I do love this. I'm ready to start laughing again and you're helping. Love your work Rebecca. 'Speically love the UK approach to weather. Have to say it fits Tassie perfectly!
That was an awesome morning view last Wednesday. I love it.
I dunno, but living in the tropics, your west end weather still amuses me. Snow to me is like a fairy tale, your rains seem soft and graceful but what do I know! 😅 I loved watching your videos here anyhow.
Awww, thank you so much! Living in a temperate climate offers such variety in our weather, which thankfully only rarely becomes extreme. And we Brits talk sooooooo much about the weather - it’s our idea of small talk, I suppose!
I remember a visit to Singapore and I found the climate absolutely extraordinary compared to home. Stepping out of the air-conditioned airport felt like getting into a warm bath in a steamy bathroom - it was sooooo hot and humid, and quite unlike any weather I’d ever encountered. And gosh, the rain! And then the sun! And all the time so very hot!
LOL! As it was a school library I doubt that any fines were payable - if it had been a public library, though, well, it would possibly have bankrupted his family! I was sad to read that the book borrower himself had been killed in action in the first world war, but it’s lovely that this story about his library book has piqued people’s interest over a hundred years later.
We’re so proud of our lamp post! Jim’s grandad was a railwayman, and when the lamps at his station were replaced, well, he adopted a couple. He had one outside his house, and Jim’s parents had the other. Both of those houses are now in others’ hands, so now his grandchildren are custodians of the lamp posts in their own gardens. We treasure ours.
That snow falling on your anomalous palm tree says it all. Ha ha ha. And "erroneous zone"! I find myself in that zone too damned often. As for the "process of illumination", I am still seeking that one. I was talking to a neighbor yesterday and heard her say "for all intensive purposes". I would not have corrected her for the world. "Nail polish remover removes nail polish?" Who knew? I was going to add it to my coffee. These stupid warnings are everywhere. I have a jar of peanut butter, and stated on the back in large letters "Contains peanuts". Looking at your notebook -- could you please write about "meaningless linguistic filler"? Thanks for so much great entertainment this morning, Rebecca.
Ah, you recognised the incongruous cordyline! It looks bonkers in the snow, so it's living up to its nickname!
'For all intensive purposes' is terrific!
Ooooh yes, I'm meaning to write about 'meaningless linguistic filler' - that was a really interesting article, and I've got some additional ideas around that topic to try to weave in. It's one for a future post, definitely!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it - thank you so much for reading! I get such pleasure from our correspondence - we’ve been doing this project for a couple of years now and I love finding things to write to him about! 🤣
We are twinning on another thing: I email ideas to myself a LOT as my short-term memory is shot and I've been trying to come up with a dependable system of how to remember what I've forgotten. Great letter, RH. P.S. I love the video. I love rain like that. Please send some to Texas.
I often e-mail myself notes about this and that, but try to then actually transfer them into my notebook. I write everything down - my notebook (not the one shown here, but my bullet journal) contains all kinds of things - each daily page has my to-do list but also a record of things that happened during that day - ‘posted letter to MIL’, ‘sparrowhawk swooped down for lunch’, ‘forgot to put bin out’ - or a note of things I know I’ll need to refer back to. It’s an absolutely life saver!
Now, I WOULD send you some rain, but once British rain sets in it’s here for ages - and I think after five straight days of it you’d be begging me to take it back! 🤣
I'm impressed with all that you document - what a fantastic habit. I should do the same - maybe it would help boost my short term memory, or solve mysteries of "where did I put that thing?" I could write down where I put everything! Hey! Great idea! 😂 And you're right about the rain. Jim says after 1 day of rain, "Oh, this is BRUTAL! How long has it been?" and I'll say "Less than 24 hours" and he'll say when the sun comes out again, "Whew! We made it!"
I lose things, too - all the time! I lose my phone, my keys, my hanky, my glucose monitor, my notebook, my CUP OF TEA - some of these things are an emergency, and that last one always FEELS like an emergency to me even though others might dispute that. I need to get into the habit of putting things down more consciously - maybe if I’d told myself aloud this morning that ‘you won’t be able to find your phone later if you put that pair of socks down on top of it’ I wouldn’t have lost it for QUITE so long. 🙄 True story.
Oh, boy, I can relate! That happens to me at least 1 million times a day. Last week I thought I lost my wedding rings (again) because I ALWAYS put them in the same place, except for that particular day, I was talking with Jim while walking to the put-away-place, and put them into the small vessel NEXT to the one I ALWAYS put them in instead of the one I ALWAYS put them in. Next morning I was in a panic because I couldn’t find them: not under socks, in the fridge, in any pockets, under the dresser, in the kitchen drawer . . . then I walked back to the put-away-place and noticed the smaller vessel in which rings might like to be, and there they were. 🙃
Oh no, you must have been panic-stricken, Mary! I once lost my engagement ring after I'd been out for a winter run - and found it in one of my gloves a little later. Phew.
