Not Quite Mafeking.

The relief was palpable. At 10am I was in despair- the third taxi had said they were too busy to come and pick me up. I phoned Jackie and she gave me hers and her daughter’s taxi list. It’s all very well for MTL to say we’ll manage, but Christmas with no milk for tea and no fresh fruit and vegetables is a hardship I’d rather avoid. Finally a kind man from ‘Grab a Taxi’ said he was on his way.

I walked gingerly to the corner of the lane and waited and waited. At last he came and had the greatest difficulty turning round and then we met a neighbour in the lane – so more manoeuvring - but he was a professional. MTL had pointed out that I could well get stuck in the town with mounds of shopping and no return taxi. It’s the custom in friendly Somerset to sit in the front with the driver, so it was easy to have a heart to heart, and we arranged exactly where he would pick me up – actually sitting inside the Co-op, and he worked out the time on my watch which is always 10 minutes fast – and so very confusing, but MTL is kind enough to adjust every time the clocks change.

I knew he wouldn’t let me down because he said to pay him at the end. I had about 50 minutes but got everything except fresh thyme, flowers and cotton wool pads (I got balls instead). The flowers looked lovely but the trolley was bulging and I needed to allow time to pay and pack because the taxi driver had to drive to Taunton later.

At the check out there was the sweetest boy cub who asked if I would like help packing. I told him I’d love it and between us we filled many bags – some of which I had brought and I gave the check out lady a treat by buying one of hers – not something I do lightly. I told the sweet boy I couldn’t have managed without him and made some ’kerchings’ in the tin on the counter, having made sure it was his.

I joined two other old dears sitting with laden trolleys for their dates. It’s good to know the drivers are used to putting the bags in the car giving you time to return the trolley and collect the £1 deposit. The driver told me it was lucky I hadn’t gone to Tesco as some of his customers had phoned to delay him as they were still queuing at the check out.

When we reached home at last, he asked if I needed any help and I told him I was older than I look and yes please. By the way I had an odd feeling yesterday which stopped me going out but when I heard there had been an earth quake in the Lake District I remembered the sensation was just what I felt in a surprise quake in Greece. Global warming no doubt.