The everyday is interesting

[Paulclem]

I realised from reading the blogs over the past couple of years that the details of people's lives are interesting. We see and hear about all the supposedly fascinating lives of celebrities, but in actual fact we don't hear about the lives of ordinary people at all. If truth be told, I'm not interested in those celebrity lives, but I'd like to hear what its really like for you. This is especially true if we live in different countries. Those small details of our routines are really interesting and informative. What's your routine, or what do you regularly do? Where do you frequent? Do you go out a lot? What do you watch or listen to? How do you fill your time, or is your time filled for you?

I'm interested.

[Jack of Hearts]

What an excellent thread to start, Paul. And this reader believes you- prendrelemick's blog comes to mind. It isn't about anything overly fantastic or fast paced, but it is fantastic because not only can mick write really well, but if you read it you really sense that he's got an uncommon affinity and eye for life.

For this reader's part, to respond to the original post- he doesn't do much.

Recently this reader has taking up peripaetetic method. That just means walking and engaging in philosophy/composing written pieces/thinking. It makes people think you're weird, wandering around in a fog like that.


So that's it. The details.






J

[Paulclem]

Thanks for setting us off Jack. I like trying to write poetry, and that's my best method - walking or travelling. I was faffing with a few new ones today on the train to see the lad at his university. it's his birthday on the 13th and so my daughter and I travelled down to see him.

My routine centres around work of course in the week. I'm up at 6, wash up, make sandwiches and breakfast and then walk the dog after watching the news. I usually cycle to work, which is cold at this time of year, but not too bad. When it gets below freezing I have to either wear a balaclava, or hold my forehead with one hand to stop me getting brainache.

The place I work in is a building I now manage. We rent 10 classrooms, two kitchens, two tutor rooms and an administration office from a very nice Indian chap. On any one day we might have over 2-300 learners through the doors with twenty to thirty Tutors plus managers with other meetings. It's busy, but great fun. Of course as the manager I get the blame for everything. I have adopted the mafia response to this - "It's not personal. It's just business."

[Jack of Hearts]

"It's not personal. It's just business."

Classic. So you're an educator for a living. That doesn't seem like bad gig at all.





J

[Helga]

I agree with you Paul about the everyday being more interesting than the lives of celebrities, I write a blog here every now and then but I see it more as a diary. I don't think my everyday is very interesting though, the same thing all the time...

Nobody around me knows about this website and I like having it just for me. I am an extremely private person and my social life revolves around my big brother and I have one friend, we have been friends for over 10 years. I go to the university here on the ice (the biggest, there are more than one) and I really enjoy that, I just recently decided to quit my job and my last day will be January 8. Maybe I'll get to know more people in school in the semesters ahead.

I have lost a few people that were close to me and I have had very low points in my life but at the moment I am rather happy. I am a single mom and I spend all my time with my boy so my daily routine is getting him to school and then getting myself to school by bus cause I don't have car and after school I either come home and study or go to my favorite cafe to study until I need to pick my son up. Once he is in bed I read or watch tv. life is simple, good but often lonely. but that's ok.

I use the blog here like I said as a diary cause I need to do something with all the thoughts that go through my head both happy and sad.

[Paulclem]

Hi Helga. I've often read your blog - though not recently, as I've been busy. I always like the phrase you use "on the ice". Is it one that's used by people where you live?

I'd like to end up working at a university. The one near where I live - which I am also attending on a distance learning course - is brilliant. It's a great environment.

[JuniperWoolf]

If I made a blog of my daily life, it would be phenomenally boring. Also, very irritated. Yesterday's entry: "Today the waitresses called me over and I had to kick Rosie's little brother out for being too drunk and getting into fights. His sister is a genius, and her brother once asked me what chicken was made of. Gee, I wonder why he got punched in the face - could it have been something he said?"


Nobody around me knows about this website and I like having it just for me.

Me too. I talk about litnet all the time, "this song is by a guy I know on litnet," or "I know a few real live Americans on litnet, and they don't seem so bad," or "Pip/Bastable/The Comedian/SLG says this about that." Only once was someone able to track me down to this forum, and he was only able to do so because my WoW account name is the same as my litnet SN. Other than that, whenever anyone asks about it I say "it's not for you, you're too stupid - you'd hurt my litnet social standing." :p

[Paulclem]

Repeated details would become boring, but the interest is in the detail encountered for the first time. I've picked up a few details about various people here. Jack mentions Mick being a sheep farmer. How different is his routine to mine, even though he lives just up the road - a 100 or so miles - (we say that's a long way in the UK but I believe in the US it's nt considered so). We do share a common Yorkshire upbringing though.

Your posts are quite different from most people's due to your attitude and background. I remember you posting about your Dad once - was it last year? Very interesting. Or am I a very boring person? Yes it could be that. :biggrin5:

[Jack of Hearts]

Go visit Mick! This reader travels 70 miles back and forth to work several days a week.






J

[billl]

I've read two Helga blog entries, and one Mick entry. All three were interesting, but the blog feature is sort of off in the distance when I check in at LitNet.

I will say, as my contribution to this interesting topic, that the four people who have so far posted here manage--whether they intend to or not--to convey a "character" that seems very real and interesting via their posts--I can definitely recognize the sort of thing that Juniper and Paul are talking bout in their most recent posts, about recognizing personhood and personality in the "LitNet World".

[Helga]

Hi Helga. I've often read your blog - though not recently, as I've been busy. I always like the phrase you use "on the ice". Is it one that's used by people where you live?


no it's just something I say, mainly because it isn't very cold here and people usually have the wrong idea about Iceland.

My blog can be a bit of a babble I think,I write very fast and often make grammatical errors (my teachers keep bugging me about that) and I am trying now because of school to write in a more 'readable' way and I try that on the blog too. But like I said I don't have many people around me so the blog is my way to think things through and often once you have written something down you know what to do about it.

[Paulclem]

Go visit Mick! This reader travels 70 miles back and forth to work several days a week.

J

I'm sure Mick and I would get on, as well as Neely who lives even closer in Sheffield. Most people have cars in the UK, but I don't and rely on my bike or train or coaches to get about. It's just that bit more difficult. I was in Neely's city the weekend before last after visiting my brothers. I hadn't seen them for about 4 years. we get on really well, but it's the time factor.

[Paulclem]

no it's just something I say, mainly because it isn't very cold here and people usually have the wrong idea about Iceland.



I always saw it as wintry and frosty because you use that phrase. :biggrin5:

[papayahed]

My favorite subject: Me!

I find the place I work fascinating. Most people don't. I work at a chemical plant, it's a continuous operation and we run 24/7 except 2.5 weeks a year when we shutdown and inspect and fix everything.

The chemical reaction is pretty basic, we burn stuff, convert it to something else then mix it and viola!: product.

[Paulclem]

What are you making? Do you get to burn stuff/ push the button yourself?

I gathered from former posts that you are in the management and you work with a lot of blokes. What's that like?

Our sector is full of women. The head of service is a woman, and the next level down consists of three women and one bloke. At my level there are three blokes and 14 women. Yet the worm is turning. In my office there are two of us, and we are making inroads into the more feminine culture that has prevailed these many long years.

A new word has appeared in the office; Paul has been verbised into paulised. This is a reference to the increased incidence of the double-entendre that the previously innocent are now uttering. I, of course, deny that such an influence has been exerted, but that it is the sinful finding an old goat - I mean a scapegoat - for their misdemeanors.

[JuniperWoolf]

Funnily enough, I was just wishing that Papaya would keep a blog for the exact questions that Paul just asked only less than a month ago.

Mick's entries are fantastic, you're right in saying that what he does really is a lot different than what I do. My favorite is the one that he wrote during the pregnant sheep season (again, another thing that MUST have a name, but I don't know it). I like Skib's and Becca's entries too, even though their lives are a bit more like mine.

I guess my life is a bit different from the other litnetters (except Pip, because for some reason we seem to have identical parents) being a Canadian redneck/science student and all. I never imagined that someone could be interested in it just for my different-ness. Maybe I will post a few entries about stuff that happens.

[papayahed]

What are you making? Do you get to burn stuff/ push the button yourself?

We make a highly corrosive commodity chemical. In theory I don't get to do any of the burning or button pushing but occasionally I will turn on a pump or two and if I'm really lucky I sometimes will turn a valve. I would love to do more but I'm the safety supervisor so I have to keep myself in check.



I gathered from former posts that you are in the management and you work with a lot of blokes. What's that like?


That's quite the question. I think women get a bad rap for being catty in office settings, guys can be just as bad but in different ways. I've seen guys argue over donuts, they tell on each other, recently one guy got mad because another department got the leftovers from the office lunch first. Ohhh, and on guys still complains because his boss let the contractors go eat before him. That boss has been gone for four years. I could go on..



Our sector is full of women. The head of service is a woman, and the next level down consists of three women and one bloke. At my level there are three blokes and 14 women. Yet the worm is turning. In my office there are two of us, and we are making inroads into the more feminine culture that has prevailed these many long years.

A new word has appeared in the office; Paul has been verbised into paulised. This is a reference to the increased incidence of the double-entendre that the previously innocent are now uttering. I, of course, deny that such an influence has been exerted, but that it is the sinful finding an old goat - I mean a scapegoat - for their misdemeanors.

haha, that's a whole separate issue!


Funnily enough, I was just wishing that Papaya would keep a blog for the exact questions that Paul just asked only less than a month ago.



Awww shucks. I can't make myself write in an actual blog. I could create a thread,perhaps?

[Paulclem]

That's quite the question. I think women get a bad rap for being catty in office settings, guys can be just as bad but in different ways. I've seen guys argue over donuts, they tell on each other, recently one guy got mad because another department got the leftovers from the office lunch first. Ohhh, and on guys still complains because his boss let the contractors go eat before him. That boss has been gone for four years. I could go on..



Our lot are fine on the whole. I think our biggest problem is that as managers we are amateurs - my self included. We are all ex-Tutors/ Teachers who have gone into management. Some people are good at managing and being managed. Others are not so good.

I have worked in mainly bloke filled jobs, and some of them are - or rather were - nuts. There was a lot of physicality and competition - verbal and physical. On my last day at the prawn factory - (I know, I was a student) - they tried to throw me into one of the plastic vats they use to thaw out frozen prawns. I had a good grip in those days and managed to hang onto things. It just meant I got soaked with hoses and the steam/ power jet cleaner.

Steam/ power jet cleaners will cut through jeans if held close enough.

[kasie]

This is a rally interesting thread - thanks for starting it, Paul. When I was quite little, five or six maybe, I asked my mother 'What do people do? My poor mother was flummoxed, probably thought I was being too clever by half, but what I wanted to know was just what this thread is about - how do people pass their day? I knew what I did - I went to school; I knew what my mother did, looking after us all and all that that entailed; my dad went to work, I knew where and what he did because his workshop was alongside the local park and in preschool days, Mum used to take me to the park and we'd stand and wave to him. (What price H&S?) I knew what my aunt did - she was a teacher and she'd been taking me to school with her since I was three. My uncle was a bit more shadowy - he worked 'in an office', whatever that meant. A neighbour kept a toy shop - I knew all about that! But the rest of the world? That was a mystery and that was what my mother couldn't tell me and what I have spent the rest of my life trying to find out.

What do I do? Not a lot! I have been retired for about six years. I've done a lot of totally self-indulgent travelling - a concert, I'll go to that, the Opera, tickets please! What's on at Stratford this season, yes, I'll go....These last few months have been rather unusual in that I have been increasingly unwell and have scarcely left the house so I've done a lot of reading (thank goodness for Amazon and Audible!) I have a short spell in hospital next week, after which I shall be a New Woman - and then, look out, I'll be back on the road/at the airport, making up for lost time.

[JuniperWoolf]

Awww shucks. I can't make myself write in an actual blog. I could create a thread,perhaps?

Haha sure, that could work, we could have a "Daily Life of Papayahed" thread.

[LitNetIsGreat]

I think this is a good subject. I find it much more interesting hearing the 'little' details of other peoples' lives than in reading about the latest celeb haircut!

I think I once started a similar thread myself based upon the pubs/bars/cafes people like to attend but I think it pretty much bombed.

Anyway, at the moment, I'm afraid I'm not doing much interesting apart from reading and studying chess books at every spare hour I can - still more interesting than haircuts - maybe. I'm totally obsessed and I will be for the next year or so at least.

Aside from that, my favourite pub at the moment is the Red Deer. It hidden away just off of West Street in Sheffield, which is an horrendous main stretch leading up to the university and is crammed full of awful bars and pubs. The Red Deer is the oasis in a sea of noise. It's nothing special, just a pub with a fair selection of decent beers, little or selected music and two open fires, but it is a real pub at least.

http://www.google.co.uk/maps?q=&layer=c&z=17&iwloc=A&sll=53.380816,-1.479591&cid=16531265443889095125&cbp=13,284.6,-4.4,0,0&panoid=Nn8Gd-ycOiRDftDkDU9qsA&ei=_93rToOmM4K_8wP9s7iUCg&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=streetview-image-link&cd=1&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CAkQnwIoADAA

http://www.red-deer-sheffield.co.uk/

You'll usually find me in that corner in the third picture on the right. Not that I am there all the time of course, just once every one or two weeks or so, but it is my favourite pub from a small selection of decent ones left it seems. It is also in the centre of a load of university buildings and sites and you get a lot of students and tutors in there. In fact, I think you need a degree to get served! Try the Tim Taylor beer in there as it is pretty good, quite tangy.

My other longstanding favourite pub is the Devonshire Cat which is only five minutes walk from the Red Deer. I have fallen out with it of late though for two reasons, one is the prices which have shot up especially the Belgians, and two, it is very busy in there at the weekends. It is either empty or busy. This is however the most stocked pub in Sheffield easily. Maybe the whole of Yorkshire, I don't know? You will find well over 100 beers there, all of them served by knowledgeable, but slow, staff, and in the correct glasses too, with Belgian beer a speciality (if a costly one). The Devonshire Cat is also a Christmas tradition, so I am being pulled to go there shortly anyway.

http://www.devonshirecat.co.uk/

Anyway, I personally would be interested in looking at your pubs (or bars/cafes) as I enjoy the feel of a good pub, so feel free to post them on as well.

Back to the chess...

[Paulclem]

This is a rally interesting thread - thanks for starting it, Paul. When I was quite little, five or six maybe, I asked my mother 'What do people do? My poor mother was flummoxed, probably thought I was being too clever by half, but what I wanted to know was just what this thread is about - how do people pass their day? I knew what I did - I went to school; I knew what my mother did, looking after us all and all that that entailed; my dad went to work, I knew where and what he did because his workshop was alongside the local park and in preschool days, Mum used to take me to the park and we'd stand and wave to him. (What price H&S?) I knew what my aunt did - she was a teacher and she'd been taking me to school with her since I was three. My uncle was a bit more shadowy - he worked 'in an office', whatever that meant. A neighbour kept a toy shop - I knew all about that! But the rest of the world? That was a mystery and that was what my mother couldn't tell me and what I have spent the rest of my life trying to find out.

What do I do? Not a lot! I have been retired for about six years. I've done a lot of totally self-indulgent travelling - a concert, I'll go to that, the Opera, tickets please! What's on at Stratford this season, yes, I'll go....These last few months have been rather unusual in that I have been increasingly unwell and have scarcely left the house so I've done a lot of reading (thank goodness for Amazon and Audible!) I have a short spell in hospital next week, after which I shall be a New Woman - and then, look out, I'll be back on the road/at the airport, making up for lost time.

Good luck with the hospital visit and a speedy recovery.

I laways found my Mother's answers to my childhood questions rather unilluminating. I once asked her what "To Let" means, as I saw it all over the place. She replied that - "it means you can go and look round" - which I found to be a baffling answer.

[Paulclem]

You'll usually find me in that corner in the third picture on the right. Not that I am there all the time of course, just once every one or two weeks or so, but it is my favourite pub from a small selection of decent ones left it seems. It is also in the centre of a load of university buildings and sites and you get a lot of students and tutors in there. In fact, I think you need a degree to get served! Try the Tim Taylor beer in there as it is pretty good, quite tangy.

My other longstanding favourite pub is the Devonshire Cat which is only five minutes walk from the Red Deer. I have fallen out with it of late though for two reasons, one is the prices which have shot up especially the Belgians, and two, it is very busy in there at the weekends. It is either empty or busy. This is however the most stocked pub in Sheffield easily. Maybe the whole of Yorkshire, I don't know? You will find well over 100 beers there, all of them served by knowledgeable, but slow, staff, and in the correct glasses too, with Belgian beer a speciality (if a costly one). The Devonshire Cat is also a Christmas tradition, so I am being pulled to go there shortly anyway.



i hope there's no LitNet contract out on you Neely. You haven't been squabbling with our digital friends have you? If so, then you might want to lie low in another fashionable pub with loud music and young chavs - you know, so they don't have the chance to make you swim with the fishes. Or will you take your chances?

[JuniperWoolf]

My town has only one bar, unfortunately, and they're always blasting techno music. It's about the size of a school gymnasium, except the walls are painted black, they are smothered in unbelievably unfunny "comedic" posters, and there are colored lights firing at a quick enough pace to give a Japanese kid a seizure. There are fights in and around the bar every night, the cops are constantly there, the place smells terrible and the floor is perpetually sticky. Due to the loudness of the music you wouldn't be able to talk to anyone even if you wanted to, which you don’t because 90% of the people who attend are very unpleasant and mostly consist of out-of-towners, people who are “just passing through,” of which we have many at any given time - rig guys, dodgy looking women, truckers, ect. They're mean, and they dance poorly to bad Canadian techno music. After eleven the place gets a few locals once the lounges close, but it’s by necessity and not by choice.

Besides the awful bar, we have five lounges (which I guess you Brits would call “pubs”). Three of which are attached to hotels and they're always virtually empty. If at any time in the next month you were to walk in there, there might be one person at the back playing on the VLTs.

The main lounge in my town is Sky (which sounds like a trendy and modern hipster name, but it's been called that since the 70's when my town was born, apparently because it's "in the sky" being on a mountain and all). It’s not decorated very well, the panelling is cheap, the chairs are quite ugly, but at least it’s warm and somewhat clean and the music isn’t too loud. You really have to take what you can get in a place with a population of 3500 and four hangout spots. You can't even drive to the next town to go to one of their hang out places, the nearest town is two and a half hours away if you're driving 100kms/h. Anyway, this is where the locals gather. They have a jukebox, so most of the music that’s played is punk and rock since that’s what most of the people like here, and we play pool or we play the game machines. There's no dancing, thank god. The place really serves as a pre-amble to whatever occurs later in the night, it's more of a meeting spot. All of the fun in GC takes place in the woods or in one of several houses. If you go to Sky then you can usually find something to do, but I don’t go out much anymore because I don’t drink very often. It’s not a propriety thing, I’ve just drank myself to the point of getting way too sick one time too many and now I’ve been turned off of drinking for going on five months now. I’m also on a big “I hate being here, I hate everyone, don’t I have enough money to go back to school this year so I hate the world” kick lately. I’m feeling quite bitter and antisocial, and cooped in by this isolated backwater dead-end hell, so I've really mostly been studying and working and talking to my really good friends who have moved on to bigger and better things outside of this snowy black hole of underachievement.

