“Mummy, I don’t feel well.”
Mummy: “Where does it hurt?”
“I don’t know”
M: “Do your feet hurt?”
“No”
M: “Do your hands hurt?”
“No”
M: “Do your elbows hurt?”
“No”
M: “Do your shoulders hurt?”
“No”
M: “Does your neck hurt?”
“No”
M: “Does your head hurt?”
“No”
…
“Mummy, you didn’t ask about my knees.”
“Oh, sorry darling. Do your knees hurt? “
“No”
A couple of weeks ago my husband and I went to buy a new washing line. A Hill’s Hoist, no less, as I’ve heard they are the iconic kiwi washing line. We chose our washing line, trying hard not to gulp at the price, and took it to the checkout, where I asked where the concrete was. The shop assistant took us outside, then turned to my husband and said, “What kind of concrete do you want?”
My husband:”Quick setting concrete, please.”
Shop assistant: “Are you sure? It sets real quick.”
[Really? Who knew?]
He continued: “The problem is that you’ll need someone who knows what they’re doing to keep the pole straight while you pour the concrete.”
Me: stunned silence… maybe he hasn’t noticed I’m here?
He went on: “You won’t have time to adjust it yourself once the concrete is poured. You’ll be better off using normal cement, but it will take 24 hours to set.”
My husband: “OK, we’ll take the normal stuff.”
The shop assistant then turned to me and said, “Of course, that means you won’t be able to use the washing line today.”
Grrrrrr.
