Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: albitz on 24 January 2011, 18:31:23
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Until yesterday I had never driven right through the centre of London. I had always avoided it and used the M25 or the North circular.
I have always wanted to try it just once to see what it would be like. I had to take my duaghter from her (now former) home in Shoreditch to Heathrow T4 yesterday so when google maps routefinder came up with a route which went right through the centre I was quite pleased. It said 20 miles, approx 45 mins.
I wanted to leave at 4.15pm to allow plenty of time to arrive for 6pm check in, and hopefully relax and have a cuppa etc.
Ended up leaving at 5.10pm ::) :-X.........thought it wouldnt be too bad as it was early Sunday evening. well - the journey, along the Strand, past Trafalgar square, along Knightsbridge etc to the M4 and then the airport took almost 2 hours.It was rather pandemonium on the roads. Stress levels through the roof - missing a plane to Shanghai, which connects with another to Australia, doesnt bear thinking about. As it turned out there wasnt a problem with catching the flight, so all was well that ended well, but I was sweating spinal fluid for quite a while. I slept well last night.
So, the minor ambition was fullfilled - and I have no desire whatsoever to repeat the experience. ::) ;D ;D
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:D :D :D :D :D London driving never changes, and as much as I love driving through the City, which I have done over the last 40 years, it can be a liitle bit of a pain! As you found out Albs! ::) ::) ::) :D :D ;)
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have you paid your congestion charge then for the privelige
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i hate london!
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have you paid your congestion charge then for the privelige
It doesnt apply on Sundays does it ?? :o :o
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have you paid your congestion charge then for the privelige
It doesnt apply on Sundays does it ?? :o :o
No, nor Saturdays Albs ;) ;) Relax! ;) ;)
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That would have put the tin hat on the whole experience. :o :D ;D ;D
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Try the Old Kent Road on a Friday afternoon leaving around 4.00p and heading towards Kent.
Little things could compare with the stess levels ,and the knowledge you have had to pay for the pleasure aswell.
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Yeuck!!!! was born there and wouldnt go in unless i was being paid for it very very well, hateful place now
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Try the Old Kent Road on a Friday afternoon leaving around 4.00p and heading towards Kent.
Little things could compare with the stess levels ,and the knowledge you have had to pay for the pleasure aswell.
Oh yes, I did that daily for a few years, and more than once took me 2 hours just to get to Lewisham! Even 1530 was too late for leaving to avaoid it!
On a Sunday or bank holiday I could do the jouney in under an hour from / to Asford! ::) ::) ::)
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and if you take a wrong turn youll accidentally drive into north london where youll inevitably be stabbed :'(
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and if you take a wrong turn youll accidentally drive into north london where youll inevitably be stabbed :'(
Oh yes the North London tribes are fierce and very war like, to be avoided at all costs as the Romans found out! Queen Bodecia is still doing the rounds I hear! :o :o :o :o
:D :D :D :D :D :D ;)
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have you paid your congestion charge then for the privelige
It doesnt apply on Sundays does it ?? :o :o
no mate, get you thinking did it ;D ;D ;D
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hahahaha well i reckon if north london was bombed the world wud be a bit better ;) it wud get rid of all arsenal fans for a start ............. :o :o :o ;D ;D ;D
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I used to work in the centre of Perth, somedays at the height of the rush hour there were as many as 3 cars in front of you at the lights on edinburgh road >:(
mad ;D
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Must confess, I frequently drive through the centre of Londonium :y :y In fact... At night I will sometimes choose it over the M25 for a change :y :y
It's OK if you know where you're going but is no fun if you are trying to follow signs and written directions
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Last time I drove through London my sat nav wouldn't work after dropping a friend off at Kings Cross train station. After trying for ages to get it going, as it was around 4pm and I was heading back to Wales, I decided to head in the direction of the setting sun.