*ahem*

Here's a picture of Sky from the lounge's facebook page, and a few very polite young ladies (one of which is a distant acquaintance of mine, the girl with doodles around her eyes):

http://i426.photobucket.com/albums/pp349/cellar_door17/154682_479418711483_506486483_5672123_8327367_n.jp g

Then we have VB&G, which is our sports bar. This is where my friends and I like to hang out when they're back in town (and my boyfriend and I have been spending a few of our weekends there during our year-long economically enforced incarceration) because it is the least depressing. It's nice, it's comfortable and the place is really decked out. One of their screens takes up an entire wall. It's owned by this crazy Greek family that has been here since the early 70's, and almost every old family in town has several members who have worked for them. Both of my uncles, my aunt and my mother worked there when they were teenagers. My boyfriend’s mom used to clean the place when she was a brand new illegal immigrant who snuck over here from Nottingham in '79. I worked for them myself when I was seventeen, right before the place was altered to exclude minors. You've got to watch out not to get on their bad side though, there are few things as terrifying to a seventeen year old as a huge angry man yelling at you in Greek. They’re one of the “famous families” in town, of which there are a few. They’re so large that everyone has had a member of that family in their grade, or their brother dated one, or they work with a few of them, etc. They love to yell at each other in Greek in front of everyone in the middle of the lounge, it's great fun.

I go there most months to watch UFC or a couple of hockey games, and I was there almost every day of the Olympics. I was there when I watched Sidney Crosby score in OT in the gold medal game. That was a great day, the place was completely packed and I heard everyone else screaming before my brain registered that I had just watched our first home-ice Olympic men's hockey gold. Suddenly everyone was hugging, and yelling and jumping up and down, I’d never experienced anything like that before. Bobby (the middle son of the Greek family) gave away a whole bunch of shots which were made to look like little Canadian flags. The bartender is a girl from my highschool and she doesn't drink, so the shots were terrible - the flag consisted of three shots, cherry whiskey on the left for the red band, Baily's with a cherry garnish in the center to look like a red leaf on a white field, and raspberry sourpuss on the right for the other red band. It didn't matter though, we downed enough, and plenty else. By two hours after the game everyone in the lounge was feeling good enough to decide that it was a fantastic idea to go take the bus to the next town and get maple leaf tattoos on our forearms to commemorate the occasion. We started towards the bus station, just one huge mass of drunk people. We didn't make it however - we met another large group of wasted, ecstatic people in the parking lot and decided to go back to the lounge.

Literally the only picture of VB&G that I could find is from my friend's little sister's 18th birthday party (and I'm totally going to show him that I shared this picture of his baby sister on my forum, and I'm going to savour his horror). Despite how murky the picture is, you can already tell from the photo that it's 100000% better than the others:
http://i426.photobucket.com/albums/pp349/cellar_door17/wertwertewrtwertewrtw.jpg
(eyes up people, you're supposed to be looking at the scenery)

The older people in town go to the Canadian Legion. It’s not just for the vets here, anyone is allowed in. It’s boring and pretty dead, but it's quiet and the beer is nice. It isn’t just the generic bottles that everywhere else serves (“I’ll have a Kokanee/Canadian/Coors/Kieths”), they’ve got some variety. There are a few that I’ve never heard of, and they sell Ally Kat Pumpkin Spice in the fall. They play darts there.

*cough*

Well, that was a depressing but accurate exploration of the Northern Alberta entertainment scene.

[kasie]

Thanks, Paul - just a bit of tidying up and packing a bag and I'm ready for the off - 8.00am tomorrow, which suggests either a long and very boring day or - ugh! - a day of being 'prepped'....

[Paulclem]

Thanks, Paul - just a bit of tidying up and packing a bag and I'm ready for the off - 8.00am tomorrow, which suggests either a long and very boring day or - ugh! - a day of being 'prepped'....

I hope you've got plenty to read. Earlier in the year I spent quite a bit of time in and out of hospital with a close relative, and so I sympathise. I hope it all goes well.

[Paulclem]

My town has only one bar,



An excellent description Juniper. The mere fact that you have to drive for 2 and a half hours to get to the next town is somewhat mindblowing for us Brits living on our itty bitty island. Driving for that amount of time from where I live South, East and West would bring me close, if not to, the sea. (Not that I do drive mind).

Your description of the pubs sounds very familiar down to the sticky floor and noise. manys the night - in the distant past - I've had an overwhelmed tympanum. (I didn't check the spelling but I mean a lug drum).

I don't go out nowadays, but I'll tell you about my day instead.

I went out this morning to take the old Auntie - she's 89 - some cat food for Henry. He's a massive fluff ball of 15 or so years old, whose occupation is eating. I'd had to pop over last night because she said the TV wasn't working, but it was merely button confusion.

I dropped off the stuff and then realised I'd left the musical snowglobe with a fairy inside my wife had instructed me to exchange at the shop because the music didn't work. (My niece, who is 5, will be coming with my sister and brother-in-law on Tuesday). So I walked back home - it is quicker than the bus - and picked up the snowglobe.

My daughter was just setting off to town to do some Christmas Shopping, and we went up town together on the bus. In town we popped in to see my wife who has a Christmas job at the Bodyshop. (She's really enjoying it and wants to continue after Christmas. When she applied for the job she was considering putting "prepping bodies for viewing by relatives in her nursing role" under the relevant experience part, but luckily she didn't).

A bit later I met my wife from work and we went to do a bit of shopping. We were just walking on the precinct when a rather imposing bloke whirled round and started singing "Hark The Herald Angels Sing" right in front of us.

My first thought was "Oh - oh nutter alert" closely followed by, "Not bad singing" which was then rapidly followed by "If he comes any closer I'll be jabbing him in the chest to keep him away".

Anyway a whole host of people joined in in one of those mobile phone ad spoofs. They had seeded themselves amongst the shoppers and sounded pretty good.

Then who should come along but the Hari-Krishnas - I kid you not. For a moment it looked as though it would be some kind of religious "battle of the bands", but there were only three haris, and so they contented themselves with their bells as they passed on. In fact the bells started to go along with Hark The Herald Angels hymn in a kind of ecumenical musical synchronisation. It was bizarre, but very funny.

We passed on and returned the snow globe, but got some Santa Russian Dolls indstead. (My wife wanted something that our 5 year old niece could keep for Christmasses from the Old Auntie).

We did a bit of wandering which took us to our round market for cucumber, (one of my learners on Thursday brought a really nice, but simple, cucumber salad which I will attempt to replicate), a chinese gift shop, to buy coffee in a can for the lad who returns from Uni on Monday, and Sainsburys for the papers and a couple of Christmas delicacies. (We didn't get much because we'll be doing a shop for luxuries tomorrow).

We had hot chocolate in the bus station cafe, which is a bit rough, but cheap, whilst waiting for the bus. I chatted to one of the bus drivers who looked like a middle aged Prince Harry. (Perhaps Hewitt got around quite a bit). He was good naturedly joshing the Indian guy who owns the cafe.

We then toddled home on the bus and collapsed with the newspapers for an hour or so. I like the Times because they have a good culture section with book reviews, and my wife gets the Daily Mail on a Saturday for the better quality puzzles, though she doesn't read the newsaper itself as the attitudes are rather loathesome. She's often flung it down in disgust.

[prendrelemick]

Juniper, That was great! Now I want to visit.

Paul, That was great too, (I've already visited Coventry.)

[Emil Miller]

Anyway, I personally would be interested in looking at your pubs (or bars/cafes) as I enjoy the feel of a good pub, so feel free to post them on as well.

Glad to see you managed a break from the chessboard and sorry to see that pricing has forced you away from the Belgian beer, but at least you have found an alternative hostelry. The pub below is the Cittie of Yorke although I knew it when it was called Henneky's and I often used to drink there after work. I actually used it in Pro Bono Publico as the place where the lawyer Gerald Welford proposes to Julia Whittington, as it's near the Law Courts and is where the legal fraternity hang out.
It's quite historic and during WW11 some people were drowned when those large casks above the bar burst after a bomb hit the building during a raid: since when, the replacements have remained empty.

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/6994/54259276.jpg

[LitNetIsGreat]

Yes Kasie I hope things go as planned. If I found myself having to go to hospital I would pack lots of books for sure or just try to sleep through the whole experience. Get in and out.

All the best.

I agree with Paul. I found Juniper's post very interesting because of the one/two bar thing and the isolation and space in Canada - the structure or set-up is obviously very different to places like the UK where we are all crammed in. Such a physical influence obviously has a profound affect upon how we live our lives. It is easy to forget that we all live quite differently and get sucked into our own 'norm' so readily.

I think I would be avoiding the techno music and be in the other bar with the darts players though.... The bar looked fine, but I find that I have even less and less tolerance for noise and unwanted music these days, the reality is that I have little or no patience left at all.


i hope there's no LitNet contract out on you Neely. You haven't been squabbling with our digital friends have you? If so, then you might want to lie low in another fashionable pub with loud music and young chavs - you know, so they don't have the chance to make you swim with the fishes. Or will you take your chances?

Well I've just got back from there after a few quiet pints and it seemed OK, but I was looking over my shoulder just in case. I am half safe in the fact that I have not showed my photo on Litnet, but I know that the anti-Neely brigade would just target the best looking chap in there, so I had to be careful!!


Glad to see you managed a break from the chessboard and sorry to see that pricing has forced you away from the Belgian beer, but at least you have found an alternative hostelry. The pub below is the Cittie of Yorke although I knew it when it was called Henneky's and I often used to drink there after work. I actually used it in Pro Bono Publico as the place where the lawyer Gerald Welford proposes to Julia Whittington, as it's near the Law Courts and is where the legal fraternity hang out.

It's quite historic and during WW11 some people were drowned when those large casks above the bar burst after a bomb hit the building during a raid: since when, the replacements have remained empty.

Well I've only broken from the Belgian beer out in the Devonshire Cat (and therefore pubs generally) and not totally as I drink them at home. I have some Chimay Blue in the fridge which is now readily available even is places like Asda at a third of the cost of the Devonshire. I can't really justify spending in the region of £6 per glass of beer in town.

I like the look of the bar and great stuff with the Pro Bono influence. I like the tradition and history and the wooden layout, but it looks a little large/long if I was being picky, but that could just be the perspective of the shot. It looks good generally though, thanks for sharing (more photos of pubs people please!)

I liked that pub at your end of the world, the one opposite the Royal Opera House/Covent Garden Tube station when I was adventuring down there earlier in the year to see nozze (or was it last year??), the one with the square wooden bar in the centre...>>

Just having had a quick look at Google Maps I think it was the Nag's Head. I had a couple of pints in there just before the off and it struck me as a nice pub at the time. I wonder, have you been in there? I just wandered into the nearest decent looking pub having poked around the market and got bored, I naturally meandered to such a place of course, I left with a very positive impression of it though and would drink in there again if the situation arose, the place had character.

[JuniperWoolf]

An excellent description Juniper. The mere fact that you have to drive for 2 and a half hours to get to the next town is somewhat mindblowing for us Brits living on our itty bitty island. Driving for that amount of time from where I live South, East and West would bring me close, if not to, the sea. (Not that I do drive mind).


I agree with Paul. I found Juniper's post very interesting because of the one/two bar thing and the isolation and space in Canada - the structure or set-up is obviously very different to places like the UK where we are all crammed in. Such a physical influence obviously has a profound affect upon how we live our lives. It is easy to forget that we all live quite differently and get sucked into our own 'norm' so readily.

It's really the large area with no people that non-Canadians seem to find strange about my country. I'm not 100% sure, but I believe I've heard that you can fit all of Europe into Canada (we're the second largest country after the USSR) and I know that we only have about half the population of the UK alone. We were talking about that in Sociology one morning, and the Asian exchange students were telling us how lonely and exposed they feel when they walk around the Edmonton main streets where there's maybe one person for every twenty meters instead of twenty people for every square five meters like they're used to.


It's quite historic and during WW11 some people were drowned when those large casks above the bar burst after a bomb hit the building during a raid: since when, the replacements have remained empty.

Living somewhere with stories and history would be great. Here you can find a few houses and churches in the maritime provinces that are 200+ years old where a Prime Minister was born or something (and his name is unfamiliar with probably 99% of Canadians unless he's John A Macdonald or Pierre Trudeau) and that's about it. I have to visit Europe, seeing places that I've read about in books would be a mind-blowing experience to someone who's only used to endless driving past endless trees and snow. Pip and Darcy are very lucky, they live in Montreal and Vancouver respectively which are the two cultural meccas.

[Emil Miller]

Just having had a quick look at Google Maps I think it was the Nag's Head. I had a couple of pints in there just before the off and it struck me as a nice pub at the time. I wonder, have you been in there? I just wandered into the nearest decent looking pub having poked around the market and got bored, I naturally meandered to such a place of course, I left with a very positive impression of it though and would drink in there again if the situation arose, the place had character.

I haven't been there as I tend to avoid Covent Garden, which is pretty much a tourist trap these days and during the evenings the whole place is often heaving with people. The pubs there do have character as they were used almost exclusively by market porters before the market was moved to a soulless food storage depot called Nine Elms. It was one of the few places in London where it was possible to drink at any time during the day and night because the pubs had a special licence for the market people. However, I have to go into town tomorrow and I will pop along there in the daytime to have a look at the Nag's Head and the White Lion which is close by. I was in town last Thursday and went into the Willow Walk near Victoria Station at about 7.00p.m. and it was absolutely packed. That's one of the reason's I used to like the Cittie of Yorke, because it's big enough to accommodate the crowd of legal eagles who get in there during the evening.

[LitNetIsGreat]

I haven't been there as I tend to avoid Covent Garden, which is pretty much a tourist trap these days and during the evenings the whole place is often heaving with people. The pubs there do have character as they were used almost exclusively by market porters before the market was moved to a soulless food storage depot called Nine Elms. It was one of the few places in London where it was possible to drink at any time during the day and night because the pubs had a special licence for the market people. However, I have to go into town tomorrow and I will pop along there in the daytime to have a look at the Nag's Head and the White Lion which is close by. I was in town last Thursday and went into the Willow Walk near Victoria Station at about 7.00p.m. and it was absolutely packed. That's one of the reason's I used to like the Cittie of Yorke, because it's big enough to accommodate the crowd of legal eagles who get in there during the evening.

I've just worked out it was last year because the World Cup was on. I went in before the opera and it was quiet with just a few people in, but after it was crammed. I imagine this time of year it could get busy I don't know. I think it is definitely worth a look though.

[Paulclem]

Today was the "big shop" for the Christmas goodies. I'm there as general pack horse whilst my wife makes the choices usually. We went up to the Sainsburys near us and had quite a pleasant stroll around seeing as it wasn't too busy. (Is there something ironic in shopping on a Sunday for a Christian festival? - anyway that doesn't apply to me).

We had fun listening to the few whinging kids that were trailing after their mums and Dads, as it becomes funny when it's not your own. We heard one dad say to his three year old-ish daughter - "See - this is why we hardly ever bring you shopping" after we had passed them several times with her refusing to go in the trolley, grabbing stuff off the shelf and generally being awkward.

We got a telly for my wife, who likes to retire to a good murder programme every now and then. I recently realised - and probably everyone in the western world realised this last year - that the change to the digital signal means that for the price of a decent aerial and a twenty five quid set top box, or a TV that has Freeview installed, you can have free multiroom TV for just the price of the equipment and no monthly charges. I was impressed. Not that I watch much TV at all, but the option is nice.

So we're stocked up now after we got the nice stuff back home. The putting away took forever, in fact I'm sure I had to rip out the kitchen cupboards and reconfigure them to accommodate the numerous bottles of pop and stuff that we had got - it seemed like that anyway.

So we'll see if we can get to Christmas without all the delicacies disappearing first. I can assure you wholeheartdly that it won't have anything to do with me.

[Emil Miller]

I've just worked out it was last year because the World Cup was on. I went in before the opera and it was quiet with just a few people in, but after it was crammed. I imagine this time of year it could get busy I don't know. I think it is definitely worth a look though.

It's years since I went to a performance at Covent Garden but I do remember managing to get a G&T during the interval in what was known as the crush bar. It might have been better to have popped over to the Nag's Head for a quickie.
Another pub I liked was The Old Bank of England, which was taken over by Fullers. It was originally a Fleet Street subsidiary of the national Bank and still retains its opulence but is often impossible to get into in the evenings on account of the vast number of people who descend on it like a hoard of locusts. During the day, however, it is a very civilised watering hole.

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/9401/35583474.jpg

[Emil Miller]

I've just worked out it was last year because the World Cup was on. I went in before the opera and it was quiet with just a few people in, but after it was crammed. I imagine this time of year it could get busy I don't know. I think it is definitely worth a look though.

I came out of the underground station at Covent Garden and it was raining so I made a beeline for The Nag's Head which had a fairly festive crowd without being overcrowded. The McMullens beer wasn't very good but the barmaids were suitably buxom which is always a plus point. I had a pint and then went over to the White Lion which had a much better selection of beers. Having my camera with me I took a few shots for the record:

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/4828/dsc0928z.jpg

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/8747/dsc0927h.jpg

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/3415/dsc0926e.jpg

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/6906/dsc0931l.jpg

[prendrelemick]

Anything can be made interesting, Its in the telling.

Last week I was in a churchyard at a site meeting with a sub-committee of a Parochial Church Council. We had spent a week fencing round the graves so sheep could be used as groundskeepers. Now we had to decide where to put a pop-hole in the wall for the sheep in the adjacent field to pass in and out.

Not very interesting. This story needs pimping! For example I could describe some of the sub-committee members, and make assumptions about their characters. e.g.

Roger was the natural leader of the group, when it came to waxed jackets he was the kind of man who knew where that fine line between characterful and shabby lay.
Or
Iris, a small woman with a tiny perfectly shaped rosebud mouth that was an embarrassment to her. She only let it move from behind the protection of a gloved hand.
Then there was Bull–Necked Colin...

OK that's enough, mustn't digress too much...

Ade, my colleague, took the sub-committee up and down the wall, while me and Trevor (the owner of the sheep) leant on the wall and waited where we knew the pop-hole would have to go.

I think a bit of Ade's unique character could be brought in here.

Like Genghis Kahn lecturing on Christian charity, he had warned me about swearing in front of the committee.

“Listen Mick” he had said, “these f#####s are Christians right! Church F#####g wardens f' f###'s sake.” Then to prove he could not only swear between words but between syllables “- They're de f#####g vout! so f#####g well think on.”

I have loads of Ade stories, but better press on.


The committee came back towards us, I could see by the heightened colour in Iris' cheeks he had let slip the odd verbal indiscretion. He was at that moment in the middle of the joke he had told everyone we'd met that week.

“Guess how many people are in here... None! They're all dead.”

Roger made a sound that may have been a laugh. Iris held her hand in front of her mouth.

After about 5 more minutes it was decided that this was indeed a suitable place to build the pop-hole, and as the walling expert I was asked to outline what was involved. I had been rehearsing this moment all week.-
“Building a hole is tricky – pause for effect - You can't get hold of the materials.” Silence. Though Iris ' hand shot up to cover her mouth again, I was warming to Iris.

“We have an account with Calder Building Supplies.” said Roger helpfully.

“Right, right, we'll need a lintel” I said trying to get back on to a professional footing, - lots of mm-ing and nodding of heads – “that's a big stone across the top.” I added “Right, right”, more nodding of heads. When things are teetering on the edge of the surreal I can't resist a little push. “But that shouldn't be a problem, I said, patting the headstone of one William Schofield d.1847 aged 83 (“Walking with God”). there's loads of 'em lying around here.” Deafening silence. Iris' tiny gloved hand was covering her mouth again...

And so on...

All true, but not accurate.

[irishpixieb]

Well, I'm from Raleigh, North Carolina in America and my days are very ordinary. I go to school early in the morning and then go to basketball practice or club meetings in the evenings. I go to the library which is about 30 minutes from my house when i get the chance. I don't live in a large city, Raleigh is fairly small, only a few miles across. But, everything in Raleigh is spread out. 30 minutes is a short drive for this area. My school is actually located 45 minutes from my house and its not uncommon for basketball games and such to be an hour to an hour and a half away.

