Yesterday, I finished work at 3pm and decided I'd potter into town and get some ideas for Valentine's Day. Unusually for me, I didn't have anything planned. Now I'm a girl who loves to plan a surprise. Any occasion. I'll get started on plans months in advance. I love it.
So Valentine's Day was on the horizon and, for some unknown reason, I just didn't get round to planning anything. I'm ok at last minute so it wasn't a major problem but I was a little surprised. That's why I decided to wander around town for a while looking for ideas yesterday. I thought I could form a plan whilst seeing things to get inspiration.
I went into the fancy, preppy Jack Wills and perused the sock section. I visited Molten Brown and smelled the many shower gels. I looked at the photo frames in Zara Home, the jumpers in Crew Clothing and the books in Waterstone's. Eventually, whilst wandering around M&S, I decided on a nice pair of pyjamas (that I will inevitably steal and start wearing within a week) and, remembering that it is just Valentine's and not a full on birthday or anything, restrained myself enough to just decide to buy some chocolates to go with the pyjamas.
I headed straight for my favourite chocolate shop. It is called William Curley's and is a haven of chocolatey goodness. It has won awards. It runs chocolate cookery courses daily. Its chocolates are flavoured with the delicate tastes of Scottish heather and Richmond Park honey. It is phenomenally good quality. I always put a little something from William Curley's on the side of birthday gifts.
Danda called while I was on my way there and asked me where I was.
"O, just in Waitrose," said I, sneakily. For I am very sneaky sometimes. "I'm getting us some dinner."
"Brilliant. I've been at the garage all afternoon. The gears on the taxi broke. The mechanic just got finished and I'm driving back. Do you fancy going to the cinema tonight?"
"That sounds great. Call me when you get here."
I hurried to William Curley's, for I would have to get home and hide the presents before Danda got back or it would ruin the surprise. Turning into the little lane, I started to imagine what chocolate I would pick for him. I pushed open the door, stepped into the shop and looked up.....
.... At Danda!
There was a moment of recognition as we both realised what had happened. He was at the till paying and just suddenly said, "Get out!" pointing wildly at the door, at which I turned on my heel and fled, laughing uncontrollably.
O well. There goes the surprise! And now I have to think of a new plan for the chocolate part of the present, as I obviously didn't get any. Maybe a hug will do?
Thursday, 14 February 2013
Wednesday, 13 February 2013
The shepherd
It's Rambler5319, my Wednesday guest blogger, with the post for today. Enjoy!
When I was a student there seemed to be particular artists and certain pictures that were popular. I’d grown up in a house where art was not talked about except when pictures or sculptures made the news so I didn’t have a favourite artist or picture. However, many fellow students decorated their walls with posters of pictures by Dali (Metamorphosis of Narcissus with its two hands holding the eggs with a flower coming out of one, The Persistence of Memory with its watch faces flopping over tree branch); Turner (The Fighting Temeraire was very popular along with Rain, Steam & Speed); Magritte (Time Transfixed - the train coming out of the fireplace & the man with the bowler hat on with an apple in front of his face) and those impossible pictures by Max Escher (water going downhill which ends up higher than its starting point, men walking on the underside of staircases etc).
Check this out and follow the water from the base of the wheel and watch it flowing downhill all the way round and yet it finishes higher than the wheel:
And then this one.
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee36/AussiEmedia/ART%20Paintings/Maurits%20Cornelis%20Escher/escher2-001_twon_ascending-and-desc.jpg
How can there be two sets of people ascending and descending the stairs at the same time with different outcomes. Take any corner to start and then follow those going up and see how they end up lower than their starting point. Then go back to the same corner and follow those going down and see how they end up higher than their starting point. Bizarre!
