The Tea Time Alarm
Tea and a scone - a luxury tea time treat!
I have this terrible habit of not opening letters if they contain the typical monthly bills. Everything is on direct debit and paid on time so I just make a pile – to be sorted at a later date.
But this envelope was different. The return address, a vague PO Box somewhere in Northamptonshire/ Nantwich / Norwich. Quite non-descript really. Banking perhaps or financial in nature?
Peering through the crinkly window of the envelope they had at least spelt my name correctly – that doesn’t always happen.
As far as I could tell it wasn’t a tax demand or a parking ticket. It could be something good like a cheque from a Readers Digest competition I don’t remember entering. Or even more excitingly a letter to say I’ve been accepted for that TV dating show I applied to.
I ripped it open and it all came flooding back – the day I forgot – oh the shame of it. I had been hoping for another community letter, advising me of my crime, reminding me of the consequences.
My defence for forgetting was a poor one, I had been completely distracted by a story I was reading, that would not be considered an extenuating circumstance.
Caught up in a family drama, not of my own making, I had missed the Tea Time Alarm – only by ten minutes or so. I rushed to fill the kettle as soon as I realised but that is not good enough for the NTTAA – National Tea Time Alarm Authority.
Oh bother!*
There is a fine to pay or the option of a Tea Time Awareness course.
I’m going to take the course, I don’t want the points on my otherwise unblemished record.
I’ll keep a closer eye on the time now, I don’t want to be caught out again. And while I remember I must add custard creams to my shopping list, an advisory on biscuit levels on top of this misdemeanour would be unconscionable.
(*other stronger expletives are available)