the excess

Last weekend I decided to head into central London for a spot of shopping to replace my favourite pair of shoes. Big mistake for one who hates crowds, doesn't like being battered by women charging around shops with their disinterested/overly interested) boyfriends/metrosexual-boyfriends, hates beery football crowds on public transport, and hates crowds some more - well. You reap the seeds you sow.

Regent and Oxford streets were madness. At one stage you had to line up to cross the road. People were pushing against each other, you could barely enter shops, and I was getting grumpy, tired and irritable. I moseyed in and out of some shops with little enthusiasm, and had a wander down the famous Carnaby St. I don't know whether it was because of the high expectations that I had of shopping in London, but I was disappointed with the offerings along Oxford, Regent and Carnaby streets. Sure there was a lot of variety, but everything seemed just so out of my budget reach, and as you turned from Regent St into Oxford St, the brand name stores started to repeat themselves. At least in Melbourne there was only one of each shop on Collins St, Chapel St and Chadstone (and I just realised they all start with the letter 'C'), but when you've been to 3 Zara shops and not bought anything, you know you're in strife (or in my case, doing well).

I visited the Apple store which was incredibly busy. I now understand the allure of the Apple brand. The store was sleek, interactive, and staffed with clearly competent and knowledgeable people. Most people were taking advantage of the free internet (now there's a tip if you are in London and need the internet - just head to corner of Regent and Oxford St near the Oxford Circus tube stop) and checking out the new gadgets on display. I could have spent serious money in there, but knew that the rent, the gas, the electricity, the monthly travelcard, the council tax, the tv licence, the gym membership and the weekly shopping run beckoned.

Just on shopping. At a major shopping complex about half an hour from where I live, they have banned the wearing of hoodies as many bogan ("chav") youths wear them and people seem to be threatened by them. There is a story where a 58 year old teacher went to her local Tesco (Coles or Safeway, what have you) and was asked to take off her hoodie. Ridiculous. And to add to it, some pubs in England have also banned people wearing Burberry! For some time, antisocial chavs would wear Burberry and be generally disagreeable to those around them. What is this country coming to? Banning hoodies (i have one) and Burberry (my mother wears Burberry glasses!)? Not that my mum would ever find herself in some god-forsaken pub in England - that would be the end of the world as we know it.