... off the buses ...

Having had my car stolen I am now using the buses - which I have not used properly for over 30 years - ie I've only used the occasional bus - and in the cold weather - like now - I've always used the car.

I have forgotten how cold you can get - standing around waiting for a bus - with a slight wind chill factor - and you feel your legs -and body get colder - and colder - and there is a chill that feels like it goes to your bones. You realise that you need warmer clothes - a hat - scarves - items you've thrown away years ago.

You feel angry as you wait 35 minutes - for a bus advertised as having a 10--15 minute interval - you get angrier as you are getting close to the start time of the play you're going to see - and a friend is waiting there - and you've got the tickets.

You suddenly realise that you lifer has become limited - I had to anticipate a two hour trip to get to a job interview on time - instead of the 45 minutes by car. And again the cold - the unhappy people at the stop making unhappy jokes about there not being buses - mustn't grumble - must we?

I wasn't going to buy a car - I was going to try and live without one - but no - I can't afford the time - I can't afford the limitation - I can't stand the cold.