You need to press the button!

My daughter told me!

Today we had a trip to the metro centre in Gateshead to spend birthday money. I have to confess to not looking forward to it and saw it as one of those tedius things I have to do as a mother and put a smile on it whilst I doing it! But I also have to confess I enjoyed the day.

We set off only a little later than planned and arrived without getting lost, parked and entered the centre. The two teenage girls went off alone with the usual instructions, behave, mind your manners, no shop lifting (or at least don't get caught!! Lol only joking), stay together, don't talk to strangers and keep your phone on. And in reponse the eyes roll they spin round and mutter 'yes mum' under their breath as they walk away. Only to repeat louder when I say 'pardon'!

I took the opportunity to window shop and look in shops I wouldn't normally with bored teenagers in tow. Lunch was in Mcdonalds which was nice.

We met with friends Andy and Ally so they could releive themselves of a birthday present they had kindly bought for my daughters birthday. Her face was a picture when she opened the little tee shirt with 'her boys' on for her 'build a bear! We had a coffee in starbucks before our final stint of shopping.

The girls went off alone again same instructions given and I went off in search of a bathroom. Well if I hadn't met the girls later I would still be looking. It moved! The sign said upstairs. I went upstairs. The next one said turn right. I turned right and went into Topshop! No bathroom. I started again but i found no bathroom. So when I met up with the girls they were able to show me where to go.

In the bathroom is where the fun starts. Apparently its an age thing I have been informed and thankfully after discussion with my daughters friends mum I am not alone in my actions. You see where I live in the public bathroom all major functions such as flushing the loo, soap dispenser, water and hand drier operate by a sensor. You wave your hand to flush, move it under the soap dispenser and you get soap, under the tap and the water appears and hold under the drier and it starts to blow. Being used to this luxury is why I pause to flush the loo only realising I need to flush when waving doesn't work. The hand goes back and forth under the soap only to discover you need to press for soap to be dispersed. The water today was on a sensor which is what confused me because the bathroom is partially modern! The next part was holding my hands under the drier only to be told 'you need to press the button' as the drier burst into its blow the two teenagers were doubled up laughing saying 'I can't believe she just did that'! Well i did!!

That piece of drama over i pointed out a nice dress the girls looked and said 'OMG if she picks up that black one I'm walking off'! They walked off! It was a nice black dress.

The trip home was rather quiet all tired and top 40 on the radio. Both girls singing along to their boys at number 26.

On dropping of my daughters friend we had a lovely taste of STP. (Sticky toffee pudding) and a lovely cup of coffee and a discussion of 'planking' and how to get rid of bingo wings! Both of which I intend to follow.

A quick visit to dad on the way home which thankfully was drama free then home to a well earned glass of wine and a bathroom with no mod cons, flushing loo, bar of soap, manual turn on taps and a proper towel to dry your hands on so NO "need to press the button".