A LITTLE NORMALITY!

After the weekend, we wanted some normality in our lives, so as Mr. HCB needed to go and collect his new lenses we decided to pop into Jack’s, our favourite coffee shop in Old Town, before we called into Leightons, our lovely opticians.

Of course, it goes without saying almost, that we met friends in Jack’s and after coffee and chat, when we got to Leightons, it was fairly quiet - I daresay people are more concerned with buying Christmas presents than new glasses.  We were “attended to” by the lovely Katie, on the right - and I have to say that the Elf in the picture is definitely not “on the shelf” but as Kate, the Manager, seen in the middle, said, more “the Elf on the bump” as Katie is expecting her first baby in March.  We were pleased to hear from Kate that Katie is a “qualified” but definitely not “certified” dispenser and you can see she has a very engaging smile!  Mr. HCB is delighted that the new lenses will mean that he can now read the football score on the bottom of the television screen!

We were then introduced to Adam, the new audiologist, who quickly realised that we aren’t called “The Silly Iles” for nothing!  What a lovely young man - but his face was a picture when Kate told him that he might soon be the subject of “Mrs. Iles’ blip”!  He was obviously quite concerned as to what this would entail, so she explained that I took a photograph every day etc etc - so he didn’t really have much choice when I whipped out my iPhone, and asked them to pose in front of the Leightons’ sign.  However, before I took the shot, Kate felt she needed to equip Adam with a Santa hat, and they all entered into the spirit of the occasion which made it a normal, fun-filled few minutes with the lovely people at Leightons.  We do always have fun when we go in there and it’s great to be served by people who have a wonderful sense of humour.

I almost forgot too - Kate said that they had a couple of cup cakes if we would like them - well the eating plan has sort of gone “out of the window” in the last couple of days, so we said that would be great - apparently, they were made by the wife of the other optometrist - and they look almost too good to eat, but I daresay we will manage one each with a mid evening snack and a cup of coffee!

Under Door 23 of our Advent of Change Advent Calendar, for the MS Society, it says, “Today you have bought 25 micro-tubes for MS scientists, helping them perform the vital laboratory experiments to discover new treatments.”  We are really pleased we have helped this charity today, as we know several people with Multiple Sclerosis.  

“There is nothing in the world 
     so irresistibly contagious 
          as laughter and good humour.” 
Charles Dickens : A Christmas Carol

P.S.  Thank you SO much for all your kind comments, stars and hearts for yesterday’s Blip - and I’m sure you will understand if I don’t comment too much at the moment.  I have now got the relevant paperwork from Mum’s GP Surgery so now need to make an appointment to see the Registrar and hope to do that for tomorrow or Friday.  There is a lot to do!