Congratulations, @Nenya ! I had a fleeting thought that I had assumed you and I were about the same age, but if you've been married for forty years you must be a lot older than me. And then I remembered that we've been married for 37 years.
Facebook threw up an interesting algorithm this morning. I got an event reminder about a World Day of Prayer event on Friday. Sadly I now have a funeral that day, so I clicked on the event to remove myself from the "going" list. And Facebook then popped up with a "recommended" event for me - A Lodge meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Aberdeenshire West. A "Regular meeting, business TBC"
Really? I wonder what would happen if I clicked the "Interested" or "Going" button? I don't know a lot about Freemasonry, but I thought you had to be male and personally invited?
My day didn't get off to the best of starts when I knocked a glass off the draining board and had to spend ten minutes sweeping up bits of glass before I could have my breakfast. I did manage to grab a place in the Pilates class though so I've had my day's exercise walking to the class and back.
Oh dear. I walked down to the supermarket first thing, did shopping and walked to the bus stop, only to find it was running 25 minutes late. So walked to the other bus stop (round the corner in the opposite direction) and didn't have too long to wait.
This afternoon I have walked there and back to the other supermarket (where be a Post Office) and a nearby B&Q. In total about 2.8 miles, not that far but I feel tired!
Congratulations, @Nenya ! I had a fleeting thought that I had assumed you and I were about the same age, but if you've been married for forty years you must be a lot older than me. And then I remembered that we've been married for 37 years.
We did get a bit of time yesterday evening with bubbly and wine with our meal, opening our cards and presents (not many of the latter, which we had requested as anything we were given would need to be packed into a box) but I can't say it was a relaxed evening. Today contract exchange has happened and our moving date is next Monday. We have a commitment on Friday that we can't change, so are already a day down on time this week, so it will be even more All Systems Go at Casa Nen for a while now. It will be good to get to the other side of it all.
I may therefore not be as much in evidence here for a little while; I have no idea how long it will take to be up and running with the Internet in the new place.
Congratulations on the move @nenya. We seemed to spend forever wrapping thing up and putting them in boxes, then of course un-packing them all the other end. There always seems to be ages when you put something in one place and then decide it would be better somewhere else. I recommend unpacking things (and maybe packing them too) with the aid of a bottle of wine.
I've just had a Teams meeting, a rerun of the one I was too tired to join in with on Thursday. The person running the session was excellent. explained everything clearly, answered questions thoroughly and wrapped the whole thing up in 40 minutes. If only most meetings could be like that.
Joining in the "good luck with the move" chorus for Nen and Mr Nen - whereabouts are you moving to (no need to be specific!)?
NEQ - I think you're a few years younger than me (I just turned 64), and David and I would have been married 38 years this coming July.
Days are getting lighter, and (for now anyway) weather more clement, which is nice. Work was quiet today; although J had left a couple of voice files before heading off on holiday for the week, they weren't too taxing, so I had a gentle start to the week.
Second half of the lamb for supper. 🙂
A sunny day and slightly warmer. I spent the usual morning doing emails and admin then the afternoon marking essays.
Tea was rock salmon with stir fried courgette, mushrooms and cashews, with toasted homemade bread. I haven’t cooked rock salmon before and it was very nice.
Tonight's rediscovery of a well known fact: there is no more effective way of discovering a tiny cut in the skin of your hands than chopping chillies for dinner.
There is also a corollary of Murphy's law: whenever you have chopped chillies, but not yet had the chance to wash your hands thoroughly, the chance of an eyelash falling into your eye, coupled with momentary amnesia about the chillies, rises towards 100%.
Tonight's rediscovery of a well known fact: there is no more effective way of discovering a tiny cut in the skin of your hands than chopping chillies for dinner.
There is also a corollary of Murphy's law: whenever you have chopped chillies, but not yet had the chance to wash your hands thoroughly, the chance of an eyelash falling into your eye, coupled with momentary amnesia about the chillies, rises towards 100%.
