SimonJM

I was ambling through the town centre, about to schlep homeward when I remembered a decision I had made yesterday.  I had decided to get my beautiful niece some flowers, semi inspired by Valentine's Day, but mainly as she has recently managed to break her wrist.  The gentle schlep stuttered to a halt as the brain cell got redirected to work out where there was a florist.  A quick mental review of the nearby shops failed to unearth any I knew of and I was beginning to make muttering sounds when I noticed some police knocking down a PR-type display and so I decided to do what we have all been told to do, "when in trouble, ask a policeman".
I strode toward them and one, a young PCSO (Police Community Support Officer) as it turned out turned toward me and let out a hearty "hello, sir!"  After a quick look behind me in case I asked him, "how's your local knowledge?"
He broke into a broad smile and replied, "excellent, sir!"  I nodded in appreciation and asked, "where's the nearest florist?"
He then broke into a set of stuttered "um it's, er, well, it's ..." sounds of confusion whilst his colleagues, some PCSOs and also some real police broke into guffaws of laughter and half of them combined that with pointing at the hapless chap.
That said, he plucked victory out of the fires of defeat with great aplomb.  Not only did he decide to consult PC Google, he also inquired which way I was walking home so he got a shop in the right direction, and came up with a good solution, even to taking me to a map and walking me through the roads needed to get there.
As is usually the case, my parents were right, "in case of trouble, find a policeman".  The police and PCSOs are often derided but as and when they can actually put warm bodies out and about I have ever found them to be decent people - apart from, maybe, the git who did me for speeding many, many years ago!