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Life outside Ambridge
Life outside Ambridge
Life outside Ambridge
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Life in Ambridge
THIS POST IS CLOSED "longer off topic comments" - Episode 14 Life Outside Ambridge Have a seat and let's chat.
Scorchio, Gary!
ReplyDeleteWell, it was down here anyway ☀️☀️☀️
What a daft idea, Rosie’s party was. As someone else said on the old blog, it was more for the grown ups than the children (were there any other children apart from Rosie?) and an opportunity for the SWs to update us on a few background details.
I think they must have been reading our blogs, about us wanting to know what’s been happening at LL for example.
Alice, totally misguided and unempathetic to bring up the subject of the trust fund at a babies party and I’m only sorry Pip didn’t tell
her to drop it until a more convenient time and place.
She doesn’t sound at all like a new Oxbridge graduate to me.....more like an over- enthusiastic schoolgirl.
Night all, hope we can all get some sleep in this heat !
Oh bother!!
ReplyDeleteJust realised I’ve Written all that on the wrong blog - sorry -
Suffering from heat- addled brain. 🤦♀️
Don't worry about it Archerphile, you're not alone! My brain turns to confused mush when it gets too hot. Today was the last day of my jury duty and I have never been so happy to leave a room in my life. 15 of us in a tiny, windowless cupboard with no air-conditioning. One poor chap sweated so much that it looked as if he was wearing a dark blue bra over the top of his pale blue shirt. Never a good look at the best of times...
DeleteOuch GG!
ReplyDeleteArcherphile I am just having a late bedtime listen to TA as I normally do but tonight in great heat and a thunderstorm and I read your post - on here by mistake but I still listened 😂😂😂
Storm really going now 😱 😱 flower pots will be a sight in the morning but will hopefully recover in the sun - no need to have watered 😂
ReplyDeleteGG how do you decide when it is time to close a blog?
Lady R, I always try to close it before it gets to 200 comments. That's because after that amount it stops showing them automatically - you have to click on a tiny little "load more" instruction that EVERYONE always misses! And also I am very aware that a lot of you hate having to scroll down too much, so if I can catch it around the 175 mark then that's what I will do...
DeleteThanks GG - of course the “load more” tab (yes I often got caught out at first 🙄) you are doing a great job ⭐️ for us thank you. Meeting up with Ruthy was meant to be!
DeleteHope her kitchen refurb has gone well and she will be rejoining us again at some point 🤗
Terrific thunderstorm here but it doesn’t seem to have cleared the air, still really muggy. The inevitable power cut we had meant the coffee machine didn’t come on, Mr Nuts had to reset it and has just brought me up a mug of the magic elixir, he’s a good sort.
ReplyDeleteIn response to the comments on the previous blog; fructose is the natural sugar found in fruit and vegetables and is generally considered fairly benign ( although be careful if you’re diabetic) a common sweetener/bulking agent is high fructose corn syrup, derived from maize and held by some authorities as an evil up there with partially hydrogenated trans-fats, and responsible for many of the diseases found in the developed world. I do try to avoid food featuring these ingredients as I once read an article suggesting sticking to foods made from ingredients you have in your own cupboard ( or at least might feasibly buy) food that your grandparents would recognise as food and that would support mouldy if left for a few days. It struck me as sound thinking.
As an IBS sufferer I try to avoid certain sugars too, particularly maltose and ingredients such as; sorbitol in many so-called diabetic or sugar free products (and in unripe apples which give you tummy ache!), artificial sweetness ending in ....’ol’ and polyols. These can cause severe stomach cramps and the ‘runs’. I find the sweeteners usually found in sugar free squashes are different and don’t cause me any problems. But I seem to spend my life reading minute print on food labels!
DeleteWe in Glasgow keep getting threatened with thunder & lightning, but nothing has come of it yet. Not looking forward to the next 48 hours - too muggy for me...
ReplyDeleteOff to Edinburgh today to see the Bridget Riley retrospective before the Festival starts and the city becomes absolutely unbearable. Last time I saw a Bridget Riley exhibition was at the Serpentine in that fancy London many years ago and we had to leave because we both had hangovers and the paintings made us seasick!
Glad to hear you are having an enjoyable day our after your "ordeal".
DeleteBridget Riley made me giddy and sick the first time round, ( yes I am old )
DeleteAnd I had no intention of looking at them again.
Thank you very much.
I also remember queuing at the Tate with my father when I was fifteen ( I think ) to see the Picasso. I didn't like them much either despite adopting the Picasso look, in the form of a pony tale and big eyes.
Gary. “I was blinded by the light”.......
ReplyDeleteChecking out the weather chart to ascertain how bright
Will be the blinding of the light. Apologies to Manfred Man 👨🏻.
Enjoy your day with Bridget Riley. Went to a V&A exhibition on modern art and they had her work alongside D Hirst’s attempts at plagiarising her style. His were the equivalent of a seven years old attempting to copy.
Can imagine ! Years ago, London, Manchester Square, a room where he did something similar, imitating ( ? Can't recall, maybe Turner, someone of that period) equally inept. I think he's a poseur & a charlatan.
Delete👍👍
DeleteAgree with the above comments, but....... he keeps a number of people well employed in Stroud. And one bloke I've met employed exclusively with making the frames to export his works.
DeleteThree minutes up the hill and I can look down on his massive factory.
Ref. Gary, above, hope you enjoy the Riley without the unpleasant side effects this time. Saw a retrospective at the N. Gall., possibly 7-8 yrs ago & was expecting the effect you describe, but, no, it was terrific, some dizzying but such a variety.
ReplyDeleteWhilst on art, obvs. skip if you want, had a lovely time in nearby city yesterday with a friend where the old town hall has had a major refurbishment recently, which includes gallery space - how lovely to have changing displays on my doorstep, as it were ! This time, there was a room on Barbara Hepworth, from a short post WW2 period, featuring beautiful, tactile sculptures ( not to be touched, of course) in wood or stone, + riveting drawings, especially those set in operating theatres. No blood & guts, just the intense focus of surgeons & nurses.
ReplyDeleteBack briefly, to last night’s storms - there was a strange phenomenon here in Hampshire last night.
ReplyDeleteAfter the lengthy and very noisy thunderstorm with forked lightening and heavy rain it went quiet for about an hour.
I had to get up at around 02.45 and saw the strange sight of flashes of light in the sky, as though wartime searchlights were reaching UP into the sky seeking out enemy aircraft. It was completely silent and not raining at all. Various points all around the horizon were illuminated at about 5 second intervals and seemed to be going in the wrong direction i.e. up, not down.
