September meeting

Nine of us today but ten stories as John E read out Rosemary's continuation of the saga about a gay and straight twins. Ann's all about buying a valuable piece of china as part of a job lot. My story about Aunt Hilda and opening up a shop. Joan all about a reliable second hand car. Pat invite to wedding and Harly motor bike. Sue wedding dress and uncomfortable shoe. Joan R The "one" who left for NZ. BrianFinal item a bargain. John a colleague has a ffair with boss.

Next month  A trouper till the last - or trooper if you like.

“FORCED TO BUY”

Betty stared at the envelope that had plopped through the letter box.  It wasn't very often that the postman had a letter for her and this one looked official.  She picked it up and saw the logo of her local council.   “Oh dear” she thought “I hope it’s not more forms to fill in”.  Since George died a few weeks ago she seems to have had to fill in so many forms, as well as telling family and friends about his dying that she felt in quite a spin and utterly exhausted.  On opening the envelope she looked at the small card it contained.  With wonder she realized that it wasn't a form to fill in but a bus pass!  What with everything happening she had forgotten all about it.  These last few weeks had been difficult for her to get anywhere because she couldn't drive and the bus fares had not long been put up – again!  “At last, something that is worth having for a change that we haven’t been FORCED TO BUY”  she thought. 

Time past and things settled into a routine.  She popped to the shops most days and a couple of times she visited the big town  - using her new bus pass of course!  She felt wonderful and free.  She could go out to anywhere she felt like.  She had loved George and being married but he wasn’t here anymore and she had to get on with her life and decided that using her bus pass was the first step.  She sometimes met friends for coffee or the occasional meal or pictures – whatever took her fancy.  A new ‘fancy’ was looking round the charity shops.  There was a new one that she liked.  The clothes were arranged well and the shop always smelled nice.  It had a friendly ‘feel’ about the place which made her enjoy just being in there, so when a notice went on the door asking for volunteers to do anything from a couple of hours to full time she jumped at the chance.  She chose two hours on Wednesday mornings, so on her first day they gave her some training and lots of advice on treating  the customers.  The two hours past so quickly and she loved it.  She enjoyed all that it entailed and felt useful for the first time since George died.  Betty knew he would have been pleased for her and she also thanked the day she had her lifeline – the cherished  bus pass!