shopping in England

I broke down in England and persuaded myself that I needed to buy an umbrella as it was raining heavily. Ten minutes later the rain stopped and an hour or two later I had managed to leave the umbrella somewhere. Karma! When I told this story to my cousin she very kindly lent me an umbrella and so I had one for the rest of my trip. Of course I own three umbrellas already so what kind of idiot shows up in England without one?

I also bought some plastic cups and cutlery so that Chris and I could have a picnic on the beach. I will now add cutlery and cups to my list of vacation essentials in case the issue arises again.

I wanted to buy, but didn't, a book about the architecture of Liverpoool. My friend Kate in Sheffield offered to lend us one, but we forgot to take it and so remained less acquainted than is desirable about the architecture. Did find a good second hand bookstore but did not think to ask about that. I was also able to borrow books for the plane home from Steve in Sheffield. Sheffield is my new second-hand mecca--especially the furniture stores. I didn't have time to explore, but they seem to be everywhere. I learned that Sheffield has deep socialist roots--they were targetted by the Thatcher government along with Liverpool for that reason--so maybe that explains a culture of second-hand.

I also took with me a travel book that I borrowed from the library. It was not the one I would have chosen had I been buying--Fodor's, which doesn't even mention Sheffield--but still much better than the usual practice of buying and tossing new books for every trip.

Blackpool was the place that tested me most. My greatest weakness is cheap markets and tacky souvenirs and Blackpool has them in abundance. I had to walk away from a watch with an orange face and an orange bracelet style band encrusted with tiny rhinestones (or something).

I have been thinking about the things that I will buy when I can--a cell phone possibly and an electronic book. But I have also been thinking that I need to permanently change my buying habits. No more unneeded shoes I will rarely wear, no more bags (I have a lifetime supply), no more scarves (ditto) and no more cheap trinkets. But maybe for the latter I will make an exception if I ever again get to Blackpool.

more iceland

It is strangely liberating not shopping while travelling--no spending time looking for token gifts that most people don't want anyway and no time searching for the perfect memento. Though a book would have been nice. The postcard problem was solved by using things like the back of my conference nametag or the paper napkin ring from the banquet, though it would be rather nice to have pictures.

I went back looking for the perfect pair of shoes that I had seen on my first day and they are much less perfect than I had recalled.

Found the second hand stores--not nearly as good as in Canada. Could it be that the Icelanders don't buy and throw away things quite as readily as we do?

not shopping in Iceland

I am in shopper's paradise. Oh the shoes! I have never seen so many wonderful shoes--not just in the stores but on people's feet. The perfect pair (in my price range) is a mere three or four blocks from where I am staying, surrounded by other spectacular pairs whose price I couldn't read through the window. My first thought, of course, was that I must come back in a year when I can shop. My second was that it is crazy (and not carbon friendly) to fly that far for shopping so I really should just buy them now. My intention was never to be a fanatic. The third thought--the return of sanity--I don't really need the perfect pair of shoes. Plus, there have been perfect pairs before, there will be again. The clothes are gorgeous too. But shoes are my thing. Such a bummer that I am not here for the flea market as all these beautiful things must end up there.

Heathrow, in contrast, was disappointing for not shopping--ordinary and overprices. I think my standards are going up in this year.

I just read Michelle's comments on the flea market in reykjavik. Now I feel better. Thanks Michelle.

July

July was marked by two purchases--one an accident and one a necessity.

I have always been in the habit of buying a cat toy from the dollar bin when I go to the vet's to buy catfood and so the last time I went, I automatically picked up a toy. It was so automatic that not until 2 weeks later, when I was staring longingly at the pink fluffy cat toy in Safeway, that I suddenly realised that I had bought a toy at the vet's.

The necessity was an alternator. We were headed from Enderby to Calgary and just east of Sicamous we developed a squeak and I smelt burning. We stopped and checked the belts. We couldn't see a problem. We started the engine and after a few seconds the squeak and the smell disappeared. No problem, we thought-- just one of those things--and we headed on our way. A half hour later some ten miles west of Revelstoke, we lost power. Got a boost and made it another few miles (into cell phone range). Alternator. It was either abandon the car or buy an alternator and aside from its being illegal, we were also loaded down with camping gear. So, I bought a rebuilt alternator. I might have been tempted to think that really counted as second hand except that the box says "more new parts".

I am getting better at the second hand, though. I managed to get stoned on second hand pot one night.

We came close to having to buy a new tent on the camping trip. When we unpacked our tent, it reeked of mould and mildew. Turns out the person we lent it to last summer packed it up wet and we never thought to check. Seemed bad enough to be a tent killer. We went on line and all the advice said the same--don't put it in the washing machine--swab with lemon juice or similar. Well, this tent was was past swabbing possibility so we figured what the heck. Through the tent and fly into two machines with 2 litres of vinegar in each, staked the tent in the sun for a few hours and the got some waterproof spray and sprayed the iffy looking areas. We camped in it for three nights, it smelled fine and we didn't get wet from the rain. Before this year I probably would have just dumped it. Seems like I have really in the past few years developed the bad habit of just throwing money at problems for a quick fix.

This camping trip was also noteworthy for its being the first time in years of camping in Enderby that I have not bought something tacky at the Enderby dollar store. The thrift stores in Nelson more than made up for that loss, though, including a birthday present for someone.

So to sum up July, total full on nonconsumables--1 catball and 1 rebuilt alternator. On the iffy list hair shine and nail polish.

The real challenge is about to start, though. I am off to Iceland and England for three weeks. No postcards, no souvenirs, no newspapers (unless I can find them). I'm a tacky souvenir junkie--this will be a first. However, Reykjavik is supposed to have a killer flea market with lots of garage sale stalls but only on weekends and England is loaded with charity shops so I may be able to do a little sublimating.