Tuesday 16 February 2021

Going out.

 First of all, I wonder if I shall appear in technicolour today.   Yesterday the coloured stripe didn't show until I put the post up on my blog,, so I have no way of knowing at present.

I have had a morning out - really the first since I came out of hospital and I have really enjoyed it.   As befits such a 'treat' I was showered and then put on my best cashmere jumper and cardigan and chose a pretty scarf for the neck.   My carer made sure that Priscilla was stationed by the garage doors and that the key was on the outside so that I could lock the door into the kitchen when my taxi came.   It was dead on time and I was at the bottom of the drive.   Priscilla was easily folded and put into the boot of the taxi and we were away - only a ten minute drive and I arrived at my destination - the Medical Centre.   Hope you're not disappointed at where I was going - anywhere 'out' is a bonus these days.   Added to that my friends B and V were there to see the doctor too so we had a lovely socially distanced chat while we waited.   My taxi went home and I had instructions to ring the driver when I was ready to be collected (half an hour later).

Heart and blood pressure checks followed and the outcome is that I have to see a heart specialist - but I am still here and still blogging - not breathless, not in any pain so shall continue enjoying life in as much as one can in these covid days.

Home again, my fantastic Carer had left me a lunch in the microwave and I had a quick pud of soft apricots, brazil nuts, a banana and a dozen green grapes.   Now it is 'put on a post before Escape to the Country' - technicolour or not.

So what to write about.   Well Max Hastings writing in today's Times talks about how some things have become so obsolete as to be almost laughable.   He starts with 'the briefcase'.   Who carries a briefcase in these days of the laptop?   Whereas the good quality briefcase used  to be almost a status symbol these days nobody wants one.  To this he added bowler hats, watch chains and gold-nibbed fountain pens.  (I remember asbolutely coveting a gold-nibbed fountain pen - the gold nib was very important).  I am sure we could all go through our possessions and come across things which used to play such a big part in our lives and now are no longer needed or wanted and have been cast aside.   Have you anything to add to his list?

35 comments:

Rachel Phillips said...

Soon it will be cash that will be obsolete and laughable, along with cheques.

Derek Faulkner said...

Well, I still use my old briefcase, whenever I'm taking my laptop anywhere it makes a nice rigid case for the laptop.

JayCee said...

I agree with Rachel. I cannot remember the last time I paid for anything using cash.

Lynn Marie said...

I remember getting a raise and getting a thrill at being able to afford to buy "good" $7 pantyhose (br. tights?) instead of grocery store $1.99 ones that I had to eke out even if they had runs. Seeing a week's worth of newly purchased nice pantyhose neatly folded in the drawer. So satisfying. I finally felt like an adult. It's been a good 25 years now since I've worn anything but jeans.

Terra said...

Your first outing in a long time must have been rather exciting, cashmere sweater and a scarf and all, even if only to see the doctor. I thought you would be going to a restaurant. I am mostly home alone 24/7 so understand how you liked being out and about.
Yes, so many things are obsolete now. Reel to reel tapes and cassette players are two more. Will humans be next? Robots might like that!

Librarian said...

Pat, I so love the image of you putting on your best cashmere jumper, cardigan and a nice scarf for the neck! You really know how to put style and grace into daily life, even if it is "only" a visit to the doctor's.
Hopefully the heart specialist will assist in your plan of enjoying life as much (and long!) as you can.

Landline phones are becoming a rarity; some households don't have one anymore, and in the past 5 years or so I have been staying in hotels on business trips that had no telephone, either - what you get at reception is a guest code to access their WiFi.

hart said...

Going out is good. My friend's son took her to a pharmacy to get her Covid vac. He could not understand why she wanted to shop around for 30 minutes. She pointed out she had net been in a store since March.

justjill said...

Good to get out. x

Northriding said...

I must admit I love a fountain pen and use them often, but I don't care whether they are gold-nibbed or not. I also have a landline. I'm beginning to feel quite out of touch now....

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

As a non-driver I use my bicycle or public transport for many journeys (or at least used to before lockdown) and there is now a problem almost everywhere I go. At one time many places had hooks for coats, or even a hat-rack and umbrella stand. Very smart restaurants and suchlike had a cloakroom to leave coats and bags. Now all these things have disappeared as most people arrive by car.
And whatever happened to sock-suspenders and those expandable shirtsleeve garters that my uncles used to wear?

Sol said...