Did you apply the milk or yoghurt remedy? I am living proof of its effectiveness after a bad chilli frying experience. I sincerely hope you didn't find it necessary to visit the bathroom too soon after the chilli event. You can learn interesting new dance steps from doing that.
Originally posted by Piglet: NEQ - I think you're a few years younger than me (I just turned 64), and David and I would have been married 38 years this coming July.
I'm 61, going on for 62. so "a couple" rather than "a few" years younger. We've just had our 37th anniversary, but haven't yet celebrated it - we are going to have an afternoon tea somewhere rather nice, but I was still a bit wabbit from norovirus on the day itself, and since then we've been busy. Next week, hopefully.
A bit of a weird day today. I went into town to sort out problems with my council email. That took about an hour of faffing around. Being deaf the tech guy had to call me on my phone so I could hear him through my hearing aids, so I had to relay what he said to the officer helping me. Then she didn't have a camera on her computer so we had to borrow the Town Clerk's laptop so we could show the guy the problem. In the end it was all sorted and I can access my account from my iPhone and iPad again.
I then went out to go to a rather belated Christmas meal with the bookshop I volunteer at. The room we were meeting in was far too noisy for me to hear anything and I knew no one at the table with a space and they weren't looking that enthusiastic about me joining them anyway. I cut my losses and came home, I think I probably should have declined the invite in the first place as although the food is very nice in that cafe I know the acoustics in their upstairs room are rubbish.. I'll have to apologise when I go in on Thursday.
Enjoy the belated celebration of your wedding anniversary when it happens @North East Quine .
Duff acoustics are indeed trying - I'm not deaf, but being on the autistic spectrum means that aural overload is not always easy to avoid. Our Place's Hall is especially bad in this respect, and one of the reasons why I rarely went to Coffeemas after the service.
Another day of Sun-Shine in Arcland the Arkadian, though the wind has changed from south-westerly to north-easterly. Not so warm as yesterday afternoon, but I can still have the wheelhouse door open, which avoids the Draught, but lets in the Vitamin D...
Pilates was gruelling today, so tomorrow will probably be given over to Doing Nothing. I suppose I'm fortunate to be able to afford to stay at home - not completely Idle, but Pottering Around just as much as I feel up to doing.
Not sure about Lunch - I had a nice Prawn Sandwich earlier (from the Co-Op), so I need to raid the fridge for anything with today's date on!
Rather to my surprise I managed to do my full quota of swimming this morning. Weather has been dry but varies between sort of sunshiny and cloudy. My wife decided that she wanted to clean our upstairs bedroom and bathroom -which was necessary. I was enlisted to do vacuumingand a Proper Clean of the Shower (this involves various sprays, a cloth, and an old toothbrush - and not slipping on the wet floor!)
Yesterday and today I don’t feel I have done a lot, but I have crossed several things off my To Do list eg charity shop trip, renew green bin, change bed, washing, cleaning bedroom, sorted cards and presents for two birthdays, music practice…..
It makes so much difference when I have slept well and the sun is shining.
I’ve got another free day tomorrow so I will progress with my list.
My son contacted me this morning offering to come and do some gardening, and has filled the green bin ready for Thursday’s collection. He’s off on a flying business visit to Italy for the next two days.
Thank you everyone for the good wishes. I hope you enjoy your celebration when you get to have it @North East Quine .
I'm anticipating a lot of switching things around in the new house: while it is bigger than our current one, the configuration is quite different and it will take a while to find out the best places for things. I'm sure wine will definitely help so thank you for that idea @Sarasa . I'd never have thought of it if you hadn't said.
We are having packers (coming on Saturday) but already have a huge number of boxes; it amazes me where all this Stuff has come from, particularly as we have been filling up our black bin and keeping the local charity shops and recycling services occupied for several weeks now. Mr Nen has arranged a good deal for the new broadband but it can't be connected until 17 March so we'll have ample opportunity to explore the local internet cafes and get the new house completely sorted . We're moving to a small village in Wiltshire.
