looping gait down the adjoining driveway on Bargate had me imagining
it was a dog, but for its very slight pointed face, and it had a very
delicate body and a pronounced tail. Sandra tells me that besides an
abundance of birds, she has squirrels (pronounced squeer-ulls) and
foxes in her back garden (not termed yard nor back yard, I am
instructed) patio area, and occasionally has seen hedgehogs. Me, not
yet.
Today it became imperative that I had to get serious about exchanging
some US dollars for British sterling/pounds/quid. I've been living
either borrowing a little or living without. For a week each month
Sandra goes off to Preston as a temple worker. Monday is when she will
go and I need to be prepared for that moment when I will be solely in
charge of my own fate.
Started with banks. Checked out several and ended up with Lloyds of
London. I figured they'd be available anywhere I'd go in all the land.
They'll help set up electronic transfer from my bank in Utah and
that'll work for me!
Made a new friend in the woman who was the customer service
representative, Maureen. At the end of our conversation, after
we had chatted amiably, she said she'd welcome going out for a drink
sometime. I rejoined, well, as I didn't drink, how about dinner
instead? She said, I'd like that. Brilliant!
Finally with my own money (Traded some of my American money at a
travel agency. You'd be surprised how many there are on the several
town streets – at least ten. I get the definite impression that going
on excursions is really big in England. Erin had advised me that
larger bills would be more appreciated than smaller ones, so I had
brought $100s. The most recognized of travel agencies to me, Thomas
Cook, said, We can't deal with hundred dollar bills! And the bank
said, No exchanging unless you've got an account with us. What?! I
thought that's what banks were all about – dealing with money matters.
Anyway getting financially established turned out to be more of a
challenge than I had imagined!), I could buy stuff. Hurray – an
independent woman again! Right off, went into Market Hall and bought a
chunk of cheese from the butcher and a baby quiche from the baker for
my lunch and a pink penstemon as a treat for Sandra to add to her
patio garden color.
Sat and watched soaps tonight, to be sociable -- mainly Coronation
Street. According to Sandra it has been going on steadily for over
sixty years. She knows every character. She was telling me there are
probably over 40 different on-going personalities, and that doesn't
even include the transient ones who come and go from one episode to
another. During the hour break Sandra went to the kitchen to do some
preparation, while I turned to a great BBC program about the romantic
entanglements of Ralph Vaughn Williams. Sounded really interesting to
me and I got enthralled quickly. What more could one want?! A historic
artist figure, passionate music, an invalid wife and an illicit
relationship with a young lover that lasted till he died. When Sandra
returned she informed me that there was the second half to consider
and we were firmly back to Coronation Street, as soon as she took
remote in hand. Pooey!
