I recall that my mother was annoyed at a distant relative who wrote a semi fictional version of the family history in rural New South Wales. She said that the real story was much more interesting. On my father’s side, a cousin wrote two volumes of that family’s history, essentially about dad’s grandfather. He was an historian so these were quite well researched, but the first rather relied on the memories of elderly relatives and some unfortunate events were not mentioned at all. The second was for his Master’s thesis and so relied more on the materials of historians. Dad did make some annotations in his copy correcting errors.
I have a copy of the first book which I occasionally consult for dates of birth or details of relationships. It even has a photograph of me with my mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, taken in about 1956.
Maternal grandmother ( who did all the heavy lifting in the upbringing of 2 siblings & meself) was born in the Monaro as 3rd generation of Irish immigrants ( 1 convict & the rest escapees from the famine of 1848. She had a lively contempt of “romancing” and the stories I heard between my childhood & her death in 1990 aged 93 beat any historical novel.
Microsoft, who are sending me round in circles as I try to access my councillor's account via my iPad and iPhone. Fortunately I can still see it on my laptop, but it is a right royal pain which I hope someone at the Town Hall can sort out for me.
Hackers. Scum of the earth, all of them. 😡😡😡
A friend has just had her email a/c hacked and is at her wits end. I'd offer to drive to the south to help but the weather forecast and temperature put this out of bounds for this oldie.
Mrs RR, in expectoration of long stay visitations from her beloved younger sisters from Oz, is sprucing up the RR abode - rugs, carpets, crockery, tableware etc. Thus visits to various emporia for such. I tag along as 'muscle' and ignored aesthetic advisor. Everywhere has intrusive muzak playing. It drives me potty. So to hell with all this ghastly noise in shops.
Today ICTH the adverts on BBC radio, especially Radio 3. Why tell me (every 45 minutes) that it's The Home of Classical Music when I'm already listening to the bloody thing! Worse - it frequently drives me the off button, thereby having exactly the opposite of its designed effect.
I always think that Classic FM's tag-line ought to be "the home of the world's slowest music".
I remember being horrified when we moved to Canada and discovered that BBC Canada, which tended to broadcast shows that had been current in the UK about 10-15 years previously, had three advert breaks in every half-hour show ...
Mrs RR, in expectoration of long stay visitations from her beloved younger sisters from Oz, is sprucing up the RR abode - rugs, carpets, crockery, tableware etc. Thus visits to various emporia for such. I tag along as 'muscle' and ignored aesthetic advisor. Everywhere has intrusive muzak playing. It drives me potty. So to hell with all this ghastly noise in shops.
I take it that long visits from the darling gals makes Mrs RR want to spit? Or would that be you?
I agree with @RockyRoger about the egregious muzak in shops. These days, I seem able to filter it out (Tesco is the only shop playing it which I frequent), which is a blessing.
Or it may mean that I'm going deaf...
As to radio, I gave up listening to Classic FM some years ago - whether or not the music was slow, it was the constant adverts that spooked me.
This day. A main water main has ruptured, so my neighborhood has no water. My housekeeper just noted that my roof is leaking, and my neighbor's dog that we all loved died a few hours ago. I want a start over.
@Graven Image, that is far too many things all at once. I hope the water main is fixed quickly and your leaking roof isn't too major a problem. Prayers that your neighbour and everyone that knew and loved her dog are comforted.
Thank you. Two days projected before water. Two phone calls were made to the roof people, now waiting for a call back, and lots of hugs were given to our neighbor.
TICTH drivers who overtake and then come back into my lane before clearing me adequately so that I am too close behind them.
This.
It doesn't happen to me very often, as I rarely go out of urban traffic, but I always hold back a little just to give them a bit more space. A few seconds added to my journey matters little, but they may be in a hurry to reach their grave before it gets cold...