Right now I'm on winter break so when I get the chance I go to the mall, North Hills to hang out with friends. We either mess around in Target or go to a movie. :P When I'm not with friends, I take walks in the woods behind my house and read. I also watch movies, usually old movies. On some days I have to work at a local fast food restaurant. It is not unusual for someone my age to have a job at a fast food restaurant. I'm saving up for a car so that I can go places more often. That's about the average day in America.

[LitNetIsGreat]

I came out of the underground station at Covent Garden and it was raining so I made a beeline for The Nag's Head which had a fairly festive crowd without being overcrowded. The McMullens beer wasn't very good but the barmaids were suitably buxom which is always a plus point. I had a pint and then went over to the White Lion which had a much better selection of beers. Having my camera with me I took a few shots for the record:

Excellent stuff, nice pictures. I'm off tomorrow in the day to meet a friend for a present swap and a couple of beers, I hope it's not raining though.


Today was the "big shop" for the Christmas goodies. I'm there as general pack horse whilst my wife makes the choices usually. We went up to the Sainsburys near us and had quite a pleasant stroll around seeing as it wasn't too busy. (Is there something ironic in shopping on a Sunday for a Christian festival? - anyway that doesn't apply to me).

We had fun listening to the few whinging kids that were trailing after their mums and Dads, as it becomes funny when it's not your own. We heard one dad say to his three year old-ish daughter - "See - this is why we hardly ever bring you shopping" after we had passed them several times with her refusing to go in the trolley, grabbing stuff off the shelf and generally being awkward.

We got a telly for my wife, who likes to retire to a good murder programme every now and then. I recently realised - and probably everyone in the western world realised this last year - that the change to the digital signal means that for the price of a decent aerial and a twenty five quid set top box, or a TV that has Freeview installed, you can have free multiroom TV for just the price of the equipment and no monthly charges. I was impressed. Not that I watch much TV at all, but the option is nice.

So we're stocked up now after we got the nice stuff back home. The putting away took forever, in fact I'm sure I had to rip out the kitchen cupboards and reconfigure them to accommodate the numerous bottles of pop and stuff that we had got - it seemed like that anyway.

So we'll see if we can get to Christmas without all the delicacies disappearing first. I can assure you wholeheartdly that it won't have anything to do with me.

We had our annual dreaded 'big shop' at Morrison's today (my mum always sends me £100 of vouchers for Morrison's). Even though it is for Christmas etc, etc, I dislike spending so much in one go as it feels greedy. I feel like we are only putting things in for the sake of it, which doesn't sit well with me, even if the Trappist beer does. Somehow we always manage to go a fair bit over the £100 mark. However this year was ridiculous. Even though we put a few non food items in, I was shocked to see the final bill reach £208!!:yikes: This is easily the most I have ever spent in one go in a supermarket and can't be repeated.

[Jack of Hearts]

Mick, you nut.







J

[Paulclem]

Anything can be made interesting, Its in the telling.



You're absolutely right. The interest is in the detail, or assumptions, or the stories and asides.

I enjoyed reading it, and we should have some effin' Ade stories.

[Emil Miller]

Anything can be made interesting, Its in the telling.


This is indeed true.


I came out of the subway at Covent Garden. It was raining so I turned up the collar of my trench and headed for the Nag’s Head on the corner of Floral and James. The joint wasn’t exactly heaving but there was a bunch of bozos hanging around the bar. I asked the guy behind the bar for Bourbon but he said they didn’t have it. I thought he was being funny and was about to give him a smack in the kisser when my eye caught a sign on the counter that read McMullen’s. I’m not a sentimental kind of guy but I suddenly remembered Lefty McMullen. Yeah, the same Lefty they dredged up out the river with his feet in half a ton of concrete two years ago just after he’d been let out of the county caboose. So I thought I’d have a pint in Lefty’s memory. One of the broads serving came up and leaned across the bar towards me. She had a large pendulous pair, in fact I’ve never seen such big earrings: “What do you want you big boy?” She said fluttering her lashes.
“Well that’s a leading question,” I said, “but for now I’ll have a pint of McMullen’s County.”
The beer really didn’t do justice to Lefty’s memory so I drank it and went over to The White Lion. They didn’t have any Bourbon either but they did have Doom Bar so I gave the blonde behind the bar the eye and settled for a pint. Now that was beer that Lefty would have appreciated.

[LitNetIsGreat]

:lol: You're all mad.

[Ecurb]

Is nobody on a literary board like this one familiar with "To Think that I Saw it on Mulberry Street"? Have we learned nothing from Dr. Seuss, one of the great literary giants of the 20th Century?

[Emil Miller]

:lol: You're all mad.

And you've only just discovered it ?

[LitNetIsGreat]

And you've only just discovered it ?

It's all just clicking into place.

I was about to write* a creative piece about shopping at Morrison's and then thought...what the hell am I doing? Or some words like that...:santasmil

Mick's right though, it's all about the how, not the what.


* Not really, just artistic licence. Forum posting art.

[Paulclem]

Morrisons - now I could tell you a tale or two about that place...

[LitNetIsGreat]

Morrisons - now I could tell you a tale or two about that place...

I could too>>>

The father-in-law bought some of their own label beans a few weeks ago. He opened a tin and discovered what looked like a slug right there in the middle. Not being a 'fussed' sort of fellow he picked it out and put it in the bin and threw them in the pan.

He casually mentioned the slug-like appearance to his wife who was nearly sick at the prospect of him still eating the remaining beans.

She asked him were the suspected slug was and he pointed to the bin.

She investigated further and also thought it looked like a slug.

She persuaded him to send the tin (minus the beans) together with the suspected slug back to Morrisons headquarters.

After two weeks, Morrisons, via analysis (I'll take your word for the lack of apostrophe!) confirmed it was an "insect like creature" and awarded them £30 worth of vouchers.

Of which they bought some more beans with...

(The above is a true story.)



Why what's your story?

It started on a cold winter's day. Our good hero, with his Morrisons vouchers, sat apprehensively in the taxi with Mrs Neely...etc, etc

[Emil Miller]

I didn't give this thread a second glance until it occurred to me that perhaps there really was something in the mundane things we take for granted. The thing that struck me about it is that various nationalities might perceive reporting in different ways. For example, the majority of members on the forum are from the USA and may not relate easily to the manner of speech of someone from, say, the UK . Anyhow, here's what I did today for UK readers.

I got up at 9.30, played a bit of piano and had a look for any Emails before grilling a piece of fish and going for a walk. I returned after an hour and ate a bowl of soup. In the afternoon, I decided to go into town and enquire after a woman who used to work in one of my old watering holes. She was an interesting person who spoke several languages and was also quite a draw for the many male drinkers who admired her for her non linguistic attributes. I was told that she was off sick but still working there and was now the manageress; so I ordered a pint of London Pride and said I would pop in from time to time. The pub started to get as bit noisy when a group of people celebrating the festive season came into the bar, so I left shortly afterwards.
I then made my way to another pub that had been recommended to me by a number of people but it didn't turn out to be what I expected, so I had a beer and left to do some shopping.

For US readers:

I got up late and snatched a quick bite before setting off. I was on a mission to find a broad I used to know. She worked in a bar in town and I was curious to know how things had panned out with her. She was the kind of dame who it ain't easy to forget 'cos unlike most broads she was smart as well as having the works. I went to the bar and eyed up one of the girls serving, she wasn't bad either and told me that Lydia, that's the dame I was enquiring after, was still working there but was away sick. Then I ordered a beer just as a gang of kids came in and started making a noise. So I gave them the evil eye and they quietened down until I left to seek out another pub that had been recommended to me earlier.
It wasn't a bad dive as London bars go but it was lacking a certain pizazz. I think it might have had something to do with the barmaid: a suicide blond with attitude. Hey, and wouldn't ya know it? There was the usual strangulated whine coming from loud speakers that reminded me of a bootleg hooch party in Atlanta. What made it worse was that it was only after I had ordered a pint of Kronenberg, that I found out that they had Leffe on draft.
Anyways I'm seeing Maxine tonight: she's the one who told me about Lydia
being off sick .
I'm taking her to my local MacDonald's; only the best is good enough for my dames.

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

Great everyday stories; gravemarker serves as lintel, shopping at Morrisons earning vouchers for slugged beans and Americanized version of a Londoner's tale in the voice of Bogart.
What's strange is that I could swear that I posted a response to this thread last night, but I don't see it. I was drinking a bottle of Duvel at the time which might explain. It is either posted somehwere else or I simply imagined it.

No Texas tall tales here. Taking time off work using up some vacation time before the end of the year.
Over the past few days I accomplished the following:
Purchased that Duvel along with a Spanish wine and of course a bottle of WT
dropped my son off at school.
Picked up the missus dry cleaning
Listened in on a teleconference call this morning (work related)
Spent some time digging through stamps and also searching Cold Ale Blokes for Paulclem's youtube video he produced - no luck by the way. If you find it, please send it my way.
Put some Christmas lights up on the house last night.
I reckon I better do some shopping at some point.

.

[Jack of Hearts]

Emil, your 'US' version is the bastard-Frankenstein-child of 1940's Hollywood, Bronx accent and white-bread liberal with just a dash of trailer park.

... so, pretty close.






J

[Emil Miller]

Emil, your 'US' version is the bastard-Frankenstein-child of 1940's Hollywood, Bronx accent and white-bread liberal with just a dash of trailer park.

... so, pretty close.






J

Yes it's long been a source of amusement over here how America so often falls into self-parody via its cinematic and media extravaganzas. It appears that what Hollywood did yesterday the US of A does today. But ultimately there is a price to pay and I suspect that it's only a matter of time before we get a hip hop version of Buddy can You Spare a Dime.

[Jack of Hearts]

Savour youur off colour humour while you can, we'll see who's practising with the Hoover come the time me mum rings for the afternoon cuppa.






J

[prendrelemick]

I didn't give this thread a second glance until it occurred to me that perhaps there really was something in the mundane things we take for granted. The thing that struck me about it is that various nationalities might perceive reporting in different ways. For example, the majority of members on the forum are from the USA and may not relate easily to the manner of speech of someone from, say, the UK . Anyhow, here's what I did today for UK readers.

I got up at 9.30, played a bit of piano and had a look for any Emails before grilling a piece of fish and going for a walk. I returned after an hour and ate a bowl of soup. In the afternoon, I decided to go into town and enquire after a woman who used to work in one of my old watering holes. She was an interesting person who spoke several languages and was also quite a draw for the many male drinkers who admired her for her non linguistic attributes. I was told that she was off sick but still working there and was now the manageress; so I ordered a pint of London Pride and said I would pop in from time to time. The pub started to get as bit noisy when a group of people celebrating the festive season came into the bar, so I left shortly afterwards.
I then made my way to another pub that had been recommended to me by a number of people but it didn't turn out to be what I expected, so I had a beer and left to do some shopping.

For US readers:

I got up late and snatched a quick bite before setting off. I was on a mission to find a broad I used to know. She worked in a bar in town and I was curious to know how things had panned out with her. She was the kind of dame who it ain't easy to forget 'cos unlike most broads she was smart as well as having the works. I went to the bar and eyed up one of the girls serving, she wasn't bad either and told me that Lydia, that's the dame I was enquiring after, was still working there but was away sick. Then I ordered a beer just as a gang of kids came in and started making a noise. So I gave them the evil eye and they quietened down until I left to seek out another pub that had been recommended to me earlier.
It wasn't a bad dive as London bars go but it was lacking a certain pizazz. I think it might have had something to do with the barmaid: a suicide blond with attitude. Hey, and wouldn't ya know it? There was the usual strangulated whine coming from loud speakers that reminded me of a bootleg hooch party in Atlanta. What made it worse was that it was only after I had ordered a pint of Kronenberg, that I found out that they had Leffe on draft.
Anyways I'm seeing Maxine tonight: she's the one who told me about Lydia
being off sick .
I'm taking her to my local MacDonald's; only the best is good enough for my dames.

As an English Man I want more information about the piece of fish!


Emil, your 'US' version is the bastard-Frankenstein-child of 1940's Hollywood, Bronx accent and white-bread liberal with just a dash of trailer park.

... so, pretty close.






J
:lol:

[Emil Miller]

Savour youur off colour humour while you can, we'll see who's practising with the Hoover come the time me mum rings for the afternoon cuppa.

J


Now that's a truly horrible thought. The English vernacular has connotations of knuckle dragging that the USA could never match and it should be kept where it is rather than exported. Your example is one of Estuary English with a pinçon of late Essex thrown in. It is unfortunately spreading throughout the land to the extent that even our Eton educated Prime Minister is obliged to slip in the occasional glottal stop to remind voters that he too is in favour of our 'inclusive' society. I shall be listening in on the Queen's Christmas day speech this year (something I don't normally do) to see if the contagion has reached Buckingham palace.

[LitNetIsGreat]

As an English Man I want more information about the piece of fish!

Yes, and as a Yorkshire man that's probably 'how much?'

Great story by the way...

It is true though you can find some day-to-day things interesting, that others might disregard. I'm still shook up about how much coffee your average Icelander drinks for instance!!

[Emil Miller]

As an English Man I want more information about the piece of fish!




According to the label, it was one of two Low unsaturated fat, 'essential Waitrose' cod portions in a light oven crisp crumb, sustainably sourced and responsibly fished.
The weight was 300g and it was kept refrigerated below 5 degrees centigrade.
Each portion had 279 calories including 3.0g sugars: 11.1g fat: 0.9 saturates:0.75g salt. Their respective GDAs being 14%, 3%, 16%, 5% and 13%.
The Display until/Use by date was 25DEC.

Yep! The everyday sure is interesting.

[Emil Miller]

Continuing from yesterday's interesting (?) everyday.

I got up at 9.00am and fed the cat before settling down to listen to an amazingly effete Julian Fellowes on Desert Island Discs waffling on about the change that took place between the 1950s and 1960s as though he didn't know that it was socially engineered by politicians and big business to get the masses to part with their money and thus keep the economic ball rolling as the UK started to go down the tubes. So we had records (I hesitate to say music in the second instance) as diverse as Puccini and someone called Marvin Gay. Then I did the daily ablutions and cooked the second piece of fish contained in the aforementioned pack. Afterwards I walked, as part of my fitness regime, to the supermarket and got one or two things to tide me over the holiday before returning to check out Emails and Litnet.
Later, I went into town and bought a newspaper before repairing to a pub that I hadn't visited for two years on account of a spat about their bringing in tables and chairs from the balcony at 10.00pm when they are open until midnight; thus unnecessarily depriving people of the option to sit outside. I don't say that my argument was what brought about the change but, lo and behold, there are now permanently fixed tables along the balcony and the problem has thus been resolved to every one's advantage. The bar clientele have changed and I didn't recognise a single person who were formerly regulars. The bar staff are almost exclusively men and that is never a good sign, but I had a couple of glasses of Leffe and then departed to see if Lydia had returned to the other pub from sick leave. When I walked into the crowded bar I saw her looking like the queen of the Nile in a stunning purple dress and was greeted with her usual dazzling smile. I told her I was sorry to hear that she had been off on sick leave and she said that the bar had been so busy over the previous fortnight that she simply had to have a break. Unfortunately, our greeting wasn't appreciated by the young lady who I had spoken to the previous day and she was bit huffy. I had a pint of lager and then told Lydia that I was leaving and wished her a merry Christmas. She said she hoped to see me in the new year and I promised that I would return.

For US readers:

Getting up at 9 o'clock, I fed the feline and switched on the radio. There was some chauncy guy called Fellowes pickin his favourite records and cracking on about how good the 60s were, when anyone who's wised up knows that the whole scam was set up to fool the millions of suckers who always fall for the the three card trick. Anyways, after getting some vitals from the supermarket, I went to a bar that I hadn 't been to for a while and had a couple of bottles of Leffe. So I was feeling pretty good when I went over to see if Lydia was back from sick leave.
Boy, that's some dame. As I walked into the bar and elbowed my way to where she was serving she suddenly saw me and gave a smile that almost fused the lights in the joint. We had a chat about old times but she was so hassled by all the pot-bellied bozos who were clamoring for beer that I decided to quit the burg after my pint of lager. Maxine wasn't at all pleased with Lydia's and my brief tête-à-tête so I don't think we'll be going to McDonalds again. Anyways I promised Lydia I would be back in the new year and that's a promise I definitely intend keeping.

[Jack of Hearts]

Whoa there pardner. Here's a translation by a native speaker:


The alarm clock read 9am when it went off. I was already laying awake. Cigarette smoke rose into the ceiling fan. It swirled around. I puffed a little harder, the red embers like dawn creeping in. Late dawn. Late late dawn.

The alarm screamed bloody murder. Some radio show. A man was talking about the 60’s and how much better off we all were then. More innoncent. I nearly knocked over an empty bottle of Jack Daniels as I reached across the night stand to turn it off. Then I picked up my hand cannon. She was heavy. .357 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world. She made me feel lucky, punk.

I was out of bourbon, I was out of stogies. So I went to a guy I know, sells cubans, and called in a favor. He didn’t like it. He took a little convincing. Two black eyes later, he was my buddy again and we tied one off . Then I started to think. As I stared into his badly beaten, bruised, mangled face, I started thinkin’ about love, as a matter of fact.

Of all the gin joints in all the world I had to walk into hers. A fine drinking establishment. Last time I had asked about her. They told me that she had been on sick leave. I had asked well who’s that ducking behind the counter. And the answer was no one, why are you carrying a gun? I said I’d be back. And so I came back. I saw her immediately. She must’ve dropped something behind the bar because she ducked behind it real quick. Hey babe, I said in our familiar and friendly way, you’d look mighty fine cookin’ my grits in the kitchen. She said who are you. I said I’m the man who friended you on Facebook two weeks ago. The man of your dreams.

But she suddenly she got too busy talking to some other guys in the joint. Then them boys wanted to know about me. They asked to know who I was. And when they saw my ID, they realized. They realized who they was dealin’ with. I let them pick me up by the shirt collar and escort me out, seeing as I was done there anyways, at least for today. They gently placed me into the street outside near the garbage cans and said don’t come back until you’re of legal age. I promised to come back next year.







J

[prendrelemick]

About that fish...

[Emil Miller]

About that fish...

See # 57.

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

Continuing from yesterday's interesting (?) everyday.

...For US readers:

.. Anyways, after getting some vitals from the supermarket,
...Maxine wasn't at all pleased with Lydia's and my brief tête-à-tête

"Vitals ? is it possible you meant vittles? - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A7YxC6tpHI

and "tête-à-tête" ? - that might go over OK in Boston but not in Paris Texas. You say "tête-à-tête" on the streets of Paris Texas and you'll likely find yourself talking to Mr. Smith and Wesson.


Whoa there pardner. Here's a translation by a native speaker:

...She was heavy. .357 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world. She made me feel lucky, punk.

...As I stared into his badly beaten, bruised, mangled face, I started thinkin’ about love, as a matter of fact.

This reader has to give the Tony to Jack of Hearts for the U.S. version.

-----

Today:
Just now caught up on the latest installments of Mickey Spillane ^
Kept a fire burning in the hearth.
wrapped some gifts while spinning some vinyl
My son's flint knapping kit arrived (a gift) he has been interested in knapping for about a year now, but the local native rocks don't spall / flake very well.
Spent some time on LitNet and reading reading.

.

[Emil Miller]

"Vitals ? is it possible you meant vittles? - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A7YxC6tpHI

and "tête-à-tête" ? - that might go over OK in Boston but not in Paris Texas. You say "tête-à-tête" on the streets of Paris Texas and you'll likely find yourself talking to Mr. Smith and Wesson.



This reader has to give the Tony to Jack of Hearts for the U.S. version.

-----

Today:
Just now caught up on the latest installments of Mickey Spillane ^
Kept a fire burning in the hearth.
wrapped some gifts while spinning some vinyl
My son's flint knapping kit arrived (a gift) he has been interested in knapping for about a year now, but the local native rocks don't spall / flake very well.
Spent some time on LitNet and reading reading.

