In my counselling practice I would sometimes continue working with people who could not afford my fee. This may have been because their circumstances had changed, and it seemed wrong to me to stop a course of help because of this. A token fee was then charged until their finances looked up again.
Quite a number of years ago it became clear that one person would never be able to pay. I waived the fee ‘until his circumstances changed’. What then happened was that he would bring me the occasional kind present.
I am not a fan of science fiction. He was. So I have a few unread paperbacks in my library. One of these is ‘The Bicentennial Man’, a collection of stories on robotics by Isaac Azimov. The most prolific Azimov has the reputation of an icon of the genre. Another recent cue has prompted me to open this 1978 Panther paperback. It is such prompts that help me select reading from my collection.
The first three tales have held my attention enough to think I might persevere. Watch this space.
Early this afternoon, Jackie drove Becky and me to Knighton Park for another look at the crazy Christmas lights.
This time I focussed more on the gardens. Many exhibits, like the Santa in the box on the right, repeated recorded carols and other Christmas sounds.
Some of the characters, like the snowman with whom Becky is conversing here, were set in motion, and in voice, at the press of a button which visitors were encouraged to administer.
Along the side of the terrace, our daughter was in competition with a smaller young lady in the queue to activate other displays.
The child patiently awaited her turn to set the snowmen going.
Perpetual snow fell on the snowman in this lamp,
and various cribs were surrounded by other symbols of the season.
Father Christmas sheltered a pair of carol singers whose voices were enhanced by a sonorous giant snowman.
The magical scene was well worth the £5 I stuffed into the Charity Collection Box.
This evening we dined at Lal Quilla where we received the usual excellent food and friendly, efficient service, accompanied by Kingfisher beer. We were given excellent quality desk diaries and key rings containing bottle openers.