THINKING ALLOWED

I've been thinking during the week that one must love one's other half very much when you don't get cross when they do something which is really quite annoying.   "What has Phil done now?", you ask.
Give me a minute or two and I'll explain it as best I can.

Last Saturday he went to a reasonably nearby shopping centre. It was a cold and windy day here in Perth so he didn't want to be out too long.  Well, that didn't turn out as he had hoped.   About 30 minutes after he left home he 'phoned me (I've said before we only use our mobile for emergency calls) to tell me he'd lost the car keys!!!  He had asked at several places had any keys been handed in and also retraced his steps but to no avail.

There used to be a taxi rank at that shopping centre but seems it is long gone so I suggested he call a cab, come home and collect my key and return to the car.  It's amazing how in hind sight you think of a simpler way of doing something isn't it?  Why didn't I call a cab and take my keys with me?  Neither of us thought of that for some reason.

Some time went by and I then 'phoned Phil to see what was happening.  He'd rung the taxi firm a second time and they said it wouldn't be long before a cab would arrive.   He had unfortunately parked in an up top car park, where he was now waiting near our car, and it's as well he was rugged up as he said it was freezing up there.

I rang again some time later and still no taxi in sight.   He said he'd ring them again but he still didn't arrive home.   I finally rang again and he said he was nearly at our front gate so I stood by the front door (he had to come in as he had a few groceries with him) to give him my keys.  It had taken an hour for a cab to arrive and in the end it was one of those large vans that takes luggage or wheelchairs etc.  When he arrived back he was quite exhausted but fortunately not too cold.  He told me the taxi driver couldn't find him but when told where he was parked Phil found him straight away.

On the Monday morning he rang the shopping centre manager's office but no keys had been handed in nor at Woolworths either (where he'd been on Saturday).  OK the keys were lost, possibly swept up with other rubbish during the clean up on Saturday afternoon.

Rang a locksmith at the local markets who quoted $60 for a new key.  You see car keys have a chip in them that has to be replaced as well as the key being cut.  I suggested, for fun, he ring an Hyundai dealer near us and ask them the price.  Gob smacked at the result!!!  $80 to cut the key but another $120 as they'd have to take the key around the corner to a locksmith to have the chip inserted so a total of $200.  Needless to say the lockmith got the job.

The other key with the one he lost was the post office key so no real problem there as the PO box key can be replaced.

Now you are thinking all is well as a new PO box key can soon be had but no, it doesn't end there.  Phil then discovered he's 'mislaid' the other set of keys which includes the house keys (front and back door), the shed key and the key to the padlock on the front gate (which we don't use but may want to one day).  Searched high and low in the house (even tipped his armchair up just in case) and in the garden but no sign of them at all.

Fortunately I have keys to the front door and the other two little keys and a post office box key so he was able to get duplicate of front door keys.

I feel that the poor fellow almost made himself ill with self-recrimination of why this had happened.  In everyday life he operates OK and still drives well and it is unlike him to lose things very often but this double effort has really upset him.  I didn't go mad about any of it as we are all human and make mistakes at times but losing keys is a bad one but it CAN happen to anyone.

Still no idea how it happened as car key was in deep top pocket of his large coat and house keys....well they could be anywhere.  He will have to ask as he goes to different places if he'd left them behind but I doubt it.  It is fortunate there were was no identification (address etc) with the keys.

Do I still love him?  Of course I do.  He is nearly 87 so it is expected there will be some hiccoughs during coming years and we will weather the storms together.  We are both so fortunate that our minds/memories still function quite well and hopefully will continue to do so.

Once again I have used my blog to get something off my chest and I know none of you will mind in the least that I've done so.

I've always envied men with the number of pockets they have in their clothing while quite often womens' clothing has none.  Handbags can be a nuisance and of course you have to keep them safe but at least keys and other bit and pieces stay put and are still there when you need them.  I am beginning to understand why many gentleman carry 'man bags' instead of relying on pockets.