Monday 5 June 2023

Miscellany

Glorious sunny morning - a group of smiling pansy faces (well they are a bit like faces aren't they?) greet me when I look out of the window from my computer - what a difference the sun makes.   Maybe we like it even more because we don't see it every day; I guess it could be very wearing if one lived in the Tropics.

I have just read in The Times about a couple of 'famous actors' and it has sent my mind scooting off at a tangent.   What exactly constitutes 'famous' these days?   On TV we get 'Celebrity antiques Road Trip', 'Celebrity Mastermind' and the like.   I don't watch all that much TV and I no longer go to the cinema (can't negotiate steps and in any case I have no longer anyone to hold hands with when the lights go down).   But one thing is for sure - I rarely, if ever, 'know' the Celebrities involved in these programmes.  Is it just me?

So - back to these two 'famous' folk.   They were caught in the park somewhere in London walking with Mr Kitty (their rescue cat) - he was sitting in a 'giant pet papoose' strapped to the chest of one of the pair.   He appeared to be enjoying looking out of an 'astronaut's observation bubble'.

This triggered off a memory that sometimes a lady with two Dachshunds walks past with one of the dogs sitting in a pram.   The lady looks to be a walker (stands up straight, long strides, head held high etc.) and the breed have very short legs.   So it begs the questions a) two identical dogs - is it always the same dog in the pram - or do they alternate to give their little legs a rest?  Or b) is one of them an invalid?

And this triggers off a thought about what makes one be seen as 'eccentric'?   For twelve hours or so my old, no longer any use, armchair sat at the bottom of my drive waiting to be picked up by the Council for disposal.   A friend who called the next day told me her husband drove past and saw it and presumed I had had it put there so that I could sit in it and chat to passers by.   Really??   Po-faced me, sitting at the roadside waiting for someone to stop and chat?   Me in an old armchair??  No way - not until I reach my dotage and then they would have to engage wild horses to get me down the drive.

 

29 comments:

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

Your friend's husband's imagination would have been turning cartwheels if he'd chanced to go past my mother's old house when we were clearing it out - one morning there was a three-piece suite and a washing machine waiting to be picked up by the council.

Lesley Duncan said...

I had to laugh at the image in my mind of you sitting in your armchair giving the royal wave to passers by.

the veg artist said...

I'm not sure that I'm eccentiric, but I would love to work on it! Where would we be without eccentricity?

Anonymous said...

Having lived in the wet tropics, dry tropics and sub-tropics, I much prefer the wet tropics for the overnight showers, the wet season and perfect winters. Indeed one week of rain a year in the dry tropics, meant that the other 51 weeks of bright blue skies became somewhat monotonous and harsh. Some people love the idea of 360 days of sunshine a year. Some people love cold winters and snow.

Anonymous said...

I hope you don’t become eccentric either.

Debby said...

What an odd thing to think! Your friend has all the makings to be a fine eccentric!

One of William's teachers has a back pack that sounds like what you describe. She sometimes brings her rabbit to school, much to the delight of the students. I imagine that she has an ulterior motive. The students make promises that they will be very quiet so as not to frighten the bunny. Clever plotting, don't you think?

I was walking the other day and a vehicle went by. It had a sun roof and a large husky stood, paws on the seat back, head out the sun roof, looking just as joyous as any animal can be. It made me laugh out loud.

Ellen D. said...

You painted a funny picture of you sitting in the old chair at the end of your driveway waving to the people! The husband probably was just thinking what friendly, sociable person you are! So think of it as a compliment!?!

Librarian said...

In O.K.'s village there is a man who regularly takes his elderly dog out in one of those trailer-like things one can attach to a bike to transport heavy loads or small children in them.The dog can't walk more than a few paces anymore but apparently really enjoys their outings. So maybe the lady with the dachshund in the pram does that, too.
In German, pansies are called Stiefmütterchen, literally "little step mothers" - because of their little faces.
As for the idea of you sitting in an old armchair to talk to passers-bys, well, you have mentioned more than once that you like to talk to whoever walks by your garden when you are out there with Priscilla.

Mary said...

