God, how could I have been so stupid!  Went around to check Breda’s house. She asked me to check her house as she was going to England for a week. She was nervous she might leave something on, like the cooker.  “No problem”, I said.  Around 4 pm, I thought, “I’ll do it now”, and take our dog for a walk at the same time.  The house is just around the corner, no problem. Managed the keys alright.  Dog lead in one hand and keys in the other. Once inside, I left the keys down on the worktop. I had a quick look around to see that everything was as it should be. I decided to wash the breakfast dishes and leave them to drain on the rack. I Glanced around again, switches as they should be. Yes, all seems well.  Pulled the door shut behind me. “Christ” I thought, “I’ve left the flaming keys inside”.

Left the dog back home. No walk today. Called on Susan, a few doors down. She has a spare set of keys for Breda’s house. No reply.  Went home and wrote a note.  Put the note through Susan’s letter box.  My daughter phoned and I blurted out what had happened.  “Don’t worry, Susan will be back later, you can get the keys from her”.  I paced, looked up phone numbers for locksmiths in the area.  Knock on the door. “Thank God”, but it was my son and his wife.  Blurted out to them what had happened. Dylan said the same as my daughter.  Made tea and passed an hour before they went home.  Another knock on the door.  “Yes, this time it’s Susan”.  No, church collection.  What will I do if Susan is away for a few days?  .  Why couldn’t I have done just what I’d been asked to do?  If I hadn’t rinsed the breakfast things, I’d still have had the keys in my hand.

Susan knocked just after 6pm with the keys.  Thank God for good neighbours.

Diary Entry – 3 June 2014