British Store Offers Playpen for Men
8 minutes ago
Strange News - AP
By ALFRED de MONTESQUIOU, Associated Press Writer
LONDON - The British department store chain Marks & Spencer is offering men a chance to enjoy Christmas shopping: sofas, soccer and "boys' toys." The "Men's Creche" has been installed in six big-city stores around the country, including London.
Large brown leather sofas, a TV set playing the world's greatest soccer matches and newspapers are on offer to distract men while their women shop.
Men can also enjoy free candy and an array of boys' toys like remote control bikes and a Starsky and Hutch racing car track.
"This is very satisfying," said Arindam Thakur, 31, a management consultant, who was relaxing at a Marks & Spencer store in London Friday. He said he could not shop for more than 30 minutes without growing frustrated.
Sitting on a neighboring couch, Derek Patterson seemed perfectly content to watch a video of England's conquest of German in the 1966 World Cup soccer final.
The 61-year-old window cleaner from Lincolnshire said he had come to London to attend a Christmas carol concert with his wife, Jean, and a brother and sister-in-law. "We've got six hours of free time, so they've all gone shopping," he said, "but I really can't stick it."
He said this was the best shopping experience he could recall. "Men are more focused on what they're getting, and the sooner it's done, the better," he concluded, "Whereas women float around forever."
It was the first time Marks & Spencer had opened a recreational area for frazzled shoppers. It's Christmas manager, Andy Ferguson, explained he knew from personal experience that "shopping doesn't come naturally to some men."
The company also said it would extend the experience to more of its 380 stores in Great Britain if this year's Christmas offer proves a success with male shoppers.
Most of the women at the store on Friday didn't seem to mind the shop's new gimmick for keeping men happy.
"I think it's a great idea," said 26-year-old Rachel Glen, who like many other women passing by had swiftly grabbed some free candy. "But they should put the creche nearer to the women's' wear," she said, so that men were closer to their partners.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20041210/ap_on_fe_st/britain_men_s_crecheSo much for the silly news of the day.
Resting in the arms of Jesus.
Bob
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