Once things 'opened up' I tried the sat nav again and got a "Follow the course of the road until further instruction". :y
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have you paid your congestion charge then for the privelige
It doesnt apply on Sundays does it ?? :o :o
no mate, get you thinking did it ;D ;D ;D
You ******* **** >:( :o :D ;D ;D ;D
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most of the times I avoid driving in [ch304]stanbul as its a real pain..last year as the conditions force, I couldnt..
awful ! most [ch304]stanbul drivers jump on you when they see a different plate.. but I was ready , I terrorize them instead ;D ;D go in the reverse directions ;D park everywhere forbidden ;D and turn from everywhere forbidden.. ;D ;D the only problem was bosphorus bridge passing.. bloody , rotten idiots sell the passage cards at the most far edges of city .. and the type of cards were various I panicked from the 12 gates which I'll use :o
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Must confess, I frequently drive through the centre of Londonium :y :y In fact... At night I will sometimes choose it over the M25 for a change :y :y
It's OK if you know where you're going but is no fun if you are trying to follow signs and written directions
Late at night or in the wee small hours it probably would be quicker, but evidently not mid evening on a Sunday.
I had printed off directions from google maps, and then wrote an abbreviated version - which I was intending to use as a guide. Then had the idiotnav on the go, telling me to use a different route, and for a while it was speaking in what sounded like Portuguese. Then on top of that the daughter started using the GPS on her iphone which was setup for walking, so kept trying to direct me into pedestrianised areas. ::) :o ;D ;D ;D
It was straightforward once we got to Fleet st. (iirc) but there were roadworks all over the place, so progress was painfully slow, and Im sure I had several small heart attacks in quick succession
Should have told her to get on the tube, but she is five foot one, and her suitcase was about 6 foot 3.I could barely lift the bloody thing. ::) :D ;D
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Must confess, I frequently drive through the centre of Londonium :y :y In fact... At night I will sometimes choose it over the M25 for a change :y :y
It's OK if you know where you're going but is no fun if you are trying to follow signs and written directions
Late at night or in the wee small hours it probably would be quicker, but evidently not mid evening on a Sunday.
I had printed off directions from google maps, and then wrote an abbreviated version - which I was intending to use as a guide. Then had the idiotnav on the go, telling me to use a different route. Then on top of that the daughter started using the GPS on her iphone which was setup for walking, so kept trying to direct down pedestrianised areas. ::) :o ;D ;D ;D
It was straightforward once we got to Fleet st. (iirc) but there were roadworks all over the place, so progress was painfully slow.
Should have told her to get on the tube, but she is five foot one, and her suitcase was about 6 foot 3.I could barely lift the bloody thing. ::) :D ;D
That's what Dads are for ;) ;) :y :y
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I have heard that phrase several times this weekend. ::) ::)
Did a 12 hour shift on Sat.took works van home, collected son, got to London at 9.30pm. to load belongings into van. Belongings were nowhere near ready to go in van, so had to dismantle furniture, pack boxes, carry it down 3 flights of stairs and load it in van.Had to stop several times to rest as my old spazzy legs simplycouldnt move any more. Got home at 1.30am. exhausted.
Sunday morning- took van to place of storage, unloaded van, took van back to work, came home, had some dinner and headed back to London. Planned on putting daughter and suitcase in car, but found out that there was a load more stuff to go in boxes etc. then in the boot to come home with me and be put in the loft this morning.
Then commenced what should have been the relaxing drive to the airport. ::) ::) :D ;D
Still, its done now, just got the worry for another 3 hours of hoping she arrives safe and well in Oz.