.

Yep, I did mean vittles but couldn't recall the exact expression and I agree that Messrs Chandler and Spillane wouldn't have liked a Fench intrusion into the dialect. That bit about keeping a fire burning in the hearth sounds a bit Davy Crockett, I trust you aren't wearing a raccoon cap.

[prendrelemick]

"Vitals ? is it possible you meant vittles? - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A7YxC6tpHI

and "tête-à-tête" ? - that might go over OK in Boston but not in Paris Texas. You say "tête-à-tête" on the streets of Paris Texas and you'll likely find yourself talking to Mr. Smith and Wesson.



This reader has to give the Tony to Jack of Hearts for the U.S. version.

-----

Today:
Just now caught up on the latest installments of Mickey Spillane ^
Kept a fire burning in the hearth.
wrapped some gifts while spinning some vinyl
My son's flint knapping kit arrived (a gift) he has been interested in knapping for about a year now, but the local native rocks don't spall / flake very well.
Spent some time on LitNet and reading reading.

.

Knapping, that's interesting. Will he be using deer antler for the fine detail like they did in the old (Mesolithic)days?
We have no flint around here except for the very rare worked pieces that I occasionally find in walls or in the ground. I remember once losing my pocket knife and using a piece of worked flint I'd found to open some bales of hay, it was as sharp as the day it was made. I felt connected to the past.

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

Knapping, that's interesting. Will he be using deer antler for the fine detail like they did in the old (Mesolithic)days?
We have no flint around here except for the very rare worked pieces that I occasionally find in walls or in the ground. I remember once losing my pocket knife and using a piece of worked flint I'd found to open some bales of hay, it was as sharp as the day it was made. I felt connected to the past.

The kit included several pieces of heat treated (tempered) rock, leather leg pad, aluminum billet and copper tpped pressure flaker. When I placed the order, I was thinking along the same archaic lines as you, so I added one deer antler to the order plus one bag of obsideon and one bag of dacite rock.
Here's a photo of the kit with a few pieces of rock...


http://i963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/tabuka1/Misc%20Album/th_IMGP2326.jpg (http://s963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/tabuka1/Misc%20Album/?action=view&current=IMGP2326.jpg)


Note the small point my son started to fashion.

[prendrelemick]

Interesting..

Thanks Gilliatt. I'd like to have a go at that, and make something I could actually use.

There are still people making flints for flintlocks, mainly for replica weapons of reanactment groups like The Sealed Knot, I also once saw a surgeon use an Obsidian scalpel on telly.

[Paulclem]

I like the idea that a tool goes back thousands of years and was in the hands of our unknown ancestors.

[papayahed]

I was just about to start my thread but then I realized that I don't want my coworkers to accidently stumble accross something i may say about them.

[MystyrMystyry]

Do they know you as Papayahed? Use pseudonyms :)

I bought ice on Christmas Eve for to fill my cheap esky. That day and the next both reached 100 F, and today three days on I discovered there was still ice in it! Mostly water sure, but freezingly gelid water. The secret is to wrap the article in a wet towel in the tub in a dark bathroom, and with current temperature being mild (though slowly soaring) I'm wondering if it'll make it through to the New Year...

This has got me thinking about Christmas Karmic Miracles, and I've had a number so far:

After a bit of damage to personal property the Screeching Harlem Backyardtrotters have moved out of next door (and far away from my bedroom window), my landlord hasn't been seen (touch wood, but the main thing is he kept away Christmas Day), my other neighbors have proven to be really good value.

There's been quite a few other niggles that have managed to work themselves out to a happy and satisfying resolution also.

2012 - bring it on!

[prendrelemick]

According to the label, it was one of two Low unsaturated fat, 'essential Waitrose' cod portions in a light oven crisp crumb, sustainably sourced and responsibly fished.
The weight was 300g and it was kept refrigerated below 5 degrees centigrade.
Each portion had 279 calories including 3.0g sugars: 11.1g fat: 0.9 saturates:0.75g salt. Their respective GDAs being 14%, 3%, 16%, 5% and 13%.
The Display until/Use by date was 25DEC.

Yep! The everyday sure is interesting.

Yes, but were chips involved! A squeeze of lemon perhaps, or a dollop of tartare sauce, a grilled tomato? Mushrooms? What did it taste like? Did your Philip Marlow alter ego like it?

[Emil Miller]

Yes, but were chips involved! A squeeze of lemon perhaps, or a dollop of tartare sauce, a grilled tomato? Mushrooms? What did it taste like? Did your Philip Marlow alter ego like it?

Being a non foodie, I ate it on its own except for a dash of vinegar and a light dusting of pepper. It did taste good though, or as they might say in your part of the world: " Eeee.... it were scroomptious."
I don't often eat cooked food because the oven has to be heated before the actual cooking takes place and the whole thing takes too long but as they would no doubt say on the other side of the pond: " Ya kinda gotta stick with it man."

[Jack of Hearts]

Hell yeah. Murka number one!







J

[qimissung]

I agree with Paul. The everyday is interesting.

My son has a friend visiting, a nice, very capable young man. We asked him if he could replace the bake element in our oven and he said it looked pretty easy to do, he'd just have to take off the back of the stove.

When he did make the attempt he didn't unplug the stove and WHAMP! A flash of light, a small explosion, and the wires in the back are melted. I'm just glad he didn't electrocute himself. That's our Christmas miracle.

[Paulclem]

I agree with Paul. The everyday is interesting.

My son has a friend visiting, a nice, very capable young man. We asked him if he could replace the bake element in our oven and he said it looked pretty easy to do, he'd just have to take off the back of the stove.

When he did make the attempt he didn't unplug the stove and WHAMP! A flash of light, a small explosion, and the wires in the back are melted. I'm just glad he didn't electrocute himself. That's our Christmas miracle.

I recently tried to fix the oven door on the front of the cooker since it had fallen off. We bought a new cooker soon after...

[Helga]

I just spent almost all day watching Doctor Who. Almost finished season 3 plan on finishing all 6 before school starts. Wish I could do this everyday!

[Paulclem]

Well new year came and went. Unlike Christmas, I have trouble bothering with it. This year we're tired, and so we had a low key evening. My wife - who had been working- retired early, and I was playing on LitNet and Quake.

Today has been lethargic and lazy too. I'm contemplating storing all the xmas lights tomorrow, and removing all the decorations. I always feels a bit sad to take them down, but suddenly the house looks less cluttered.

Tomorrow I'll also be preparing for work. It'll be a short week, but we are enrolling, and so I anticipate a busy wednesday. I'll be meeting and greeting and directing learners to our arts and languages and computer type classes.

[Emil Miller]

I just spent almost all day watching Doctor Who. Almost finished season 3 plan on finishing all 6 before school starts. Wish I could do this everyday!

Yes it's nice to have ambitions.
Mine is never to have seen a Doctor Who or Eastenders, which you may not have seen as it's a faux cockney soap opera aimed primarily at UK viewers.
I once knew a woman who told me that she had never missed a single episode of The Archers, a corny English country village radio series that had been running for decades. I was intrigued as I hadn't heard it since I was a boy, when farmer Dan Archer would invite faithful old farmhand Walter Gabriel down to The Bull for a pint of scrumpy after the muck-spreading. So I decided to listen to it again and it seems that Dan and Walter had long passed on but the script remained essentially the same with someone called Rowley inviting Tarquin down to the wine bar for a glass of chardonnay after Tarquin had programmed his computerised slurry dispersal unit.
The French expression is spot on, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

[qimissung]

I have to go back to work today. That is not interesting.

I can't put off getting up much longer.

[Emil Miller]

I have to go back to work today. That is not interesting.

I can't put off getting up much longer.

I really do sympathise and can only offer some advice about making sure that you retire from work as early as possible. Not having to get up in the mornings is absolute heaven.

[Paulclem]

Today we walked up to the local supermarket and bought some supplies whilst having a look at the sales items. Nothing caught our eyes, though I'm not much of a January sales shopper. The run up to Christmas jades my somewhat jaded middle aged shopping sense. I did have my eye on the best of Cream for £4, though I didn't get it in the end. I often do this - delay getting stuff before I finally do buy something. (£4 isn't much). I did get a tub of single cream as I'm still eating my wife's home made Christmas pudding, which is rather fantastic.

They have a nice cafe there, and this for me was the real purpose of the trip. Coffee and a chat. I often pop in en route to deliver shopping to the old Auntie. Drinking in cafes has become the thing I do most in and around town. I can testify to this with the number of stamp cards I have - do you have these - buy 9 get the 10th free? It works well if you drink there regularly, though in itself it's not an inducement.

On the checkout was a schoolmate of my son who used to live up the road from us. These days just having a job is good for young uns, and I don't think he did particularly well with his exams. It's especially pleasing to see him doing ok though because he had a troubled childhood. His mother is an alcoholic, and there was a lot of trouble for him and his family.

I dreamt last night about the old uncle who died about 6 years ago. He was a good bloke, though a little odd. In the dream he was wearing a funny hat. I got the distinct impression he was trying to cheer me up. So I cheered up and today has been fresh and refreshing.

[prendrelemick]

Me and the boy have been digging holes today with the brother in law - we're helping him put a fence round his new house. It's been really good to get outdoors and work up a sweat. The weather over Christmas has been terrible, I have been lounging around inside eating too much rich food for too long. Today the sun appeared for a few hours and it was great to get out into it. (This being England it also rained and snowed a bit as well.)

[Emil Miller]

Me and the boy have been digging holes today with the brother in law -


Now that really is interesting, most people uses a spade.

[Paulclem]

:lol:

I have to report that even the Jack Russell has been getting into the Christmas spirit this year. He's been eating bits of tinsel and those foil table decorations of Christmas trees, stars and "Merry Christmas" and then extruding glittering festive turds on the green.

[qimissung]

I really do sympathise and can only offer some advice about making sure that you retire from work as early as possible. Not having to get up in the mornings is absolute heaven.

And when I do, will you be helping me with my food bills?

H-m-m-m. I thought not. :D

[Emil Miller]

And when I do, will you be helping me with my food bills?

H-m-m-m. I thought not. :D

Well, presumably you will retire with some money in the bank and a pension. As for food, cut down on it, the requirement by western standards is mostly in the mind.

[Delta40]

My computer has decided not to let me open my e-mail account or do online banking. It takes ages to load any website really EXCEPT oddly enough Lit-Net, which is running perfectly. Like the double rainbow guy says on You tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQSNhk5ICTI (Omg! that took me a whole kettle to boil!) what does it all mean?

[Helga]

Computers hate me, they can always find some way to annoy me!

but in the last 5 minuets I tried to turn on my 14 inch tv set but couldn't get any reception so I decided to watch in my boys room since he is with his dad this weekend and he has a better tv,a whopping 20 inch screen!!! lucky him but my sleeve got caught on the door knob and I poured water all over my shirt, right now I wish I had a proper tv in my living room and that I wasn't all wet :( (I could fix that though). All this for one show!

[Paulclem]

My wife and I were talking today in a coffee shop in town, and I was commenting upon the fact that our Admin assistant lives a mere 4-500 metres from us through some winding streets on our estate, but I've never seen her out of work. I've lived here 20 years and my colleague has lived on the estate for at least ten. The answer of course is that she drives whilst we get the bus or I cycle.

It reminded me of a comment our next door neighbour made last year when she said in all sincerity that just old people live in our area. She's completely wrong, but as she too either walks or gets the bus, she doesn't see the many younger people who also live here. Nor their kids.

Although we are in the same physical plane of existence we all seem to live in an enclosed part of it. No wonder old people feel isolated. Unless of course we really do live on a different plane on our estate and emerge into a different shared one when I'm at work. Nah...surely not...

[JuniperWoolf]

Last night I bumped into a guy in the lobby of the complex where I work. He's this smartmouth fast talking kid who does something administrative in the oil field and he's stayed here twice before. I made fun of him for about ten minutes and then went about my day.

Two hours later one of the waitresses brings me a strawberry cheesecake courtesy of the smartmouthed administrator. Hah!

[Paulclem]

Last night I bumped into a guy in the lobby of the complex where I work. He's this smartmouth fast talking kid who does something administrative in the oil field and he's stayed here twice before. I made fun of him for about ten minutes and then went about my day.

Two hours later one of the waitresses brings me a strawberry cheesecake courtesy of the smartmouthed administrator. Hah!

He probably thinks you're flirting with him. :biggrin5:

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

This week it was back to the grindstone brushing up on my "legaleze" verbiage on building forensic assessment reports. Not my typical role, but we had a couple of older projects in which some leaks from recent rains occured, causing Owners, Contractors and Architects to immediately back away from each other, cautiously pushing their jackets aside revealing a holstred Colt. Kind of like the final scene in The Good the Bad and the Ugly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP9cfQx2OZY&feature=related

I'm the go to sleuthhound for these cases.

Earlier in the week, I took the Marmite out of the refrigerator and brought it to room temperature.

I learned that some gal in Denver was not pleased with a Clyfford Still painting, so she proceeded to attack it culminating in a puddle of urine on the floor.

[JuniperWoolf]

^Well, that's interesting.


He probably thinks you're flirting with him. :biggrin5:

Haha, people are into such weird things. Apparently outright mockery really revs some folks up.

[prendrelemick]

Actually, if a young lady brought me a slice of strawberry cheesecake, I'd be a pushover.:nod:

[Paulclem]

I had a stroll down to the allotment today. Got some leeks and the last of the taties that I'd forgotten were still in the ground. My purple sprouting is looking good - har har. Three months or so to the harvest.

It was nice to go down to the shop and get roped in to making the tea. I'm not part of the committee, but I've helped them with the website, and so they're nice to me. The allotment politics are surprisingly vitreolic sometimes. The current chairman was assaulted a couple of years ago by a disgruntled gardener who subsequently lost the plot - I mean his plot. He lost his plot when he lost the plot.

From what I've seen being on the committee and running the shop is a fairly thankless task. Lots complain, and there are some irascible characters to deal with, and the whole thing is done by volunteers. Perhaps they do it for the power.

[LadyLuck]

I had a nice quiet day here. I've been a bit under the weather, so most of the day was spent enjoying my pajamas. I did spend a bit of time this morning developing a new recipe that means I get to enjoy the love of pancakes without being ill from them. The little things make me smile, but even better was that the kids loved it. Other than that, I read a few pages in a book and then decided I was too fuzzy in the head for it. Now it's just off to bed.

[LiraelG]

I find the lives of ordinary people very interesting too! :) I love meeting new people because I love the path of discovery that follows (though some people just don't talk about themselves...)


What's your routine, or what do you regularly do?
I have porridge, made with soya milk and topped with a chopped up banana, every single morning! I don't feel emotionally fulfilled without it. It's comforting, warm, tastes fantastic! Cereal just doesn't match up to it. Nor does toast. (Perhaps my love of porridge is linked to my love of baby rice as a baby?)


Do you go out a lot?
Clubbing and drinking, no. I tend to go for walks and to work! I absolutely love my job. :) I'm a tutor. My co-workers and the students are fantastic.


What do you watch or listen to?
I don't watch anything frequently anymore... I quite like programs about food! My favourite tv series include Everwood, House, Desperate Housewives, Black Books and Matt Smith's Doctor Who! :)

My taste in music is quite varied, but the music which means the most to me is from Final Fantasy X, my favourite game. I also enjoy Daughtry, Nickelback, Keane, Muse, Owl City, John Mayer, Disney music, Classical music... All sorts!


How do you fill your time, or is your time filled for you?
When I'm at work, my time is filled for me. At home, I browse the internet, post on forums, play video games, go on walks, and read of course! :) I'm passionate about literature and learning - there's nothing better than sitting down with a good book and a nice cup of tea!

[Paulclem]

Hi, I'm a Tutor too. I teach adults maths, though this is a recent change, and I previously taught literacy.

[Paulclem]

Of course it's usually the everyday that kills you.

:cornut:

[qimissung]

This week it was back to the grindstone brushing up on my "legaleze" verbiage on building forensic assessment reports. Not my typical role, but we had a couple of older projects in which some leaks from recent rains occured, causing Owners, Contractors and Architects to immediately back away from each other, cautiously pushing their jackets aside revealing a holstred Colt. Kind of like the final scene in The Good the Bad and the Ugly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP9cfQx2OZY&feature=related

I'm the go to sleuthhound for these cases.

Earlier in the week, I took the Marmite out of the refrigerator and brought it to room temperature.

I learned that some gal in Denver was not pleased with a Clyfford Still painting, so she proceeded to attack it culminating in a puddle of urine on the floor.


"Revealing the holsterd Colt"-hilarious. I just bet no one's to willing to take responsibility for that!

I need to take my cats to the vet. I wonder how much longer I can put that off.

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

"Revealing the holsterd Colt"-hilarious. I just bet no one's to willing to take responsibility for that!

I need to take my cats to the vet. I wonder how much longer I can put that off.

It's funny how quickly the parties involved begin poistioning themselves when a leak or some other problem or malfunction arises. In this case, so far anyhow, it was mostly an excercise in determining a cause and recommending a solution to pass on to the Owner for resolution. However, I've learned to subtly close up any possible opportunities to find fault in our company in my initial report.

We have a dog that is overdue for a vet visit, perhaps this weekend.

Let's see...tonight I'm at the computer wearing my blue "snuggie" drinking my second bottle of Beck's Dark beer.

.

[JuniperWoolf]

Last night a huge drunk guy who looked like a skinhead tried to get in to the front doors at about three in the morning when the bar closed. He was covered in blood, so when I shook my head at him he started punching the door. It's glass, so the blood from his knuckles left marks all over it. I'll admit, I'm afraid of a skinhead covered in blood who would try to punch-smash his way in, so I called the bouncers in the bar and they ran out and got rid of him.

[Varenne Rodin]

Hahaha. I don't blame you, Juniper! Was he a zombie?

[JuniperWoolf]

I wish, that would make things much easier. I could just shoot him in the head and that'd be the end of it, but instead I've got to call the bouncers and watch them roll on the ground with a possibly diseased blood covered freak.

[Paulclem]

I miss going out to bars.

I went to a very civilised Oxford with the lad today. I hadn't planned to, but my wife, who claims not to be psychic, suggested that I go for a visit to see his house in Headington. The were broken into over the Christmas holidays, and the lad was expecting to have to get someone in to fix his door lock. My wife suggested around £40. So first we went down and visited Blackwell's bookshop - a fantastic shop with loads of... everything. I didn't buy a thing, but I could very easily bought twenty books I saw just in passing. We went to coffee republic - from where I have since realised that the recent dizzy spells are caused by drinking strong coffee - I'm going to give it up and stick to tea - and then we went to his house.

It's a typical student house - it looks like The Young One's - though not as spacious. Anyway, the lad's lock is fine and he doesn't need to cough up for a new one. (They are liable because one of them left the kitchen window open over the Christmas holiday). He had his DS nicked, but that's it, so he got off lightly. It's a good job I went, and I got to wander back through Oxford in the twilight with those tremendous yellow stone buildings. All in all a good day.

[qimissung]

I'm just a wee bit jealous, Paul.

Good times, Juniper. The world could use another book about a small town and it's eccentric yet endearing citizens. Think about it. :D

Gilliatt, I'm sure you are just the man to subtly talk your way out of anything-but a snuggie? Think, man, what would John Wayne do?

I'm on the couch with my android (stupid broken computer), snuggie-less, but with a blanket, a decent movie, and (wait for it) a glass of homemade Irish Creme ( Christmas gift). My tongue feels slightly numb.

Didn't make it to the vet's though. Sorry, cats.

[Helga]

I have had a pretty nice weekend with my boy. He loves writing messages and notes for everyone, I have probably said this before but he'll be six in may and he is already reading and writing, I am so very proud. I just got a note telling me he's cleaning his room, very sweet.

