All that I seek now finds me.

    Yesterday I witnessed a beautiful little exchange in our local, back street, book and stationary shop. Not so long ago this shop changed hands. The new owners are a friendly young couple.

    A pretty nine year old girl with long blond wispy hair wearing denim dungarees whose straps were falling off both shoulders, clutched her tiny tapestry purse, and asked for 18 pencils. The 20 something year old owner of the shop smiled at the child ,disappeared, and returned with a box of HB lead pencils. She carefully counted 18, and handed them over the glass counter.

    The little foreigner wriggled her whole body, grinned, and said, ‘coloured ! ’

    I wondered what you were going to do with 18 lead pencils said the petite shopkeeper with a huge smile.

    Disappearing again she returned with a box of 18 coloured pencils, and handed them over the counter. Under the glass was what I was waiting to buy, calligraphy nibs and inks.

    The child tipped her coins onto the counter and the young woman helped her count them.

    In the corner of the shop by the door, a 2 year old cherub was seriously looking at a large children's picture book, and her 5 year old brother was seriously studying a book of joining up the dots. Their curly headed Sufi dad , with his back to them, was looking in the dictionaries section.

    When my turn came, I was asked what would I like. Your advice on calligraphy nibs I said. The young man smiled and pulled out 5 different possibilities.

    Do you have gold ink I asked? Yes he said, caught up in my delight at the prospect of a new hobby. The gold ink looked like milk in a small fancy bottle. He shook it vigorously, and magically, the milk turned gold.

    Blood tests again tomorrow, and Tuesday and Wednesday more chemo.

    Who will be my companions this week? What will be the fillings in the free sandwiches, ham or chorizo? And will the shy chaplin stop long enough for me to ask him for another blessing ???

    My new affirmation is ‘All that I seek now finds me,’ so, apart from finding somewhere new to live, I’m hoping to attract a calligraphy teacher and a little groups of other calligraphy enthusiasts.

    A pleasure shared is a pleasure doubled .

                                                    All photographs thanks to Pinterest.