It’s Monday morning. It’s grey, foggy and raining. I was expecting someone to fix our shower at 9:00 am this morning. It’s 10:15 am and still no one has arrived! I’ve left a message on his answer phone, civil, but couldn’t quite hide some of my irritation!
I was hoping to be out of the house by now, visiting my mother (also to check up that she has been bathed and dressed) and doing some Christmas shopping. My fancy weather app has told me that the rain will stop by lunch time so I’ll be able to get out for a walk. Look how positive I am, believing my weather app and still expecting the plumber! On the plus side I have finished the ironing so not all bad!
I spent a whole day in Chester last week in the vain hope that I would do all my Christmas shopping. I also need an outfit for a Christmas party next week. Surprisingly, I drove home with a few groceries, a chocolate Father Christmas for my mother and my husband’s camera that can’t be fixed. A day wasted and my self esteem in tatters! The clothes on the high street do nothing for me and the mirrors in the changing rooms even less!
I started my day with a coffee and a list, which I expanded as I sat and people watched. I felt quite positive, albeit someone who has an allergy to shopping, no imagination regarding Christmas presents and hates trying on clothes. I had all day to do a proper shop and I do love Chester, so was going home with everything ticked off my list!
I did really try! I started off with the clothes shopping. I decided on a blouse to minimise the choice and concentrate on one item. I have a number of pairs of black trousers so gave myself an hour. Three hours later and ready for lunch, I was still without a blouse and feeling frustrated and in urgent need of a sugar fix!
That was my next challenge! 1:30 pm and everyone in Chester had decided to go for lunch! I finally found a table and a bowl of gluten free soup in M&S. A compromise, but food. The gf bun was warm and moist so not like a piece of cardboard. I read through my list. I don’t know why I scratched around for a pen because there was nothing to delete and I certainly wasn’t going to add anything!
But I did have to chuckle when I thought about my visit to a popular clothes store! Animal print is everywhere. I saw a blouse worth a try and wandered around looking for others. If I’m going to try clothes on I might as well have a choice of more than one! That was when I found a definite ‘maybe’. It was black with gold stripes and looked as if it was in two parts. It was, but there was a join on the shoulders and really awkward to get on. But I persevered and was disappointed to see that there was a tear down the one side. It was also a bit tight and looked better on the hanger!
There followed a nightmare! The tear must have been the result of the last person who tried it on! It was almost impossible to get off! I got as far as both my arms above my head and the blouse covering my face. I was well and truly stuck! I tried not to panic. If I got it on it had to come off. And I’ve been in this situation before! I took a few deep breaths. There were a number of peopling milling around outside the change rooms. I was tempted to push through the curtain, if I could fine the opening, and ask for help. I heard a man’s voice talking to a woman in the next cubicle. There was no way I was going to expose myself to any man! I had to get out of this predicament myself!
Frantic now and really annoyed that I was wasting time I tugged at the garment with my right hand. I heard a loud ripping noise as the garment moved higher and eventually over my head. I shook my arms free and noticed that the tear was quite a bit longer! I hung the blouse up losing all interest in trying on the others. I wanted to get out and breathe in the fresh air!
The plumber has just arrived and there is a tiny piece of blue just visible between the grey clouds. The shower will soon be fixed and I’ll soon be out having my walk. The power of positive thinking! 👠
Jenny Burrell 