Thanks to listening to too much Jim Mora on National Radio I was enticed to read The Luck Factor by Dr Richard Wiseman recently.  The Luck Factor explores the concept of those who consider themselves lucky versus those who consider themselves unlucky.

As I have the best job in the world, am married to a divine man and I have two gorgeous children, I reckon I am very lucky.  Nonetheless, I have been practicing some of Dr Wiseman’s principles to increase my luck and today in Newtown, I experienced luck in action.

I was sitting in the waiting room of Sai Beauty Care which is the hub of Grishma’s world.  Grishma is Wellington’s number one eyebrow threader and I am a big fan from way back.  So are many other Wellingtonians and about six of us were happily seated waiting for Grishma.

(Note to all threading wannabes:  Sai Beauty Care, 223 Riddiford Street, Newtown.  Phone 021 2978412)

The front door opens and in walks a man with a suitcase and some packets of fabric under his arm.  Suffice to say the gentleman in question had the look of a character and demanded a level of attention.  Putting his suitcase down he began a short speech to announce that his friend who has a store across the road dealing in curtaining fabrics, was in the process of relocating to the city.  He then announced that a number of packets of curtaining fabric were free for those interested.  Then picking up his suitcase, he departed as quickly as he arrived.

Really??

I waited politely for my eyebrow threading then sauntered back to my car about 15 minutes later.  Would it be infantile to enter the store which looked like it was about to relocate?

My curiosity won out and I went in, along with two or three others, into the empty store.  Empty except for about 20-30 lovely packets of curtaining in various hues, nicely wrapped in plastic.  The proprietor said that it looked like word had spread and for us to take from the free packets.

The luck fairies were working overtime.

I thought it only polite to practice restraint and I selected a chocolate brown taffeta which was marked as being 10 metres of 150cm width.  The sewers out there know that this is a colossal off-cut.

I looked the gentleman in the eye, thanked him profusely and wished him luck in the move.

Do I know what his motivation was?  Not at all.  Obviously there is goodwill out there that we don’t see every day.

According to Dr Wiseman lucky people generate lucky opportunities.  I don’t know how much effort I put into today’s prime lucky encounter, but one thing I did differently was to take heed of an unassuming man walking the streets of Newtown with a brown suitcase.

Newtown is where cultures collide with those from the grass roots of society.  I love the gritty humanity of the place and my fascination with it never wanes.

Gotta go now, I have some curtains to make.

Jennifer