I am excited about my class tomorrow, I have been reading Egyptian poetry for it!

One crappy thing, right now is some world (or Europe I don't really know) tournament in handball and it's very annoying, Downtown Abbey is an hour later than usual.

[Emil Miller]

I have had a pretty nice weekend with my boy. He loves writing messages and notes for everyone, I have probably said this before but he'll be six in may and he is already reading and writing, I am so very proud. I just got a note telling me he's cleaning his room, very sweet.

I am excited about my class tomorrow, I have been reading Egyptian poetry for it!

One crappy thing, right now is some world (or Europe I don't really know) tournament in handball and it's very annoying, Downtown Abbey is an hour later than usual.

I hope you enjoy your class tomorrow Helga and manage to contain your impatience with the crappy handball match. However, I don't think the producers of the programme you want to watch would be pleased to hear it described as Downtown Abbey, especially as it appears to deal with a family of toffs in Edwardian England. I say appears, because I don't watch soap operas or anything else on TV these days, but Downton Abbey is often referred to in other areas of the media.

[Paulclem]

I was walking the dog the other day and came across a neighbour from the next street who has a friendly labarador called Lucy. My wife and I refer to him and his wife as The Bickers because that's all they ever seem to do when you see them out. They've turned it into a comedy act.

Anyway, we said hello, and he commented on how cold it was. The conversation proceeded thus.

Me: Aren't you going away abroad to somewhere warmer? (They have a caravan near Skegness that they own and visit a lot in the summer).
Mr Bicker: Noooooooo. I haven't got a passport.
Me: It's nice in Europe. Nice people.
Mr Bicker: There's places I 'aven't seen in England yet. I 'aven't been to Scotland.
Me: Bit cold now though. And rainy.
Mr Bicker: I went abroad in 1950 with the school. I saw the Swiss Alps from the train. We went to Austria and stayed in a village.
Me: I bet that was nice.
Mr Bicker: It was. So I've seen abroad, and I'm not bothered about going again.

We laughed.

[Emil Miller]

I was walking the dog the other day and came across a neighbour from the next street who has a friendly labarador called Lucy. My wife and I refer to him and his wife as The Bickers because that's all they ever seem to do when you see them out. They've turned it into a comedy act.

Anyway, we said hello, and he commented on how cold it was. The conversation proceeded thus.

Me: Aren't you going away abroad to somewhere warmer? (They have a caravan near Skegness that they own and visit a lot in the summer).
Mr Bicker: Noooooooo. I haven't got a passport.
Me: It's nice in Europe. Nice people.
Mr Bicker: There's places I 'aven't seen in England yet. I 'aven't been to Scotland.
Me: Bit cold now though. And rainy.
Mr Bicker: I went abroad in 1950 with the school. I saw the Swiss Alps from the train. We went to Austria and stayed in a village.
Me: I bet that was nice.
Mr Bicker: It was. So I've seen abroad, and I'm not bothered about going again.

We laughed.

Anyone who owns a caravan near Skegness and doesn't have a passport is definitely to be avoided. However, we do have something in common because there are places I haven't seen in England and I have never been to Scotland.

[prendrelemick]

Ah! Beautiful, braceing Skeggy.

It was on the local news last night, a tourism expert has suggested it changes it's name in order to attract more visitors in the future. So far the only suggestion has been Skeg-Vegas.

[Emil Miller]

Ah! Beautiful, braceing Skeggy.

It was on the local news last night, a tourism expert has suggested it changes it's name in order to attract more visitors in the future. So far the only suggestion has been Skeg-Vegas.

I don't see why not. I'm thinking of renting a caravan there.

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/5181/bigreunion1.jpg

For two weekends this winter, the Butlins resort in Skegness played host to Britain's answer to their very own mini-Ibiza – The Big Reunion: Twisted Circus. base.ad headed up for the second weekend of raucous celebrations and full-on debauchery to check out some scorching DJ sets from the cream of dance music.
Friday night began with a bang as rampant partygoers from all corners of the UK came out to play in huge hoards. In keeping with the Twisted Circus theme, people spared no expense in their elaborate costumes and were decked out in all manner of weird and wonderful clothing, including superhero get-ups and circus animals. Many of the ladies were sporting no more than a bra and knickers and considering the weather was less than warm, with spells of drizzle consuming the grounds, everyone partied with huge smiles on their faces and a positive fun-seeking atmosphere ran throughout the first evening.

[prendrelemick]

I bet Mr and Mrs Bicker were right there in the mosh-pit.

[Emil Miller]

I bet Mr and Mrs Bicker were right there in the mosh-pit.

My passport actually runs out in April but i'm not going to renew it. Just think of what you can do with £60 in Skegness. No wonder Neely goes there for his holidays.

[Helga]

I should read what I write

[Paulclem]

The last time I was in Skegness - and I mean the very last time - I remember the masses of discarded cigarette butts in the Kiddies playground and the pervading smell of chips. I didn't like it. I have to be careful what I say down here though because everybody, along with Mr and Mrs Bicker holiday in Skeggie.

We were staying up the coast at Mablethorpe the day we went to Skeggie. Mabethorpe - blessed with miles and miles of pristine sandy beaches, and not a soul in sight. (Which is probably due to the brisk, cutting wind that blows off the North Sea).

It seemed to be dying place then in the early 1990's. It had tried to pep up the whole entertainment complex with a rather scuzzy, brieze block built place they called Spanish City. It was pretty horrible. It was cheap though.

[Paulclem]

I bet Mr and Mrs Bicker were right there in the mosh-pit.

Yes - him in his hat with the ear flaps, she brandishing her stick. I can just picture it.

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

I looked up Prendremick's "Skeg-Vegas" which resulted in a VW palooza show that occured last year. I once drove a "66 oyster white Beatle for a few years.

http://www.volksworld.com/news/latest/521879/skeg-vegas-vw-show.html

The Bickers seem like the Vanagon type.

Today I had to go into the office for a few hours to edit specifications for another team's deadline.
Following that I took part in another white knuckle drivers ed experience with my son behind the wheel.
Now I'm settling my nerves with some Spaten Optimator.

[MystyrMystyry]

I went to the supermarket and because of late night hoon spinouts they installed a series of speed humps. Well some coke baron mafioso type just had to go shopping in his new canary yellow Lamborghini - and managed to scrape over every one until getting stuck and stalling on the last.

The local kids were all laughing and pointing, the cars behind were honking, and he got out all red-faced, sweaty armpits and irate, shouting at them in Italian, comb-over blowing all over the place.

Hilarious.

[prendrelemick]

Daughter number three and Son in Law, have just booked a caravan in Skegness for a weekend for NINE pounds plus 7 daily vouchers from the Sun.

I know, I know, it is the Sun and it is Skegness but still, Nine Pounds!

[Paulclem]

Daughter number three and Son in Law, have just booked a caravan in Skegness for a weekend for NINE pounds plus 7 daily vouchers from the Sun.

I know, I know, it is the Sun and it is Skegness but still, Nine Pounds!

Not bad - I would go to Skeggie for 9 pounds. (Been agessince we had a holiday).

[kasie]

Quotidian. Yes, I thought to myself when I read it, that's the word I've been looking for to describe the subject matter of Paul's new thread, quotidian, the everyday, the commonplace.

As you see, folks, I've survived the ministrations of the NHS - op went really well, was home for Christmas Eve, then it all fell apart - literally. (No, you don't want the details, you really don't.) The best part of Christmas Day was that I had four burly blokes in my bedroom - OK, two were paramedics and two were ambulance men, but hey, what more could a girl wish for, four chaps good with bodies?....Spent the evening of Christmas Day back in the operating theatre, then overnight in ICU, then a further week in hospital. Came home feeling weak as a kitten and was glad of the Minders (sister-in-law, then friend) who generously came to look after me for the next couple of weeks. I'm back on my feet now, a bit tottery still and getting tired quite quickly but getting there.

A big thank you to all LitNetters who sent their best wishes, on this thread and on others - your kind thoughts were much appreciated. I have been back on the Forum several times (just to keep an eye on you....) but haven't felt up to posting until today.

Despite telling the Estate Agent that I didn't want viewings in January, I was persuaded by a very eager young lady to have some prospective purchasers look round on Saturday. I swallowed my pride and asked someone to clean round the place for me - couldn't lift the hoover, let alone push it round - she found a shaming amount of dust somewhere, the dustbox had more fluff than I've ever managed to raise, where did she go with that thing? The place looked really good when she was finished, all I had to do was tooty round and tweak the odd cushion and put away personal items - I've been working on the theory that the less personal the house looks, the more it looks like a hotel, the more it will appeal to prospective buyers. Then I called up a friend and invited myself round for coffee so as to be off the premises while the Agent showed them round, (can't deal with stress atm), not one, not two but three sets of people interested and the result is - the house is sold! :banana: Not only that but I've bought a new one, the bungalow I saw a while back and liked was still on the market, so hope to be on the move by the Spring. 2012 is looking up for me so far.

[prendrelemick]

It's really good to hear from you again Kasie.

[Emil Miller]

It's really good to hear from you again Kasie.

It really is and I hope she goes from strength to strength. It's always nice when someone comes through the vicissitudes of health problems and finds themselves in a situation of satisfaction. As for one of the particularly level headed members, the most appropriate words are WELCOME BACK.

[Paulclem]

Quotidian. Yes, I thought to myself when I read it, that's the word I've been looking for to describe the subject matter of Paul's new thread, quotidian, the everyday, the commonplace.

As you see, folks, I've survived the ministrations of the NHS - op went really well, was home for Christmas Eve, then it all fell apart - literally. (No, you don't want the details, you really don't.) The best part of Christmas Day was that I had four burly blokes in my bedroom - OK, two were paramedics and two were ambulance men, but hey, what more could a girl wish for, four chaps good with bodies?....Spent the evening of Christmas Day back in the operating theatre, then overnight in ICU, then a further week in hospital. Came home feeling weak as a kitten and was glad of the Minders (sister-in-law, then friend) who generously came to look after me for the next couple of weeks. I'm back on my feet now, a bit tottery still and getting tired quite quickly but getting there.

A big thank you to all LitNetters who sent their best wishes, on this thread and on others - your kind thoughts were much appreciated. I have been back on the Forum several times (just to keep an eye on you....) but haven't felt up to posting until today.

Despite telling the Estate Agent that I didn't want viewings in January, I was persuaded by a very eager young lady to have some prospective purchasers look round on Saturday. I swallowed my pride and asked someone to clean round the place for me - couldn't lift the hoover, let alone push it round - she found a shaming amount of dust somewhere, the dustbox had more fluff than I've ever managed to raise, where did she go with that thing? The place looked really good when she was finished, all I had to do was tooty round and tweak the odd cushion and put away personal items - I've been working on the theory that the less personal the house looks, the more it looks like a hotel, the more it will appeal to prospective buyers. Then I called up a friend and invited myself round for coffee so as to be off the premises while the Agent showed them round, (can't deal with stress atm), not one, not two but three sets of people interested and the result is - the house is sold! :banana: Not only that but I've bought a new one, the bungalow I saw a while back and liked was still on the market, so hope to be on the move by the Spring. 2012 is looking up for me so far.

It sounds like you've had a rough time. I hope this year is better. It looks as if it's begun well.

I like quotidian. Great word. :biggrin5:

[kasie]

Many thanks for your kind words, people - it's good to be be able to think straight(ish) at last. The brain came out in sympathy with the rest of me for quite a while.

Skegness, eh? Never been there, though I believe it's one of the closest bits of seaside to Coventry, along with Aberystwyth in the other direction, hence its popularity with Midlanders. But a holiday for 9 quid, even if you do have to buy the Sun to get it? Not to be sneezed at, though if it's bracing you're after, I think I'd rather go for Scarborough myself.

[prendrelemick]

So would I, Scarborough has a CRICKET festival, as well as a beach.

[Emil Miller]

But a holiday for 9 quid, even if you do have to buy the Sun to get it? Not to be sneezed at .....,

Perhaps, but I would have to get someone to buy The Sun for me.

[Paulclem]

Scarborough for sure. Nice castle, and a decent beach.

My brother has a caravan near Filey which is another nice place. Then further up there's Whitby, which has an annual Goth Fest or something to celebrate the arrival of Count Dracula in England.

[Helga]

it's only 7:30 here on the ice now but the day is interesting. There is so much snow that there is a risk of avalanches all over the country, my little street seems very quiet and beautiful but the news say only big jeeps should go out and even some of them can't move. The road to the airport is closed and no flights going out, we are truly stuck here on an island in the middle of nowhere!

I know it sounds bad saying it but I am kinda happy my son is sick today (nothing serious of course just a sore throat and a headache) so we are just staying inside. I am gonna try and get my camera working so I can take a few pictures of the snow in my garden.

[kasie]

Perhaps, but I would have to get someone to buy The Sun for me.

:yesnod:

[Paulclem]

A bit later I met my wife from work and we went to do a bit of shopping. We were just walking on the precinct when a rather imposing bloke whirled round and started singing "Hark The Herald Angels Sing" right in front of us.

My first thought was "Oh - oh nutter alert" closely followed by, "Not bad singing" which was then rapidly followed by "If he comes any closer I'll be jabbing him in the chest to keep him away".

Anyway a whole host of people joined in in one of those mobile phone ad spoofs. They had seeded themselves amongst the shoppers and sounded pretty good.

Then who should come along but the Hari-Krishnas - I kid you not. For a moment it looked as though it would be some kind of religious "battle of the bands", but there were only three haris, and so they contented themselves with their bells as they passed on. In fact the bells started to go along with Hark The Herald Angels hymn in a kind of ecumenical musical synchronisation. It was bizarre, but very funny.



Remember me blathering on about this?....No....never mind. Well a colleague of mine who is involved with the Cathedral Choir noticed me in this video of the event. I didn't dream it, it really happened. (It's done a lot to confirm my grip on reality I can tell you).

It begins with a an intro in the Cathedral and a bit of a preamble through the city centre. You can see me at 2.06 as he pans right. By 2.30 the Hari Krishnas are in competing and pass in front of the camera as they become more synchronised.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPj6BS-5bss

[kasie]

What fun, Paul - I'd have been joining in there, I can tell you, 'ark the 'erald's one of my favourites, may even have been able to remember the alto line. (You don't look much like your avatar, do you?....) Nice to see a bit of Coventry again, too.

I love these Flashmob events - did you see the one where they did an updated version of Carmen at Paddington Station a few years ago? I love buskers (of most kinds) - I just have to stop and listen. There was a man playing the Northumbrian pipes in town a while back - magic. And a group of music students with a string trio made my day one bleak Saturday.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Not bad - I would go to Skeggie for 9 pounds. (Been agessince we had a holiday).

Yes it is well worth £9, I would pay as much as £14 even.

This year I am being forced to go to Great Yarmouth instead of Skegness, I would pay £16 for that. It's not all going to be horrendous flashing noise on the front though as we intend to have a day on the broads and a day at the Sandingham estate as well as the zoo.

Yes glad you are well Kasie.

[Emil Miller]

Yes it is well worth £9, I would pay as much as £14 even.

This year I am being forced to go to Great Yarmouth instead of Skegness, I would pay £16 for that. It's not all going to be horrendous flashing noise on the front though as we intend to have a day on the broads and a day at the Sandingham estate as well as the zoo.

Yes glad you are well Kasie.

This reminds me of that competition that had a week in Skegness as the first prize and two weeks in Skegness as the second. We've got our equivalent down here in Southend; a bucket and spade resort that makes Skegness look like Antibes.

[Paulclem]

So we've been through the usual media hyped, weather frenzy here. Reporters are poised by the sides of major roads to interview crashed/ stranded /distressed motorists, or disembarking in obscure villages to see if they can get cut off, or the weather people on the telly are telling us of the risks of four inches or ten centimetres of snow and disruption to the daily commute.

We got a light dusting here which had almost disappeared this afternoon. It is somewhat embarrassing given that other countries deal with feet of snow and temperatures - in Latvia - of minus 33. It's as if the media is desperate for the advent of death, disruption, destruction and tragedy.

[prendrelemick]

blummin snow! It's just extra work,work, work.


http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k78/prendrelemick/429206_10150653594448487_511463486_11147404_125397 176_n.jpg

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

blummin snow! It's just extra work,work, work.


http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k78/prendrelemick/429206_10150653594448487_511463486_11147404_125397 176_n.jpg

If you have to sledge a bag of feed(?) around, you might as well enjoy it.
Nice shot.

No snow here, but we had a cold front pass through. The temp is right at freezing now.
A good excuse to get a fire started, throw on the "snuggie" and read.

[Delta40]

That was a great pic prendrelemick!

Very hot here in West Oz. The only blizzards in sight are mosquitoes but I'm packing (and re-packing) my winter gear for Old England and I'm going to leave my chicken feed at home!.

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h411/delta40/032.jpg

[Emil Miller]

[QUOTE]Very hot here in West Oz. The only blizzards in sight are mosquitoes but I'm packing (and re-packing) my winter gear for Old England and I'm going to leave my chicken feed at home!.

Get ready to say goodbye to those blue skies.

[Paulclem]

blummin snow! It's just extra work,work, work.


http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k78/prendrelemick/429206_10150653594448487_511463486_11147404_125397 176_n.jpg

Nice photo Mick. Are those the Grandkids? Nice kiddies.

See we didn't even get a sledging's worth down here despite the hype.

Emil's right Delta. It was minus 16 in Lincolnshire last night.

[faithosaurus]

That was a great pic prendrelemick!

Very hot here in West Oz. The only blizzards in sight are mosquitoes but I'm packing (and re-packing) my winter gear for Old England and I'm going to leave my chicken feed at home!.

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h411/delta40/032.jpg

Wonderful picture :) I wish it was hot over here. SO badly.

It was so nice the past week, and all of the sudden yesterday we get piles of snow. So is the life of those in Michigan. Especially right on Lake Michigan.

I must say, life has become increasingly interesting since I've started college. Just recently many things have happened, but I can't exactly share them, but other than that...

All there is is homework, homework, and homework. And then a tiny bit of fun. Stupid Biomed degree (I love you).

[Paulclem]

Do you ever get those convergence of circumstances where you know everything is going to go wrong?

I had one last Thursday. It all started with a poorly warmed curry I ate in the office in the afternoon. 'd got a bit of work to do, and then time for a cafe break and then an observation of a Tutor.

Feeling a bit rough, I set off on the old bike for the local cafe, hoping that a rest and a drink of tea would calm the guts. It didn't, but I couldn't let the Tutor down as they were expecting me. I duly cycled over to the venue and waited for the class to kick off, all the time hoping that I wasn't going to vomit on the students.

I managed to swallow the feeling and conducted the observation without any vomitary tragedies occurring. Then, relieved, I got ready to ride the bike home. Snow has been forecast and, as soon as I got outside, it began. Snow's not bad to cycle in, but it does blind you a bit, and the flakes always seem to find their way into the gap between your collar and neck. Anyway, I got that "convergence of circumstance" feeling, and sure enough I got a puncture halfway home. I suppose I should be glad that's all it was.

[JuniperWoolf]

The strangest thing happened to me less than ten minutes ago, and my only thought afterwards was to post it here.

So, I'm sitting in my office counting money and balancing accounts as usual when I hear "excuse me..." I wander out of my office to find a little weird looking guy with glasses standing at the counter of the hotel branch's lobby. I'm the only one here, so I ask him what's up. He says "do you know if there's anyone who can help me with my stomach?" Of course this is a strange question, so my immediate thought is that he either tried to commit suicide by taking an excessive amount of pills or he ate something poisonous and now he needs his stomach pumped. I, the very picture of concern, ask him if he needs to go to the hospital. Him, quickly, "no no - I just need someone to walk on my stomach for me. I get knots sometimes and my doctor prescribed this medication" (shaking pill bottle) "but he also said that it would be beneficial if someone light could walk on my torso for me."

