Tuesday 28 February 2023

BL*ODY TRAFFIC!!!!


Jeeeze, I really hate heavy traffic.

Yesterday I went shopping at about 7.30 am. I went early to avoid angry crowds fighting over the unavailability of fruit and vegs, but when I was done, and on my way home, it just happened to be rush-hour on the roads, and they were packed. My supermarket is only a short drive away, but yesterday it took me about 10 mins getting there and about 60 mins getting back.

One of the things I really love about France is doing much the same type of weekly shopping trip, but over the 20-ish kms each way drive I hardly ever encounter another vehicle; one or two at the most.

Of course it's my own fault going out when everyone is office-bound, but as a busy person, if I waited until 10 am to avoid them, it would have eaten too much into my day.

The traffic in GB is dreadful. It's always the first thing we notice when disembarking at Newhaven. Over the channel at Dieppe things are reasonably calm, then on this side it's a bloody nightmare.

I'm a kindly driver. I always let people into the flow of traffic from side roads, and I'm never in a rush. But others behave like Pigs, and are always wanting to shave a few seconds off their daily trips. In fact those attempts to save a few seconds often cause accidents, and definitely cause blood pressures to rise. Most 'road rage' is caused by bad behaviour from a small number of impatient drivers; and I expect they come as a result of our over-crowded roads.

p.s. Whilst at Sainsbury's, I did notice a few empty shelves. There were no Eggs, and no Beetroot juice. I shall pop down to Waitrose later this morning to see if it's the same there.

40 comments:

  1. What time do the shops open there? Is it worthwhile going early enough to be there as they open, then get home before the "going to work" rush?

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    1. My store opens at 7 am. I get-up at 5 am, take some rushed breakfast until 5.30 am, do all my computery stuff until about 7 am, take Billy for a walk until about 7.30 am, then can start thinking of all my day's duties, plans, etc. The earliest I can get into the car is about 7.45 am.

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    2. Switch things around and do the Billy walk and computery stuff after you get home from the early-to-the-shop run.

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  2. I don't follow your logic. You say you are busy and don't wish your shopping to "cut into your day". So you go early and, on your way back, sit in a sixty minute traffic jam. Which, unless my mind has forsaken me, does cut into your day. Though, of course, instead of fuming you could just ponder on God and futility, listen to soothing Bach or heavy metal (Beethoven), happily encased in your metal bubble where no one can get at you.

    Still, the Cros of this world will find something to raise their blood pressure and cholesterol levels - unnecessarily so. You know when I go shopping (on foot)? When the sun is shining and I feel like it. No stress.

    U

    PS Talking of gaps on the shelves, yesterday I managed to procure some Wild Rocket (leaves, not Musk). The packet as yet unopened (Use-by date early March). May it go to the highest bidder.

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    Replies
    1. You are right, which is exactly why I hate the bloody traffic so much. I did actually turn-on the radio yesterday, but it was some nit-wit harping on about Proportional Representation; even more depressing.

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    2. Why go out when you know you will hit rush hour? It doesn't take much to work it out. As a non-working individual you can easily avoid busy times. Madness.

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    3. I need to go early because of all my other commitments. Last week it was perfect because of half term; this week nightmare.

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    4. A person retired has no commitments. Dog walking yes, the dog needs to pee, anything else can be rescheduled.

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  3. I empathise; last week I got caught in rush hour. was held up for over a minute by the Lollipop man. Fuming I was.

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  4. I thought you had decided that shopping on a Monday was not a good idea after I pointed out to you recently that busy weekend shoppers will leave some shelves empty on a Monday morning?

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  5. Hope your afternoon trip is easier. I love our empty winter roads. No shortages at all here

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    1. Half the country's been on strike here, then they complain when supplies dry-up. Personally I'll simply wait until the shelves are filled again.

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  6. In parts of Yorkshire the roads and lanes are very quiet - just like rural France but in general I do accept your contention that there is too much traffic on England's roads. That's because there are too many people here. Maybe Banksy should spray a massive "FULL" in big red letters on The White Cliffs of Dover.

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    1. What a good idea. But what if they don't speak (or read) English?

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    2. Oh, I hadn't thought about that. I will phone Banksy and tell him the commission is cancelled.

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  7. Our Friday market had the usual high quality fruit and veg and no shortage at all. The same was true of our highquality shop which has a splendid deli and top class veg too. I am just about to put in tesco order so will be interesting to see what arrives.

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    Replies
    1. I went to Waitrose this morning and all was well stocked. I think the panic is over.

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  8. Supermarkets here all open at 9 a.m., and I frequently like to do my shopping at that time then have the rest of the day to do as I please. However, I'm retired and it's definitely life in the slow lane, and only the dog's meal times and walks are routine. There isn't much traffic around at the moment and it will only be annoyingly busy during peak holiday season. Then I do like to shop early - to avoid all the bottle laden trolleys, each argued over by half a dozen youths in the long check out queues! Mostly shopping here is a stressless event - unlike the UK., and there don't seem to be any shortages.

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    Replies
    1. Shopping in England can easily be stressless and shortages have not come my way.

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    2. I think the 'shortages' were nonsense. I'm sure if one shop is short of something, another will have plenty. There's no reason for anything not to be on the shelves.

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  9. I have become more tolerant of traffic, but I still hate it.

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    Replies
    1. I sit back and think of England. However, driving is so much nicer in France.

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  10. I consider myself a kindly driver too. The other day, I was pulling up to a red light. Noticing a driver trying to exit a parking lot, I stayed back a bit to allow the driver room to skirt out in front of me. The school bus driver behind me blared impatiently on her horn. It was not school pick up or drop off time, and that was uncalled for. I flipped her off.

    So...maybe I'll have to go back and change my first sentence.

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    Replies
    1. I take some pride in being nice to my fellow drivers. Those who are only too eager to lean on their horns should try it.

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  11. Just this morning, we were tailgated by an idiot in an Audi, (on the A41) despite the fact that we were doing 40mph in a 40mph zone.
    As soon as the slightest gap appeared on our inside, he swooped in and undertook us and the three cars in front of us, swooped out again into our lane, ran a red light and went screaming off ahead, weaving in and out of traffic to gain an advantage of a few seconds.
    Two sets of traffic lights later, we encountered slow moving traffic in front of us, the Audi had obviously taken the inside of three lanes, which is left turn only, but attempted to drive straight on. He'd hit the recently installed traffic island (designed to stop idiots going straight ahead in the left turn only lane) and his car was wrapped around a street lighting pole. He was standing by his car, so was okay, and he absolutely deserved what happened to him.
    Fortunately no other vehicles or pedestrians were involved!

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    Replies
    1. I dream of such things. I always find myself hoping that those idiots end-up in the hedge or ditch. Very satisfying.

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  12. I have no tolerance for crowds and massive traffic jams. I am known to turn around and go home if traffic looks bad. Morning and evening commuter traffic must be avoided. A 10 minute commute turning in to a 60 minute commute is horrendous.

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    Replies
    1. I shall have to change my plans for next week. Maybe I'll go to a different store; although I do love the one I go to.

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  13. There's a reason why bus and rail passes for pensioners don't kick in until after rush hour. (Often after 9.30am)
    Why on earth, would you want to shop on a Monday morning? The stock is always at it's lowest after the weekend.
    For the nice quiet times try Wednesday or Thursday at about 11.30am. Usually well stocked shelves, no after school mummy run, well before the school run for 3pm and other oaps will often head to the market towns for coffee.
    Years of battling.

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    Replies
    1. I am considering changing my life-time's habit; especially after Monday's experience.

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  14. Replies
    1. But only when we're safely home, and the car is parked.

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