30 minutes

It is surprising what you can see in 30 minutes. That’s how long I had to go out this morning and get the dry cleaning. It has been ready since Monday but you know how it is there is no rush except I need to get it before I depart this weekend as I doubt Judi will have the opportunity. The reason I have 30 minutes is because it does not open until 10 am and I have a conference call with someone in Sophia at 11 so I allocate quarter past until quarter to to dash out.

The first thing is to get outside then remember to go back for the rubbish, remember you have to take it out yourself. Ok second try and I am out, dump the bag and out onto the road. The first thing I notice is there seems to be leaves everywhere. Possibly a sign Autumn is here which probably means it will be over by the time my trip is over in two weeks. People diligently clearing up the leaves alongside the people sweeping their allotted section of the street. These people all seem to wear overalls which have florescent rings on which improves their safety but not their style. Cut through at the lights and cross the small park. Only a couple of people drinking beer but it is only 10:18.

Down the side alley passed the fish market. On the other side of the alley there are a few stalls selling various produce, fruit and veg, Honey, biscuits, ladies underwear?. Anyway there is an old dear selling chrysanthemums from a shopping trolley. Not in itself an unusual sight many old people will bring there surplus products and sell them on the street. I have purchased before but not today. I need to get on. Around the corner to the small mall where the dry cleaners is. I need to visit the supermarket as well and need to do that first or I will have a problem with the bag of cleaning.

They don’t like people taking bags into supermarkets in fact any supermarket. I think ti is a throw back to times when perhaps things were different. Anyway it is a pain so I avoid taking excess bags into these places. The guard eyes me suspiciously as she is busy cutting up strips of sell tape which the use to seal the plastic bags they make you put your stuff in. This should be easy, nuclear milk (so called as it never goes off). We go through a lot these days and I think the 0.5% on the label means there is only 0.5% milk in there and the rest is well not sure but whatever it is it takes a lot to change the color of my coffee. Next onions not sure why but useful. Cat litter as Eric seems to spend 25 minutes rearranging the contents of her litter tray so I think maybe she does not like the brand and hey she needs looking after as well so I am getting something different. Now I need to find some little spongy pan scrubs. Judi declared the one I was using a health hazard and threw it away. Now given I am the only on using it maybe I would have survived or maybe she has saved me from a fate worse than death we will never know. After quite a hunt it find them and am surprised at the range I can get 10 for 18 rubles or 2 for 68 rubles, I vote for 5 at 9 rubles and happy I have everything now move on towards the checkout. Today I get the lass grumpy one so almost pleasant.

The Dry Cleaners is a tiny place which must be a pain to work in. below ground no windows and tucked away in a corner so no view of passers by. Possibly why they always seem excited when you go in. I struggle to find the receipt even though I know I have it. Search everything and find it at the third attempt in my wallet. (am I becoming forgetful, I cant remember). Ok done and ticked off swing around the back of the first Metro and decide as I am in front of schedule I will take 5 minutes for a cigarette at the metro nearest the flat and people watch.

Only on person drinking, some policemen as usual although on has a machine gun over his arm, this happens when there is some event or someone is visiting Moscow. They just put a few more frighteners on view. There are a couple of guys dressed in army fatigues with guitars and a stand with their own CD’s on. They don’t sound that good but neither do s lot of people these days. I spot a woman who must have gone into the clothes shop and asked for something which will make me stand out in a crowd and look overweight. She of course got exactly what she asked for. A lime green checked pants suit. She really stands out in fact it is difficult not to focus on her. A gut in one of those very very shines suits they have over here. They are so shiny you think they may have a plastic cover or at the very least be buffed up with pledge every now and again. They are always light colored and the nearest thing I can think of is silk, shiny silk that is. There is an old woman selling flowers but she has lots of orchids and roses so I think she may have cut out the grow you own bit and just selling on. A few people handing out flyers and some with “sandwich boards” not something you tend to see in other countries.

I finish my cigarette and head back. I need to prep for my