Prince George

My father-in-law, another George, would have been delighted by the choice of name for the Royal baby.  When a reporter congratulated Princess Anne on the event she retorted in typical style  "It's nothing to do with me!"  When I was in my early thirties my nephew, who is 14 years younger than I am. became a father.  I said to D "That makes me a great aunt and you a great uncle."  He was having none of it.   He retorted "It's nothing to do with me, that's your side of the family."

Money

I have been looking at ny bank account.  Not having been out shopping I see I haven't spent much this month. Perhaps I should follow D's example and not carry more than a pound when I go out.  How did he do it?  My friend's father said of his brother-in-law  "When we go to the pub he is always the first person to put his hand in his pocket--and keep it there till the danger is past".
I have had some thoughts about money.   The reason most wealthy people have money is because they hang on to it. Money may not solve all one's problems but it is quite an effective solution to being poor.  Someone said that those who say money doesn't buy happiness don't know where to shop.  Economics has its uses.  It keeps economist off the dole queue.  What can I say about Bankers?  Only what I have read somewhere.  That a Banker is someone who lends you an umbrella when the sun is shining and asks for it back when it is raining.
Maybe I should just decide that because of my poor eyesight I can't read my bank statements and give up worrying.

We're having a heat wave

As the song says "It's Too Darned Hot"..    I am having a bit of difficulty seeing things on my monitor.  No matter how big the font there are still these gaps in my reading .  However to reassure my readers I am still here.  
As I said yesterday to my nine year old grandson who rang from Paris to ask how I was (in impeccable English)  only a few short weeks ago we were all grumbling about the cold, rainy weather now we are complaining about the heat.  There's no pleasing some people.

Wimbledon

Great Scot !!
I spent yesterday in the beautiful garden at Ringmer with the family.  Lunch and tea were taken to the accompaniment of cheers and groans from the crowd at Wimbledon echoed by our cheers and groans as Andy battled his way to become champion.   Not good for my blood presure but so exciting.

Geography

Had a discussion yesterday about the whereabouts of Slovenia where one of my friends has gone.  I could not decide whether it was part of what was Yugoslavia or Czechoslovakia.  Another coincidence A had an e mail brochure yesterday from Slovakia, part of the old Czechoslovakia so conclude Slovenia is part of what was Yugoslavia.   What with all the "Stans" that the Soviet Union has split into I no longer know where anything is.  I can't see to read my Atlas, all so confusing.  I wish progress would stand still for a minute so that I can catch up.

A Guest

Still waiting for real summer to come though we have had some sunny days.  We are halfway through the year and I realised with a shock that at the end of this week it will be the  longest day.  This week I have the pleasure of my daughter-in-law staying with me.  Yesterday we sat in the sun in Hove Par,a really beautifu place with magnificent trees.  We sat outside the cafe eating ice creams.  We had so much to say it is a wonder our tongues weren't sunburnt

Nobs and snobs

More strange words.  At my daughter's graduation ceremony in Canterbury Cathedral Don and I were fortunate enough to be given tickets by a friend who worked at the University.  This ensured us two seats close to where all the action was,  as I said afterwards we sat among the "nobs".  Not that any of them spoke to us so we could not say we were" hob-nobbing" with them.  I was ruminating on these words.  I suppose they originally came from the word  "nobility".  Whereas "snobs" is quite a different kettle of fish.  "Snobs" implies someone not pleasant who considers himself superior to the lower orders and shows it,  someone who is copying the ways of  persons he considers
 superior.  (See Hyacinth Bucket or Ronnie Barker in the famous sketch with John Clees and Ronnie Corbett)
When I was a child (a long time ago) I was told to take my shoes to the snobs to be soled and heeled.  The snob was a slang word for a cobbler.  I wonder how that came about?
I love the infinite variety of the English language.