It's been a long and emotional day - we were awake early so up and sorting at 5.30am, then loads of errands in town (3 charity shops, post office, dropping things off at various places) and lunch with friends. I've been telling people not to say "goodbye" just "see you soon" (I hate goodbyes) but one of the friends I saw for lunch is someone I've been meeting with weekly for just short of 30 years and we both got tearful as we reflected on that.
I've known the friends I see on a Tuesday afternoon for a slightly shorter time but they've been an important part of my weekly routine for years so I had another blubber then.
I have one of our favourite teas planned (salmon in parsley sauce with roasted vegetables) and I'm feeling the need to get into practice with @Sarasa 's suggestion of wine-drinking.
Mrs Hare's birthday yesterday so cooked our celebration meal of choice, fillet steak, followed by scones (of her making) with strawberry jam and clotted cream. Visitors today in between emails and a meeting some good few miles away. They brought a two year old to add to the mix. Mrs Hare has a Zoom meeting tonight, I have to start disconnecting the dishwasher - which has given up on heating the water - in advance of replacement.
I totally agree with other posters that a sunny day in Spring makes an inordinate difference, especially after all the rain we've had recently. Himeself and I took ourselves on a walk down to the end of the pier and back (nearly 3 miles in total) and it was just perfect - blue sea, blue skies, no wind - with coffee and cake as an extra treat! A splendid day altogether.
Sunny here today, so decided to shop for the makings of a rogan josh as something that might reach Mr F's steroid-numbed taste buds. Only to find, after an uphill detour to get the yogurt, that the butcher had no lamb!
Bus into town, but the supermarkets little better - they tend to only have trays of mingy little chops. However, comprehensive Middle Eastern grocer comes with actual butcher, who cut from the bone a beautiful helping of lean, diced meat. Bless him.
@Nenya, one of my favourite memories from moving here was unpacking the kitchen on the first night and then stopping for our usual Friday night pasta and pesto only with instant pesto and a bottle of wine. We were both rather shell shocked that we'd actually managed to move! The other is two days later putting all my librarian's skills to the tests to unpack and organise the books. I hope you aren't moving so far away that you can't still see old friends.
We're off to London tomorrow taking a group of Ramblers for a stroll to explore the north bank of the Thames. As a Londoner using the tube is second nature, but I know from last time I went to London with a group of people from our town it can confuse non-natives so I need to not going sailing off leaving them struggling with the barriers.
Lovely and sunny here, which is most welcome.
The usual morning of admin and emails followed by an afternoon of marking (essays on child and youth inequality) which I didn’t finish until 6.30.
Needed to use stuff up from the fridge so we had a starter of monkfish in lemon sauce, followed by a main of chicken thighs in creamy mushroom sauce.
Glad to hear you're up to shopping and cooking, Firenze, but don't overdo things!
Nen - it'll all be worth it when you get into your new place. I'm well impressed at how you're getting everything done!
As Firenze said, it was a bonny day around these parts, and if it carries on like this the sunglasses will have to be dug out. The trouble with your flat being further west than your work is that you face the sun both coming and going ... 😎
Supper was a sort of intermittent grazing; because we had Night Church, I didn't really have time to cook, so I made a tuna salad before I went out, and had a cup of tea and a couple of HCBs when I got back.
I'm well impressed at how you're getting everything done!
I don't think you'd say that if you saw the chaos we're currently in . You had a massive move after David died, and did it alone. I'm amazed when I think of that.
A lovely sunny day here. I do have a Garden Agenda - there are a couple of plants I want to dig up and put into pots to take with us, plus the weeds are running amok - so may be able to get out and enjoy a bit of it at some point.
It's a foggy day in London. Not a proper pea-souper, but from a couple of hundred yards away,the top of Tower Bridge is not visible. My office window looks east towards the Isle of Dogs and none of the skyscrapers that way can be seen.
