Heading out of the City

Leaving New Street Day has arrived; the MahJong Queen arrived this morning and carried my belongings out to the Royal Red Wagon and away we went. 

Home first, to collect a few necessary items to see me through my country convalescence, off to the bakers in Swan Street for some decent bread and then we are away.

Well, almost.

Along the way there is a stop at Brand Mart, or whatever it is called, one of those enormous buildings that are devoted to selling, supposedly at lower prices, all those things you really do not need and one or two that might be useful.  It is a visit to Consumer Central, quite a culture shock for some-one whose most recent venture has been to the familiar territory of the local corner shopping centre and  then only for coffee and cake.

The MJQ is collecting two very large boxes of Crabtree and Evelyn gifts which will be part of the Christmas parcels for the organisation for which she volunteers. 

Like this, but not exactly the same contents....

While she attends to this transaction I wander about the nearby shops; there are long pants that draw my attention but I absolutely refuse to even lift the hanger off the rack.  I don’t feel now is the right time for me to be even considering new clothes, let alone actually buying them.  Some time later maybe.

I find the only shop selling electric throws; there are two colour choices, one a shocking purple and the other an odd silver and grey combination.  The MJQ pours a bucket of cold water on my idea of buying one; she thinks the colours are hideous.  I sigh and walk on, thinking how cold my place will be when I get back to it; one of these blankets would be really useful.

We grab a bite to eat at an unremarkable café nearby; the food is ordinary at best.  

There are no stops on the way to Somerset Rise Palace, apart from the necessary one to fill the Royal Red Wagon with fuel.

Night falls early at this time of the year and driving three hours in the dark, with the prospect of rain, is no fun.