Last Week Ma warned me that she had an appointment at the Docs today.
I told her that was fine with me....I hadn't made any plans to do anything special........then yesterday(with it being such a lovely sunny spring day...again) I was telling myself I would have a jaunt on the bus to Bury.
Much quieter in the week. I would have a look in the newly renovated TKMaxx(we need a new omelette pan....and himself wants a gradely potato peeler - another one has found its way into the bin)....a squiz in Matalan(much bigger store than the Accy one), and generally have a satisfying mooch around the shops. No other half giving me the third degree on why I wanted to go in any particular shop.
I was doing all this mental planning, when a little bell in my head rang....'haven't you got something you should be doing tomorrow?' it asked.
Oops, yes. Had almost slipped my mind.
I thought of ma being suited and booted, waiting for me to land and me being in Bury aimlessly wandering round the shops - spending the money that I will have when my ship comes in....I wish!
Ma hates to be let down... Had I forgotten, I would have been in the doghouse.
Anyway, my luck was in and I remembered.
Her appointment was for 12.10.
I was up at her house with a bag of fresh croissants and a bottle of Vanilla Milkshake by 10.30..........I know, I know. I am cursed with this evil punctuality gene......I would rather be two hours early than a minute late.
Ma and I passed the time in idle chatter......the taxi wasn't coming until 11.45...so we put the world to rights.
I told Ma that I would see her into the surgery and then I would hoof it off to the chippy, get her Fish, chips, peas and gravy for her to take home for her lunch.
'Oh, no' she said 'it's too far for you to walk - we'll get the taxi to stop on the way home'
'No it isn't too far - and anyway, you know they cook the stuff to order. The taxi driver would have to wait 15 minutes...and some of them don't like doing that' I said.
So I got my way in the end. I saw her safely into the waiting room......comfy with a magazine to read.....then I legged it.
There was no-one in the chippy. I gave the chap my order and it was cooked while I waited...just as I said it would be.
'Sore finger?' said the chap as he was ladling the great golden pile of chips onto the paper.
I looked at him a bit quizzical, then realised he was asking me if I wanted salt and vinegar( he was chinese).
'Yes please'
The he leaned over and put this humungous whale sized piece of fish on top of the chips.
This was also liberally sprinkled with salt and vinegar.
The parcel of hot food was so big he had a struggle to wrap it all up.
Peas and gravy in cartons...also wrapped up against spillages.......all placed delicately in my carrier bag.
I paid the man and hot footed it back to the surgery.
Ma had only just gone in. I sat there tormenting those in the waiting room with the aroma of battered whale and chips.....with just a tang of vinegar.
When Ma arrived home the food was still piping hot. she rang me to say that there had been enough to feed a growing boy and his father.....that she had thoroughly enjoyed the food.....but had not been able to eat it all.
Was having the remains of the fish(batter removed) on a butty for her tea.
I told her that was fine with me....I hadn't made any plans to do anything special........then yesterday(with it being such a lovely sunny spring day...again) I was telling myself I would have a jaunt on the bus to Bury.
Much quieter in the week. I would have a look in the newly renovated TKMaxx(we need a new omelette pan....and himself wants a gradely potato peeler - another one has found its way into the bin)....a squiz in Matalan(much bigger store than the Accy one), and generally have a satisfying mooch around the shops. No other half giving me the third degree on why I wanted to go in any particular shop.
I was doing all this mental planning, when a little bell in my head rang....'haven't you got something you should be doing tomorrow?' it asked.
Oops, yes. Had almost slipped my mind.
I thought of ma being suited and booted, waiting for me to land and me being in Bury aimlessly wandering round the shops - spending the money that I will have when my ship comes in....I wish!
Ma hates to be let down... Had I forgotten, I would have been in the doghouse.
Anyway, my luck was in and I remembered.
Her appointment was for 12.10.
I was up at her house with a bag of fresh croissants and a bottle of Vanilla Milkshake by 10.30..........I know, I know. I am cursed with this evil punctuality gene......I would rather be two hours early than a minute late.
Ma and I passed the time in idle chatter......the taxi wasn't coming until 11.45...so we put the world to rights.
I told Ma that I would see her into the surgery and then I would hoof it off to the chippy, get her Fish, chips, peas and gravy for her to take home for her lunch.
'Oh, no' she said 'it's too far for you to walk - we'll get the taxi to stop on the way home'
'No it isn't too far - and anyway, you know they cook the stuff to order. The taxi driver would have to wait 15 minutes...and some of them don't like doing that' I said.
So I got my way in the end. I saw her safely into the waiting room......comfy with a magazine to read.....then I legged it.
There was no-one in the chippy. I gave the chap my order and it was cooked while I waited...just as I said it would be.
'Sore finger?' said the chap as he was ladling the great golden pile of chips onto the paper.
I looked at him a bit quizzical, then realised he was asking me if I wanted salt and vinegar( he was chinese).
'Yes please'
The he leaned over and put this humungous whale sized piece of fish on top of the chips.
This was also liberally sprinkled with salt and vinegar.
The parcel of hot food was so big he had a struggle to wrap it all up.
Peas and gravy in cartons...also wrapped up against spillages.......all placed delicately in my carrier bag.
I paid the man and hot footed it back to the surgery.
Ma had only just gone in. I sat there tormenting those in the waiting room with the aroma of battered whale and chips.....with just a tang of vinegar.
When Ma arrived home the food was still piping hot. she rang me to say that there had been enough to feed a growing boy and his father.....that she had thoroughly enjoyed the food.....but had not been able to eat it all.
Was having the remains of the fish(batter removed) on a butty for her tea.
