Shopping

I thought I wouldn't have much to say about shopping, but a couple of interesting things happened.

The nice young man in impeccable dress and English accent at Fortnum & Mason was wrapping Kin Mun's fudge.  I asked if I could get VAT back, which lead to a discussion about taxation in general, including in Australia, and then to multinationals and their tax.  But he was more sympathetic to multinationals.  He pointed to the gadget in his right ear.  He said it was an Australian company that made his cochlear implant.  He was keen to visit Australia and to make contact with Cochlear and perhaps give a talk.  I was stunned - the implant certainly worked, he had absolutely no evidence of any impairment. He said he had a head injury when 3 years old.  So Australia certainly had made an impression on this young man, and you can think of him when you eat your fudge Kin Mun.

Then had a look at Liberty.  The young lady with Asian features was serving me and when she talked, she had a very Australian accent.  So I asked if she was from Australia - Oh, how did you know? said she.  I said I was from Australia, and glad to hear the accent.  She too was from Sydney, and has been in London 5 weeks, 2 weeks at Liberty.  I asked her how it was to work there.  She said it has a very different dynamic to stores in Australia, such as Myer.  Then she spontaneously added that the transport was much better in London!  Completely agree with her. 

And saw this too.  Very neat and very Japanese, along Piccadilly.