Consider litter

Friday 18th December, 2020

An old friend sent me the most beautiful religious Christmas card. She wrote a long letter filled with happy memories but mildly maudlin nostalgia. Also she expressed her fears as to this world. She appeared tired and in ill health. Any way I am writing back. She also enclosed a cheque, unnecessary but kindly and seemed to make me promise to buy a particular set of foods we used to share together. Her kindness was always to the forefront and the letter oozed with it. So refreshing. There was one problem and that is my name has changed, not my surname but my Christian name. It is a long sad story but also a reminder of the fluctuations of life and it's uncertainties and peculiarities.

Any way I went to Dundee to try to put it in to my account, which needs it!! Happily I had some sort of pre change identity which I took along but with little expectation of success. The world of banking is so regulated and everyone is suspected as a launderer or a fraudster or a hacker! I tried to show a huge smile behind my mask as I approached a stern looking woman at the ' welcome ' desk. Not much of a welcoming look I thought, rather unkindly! After a longish explanation and an incredulous posture and comment on her behalf, she told me to return the cheque to the sender. That would be upsetting for the sender so I prepared to tear it up. Yet I thought she might see it had not been cashed. Then I espied a youngish man who had some months ago helped me. We had had a good session of banter and talk as well as a memorable spilling of coffee all over his smart pink stripped shirt. His reaction was very gentlemanly at the time and accepting. He brought another coffee for me and, yes utterly by accident, spilt it over me. So a time to remember! So I waved and muttered how lovely to see him and how was his shirt and his three children and his wife's hair salon. Thank goodness although my recall is poor I had recalled those facts. The terrifying lady then turned to him and explained what the situation was and that I had to return the cheque to the sender ' did I not'! He looked at it, listened to my life story again ( luckily it coincided with what I had said before when we first met ) and got hold of the computer mouse. Lots of clicks and mutterings, then various incantations and 'hey presto' I had a new name and the cheque was accepted. The spirit of Christmas, I opined, and good will to all men. To my surprise the terrifying lady laughed and said ' yes to all women as well'!

I hurried away. I went to a cheese shop to get a Christmas voucher but there were 17 people queueing so I moved on. Not much good will in me then!

Back home I decided to go for a walk. Now a friend has sent me a litter picker. It arrived via Amazon. It is a collapsible picker. She knows I have a thing about litter and am ever complaining and muttering. The note with the gift said ' hope this makes rubbish collection easier. It is foldable. Happy picking'. So today was its initiation. It was quite dark as I set off. 25 minutes later and three Tesco bags filled and emptied I arrived home feeling self satisfied and thrilled. On the route I had been barked at by a dog whom I threatened with the pincers so it barked more wildly. I was avoided by two other dogs who looked cautious. I was congratulated by three people. One or two others looked at me as if I was an oddity or a local Council worker. Most of the litter was easily picked up but some was so wet it had melded in to the road or hedge. I now have a mission. I then thought of all the people who have said that they have nothing to contribute or do during these days of Covid. Well...get a litter picker and pick up litter and save the planet. It would be not only part of the kindly spirit of Christmas but of the kindly care of the world and the creatures therein. I so remember the hedgehog I found dead and wrapped in a plastic bag some years ago. So needless. Good will to all creation.