Hours to kill
We got up early yesterday to take the car into Edinburgh for its MOT (the early wake-up was a bit of a shock!). After leaving it at the garage we found ourselves stuck in town with hours to kill. But we knew where our first trip would be because we did exactly the same thing last year; we went to The Waiting Room – a restaurant/bar in Morningside – where we had delicious bacon, sausage and egg rolls for breakfast. Wonderful!
After that, we took the bus into the city centre so that James could visit the new improved Jessops camera shop. It was the first time I had taken the bus in a year and it felt really weird. It actually felt like home, even though I hated every second of every bus journey I ever took (well, at least in the latter years of my working life). I was becoming more and more excited the closer we got to town. How fun it was to be back there after a year away. I was on the bus but I wasn’t going to work. I was walking around near my old workplace but I didn’t have to go there. I just watched as all the busy office workers rushed around on their lunch breaks.
Jessops was fun. I love to see James’ face light up at the sight of lenses and camera bags and lights and tripods. It was funny to see about three other couples in there; each man would walk up to the display of lenses, eyes wide in awe, and each girl would reluctantly follow their partner and stand slouched and yawning beside them. I admit that I don’t share James’ fascination with camera stuff but I am fascinated with his fascination, and I love that he has something like that in his life. I really want him to take his photography further as he has so much talent.
After Jessops we went to meet my mum who was already in town doing her ‘ladies what lunch’ thing with her friend. She alone keeps Starbucks in business, and the staff in numerous different branches knows her. We went to Marks & Spencer for tea and scones! We blethered for ages about all sorts of things. I felt a bit panicky at one point when we started talking about how many of my old school friends’ mums had died in the last few years. I think I was just over-stimulated by so much going on around me so we changed the subject and I managed to distract myself from a full blown panic attack.
When we eventually went to pick the car up – finally having to acknowledge that it won’t last us another year – we headed to the pet shop and B&Q for some more spending of money that we don’t have on less than exciting goods like dog collars and wood. And… then… (phew)… I drove us all the way home, stopping off at the chippy for tea. It was a long day but I had a really nice time.
Posted in Memories, Panics, People