The PONs are coping well with the heat. Up and out early for a long tour of the village. Into the car for a quick trip to the bakers before heading onto the cafe for an illicit croissant and a bowl of water. Home for breakfast. Some mornings there's a second walk down to the little waterfall if the air is cool .
This morning we detour through the sunflower fields. Bob and Sophie play what might be described as hide and seek were it not for the fact that Sophie neither hides nor seeks. She does however shriek with delight.
The PONs humans go to the supermarket. We've never been shopping this early. We arrive four minutes before opening time. The psychology of our fellow shoppers is interesting. Although it's not yet time to open the doors two men try to gain the staffs attention. They bang on the glass and point animatedly at their watches. The staff ignore them. Another man passive aggressively bangs his trolley against the sliding doors. We Anglo-Saxons stand to the side and let the supercharged crowd rush in ahead of us.
There was a time when all the shops in the supermarket arcade were occupied. Clothing boutiques, ladies hairdressers and stores selling all sorts of not quite fashionable things. The shoe shops were the first to go, replaced by e-cigarette outlets. These didn't last long although one lingers unhappily and unprofitably on. The mobile phone repair shop run by two young Syrian refugees was the next to give up the struggle. Two years ago the luggage shop went. Six months ago it was the turn of the clothing stores - all of them closing within a week of each other. Their windows covered in '70% off ' signs. Now all the little shops in the arcade are shuttered except for a solitary ladies hairdresser and a man who sells lotto tickets and cuts keys. Retailing changes before our eyes.
Bob copes with the building heat by settling down on the stoop with a friend.
Only in America. How could any hard working parent get by without this ? :
http://www.thetoytamer.com/
( The before photo looks tidier than any playroom we've ever seen)
11 comments:
I'm thinking that a child who sees his parents paying good money hiring a third party to organise his playroom is unlikely to be a child who learns to do things for himself..
Cheers, Gail.
Hari OM
Yes, the fall of the mall results in one of those effects which one thinks rather 'post apocolyptic'. The apoloclypse being Big A-shaped. YAM xx
It is a good time to get the shopping done, but like you I fail to understand the impatience of other shoppers who can't wait until opening time. We often wander round our city and wonder how people can afford to run small shops in this day and age, when some must have nobody browsing let alone buying.
Bob has the right idea - relax in the shade with a good friend.
Almost gale force hot winds here all evening, overnight, and again this morning. Straight from the Sahara and bringing sand. Practically blown off our feet on the quick early morning dog walk and back home again to avoid the heat.
"Because if your playroom is driving you crazy right now, imagine what it’s doing to your child’s future." Oh my! Think of the children! AND the impending therapy bills!
The sunflowers are obviously enjoying the heat. Seems like just last week that you were posting photos of new seedlings.
We're awaiting a tweet storm from the White House in response to the leaked comments from the UK Ambassador.
So are we ! Someone on Mass Ave will have had a bad nights sleep . Even more interesting is who leaked the papers and why ?
Our heat and humidity was never more obvious than yesterday when I attended a dog show. No PONs were entered, but I did think of you when I watched the Lagotto Romagnolo that are from Italy and are often used to hunt truffles.
Our "malls" are getting to be quieter places as well which is all attributed to people shopping online. Macy's and Nordstrom are feeling the pinch.
When my Goddaughter and her family moved to Texas, she hired an interior designer for their new home. Guess which room is the largest, and cost the most, without toys, from the designer? When I saw pictures of the play room, I immediately wanted to move in! And could, as there is a gorgeous tent set up for naps! And yet, the children seem very considerate, sweet, and more normal than many adults I know! Their Grandmother and I are astounded, and often say things that Angus’ Father would have said. Bob’s toy friend is holding up well!
That "play"room looks scary. Isn't there something about how a messy desk is the sign of a creative mind? What does it do to a child if her/his toys are all organized by someone else.
I, too, am curious as to the source and timing of the leaked diplo cables, although you know that it's what those from other countries (without the Daily Mail) are also saying.
Agreed that is the tidiest before toy room ever. What a racket. Seeing the shoppers reminds me we must all work on patience. I was downtown this weekend and also dismayed by the number of stores that no longer exist.
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