Man, what a day! I swear, being a furrier in Budleigh-Salterton is like riding a rollercoaster blindfolded. So, I wake up, right? The sun’s shining, birds are chirping, and I’m thinkin’, “Today’s gonna be chill.” Ha! Spoiler alert: it was anything but.
First off, I stroll down East Budleigh Road, and I’m already late. Classic me. I’m dodging dog walkers and old folks with their shopping bags. Seriously, how many bags can one person carry? Anyway, I finally get to my shop on High Street, and guess what? The heating’s broken. Great. Just what I need. It’s like a freezer in there. I’m shivering like a chihuahua in a snowstorm.
Then, outta nowhere, my mate Dave pops in. He’s all like, “Oi, mate! You got any of that fancy fur?” I’m like, “Dave, this ain’t a bloody fashion show!” But he’s persistent, you know? So, I show him some rabbit fur I’ve been working on. He’s all over it, but then he drops it. I’m like, “Noooo!” It’s like watching a slow-motion car crash.
After that disaster, I decide to take a breather. I head down to the beach. Budleigh-Salterton’s got this stunning coastline, right? The cliffs are all red and rocky, and the sea’s glistening. I’m standing there, just trying to chill, when I see this kid flying a kite. The thing’s all over the place, and I’m thinking, “That’s gonna end badly.” And guess what? It does! The kite gets stuck in a tree. Classic.
So, I’m laughing, right? But then I hear this commotion. Turns out, it’s a bunch of tourists trying to take a selfie with the cliffs. They’re all posing, and one of ‘em slips and nearly tumbles down. I’m like, “Dude, not worth it for the ‘Gram!” But they’re too busy trying to get the perfect shot.
Finally, I head back to the shop, and it’s packed. Like, where did all these people come from? I’m trying to serve customers, but my brain’s fried. I mix up a lady’s order. She wanted a fox fur, and I gave her a raccoon. Oops. She’s not happy. I’m sweating bullets, trying to explain. “It’s like, um, a cousin of the fox?” Not my best moment.
Then, just when I think it can’t get worse, the power goes out. Seriously? In the middle of a busy Saturday? I’m fumbling around in the dark, trying to find my phone for light. I knock over a stack of pelts. It’s like a fur avalanche. I’m cursing under my breath, thinking, “This day is a total write-off.”
But then, something amazing happens. This old lady walks in. She’s got this twinkle in her eye. She’s like, “Young man, don’t let a little chaos get you down.” And she starts telling me stories about Budleigh-Salterton back in the day. She talks about the old railway, the shops that used to be on Fore Street, and how the beach used to be packed with families. I’m captivated.
By the time she leaves, I’m feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. Maybe today wasn’t a total bust after all. I mean, Budleigh-Salterton’s got its quirks, but it’s home. The people, the stories, the cliffs—it’s all part of the charm.
So, I close up shop, and as I walk home, I can’t help but smile. Yeah, it was a wild ride, but that’s life, innit? Tomorrow’s another day, and who knows what it’ll bring? Just gotta roll with it, like that kid with the kite.