“The government are going to sack 40% of airport staff,” he declared. “It’s inefficiencies like this, a waste of time.” He and I were just two of a number of people waiting on the other side of airport security for our bags to come through. Airport security is no-one’s favourite part of travel, but you… Continue reading Mr Forty Percent
Category: Observation
Hidden
I was in conversation with one of the brightest, sharpest and more driven people in my department. "Some days," I said, "I feel like I'm only just hanging on." "I feel like that some days too," she said. "I think most people feel like that." I was surprised. If I'd been asked to pick someone… Continue reading Hidden
“Is that your glove?”
I was grateful to the woman who stopped me as I was getting off the train. My glove was indeed lying in the floor of the train carriage where I’d dropped it. Who knows how many near misses I’ve had with these gloves over the years. I bought these gloves at a market in Moscow… Continue reading “Is that your glove?”
Cold
London doesn’t cope well with properly cold weather. You would think, being a European capital, that the city would have some degree of familiarity with how to behave in the cold. But it doesn’t. Examples: * when it snows, drivers have no idea how to drive anymore. Cars are abandoned at the side of the… Continue reading Cold
My mother and the Queen
It feels somewhat synchronous to me, that my mother and the Queen both passed in the same year. The Queen was five years older than my mother, but their birthdays were only three days apart. Both Taurus - I can only vouch for my mother but I'm sure the Queen was also stubborn and determined.… Continue reading My mother and the Queen
Seats for lonely eaters
My new office cafeteria has a number of high bench seats that face the windows. Here you can sit with your back to the cafeteria and look out at the view. But I can’t help thinking how these were labelled in early pictures of the new building: seats for lonely eaters. It was probably a… Continue reading Seats for lonely eaters
What did they say?
“Check your smuggalum,” Your what? It was only when I heard something about “fire”, I realised this was a radio ad recommending we check our smoke alarms. (or smuggalums) to avoid dying in a house fire. Good advice, but why not get someone who can articulate clearly to do the radio voice for something so… Continue reading What did they say?
Stairs
When did I start having a problem with stairs? I don’t mean the being out of breath walking up stairs kind of thing. I mean being unsure of what my feet are doing when going down stairs. There are a lot of stairs on my new commute and (taking heed of the guidance from French… Continue reading Stairs
As seen
Walking through the park this morning, it looks like all the children in the neighbourhood are here for soccer (football) training. One side of the park is crowded with groups of small children gathered around temporary goals, running and shouting and being directed by adults. They seem to range from very small (maybe three years… Continue reading As seen
Bloganuary 17: Superpower
Today's topic is: What's a superpower you'd love to have? Incredible strength? Nah. You'd spend your whole time doing favours for people and opening everyone's jars. Flying? Tempting, but nah. Time travel? Oh, so much to take into account with this one, and what if you turn up naked like in the Terminator or the… Continue reading Bloganuary 17: Superpower
Tales from Tobhamhor 