My favourite Time of day is early morning, It’s like the night has washed all the dirt off the day before and we can start anew. By 6.45 I hope to be in our own little bit of countryside which is the park and woodland behind our house, It’s a different world. I can switch off and talk to the earth, tell her all my troubles, and listen to hers.
I’m going to the stretch the question a little now though, what’s my favourite time of the week ? That would be Saturday, or any other day I’m working in the shop. Nic that owns the shop, is a lovely man, people often say “Are you his dad ?” Well I’m not but I would be proud to have him as my son. I though being what I am, see the shop slightly differently to Nic, I see it as a kind of repair shop, where not only do we fix bikes and all manner of things, we help to fix people. So follows a typical day in the DIY shop.

We open at 10am, Im usually there about 9.40 Not been there long today when Simon turns up, Simon has certain problems, he comes for a chat and a moan. Today he was upset because the operation on his knee has been delayed, until next year. I console him, tell him there may be a cancellation, he perks up a bit. He helps me put the hardware outside front of the shop, he puts things in the wrong place, I leave it and sort it out when he’s gone.
Not been open long when Jane comes in, her world is her budgies and feeding the pigeons. She has a broken wrist, and lives on her own, she’s stressed, and feels intimidated by a young woman who’s been offering to help her. I give her a hug and tell her “It’s probably Ok, just don’t let her into your flat until you know you can trust her” She never wants to pay for a full bag of pigeon food as she calls it, I just let her have half a bag.
A friend drops in, he says he likes the shop because it’s one of the few places he can have an intelligent conversation. He stays an hour.
A customer, has been trying to fit a new toilet seat, she had bought from elsewhere, the fittings with it don’t work, I sort out something that will fix it.
Clara drops by, she has a new dog, her last one died six months ago. Clara is having neighbour problems, second hug of the day ! and a treat for new dog.
Lady customer bought an electric scooter for her son when shop owner was in a few weeks ago, her estranged husband went berserk saying “It’s not safe etc” She was upset, can she have a refund. I told her not to worry, Nic will sort it out, got her phone number, and informed the boss.
Just closed up, someone is trying the door, I’ve done the till and let them in. Of course they want nuts and bolts of indeterminate sizes, I find out some options it’s a £2.00 sale, I’m half an hour late going home, but it doesn’t matter.
Of course there are normal sales and lesser help in between all the above, But you will see, this isn’t Morrison’s or some big DIY store, that doesn’t care. This is society, community, to me this is what shops should be about.

I have changed some of the names, in this little story.

All words Meadow head Bard.

Ps. Has anyone else had problems with the, edit mode on Word Press ? It’s driving me mad, I only manage to edit a couple of words, then it stops working and I have to start all over again, then some times it takes two or three goes before it will work. Ai annswers are way over my head.