Yesterday we headed to a big Sainsbury's nearby, to buy school uniform for the girls. On the way we stopped in to see the GiL. We'd phoned ahead and warned her that we were coming. When we got there we rang the bell, and waited for her to answer the door. Then we rang the bell again. And then a third time. At that point TW headed into the garden and through the back door, to check that everything was alright - after all, she is 96.
GiL was sitting in front of the TV, apparently watching F1, and was oblivious to the doorbell, and TW shouting "Grandma!" as she entered the house. It quickly became apparent that she was absolutely stocious, she was on a Gin bender. She had drunk herself into a stupor. She had to gather her thoughts before she spoke, and every time she did speak, she had to speak slowly to enunciate her words properly.
I know that she's 96, and probably bored, but it seems like she's removing herself from living. She had drunk herself into a place where she didn't need to think or worry about time passing. If she had been an 18-year old on a Friday evening, she would have been saluted as a drinking hero. However, as a 96-year old on a Sunday lunchtime, she's a cause for concern. Still, I'm not sure that there's anything we can do about it. She's 96 and that's all there is.
Monday, August 25, 2014
Monday 14-08-25 Glad to Not be Karen Carpenter
How does the song go? "Rainy days and Mondays always get me down."
Imagine how pissed she'd be to encounter a Monday which was also a rainy day. Well, right there you have the traditional British August Bank holiday. And so it has come to pass today, the heavens have opened and the rain has prevented us from handing the kids off to the grandparents. So we've been stuck altogether in the same room all day, looking at the grey skies outside, getting slowly more crabby with each other. We've played Scrabble and the girls have watched a film. The grandparents have been over for a cup of tea. TW has been out shopping. I can't believe I'm going to have to go back to work tomorrow having wasted a day here at home.
Ah, well. I'm sure it'll dry out soon, and maybe we can go out and get some fresh air.
Imagine how pissed she'd be to encounter a Monday which was also a rainy day. Well, right there you have the traditional British August Bank holiday. And so it has come to pass today, the heavens have opened and the rain has prevented us from handing the kids off to the grandparents. So we've been stuck altogether in the same room all day, looking at the grey skies outside, getting slowly more crabby with each other. We've played Scrabble and the girls have watched a film. The grandparents have been over for a cup of tea. TW has been out shopping. I can't believe I'm going to have to go back to work tomorrow having wasted a day here at home.
Ah, well. I'm sure it'll dry out soon, and maybe we can go out and get some fresh air.
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Thursday 14-08-21 - Jessie
So my girls watch 'Jessie', a TV show produced by Disney.
It's awful.
The premise is that an aspiring actress becomes nanny to a family of adopted children. The parents are generally absent because they are very successful film stars. So you can see that the target demographic is very limited.
Because the parents are mostly absent, the show is about the kids, and they are damned annoying. There is a white kid who lusts after all grown women, and seems to think that Jessie is his girlfriend. There is an Indian kid who has a lizard as a pet (Mr Kipling) and is generally dorky. There's a black girl who is quick-witted and sassy but has poor grades. And there's a white girl to make up the numbers, by the look of it.
All the children are over-privileged and horrible to each other and everyone else.
And because they are children (apart from Bertram the neurotic butler / housekeeper), it degenerates into a high-pitched whiny insult-fest, with no redeeming features. Unfortunately it's not even funny.
I can't believe Disney have endorsed this tripe. There are no positive role models and it is not wholesome family entertainment. If you get the chance, avoid it at all costs. If there is any paint drying in your immediate vicinity, it would be more entertaining to watch that than 'Jessie'.
Of course, all of the above is my personal opinion and it may or may not have any bearing on reality as experienced by others.
It's awful.
The premise is that an aspiring actress becomes nanny to a family of adopted children. The parents are generally absent because they are very successful film stars. So you can see that the target demographic is very limited.
Because the parents are mostly absent, the show is about the kids, and they are damned annoying. There is a white kid who lusts after all grown women, and seems to think that Jessie is his girlfriend. There is an Indian kid who has a lizard as a pet (Mr Kipling) and is generally dorky. There's a black girl who is quick-witted and sassy but has poor grades. And there's a white girl to make up the numbers, by the look of it.
