They're so sky high, I need glasses to see them!

For a while now I've been hearing a variety of adverts on television and radio, advertising the tremendous costs of glasses these days and how this one particular shop doesn't take this piss with it's price.
I never understood the meaning behind that until recently. I always thought it was just a sales ploy; 'looky looky! They're more expensive then us! We give you a better deal...' etc

Until I went to buy a pair or two from my local opticians, who I last visited in 2005 and really liked because they actually managed to work my eyes out correctly, give me a terrific prescription AND a pair of glasses which have lasted until today.

The eye test was fine. I was impressed by the questions she asked and the system she used to test me (though I did go round and round in circles as my eyes would NOT behave and did what they wanted, not what I needed). I mentioned the possibility of getting two glasses (one for driving - transitions- and another for leaving at work) then the pair I have now could be used as spare.
And as much as I love these glasses, I fancy a change after 2, almost three years with the same style.
SO
I'm introduced to this guy who's going to help me, he shows me a couple, and slips in the idea of two for one (this is where things started to go a little funny as Tom noticed that the sales clerk said the sales was going to be going on for a few months and yet MAY end tomorrow....hmmmm). So we left the shop, had a think, and came back, me feeling rather excited at the prospect of getting new glasses, one which I could use whilst driving against the sun. At last!
After a few minutes, I selected the ones I definitly wanted, then sat down with another sales clerk, who began discussing prices with me. I'd like to point out that before we started talking, she went into a room on the side, and left me thinking. I was feeling great about the whole situation, then I was hit with a sense of unease. This kind of thing never goes that smoothly...but I put it down to pessimism on my part. Yes.....well.

I think this was the first time in my life I felt my wallet physically cry out in pain.
I was offered two glasses with the lenses and had it pointed out that it wasn't the glasses that were involved in the two for one scheme, it was the lenses, so I still had to pay the full price for each set of glasses, not what I was led to believe (well, THAT'S convenient, I thought to myself). She then goes on about the transition lenses and offers me a solution which I thought was somewhat pointless as rather than spend an extra few quid on this solution, I could just....wipe my glasses. I've never needed it before, I wouldn't need it now.

After adding everything together (the glasses, the lenses, the transition, the pointless solution etc), the total came to.......£600

I sat there for a few minutes absorbing this news. I then looked at her and said 'that's a little out of my price range (using a tone of voice which suggested my price range was miles away from this total)...I can't really look to pay that amount of money, so I may have to drop some of the offers'.
I also throw in that I've JUST paid my rent (hint hint saleswoman) so she takes it down to £333 (I'd like to add, she seems deteremined to keep the pointless solution and at least a tint on the glasses on the price).
How much exactly does this woman think I can afford for glasses after I've just paid my rent exactly? And still have spending money left over.
I tell her that it's still too much, so I'll just take one set of glasses and be done with it. No solution, no tinting...nothing. (Especially no to tinting, as that's somewhat pointless to what I was looking for)
She spends the next few minutes, I'm thinking, trying to confuse me, using words such as 'we'll throw in...' and 'you can have this free...' or 'you can pay a installment of cash over...'
I noticed she kept mentioning the solution and the tinting throughout. I watched her as she swallowed more and more frequently through the exchange, realising she was loosing the sale (which she lost on trying to pull money out of my the first moment)

No.
This is when I realise she's extremely keen for a sale, so will do anything to keep me in that chair and sign a form saying 'yes I will give you half my savings'
Tom was behind me at this time and I could feel his cynicism creeping forward.
In the end, I told her, I'm sorry but NO. I can't afford this. I'm going to have a 'think'. Bye bye.
So I paid the rest of the money for the eye test, then ran, discussing with Tom about approaching another opticians for my glasses.

If there's one thing I loathe it's being treated like a sucker and having people try and confuse money out of me. If I'm going to have someone suck the cash out of my wallet, I'd rather it be for something useful! Glasses, I've already got one at least.
I've had cases where the salesperson, notices my immenent departure and...lets...me..go. This, I promise, will get me back.
What makes me walk right out the door, not to return, is persists of 'I HAVE to keep this sale!'

Let that be a lesson to all sales people out there.

Ah how time flies...