Me: "...You want me to walk on your stomach?"

Him: "Well, you or someone else who's small."

I go quiet and think for about a minute. There are two thoughts going through my mind:
a. Maybe he's playing me and he's just one of those guys with a niche fetish for girls who walk on him, I've heard of that.
b. **** it, what harm could come from walking on some guy's torso?

Me: "Sure dude, I'll... walk on your stomach."

Him: "You'll have to take your boots off."

So, he lays down in the middle of the lobby and I stand on this guy's stomach.

Me: (laughing excessively about how bizarre this situation is) "Like this?"

Him: "Yeah... just bounce a bit..."

After about a minute and a half I ask him if that's good and he says "Yes. Thank you." He then stands up and walks back to his room, leaving me standing in the lobby with an amused/perplexed expression on my face.

[Helga]

Haha,that is a very odd fellow, I wonder what is wrong with you when you need someone to bounce on your stomach

[qimissung]

That is so weird, JP! You're a good sport.

I like to think I would have done it-after all, what's the harm? Though I find it hard to believe his doctor suggested that.

As for me, I'm bored, and currently finding it hard to believe that the everyday is interesting. In my case it seems to mean work, work, and more work. And now it's cold.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

The strangest thing happened to me less than ten minutes ago, and my only thought afterwards was to post it here.

So, I'm sitting in my office counting money and balancing accounts as usual when I hear "excuse me..." I wander out of my office to find a little weird looking guy with glasses standing at the counter of the hotel branch's lobby. I'm the only one here, so I ask him what's up. He says "do you know if there's anyone who can help me with my stomach?" Of course this is a strange question, so my immediate thought is that he either tried to commit suicide by taking an excessive amount of pills or he ate something poisonous and now he needs his stomach pumped. I, the very picture of concern, ask him if he needs to go to the hospital. Him, quickly, "no no - I just need someone to walk on my stomach for me. I get knots sometimes and my doctor prescribed this medication" (shaking pill bottle) "but he also said that it would be beneficial if someone light could walk on my torso for me."

Me: "...You want me to walk on your stomach?"

Him: "Well, you or someone else who's small."

I go quiet and think for about a minute. There are two thoughts going through my mind:
a. Maybe he's playing me and he's just one of those guys with a niche fetish for girls who walk on him, I've heard of that.
b. **** it, what harm could come from walking on some guy's torso?

Me: "Sure dude, I'll... walk on your stomach."

Him: "You'll have to take your boots off."

So, he lays down in the middle of the lobby and I stand on this guy's stomach.

Me: (laughing excessively about how bizarre this situation is) "Like this?"

Him: "Yeah... just bounce a bit..."

After about a minute and a half I ask him if that's good and he says "Yes. Thank you." He then stands up and walks back to his room, leaving me standing in the lobby with an amused/perplexed expression on my face.
That's hilarious, and I'm betting be did more than just go to sleep when he got back to his room.

[MystyrMystyry]

After about a minute and a half I ask him if that's good and he says "Yes. Thank you." He then stands up and walks back to his room, leaving me standing in the lobby with an amused/perplexed expression on my face.

Erm - don't be embarassed Jupes, but it is a minor fetish and I think you've inadvertently gone way past your job description ;)

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

It must be nice to have a fetish that can be indulged with such an easy excuse. I can't think of any medical reason I would need a woman to take off her shirt and rub her boobs in my face.

[Calidore]

That was a great pic prendrelemick!

Very hot here in West Oz. The only blizzards in sight are mosquitoes but I'm packing (and re-packing) my winter gear for Old England and I'm going to leave my chicken feed at home!.

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h411/delta40/032.jpg

I hope that's not chicken you're eating in front of that chicken.

[JuniperWoolf]

That is so weird, JP!

:yesnod: Pervy little Russians, I'm tellin' ya...

[KCurtis]

:lol::lol::lol::lol: I never read this thread, mainly because my every day life is really not that interesting, but this made my day.
I don't know what to say!!!!! I think I'll read this thread more often. What if someone came in and saw you?

[JuniperWoolf]

:lol::lol::lol::lol: I never read this thread, mainly because my every day life is really not that interesting, but this made my day.
I don't know what to say!!!!! I think I'll read this thread more often. What if someone came in and saw you?

Haha, good question.

[Paulclem]

Gah...Do you ever go over on your ankle? I did it again today outside our local library, and fell over - again!! Of course there was a line of traffic, a double-decker bus, lots of people with their faces pressed against the libray window, many, many pedestrians who just happened to be passing at the time and even a helicopter and a jet circling for Birmingham Airport overhead.

Ok, I'm exaggerating, but doesn't it always seem to go like that. Anyway I successfully rolled and preserved my er... looks. The trouble is I did it again later in town, though I didn't fall this time. I'm now completely numb having - on the orders of my wife - taken ibuprofen and paracetamol.

At the moment I'm on the free library computer in town. I'm waiting for my PC tower to be fixed by the nice man in the computer shop who is wiping it as we speak. Yes, despite my anti-virus software, it became infected. My recovery disks supplied by the shop don't work, so I was stuck.

I ought to post on the swearing thread really, as I've been vociferous this week - in the house at the computer, and outside twice today. I'll be getting a reputation as one of those people you try to ignore in town who curse randomly at people. I hope it works ok when I get it home, otherwise you might just hear me roaring over the pond.

[prendrelemick]

Ha! unlucky paul.

My reputation was ruined hereabouts by a sheep dog I had. For two years I thought it was being wilfully disobediant, I used to turn the air blue with "commands" and suggestions. Then I saw a heavily shod pony sneak up on her, and realized she was deaf.

[MystyrMystyry]

Note: Once your computer becomes infected real-time scans are useless. You must first switch off (by the button) - after you've saved any open documents of course - reboot and do the scan in safe-mode. Quick scan should suffice. (Don't blame me - it's the way these things were designed). Do this every Sunday morning for practice.

Further note: In order to access your Paypal account NEVER type in Paypal - not in a search engine nor browser nor anywhere - this is the string most viruses are looking for.

Further further note: You are not the millionth visitor, and you did not win a FHD television, regardless of what the wobbling box says. Also you do not have any new messages until you choose to check.

Further further further note: In combination with the above avoid clicking on any links featuring women in various stages of undress (where 99.99 % of remaining infections lurk)

[End of notes]

[Paulclem]

Unfortunately - I didn't realise it was infected at first. I thought we'd lost internet connectivity, which occaisionally happens when the dog runs into the wall where the connector is.

I can't imagine where the damn thing came from - I don't click on any of the stuff you noted Mystery. Anyway, it's now working beautifully.

How did you cope with the deafness Mick? I don't supose she was any good as a working dog.

[prendrelemick]

I used hand signals for a while, but she soon learned not to look at me if she didn't want to do as I asked.

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

Unfortunately - ...which occaisionally happens when the dog runs into the wall where the connector is.


Aha, I noticed your absence. Good to see you back.

Yesterday was rain all day. Cabin fever was beginning to take hold, but I'm not complaining after the drought we went through this past summer. Today, partly cloudy and God willing, I'll finally have an opportunity to get out a run after about a two week hiatus, followed by grocery shopping and getting my ears lowered.

.

[Paulclem]

It's good to be back.

With the old twisted ankle, I've found it much more comfortable to cycle - there's much less chance of turning it again going up to the bus stop.

I'm going to review my film selection on my Lovefilm account. I've chosen some really naff ones recently. I remember Mr Neely going on about Woody Allen a while back, and I might just give some of them a whirl. I've seen some, and I remember them being funny.

[prendrelemick]

Fairly interesting afternoon today.

I got a call from The Widow Wells from across the valley. She had a sheep in her garden. (blue mark on the back of its neck - so it was my neighbour's) My neighbour, Fred, is eighty, deaf and has two bad legs, so I took Nelly (dog) and went to chase it back across the river.

It would not go, it kept circling back to the garden. In the end I managed to grab it and haul it across the stream. I set it on the other bank and shooed it on its way. It turned and jumped back into the river. I splashed after it and pulled it back. By now my wellies were full of water and the sheep was thoroughly water logged. I dragged it up the bank set it on its feet and tried to herd it towards home. It shot off up stream and leapt into the water higher up, this time into a swimming hole. It swam to the middle and stayed there (It had found a rock it could just reach with its front feet.) It was a stand off, I could't reach it and it wouldn't move. I contemplated throwing Nelly at it, but instead chucked sticks and finally dislodged it from its rock, it floated downstream and I was able to pull it out again. This time I "rigged" it on the bank - that is laid it down over on it's back so it couldn't get up - and went for the quad. I strapped it onto the quad with a bungie, I don't know how much a water-logged ewe weighs but it was bloomin heavy.

Anyway I took it up to Fred's and shut it in his barn, he put the kettle on and we had a cuppa.

[Paulclem]

:lol:

Sounds like you had a good runaround Mick. I spent my meeting talking about photocopiers. Fairly uninteresting by comparison.

Tomorrow we'll be talking about exams. That should be more stimulating.

[Helga]

Its just 10 in the morning here on the ice but so far it has been interesting. My son woke up at six, I had been reading past midnight so I was not happy. No joke, the first words out of his mouth when he woke up was 'I need to make a Doctor Who board game' and he did and at 7:30 when I finally crawled out of bed we played it. A little bit like snakes and ladders but not exactly the same. and he wrote on top 'DOGTOR' we don't have c in our alphabet so he used a letter that sounded the same, or at least similar.

[MystyrMystyry]

Probably an unscanned pdf Paul ;)

He ain't heavy, Pren, he's my brother!

No C Helga? That's news - Q and K too? Admittedly they neither look like C...

I fell asleep watching free television, the government station had Colonel Blimp on, but I couldn't keep awake (if it had been a commercial station I may have made it to about the first ad break, so tired was I). Sometime during the night I must have changed stations, because the next thing I knew I woke to the rousing tones of the Little Squeaky Man - this is a high-pitched shyster who tries to flog subpar wares on a mid-morning chat show - and every nerve detests his shrill squeal with a vengeance. Anyway from piercing dental drill whine to the OUTRAGEOUS Gas Bill which comes a week after I'd stuffed around with a gas leak but could not thence get the pilot light to take.

So OUTRAGEOUS was this particular article that I promptly tore it into pieces and stomped on it - but then realised I'd better staple it back together rather than set the resultant pile afire, for purpose making an inventory of the trumped up charges. Then I would put a match to it.

The cause of concern proved to be the supply charge (notice 'supply' - not 'service') which amounted to five times the usage fee! Well I wasn't about to stand for this OUTRAGE - and promptly went internetting them to flatly declare their lack-of-service would be no longer required, not now, not at any future date.

The slow connection with the non-complaints department got me to wonder: am I alone on this, or do others suffer at their belligerence? To the forums!

Here I found any number of disgruntled customers whingeing about modern power hikes and how it's all the fault of deregulation - an element designed to lower costs and prices but which appears to have backfired. Horror tales of dissatisfaction letters to cold selling door knockers to collection agencies and ruination from blacklisted credit to-... horrible, just horrible...

Short of beginning an Occupy Power movement the next step was to research solar panels - who makes the cheapest, how to install them, how they're made etc. After this it may be time for bed sans television accompaniment.

[Helga]

we have K not Q but the in word Doctor the c sound a lot like one way we use g, the softer g not the harsh g :) I don't think I'm making any sense

[Paulclem]

Well I've missed it again. The annual Rhubarb Festival is happening in my hometown, and I'm not there to enjoy it. I know this because my wife has just returned from a trip to see relatives and encountered a stall with large inflatable rhubarb and rhubarb products everywhere.

I hail from Wakefield, a small Yorkshire town in what is called "The Rhubarb Triangle", where they force a substantial crop of rhubarb every year. I lived there for twenty odd years and never knew this fact, but it has recently come to prominance and is promoted with this rhubarb festival.

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimage/1.4284965.1330097367!image/2940831097.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_595/2940831097.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/rhubarb_rules_the_roost_as_wakefield_celebrates_cr op_1_4284969&usg=__9bicKR0A5V0astoqQlb1pDf7Eug=&h=422&w=595&sz=129&hl=en&start=8&zoom=1&tbnid=YGek-Rq2zBwTNM:&tbnh=96&tbnw=135&ei=CJ5IT-DUBsH58QPemqWVDg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Drhubarb%2Bfestival%2Bwakefield%2B2012 %26hl%3Den%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1

The fellow in the picture is called Ruby Rhubarb, and my wife and my sister managed to avoid his gaze yesterday outside a cafe where he was stalking around for people to ... entertain, as these street performers will.

I have copied andpasted the activities listd on the official website, should anyone wish to go along and celebrate with their pink stalks. I was particularly intrigued by the "Who needs rubies when you have rhubarb" activity - making rhubarb jewellery, and the "Talking Rhubarb Exhibition" - you know, I've often wondered what they would say if they could talk.

For dance buffs there's the Rhubarb Tarts dance, and, oddly, the Dolly Parton Story at the Theatre Royal.Something for everyone then.

Being from Wakefield, I feel it is my duty to promote, this lively cultural event. I wonder what the rhubarb ale is like.

http://www.experiencewakefield.co.uk/attractions/thedms.aspx?dms=13&venue=2190090&feature=1002

Oldroyds Rhubarb Experience at Yorkshire Rhubarb Forcing Shed
Sun 1 Jan 2012 - Sun 26 Feb 2012
Wed 1 - Wed 29 Feb 2012
Celebrating Rhubarb at Farmer Copleys Farm Shop
at Cedar Court Hotel
Fri 24 - Sun 26 Feb 2012
Artisan Breads, a special Festival Food at The Conservatory
Fri 24, Sat 25 Feb 2012
Deliciously Yorkshire - Food Market at Wakefield Cathedral Precinct
Fine Festival Foods presented by Gill Marczak at Wakefield Cathedral Precinct
Fri 24 - Sun 26 Feb 2012
Hams & Cheese, special Festival Foods at Deli Central
Pork Ginger & Rhubarb Pie, a Special Festival Food at Farmer Copleys Farm Shop
Fri 24, Sat 25 Feb 2012
Pork Pie & Pork Sausage, a special Festival Food at H. Hofmann & Sons Ltd
Real Ale & Cider Bar at the Bull Ring Pod at Wakefield Cathedral Precinct
Fri 24 - Sun 26 Feb 2012
Rhubarb cupcakes, a special Festival Food at The Cupcake Shoppe
Rhubarb Focaccia Bread , a special Festival Food at Mocca Moocho
Rhubarb Shakes, a special Festival Food at Grind
Rhubarb Treats at Fat Frog Coffee and Tea
Roobarb & Custard at Trinity Walk
Fri 24, Sat 25 Feb 2012
Stalls and Hot Food at Wakefield Cathedral Precinct
Street Entertainment around the city at Wakefield Cathedral Precinct
Fri 24 - Sun 26 Feb 2012
Sweet Chilli & Rhubarb Pie, special Festival Food at Cryer and Stott Cheesemongers
Talking Rhubarb Exhibition at Ridings Shopping Centre
Woolley Hall Jams, Special Festival Foods at Woolley Hall
Sat 25 Feb 2012
Backstage Tours at Theatre Royal Wakefield
Cookery Demonstration by Baker Simon Thomas at Wakefield Cathedral Precinct
Cookery Demonstration by Chef Josh Angell at Wakefield Cathedral Precinct
Cookery Demonstration by Chef Rachel Green at Wakefield Cathedral Precinct
Cookery Demonstration by Cook Alison Frankland at Wakefield Cathedral Precinct
Medieval Food Event at Sandal Castle
Real Ale & Cheese by Expert Annabel Smith at Wakefield Cathedral Precinct
Rhubarb Fools Talk with Richard Jackson at The Hepworth Wakefield
Rhubarb Tarts Molly dance team at the Shed at The Red Shed
Rhubarbash at Ridings Shopping Centre
Talk and Book Signing by Elaine Lemm at Wakefield Cathedral Precinct
The Dolly Parton Story at Theatre Royal Wakefield
Wakefield Civic Society Heritage Walks at Wakefield Tourist Information Centre
Sun 26 Feb 2012
Chef and Co-Compere Gordon Sibbald at Wakefield Cathedral Precinct
Chocolate Demonstration by Expert Fiona Sciolti at Wakefield Cathedral Precinct
Cocktail Demonstration by Expert Tom Howard at Wakefield Cathedral Precinct
Cookery Demo by Chefs Lee Marshall & Ben Varley at Wakefield Cathedral Precinct
Cookery Demonstration by Chef Edward Lee at Wakefield Cathedral Precinct
Deliciously Yorkshire - Food Market at Wakefield Cathedral Precinct
Fine Festival Foods presented by Gill Marczak at Wakefield Cathedral Precinct
Real Ale & Cider Bar at the Bull Ring Pod at Wakefield Cathedral Precinct
Rhubarb Celebration at The Hepworth Wakefield
Rhubarb Festival Afternoon Tea at Deli Central
Stalls and Hot Food at Wakefield Cathedral Precinct
Street Entertainment around the city at Wakefield Cathedral Precinct
Who needs Rubies when we have Rhubarb? at Wakefield Cathedral Precinct

[prendrelemick]

Well, I happen to be fence erecting in that neck of the woods next week (Rothwell.) So you never know.

I have sampled some of that Pork, Ginger and Rhubarb pie from Farmer Coply's, - very nice.

[Darcy88]

Last night I drove a vehicle for the first time in 7 years. My only prior experience behind the wheel was on logging roads and amounted to no more than a couple of hours. Last night we started on a logging road, then back roads, then the highway, and before I knew it I was driving through busy down-town intersections. It was dark and raining. I still can't believe it. I had an irrational insecurity about driving. I thought it would be a couple months before I was ready for town traffic. By the time my friends attending university come back for their summer break I'll be driving on my own. They won't believe it. I'm 23 and have never had a driver's license. I feel like a teenager again. I was positively ecstatic after doing all that driving last night and not winding up in a crash. I'm getting my license now because a relative generously offered me free room and board when I transfer schools next year but they live 25 minutes out of town where there's no bus route. Last night was so fun and exciting, like I lost my virginity again.

[Paulclem]

Well, I happen to be fence erecting in that neck of the woods next week (Rothwell.) So you never know.

I have sampled some of that Pork, Ginger and Rhubarb pie from Farmer Coply's, - very nice.

They sound nice. Had I been there, I would have purchased some rhubarb related products. Don't you think it's a bit wierd though? I know they're trying to raise the profile of the town but rhubarb?

I used to go to Rothwell regularly, and I often played rugby for an amateur wakey side - Eastmoor - against Rothwell. I had some mates in their team who'd been in the college side with me. I'll be going up to see my sister and brothers sometime - perhaps Easter.


Last night I drove a vehicle for the first time in 7 years. My only prior experience behind the wheel was on logging roads and amounted to no more than a couple of hours. Last night we started on a logging road, then back roads, then the highway, and before I knew it I was driving through busy down-town intersections. It was dark and raining. I still can't believe it. I had an irrational insecurity about driving. I thought it would be a couple months before I was ready for town traffic. By the time my friends attending university come back for their summer break I'll be driving on my own. They won't believe it. I'm 23 and have never had a driver's license. I feel like a teenager again. I was positively ecstatic after doing all that driving last night and not winding up in a crash. I'm getting my license now because a relative generously offered me free room and board when I transfer schools next year but they live 25 minutes out of town where there's no bus route. Last night was so fun and exciting, like I lost my virginity again.

Excellent. I had 5 driving lessons before I realised the cash wouldn't stretch to lessons and a car. So I gave up. The city is well within cycling distance though.

[Paulclem]

So I decided to go to boxfit today - not to be confused with boxercise, which is not a class for a certain breed of dog, but aerobics with punching.

