Sleazy city... · Apr 19, 12:51 PM
With the children staying at the in-laws for the Easter break, it was a rare treat to head into town alone with J. We had a few minor things to buy but also just wanted to mooch around and have a relaxed time. Since we moved out of Leicester, we have been going ‘into town’ less and less, instead shopping at supermarkets and visiting out-of-town shopping and leisure centres. We’ve also been going further afield – to Birmingham.
Maybe because we had the time, or lacked the distraction of shepherding the children about, I couldn’t help noticing how grubby and downtrodden Leicester looked. It wasn’t just the gloomy bank holiday light and weather – there was litter everywhere. Pavements that had been hastily repaired with tarmac that didn’t match the adjoining paving. There weren’t any beggars, there were no Big Issue vendors, and certainly not any buskers (even some bad busking might have lifted the mood a little). The shops seemed badly stocked with well pawed merchandise.
The highlight of the shopping experience was going into Ann Summers. Although we didn’t buy anything it felt like an obligation to go in and assert that we were still a viable couple. We passed the demure underwear they have to have near the entrance. We rounded the corner and reached the overpriced Made in China section. I resisted the temptation to impersonate Nic Cage in 8mm – besides, as sleazy as the town seemed, it stopped here. There was no back room; just a collection of somewhat tame fetish wear. On the way out it was amusing to see the gift basket pictured. Nice brand placement there! We passed a shop assistant for whom we didn’t exist – are they trained to avoid eye contact to spare the blushes of shoppers? Or do they have so many non-buying browsers that they become immune to them, seeing only displays and shelves that disarray themselves? As we left we thought that the demure underwear wasn’t too bad…
After that excitement we contemplated buying ingredients for a home cooked meal, but decided we’d eat out instead. We walked through town looking for a suitable venue, past evolutionally challenged youths posturing and scrapping in the middle of a bus lane. We looked at several menus and peered into several dimly lit establishments but were not tempted. We ended up, like some arithmetic parlour trick, at the place we first thought of: the Pizza Express on King St, near where we’d parked. After the blandness of town, we could find nothing wrong with the familiar salad and pizza there. A reasonable end, then, to a drab day in town.
Ha! So you did decide to join me in my song title game! Top pic nicely captures the grimness of Leicester city centre. As for the basket, just what do you get for £65.50? – Rabbit, tacky book, batteries, vibe wipes and some blue fluid in a bottle (what is that stuff?) Hmmm… cheap at half the price!
J xx
— Julie Apr 21, 11:08 PM #
It’s not a proper title, I couldn’t keep that up :) I thought the pic wasn’t grim enough! Those rabbits aren’t cheap y’know… at least you get some quality batteries!
— Cam Apr 21, 11:48 PM #