Another popular one was the 1559 picture Proverbs by the Dutch painter Pieter Breughel (the Elder). If you fancy trying to spot a few here’s the link:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Bruegel_Proverbs.jpg
I’ll start you off by taking you to the bottom left area where you can see a man – “banging his head against a brick wall”. See if you can spot any others. They are Dutch (so you may not know a lot of them) but a number are in use in English so you may recognise those. If you’re struggling, the answers with the part of the picture to which they refer, are here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlandish_Proverbs
Anyway that’s just by way of an intro to this week’s topic which is to tell you about one of my favourite pictures of the last 10 years or so. Here it is:
It’s not by an artist as such; it’s a simple postcard size black & white photo. I had seen it many years ago when driving up and down the motorways of the UK. A large version was hung on the walls of one of the motorway service areas on the M6 called Tebay Services. It’s located about 300 miles north of London & 30 miles south of Carlisle on the west side of England. (This picture has since been moved to the Rheged Centre in Penrith. This means it is actually nearer the area where its subject lived.) The service station itself has a very interesting history: it was built in 1972 and is still operated by the farming family (now its second generation) through whose land the M6 motorway was built.
However there’s just something about this picture that appeals to me. There is something in its simplicity because of the subject matter. I’m not looking for any deep philosophical meaning here but to me it definitely projects something. I see an old man; I see a weathered face which kind of says it fits with its environment out on the fells of Cumbria; I see strength, determination and years of experience, a shepherd going about his business doing one of those special things that shepherds do – rescuing. (The word shepherd is, as you may know, a contraction of the phrase sheep herder.) I wonder what you see in it? It’s just a shepherd carrying his crook in his left hand with a sheep on his shoulders but it poses an obvious question: since sheep can walk why is he carrying it? Perhaps the sheep was injured and he was bringing it back to the farm to tend to it; perhaps the sheep got separated from the main herd, even lost, and he found it and was bringing it back to the fold as it probably wouldn’t just follow him on its own. Or maybe it was something else. One thing for sure is that the sheep is completely safe. There’s something that says just keep still and you’ll be ok, I’ll get you back, I’ll get you home. Also, if you can, look at how many ‘layers’ the shepherd is wearing – I can see at least 4 and in addition there may be an undergarment. It’s therefore probably a cold part of the year – certainly not summer as the sheep has its full coat.
I can tell you that, because of the area farmed by the shepherd in the picture, the sheep is a breed called (Lakeland) Herdwick. Herdwick comes from the old Norse word herdvyck meaning ‘sheep pasture’. Informed sources say that the average figures for the weight of a full grown sheep of this breed are: ewes 77-99lbs (35-45kgs) and rams 143-165lbs (65-75kgs). Now look at that picture again - this guy is carrying a ewe so could easily be about 6-7 stone in weight across his shoulders. Now think about this – with that pure white beard, how old is he and how did he hoist it up there? How would you get an animal, which probably wasn’t keeping still, of that weight, across your shoulders?
I know, from what the service station owners told me when I rang them to ask about the picture which wasn’t there last time I stopped for a break, that the guy’s name in the picture was Isaac Cookson. Using a bit of investigative reasoning I worked out (given that it turns out to be quite an unusual name in the census records) that he was born in 1873 in the village (parish) of Bampton a couple of miles NE of Haweswater and about 25 miles NW of Tebay Services.
Haweswater is a reservoir completed in 1935 to serve the Manchester area’s growing need for water and, as with Lake Vyrnwy for Liverpool (post 28.11.12), involved the damming and then flooding of a river valley – this time, the Mardale Valley - where 40 people lived in 9 houses. They had to be moved out and their village was then demolished. The reservoir name comes from the name of the much smaller original lake but obviously disguises the fact that it was built for a large industrial town many miles away. It sounds just like an ordinary lake similar to others in the Lake District (Ullswater, Derwent Water, Coniston Water, Ennerdale Water etc); they did a similar thing with the name for the reservoir for Liverpool calling it a lake.
Isaac remained in the area all his life living on Gill Head Farm. From the 1881 Census we know that Isaac’s parents (Robert & Jane) & his siblings were living with Jane’s parents at Gill Head Farm. The Cookson family (with their ages in brackets) consisted of Robert (36) & Jane (34) with children Noble (9), Isaac (8), John (6), Kate (4), Tom (3) & Joseph (1). Interestingly, although sadly, the census records show that John & Joseph were both born blind. They do not appear in the 1891 records for the family but John reappears in the 1901 & Joseph in the 1911 where both are shown as “basket maker, blind”. By then both are in their thirties and lived on to 83 & 80 respectively.
