Shopping

I went shopping yet again and have spent more money than I want to admit to, but I didn't bring much clothing from Canada so I really needed to do some serious shopping. I'm comfortable with the malls now - finally figuring out which stores are worth going into, but I'm still frustrated that salespeople don't help at all. They literally stand in clusters chatting away and ignore the customers unless people ask for help. Although I don't like repeatedly being asked if I want help, an offer would be nice once in a while! They act like I'm inconveniencing them by asking for help. Really quite strange. In spite of the lack of assistance in most shops, I finally finished buying enough clothes that I'm ready to look for work! Still need to find a few more things but I have enough to get started. I found a few items I really love and I finally found some boots that are nice enough for wearing to work and - hopefully - comfortable enough to walk to and from the train or bus. After I get back from Cambridge then I'll start registering with employment agencies to look for temp work.

I went into John Lewis, a rather upscale department store in Reading, a half-hour train ride from Hook. I entered near the purse area and nearly choked when I saw £400/$800CAD handbags. (For those who are curious: in Canada we use purses and wallets, but in the UK they call purses "handbags" and wallets for women are called "purses" - only men use "wallets".)

John Lewis also had so many fabulous party dresses! Makes me want to find an excuse to buy one, but I don't want to fork over the cash to get one. Oh! - and they had a whole section of formal hats and those headbands with feathers that sort of imitate a hat. So fabulous and British!

I saw a mannequin wearing some great jeans and there was a little plaque with a list of the items on display and the jeans were listed with a price of £150/$300CAD. I was curious so I found a rack of jeans that looked similar (the brand was Seven) and there were no price tags. That's never a good sign. I took a pair to a young cashier and said, "Could you tell me the price on these before I try them on and fall in love with them?" I told her about seeing the plaque and she checked the tag on the till and the price truly was £150 (she described the brand as being something Posh Spice/Victoria Beckham wears). Another cashier came over and we started chatting about the agony of shopping for jeans. I eventually decided to try the jeans on just for fun, knowing full well they would probably fit perfectly and I would always be tormented by the thought that a perfect pair of jeans existed... for a price.

For the first time in my life, I was excited to discover that a pair of jeans didn't fit me.