AS: Cool Britannia (sort of): the British thread 2019

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Comments

  • Re. the old folk: my mother got very cross when "they" suggested she might like to attend the "senior citizens'" bingo sessions. "I've never wanted to play bingo", she said, "so why should I want to now? What I really want is someone to take me to the opera".
    I like your mother! I'd be happy to take her to the opera if she lived near me.

  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    edited January 2019
    For "opera" read "Evensong in a nice cathedral/college chapel", and I'll be right there!

    I'm with BT's mum re: bingo though - I can't imagine anything more boring!
  • Agreed Piglet.
  • Don't be put off, @Boogie . I persuaded The Dowager to go to Contact the Elderly tea parties and once she got there she thoroughly enjoyed them. One of the hosts had teenage daughters and they and Mum enjoyed the contact. Dinner out, wine, opera - it's all lovely when you aren't 94, but awfully hard to organise (with due respect for @ferijen 's grandfather) because people drop out at the last minute. Our church runs a fortnightly lunch club, with lifts to and fro, and we never know how many will actually turn up on the day.

    It's often hard enough to get an elderly person to go out in the afternoon, said she from bitter experience, leave alone in the cold and dark!

    And beware of being too sniffy about bingo. A year ago, The Dowager was terribly snooty about the 'kindergarten games' laid on in her care home. Nowadays, I have rung her, only to hear her complain to the carer with the telephone 'Right in the middle of bingo!'

    Mrs. S, a great fan of Contact the Elderly
  • BoogieBoogie Shipmate
    edited January 2019
    Boogie wrote: »
    I need to start practicing my cake making skills! I’ve joined a charity called Contact the Elderly.

    I will be hosting a tea party in April and one in October. They do the admin, driving etc etc.

    Exciting!

    Good for you.

    But why do people assume that because people are old they want tea? The oldest of my cousins - 85, lives alone, regularly goes to theatre, cinema, etc - was contacted by someone from a charity for the elderly and asked what social/ contact events appealed: looked at the options and all were based around tea, singing or ballroom dancing. As she said, her idea of heaven (fulfilled on a pretty regular basis by her grandsons) is to go out to dinner or the theatre with a good meal and a few drinks. Volunteer from charity looked bewildered apparently - couldn't get it that she wasn't gagging to be taken out for tea.

    You can provide any meal - Spencer and I visited the January one and it was a full roast dinner - roast beef, Yorkshire puds, the lot. The December one they all went out to a restaurant for lunch, they had a great time and so did the drivers. They all talked about it.

    I’m doing a tea party because I don’t cook!

    I’ll be making posh sandwiches and lots of nice cakes. 🍰
  • BoogieBoogie Shipmate
    At my Mum’s care home they once had an Elvis impersonator for a party. I was nonplussed and thought Mum would have disappeared to her room - she hated pop music.

    Nope, when I arrived it was in full swing and she was smiling and having fun!

  • My mother used to play Bingo , and I was always pretty sniffy about it - until I worked as an activities co-ordinator in a home for vulnerable elderly people. Reluctantly, I ran a short bingo session every couple of weeks, and soon observed how it benefitted those who came along.
    Some of those benefits are listed in this article.
  • My grandmother in the 70 and 80s used to run the local sheltered housing social group as a resident and was queen bingo caller.
    But in Luton bingo was something working class women of all ages did; my parents and older sister used to go to bingo and it was a feature of my 1980s holidays in the Ladbrokes holiday camp at Caister.
  • Pigwidgeon wrote: »
    Re. the old folk: my mother got very cross when "they" suggested she might like to attend the "senior citizens'" bingo sessions. "I've never wanted to play bingo", she said, "so why should I want to now? What I really want is someone to take me to the opera".
    I like your mother! I'd be happy to take her to the opera if she lived near me.
    Sadly she died in 2009. But she had been a widow since 1974.

  • NenyaNenya Shipmate
    I quite fancy being a bingo caller and using all the funny names for the numbers. Mind you, are you allowed to call "Two fat ladies - 88" these days?
  • My get-about-town grandad would go for lunch, booze, (always space for pudding) and still make space for cake later...

    Last night he was telling me about his cinema trips, I doubt he’d been to the cinema for 60 years until the last few months.

    He doesn’t like booking holidays too far in advance in case he’s not around to enjoy them though...

    Gingerbread men, women, bears and babies made yesterday. Plenty to go round...
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Nenya wrote: »
    ... are you allowed to call "Two fat ladies - 88" these days?
    Probably not, but do you remember these ladies (may they both rest in peace)?

    I always enjoyed their shows, mostly because they didn't take themselves too seriously.

    It's a gloriously sunny but cool-ish (-6°) day here, although there are still huge Patches of Treachery™ on the path and drive round the porcine château - more road salt has been applied, but it might be too cold for it to really take effect.

