My routine was severely disrupted this Monday as the new mattress arrived.
Before seven thirty I had stripped the bed and manhandled the old mattress downstairs, though to be fair it fell down by itself mostly. Then when dumped by the bins, breathing heavily and using the bins to stay upright, the shopkeeper next door came over with grumbles re folks using his bin (which costs him money) and parking their van thoughtlessly where others park. It looks like the new folks (from Newcastle way) next door might be trouble.
Having spent money almost immediately afterwards in Sainsburys (I went there specifically to collect the 'Lego' cards some kids are collecting just to be told it ends today!) I then returned to make space for the new mattress coming up the stairs.
The call from Cornells came about ten thirty and the man and his female assistant, a friendly pair, brought the heavy mattress upstairs. Being gentlemen and understanding the modern woman's views of equality we let her take the heavy end. Apart from the awkward turnings, the table I thought would not be in the way being in the way and the heavy breathing and beating hearts from at least two of us it was quick and successful. One mistake possibly was my glib remark to her after the beast was settled in place regarding lying on it, I suddenly thought that could be out of place...
His advice to turn the mattress every so often was highly amusing I thought as three of us had struggled with it, anyway that will not be for a year or two said I...
Anyway they left happily enough and drove back to the store. A good store with a good reputation, since 1981, beds and chairs and friendly service. No obvious pressure and helpful also. Bought Saturday delivered Monday as one was in stock, not bad. I can tell you that it works well as I happened to try it out not long after preparing it, a test that I required also.
Sometimes I wonder how I cope with the banality of daily life! Today I brought excitement into my life, but not to anyone else's by obtaining my first cheap Christmas present and three cards! By the end of the month not only will I have finished my shop I will also be begging on the streets for a piece of bread. Still it will do my figure good...
Christmas shopping in October, my sister, now long passed on, used to buy most of hers in the January sales. Everything was ready by February in her house. My list is made up, already someone forgotten, and I am looking at the shops, now swamped with Christmas goods even if the plastic snowmen, fairies and assorted unchristmaslike dross is not yet on show.
While waiting for the van this morning a couple passed by, he pushing a pram she struggling behind, possibly recovering from the child or working on another one. His face, as well as the disposition on show during our brief meeting, reminded me of those face seen regularly on the Essex Police Twitter feed. 'Have you seen?' accompanied by a photo of one who would not succeed at the eleven plus but has managed to pass off ten thousand pounds worth of white powder somewhere on behalf of another brighter individual. The faces who appear always seem to me to be of those from a less well educated level of society. A friend who once served as magistrate and has had many dealings with such confirms this, they also tend to come from families of similar types. Crime begins in the home. This left me pondering how long that couple would remain together, what about the child, and what could be done for them, if anything could be done or they would allow things to help them. Not everyone wishes to be out of the lifestyle they know.
