Trial by Electrical Equipment Store
p. After a long and productive life, my phone[1] died today. So I ventured forth to my local electrical shop (hint: rhymes with ‘murrays’) to buy a new one. Anyone who lives in the UK will know what an undertaking this is—especially on a Saturday morning. As we’re a bit strapped for cash at the moment, I was looking for the cheapest cordless DECT phone I could find, that didn’t look as if the buttons would fall off after one call. I eventually tracked one down, but then I had to find someone to actually get a boxed phone out of a locked cupboard somewhere so that I could buy it. This was easier said than done.
p. It’s one of the Laws of the Universe that if you go in not wanting to buy something, you’re hardly in the door before a salesperson jumps out from behind the kettles and asks you if you need any help. If you go in with the intention of buying something, it’s impossible to find someone to help. You think you’ve caught someone’s eye, but then they duck down behind the washing machines. It’s an elaborate game.