But that hasn't prevented the early season hay fever from kicking in.
You'll soon have new friends and times with the old ones will be all the more special for being less frequent.
I'm lucky to have both going on this week. Last night I went, with a group of new friends, to the cinema to watch the royal ballet live - Giselle - it was a really special evening, magical. Tomorrow is art group followed by lunch in a cafe with another really good group of new friends. We laugh such a lot.
On Friday I'm going to Manchester by Flixbus to celebrate a dear friend's birthday. Then back home on Sunday. Quite a flying visit but I find the bus relaxing, I sit and listen to my podcasts or read my books and the time flies by. 🙂
I do have a Garden Agenda - there are a couple of plants I want to dig up and put into pots to take with us,.
Did you put them on the list of fittings and fixtures that you were taking with you?
They should be included.
I remember digging up lots of my favourites, and potting them up, the previous autumn so there could be no doubt which ones we were taking.
Not that I needed to worry, the whole garden has now been denuded of vegetation and is an expanse of featureless lawn.
I do have a Garden Agenda - there are a couple of plants I want to dig up and put into pots to take with us,.
Did you put them on the list of fittings and fixtures that you were taking with you?
They should be included.
Mr Nen filled in the list and I'd told him there were a couple of plants I wanted to take. Whether he remembered to add them is another question. As one of them is barely showing signs of life this year, but has great sentimental value, and the other is just a part (not all) of a clump of snowdrops I trust it won't be an issue.
Cool and grey here with mist early on. Mr Heavenly assured me it would burn off and become sunny but so far it is not happening.
I have done my emails and admin and written a tutorial on grief (one of my favourite tutorials to present). Now I am having some eggy bread before getting down to today’s marking.
Cool and grey here with mist early on. Mr Heavenly assured me it would burn off and become sunny but so far it is not happening.
I have done my emails and admin and written a tutorial on grief (one of my favourite tutorials to present). Now I am having some eggy bread before getting down to today’s marking.
I have just had a Tory at my door electioneering, and I didn't get a chance to have a proper discussion with him, because a few sentences in he literally ran away from me. Not even a "well, I must be getting on" and a shuffle away, it was an actual sprint.
I have just had a Tory at my door electioneering, and I didn't get a chance to have a proper discussion with him, because a few sentences in he literally ran away from me. Not even a "well, I must be getting on" and a shuffle away, it was an actual sprint.
I get the same reaction from Jehovah’s witnesses and Mormons. I think they are under orders to call, but have shared information about not accepting hospitality or even talking.
A very dull and misty day in Arkland the Disappointed, where the Sun-Shine which They promised has simply failed to appear. They must have posted it by Evri...
Being in a river valley between low hills, and with very little breeze today, of course it's not unusual for mist and fog to persist for hours on end. Never mind - I had nowhere to go today, and nothing to do when I got there.
HOISIN DUCK NOODLES for tea/supper, a little later on.
I have just had a Tory at my door electioneering, and I didn't get a chance to have a proper discussion with him, because a few sentences in he literally ran away from me. Not even a "well, I must be getting on" and a shuffle away, it was an actual sprint.
I get the same reaction from Jehovah’s witnesses and Mormons. I think they are under orders to call, but have shared information about not accepting hospitality or even talking.
Last time I spoke with Mormons, they were offering to help out with my impending house move, though I did end up using a professional firm.
I did make them quite uncomfortable, though, when I pointed out that the story of how Joseph Smith received his revelation was plagiarised from Islam.
I was friendly and smiley. He was rude. If he didn't want to continue the conversation he could have said something like "It's been nice talking to you, but I have to get on" or something. Instead he said "Read the leaflet. You might learn something" and sprinted off.
The conversation went thus:
Him: How do you feel about the SNP's mismanagement of Scotland?
Me: There are quite a few things I think are positive.
Him: Such as?
