Housework, Bridlington and Reaganomics

Wake at seven, Norman has had an accident, so the first job is to clean up. Some hot water, flash and fabreze and everything is soon back to normal. I know what the problem is, yesterday when we got back to Cherry, Dolly and Teddy hadn't eaten their breakfast of dry dog food, so Normy hoovered up the lot. I shall have to watch him more carefully in future. After our full English, I peg out a load of whites and then put on some coloureds, before driving to Cherry for nine fifteen. Its a lovely morning on the Westwood, but I am glad I put on jeans and a sweater today as well as my fleece, because the wind is straight from the North and cold. The dogs don't mind though, Teddy and Dolly take it in turn to scamper about and Norman trots on behind checking the scents and avoiding the rough and tumble. No gardening today, as I have arranged to meet Felicity and some friends in the Poppy Seed at ten thirty. As its market day, I park on Albert Terrace, a short way from Felicity's little house and then walk down Wood Lane to the cafe. When we arrive she is already there with her sister, Joy, and also Annie and her daughter and Hannah, who is Danish. Norman is the centre of attention, which he thoroughly enjoys, he laps up the limelight whilst I have a cup of tea. We see Felicity back to her house and then drive home for eleven thirty. Once indoors I blitz the house, vacuuming through, before cleaning the kitchen and the bathroom and having a general tidy up. The letting agent is popping in this afternoon, and I haven't told them about Norman yet. The landlord said it was OK for me to look after him whilst Sarah was on holiday, but I haven't got round to sorting this out on a permanent basis. So Norman's basket and bowl are placed in the garage, the house sprayed with lavender air freshener, and after hanging out the coloured washing, Normy and I head to Bridlington to keep out if the way. We park down one of the side streets off South Shore Promenade and then walk through town to the market. On holiday, I saw a Dutch woman washing her windows with a squeegee on a pole and it was very effective, now I have a squeegee with a hose lock adaptor for washing the car, so I'm on the look out for a hose lock lance. We have no luck on the market, nor in Boyes, or in the discount store that took over from Woolworths. So we abandon our search and sit outside an ice cream parlour, that serves Lavazza coffee, opposite the harbour. Out of the wind, the sun is hot and it's pleasant drinking my Americano and reading Stuart McCone's book, "Pies and Prejudice, in search of the North". The people who run the cafe are nice and bring Normy some water in an ice cream tub. I don't need the book, the North is all around me, mostly pensioners and disabled people, on day trips or from the caravan parks, but quite a few locals as well, unemployment is very high in Bridlington and social services use up spare holiday accommodation in the town, which adds to the problem. I notice a large number of people with mobility walkers and scooters, many are obese. It's a marked contrast to Holland last week, where I don't believe I saw any. To be fair we were staying in a very prosperous area and the situation may be different elsewhere. This vicious circle of poverty, unemployment, obesity and disability, seems to be something we have imported from the USA, that came along with Thatcher's version of Reagonomics, "look after the rich and the benefits will eventually trickle down to the poor". Except It's a bloody slow trickle ! Whats worse is that the same cant and hypocrisy is being trotted out again. Enough of my rant, after the coffee we make our way to the harbour and sit on a bench facing West and enjoy the afternoon sun, whilst watching the seagulls squabble over scraps on the harbour bottom mud at low tide. Clouds start to gather from the Northwest after half an hour, so we make our way to Audrey's cafe and I buy a portion of haddock and chips, which we eat on a bench outside. By now it's five o'clock and we make our way back to the car and drive home, calling in at Aldi to do some shopping. They sell huge Dutch aubergines for 69p, Tesco's are a £1 and half the size, I intend to make a Parmagiana later in the week, they also have small joints of smoked ham, so we will reprise the dish I made a few weeks ago with broad beans and garlic, parsley sauce. We get back for six and I feed Norman before unpacking the shopping and bringing the washing in off the line. There has been a shower in Tickton, as the garden table is wet, but the washing is dry nonetheless. Later we do our walk down to the bridge and then play "praise and pat" on the way back home. Norman is skipping away like a two year old, but my left hip is stiffening and I feel tired. Not swimming today was sensible, and fortunately there is no sign of any sickness, so tomorrow normal service should resume. When I get in my glasses fall off my nose and an arm breaks off when they hit the floor. I have had them for four years and had to replace a plastic end that broke off during my holiday, but although some superglue provides a temporary repair, I shall soon have to replace them. Needless to say I shan't go to Specsavers. Eat some Brie on oatmeal crackers for dinner and go to bed for ten.