I had a "Does He Take Sugar" moment on Saturday when POI and I went into
a well-known high street optician to collect my new glasses. For context
POI is a decade my junior. The assistant having eventually found the
glasses (in spite of presenting as a woman I think she must have had a Y-chromosome because she looked in the same drawer at least three times before finding them), she then went on to address all the instructions
about them to POI. I can only assume she thought POI was my carer (which
in some respects...) and that I wasn't safe to be out on my own (which
in some respects...).
john
On 4.8.26 09:32, john ashby wrote:
I had a "Does He Take Sugar" moment on Saturday when POI and I went into
a well-known high street optician to collect my new glasses. For context
POI is a decade my junior. The assistant having eventually found the
glasses (in spite of presenting as a woman I think she must have had a
Y-chromosome because she looked in the same drawer at least three times
before finding them), she then went on to address all the instructions
about them to POI. I can only assume she thought POI was my carer (which
in some respects...) and that I wasn't safe to be out on my own (which
in some respects...).
john
Some years ago attending a Gladys Knight and the Pips concert at the BIC
the couple behind us (who may have consumed some alcohol) decided to
talk throughout the presentation which was extremely distracting as I
was anticipating entertainment.
When I suggested that perhaps they could take their conversation
elsewhere their answer was to tell me not to embarrass my daughter in
this way.
Talking of which, when did it become a requirement to talk through music presentations? I accept that in the open air some latitude is to be anticipated as clearly people are unlikely to be silent but our
enjoyment of the Ronnie Scott Big Band at Henley was ruined by the loud talking from fellow attendees behind us. By contrast the aficionados
who gather at the Fleet Jazz Club are immensely respectful of the
performers on stage.
On 4.8.26 09:32, john ashby wrote:
I had a "Does He Take Sugar" moment on Saturday when POI and I went into
a well-known high street optician to collect my new glasses. For context
POI is a decade my junior. The assistant having eventually found the
glasses (in spite of presenting as a woman I think she must have had a
Y-chromosome because she looked in the same drawer at least three times
before finding them), she then went on to address all the instructions
about them to POI. I can only assume she thought POI was my carer (which
in some respects...) and that I wasn't safe to be out on my own (which
in some respects...).
john
Some years ago attending a Gladys Knight and the Pips concert at the BIC
the couple behind us (who may have consumed some alcohol) decided to
talk throughout the presentation which was extremely distracting as I
was anticipating entertainment.
When I suggested that perhaps they could take their conversation
elsewhere their answer was to tell me not to embarrass my daughter in
this way.
Talking of which, when did it become a requirement to talk through music presentations? I accept that in the open air some latitude is to be anticipated as clearly people are unlikely to be silent but our
enjoyment of the Ronnie Scott Big Band at Henley was ruined by the loud talking from fellow attendees behind us. By contrast the aficionados
who gather at the Fleet Jazz Club are immensely respectful of the
performers on stage.
I had a "Does He Take Sugar" moment on Saturday when POI and I went into
a well-known high street optician to collect my new glasses. For context
POI is a decade my junior. The assistant having eventually found the
glasses (in spite of presenting as a woman I think she must have had a >Y-chromosome because she looked in the same drawer at least three times >before finding them), she then went on to address all the instructions
about them to POI. I can only assume she thought POI was my carer (which
in some respects...) and that I wasn't safe to be out on my own (which
in some respects...).
carers? I apologise[1] if it offends anyone, but I am firmly of the[]
opinion that care should keep on being passed down through the
generations and not run back up again. My kids have more than enough
to cope with, with their own kids without having to worry about me.
[1]but not a lot..
I apologise[1] if it offends anyone, but I am firmly of the
opinion that care should keep on being passed down through the
generations and not run back up again. My kids have more than enough
to cope with, with their own kids without having to worry about me.
I'm not sure what you mean by "care should keep on being passed down
through the generations". Do you mean the grandchildren should take over
the care of the grandparents, as soon as they are able? (If so, how is
that point to be determined?)
