Binge shopping

The Silver Vixen and Gorse Fox had decided that once Ocado had been we would head into Chichester for some retail therapy. We also had a package to hand over to Cousteau-Cub. We tootled off to get the bas and, conveniently, it arrived just as we got to the bus stop.

There were a few items on our mental shopping lists, but a lot would depend on what we found. We split up. The Gorse Fox started at the show shop to look for some smart black shoes. He doesn't need them often, but he should have a pair (his current black shoes are a bit clunky and could not, under any interpretation of the word, be considered smart). A browse through the shelves revealed some potential candidates, but he wanted to compare them with offerings at M&S (where he had a 20% discount). He wandered across to M&S. The shoes were a non-starter. Some were smart, but most looked too flat for his liking. While there, however, he did manage to pick up two nice sweaters for £20 the pair. That was a bit of a result.

He met up with Cousteau-Cub and handed over her parcel, then headed back to the shoe shop. This time he tried on several pairs, some of which were in the sale. In the end, he selected a pair that were part of new range and thus, full price. He had them put to one side for collection later. He then went and met up with the Silver Vixen. Her shopping had been successful so far, and a couple of quick stops completed her list.

We returned to M&S. The Gorse Fox looked at some slacks and tried on a couple of pairs. He likes the slim fit, but it was clear that his calves are just too big to wear them comfortably (though they are just fine everywhere else). In then three different pairs of "regular fit" found their way into his shopping bag, as did some underwear. He also took a shine to a nice pale green sweater, but they didn't have his size in stock. They put one on order and he can collect it tomorrow.

We returned to the shoe shop. The Gorse Fox bought some replacement slippers as well as the shoes, put to one side earlier. The Silver Vixen also managed to find a nice pair of dress shoes to go with her black evening dress.

Laden like pack animals, we headed back down East Street and decided to eat at Crispin's, as we have so often in the past. It's hardly fine dining, but it is good freshly prepared fare, and the staff are lovely.

It had been an expense expedition, but we got everything we had set out to get.