Back in the swirling mists of time,
on one of our very first dates, Mrs A and I found ourselves in a cookware shop.
I like to think of myself as a bit of a foodie and love such places. This one
is a fine example of the genre, being located in the upmarket (for
Leicestershire) town of Market Harborough and is choc full of food mixers in
jaunty colours with heart attack-inducing pricetags, chef’s knives so sharp
that they’ll relieve you of a finger faster than you can say “Ambulance please”
and sufficient beautifully designed pointless gadgets in primary colours to fill
the junk drawers of even the most spacious kitchens.
Middle aged women
wandered hither and thither, fondling Cath Kidston teatowels and dreamed of
their shabby chic kitchen in their seaside cottage, middle aged men stroked fancy
coffee machines and wondered if their wives would look at them in the same way
they look at George Clooney in the Nespresso ads if they bought one. The shop hummed
with the hushed, polite exchanges of ‘excuse me’ and ‘oops, sorry’ that comes
from having too many well-to-do folk in a restricted space.
And then I saw them.
Hanging from a wall
at the rear of the shop were a number of designer teacosies. Something primal
in my man-brain took over and I was drawn to them like a bee to nectar. I
selected a particularly bright example, plonked it on my head and turned round
grinning.
Mrs A looked
genuinely horrified and thus I learned that her acceptable level for @rsing
about in public was considerably lower than mine.
Fast forward to last
Friday. I was sitting at my desk beavering away at high-powered stuff* when a
picture message arrived from Mrs A. She was taking The Tall Guy to get some new
clothes and was in M&S. The photo was taken in the swimwear department of
M&S and depicted Mrs A wearing a surprisingly large polka dot bikini top.
On her head.
I like to think that
it’s a charming example of how close we’ve become, you may think that she’s
been staring into the abyss for a little too long.
And me? How have I
adopted Mrs A’s foibles? Moved towards her sensibilities?
Well, last night I
signed up for a book group. Between my surprisingly short attention span and my
reading speed in line with people who are likely to be aiming to finish the book
to get a gold star from their teacher, I can’t see it ending well. But I bet it’ll
be entertaining.
NDC
* - Probably
drinking coffee and/or talking to my delightfully bonkers assistant.
I'm just pleased you didn't post the picture! Jack will be mortified if people think he shops in M&S, in the interests of clarity, I was walking back through M&S to get to the car. Not that I think there's anything wrong with M&S at all, t'would be much cheaper for me, just that if it doesn't have Superdry, Jack Wills or some other such expensive label on it, himself will no likey no lightey
ReplyDeleteProviding you wear the tea cosy to the book club, I feel all will be well
ReplyDeleteNota Bene beat me to it..I was just going to say that.
ReplyDeleteI think you and Mrs A have the same sense of humour...very well suited in my opinion xx
I was looking for the picture too......and what is the first book of the club going to be?
ReplyDeleteAG - I have access to a heat seal machine - we could just stick some Superdry logos over the Blue Harbour badges. No one need be any the wiser.
ReplyDeleteNB - That sounds like an inspired idea.
Ayak - We have many things in common, but my sense of humour is a bit more sophisticated. Mrs A will hoot with laughter at that.
Libby - I have been told in no uncertain terms that I do not share the photo. As regards the book club, I shall be lobbying for The Five People You Meet In Heaven, on the basis that I have almost finished it.