Some years ago attending a Gladys Knight and the Pips concert at the BIC
the couple behind us (who may have consumed some alcohol) decided to
talk throughout the presentation which was extremely distracting as I
was anticipating entertainment.
When I suggested that perhaps they could take their conversation
elsewhere their answer was to tell me not to embarrass my daughter in
this way.
Talking of which, when did it become a requirement to talk through music presentations?-a I accept that in the open air some latitude is to be anticipated as clearly people are unlikely to be silent but our
enjoyment of the Ronnie Scott Big Band at Henley was ruined by the loud talking from fellow attendees behind us.-a By contrast the aficionados
who gather at the Fleet Jazz Club are immensely respectful of the
performers on stage.
On 04/08/2026 13:15, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
I'm not sure what you mean by "care should keep on being passed down
through the generations". Do you mean the grandchildren should take over
the care of the grandparents, as soon as they are able? (If so, how is
that point to be determined?)
As I understand it, Nick was saying that each generation should care for
the next, not the previous.
I have to say that I take the opposite view. Parents give a lot love,
care, time and money to look after their children when they need it and
in due course the situation may need to be reversed.
On 04/08/2026 09:51, Kosmo wrote:
Some years ago attending a Gladys Knight and the Pips concert at the
BIC the couple behind us (who may have consumed some alcohol) decided
to talk throughout the presentation which was extremely distracting as
I was anticipating entertainment.
When I suggested that perhaps they could take their conversation
elsewhere their answer was to tell me not to embarrass my daughter in
this way.
Talking of which, when did it become a requirement to talk through
music presentations?-a I accept that in the open air some latitude is
to be anticipated as clearly people are unlikely to be silent but our
enjoyment of the Ronnie Scott Big Band at Henley was ruined by the
loud talking from fellow attendees behind us.-a By contrast the
aficionados who gather at the Fleet Jazz Club are immensely respectful
of the performers on stage.
Some years ago my daughter and I went to see/hear Jeff Wayne's War of
the Worlds.-a Unfortunately, the most memorable thing about the whole performance is that the man sitting just behind me joined in all the singing.
On a slightly related theme, my daughter and I have adopted "Yellow
Jersey" to refer to those know-far-more-than-you-and-will-enlighten-you" people who are so annoying.-a The phrase originated when we did a minibus tour of Newmarket racing stables and the chap who obviously believed he
knew far more than the tour Guide was wearing a yellow sweater.
On 04/08/2026 09:51, Kosmo wrote:
Some years ago attending a Gladys Knight and the Pips concert at the
BIC the couple behind us (who may have consumed some alcohol) decided
to talk throughout the presentation which was extremely distracting as
I was anticipating entertainment.
When I suggested that perhaps they could take their conversation
elsewhere their answer was to tell me not to embarrass my daughter in
this way.
Talking of which, when did it become a requirement to talk through
music presentations?-a I accept that in the open air some latitude is
to be anticipated as clearly people are unlikely to be silent but our
enjoyment of the Ronnie Scott Big Band at Henley was ruined by the
loud talking from fellow attendees behind us.-a By contrast the
aficionados who gather at the Fleet Jazz Club are immensely respectful
of the performers on stage.
Some years ago my daughter and I went to see/hear Jeff Wayne's War of
the Worlds.-a Unfortunately, the most memorable thing about the whole performance is that the man sitting just behind me joined in all the singing.
On a slightly related theme, my daughter and I have adopted "Yellow
Jersey" to refer to those know-far-more-than-you-and-will-enlighten-you" people who are so annoying.-a The phrase originated when we did a minibus tour of Newmarket racing stables and the chap who obviously believed he
knew far more than the tour Guide was wearing a yellow sweater.
On 4.8.26 15:07, Mrs Nemo wrote:
On 04/08/2026 09:51, Kosmo wrote:
Some years ago attending a Gladys Knight and the Pips concert at the
BIC the couple behind us (who may have consumed some alcohol) decided
to talk throughout the presentation which was extremely distracting as
I was anticipating entertainment.
