Brother PR670e Service collection from Wolverhampton. Brother PR680W repair & service return to Birmingham.
Dawn wore a coat of thick cloud – heavy, damp and low. The mercury had climbed out from the freeze. A lady standing at the bus stop wearing a camel raincoat flapped the lapel to let in some air. I threw a smile and she nodded back and let out a blow and nodded. Knots of uniformed kids dragged their way to school. Sat in traffic, I waited in line behind builders vans carrying racks of ladders up top.
I arrived at Stevie’s house and filmed his morning briefing. Soon, I was presented with coffee and tea cakes. Medium toasty, no singeing, very nice. We talked of the journey and the customers and the day to come. A shorter trip than usual awaited us – collecting a Brother PR670e for service & repair from a chap in Wolverhampton. Then on to return a Brother PR680W from service & repair to a lady in Birmingham.
Stevie studied the map on his computer and we worked out the route.
Soon enough we joined the morning flotillas sailing along the M6. Some quicker. Some slower. And looming out of winter mists, lorries with all their lamps aglow.
After Keele the sky began to show a soft pallete blue and as the sun climbed and the miles ran the blue turned more blue and blue and blue.
By the time we reached Wolverhampton the sun shone low. Wet roads reflecting a dazzle bright light. Our chap appeared and led Steve and I to his flat on the first floor. He had a room for his Brother embroidery machine. Typical of many, there were embroidery threads and frames and all the other paraphernalia that goes with many an embroidery business.
Steve and I carefully stepped our way down the two flights of stairs. Our chap was kind enough to come along and open doors along the way. We put his Brother PR670e in the van and had a quick goodbye chat arranging to return his embroidery machine the following Wednesday.
A lovely chap. He went out of his way to help us.
Once, on a particularly hot and busy day, I asked a lady customer for a drink.
She said, no.
We weighed anchor and set the compass for Birmingham – and Pam.
The roadways flowed freely and within the hour I parked the van outside Pam’s house.
Another quick piece to camera – I asked Stevie to explain our progress. I use the talent that available to me, if you see what I mean.
Pam appeared at her door. She’s always lovely.
‘How was your journey down here, boys?’ she asked.
A brief chat, then Steve and I carefully carried her Brother PR680W up the driveway and into her smart house.
Pam has a ground floor room for her embroidery machine. So no stairs to navigate, this time.
Pam is a talented lady (see photos). Among her many talents is jam making. Pam’s jam is delicious and whenever Steve and I call we are presented with two jars of Pam’s homemade jam.
Once, on a call at The Elephant & Castle, I was delivering a Brother PR650e. The customer, a young and very athletic chap of six foot eight told me the ‘lifts were out’. And as he lived on the sixth floor of a tenement block, it meant there were twelve flights of stairs.
I asked the chap if he would help me.
‘No, that’s your job’ was his flat reply.
Fair enough. Well I managed to schlep the heavy machine up all twelve flights and provide an hours tuition.
So you see why I appreciate kindness when I find it.
Pam’s husband appeared asking if we’d like tea or coffee. Pam said we could choose between cake, biscuits or mince pies. Then added we could choose all three, if we felt so inclined.
Stevie went for a mince pie and I had a biscuit (M&S Belgium) we both chose tea – milk no sugar.
We chewed the fat, along with the mince pie and biscuit, for a happy half an hour. Then we made to leave. As we walked down the hallway – two jars of Pam’s Jam were waiting by the doorway.
I told you Pam is a lovely lady.
The journey home was steady. It was Stevie’s turn at the wheel – we always split the driving. I snoozed on and off. I dreamt of James Bond (Sean Connery of course) and Pussy Galore and my Dad. And the sun shone down.
