Sunday, December 14, 2014

The Last Post

Hopefully that is the last post before January I mean.
Today we had our Group's Christmas lunch at the Gascony Hotel.  I have walked my socks off this week and after walking up to visit Joy yesterday I decided that would be the last walk till I get back from my cruise.
 
However when I tried to get a taxi this morning the blighters had all switched their phones off.
Out of the blue I got a phone call from Veronica.  She and Peter are now settling in their new house
near Torquay and had driven up to stay in their caravan for the Group's dinner.  Before I could tell her of my plight she suggested picking me up.  Wasn't that lucky?
 
They have not been so lucky as their excellent decorator had a heart attack whilst working there.  They have visited him in hospital and thankfully he is recovering and has a stent which makes him feel so much better he has to be restrained from going back to work for a while.
 
The excitement this week was when a handsome fire fighter came to inspect my three electric blankets.  One was antediluvian so I said don't bother to test it - just dump it but he took them off and asked if I wanted them to be dumped if dangerous.  Luckily one passed with flying colours - even though it came from Mum's house and the other two - including the one I have been using every winter - were pronounced dangerous and dumped.  Full marks to them but black marks to Customs
who charged a hefty charge on a Christmas gift from family in Australia and the Royal Mail zapped a handling charge on top.
Not exactly Christmas spirit.
 
So one more sleep and I'm off on the high seas.  It so much nicer this time because instead of joining a ship of strangers I shall have my friend Dylan and a new friend - his grandson - who is 15.
And then when we land back at the end I shall be met by my eldest son and whisked off to spend New Year with him my DIL and two grown up grand- children - home for Christmas.  I'm so grateful for this; just lately I 've been thinking I'm beginning to get over everything and then Wham bam you're bowled over again - back to square one.
 
I shall miss you all - and my lovely Scrabblers.  God bless, keep the faith and see you in the New Year.xoxoxox

 ,
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Before the welkin rang
 Warming up a bit.
Here we go!
 
 


Monday, December 01, 2014

Walk on by?

All seemed quiet as we left the restaurant on Saturday night but as we looked down the street on the opposite side of the road we could see two men leaning over a motionless body on the pavement.
It wasn't clear whether they were helping him or were responsible for him being there. What was clear was that they appeared to be the worse for drink.

Suddenly one of them, in a curious fancy dress of an American cop set off swiftly up town.  As he passed us on the other side of the street I called out.

'You aren't just going to leave him there are you?'

He glared at me and said he was going to get the police.  This didn't make sense as the station is a good half mile away.
'Are you sure,' I asked?
More glares and he continued up the street.

There was a taxi driver who had just pulled up so I crossed the road and asked him if he could phone the police.  He told me that wasn't in his remit and drove off.

We went to the injured man who was now coming round and clearly had a bashed eye.  The other chap was trying to get him up and the victim was struggling against him.  I was suggesting it was better to let him lie preferably on his side as it wasn't clear how injured he was.
  Neither of them were taking any notice and continued struggling with each other.

It seems there is a community police man around on a Saturday night which the man I challenged must have known about so I was wrong to doubt him.  We were very relieved when he returned with
said police man.

Before I had time to apologise he berated me and told me to NEVER question his intent again (or words to that effect.)

I did humbly apologise for doubting him and explained that during this last year there had been a similar happening in Minehead and the victim had died alone in the street.  I was afraid that could have happened again.
An ambulance was called,  the 'American cop' and I shook hands and as we were leaving- to my astonishment he gave me a hug.

We saw the ambulance arrive as we continued home.

I do regret doubting the chap; it's the sort of happening I'm not very experienced in.  My children think I should not get involved.

What do you think?