Me: Free prescriptions.
Him: They are not "free!" Nothing is free. They are paid for by the taxpayer.
Me: I think they're a good use of taxes. My husband and I voted for increased tax-raising powers, and we pay more tax than we would if we lived in England, and we're ok with that.
Him (incredulous) you don't mind paying more tax, just because you're in Scotland??
Me: My daughter and son-in-law did the same course at the same university, but because he's English and had to pay tuition fees he has thousands of pounds of student debt that she doesn't have, because she's Scottish. We think we've had a good deal for our extra tax. We'd pay more if needs be.
Him: (snarly) Read the leaflet. You might learn something.
Couldn't get away fast enough. I was pleasant and upbeat, but you'd think I'd pissed on his cornflakes.
I have read the leaflet and what I've learned is that the Tories in this constituency really, really don't want Reform to take any of their votes. As the leaflet says A vote for Reform risks an SNP win!
The idea that nobody is prepared to pay more tax for better services is unfortunately endemic to pretty much all current political thinking. How else are we going to get better social care, education, end of life care, local services, etc? 'From each according to their means' is still a pretty good social recipe.
Comments
I hope today is a better day, @Firenze.
Facebook threw up an interesting algorithm this morning. I got an event reminder about a World Day of Prayer event on Friday. Sadly I now have a funeral that day, so I clicked on the event to remove myself from the "going" list. And Facebook then popped up with a "recommended" event for me - A Lodge meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Aberdeenshire West. A "Regular meeting, business TBC"
Really? I wonder what would happen if I clicked the "Interested" or "Going" button? I don't know a lot about Freemasonry, but I thought you had to be male and personally invited?
What a shame that I didn't have very much washing to do!
This afternoon I have walked there and back to the other supermarket (where be a Post Office) and a nearby B&Q. In total about 2.8 miles, not that far but I feel tired!
Tess Coe was oddly deserted this lunch-time - where was everyone? Sitting in their gardens, maybe? - but at least I was out in just 20 minutes!
PIE n'CHIPS for tea, with some nice Vegetable Spring Rolls for later.
Thank you, all.
I hope you're having a better day @Firenze .
We did get a bit of time yesterday evening with bubbly and wine with our meal, opening our cards and presents (not many of the latter, which we had requested as anything we were given would need to be packed into a box) but I can't say it was a relaxed evening. Today contract exchange has happened and our moving date is next Monday. We have a commitment on Friday that we can't change, so are already a day down on time this week, so it will be even more All Systems Go at Casa Nen for a while now. It will be good to get to the other side of it all.
I may therefore not be as much in evidence here for a little while; I have no idea how long it will take to be up and running with the Internet in the new place.
I've just had a Teams meeting, a rerun of the one I was too tired to join in with on Thursday. The person running the session was excellent. explained everything clearly, answered questions thoroughly and wrapped the whole thing up in 40 minutes. If only most meetings could be like that.
NEQ - I think you're a few years younger than me (I just turned 64), and David and I would have been married 38 years this coming July.
Days are getting lighter, and (for now anyway) weather more clement, which is nice. Work was quiet today; although J had left a couple of voice files before heading off on holiday for the week, they weren't too taxing, so I had a gentle start to the week.
Second half of the lamb for supper. 🙂
A sunny day and slightly warmer. I spent the usual morning doing emails and admin then the afternoon marking essays.
Tea was rock salmon with stir fried courgette, mushrooms and cashews, with toasted homemade bread. I haven’t cooked rock salmon before and it was very nice.
Echoed by me...
There is also a corollary of Murphy's law: whenever you have chopped chillies, but not yet had the chance to wash your hands thoroughly, the chance of an eyelash falling into your eye, coupled with momentary amnesia about the chillies, rises towards 100%.
Did you apply the milk or yoghurt remedy? I am living proof of its effectiveness after a bad chilli frying experience. I sincerely hope you didn't find it necessary to visit the bathroom too soon after the chilli event. You can learn interesting new dance steps from doing that.
