A very English garden, sorry

A rainy Wednesday in a week off during Covid lockdown with pre - booked (and paid for) entry to Harlow Carr Gardens. The drive there gave a chance to gawp at Golden Triangle mansions from Alwoodley to  Pannal and some greenery.
We arrived to find the obligatory queue and to be told that 'sorry', but we'd have to wait a bit longer as one of the two computers they used for book in had just crashed 'sorry'. This piece of middle class annoyance was given to us by Sarah - who was also 'sorry' about the weather and lack of cafe or gift shop. The queue moved, but Sarah' s sorryness was replaced by Vicki's, who though still sincere in her sorrow, seemed to be a bit more pinched and ill at ease with it. But not to worry, we were soon back into Sarah's sorrowful care as the queue nearly reached the door, the two running an apologetic relay. Then, lo, the miracle happened, the computer had rebooted and we were in. Sarah gave a little cheer and raised both arms in joyful salute as we entered the garden.
Then it started to rain. The woman on the computer, safe behind her Covid precaution spit screen (surely a first for genteel Harrogate) was also sorry about the wait, and the rain.
Sorry.

The new (ab)normal?

Yesterday evening, returning from his allotted daily exercise walk, my son came across two family groups. The first comprised of a mother and two small children, a boy and a girl. The second two adults, two children and a dog - walking free and not on a lead.
The groups were walking in opposite directions along a lane, while the humans kept the prescribed 2 meters apart, the dog ran towards the woman walking down the lane with her children. At which point my son realised that the girl was terrified of dogs - she appeared increasingly anxious and distressed as the dog drew closer and was clinging to her mum.
Noticing this, my son went forward, spoke to the dog and held its collar, then directed it back to its family.
In normal circumstances, this small act might have elicited some thanks, but not last night: both groups told him he needed to be stay 6 feet away. At which he turned and walked away, to the sound of the child's resumed crying.

Saturday night takeway

I met a man in our local takeaway this evening who was getting a bit arsey as his order was delayed by 10 minutes. The staff were snowed under with 'phone and Just Eat online orders. Then the thought struck me: what on earth did he have to rush for? In the 'new normal' 10 minutes wait for a curry in neither here nor there.