One of my main ways of avoiding driving disaster is leaving tons of space between the car in front and mine. And the way in which I've kept a pretty bright and shiny driving record is to obey the laws as far as possible: use my turn signal even when I'm alone, don't do a California stop ie slow down but roll through a stop sign; watch my speed. Yeah, there is no way I'll always stay within the lines, but I play the odds. The less I do wrong the less times I might be pulled over.
One of my main ways of avoiding driving disaster is leaving tons of space between the car in front and mine. And the way in which I've kept a pretty bright and shiny driving record is to obey the laws as far as possible: use my turn signal even when I'm alone, don't do a California stop ie slow down but roll through a stop sign; watch my speed. Yeah, there is no way I'll always stay within the lines, but I play the odds. The less I do wrong the less times I might be pulled over.
I once met a Dutch man at the airport, and almost as soon as we were on the highway he laughed. He then explained that in Amsterdam, if he left the same space in front that I did, there would immediately be three cars in it.
One of my main ways of avoiding driving disaster is leaving tons of space between the car in front and mine. And the way in which I've kept a pretty bright and shiny driving record is to obey the laws as far as possible: use my turn signal even when I'm alone, don't do a California stop ie slow down but roll through a stop sign; watch my speed. Yeah, there is no way I'll always stay within the lines, but I play the odds. The less I do wrong the less times I might be pulled over.
I once met a Dutch man at the airport, and almost as soon as we were on the highway he laughed. He then explained that in Amsterdam, if he left the same space in front that I did, there would immediately be three cars in it.
Having driven on Dutch roads, he's not kidding! They *love* driving close.
Adds the Netherlands to places never to drive. Tailgates terrify me. And annoy the feck out of me too. The obvious thing to do is slow down until the gap they're leaving is safe for the speed you're doing but I'm conscious that I'm dealing with the shallow end of the intellectual pool here and there's a danger they'll do something even more stupid in response.
The worst though are the stupid twats in Sheffield who get right up your arse when you're queuing on a steep hill. They're too thick to realise that if you should roll back you'll hit them. They even do it to learners who are quite likely to do just that. Personally I'd remove their licences because people that thick shouldn't be driving. There are too many stupid people on the roads as it is. No harm getting rid of a few.
I've been driven (by others) twice in the Netherlands.
The first was by an Englishman, who got tangled up in the bus lanes in Groningen - the police, on seeing the GB number plate, simply laughed, and waved us through.
The second was by a Dutchman, who seemed to have a pathological hatred of cyclists and trams in central Amsterdam ( ). I learned some nice new Dutch sweary-words from him, but I will not reveal them, as TIACW.
IKEA - to the underworld with them. One item of 160 was missing from the order for our kitchen overhaul. We have been told that it had been discontinued, but is available at several stores a considerable distance from here. We have been invited to go there to get it ourselves if it is still available by the time we get there. Can we order it and have it shipped to us? No. Can it be shipped to a store nearer us? No. Are they responsible for completing an order that has been accepted and delivered incomplete? No. Do they give a damn? No. Can I call the store to check availability? No. All phone communications are through a single number at a call centre. Their online 'chat' stalls at the simplest question. Plague take them.
TICTH the University of East London. Today was my daughter’s graduation on completion of her Masters in coaching and counseling. Much made of the excellence of the uni and its staff. But they awarded my girl the wrong thing, a lesser diploma, and spoiled the day for her. She has had so much trouble getting her name on the right list over the past 6 months, only to have it all to fight for again. She came out in tears, and though she ride above it, it will never be a happy memory.
People *who I have spoken to at length, who should have some idea if they'd bothered to listen* who try to "help" by sending me ads for jobs that I am both totally unqualified for and wouldn't go near with a bargepole even if I was. Its not as though I have a public profile on LinkedIn that you can read to see what I am looking for or what experience I have... oh, hang on a mo...
I can forgive people in situations where they really don't know, or are not in a situation to know all the facts (like someone who heard that a neighbouring compony was recruiting - which has turned out to be a rock-bottom role that they are already interviewing for) but if you should already know, and are in a position to check... grrrr!
