Previous ||| Next
Surplus To Requirements
Two words that really don't have the same meaning across this side of the pond: bulk buying. I don't mean that bulk doesn't mean the same thing over here and that the concept of buying is alien to us Brits; what I mean is that bulk buying is done on an entirely other scale here.
A short drive took me to a white warehouse of corrugated iron that looked like it wouldn't withstand a sneeze, nevermind a hurricane and doors that would easilly have permitted a 737 entry led me into aisles and aisles of goods that stretched out farther than the eye could see. What should have been taken as my awe at the sheer size of the place was instead mistaken for awe of this thing called "shopping". So for the sake of any Americans reading this can I just clear up that yes, we do have stores in the UK and we call them shops and that no, it is not normal to be able to buy cat litter by the quarry-load.
I think what surprised me the most was that there were enough people spread out over the surrounding area to require this level of supply. Unless of course the point is to stockpile and hoarde in case of emergency or disaster... or Commie invasion, but then wouldn't the whole endeavor be better suited in an underground nuke-proof bunker?
From what I can tell not only is there more than enough room for everyone and their dog here but you can even add parking spaces to the doghouse without encroaching on another's land. Because of course if that happens then they can blow you away with the ammunition they bought in bulk without ever having to worry about hearing that dead man's click.
Jul.21.2005