Wakey, wakey.

I have just read that there is a campaign called "Pipedown"to get rid of mindless "muzak" being played in shops etc. I hope it also applies to being "on hold" on the phone.
The report ends with the words "put a sock in it". Did this expression come about when a holiday-maker at Butlins could not find his socks? He later discovered that his brother had stuffed the socks into the loudspeaker outside their chalet.

Trams

I am quite ancient and go back to the days of the London trams. The ones I used to like to ride on as a child were the open-tops. If it rained there was a waterproof apron attached to the seat in front which you unrolled and held across your lap, so you were dry from the waist down. If you wanted to keep your top half dry you put up your umbrella.

This is what my mother did one day when sitting beside a male friend who wanted to smoke his pipe. (You could only smoke on the upper deck) I don't know how many of you are familiar with pipe smokers but in a bit of a wind we reckoned half a box of matches to one pipe of tobacco. Mother's friend struck several matches in an effort to get his pipe going when the man in the seat behind tapped mother on the shoulder and said "Hi, Missus do you know your umbrella is on fire?"

Googling

What Jessie says today the Daily Telegraph latches on to some weeks later. I wrote in my blog at the end of August saying that what I read on Google I did not retain as well as when I read things in a reference book etc. I could have saved this chap all the expense of a scientific study . Today there is a report in the paper saying that reading from a computer or a Kindle, which is easier to read than handwriting or print, makes the brain lazy. I must say that one or two of my correspondents don't mean that to happen to my brain.

Umbrellas

A gloomy wet day today though mild. People with umbrellas hurry past to the railway station.

I possess several nice umbrellas but no longer use them as I need both hands to hold on to my 3 wheeled walker.

This story of the 2 umbrellas amuses me. A lady travelling on the Tube placed her umbrella at her right hand side. On leaving her seat she mistakenly picked up an umbrella on her left hand side. A lady next to her grasped her wrist and said "Oh no you don't" The first lady apologised, much embarrassed. She then went on to visit a friend who said "You left your umbrella here last week". So she started for home carrying two umbrellas. Sitting opposite her on the Tube was the lady who had accused her on the outward journey who said "I see you had a good day after all".

Co. Wintle was an eccentric character who was sometimes interviewed on the BBC Today programme. He wore a bowler hat, a monocle and carried a rolled umbrella. He said he used the umbrella to walk with not to keep the rain off. Indeed, if some rascal took his umbrella and unfurled it he would find written on it in huge white letters "Stolen from A. Wintle".

P.S. Hats - I forget to mention that in 1941 I worked for a few days for a Mr. Bowler-Bowler. I thought it was hilariously funny. This was long before I became Mrs. Bowler.

Forms of address

My attention was drawn to an article in the Wall Street Journal on how one should address one's correspondents in emails. I am getting used to "Hi Jess" which I rather like from friends - but "Hi Jess" from Love Films???

I am old fashioned and tend to stick to "Dear" unless it is a conversation back and forth between friends and family when I just start with the name.

I still bridle when a complete stranger like a bank clerk addresses me as "Jess" on the phone instead of "Mrs".I suppose the young would say I should "lighten up" but I can't help it. It is the way I was brought up.

The King's Speech

I haven't yet seen the Film "The King's Speech". It has had a good write-up in the papers. I hope it has brought out the fact that we all admired the way George VI coped with his difficulties. I remember the Queen (later to be Elizabeth the Queen Mother) when it was suggested during the war that the two princesses should be evacuated to Canada saying "They won't go without me and I won't go without the King and he is staying here, so we are all staying here." This meant a lot to those of us who had no option but to face the bombing.

Updated

Having been told by my grandson that my headphones were the rattiest, tattiest he had ever seen it has been universally agreed that I need updating. So I have a new keyboard (donated by said grandson), new headphones,and soon to come anew desk and chair. Whether this will improve my performance I'm not sure but I hope you will treat the new me with due deference!

More Hats

Bowler hats were designed by Thomas & William Bowler in about 1850. The hats were made by Lock & Co. Hatters as protective headgear originally for gamekeepers. Lock & Co. were founded in 1676 and are still providing quality hats.

Hats have become popular this winter with young men. Locks are producing them under a new label called "Lock and Roll ". http://www.lockhatters.co.uk/

British Railway workers who went to Peru and Bolivia wore Bowler hats where they are now worn by women.

2011

Well here we are at the start of another year. Last year wasn't too bad. Apart from a few problems relating to longevity I mustn't grumble. I have a lot of things to be thankful for.
My New Year's resolution was not to make one. So far so good.There is nothing more depressing than reaching gloomy February and realising you have fallen by the wayside yet again. So I shall not expect too much of myself. Blessed is he who expecteth nothing for he shall not be disappointed.
The family have got together to reorganise my computer so I hope I shan't let them down and mess things up. Watch this space!
A Happy New Year to all my readers (if you are still there)