Monday, August 09, 2010
Busy day for the Pilgrims
I confess that I was looking forward to a restful day at the shop.
For the first couple of hours it seemed like I would be given this quiet time.
For those hours I was gently busy with my own things - some rearranging and organising things I had taken in.
Then I had some lunch and managed to complete a sudoku puzzle very quickly. That was quite an achievement for me, though it was only at a basic level of difficulty.
And then the customers came in - buying lots and others were hoping that we would be buying their unwanted goods.
I enjoyed the company of a couple from New Zealand who had called in on their to Heathrow to start their epic journey back home.
Amongst other things they bought a copper ale mull. I had to phone the seller to see what this actually was. It seems in the 19th century when beer was often stronger than now, it was drunk warm. The ale would be poured into the conical copper container with a handle and plunged into the hot coals of an open fire.
There were 3 women from Iran - bright and colourful young women with plenty of energy and plenty of nerve in screwing you down to the very lowest price possible. I didn't mind too much - they bought 3 clear glass cream jugs from me. The selling price was about one third less than the ticket price, but I still made a little bit - and anyway I am trying to clear out the plain glass. I will leave that to other people who have a real love for it and also knowledge.
It was good to be so busy and I felt really alive.
Now I feel weary of course.
Time for a cuppa and then sleep.
For the first couple of hours it seemed like I would be given this quiet time.
For those hours I was gently busy with my own things - some rearranging and organising things I had taken in.
Then I had some lunch and managed to complete a sudoku puzzle very quickly. That was quite an achievement for me, though it was only at a basic level of difficulty.
And then the customers came in - buying lots and others were hoping that we would be buying their unwanted goods.
I enjoyed the company of a couple from New Zealand who had called in on their to Heathrow to start their epic journey back home.
Amongst other things they bought a copper ale mull. I had to phone the seller to see what this actually was. It seems in the 19th century when beer was often stronger than now, it was drunk warm. The ale would be poured into the conical copper container with a handle and plunged into the hot coals of an open fire.
There were 3 women from Iran - bright and colourful young women with plenty of energy and plenty of nerve in screwing you down to the very lowest price possible. I didn't mind too much - they bought 3 clear glass cream jugs from me. The selling price was about one third less than the ticket price, but I still made a little bit - and anyway I am trying to clear out the plain glass. I will leave that to other people who have a real love for it and also knowledge.
It was good to be so busy and I felt really alive.
Now I feel weary of course.
Time for a cuppa and then sleep.
