Ok - so not to point out the obvious stereo type of the beginning of this blog post- and not to by all means make this post about stereo types either - but let's face it. Chinese people love a deal. We love a deal and a set price. DON'T give me a price and then double it the next morning when you have your family there (3 little boys and a wife) to stare at me while Elvis Presley is crooning (very loudly) about "Love Me Tender".
Ok - so my deal with this gentleman was 10E for a down-filled quilt, matching pillow, crib sheets, sheaths (no idea what they are but he didn't find them) and pillow cases. I'm thinking - that's a great deal. WOW a down-filled quilt and pillow - I don't even have a down-filled quilt. HA - the kid's going to have a great wardrobe and better bed set than me. I'm in!
He shows up with the screws the next morning (Saturday - sorry my days are all messed up with the lacking of internet) and tells me he couldn't find the sheets and whatnot but that he had given me the improper price. His wife had told him that it was actually worth at LEAST 20E (understandably) and that it was packed away as they recently moved and he'll be more than happy to look for the stuff but not sure what box it's in.
I think okay - keep a calm face because his whole family is in a little white coop/hatchback car and waiting for a reaction of sorts. *Kid A in the front turns down the Elvis so wife can scream a little more in Finnish about the blanket quality and price.
I said fine....I will think about it and let you know once I discuss this with my husband ...as it's not the price that bothered me (the items he had sold me up to that point were in great condition - so no doubt about the quality of the blanket and sheets) - but it was the fact that he doubled his price in less than 24 hours and put me on the spot.
When I asked him what size the mattress was (we don't have a measuring tape) - he freaked and said, "well we don't know - it's in centimeters - and we have the sheets - they're just PACKED AWAY! We can find them if you want them before you have the baby!" - ok - take a chill pill....yikes.
The next morning I sent a text to Mr. Haggler - and I advised him I only wanted the crib sheets at the set price of 10E. Within 10 minutes I had a response stating they found everything but the sheaths (I am assuming these go and cover the bottom of the crib?) - I said okay - well I only have 10E on me - which was the truth....and he said he and his wife discussed of lowering the price.
I told him I might have 15E (turned out to only find 4E in change) - and he said "Perfect - be there in 10 min." When I told him I truthfully only could find 15 - he was fine with that too.
So voila - that is how I haggled down an F/I.
Onto other things - I have discovered the H&M here. I haven't been to the one in Mic Mac as it opened the day we arrived in Finland. Go figure. Ah well - this one is 3 floors and has some really great sales!
I snagged a pack of 7 "underwear" aka short sleeved no legs pieces for the baby...as we don't know the gender yet...they're white and have the days of the week on them - can't get any more uni-sex than that.
Then yesterday I went shopping with Jessica and we had a ball. I got a tonne of baby clothes and socks...they don't sell receiving blankets here....a baby carrier (more like a bullet proof vest by Bjorn....those things are SOLID) and breast pump/pads etc.
I didn't get the squeezing breast pump as I was advised it hurts the hand a lot and tires you out - so mine is like a bicycle pump - absolutely hilarious. That's all I have to say.
I'm getting a tonne of replies from a post I had on the Tori website - which is excellent.
Ok - so now about the internet. I, Dominique, FINALLY have a proper connection. We had a cable modem from a colleague - but the modems are registered to an address and a name - and that's why ours never worked. I had internet before via wireless connection from some dude named "default2". Whenever default became "default5" - I didn't have a connection - which is why I had disappeared for the past 3 days or so. I am alive thanks to shopping, crocheting of a baby sweater and the library.
Everything has been washed, folded and organized. I've disinfected the toys, crib, stroller and car seat....my friend thinks I'll go into labour this week because of my cleaning streak! HA. I contemplated doing laundry today but ended up going downtown to sort out the internet and pick up some little things for home and for me to do.
I'm going to be brave and try and knit again. I'm not one for knitting normally as there's too many loops and stitches and knits and purls and it takes forever to make a row. But I went into Poppelli to see Paulina and she helped me find a wonderful site: http://garnstudio.com/index_lang.php
I am praying this works out. I'm going to knit (very slowly) a pair of wool under pants to go over the cloth diapers. I'm using a Merino wool (very soft and absorbent) and circular needles...and eventually double pointed needles. I'm terrified at the thought of double pointed needles as I visualize everything slipping off the needles - but Paulina seemed to have great faith and offered immediate assistance if necessary. Haha - it'll just take me 30 minutes to get there.
Well it's been 2 months in Finland - and it snowed last night. It didn't stick - just mild flurries - it was so dark out you couldn't see it anyways.
Oh and the midwife did give me the proper phone number - but here in Finland if you're calling from a cell - you need to input the area code with the phone number or else it comes up as invalid. She had given me the number without the area code as if I was going to use a landline - anyway - appointment is tomorrow for 1pm.
WAHOO.
I think that pretty much covers everything....
Oh and Happy (late) Thanksgiving everybody!! We didn't celebrate it here as it's not celebrated in Finland and I hate turkey anyhow.
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