Lolly Day

 Once a year, I have to go down the lolly aisle at the supermarket. It's not something I do often. The lolly and biscuit aisle is a no-go zone - or if I do venture down there it's to get rice cakes, the odd packet of  Arnotts Nice biscuits when I'm making a cheesecake to take to a barbeque, or Turkish Delight bars to take to the writer's retreats, because Turkish Delight is currency for neurospicy women. 

Today was the day I had to venture down the lolly aisle to get the book group lollies for the book group lolly vote, which will be happening this Sunday. 

I've been doing this for over 15 years. Each December, I'll dump a phone heap of lollies into a big bowl and put 25 lollies of various shapes and sizes into a zip lock bag, along with a rubber glove, so we can do our book choosing. It's all very calculated and exacting. Everybody gets 25 lollies. Not 26. Not 24, but 25. 

The hardest decision is what lollies to get. 

There is the standard request from the group. Clinkers. And yes, I've got the Clinkers in, but at $7 a packet, they have to be only a part of the mix. Also, you don't want all the lollies to be the same size and shape. It helps keep the mystery of the vote. 

Of course, I can't put all my favourites in the bag. It's reminiscent of the 20 bag of lollies you got at the local store as a kid. For me, Spearmint Leaves, Licorice Allsorts, Milk Bottles, jelly snakes (red or yellow preferred), maybe a Fantale and a couple of jaffas. 

None of this Haribo crap - that stuff tastes like chemicals. 

I did find two things. Hard jubes. Forever a favourite. Like Fantales, which I don't think they make anymore, hard jubes can take out your fillings. According to the interwebs, Fantales were discontinued in 2023. You can only find them online for over $100 a bag. Bad move Nestle.

And a bag of Allens Retro Party mix. According to the bag, it contains a mix of the following: 

• Racing Cars
• Cola Bottles
• Retro Man
• Raspberries
• Honey Bears
• Strawberries and Cream
• Teeth
• Lips
• Pineapples
• Milk Bottles

One year we had Redskins - or whatever politically correct name they are known by now. (Red Rippers, I'm told, just as Chikos are now Cheekies, and Coon cheese is now Cheer cheese. And I do get why this was done.)

Another year we had all Skittles. This didn't go down well as the fruity flavours are cloying and they stain. 

Another year it was all Jaffas - but the chocolate melted and things got messy. We've learned to put the lollies in the fridge at the restaurant until we need them for the vote. 

And yes, I know I moan about getting this done every year, but I rather like the nostalgic feels this job gives me. 

At least I have the lollies for bagging in the fridge. 

My next urgent job is to select what my second book will be to take to the choosing. That's the hard job!

Today's song: