Weekend in Exeter Adventure part 2

Dear George,

The weather here is just...snowy.  Yes that's right, while you're over there in Australia, we're getting snowed on and as predicted London Transport self imploded.  Right now it's 2*C outside.  My train was on time this morning, however Saturday morning my train broke down, then the next train was 15mins late...that night a power station lost power and every...and i do mean EVERY...train leaving Charring Cross was delayed by hours.  A first class stamp is 46p.

I've started my Open University course so i'm finding it a little hard to fit in the blog with all the assignments so bare with me, i'll do my best to keep you up to date.  As for the Podcast, i've recorded a solo Podcast that i may or may not stick up...it's strange talking on my own for that long without someone there to tell me if i'm boring.  So for now here is another blog entry i could not throw up the other weekend, so here it is now...

**from Friday 27th Jan**

you find me sat in a Cafe Nero, sipping a lovely cup of earl grey and nibbling away on a chicken and pesto grilled panini, listening in on a conversation between a mum and her spoilt ungrateful spawn. mother is currently reasoning with the youth about the size of any and all future presents and gifts since "We bought you a laptop from Christmas, i've added you to the insurance so you can drive my car.  We're paying for your lessons, we've payed for the course you're taking and your Dad put £1000 into your account…you're going to have to wait for all those little add-ons your after (they never did discus what these add-ons were)

to which she replied

"but when Ben was added to the insurance there wasn't all this fuss"

"that's because Ben paid the extra for the insurance" her mother replied

What a charming young lady she is...

So why am i sat in Cafe Nero? why a chain coffee house and not a cool independent one?  Well i'll tell you why...

I like Exeter, i love the student vibe you get from being here.  There is a good mix of quirky little independent stores and big name clothes shops.  I especially adore a little cafe called 'Boston Tea Party' they have a cracking menu and do a mean full English, all reasonably priced…they have free wi-fi there too which is great if you're like me… pretentious.  Sadly, this all comes with a down side.  This oasis of tea and comfy chairs is heavy populated by students with nothing better to do with their days but laboriously sip herbal tea for hours while tapping away on laptops, curling up on all comfy sofas and spreading any and all personal belongings across surrounding tables and chairs… they've turned these places into common rooms. Is it any wonder why independent cafes struggle? these places are full for hours with customers who hardly buy a thing, while folk like me are driven away to purchase of hot beverages from a Starbucks or Costa Coffee, where we know no morally superior student would dare to tread.  I spend £8 on a sandwich and pot of tea and Cafe Nero's empire grows, A student spends a third on the same thing but nests in the good seats for an hour or two, preventing the arrival of more income. This adorable tea shop struggles for rent money and dissolves in to nothingness while all around come cries of saddened pain from the very costumers who by populating the beanbags and sofas caused the untimely end to this small section of paradise…  But do you know what the real problem i have with all this? …the very students i talk about, the cool, trendy, individuals, who slam capitalism, shun chain stores and would gladly sit waxing judgemental over everyone else while sat in a "locally sourced" coffee house, are working here in Cafe Nero… Still, at least i've got a comfy seat.

Take care buddy

Yours,

Little Dave