Thought I could use a bit vanilla essence in making pancakes at home next time, so I put this little bottle (50 ml?) into the shopping basket at Woolies.

At the checkout counter, the cashier scanned the other stuff quickly. When she got to this little item, she made a bit noise, “oh, you know I probably have to check your ID, as we are not allow to sell this to people who is under 18 years old…”

“What?” That was my first response. Then I immediately thought about the brighter side of the whole thing….I could have taken it as a compliment, could I? Someone thinks I look like under 18 years old.

“Oh, really?” I smiled and said “I am almost double that age…” Then she moved her eyes away the monitor screen and looked up at me again. I bet this time she saw some tiny lines on my face (I normally don’t “iron” my face on Saturday) and a couple of grey hair appearing here and there on my head, then she let me go without insisting to see my ID.

Anyway I got my vanilla essence at last. I was like a kid who stole her parents’ money from the wallet and escaped from home. I don’t know why I felt that way but I felt quite funny.

I checked the label on the bottle. It does contain 35% alcohol. No wonder! However, it’s probably the stupidest idea that I have ever heard. If I chose to get drunk, I wouldn’t drink out of a 50ml bottle of vanilla essence