My OperaA Rare Sighting
Tuesday, September 18, 2007 7:56:33 PM
Sunday Morning - What's That!
06:30 hrs - the dew had barely lifted from the ground as a lazy wind cut keenly over the greensward. Dawn had given way to a watery daylight but the grey clouds were still reluctant to part.
Only the most observant noticed a human-like creature shamble hesitantly over the grassy field. It seemed aimless and uncertain but this was a mere pretence. The hardy denizens of this place, still swathed in protective clothing, watched and waited.
So there I was at a car boot looking for bargains. Yes me! For anyone who knows me the mere thought that I could be up and about at such an hour is incredible. Well yes, ordinarily that's true. I'm not one of life's early risers. As far as I'm concerned the early bird is welcome to that worm.
It just so happens that one of my oh-so-considerate next-door neighbours was hammering on his front door just before 04:00 hours that same morning. In his drunken state he had forgotten, or lost, his key. An hour later I was still awake and cursing his name. Get up and do something I thought - but what? It's Sunday - nothing happens on Sundays. I had a 'light bulb' moment - car boots!
Upon checking the local rags I found two possible targets - both in Wakefield. I thought why not? I made sure that I plugged in my noisiest razor to the adjoining wall. Inexplicably I also forgot to turn off the radio when I left the house! Well my cats like some entertainment don't they?
Car boots are a strange phenomena - the sellers form up in a sort of wagon laager - each row protection the other's backs. Buyers circle like hollywood red indians (minus the war whoops obviously). To start with everyone talks at reduced volume - not whispering - just funereal. Both sides need to fully wake up.
At the first site I managed to buy 4 (model) trees for 50p and a set of oil paints for £1. Not a great haul so it was back to the temporary car park. When I parked there were maybe 20 vehicles but since then a population explosion had taken place. Where did I leave my car? Why worry - it's easy to find one silver beast in amongst so many!
The second event was a much bigger affair with a confusing number of aisles all, seemingly, at strange angles to each another. Keeping track of which bits you have seen isn't quite as simple as it sounds. This time I found a computer game for 20p, a book for 10p and a hard drive for £4 (still haven't tested it yet). All done I walked back to the car only to realise that it was only 09:10 hrs.
After a cup of tea, and turning that radio off, I took myself off to bed. I didn't expect to get any sleep as the aforementioned neighbours only have one volume setting for all their audio equipment. Once one of them awakens they act like the old knocker-uppers bringing joy to all and sundry. For some reason all was peaceful until well into the afternoon - I wonder why?
06:30 hrs - the dew had barely lifted from the ground as a lazy wind cut keenly over the greensward. Dawn had given way to a watery daylight but the grey clouds were still reluctant to part.
Only the most observant noticed a human-like creature shamble hesitantly over the grassy field. It seemed aimless and uncertain but this was a mere pretence. The hardy denizens of this place, still swathed in protective clothing, watched and waited.
So there I was at a car boot looking for bargains. Yes me! For anyone who knows me the mere thought that I could be up and about at such an hour is incredible. Well yes, ordinarily that's true. I'm not one of life's early risers. As far as I'm concerned the early bird is welcome to that worm.
It just so happens that one of my oh-so-considerate next-door neighbours was hammering on his front door just before 04:00 hours that same morning. In his drunken state he had forgotten, or lost, his key. An hour later I was still awake and cursing his name. Get up and do something I thought - but what? It's Sunday - nothing happens on Sundays. I had a 'light bulb' moment - car boots!
Upon checking the local rags I found two possible targets - both in Wakefield. I thought why not? I made sure that I plugged in my noisiest razor to the adjoining wall. Inexplicably I also forgot to turn off the radio when I left the house! Well my cats like some entertainment don't they?
Car boots are a strange phenomena - the sellers form up in a sort of wagon laager - each row protection the other's backs. Buyers circle like hollywood red indians (minus the war whoops obviously). To start with everyone talks at reduced volume - not whispering - just funereal. Both sides need to fully wake up.
At the first site I managed to buy 4 (model) trees for 50p and a set of oil paints for £1. Not a great haul so it was back to the temporary car park. When I parked there were maybe 20 vehicles but since then a population explosion had taken place. Where did I leave my car? Why worry - it's easy to find one silver beast in amongst so many!
The second event was a much bigger affair with a confusing number of aisles all, seemingly, at strange angles to each another. Keeping track of which bits you have seen isn't quite as simple as it sounds. This time I found a computer game for 20p, a book for 10p and a hard drive for £4 (still haven't tested it yet). All done I walked back to the car only to realise that it was only 09:10 hrs.
After a cup of tea, and turning that radio off, I took myself off to bed. I didn't expect to get any sleep as the aforementioned neighbours only have one volume setting for all their audio equipment. Once one of them awakens they act like the old knocker-uppers bringing joy to all and sundry. For some reason all was peaceful until well into the afternoon - I wonder why?
