This is Petri who I met while walking Elsie on a city centre photowalk on Wednesday. Petri was exiting the Arboretum park at the same time as Elsie and myself. We exchanged “hello’s” and I asked her if she’d been feeding the ducks.
“You are not meant to feed them, but it’s winter so I go to the Polish shop up the hill and buy some seeds for them. They are seeds for human consumption not birds, but they really like them”
We walked towards the city together, I admired her shopping trolley.
“I use it as a walking aid, my “stroke nurse” told me I should use a walking stick, but I don’t like the one they gave me. I have a collapsable one in my trolley, but I rarely use it. The trolley doubles as a seat, if you move the lid there’s a cushioned seat underneath it” Petri demonstrates the seat. “It’s really useful when waiting for the tram or bus”
Petri asks me my name and I ask what her name is.
“Petri, I’m named after the German scientist who invented the Petri dish. My Grandfather was an Engineer, he used to build tunnels in Russia, Germany and Panama. He knew the professor. He met that man !!!” Petri demonstrates the Nazi Sieg Heil salute.
“My grandmother used to tell me these stories as a chid. I thought she was making the stories up, but when I came to England from Jamaica, I realised they were real”
By now we’ve reached Nottingham Trent Uni and Petri tells me all about her Grandson, who went to the university and is now a videographer. I asked Petri, if I was delaying her by talking to her. She said it was fine, she was catching the tram to Hucknall to visit the “Home Bargains Store” to buy some Millionaire Shortbreads for her sister.
“They are hard to find, the last time I went there they had none in stock, they were having a delivery on Tuesday, but not stocking the shelves until today, so I should be OK to get some”
I had a really good chat to Petri, when I asked to take her photo, she told me she takes lots of photos of the park on her mobile phone. She showed me some of her photos.
It was a lovely meeting with Petri, she was a lovely lady and I felt honoured to meet her
Such a lovely lady , beautifully captured in this portrait - so natural as if in mid speech!!! . and what a great narrative - you two must have had such a chin-wag!!! fav
I love your connection with people. We have lost the ability to stop and talk to strangers.Everyone has a story if we spare the time to listen. You have captured her beautifully.
@busylady thanks Judith , Petri was chatting as I was taking her photos !
@denful thanks Denise , I was so pleased to meet Petri
@corinnec merci Corinne , I am sure she did find some !
@marlboromaam thank you mags