Christmas

I do not think I would be telling anyone anything, but it is a jungle out there!
We were happy to spend the day cocooned in our home.  We had been to the shops on Monday and seen how many people were about.  I had never seen the shopping centre as busy – until today.  Sorta like the heat records that are being broken.  It was the hottest day ever until the day after.  There were more people than we wanted to wait for, so the grocery shopping was done at 10pm when it was quieter.
Nothing prepared us for the Tuesday though.  In the centre I saw a friend of mine.  He had just gotten up from shift work and pointed a long way away and said he had had to park there as there were no car parks.
What he said though made perfect sense.  Going into the car park was like “enter at your own risk.”  We had been told it was madness and it was.  The person that had forewarned us was someone coming to collect something we were giving away.  There is a web site called “needy not greedy” and we had put something on there.  It was claimed really quickly.  Unlike something else we listed for sale.  The item is worth hundreds and we were asking a fraction of that.  We had taken $50 off our asking price.  It was a real bargain.  Still someone wanted another $50 off before they said they would get it.  For something worth as much as it is, we were not prepared to give it away.  Seems the person wanted something for virtually nothing.
Sort of reminded me of when I sold a fish tank that was 5x1.5x3 foot.  A guy rang me and made a totally ridiculous offer.  I said no.  I did eventually sell to him.  He later made a reasonable offer to which I said yes.  It was less then I was asking, but I so do not begrudge anyone negotiating if it is reasonable.
Merril and I watch a bit of “Selling Houses Australia.”  We always know when vendors are looking at the price of their place through rose coloured glasses.  It is amazing how when they are shown similar places, they find fault.  It seems to me people want top dollar for their place (an unreasonable price) and expect anything they get to be at a bargain price.
Merril and I should have known what we were in for when we entered the car park and ‘Joe Aggro” cut in front of us because there was two feet in front of us.  The car park was like a stationary dance.  Cars stopped everywhere as one waited for someone else to vacate their spot.
We really only needed milk and we were getting a couple of other things at the same time.  I did some “stocking filler” shopping.  Soon we were gone, and it was a relief to be home.
To all our friends and acquaintances, have a great Christmas.  Each and every person adds to our lives, and we are the richer for knowing you. May 2020 be your best year yet.