Umbrella Wet Bags & more!

I know that this is post is deviating from what the blog is about but as I am on holiday and unable to publish blog posts about public transport (at least until I get my flight home) I thought I would post about my day today and as it's my blog, fuck it I will do it anyway! :) 

Today I visited the medical centre...not for me but with my friend S. She had an appointment and I wanted to go along with her for support. Firstly, the medical centres here in Knoxville are totally different to those that we have at home in the UK. They are clean, modern, organised, have free coffee, no electronic boards calling your name and they have umbrella wet bags. Yes, bags for we umbrellas! You are wondering what these are aren't you? Well let me enlighten you. In the UK, when it rains, we tend to close umbrellas upon entering a building and rather than leave them by the door (which could result in them getting stolen) we shake them off in the doorway, covering the already slippy shiny floor with water and walk to where we need to be leaving a trail of rain behind us as we go. Here in good ol' Knoxville they have bags to put your wet, soaking umbrella, limiting the mess and drops that would normally have been left behind. I was so stunned when I saw this. Such a simple yet genius idea right?! Well I have taken a bag for myself. I won't use it, I'll keep it as a keep sake but it got me to thinking how we would benefit from a simple idea like this. Would the UK ever do it? No. We would complain about the cost of the bags more than likely. Shame. I may be the only person in the UK that owns a wet umbrella bag now! 

Also what amazed me today about our trip was valet parking. For $3 you can have your car parked for you and you can walk into the medical centre right outside the door. For $3. That's all. The guys that were doing it were soaked to the bone (it was pissing down here today) but still they smiled and rushed around collecting cars and taking cars to be parked. Again, something the UK could benefit from but it will never catch on.

I also forgot to mention that yesterday, on our drive back home I passed a new type of store that I haven't seen before. It was called the Couples Intimacy Store...yes you know what I am talking about, it was a sex shop. I have never heard it called a Couples Intimacy Store before and it goes to show that people over here are a lot more laid back about sex that those in the UK. 

Well it's nearing nine thirty and my body is telling me to sleep now so I am going to get into bed. Tomorrow I am off to the Titanic museum and I need to be awake early so goodnight y'all! ;) 

J xoxo