FRI 23 OCT 2009

I awoke early to the sounds of barking dogs and crying children. The walls are thin in these houses. Went down to face the kitchen, found Christine on the sofa in the sitting room, she sleeps there every night and uses a commode, her quality of life since disability has decreased dramatically. Starving, I asked Christine if she had any eggs and made boiled eggs and toast for breakfast, noticing the state of her kitchen properly for the first time. As she doesn't have a toaster, I burnt the toast 3 times under the grill before I got it right, I suppose I didn't feel so wasteful having bought 3 loaves of bread for a pound.

After breakfast we went down to the market, and bought our shopping.  As we went to the green grocers, and Christine choose white veg  I asked her if she ever ate any green.  We got some fresh peas although I thought they were quite expensive for 79 pence for about 20, but then I don't know the price of frozen and was just guessing..

After buying frozen fish pies for 99p each, we went off to Corals for a bit of gambling on the slot machines. As we walked down the high street I noticed so many older, disabled, overweight smokers. The size of people up North is bigger, and I have to say smokers are far more prevalent on the streets than London. Does it boil down to fewer cheap pleasures when life is tougher?

I discovered Christine got herself into 30,000 of debt a couple of years ago through these machines.   When I asked Christine why she gambles, she replied "it gives me a buzz and takes me out of my day". It's yet another pleasure she enjoys alone. I suggested for the 5 pounds, she might instead have had a piece of salmon and spinach! for 2.  As I copy what she does, I too put my 5 into the slot machines, but after a win of 60 pence when I was down to 3, decided to take my winnings, and buy a much missed cappuccino. It never tasted so good!