Near Bovey Tracey deciding to sell ski clothes . My grandmother used to say one of life’s greatest pleasure is when u know you have done something for the last time. I knew last Friday afternoon in Les Deux Alpes returning to the village via Jandri 1, (blue run) it was my last ever ski. Done a lot of it over the years but never again ….
We bought the ski clothes, many second hand, end of Jan from a warehouse and were served by nice, young woman with a promise we could bring back after the hols and a cheery “We will try and sell them 4 you no problem” so washed, folded nicely and presented in same bag we bought em in I went to return. Straight away there was a different atmosphere. Really dirty dishevelled, even by rural Devon standards, looking middle aged woman seated in back room who did not even approach counter barely looked up from her phone and said “alright?” In a distinctly disinterested tone.
No she would not take clothes to sell second hand as “We no longer do that”
I protested, ” but but but…the young girl who served us said….”
“Well she shouldn’t have we don’t do that any more”
“But it was specifically asked and she said.. .”
“Well you will have to come back tomorrow and speak to her then. “
“But I have made a special trip!”
“In that case will have to get me partner”
She came out from behind the counter, went downstairs and came back with an even filthier looking man.
He remonstrated for a while but then said he would sell them but that we would only get 50 per cent of the price and of that half would be given vouchers for shop.
“But we don’t want to ski again ever . We would have no use for vouchers.”
The words sounded harsh in the shop and seemed to ricochet round the goggled mannequins with their fixed smiles, knees bent in skiing position and jaunty woolly hats .
“Then that’s going to be an issue” said the grubby man .
I did my best for a while, “but the Lady said….and that was the understanding on which we bought ….”
The River Files 