When I suggested that perhaps they could take their conversation
elsewhere their answer was to tell me not to embarrass my daughter in
this way.
Talking of which, when did it become a requirement to talk through
music presentations?a I accept that in the open air some latitude is
to be anticipated as clearly people are unlikely to be silent but our
enjoyment of the Ronnie Scott Big Band at Henley was ruined by the
loud talking from fellow attendees behind us.a By contrast the
aficionados who gather at the Fleet Jazz Club are immensely respectful
of the performers on stage.
Some years ago my daughter and I went to see/hear Jeff Wayne's War of
the Worlds.a Unfortunately, the most memorable thing about the whole
performance is that the man sitting just behind me joined in all the
singing.
On a slightly related theme, my daughter and I have adopted "Yellow
Jersey" to refer to those know-far-more-than-you-and-will-enlighten-you"
people who are so annoying.a The phrase originated when we did a minibus
tour of Newmarket racing stables and the chap who obviously believed he
knew far more than the tour Guide was wearing a yellow sweater.
It could be worse. A traveller on holiday with the good lady wife in
Israel (I was not on that holiday) asking why the tour guide why there
was no bacon for breakfast.
On 4.8.26 09:32, john ashby wrote:
I had a "Does He Take Sugar" moment on Saturday when POI and I went
into a well-known high street optician to collect my new glasses. For
context POI is a decade my junior. The assistant having eventually
found the glasses (in spite of presenting as a woman I think she must
have had a Y-chromosome because she looked in the same drawer at least
three times before finding them), she then went on to address all the
instructions about them to POI. I can only assume she thought POI was
my carer (which in some respects...) and that I wasn't safe to be out
on my own (which in some respects...).
john
Some years ago attending a Gladys Knight and the Pips concert at the BIC
the couple behind us (who may have consumed some alcohol) decided to
talk throughout the presentation which was extremely distracting as I
was anticipating entertainment.
When I suggested that perhaps they could take their conversation
elsewhere their answer was to tell me not to embarrass my daughter in
this way.
Talking of which, when did it become a requirement to talk through music presentations?
anticipated as clearly people are unlikely to be silent but our
enjoyment of the Ronnie Scott Big Band at Henley was ruined by the loud talking from fellow attendees behind us.-a By contrast the aficionados
who gather at the Fleet Jazz Club are immensely respectful of the
performers on stage.
On Tue, 4 Aug 2026 09:32:55 +0100, john ashby <johnashby20@yahoo.com>
wrote:
I had a "Does He Take Sugar" moment on Saturday when POI and I went intoProbably not the best moment, then, to ask if you heard today's
a well-known high street optician to collect my new glasses. For context
POI is a decade my junior. The assistant having eventually found the
glasses (in spite of presenting as a woman I think she must have had a
Y-chromosome because she looked in the same drawer at least three times
before finding them), she then went on to address all the instructions
about them to POI. I can only assume she thought POI was my carer (which
in some respects...) and that I wasn't safe to be out on my own (which
in some respects...).
Woman's Hour discussion on the subject of elderly, elderly-person's
carers? I apologise[1] if it offends anyone, but I am firmly of the
opinion that care should keep on being passed down through the
generations and not run back up again. My kids have more than enough
to cope with, with their own kids without having to worry about me.
But your story reminded me of a day when I must have been about five
years old. Based on that guess, my brother would have been two and
toddling; my mother 35 and my father 39 and we were walking in a
stretched out line together over the railway bridge in Sunbury on
Thames towards the clock tower. (Don't worry, the path was very wide
there and we were not obstructing any others.
A stranger engaged my father in conversation. Afterwards, puzzled, I
asked my father, "But why did that man say you had three children?"
Well, I suppose my mother, who was quite small, did look very young
for her age.
The bottleneck is always at the top of the bottle. - Attributed to
Peter Drucker (re management), by @Eric_Partaker 2023-7-14
On 04/08/2026 15:16, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
The bottleneck is always at the top of the bottle. - Attributed to
Peter Drucker (re management), by @Eric_Partaker 2023-7-14
Up to a point Lord Copper.
