I just had a look at those bags but def not for me!

A big tote bag style handbag for me. You have to remember I carry my life in my bag lol. I keep a mini first aid, safety pins and all sorts of things for the "just in case."

When i do get to go food shopping, the handles fit on the hook infront of me on the trolley, perfect.

Well its still a grey overcast day and I haven't done much this afternoon. On my own until 8.30 tonight so its been a very quiet day and not seen a soul except for the Tesco chappie this morning..

If you are looking in Joan, hope you are keeping ok and managing out into your lovely garden..

Looking at the Healthy Back bags online, Linda - when you wear them, do they jut out as far as it appears in photos, or do they lie flatter against your back if you don't have much in them?

I’ve never liked the fad of having one’s handbag as a backpack for exactly that reason.

If I use a rucksack on holiday I use a smaller purse which is in a smaller inner pocket that even I have problems with.

Must take a look at those Healthy back packs.

Some years ago i had a friend who had a sort of rucksack that she used instead of a handbag. It was on her back. One day she was shopping in sainsburys and unbeknown to her, someone unzipped the bag, put their hand in and stole her purse which not only contained money but all her cards as well.

When she told me what happened, I said why didn't you put your bag on the handle of the trolley so you could see it infront of you??? She was totally unaware until she got tot he checkout and realised her purse wasnt in her bag anymore and had to leave her shopping behind!

Have to say, i wouldn't use this type of bag at all. I'm probably very traditional as my grandmother always had a handbag with 2 handles and carried it on her arm. All of my bags are the same, lost count i have several lol

Well Tesco came and all present with no subs so that was great.

i cleaned out the salad drawer and rearranged the freezer as it seemed to be very crowded but that's because daughter chucks it all in whereas i sort it all and organise it a lot better. She's away all day so these wee jobs have kept me busy.

It didn't rain, but there's a chilly wind blowing now so i'm not going for a walk. My hands are very cold today.

i have just ordered a 6 drawer chest of drawers for my bedroom to store all the craft things. Its a flat pack but not difficult so when that arrives end of next week, i shall be busy then. Its a narrow tall chest but with plenty of room in each drawer for things.

Good to see you posting Sylvia and keep safe from the fires.
I just found 20 packets of veggie seeds for £7.99 and think this is a good buy, isnt it? beetroot, carrots, broccoli, peas, lettuce etc.

Well coffee time me thinks so have a good afternoon all.

I have just treated myself to a new healthy back bag because Eve took one of my favourites - to be fair, I did say she could have it . I have ordered a so called small one, but it still takes, my phone, large bunch of keys, purse, card holder and all manner of other things. When I need to take it, my iPad even fits in it as well. I did have a medium one at one stage, but that was far too big.

Morning all.

When I have been out to a concert on the mainland, I have a few small bags that go across my body and so the bag is infront of me.. They are just big enough to hold my phone, inhaler, packet of tissues etc and a few pounds in cash for emergencies as last time i got a cab back to my hotel, the taxi didn't have a card machine!!! Just as well i had £50 on me as the taxi was £20..

Same thing happened in march when we went to Glasgow, the taxi didnt have a card machine either.. So now I always take £200 with me in cash as a back up.

But going away and shopping, I need my larger handbag with 2 handles. I carry it on my arm not my shoulder. I do declutter but have all my travel docs, appointment letters, inhalers, meds, purse etc so I need the larger bag.

I don't use umbrellas as its always windy here so wear a jacket with a hood.

Anyway, the fog has lifted and was sunny but now clouding over again and spitting with rain and I have put out washing an hour ago.

Tesco is 1 stop away so better get off here as will be here very soon.

Back later on

Florence in the hebrides

My everyday handbags are all Healthy Back Bags which are designed to fit without causing any strain on your shoulders I usually wear it so it is forwards rather than across my back. I have a smart black leather one, but I also have a couple of the lightweight material ones. They come in various sizes as well. I first discovered them many years ago when I damaged my shoulder ligaments and carrying any handbag made my shoulder ache.

I also use a cross body bag. Like Sylvia I can’t manage a stick and an umbrella but luckily I don’t always need a stick. My problem is I can’t always find such a handbag big enough to carry what I need.
If I haven’t got too much to carry I also use a canvas bag with longish handles that I can have on my other shouder.

I also always use a cross-body bag, sometimes a rather large one!

I use my left hand for the cane, and my right hand is free for whatever. I also try to wear a jacket or coat with a hood as an umbrella is too awkward to use with a cane.

I thought I might jinx our weather with the last posting I did, and that's what happened!! Though we're nowhere near as bad as you guys! We could really do with some of that rain over here.

But the weather has been a lot cooler, cloudy and showery ......... a bit more like April weather than May, We've had less than 30% of the usual average rain for May, so drought conditions still prevail, and we're seeing more wild fires starting.

I always use a cross body bag, too. It leaves the hands free for other things, and lessens the danger of losing it.

Went to town this morning for a haircut and to stock up on groceries. The road there and back was so busy today!
It must be summer.

I hope you and OH feel better soon, Linda. It sounds like a nasty bug. Maybe all that rushing around with home improvements has caught up with you.

I always wear a cross body handbag. If I try to have it on my left shoulder, it is too painful.
OH did a bit of work on the bathrooms this morning , but it was too much for him, so he has been in bed all afternoon. I am better than I was at the start of the week, but I still can’t be bothered to do much. I need to get better quickly s half term is next week, so I will be in demand.

Well today no planes have gone because of the fog so for that i'm grateful we did actually get away yesterday.

I only ever go down to Glasgow for hospital appointments or when i'm flying south and then I'm just passing through, I don't leave the airport..

nevermind, I managed to get a hairdresser to come here a week Monday and give my hair an MOT so that's a start .lol

Probably better to get soaked than to be stranded somewhere.because of the fog.

Next time you go over is it possible to pre order some of your favourites looks at Marks, try them on and then claim refunds for things that don’t fit etc?