AIRY FAIRY WONDERLAND ALICE-LED LADY-AND A CLOWN-ESS

The woman in the red coat adorned with bright LED fairy lights, looked at the bakery goods displayed in the glass covered counter in  front of her, every -so- often checking her mobile phone.   Like her, I waited too.  We continued to wait…and wait.  LED lady  looked up at me and we exchanged smiles.  Two other women, dressed up for the local fun day were serving at the far end of the counter, which provided for the Baker shop café customers.

 At our end of the counter- sales – a young girl dressed up as Alice In Wonderland,(AIW) had her back to us; she studiously ignored everyone. The high visibility lady covered with sparkly LED lights glanced at her phone once more and then left the shop.  Alice in Wonderland looked round, glanced at me, then turned back to whatever it was she was doing, writing, I think.



I conjected that if I waited a few more moments I just might be served. I knew what I wanted to buy, it was pre-wrapped, so, it was just a question of selling it to me.  I thought my patience was being rewarded when a clown-ess, (one of the duo of staff attending to the café) bouncily arrived opposite me……. My mistake, she was involved in playing a game of choices for someone in the café, who, incidentally, arrived in the shop the same time as I did.

“Excuse me, can the assistant over there serve me?“ I pointedly asked.  Clown-ess raised herself on tip-toes to peer over AIW’s shoulder.

Clown-ess -said, “She’s busy doing shop admin”. With that she rushed away and with a smile called out “Someone will be with you soon”.  

Me – Looking directly at Clown-ess at the far end………“I’m going; that’s two customers you have just lost”.  And I went.



This is not the first time me and other customers have walked from this shop.  There are two other similar business in the same vicinity that have gained from the chaotic customer service. Goodwill is fading fast.

BRIGHTNESS IN SHORT BURSTS

By three forty five this afternoon it was pitch black. I was glad of the little town's seasonal decorative lights twinkling and spitting out their sparkles. Nevertheless, it was hard not to feel the deep gloom of a dark Winter, the very short days and the long dark nights.

When the Arctic snows came, (I hear we're due to have more very soon, not that I wish it) the sky gleamed with sunshine on many clear frosted days. The sharp glittering whiteness of the snowy reflections also added additional light to our very few hours of day. There are very many dis-benefits to the snowy weather patterns we experienced. Exceptionally, because of our Northern latitude with its low-light short days, we benefit from increased levels of brightness because of the snow. The raised light levels improve moods, people who have seasonal affective disorders can be great beneficiaries while the snow brightness lasts. 

The little bit of repartee this afternoon with another customer in the bakery, had more than a grain of truth in it. We were of one mind, that if it wasn't time for a good cup of coffee, we'd resort to a nip of Whisky to liven us up a bit.