I half expected to see triffids in the garden this morning!
How extraordinary ! I wonder
DeleteThat's why I didn't look out!
DeleteYes Archerphile we had this too In our part of Hampshire but in reverse (ie before the thunder which was then followed by the rain and then with both thunder and lightning.)As you have said it was really strange as everywhere was so quiet and the description you have given spot on. I was born post war but know enough via films and pictures to recognise this.
DeleteWhat a storm last night which went on for over 1.5hours. A house in Wrexham (N.Wales) about 15 miles away, was struck by lightning causing the roof to go on fire. It was one of those when I could here the "crackle" with the lightning.
ReplyDeleteGG
ReplyDeleteMay I add my Thanks for doing such a wonderful job.
I have to ask. If you are on a jury one day, does that mean your service is done or can you be called again?
I am feeling a green eyed monster tonight🤢 My nieces partner and their 2 children, have flown out for 7 weeks, staying with family in Maurtiaus (they all have dual nationality). Niece joins them in 2 weeks, after winding up her London job and 5 weeks before starting her new one, here "up north".
ReplyDeleteAnother niece + husband, living in London, are selling up and their property went on-line today. They hope to move out of London by the time their first babe appears in January.
I have never been there, but it looks amazing. When they bought it 11 years ago, they gutted + revamped their entire house. She is an interior architect/designer, so bought the bathroom + kitchen fittings etc. via work contacts, so all were at trade price, as was the labour. It has paid off lterally, as it is up for sale for K300 more than the purchase price.Still they will need it, whith their next move and what they want.
Went to Lyme Park today. We went round the garden in the morning. While having lunch we planned a walk in the afternoon, having taken a map of the estate with the footpaths marked on. We got about one third of the way round to find our way barred and a notice saying that the field had to be closed due to dog attacks on the sheep. The only we had no alternatve but to retrace our our steps to the car park and find another walk. I'm think that most dog owners are responsible but it only takes one to spoil it for everybody!
ReplyDeleteWith this hot weather, I have changed "puss cats" food.
ReplyDeleteShe is now having more meat, pates etc. as they are more moist so helps with hydration.
To those with animals. How do you keep them hydrated and do you change the feeds and excercise regimes?
I have 2 extra cat bowls which I fill with water and leave in different places in the garden so they have access to water both indoors and out. They also seem to like the grubby water! in 4 old butler sinks ,which are now outside and used by frogs and tadpoles. I keep 2 dustbin lids filled with water as well but they are mainly meant for the birds.
DeleteP.s. Bella appreciates cold milk from the fridge in hot weather, but Tiger Lily can't tolerate milk ( and gets the runs with it) so I don't give her milk even though she likes it.
DeleteAs an aside for those interested in different cultures, my Filipina daughter in law is lactose intolerant, and apparently 50% of Filipinos are
Should have said "at least 50%"
DeleteI think lactose intolerance is fairly common in China too.
DeleteI don't have any animals but the local cats use my pond to drink from so don't have a problem keeping hydrated here.
DeleteOrangutan Jungle School. (CH4).
ReplyDeleteWhat a heart warming programme, but so sad why this has had to be set up.
Gary, glad you are free from your jury duty. I heard a jury in Oxford was sent home earlier in the week because they said they couldn’t concentrate in the heat.
ReplyDeleteMiriam, I believe you are on call during your two weeks jury service. My mother was sent home from court after not being called on the first day, but told to be a phone call away for the two weeks. Some people sit on more than one case if they are short.
You typed the words right out of my brain seasider with regards to the process... So glad to be free of that particular case - it was relentlessly depressing. And even though we disagreed on many of the specifics we (almost) unanimously came to the same conclusions in the end. But much rather me being uncomfortable in every way for a week than living in some ghastly hell hole with no real judicial system.
DeleteYes Gary - like poor Nazanin Zaghari- Ratcliffe in Iran. Her treatment has been shameful, not helped of course by our new Prime Minister.
DeleteMy first thought today, on hearing that the new Foreign Secretary is to be Dominic Raab is to hope that he puts Nazanin’s case at the top of his to-do list.
Oh, and sort out the problems in the Straits of Hormuz before my family, who are travelling back to Dubai today, get caught up in a real Gulf war.
Archerphile. I do admire your positivity. But I fear it is a case of the Emperors New Clothes. It will all mendacious dissembling and the usual empty words.
DeleteStasia, I may have sounded positive but that post was written with my tongue firmly in my cheek. I may hope, but am not at all sure I truly believe all I am hearing and seeing from the new crew.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteGary. I also find him arrogant and offensive. Oxford is not as wonderful as is projected by the media. Certainly thirty years ago it had many more privileged bumptious public school educated students than today. The old school tie patronage was very evident.
DeleteThere were definitely some very clever people, but from my experience they were more humble about the knowledge they carried. Only the pretentious show off types, with money joined the likes of the Bullingdon club. And the Oxford Union.
I and my partner lived there for six years.
The fact that Donald Trump finds him delightful heavily counts against him. I’m just waiting for him to fail as poor Theresa did before him! Them Europeans will not be budged I fear!
DeleteOh well! Stuff happens! Over 60s cricket match cancelled today due to Health and Safety concerns, although we do have a defibrillator attached to the outside of the clubhouse! 🙂
ReplyDeleteNot surprising really though, and it has concerned me, after the gentlemen suffered in last year's few very hot days.
Forecast for Saturday's match not good as it appears the weather may at last break and rain all day! None here in Kent for at least ten days!
However I now have the problem of a stock of food ( enough to feed a total of 60 people at 2 teas) to put away and not waste, but also have already a very full fridge and almost filled to capacity freezer!
Sitting here with a fan going a hot and clammy room. I think that I may be able to do something if I clean out the freezer and get rid of the five or six inches of snow and ice at the bottom! 😱 Even though it's in the garage (facing directly into afternoon sun) there has got to be something worse than working arm deep in a 12 cu ft chest freezer on a day like today!
Spicycushion. It might be worth the hard work of defrosting if you get an upright frost free freezer. I have two in the garage for all the vegetables 🌽 🥒🥬🥦🍅 grown throughout the year. ❄️❄️
DeleteAdmittedly my chest freezer is antique! The lock is broken and some of the plastic lining has bulged out, which I assume means ice behind in the insulation. However since 1978 I have had just two chest freezers, present one being the second. Neither cost more than £120!
