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TAKING THE STRAIN

The ‘Dodger’s  Arms’ was Maurice’s local pub, and he had just raised his half glass of Badger’s bitter to his lips, when  he suddenly thought of a good tip for his drinking partner and friend Jack, who had been discussing the improvements that he was making to his terraced house.

  “If you need any sand, you should try that little hardware shop on the corner of Suffolk Road.” said Maurice.

  Continuing, Maurice told his friend how he had gone to the local store with two oversized garden buckets and enquired as to whether they stocked building sand.    ‘Sure, see old Albert in the yard……We charge per bucket, an’ you can pay when he’s don’.’ he was told by the young man behind the counter.

 So, with one of his outrageously sized containers in each hand he marched off to the yard.

 Old Albert made no comment about the size of the buckets and dutifully filled them to the brim, leaving Maurice to struggle with the task of getting them into his car.

  “So, what did the sand cost you?” enquired Jack.

  “Ninety pence…….Oh….and a hernia.” replied Maurice.