I read that, and immediately thought of the bottles of spirit, up on
optics, behind the bar in any pub.
(Not that I frequent pubs[1], you understand.)
[1] Now that I think on it, I simply can't recall the last time I went
into a pub and drank any form of alcohol - I'm always the driver.
On 04/08/2026 09:51, Kosmo wrote:
Talking of which, when did it become a requirement to talk through
music presentations?
Many seem to have (some kind of) music playing constantly, regardless of what they're doing or where they are.-a They treat it like wallpaper.
Concert?-a More wallpaper.
On 04/08/2026 15:16, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
The bottleneck is always at the top of the bottle. - Attributed to
Peter Drucker (re management), by @Eric_Partaker 2023-7-14
Up to a point Lord Copper.
I read that, and immediately thought of the bottles of spirit, up on
optics, behind the bar in any pub.
(Not that I frequent pubs[1], you understand.)
[1] Now that I think on it, I simply can't recall the last time I went
into a pub and drank any form of alcohol - I'm always the driver.
On 4.8.26 09:32, john ashby wrote:
I had a "Does He Take Sugar" moment on Saturday when POI and I went
into a well-known high street optician to collect my new glasses. For
context POI is a decade my junior. The assistant having eventually
found the glasses (in spite of presenting as a woman I think she must
have had a Y-chromosome because she looked in the same drawer at least
three times before finding them), she then went on to address all the
instructions about them to POI. I can only assume she thought POI was
my carer (which in some respects...) and that I wasn't safe to be out
on my own (which in some respects...).
john
Some years ago attending a Gladys Knight and the Pips concert at the BIC
the couple behind us (who may have consumed some alcohol) decided to
talk throughout the presentation which was extremely distracting as I
was anticipating entertainment.
When I suggested that perhaps they could take their conversation
elsewhere their answer was to tell me not to embarrass my daughter in
this way.
Talking of which, when did it become a requirement to talk through music presentations?-a I accept that in the open air some latitude is to be anticipated as clearly people are unlikely to be silent but our
enjoyment of the Ronnie Scott Big Band at Henley was ruined by the loud talking from fellow attendees behind us.-a By contrast the aficionados
who gather at the Fleet Jazz Club are immensely respectful of the
performers on stage.
I had a "Does He Take Sugar" moment on Saturday when POI and I went into
a well-known high street optician to collect my new glasses. For context
POI is a decade my junior. The assistant having eventually found the
glasses (in spite of presenting as a woman I think she must have had a Y-chromosome because she looked in the same drawer at least three times before finding them), she then went on to address all the instructions
about them to POI. I can only assume she thought POI was my carer (which
in some respects...) and that I wasn't safe to be out on my own (which
in some respects...).
john
On Tue, 4 Aug 2026 09:32:55 +0100, john ashby <johnashby20@yahoo.com>
wrote:
I had a "Does He Take Sugar" moment on Saturday when POI and I went intoProbably not the best moment, then, to ask if you heard today's
a well-known high street optician to collect my new glasses. For context
POI is a decade my junior. The assistant having eventually found the
glasses (in spite of presenting as a woman I think she must have had a
Y-chromosome because she looked in the same drawer at least three times
before finding them), she then went on to address all the instructions
about them to POI. I can only assume she thought POI was my carer (which
in some respects...) and that I wasn't safe to be out on my own (which
in some respects...).
Woman's Hour discussion on the subject of elderly, elderly-person's
carers? I apologise[1] if it offends anyone, but I am firmly of the
opinion that care should keep on being passed down through the
generations and not run back up again. My kids have more than enough
to cope with, with their own kids without having to worry about me.
On Tue, 4 Aug 2026 19:46:51 +0100, Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> wrote:
On 04/08/2026 15:16, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
The bottleneck is always at the top of the bottle. - Attributed to
Peter Drucker (re management), by @Eric_Partaker 2023-7-14
Up to a point Lord Copper.