DeleteI chose a chest one because Which magazine said they were cheaper to run than uprights and with a young family I was looking to save money wherever I could. Also the experience of others with the uprights and plastic drawers which get iced up, difficult to pull out and the plastic getting so brittle it breaks puts me off them I'm afraid.
I have bought four small (4 litre capacity) plastic boxes with lids so will endeavour to put small packs of meats in one, vegetables in another etc. Also youngest son leaves work just before supermarket closes (he is a butcher there, finishing at 8.30pm) and is constantly coming home with 'bargains' at ridiculous prices! Need all the room I can get!
I would add that I'm looking to replace my tall larder fridge in the kitchen (on first floor in a town house) with two smaller ones to fit under an enlarged worktop. Gosh I'd be like Jenny darling then!!! 😃
DeleteI have one of those too and the frost-free option is a real godsend. Wish I’d had one years ago. unfortunately, our garage is at the far end if our long garden and has no electricity. So the freezer is in the laundry room behind the kitchen. It has a very large velux roof window and gets the full sun all day. Needless to say the room gets stonkingly hot and I am doing everything I can to keep it a bit cooler with fans going (never mind keeping US cool!)
DeleteLast year our old freezer broke down and died due to the excess heat so I think we need to get a blind for the Velux if these summers keep getting hotter and hotter.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePlease do see my reply to Spicycushion above Lanjan. I do appreciate AND like the fact that we are all different in our attitudes and preferences, but I never in a million years thought that I would ever live in a country where someone like Mr Johnson would be deemed the best that we have. So dispiriting on many, many levels.
DeleteWhen 'BoJo' (I heard it on the radio) became the Foreign Secretary it took me a while to realize that they were referring to him. I'm a remainer for a start and I remember that he took his time to announce which side he was on. The current Home Secretary had to resign from her post as Foreign Sec because she acted outside her brief, so they have something in common. I cringe when like father like son they both spew Latin at us. Finally, 17 (?) former government members have gone to the back benches...
DeleteGary. I also replied earlier.He is Misogynistic and dangerous. The result of his bumbling had a detrimental result on the imprisonment of Nazanin Z Radcliffe. His bumbling also resulted in him having to go to Liverpool to apologise for his comments. He may have a 2.1 from Oxford and spew out Latin but his understanding of The Celts and their history is pathetic.
DeleteI shall stop now.
I too fear for our future with BJ at the helm.
DeleteMy son in law was at City Hall for most of BJs time there and recounted horrific tales of his doings.
I am a committed leaver, but had no doubts that he was full of bluster and lies
throughout the ' leave ' campaign.
Like Gary I cannot believe we are where we are politically and with this character in the position he has just won.
However...........
Part of me has a distinct feeling that all that bluster IS an act, and that the possibly astute brain hidden behind the charisma, might come to the fore and surprise, if not all, then some of us.
I rather think the same.
DeleteIt rained hard, along with thunder + lightning, an hour ago. Now very hot, sunny, humid + literally steaming, but can still hear thunder!
ReplyDeleteThere's clouds appearing again - it will be interesting.
PS I am not mentioning politics nor Brexit. I have my thoughts but I don't feel inclined to enter into a discussion.
I have had a postal communication today, to which I have to respond to (£1000 fine if don't) to check the eligibility as to whom can vote in my house-hold. This I will do, as who knows when my vote, might be needed next.
I have just done this, and only took 2 mins using key-pad on landline. Quick + simple.
Delete36 degrees here.
ReplyDeleteAny advance on that?
No my highest was also 36C earlier today. I had to shop, so I went early. On returning at 9.45am it was 31C then.
DeleteAfter rain + thunder it is now back up to 32C.
To think it would cool down!
We took the dogs out at 8 this morning and it was very warm then. Gypsy had her cool coat on and did well with a few stops. Buddy has been a bit lethargic all day and decided he didn’t like his cool coat! We all stayed in for the rest of the day although we humans managed lunch outside under the sunshade. Hope it is cooler tomorrow!
DeleteI have not been present for a couple of days.
ReplyDeletePreparing to, and travelling to Cornwall and when here unable to access the Internet.
Not a bad drive down in the evening and rewarded by a magnificent sunset as I drove due west.
The house and grounds are to die for, all so romantic. Extensive woodland with rare trees, and ( CC please note ) massive Gunerra everywhere. Daughter says there is a wonderful yellow Magnolia as well.
She has been given a book written by the man whose father, a wealthy Viscount, turned the house from an ancient farmhouse into the house that it is now in the early 1920s, along with the extensive gardens and lush woodlands. All this when the son was a young boy. The descriptions of the house then, mixed with all his memories of Cornwall and its inhabitants is wonderful.
Lady has had to come to terms with the big black Lab, who partway through their first fight, (initiated by Lady) clearly thought ' I've had enough of this' stood over her, put one paw on her chest, and just held her down.
Lady is still growling when Purdey comes anywhere near me, jealousy, but they are also playing together tearing around up and down the sloping lawns.
I have cleaned out two attics and helped hang washing and brought it in, as my contribution so far, but hope to get out and see some of Cornwall whilst here.
But there is no sun !
My S in L keeps muttering that he is worried that they have bought this property in the only part of Cornwall that doesn't get the sun, and if they get holiday lets, whoever comes will never return.
Ah !
On the dot of five, evening sun just breaking through.
Oh dear Mrs P, my little woodland is very small, but I do love it.I have spent the last couple of days with my chainsaw, clearing out some stubbly hawthorns and a couple of sycamores, that will allow the 2 lovely oaks a little more room to expand. I have decided to have the Ash trees that border on the single track road and bridleway down, over the next couple of years, whilst I able am to cut the majority of it up myself. Woods do need managing!
DeleteI would love a red oak, but they are expensive and not likely to survive here, so dream over.
Tell your Son in Law not to worry, people always go to Wales and everyone knows it always rains there , as I know from experience.
Jealousy is Mistys problem, it is so understandable with Lady.
Enjoy your holiday and don't do too much work.
My daughter who is the operations manager at a holiday park here in North Cornwall says tell your son in law not to worry. She has seen visitors increasing in numbers over the last few years and feels certain this trend will continue. They are what she calls 7 to 8 deep , meaning that for each chalet there are 7 to 8 people/families they cannot offer accommodation to, and that is despite the owners charging what I consider to be atrocious prices. A lot of German tourists come to Cornwall because of the Rosamunde Pilcher films having been translated and shown in Germany, and if your daughter wants to expand their visitor base then research what beaches/places shown in the R.P. films are within visiting distance of the Lizard and include that in any advertising. Hope the sun comes out for you while there and that you have a lovely time.