Then the 7 months of daily worry that shes OK in Oz/Vietnam and Cambodia. Kids, who,d have them ? ::)
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i drove in zante last year when holiday.... beautiful to drive round. just ashame i had to drive this...... gggrrrrr
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/206599/206599,1275078300,74/stock-photo-kiev-may-annual-automotive-show-quot-sia-quot-may-in-kiev-ukraine-yellow-54083929.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-54083929/stock-photo-kiev-may-annual-automotive-show-quot-sia-quot-may-in-kiev-ukraine-yellow.html&usg=__Cz95otXi2RW05o4DAU_jxdY_egM=&h=320&w=450&sz=75&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=-NQ6oJSAhqrRXM:&tbnh=144&tbnw=179&ei=1t09Tb2FEcmWhQfDw-nQCg&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dyellow%2Bkia%2Bpicanto%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26rlz%3D1R2ADFA_enGB413%26biw%3D1345%26bih%3D536%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=130&vpy=268&dur=125&hovh=189&hovw=266&tx=141&ty=175&oei=ut09TaqFFtGahQfQ--2UCg&esq=7&page=1&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:0
i can tell you this is the worst car ive ever driven.... absolutely no power even when i dropped down (although it cud have bin me as i hadnt driven a manual for ages b4 that) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Albs you do make me laugh.. can just imagine you ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Mind the first and last time I drove in Spain I was up a grass verge cause some Numb Nuts was pulling out of a junction on the wrong side of the road ;D ;D ;D ;D
I almost cried for my Mum when Mrs Loo-knee decided to ask Manwell where was a nice place to go for a ride out... Up in these mountains with stone walls with parts missing and flowers there horified that they could fall a million feet to their death ;D ;D ;D buses "Pap Papping" their horns as they hurrled around corners attempting to soil my pants... Not for me I'm afraid ever again ::)
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I thought my little tale of woe would make you larf. ::) :y ;D
Ive never had much of a problem driving abroad tbh.Apart from the time in Greece when I pulled out of a petrol station and started driving down the left side of the road. I only realised when a bloke who looked like a mentalist was driving straight at me flashing his lights, beeping his horn and waving his arms all at the same time. ;D ;D
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I thought my little tale of woe would make you larf. ::) :y ;D
Ive never had much of a problem driving abroad tbh.Apart from the time in Greece when I pulled out of a petrol station and started driving down the left side of the road. I only realised when a bloke who looked like a mentalist was driving straight at me flashing his lights, beeping his horn and waving his arms all at the same time. ;D ;D
;D thats very normal , as I would try to drive on the right when I'm there ;D ;D
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I thought my little tale of woe would make you larf. ::) :y ;D
Ive never had much of a problem driving abroad tbh.Apart from the time in Greece when I pulled out of a petrol station and started driving down the left side of the road. I only realised when a bloke who looked like a mentalist was driving straight at me flashing his lights, beeping his horn and waving his arms all at the same time. ;D ;D
Me neither... In fact, I've only ever driven on the left when abroad once... Came out of Eastenders in Calais and every vehicle in site was British ::) Was several years ago though ::) :y
I have to concentrate more when I get off the ferry coming back home TBH :-? :-?
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I hate the place.... :-X Between 87 and 96 I worked and lived near Hertford, used to do a bit of mini cabbing at the weekends to earn a few quid, or a car and driver, depending on which company I worked for :D :D often had to go into London on a Saturday Night......
I also did some agency HGV driving, said would go anywhere but into London, inevitably I had a few runs in :( an artic is not so easily turned around.... ::) ::) ::)
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I also did some agency HGV driving, said would go anywhere but into London, inevitably I had a few runs in :( an artic is not so easily turned around.... ::) ::) ::)
I jacked a driving job in because it was constantly London. Was only in a 3.5T Luton Van (but a very big one as the stuff we delivered was bulky but not heavy) and occasionally the 7.5T (again a big one). Started off and it was always 2 up in London as lots of deliveries were on Red Routes. Got well known by a couple of Met Plod for "breaking down" on a red route whilst my mate was delivering :-X :-X ::) ::)
Anyway... Went in on a Monday and got told London alone, 15 Deliveries, 9 of which on Red Routes. Had a bit of a "discussion" about it but agreed to go. Told them if they did it again I wouldn't go. Tuesday, Leeds and Bradford, 21 drops 2 up due to distance... Wednesday, London alone ::) Threw the keys at the manager and told him he could do it :-X ::) :o
That was when I was much younger and not very tactful ::) ::) :D :D
Walked out of there and started the following day for an agency, multidrop the home counties... 50-80 calls/day but great fun :y :y
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Until yesterday I had never driven right through the centre of London. I had always avoided it and used the M25 or the North circular.
