Sponsored by Big W.
I live in a small town. Small enough that everyone either knows you, your husband, or your husband’s cousin.
Small enough that the recent upgrade of the town hall resulted in the addition of a breastfeeding/mothers’ room. Which was practically revolutionary around here.
Before then, the best place to sit down and breastfeed your child in the quiet while you were out was your car. And, seeing as I don’t drive, if one of the Two were in a particularly fussy mood (which by default meant a fussy feed) I would have to walk down to Pal’s work and put all the children in their baby carseats – a half an hour process for a five minute feed for each baby.
This town is small enough that you could walk from one end of the main street to the other within 10-15 minutes.
But then again, this town is small enough that chances are you’ll stop to chat once or twice (or ten times) and it’s more likely to take you half an hour.
This town is small enough that for over three years with children (two of them with three small children) I’ve managed without my license, because the furthest place we could possibly need to go is the doctor’s surgery.
All of 20 minutes from our front door to theirs.
It’s a small town, with all of the small town perks and limitations.
However, we are a big enough town to have a Big W.
And on the days when it’s too cold (or hot, or wet, or I can’t be bothered) to head to the park, it’s only a 10 minute walk to “The Big W” as Roo likes to call it.
If I’m bored, feeling stuck or just in need of a walk with a destination, Big W is the place I like to go.
It’s heated in winter, air conditioned in summer, and full of stuff.
I love stuff. I can always find something to look at, if not buy…
I’ve made friends with the staff, is how much I love it down there.
Robyn and Judy are my favourites. They always ask how the children are and notice when it’s been a long time since I’ve been out of the house. They’ve known me since before I was big and bloated and pregnant with Roo.
They know me so well they even let me take their pictures to put on this blog. Robyn insisted that she look like she was working in hers (and she was, by the way!).
Judy threw her head back and laughed when I told her what I was doing. I think she thought I was joking…
They also know me so well that after going through the checkout, and realising that I did not, in fact, have my own EFTpos card – Pal did, when I said I’d be back in 10 minutes, Judy knew it was the truth.
So I traipsed across the road, where my husband works, and where he laughed at me.
Then back across the road to Judy, who laughed with me and let me pay for my purchases without paying me out.
Because she’s a nice person.
Probably from living in a small town.
A small town big enough for a Big W.
What a nice post. It seems like a lovely place. Rachel xx
Rachel from Redcliffe Style recently posted..Hunger Games fashion and giveaway
We like it
I remember when our town was a bit like that. Now it’s crowded and noisy and has 2 Kmarts, 2 Coles,Target, Bigw and an excessive 4!! Woolworths.
Some of the staff as our local Kmart knew me when I was still at school and then when I was pregnant with my first 4 babies. Most of them have gone now, replaced by 16year olds mostly.
I’m almost 40 and 5 kids later I still don’t have my licence and walk everywhere or catch a bus. I’m a bit over the hour wait for buses though so I’m getting a bike trailer for the baby once she is a bit bigger.
For years we only had Kmart and had to make a 30 minute train trip to go to Bigw. It was always an exciting day out for me! All the different stuff!
Target was even more exciting as it meant a trip to Brisbane!
I do still love Bigw though and I can spend ages in there, just looking at stuff
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Oh Wendy, Big W is always my go to for stuff looking!
I love your big W too – it’s our closest one. But because it is still an 45 minutes away, I don’t get there very often. All small town shops are great though!
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They are! Always friendly little places!
Love big w But ours is a drive away a couple of suburbs down. Loving what Robyn is Hanging too
lol.
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Haha she was hanging the matching bras about two minutes before hand and couldn’t stop laughing when Roo told her very loudly: “My mummy has purple boobies!” whilst pointing to the bra!
LOVE it!
Wish our town would get a Big W but it only takes about 30 seconds to walk down the mainstreet here, only 1 shop with a post office, hardware and grocery store all in one. Our town = population about 300!
Everyone that lives here is your husband and your husbands cousin!
Ahh the joys of small town life in rural WA!
Love it though, wouldn’t change it for a second. Where else can you go out and leave your keys in the car and the car door unlocked??
xx
Oh I’ve lived in a town like that before – are you a very far drive from your local centre, Clare?
We actually live 18km from that tiny town Daisy on a farm, and we are 80km to the next town with 1 woolworths and a Country Target! Bit fancy hey!
WA is so big and so far between in so many places. We are about 2 hours from Albany on the sth coast which has pretty good shopping and then 3.5hours from Perth – with not a neck of a lot in between.
Love farm life though, great with two little boys. I just love shopping so I’m so grateful for the online world!!!
Do you love small town life?
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For me it’s Kmart. Gone from professional working woman who frequents trendiest cafes to track pant wearing Kmart regular. Li’l Fatty and I go there to fill in time waiting for Master Seven to finish school!
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