You know what I love?

I love shopping.  LOVE it.

You know what I hate about shopping? (No, it’s not the clothes that don’t fit, or the shoes they don’t have in my size)

I hate being followed around the store.

In Dubai, there is usually someone to greet you at the door when you walk into a store.  It’s very polite and I always greet the assistant back.  It’s just manners, isn’t it?

What I cannot understand is why that assistant then has to follow me around the whole store!

I took V to Hamleys last week and this woman followed us around for an hour!  Each time I turned around, there she was!

And it happens in almost every shop.

Today I went to buy pyjamas (for myself).  I walked into the store and said good afternoon to the lady.  She followed me around (as expected).  Every time I touched something she said, ‘Would you like that?  Which size do you want?’

I was so irritated!  LEAVE ME ALONE!

I went into TopShop last week.  I greeted the lady after she greeted me.  She asked me if I needed any help.

I said, ‘No thank you, I’m just looking.’

And she replied, ‘Sure, I’m just here if you need me.’

She didn’t follow me around everywhere.

So what is it?

Do I look like I might steal something?

Do the sales assistants get commission?

That’s the only thing I can think of that would make such ridiculousness slightly more acceptable.