DeleteNote to Ev :
ReplyDeleteMy daughter informs me today, that my mother in Laws former house, just round the corner to you Ev, is up for sale, yet again.
Will you be house -hunting??
DeleteEnjoy your stay, it sounds lovely.
PS I don't know Cornwall. I might be interested in renting, as would others I know, depending if there are any golf courses nearby, cost etc.
DeleteNot sure where your mil’s house is Mrs P but won’t be moving myself! The bungalows here sell quickly as it is quiet but very handy for the High Street.
Delete39°, in rehearsals all day, ghastly..
ReplyDeleteRehearsals for what?
DeleteThis sounds so intriguing - do tell.
I so admire any-one with a skill, which you obviously have.
It is up to you...😆
Concert on Sunday - baroque chamber music (cellist)
DeleteI admire your skill and that you perform for the enjoyment of many.
DeletePoor niece has been stuck in Euston Station for over 2 hours as all trains are delayed, due to heat buckling the rail lines.
ReplyDeleteShe is not sure if she can travel home tonight.She has no idea where she will sleep.
That sounds like a nightmare Miriam! Hope it works out for your niece somehow.
DeleteJust heard from my family who have been stuck at Gatwick for three hours waiting for their flight back home to Dubai. Flights are badly disrupted due to thunderstorms in the area.
DeleteBeing confined in an airport departure lounge in these temps. with 2 young boys who are becoming fractious and argumentative with the wait is not much fun and they are going to arrive home very late if/ when they ever do take off.
This mad weather has so many disruptive effects.
Oh, and forgot to add, their drive to Gatwick was twice as long as normal because there was a problem on the M25 and they were diverted all around Surrey to get to the airport, arriving ,very stressed, with only 10 minutes to check in time. Now they’ve been waiting for 3 hours because of the storms!
DeleteWho wants to travel these days, and in these weather conditions? 😳
Miriam and Archerphile feel so much for your family members what dreadful situations!
ReplyDeleteI cannot cope very well in anything over 25c and even that is a struggle, today has been awful I actually felt unwell even indoors with a fan on me and doing virtually nothing. About 8pm I started to come around so hopefully with temp dropping significantly tomorrow can get back to normal.
Mr R has also been taking it very easy with plenty of drinks etc.
Please keep us updated Miriam and Archerphile I shall be thinking of all your loved ones.
Have just heard from my family (at 20 past midnight) that they were eventually boarded onto their plane where they sat for over two and a half hours on the runway ...... then were informed the flight was cancelled!
ReplyDeleteThey will have to find a hotel for tonight but they cannot get another flight for 2 days!!!
There are 2 very tired, hungry, fed up little boys and equally frazzled parents hanging around at Gatwick now - over 9 hours since leaving here to fly home.
I don’t know what they can do for two days with all their luggage and no car ...,it’s a nightmare and I just cannot Sleep because of the worry and the wretched heat.
I expect they are sorted by now but there is a Premier Inn just across the road from North terminal where I have stayed and of course no need for a car. To and from South terminal there is a free shuttle. What a nightmare journey especially with youngsters. Hope they are OK by now.
DeleteOh Archerphile I am so very sorry for you all what a nightmare and such an awful end to an otherwise happy family trip!
ReplyDeleteI am with you heat wise it is still 20c outside at 12.50am and even more inside 😡
Thoughts are with you. I wonder how Miriam’s niece fared in the end?
Thank you for your concern Lady R. I hope I’ll hear from my son in the morning about what they are going to do. I just looked on their sirline’s website and it said they may not be able to provide overnight hotel accommodation as there has been so much travel disruption, most hotels near the airport are full! I have visions if the 4 of them trying to camp down on airport seats for the night - but what about tomorrow night too?
DeleteAnyway, I found it impossible to sleep in our hot bedroom, so I have come downstairs where it is cooler (and no snoring to put up with) and shall attempt to sleep on the sofa with the windows wide open. Just hope next door’s cat doesn’t jump in on me!
Night, night.
Sympathies to you all AP..
DeleteBig storm overnight (apparently, I missed the whole thing..!) p...ing with rain now, 20°!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your later post AP it is going from bad to worse for your poor family! As you say what a night weather wise - I am shattered this morning thank goodness it will be cooler outside today I don’t know what I would have done else....
ReplyDelete🤞 for your family and somewhere to stay before their flight. 2 adults and it would have been bad enough but 2 young children as well as I said in the early hours just awful !
Hope next doors cat did not pay you a visit during the night 🐈
Just heard again - Airline couldn’t find a hotel so left it to my son, at past midnight, to track one down himself.
DeleteThey ended up in SLOUGH of all places (where Mr A and I originally met in 1964, strangely) and arrived there by taxi at 1.30 am. Boys exhausted and tearful.
They’ve been told there is no flight available until Saturday morning, so they are stuck in Slough until then. Considering a visit to Legoland but it is extremely expensive and adding to all their extra costs.
Airline will only pay for hotel of up to 3* standard. The only one that could take them at such short notice is 4* so they will have to pay the excess themselves.
I can see weeks of wrangling over charges and compensation when they get home!
(Have considered going up to Slough to fetch them, bring them back here for tonight and down to Gatwick again tomorrow morning, but our car not big enough for all of them and their 3 large suitcases etc)
Apparently flight was cancelled due to heavy thunderstorms which delayed many flights. After sitting on runway waiting for two&half hours waiting for a take-off slot the crew ran out of their flying hours and were not allowed to fly. They were willing, but company rules said ‘no’.
And all because of Global Warming!!! 😡
So glad to hear your son was able to find a hotel AP even at extra cost to the family but as you say the result of all this will be a long and hard fought battle as to any possible compensation. - act of God etc
DeleteHope you (and others including me ) get a better nights sleep tonight!
Had not read down this far before my earlier post. Guess Premier Inn was full. Slough is a bit of a camel ride away and we all know what John Betjeman thought of it! Have only passed through it myself! I would have thought airline should shell out for 4* if it was all that was available but maybe they can claim on insurance?
DeleteDon’t be too dismissive of Slough! It was my nearest town when I was growing up at Iver and was called Slough, Bucks (not Berks) back in those days. It’s where we did all our shopping and Mum had to buy my school uniform ( my school was actually at Stoke Poges but the big Department Store, ‘Suters’ in Slough was the only place to get uniform) So I grew up thinking it was a great place; its where I spent my pocket money, where we went to synagogue (occasionally!), where I went to technical college and where I met Mr A when we both worked at the agricultural Pest Infestation Laboratory there!
