The unhealthy impact of poor customer service

Rarely I physically go shopping, it's a great effort and I am forever having to problem solve and work round hurdles. 

However, I needed to do some business banking and buy mounting board for a charitable project I am involved in. I psyched myself up, borrowed OH car, ( easier for hoisting scooter) and off I went.

First hurdle finding a disabled space with chevrons by the side, to enable me to open my door wide - easier said than done in the large car park.

First stop Metro bank where as always I feel a dog is more esteemed than me. The front doors are not automated. So unless there is a friendly customer entering at the same time I struggle to open the heavy door with one arm while manoeuvring my scooter with the other. Once inside I see dog bowls, as a welcome along with doggy treats on the counter. Fortunately they are not in a dogs reach, mind you neither are they in mine. The scooter is very high, at most people's chest height so up I crane my neck up to pay the chequers in when the assistant looks down at her computer I just see the top of her head. The young woman speaks to me her voice floats over my head I am unable to hear. So I have to ask her to look down at me and repeat what she says, I can see she is reaching on tip toes. I wonder what a child feels as well as other disabled peers when faced with granite slabs. I go out with staff rushing to open the door for me. It is disappointing that in this moder world simple things, like automated front doors, matching the automated internal ones, a door bell to ring for assistance. And a banking desk that has one end lowered to be able to speak face to face with children and those in wheelchairs would be a given, rather than dog  bowls and treats. 

Next stop T K Max, a friend has been raving about this particular store so I thought why not, I found a fab dress - shall I take it home and try it crossed my mind, but no I decided to make the effort and headed for the changing rooms and was so into a generous sized changing room with seat and grab rails, excellent, undressed and with dress on I looked into the mirror.... Well the shop fitter deemed that disabled people would be either "little people" or that they would be completely paralysed as the mirror ended at my chest. No walking stick with me, I wasn't about to try and find another mirror. Fed this back to the assistant in charge of the fitting room, who said " when I paid for my items there would be a feedback form on the back of my receipt" - my purse was firmly staying shut, so that was that. 

Still in the mood for a Christmas dress, I popped next door to Next, I felt I was in a forest of clothes and couldn't see the wood from the trees so to speak. A quick exit, as I then did from Laura Ashley, same problem and nobody around to assist. 

Another Week

7:30 AM and it is Monday morning, it's dark and wet outside and frankly all I want to do is hibernate. 

So today I am longing for a Kate Stubbs hug..... She was the only person who gave me unconditional love as a child. 

Being with her blue my troubles and worries away for just a little while. 

Started the day with my tummy in spasm and then the consequences of that....

I've managed a few tidy up chores and come back to bed with my second cup of tea well actually my third - didn't put a teavag in the pot for my second. 

My good hip hurts - consequence of Friday's treatment I hope. 

I started writing this many weeks ago and today is Thursday and I could honestly say, it is demand vous apart from we swap dark and wet for dull and cold. 

There is deathly silence, I have yet to switch the radio on, and I don't know why I have not, the few words I have said today, was firstly early to my OH reassuring me that the elderly cat was ok, and now a one way conversation with the cats ... Who other than second breakfast really want their zzz's 

Part of me craves this silence, the other half despairs of the feelings of social isolation it raises. Going out takes both energy and money neither of which are in plentiful supply at the moment. I have written this week about keeping going.... And I have 

Tuesday, I spent the day in the study, not as planned .... The diary said Mr Borrow My Doggy in the afternoon and then I had found the mindfulness course I need to do, and that started that night... Good I felt, I would be getting vit D by being out with the dog and then upwards and onwards with my drive to reserect my working life was on track... Then with a phonecall and text, I was derailed...... Course was post phoned as not enough numbers and I wasn't needed to doggy sit... Ok not a problem... I could concentrate on admin and other income streams.

The house was full of life the cleaner was here, and OH was working from home... 

Then OH proposed a date, cinema and supper, but then was postponed as we had forgotten Mr O the grocery delivery, planned because I was out.... 

So I was allowed to sofa surf and catch up on TV let's say Casulty and Vera were not cheerful watching! We did find "mobile phone sales idol" which was rather compelling watching and was really interesting especially about how parents expectations can have a real impact on your mental wellbeing.

Radio on Paul O'Grady and a bowl of hot "shr3ddies" miss kitten is staying close hoping to lick the bowl.

Wednesday was a slow start, and not just me, Mr Big Boy ( cat ) curled up between my legs and I really didn't want to crawl from my pit. However, church and Dad called, showered I realised that window cleaner had arrived, shot out to church and found I was the only one in the congregation, I am never sure whether this is a privilege or not. However, the curate was able to share the sermon she had prepared. Then I shot off down the motorway to Dad, went to the jewellers and had lunch, microwave was passed across and then finally I got my eyebrows plucked!!! 

Home to tea and Mr Big Boy with a poorly bum again.... 

Managed another half day work admin.

My Dad's parting words to me was get someone to lift it in for you its heavy, well it's amazing what two disabled people, two trolleys and stubbornness can achieve. Now the joys of a tip run.....

Microwave in place, after a mini kitchen reorganisation and it was pressed into use, for supper, left overs for JB soup for me. 

TV tonight was Midsummer Murder and knitting.

Both cats wanted to be in bed with us last night, but kitten was jealous and didn't want Mr Big Boy, I on the other hand started to panic... I have this great fear, that a cat will die in bed with us. We slept alone last night...