Hello James 

Mabel how are you 

I am as good as can be expected 

It is so cold today 

It is warmer than my little flat 

Is your heating broken 

If so Red and I can pop around 

No the heating is working 

But it is so expensive 

You know if I was working 

I would pay your bill 

But my factory closed down 

Lillywhites 

Yes it was purchased by an Asian company and the work was transferred out there 

I was there twenty years 

It does make you bitter 

Sue is working at the local supermarket 

This said it does affect my benefit and they expect me to look for jobs where there are none 

What about The Rosa Hotel 

They always seem to be understaffed 

It is no longer a hotel in a conventional sense 

I can see where you are coming from 

How is Sue 

She is fine 

I thought she looked tired when I was last there 

She works all the hours although some it is cash in hand 

We would not be able to manage without her money 

The foodbank is a lifesaver James 

People are so generous 

Many do not have jobs but they share what they have 

It helps me to keep going 

The town might be decaying 

But the community is strong 

Is that your shopping list Mabel 

I wish it was 

It makes no sense to me 

Where did you find it 

Near the new Labour Party offices 

How they have the cheek to open their doors 

I thought it was a shopping list 

Do you mind if I have a look 

Please keep it 

It is certainly unusual 

Arsenal 

Taylor Swift 

Glasses 

Suits 

Designer clothes for V

Designer clothes for R

The rest is unreadable as the ink has smudged 

Is it important 

It is the least important thing in the world 

I apologise in advance but I would not even wipe my arse with it 

May I walk you home Mabel as these pavements have not been gritted 

Please take my arm 

The kettle will be on as soon as we go through the door 

That is kind of you 

I tell you what and please do not see this as charity 

I know what you are going to say 

For only as long as this cold snap is on

Then we will wait and see as I do not want to insult you 

You are so like my Pat 

I have two brothers if you get my drift 

One has connections with the church 

I am sorry to say I have lost my faith 

Most of us have but I still welcome the dawn 

It is just a feeling I have 

I do wish I shared your optimism 

You will Mabel 

Things will get better 

A bullet in the right place 

Can you repeat that James 

As my battery is running low 

It was nothing 

Just a lone voice from the abyss