Service, with a smile.

I am aware that my jottings are those of someone who does not have a lot happening in her life, but, not being in a position to do very much, I can only write about what I can do. This of course will not be of much interest to very many people.
I am very grateful to my friend who takes me out on Tuesdays for coffee and a little retail therapy. I look forward to it very much.
We have been loyal customers of a certain establishment for the past four and a half to five years. I am not sure how long it has been now.
On a few occasions I have had to 'remonstrate' with the staff, for bungling our order, or for serving coffee that was either too hot or too cold.
When it occured again last week, I rang my friend later in the day, and suggested that, as I pay for our morning tea, coz she drives me where I need to go, would she have any problem with us going somewhere else on our day out.
She said that would be okay with her. Yesterday, we went to a lovely florist/gift/coffee shop on the main street. The atmosphere and the food and service are a vast improvement. The service is prompt, and the staff very pleasant and friendly. We had become accustomed to second rate food, and did not realise how bad it was until yesterday. This establishment uses only first grade ingredients. We ordered Doorstop open sandwiches, with Avocado, chicken and cheese, plus mugs of coffee. We ate our food and then went shopping. We both felt a little queasy later, and put it down to the cheese. Now, there was nothing wrong with it, it was just good quality, and we had been used to eating melted 'cheese' that resembled rubber and tasted like soap!The bill was only a couple of dollars more and I think, well worth it. There is much more choice in what we can order, so we do not have to have the rich cheese.
I will enjoy my coffee mornings again now.

Pet peeve #7

I did not think when I started to write these, that there would be very many. But, there seems to be another one every so often.
My 'beef' this time is people who ring wanting to speak to my husband,and do not identify themselves, or ackowledge me in any way. I get VERY ticked off with these ignorant people.
It happened again tonight. This person had rung on Wednesday evening and asked to speak to him. I said "I am sorry, he is not here. He has just gone for his walk." She said she would call Thursday morning, but I told her we would not be home untill the afternoon, and would she please ring after 3 pm.
She did not ring yesterday. When she called tonight she just said, after I had answered with,'Hullo, H.. house' that she wanted to talk to Mr H.. I asked her who was calling and said who she was. I told her I did not think hubby would be able to hear on the phone. [He is fairly deaf.] But I gave it to him and he heard her quite well!!!
I do WISH people would learn how to make a call, and answer the phone.

I didn't do it!

'Mr not me's' cousin has surfaced in our house. When the kids were small, if asked who had done something, they invariably said, 'not me'.
Last week, after I had made a loaf of bread, I did what I always do, and put the pan in the sink and half filled it with water.I do this each time so any bread that comes away on the mixing paddle, does not go hard, thereby making it difficult to remove when it is washed.
Hubby went to the farm again on Thursday and Friday. He had things to do and he wanted to go to a clearing sale in a nearby town, as he was hoping to buy a second hand twin disc plough.
It is himself who does the dishes, as I can not stand for very long
He did the dishes on Saterday morning, and asked me later where the thing was, as he had not seen it after he had done the dishes. I wanted to make another loaf of bread, but the paddle was no where to be found.
He returned to the farm this Monday and Tuesday. When he came home Tuesday arvo, I told him I could not find the paddle, and could not make bread. I have another bread maker and had tried to make bread, but it was a total flop for some reason.
He said 'I' must have put the thing somewhere! Moi? I explained the above to him, and said I NEVER remove the darn thing, it is left up to him. He said it might be in the rubbish bin, or the icecream bucket that we put food scraps in for a friend's chooks. He duly went through both of them, to no avail.
I, meanwhile, was praying for help to find it, as that bread maker is the best I have used. This morning, it occured to me to look in the cutlery drawer. Voila! There is was, in with the tea spoons!!! I said, 'thank you Lord'
As HE, [hubby] puts the cutlery away, he had obviously put it in without noticing.
In typical male fashion he would not acknowledge the obvious. Hence the title.
Was it a 'senior moment' I wonder?

It's a pup, you bloody idiot!

I had a doctors appointment this morning at 11.10. I was on time and the receptionist told me there were two people in front of me and if I waited, it would be about half an hour. I usually ring about ten minutes before the appointed time, to ascertain how late the doc is, and take it from there. I had a theory that as they book about four people for each appointment, if you ring first, they can tell you anything they want and put someone else in before you. It became academic today, as I had to wait about 65 mins and FIVE people went in before me, and the doctor came out and called each one! I came out at nearly 12.25. I had other things I needed to do, but had to postpone them as we needed to get home for lunch, as it is not a good idea for a diebetic [my spouse] to go too long without food.
When we went back down town, I had to go to two banks for different errands. As I was about to enter the ANZ, I heard a young bloke calling his dog. I looked around, but could not see it. I turned around to walk through the door, and stopped as there was an adorable black Labrador pup sitting in the way, wanting to play. I stood still so as not to make it harder for it's owneer to catch it. He kept calling it, but, as the pup is only about two to three months old,it has not learned to come on command yet. The owner had to come past me to pick it up. As he was leaving I told him he should have it on a lead. That is when he abused me and said, "I'ts a pup, you bloody idiot!' I do not know this person from 'Adam', but there is no excuse for his behaviour.
The young ladies in the bank heard him and agreed there was no excuse for what he said, and one of them said he would be the 'bloody idiot' when he has a squished dog!
I do not konw if the local by-laws pertaining to dogs having to be on a lead if they are in the town precincts, apply to pups, but it makes sense to start training them as soon a possible.

