Member-only story
The £5 Cab Rides That Stole My Soul at Oxford
You’ve heard of the time value of money. Have you heard of the time value of experience?
Munching on a falafel wrap, I was soaking in the sun and giving my wallet the peace it deserved after a whole week in the UK.
Narjar’s is a food stand in Oxford, a block south of the famed The Eagle and Child — the pub that inspired the likes of JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis. This place holds a place in my heart, not because of its symbolic proximity to the greats, but because it gave me pleasure for a mere £4.50.
After every exam at the Blavatnik School, I’d walk down Little Clarendon street, pass through the graveyard of St. Giles church, and order my falafel, hummus, and chicken combo — extra spicy.
With age, I’ve opted out of the extra spicy, but the memories stuck with me. This feeling is the type of thing that money or prestige can’t really buy.
It’s invaluable.
Then it hit me.
I paid £5 to avoid a 30-minute bike ride. Five years later, I realized it was the most expensive ride of my life.
