Let's Go Shopping!

If you look at what people coming to the Caribbean bring with them on an airplane you would think that there is absolutely nothing to buy down here. That is not true...you just have to be a creative and use your imagination...the locals do, why shouldnt I?

I have a little pad of post it notes that I wrote a "need for the house" list on 3 days ago. Every morning I cross off the stuff that we have got and make out the new list with what is remaining. The first 2 days were a little slow for crossing things off but today was a good day! A trip to the new TDC (Trading Development Co.) proved to be a "gold mine" both for the list and for this blog-lol

First a visit to the bath section for some hand towels. My immediate thought was -wow!- they have a huge selection... until I realized that they had stacked the same towels in 4 different sections to make the shelf seem fuller! See.. creativity and besides, the lack of choice makes the decision making process so much easier. I was not so lucky with the throw rugs I was looking for but this is St. Kitts and you have to know that it is going to take more than 3 stores to find everything you need.

Next I needed a couple of Pyrex type dishes for baking in....as you can see, it is not so easy to "fill" the shelves with stuff that you dont actually have, in the cookery department. Nonetheless, I still got what I needed... if not necessarily exactly what I wanted.




BTW... If you bought an inexpensive wig for a black person...would it be made from?......



The only things still on the post it note for another day are the aforementioned throw rugs, a shelf for the bathroom so I too can get to use the main bathroom, a dresser for my folded clothes...right now.. panties, bras, bathing suits and nighties are all thrown into one small shelf, you know that I have to close my eyes when I am choosing something- way to disorganized for me, some pictures hooks which are proving to be elusive and a plastic soap dish which I am hoping that a trip to Kassab's will produce. Before leaving TDC we came across a shelf that made Randy comment..my God that stereo has to be from the 80's! I said, look closer to what it says on the shelf....



Ok..nevermind the 80's stereos..who the heck brings their toilet in to be repaired and what do they use in the meantime???



Now that we have established that with a little leg work and some compromise, almost anything can be had in the house department, can the same be said for food? My previous experience had taught me that you really dont have to do without much if you were willing to give up quality, not be concerned with "best before" dates and be in the right place at the right time when things like vegetables came in off a boat.

Historically, Thursdays were always the day that produce arrived.. yesterday afternoon I wondered, was it still the same? You bet!...20 years and it was still Thursdays- only now it wasnt just a couple of expats along Mrs. A and Auntie Gwennie that I was fighting over broccoli with...its an entire cast of vet students and off shore medical school students, armed with calculators to see if whatever they are interested in, fits into their budget. The stuff was flying out of the cartons before it even hit the shelves. You would have been so proud... I dove in there..elbows out..like I had never left. Never has anyone been so proud of scoring some celery as I was!

Besides produce and meat, which we will get to...almost everything else in the world can be had in some form or another. In fact, I have to admit that because a lot of the dry goods come from the U.S., there is probably (ok not probably..there is) stuff here that Canada doesnt even have from Oreos in every conceivable flavour and Indian breads in every shape and form to canned meats (pass! but where were they when Scott lived on Vienna sausages??) and Brianna's salad dressings sold in Bruno's in T.O. for more money than they sell it here...whats with that???


My favourite or should I say "flavourite" are the house brand names. In Canada they have the unimaginative "Equality" or "White Brand" or "No Name" here they have "Flavorite." And the canola/vegetable oil is a "blended delight!" Not satisfied with simply being "Glad" their baggies and saran wrap are "Awesome!" You have to love the confidence.

Ok..so far, so good... now comes the hard part...the meat. I dont know exactly why this is, but there has always been a problem getting good quality chicken or meat in St. Kitts. I used to go to the government supply place and buy my meat there and although it had been aged a full 24 hours, it wasnt soooo bad. Although I have seen the Cemaco building, I dont know if they still sell meat so it was the super market or ....the super market.

The first problem I had was that Mr. Quality Assurance was with me. Anything that was slightly defrosted, looked like it had been defrosted or originated from a country that might have had bird flu got a nose up look. After a minor temper tantrum on my part because I knew that a vegetarian diet was fast becoming a reality...I slipped a couple of Bratwurst sausages and a couple of "angus eye of round" steaks (notice that I didnt say..certified angus lol) that didnt have too much freezer burn into the cart and that will have to do until I find out where the beef is! They have been marinating all afternoon and after a few cocktails at Shiggety Shack tonight, none of these high falutin guys will notice anyway.