Great start to my week coming here dear Pat - still early morning but already sun is shining and it's a perfect day ahead. Will make time for a little afternoon sit out on the front porch - Mr. Charles coming to clean my car so will have a chat with him - he's detailed our vehicles for over 30 years! His twin daughters were babies when I gave him my kids' outgrown sleeping bags for camping etc. They are both now graduating with Master's Degrees - where does time go?
Happy week dear - stay safe, and enjoy the neighbors and their pups passing by.

Anonymous said...

I have a bench in my front garden, a nice place to sit and people watch. Maybe you could have one too. GG

Rachel Phillips said...

I have seen people sitting outside properties around here in old armchairs. I have never thought of it as a sign of eccentricity. It is considered normal for Norfolk perhaps. (I note your old chair did get to the roadside in the end).

Barbara Anne said...

Here, people often put usable furniture near the street with FREE written on a sign and most times, the item is quickly gone.

We're out of touch with who the 'celebrities' are and don't care one little bit!

Hugs!

Latane Barton said...

No, it is not just you. television has changed so much, as has the movie industry. Being famous these days is really being 'infamous'. The one doing the most outrageous things is the one getting the most press and therefore is 'famous.' So sad.

The bike shed said...

It's definitely not just you - I have no idea who most of the so-called celebrities are these days - or what they have done of any note. I never understand our obsession with actors either - at root, they are good at pretending to be others, which hardly makes them that special does it?

Cro Magnon said...

I do like the idea, but here there are no passers-by. I could sit all day, and be totally ignored. Gorgeous day here until about an hour ago, then pouring stormy weather.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Yes Rachel my son took it down and then sat in it and chatted to folk passing - did think of putting a sign in it saying 'Bide a wee' until I vetoed it.

Thanks - you made my day end with a smile.

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

LOL!
A photo of you in the chair would be wonderful, frame worthy even. Such a silly thought, it does have a delightful charm.
As for celebrities, they could stay in their own lane more often. Designers, artist, writers and such have a difficult enough market for making money. Up comes a celebrity getting more attention than the many unknowns, that btw, often are far better, and worked a lot harder. It is sad .

Heather said...

Your paragraph about the old armchair made me chuckle. As for celebrities - I have never heard of many of them, or recognise them. And as for being eccentric - do you think that smiling at people's dogs means one is eccentric? If so, I am.

Susan said...

We seem to be having a week of scattered light showers and no sunshine. We need the rain. I'm glad to hear you are enjoying the sunshine. I've also noticed people with push carts for their dogs. It does seem popular right now. Personally, I can not imagine you sitting in a living room chair, placed at the roadside, waiting for disposal. Whoever suggested this, can not know you very well.

crafty cat corner said...

You made me smile thinking of you sitting in an old armchair at the end of the drive, thanks for that I needed it today.
Briony
x

Anonymous said...

Your question about celebrities is spot on. Here in the US, we are continually bombarded with "news" about the Kardashians. I have no idea why these women are "celebrities." Bing thought it important enough to make the fact that one of them cried 2 days because she was on tour and missed her kids known to us all. Really? Who cares?

Leilani Schuck Weatherington said...

Well.... I tried to leave my name and URL but ended up as "anonymous. There doesn't seem to be an option to delete a post and redo it.

Joanne Noragon said...

Pansies do have smiling little faces.

Anonymous said...

My daughter once said to me "Mum, did you know we were seen as eccentric in that country town we lived in?"
I replied " Cait, ANYONE who moved into that town would have been described as eccentric!"

- Pam, Aust.

Tom Stephenson said...

The armchair made me laugh. Re Dachshunds: What's the difference between a Dachshund and a street vendor? One walks down the street bawling out his wares...

Gerry Snape said...

Ha!...never...I can't see you doing that Pat...x

The Weaver of Grass said...

Tom - you never fail to shock (and I like it!)

Thanks everyone - the dear old armchair has gone - I shall miss it although it had become uncomfortable.

Tasker Dunham said...

What an image!

Jane McLellan said...

In Afrikaans, pansies are called gesiggies, which means little faces.