I have always wanted to try it just once to see what it would be like. I had to take my duaghter from her (now former) home in Shoreditch to Heathrow T4 yesterday so when google maps routefinder came up with a route which went right through the centre I was quite pleased. It said 20 miles, approx 45 mins.
I wanted to leave at 4.15pm to allow plenty of time to arrive for 6pm check in, and hopefully relax and have a cuppa etc.
Ended up leaving at 5.10pm ::) :-X.........thought it wouldnt be too bad as it was early Sunday evening. well - the journey, along the Strand, past Trafalgar square, along Knightsbridge etc to the M4 and then the airport took almost 2 hours.It was rather pandemonium on the roads. Stress levels through the roof - missing a plane to Shanghai, which connects with another to Australia, doesnt bear thinking about. As it turned out there wasnt a problem with catching the flight, so all was well that ended well, but I was sweating spinal fluid for quite a while. I slept well last night.
So, the minor ambition was fullfilled - and I have no desire whatsoever to repeat the experience. ::) ;D ;D
I regularily had to drive into and through central London on business from 1995 to 2004 and we had no Sat Nav in those days !
I found it doubly frustrating in as much the traffic was very difficult ,driving a bit erratic due to trying to hold and read the good old A to Z and the eventual parking a nightmare .
But the worst part of it was whilst sitting stationary I'd recognise a building or area of great interest and become absorbed in trying to look closely at it whilst being hooted at from behind to move on .
My wife's a Londoner and we used to go in at least once a month to various blues pubs and in particular the West End to the theatre.
I miss London........ :(
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I miss London a lot.
I had a posting there (in a central location) for many years from '89 during which time I got to know the general area quite well.
Although I did have a car it was parked up most of the time as I preferred to use the 'tube' :-* :-*, cabs or walk.
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I miss London a lot.
I had a posting there (in a central location) for many years from '89 during which time I got to know the general area quite well.
Although I did have a car it was parked up most of the time as I preferred to use the 'tube' :-* :-*, cabs or walk.
So do I ZL as London is an extremely exciting place, always vibrant, going places, and there is a real hum when you are working, living, or both in the place, and just driving around! :-* :-* :-* :-*
It is alive 24/7, with always somewhere to get food or drink, party, and with ma transport system that means you do not need a car. 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)
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I miss London a lot.
I had a posting there (in a central location) for many years from '89 during which time I got to know the general area quite well.
Although I did have a car it was parked up most of the time as I preferred to use the 'tube' :-* :-*, cabs or walk.
So do I ZL as London is an extremely exciting place, always vibrant, going places, and there is a real hum when you are working, living, or both in the place, and just driving around! :-* :-* :-* :-*
It is alive 24/7, with always somewhere to get food or drink, party, and with ma transport system that means you do not need a car. 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)
Unless you want to go anywhere after midnight without using the night bus or an expensive taxi ;)
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I miss London a lot.
I had a posting there (in a central location) for many years from '89 during which time I got to know the general area quite well.
Although I did have a car it was parked up most of the time as I preferred to use the 'tube' :-* :-*, cabs or walk.
So do I ZL as London is an extremely exciting place, always vibrant, going places, and there is a real hum when you are working, living, or both in the place, and just driving around! :-* :-* :-* :-*
It is alive 24/7, with always somewhere to get food or drink, party, and with ma transport system that means you do not need a car. 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)
Unless you want to go anywhere after midnight without using the night bus or an expensive taxi ;)
Then you just use an illegal, cheap, cab!! ::) ::) ::) :D :D :D :D ;)
Anyway the night buses are pretty good and better than you will get in 'countryfied' places like Ashford!! ::) ::) ::) ;) ;)
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I must say, as I was trying to maneouvre a Transit van through the throngs of people congregated on the road through Hoxton square early on Sunday morning, I did think that if I were still a young man this would be a great place to spend my leisure time. The place was absolutely buzzing. London can be a very exciting place - if you have a few quid to burn - I dont think I would want to live there, but I would if I were twenty something.