RosieH

Aladam888 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I had heard of paid guides that took you to > popular resturants, but "unpaid" personal > "shoppers" is a rather new term for me. Even if > there were such people around, surely they would > demand some compensation for the time they spend > on you, and that way this activity would be > commercialized. dear god, personal shoppers have been around for years - I can't understand the incredulity on this thread. Clearly the point is that in a department store, it's easy to be overfaced by the 3+ floors of choice and give up before you've found what you're looking for. Or not shop the concessions you don't think are your bag, only to find you're missing out on some good stuff. Or, if you're looking for a nice black pant suit, trust someone who actually works there to know where all the nice black pant suits are. Or be tired after a long week at work and want someone else to do the schlepping for you, while you have a nice cup of tea / glass of wine and a read a magazine. It's pretty straightforward why shops offer this service. If they can find something that suits your requirements and style you're more likely to buy there than somewhere else, and buy more. And they can upsell with accessories, and send you info when your favourite designers come in encouraging repeat purchase. Makes perfect sense. And you have to make an appointment so there's no danger of being overrun. As for taking friends / family - Christ, I wouldn't trust them to choose outfits for me. Tell me whether I look fat, sure, but I didn't spend this long honing my impeccable fashion skills only to be dragged to Karen Millen or Boden. YOIKS!

Heaven forfend you use a store loyalty card. Or Facebook. Or Google. Or Ebay.

Me neither. So John, my question remains, are you saying that Rye Lane is actually in East Dulwich? An answer, rather than a question, would be appreciated.

This thread's about Rye Lane - is that in East Dulwich now?

I cannot tell you my activities. I have forgotten everything!

All star lanes - why I was there only yesterday. It's awesome, but not cheap - for two of us - two bowls, two drinks and half an hour's pool was ?30 / head. So making a whole night of it could be really pricey. Do look at Bloomsbury Bowling - it's a bit tattier than All Star, but you might get better value for money - they often have bands on, and show films too - so you can make more of a night of it without forking out for more and more games. They have karaoke too - All Star rooms are much plusher - if you try Bloomsbury, go for a smaller room. I had a birthday karaoke session in the bigger room and the sound was rubbish (was just too big). Also consider Karaoke Box in Farringdon. It's way swankier than the Soho one, (which is a dive, but a fun dive if you don't mind the smell of other people's sweat) but considerably cheaper than Lucky Voice, AND they have a dance floor - again making money go further because you can have a boogie for free after singing yourself hoarse.

Can you bob, can you weave, can you fake and deceive when you need to? Oh Moos, it may already be too late for us...

david_carnell Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > That was granted back in 2011. Indeed: far away in time...

Would agree with that. And given that it's March, the weather may be dicey, but consider a bit of street food for lunch / dinner, to offset the more expensive theatre visit. Will you all be staying at the same place? You could even do a night in with pampering / brilliant girl films if you've been out all day and blown the budget.

Sorry for the complete aside, but OH MY GOD, you do Bugsy Malone? Awesome - I have quite a few tracks on my gym playlist and reckon I'd be word-perfect. sure you've hit the bottom but remember you'll be building from the ground up... So happy.

Volupte do a nice burlesque afternoon tea - in the afternoon, the stripping isn't too risque and the cakes are good. Evenings a more exciting affair but not too pricey. If a lot of people aren't London, could you do an evening London Eye (not sure if it's possible to sneak in a bottle of champagne and some plastic glasses). Cocktails at the top of Centre Point make a nice starting point for an evening - fabulous views, and if you have one drink and then head somewhere cheaper, then you can not spend a fortune. There's usually some good (and cheap) comedy / cabaret at the Soho theatre, or you could check out if there are any Singalongas on at the Prince Charles. The Sound of Music is a classic, but I think they've recently (finally) got the rights to Grease. Will depend on schedule, but even the most hardened cynic (and I was such) gives in in the end and gets properly into it. It's not expensive, and there's Chinatown on the doorstep for a cheap dinner.

I don't believe in an interventionist god - quite possibly the best first line ever.

I don't want to do any work today. I really don't. In many ways, it's not so different from every other day.

You know it, baby!

DC, not where I lived, lambkin. I liked to slum it with a chip barm every so often, but for the most part it was puddn n pea wet for me.

david_carnell Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > How did you tell him apart from all the other men > in Wigan? He lived in Bolton.

I once went out with a bloke who lived above a chippy. Reeked of chip fat, he did. I don't recommend it.

If you're going to huff and puff about a many-billioned boondoggle, I would think the point of where those extra billions could have been better put to use (a little less austerity, for instance) might be more apposite than opining about 16 stadiums. However, a curmudgeon I may be; a party-pooper I am not. So I shan't.

Wasn't the breast cancer thing about the colour of your pants? And then where you put your handbag. Stupid.

I think that's what the Pibe was getting at...

Well it doesn't try to incite pitch forks. I like it.

Oh, I am the law, you were genuine? I am contrite.

Do you know what number? My supplies are running a little low.

M&S have not, repeat, not, discontinued my favourite lunchtime salad. I have got two severe beer bruises on my noggin. I remember banging my head once, but the cause of the second one completely eludes me.

My kitchen bin hasn't been emptied in about two weeks. I'm really shocked by this state of affairs.