First Time

Well on Sunday hubby and I (both having the day off...........now when did that last happen??) went to Brighton. We got up early (well had left the house by 9am, which is early for me on a Sunday day off), and after Macci D (Mcdonalds) breakfast, we headed towards Brighton via the M25 and M23.

The day was dry, though a bit on the chilly side (I had 5 layers on and was comfy). We decided to use the park and ride, though after the marvelous system that I am used to in Oxford (ok, Oxford did pioneer the park and ride system in the UK), it was pretty crap. I had checked on the 'visit Brighton' website and they said follow the signs from the A23 (M23 becomes A23, so simples). Now the signs say Mon - Sat and here we were on Sunday, but what the hell, we'll give it a whirl. We are then directed to a smallish car park at a leisure centre / football (I think) ground...........luckily there was no matches taking place, so there was plenty of parking. I dread to think what happens when matches are taking place. Oxford has five park and ride sites, and the one I use probably has parking for over 1500 cars and is full by 9am every day!!!

Anyway, I already knew that we had to get the number 27 bus that stopped outside the car park, and it ran every half hour on Sunday, and there it was, run by Brighton and Hove buses, as promised. Now according to hubbys fare chart thingy (list of all fares that bus drivers have to carry), First have arrangements with other bus companies, in that their staff can travel for free on First buses, and vice versa. According to the list, Go Ahead, of which Brighton & Hove and Oxford Bus Company are part of, are in this arrangement. I have asked one of the bus drivers I chat to in Oxford (Oxford Bus Company do the park and ride buses) if they accept First staff passes and he said he wasn't sure, but that all drivers would accept them anyway. This was basically the response we got in Brighton. The drivers did not seem that sure, but said no worries. So free bus travel from the park and ride - saved £3.70 each. I did ask hubby what he would do in the same situation and he had the same response..........accept them!! And I should add this was the first time I used my staff travel pass!!!

Anyway, we had a lovely time in Brighton. We went to the royal Pavilion which was quite fascinating, wondered along the pier, through the town and then had a late lunch, and all in all, it was lovely just to be able to do 'couply' type things.

At work we are well into the swing of foreign registrations. We are so busy that we have to have an extra member of staff on duty and today I achieved the record...............54 registrations. At £34 each, that was £1836 I took today.........if only I was on commission!!! Have to say, I was a bit jaded by the end of the day and had to come home to a large G&T to recover.

Well the next two days are rest days............though tomorrow night I am teaching the Brownies about crime prevention............................!!