Salt: Now it's just ridiculous

I honestly didn't think I'd be writing another salt post any time soon. There's already a book on the market (which, coincidently, I have read and thoroughly enjoyed) and I've written extensively on the topic in two other riveting posts. What more could I add?

Well, how about this photo:

THAT is the amount of salt I had to buy for the dishwasher. I put it beside our other comically larger bottle of salt to help drive home the scale of 3kg of salt. 3kg of salt. That I carried home from the grocery store in a carrier bag (Tesco, as you can see from the label). Had I known when I left the house that I'd be bringing home all of the groceries and 3kg of salt, I'd have brought my trolley. What is up with the salt in this country?!

On the plus side, I was having a rather out of sorts day and when I realised that this was the only option for dishwasher salt I got to have a much-needed laugh in the aisle at the grocery store. Yeah, nothing off-putting about a girl staring at the salt, alone, and laughing.

So, I bought the salt and dragged it home. It was only then that I re-read the directions regarding the salt. You know, the ones I posted to the blog not a week earlier?? Yeah, apparently I was so stunned by the dishwasher-needs-salt issue that I misread how much salt was actually required. I have highlighted this for the convenience of the tl;dr crowd:

How did I miss that!?!

Anyway, now we are fully stocked up on salt and the dishwasher is once again happen. And I will endeavour to never discuss salt again!

Slightly obsessive

I think it can go without saying that when I get into something, I tend to go pretty full-tilt. Setting up house seems to be no exception. Aaaand, as a sub-category of setting up house, the hunt for various relevant items has now become all-consuming. Wanna know what I'm currently after?

A shopping trolley.

Yes, that's right, an old lady shopping trolley. It just makes so much sense! I spent a lot of money on chiropractic care, I don't see the point in tossing it all way by carrying heavy bags to and from the grocery store every day (yes, I go every day...more on that some other time). It also would make a big difference if I didn't have to make three trips back to the house when I go out to buy larger things. This week in one afternoon I did three round trips from house to shops and back again for veg, a garbage can and a proper food shop plus filing cabinet. That last trip was a bit difficult, but I couldn't stand the thought of going out a fourth time. So I need a trolley.

If I was in Canada, I feel like I'd have a pretty good idea of where to go to get said trolley. Over here I'm not having the same luck. Obviously I'm not as familiar with the stores and their wares, nor am I a pro at navigating my neighbourhood, so that's going to count for something. But oh man, I'm seeing them everywhere! I just can't buy them: people are using them. They must come from somewhere. I mean, they can't all be coming from Shopping Trolleys Direct, but I also don't want to be the crazed lunatic who stalks people with good quality trolleys to ask them where they were purchased. No matter how innocent and well-meaning I can make that inquiry sound, the obsessive look in my eyes will give me away. I think it's safe to say that I've given more consideration into the features of a $50 trolley than I did over our $22,000 car. Wheel composition is my biggest concern, followed closely by compact shape and, finally, if I ever hope to get James to do the shop, I need to consider colour (or lack thereof). Despite the fact that it goes against every fibre of my being to look at something plain, I will not be getting animal print. In this, and only this, James wins.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to continue scouring the internet for the trolley of my reasonably priced dreams.

Making the cut

Right now I'm trying to determine how to distill two years' worth of "life" into whatever boxes and suit cases we're taking with us to England. There are a lot of things to consider: will we go camping? do I need really cold cold-weather clothing? what if I want one of my books? how much would this cost to replace? And that question, the very last one, is where I'm stuck. Truth be told, I don't want to take much of what I own in my closet. I really would just rather take one suitcase full of clothing and acquire new items upon arrival. Who wouldn't relish the idea of starting over in a new country with a new wardrobe?? Can someone else try explaining this to my husband...he doesn't quite understand.

Tripping over blogs on the Internet this week, I happened upon a new (to me) one, The Cherry Blossom Girl, and am already in love with her style and her closet. And the, lo and behold, she puts credits on each post and a number of items come from asos. Can we talk for a minute about how I'm moving to England and I love this girl's style and that the pieces I'm coveting on her blog come from an online retailer based in England? I know! Fate! So now that our hotel is booked I have a two month UK address. I'm already pre-shopping.

Sorry James, I need some new threads.