Leaning tower of soup

Thank goodness I managed a troley dash around the supermarket this afternoon, otherwise we'd be eating stale bread sandwiches for our Christmas meal. I arrived late on hoping to miss the crowds. No such luck, the aisles were packed with families panic buying like the whole town was going into lockdown for a month. Helpfully the supermarket had created an unusual maze like effect by dividing one wide aisle into two, by partitioning it with bakery products, nuts and clementines. Twice I saw near festive carnage as overloaded trolleys negotiated the slim corridors and stressed shoppers. One lady went flying into a leaning tower of soup cans, sustaining a few bumps, bruises and a battered turkey. I managed to remain calm throughout the duration and came away with everything I needed except for custard powder, which I forget every year. Merry Christmas folks! Have fun.

Clean

I spent most of today cleaning up. Fortunately for me the flat only needs a good clear out once a year and I tend to save this annual grot slot to the week before Christmas. My daughter has suggested that I clean up once a month, which she says would save me time at the end of the year. I think she was just a bit peeved about finding my collection of toe nail clippings behind the bathroom sink when she dropped her electric toothbrush the other week. Anyway this morning I set about my chores, sporting my scruffs, pink rubber gloves and wealding a large bottle of disenfectant. I didn't stop until I came across a hair ball so thick it practically had a pulse. After half an hour's deliberation on how to remove the offending item without touching it. I decided to use my daughter's straighteners, turned off, which of course was the moment she walked through the door. As I lurched forward with the giant ball of hair she screamed causing me to drop it and for it to scuttle off. Perhaps it wasn't a hair ball after all!

Top Knot

On my day off last week I decided to escape the Christmas shoppers and pop into the cafe where my daughter works. It was absolutely heaving but luckily I managed to bag a seat at the back of the cafe, perfect for people watching. I am rather backward in the style stakes, but I do like to observe the some what strange tendencies of women when it comes to fashion. Last year every other lady seemed to be sporting those ghastly big slipper boots, that often wore down on the inside of the sole giving the wearer an unsightly rickets like gait when they walked. This year lots of women were wearing black quilted belted jackets with a gold logo on the chest or the hairstyle my daughter calls a 'top-knot'. It got me wondering, if you chopped off all the top-knots in Preston and lined them up side by side how far would they stretch. My estimate would be to London and back. What do you think?

Preston's windiest corner

This week's weather has been a wild and thrilling mix of rain, hail, wind and snow. Surely the test for any precipitation device. The other afternoon I nipped out for a Christmas tree shaped donut and was caught in a weather vortex at the foot of the outdoor market. No sooner than you could say 'discount supermarket' I was spun round like a whirling dervish careering towards a six foot high window. Thankfully the wheels of an elderly person's shopper stopped me in my tracks and I was back on course again. As I pootled my way down Orchard Street, grasping at what was left of my umbrella, it got me thinking, umbrella manufacturers would be wise to send their brollies up to us Prestonians for testing.

Gifts

Well festive friends if you're stuck for gift ideas for older friends and relatives might I suggest you stroll on down to Friargate. On my way to work the other morning I noticed the Adult Shop are doing Christmas Gift Vouchers. What a super idea! Get them what they really want this Christmas.