An interesting afternoon

I accompanied a friend to the eye specialist today in case she had to have drops to dilate her pupils and wouldn't be keen to drive afterwards. Knowing that she has no vision in one eye and severe problems with the other, I asked nonchalantly whether she should be wearing her glasses when she drives, and she gaily replied that she should but they were in her bag. I immediately leaned over into the back to retrieve her bag and handed them to her. She agreed that things did look better!

After depositing her at the eye man, I took her smart little Fiat 500 over the road to Constantia Village to do some shopping and have coffee. The difference between her car and my middle-aged Golf was astounding. Power steering, pedals that respond to the lightest touch, a gear lever above waist level and the shortest gears ever, plus a reverse gear that responded to a fingertip made me realise why I am always exhausted after driving any distance. My foot cramped yesterday in the traffic because of the effort required to keep on using the clutch! I'm sure I have a ligament injury in my shoulder from heavy gear shifts and as for turning the wheel...! Perhaps it is time to upgrade slightly, even if it's just for the power steering.

The short latte from Seattle Coffee Company (my all-time favourite) had a considerable sprinkling of cocoa on top and I sat down at one of those bar tables with the high stools to enjoy it. The stool was made of some ergonomically designed shiny plastic with room for only the tiniest of backsides, possibly a size 8. While I am by no means obese, I found it impossible not to slide off this poorly thought out design, which was about the size of a dinner plate, and had to brace my foot against my shopping trolley to stay seated. Despite all this, I did enjoy the latte. I used the tiny paper serviette to wipe my lips of froth - I should perhaps have taken out a large mirror to do it.

After a stroll up and down the mall to pass the time, I went back to pick up my friend. The receptionist looked at me in a manner which I thought a little strange and hastened to tell her that I didn't have an appointment and was just there to pick someone up. I asked directions to the bathroom and when I got there and looked in the mirror, I saw that I had a streak of cocoa up my cheek, just like a large Nike tick! What a laugh! No wonder she had looked at me like that. The people in the mall must have also thought I was a bit odd, but at least I had finished with the shopping first!