    Oh well, back to hobbling like a 90-year-old ... :fearful:

  • I was heartened when I heard Status Quo blaring out of the room next to my aunt’s in the care home. That same day the booked entertainment expected the residents to singalong to Daisy, Daisy (oh yes!) - it’s as if potential residents have to learn the songs of earlier generations in order to live there.

    Closer to home, last Oct I joined a cheerleading class for the over 60s just because it sounded like fun and have been astonished at the patronising manner of the teacher - apparently at 60 we suddenly lose our marbles, have no other form of socialising and have no friends. Even the 80-somethings at the class don’t meet those criteria. I have decided that I have other things to do at the time of the class.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    edited January 2019
    daisydaisy wrote: »
    I was heartened when I heard Status Quo blaring out of the room next to my aunt’s in the care home ...
    Right on! :mrgreen:
    ferijen wrote: »
    ... He doesn’t like booking holidays too far in advance in case he’s not around to enjoy them ...
    At our last church, there was a retired surgeon who, at the age of 101, bought a new car, and asked about the extended warranty ...

    He lived to be 107, although I think he had given up driving a year or two before.

  • NenyaNenya Shipmate
    Piglet wrote: »
    Nenya wrote: »
    ... are you allowed to call "Two fat ladies - 88" these days?
    Probably not, but do you remember these ladies (may they both rest in peace)?

    Yes, I do indeed, and I always enjoyed watching them too.
  • SarasaSarasa Shipmate
    Shame about the cheerleading @daisydaisy , it sounded as though it was going to be a lot of fun. I think going into patronising mode seems to be a default with some people when they meet someone older. Hope you can find something similar with a better tutor.
  • I’ve just got back from an all you can eat international buffet restaurant and am completely stuffed. We were celebrating my eldest’s 18th birthday a day early as we aren’t all around tomorrow. Now I’m wrapping pressies.
  • Made a meatball stew with some aubergines and tomatoes that needed using up and pudding was Baumkuchen, on sale from TKMaxx for 90p! Am feeling quite frugal (with no justification whatsoever).
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    edited January 2019
    Not shore (!) where to put this, but I'm going ashore for a while.

    Having been accused of being a pervert who gets off on looking at women's bald heads (see the Cancer SUCKS thread), I think it's time I took a break. For some reason, the accusation (quite untrue) has been preying on my mind, and was deeply hurtful.

    Bon Voyage!
  • daisydaisydaisydaisy Shipmate
    edited January 2019
    Awww @Bishops Finger we’ll miss you while you are ashore - I hope you come back refreshed.

    Currently doing my Great British Bird Watch, but very little is visiting (even less than usual, that is), maybe put off by next door’s cat whose snooze I just interrupted to shoo off. Not sure I should guess what to count for whatever just deposited a splat on the window.
  • I just checked out that thread @Bishops Finger and couldn't see anything wrong with what you wrote. Please don't go, we'd miss you.
  • @Bishops Finger - please don't go. At least stay on AS, if you can't face The Other Place...
  • BoogieBoogie Shipmate
    Not shore (!) where to put this, but I'm going ashore for a while.

    Having been accused of being a pervert who gets off on looking at women's bald heads (see the Cancer SUCKS thread), I think it's time I took a break. For some reason, the accusation (quite untrue) has been preying on my mind, and was deeply hurtful.

    Bon Voyage!

    Stay here on this thread @Bishops Finger - we will be gentle with you.

    I’m sure the Cancer Sucks thread is full of difficult emotions. I don’t visit it because I can’t cope. Whilst knowing that one day I may have to. Most people don’t evade cancer completely one way or another

  • BoogieBoogie Shipmate
    @daisydaisy my birds have all gone :cry:

    Our tree fell down and next door got rid of all their bushes, we now have zero garden birds.

    I miss them.
  • Install bird feeders? Put up nest boxes? Hang fat balls?
  • BoogieBoogie Shipmate
    Install bird feeders? Put up nest boxes? Hang fat balls?

    I have a bird feeder with sunflower hearts and mealworms plus one with fat balls.

    I cleared them both out yesterday and gave them a good wash in antibacterial liquid then refilled them with new food, in case they’d gone stale.

    No birds :cry:



  • Not shore (!) where to put this, but I'm going ashore for a while.

    Having been accused of being a pervert who gets off on looking at women's bald heads (see the Cancer SUCKS thread), I think it's time I took a break. For some reason, the accusation (quite untrue) has been preying on my mind, and was deeply hurtful.

    Bon Voyage!

    Please just leave that thread, and not the Ship. I always smile when I notice you're the last poster on a thread (I always go to Recent Discussions when I sign on), because I know I'll enjoy reading what you have to say. I enjoy your sense of humour.
  • That's true for me too BF - please stay - or if you must take a break - then come back soon.
  • Oh yes - please stay on AS @Bishops Finger - I’d not thought of that splendid option.
  • MMMMMM Shipmate
    Adding my hopes that you’ll stay, BF.

    MMM
  • And mine....
  • And mine ...
  • Please stay @Bishops Finger - it would be very sad to see you go. Hell is always prickly. It's where people can vent, and easily avoidable if you're feeling fragile.

