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November 16, 2020

COVID lockdown led to chocolate addiction

Chocolate is happiness. An affordable luxury or so I thought until the COVID 19 lockdown which turned my love of chocolate into an addiction. 

My name is Angela Finn, and I am a “Haighsaholic”. I have a Haigh’s use disorder.

There are Haighsaholics in every city and regional town in Australia.

Men, women and children seeking comfort and escapism as they devour premium quality chocolates made by the oldest family-owned chocolate -maker in Australia.

Before the COVID 19 lockdown, I was your occasional Haigh’s chocolate consumer – enjoyed as treat on a visit to the Sydney CBD, or as a gift.

But the lockdown brought a sudden rapid change to my lifestyle. I was now working from home plus living with my 87-year-old mother with dementia. 

This unexpected change and increase in responsibility wreaked havoc on my stress levels. Urgently needing to release the pressure valve, I turned to Haigh’s as a reward. A pleasure that signalled freedom.

Escaping from the confines of the home, a 30-minute round trip during my lunch break to the Haigh’s shop was utter joy.    

The anticipation of the smell and taste of Haigh’s chocolates drove my desire as I weaved in and out of traffic. Every red light was agony.

With my adrenalin soaring, my arrival at the store brought overwhelming relief.

Upon purchase, I’d open the quality paper bag and raise it to my nose to smell the sweet aroma of the chocolates. The intoxicated feeling was instant.

The act of drawing each chocolate out of the bag, examining perfection, and then “shoving” it into my mouth for a rapid “hit” of chocolate filled every inch of my body and mind with ecstasy.

But with my finances, cravings, and waistline soaring out of control, my behaviour and relationship with Haighs took a nasty turn.

I began to resent Haigh’s, particularly John Haigh (deceased) who as the grandson of the founder Alfred E Haigh, transformed Haigh’s into a premium quality chocolate, achieving international acclaim.

To John’s credit, he developed the “high-end’ Haigh’s in-store experience. Coupled with a marketing approach that oozes exclusivity. A style – I believe – not only drives incredible sales but fuels addiction.

Now, while I admit that I am responsible for my Haigh’s addiction, the behaviour of Haigh’s during the lockdown period caused a bad taste in my mouth.  

Their COVID 19 safe policy of insisting their customers pay by card rather than cash might seem a responsible thing to do, but for me it was not.

A little tap, tap, tap by the card day after day made spending too easy. Plus, I couldn’t hide my spending. The impending fear of being ‘found out’ was agonizing. It was but a matter of time before my husband would view the credit card statements and reveal my addiction.

What really infuriated me however was when Haigh’s cancelled their “free tastings”. How rude!

These so-called COVID 19 safe practices by Haigh’s caused me to question my relationship with the world-renowned chocolatier.  

Was my relationship with Haigh’s one-sided? It sure felt like the time, energy, and money I invested in Haigh’s was not reciprocated.

And, was Haigh’s using the guise of COVID 19 to save money and drive sales? Plus take advantage of the vulnerability of their customers during the pandemic?

Like, why didn’t Haigh’s provide their consumers with any financial relief during the lockdown by way of special sales or offers?

The only decent special available during lockdown was the reduced prices on Easter egg products following the Easter break.  

In one month, I ate around twenty-five packets of broken easter eggs and numerous packs of mini chocolate eggs until stocks were gone.  

It took me 4 months to acknowledge that my mood swings and dependency on Haigh’s chocolates were out-of-control.

After reading books about addiction, I decided to go ‘cold turkey’. I ceased my Haigh’s consumption completely plus adopted new stress management strategies.   

I won’t go into the “how”, but I can reveal that I am 6 kgs lighter than I was at the end of August.

It wasn’t easy. But it feels good to regain control over my decisions around chocolate consumption.  I feel happier, freer. 

I am however still cheesed off at Haigh’s. 

While the “free chocolate tastings have resumed, it really annoys me that the tastings rarely include the “Cabinet chocolates”. These are the top-shelf, incredibly expensive chocolates that tempt consumers behind the luxurious curved glass cabinet.

If I was Head of Customer Experience at Haigh’s, I would introduce a customer loyalty program full of delightful rewards. Which includes free tastings from the curved glass cabinet, plus monthly specials.

As well as a help-line counselling service for Haighsaholics during stress-filled situations like a COVID 19 lockdown!

By: Angela Finn · Filed Under: Passions · Tagged: chocolate, Covid 19, lockdown

August 4, 2020

Take a ride on the other side

“Hurry up, get your Opal card out, the train is coming”, I yelled at Mum as we hurried down the steps at Panania station.

Mum cried “I think I left my Opal card at home. But don’t worry Ange, just get on. I’ll buy a ticket when we get to Campbelltown and change trains”, she said.

“Bloody hell Mum, you are so blasé. You might get fined”, I said as we boarded the train.

Mum at 84 years old, was a seasoned train traveller. She was cocky too.

We sat upstairs in the carriage and got settled for the ride. We were on our way to Picton to visit my sister and her two sons. Mum was excited about seeing her grandkids.

At Glenfield station, I noticed four NSW Police Officers board the train. Next thing I knew, a police officer was standing next to Mum and I asking us to produce our Opal cards for checking.

