Showing posts with label Welbeing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Welbeing. Show all posts
The Turkish Tailor
There was once a pauper who cleaned the lavatories at Pennington Station named Albert. He lived a simple life of working, sleeping and eating. Albert also liked to enjoy his life and did so abundantly with wine, women and song.
One evening, as Albert was leaving The Drunken Duck Inn, his favourite after-work destination, he noticed a light emanating from the end of Cock's Lane next to The Elusive Camel, a fancy place with fine patrons and delicious food Albert once frequented. Now though, as Albert was too ashamed to return there. He had once made a fool of himself by consuming too much mead and ale with certain unsavory consequences resulting.
It was not a long walk to they alley's end to satisfy his curiosity and when Albert arrived he was astonished to see a diminutive wizard sitting on a large silver pawnbroker's ball inside a lean-to market stall filled with hundreds of burning candles. And in front of him, apparently for sale, was one pair of gentleman's slacks.
Feeling somewhat obligated now as he had shown such interest in the little wizard with his candles and candle-lit market stall, Albert ventured even nearer to inspect the wizard and his goods. "I thought you'd never arrive" said the little wizard with a knowing smile. "But I knew you would" he said. Albert burped the gas of his last ale from The Drunken Duck and nodded at the wizard. The slacks were made of a soft fabric the likes of which Albert had never imagined. They glowed in the candle light with a shimmer and an unmistakable look of quality. Were they cream coloured thought Albert. Or were they silver like the scales of a fish or a light blue as blue as Topsham Harbour on a sunny day though Albert to himself.
"How much for the slacks?" asked Albert. "Whatever you can afford" replied the little wizard as Albert reached into his warn pants to find he had only one last shilling to his name. "I have only a shilling" he said to the wizard embarrassed, to which the wizard replied simply, "That will do."
Albert could not believe his luck and snatched up the slacks not knowing whether they would fit him or not. He quickly walked home excited with his great luck reassuring himself along the way that the glowing slacks would do him just fine.
When Albert arrived home, his kindly mother did not ask where he had been for she knew by Albert's gate, and the slur of his words that he had been to The Drunken Duck as was his habit almost every evening. "Your supper is on the table" she said to her son in a tired, but loving way. Before Albert even understood her words, he plunked his new treasure down on his mother's lap with a smile. "Look Mammy" he glowed. "The finest slacks money can buy" and then he recounted the tale of his encounter with the little wizard and the impossibly small price he had paid for such fine slacks. "We shall have to pin them and deliver them to the tailor's for you. My eyes are not what they used to be" his mother continued. "Such fine slacks are surely worthy professional stitchery - there's no sense wearing such beautiful and slacks if they're a bad fit" his mother remarked, as she reached into her sewing basket. By morning, the slacks were pinned and set by the door in a neatly folded paper bag for Albert to take to the tailor's on his way to work.
By mid afternoon that day, Albert was still so excited with the prospect of wearing his specially-fitted purchase that he left his duties in the lavatories of Pennington Station and rushed down Spring Street, up Sussex Gardens to arrive in jig time at the little tailor shop on Southwick Street to collect his slacks. He pushed open the door of the narrow shop and at once the tailor recognized him. The little bald Turkish man jumped up to explain excitedly that he had never in his life seen such fine slacks. "The linen, why it is sewn with silver thread. And the lining is like no other silk I have seen" the little tailor continued. "It was an honour to work with such fine craftsmanship. I cannot bring myself to charge you a tuppence for my work for I enjoyed it so". This was remarkable luck for Albert. His last shilling was used to purchase the slacks the evening before as he had just that moment remembered.
