Win Win?

From Facebook Archives

31 July 2015 at 15:06

Me "It's a blue moon tonight"

Him "Does that mean Sheffield United will win?"

Me "Are they playing?"

Him "No"

Me "Well they won't then. But look on the bright side, they won't lose either"

 

The Upside Of Lockdown

From Facebook Archives

30 July 2020

An upside of lockdown was that we had far fewer cold telephone calls and no doorstep salesmen.

Well that's over.

Doing dishes, knock on door, go to find 2 young men with tablet and plastic visors, no masks, and 

"we can save you money" logoed corporate clothing.

First one introduced himself politely then 

"Sorry about the visors madam, we here to see if we can save you money on your bills."

"No you can't. Good morning."

Door firmly shut.

It's raining today.

Those visors should have windscreenwipers.

Bentonbag  Miss Doozer - did they call on you too?

Miss Doozer  Yes. Doozer Esquire answered but he knows the drill.  The thing is, I'm fairly sure doorstep selling for utilities was banned a few years ago due to pressure sales tactics...?

Bentonbag  I wondered about that too ...

Miss Doozer  Having a bit of a search, it would appear not banned, but discouraged.  Apparently areas can ask to become 'no-cold-calling' zones via their local council.... Might be something to explore.  Sadly North Tyneside Council webpages are down at the moment.

Bentonbag  Asked my mate on Twitter

North Tyneside Council@NTCouncilTeam Replying to @Bentonbag

It'd need a change in legislation Ben. Even in a community agreed zone like that, it's still not illegal for it to happen and the zones are actually unenforceable.

Miss Doozer  North Tyneside are hopeless. Newcastle have them

https://newcastle.gov.uk/.../campaigns/doorstep-crime-and-no

Doorstep Crime and No Cold Calling Zones | Newcastle City Council

Doozer Esquire  Just tell them your other half works for Ofgen.  Generally gets rid of them pretty sharpish  

 

Hershey

Hershey belongs to the house two doors up, but spends most of his time in my garden.

29 July 2023 at 14.04

Go out into the garden and find Teddy sitting on a starling. Manage to distract him enough that the starling escapes, flies into the fence and falls between it and the tomato plants (in pots). 

Take Teddy into the kitchen and try and soothe his feelings with biscuits and treats. Shut the back door.

Go out to find Hershey marching up the garden with a starling (same one?) in his mouth.

This is not a daft starling: it knows to play possum but being smacked with a clawed paw will wake anyone.

Go and fetch the old cagoule I keep for gardening.

Take it and throw it over the bird, keeping myself and it away from Hershey's mouth and paws. Slowly bundle the cag up with my left hand until I can, but he can't, see the bird and pick it up with my right hand.

Proceed to the lottery winners’ house facing onto the end of our road which has a very large garden and two loud dogs.

Place the starling on the garden wall and it flies, albeit a little groggily at first, away.

OK. I know it may drop dead of shock sometime soon, but I did my best for it.

29 July 2023 at 18.39

Watching tv and hear the lad from two doors up calling Hershey (his cat).   

Look out the back and there is Hershey (who I've thrown out of our house at least four times today) sitting washing himself on our back lawn taking absolutely no notice.

Go out and tell him to go home (I know, I should know better).

Carries on washing itself.

So go and knock on the lad’s door and tell him Hershey is in my back garden supposing, innocently, that he might come and take it home.

"Oh that's ok. As long as I know he's safe..."

Great!

My cats come when they're called - if they're in earshot.

Miss Doozer  I have made a little Hershey spot in our potisserie in case he gets stuck outside again

The Ring Around

Another reason for the lack of blogs recently is that I’ve been involved with various charity and community activities.  

I’m a trustee of a local community centre and last Friday we had a Family Fun Day in association with North Tyneside Council.  One of my tasks was to ring around our volunteers to see if they would like to help on the day.  A while ago the secretary of the community association gave me a list of names and numbers and I’ve rung most of them at Halloween, Christmas, Easter and Summer holidays ever since: keeping a note of what was said for the next time.

A couple of weeks ago I put on my best PR person’s friendly positive voice and attitude and started calling.  Some of the volunteers were able to come, and brought family and partners to help too.  But too many of the calls went something like this …

“How are you Mrs SB after your shoulder replacement at Easter?”

“Oh fine, but I’ve got a mammogram on Friday afternoon because I had breast cancer while ago, it’s just a follow up.”

Mrs SC also had a hospital appointment.

Labourlad was giving a speech about disability at Unite The Union.

Mr RJ was coming, despite his prostate cancer treatment and hot flushes.

Mrs PL “Sorry I’ve just got too much on my plate, my husband’s got hip and pelvis problems, and cancer.”

I had a long chat with Ms L about her aged mother who lives two hours’ drive away and is “Very stubborn”.

Next on the list was Mrs McP, a cheery Scottish lady who always brightens my day, but she sounded very sombre when she answered.

“Ah’m sorry hen, I’m in the Marie Curie Hospice with my husband.”

Having been in her shoes, my heart went out to her, and I hope whatever I said was appropriate and of some comfort. 

Mrs CW said “No, I shall be taking my husband to hospital for a procedure.”

My final call was to Mrs PW who said “We’re not going to be here, we’ll be on holiday with the family.”

“Ah well - but thank goodness it’s a happy reason.  It feels as if everyone else who isn’t able to help is going to hospital or their husband is in hospital.”

“I’ve got a hospital appointment tomorrow.”

I went and had a strong drink.