28th November 2017
Today was the beginning of next stage of my new life, the UK part, and I had a number of things to do.
Firstly I had to find another interior company to refurbish my cottage in Bradford on Avon. I have a lot of things I want doing to it, and I had been let down by another company in Melksham, who I was hoping to start planning the job whilst I was away. I chose to meet with Interior Harmony in Chelsea Road in Bath, I had used them before, so I hoped they would be interested in taking the project on.
The journey to Bath took a couple of hours, due to traffic jams and roadworks. Ah traffic jams, I did miss them. I also missed speed cameras, which I believe I drove through whilst exceeding the speed limit……… now awaiting a brown envelope, welcome back Pete.
The meeting went well, and we agreed to meet at the house next Tuesday.
Next on the list was a visit to the bank to get an original account statement that I could send to Avia to get my other pension. They have rejected two other applications, because they claimed they were not original documents.
“Well lady, I have your name, so sort it out, or I will visit you personally”.
I was shocked to find the NatWest had moved, and changed beyond recognition. Gone were the solid structures of oak and granite, of smiling faces behind glass, and the feeling that your money was safely stored in a cardboard box next to the Manager’s gentleman’s parts.
Instead, it’s all purple and maple, with greeters and standing tables, manned by people who don’t really like it, but are not allowed to say. They don’t need too, it’s in their eyes.
So, in possession of my bank statement, original, signed by a assistant manager in his own blood, I set about my next task, a birthday present for my youngest grandson.
Disaster! the Eric Snook toy shop has gone!!! One of the last places from my childhood erased, I couldn’t believe it. I know it was never the same place after it moved, it was part of the fabric to the city, a toy shop now gone. It made me sad, another place men could go to lose themselves for a short time.
Panic set in, where do I go now? I went to Hawkins Bazaar, a place full of shit and worthless tat, and ended up at the toy department of Debenhams, a place lacking in any sort of soul, but I had to find something.
I finally got a digger, it makes all kinds of noises, just like the real thing, should drive the parents crazy.
Ethan seemed pretty pleased with it, and he didn’t break it.
Another Lifetime to go 