Two unusual pairs of customers today. One pair both had difficulty communicating as they can’t speak and one of them can’t write. They don’t seem to use any discernible signing system either, just do a lot of pointing. One of them was a regular before lockdown and we manged to get by with writing and pointing.
It brings home my deplorable lack of knowledge of signing, something I have always meant to learn. Julia has done courses in Makaton, as reported some months ago, and British Sign language. However, she wasn’t there. My ability to offer them tea and coffee in Makaton was of no use at all. I must do better.
The second couple were father and daughter. She has saved up Christmas and Birthday money and has accumulated £100 to buy silver. She was about eight years old and would, I think, be better buying shares in emerging eastern economies and renewable energy. Even better, she ought to be spending it on dolls.
That thought is probably the window into my soul that allows you to see why I’m not a multi-millionaire and why my kids are likely to follow in my footsteps.
If you wait in the shop long enough, something interesting will happen. It might take months, but it will happen.
I ordered the shopping online last night and went on to make a few final adjustments tonight. They have no canned corned beef and no ready grated cheese. The latter isn’t a problem, because I always feel bad about using it – lazy for buying ready-grated and bad in general because it is full of fat and I am supposed to be losing weight. The former isn’t a problem either, as I’d ordered the tinned stuff by accident, when meaning to buy the sliced corned beef for making sandwiches. It’s a bit annoying, but also, in this case, not important at all. I’m getting used to “supply chain issues” and they don’t really bother me now.
The only “supply chain issues” that are currently bothering me (now that toilet paper is in adequate supply) are canned cat food and the adhesive I use to make Rolodex dividers. Canned cat food has been in limited supply for almost a year now. Sometimes I have to go to the store 5 days in a row just trying to get some. And the adhesive has been “on back order” and completely unavailable for months now. So, like you, I have very little to complain about.
I haven’t heard anyone talking about a lack of cat food or glue, but if you have a cat and a number of loose rolodexes it must be very frustrating. I have always regarded cats, like my kids, as self feeding. I provide the basics and they top up on wildlife and chips (depending whether it’s a cat or a child).
LOL – My cats do not see things the same way as you do. My children, at this point, are self-feeding. But I love when they come home and I get to feed them.
I’m told by No 2 son, that cats are kept indoors in Canada, not allowed to wander like ours do. I suppose in UK cats occupy a higer slot in the food chain than they would in North America, so I could understand yours having a different view. 🙂
They were interesting customers. An 8 year old did well to save £100.
I suspect she has been saving under duress and might really prefer sweets and dolls. However, it’s a good lesson to learn, I suppose. 🙂
The supply chain issues make life a bit more interesting than necessary here, too, though we have been learning to work around them where we can.
Today we started pole bean seeds in containers, buying a little more time until I can get that section of garden ready. It is warm enough at night now to start some things outside the plant room.
I won’t really miss either of them. Bread, toilet paper and milk – after that it’s not important. 🙂