    Cold windy weather with icy puddles out in the fields, when I got out for a walk. The best bit was standing next to teasels being grazed by a charm of goldfinches. Sadly, when I was using a concrete track, without right of way, that is a short cut between two footpaths, I met the farmer, again. I did apologise, but it makes the difference between a 5.2 mile walk, rather than the legal 8 plus mile walk. It's the difference between getting a walk in with under 2 hours available or taking 3 hours or more and no walk.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    @Bishops Finger - I'll add my 2p as well - the Ship generally, and this thread in particular, would be much the poorer without you. If you absolutely feel you must take a break, please make it a brief one, or as the others have said, just stay out of the hot place - things can get understandably fraught there.
  • DooneDoone Shipmate
    Please don’t go BF!
  • Adding my plea to Bishop's Finger to at least remain on this thread - it's been nice knowing that I have a SE neighbour here.
  • (Hugs) to you BF, if you must leave the ship, then do return when you are able.
  • Don't go, Bishop's Finger! Stay here, in All Saints!
  • BF - you must stay. Avoid the hot place but some of us value your comments too much to lose them to landlubbers :cry:
  • On a more cheerful note: the children have noted that I've been rather mumpish so treated me to dinner at a splendid restaurant. Having checked before booking that they could cope with my food intolerance (not on the official list of allergens - and who drew up that?) I had a choice of starters and mains available (very rare) and a place with a proper cheese board that didn't try to foist bread or crackers onto me either.

    We had a lovely time, I didn't have to be the designated driver and am feeling uplifted :grin:
  • @TheOrganist - it's all your fault that the next 8th Day Board is going to be a relationships board - starting soon! Well, it was your comments here that made me think of it. Because it could be a special place to discuss relationships in their glory, and also a chance to say, if anyone wanted to, who was available, who was looking and all that jazz.
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    edited January 2019
    *BF pops head over gunwales*

    Many, many thanks to all the Saintly host (and Hosts) for your kind words....quite moving, to say the least.

    As I've said to some who have PMed me, I do really need to take a little time off, partly to concentrate on matters IRL which I have neglected of late, and partly because I'm still coming to terms with fragile emotions and disabilities which are catching up with me.

    I shall, however, be Lurking Darkly in Bilges and/or Scuppers from time to time....

    Episcopal Blessings be upon you!
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
  • A bit of snow here - some younger overseas colleagues getting VERY excited - it rarely snows here to be fair. It hasn't really settled, but there's a little bit on the grass still.
  • Baptist TrainfanBaptist Trainfan Shipmate
    edited January 2019
    Here (south Wales) it is cold (not by Piglet's standards, who would find it Unseasonably Warm) and very wet. The BBC is promising "real winter weather" tomorrow - my wife will be off to London and, as everyone knows. British trains panic at the very thought of snow.
  • Transport for London has just emailed out weather warnings - I'm on the standard mailing list - basically saying they are doing all they can, but bad weather is forecast.
  • BF, glad you're not leaving for good - just getting your coat for s while.

    Weather wise, I'm rather glad that Darllenwr's meeting in a town about 10 miles away but a couple of hundred feet higher than us and ALWAYS an overcoat colder, has been postponed.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    D. was speaking to his mum earlier and she said there was snow in Colchester, which is really quite rare - the only time I think I've ever seen snow there was almost a year ago, when we were on our way back after Dad's funeral and got hit by the "Beast from the East", and even that was only a few inches. There were some pretty pictures on FB today of snow in Orkney and a few other places; as I said there, it's lovely for the first few hours, but it gets a bit wearing after three months!

    People over here fall about laughing at how little snow it takes to make England grind to a standstill, but I suppose it's a matter of what you're used to. Everyone over here uses winter tyres, but you could hardly justify them for a few days a year.

    Just be glad you don't live in Toronto - they've got over a foot and still counting. :flushed:
  • There's usually a bit of snow here every year, rather more every four or five years. Last year there was a lot, and we're getting some now. I've got pictures of snow in 2010, 5 months of snow in 2012, and various days of snow over the years.

    I'm also seeing a foot or more of snow in Norway, Sweden and Switzerland in photos from people I'm following on 365.
  • less than 1cm of snow on our road this morning. I threw some grit down on the junctions and the patch outside our house - was melted by the time I'd finished scraping the cars

    Apparently my colleagues in Atlanta saw a similar amount of snow yesterday - the office was shut and everyone stayed at home due to the "risk of ice and travel disruption"
  • la vie en rougela vie en rouge Circus Host, 8th Day Host
    There was a scattering here – a centimetre or so in Paris, a bit more in the suburbs, but it was too wet to properly settle.

    Surprisingly, my morning commute (by bus) was quicker than usual. Apparently driving conditions on the boulevard Périphérique were rather unpleasant, and I suppose quite a lot of people outside Paris might have left their cars at home.
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