Ha! Let’s see if Mum is so cool now, I thought.

Mum – ever so confidently – apologized and explained what had happened, and ensured the Officer that she would get a ticket when she changed trains.

The Officer smiled at Mum, gave her a warning. No fine.

Mum turned to me and raised her eyebrows as if to say “See, I told you it would be alright”.

I replied, “Just because you’re a sweet, little old lady doesn’t mean you are above the law. You’re lucky…this time”.

A few minutes later, Mum and I heard the raised voice of the Police Officer. He was questioning a couple about their Opal card, personal identity, concession cards, and whereabouts.

I was shocked. I said to Mum “Can you believe the way the Officer is speaking to this couple? It’s horrific. His loud voice and questions are so humiliating. I feel so embarrassed for the couple”.

The man under question acted calmly. His voice was low, but I heard him say to the Officer that he and his wife were from the North Coast and had come to Sydney to see their granddaughter perform in a dancing concert.

It was then that I noticed that the couple were Indigenous Australians.

My heart sank. I was witnessing explicit racism. My mother had received different treatment for breaking the law.

I couldn’t hear or make out the offence committed. But I heard the Police Officer tell the couple they would need to get off the train at Campbelltown and go to the nearest Centrelink office to sort out their concession cards.

When the couple said they did not know where the Centrelink office was located, the Police Officer replied that he would escort them.

I felt sick in the stomach. I remained silent.

When the train pulled into Campbelltown station, the Police officers, the couple, plus Mum and I alighted. I told Mum to wait as I hurried to catch up to the Police Officer.

I asked him – politely – why this couple were questioned so thoroughly and loudly for all to hear and were forced to get off the train.

He replied – calmly and with authority – that he was simply following the law and had done nothing wrong.

I was chicken. I did not question him as to why the law was applied differently to my Mum. Why she did not suffer the same humiliation as those grandparents.

I knew the answer. For 232 years, our society and culture have condoned racism against Indigenous Australians.

And…Mum and I have benefitted from those laws, systems, attitudes, and behaviours.

And so too Mum’s grandchildren. They have not suffered intergenerational trauma, systemic removal, and discrimination. Nor are they at risk of higher levels of incarceration, depression, and suicide.

That was four years ago. I continue to learn about Indigenous Australians and our history.  I still know very little.

Today is National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day – established in 1988 – to celebrate and empower children. The 4th of August was chosen because during 1910 – 1970 when Indigenous Australian children were forcibly removed from their families and put into institutionalized care, their birthdays – many unknown – were given and celebrated on the 4 August.

I ask you to consider why Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children account for 65% of children aged 10 – 14 years imprisoned in gaol?

Why Aboriginal people are in grossly disproportionate numbers, compared with non-Aboriginal people, in both police and prison custody?

The answer is racism. It’s pandemic and it kills. And the blame lies with me….and you.

But we can change…..

 

By: Angela Finn · Filed Under: Passions

July 28, 2020

A pandemic of racism

Structurally embedded racism is made possible by power. I witnessed that today when I arrived at the Domain at 12:15 pm to find a huge police presence, a few media, and a couple of stragglers.

What happened?

A young man – wearing a protective face mask – sitting on his own told me that the organizers of the Justice for David Dungay Black Lives Matter gathering were arrested, fined and a small number of people were dispersed around a quarter to 12.

He couldn’t understand why everyone was so against the gathering when it was outdoors, in a huge park that was perfect for physical distancing.

He said “I work at Parramatta Westfield and it is packed with people every weekend. Why is that the gatherings at schools, the shopping centres, Churches, the races, and the footy are no risks to public health”?

We spoke at length about the pandemic of racism in Australia and tried to understand why.

Why do we have a culture that demonizes Indigenous Australian people?

Why is there such little concern in the wider community about black deaths in custody?

Why do people fail to understand that the Dungay family and their supporters are seeking justice and speaking up in order to save lives?

Why won’t the governments listen, acknowledge, and address the concerns of the people protesting?

Why won’t the governments implement recommendations from the Royal Commission into black deaths in custody made over 30 years ago?

Why do we have laws in Australia that arrest, charge, and imprison children aged 10? And why is that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children account for 65% of these younger children in prison?

With every why, I felt so incredibly sad “what sort of society is this”?

I said goodbye. Put my headphones on to listen to music and cried as I walked through the park past groups of police standing around.

As I reached the Strand Arcade to the Haigs chocolate shop (well, I was in town, so I thought I might as well get a few chocolate hard caramels), I met a man sitting outside the shop, who was asking for money.

We got talking and I told him why I was in town. He said he was Aboriginal and had experienced racist comments throughout his life. But said he wouldn’t protest; as it was no point. He said he was proud of who he was and that’s all that mattered to him.

I told him I came to the Domain today for Leetona Dungay, David’s Mum because she shouldn’t have to fight on her own to seek justice for the death of her son in custody. He nodded and smiled at me.

As I headed back to work, I vowed to keep loving, connecting with people, listening and learning so as to peel away some of the layers of racism, bigotry, and naivety in us all.

By: Angela Finn · Filed Under: Passions

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