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Rant No. 4: The Supermarket. Coming from England, I never envisioned not being able to buy everything you want under one roof.

A 24-hour Tesco around the corner can give you the false impression that fully stocked shelves are available 24/7 everywhere.

In Berlin I found out that sadly this is not true.

It was hard to find a chicken. Yes, a chicken! I had to buy 3 tiny chickens instead. So, we each had our own mini chicken, or Poussin, whatever you call them, on our plate. Novel – as a one off! But, how hard can it be to get a whole chicken?

Sometimes the supermarket will run out of eggs or milk. You know, just the essentials.

Don’t expect to be able to buy mincemeat on a Saturday evening.

Don’t expect there to buy both baked beans and rocket in the same supermarket.

Certainly don’t expect to buy beef.

Actually forget everything you already know about supermarkets. It no longer applies.

Prepare yourself for having to visit at least two supermarkets to get everything you need. Prepare yourself not to be able to pay on Credit Card. Prepare yourself not to be able to do your shopping on a Sunday.

Prepare for long queues. Prepare for just one check out being open. Prepare yourself for unhelpful shop assistants who deliberately don’t move out of your way.

Forget 3 for 2s, 2 for 1s or any other offer. Forget shelf re-stockers. If we run out, we run out.

And forget fresh spinach.
Posted by HutchieBerlin at 03:10