escalators and rain

 The department store is smaller than in the memories of two years ago. The last time in the building was two years ago nearly, and the roofs appear lower, the aisles between the wares are tighter. The shoe department is smaller too.

Stop to look at some pairs of shoes, there are a few that are quite nice upon first sight. A further examination reveals that they are really rather cheap. Find an escalator going upwards, and go up one floor. Look about, but this seems purely clothing. Take the next escalator up, this is pots and pans and washing machines. Finally, the top floor, this is sports. And over there are the tyre repair kits. Buy a small kit in a plastic bag, some rubber cement and a few patches. That is all that was wanted. Go back down the escalators, following signs on the floor guiding the shopper to the cash registers.

Check the one small item out and go down the remaining escalators. Leave the building by the other exit, passing the watch department on the way. It is a whole department full of tacky cheap watches, nothing of quality or interest here.

The  clothing store opposite is always a good source for socks, use their escalator to go up to the mens department. Search for short summery socks in the cheap ten-piece pack. And when paid for, leave the building after a short look at some wildly overpriced jackets and suits.

Go home and take the rear wheel of the bicycle apart. Take out the tube and pump it up. Hold it unter water, searching for the bubbles that would indicate a leak. There are none, after all that the tube appears to be in order. Reassemble the wheel and pump up the tyre. It will be clear tomorrow if it can hold the pressure or not.

Later, it starts to rain. From the balcony watch the rain pound down on the roof of the opposite building. The splashing and splattering of the water appears to drift from side to side of the roof, covering it in white mist. It is very heavy rain indeed.

The son brings a picture of a local area showing extensive flooding in town.

Later on there is the sound of pumps and emergency services, the heavy downpour must have been over a large area.

The sound of the quietened rain is relaxing.