Weave, I still use my satchel most days. I had it for going to secondary school, that is not over 32 years ago. Leather, good handle and strap. Only recently has the clasp gone, when all of this Covid is over I will need to find a leather worker to repair it. I also still use a fountain pen most days, I have several as they have different coloured inks, I am studying and it helps for when I write up essays for quotes to know straight away in case of plagiarism. When I finish all of this and graduate I am going to buy myself a mont blanc pen. ha ha through lock down I have gone back to paper backs and hard back books. I have a kindle which I adore, but there has been something very comforting about a book when there has been nothing on TV.

I second John "By Stargoose and Hanglands", coat hooks have gone in cafes and bistros etc. as people tend to either have them in the car or they drape them on the back of the chair and onto the floor to get dirty or stood on. And I am with Rachel as well on cheques, I only ever write cheques for builders etc now.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Yes, evrything you all mention I agree with - I had completely forgotten suspenders both for men and women (remember suspender belts girls?) and agree about cash.

Bonnie said...

It is good to get out even if it is just to the doctor. I know you looked beautiful in your best cashmere jumper, cardigan and scarf! It sounds like your taxi and also Priscilla worked out quite well for you. How nice you also got to see a couple of your friends while you were at the doctors.

There are so many items that used to be part of our daily lives that are no longer in use. We have not had a landline phone for at least six years or more. Cell phones have taken the place of that for us now. Enjoy your evening Pat!

Heather said...

How nice it was to meet friends 'in the flesh' for a chat at the Medical Centre. It must have been a treat for each of you.
It is a shame that fountain pens are not still in regular use. I am sure my handwriting has deteriorated by not using one any more.

Debby said...

Oh how excited I was to get my first transistor radio!

Chris said...

Still using my VCR for my morning workout. The tape is really worn but I will be bereft if it gives up the ghost! And I still have a landline 'though got a cell phone for Christmas. I have had the same phone number for over 50 years!

the veg artist said...

We keep an old handset connected to our landline as well as cordless extensions. Of all my neighbours, it's the only phone which works during a power cut.
A thing I hope is now obsolete is the slide rule (wiki says it's called a slipstick in America). I remember my brother spending hours trying to teach me to use it. Now, we all just reach for calculators.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks everyone and I am pleased to say no more technicolour - can't say how I did it either getting it on or removig it!

Simon Douglas Thompson said...

Remembering when filofaxes were essential

The Furry Gnome said...

I was so proud when I got my own briefcase! ,

Joanne Noragon said...

The matching mechanical pencil. And how about Roll-a-dexes?

Cro Magnon said...

I suppose the annual Basildon Bond pad-n-envelopes Christmas present has totally disappeared. Even writing 'thank you letters' has gone too.

CharlotteP said...

My huge, heavy Zenith film camera...happily replaced by a lovely, lightweight digital one.

CG said...

When I was moved up to the senior school at the convent school I was then attending (1951), my mother told Reverend Mother that she refused to put her daughter into "the tyranny of a suspender belt" at the age of 11. So I stood out as the only senior school pupil still wearing knee-length socks as the juniors did, rather than the regulation lisle stockings.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Cro I still use Basildon Bond for writing letters but the trouble is that it is impossible here to get the large pads I have to make do with the small ones.
Joanne - don't know what a roll-a-dex is.
And the old filofax - thanks for the reminder Si

Anonymous said...

I remember Liberty bodices with the annoying rubber buttons and also ski pants. Proper chip pans and tin openers with a point which was banged into the tin and then desperate attempts to remove the lid were made with an up and down forward motion. Pollie.

Mary said...

Clark's sandals for kids
Petticoats
Girdles
Skirted suits for office workers, along with high heels, so smart
Knee high stockings to wear with dress pants
Handwritten letters in the real mail
Sealing wax
Children/grandchildren who actually WANT cooking and gardening lessons

Glad you got to gallivant a bit - thankful for cashmere sweaters (goats are amazing creatures!).

Hugs - Mary (now fully vaccinated and awaiting normal life!)



vic said...

typewriters

elf said...

Glad to hear you got out safely and back safely!

Rachel Phillips said...

Doctors advise. You don't have to see anybody if you don't want to.

The Weaver of Grass said...

I remember those awful tin openers!!!
and liberty bodices!!!

Thanks to all

jinxxxygirl said...

Looks like i'm late to the party here Pat but when i joined the Army right out of highschool in '85' my grandparents bought me a briefcase to carry all my important papers... :) Great post...Hugs! deb

bornfreev said...

Hmm, no posts since Tuesday. Hope it is just computer problems and Weaver has not fallen again. Does anyone know?

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks everyone. Such memories and YES thanks - am OK - just a blip.

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