Good morning Michael and all GN's from a cold dark North Yorkshire morning. Having had a rubbish night with little sleep at all, I am wide awake and a bit annoyed with myself that I didnt get up before this. I try to stay in bed and hope to go back to sleep, but after yesterdays exertions, besides the usual aches andpains, my legs were very bad but also this thing when I am overtired, where my skin can be itchy, but if you try to scratch or rub it it hurts! I have found that a shower is about the only way that it improves matters , but felt that 3.30am was a bit early for that. Stupid I would have done better than this. However I have been through my bag of bits- papers with stars drawn next to articles that might be of interest, dates for coffee mornings etc etc., and scribbled out of date ones off, noted the others on the calendar etc., so actually have something to show for my efforts.
Yesterday I still got sort of conned! The weather forecast had been dire, with the promise of heavy rain etc., and I was really struggling to bend down etc., so had decided to go to the designer outlet in York. I needed some new preferably cord trousers, a few other bits and pieces, and was looking for a good model aeroplane for my grandson, and so rang and booked a buggie from them. It took me frustratingly ages toget the car sorted and get on my way. Car drivers that morning were even more selfish than usual. Where I need to come out onto a main road, you can actually see the traffic lights a little further down the road. Yet even though they could see them at red and would not be gaining anything by reaching there a minute early, would anyone let me out would they heck!! Then they are all needing their lights on , on these dark mornings, and it was very clear that many have not had their angle checked that the light is on the road , not shining in peoples eyes. I thought that that was part of the MOT, but there were quite a few cars whose lights need adjusting! Anyway I settled down to my journey, no major hassles apart from general volume of traffic. When I got there , hurrah I got one of the nearest disabled parking bays to the entrance, for which I was very grateful and hobbled in to fill in a form and get their buggy, and then I was free to travel the world - or rather the shopping malls -but I definitely miss my very good mirrors that show me who is behind me and are useful for manoeving behind or near me.
Anyway I got my bag, and put my precious china mug ready for fresh coffee, put my sandwich and odd bits in another bag, collected a map of the centre - there have been some changes to the shops and off I set. Not a very successful trip for what I bought, but quite good for reminding me where things were etc, and being tuesday it was peaceful and quiet. I wasnt very successful in M and S. Trousers either too long , not wide legged or horrible colours. I did manage to find a couple of new bras , but why do the wretched designers thing we only want boring white or blqack, and dont have much colour in the ones I like. The last time I bought some had a lovely deep cerise one and a midgreen one. They brighten up the day. Ah well saved my money. I had checked on my map and found where cafe Nero was and it was out on an edge, which meant it was quite busy but not overcrowded, and the staff were fine about bringing it over to the table for me.as I looked out over the car park and the trees, was slightly annoyed to see a lovely autumn day and no sign of rain! Ah well cant win them all. Tried some shoes, no good, hunted in vain for the model aeroplane. There doesnt much like that, there were plenty of toy planes, even a meccano spitfire to make and hang up but not what I wanted, so as I say not very successful in what I got, but has allowed me to get up to date, reput them into my phone as they have changed things. The poor lady on the customer service, as it was quite obvious to me , having come from that background , that they had decided what they would change, yet neither checked it out well, nor made it any easier to use or find your way round. People where coming in complaining that it was like watching paint dry it was so slow, and that there were no offers etc etc. The people ranged from the techy type who knew exactly what should be happening , but it either was not working or very slowly, to those who had had someone put the info on their phone and they were fine with that but the new things were baffling them and added to that they programme was dropping out too. If they had been my staff I would have sacked or seriously complained to whoever had so called "improved the service" It was perfectly clear that no one had done a through checkup for each different interaction and of course the poor woman who was managing getting people sorted and answering queries , was inundated with request for help and could have done with the help of that indian goddess with 6 arms!!
Anyway I had made the most of my time there, called back to Cafe Nero for a coffee to send me on my way home and returned the buggy and set off back. I called into another town on the way, where they had a very good jigsaw shop in the hopes that they might have something there but no luck. so then a swift trip back home ,stuff sorted from the car and a quick bite before going on the yellow peril to play games at the pub. I felt very weary and was quite happy to watch others play a game I have not tried before, as the day in York had been quite a trip and I was already weary from lack of sleep. Still it served its purpose and I was glad to get out again. I enjoy all the city has to offer for a short time but I am far less weary wandering round gardens or walking in the countryside. But as I came out to go home the heavens opened and I got quite drenched before I got home. Am into winter mode with my high viz yellow jacket, lights and they can definitely see me from a distance.
So when I finally get myself dressed and ready for the off, I need to go for a bit of shopping on the market but then go to a drop in about scams and so forth at the library so hope to brush up my knowledge and pass it on to the people in the womens group tomorrow. The plan for today is simply some shopping and sorting out stuff from yesterday, need to contact the garage to check when my MOT is due and book it , and then tonight it is Whist drive night, so hope it doesnt put too many off coming. I must go on the hunt for the elusive shoe polish , which I know I bought and my shoes need it more for feeding the leather and then they should cope with the wet and look a bit better. I hate scruffy shoes, quite enjoyed cleaning them, partly liked the smell of the polish and partly the pleasure at a gleaming pair looking smart. If I dont fall asleep after this morning, I want to finish some ironing off , so that I get back to a clear basket at last!
I hope you have a pleasant journey today Mick and get to see friends. Gelisa doesnt the car drive you mad these days with these warning lights? It is all supposed to save us effort and warn up about things, but I used to check such things as oil levels etc and just kept a general watch over the car, for tyre pressure etc. Now all these lights give us all these worries, and cost us more as we cant do things ourselves any more! I find it difficult to check my tyres these days and if any need changing I still have my jack etc ., but have to remember to make sure that the garage hasnt put the tyres on with their automatic things as it makes it too hard to move out of the way. Ah well time to creak off and get some breakfast. Wishing everyone a peaceful and pleasant day today