Somebody a while back consigned themselves. That's definitely me today, for doing something so stupid I don't understand myself. Plenty of others will now be C me TH.
LinkedIn. In the absence of actual jobs to apply for, I'm trying to make use of my free month of Premium to connect with as many people based round here as possible (it doesn't seem to be any use for anything else, frankly).
So what is LinkedIn doing? It's not opening. It's like trying to get into a website in 2001, on a regular basis - and this is what the world is supposed to be using to find work!
Fuck 'em. Fuck 'em, and fuck the horse they rode in on. Then fuck 'em with the horse they rode in on.
I honestly think it's a pit full of stolen souls, but it's what you have to do these days to look as though you are trying to find work. I am literally sending connection requests to people at every local biotech I can find. When it's working...
I’ve got a LinkedIn account, but I don’t really know what it’s for
As far as I can tell it's for convincing other people that you are capable of making a lot of noise about not very much, TBH. I can't imagine I'd be using it to look for people in your line of work, Spike.
Our Place's erstwhile Father Fu**wit still has a LinkedIn page, on which he declares himself as being Priest-In-Charge, and a 'caring person'.
He retired in early 2017, and presumably has not cared enough about his account to update it...no surprise there...
By way of contrast, a former Baptist congregation nearby (since closed down, alas) had a part-time pastor who also had a LinkedIn page. I duly added this - and the other details of his church - to Our Place's website, as a matter of courtesy and Christian co-operation. The pastor (a lovely chap - much missed) politely asked me to delete the LinkedIn info, as he was formerly a police officer engaged in delicate negotiational stuff...
TICT a very gentle scorching in H Our Place's current FatherInCharge, who persists in publicly* naming - on his weekly news-sheet - children with 'behavioural problems' or 'learning difficulties' under the heading of 'The Sick And Suffering', and, therefore, presumably needing to be 'cured'...
I'm not sure what he wants God to do about them - some time ago, I had to explain to him that people with autism (such as me) weren't actually ill...
I dunno. He's a godly, devout, caring man, and has managed to maintain the rumour of God in Our Place's UPA parish, despite all odds, so I hate to be too critical of him.
(*the actual readership of the news-sheet is fairly small - maybe 100 people at most? Even so...TMI).
Well, I may be making something out of nothing, but I feel uneasy. I don't personally know any of the children concerned, and I don't know if they come to church with their parents - they might simply be people who FInC has met around the town, and who may have asked for prayer (or had it offered to them IYSWIM).
There's no reason AFAICS why FInC can't simply request prayer for (say) 'those dealing with difficult children', without naming names.
It's always a good idea to take such things up with the safeguarding team who can then make a decision about what to do next. It was one of the things drilled into me when I worked in schools.
Well, I may be making something out of nothing, but I feel uneasy. I don't personally know any of the children concerned, and I don't know if they come to church with their parents - they might simply be people who FInC has met around the town, and who may have asked for prayer (or had it offered to them IYSWIM).
This makes it even more concerning. Has he got their parents permission to be publishing their names like this?
I've noticed that (spoken) intercessions in cathedrals often pray for people simply by their first name: "We bring before you Fred, Mabel, Chris ...". Might not work so well in an ordinary parish setting.
Depends on the parish. I am well acquainted with similar notices from past times as a parishioner (RC) & chorister ( AC and RC). Seemed to work well for all concerned. I recall in particular prayer requests for Baby X or Y; no further info but no doubt prayers offered.
Comments
I have a copy of the first book which I occasionally consult for dates of birth or details of relationships. It even has a photograph of me with my mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, taken in about 1956.
Maternal grandmother ( who did all the heavy lifting in the upbringing of 2 siblings & meself) was born in the Monaro as 3rd generation of Irish immigrants ( 1 convict & the rest escapees from the famine of 1848. She had a lively contempt of “romancing” and the stories I heard between my childhood & her death in 1990 aged 93 beat any historical novel.