How time flies? No seriously...I've just come to terms with the fact that we're now in October and it's Christmas in a couple of months.

(Have just realised I've put the most depressing day time tv channel on...Must...go...change)

I admit it’s been a while since I updated, but truth is when so many things occur (a combination of too much or not enough), putting them together into neat, coherent paragraphs can be difficult. Especially when tired in the evening….or fed up from job hunting.

Besides, I really haven’t been in the right literary mood lately and I loathe writing updates on past events when I’m not in the right mood.

Now, however, I’ve finally pushed past that barrier so I’ll continue.

My excuse for not writing since God knows how long?

First I’d been feeling stressed about work and I wasn’t in the mood to grumble for every entry about how annoyed I was at things.

Second, when I left and started job hunting…that’s just not interesting. I would have written about LARP but that too had been frustrating me.

Third, starting this new job, I’m shattered when I get home from work (it’s surprising the effect of sitting at a computer for 8 hours having woken at 7 and not moving can be so tiring! I think it’s also the frustration of the tube journey: slow walkers, watching people shove themselves onto train, rudeness…etc)

All good things come in three’s so I’ll leave those at that.

Now the news.

As mentioned on Tom’s blog…Lauren, my new niece, is a few weeks old. And a delight. A head of fuzz and at the stage of just lying in a person’s arms, mewling occasionally. It was so sweet watching Tom hold the baby for the first time; watch her for a bit, then turn to me with a look of ‘what do I do now?’

As mentioned above, I’ve now got a new job…sort of.

I’m currently temping for a political magazine (bit of a topic leap from my last job) and I’m essentially doing work where it’s needed as a production assistant. I’ve described my jobs here as ‘hovering’ as it’s never certain when I’m meant to come in, what I’m doing etc until I’m told on the day, but I’ve been here since the end of August (29^th) and I’ve just now had an account set up for me whilst I work in this current position. Now, I’m working on the web side of production, but as today is my first day, there isn’t much to tell.

It seems now they’ve discovered my talent for office work, they’re reluctant to let me go. Not complaining!

Admittedly I’ve been tired in the morning waking up and actually getting up again, but the job is interesting so I don’t mind an awful lot it has to be said. Though I have started looking forward to the weekend’s again and spending time doing my own thing or seeing friends.

Today is the first day off this week (I don’t work on Fridays unless told otherwise and I slept pretty damn well)

Now we’re in October, larp season is reaching an end and the next Purple Theatre play is arising.

Last larp event, I’d reached a critical point with Sadira (I was growing bored and fed up and despite enjoying playing the character and not wanting to loose her, I didn’t know where she was going) I wanted to be involved with plot and grew extremely frustrated that I kept missing opportunities to do interesting things.

I have to admit, I’d grown to the point where I’d apprenticed myself to ‘Othem’ as he seemed massively involved in everything, I was beginning to feel I was a mere lap dog, following him around. And that was starting to bug me, as I prefer to think of Sadira as independent, not as Tom’s girlfriend just following him around at Larp.

So.

Mentioned this fact during the return trip from the last event and had people throw some reassuring words my way.

Got home and an idea struck me. I spoke it over with Tom and spoke to someone else, who consented so at Parliament this year, I’m putting into force. Though it does mean I’m going to have to develop my weapons practice skills and armour myself up.

I’m not stating what I’m doing on here, as I want to see people’s reactions at Larp when I go ahead, but it should be interesting. I’ll remain as Othem’s apprentice, as I’ve actually learnt some more incantation through him, but hopefully this will give me a name for myself.

Now Purple Theatre… I’m playing Elvira in Blithe Spirit (the first – dead – wife of the male lead). When I heard I was to play this part, I was shocked as I’d just auditioned for a giggle, but it seems I’m made a good impression as I was then given this part.

It’s great fun, but I can’t say it’s not a challenge. Noel Coward can be extremely confusing with his wording! Instead of saying something straightforward, he mixes words and adds others we’re not generally used to using.

I’m definitely looking forward to seeing the set though as it’s set in the 1970’s and everything meant to be fairly…animated.

It’s now 11.20, I’ve a day off. I have things to do!

To the batmobile, Robin!

Or….just….the car.