DeleteIt has changed beyond all recognition since then, has had a huge influx of Asian families moving in and I wouldn’t be able to find my way around the Town now due to modernisation and a large shopping mall being built.
John Betjeman was wrong, Slough used to be a great place in the 50s, 60s, but I couldn’t speak for it now.
Betjeman probably just thought it would be good for rhyming! I met my husband in Northwood, Middlesex. It was a joint services establishment and when I was appointed there as a young WRNS Officer I wasn’t sure what to expect as I thought it was probably staffed by elderly (to me) senior officers and no fun at all. How wrong I was! Was a bit tongue in cheek about Slough and as I said have no personal knowledge! A bit different if you have fond memories, Archerfile!
DeleteArcherphile. What a terrible ordeal for your son and family. I do hope you hear good news soon.
ReplyDeleteLatest - paid for a taxi to go and collect them all from Slough and bring them back to us here. All sleeping off the exhaustion at present.
DeleteHave booked another taxi for 7.30 tomorrow morning to take them to Heathrow to catch flight home on a different airline, as advised by their booked airline. Seems there was chaos at Heathrow last night too which explains why no hotel places nearer London - also hundreds of rail travellers stranded and needing accommodation. A perfect storm of disrupted travellers all seeking beds!! ✈️ 🚆 ⛈⚡️⛈ 🛌 😵
Pleased to hear that things seem to be moving in the right direction,Archerphile .
ReplyDeleteA similar thing happened to us when we were going to South Africa once.
We don’t live too far from Heathrow but we were taken to a 5* hotel which was much farther away than where we live because our cases had gone through Security.
I think it was pot luck because other passengers were given less grand hotels to stay in.
I am appalled that the Airline didn’t do more for your family but possibly too many airlines with too many passengers chasing too few hotels .
Sorry to change the subject but gardeners world is on tonight hosted by Adam Frost. 😘😍
ReplyDeleteI'll be watching!
DeleteThat’s great news I shall record it to wAtch tomorrow. I
DeleteMuch prefer Adam Frost to Monty - time for a permanent change of presenter I think.
What a nightmare for Archerphile and her family. I hope that it all resolves tomorrow morning.
ReplyDeleteNiece#1 was in Euston Station when they closed it last night. Apparantly the staff were brilliant giving out free bottles of water. She arrived home late last night and was lucky... she had a valid Euston to Crewe rail ticket, but due to what was paid, it was limited to certain trains...all these conditions were waived so she travelled on a "fast" train for which she hadn't paid for.
Niece#2 had to go to Paris yesterday (44C)) on business, she went by plane. Strangely she had no problems and her return journey home, was easy, and far quicker.
Glad to read update on your “family” travel news from yesterday Miriam - and relieved that it was not as disastrous for your nieces as Archerphile ‘s family.
DeleteVery wearing all the same!
Enjoy your tv tonight 📺 🤗
I will be watching Garden Rescue tonight, a programme I do not usually watch, but it is the background, which for some reason interests me.
ReplyDeleteIt will be wait +see.
I have just realised that I can watch both.🌻🌹🌳
DeleteI am amazed at the storms some of you obviously had and experienced last night.
ReplyDeleteNothing like that here. Today it is still very warm, humid + sunny, on and off.
I am delighted today as I received my latest 3 monthly financial report. Things are going well - the interest is not only providing my monthly income, but my capital is also increasing as the interest exceeds my needs!
OK I have to pay fees, but I don't mind this, as the benefits are looking so good. This could all change on Nov.1st!!
We had a humdinger of a storm the night before last with thunderclaps and lightening occurring together. When I was young my parents used to get us out of bed if there was a storm to sit on the stairs. A hangover from the blitz I suppose! I rebelled when I was about 10 and stayed in bed! I don’t fear storms at all as the probability of being struck by lightening is very small. I had a look out of the window and there were strong flashes with some forked lightening. We had incredible pictures online from various parts of the island. Tonight we had an amazing sunset at the same time as a rainbow!
DeleteArcherphile how pleased your family must be to be back with you and Mr P in order to have the opportunity of a proper rest before their journey begins all over again✈️ tomorrow (hopefully without incident this time).
ReplyDeleteThe weather has certainly cost you all a pretty penny but I’m sure you were more than happy to help out in these circumstances - and a little extra time with the family too.. 🤗
How I wish it would rain in Glasgow! All that's been happening up here is it's hot during the day and then hot during the night. It takes forever to water the back & front gardens. That's what I get for having 61 assorted pots & hanging baskets. I know the precise number ' cos I just counted them whilst I was losing the will to live...
ReplyDeleteI do sympathise Gary - the watering routine is endless isn’t it?
DeleteI thought 28 pots and baskets was bad enough (along with a half acre of other beds, borders, shrubs and veg - but 61..... that’s just masochism!
I practice "heavy watering" on all the flower beds and borders though, so I don't do them every day thank the gods. I read somewhere (fatal amateur's error?) that if you give them a really, really good soaking once or twice a week it encourages the roots to go deeper resulting in healthier plants. Time will tell... But all the work seems to be paying off - both gardens are finally starting to look exactly how we wanted them too!
DeleteCorrect GG in your heavy watering / roots theory.
DeleteLight, frequent watering encourages roots to the surface.
Have just caught up on this blog.
Sorry to hear of travel problems for families, and heat and heavy storms from others.
No storms or heat here in/ on The Lizard but a bat during the day.
Was asked to go count the bats as they left at dusk ( environmentalalist other son in law says it's a nursery roost ) and reached thirty before correction received ' I didn't say you HAD to ! ' from daughter.
Went and looked at Helston today.
Enough good buildings plus a cinema and a museum to suit me.
So, on the consideration list !
I was based at Culdrose when in the WRNS and knew Heston well. I used to go in on a Saturday and get fish and chips, a plate of bread and butter and pot of tea for not very much! It was a very pretty little town.
DeleteThat should be Helston!
DeleteThanks for the memory of Helston Ev.
DeleteI knew Culdrose was important but am surprised at size having to drive round the perimeter to St Keverne.
CowGirl, the woodlands here are extensive, but I'm sure your little area( by comparison in size) is just as precious to you as hers will become to my daughter.
What's more, you have planted. That is a gift to humanity.
She has bought into the gift that the Viscount gave.
Incidentally much of this woodland is in a deep valley and is inaccessible, although reading the book that has been gifted along with the house it may be that there are now hidden, boulders there which were brought from afar to create a naturalistic area.
The travellers saga continues :- family finally dispatched to Heathrow by taxi half an hour ago. Now to see how long they have to hang around there, or if we might expect them back again tonight!
