In our February 29 issue, much-loved columnist Maddie Grigg is back, bringing all the goings-on of Lush Places to life.
We can’t get enough of her amusing anecdotes here at the “Friend” office!
One of her recent tales involves Mr Grigg manhandling a fridge to a new spot, with the help of a neighbour.
The tale reminded me of the importance of measuring things first. It’s for good reason that sofa companies often remind us to check measurements before placing an order!
Learned the hard way
My youngest learned this lesson the hard way.
In a bid to fast-track her fitness, she and her partner bought a second-hand running machine. The only problem was this: they soon discovered it wouldn’t fit in their car.
The first we knew of their large purchase was when we got the desperate call asking for help.
Off we went to the rescue, and soon spotted the hapless pair stood forlornly on a country pavement. Well, it wasn’t difficult to locate them with a running machine looming over them!
The van doors were opened and we were assessing the situation when a young girl — aged about nine or ten — cycled to a stop beside us and knowledgeably informed us that the machine wasn’t going to fit in the van either.
To her credit, it probably shouldn’t have . . .
Impromptu sideshow
We tried every angle under the sun — all the while accompanied by the little girl’s peals of laughter as she delighted in the impromptu sideshow — until, red-faced and exhausted by the exertion (both her and us), we finally managed to wedge the machine in on a hope and a prayer.
Thirty minutes later and back on home turf, it took a further 20 minutes to release the beast from the van’s vice-like grip.
All’s well that ends well?
Life is never that simple. The contraption wouldn’t fit through the front door!
It had, however, certainly fulfilled its purpose of giving us all a good workout!
Suffice to say we found a good home for it, and it’s a tale I never tire of recounting over the dinner table.
And what about Maddie and her fridge? If you’re wondering if she had better luck, you can find out in our February 29 issue.
I just wonder if “Friend” readers have similar tales?
For more from the team, click here to read our blog.
Read what Maddie Grigg has to say on “The People’s Friend”.
Yvonne McKenzie I work on the Features team and admit to being nosy, so I love looking after the Between Friends letters and finding out all about our lovely readers. I also look after our health copy and enjoy writing about inspiring people that help make the articles in the magazine so interesting.