Albert excitedly left the narrow tailor's shop and the balding Turkish tailor and hurriedly made his way to The Drunken Duck Inn where he knew he could add perhaps a few more libations to his slate before Friday's last call. Upon his arrival, Albert assumed his regular seat at the bar, ordered a pint of bitter and carefully opened the crisp white paper parcel containing his newfound treasure. Indeed the slacks were as wonderful and exotic as his foggy memory allowed him to remember. As he unfolded the slacks, they cascaded against him as though they were a long-lost lover causing heads to turn as they fell, and his fellow patrons to gather around him. Indeed these were special slacks and all who knew Albert agreed. As Albert admired the slacks stroking the fine fabric as if it were a prize winning Persian cat, he pulled his hand away abruptly shouting "Ouch" as his finger was pricked by what he knew must have been a pin mistakenly left in the side seam by the Turkish Tailor. Instinctively, Albert squeezed his finger producing a small droplet of blood which then fell upon the slacks. The droplet of blood did not however stain the slacks and instead rolled off the garment like rain shedding off an oilcloth raincoat. How lucky Albert thought as he continued admiring his treasure.
It wasn't long before Albert realized that the Turkish Tailor had not overlooked just one, but all of the pins his mother had used to adjust the fit of the slacks. He knew he would have to remove them as he did not wish to be pricked again particularly in those delicate areas that resided below his waistline. So Albert began to remove the pins carefully, one-at-a-time and placed each one in the glass rail of the bar among the coins, twisted bits of paper, and matchbooks other customers had left behind.
Albert became so engrossed in the activity of locating, withdrawing and depositing pins that he did not notice Sheila a well known lady of the evening approach. "Nice pants Albert" she exclaimed as she pulled up a stool beside him. "You got someplace special you're going? Why do you need to get all fancy-dressed up for?" she continued sarcastically. "Maybe you'd like to come by my place and let be help you try those on for size." But Albert was so deeply involved in the task at hand that he did not even look up at Sheila, nor did he emit more than a grunt in her direction. "Better luck next time Sheila mumbled to herself as she joined another punter down the bar several seats away and well removed from Albert and his busy task.
As Albert continued removing pins from the slacks, the salt and pepper quaffed barman named Smokey wandered by and upon noticing what Albert was doing said, "Be careful of those pins. You want another pint?" Again, Albert was so transfixed with his activity that he did not notice Smokey carefully removing the pins from the bar along with his tips from the afternoon's shift.
When Albert was finished removing all the pins the Turkish tailor had left behind from his new slacks he looked down at his unfinished ale, then at Sheila seducing an unsuspecting and intoxicated customer and decided that he should leave. He didn't really know why for he usually stayed late at The Drunken Duck, but something or someone was calling quietly to him it seamed from within the slacks he held near himself. That can't be Albert muttered to himself as he left for the gents' lavatory where he pulled on the slacks. They were a perfect fit. He left The Drunken Duck wondering about the whispering voice he had heard moments earlier. "I must have been imaging things" Albert said to himself and as he strolled out into the cool night air. At that moment, a finely gentleman dressed in a top hat and the finest suit Albert had ever seen approached with a friendly smile. "Do you mind good sir, if I ask where you purchased such fine slacks?" Albert gladly told him of the strange wizard at the end of the alley and what a good bargain he was given. "And I didn't have to haggle with him either" explained Albert, as they walked along Gloucester Square toward the Elusive Camel where Albert once frequented. They entered the 'Camel' at the man's insistance. "Come now, I'll buy you a sweet tea" said the man. "We can talk more."
As they approached a round tavern table near the bar, Albert noticed a wizard, the very wizard who had sold him his slacks sitting at the table along with The Turkish Tailor. How strange thought Albert, and what a coincidence that I should once again encounter such an unlikely pair, and sitting together no less, apparently waiting for another to join them. "Come sit" said the man in the top hat as he gestured toward the table where the odd pair were seated. "I'd like to introduce you to my friends, Opportunity and Guidance. "Oh and please allow me to introduce myself properly" the stranger said. My name is Inspiration. Welcome back."