A friend has just had her email a/c hacked and is at her wits end. I'd offer to drive to the south to help but the weather forecast and temperature put this out of bounds for this oldie.
Everywhere has intrusive muzak playing. It drives me potty. So to hell with all this ghastly noise in shops.
I always think that Classic FM's tag-line ought to be "the home of the world's slowest music".
I remember being horrified when we moved to Canada and discovered that BBC Canada, which tended to broadcast shows that had been current in the UK about 10-15 years previously, had three advert breaks in every half-hour show ...
I take it that long visits from the darling gals makes Mrs RR want to spit? Or would that be you?
Or it may mean that I'm going deaf...
As to radio, I gave up listening to Classic FM some years ago - whether or not the music was slow, it was the constant adverts that spooked me.
This.
It doesn't happen to me very often, as I rarely go out of urban traffic, but I always hold back a little just to give them a bit more space. A few seconds added to my journey matters little, but they may be in a hurry to reach their grave before it gets cold...
I once met a Dutch man at the airport, and almost as soon as we were on the highway he laughed. He then explained that in Amsterdam, if he left the same space in front that I did, there would immediately be three cars in it.
Having driven on Dutch roads, he's not kidding! They *love* driving close.
The worst though are the stupid twats in Sheffield who get right up your arse when you're queuing on a steep hill. They're too thick to realise that if you should roll back you'll hit them. They even do it to learners who are quite likely to do just that. Personally I'd remove their licences because people that thick shouldn't be driving. There are too many stupid people on the roads as it is. No harm getting rid of a few.
The first was by an Englishman, who got tangled up in the bus lanes in Groningen - the police, on seeing the GB number plate, simply laughed, and waved us through.
The second was by a Dutchman, who seemed to have a pathological hatred of cyclists and trams in central Amsterdam (
WTF?
Apologies to US Shipmates, but I feel safer on this side of the Pond...
(I'm guessing that the US tourist industry is suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous Trump).
I can forgive people in situations where they really don't know, or are not in a situation to know all the facts (like someone who heard that a neighbouring compony was recruiting - which has turned out to be a rock-bottom role that they are already interviewing for) but if you should already know, and are in a position to check... grrrr!
Edited as requested - Nenya, All Saints Host
Could a kind host remove everything up to the word "People", please?
I hope something suitable turns up very soon.
So what is LinkedIn doing? It's not opening. It's like trying to get into a website in 2001, on a regular basis - and this is what the world is supposed to be using to find work!
Fuck 'em. Fuck 'em, and fuck the horse they rode in on. Then fuck 'em with the horse they rode in on.
As far as I can tell it's for convincing other people that you are capable of making a lot of noise about not very much, TBH. I can't imagine I'd be using it to look for people in your line of work, Spike.
He retired in early 2017, and presumably has not cared enough about his account to update it...no surprise there...
By way of contrast, a former Baptist congregation nearby (since closed down, alas) had a part-time pastor who also had a LinkedIn page. I duly added this - and the other details of his church - to Our Place's website, as a matter of courtesy and Christian co-operation. The pastor (a lovely chap - much missed) politely asked me to delete the LinkedIn info, as he was formerly a police officer engaged in delicate negotiational stuff...
I'm not sure what he wants God to do about them - some time ago, I had to explain to him that people with autism (such as me) weren't actually ill...
I dunno. He's a godly, devout, caring man, and has managed to maintain the rumour of God in Our Place's UPA parish, despite all odds, so I hate to be too critical of him.
(*the actual readership of the news-sheet is fairly small - maybe 100 people at most? Even so...TMI).
I shall take this under advisement, if he continues to name names.
Missed the edit window, but will call the Safeguarding people tomorrow. I'm sure FInC means well, but...
There's no reason AFAICS why FInC can't simply request prayer for (say) 'those dealing with difficult children', without naming names.
This makes it even more concerning. Has he got their parents permission to be publishing their names like this?