Monday Mirth

More of Mrs Brown

Sunday Scenes

Walkies!

Where'd she go?

I'm definitely on the trail

Methinks she went in there!  

I'll just take a look!

Found! 

THINKING ALOUD!

I think I’m turning into a bird lady! Yesterday I had a conversation with the robin. Well, not an actual conversation, more like coaxing words used to put him at ease. As I’ve written before, robin follows me when I go down the garden to top up the feeders. He seemed extra brave this time, coming nearer and not flying off when I made a sudden move. I held out a handful of seed, letting one or two slip through the fingers onto the floor, all the time inviting him to take a seed or two from my hand. He didn’t, of course, but at least he didn’t fly away. I guess this is something I have to do on a daily basis before he learns to trust me.

My current grouse is perforated toilet rolls that are only half done, when tearing off a square ends up as several bits of torn paper. I scream inwardly every time it happens. I have been through all the big name toilet roll producers and find they’re all the same. The first roll is fine, it lulls us into a false sense of security, but by the time we reach the end of a multi-pack the perforations disappear. Is this the way they make money, I wonder? 

On a recent visit to a friend I commented on the fact that her loo rolls were always perfectly perforation  and enquired which ones she bought. ‘The cheapest’, she said. ‘Tesco’s own.’ That’s probably why I don’t have any luck as we always buy the rumoured best. Note that word BEST... in future I shall refer to them as the WORST.

 When we needed two new light bulbs Joe went to two shops only to find they had both closed down. Note to self: In future try Amazon! And they wonder why our shops are all closing down!

Have you ever inadvertently shoplifted? I did once, years ago, when young son and I were in Kitsbuhl, Austria. It was very hot and we went into a local store to cool down. It was the kind of store that sells everything, and without doubt everything was fascinating enough to buy. From going into the store to shelter from the sun we ended up with baskets full of goodies, from souvenirs to essentials, including a straw sun hat. But the sun hat had a broad brim and wouldn’t fit into a basket so I put it on my head and forgot about it. 

We queued to pay and spent a small fortune but not once did I remember that I had a hat on my head. Even the cashier didn’t cotton on. It wasn’t until much later in the day, when we arrived back at our hotel, that I realised what had happened.

Next day I went back to return it but the shopkeeper didn’t seem unduly concerned. In fact, I think he was surprised! He thanked me for returning it, then looked out of the window and said something like ‘Keep it, you need it.’ I did keep it, for many years, and often made people laugh when admitting I stole it! 

Have a nice day, folks.

NOTE FOR THE DAY is at the top of the sidebar

HELPING HANDS

Ron’s recent post (here) reminded me of an incident that occurred years ago, one that restored my faith in human nature.

I was alone in the world, just me and my baby. Most of my family, a religious lot who disapproved of broken marriages, turned the other cheek on many occasions and it got so I didn’t even bother asking for help. Only Aunt May and her daughter, and Catherine, wife of an uncle who had the biggest cheek to turn, took the time to care, encourage and give advice when needed. It hardened me somewhat and it got that I didn’t ask anyone else for assistance in case of rebuff. I became self-reliant, which isn’t a bad thing, but didn’t acquire proficiency straight away.

It was the winter of 1963, a record-breaker with deep snow and ice lasting for months on end. It even snowed on my birthday in May. As you can imagine, everyone was fed-up with it.

When the break finally came I was determined to go out. The sun was shining and the urge to take my baby out was huge. I decided to go and see Aunt May, which meant two buses, and which also meant I could not take the pram. Prams in those days weren’t designed to fold up! It was walk or nothing with the old Silver Cross coach built perambulator.

It had been a long time since I saw the big shops and the crowds and I felt quite excited. What I hadn’t counted on was rain. Fortunately I was prepared for the inevitable, although dealing with it and carry bag and baby at the same time proved to be quite difficult. I remember standing on the step of a shop (couldn’t get in the actual doorway) and dropping my bag on the floor in an effort to give full attention to covering my little son.

After taking one look at me and my struggles, a middle-aged lady rescued me.  She started off by covering my head with a carrier bag. I tried to shrug it off, asking her instead to help with the baby, but she said ‘Look at him, he’s well covered. Now tell me, who’s going to look after him if something happens to you?’ She then gave me a lecture, kindly, about giving myself as much attention as I gave my son.

I never saw the woman again but I never forgot her kindness or the fact that she took time, in pelting rain, to make sure we were alright.

She taught me a lot in a roundabout way. Thereafter, because her concern had shown me the way, I always wanted to help the mother rather than the child. Even now, when I see a newborn, the first thing I do is to ask the mother how SHE is. Only then will I go gaga over her child. I am always happy to see their surprise at being asked because, let’s face it, they often have difficult days as well.

NOTE FOR THE DAY is at the top of the sidebar