All the children are over-privileged and horrible to each other and everyone else.
And because they are children (apart from Bertram the neurotic butler / housekeeper), it degenerates into a high-pitched whiny insult-fest, with no redeeming features. Unfortunately it's not even funny.
I can't believe Disney have endorsed this tripe. There are no positive role models and it is not wholesome family entertainment. If you get the chance, avoid it at all costs. If there is any paint drying in your immediate vicinity, it would be more entertaining to watch that than 'Jessie'.
Of course, all of the above is my personal opinion and it may or may not have any bearing on reality as experienced by others.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Wednesday 14-08-20 - Sunshine and Showers
At Sussex County Cricket Ground again, for the last game of the season. We've already had a shower, although it was nothing really to talk of.
So here I sit, mellowing in the afternoon tranquil atmosphere, in my raincoat and sandals. I brought my sandals with me because I thought it might be warm enough; as it is my shoes and socks were too warm, so I've decided to dress down.
So here I sit, mellowing in the afternoon tranquil atmosphere, in my raincoat and sandals. I brought my sandals with me because I thought it might be warm enough; as it is my shoes and socks were too warm, so I've decided to dress down.
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Monday 14-08-11 - Mercy Dash to the Post Office
So, we were up and at 'em early yesterday morning. I'd been awake since about 04:45, so I got up and read some stuff on the Web. Then back to bed, and up again at 06:15. I had a shower and then listened to the news headlines, then went downstairs for breakfast.
I was intending to get to the Post Office before going to work. I think that's why I woke up so early; I was excited. I'd been away for the weekend and there was a note through the door advising that there were TWO parcels waiting for me to pick up. I've ordered a case for my Nexus 7, which I'm using to write this, and I was hoping that one of the parcels would be the case. It's been over a week now, I think I ordered it last Sunday night.
So I headed off to the Post Office, replete with Weetabix and tea, and slightly anxious that there would be a queue of Twirlies so long that they would be spilling out onto the pavement outside. As it was, the drive in was fine, apart from not taking as much caution as I should have done while circumnavigating a bin lorry. No one was hurt, or in danger of being hurt, but I could have used more caution. At the Post Office there was only one chap in front of me, so when it was my turn I eagerly handed over my ticket, and I waited with bated breath.
You can imagine my disappointment when I was handed two flat packages. Comics. Not nice cosy things for my electronics. Comics.
Don't get me wrong; I love comics. I buy a lot of comics, and should read more of them. But I was really looking forward to receiving a snazzy case for my tablet.
So, I walked back to the car with less of a spring in my step. I drove home and took the appropriate care around the bin lorry, which was a bit further along the road this time. And I made my sandwiches.
I left for work, the comics unopened on the floor in the living room, worrying that I might have to do it all over again tomorrow morning.
I was intending to get to the Post Office before going to work. I think that's why I woke up so early; I was excited. I'd been away for the weekend and there was a note through the door advising that there were TWO parcels waiting for me to pick up. I've ordered a case for my Nexus 7, which I'm using to write this, and I was hoping that one of the parcels would be the case. It's been over a week now, I think I ordered it last Sunday night.
So I headed off to the Post Office, replete with Weetabix and tea, and slightly anxious that there would be a queue of Twirlies so long that they would be spilling out onto the pavement outside. As it was, the drive in was fine, apart from not taking as much caution as I should have done while circumnavigating a bin lorry. No one was hurt, or in danger of being hurt, but I could have used more caution. At the Post Office there was only one chap in front of me, so when it was my turn I eagerly handed over my ticket, and I waited with bated breath.
You can imagine my disappointment when I was handed two flat packages. Comics. Not nice cosy things for my electronics. Comics.
Don't get me wrong; I love comics. I buy a lot of comics, and should read more of them. But I was really looking forward to receiving a snazzy case for my tablet.
So, I walked back to the car with less of a spring in my step. I drove home and took the appropriate care around the bin lorry, which was a bit further along the road this time. And I made my sandwiches.
I left for work, the comics unopened on the floor in the living room, worrying that I might have to do it all over again tomorrow morning.
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