How should I get to the shops today?
Discussion
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!
Festive spirit has officially arrived in our house and Im off Christmas shopping later however I need a bit of help as we cant decide how to get there
We're 2 miles from the city centre (generic non South East city) and as the weather is awful have decided its just a bit too far to walk
Theres 4 of us; me, the kids and one of their mates
As I see it we basically have three options:
1) Bus. The local operator runs a flat fare of £2, kids above the age of 11 need specific bus co. ID which we dont have so have to pay the full adult fare instead of half. Return cost here will therefore be £16. And we need to walk 10 mins to the bus stop as our local service was axed in the autumn as part of a "service improvement"
2) Taxi. Cost varies from £5 to £7 single depending on whether the shyster throws an accidental loop around the ring road.
3) My car. There are a selection of nice car parks, all easily accessible and safe which will charge £6 to £8 for the 4-6h I plan to spend in town. And a bit of diesel to get there and back. Drawbacks here are that I have to sit with my own family, listen to Radio 1 and will acquire some discarded sweet wrappers on the floor in the back.
Hmmmm - let me think, which will I go for?????????
Its no wonder the roads are so congested - whats the point of using any other form of transport?
Even if I was commuting the central car parks offer decent contract rates
kwittery with the last minute shopping rush I can't stand trying to find a parking space / queuing to get in and out of car parks etcWent to a pantomime in London the other day.
Ubered it there (four of us, £7).
Bussed it back - 2 adults with Oyster cards, 1 x 11yr old with Zip Oysters, 1 x 8 yr old free. £6 all in.
Cheap, convenient, no need to park, no need to hold back on the Christmas beers.
Ubered it there (four of us, £7).
Bussed it back - 2 adults with Oyster cards, 1 x 11yr old with Zip Oysters, 1 x 8 yr old free. £6 all in.
Cheap, convenient, no need to park, no need to hold back on the Christmas beers.
Edited by AC43 on Tuesday 22 December 12:12
numtumfutunch said:
3) My car. There are a selection of nice car parks, all easily accessible and safe which will charge £6 to £8 for the 4-6h I plan to spend in town. And a bit of diesel to get there and back. Drawbacks here are that I have to sit with my own family, listen to Radio 1 and will acquire some discarded sweet wrappers on the floor in the back.
Your car, your rules - radio stays off, and if anyone drops any litter in your car you clip em round the ear and make them clean/hoover the thing.OP, you have committed the grave error of starting your festive shopping far too early. Consequently you now have too many options available to you and have placed yourself in a terrible dilemma. As you know, no self respecting gentlemen should be seen shopping before Christmas Eve. Nevertheless as you appear to be committed to this reckless course I will endeavour to furnish you with the best advice I can give.
A bus? Sorry, I have seen them but have no idea how one avails oneself or their service. As far as I can tell they seem to be some form of mass transportation device – most vexatious I suspect.
Walking – best avoided. There is no dignity in walking. Walking is the preserve of those poor souls unfortunate enough not to have access to sufficient financial resources to fund more desirable forms of locomotion. Walk if you must but do not expect to maintain your standing within society.
,
Taxi – best avoided. They tend to be driven by scoundrels or excessively cheery fellows seeking a generous festive gratuity.
Drive and park. – best avoided. The highways are full of crazed people who are all too ready to inflict grievous injury upon your personage and motor vehicle. As the local constabulary are rather thin on the ground nowadays it may be advisable to carry a small pocket revolver to settle any altercations in your favour.
Option 4 – recommended. Instruct your good lady to drive you and the children folk into town. Proceed to the nearest hostelry avoiding the pickpockets, urchins, dollymoppets, street traders etc. Seat yourself by the hearth, call over the landlord and order a steaming Christmas bowl of smoking bishop and a steak and veal pie or perhaps a plate of chops. Send the childrenfolk off to do the shopping with strict orders not to be back before 5.30pm and then sit back and immerse yourself in the merriment and festivities. At five o’clock despatch a telegram to your lady wife advising her that the shopping expedition is now complete and that you wish to for her to come and collect you. Back home by six o’clock this will give you plenty of time to retire to the library before dressing for dinner.
Merry Christmas
A bus? Sorry, I have seen them but have no idea how one avails oneself or their service. As far as I can tell they seem to be some form of mass transportation device – most vexatious I suspect.
Walking – best avoided. There is no dignity in walking. Walking is the preserve of those poor souls unfortunate enough not to have access to sufficient financial resources to fund more desirable forms of locomotion. Walk if you must but do not expect to maintain your standing within society.
