Ten Per Cent!

Friday was forecast to be damp, so off we went in search of water crystals, a mousemat  and other sundries. First stop was to be a garden centre.

It was drizzling when we arrived at Cherry Lane,
but even so I couldn't resist stopping to take a photo of scarlet virginia creeper and michaelmas daises,
which lurked edgily in the hedgerow at the perimeter of the car park.
Despite the precipitation we were on the trail of water storing crystals.
Frustratingly, I purchased some a few months ago,
but they have disappeared.

Large plant pots at the front of our house are scheduled to be replanted with fresh compost.
It would seemed sensible to add some water crystals to the mix at the same time  - to help keep the compost damp and reduce the amout of watering required to prevent the premature demise of the plants.

As I type, a large verbena cannot decide if it wants to live or die, after I failed to water it in early September.
The pots are very close to the house so very little rain ever reaches them and daily watering is required during very hot weather.

Despite it being the wrong time of year
a member of staff successfully located some crystals for us.
No doubt the missing ones will now decide that it is safe to reappear!


In the clothing department I discovered this 'Marmite' top - so called because you either love or hate it.
My fellow shopper was less than impressed,
but I thought it would look great with black trousers.

We moved on into the centre of Worcester,
as my fellow traveller wanted to check out a cafe.

Rain had been forecast,
but I did not anticapte the deluge that descended
just as we were about to leave the cafe!
The lunchtime rush was over.
As no-one was waiting for a table
we delayed departing by five minutes or so,
until the rain had reduced to being 'very wet'
as opposed to 'torrential'.






We made several interesting purchases, before finding ourselves in a certain department store, where I was tempted by a blue coat.
"Would you like to open a store card?" asked the helpful assistant, "It will only take five minutes. You will get 10% off your coat AND a voucher for the cafe..."
I knew it would take longer than the given time, but the thought of a 10% discount won me over
The assistant read out the essential fiancial blurb,
and I answered the questions.
We were making good progress.
I recalled being stood at the same desk about three years ago.

"Last time I tried to open a card here the system crashed. They gave me the 10% anyway..." I reminisced.
The assistant looked at me
"You're joking?!"
"Nope!"
"Because it has done it again! You have crashed our software!"
"That is really weird, because it was the same till point..."
The assistant apologised profusely and, just like last time, gave me the discount anyway!

When I got home, DH was so pleased with the new tap he had fitted, that he didn't notice my new, blue coat. I stood in the middle of the hall, looking at him for several minutes until he finally  noticed...
"Is that a new coat?" he enquired
"Yes!"
"Haven't you already got a coat?" he asked bravely.
"Yes, but it isn't really fit to go anywhere decent!" I explained.
The thought of the 10% discount cheered him up though!