Weight loss firms, what a rip off!

I will no doubt, cop some flak from people who disagree with that statement. I am willing to be proven wrong, if, and only if, it can be itemised and leave no doubt that it is money well spent and not really expensive.
I am still struggling with the excess baggage, and contacted a well known firm, that I have previously joined, to ascertain how much it costs, availability of meals, (they deliver to the country)etc. I had sent them an email last weekend, and they finally contacted me Thursday.I was in the process of buying my L-A-Z Boy recliner. I had gone out to tell #1 spouse I had bought it, and to ascertain when he would be able to bring it home, and my mobile was ringing.I had left my bag in the car for him to mind, as I had not intended to buy anything.
It was a lady from said company. I said I was unable to take the call right then, and would she be able to call me in about an hour and a half, as I would be home then.
She said that would be OK. We were home over two hours when she called back. This company no longer has a branch in Mt. Gambier, they operate from Adelaide.She told me they have an arrangement with IGA/Foodland in some country towns,so that their customers can pick up their weekly/ fortnightly meals.
The cost of the meals, even for a pensioner, are prohibitive at $280.00 pf, and the closest town for me to get them is Penola, which is 160 miles round trip. It would add quite a bit to our fuel consumption too. Not to mention the inconvenience. She said they are looking in to getting this agreement with our local Foodland super market, but even at the reduced cost of $100.00 a week, it is still a no go for me.Guess I will have to battle on by myself.Ho Hum!

Wish I could remember.

Yesterday, as we were about to take the groceries to the car, I bumped into an old school chum. He is a really nice guy, and we do not always see each other. He said hullo and pointed to a very large chap, who was sitting on one of the benches in the mall forecourt. He said to me, "I bet you don't remember this guy." I looked at the man and said, I did not know him. Edward said "No, and he could not place you either untill I told him who you were." Edward said we had all been at Padthaway Primary School together. He told me the other chap's name and I do remember his mum and dad, but not him or his siblings. Funny thing is, absolutely EVERYBODY remembers my elder sister, but they can never recall me. I obviously did not make an impression! I had quite a long chat with Robeert S, and we recalled quite a few other people we had known back in the late 1950's I do not remember much of my school days, as it was not the happiest time for me.When I rang my brother and related this to him, he brought back a lot of people's names I had forgotten.

It's NOT fair!

My daughter and her family came here today as it is there shopping day. The boys were with them, and I was a bit surprised as it is a school day. It is school sports day too. and as the eldest was away sick last week and could not participate in the trials for sports day events, he was not included in any. I am not sure why the younger one was not picked, but he was here too.
Both boys and their sister wanted to stay with us while mum and dad did the grocery shopping.
Li'l sis was NOT impressed when I said I had a hair appointment, and she would not be able to come this time. I explained we do not have a booster seat in our car, and mum and I tried to make her understand why she could not come with me this time. She was told to get in the car but she folded her arms, stamped her foot and said, "It's not fair!" She is not quite three.
I know how she felt, but it is part of growing up. In the end, only the younger boy stayed and we went down town a bit eairlier so I could buy some nuts.
Nuts to that! I took one look at the prices and dropped them pronto! Mum and dad were just going through the checkout, so R stayed with them and I scooted off to my hair appointment.

Been a bit extravagant, I 'as.

We have been on our fortnightly shopping excursion, and as I have been wanting to purchase a rocker recliner for some time, I went to one of the furniture shops just to browse. I was unaware they are having a sale on these chairs, and it only has a couple of days to run. The deal is to buy two recliners and you pay much less. I only wanted one, as #1 spouse does not like them. As it turned out, the only one that was suitable for my particular needs, was the last one in this colour. It is seude, kind of burgundy. The actual name is Merlot. That is a type of red wine. It is really lovely and I will be very happy when #1 spouse brings it home next week. It was priced at $1,100 or $1,300 and I paid $899.00.

Cain't stop laffin'

It is just as well I have a very finely honed sense of the ridiculous,weird sense of humour to the uninitiated.
Yesterday,after church, I was having a coffee and talking to one of my friends,when another lady came over and spoke to us. She then procceeded to lift the hem of my skirt, ever so slightly, and addressed her remarks to the other lady.
Conversation went something like this,
first lady," Isn't this a nice shade of green? I have been admiring it all morning" ( why was she not paying attention to the pastor????)
Second lady, "Yes,it is. Not too dark or too pale.Very nice indeed."
First lady,"Hmmm, yes.Very nice. Nice fabric too." It is not a new skirt I have had it for about four years and worn it many times to church.
Neither of them addressed one word to me and it made me feel like a store Manniquin!!
I have been laughing about it ever since.My friends at Bible study this morning laughed heartily too.