The Kindness of Strangers
I'm a bit of a traditionalist and so this Sunday where did you find me? At B&Q along with a multitude of like-minded people, hell bent on a spot of DIY. I mean to say, the sun was out, it was quite warm in a wintry sort of way, and at this time of year 'one must keep up the British tradition' of pottering in the garden or catching up on those house repair jobs.
For me this meant buying a garden store. Now I've been hankering after one of those contraptions for a year. You know the type, a green rigid plastic versatile outdoor storage unit. I desperately need one to store all the junk that is cluttering my porch. Ok it is self-assembly flat packed, but I can do that and I've got the very spot in the garden ready, leaves swept away, ground leveled.
Choosing one was easy. I didn't want it too tall or I would have to sit looking at it while I lounge on my B&Q lounger in the summer sun. It would have to be fairly long so it can safely house my B&Q leaf blower. Having chosen the exact one to fit my requirements I called an employee over to help me to the checkout, mainly because I didn't have a trolley! As we walked I suddenly had a panic attack. It was going to be too big to fit in my car boot.
The employee did a grand job of reassuring me that by taking it out of the packaging it would fit in any car just fine. After all, hadn't he recently put one just like this into a mini? His confidence inspired me so we proceeded through the checkout, but then he handed me a pair of scissors, told me to leave the packaging on the trolley in the car park, one of the lads would collect it, and promptly disappeared.
A klaxon should have been ringing in my head. Not being one who is easily put off I studied the car carefully then decided to give it a go, and if I ever see that employee again I shall verbally remove his packaging.
Much as I like the convenience of B&Q I felt their solution was unworkable. £20 to deliver my versatile garden store 1.5 miles is unacceptable. Although standing in the car park I did wonder if I had any alternative. Then I spotted him. A knight in shining armour. Agreed he was not riding a white stallion but driving a flat-bed truck. Nonetheless a true knight.
This total stranger, when approached by a stressed mad woman waving her arms towards piles of polystyrene packaging (now blowing across the car park) and several large green plastic sheets, and waffling on how she hadn't realized that mini cars were bigger than Mercedes, immediately agreed to her request to follow her home and deliver her precious cargo.
As I said, the kindness of strangers - and before you say it I was quite safe putting myself in the hands of this stranger. The hubby was sitting in the car wanting no part of this charade!
Fiona 7/3/06
For me this meant buying a garden store. Now I've been hankering after one of those contraptions for a year. You know the type, a green rigid plastic versatile outdoor storage unit. I desperately need one to store all the junk that is cluttering my porch. Ok it is self-assembly flat packed, but I can do that and I've got the very spot in the garden ready, leaves swept away, ground leveled.
Choosing one was easy. I didn't want it too tall or I would have to sit looking at it while I lounge on my B&Q lounger in the summer sun. It would have to be fairly long so it can safely house my B&Q leaf blower. Having chosen the exact one to fit my requirements I called an employee over to help me to the checkout, mainly because I didn't have a trolley! As we walked I suddenly had a panic attack. It was going to be too big to fit in my car boot.
The employee did a grand job of reassuring me that by taking it out of the packaging it would fit in any car just fine. After all, hadn't he recently put one just like this into a mini? His confidence inspired me so we proceeded through the checkout, but then he handed me a pair of scissors, told me to leave the packaging on the trolley in the car park, one of the lads would collect it, and promptly disappeared.
A klaxon should have been ringing in my head. Not being one who is easily put off I studied the car carefully then decided to give it a go, and if I ever see that employee again I shall verbally remove his packaging.
Much as I like the convenience of B&Q I felt their solution was unworkable. £20 to deliver my versatile garden store 1.5 miles is unacceptable. Although standing in the car park I did wonder if I had any alternative. Then I spotted him. A knight in shining armour. Agreed he was not riding a white stallion but driving a flat-bed truck. Nonetheless a true knight.
This total stranger, when approached by a stressed mad woman waving her arms towards piles of polystyrene packaging (now blowing across the car park) and several large green plastic sheets, and waffling on how she hadn't realized that mini cars were bigger than Mercedes, immediately agreed to her request to follow her home and deliver her precious cargo.
As I said, the kindness of strangers - and before you say it I was quite safe putting myself in the hands of this stranger. The hubby was sitting in the car wanting no part of this charade!
Fiona 7/3/06
posted by Anonymous at 3/07/2006 09:51:00 pm
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