NEQ - I think you're a few years younger than me (I just turned 64), and David and I would have been married 38 years this coming July.
I'm 61, going on for 62. so "a couple" rather than "a few" years younger. We've just had our 37th anniversary, but haven't yet celebrated it - we are going to have an afternoon tea somewhere rather nice, but I was still a bit wabbit from norovirus on the day itself, and since then we've been busy. Next week, hopefully.
I then went out to go to a rather belated Christmas meal with the bookshop I volunteer at. The room we were meeting in was far too noisy for me to hear anything and I knew no one at the table with a space and they weren't looking that enthusiastic about me joining them anyway. I cut my losses and came home, I think I probably should have declined the invite in the first place as although the food is very nice in that cafe I know the acoustics in their upstairs room are rubbish.. I'll have to apologise when I go in on Thursday.
Enjoy the belated celebration of your wedding anniversary when it happens @North East Quine .
Another day of Sun-Shine in Arcland the Arkadian, though the wind has changed from south-westerly to north-easterly. Not so warm as yesterday afternoon, but I can still have the wheelhouse door open, which avoids the Draught, but lets in the Vitamin D...
Pilates was gruelling today, so tomorrow will probably be given over to Doing Nothing. I suppose I'm fortunate to be able to afford to stay at home - not completely Idle, but Pottering Around just as much as I feel up to doing.
Not sure about Lunch - I had a nice Prawn Sandwich earlier (from the Co-Op), so I need to raid the fridge for anything with today's date on!
It makes so much difference when I have slept well and the sun is shining.
I’ve got another free day tomorrow so I will progress with my list.
My son contacted me this morning offering to come and do some gardening, and has filled the green bin ready for Thursday’s collection. He’s off on a flying business visit to Italy for the next two days.
It makes so much difference when I have slept well and the sun is shining.
I guess most of us would agree with this!
I'm anticipating a lot of switching things around in the new house: while it is bigger than our current one, the configuration is quite different and it will take a while to find out the best places for things. I'm sure wine will definitely help so thank you for that idea @Sarasa . I'd never have thought of it if you hadn't said.
We are having packers (coming on Saturday) but already have a huge number of boxes; it amazes me where all this Stuff has come from, particularly as we have been filling up our black bin and keeping the local charity shops and recycling services occupied for several weeks now. Mr Nen has arranged a good deal for the new broadband but it can't be connected until 17 March so we'll have ample opportunity to explore the local internet cafes and get the new house completely sorted
It's been a long and emotional day - we were awake early so up and sorting at 5.30am, then loads of errands in town (3 charity shops, post office, dropping things off at various places) and lunch with friends. I've been telling people not to say "goodbye" just "see you soon" (I hate goodbyes) but one of the friends I saw for lunch is someone I've been meeting with weekly for just short of 30 years and we both got tearful as we reflected on that.
I've known the friends I see on a Tuesday afternoon for a slightly shorter time but they've been an important part of my weekly routine for years so I had another blubber then.
I have one of our favourite teas planned (salmon in parsley sauce with roasted vegetables) and I'm feeling the need to get into practice with @Sarasa 's suggestion of wine-drinking.
We Shall Pay For It Later You Mark My Words.
Bus into town, but the supermarkets little better - they tend to only have trays of mingy little chops. However, comprehensive Middle Eastern grocer comes with actual butcher, who cut from the bone a beautiful helping of lean, diced meat. Bless him.
Reform would want to deport him...
We're off to London tomorrow taking a group of Ramblers for a stroll to explore the north bank of the Thames. As a Londoner using the tube is second nature, but I know from last time I went to London with a group of people from our town it can confuse non-natives so I need to not going sailing off leaving them struggling with the barriers.
The usual morning of admin and emails followed by an afternoon of marking (essays on child and youth inequality) which I didn’t finish until 6.30.
