Sunday, November 25, 2007

Keys to the Renault

I went to the shops today and half way there I spotted a set of car keys on the path. I decided to leave the keys there so if the person who lost them retraced their steps they would come across them. But 45 minutes later during my walk back, I noticed that the keys were still there. Picking them up I pointed them towards at least two cars and pushed the button until one finally beeped, I realised I had two choices. Leave the keys and let the kids playing in the street find them, potentially taking the car and getting into trouble, or knock on some doors to see who they belonged to.

The first door I knocked on a man answered, well built with a goatee. He was very defensive at first (not knowing me and all) so I asked him if the Renault belonged to him and he said "yes, why?". I held the keys up and immediately his demure changed. He was extremely grateful and couldn't stop thanking me.

Now, to me, doing that was no big deal, but everyone I have told so far has said they never would have done it. I guess I don't understand why? What's wrong with returning keys to their owner if the effort was minimal? It was common sense really. Keys, car, house....

There's no wonder the world has such problems if simple acts of kindness are a scary thing to imagine. Perhaps it's gotten to the point where people are more comfortable with being violent to one another rather than being kind?

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Such Pretty Colours!

I'm so sleepy!

I have Cystitis, yet again, but because I'm allergic to the strongest antibiotic that gets rid of it, my doctor has given me the maximum dose possible of another antibiotic.... and it's knocking me out!

I have to take one 100mg tablet four times a day. That means I'm sleepy allllll day. And I end up in this state of idiocy where I just feel limp and stare. It's hilarious.

Today I short changed a customer by £2 pounds, fell over an empty cola bottle on the bus, put my colleagues fleece jacket on instead of my own (he's a man and much, much larger than me), burnt my tongue on my bosses cup of tea because I thought it was my cup of water, and sent the wrong text to the wrong person.

I am *so* blaming the tablets. It's their fault that I'm more ditzy than normal, right? Right? Right!

It so is!

Monday, November 05, 2007

Seven 3rds.

So, it's November, the fireworks are banging every night leading up to the 5th. At work we stood quietly inside the shop, watching as the firework display at the marina a few streets away made the sky look glittery. So many colours! Pinks and blues and greens and yellows!

They were pretty.

I haven't stood and watched fireworks in years. I haven't particularly enjoyed bonfire night either. I tend to stay indoors where there is only muffled hissing and whizzing and banaging.

I suppose it's nice though. There's something amazing about total strangers, hundreds of them, standing around a fire. All watching in awe as the sky lights up with every colour you can imagine. The cold air (that smells of hot dogs) making your breath look like smoke as you speak.

I haven't enjoyed bonfire night for seven years because each time, I remember that just two days before this celebration, I had lost my best friend.

This year it's 7 years, last year it was six, the year before that it was five. Time passes, and you deal with it. But when it comes up to that time of year, you can't help the memories filtering through your head. The laugh. The smile. The eyes. The hair. The clothes. The machines. The crying. The swelling. Knowing the person they were.... wishing you could know the person they were to become.

I won't attend a firework display this year, either. But who knows. Maybe in another 7 years I'll be ready.