I got in touch with an 'old flame' today. I wouldn't usually recommend this as it can be the cause of people wallowing in nostalgia about their lost youth and feeling discontented with their current partner. You see it on soap operas all the time! But today I thought I'd take a risk...
The story goes like this: I was walking through Bolton in Lancashire (or rather hobbling as I'm still limping on a very painful sprained ankle - which is my excuse for being a bit grumpy old blogger just lately) when I saw an estate agent's sign. The name on it made me smile and took me back to a very tender moment in my first job when the boss's nephew shyly gave me a Christmas present.
I'm fairly certain I was the first girl he ever bought a present for as he was only 5 years old at the time! I was 18 and worked as a receptionist/telephonist. It was a great fun job and lots of clients (who appreciated the fact that I always recognised their voices when they rang) would bring me generous presents. But this one was special.
The little boy would often come into the office with his dad - but ask if he could stay with me for a while. He'd bring his latest toy car and play with it on my desk, chatting away. At Christmas he gave me a present he'd obviously gift-wrapped himself and his dad told me that he'd insisted on buying it out of his own pocket money.
It was a bar of LUX soap. If his dad had given it to me I'd have taken the hint and changed my deodorant. But 5 year olds are without guile - or they were in those days anyway. Apparently he'd bought it because it said 'beauty soap' on it. How incredibly sweet is that? It blessed me then and it was a lovely thing to remember today - it almost put a spring in my step. You see that little boy is now the estate agent.
I regretfully handed my notice in shortly after that Christmas. It was a fun job but didn't pay very well and I needed a better salary to save up for my wedding the following year. I haven't seen my little friend since but I guessed it must be him when I saw the Billboard. He was stunned when I rang to say hello and it was great to hear that he is doing well - though if he is still as thoughtful it bodes well for his business. He's only recently married - so still pretty much a newlywed himself.
So now over 30 years later I'm planning to return the compliment. As a soapmaker myself I hand-make a range of Beauty soap. I'm also just putting together a range of Men's soap products in time for Father's Day and I've made some lovely herbal cold processed soap. I'm going to post him a slice with a Thank You note.
Hopefully it'll make his day too.
