Wednesday 3 June 2009

The really important things to bring back from home

I'm still unpacking. It takes forever and is one of my least favourite activities. But, as I try and create some form of order in the chaos it has struck me that what I have actually bought home from the UK is nothing like what I expected to bring home. Utterly food obsessed, I thought my bags would be stuffed full of things like marmite, mango chutney, popadoms, pine nuts, chocolate hobnobs and PG Tips and all those other things that we can't get hold of out here.

But when push came to shove, and I realised that we didn't have enough space to bring back everything that I thought we would it was the important stuff that stayed in.

- marmite and teabags. Obviously. But these were really the only foodstuffs that made the cull.
- childrens suncream. Althought the weather here is currently dreadful and we can only look at the English summer going on and weep, it will get hot here. Last year we couldn't find any childrens suncream that wasn't very thick and gloopy so I bought some back.
- new clothes. The clothes in Bosnia are surprisingly expensive, especially children's ones. It is far cheaper to buy them in the UK and bring them back, particularly when the second hand shops around my parents house are so great . I may have also snuck a few new clothes for me in when Dave wasn't looking.
- Calpol and Calprufen. We have enough to sink a small battleship. You can get similar in Bosnia, but I feel it is safer to stick with what I know. I know how many times I can give it to them, how much, that it is safe to alternate the two and that if it doesn't bring their temperatures down that we need to go to the doctors. When their temperatures soar, I don't want to be worrying that I haven't quite got it right on the medicinal front.
- a few English language books.
- a few box set DVDs. We really don't watch the local TV that often. We have no idea what is on, or when it will be on. So, we prefer to watch an episode of a show that we know we like, although what we will do when we finish The Sopranos I have no idea.
- many many many childrens DVDs. I can't take the childrens tv here, Cartoon Network is dreadful and even Adam says that the cartoons aren't very good. This way CBeebies still works its magic and I can take comfort in the fact that it is vaguely educational.

So alas, no room for the mango chutney. I'm still not sure if leaving it behind was a mistake.

11 comments:

Paradise Lost In Translation said...

hey, this is my list. Totally! Except I found a space for mango chutney....

Kathryn said...

and guess what....pretty much my list too! Calpol has seen my boys all the way through - now Leo is almost 12 I don't know what to do!! I'm sure it's just a psychological thing with him- any upset (physical or emotional!!)and at the ripe old age of 11 he still wants Calpol
ps but with Thomas recently having had a brace fitted Bongella is now a big favourite!!

WeDoAdventure said...

I have some sweet mango chilli dip if you get really desperate! We have Dairy Milk and Galaxy brought over by visitors!

The sun's back out again here and it feels like we're back on course for summer. I hopw things have brightened up at your end of the country.

Finally, thanks for the effing award :)

Maternal Tales said...

Sounds like you made the right choices - yep couldn't do without marmite or teabags either. As for mango chutney - I never even realised it was so essential until a few nights ago when husband and I had ordered an indian takeaway - and I opened the fridge to find that it wasn't there...must have finished it and not replaced it. Throughout the whole meal I craved the mango chutney...Hope you manage to find some out there!! x

Metropolitan Mum said...

Again, the marmite... bleurgh!!! No way a jar of this sticky stuff from hell would have taken up space in my suitcase and hindered mango chutney to join.

Unknown said...

We always have a big stock of Calpol and Calprofen and we live in the UK! Glad marmite made the suitcase ;)

LottieP said...

Commiserations on the mango chutney. I always make room for Scottish Blend tea ("specially blended for Scottish water", so clearly it doesn't real work in Hong Kong).

As far as DVDs go, if you like The Sopranos watch out for The Shield and (the best series ever) Breaking Bad...

Dorset Dispatches said...

PLT - I'm thinking its been a big mistake to leave the mango chutney behind.

Kathryn - can't beat Calpol

WDA - if you weren't all they way down south in sunny Mostar, we'd be over in a flash.

MT - There are mangos, I might have to have a go at making some, but it never tastes as good. Sigh.

MM - life doesn't happen without marmite. Plus I can frighten the Bosnians with it who cannot believe anyone could eat anything smelling so vile.

CB - can't do without them.

LottieP - How exciting, hadn't heard of either of those. We are just about to start The Wire but are in need for more. Can't stand Prison Break, our current other ongoing show.

Tara@Sticky Fingers said...

Marmite? Marmite? Are you mad woman!
Bleurgh.
With you on the teabags though . . .

Kinda Sassy said...

do you not have friends back home who can send you the occational Care Package filled with chutney and the like? And here is a thought.... what about making your own mango chutney???

Dorset Dispatches said...

Tara - life without mango chutney or pine nuts is sad. A life without marmite or teabags is inconceivable!

KS - I'm on the case with the making of mango chutney and am quite excited about the idea. It won't be Sharwoods best which is yummmmmy but it'll be a start!