Thrift Shops in England!

So who would have thought? Turns out there are HEAPS of thrift shops in northern England!

It's true: every main street in every little village is peppered with second-hand shops, each of which is tied to a specific charity with all or most of the shop proceeds going back into the charity.

Here I am in Lytham, Lancashire outside the Barnardos shop, where I picked up a cashmere-blend sweater for about three pounds (about five bucks).

Some of the shops have better stuff than others. But in my honest assessment, I must say, I was slightly disappointed in the wares found therein - and here's why:

Thrift shop culture (or charity shop as they say in Jolly Old) is so ingrained in English culture that it has, from my outsider's viewpoint, become almost mass market.

Translation: the shops are hyper clean (completely bereft of that sickly sweet thrift shop smell I know so well in Canada); they're also quite corporate looking (as you can see from the outside of the British Heart Foundation shop) - but there's a but.

The downside is there's not a lot, hardly any, good vintage duds. Most of the apparel is contemporary mass market labels like Marks & Spencer and main street - or as they say High Street - brands. Jewellery is new.

Hate to be negative. As I am having a perfectly glorious time here. Went to a vintage market today and have much to tell, soon, dear readers, when I"m back on my home turf in a day or so. Ciao for now!