I read that, and immediately thought of the bottles of spirit, up on
optics, behind the bar in any pub.
(Not that I frequent pubs[1], you understand.)
[1] Now that I think on it, I simply can't recall the last time I went
into a pub and drank any form of alcohol - I'm always the driver.
My friends and I have solved that problem. There are bus stops outside
the pub and when we want to go home, my friends wait on one side of
the road for their bus directly home and I wait on the other side for
a bus to the Bus Station and a connection to my place.
On 04/08/2026 15:16, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
The bottleneck is always at the top of the bottle. - Attributed to
Peter Drucker (re management), by @Eric_Partaker 2023-7-14
Up to a point Lord Copper.
I read that, and immediately thought of the bottles of spirit, up on
optics, behind the bar in any pub.
(Not that I frequent pubs[1], you understand.)
[1] Now that I think on it, I simply can't recall the last time I went
into a pub and drank any form of alcohol - I'm always the driver.
On 2026/8/4 19:46:51, Sam Plusnet wrote:
On 04/08/2026 15:16, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
The bottleneck is always at the top of the bottle. - Attributed to
Peter Drucker (re management), by @Eric_Partaker 2023-7-14
Up to a point Lord Copper.
I read that, and immediately thought of the bottles of spirit, up on
optics, behind the bar in any pub.
True! But I thought (obviously, as I added it to my quotes file) it a worthwhile dig at management. [Odd, I just had to add worthwhile to my spellchecker's dictionary.]>
(Not that I frequent pubs[1], you understand.)I can't either; I usually _am_ driving, but that's not the reason - I
[1] Now that I think on it, I simply can't recall the last time I went
into a pub and drank any form of alcohol - I'm always the driver.
just haven't found any of the commonly-acceptable forms of alcohol I
like the taste of; I certainly don't like any beer or draught cider.>
Best line on being the designated driver was by Willie Rushton in his
book Superpig (came out in response to Shirley Conran's "Superwoman"):
about going into a drinking establishment, with friends who get drunker
and drunker, while you just drink orange juice. You finally leave before
the vomiting starts ...
... after all, you can only drink so much orange juice.
On 04/08/2026 12:09, Nick Odell wrote:
On Tue, 4 Aug 2026 09:32:55 +0100, john ashby <johnashby20@yahoo.com>
wrote:
I had a "Does He Take Sugar" moment on Saturday when POI and I went into >>> a well-known high street optician to collect my new glasses. For context >>> POI is a decade my junior. The assistant having eventually found theProbably not the best moment, then, to ask if you heard today's
glasses (in spite of presenting as a woman I think she must have had a
Y-chromosome because she looked in the same drawer at least three times
before finding them), she then went on to address all the instructions
about them to POI. I can only assume she thought POI was my carer (which >>> in some respects...) and that I wasn't safe to be out on my own (which
in some respects...).
Woman's Hour discussion on the subject of elderly, elderly-person's
carers? I apologise[1] if it offends anyone, but I am firmly of the
opinion that care should keep on being passed down through the
generations and not run back up again. My kids have more than enough
to cope with, with their own kids without having to worry about me.
But your story reminded me of a day when I must have been about five
years old. Based on that guess, my brother would have been two and
toddling; my mother 35 and my father 39 and we were walking in a
stretched out line together over the railway bridge in Sunbury on
Thames towards the clock tower. (Don't worry, the path was very wide
there and we were not obstructing any others.
A stranger engaged my father in conversation. Afterwards, puzzled, I
asked my father, "But why did that man say you had three children?"
Well, I suppose my mother, who was quite small, did look very young
for her age.
One of my mother's stories was the time she took her younger sister on a bus.
My mother (25 at the time) was given a half-fare but she had to pay full price for her (14 at the time) sister.
(I too had a mother who was quite small, at less than 5 foot.)
On 4.8.26 12:09, Nick Odell wrote:
I apologise[1] if it offends anyone, but I am firmly of the
opinion that care should keep on being passed down through the
generations and not run back up again. My kids have more than enough
to cope with, with their own kids without having to worry about me.
