Spiral Tree

A slight reprieve from the early mornings today. The Wonderspouse was having his troublesome foot x-rayed at the local hospital this morning, so we left a little later than usual.

There didn't seem to be anything to see on the x-ray, so let's hope the new shoes help.

Afterwards I drove him to work, then went round to Scharwenka's to catch up on stuff. In the morning I went out on the flat roof and helped to take down the Scharwenkas' large satellite dish - Mrs Scharwenka had been quietly watching TV the previous evening, when she'd heard a fearsome noise from above - it turned out the high winds we've been having recently were rocking the dish in a most alarming manner. So, we've taken it down for the time being, before any serious damage is done.

After lunch, Scharwenka and I went shopping in his new car. We bought the things we should have bought, and a few things we shouldn't (all heavily reduced Christmas goodies). We also had an altercation at the checkout - a woman pushed in in front of us, so Scharwenka, very politely, told her that although she'd pushed in, she COULD go ahead anyway, since she had less in her trolley. Her husband, who was evidently a man of some belligerence, and wanted to have some sort of "mine's bigger than yours" contest, then came right up to Scharwenka's face and said, in a very loud voice "Don't you speak to my wife like that!".

Scharwenka was rather taken aback, as was I. The wife seemed to be disinclined to get involved, and I perceived that very patriarchal sort of relationship that is distinctly alien to me (the couple were both in their late 60s at youngest, and I think they were the sort of older people who think that just "being older" entitles them to do as they wish - ironic, since Scharwenka is in his 70s). Anyway, I wasn't having some old chap behaving like that to Scharwenka, so I said, in an equally loud voice, "Don't YOU speak to my friend like that!".

He was totally flummoxed, not knowing how to respond to a forthright woman, maybe 30 years his junior! It was as though women don't say such things in his world! His wife then kept telling him to "leave it", and when another till opened up, we moved away, recounting the incident to the checkout lady, who was very jolly and we all had a good laugh!

Then it was back to Scharwenka's for tea, and then home. We had another earlyish night, since it had actually been a rather tiring day!

Oh, and the picture is of Scharwenka's spiral Christmas tree, which I rather like. It'll be the last time I see it this year, because the decorations and so on will be coming down soon - so I thought it would be a last little festive blip!

Now we just have to get through January and February before we start to get a bit of daylight again and life will be a bit easier!