Recently I saw someone write something just about those liquid medicine containers and coincidentally, my (French) husband had just cut himself with one, rather badly actually.
As for foil and plastic wrap, I realize that after years of frustration, I've basically learned to live without them!
Theresa, I have found the besty way to open those soup boxes is to pull the pointy end up and snip off about 1/4 inch of the pointy end---- pouring soup out is a breeze---- then you can fold it back down
My solution for the soup box is to squeeze front to back (long sides) almost to a crease all the way up the narrow side to the top then snip near the dotted line (enough to pour but not as much as the packaging indicates ) Bon chance!! 😉
Ha! Love this - I'm excited to get to France and begin to be able to grumble about how to open packages. The Vitamin D vial is very strange, that's for certain.
Have you tried the plastic wrap with the built-in guillotine from Carrefour? It was recommended by a friend. We haven’t used it yet but she swears by it.
Medication blister packs. Arghhhhh. I have very arthritic fingers, and getting those damned pills out of the damned blister pack has added significantly to my use of profanity.
Some release their little treasures with minimal force, but others are sealed in with duct tape strength. I have learned NOT to open them anywhere near a sink or down the drain they go.
On the bright side, I've almost completely eliminated having to do the exercise that involves touching my toes because I'm constantly leaning over to try to scoop up a microscopic white pill on the floor with my, as I mentioned, arthritic fingers that refuse to operate as commanded.
I asked the doctor if I might get my prescription pills in a bottle. He looked at me like I'd just suggested changing the national anthem to Le Vie En Rose.
As for the ridiculous caps tethered to anything bottled in plastic - I didn't like them last year and I don't like them this year. I suspect I will never like them. They keep hitting me in the nose.
Theresa, I often do battle with blister-packed pills that I need in the middle of the night. My solution to potentially cutting myself (or waking the neighbors with my cussing) is to take all of them out of the packaging long before I need them and store all the pills in a small and handy bottle. Anything to make one tiny part of life easier and pain-free.
Carl and I were just in Scotland and found our biggest challenges were household appliances. I still don't know what I did to get the oven to heat up, no idea what the temperature was - and no, not because of the Celsius/Fahrenheit issue, the controls were completely incomprehensible. Was the fish completely cooked? I stuck my finger in and it was hot... and no one got sick or died. Likewise the electric stovetop. It looked like some kind of countdown was happening - but to what??? We did appreciate the very nice metal water bottles with metal caps - no plastics anywhere in sight. And wooden utensils with takeaway food.
Yes, there's a huge learning curve with appliances. The washer really stumped me for a bit, but not as surprising during my early visits here to learn that listing a "dryer" on a rental unit meant a clothes rack for drying, not an actual dryer.
Theresa, I have found the besty way to open those soup boxes is to pull the pointy end up and snip off about 1/4 inch of the pointy end---- pouring soup out is a breeze---- then you can fold it back down
When we were in Europe, I liked the bottle cap staying on. I didn't have to worry about holding the lid or losing it. I like the cutting thing thatcomes with some plastic wrap, John doesn't. Rake one home when you come to visit in the states.
When I last came back to France from the US, I had 6 rolls of Press N Seal in my suitcase. And I will not apologize.
Oh, this is excellent!
Recently I saw someone write something just about those liquid medicine containers and coincidentally, my (French) husband had just cut himself with one, rather badly actually.
As for foil and plastic wrap, I realize that after years of frustration, I've basically learned to live without them!
Theresa, I have found the besty way to open those soup boxes is to pull the pointy end up and snip off about 1/4 inch of the pointy end---- pouring soup out is a breeze---- then you can fold it back down
Glad for the advice here about the soup boxes because I love French soupe and. . .the boxes get me every time. Now I will be ready to snip!
Yessss whenever people ask me what I miss about living in America (I live in Ireland now), I always say 'two words: Saran Wrap'😂
That would be right up there for me, too, obviously. But it would come after "garbage disposal."
My solution for the soup box is to squeeze front to back (long sides) almost to a crease all the way up the narrow side to the top then snip near the dotted line (enough to pour but not as much as the packaging indicates ) Bon chance!! 😉
Mr. Gower! Very enjoyable piece.
Ha! Love this - I'm excited to get to France and begin to be able to grumble about how to open packages. The Vitamin D vial is very strange, that's for certain.
It actually is quite enjoyable to encounter these issues. My husband always says it's making our brain healthier!
I just want to be able to grumble about something so small and fun rather than about my country disappearing people without due process.
Have you tried the plastic wrap with the built-in guillotine from Carrefour? It was recommended by a friend. We haven’t used it yet but she swears by it.
I have not seen this plastic wrap. I’m always in favor of any product with a built-in guillotine! Some of my bras have that!
Medication blister packs. Arghhhhh. I have very arthritic fingers, and getting those damned pills out of the damned blister pack has added significantly to my use of profanity.
Some release their little treasures with minimal force, but others are sealed in with duct tape strength. I have learned NOT to open them anywhere near a sink or down the drain they go.
On the bright side, I've almost completely eliminated having to do the exercise that involves touching my toes because I'm constantly leaning over to try to scoop up a microscopic white pill on the floor with my, as I mentioned, arthritic fingers that refuse to operate as commanded.
I asked the doctor if I might get my prescription pills in a bottle. He looked at me like I'd just suggested changing the national anthem to Le Vie En Rose.
As for the ridiculous caps tethered to anything bottled in plastic - I didn't like them last year and I don't like them this year. I suspect I will never like them. They keep hitting me in the nose.
Theresa, I often do battle with blister-packed pills that I need in the middle of the night. My solution to potentially cutting myself (or waking the neighbors with my cussing) is to take all of them out of the packaging long before I need them and store all the pills in a small and handy bottle. Anything to make one tiny part of life easier and pain-free.
That’s what Don does. Good idea.
I share many of your experiences
My husband got antibiotics for a sinus infection a few months ago that were little packages of powder to mix in liquid, such a surprise!
Yes! I had that once for a tooth infection. So different.
Carl and I were just in Scotland and found our biggest challenges were household appliances. I still don't know what I did to get the oven to heat up, no idea what the temperature was - and no, not because of the Celsius/Fahrenheit issue, the controls were completely incomprehensible. Was the fish completely cooked? I stuck my finger in and it was hot... and no one got sick or died. Likewise the electric stovetop. It looked like some kind of countdown was happening - but to what??? We did appreciate the very nice metal water bottles with metal caps - no plastics anywhere in sight. And wooden utensils with takeaway food.
Yes, there's a huge learning curve with appliances. The washer really stumped me for a bit, but not as surprising during my early visits here to learn that listing a "dryer" on a rental unit meant a clothes rack for drying, not an actual dryer.
Theresa, I have found the besty way to open those soup boxes is to pull the pointy end up and snip off about 1/4 inch of the pointy end---- pouring soup out is a breeze---- then you can fold it back down
Brilliant!!
When we were in Europe, I liked the bottle cap staying on. I didn't have to worry about holding the lid or losing it. I like the cutting thing thatcomes with some plastic wrap, John doesn't. Rake one home when you come to visit in the states.