Canadian online shopping (makes me sad)

Oh Canada, you beguile me in so many ways, with your big peaky mountains, beautiful clear lakes and hunky prime ministers.

Your fantastic schools and health care systems and commitment to equality.

(Can you sense the ‘but’?)

BUT, where is your decent online shopping?

I can’t decide whether it is intentional? Do you prefer to do your shopping in actual shops, with actual people? Admittedly, it is somewhat more social (or not, if like me, your shopping experience consists in marching at least 3, sometimes 4, small rowdy shoppers around the aisles).

Is it a function of your wide open space, that shipping online orders becomes prohibitively expensive?

Or, am I just missing a trick? Are you all on a members-only canadian-citizen-specific website to which I am not invited? (Happened in Costco; rejected outright for my non Canadian status, a major blow).

I miss the UK for all sorts of reasons – my lovely family…my hilarious and brilliant friends…Quorn sausages, and the readily available online shopping.

Oh the online shopping! Never having to interact with a person! Free delivery! Free returns! Beautiful websites just begging to be bought from!

It has been a traumatic adjustment for this loyal and dedicated proponent of the online shopping lifestyle. Some would say, a welcome relief for our bank balance. And it has freed me up every evening to write this blog instead of browsing ASOS and Oliver Bonas so… I can’t complain too much (I can). And Justin, with your firm handshake for neighbouring presidents we’d rather not mention, you tip the balance.

Oh Canada! (Thanks for having me)