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Lincoln Christmas Market


Mrs B

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I've already posted this on another Forum, but I thought I'd share my rant with you too!

 

http://www.lincoln.gov.uk/Information_page...det.asp?id=9862

 

For those unfortunate to have to live and work in the Lincoln area for the four days of the Christmas Market, this is definitely a bah humbug occasion.

 

Every year the event gets bigger and bigger, whilst the infrastructure of the City remains the same. This year they reckon 200,000+ will visit the Market (don’t ask me how they are going to count people in and out, I’m past caring!) Not only does it take me forever to get to work, and get home, as I wait everywhere for all the extra traffic to disperse, not to mention waiting for the conveys of coaches to pass through, escorted by the police, blue lights and all, with up to 30 coaches in each convoy, but anything and everything that you want to do by way of “normal activities†grinds to a halt due to the sheer numbers of people descending on the City.

 

You can’t park anywhere, due to car parks being full, road after road being closed or having parking restrictions put on them (we’re talking about at least 50 streets here), and the Park and Ride (only one, so you have to travel around the City to get to it) which they put on for the Market, is, of course, on one of the roads I go home on, and, being all of 2 miles from the Market, they charge £10 a vehicle for the privilege of taking you to the Market.

 

I really feel for any unfortunate (like the guy I work with) who lives either in the vicinity of the Market or, even worse, on one of the streets the Market is on. If you’re on one of the closed roads, you may be able to get through with the benefit of a vehicle pass, but for four days, you can’t have any visitor come to your house by vehicle. And just imagine having tens of thousands of people traipse past your house because you are on a road with stalls on, or have a fairground ride across the road from you, blaring out “music†for four days.

 

Even if you don’t go to the Market itself, town is full of people wondering what to do with themselves until the coach is due to take them home again. The coaches have to be registered with the Council for a timed arrival and a timed departure slot. Forget trying to pick up a couple of things at lunch time, by the time you’ve queued, it’ll be time to go back to work.

 

And then there’s the actual Market. OK, so I can be a real bah humbug here, ‘cause I really don’t go to it. After all, why would I want to spend a few hours, entering the pedestrian one way system (yep, you read that right, there is a one way system for pedestrians, due to the sheer volume of people who attend this), shuffling along, shoulder to shoulder with people I’ve never met before, treading on my toes, thumping into me with bags, sticks or worse, some of whom are the worse for a visit or two to a tavern, to view for sale items which are either vastly over priced, or complete tat – even assuming that you can get into the actual vicinity of a stall to view anything at all, before being swept up by the people heading through. And then there’s the fairground stalls, where you can spend your money, and come aware with a breathtaking prize of a blow up teddy or some huge cuddly seal – all the better to batter your fellow crowd walkers with.

 

And yes, can you just imagine Tigger and Daisy in the midst of that? Thank goodness they ban dogs from the event - it would just be too cruel to put them through this.

 

Naturally any food or drink is served in or on a plastic serving dish, is grossly overpriced and, on the whole is rubbish.

 

What else.

 

Ah yes. Just wait till it rains. I see we're forecast for heavy rain on Saturday, and heavy showers on Sunday. Fantastic. Once you’re in the Castle grounds, you’re on grass. Can you just consider what happens when tens of thousands of people trample over wet grass? No wonder the ambulances are on standby.

 

Tonight we’re going out for a meal with friends – and have to cross the Market traffic – and I know already that it’ll take me forever, and I’ll be frazzled before I arrive. No resident in the locality should consider having a life until the event is over.

 

And public transport is all over the place. Bus routes have to be changed to deal with the road closures, and the buses haven’t a hope of running to time, and I’ve lost count of the occasions I’ve stood for an hour or so waiting for a bus home which hasn’t come at all (however lucky me has the car this year!)

 

And absolutely worst of all. This is the only day of the year, including even the days of the Lincolnshire Show, when there is no way I can get home to Tigger and Daisy in the middle of the day. Which puts me in an even worse humour. (But they are being looked after, don’t worry, I just prefer it to be me!)

 

I do not promise my bah humbug is over. I may remember more things to rant about.

 

Normal smiley Christmas service will be resumed on Sunday evening, or possibly Monday morning.

 

Off to try to buy a couple of things in town ................. and some more chocolate.

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I'm really sorry to have to do this but.............................

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

It's so nice to see someone entering into the spirit of things during this 'festive' season. :GroupHug: :flowers:

 

 

Mrs B is entering into the spirt of things, like me she is entering into the BAH HUMBUG spirt and I don't blame her it sounds hellish

 

 

all together now

 

 

BAH HUMBUG

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Mrs B is entering into the spirt of things, like me she is entering into the BAH HUMBUG spirt and I don't blame her it sounds hellish

all together now

BAH HUMBUG

 

Me-thinks Sam has the measure of me, and I thought that I was just :Lurking: !!!

 

And no I don't work for the Tourist Board .................. I'm still trying to work out how you guessed that. :biggrin:

 

Perhaps I should join forces with some of those who think it sounds :wacko: and tour the Market with you next year, with obligatory (toy) dog/cat/rabbit/rat/horse tucked under our arms, and see just how much bah-humbuging we could do ................... perhaps I could make you suffer in the good name of ............. ?

 

Absolutely classic! :laughingsmiley:

 

:soapbox:

Please Mrs B can I take you with me next time I go to complain about something?

 

:laughingsmiley: :laughingsmiley: :laughingsmiley: :laughingsmiley: :laughingsmiley:

 

Love too. What approach would you like me to take? Would you like the smile-nicely cosy-up approach before tearing their argument apart and going in for the jugular, or do you prefer straight in with the contents of the dictionary consumed especially for the occasion (sorry, don't do four letter words, but can come up with a few interesting longer ones), or shall I do all the research beforehand to ensure that I know more about the subject than they do and floor them, or ................ (Note to self. There is no icon on the Refuge, that allows me to demonstrate hitting something with a bat. Return to Forum which knows me better and seems to think I need one!)

 

Meanwhile.

 

Things have gotten worse. I forgot my supermarket list yesterday morning, and so my shopping was a little hit and miss. Which now finds me with 1 oz of glacé cherries in my cupboard, and three pineapple fruit cakes to make! And if you think I'm driving to the supermarket throught the Market traffic :angry: Nor can I summon up the necessary to go to collect my lenses from the optician for ditto reasons.

 

And it's pouring down with rain. Where's me snow?

 

Bah Humbug!

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(Note to self. There is no icon on the Refuge, that allows me to demonstrate hitting something with a bat. Return to Forum which knows me better and seems to think I need one!)

 

Oi! What are you trying to say? knuppel2.gif

 

Stop moaning and get back in the kitchen, I've run out of mince pies!

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Perhaps I should join forces with some of those who think it sounds :wacko: and tour the Market with you next year, with obligatory (toy) dog/cat/rabbit/rat/horse tucked under our arms, and see just how much bah-humbuging we could do ................... perhaps I could make you suffer in the good name of ............. ?

 

As someone who lived on the main route for the Blackpool illuminations and had to queue for hours in traffic every night after finishing work just to get home, I really do know where you are coming from.

 

If ever you go, listen out for the car horns. Local radio station has a running theme for those who live there. Bang on the horn every few minutes - I think the theory is that it might just put the wind up the tourists and stop some of 'em coming back :)

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