ReplyDeleteIt was a privilege to have them with us for another, unexpected, day...albeit an expensive one!
Fingers crossed for them, Archerfile!
ReplyDelete🤞 ✈️ 🙏🏼 Archerphile
ReplyDeleteIt’s all OK. No delays at Heathrow and safely in the air on way home at last. 😃
DeleteHoping original airline will agree to cover costs of the replacement flight on a different carrier which were 3 1/2 times more expensive than the original tickets!!
Some airlines are going to be facing huge additional costs due to that freak weather!
✈️ 🤗 👏🏻 🤗 👏🏻 ✈️ So please for you all Archerphile, I have been out and about today and hardly dared look to find out the latest!
DeleteNow await the outcome of compensation - such a lot paid out in extras I will keep everything crossed for them 🤞
Sleep easy tonight 😴
Lady R, thank you so much for your support over the past couple of days, it feels as if you have been holding my hand!
DeleteAnd thanks to everyone who have all showed concern and sympathy - what a great site this is, especially for those of us who have few family or friends to confide in.
You are all like wonderful friends. 🥰
Thank you for your kind comment Archerphile I am just so pleased that such an awful time is now over for you all!
DeleteI agree with the comment you make regarding this site where we are able to confide, discuss and also to ask for helpful suggestions on any given subject (as you have recently re Golden Anniversary gift)
I have two sisters both of whom currently live 100 miles + away (of course we keep in touch with phone calls) and I have wonderful neighbours and friends but in many ways the daily contact with “virtual” friends here is equally as special.
The valleys here are all wooded, a stream runs along the bottom of my garden and along my fields, the drop is quite steep and is wooded on both sides. I have had a bridge made to allow easy access to my little wooded area from my garden, more rustic than elegant, 2 trees dropped and planked across. The farmer 20 odd years ago dropped all his rubble and rubbish on the far side and no one has touched it since, Emeralds muck has been of great use to both improve what soil there si and to cover up. I have been looking up in Hilliers guide to trees and think that a River Birch, Betula Nigra, might just be the tree to plant when I clear that particular corner out this Autumn, it is very damp, water drains off the road. I keep finding oak seedlings in Emeralds field, I think I shall have to pot them up so they can eventually replace the Ash that are going to come down along the bridle way.
ReplyDeleteI am sure your Daughter will eventually find a way of adding to her estate in good time and that you too will be able to enjoy it. How wonderful to be given such a precious gift of that book.
It is lovely Archerphile's family finally travelled today, though this must have been sad for her, saying "Good-bye" again.
ReplyDeleteGG. with 61 tubs + baskets must live in a mansion. I wonder how long it takes to normally water them all. I bet he doesn't have a water meter.
I have had rain all day today, short showers, then short sharp downpours, so no watering for me tonight. Sadly, as I have said before, both the downpipes for roof guttering, are on my attached, neighbour property. I would so like a rain water butt, but this is not possible,
I think I remember you had a shed, Miriam? We have guttering on our shed which feeds a waterbutt. So glad Archerfile’s family got airborne today! We haven’t had rain yet today although there was a greyish cloud earlier! We bought plants today so hope in addition to watering them we get some rain overnight.
DeleteI did have one, but it was rotten so it was demolished and taken away in March. I still haven't replaced it - though I know what I want. I need to sort the area out, as is has a slight slope which needs sorting.
DeleteI love the idea of guttering + a water butt, on new "shed". I hadn't thought about that and gets me thinking.
What a brilliant idea and thanks. 😀
PS I will be getting a plastic, no maintenance shed. This will be put into a different position and are needs to be levelled + paved, moving (+ repjacing?) side-gates, at the same time. It's a project which looked simple, but now getting more complicated.
DeleteMiriam, I live in a castle...😉
ReplyDeleteThe reason that I have so many pots and baskets is that I have got quite an obsessive streak in me AND when a Homebase a few miles away shut down, they had an enormous sale and we got loads of garden stuff for almost bugger all!!! And no, we don't have a water meter. There's never going to be any water shortages in Scotland... I do have a water butt that is fed from our lovely hexagonal greenhouse and it gets used to top up the pond and to do all the pots at the bottom of the back garden.
Sounds idyllic..(but am not fooled by a castle).
DeleteDo you take in paying guests?
I am looking forward to listening to the TA omnibus tomorrow morning. I thought I was having a hearing problem, until last night, when my "ear buds via 'phone + i-player" just stopped working. These have been replaced today and what a difference. I will listen intentley, whilst cleaning, to hear what I might have missed during the week, due to poor reception.
ReplyDeleteI’m waiting to see GG on “4 in a bed” where 4 B & B owners compete. Katy and I find it light entertainment and especially where some of the characters are a bit objectionable so that we can tut and shake our heads! Think GG would win hands down with all those hanging baskets!
ReplyDeleteEv and Miriam, I would sooner streak down Felpersham High Street than let strangers into my home...
DeleteEven us??
Delete...??🥰
DeleteEv, I love 4 in a Bed too. Some of the places shown are beautiful but some of the owners are truly awful and don’t seem to realise that the attitude they are projecting on the show must put future guests right off staying with them! I am now ploughing my way through all the previous series of the show (on Channel 4’s website) because they are the perfect length to watch while doing 25mins on my exercise bike each day and make it much less tedious. I just hang my iPad over the handles and watch while I pedal !
Delete🚴🏼♀️
I too use my exercise sessions, cross trainer in my case, to indulge in what I consider my “guilty pleasures” ie watching programs on my iPad which are definitely not within Lord Reith’s guidelines. My reward for doing my exercises.
DeletePlenty of deep watering here today and none of it by me. It hasn't stopped raining all day and I've got so much to do in the garden. Tomorrow doesn't look much better.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's looking worse for our area tomorrow.
DeleteOh well I have a kitchen that needs cleaning and a pile of ironing to do, plus bedding to change. 😣
It is worse this morning, I will have to go out in it as I'm feeding my neighbour's cat while she's away.
DeleteTo all my friends here, please see my thank you post above, posted at 9.33 - just in case you haven’t scrolled back that far.
ReplyDeleteI have done so Archerphile and left a reply there 😘
DeleteVery pleased for you Archerphile that the 'trouble' gave you extra time with your family, and pleased too that the trouble is now over and you can sigh with relief.
DeleteBut also very sorry for you that you were all subjected to such ' trouble' !
I also read it. It helps sometimes to share frustrations and anxieties with all the lovely virtual friends here and around.
