An Itinerant Mind

Context

Does anyone else worry that "Eating locally sourced produce." takes on a whole other meaning during a Zombie Apocalypse?

Mondays are nominally a day off for me, since I work all weekend. However they are generally quite busy despite this. There's visiting the bank. This has become less of a chore since covid restrictions have been relaxed. For months we have been queuing to be allowed in, often with people who had no idea what social distancing meant, and who would crowd right up next to you. Fortunately, we have survived unscathed, and being double jabbed has added a further layer of welcome protection.

The main reason I visit the bank is to pay money into it. We are a cash only business, though this cannot remain the state of play much longer, increasingly we are having potential customers leave, because we don't take card. Once inside the bank I am usually using an ATM, and let me tell you, they are a pain. Despite my care in sorting and counting notes, pretty much every transaction of late involves the machine spitting some out. When put back in, they will usually be accepted, there's no clue as to why they didn't go through first time.

Today we had a note flagged as fraudulent, this despite our using a machine to check them at point of sale. When we spoke to one of the ladies who work there, she said that they have never had one turn out to be actually fraudulent, and she took our details so it could be checked and subsequently deposited.

I don't think the banks want us to use cash any more. This is for several reasons of course,, but the prime one is that by making all transactions electronic, they can take a slice from EVERY transaction. It may appear free to the customer, but every transaction has a sum deducted from it before it gets to the seller. We had one guy come in trying to sell us a card machine, with a breezy, "I'll keep it really simple, it's just 80p out of every ten pounds." Evidentially he thought that being small shop keepers - we are stupid, we get a lot of that.

People still ring us trying to sell us things, usually when we are in the middle of the breakfast rush on a Friday. I am usually very polite, but I take command of the conversation and they find I have thanked them for calling, asked them not to call again, and hung up, before they ever get to make their pitch. My favourite response was one I gave to somebody who called and asked, "Who handles the electricity there?" which set me up neatly for "Oh nobody handles electricity here, that would be incredibly dangerous." I also use the phone's blocker to stop folk interrupting me again.

Incidentally the bank charges us for the privilege of putting money into the account, for making any payments from it - including Direct Debits, that just happen every month. They also charge us for withdrawing change - and as Covid has meant anyone who does pay cash, generally pays with a note, we get through quite a bit of silver now.

Enough of this grumbling.

The other things that I do on Mondays usually includes cooking a main meal, for various reasons this only happens on Mondays and Tuesdays. Today was a cheese pie, which is simple to make and also delicious, though I say so myself. However I am also going to make a Paella, which will be cooked in a slow cooker, and be ready for tomorrow's meal. I am looking forwards to this, as I haven't made one in a while.

Shopping is another Monday activity. Today was a bit special for me in that I finally decided to renew my audible membership. I quite enjoy listening to books, especially when I'm working on something like painting. What tempted me back was that I can get a new Doctor Who fix. Big Finish is a company that has used past actors who have played the Doctor, and his companions, to record new adventures. I got two free as my introductory offer, and I can hardly wait to listen to them. I do have quite a bit of painting coming up, many areas at work are due to be decorated. So I shall have ample opportunity to indulge myself, and hopefully enjoy new Doctor stories.

Naturally, I have a few ideas for Doctor Who stories of my own, some of which I have written quite extended outlines for. One in particular I have a bit of a buzz about, a three parter introducing a new Doctor, new companion and a horrifying twist. Ahh fanfic....

If anyone invites you to meat (sic) the neighbours, run. Just. Run!!