Lakeland farmers used to meet up once a year, during November, at what is called “The Shepherds’ Meet”. Here they would come together to socialise and in observance of the code of honour for the fells each would bring any stray sheep they had found on their land. The owners of the various lost sheep would be identified by a complex system of ear markings that might involve punching, cropping, keybitting, fold-bitting, ritting, upper and under halving and forking; these marks could be on one or both ears. Just a verbal description of the cuts would be enough for a farmer to recognise whether a sheep belonged to him.
Check out this diagram showing different types of ear markings showing how various ‘cuts’ were made in the sheep’s ears to identify the owner. This interesting pic is from the Staffin EcoMuseum on the Isle of Skye and some of the text is in the local dialect but there is a partial explanation in English at the top. (You’ll need to drag down the page just a little to see the picture.
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=x6Yc8mfchzc6vM&tbnid=X1xwAsLa5nQK8M:&ved=0CAgQjRwwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skyecomuseum.co.uk%2Fbrogaig.php&ei=xi0aUfb4Maio0AX9x4G4Dg&psig=AFQjCNHs7oXsid6Dr-WLwZkWKhma5D4DBA&ust=1360756550862128
There is a great story about Isaac who rarely ever left his farm: shepherds took pride in their appearance and one Friday evening Albert Graham was walking past the farm and saw Isaac outside having a wash in a washbasin - Isaac told him, “I’m thinking o’ going to Penrith on Tuesday”. Nothing like being prepared well in advance, eh? Nice one!
Isaac attended his 61st annual Shepherds’ Meet in 1952 (aged 79) and said, “I’m good for a few more yet”. (He actually died in 1956.)
And that’s why this is my favourite picture. There is so much you can get from it.
And to close, a bit of Lakeland/Sheep trivia.
Beatrix Potter (Mrs Heelis) didn’t write about Herdwick sheep but she was definitely keen on them. From the money she earned from the Peter Rabbit stories, during the 1920s, she bought up Lake District farms that were under threat from development. She encouraged the revival of the Herdwick breed of sheep and was president of the Herdwick Breed Association for a time in the 1930s. When she died in 1943 she left all her farms to the National Trust specifying that the sheep on these farms should be pure Herdwicks.
Today, there are around 50,000 Lakeland Herdwick sheep being kept commercially on about 120 farms in the Lake District some still owned by the National Trust.
And finally,
BANANA News:
If you remember last week’s post about my supermarket bananas I mentioned that they’d come from Cameroon and the previous week from Ecuador; this week they were from Colombia – the world’s 8th largest producer of bananas. I’m curious as to where next week’s will come from.
Tuesday, 12 February 2013
Silly things that have happened to me in the kitchen
1. I was once, foolishly, trying to squeeze too many things into the cupboard and the precariously balanced cheese grater at the far end was being steadily pushed closer to the surface. Eventually, I put one too many mugs in the cupboard and the grater fell. On instinct, I just reached out my hand and caught it.... And grated my little finger on the side that you zest things on. It was torn apart and in tatters for weeks afterward.
2. I sometimes store things on the very top of the cupboards because I have run out of space inside the cupboards. I had put some flour up there and was trying to get it down. Being the LazyLauraMaisey that I am, I couldn't be bothered to get the chair or a step ladder. Or anything in fact. I just kept jumping up trying to grab it. Eventually I had tugged it to the very edge of the cupboard by jumping and grabbing it a little each time. When I had run out of energy, I just looked up and thought I'd probably have to give in and get a chair to climb. It was at this moment, standing underneath it and looking up, that it eventually tipped and fell. On to my face. My nose and top lip to be exact. About a third of the bag of flour also broke free at this point so my head was left in a cloud of flour and my nose felt broken as the bag fell to the floor and tipped almost the rest of the flour out in a nice little pile at my feet.
3. Left the tea box on a hob which was still turned on and burned through most of the tea bags inside the box. As a ps, burnt tea bags smell Dis. Gus. Ting.
4. (This one wasn't me.) A friend once dropped her phone in a pan of oil then panicked and ran it under the tap to wash the oil off...!
2. I sometimes store things on the very top of the cupboards because I have run out of space inside the cupboards. I had put some flour up there and was trying to get it down. Being the LazyLauraMaisey that I am, I couldn't be bothered to get the chair or a step ladder. Or anything in fact. I just kept jumping up trying to grab it. Eventually I had tugged it to the very edge of the cupboard by jumping and grabbing it a little each time. When I had run out of energy, I just looked up and thought I'd probably have to give in and get a chair to climb. It was at this moment, standing underneath it and looking up, that it eventually tipped and fell. On to my face. My nose and top lip to be exact. About a third of the bag of flour also broke free at this point so my head was left in a cloud of flour and my nose felt broken as the bag fell to the floor and tipped almost the rest of the flour out in a nice little pile at my feet.
