A Walk Through Town

I took the day off to catch up on some writing stuff but sometimes a good walk through town is just what you need to clear your head.

I had no intention of walking from one side of town to the other this morning, but luckily that’s how it worked out. The day started, as it normally does, trying to convince my youngest to get out of bed which he is perpetually unwilling to do. My mechanic friend rang me wondering where I was because he needed to get my car to the lift within a certain window of time and that time was quickly running out.

Finally get son in the car, drop him in town and up to the other side of town to meet mechanic and drive him to the car lift. We pass the cemetery and there’s a Traveller carriage like the one below outside the cemetery and my mechanic friend tells me a young Traveller lad of 14 had committed suicide and they found him hanging at the top of the stairs.

I don’t know this lad or his family but my heart broke for all of them. As a mother, I can’t image anything more terrible than losing a child at all, let alone in this way.

We drove on and as time was running short, I told my friend I’d walk home. He’s like, that’s a long walk and I said, I don’t mind. I’ll go through town.

My first stop was O’Mahony’s bookstore because I wanted to enquire about them stocking my debut novel, IN THE DESERT when it’s published March 3rd. There was a fella at the counter chatting away with the sales clerk so I took a look around this great bookstore and picked up THE BEE STING. Talked to the girl at the counter who handed me a leaflet on the process for getting my book in their shop and off I go.

Popped into SVP charity shop cause you never know what you might find but found nothing. I’ve been trying to find a nice wool overcoat for my youngest for some time. I had a gorgeous cashmere men’s overcoat a friend in Boston had given me which would have been perfect but my asshole ex took it with him when he moved out. Worth the price. But have been having no luck with the charity shops. Surely, this is exactly the sort of thing men leave behind when they pass on from this life? When I lived in America, the charity shops were full of them. Alas, not so here, it seems.

Off to Costa for a coffee, mostly because it was on the way and I had leftover points. Then over to the EverythingEverywhereStore gift shop back around Pennys. It’s down an alley and run by a lovely Polish woman. It’s a fair bit witchy so I knew it was the perfect place to pick up a gift for friends I’ll be visiting soon.

Back down to the Mall (not an american style mall but the main drag through town) and got myself a lovely scone from the bakery/cafe/pub. Check my email and there’s one from Holland and Barrett saying you best be using your 3.50 euro voucher before it expires in 10 days so off to buy some soap. As I’m walking I pass a fella on the ground rocking back and forth with a sign, HOMELESS, PLEASE HELP and my first instint is: how is anyone homeless in this town, there’s services, he probably wants it for drink or is one of those begging syndicates so I walk on.

I get about 10 feet away before I see what I have in my pocket and walk back and give him a few quid in change. He looks like hell and who am I to wonder or judge? If I have it spare, why not give it to someone who obviously needs it more than I do at that point in time?

By now, I’m halfway through the town and dithering which way to walk home and decide to hit the SVP and Downs Syndrome charity shops on my side of the town. Nothing in SVP but then I go into the Downs Syndrome shop

I rarely go into charity shops mostly because I’m at work when they’re open but I always try to pop in when I can and I usually find something interesting at the DS shop. First, the facade is so cool looking, isn’t it? How could you not pop your head in the door?

I look at the books first because they usually have a good selection but the shelves are picked relatively bare. Then through the bric a brac and there, on a display shelf is this platter. Now, I’m not one for yellow (or pink for that matter or even orange) but I genuinely liked the looks of this platter and it looked handmade. Pick it up and not only is it handmade but it’s signed. Have a quick google for Portmadog Pottery, Wales, signed by A. Williams and apparently they can fetch up to 50 sterling depending on if there’s any chips or cracks. Well, there’s not a chip to be seen but PLENTY of cracks - as if it was used as a plate for house and car keys - so I reckon it’s worth is probably about the 5 euro they’re looking for. So, I’m hemming and hawing, turning it over and this way and that, putting it down, picking it up, repeat until this voice in my head shouts: YOU LIKE IT, IT’S A FIVER FFS, BUY IT

So I do.

The rest of the walk is residential and I resist my native urge to window peep and instead, watch the crows trying to muscle up some worms or anything that’s crawling in the dirt and decide to feed them AGAIN once I get home.

It’s all uphill from there, gradual but by now I’m feeling it. Plus, I’ve packages that are heavy enough and I’m starting to sweat so I’m glad when I finally reach home, and display my morning on the kitchen table!

Anyway, if you’ve read this far, my debut novel is out VERY SOON! March 3rd! Please buy a copy. You won’t regret it!

Have a great day and don’t forget to walk through town from time to time and see what you will see.

Edited to add this horrifically tragic update. I hope these evil bullies are held to account