Credit Crunch vs Sales

Credit crunch has affected life style of most Londoners, more or less and that's something noticeable on a day to day basis. In the office itself, after first round of redundancy and an expected 12.5% pay cut at all levels coming May, the business at the canteen has become poorer as most colleagues are now bringing lunch box to work. Retail shops are closing down one after another, a Slug and Lettuce nearby my office had just closed down.

On the other hand, it's a good time for shoppers to grab some bargains, the sales have been non-stopping since before Christmas, this is unusual. For foreign tourists who are not affected directly by credit crunch this is the best time to travel and shop in the UK as pound sterling has dropped to the lowest point in many years. Good for people like me who rarely buy things at original price.

Bought this back in December at WHSmith for £10 (RRP £30). I used to hate history back in old school days but nowadays I find it interesting after traveling a bit around the historical cities in Europe. Malaysia's history never interested me as you don't know what's true what's not. I heard Hang Tuah who used to be the Malay hero was taken out from the text book because he was later found out to be Chinese origin. What a joke.

Bought 3 books by Jeremy Clarkson from WHSmith as well for £10 (RRP £7.99 each). He is one of the very few British others than footballers whom I admired, for his great sense of humour.

Zavvi is one of the high profiled retail chain who became the casualty of the economy downturn. I had grabbed "The Magnificient Seven" (my all time greats! read here) for £2 (RRP £7.99), "Future Proof" for £2 (RRP £10.99) and few button badges for 25p each from the megastore located at Tottenham Court Road. The music albums were selling cheap as well but I still prefer to download free :p Heard most Zavvi stores were purchased by HMV to be merged into their chain. I doubt HMV will survive as they have already got so many stores along Oxford Street, with market shrinking.

I have stop traveling on Oyster monthly and change to Oyster pre paid as this could save me around £40-50 per month by taking bus instead of underground. In London one has to learn to walk as it's often faster and cheaper to do so. Wearing leather shoes is something torturing so I decided to get a pair of decent trainers to wear to work. Bought the Nike Reax Run III from Sports World Oxford Street for £35 (RRP £49.99), really lightweight and comfortable.

Perhaps we should all listen to Gordon Brown to spend out of credit crunch.

AND1

Since there are more and more people playing basketball in the gym regularly these day, it's time to get a pair of proper basketball shoes. Being the only representative from the Malaysia I have to look better if not play better.

I saw this pair of AND1 Open Run Mid in two sports shops at Oxford Street but all running out of my size. I didn't give up and finally found the last pair at Lilywhites Picadilly Circus at 50% discount, for only £27. After long consideration I choose the AND1 over the Adidas A3 Artillery (with a high tech look sole for a very good bargain price too at £30) because it feels really comfy and lightweight. The Adidas feels a bit clumsy to me.

Unlike other brands, AND1 is specialising in basketball shoes and apparel and actively promoting street basketball.


A video on AND1 Mixtape tour. Anyway it seems that the rules deviate from the standard one which players are allowed to carry the ball above the shoulder and there's no traveling and double dribbling violation??

Onitsuka Tiger

I love sneakers and trainers than all the other type of shoes, just like I love jeans than trousers.

I miss my Air Kukini, my personal favourite of all time and wish I can own it again and I found it here! It has becomes a vintage collection and selling for nearly 20,000 yen (about GBP 90... bloody hell...).

The last pair of sneakers I bought was the yellow Adidas Tuscany GP which I had big problem cleaning the suede material, and that was 2 and half years ago.

Been looking for a replacement which is light weight and comfort and when I saw this, I know I wanna own it.

The dark brown/beige colour Onitsuka Tiger Runspark.

Onitsuka Co. Ltd. introduced its first sport-specific shoe in 1949 and now better known today as ASICS, re-introduces an original collection of Onitsuka Tiger footwear.

FYI, the brand was little-known until Uma Thurman wore the yellow shoes in the movie Kill Bill in 2003 (Timesonline). That's one huge re-branding success in the fashion industry.

It comes with two pairs of shoes strings, another look with the yellow strings. What do you think?


The only thing I hope is don't let me find it cheaper in KL when I go back in December!