Monday 19 October 2009
Is it just me, or ...
... is Whitney Houston not ready to get back on stage yet? Her performance on the X-Factor this weekend was dismal. It wasn't just the wardrobe that malfunctioned. The diva was on a completely different planet.
Shall I be mother?
They say there's a time when every woman has to face up to the fact that she's turning into her mother. Now is my time.
When we were on holiday we met a woman from Dunfermline, Scotland. She told me I looked very familiar - in fact she was convinced we had met before. I had never seen her before in my life. However, I did live in Dunfermline for 10 years before moving to the south of England in 1988. I suggested how she might have seen me before (I worked for the local paper, was in the local amateur operatic society, etc) but we drew a blank.
Grace is a retired teacher, and she wondered whether she had ever taught me. No, I said, because I didn't go to school in Dunfermline - I was brought up in Glenrothes. It turns out that Grace taught at the school I attended - but not until 10 years after I left.
However, my mum also taught at that school and that's why I looked so familiar - I look just like my mum.
When we were on holiday we met a woman from Dunfermline, Scotland. She told me I looked very familiar - in fact she was convinced we had met before. I had never seen her before in my life. However, I did live in Dunfermline for 10 years before moving to the south of England in 1988. I suggested how she might have seen me before (I worked for the local paper, was in the local amateur operatic society, etc) but we drew a blank.
Grace is a retired teacher, and she wondered whether she had ever taught me. No, I said, because I didn't go to school in Dunfermline - I was brought up in Glenrothes. It turns out that Grace taught at the school I attended - but not until 10 years after I left.
However, my mum also taught at that school and that's why I looked so familiar - I look just like my mum.
I wish to register a ridiculous complaint
I've just returned from holiday. (I'm freezing cold now, by the way.) Ol' SoppyGit and I had a week's cruise round the Aegean then a week in a small, family-run hotel in the north-west of Corfu. It was brilliant - one of the best holidays ever.
OK, so we decided half-way through the cruise that we never need to see any more ancient Greek ruins again. Ever. So we didn't bother with any more of the organised excursions and instead we went to see what we wanted to see. After all, everything was as described in the brochure and we knew what we were signing up for, so we had no need to complain.
Not all our fellow holiday makers felt the same way though. Some people complained about everything. The weather was too hot, the helpings at dinner were too big, the ship's entertainers sang too loudly, fellow passengers were not taking the "fun quiz" seriously. Oh for goodness sake!
One woman told us proudly that she always makes a point of writing complaints to every company she deals with - and very often she's rewarded with complementary products/money-off vouchers, etc. She recommended to all and sundry that we should follow her example. Then, when we got to our hotel (The Thomas Bay, San Stefanos) someone complained that there weren't any bathrobes (it's a small, family-run hotel - not the Ritz-Carlton!).
One night we went on a coach tour to Corfu town, which was supposed to end with a boat trip to a little island for dinner al fresco. Unfortunately the weather changed and by the time we got there it was blowing a gale and raining cats and dogs, so the organisers had replaced dinner on the island with dinner at the most expensive restaurant in Corfu town. The change of plan was disappointing - but a couple of people became very aggressive towards the holiday rep. Disgraceful behaviour.
However, the rep said the boat trip would still go ahead for those who wanted it. So, after dinner, most of us decided we'd like to try the Sundowner boat trip. What the hell, we're on holiday! But we were running a bit late so a coach-load of Germans had arrived first and plonked themselves in the best seats, inside the boat. (Well, wouldn't you?)
The same people who had complained about missing the boat trip started having another go at the holiday rep. There was no way they were sitting outside in this weather, bloody Germans, this has all been very badly organised, we're going to sue, etc, etc. So they decided to go and nurse their wrath in the town for a couple of hours while the rest of us enjoyed free wine and fun.
Now, I know I like to grumble - but I also know how to enjoy myself. I wonder, however, if some of the people I met on holiday have ever had fun in their lives. Incidentally, I found this list of ridiculous complaints made by holiday makers, so it seems the people we met are not the only miserable Brits abroad!
OK, so we decided half-way through the cruise that we never need to see any more ancient Greek ruins again. Ever. So we didn't bother with any more of the organised excursions and instead we went to see what we wanted to see. After all, everything was as described in the brochure and we knew what we were signing up for, so we had no need to complain.
Not all our fellow holiday makers felt the same way though. Some people complained about everything. The weather was too hot, the helpings at dinner were too big, the ship's entertainers sang too loudly, fellow passengers were not taking the "fun quiz" seriously. Oh for goodness sake!
One woman told us proudly that she always makes a point of writing complaints to every company she deals with - and very often she's rewarded with complementary products/money-off vouchers, etc. She recommended to all and sundry that we should follow her example. Then, when we got to our hotel (The Thomas Bay, San Stefanos) someone complained that there weren't any bathrobes (it's a small, family-run hotel - not the Ritz-Carlton!).
One night we went on a coach tour to Corfu town, which was supposed to end with a boat trip to a little island for dinner al fresco. Unfortunately the weather changed and by the time we got there it was blowing a gale and raining cats and dogs, so the organisers had replaced dinner on the island with dinner at the most expensive restaurant in Corfu town. The change of plan was disappointing - but a couple of people became very aggressive towards the holiday rep. Disgraceful behaviour.
However, the rep said the boat trip would still go ahead for those who wanted it. So, after dinner, most of us decided we'd like to try the Sundowner boat trip. What the hell, we're on holiday! But we were running a bit late so a coach-load of Germans had arrived first and plonked themselves in the best seats, inside the boat. (Well, wouldn't you?)
The same people who had complained about missing the boat trip started having another go at the holiday rep. There was no way they were sitting outside in this weather, bloody Germans, this has all been very badly organised, we're going to sue, etc, etc. So they decided to go and nurse their wrath in the town for a couple of hours while the rest of us enjoyed free wine and fun.
Now, I know I like to grumble - but I also know how to enjoy myself. I wonder, however, if some of the people I met on holiday have ever had fun in their lives. Incidentally, I found this list of ridiculous complaints made by holiday makers, so it seems the people we met are not the only miserable Brits abroad!
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