,
Taxi – best avoided. They tend to be driven by scoundrels or excessively cheery fellows seeking a generous festive gratuity.
Drive and park. – best avoided. The highways are full of crazed people who are all too ready to inflict grievous injury upon your personage and motor vehicle. As the local constabulary are rather thin on the ground nowadays it may be advisable to carry a small pocket revolver to settle any altercations in your favour.
Option 4 – recommended. Instruct your good lady to drive you and the children folk into town. Proceed to the nearest hostelry avoiding the pickpockets, urchins, dollymoppets, street traders etc. Seat yourself by the hearth, call over the landlord and order a steaming Christmas bowl of smoking bishop and a steak and veal pie or perhaps a plate of chops. Send the childrenfolk off to do the shopping with strict orders not to be back before 5.30pm and then sit back and immerse yourself in the merriment and festivities. At five o’clock despatch a telegram to your lady wife advising her that the shopping expedition is now complete and that you wish to for her to come and collect you. Back home by six o’clock this will give you plenty of time to retire to the library before dressing for dinner.
Merry Christmas
Edited by vincevega on Tuesday 22 December 17:23
vincevega said:
OP, you have committed the grave error of starting your festive shopping far too early. Consequently you now have too many options available to you and have placed yourself in a terrible dilemma. As you know, no self respecting gentlemen should be seen shopping before Christmas Eve. Nevertheless as you appear to be committed to this reckless course I will endeavour to furnish you with the best advice I can give.
A bus? Sorry, I have seen them but have no idea how one avails oneself or their service. As far as I can tell they seem to be some form of mass transportation device – most vexatious I suspect.
Walking – best avoided. There is no dignity in walking. Walking is the preserve of those poor souls unfortunate enough not to have access to sufficient financial resources to fund more desirable forms of locomotion. Walk if you must but do not expect to maintain your standing within society.
,
Taxi – best avoided. They tend to be driven by scoundrels or excessively cheery fellows seeking a generous festive gratuity.
Drive and park. – best avoided. The highways are full of crazed people who are all too ready to inflict grievous injury upon your personage and motor vehicle. As the local constabulary are rather thin on the ground nowadays it may be advisable to carry a small pocket revolver to settle any altercations in your favour.
Option 4 – recommended. Instruct your good lady to drive you and the children folk into town. Proceed to the nearest hostelry avoiding the pickpockets, urchins, dollymoppets, street traders etc. Seat yourself by the hearth, call over the landlord and order a steaming Christmas bowl of smoking bishop and a steak and veal pie or perhaps a plate of chops. Send the childrenfolk off to do the shopping with strict orders not to be back before 5.30pm and then sit back and immerse yourself in the merriment and festivities. At five o’clock despatch a telegram to your lady wife advising her that the shopping expedition is now complete and that you wish to for her to come and collect you. Back home by six o’clock this will give you plenty of time to retire to the library before dressing for dinner.
Merry Christmas
Can I come to yours for Christmas please A bus? Sorry, I have seen them but have no idea how one avails oneself or their service. As far as I can tell they seem to be some form of mass transportation device – most vexatious I suspect.
Walking – best avoided. There is no dignity in walking. Walking is the preserve of those poor souls unfortunate enough not to have access to sufficient financial resources to fund more desirable forms of locomotion. Walk if you must but do not expect to maintain your standing within society.
,
Taxi – best avoided. They tend to be driven by scoundrels or excessively cheery fellows seeking a generous festive gratuity.
Drive and park. – best avoided. The highways are full of crazed people who are all too ready to inflict grievous injury upon your personage and motor vehicle. As the local constabulary are rather thin on the ground nowadays it may be advisable to carry a small pocket revolver to settle any altercations in your favour.
Option 4 – recommended. Instruct your good lady to drive you and the children folk into town. Proceed to the nearest hostelry avoiding the pickpockets, urchins, dollymoppets, street traders etc. Seat yourself by the hearth, call over the landlord and order a steaming Christmas bowl of smoking bishop and a steak and veal pie or perhaps a plate of chops. Send the childrenfolk off to do the shopping with strict orders not to be back before 5.30pm and then sit back and immerse yourself in the merriment and festivities. At five o’clock despatch a telegram to your lady wife advising her that the shopping expedition is now complete and that you wish to for her to come and collect you. Back home by six o’clock this will give you plenty of time to retire to the library before dressing for dinner.
Merry Christmas
Edited by vincevega on Tuesday 22 December 17:23
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