But, like most things in life, it doesn’t always work out as planned.
And if it seems to be good to be true, it probably is.
Allow me to explain. Two months ago- just as temperatures were starting to drop in Australia– I got online and purchased, extremely cheaply, two small fan heaters from a country in the Northern hemisphere, where– and hence the total genius of my plan– it is currently summer; and, naturally, heaters are cheap.
Brilliant! Right…?
Wrong.
After the first shipment of heaters didn’t arrive at all, the next shipment took another two weeks, so it was eight full weeks– one whole month into winter– before fore–mentioned electrical appliances finally showed up.
Finally. TinyTrainTown temperatures were already dropping below zero at night, and the heaters were specifically to take the edge of cold off the kids rooms or my ’study’ (the outdoor laundry where I write blog posts on my iPad and smoke copious amounts of cigarettes. If only the wifi reached down here I’d be set.).
Have you already spotted the major fail? Clever you. Don’t rub it in.
Why yes, electrical appliances from the Northern hemisphere do have Northern hemisphere power plugs.
Which don’t fit in Australian outlets.
It’s also extremely difficult to find adapters to go INTO Australian plugs, unless you happen to be in a country that’s not Australia.
So… in the end, two small fan heaters, plus their adapters, cost me $75. Had I have just bought the from Woolies with my weekly shop, it would have been more like $40.
To add insult to potential frostbite, safety standards in the country of manufacture of these over–priced, energy–sucking fan heaters differ greatly from those here in Aus and that the concept of a cut of switch so the whole house doesn’t catch fire should they tip over, I think it safe to call this…..
Major. Fail.
Obviously, if I’d been shopping with an Aussie site- say, an online coupons site- this never would have happened. Like them on FaceBook here. And don’t let this turn you off online shopping– one person’s stupidity is not the e–commerce’s fault.
* This edition of “Stupid Things Lori Does” is sponsored, obviously- I’m imagining you picked that already.
You may have seen on Twitter… my chickens, Ethel and Lucy, who I was unreasonably emotionally attached to, had a run in with the neighbor’s dog yesterday and definitely came off losers- they’re both dead, and I’m heartbroken.
I know, I know- just a pair of stupid chooks. But I loved them and I wanted to keep them and the universe should have at least given me that- two stupid chooks. It’s not a lot to ask for, really.
More on the Chook Tragedy, next week.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I've been preparing for the heat attacks and since it's great to be proactive as soon as now, I plan to buy a dehumidifier. Is it a good decision or a "forget-about-it" one?
This was a good suggestion that you put up here…dude…..hope that it benefits all the ones who land up here.
Electrical Wholesalers
This was a good suggestion that you put up here…dude…..hope that it benefits all the ones who land up here.
Electrical Wholesalers
I think I'll stick with discount electronics from Hong Kong
I am so sorry about your chickens!! That breaks my heart that you lost them in such a senseless way.
Ok now I've stopped laughing about your blunder I can comment.
Yep, I chuckled all day over it.
You're hilarious.
We will blame the oversight on the kids being really loud that day so you couldn't hear your brain saying 'Dude don't buy anything electrical from another country!"
Oh no, poor chookies! Don't feel bad about getting attached to them…they were part of your family! My cockatiel died last year and I cried for days. In fact, I was a bit surprised at how upset I was over "just a bird" (I even had her cremated)
*hugs*
That's a shame about the heaters. But I'm more saddened by the chickens. What a terrible end.
Oh Lori, I'm so glad I found your Blog, I don't know how I lived without yuor daily dose of entertainment!
x
Sorry about your chooks
Sorry to hear about your chooks,Lori.
I don't think it's silly getting attached to chooks.
My brother,while he was in high-school,got given a chick that turned out to be hugely ah…developmentally challenged.The school was only to happy to let her be our problem and we adored her and called her chicken little.
The poor think had massive bow legs and never grew past a handful but she was the cutest,most affectionate character and we were all devastated when she passed on a few years later.
Had a laugh over your misfortune,only because i went through the same thing with a camera I got from America.
I got an adaptor with it but it is a bodgy looking thing and i'm scared to plug it in.Should have just paid the extra and got a ridgy-didge one with an australian warranty etc….live and learn.
Honey – that's just shit about your beautiful Chooks. I hope that your neighbour at least offers to reimburse you for your loss including any eggs that you may have had.
You could really take him to task if his dog attacked your chooks in your backyard. What if it attacked one of your kidlets?? (Go for broke on him. It might make you feel better about the heaters) & as for the heaters, well… I won't rub it in.
(((XXX)))
I know there's a reason I like cats as pets better than big dogs-I am sorry about the chickens. All critters are easy to become attached to and so losing them, no matter how many wings they have or none at all, is still a bitch.