Keys - Lost Forever!?!

As we reach the end of 2008 I thought I'd share with you all a dreadful 10 minute experience that I suffered back in the summer. The following series of events took place at the wonderful Farmer Palmer's Farm Park in Dorset. There's a lesson to be learnt here…

After going on their tractor trailer ride (new tractor since our last visit - price has doubled to a pound - hard times!) we got off for me to discover to my horror that I no longer had my keys in my pocket. The feeling of initial amusement quickly changed to sheer terror and dread as I began to think "how the hell am I going to do, well, anything!".

So, my 2 year old daughter and wife went off to stroke some Guinea Pigs and I went running back to the tractor. I inspect the tractor - no keys - dread changes to panic. I go off on a quest around the whole of the tractor "course" with my eyes peeled. Panic changes to depression as I see all the massive muddy puddles about 2 feet deep and think to myself, "Why? Why? Why was I so lazy? Why didn't I put them all in my wife's bag? Why do I carry all my keys around with me - even the one for the garden shed at home?".

I arrive back at the tractor sans keys. My shoes are wet through. My new jeans are covered in mud. My face is long. I go back to the tractor for one last hopeful inspection - fingers crossed. And then, what do I see. I see a glint from a dark corner of the trailer as the sun rebounds off a metallic object (not quite true - there was no sun!). I approach with hope but pessimism and as I get closer it becomes clear that they ARE keys. They're really close and I begin to think, "What if there some other idiot's?". I finally get to them and inspect them. They are mine. Depression turns to relief and then to euphoria.

I walk back to meet my wife but I am greeted by a woman with an ice cream. She says, "Bet your relieved dear?". She's been watching all along. "Thanks for the help!" I think but I'm not that bothered I'm buzzing with too much adrenalin to be bothered. I agree with the lady and walk back to meet my wife, daughter and a furry animal.

So what lesson can we all learn from this kiddies?