Can we get by without a car?

My congregation has quite a few youth, but we also are very family focused and have active youth and children's programs.

lol to reply to the Micra question: I don't know why it was expensive. I was on my mum's policy in the states so I couldn't get a no claims discount for it, but I got an introductory offer because I had previous driving experience and it's £60/m (plus a deposit I paid at the beginning). I'm a male, over 21 but under 25, and have only had my UK licence since Feb 08 so thats probably why it was a bit more. I'd love it to be £12 a month!

My church is really family focused too, we have around 25 young people that go to the youth club I run, and around 14 children on a Sunday Kids Club and around 85 on a Monday (it's just a big kid's club with games, quizzes, etc and tons of kids from the community go, but most wouldn't come on a Sunday). We do general youth clubs too because there are heaps of bored young people in my area. I also work in a school in a behaviour/learning support unit and work with numerous young people in classrooms. I have been to some churches were only a handful go, but on the southside of Glasgow, there are actually quite a few...it depends on the church (their attitudes towards youth, whether they actually care about young people or just want 'bums on seats' and if older members can tolerate young people...I have been to some places where young people aren't really welcome which is a shame). The area I think makes a difference too. In Newton Mearns there are lots of bored youth and so our mid-week programmes offer them something to do, whether it's hanging out with friends at the church where we have video games, sofas, tuck shop, etc, or going on outings to the cinema, bowling, Xscape centre, etc...I think more churches are realising though that young people are important and youth pastors are generally a relatively newer thing in Scotland anyway, maybe being developed more in the past two decades or so. But yeah, I don't just work in a church, I work in a school and go to uni one day a week as well at the ICC in the city centre Keeps me busy hence why I love the Micra!

lol to reply to the Micra question: I don't know why it was expensive. I was on my mum's policy in the states so I couldn't get a no claims discount for it, but I got an introductory offer because I had previous driving experience and it's £60/m (plus a deposit I paid at the beginning). I'm a male, over 21 but under 25, and have only had my UK licence since Feb 08 so thats probably why it was a bit more. I'd love it to be £12 a month!

Ahh, yes, that's probably why - when I took out the policy, I had been driving in the UK for 6 years and I had been on my mum's policy with the same company beforehand so we got a discount on it. Luckily I get past the 'over 21, but under 25' hurdle in less than 3 weeks time, so hopefully that will make things a bit cheaper in the future (although I'm living in the US now anyway). A few months ago, when my brother turned 17, we looked into insuring him as a learner driver on the Micra - the company quoted £2,500 per year!! Luckily, he managed to find someone else with a better rate and is now only paying about £800-£900/year.

 I can only think of  2 people that i know who go to church.

And neither of them is me. 

And neither of them is me. 

I think statistics say Americans go to church more than Brits.

I think statistics say Americans go to church more than Brits.

Well, I'm a dual-national now, but whilst living in America, I didn't go to church, either.

And neither of them is me. 

well, you weren't included in my count, but now you mention it ... im sure you invited me to come with you to Mass once!     Or was that your mum who invited me?  I was too drunk on all that whisky she was pouring down my throat!

well, you weren't included in my count, but now you mention it ... im sure you invited me to come with you to Mass once!     Or was that your mum who invited me?  I was too drunk on all that whisky she was pouring down my throat!

I think it was my mum.  And we were all rubbered.   

If you own a coat and an umbrella, Britain is not incredibly cold or wet.

Yes, and people who drive a lot often don't seem to appreciate the need for having warm/waterproof clothes and comfortable shoes if you're using public transport or walking any distance. I have a friend who hardly ever gets the bus, and when she does she is invariably wearing a thin cotton jacket and high heels and complaining about the cold and the fact that she can't walk fast. I use public transport most of the time, although we do have a car, and always keep an umbrella in my backpack, and scarf and gloves as well in the colder months.

I used to work in Manhattan, where it is very common for women to wear trainers/comfortable shoes into work and then change to dressy shoes in the office. (I still do this now, in the UK.)

Once, a sales manager fom the Los Angeles office came to the Manhattan office, and at the end of the day she noticed some women taking off their dressy shoes and putting on trainers. She made a snooty comment, "That would never be allowed in our office!" and she was promptly put down by someone who reminded her that unlike in LA, workers in Manhattan usually don't have cars transport them door to door.

I always carry a small fold-up umbrella in my handbag.

I used to work in Manhattan, where it is very common for women to wear trainers/comfortable shoes into work and then change to dressy shoes in the office. (I still do this now, in the UK.)

I do this as well, but noticed that a lot of women here seem to walk to work in high heels, which I could never do!! 

I walk to work (about 2.5 miles) in my jeans and trainers and change when I get here.  Saves my work clothes getting wet on the way to work if it's raining!

I do this as well, but noticed that a lot of women here seem to walk to work in high heels, which I could never do!! 

Ditto!!!

Once, a sales manager fom the Los Angeles office came to the Manhattan office, and at the end of the day she noticed some women taking off their dressy shoes and putting on trainers. She made a snooty comment, "That would never be allowed in our office!" and she was promptly put down by someone who reminded her that unlike in LA, workers in Manhattan usually don't have cars transport them door to door.

How can this not be allowed??? You're leaving work for the day,  the company doesn't own you and you can wear whatever you want on your way home!

How can this not be allowed??? You're leaving work for the day,  the company doesn't own you and you can wear whatever you want on your way home!

I thought the same thing--how weirdly extreme of that company.

Thank goodness I never had to work in a job where heels were required or expected.

Hooray for hippie jobs that let you wear hiking boots, sneakers, or whatever!

I walk to work (about 2.5 miles) in my jeans and trainers and change when I get here.  Saves my work clothes getting wet on the way to work if it's raining!

I used to do that, too.

Very stress-relieving.  Just hauling up Leith Walk with my iPod blasting.  Would show up at work and come home in a good mood.