Linda Hall.
Early Saturday morning I donned a long pink wig and headed to New World.
I had volunteered to collect for the Pink Ribbon Street Appeal for Breast Cancer.
It was the first time for me. I've sold raffle tickets outside supermarkets for my children's schools but that was a long time ago.
I've seen collectors for all sorts of good causes standing in the cold doing their bit for charity and I've thought to myself, "I must do that one day".
So when I heard volunteers were needed for the Pink Ribbon appeal, I signed up. I had a choice of several locations and times, so I chose New World from 8am to 10am.
Next time, and there will be a next time, I will choose a busier time of the day. When I arrived there were only about five cars in the carpark.
Anyway, I asked which entrance was the busiest and positioned myself a wee way down from the door. I moved a little bit further out because every time I moved, the doors opened.
The first donation came just minutes after I arrived, from a lovely young man.
The next half hour was pretty quiet but the shoppers who were out seemed to be all men and they were amazing.
They smiled, complimented me on my hair and put coins in the bucket.
Some people smiled and said they had already donated the day before, others smiled and walked past, others looked straight through me.
Grocery shopping can be stressful for families who have to watch every cent, so there was no way I was going to ask for donations. I simply smiled and said good morning to everyone who looked at me.
Lots of people said they had no coins and they would get some while in store. One lady who said that actually got to the door on her way out, saw me, then turned around and went back to get some cash.
Whenever anyone donated I would ask if they would like a pink ribbon or a sticker. One lady said "No thanks, I don't give to receive." Nice.
It did get busier and by the time my two-hour stint was up the bucket was three-quarters full.
It certainly made me realise what a kind caring and friendly community I live in.
One of the co-ordinators who came to see how I was going told me getting volunteers was a real problem. She said one lady was doing an eight-hour stint that day because they didn't have any relief for her. She needs a huge pat on the back.
So, well done to all the people who volunteered and a big thank you to all those who donated.
Now for my visit to Countdown yesterday. As I walked in, the security "gates" beeped.
It's happened to me before and I thought it was my security card for work that set off the alarm.
Anyway, on my way out it did it again and one of the staff members was quickly beside me. I dropped my bags and fumbled in my handbag to find the card. "It's this that sets if off," I said.
She took it and waved it in front of the screen and - nothing.
"Oh, well it went off as I came in," I said.
"Do you have a tag on your clothes?" she asked as she beckoned me to walk through again without the shopping.
Well, yes, I thought all clothes had tags. Beep beep, it screamed again. She looked at my cardigan and there was this tag with scissors on it - meaning cut this off. I've never come across that before.
I thought stores cut any tags off that set off alarms.
So check your clothes for the "scissor label" - it might just save you from an embarrassing moment.
- Linda Hall is assistant editor of Hawke's Bay Today.