3. Left the tea box on a hob which was still turned on and burned through most of the tea bags inside the box. As a ps, burnt tea bags smell Dis. Gus. Ting.
4. (This one wasn't me.) A friend once dropped her phone in a pan of oil then panicked and ran it under the tap to wash the oil off...!
Monday, 11 February 2013
Again? O ok. Let's do it. Another award....
I had a plan for today's blog. A plan which promised greatness and fabulousness and all the things you all love best about my blog.... I was going to get a copy of Chat and do a write up for you. But something insane happened. I couldn't find one anywhere! So I'll have to go to some different shops tomorrow. Sorry to disappoint you all.
In the meantime, I was nominated for an award so I'll get on with that.
The rules:
-State 10 random facts about yourself.
-Answer the questions given to you by the blogger who has tagged you for the award.
-Tag more people.
-Give them 11 questions to answer.
Ok, 10 random facts, here goes...
1. I once had an odd fixation on blueberry flavour Nutri Grain bars
2. I love cereal/fruity/nutty bars. Love them.
3. I was so totally in love with Jesse from the film Free Willy when I was younger.
4. I once asked for a monkey for my birthday and was super annoyed when I was told no.
5. I have read everything Enid Blyton has ever written.
6. I did my undergraduate degree at the university where Enid Blyton studied.
7. I've never seen the film, Fame.
8. I don't really like the film Bugsy Malone. I'm sorry.
9. I have degraded myself by starting to drink decaf coffee, after spending so long attempting to develop a proper coffee habit. I'm ashamed and sorry.
10. If you spell my surname backwards, it says Yes I Am.... Maisey.... Yes I Am.... Maisey.... See?
Here are the questions asked me by Momina, the fabulous blogger who nominated me (thanks loads, by the way).
1- Who is the last person you usually think about before going to sleep?
Danda
2- Something you do alone, but wouldn't do in front of others.
Throw my head around a bit dramatically when playing piano.
3- Do you have any strange phobias?
I'm not keen on tin foil. I used to get terribly embarrassed if I opened my lunchbox at school and my sandwiches were wrapped in tin foil.
4- One Favorite Novel that you'd like to recommend people to read and why.
Definitely F. Scott Fitzgerald. But which one? Tender Is The Night. Or The Beautiful And Damned. Actually let's go with Tender Is The Night. Fitzgerald's ability to write characters is amazing. The minute details of how relationships work, how interactions and people become complicated and intertwined. Everything about life gains a beautifully tragic edge when I am reading Fitzgerald. Reading him makes me want to write, makes me want to be grand, makes me want to have fantastic unachievable dreams.
5- Do you take the shampoo and conditioner bottles from hotels? :P
Yup. Still got everything from the room in the Savoy. The headed paper. The sugar packs. The soap. The shower cap. Everything.
6- Do you use Post-Its?
No.
7-If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
Right here in my house. On my road. On this lovely hill near my favourite park. With my lovely friends and neighbours.
8-What inspires you?
Life. Nature. Richmond Park. People. Silly things we do and say.
9- Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving?
Done both. Bungee jumping more scary.
10- Do you ever count your steps when you walk?
When I was trekking the Great Wall in China and I was trying to learn some Mandarin, I counted my steps aloud from one to ten over and over to learn. That was eight years ago and I still can count to ten in Mandarin now!
11- Have you ever danced without music?
All the time. Honestly. All. The. Time.
Ok, now to tag some more people. As opposed to tagging them actually, I'm just going to highlight some new bloggers on the scene that I'd like some attention to go to because they are fab.
Lovefoodlovefashion
Marktedlord
Eatmovelove
It's up to you guys if you want to answer the questions or not. No pressure.
