hurumph

I get the shivers when I have to go to Halfords. I prefer to support my LBS but Saturday night couldn't find my headset spanner. After lots of unproductive hunting I decided I would have to pop after work and get a new one from the most incompetant shop in Shropshire.

As follows ...

Me .. hunt around the shelves, no headset spanner.
Ask teenager Behind counter "do you have any headset spanners?"
Teenager 1 "I don't know what you mean?"
Me "A headset spanner for a old threaded headset locknut, 32 mm spanner"
Teenager 1 "I think I know what you mean (to teenager 2) do we have any headset spanners?"
Teenager 2 "what for?"
Me "to unlock my headset so I can grease the bearings"
Teenager 2 "Can you show me on a bike the part you mean?"
Me "that bit" pointing to a nasty headset and quill stem on a cheap and nasty hybrid.
Teenager 2 "the headset"
Me "Yes, its 32mm"
Teenager 2 "No sorry we could order one or book it in at the workshop and we can do it for you"
Me "No thanks"

Head downstairs to the car section and find a 32mm socket. Decide to spend £6.50 on one socket. Hover around the till for 5 minutes. No one appears. Walk to the back where another teenager is trying to find a part for a lady. Slightly older assistant comes out says something to teenager, glances at me but doesn't speak, then goes back out. I huff and walk to front of shop. Dance around for 5 minutes and hope someone (at least on the CCTV as i'm looking like a lunatic) spots me. I wonder if I just leave the cash on the counter I could be home before I get served. Girl eventually comes downstairs. "Sorry I was upstairs talking to the bike boys."

Hurumph.