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.