1. Why do you blog?
2. How do you feel about chilli chocolate?
3. Tea or coffee?
4. Next holiday destination....?
5. Am I invited?
6. Delia Smith or Nigella Lawson?
7. Do you mind that Nigella Lawson is essentially soft porn?
8. What are you getting me for my birthday?
9. My computer has stopped letting me print things. Why is this?
10. How do you feel about Starbucks?
11. I don't really like orange juice. Do you think this could create a problem for our friendship?
In the meantime, I was nominated for an award so I'll get on with that.
The rules:
-State 10 random facts about yourself.
-Answer the questions given to you by the blogger who has tagged you for the award.
-Tag more people.
-Give them 11 questions to answer.
Ok, 10 random facts, here goes...
1. I once had an odd fixation on blueberry flavour Nutri Grain bars
2. I love cereal/fruity/nutty bars. Love them.
3. I was so totally in love with Jesse from the film Free Willy when I was younger.
4. I once asked for a monkey for my birthday and was super annoyed when I was told no.
5. I have read everything Enid Blyton has ever written.
6. I did my undergraduate degree at the university where Enid Blyton studied.
7. I've never seen the film, Fame.
8. I don't really like the film Bugsy Malone. I'm sorry.
9. I have degraded myself by starting to drink decaf coffee, after spending so long attempting to develop a proper coffee habit. I'm ashamed and sorry.
10. If you spell my surname backwards, it says Yes I Am.... Maisey.... Yes I Am.... Maisey.... See?
Here are the questions asked me by Momina, the fabulous blogger who nominated me (thanks loads, by the way).
1- Who is the last person you usually think about before going to sleep?
Danda
2- Something you do alone, but wouldn't do in front of others.
Throw my head around a bit dramatically when playing piano.
3- Do you have any strange phobias?
I'm not keen on tin foil. I used to get terribly embarrassed if I opened my lunchbox at school and my sandwiches were wrapped in tin foil.
4- One Favorite Novel that you'd like to recommend people to read and why.
Definitely F. Scott Fitzgerald. But which one? Tender Is The Night. Or The Beautiful And Damned. Actually let's go with Tender Is The Night. Fitzgerald's ability to write characters is amazing. The minute details of how relationships work, how interactions and people become complicated and intertwined. Everything about life gains a beautifully tragic edge when I am reading Fitzgerald. Reading him makes me want to write, makes me want to be grand, makes me want to have fantastic unachievable dreams.
5- Do you take the shampoo and conditioner bottles from hotels? :P
Yup. Still got everything from the room in the Savoy. The headed paper. The sugar packs. The soap. The shower cap. Everything.
6- Do you use Post-Its?
No.
7-If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
Right here in my house. On my road. On this lovely hill near my favourite park. With my lovely friends and neighbours.
8-What inspires you?
Life. Nature. Richmond Park. People. Silly things we do and say.
9- Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving?
Done both. Bungee jumping more scary.
10- Do you ever count your steps when you walk?
When I was trekking the Great Wall in China and I was trying to learn some Mandarin, I counted my steps aloud from one to ten over and over to learn. That was eight years ago and I still can count to ten in Mandarin now!
11- Have you ever danced without music?
All the time. Honestly. All. The. Time.
Ok, now to tag some more people. As opposed to tagging them actually, I'm just going to highlight some new bloggers on the scene that I'd like some attention to go to because they are fab.
Lovefoodlovefashion
Marktedlord
Eatmovelove
It's up to you guys if you want to answer the questions or not. No pressure.
1. Why do you blog?
2. How do you feel about chilli chocolate?
3. Tea or coffee?
4. Next holiday destination....?
5. Am I invited?
6. Delia Smith or Nigella Lawson?
7. Do you mind that Nigella Lawson is essentially soft porn?
8. What are you getting me for my birthday?
9. My computer has stopped letting me print things. Why is this?
10. How do you feel about Starbucks?
11. I don't really like orange juice. Do you think this could create a problem for our friendship?
Sunday, 10 February 2013
The wisdom of children
Molly on rabbits:
"I like wibbits. I want a wibbit. And I tarry it. And tuddle it. And tiss it."
Molly on hippos:
"I don't like hippos."
Molly on frogs:
"I don't like froggies. I like wibbits."
Molly on midday cuddles:
"It's not tuddles time. It's playing time."
Molly on planes:
"A lane, a lane! I've got a lane at home"
Molly on swimming:
"I got doddles!" (goggles)
Ella on blackbirds:
"O, a blackbird! I've always wanted to see a blackbird!"