After the glove incident we had my engagement ring resized, and I haven't taken it off since then. I've never taken off my wedding band although I shall have to be careful because it's become a little loose.
Whew is right for your finding your engagement ring! I wish I could wear my rings 24-7, but my finger with a ring on it all day and night, is similar to my feet with socks: claustrophobic 😂
Oh, the precision of that notebook...! Though I consider myself a person inclined to pay attention to detail, I'll never match that.
Here, and I imagine where you are, too, I often hear this saying: "If you don't like the weather in Maryland, wait five minutes." This weekend, we've gone from pleasant to below freezing in a day's time, but I'm not unhappy about it. It is nearly December after all.
I love the story of the library book that was 113 years overdue. I wonder if the fines carry to the next generation(s)? I suppose that might be a bit of an erroneous zone! 😂
Thanks, Elizabeth! There’s a similar turn of phrase in Scotland - where they say that get every season in one day - and that if it’s not raining it soon will be!
Thank you for the notebook precision compliment. My ‘system’ is still evolving, but it’s so great to have everything recorded in one place. As with a few other things (like catching up with a WEEK’S worth of Substack notifications this morning!) I’m a little behind, but that’s nothing new! x
I saw a sign posted on a promontory on the Scottish west coast, "If you can see the lighthouse, it is going to rain. If you can't see the lighthouse, it is already raining." Absolutely accurate tourist information.
I do love this. I'm ready to start laughing again and you're helping. Love your work Rebecca. 'Speically love the UK approach to weather. Have to say it fits Tassie perfectly!
Oh Prue, I’m so pleased! 😌 Thank you very much. 😘
I really enjoy my correspondence with Terry, and - don’t tell him I said this - the opportunity it gives me to be really silly! 🤪🤣
You don't seem to need much encouragement
Never a truer word written! 🤣
That was an awesome morning view last Wednesday. I love it.
I dunno, but living in the tropics, your west end weather still amuses me. Snow to me is like a fairy tale, your rains seem soft and graceful but what do I know! 😅 I loved watching your videos here anyhow.
Awww, thank you so much! Living in a temperate climate offers such variety in our weather, which thankfully only rarely becomes extreme. And we Brits talk sooooooo much about the weather - it’s our idea of small talk, I suppose!
I remember a visit to Singapore and I found the climate absolutely extraordinary compared to home. Stepping out of the air-conditioned airport felt like getting into a warm bath in a steamy bathroom - it was sooooo hot and humid, and quite unlike any weather I’d ever encountered. And gosh, the rain! And then the sun! And all the time so very hot!
I didn't know you'd bin to Singapore. I loved it there. Could live there if it wasn't for the humidity
Yes the humidity is an issue, even to us! 🥵
It was many years ago, and only a short trip - but long enough to drink a gin sling in the Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel! It's the law! 🤣
show off!
It was delicious! 😋 And had to be done!
Hahaha! I love how you describe our weather here. It will never be that amusing to us I guess. ☺️
Oh my goodness. That weather!!! Brrrrrrrrr…….
LOL! Yup! 🥶
Did anyone figure out how much Mr Ewbanks' estate owes in overdue fines?
Nice post, Rebecca. I think I have to find a lamp post to install out back.
LOL! As it was a school library I doubt that any fines were payable - if it had been a public library, though, well, it would possibly have bankrupted his family! I was sad to read that the book borrower himself had been killed in action in the first world war, but it’s lovely that this story about his library book has piqued people’s interest over a hundred years later.
We’re so proud of our lamp post! Jim’s grandad was a railwayman, and when the lamps at his station were replaced, well, he adopted a couple. He had one outside his house, and Jim’s parents had the other. Both of those houses are now in others’ hands, so now his grandchildren are custodians of the lamp posts in their own gardens. We treasure ours.
Adopted? That's a new word for it. I've reported yout to British Rail.
That snow falling on your anomalous palm tree says it all. Ha ha ha. And "erroneous zone"! I find myself in that zone too damned often. As for the "process of illumination", I am still seeking that one. I was talking to a neighbor yesterday and heard her say "for all intensive purposes". I would not have corrected her for the world. "Nail polish remover removes nail polish?" Who knew? I was going to add it to my coffee. These stupid warnings are everywhere. I have a jar of peanut butter, and stated on the back in large letters "Contains peanuts". Looking at your notebook -- could you please write about "meaningless linguistic filler"? Thanks for so much great entertainment this morning, Rebecca.
Ah, you recognised the incongruous cordyline! It looks bonkers in the snow, so it's living up to its nickname!
