General Chat

Well done Lavender. You and the marine helped the shopkeeper and may have restored his faith in people.

It must have been frightening but you did the right thing. Whatever the man's problem drug/drink or mental problems he didn't succeed. Shock makes you think of what could have happened but it didn't. You are all unharmed and although shaken it's over.

Give yourself a treat you deserve it. Even if it's only an extra biscuit. :-D

That was certainly scary, and brave Lavender. I am pleased that you were ok though as well as the man, poor old fellow the shop is probably his life.

It sounds very much as if the suspicious man had some sort of psychosis going on. If that was the case, let's hope he gets the help he needs.

It must have been very frightening for both you and the shop keeper. Well done for doing what you could to help him out. :-)

Wow, that's scary, well done to you Lavender for helping that shopkeeper by going into the shop and therefore causing the thug to leave. It may be that you saved the poor chap from injury, or he might have had a heart attack if the thug started threatening him etc. What a shame thd police couldn't do more but maybe after interviewing him they were able to recognise descriptions and look on cctv and catch the moron later.

I hope the shopkeeper will not leave himself so vulnerable in future or decide enough is enough and retire. Sad but better that than die protecting his stock, these druggies or whatever don't care how far they go to get money.

Take care, hope your next trip out is a liitle less scary

Lizxx

Bless you , good to let it out though and not try to hold it back Lavender. I do hope that man is ok and sending him a note is a nice thing to do. Take care x

I'm going to drop him a line Sylvia, thank you, although I don't know his name.

I did look a bit of a heap with my sobbing but my ex-marine rescuer said that I should be proud of myself so that's alright!

Somebody in the town said the gentleman had his safe lifted out the shop recently and this might finish him off. It's strange how life is. I'd had several conversations about him with friends and family concerning his vulnerability with his disabilities working in a shop at such an old age. Apparently, he has been there 50 years. It's terribly old fashioned inside.

`

I would think it did seem surreal at the time Lavender. I hope you are ok now after the shock and also the shopkeeper.

Didn't think I was a have a go sort of Granny!

Nothing prepares you for something like that.

Such a surreal day yesterday.

Away for a few days we had gone to a beautiful seaside destination for a relaxing day. We had decided to pay a visit to the local linens shop since the elderly gentleman is so sweet even though he is almost mute. We are not sure whether he has suffered a stroke but last time we were there he pointed to his head by way of an explanation. My husband and I had discussed how vulnerable he was manning a large shop by himself…

We made our purchases and since I didn't feel up to spending time in the local museum decided to browse the shops and await a call from my husband to meet up again.

On passing the linens shop again, I glanced inside and was shocked to see a man very obviously hiding out within the store whilst the gentleman moved about in the rear of the shop with a female. He darted around the stall, back flat against the walls at times, peering round corner, crouching down behind the rail of net curtains.. I wasn't sure if the woman was a customer or an accomplice, a distraction?

My mind was racing.. there wouldn't be time for the police to arrive. `i made the decision to enter the shop hoping that my appearance would deter him from thieving. He rushed to leave giving me marked, odd grimacing smiles within my space.

In the meantime the woman had left the shop. I asked the gentleman if he was ok, was he aware of what was happening.. the man raced back inside the shop, right in my face, shouting, threatening, 'what had I been saying', over and over, 'you were staring at me'! I denied anything. He ran out leaving us both shaken.

A man holding a baby entered the shop. I explained what had happened but by now I couldn't hold back from crying with the shock. I was too frightened to leave but he reassured me saying he was ex-marine (lucky me!). Just as we were going to ring my husband he telephoned and promptly arrived. We went to the police station to report the incident. I felt the need that they should know this had happened to such a vulnerable old man. They said to ring 999 should we see the man again.

After a cuppa, there he was! Darting and diving around the harbour, trying to catch a taxi, running, crouching, looking like a hunted man desperately trying to leave town! We dialled 999. The police arrived but by now they said that they had another more serious call to deal with and had not yet had time to contact the old shopkeeper. It quickly became apparent that our thief had been up to no good again. We didn't find out what else he had done! He appeared to be a druggie, probably desperate to obtain money for a fix.

We were pleased to see the shop had been quickly closed up, poor man. What a day.