One OysterCard, two uses

Part of the fun of low-cost travelling is organising food. Last weekend, Geoff, Brendan and I were in Spain for five days. Rather than visit restaurants all the time, we opted to browse the local markets and supermarkets (aka "La supermercat"), for bread, cheese, pepperoni and fruit.

Boqueria Markets, Barcelona

Which is all well and good, of course, except when you're missing a knife. Supermercats don't stock disposable knives, and all pocketknives have been left behind to avoid confiscation at the airport. What are a group of hungry travellers to do?

Enter the humble OysterCard: your versatile travel companion. Not only for intra-London transport!


(Geoff assures us it's been in his wallet, and is therefore clean. We wash it anyway.)


It slices toughened salami, cake, three different cheeses of varying density, and the fragile sensibilities of the locals.