So, grumbling, the O takes off for the local Country Shopping Village, with Mrs O, for an enforced visit to an up-market clothing outlet.
"You like these, they've got lots of zips". (On the pockets, I hasten to add). The O looks at the price tag - "HOW MUCH?? £80?????" Thankfully, there is none in the O's rather rotund size - but they can be ordered, according to the hovering assistant. In the meantime, Mrs O is fingering a rather nice lightweight loose summer blouse. "I'm just not sure ..... what do you think?" The O trots out the standard response all men make at this point "It's very nice, dear" whilst surreptitiously eyeballing the price tag - Ye Gods, another £55 .....
"I really think we need to go and discuss this" hisses the Ostrich, propelling Mrs O (still on crutches), to the door, leaving a trail of disappointed shop assistants in our wake. Once outside, she says "Yes, let's go and discuss it in the creperie". The Ostrich - still worried about the finances - responds "The creperie - we don't usually go in there, but if you insist ...."
Where we agree that £135 is far too much money for impoverished pensioners to spend in one go. But in the meantime, Mrs O is demolishing a gigantic pancake smothered in maple syrup and ice cream.
And it then occurs to me that was what she was after all along - the pancakes with maple syrup and ice cream. The Ostrich just needed terrifying / softening up first to get him into the pancake parlour ......