'For all intensive purposes' is terrific!
Ooooh yes, I'm meaning to write about 'meaningless linguistic filler' - that was a really interesting article, and I've got some additional ideas around that topic to try to weave in. It's one for a future post, definitely!
I am REALLY looking forward to this. One of my favorite topics.
I bought a bag of nuts once and the warning said "may contain nuts".
Another great post! Love your letters to Terry!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it - thank you so much for reading! I get such pleasure from our correspondence - we’ve been doing this project for a couple of years now and I love finding things to write to him about! 🤣
Such a great idea to share too! Love it! X
We are twinning on another thing: I email ideas to myself a LOT as my short-term memory is shot and I've been trying to come up with a dependable system of how to remember what I've forgotten. Great letter, RH. P.S. I love the video. I love rain like that. Please send some to Texas.
We’re birds of a feather, Mary!
I often e-mail myself notes about this and that, but try to then actually transfer them into my notebook. I write everything down - my notebook (not the one shown here, but my bullet journal) contains all kinds of things - each daily page has my to-do list but also a record of things that happened during that day - ‘posted letter to MIL’, ‘sparrowhawk swooped down for lunch’, ‘forgot to put bin out’ - or a note of things I know I’ll need to refer back to. It’s an absolutely life saver!
Now, I WOULD send you some rain, but once British rain sets in it’s here for ages - and I think after five straight days of it you’d be begging me to take it back! 🤣
I'm impressed with all that you document - what a fantastic habit. I should do the same - maybe it would help boost my short term memory, or solve mysteries of "where did I put that thing?" I could write down where I put everything! Hey! Great idea! 😂 And you're right about the rain. Jim says after 1 day of rain, "Oh, this is BRUTAL! How long has it been?" and I'll say "Less than 24 hours" and he'll say when the sun comes out again, "Whew! We made it!"
I lose things, too - all the time! I lose my phone, my keys, my hanky, my glucose monitor, my notebook, my CUP OF TEA - some of these things are an emergency, and that last one always FEELS like an emergency to me even though others might dispute that. I need to get into the habit of putting things down more consciously - maybe if I’d told myself aloud this morning that ‘you won’t be able to find your phone later if you put that pair of socks down on top of it’ I wouldn’t have lost it for QUITE so long. 🙄 True story.
Oh, boy, I can relate! That happens to me at least 1 million times a day. Last week I thought I lost my wedding rings (again) because I ALWAYS put them in the same place, except for that particular day, I was talking with Jim while walking to the put-away-place, and put them into the small vessel NEXT to the one I ALWAYS put them in instead of the one I ALWAYS put them in. Next morning I was in a panic because I couldn’t find them: not under socks, in the fridge, in any pockets, under the dresser, in the kitchen drawer . . . then I walked back to the put-away-place and noticed the smaller vessel in which rings might like to be, and there they were. 🙃
Oh no, you must have been panic-stricken, Mary! I once lost my engagement ring after I'd been out for a winter run - and found it in one of my gloves a little later. Phew.
After the glove incident we had my engagement ring resized, and I haven't taken it off since then. I've never taken off my wedding band although I shall have to be careful because it's become a little loose.
Whew is right for your finding your engagement ring! I wish I could wear my rings 24-7, but my finger with a ring on it all day and night, is similar to my feet with socks: claustrophobic 😂
I email myself too as its the only way I can be sure of a sensible response
🤣
😁
🤣
😂
Oh, the precision of that notebook...! Though I consider myself a person inclined to pay attention to detail, I'll never match that.
Here, and I imagine where you are, too, I often hear this saying: "If you don't like the weather in Maryland, wait five minutes." This weekend, we've gone from pleasant to below freezing in a day's time, but I'm not unhappy about it. It is nearly December after all.
I love the story of the library book that was 113 years overdue. I wonder if the fines carry to the next generation(s)? I suppose that might be a bit of an erroneous zone! 😂
Thanks for another lively installment.
Thanks, Elizabeth! There’s a similar turn of phrase in Scotland - where they say that get every season in one day - and that if it’s not raining it soon will be!
Thank you for the notebook precision compliment. My ‘system’ is still evolving, but it’s so great to have everything recorded in one place. As with a few other things (like catching up with a WEEK’S worth of Substack notifications this morning!) I’m a little behind, but that’s nothing new! x
I saw a sign posted on a promontory on the Scottish west coast, "If you can see the lighthouse, it is going to rain. If you can't see the lighthouse, it is already raining." Absolutely accurate tourist information.
HA!
😂
The 4 seasons in one day observation is applied to England too.
Your notes for our letters are more detailed than mine. I itemise prompts. I'll try to remember to include a screenshot next time.