Trolley rage?

In the great scheme of things, it's insignificant, but relatively annoying nonetheless. Sainsbury's have one checkout which is specifically for baskets, the idea being that if you have only a few items to pay for, it's quicker to go through one checkout specifically for that situation and it makes sense, or at least it does if everyone reads and takes notice of the large sign above which says, 'Baskets only'. Heck, it doesn't even say it in welsh, just pure, simple, straightforward english.

But this morning, I and another basket-carrying lady were held up by a man with a trolley and a fairly well filled one that that. We shared sympathetic glances and mutterings and then another man pulled up behind me with his well-laden trolley.

I pointed out to him, politely, that this was a basket-only checkout and after he had pretended not to hear me or to have any idea what I was talking about, he said,

"Oh, I didn't realise you were an employee of Sainsbury's!" Followed by, "Yes OK, I can read!"

"Ah," I said, "so it's just that you are quite happy to inconvenience other people?"

To that, I got no reply. Mind you, I was quite pleased that, for once, I had been able to think of a smart reply at the time instead of ten minutes later. I must be getting better at this 'grumpy' lark!

But what I was really annoyed about is that the checkout person, also a man, but let's not read anything into that, completely failed to point out to either customer that they should not be at that checkout. 

"Oh well, they'd already started unpacking their trolleys," was his excuse.

To which I say, if the store has decided to have a checkout dedicated to baskets only, the employees should be enforcing it, not leaving it to us customers to slug it out between us!

Riding high

This is Younger Daughter on her pony, Star in action last weekend. This pony is usually referred to as 'Asbo Pony' but that day she behaved herself - more or less...

Meanwhile, today is Keith's birthday, which means that for the next four months, he will be a year older than me again. Keith and I generally have the same attitude towards birthdays - they are best ignored - but he still gets cards and presents and, importantly for him, a cake!

Only a very small one.

"Look on it as me saving you from yourself," I suggested.

He wasn't convinced.

Hole in the ground

This is what happens round here when the road has just been resurfaced...

Well, it would be too straightforward to do the underground stuff first.

This weekend

Well, Dad's shingles attack is, thankfully, not too bad so I have come back home today to recommence looking after the other three males - Keith, Paddy and Jake.

While I was down at Dad's though, Kathy also made a flying visit, which meant we were able to have a good catch up.

Kathy is going to a wedding next weekend and has decided to dress in fifties style, even to the extent of acquiring some seamed stockings! It seems you really can get anything on Ebay.

After she got home yesterday, she sent me a photo of herself in her outfit.

Smart!

Shingles

Today, having been to my welsh class this morning, I am now at Dad's in Bristol. I am here because one of his 89th birthday presents on Monday was shingles so, as you can imagine, he's not feeling 100%. Not that that stopped him trekking outside in the wind and cold yesterday to battle with the garage doors!

So this afternoon, we are sitting in the living room and he has the television on...

watching a boring war programme on the Yesterday channel. (Oh boy, the producers of that channel have a lot to answer for!)

"I could go back home," I mused aloud, "but the trouble is, the same channel would probably be on there too."

On a positive note, I was able to say to my tutor this morning, 

"Y bore ma, dwi'n mynd i Frysti i weld Tad. Mae gynno fo shingles."

My tutor was impressed - "Da iawn!" she said.

Little things...

Clever!!!

Some good news from clever Elder Daughter. She passed her exam!! So now she has a few more letters after her name: 

MBChB, MRCP(UK), MRCP (Geriatric Medicine)

It' s all in the genes, of course!

An old dog

Sometimes on my walks with the dogs, I see a couple with a beautiful, if elderly rough collie dog. Although the dog is lovely, he is obviously now having problems with his back legs, as he walks stiffly and slowly, but the other noticeable thing about him is that he always wears a muzzle. On the rare occasions that I have been able to get within talking distance, the lady has explained that he doesn't like other dogs, he is a rescue dog and at the age of ten years or more, it's too late to retrain him now.
His growling and aggressive stance when another dog comes near is evidence indeed that he prefers them to keep their distance and I have frequently turned back and taken another route when I've seen him approaching,  in order to minimise his discomfort and that of his owners, but I am impressed with the couple's patience. They took him on, presumably knowing of his problem, and have devoted  time, energy and love towards providing him with a comfortable home and regular exercise.
His behaviour might not be the best and who knows what he experienced in his earlier life, but he is a lucky dog.