Comfort Zones

I had to bring Maggie in for service. First, the cigarette lighter element to use the satnav was on the blink, and not knowing the IoW well I rely on a little help to get around. Second, her propensity to stall at inopportune moments was increasing--in the fact on this very morning it took three attempts, all while reversing out of the parking space behind the house, to get the car to stay moving. Not only annoying, but slightly embarrassing; fortunately no neighbours were out, and no one was waiting for me to exit the parking lot.

York Avenue Garage is a short drive over to East Cowes via the floating bridge, aka the chain ferry. For £2 per car you drive on to the open platform, and there is room on either side that is a covered walkway for foot passengers who travel for free. The ride across the River Medina from West to East Cowes is thankfully short--you can barely count to 150--so I decided to just let the car idle and not turn off the engine, just in case Maggie decided to stall once again. While I was the last car to clamber on, the ferry unloads quickly and simply re-loads with people and cars and heads back, and even with no set timetable I didn't want to be the cause of delay. The ferry is the only way to get across the river without driving 10 miles to Newport, which makes it popular during commuting hours.

It was a very wet, chilly morning. Having dropped the car off at the garage I decided to head into the nearby Waitrose supermarket and pick up a few items that the local West Cowes shops don't carry--a particular brand of cereal, a perfectly ripe avocado, Sumatran coffee . . . you might think slightly posh but I am particular about my muesli and coffee, and wanted an avocado I could actually eat at lunch. It was early--not yet 9 am--and the outside world was just waking up; the supermarket was open but most aisles were empty. I gave in to my desire to simply stroll down each row of goods, looking at what was on offer and making mental notes for the next time I needed something a bit different for dinner or for when guests come and I want to serve unusual biscuits or jams. I browsed lovely selections of cheeses, olives, wines, pastas, chocolates. 

I felt a bit of guilty pleasure at taking my time--picking up jars here and there to scan the ingredients--knowing that it was a Friday morning and I ought to be in front of my computer working. (Only slightly guilty, however, as I'd worked quite late the previous evening and had already been through the overnight work email from the Americas before setting out in the morning.) It is not my first foray into the East Cowes Waitrose, certainly, and yet every time I find myself there I find something new to buy or make note of. I was pleased with my purchase of ginger beer, from Fever Tree, in a lighter version--as the weather gets colder it's Dark and Stormy time, and the natural fruit sugars appealed to me and will hopefully mix well with rum!

Groceries in hand, I headed back toward the chain ferry, foot passenger this time. I stood just inside the front end of the ferry, looking out the window--normally I like to stand at the gate that remains closed until the cars and people are allowed to exit, but this morning it was a bit chilly and damp and I was inclined to stay out of the mist. I like watching the boats slowly going by, every now and then one looking dangerously close to the entering the path of the ferry. As we crossed I noticed the rain almost completely stopped, and there was even a patch of blue sky. 

So what was special about this journey? I realised as I was walking along the high street in West Cowes, local paper tucked under my arm, groceries held in the opposite hand, how entirely comfortable and happy I felt. How I enjoyed watching the shopkeepers turning locks to open up and setting out wares, and how I recognised a few as we exchanged smiles. How much I actually liked the whole morning--take care of the car, getting some groceries, walking back in a slightly bustling yet uncrowded, almost peaceful setting. It was close to 9:30 in the morning and turning sunny, and I still had all of the day in front of me. And it was nice. It was comfortable. It felt like home.