Trollied

Sunday afternoon and the KHT requires cash back for the next week, so off we trog to the nearby supermarket to correct this omission, and pick up a few odds and ends.

Now the KHT is the local self-appointed trolly returner.

There are flats nearby. Several residents of these flats do not appear to have access to a car. Since Tesco have removed their trolley demobilisation device from the boundary of the grounds of their store. Some customers now use supermarket trolleys to transport their goods far beyond the car park, abandoning them on footpaths close to their homes.
This provides the KHT with an abundance of trolley returning opportunities.
In fact, no sooner had we walked around the corner from the adjacent road than she spied an abandoned trolley, like a damsel in distress, awaiting rescue.  The KHT leapt into action, delighted to accept her self-appointed commission.

However, we soon encountered another couple, which she naturally added to her load.
Managing three trolleys requires planning and strength, as they can have minds of their own.
There was one point, as she was crossing a brook, the camber was against her and I wondered if we were going to lose them all in the drink.
However, she realised what was happening and rescued the situation, by adding her weight to one side of the trolleys to counter the sideways drift.





Just as the supermarket came into sight she spotted yet another trolley, abandoned and alone.
She looked at it, longing to rescue it, but also realising that she was running out of energy.
"You can stop." I reassured her. "You don't have to take them all all the way back."
She looked so relieved. and happily let go.
Yes, I could have helped her push them, but sometimes we need encouragement to recognise our limits.
To know that it is OK to stop.
Sometimes taking part is all that is required of us and stopping is essential.
We have to listen to the spirit within us guiding us and watch out for those who are more vulnerable and may not be able to recognise the spirit's voice.
Look out for other people, and give them permission to look after themselves.

We completed our shopping.
The KHT got her cash back.
We left the store.
The trolleys were still where we left them
"Pushing them didn't half make me wheeze!" said the KHT, "How do I get fit?"
"Exercise regularly, but gently."
She paused.
"What is going to happen to them?"
"Mr Tesco can come and collect them."
She was happy to trust the trolleys to Mr Tesco. Let us hope he lives up to her expectation.