Alas, I'd got boxfit confused on the timetable with super circuit training. Anyway i went along, and enjoyed it. I do a bit of cycling, but I don't get much of an upper body workout.

It was based around the sports centre's gym, and the idea was to warm up on the bikes and stuff, do some weights on the machines and also do some floorwork - burpees, sit-ups etc. I feel well and truly exercised now. I did think I was feeling unaccountably fine until I tried t walk upstairs. Good fun, though the guy running it kept looking over from the younger groups to us three older guys doing it together and shouting - keep going, don't stop. Good fun though.

Tomorrow I am going to try out some mixed martial arts near to where I work - but just for the exercise. I'll see how I feel...

[Darcy88]

So I decided to go to boxfit today - not to be confused with boxercise, which is not a class for a certain breed of dog, but aerobics with punching.

Alas, I'd got boxfit confused on the timetable with super circuit training. Anyway i went along, and enjoyed it. I do a bit of cycling, but I don't get much of an upper body workout.

It was based around the sports centre's gym, and the idea was to warm up on the bikes and stuff, do some weights on the machines and also do some floorwork - burpees, sit-ups etc. I feel well and truly exercised now. I did think I was feeling unaccountably fine until I tried t walk upstairs. Good fun, though the guy running it kept looking over from the younger groups to us three older guys doing it together and shouting - keep going, don't stop. Good fun though.

Tomorrow I am going to try out some mixed martial arts near to where I work - but just for the exercise. I'll see how I feel...

Have you ever thought of just signing up to a boxing academy? They usually have people of all experience levels and much of the time is spent skipping rope, getting your heart-rate up. I take muay thai kickboxing classes but its very expensive and when I study full time next year I'm going to switch to just straight boxing.

[Paulclem]

Have you ever thought of just signing up to a boxing academy? They usually have people of all experience levels and much of the time is spent skipping rope, getting your heart-rate up. I take muay thai kickboxing classes but its very expensive and when I study full time next year I'm going to switch to just straight boxing.

I was talking to the fellow this morning, and it seems that there's a lot of boxing involved. He was talking about padding me up and having a go with the chaps. We'll see. :lol:

[Paulclem]

Well I've been to it, and I discovered it was a Tang Soo class. There was a lot of stretching, and floor exercises, followed by punching and kicking practice. It gradually built up to sparring with gloves and head protectors - though this was controlled punching, as many of them were kids. I feel like I've had a good workout.

I'm now knackered and am considering settling down with Tron on DVD.

[Paulclem]

It was busy at work today, but it was one of those - busy but things are working days.

I then had a trip across town to do some work with a tutor and his students, which was good fun. Then I continued my essay on learning theories to do with my maths course. It's due in on Friday, and I'm 3/4 there with a bit of polishing. I had to stop tonight because I couldn't think.

Now I might watch a film or read my latest. Choices choices...

[prendrelemick]

Just finished fencing 700 metres of one in three hillside. At the start of the job I was knackered every day, but by the end I was scampering up and down like a fell runner. It always suprises me how quickly your body can adapt. Flat land next so I'll probably go backwards.

[Paulclem]

I'm in the odd situaton of not being able to work at work - hence I am at home. I've got a class to teach, and I need time to prepare the class, but I get a lot of interruptions to do with the venue I manage - from booking rooms to fixing the IT. (It's usually a cable that's become unplugged - good job too!).

So now I've got some time at home, some of which I can use to write my essay due in on Friday. Super.

[PoeticPassions]

Last night I drove a vehicle for the first time in 7 years. My only prior experience behind the wheel was on logging roads and amounted to no more than a couple of hours. Last night we started on a logging road, then back roads, then the highway, and before I knew it I was driving through busy down-town intersections. It was dark and raining. I still can't believe it. I had an irrational insecurity about driving. I thought it would be a couple months before I was ready for town traffic. By the time my friends attending university come back for their summer break I'll be driving on my own. They won't believe it. I'm 23 and have never had a driver's license. I feel like a teenager again. I was positively ecstatic after doing all that driving last night and not winding up in a crash. I'm getting my license now because a relative generously offered me free room and board when I transfer schools next year but they live 25 minutes out of town where there's no bus route. Last night was so fun and exciting, like I lost my virginity again.

It's great that you got over your fear! :)
I actually have a similar problem... I have my driver's license, but haven't really driven in years and am kind of scared of it, particularly in the city and in a lot of traffic. What is worse is that now I am living back in my home city where everyone drives like a madman. Add to that tiny streets that can barely fit one vehicle, but are meant to be two-way... and the fact that everyone drives a stick here, which I do not know how to drive (I only learned on an automatic). So, come April I will take driving classes and hopefully be able to zip around by summer... I'll need it for the new location of my job. I'm not looking forward to it though... :sick:

[Paulclem]

It's great that you got over your fear! :)
I actually have a similar problem... I have my driver's license, but haven't really driven in years and am kind of scared of it, particularly in the city and in a lot of traffic. What is worse is that now I am living back in my home city where everyone drives like a madman. Add to that tiny streets that can barely fit one vehicle, but are meant to be two-way... and the fact that everyone drives a stick here, which I do not know how to drive (I only learned on an automatic). So, come April I will take driving classes and hopefully be able to zip around by summer... I'll need it for the new location of my job. I'm not looking forward to it though... :sick:

Soooo which city is this?....Just so we know? :devil:

[PoeticPassions]

Soooo which city is this?....Just so we know? :devil:

;)
Well, I guess I have nothing to hide... Sarajevo. Anyone is welcome to come visit :D

[Paulclem]

;)
Well, I guess I have nothing to hide... Sarajevo. Anyone is welcome to come visit :D

I was joking about your driving ability - but it's interesting you live there. Were you there in the war if you don't mind me asking?

I passed through the former Yugoslavia in 1990 - Belgrade and Skopje. There was an "atmosphere" in the months before the conflict.

[PoeticPassions]

I was joking about your driving ability - but it's interesting you live there. Were you there in the war if you don't mind me asking?

I passed through the former Yugoslavia in 1990 - Belgrade and Skopje. There was an "atmosphere" in the months before the conflict.

My driving ability is actually something to joke about... I'm awful hehe.

My mom, my sister, and I left in 1992, as refugees, and actually went to Belgrade first... that was a bad idea.. then we went to Slovenia for almost two years, and ended up in the US. I moved back a couple of times here and there (once in high school, once right after college for a year), and just moved back in August 2011, indefinitely...

[Paulclem]

That must have been tough. I'm glad you were able to move back. It was hard to believe that Sarajevo had hosted the winter Olympics just a few years before. The whole thing was pretty bad seen from out UK perspective.

I bet there's not many ex-refugees on litnet.

[prendrelemick]

My driving ability is actually something to joke about... I'm awful hehe.

My mom, my sister, and I left in 1992, as refugees, and actually went to Belgrade first... that was a bad idea.. then we went to Slovenia for almost two years, and ended up in the US. I moved back a couple of times here and there (once in high school, once right after college for a year), and just moved back in August 2011, indefinitely...


It makes me realise what a sheltered and privileged life we have in the old established west. I also wonder if our life experience is too comfortable and staid. Our moments of stress are things like struggleing to meet the mortgage payment. I mean I don't think war and revolution is in any way a good thing, but when I hear of other people's lives mine feels so boring.

[prendrelemick]

About 5 weeks ago, when the weather stopped being cold wet and windy I actually got a glimpse of the stars. There were all the usual constellations - Orien, Cassiopea, The Plough and the smudge of Andromeda. There were also two bright stars close together in the west. They were out-shining everything else in the sky. I couldn't remember seeing them there before, it was actually a bit of a shock! I'm not a stargazer but the old familiar sky had changed. It brought to mind all those stories of portents seen in the skies before cataclysmic events, I could almost understand how frightened the Ancients would feel when something like this happened.

Anyway, the clouds rolled back in for a week or so and I forgot about it. Then we were driving home one clear evening, and as the light faded - there they were again, the brightest things in the sky. I reckoned one was Venus, because it was in the right place at the right time (the even star.) When I got home I Googled a star map and found out Jupiter is appearing right next to Venus at the moment. Has anyone else noticed them? It really is a fantastic sight.

[qimissung]

Darcy and PoeticPassions, congratulations on entering the sphere of practiced drivers! I've driven so much, hehe. I would love to live in a village and give it up forever.

[Paulclem]

About 5 weeks ago, when the weather stopped being cold wet and windy I actually got a glimpse of the stars. There were all the usual constellations - Orien, Cassiopea, The Plough and the smudge of Andromeda. There were also two bright stars close together in the west. They were out-shining everything else in the sky. I couldn't remember seeing them there before, it was actually a bit of a shock! I'm not a stargazer but the old familiar sky had changed. It brought to mind all those stories of portents seen in the skies before cataclysmic events, I could almost understand how frightened the Ancients would feel when something like this happened.

Anyway, the clouds rolled back in for a week or so and I forgot about it. Then we were driving home one clear evening, and as the light faded - there they were again, the brightest things in the sky. I reckoned one was Venus, because it was in the right place at the right time (the even star.) When I got home I Googled a star map and found out Jupiter is appearing right next to Venus at the moment. Has anyone else noticed them? It really is a fantastic sight.

Yes I have, though I didn't know, or enquire what they were. The ones I see are in the west, as you've described. I see them when I lurk around the streets at night with the dog. I'll try googling a star map and have a look. Must be impressive from the hills.

[prendrelemick]

I'm going round the fields at night at the moment, so I get to see the other half of a day in the life of a sheep. Last night was beautiful, warm and clear. The stars were out in force, in particularly striking (again) were Jupiter and Venus - they were appearing with a sliver of yellow New Moon hanging just above the Western horizen.

In complete contrast, last night there was a local fog, very local, one half of the field was clear the other was a pea-souper. It lay on the top of the hill about 6 ft deep, so I could still see the sky, but could see nothing on the ground, it was rolling down hill like a river - very wierd !

[qimissung]

Ugh! It's my least favorite time of year-test-taking time in the great state of Texas. Our freshmen will answer multiple choice questions on editing and revision and write three one page compositions-only one of which will be graded, which I personally think is stupid. Does anyone know of a better way to ensure kids are learning that is actually helpful and not merely burdensome?

[Paulclem]

In our standrad 16 year old's English exam they've moved from written coursework done in the student's own time to timed written assessments done over the course of the year. They moved to this due to the disparity that existed due to the use of computers and their own written work. In English it demonstrates all you need to know about their writing. Multiple choice to test editing seems a little artificial.

[PoeticPassions]

That must have been tough. I'm glad you were able to move back. It was hard to believe that Sarajevo had hosted the winter Olympics just a few years before. The whole thing was pretty bad seen from out UK perspective.

I bet there's not many ex-refugees on litnet.


Probably not.. then again, we do have many people from all over... and there are a lot of post-conflict zones.


It makes me realise what a sheltered and privileged life we have in the old established west. I also wonder if our life experience is too comfortable and staid. Our moments of stress are things like struggleing to meet the mortgage payment. I mean I don't think war and revolution is in any way a good thing, but when I hear of other people's lives mine feels so boring.

Well, perhaps, but there are a lot of people in the west that face a lot of adversity and problems... when I was living in Washington DC, sometimes it felt like I was a developing country or a post-conflict zone... :)
But in any case, I know what you mean about life appearing boring. I still think mine is to some degree... or well, it used to be a lot more interesting. Now I work at a desk job, 9-5... :sleep:


Darcy and PoeticPassions, congratulations on entering the sphere of practiced drivers! I've driven so much, hehe. I would love to live in a village and give it up forever.

Thanks! I'd prefer not to drive too... Actually, if I could choose a daily mode of transport, I'd go with a horse. That would be great. The only problem would be where to leave the horse for longer periods of time... I'd need stables or something everywhere I go. :D

[Paulclem]

Probably not.. then again, we do have many people from all over... and there are a lot of post-conflict zones.



Well, perhaps, but there are a lot of people in the west that face a lot of adversity and problems... when I was living in Washington DC, sometimes it felt like I was a developing country or a post-conflict zone... :)
But in any case, I know what you mean about life appearing boring. I still think mine is to some degree... or well, it used to be a lot more interesting. Now I work at a desk job, 9-5... :sleep:

There was a short report on Sarajevo last week on the news. 11,000 casualties during the war and a 3 year siege. I hadn't realised it was that long. I suppose we were distracted by other parts of the war for long periods. the programme was about reconciliation, which I hope sicceeds.

[PoeticPassions]

Yes, the city was under siege for a long time... and a lot of casualties for such a small city, comparatively. But then you think about the town of Srebrenica (a UN 'Safe Haven'), in which 8,000 boys and men were systematically killed in a span of four days... (not to mention all of the rape that went on and the concentration camps). They still haven't identified or found all of the bodies/bones, as they were thrown in ditches, buried in the woods, burned, dismembered, etc.

''Reconciliation'' (I am putting it in quotes intentionally) won't succeed so long as we have this peace agreement (Dayton) in place... which was implemented by the US mainly. But this would be a whole other (very long) story, and it would probably become too political for litnet.

[Paulclem]

Yes, the city was under siege for a long time... and a lot of casualties for such a small city, comparatively. But then you think about the town of Srebrenica (a UN 'Safe Haven'), in which 8,000 boys and men were systematically killed in a span of four days... (not to mention all of the rape that went on and the concentration camps). They still haven't identified or found all of the bodies/bones, as they were thrown in ditches, buried in the woods, burned, dismembered, etc.

''Reconciliation'' (I am putting it in quotes intentionally) won't succeed so long as we have this peace agreement (Dayton) in place... which was implemented by the US mainly. But this would be a whole other (very long) story, and it would probably become too political for litnet.

It's very difficult to know what is really happening in a place when you rely on the news. I suppose you never get to know how the people feel.

[Paulclem]

Today we had another blast from winter as we got sleet, rain and freezing winds. I decided to go on the bus and read my kindle - it's like having a day off.

So then I had a meeting with my peers at my workplace and we discussed how we can compel the owner to improve the toilets, and how we can improve the room booking system, and how we can get people to suggest improvements without encouraging them to produce a long list of complaints we can't deal with. (This was what Mao did, but we won't start killing people as a solution to these complaints). 'We had a suggestion box suggested - though I'm sceptical as to whether it would work.

Then I went to some training on some text to speech avatars you can embed in web pages. I'd had a go, and they are very good.

[prendrelemick]

Now I may be prone to exaggeration, but I really think the weather conditions at six in the morning on wednesday were the worst I have encountered at lambing ever. I had been up the fields at midnight and things were pretty bad - bitterly cold and blizzarding. I was very lucky to spot a couple of ewes who were lambing and managed to catch them and bring them in. My hands were so cold I couldn't work the gate catch,(ok a piece of string really) and had to warm them up on the quad exhaust. Anyway I lambed the ewes ok and crawled into bed.

Next morning the wind was stronger and it was even colder, I attempted to go round the sheep, but it was almost impossible, no visibility and stinging icy snow. After about half an hour I was frozen through and had achieved nothing. I think it is the first time ever the weather has turned me back from the lambing fields.

However this is England so by the afternoon the sun was out, and the lambs were gamboling about, they are so tough its unbelievable.

[Paulclem]

If it's going to be bad anywhere, it's going to be bad up where you are. I'm glad the lambs were ok.

I think a lot of the Litnetters like reading about your stuff Mick.

[Delta40]

Me too Mick. I'm shivering in me old office chair just reading about your day. I'm glad the lambs are ok as well.

Half our office was empty yesterday due to the long Easter weekend but the whole country was still calling the tax office. We had new systems installed a couple of weeks ago and they've got a tendency to crash nationally so the phone company we use puts a IVR message to tell people to call back later while we sit around doing nothing but look like we're working all the same....But yesterday we were served toasted hot cross buns and easter eggs while we threatened taxpayers with penalties and interest for not lodging or paying their debts in the friendliest manner!

I finished early so I could begin my break as early as possible. I hope people can forget their troubles with the tax office for a few days at least and enjoy what is most important to them.

Happy Easter everyone.

[Paulclem]

Happy Easter.

My brother in law works in the tax office. I wonder if he had hot cross buns? I know he'll be out having a few pints after.

[Paulclem]

Here in the UK, areas of England are now experiencing drought after 18 months of very dry weather. Ironically, as soon as they issued the drought notices for areas in the south and east, it began a three week campaign of rain and storms. So now everybody is saying things like - "I thought there was a drought on" and they tell us "there's a drought and there's all this rain" etc etc. Somewhat tedious, I can tell you. There is a bit of flooding up and down the country though.

Anyway, today's rain and wind did blow down a neighbour's two trees, though my pea netting stood up admirably.

[prendrelemick]

Lovely weather. Let the pea netting be a lesson to us all.
My daughter was coming up our track to see us yesterday, when a tree blew down in front of the car they were following. Then another tree fell down behind it. They backed up fairly sharpish and cancelled the visit. Me and the boy went down with the chainsaw later and released the trapped car.

The wind wasn't that strong, but from an unusual direction and gusty, also The National Trust had removed alot of trees and left those at the roadside exposed.

[Paulclem]

They were lucky! You're a useful bloke to have as a neighbour Mick. All I had was a bow saw.

I was working late today covering a maths class for a colleague. The learners are really nice, and it never ceases to amze me how ordinary people - despite being let down by their school education - are willing to come along and try to get on and do well. We see famous people as inspiring, but when you meet people who have had none of the advantages, but who still make the effort, it makes it very worthwhile.

One guy tonight was describing how he schooled himself in becoming invisible in order to avoid having to answer questions in his school class. Apparently he was very good at it.

[JuniperWoolf]

I just cut my hand pretty bad three hours ago. I bled everywhere, and then I got dizzy, hot and nauseous and then I passed out. Apparently that whole "don't cut onions with a dull, serrated blade" rule exists for a reason. I woke up in my bed with my hand all bandaged up, and then I had to go to work. Now I can only type with one hand.

[Paulclem]

No pics?

Sorry - tasteless.

Having said that my wife's friend sent her a picture of her cut hand from casualty recently. The fat was bulging out before she had it sewn up. She picked the wrong person though - my wife, an ex-staff nurse, - is not at all squeamish.

Awkward injury though. You don't realise how much you do with them until you've done something to it.

[JuniperWoolf]

Haha, yeah it's the common thing nowadays to take pictures of your gruesome injuries and post them on facebook. I have one "friend" who's pomegranite slicing mishap ended up with a piece of finger on the cutting board, he took the time to snap a few shots with his camera phone while he was still gushing blood before going to the hospital.

[tailor STATELY]

Last Earth Day we had a mini-van size thingee explode in the sky releasing the energy equivalent to 1/3 the blast at Hiroshima. People crawling all over the hills, zepplins (sic) in the sky, for goodness sakes - looking for treasures in Lotus and environs... nothing new there 'cept fodder for a poem or two.

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[prendrelemick]

Ha yes, them thar hills are crawling with zombies I hear.

[tailor STATELY]

Ah, you took the fire from my next poem (grumble, grumble).

Actually I had in mind a cartoon I collected when the first moon rocks came to Earth - where a little man(?) (with two antennae) emerged from one of the specimens with an apprehensive demeanor to him(?).

Then again, there have always been zombies in these hills... with green teeth no less.

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[Neo_Sephiroth]

Haha, yeah it's the common thing nowadays to take pictures of your gruesome injuries and post them on facebook. I have one "friend" who's pomegranite slicing mishap ended up with a piece of finger on the cutting board, he took the time to snap a few shots with his camera phone while he was still gushing blood before going to the hospital.

That friend of yours is gonna end up famous one of these days, I tell ya' what.

[kasie]

Here in the UK, areas of England are now experiencing drought after 18 months of very dry weather. Ironically, as soon as they issued the drought notices for areas in the south and east, it began a three week campaign of rain and storms. So now everybody is saying things like - "I thought there was a drought on" and they tell us "there's a drought and there's all this rain" etc etc. Somewhat tedious, I can tell you. There is a bit of flooding up and down the country though.