Ella on the lovely new book she was given as a present:
"O no. I don't think there's room on my bookshelf for this."
Ella on her punishment after being naughty one day:
"Daddy, I think I should only have one book before bed, not two. Cause I've been very naughty today."
Ella on the stars:
"O, look! A constellation. Look, the archer!" (She's five, by the way.)
Ella on her best attributes:
"I'm the funniest girl in the class."
Ella's first joke:
"What sheep eats a flower? A strawberry!" (Don't ask.)
Ella on history:
"Before the dinosaurs, there were cavemen and caveladies."
Ella on her romantic prospects:
"When I grow up, I'm going to marry Adam. When I'm 13."
"I like wibbits. I want a wibbit. And I tarry it. And tuddle it. And tiss it."
Molly on hippos:
"I don't like hippos."
Molly on frogs:
"I don't like froggies. I like wibbits."
Molly on midday cuddles:
"It's not tuddles time. It's playing time."
Molly on planes:
"A lane, a lane! I've got a lane at home"
Molly on swimming:
"I got doddles!" (goggles)
Ella on blackbirds:
"O, a blackbird! I've always wanted to see a blackbird!"
Ella on the lovely new book she was given as a present:
"O no. I don't think there's room on my bookshelf for this."
Ella on her punishment after being naughty one day:
"Daddy, I think I should only have one book before bed, not two. Cause I've been very naughty today."
Ella on the stars:
"O, look! A constellation. Look, the archer!" (She's five, by the way.)
Ella on her best attributes:
"I'm the funniest girl in the class."
Ella's first joke:
"What sheep eats a flower? A strawberry!" (Don't ask.)
Ella on history:
"Before the dinosaurs, there were cavemen and caveladies."
Ella on her romantic prospects:
"When I grow up, I'm going to marry Adam. When I'm 13."
Saturday, 9 February 2013
Danda and the little policeman jumper
I've just got a little story to tell you because there are children visiting and it is difficult to do anything of any length without them needing me to join in playing hide and seek or assist them upstairs to look under beds for dragons etc etc.
This story is about way back when Danda and I didn't know each other very well. We had chatted a little, made polite conversation and he had asked me to dinner. We went to Wagamama's, a Japanese chain restaurant with lovely food and great atmosphere. I often went for an hour before work and sat drinking green tea, nibbling on some noodles and reading a book.
We had been sitting in the far corner chatting, conversation was flowing and we found we had a similar sense of humour. All was well. I had dressed up a little for the occasion, in a batwing black jumper (bring back the 80s!), wraparoundy scarf thing that I had got in the Philippines, and grey trousers. I'd like to think I was channelling the shabby-chic look. Danda was wearing black trousers, a black V-neck jumper and a white shirt. He looked very smart.
At some point during the meal, Danda went off to the toilet and came back looking dismayed.
"Is everything ok?" I asked.
"No. I just caught sight of myself in the full length mirror. It's this jumper. I look like a small off-duty policeman!"
And that was it. Our fate was sealed. Who doesn't love a small off-duty policeman?
This story is about way back when Danda and I didn't know each other very well. We had chatted a little, made polite conversation and he had asked me to dinner. We went to Wagamama's, a Japanese chain restaurant with lovely food and great atmosphere. I often went for an hour before work and sat drinking green tea, nibbling on some noodles and reading a book.
We had been sitting in the far corner chatting, conversation was flowing and we found we had a similar sense of humour. All was well. I had dressed up a little for the occasion, in a batwing black jumper (bring back the 80s!), wraparoundy scarf thing that I had got in the Philippines, and grey trousers. I'd like to think I was channelling the shabby-chic look. Danda was wearing black trousers, a black V-neck jumper and a white shirt. He looked very smart.
At some point during the meal, Danda went off to the toilet and came back looking dismayed.
"Is everything ok?" I asked.
"No. I just caught sight of myself in the full length mirror. It's this jumper. I look like a small off-duty policeman!"
And that was it. Our fate was sealed. Who doesn't love a small off-duty policeman?