One evening, as Albert was leaving The Drunken Duck Inn, his favourite after-work destination, he noticed a light emanating from the end of Cock's Lane next to The Elusive Camel, a fancy place with fine patrons and delicious food Albert once frequented. Now though, as Albert was too ashamed to return there. He had once made a fool of himself by consuming too much mead and ale with certain unsavory consequences resulting.
It was not a long walk to they alley's end to satisfy his curiosity and when Albert arrived he was astonished to see a diminutive wizard sitting on a large silver pawnbroker's ball inside a lean-to market stall filled with hundreds of burning candles. And in front of him, apparently for sale, was one pair of gentleman's slacks.
Feeling somewhat obligated now as he had shown such interest in the little wizard with his candles and candle-lit market stall, Albert ventured even nearer to inspect the wizard and his goods. "I thought you'd never arrive" said the little wizard with a knowing smile. "But I knew you would" he said. Albert burped the gas of his last ale from The Drunken Duck and nodded at the wizard. The slacks were made of a soft fabric the likes of which Albert had never imagined. They glowed in the candle light with a shimmer and an unmistakable look of quality. Were they cream coloured thought Albert. Or were they silver like the scales of a fish or a light blue as blue as Topsham Harbour on a sunny day though Albert to himself.
"How much for the slacks?" asked Albert. "Whatever you can afford" replied the little wizard as Albert reached into his warn pants to find he had only one last shilling to his name. "I have only a shilling" he said to the wizard embarrassed, to which the wizard replied simply, "That will do."
Albert could not believe his luck and snatched up the slacks not knowing whether they would fit him or not. He quickly walked home excited with his great luck reassuring himself along the way that the glowing slacks would do him just fine.
When Albert arrived home, his kindly mother did not ask where he had been for she knew by Albert's gate, and the slur of his words that he had been to The Drunken Duck as was his habit almost every evening. "Your supper is on the table" she said to her son in a tired, but loving way. Before Albert even understood her words, he plunked his new treasure down on his mother's lap with a smile. "Look Mammy" he glowed. "The finest slacks money can buy" and then he recounted the tale of his encounter with the little wizard and the impossibly small price he had paid for such fine slacks. "We shall have to pin them and deliver them to the tailor's for you. My eyes are not what they used to be" his mother continued. "Such fine slacks are surely worthy professional stitchery - there's no sense wearing such beautiful and slacks if they're a bad fit" his mother remarked, as she reached into her sewing basket. By morning, the slacks were pinned and set by the door in a neatly folded paper bag for Albert to take to the tailor's on his way to work.
By mid afternoon that day, Albert was still so excited with the prospect of wearing his specially-fitted purchase that he left his duties in the lavatories of Pennington Station and rushed down Spring Street, up Sussex Gardens to arrive in jig time at the little tailor shop on Southwick Street to collect his slacks. He pushed open the door of the narrow shop and at once the tailor recognized him. The little bald Turkish man jumped up to explain excitedly that he had never in his life seen such fine slacks. "The linen, why it is sewn with silver thread. And the lining is like no other silk I have seen" the little tailor continued. "It was an honour to work with such fine craftsmanship. I cannot bring myself to charge you a tuppence for my work for I enjoyed it so". This was remarkable luck for Albert. His last shilling was used to purchase the slacks the evening before as he had just that moment remembered.
Albert excitedly left the narrow tailor's shop and the balding Turkish tailor and hurriedly made his way to The Drunken Duck Inn where he knew he could add perhaps a few more libations to his slate before Friday's last call. Upon his arrival, Albert assumed his regular seat at the bar, ordered a pint of bitter and carefully opened the crisp white paper parcel containing his newfound treasure. Indeed the slacks were as wonderful and exotic as his foggy memory allowed him to remember. As he unfolded the slacks, they cascaded against him as though they were a long-lost lover causing heads to turn as they fell, and his fellow patrons to gather around him. Indeed these were special slacks and all who knew Albert agreed. As Albert admired the slacks stroking the fine fabric as if it were a prize winning Persian cat, he pulled his hand away abruptly shouting "Ouch" as his finger was pricked by what he knew must have been a pin mistakenly left in the side seam by the Turkish Tailor. Instinctively, Albert squeezed his finger producing a small droplet of blood which then fell upon the slacks. The droplet of blood did not however stain the slacks and instead rolled off the garment like rain shedding off an oilcloth raincoat. How lucky Albert thought as he continued admiring his treasure.