Anyway, today's rain and wind did blow down a neighbour's two trees, though my pea netting stood up admirably.

I TOLD them I was a Rain Goddess and they just didn'y believe me.... Before I moved to leafy Hampshire they had a drought and were longing for rain. Then I moved here and lo, it hasn't stopped raining. Now they want me to go back to Wales - or East Anglia - or even the Western Desert (I made it rain for the first time in five years when I went there a couple of years ago) - some people are just never satisfied.

Settling in to the new house, have even unpacked some of the boxes. However have not yet found a place for the computer (oldfashioned PC) so have slipped into the library to borrow their computer to make contact with my old LItNet mates and make sure you are all behaving yourselves.....

Who bandaged the hand and put you to bed, Juniper? Hope the hand is healing now.

Time's running out - back soon, folks.

[Paulclem]

I TOLD them I was a Rain Goddess and they just didn'y believe me.... Before I moved to leafy Hampshire they had a drought and were longing for rain. Then I moved here and lo, it hasn't stopped raining. Now they want me to go back to Wales - or East Anglia - or even the Western Desert (I made it rain for the first time in five years when I went there a couple of years ago) - some people are just never satisfied.

Settling in to the new house, have even unpacked some of the boxes. However have not yet found a place for the computer (oldfashioned PC) so have slipped into the library to borrow their computer to make contact with my old LItNet mates and make sure you are all behaving yourselves.....

Who bandaged the hand and put you to bed, Juniper? Hope the hand is healing now.

Time's running out - back soon, folks.

Hi Kasie. Nice to have you back on. Is it the dancing in the garden that brings the rain, or the midnight singing?

When we moved here I found some boxes I'd packed in the garage 5 years later. They can't have been very inmportant.

What's the house like? Have you downsized, or moved for the leafy views?

[kasie]

Thanks, Paul

I don't have to DO anything, I just have to BE - and it rains - but not today, sunny, hot and lovely. I'm going to creep back home and hide indoors so it doesn't notice I'm out and about or it might start raining again.

I've downsized, a nice little bungalow, just right for me and not too far from family. Small garden but I have to mow the lawn now - had a 'field' before and used a sit-on mower, now I have to walk round behind a push (but electric) variety, first time in twenty-three years,I'd forgotten how to do it....

No further on with unpacking, all books are still boxed, getting frustrated because I can't find recipes, dictionaries for crosswords etc but no point in unpacking until shelves are in place, no point in putting them up until small alterations/painting is done, etc etc. Trouble is, I want it all done yesterday!

Still, getting to know my local library, not a bad selection of books, helpful staff, can order anything from any County library, and there's a bookshop not far away.

[Paulclem]

I have a tiny lawn, but it still manages to be a pain. It doesn't take long, but it always needs doing when I don't feel like it.

Then again I never feel like it.

I moved around a fair bit until we moved to Cov. As a student I had 1 bag. I've lived in this house for 15 years now, and the 1 bag has multiplied somewhat. I often think I'd like to live somewhere else for a change. New place, new sights and all that. It's fine here though. Just my passing whim.

[MystyrMystyry]

Second day I've been rained in.

Nearby in a park there's a low wooden bridge over the lake leading to an islet, the water level has risen to lap between the slats and change the texture of the wood to Slippery Enemy no 1.

I figured my knobbly tyres would get me across though if I peddled very cautiously and slow - and they did til exactly halfway where the middle has been subsumed by the grey brown murk and the slippery quotient has increased to 'only a complete fool'

And there I was one second on a mountain bike doing something ridiculous, the next splash! down to the bottom of the freezing depths, head and all.

I share this with you now because at the time I was particularly peeved at the world and myself

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

Glad you managed to pull yourself out.
Not much to report here other than I learned that Jim Beam and Sprite don't mix too well.

[Paulclem]

I'm off to Oxford today to help the lad pack up his stuff and come home for the summer. I would have been in town already by now, but I got a call at 12.30 last night asking if I would come later as he still needs to sort out his stuff. Haha. It's no problem of course, though he has been finished for the last two weeks, so he's left it a bit late.

I'm looking forward to visiting a coffee shop before we go back to his to pack. The town centre is very nice too.

[kasie]

I helped the step-granddaughter move back home from Uni on Friday - she has so much Stuff! Back in the Dear Dead Days, I had to get my belongings into one trunk (which went on ahead by train - does anybody do that these days?!) and one suitcase - or two if I felt strong, as I had to carry that on the train with me. No tv, no stereo, not nearly as many clothes, but more books - perhaps you need fewer for Law than Eng Lit? Still we were lucky to get a parking place right outside and there was a nice pub just down the road for lunch and a much needed drink - it was warm work! Knew I needed to keep the van-type car for something...

[Paulclem]

I helped the step-granddaughter move back home from Uni on Friday - she has so much Stuff! Back in the Dear Dead Days, I had to get my belongings into one trunk (which went on ahead by train - does anybody do that these days?!) and one suitcase - or two if I felt strong, as I had to carry that on the train with me. No tv, no stereo, not nearly as many clothes, but more books - perhaps you need fewer for Law than Eng Lit? Still we were lucky to get a parking place right outside and there was a nice pub just down the road for lunch and a much needed drink - it was warm work! Knew I needed to keep the van-type car for something...

My lad has 2 and a bit cases of stuff. This year he left behind all the kitchen utensils my wife bought for him. It's in a big bag in his bedroom.

He's gone back to Uni to get jabs for his Japan year. Most of his stuff is back.

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

...My son's flint knapping kit arrived (a gift) he has been interested in knapping for about a year now, but the local native rocks don't spall / flake very well.



Knapping, that's interesting. Will he be using deer antler for the fine detail like they did in the old (Mesolithic)days?
We have no flint around here except for the very rare worked pieces that I occasionally find in walls or in the ground. I remember once losing my pocket knife and using a piece of worked flint I'd found to open some bales of hay, it was as sharp as the day it was made. I felt connected to the past.


Interesting..

Thanks Gilliatt. I'd like to have a go at that, and make something I could actually use.

There are still people making flints for flintlocks, mainly for replica weapons of reanactment groups like The Sealed Knot, I also once saw a surgeon use an Obsidian scalpel on telly.


After several orders of Novaculite and Obsidian, followed by cut fingers, palms, coupled with continued economic doom and gloom, my son is now producing points that are at least recognizable and some that could function as intended. They will serve us well in the future.


http://i963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/tabuka1/Misc%20Album/IMGP2671.jpg


http://i963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/tabuka1/Misc%20Album/IMGP2674.jpg

[Paulclem]

They're fantastic Gilliatt.

I'm glad to say I've finished my maths studies and put in my teaching Portfolio. All I need to do now - if I haven't missed something - is wait for the result.

A relief, though it has been very informative.

[PoeticPassions]

Glad you managed to pull yourself out.
Not much to report here other than I learned that Jim Beam and Sprite don't mix too well.

Why would you ever think that sprite and Jim Beam might be a good idea? :sick: :p

Sprite and vodka, on the other hand is a good combination... or ginger ale and whiskey. I think Jim Beam on the rocks might be best, however. :)

[Paulclem]

Why would you ever think that sprite and Jim Beam might be a good idea? :sick: :p

Sprite and vodka, on the other hand is a good combination... or ginger ale and whiskey. I think Jim Beam on the rocks might be best, however. :)

I really like Southern Comfort on the rocks - as I have a sweet tooth I suppose.

Have you tried Glayva? The old Uncle used to drink it neat from the bottle when the fancy took him. He'd have a swig and offer it round. My wife wouldn't partake because she couldn't get the idea of the old uncle's saliva "backwashing" into the bottle. I was more philospphical about it though and would swig readily. It is sweet and smooth. I might get myself one.

http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-5237.aspx

[Emil Miller]

I don't know whether this qualifies as interesting but it isn't exactly everyday.
I went to a shop in London's Soho to get a bottle of German brandy as it's the only place in London where it can be purchased. I then had a beer in a pub in Shaftesbury Avenue before turning into Gerard Street, which is the main thoroughfare in China town, only to be accosted by a young Chinese female wearing very short shorts and who asked me if I wanted a massage. Glancing at her slightly plump thighs, which had that patina of gold associated with Asian women, I was stopped in my tracks, but was I tempted? Er.... well that's another story but declining the offer I carried on down the road only to be stopped again about 50 yards further on with the same question by another Chinese girl.
I'm thinking that it must be a sign of advancing years.

[prendrelemick]

After several orders of Novaculite and Obsidian, followed by cut fingers, palms, coupled with continued economic doom and gloom, my son is now producing points that are at least recognizable and some that could function as intended. They will serve us well in the future.


http://i963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/tabuka1/Misc%20Album/IMGP2671.jpg


http://i963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/tabuka1/Misc%20Album/IMGP2674.jpg



I suppose the next thing is to fit them to a shaft, using pine resin and animal sinew.

[Scheherazade]

Glancing at her slightly plump thighs, which had that patina of gold associated with Asian women, I was stopped in my tracks, but was I tempted? I have no idea what this means. Dare I ask?

[Emil Miller]

I have no idea what this means. Dare I ask?

But of course you may. There is a long-held misconception that the skin color of people from the Far East is yellow: hence the 'Yellow Peril' reference to fear of China in the days of British imperialism. It was a misnomer because their skin isn't yellow but varies from a delicate ivory to a golden sheen. I know whereof I speak because I have had quite a long-standing connection with Orientals. One young lady of my acquaintance complained to me that her skin was yellow and I was delighted to disabuse her of her unfounded regret.

[prendrelemick]

What's red and invisible?

No tomatoes!

I heard this today, delivered as a mere joke. But the deeper philosophical questions it raises about reality and abstract have begun to nag at me. There's a logic in there somewhere, but it's so wrong in so many ways.

Can an invisible tomato have a colour?
Can a tomato that is not, be called invisible... or red... or a tomato?
Can the author use the plural "tomatoes" with any confidence.?
Canned tomatoes - they are invisible untill opened. but they are not no tomatoes.

Those are the smple questions, but what does it say about existence and form and perception?

and so on...

[Emil Miller]

What's red and invisible?

No tomatoes!

I heard this today, delivered as a mere joke. But the deeper philosophical questions it raises about reality and abstract have begun to nag at me. There's a logic in there somewhere, but it's so wrong in so many ways.

Can an invisible tomato have a colour?
Can a tomato that is not, be called invisible... or red... or a tomato?
Can the author use the plural "tomatoes" with any confidence.?
Canned tomatoes - they are invisible untill opened. but they are not no tomatoes.

Those are the smple questions, but what does it say about existence and form and perception?

and so on...

Don't worry about it, it will all seem quite unnecessary in the morning. At the moment I am drinking Asbach Uralt with Coca Cola and the question of the colour of invisible tomatoes seems, to say the least, somewhat non-existential but it's a matter of whatever turns you on.

[Scheherazade]

Canned tomatoes - they are invisible untill opened. but they are not no tomatoes.

Those are the smple questions, but what does it say about existence and form and perception?

and so on... Like Schrodinger's cat.

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

I suppose the next thing is to fit them to a shaft, using pine resin and animal sinew.


Hmmm, come to think of it, our dog is getting up there in years.


What's red and invisible?

No tomatoes!

I heard this today, delivered as a mere joke. But the deeper philosophical questions it raises about reality and abstract have begun to nag at me. There's a logic in there somewhere, but it's so wrong in so many ways.

Can an invisible tomato have a colour?
Can a tomato that is not, be called invisible... or red... or a tomato?
Can the author use the plural "tomatoes" with any confidence.?
Canned tomatoes - they are invisible untill opened. but they are not no tomatoes.

Those are the smple questions, but what does it say about existence and form and perception?

and so on...

We are trapped in the tetrahedron of life flummoxed over the refractive spectrum emitted by the fruit, or is it a vegetable? Was it not Werner Heisenberg who postulated that the intrinsic palette, when reduced to the molecular level, is no longer visible to the naked or even garmented (glasses/ contacts) ocular organ?
For example consider the second glass of Tempranillo I just consumed, there it was, in all its dark red glory once contained in a glass now no longer visible.

I’m sure Emil would say the same about his brandy.

More on the tomāto or is it tomâto ?...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebfLWAB8bY4

[Paulclem]

What's red and invisible?

No tomatoes!

I heard this today, delivered as a mere joke. But the deeper philosophical questions it raises about reality and abstract have begun to nag at me. There's a logic in there somewhere, but it's so wrong in so many ways.

Can an invisible tomato have a colour?
Can a tomato that is not, be called invisible... or red... or a tomato?
Can the author use the plural "tomatoes" with any confidence.?
Canned tomatoes - they are invisible untill opened. but they are not no tomatoes.

Those are the smple questions, but what does it say about existence and form and perception?

and so on...

In Buddhist philosophy there is the emptiness of tomatoes, meaning that as they depend upon causes and conditions to be - seed, water, nutrients, sunlight - then tomatoes do not exist inherently of themselves but are an expression of causes and conditions of a particucular time and place - as are we, or any fruit and vegetable.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

In Buddhist philosophy there is the emptiness of tomatoes, meaning that as they depend upon causes and conditions to be - seed, water, nutrients, sunlight - then tomatoes do not exist inherently of themselves but are an expression of causes and conditions of a particucular time and place - as are we, or any fruit and vegetable.

You just blew my mind. :eek:

[JuniperWoolf]

Like Schrodinger's cat.

Exactly!

[prendrelemick]

Three very good observations there. Alcohol, science and philosophy all making a contribution.



Paul. Does the humour of the joke exist and if so where?

Sher. But the cat is not a "no" whether dead, alive, or both

Emil, GG. Cheers!

[kasie]

I suspect the originator of the 'no tomatoes' conundrum was merely a gardener frustrated by our non-existent summer - by other years' experience, there ought to be tomatoes by now, and they should be starting to show red if they are an early variety but when he inspected his vines, there they weren't, red or otherwise....unless that dratted cat has been at them, I used to have a dog that scrumped tomatoes but maybe the cats are at it too, who knows?

[prendrelemick]

All the great philosophical conundrums could be blamed on a cat I'm sure. Ours is always up to something.

[Paulclem]

Three very good observations there. Alcohol, science and philosophy all making a contribution.



Paul. Does the humour of the joke exist and if so where?



I missed this.

Humour certainly exists, but it is within the mind of the recipient - like the interpretation of vibrations into sound. It's like the tree falling in the forest - does it make a sound - no, unless someone hears it, or a recording of it.

Of course you can have a sound in the mind - a regurgitated memory - which you might choose to hum along to or laugh at. That's my excuse for singing and laughing in public spaces anyway. :D


You just blew my mind. :eek:

Job done. :D

[prendrelemick]

Girls from Pontefract interviewed on the BBC today. They use "us" for "our", "summat" for "something", "mi" for "me" and "my" and 'ardly an aitch was 'eard. These girls were going to their prom, they were groomed and educated, seeing these sophisticated looking creatures express themselves with such confidence in the vernacular got me thinking.

It sounded good, it is how we speak without realising it. I would not have even noticed it except that it was on the BBC where until very recently Recieved Pronounciation was king. Spoken English is nothing like written English, or BBC English. We can cope and understand both versions perfectly because we have been brought up with them and have them pigeon-holed separately in our heads. I always write like this - but speak in a different way.

When I was at School there was great worry and fuss about the effect national media would have on local accents. The head of English used to go around the district with a tape recorder to interview locals in order to preserve for posterity the way they spoke. He predicted that within 20 years everybody would sound the same. The trouble was, when confronted with a microphone people would speak differently than when gossiping to each other. Anyway he was he was proved wrong, in fact I would say that regional accents have got stronger and youngsters are no longer told to speak "properly" as we were.

[Helga]

The everyday here on the ice is mainly about polar bears now. A few times in the last few years we have shot polar bears that come to the ice. Now some Italian tourists say they saw one so the guns are loaded and the search party is out, I just hope they never find the poor thing.


The pictures the tourist took of them kinda remind me of the pics of the loch ness monster: http://www.ruv.is/frett/leit-ad-hvitabirninum-lokid-i-dag

I know you can't understand the article but a picture says a thousand words or something like that

[Paulclem]

Girls from Pontefract interviewed on the BBC today. They use "us" for "our", "summat" for "something", "mi" for "me" and "my" and 'ardly an aitch was 'eard. These girls were going to their prom, they were groomed and educated, seeing these sophisticated looking creatures express themselves with such confidence in the vernacular got me thinking.

It sounded good, it is how we speak without realising it. I would not have even noticed it except that it was on the BBC where until very recently Recieved Pronounciation was king. Spoken English is nothing like written English, or BBC English. We can cope and understand both versions perfectly because we have been brought up with them and have them pigeon-holed separately in our heads. I always write like this - but speak in a different way.

When I was at School there was great worry and fuss about the effect national media would have on local accents. The head of English used to go around the district with a tape recorder to interview locals in order to preserve for posterity the way they spoke. He predicted that within 20 years everybody would sound the same. The trouble was, when confronted with a microphone people would speak differently than when gossiping to each other. Anyway he was he was proved wrong, in fact I would say that regional accents have got stronger and youngsters are no longer told to speak "properly" as we were.

I saw that too. Maybe it's the acceptability of accents on the tv now. Watching the old progs with the received pronunciation really sounds odd. I like the diversity of accents and words.

[Paulclem]

The everyday here on the ice is mainly about polar bears now. A few times in the last few years we have shot polar bears that come to the ice. Now some Italian tourists say they saw one so the guns are loaded and the search party is out, I just hope they never find the poor thing.


The pictures the tourist took of them kinda remind me of the pics of the loch ness monster: http://www.ruv.is/frett/leit-ad-hvitabirninum-lokid-i-dag

I know you can't understand the article but a picture says a thousand words or something like that

The biggest thing we get are foxes, though there have been tales of escaped big cats from private owners...

[Darcy88]

.......

[Paulclem]

I can't get over her. I can't get over her. I can't get over her. I can't get over her. Hector should just come kill Achilles.

Bit extreme? You could just go around her.

[Helga]

Bit extreme? You could just go around her.

a bit nasty but I can't stop laughing :)

[Darcy88]

Rather die than be used as a tool of fascism or terrorism.

[Darcy88]

........

[MystyrMystyry]

I bought a remote controlled helicopter, but it's not really as much fun as I imagined. Flying it under a bridge is satisfying, but just flying it around isn't - at least not until I discovered micro-flights inside. Something's going to break before the day's out I can tell.

[Calidore]

I bought a remote controlled helicopter, but it's not really as much fun as I imagined. Flying it under a bridge is satisfying, but just flying it around isn't - at least not until I discovered micro-flights inside. Something's going to break before the day's out I can tell.

You need to buy a remote-controlled car, arm both, and do James Bond chases.

[Paulclem]

No I can't go around her. What we had was perfect, unlike anything I've ever experienced before. I will never be able to get over her. My love for her is a load I shall carry forever.

Your story is very familiar.

[prendrelemick]

Rather die than be used as a tool of fascism or terrorism.


What about carpentry?

[Darcy88]

What about carpentry?

I am a carpenter.....its one of the things I spend a lot of time doing. lol.

Edit: Thank you for reminding me lol. I'm going to go to my shop and do some carpentry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p5VBBMxMPE

Edit: I have received death threats and am stalked everywhere I go. If I don't make it, if they get me, just know it was a pleasure knowing you all and interacting with you all. I'm sure I will be fine but just in case.

[prendrelemick]

Our town has been on the telly for the third time in as many weeks. We keep getting flooded! Mrs P was nearly swept away getting to the Co-op, and then got stranded there. She rang me for advice, I told her not to be such a wimp - it's only a bit of rain.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-18768291