Eclectic Designs

I was meandering down Pontcanna Street, one of my favourite little areas of Cardiff, the other day, with time to browse and soak up the ambiance… a rare treat these days… I love its chilled out vibe, and its independent shops, some of which sell curios that you won’t find anywhere else, like the brass lined magnifying glass that I bought from Electric Designs the other day.
The owner was out on the pavement talking to the owner of the neighbouring shop, enjoying the sunshine, and discussing how everyone has had their glass fronts tagged with a diamond cutter in recent times… how rubbish is that? Being a dignified area, neither of them looked anything other than gentile and composed, (if it were me and my window, I would look a lot more scandalised, and would be spitting expletives as though on a conveyor belt). I’d asked Jeremy Sage if he was the owner of the shop as I went in… he was. I also asked him what kind of electricals he sold, because I couldn’t for the life of me recall there being an electrical shop on Pontcanna Street. Clearly, in my haste I’d misread the sign… «Washing machines» he replied glibly, without a hint of sarcasm.
About ten minutes later I emerged with my brass bound spyglass, that somehow would look very much at home on a tall ship, or some other aged wooden boat. The circular band of brass creates a lip about one and half inches in depth, allowing the magnifying glass to glide over newsprint in a fluid motion, doubling the size of the lettering as it goes.
«How much is this washing machine?» I asked as I held it up for him to see. «I don’t know», he replied flatly, and then came into the shop to try and find his purchase document so that he could calculate the retail price. He couldn’t find it, and so instead picked a figure out of the air. I then presented my credit card, which he declined… «the minimum transaction charge was absolutely killing us» he explained. So, replacing it in my purse, I pulled out a twenty pound note. Rather gleefully he took and put it in his pocket, and then started jangling around in there in an attempt to find me some change. He was unsuccessful. Without explanation he then headed off out the door and down the street, returning about five minutes later triumphantly handing me £2.50.
The whole thing was utterly gorgeous!