Soap opera

Soap opera of the day: A slippery matter

Episode 1: The dictatorship

Under our tiny shower (no bathtub), for years on, the cruel shower gel ruled in several scents and colors, but always liquid. From the Oil of Olay tube - that disappeared together with Boots from Haarlem's high street - to the greatly and delicately scented Dove bottle, all of them had their shot and our preferences, depending on the mood of the housewive (this last character being superbly embodied by ME - there will be no space for self-pity in this post, or humility for that matter).

Episode 2: Truth revealed

One dark day, the kind housewife realized that, geez, the bottles of shower gel were going down the drain really too easily, and with them the treasure at the bank. Why would each perfumed bottle last so shortly? The truth revealed itself under the harsh early morning light and under a million droplets of HOT water (the owners of the shower still managed to pay their bills, you see and were also scorched by the upcoming truth): because it contained liquid soap! As simple as that, Watson. Housewife squeezes the bottle and there she has a flood of unnecessary liquid cream/gel coming out, half of it slipping through her clumsy hands onto the wet tiles and the next thing you know the bottle is empty - and she slips on the floor and breaks her neck. 

Episode 3: Not the end yet

She manages to survive the shower drama and decides that her life calls for a drastic and life-saving change (money-saving change too). The quest for the new soap for the daily showers is on. A relentless quest that leads her back to good old traditions and their strongest asset ever: the soap bar!

Episode 4: Happy end and favorites

Many shapes, colors and scents of soap are available so the ruthless shower gel is ousted with no tears shed. The new rulers of the shower are quite small, chunky, very user friendly and they last for a looooong time. Among the favorites: soap bars from l'Occitane (again and again) and mainly the olive oil bars, but sometimes also the lavender ones for a relaxing effect; Unicura bars - their smell is more "medical" and their color much less aesthetic, but the Balance version is addictive with its fresh notes and after all it is efficiency we are after in this category; Aleppo soap - more down to earth but a classic available in many shops now in its rough, uneven shape; and Dove forever for its chalky whiteness, plumpy oval shape, creaminess and timeless smell that sticks onto the skin. All's well that ends well in bubble world.

The End