DeleteI often do it, as you all know well! 😆😆
My neighbours...Just thought I would give an up-date, after my many posts on the subject I made, caused by frustration
ReplyDeleteI think, but don't know, that they have finally separated. He seems to be "home alone" at the moment.
It is so lovely + quiet, which makes such a change. I'll try and "meet" + chat with him again, over the garden hedge, with my Miss Marple hat on.
In the past, I have always got on with him, but she was always aloof and just didn't want to know me. I hope that I can re-build bridges, if he stays.
Enjoy the peace Miriam, I hope it lasts
DeleteThanks, as I do. 😀
DeleteAll I want is an attached neighbour, who is quiet, "friendly" + maintains the property. It is looking a bit shabby at the moment - the attached properties are chalk + cheese at the moment. Things were so much better when it was a rental. I am surprised that I have said that, but the landord (who I knew well as had lived their for 9 years) still was living locally, and he came round often to inspect the outside, popped in for a coffee + chat, to check all was OK with tenants. Also the rental agency, inspected every 3 months, inside + out.
Now, after 2 yrs, since selling, things are very different.
So glad you are having a quieter time. If they have really split he might have to sell the house if they were buying it together, and you might have new neighbours, hopefully peaceful friendly ones.
Delete🤞 Miriam I have always felt for you so much when your neighbours argued and used language so audibly and frequently - as a couple of times over the years we have had similar and it is so wearing and not good to have a feeling of dread when returning to your own home!
ReplyDeleteIt is not nice and what you have said, is what I have experienced recently...
Deletedreading what would, could or might happen next. I own my home, where I have lived for 33 years and can't move, due to the property prices, in the places I would like to live. I could afford else-where, but not where I would want to re-locate to.
I am just hoping things improve 🤞🤞
At least the quiet is a start.
Keeping fingers crossed for you too, Miriam. What you have endured must have been a nightmare, I don’t know how you put up with it.
DeleteHopefully the chap will remain on his own, at least for a while and give you some respite.
Genuinely pleased for the current cessation of noise and unpleasantness from your neighbours Miriam.
DeleteI do hope that you do find yourself in a position to speak reasonably with the male side of the couple, and that future interaction might be less troublesome.
I wish you the best outcome in the long run.
I’m now completely on my own for a week. Son and Family safely back home, thank goodness.
ReplyDeleteNow Mr A has gone off for a week to help daughter and son-in-law navigate their newly bought narrow boat ‘Charity’ from its old marina in the midlands to its new home on the River Kennet at Newbury.
They have to take a very zig-zag course travelling down several different canals and the Thames to bring it ‘home’. So it’s Cap’n A this week, while I enjoy a bit of peace and quiet and can really concentrate on my 800 calls a day diet! 🥬 🥒 🥕🥦
What a very exciting week Mr A and the couple will have Archerphile.
DeleteAnd I wish you extreme enjoyment with your solitary week and your diet.
Ditto Archerphile +
DeleteFamily back home! 🤗👏
Home now very late after a two and half holdup on Bodmin Moor.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to see it in daylight and I did.
Pulled off on the first parking/ picnic layby, principally to give the dog a break.
As I stopped a police car passed at speed followed by a helicopter a few moments later.
I then looked ahead at the hill rising in the distance and saw a line of traffic.
I was so pleased that I had stopped there and not delayed it until a little later, as I was able to spend the time in a grassy layby and walk and feed the dog.
There must have been a couple of dozen vehicles in the area within and adjacent to the layby, and there was an element of friendliness apparent among some.
However it was noticeable to me and one or two others that the friendliness was less than in the past and how many single female drivers stayed in the car and did not even make eye contact with those of us walking about.
There were also a number of caravans.
In a caravan you can make tea, and it was evident that this was happening.
But not a single caravan offered tea to those less fortunate without any means of sustenance.
I was shocked.
Has British society become SO insular, or are my expectations too high ?
Discuss.
A few weeks ago someone was changing a car tyre (it had burst!) just outside our house - as it was a hot day and the guy was struggling somewhat, I went outside not only to offer assistance but mainly to see if he would like some water or juice. He was soooo happy to get a couple of glasses of water and I felt really good afterwards too - even though I had actually done almost nothing!
DeleteOh but you did GG - you gave support and showed kindness to a strange which he will always remember 😇 👏 👍🏻
DeletePrecisely Lady R !
DeleteThat was the point I was making, the lack of kindness or thoughtlessness to strangers, our fellow man, in time of shared need or difficulties.
I am guessing that the number of cars stranded may have made it difficult to offer tea from the caravans. Resources such as water, gas, tea bags and milk are also much more limited than at home. However do agree that people are generally more selfish nowadays.
DeleteI was held up for two hours on the M11 on the way north three weeks ago, as a motorcycle crashed up ahead. Sadly he suffered serious injuries so I can only hope there is better news by now. An air ambulance and police and further ambulances rushed past on the hard shoulder, and there were emergency vehicles that arrived much later, including a police van with survey equipment, yet I saw some vehicles blocking the hard shoulder after a time and people hanging about on the hard shoulder. It was a hot day and people needed to get out of their cars but why would you linger on the hard shoulder? There was plenty of verge to stand on, and fields beyond. I dreaded seeing a further accident.
DeleteIt was a motorcycle last night.
DeleteNo cars appeared to be involved.
I imagine it was very bad for the victim.
Gary you have hit the nail on the head.
ReplyDeleteNot only did the person you helped feel good ,you did too.
Win -win situation.
Here is another similar one to try which really works.
Compliment a stranger.
I have done so several times- twice mothers with well behaved children, once a woman sitting opposite to me on a train wearing a boater which really suited her, a woman whom I stood behind on an escalator who was dressed so elegantly.
Every time I have done so I have been rewarded with a smile and thanks.
I have been the recipient a few times too.
It feels good either way
✔️✔️✔️
DeleteCouldn't agree more with these posts, whether it's helping out a stranger with something or just making pleasant, human contact. Even exchanging a smile & a rolling of the eye when squashed in a crowded tube ! Shared moments, cheerful exchanges just make both people feel good.
ReplyDeleteThough you do have to be very careful when speaking to a stranger. One of my experiences a few years back turned out to be very embarrassing for the person speaking to me!
DeleteIt was when I was still very (and I mean very) overweight and wore loose shift style dresses. It was a very hot day in summer and a lady and I got into a lift together
‘Phew, isn’t it hot today’ I commented
‘Oh, poor you’ said the lady, ‘you must be so uncomfortable in this heat, when’s it due’,
looking pointedly at my tummy!!
