28 June 2009
no redemption is possible at this time
Perhaps my favourite place in the entire world, other than the soft embrace of pleasant-dream-smothered sleep, is the Chinese restaurant near the Ballardian flat I pay far too much rent for (I realised the other day that despite having worked full-time for three years I currently own £300 pounds, total, hmm, oops). The restaurant sits at the bottom of a chain hotel, and the staff resolutely pretend not to notice you've been in there about 500 times before, which I love. About two years ago I signed up for a loyalty card, and have dutifully collected points every time we go there - which, let's face it, is several times a week. Over the months I amassed about £1900 worth of points, which is certainly a lot of lemon chicken. They have a little card-reading machine by the entrance which tells you how many points you have, then afterwards, persistently, the message 'no redemption is possible at this time'. I adore this message. 'Before the Law! Before the Law!' I think, without fail, each time.
Before the law sits a gatekeeper. To this gatekeeper comes a man from the country who asks to gain entry into the law. But the gatekeeper says that he cannot grant him entry at the moment. The man thinks about it and then asks if he will be allowed to come in sometime later on. “It is possible,” says the gatekeeper, “but not now.”
But alas, the loyalty-card scheme has come to an end, and I got my 'redemption' - £10 off the final meal. Sometimes it's better to remain unredeemed and possibly even irremediable, else you sit there in front of the law, getting all strange about it.
Before the law sits a gatekeeper. To this gatekeeper comes a man from the country who asks to gain entry into the law. But the gatekeeper says that he cannot grant him entry at the moment. The man thinks about it and then asks if he will be allowed to come in sometime later on. “It is possible,” says the gatekeeper, “but not now.”
But alas, the loyalty-card scheme has come to an end, and I got my 'redemption' - £10 off the final meal. Sometimes it's better to remain unredeemed and possibly even irremediable, else you sit there in front of the law, getting all strange about it.
