R.I.P Packhorse..
My beloved buggy is no more. Held together by cellotape for the last few months, it has finally given it’s last hurrah and collapsed in a little metallic heap.
Not surprising given the extensive tours of duty it’s performed over the years. And truth be told, for much of this year it hasn’t even been used as a buggy really except for the odd sneaky sleepy…
Instead I’ve been that mad woman walking the streets of South West London pushing my vacant buggy like an unaccepting empty-nester. We got attached Buggy and me..he became my ever-faithful ever-there friend getting me and my clobber from a to b in relative safety..picnic stuff/blankets/cricket bits/footballs/school bags/swimming/gym kits/shopping..buggy did the lot with never so much as a word of complaint, saving my sanity, shoulders and let’s be honest..multiple trips to the chiropractor.
So what am I to do now? I can’t carry this lot..I swear most people drive to the school because of the amount stuff required on a day to day basis. I don’t want to drive to the shops or order on the internet either, I get little enough time to exercise as it is..and I’m rather proud that in the urban sprawl that is London we actually do more walking than the majority of our country friends.
So is it wrong to be thinking of getting a trolley? (she whispers very quietly) Can I break the old woman stereotype? Is there a fresh, modern perspective on the art of lugging?
There is this option I’ve found that looks pretty/traditional (picture with plaid picnic rug and warm baguette peaking out..she urges in hope..) ..even if it would take up half the hall…and is’t waterproof.
Or this ..ugly..but cheap and sort-of practical?
Or these, playing the trump card of up-cycling, they’re made from old cement bags and not bad at £39.99 a pop. Bit more street cred? Or am I sadly kidding myself?
I found this one made from an old sail…at bit more expensive at £85.00..but?…. still granny?
![plegamatic-mono-black-white-213-p[ekm]199x300[ekm]](https://maisonbentleystyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/plegamatic-mono-black-white-213-pekm199x300ekm.jpg)
![rolser-folding-trolleys-9-c[ekm]133x150[ekm]](https://maisonbentleystyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/rolser-folding-trolleys-9-cekm133x150ekm.jpg)
Or this one made in Spain by Rolser where they have cobbled streets (it has to last and they swear it does)..it’s £66 and folds up as a shoulder bag till you need the wheels..then ‘ping’ …trolley!..an acceptable-face-saving-vaguely-trendy-compromise?
What do you think? Which would you choose? Would you choose? Help!
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 
I am sorry about your buggy! I like the last one, the spanish trolley, it looks really stylish! 🙂
Two words: Dragon’s Den!
Come on, really? Your hand bag is bigger than any of these wheelie bags, plus they are not looking exactly glam either, are they?! Looking at your baggy, reminding me a Christmas tree, you need something like clothes wheelie rack on big wheels with lot of hooks/hangers. Or one of those Dutch style buggies behind the bike.xx
I think anything too big and the kids would disown me!
😀 Wait until they are teenagers. Hanging out with mum..ehhh.
i like the picnic or the fluo one….
but would any of the candidates be able to do the same duty as the late buggy? for one, it won’t be possible to hang bags on it like with the buggy
On the other hand, these will be more compact
🙂 xxx
I still remember the pain of my blue and white striped buggy buckling under the weight of fabric rolls…..I made curtains when my kids were little. I bought a fabulous pink and yellow flowery trolley from IKEA couple of years ago and went through that shall I shan’t I stuff before purchase. Trolleys were on my “if you do that you are old list”….but I couldn’t do my vintage fair stalls without it now. Love the wicker one! Xx
R.I.P. beloved buggy … Honestly, I’d choose the striped black-and-white one, because it could be from Chanel (I can definitely picture this on the classic-yet-fun Karl’s show sets) ! xxxxx
Definitely a tick in the plus column!
I love the basket one, but would probably go with the black and white stripe.
I love the first one! It’s beautiful!
I’d choose the one on the beach…or maybe I’d just choose the beach…Oh…
But I think the old ladies are onto something with these (Plus they’d identify with you in the supermarket queue and wouldn’t try to cunningly get ahead when you’re late for a school run leaving you to feel guilty for a week after…)
Verdict…It’s the black and white one!
Hoho! Maybe it’s part of the secret code of acceptance..maybe I’ll have to learn how to do a special buggy handshake…
I am all for the basket trolley in a very country garden way. What was that BBC show about gardens in the city? Or was that just part of Ground Force? Hmm, 2nd thought, maybe it looks like a traveling laundry basket. Ugh! Good Luck.
Well I love the last one but don’t think I’d tote it on my shoulder (you mentioned chiropractor.) The cement bag is cute and funky. But I think my favorite is the basket.
Well, at least he had a hard productive life 🙂 I’m LOVING that wicker basket carrier!!
RIP buggy! Maybe you will end up like me, The Crazy Bag Lady ;p
Maybe I’m there already!!
lol possibly with all the bags hanging off the buggy ;p
Unbelievably adorable photo at the top.
Thank you! He has his moments..
I like the basket 🙂 think it’s really cool xx
http://www.littleprettymess.com
YES to the trolley, I feel your pain at the loss of your buggy… I say straight up traditional, or the recycled…the recycled looks really funky and they do have the environmental angle…trolleys do not spell granny!!! Xx
The cement one is cool..does fold down flat..just worried how much it will actually hold..
Haha I understand the granny thing. I had to buckle and buy the supermarket one when I was in Florence . I would use my granny trolley to walk 2 km with groceries. I didn’t care what it looked like it was very helpful 🙂 I saw some with triple wheels for taking up stairs.
I was with you till I read ‘three wheels for stairs’..and then I felt granny again!!
I ended up with just the general granny trolley. But I saw some that had three wheels on each side . Imagine three circles placed together to form a rounded triangle and as they roll they roll up the step. Hard to explain… Hehe granny.
I am undecided between the recycled or the multi use of the Spanish bag/ trolley. Goodluck
Ach..I’m undecided full stop!
My “baby” is 2 and a half – we still frequently use our buggy. We also walk a lot, which I too am rather proud of- I know too the buggy days are coming to an end…. I have an enormous bag for non buggy days and I have looked at carts wondering could I ??? You will have to buy one and road test it for all of us wondering if you can cart your “cart” with style!!!! 🙂
I am feeling the pressure to forge a new path of trolley acceptance. Could I get Jamie Oliver to help in the campaign…!
Would make a great new post- “reactions of a trolley” 🙂
My mother is now threatening to get me one for Christmas..there could be a follow up!
The upcycled cement bags look cool , the last one too, but wouldnt hold so much, 🙂
We have a trolley! They are big in Singapore for the same reasons you’re contemplating one – the driving is awful but the public transport/walking is actually alright.
Love your picks, though. I am rather inclined towards the wicker one just because it’s different but some of the others might be pretty and also more practical.
How funny, I was having this EXACT conversation with a friend yesterday – the ‘is it OK to have a trolly?’ convo – yes it is! I was lamenting the fact that Orla Kiely doesn’t do them any more and shouting the virtues of the wicker model. Sorry to hear about the loss of your buggy, we’ve been without one for years now (youngest refused to go in it quite early on) and I remember the slightly painful shift of loosing places to hang and carry things. Good luck and think of the arm muscles you’ll get 😉