‘Oh, I’m not pregnant, just fat, unfortunately’ I answered cheerfully.
The poor lady was so embarrassed that I felt very mean for not going along with her assumption and making up a date!
Oh no Archerphile 🤭
DeleteToday is the 'Earth Overshoot Day' (very American), so we're living on credit because we've used up the resources for the year and each year this date comes earlier. So with this and with reference to the above posts all we can do is be nice to each other.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of this day. I support you sentiments. It doesn’t cost being nice to each other. To coin another over used American saying.
DeleteHave a nice day everyone. Sun shining here and I’m off to the allotment.🌞🍒🥬
That's a bit rich coming from the US seeing they make up less than 5% of the world's population yet use 25% of the earth's resources each year! Hopefully they will be the first to take note of the message!
DeleteI have heard of this day, probably on a science programme, but have not heard it mentioned this week.
ReplyDeleteBut then I am without radios at the moment, where as I am usually glued to every available news programme.
I believe that our Grandchildren will see the end of the human race.
And a good thing too.
And as for attempting to conquer other universes, don't get me started.
Haven't we done enough harm on this planet !
I heard something similar in a programme called Sapiens. This was relating that AI would take over, and human life as we know it, would then be the equivalent of neanderthals.
DeleteIt was awful + scary.
Two answers to the many wonderful posts:-
ReplyDeletea) I talk to anybody + everybody, be it in a bus/supermarket queue, on a bus/train/plane, in a iengthy traffic hold-up, assistants in retail premises, though it might be verbal rubbish.😀
b) I was astounded with the rainfull around Manchester, yesterday, so even the canals overflowed.
I am about 26miles away, and although the rain was heavy, it
was nothing on that scale.
Storms are forecast for tomorrow though, but 🤞won't be too bad.
Miriam, my mum was like you and always started up conversations with complete strangers - in the station waiting room, on the bus, at the doctors surgery....
DeleteWhen I was small I used to get very embarrassed by her chatting to all and sundry and pleaded with her not to do it.
Now I’m exactly the same myself - perhaps it’s an age thing?
Not sure if it as age thing, just differing personalities + life.
DeleteMy Big Sis, when we are out together, cringes when I talk to complete strangers, make faces at kids, and have a laugh with retail assistants.
I was a retail Pharmacist, so was well used to talking to members of the public. Big Sis worked, as a senior manager, in an office enviroment, sorting out NHS contracts and it all had to be very exact. We are so different in some of our ways. I go with the flow, but Big Sis has to organise and dictate who does what + when!!
We do get on well together though 😆😆
Archerphile my mum was also like your mum (and I am walking in my mum’s shoes 😂)
DeleteTo the expert gardeners.
ReplyDeleteMy bizzie lizzies seem to be rotting away....what could cause this, just the rain or is there another problem?
It could be impatiens downy mildew.
DeleteThanks. Need to look that up. It is so disappointing that they are so droopy.
DeleteI’m afraid I’m one of those who doesn’t talk to anyone. Mr PtbY will talk to anyone.....I could kill him!!!
ReplyDeleteI could sit all through an 8 hour flight and not feel the need to speak to the person next to me.
I hate sitting next to a stranger at a wedding on some seared dinner do. I could not care less about what they do, where they live or where they’ve been.
I think I’m anti-social.
Or some seated dinner!
DeleteIsland people generally love to talk and you have to be very patient as the person in front of you at the till gives a full description of his or her grandchildren and what they did yesterday! There’s something to be said for self service! When I went to Greenwich to train as a WRNS Officer on a Sunday we had to go for pre lunch drinks and had to mingle talking to at least three separate groups of people. It was good training as by nature I am very reserved. I find now I enjoy talking to people I meet but agree it isn’t always the thing to chat to the person sitting next to you on the plane for the whole journey! A few pleasantries and then my nose is stuck in a book!!
Delete....oh ptby 😊 what a lovely and truthful detailed description of yourself - love it!
DeleteSo how did you meet Mr ptby? A case of opposites attract 🤔
Not at all PtbY. I too am the same yet once introduced or someone else breaks the ice I am completely at ease. Once a month I take a very distant relative who is in her mid-eighties out for coffee. She stops and talks to loads of strangers about their children, or their shopping or whatever and I get thoroughly embarrassed. Perhaps we're just shy!!!! 🙂
DeleteI’d be the same.
DeleteWhen I was training as a WRNS Officer on a Sunday we had to go to pre lunch drinks and mingle talking to at least three different groups of people. It was good training as I am reserved by nature. Now I enjoy talking to people I meet on dog walks or just on the daily round. I do agree that it is not the thing to chat constantly to people sitting next to you on a flight for instance, just a few pleasantries and then my nose is stuck in a book! Generally island people enjoy talking and patience is required in the supermarket queue when the person in front is relating the latest antics of his or her grandchildren!! Much to be said for the self service checkout!!😍😴😴🙄
ReplyDeleteSorry repeated myself as I thought I had lost the first one! See I go on a bit!!
ReplyDeleteI am both PtbY AND Spicycushion's elderly relative - it depends on what mood I'm in!
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteOur social behaviour patterns, how interesting ! I do like chance encounters, spontaneous exchanges ( bus stops are good for this, but anywhere, really)but with PtbY on flying - that's for reading & looking at clouds, landscapes after take off & before that exciting bump at the end. Quite happy to chat to people I don't know on social occasions but, again like PtbY, really dislike the pointless exchange of life information. Why on earth should they want to know what I did//do for a living, how many offspring etc., etc. ? I certainly don't want my head crammed with info' about someone's life, a person I'm unlikely to meet again.
Much prefer to take people as I find them, in the moment, & expect the same attitude in return.
Lady R ... how I met Mr PtbY....
ReplyDeleteI knew him from school, he was a teacher there. He was a friend of my economics teacher. About 18 after leaving school I bumped into him in a local pub and asked him how the economics teacher was. And the rest is history as they say.
Really weird having your teacher as best man at your wedding and god father to your child.
In fact we are meeting up with him and his family today, as they are up near us on holiday. They moved away and we haven’t seen them for about 5 or 6 years.
18 months!!!
DeleteYou are definitely not anti social.P tbY
ReplyDeleteI have met you and know that is not the case but I know what you mean about formal Dinners..
For about nine years I was in a position where I went to many formal Dinners but we all had one thing in common and I really enjoyed them - plus I was younger then.
The thought of sitting next to someone I don’t know and hearing about his or her grandchildren ,holidays or illnesses would appall me .
When I compliment a stranger I don’t stop for a chat.