Friday, 8 February 2013
The time I surprised my Dad
Last year, for my Dad's birthday, I decided I would go to Liverpool to see him but I didn't tell him. I thought it would be more fun to surprise him. For the train journey, I had some food and study books with me as I had a huge peice of work due a week later. One of them I guarded with my life. It was the Blackstone's guide to the corporate homicide and corporate manslaughter act. Blackstone's guides are like the be-all and end-all in the world of academic law. Everything you want to know about a law will be in one of their guides. It was a thin 170 pages and had cost me £48. But there was no way around getting one. So I had it and it was my most prized possession.
When I got to the main station in Liverpool, I clutched my Blackstone's guide and went to buy a ticket to the stop nearest to my Dad's house. With my ticket, I then boarded the train, went the six or so stops, then got off. As I headed out of the station, I realised my hands were empty! Where was my Blackstone's guide?! My very expensive Blackstone's guide? The one that I wouldn't be able to get another copy of in time for my essay deadline.
Panicked, I raced to the ticket office and explained that it had either been left on the desk when I bought my ticket in town or on the train. Panic, PANIC! Where was it? The railway man, thankfully, dealt very efficiently with this madwoman having a panic attack in from of him.
He located it in the station in town and I asked them to keep hold of it, I would go back. The next train was in 20 minutes so I quickly ran to the house, didn't see my dad's car, so assumed he was at work and threw my bag down before racing back to the station. I put a pack of ham in the fridge that I hadn't eaten on the journey. I had also made my Dad a hamper of baked goodies so put it on the sofa, in the seat behind the door where he usually sits so he would see it when he got home.
Picking the book up was fine and on the way back, I called the house to check if my Dad was home. He wasn't so I headed straight for a friends house. I spent the evening there and got home later but my Dad still wasn't home. Eventually I just wrote him a note and left it in the hallway and went to bed.
And here is my Dad's version of events:
"I was upstairs on the computer when I heard a sound like the door being opened then closed. I went downstairs to see what the sound was but didn't see anything. I popped my head into the front room but didn't see anyone. I went to the fridge to get my sandwiches to take to work and saw a pack of ham in there which hadn't been there before. Confused, I just got my sandwiches and went out to work, figuring there must be an explanation for it. When I got home late from work, there was a note on the floor saying Laura was home!"
That's right. He'd been there the whole time. But because he wasn't expecting me, he just thought he was hearing things when he heard the door open. So the whole first day I was in Liverpool, we spent missing each other, like ships passing the night. Well done, Laura!
When I got to the main station in Liverpool, I clutched my Blackstone's guide and went to buy a ticket to the stop nearest to my Dad's house. With my ticket, I then boarded the train, went the six or so stops, then got off. As I headed out of the station, I realised my hands were empty! Where was my Blackstone's guide?! My very expensive Blackstone's guide? The one that I wouldn't be able to get another copy of in time for my essay deadline.
Panicked, I raced to the ticket office and explained that it had either been left on the desk when I bought my ticket in town or on the train. Panic, PANIC! Where was it? The railway man, thankfully, dealt very efficiently with this madwoman having a panic attack in from of him.
He located it in the station in town and I asked them to keep hold of it, I would go back. The next train was in 20 minutes so I quickly ran to the house, didn't see my dad's car, so assumed he was at work and threw my bag down before racing back to the station. I put a pack of ham in the fridge that I hadn't eaten on the journey. I had also made my Dad a hamper of baked goodies so put it on the sofa, in the seat behind the door where he usually sits so he would see it when he got home.
Picking the book up was fine and on the way back, I called the house to check if my Dad was home. He wasn't so I headed straight for a friends house. I spent the evening there and got home later but my Dad still wasn't home. Eventually I just wrote him a note and left it in the hallway and went to bed.
And here is my Dad's version of events:
"I was upstairs on the computer when I heard a sound like the door being opened then closed. I went downstairs to see what the sound was but didn't see anything. I popped my head into the front room but didn't see anyone. I went to the fridge to get my sandwiches to take to work and saw a pack of ham in there which hadn't been there before. Confused, I just got my sandwiches and went out to work, figuring there must be an explanation for it. When I got home late from work, there was a note on the floor saying Laura was home!"
That's right. He'd been there the whole time. But because he wasn't expecting me, he just thought he was hearing things when he heard the door open. So the whole first day I was in Liverpool, we spent missing each other, like ships passing the night. Well done, Laura!
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