Noting our limited shop hours, a number of customers blithely comment that it must be wonderful having so much free time. I wish we did have plenty of free time. Just because we are not at the shop doesn’t mean that we are enjoying ourselves: there always seems to be something to do regarding our little business. For instance, I am writing this on a Sunday so I can send the list out bright and early tomorrow (the 1st). Well, that is work, is it not? And the fact that I have to put the finishing touches to the list and print it out, well, that’s work too, isn’t it? We headed out to the lock-up earlier to get some boxes of books for sorting and, because we have air heads and did not think of it before hand, we have to go out again to post some letters. Again work. And I had better not get too comfortable at my desk as David will be turfing me out soon so he can do some invoices. Tomorrow and Tuesday, technically days off, will pan out about just the same workwise. But we do try and fit in some leisure time and, to be honest, we did try this morning.
It was one of those days, struggling to be fine but drizzle and grey dominating. The perfect sort of day to remind you that tomorrow is the 1st day of winter. We woke up with nothing planned and wondered what we should do to make the most of the day. Our books were looking mighty attractive as we thought of having to rug up and head outside. Then David noted a rerun of Magnum PI (and he was always a bit of a honey wasn’t he. My opinion re Magnum, I mean. Oh yes, and David). But no, we could not loll around all day watching reruns or reading. So we decided to brave the iffy weather and go for a jaunt.
One of our local journalists has been featuring day trips over the last few weeks. I have been saving them and, rather than head out on the same day as the hoards, thought we would be safe if we went a few weeks later. Last week we tried Bowning. The place we thought to have lunch was crowded. It had never occurred to us to book. Today we tried Collector. Again, it did not occur to us to book. And how could you anyway when you have no idea at the beginning of the week if you will actually have time to spare at the weekend. And even if you did have the foresight to plan ahead, what if you did not know the name of the place? So we trundled out. The place we had planned to have lunch was not open. Not sure if it was closed down or just not open. It had been on the market the last time we were there two years ago so perhaps that should have been a hint. So we tried the pub. It was empty, and as we walked in the sole bar staff walked out to her car. We saw the menu and noted it had nothing vegetarian so left. No one noticed. Then we thought to try the popular, trendy venue. Surely it could not be full if the pub was empty. Well, popular and trendy was packed to the rafters and by the looks of things, booked out till next Christmas. So we ambled on home. Hungry and desperately trying to think of something that would be open and half empty as it approached 1.00 on a Sunday. We ended up at the mall with takeaway from the food hall. So, as soon as I finish my bits and bobs, I am heading off to find my book. And when David turfs me out, and finishes his invoices, he will wander off to find his book. Pity we did not think to tape Magnum!
Before I wander off, a couple of little stories for you, gleaned from the latest newsletter from the Battle of Britain Historical Society. I have already shared one of them with a couple of you so bear with me if you have read it before....
Marriage is a relationship in which one person is always right and the other is a husband (very astute, this one!)
And for all the lawyers out there, apparently (and I assume we must trust the BOBHS) these are actual exchanges from American court rooms...
Attorney: The youngest son, the twenty year old, how old is he?
Witness: He’s twenty, much like your IQ
Attorney: Were you present when your picture was taken?
Witness: Are you kidding me?
Attorney: How was your first marriage terminated?
Witness: By death
Attorney: And by whose death was it terminated?
Witness: Guess.
It was one of those days, struggling to be fine but drizzle and grey dominating. The perfect sort of day to remind you that tomorrow is the 1st day of winter. We woke up with nothing planned and wondered what we should do to make the most of the day. Our books were looking mighty attractive as we thought of having to rug up and head outside. Then David noted a rerun of Magnum PI (and he was always a bit of a honey wasn’t he. My opinion re Magnum, I mean. Oh yes, and David). But no, we could not loll around all day watching reruns or reading. So we decided to brave the iffy weather and go for a jaunt.
One of our local journalists has been featuring day trips over the last few weeks. I have been saving them and, rather than head out on the same day as the hoards, thought we would be safe if we went a few weeks later. Last week we tried Bowning. The place we thought to have lunch was crowded. It had never occurred to us to book. Today we tried Collector. Again, it did not occur to us to book. And how could you anyway when you have no idea at the beginning of the week if you will actually have time to spare at the weekend. And even if you did have the foresight to plan ahead, what if you did not know the name of the place? So we trundled out. The place we had planned to have lunch was not open. Not sure if it was closed down or just not open. It had been on the market the last time we were there two years ago so perhaps that should have been a hint. So we tried the pub. It was empty, and as we walked in the sole bar staff walked out to her car. We saw the menu and noted it had nothing vegetarian so left. No one noticed. Then we thought to try the popular, trendy venue. Surely it could not be full if the pub was empty. Well, popular and trendy was packed to the rafters and by the looks of things, booked out till next Christmas. So we ambled on home. Hungry and desperately trying to think of something that would be open and half empty as it approached 1.00 on a Sunday. We ended up at the mall with takeaway from the food hall. So, as soon as I finish my bits and bobs, I am heading off to find my book. And when David turfs me out, and finishes his invoices, he will wander off to find his book. Pity we did not think to tape Magnum!
Before I wander off, a couple of little stories for you, gleaned from the latest newsletter from the Battle of Britain Historical Society. I have already shared one of them with a couple of you so bear with me if you have read it before....
Marriage is a relationship in which one person is always right and the other is a husband (very astute, this one!)
And for all the lawyers out there, apparently (and I assume we must trust the BOBHS) these are actual exchanges from American court rooms...
Attorney: The youngest son, the twenty year old, how old is he?
Witness: He’s twenty, much like your IQ
Attorney: Were you present when your picture was taken?
Witness: Are you kidding me?
Attorney: How was your first marriage terminated?
Witness: By death
Attorney: And by whose death was it terminated?
Witness: Guess.
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