All the more reason to check local building codes! Our concrete footers need to go below the frost line before you can attach a deck to it if you want any type of structure on it.

So we're building a man, who can walk away when it's complete. Let's just put on our PR hat and rebrand it :)

Check your local building code. We're doing similar, and we need to have posts that go below the frost line (northern climate)

We have a similar setup to what you have, in Ontario. We are now looking to add a gazebo or screen room on top of that deck, and we cannot get a permit unless the posts go down to frost level. If that is even a remote possibility in the future, save yourself the trouble and do it properly now. We wish we'd known that 10 years ago.

Many times :)

You could always put it in your checked suitcase. It is quite plausible that the number of people who MUST travel with a jar of peanut butter in their carry on is small enough to not warrant an exception.

Yes, but USA still does....

I suspect driving to other countries is not as common for Australians though....

I did the opposite. My car was set to MPH and not KPH, so while the speed limit was 70 kph (around 40 mph), I was gearing up to go up to 70 mph. I only noticed because there was one of those signs that tell you your speed, and when I went by it just said SLOW DOWN.

Our cars have digital dashboards, and the speed is indicated as one large number, not a dial. We can alternate between KM and Miles depending on where we are driving, but we don't get both.

I've said something like 'OK, you win. Happy?'. If they respond that it's not a competition, tell them it felt like one.

or respond with

Of course you did, I didn't want to insinuate that my achievements were equal to yours.

If they ask how you are (common conversation starter), say it's been better, and that they'd probably don't want to know the details. Chances are they don't and will leave you alone.

Yes, but they are typically in the back, out of sight, whereas my hand is always on my purse. Still better than shirt or back pocket.

As the passport holder when we travel, this is a good idea. My cross-body purse is safer than anybody's backpack, back pocket or shirt pocket as it has inner zipped compartments, and I always keep passports in there. Every time we needed to show them (to board a plane, to get on a ferry, to register at hotels, to enter certain museums and attractions - all stuff we did recently) I had to open them to see who they belonged to. Some places require everyone to show their own passports, regardless of age. A color coded post-it note would work as well.

We visited China a few years back, and one of the breakfast buffet places had all Ikea dishes (cups, saucers, etc). Maybe the Ikea stuff is made in China, I don't know, but I found it ironic.