Needed to use stuff up from the fridge so we had a starter of monkfish in lemon sauce, followed by a main of chicken thighs in creamy mushroom sauce.
Nen - it'll all be worth it when you get into your new place. I'm well impressed at how you're getting everything done!
As Firenze said, it was a bonny day around these parts, and if it carries on like this the sunglasses will have to be dug out. The trouble with your flat being further west than your work is that you face the sun both coming and going ... 😎
Supper was a sort of intermittent grazing; because we had Night Church, I didn't really have time to cook, so I made a tuna salad before I went out, and had a cup of tea and a couple of HCBs when I got back.
Henri Cartier-Bresson?
A lovely sunny day here. I do have a Garden Agenda - there are a couple of plants I want to dig up and put into pots to take with us, plus the weeds are running amok - so may be able to get out and enjoy a bit of it at some point.
But that hasn't prevented the early season hay fever from kicking in.
You'll soon have new friends and times with the old ones will be all the more special for being less frequent.
I'm lucky to have both going on this week. Last night I went, with a group of new friends, to the cinema to watch the royal ballet live - Giselle - it was a really special evening, magical. Tomorrow is art group followed by lunch in a cafe with another really good group of new friends. We laugh such a lot.
On Friday I'm going to Manchester by Flixbus to celebrate a dear friend's birthday. Then back home on Sunday. Quite a flying visit but I find the bus relaxing, I sit and listen to my podcasts or read my books and the time flies by. 🙂
Not JCBs anyway: https://tinyurl.com/y25f5hw8
They should be included.
I remember digging up lots of my favourites, and potting them up, the previous autumn so there could be no doubt which ones we were taking.
Not that I needed to worry, the whole garden has now been denuded of vegetation and is an expanse of featureless lawn.
I have done my emails and admin and written a tutorial on grief (one of my favourite tutorials to present). Now I am having some eggy bread before getting down to today’s marking.
Keep the faith; it burnt off here about 11.
Part of me thinks I should be terrified that it's so warm so early in the year, but another part is looking forward to going for a walk later.
I get the same reaction from Jehovah’s witnesses and Mormons. I think they are under orders to call, but have shared information about not accepting hospitality or even talking.
Being in a river valley between low hills, and with very little breeze today, of course it's not unusual for mist and fog to persist for hours on end. Never mind - I had nowhere to go today, and nothing to do when I got there.
HOISIN DUCK NOODLES for tea/supper, a little later on.
Last time I spoke with Mormons, they were offering to help out with my impending house move, though I did end up using a professional firm.
I did make them quite uncomfortable, though, when I pointed out that the story of how Joseph Smith received his revelation was plagiarised from Islam.
I was friendly and smiley. He was rude. If he didn't want to continue the conversation he could have said something like "It's been nice talking to you, but I have to get on" or something. Instead he said "Read the leaflet. You might learn something" and sprinted off.
The conversation went thus:
Him: How do you feel about the SNP's mismanagement of Scotland?
Me: There are quite a few things I think are positive.
Him: Such as?
Me: Free prescriptions.
Him: They are not "free!" Nothing is free. They are paid for by the taxpayer.
Me: I think they're a good use of taxes. My husband and I voted for increased tax-raising powers, and we pay more tax than we would if we lived in England, and we're ok with that.
Him (incredulous) you don't mind paying more tax, just because you're in Scotland??
Me: My daughter and son-in-law did the same course at the same university, but because he's English and had to pay tuition fees he has thousands of pounds of student debt that she doesn't have, because she's Scottish. We think we've had a good deal for our extra tax. We'd pay more if needs be.
Him: (snarly) Read the leaflet. You might learn something.
Couldn't get away fast enough. I was pleasant and upbeat, but you'd think I'd pissed on his cornflakes.
I have read the leaflet and what I've learned is that the Tories in this constituency really, really don't want Reform to take any of their votes. As the leaflet says A vote for Reform risks an SNP win!