That was good - let’s do it again
Today came about because I wanted to pick up my new car - new to me. My wife wanted to find a pair of shoes to go with a dress she bought for a wedding we’re going to at the end of the month. And my youngest daughter wanted to meet a lad she’d met at a gig and has been msning ever since.
After a sleepless night, it was up at 6am and away by 7:20.
As usual, I’d printed off directions using the theaa.com site coz using postcode to postcode references I can get door-to-door. I love it. Of course, now I have Sat Nav with the new car (Toyota Avensis 2.0 Diesel Estate) it’s kinda redundant. But I digress.
Having done the deal on the car (an Ebay purchase - eeek, never thought I’d do that) we drove into Birmingham, dropped the youngest off at Moor Street station and found parking at the Bullring. We were under strict instructions that if we saw my daughter and friend we were to make ourselves scarce - yes, we’re that scary apparently - no make that embarrassing.
But it meant my wife and I had an all too infrequent day together without sibling induced pressures to deal with their oh so urgent demands. Fantastic. And what’s more we were going to shop for shoes, ladies shoes. Why so excited? Because I still get embarrassed looking at ladies shoes on my own - in male mode anyway.
Debenhams, Selfridges, Jane Norman etc. Couldn’t persuade her to go into Karen Millen though. She won’t look if the shop is out of budget. And although we don’t discuss womens wear for me it’s been a brilliant opportunity to browse without raising eyebrows or suspicion.
Saw a gorgeous lemony strapless summer dress in Jane Norman, and if I get the opportunity to get in there I may just snaffle it before the summer season finishes.
It just goes to show how little time we get together as it really felt like a special day today, and all it was was a shopping trip!
Icing on the cake was seeing my average mpg Birmingham to home working out at just over 60mpg! My 1600cc petrol car would be lucky to see 30mpg. Happy bunny!
Today, I’ve been listening to…
on June 4th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
Ahh, happy memories. I remember when our daughter wouldn’t be seen dead with me and my wife! She grew out of it in the end though, bless her.
60 MPG? Int diesel brilliant! Welcome to the world of cheap motoring.
on June 6th, 2007 at 9:32 pm
Ahhh…. a guilt free shopping trip where you get to spoil the missues. Quality stuff indeed (Good luck with the dress BTW). I see your daughter’s doing a fine job in making you feeling like an embarassment. How do kids do that? Still, something to look forward to!
60mpg eh? Think how much money you’ll have for shoes now! :-D
on June 19th, 2007 at 10:12 am
Lynn: ‘60mpg eh? Think how much money you’ll have for shoes now! :-D’ Unfortunately, I’m sure my wife will find other uses for the savings! :)
Maddie: It could be a while yet before we (the fogies) are considered acceptable company. I dunno, the life of a leper isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Next they’ll object to me being a trannie - if they ever found out. ;)
BTW, Maddie, apologies for taking so long to approve your comment - guess I’ve been found out about not checking the blog too often! It’s only the first comment you leave that gets moderated/queued for approval.
on June 19th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
No worries Rachel, I must admit to forgetting my blog for large periods of time too!
Stay alert though as you will become acceptable before you know it! This acceptance will come from the point of view that you are
A) A car owner
B) Able to drive said car
C) MUCH cheaper than a taxi
Owning a relatively large estate car which will accommodate several teenagers and associated overnight baggage is a definite bonus!
on June 25th, 2007 at 10:30 am
Hi ya Rach !
Haven’t posted for some time ( Julie mumbles an apology, twisting her petticoat nervously whilst looking down at the ground, notices the frumpy shoes and decides she must go shpping soon)
Nice car! Lots of room in the back for large bags containing glad rags and things.
It gets better with your kids growing out of the ” Those are my parents. Sorry.” stage.
If you can get back to wearing clothes that are moderately with it and a haircut that is not from the Ark, then , eventually, your kids will be able to say to their friends ” these are my parents. They are not as old fashioned or as embarrasing as the average parents are they?”. That is when you achieve cult status amongst your kid’s friends. I’m not msiguided. I know they think that their parents just don’t understand fashion, but they appreciate that you are making an effort to stay young.
My proudest moment was when my daughter took me to all the trendy bars trying to get me drunk on cocktails and chasers and I appeared to be as sober as a judge throughout the night.
Julie
xx