General Chat

Whilst I was in town yesterday I decided to stop in the Plaza and have a coffee. I had just ordered it when a lady came and sat at my table although there were plenty of other tables that were empty.

She smiled at me so I smiled back. We then had the following conversation.

Her...they've moved you know. Gone.
Me...Have they? Who has gone?
Her ...my neighbours, only been there a month. Good riddance I say.
Me...Oh, didn't you get on with them
Her...don't know, never saw them. They only went out at night.
Me...(trying to change the subject) Are you on holiday?
Her...it hasn't rained
Me... No it hasn't but it's a bit too hot for me. It's nice to see the sun and blue sky though.
Her...I don't know why they only went out at night.
Me...(now getting a bit concerned) are you on holiday with friends or family?
Her... I like holidays, they're different.
At this point I had finished my coffee and had asked for my bill but I was reluctant to go and leave her on her own. It's a very safe area here but she was English, probably didn't speak any Spanish and clearly had health problems. I wondered if she had been okay when she had arrived and something had happened to her since she got here. I wondered if she knew the name of her hotel or where it was. Was she here on her own, I couldn't imagine she would have made her way through the airports alone. Did she live here in Tenerife. And consequently knew her way around. I had never seen her before. I hadn't any idea what to do next.

I couldn't bring myself to say good bye and leave her there but I couldn't sit there all day either.. Our stilted conversation continued a little longer and then a lady appeared and said "Oh there you are May, I wondered where you were"

This was my much welcomed cue to leave but I just felt so sorry for this lady who had been lost in a foreign country by the person presumably in charge of her. I hope it doesn't happen again.

What a strange situation to find yourself in, I can understand your concern. Thank goodness her companion found her. Hope they will be more careful to keep her close in future.

Lizxx

You must have a kind face for her to pick you out TS , you did the right thing by chatting:-)

I had a happier encounter with a stranger yesterday, I was at a function, and happened to be standing next to someone who was on there own, so I said hello and started chatting, as you, well I do :-) Found out she was from Romania, was a Nanny, and had travelled the world with different families she had worked for. She had a daughter living in London, so she was very happy to be here. We spoke for about half an hour, and in that time we compared notes about all the fabulous places there are in London to visit. When I left, I said how nice it was to meet her, and she said the same, then said she would love to meet again, and she would like, when I am in London to give her a call, and we could wander London together, she also had many passes to get in to all sorts of venues, and would be happy for me to go some of them with her as a guest. We exchanged phone numbers and both said we be in touch.

I'm always chatting to people when I'm out, and like you would sit with someone who I thought needed a bit of help.

If ever I get to Tenerife, we can chat for hours :-D

It was the laid back attitude of the other woman that I couldn't comprehend. She spoke as if she had just found a missing item not a person.

My family have always said that I seem to be attracted to people who need help. When I lived in the UK I bought endless drinks and sandwiches for people I'd never seen before for a variety of reasons.

I just hope May gets back safely to wherever she came from .

*** Lynda.. Not "if I ever get to Tenerife" but "when I get to Tenerife" :-D

Oops sorry TS.....WHEN I get to Tenerife :-D :-D

Maybe the woman was doing the same as I did with Fred, making light of the ladies problems.

She had probably been very worried but didn't want to make May feel like she had caused a big problem.

I may have been worried about Fred lying in the road when he came out of his wheelchair but I said "What the BH do you think you are doing down there?!" when I was called to see him before the ambulance came to lift him back into his chair.

I never thought about it like that Sharron and maybe you are right. The woman never said anything to me and just took Mays arm and led her away

To be fair I never said anything to the woman either, I retrospect I probably should have done.

I suspect the lady is in the habit of wandering, dementia maybe, and also maybe they do live there so her companion while, wondering where she was, knew she was safe somewhere in the Plaza. She might have been embarrassed to find her chatting to somebody, or may not have realised that she'd said anything. At least you did your good turn for the day.

You do realise that normally we would be on your doorstep now??? Hot would be nice, Dorset was not hot!! But the sun is shining now we are home. :-)

Hi Ann, I never thought about it from Sharrons point of view, I was just concerned about what would happen if I left. The other thing that crossed my mind was that I was probably the only other english person there yet she chose my table to sit at. She couldn't have known that I would understand her

I hope you enjoyed the change of scenery in Dorset even if it was a bit chilly.

I did realise that you would have been here over previous years. It is hot, hot, hot at the moment and too much for me. I have just taken a three month booking for Dec to March so I hope that this winter is not as cold as last year which was exceptioanal.

love to you both x

Is that somebody different? Have you got anyone for September? Our favourite month there.

Ann, I'll pm you x

Reminds me of the time my wife and I, (married 35 years today, just thought I would mention it) were on the steam train at Kingswear waiting for it to leave. A chap got on and started talking to us, and it was obvious that he was "special". Anyway, after a few minutes of chat, we noticed an elderly lady walking up and down the platform obviously agitated. The chap, completely unconcerned stated "that's my mum". What is she doing we asked. "looking for me" came the reply. I'm sure he would happily have left her there if we hadn't alerted her.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY BOB.

It's quite concerning isn't it. Sometimes these things must happen and people turn a blind eye but I can't do that.

Enjoy the rest of your day :-D

Hope you have had a Happy Anniversary Bob x :-D :-D

Thank you. We have had an excellent weekend in the Midlands, and I am now nursing a hangover. On Thursday we are going to the Ambassador's theatre to see Stomp.