Autumn Sidewalk

Back to work tomorrow after a tetchy and uncomfortable week off with the shingles. Not particularly looking forward to it as my left eye is still feeling itchy and gets tired easily but there is the matter of a living to be earned. In preparation I went to the filling station and filled up the car with Arab gold. On the way back I was struck by the number of leaves which have fallen recently. When we headed for Paris the trees were still pretty well clothed. Now you have to search for one which hasn't gone almost totally bald.

I did mention that there was a bit of a saga concerning the replacement camera. A saga which led to a bit of good luck falling my way for a change. I researched the secondhand market thoroughly before desiding that I would make my purchase from Conn's Cameras in Dublin. I bought my first serious camera from them in 1968 just after they opened their original shop. The intention was to purchase another EOS40D since I have a bunch of accessories for my old one and most importantly a bundle of spare batteries. Only one 40D to be had according to the website so off I went to purchase same, with the possibility of a 60D as a fall back option in case the 40 was tatty or clapped out.
Problems. The 40D was nowhere to be found within the four walls of the shop. The guys searched high and low in vain. What about the 60D. "Sorry sir, the 60D has had a deposit lodged on it and the customer is coming back for it later". The manager must have seen the look of despair on my face, after all I have now been hanging about for half an hour while they looked for the 40D. "Tell you what I'll do for you sir. Manager's decision. See that 60D demo model in the glass case. Brand new, never out of the shop. I'll sell you that for the advertised price of the secondhand one. Complete with everything, boxes, cables, the lot". I almost bit his hand off, so eager was I to accept, even if I was now spending 250 Euro more than I had intended.
The funny thing was this. I asked him to put the battery on charge and I would be back in a while to collect everything. When I returned there was a bit of a row going on behind the counter. No, it was a big row. The missing 40D had turned up. One of the staff had loaned it out without any paperwork and wasn't about to admit his guilt. Needless to say the manager offerer me the option of changing my order and taking the 40D instead. Equally needless to say, I politely informed him that he was such a helpful man that I really wouldn't like to put him to the trouble.
Methinks I scooped a bit of a bargain. Hence I need to get back to work and earning. Heh, heh!