It wasn't long before Albert realized that the Turkish Tailor had not overlooked just one, but all of the pins his mother had used to adjust the fit of the slacks. He knew he would have to remove them as he did not wish to be pricked again particularly in those delicate areas that resided below his waistline. So Albert began to remove the pins carefully, one-at-a-time and placed each one in the glass rail of the bar among the coins, twisted bits of paper, and matchbooks other customers had left behind.
Albert became so engrossed in the activity of locating, withdrawing and depositing pins that he did not notice Sheila a well known lady of the evening approach. "Nice pants Albert" she exclaimed as she pulled up a stool beside him. "You got someplace special you're going? Why do you need to get all fancy-dressed up for?" she continued sarcastically. "Maybe you'd like to come by my place and let be help you try those on for size." But Albert was so deeply involved in the task at hand that he did not even look up at Sheila, nor did he emit more than a grunt in her direction. "Better luck next time Sheila mumbled to herself as she joined another punter down the bar several seats away and well removed from Albert and his busy task.
As Albert continued removing pins from the slacks, the salt and pepper quaffed barman named Smokey wandered by and upon noticing what Albert was doing said, "Be careful of those pins. You want another pint?" Again, Albert was so transfixed with his activity that he did not notice Smokey carefully removing the pins from the bar along with his tips from the afternoon's shift.
When Albert was finished removing all the pins the Turkish tailor had left behind from his new slacks he looked down at his unfinished ale, then at Sheila seducing an unsuspecting and intoxicated customer and decided that he should leave. He didn't really know why for he usually stayed late at The Drunken Duck, but something or someone was calling quietly to him it seamed from within the slacks he held near himself. That can't be Albert muttered to himself as he left for the gents' lavatory where he pulled on the slacks. They were a perfect fit. He left The Drunken Duck wondering about the whispering voice he had heard moments earlier. "I must have been imaging things" Albert said to himself and as he strolled out into the cool night air. At that moment, a finely gentleman dressed in a top hat and the finest suit Albert had ever seen approached with a friendly smile. "Do you mind good sir, if I ask where you purchased such fine slacks?" Albert gladly told him of the strange wizard at the end of the alley and what a good bargain he was given. "And I didn't have to haggle with him either" explained Albert, as they walked along Gloucester Square toward the Elusive Camel where Albert once frequented. They entered the 'Camel' at the man's insistance. "Come now, I'll buy you a sweet tea" said the man. "We can talk more."
As they approached a round tavern table near the bar, Albert noticed a wizard, the very wizard who had sold him his slacks sitting at the table along with The Turkish Tailor. How strange thought Albert, and what a coincidence that I should once again encounter such an unlikely pair, and sitting together no less, apparently waiting for another to join them. "Come sit" said the man in the top hat as he gestured toward the table where the odd pair were seated. "I'd like to introduce you to my friends, Opportunity and Guidance. "Oh and please allow me to introduce myself properly" the stranger said. My name is Inspiration. Welcome back."
Today is Fairly Significant to Everything Else
Today I commended somebody
Today I thanked somebody
Today I gave space to somebody
Today I gave respect to somebody
Today I listened to somebody
Today I was patient with somebody
Today I accepted somebody
Today I loved everybody
Today I created good energy
What will happen this afternoon?
-H. Alexander Nichols 2015
Today I thanked somebody
Today I gave space to somebody
Today I gave respect to somebody
Today I listened to somebody
Today I was patient with somebody
Today I accepted somebody
Today I loved everybody
Today I created good energy
What will happen this afternoon?
-H. Alexander Nichols 2015
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