![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Whew, I'm whacked! I went over to Rainham today and took Aunty Eve shopping at Bluewater. It was absolutely packed out and we got there at 11.00 - by that time, nearly all the main car parks were full. If it hadn't been for Aunty Eve having a Disabled Parking badge, we'd never have got parked next to John Lewis.
Eve had a list of things she wanted, and we managed to get most of it in John Lewis, having first stopped off for coffee and tea to revive ourselves :) Then we shopped. She was looking for a kingsize duvet cover in a gold/patterned theme but she wasn't sure exactly what she was looking for. She was, however, crystal clear about what she didn't like as the foolish JL assistant who came to help us found out. Eve's always polite, don't get me wrong, but she is of firm opinions and she sticks to them. She was Not Terribly Impressed with the selection of covers in JL - actually, neither was I - and we contrived to lose the helpful lady and slink off to other pastures as soon as possible.
We had more luck in the stationery department, where I got some cd marking pens and Eve bought some notelets and a calendar. Then we looked for scarves - geh. Worse selection than the duvet covers. So we headed out into the mall and made our way slowly to W.H.Smith. This turned out to be a major tactical error, as Richard Hammond was scheduled to do a book signing (he has a new book out, Hamster fans) and the store was just jammed . I managed to wriggle Aunty Eve through the seething throng to the CD section, where we found the CDs she wanted for her and her friend, and then picked up a diary and a bottle bag from their stationery section. Then I steered Eve out so she could go and sit down out of the crush, while I went back and did battle with the crowd to get to the till, pausing only to pick up an Empire magazine and a correction pen for me. The queue at the till was actually really short, it was just that it was hidden behind the pile of people waiting to get their book signed. I was seriously glad to get out of there.
We very slowly went back to the cafe outside JL and had lunch. Aunty Eve had soup - she's still having problems with her teeth, bless her - and I had the most delicious baguette with peppered beef and horseradish sauce. Gorgeous it was! Fortified, we made our way, with a rest at the half way point to House of Fraser, where Aunty Eve finally found a duvet cover. However it was £105. I tried to talk her out of it, saying I'd go and get the car and drive her round to M&S but she wouldn't have it. By the time she added 2 pillowcases, it came to £154 but she said if she couldn't treat herself to stuff like that at her age, when could she? It IS her birthday tomorrow after all :)
By this time I could tell Aunty Eve was really flagging and there would be no way she could walk back to the car so I found her a seat outside HoF and scampered back for the car. Took me ages to get back because I got lost in the jungle of roads around Bluewater but I made it after a fraught 10 mins of driving and much swearing ("GET OUT OF THE WAY, YOU HALF-BLIND TWIT! MY AUNT'S OUTSIDE IN THIS WIND AND WAITING FOR ME! MOOOOOVE!"). Got there, wrangled the car into place, got out to help her in, and then she said she needed to find the toilets. *sigh* So I re-wrangled the car back into a car park (thank GODS for that disabled parking permit!) and took her back into HoF. The gods smiled though and the toilets were really close the entrance. Hallelujah!
Once that was sorted, we went back to the car and headed home. I wouldn't let Aunty Eve make me tea, I made us both one in stead and made sure she sat down and rested up. Takes a lot out of her, these jaunts, she just doesn't have the stamina now. Well hell, she is 95 tomorrow :P We nattered for a little while, and I gave her her birthday pressie which she wasn't allowed to open :) (It's the new Russell Watson CD, she likes him). Finally I reluctantly left to go and do battle with the hideous traffic on the M2 and at the Dartford Tunnel. The M25 was fine though and I got home about 40 minutes ago. *flops on sofa* And I'm not moving now, nuh-uh. *rubs sore feet*
Aunty Eve is fine, apart from the toothy trouble, and I'll be seeing her again at Christmas when I'll spend Christmas Day with her. She has agreed to let me do the cooking though so at least I don't have to fret that she'll be over-exerting herself.
All in all, a very good day. And now I slump. *slumps*
Eve had a list of things she wanted, and we managed to get most of it in John Lewis, having first stopped off for coffee and tea to revive ourselves :) Then we shopped. She was looking for a kingsize duvet cover in a gold/patterned theme but she wasn't sure exactly what she was looking for. She was, however, crystal clear about what she didn't like as the foolish JL assistant who came to help us found out. Eve's always polite, don't get me wrong, but she is of firm opinions and she sticks to them. She was Not Terribly Impressed with the selection of covers in JL - actually, neither was I - and we contrived to lose the helpful lady and slink off to other pastures as soon as possible.
We had more luck in the stationery department, where I got some cd marking pens and Eve bought some notelets and a calendar. Then we looked for scarves - geh. Worse selection than the duvet covers. So we headed out into the mall and made our way slowly to W.H.Smith. This turned out to be a major tactical error, as Richard Hammond was scheduled to do a book signing (he has a new book out, Hamster fans) and the store was just jammed . I managed to wriggle Aunty Eve through the seething throng to the CD section, where we found the CDs she wanted for her and her friend, and then picked up a diary and a bottle bag from their stationery section. Then I steered Eve out so she could go and sit down out of the crush, while I went back and did battle with the crowd to get to the till, pausing only to pick up an Empire magazine and a correction pen for me. The queue at the till was actually really short, it was just that it was hidden behind the pile of people waiting to get their book signed. I was seriously glad to get out of there.
We very slowly went back to the cafe outside JL and had lunch. Aunty Eve had soup - she's still having problems with her teeth, bless her - and I had the most delicious baguette with peppered beef and horseradish sauce. Gorgeous it was! Fortified, we made our way, with a rest at the half way point to House of Fraser, where Aunty Eve finally found a duvet cover. However it was £105. I tried to talk her out of it, saying I'd go and get the car and drive her round to M&S but she wouldn't have it. By the time she added 2 pillowcases, it came to £154 but she said if she couldn't treat herself to stuff like that at her age, when could she? It IS her birthday tomorrow after all :)
By this time I could tell Aunty Eve was really flagging and there would be no way she could walk back to the car so I found her a seat outside HoF and scampered back for the car. Took me ages to get back because I got lost in the jungle of roads around Bluewater but I made it after a fraught 10 mins of driving and much swearing ("GET OUT OF THE WAY, YOU HALF-BLIND TWIT! MY AUNT'S OUTSIDE IN THIS WIND AND WAITING FOR ME! MOOOOOVE!"). Got there, wrangled the car into place, got out to help her in, and then she said she needed to find the toilets. *sigh* So I re-wrangled the car back into a car park (thank GODS for that disabled parking permit!) and took her back into HoF. The gods smiled though and the toilets were really close the entrance. Hallelujah!
Once that was sorted, we went back to the car and headed home. I wouldn't let Aunty Eve make me tea, I made us both one in stead and made sure she sat down and rested up. Takes a lot out of her, these jaunts, she just doesn't have the stamina now. Well hell, she is 95 tomorrow :P We nattered for a little while, and I gave her her birthday pressie which she wasn't allowed to open :) (It's the new Russell Watson CD, she likes him). Finally I reluctantly left to go and do battle with the hideous traffic on the M2 and at the Dartford Tunnel. The M25 was fine though and I got home about 40 minutes ago. *flops on sofa* And I'm not moving now, nuh-uh. *rubs sore feet*
Aunty Eve is fine, apart from the toothy trouble, and I'll be seeing her again at Christmas when I'll spend Christmas Day with her. She has agreed to let me do the cooking though so at least I don't have to fret that she'll be over-exerting herself.
All in all, a very good day. And now I slump. *slumps*
cheerful
There are 4 comments on this entry. (Reply.)