My wife subscribes to the same theory. She spent many years ensuring
her parents' well being - either by them living with her or her
arranging their rentals and eventually together we worked out buying
their maisonette to provide them with security. In her younger years Jackie's mother looked after the children whilst Jackie worked but that
came to an end naturally, particularly as Stephanie fell outside the
normal spectrum.
We both know that our children are unlikely to undertake our care and consequently we know that we need to be able to remove ourselves when
the time is determined. A lot will depend on the problems but by then I hope that there will be a sensitive and caring route which does not currently exist in this country.
On 04/08/2026 13:15, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
I'm not sure what you mean by "care should keep on being passed down
through the generations". Do you mean the grandchildren should take over
the care of the grandparents, as soon as they are able? (If so, how is
that point to be determined?)
As I understand it, Nick was saying that each generation should care for
the next, not the previous.
I have to say that I take the opposite view. Parents give a lot love,
care, time and money to look after their children when they need it and
in due course the situation may need to be reversed.
Kosmo <krw@whitnet.uk> wrote:
On 4.8.26 12:09, Nick Odell wrote:
I apologise[1] if it offends anyone, but I am firmly of the
opinion that care should keep on being passed down through the
generations and not run back up again. My kids have more than enough
to cope with, with their own kids without having to worry about me.
My wife subscribes to the same theory. She spent many years ensuring
her parents' well being - either by them living with her or her
arranging their rentals and eventually together we worked out buying
their maisonette to provide them with security. In her younger years
Jackie's mother looked after the children whilst Jackie worked but that
came to an end naturally, particularly as Stephanie fell outside the
normal spectrum.
We both know that our children are unlikely to undertake our care and
consequently we know that we need to be able to remove ourselves when
the time is determined. A lot will depend on the problems but by then I
hope that there will be a sensitive and caring route which does not
currently exist in this country.
Have you seen rCySoylent GreenrCO?
On 2026/8/5 18:43:34, Mike McMillan wrote:
Kosmo <krw@whitnet.uk> wrote:Yes, though not too sure how it relates to this subject.
On 4.8.26 12:09, Nick Odell wrote:
I apologise[1] if it offends anyone, but I am firmly of the
opinion that care should keep on being passed down through the
generations and not run back up again. My kids have more than enough
to cope with, with their own kids without having to worry about me.
My wife subscribes to the same theory. She spent many years ensuring
her parents' well being - either by them living with her or her
arranging their rentals and eventually together we worked out buying
their maisonette to provide them with security. In her younger years
Jackie's mother looked after the children whilst Jackie worked but that
came to an end naturally, particularly as Stephanie fell outside the
normal spectrum.
We both know that our children are unlikely to undertake our care and
consequently we know that we need to be able to remove ourselves when
the time is determined. A lot will depend on the problems but by then I >>> hope that there will be a sensitive and caring route which does not
currently exist in this country.
Have you seen rCySoylent GreenrCO?
I couldn't keep a straight face though, when I went for an MRI scan, and
the waiting and machine rooms had illuminated pictures of rural scenes
on the walls.
Kosmo <krw@whitnet.uk> wrote:
On 4.8.26 12:09, Nick Odell wrote:
I apologise[1] if it offends anyone, but I am firmly of the
opinion that care should keep on being passed down through the
generations and not run back up again. My kids have more than enough
to cope with, with their own kids without having to worry about me.
My wife subscribes to the same theory. She spent many years ensuring
her parents' well being - either by them living with her or her
arranging their rentals and eventually together we worked out buying
their maisonette to provide them with security. In her younger years
Jackie's mother looked after the children whilst Jackie worked but that
came to an end naturally, particularly as Stephanie fell outside the
normal spectrum.
We both know that our children are unlikely to undertake our care and
consequently we know that we need to be able to remove ourselves when
the time is determined. A lot will depend on the problems but by then I
hope that there will be a sensitive and caring route which does not
currently exist in this country.
Have you seen rCySoylent GreenrCO?
Have you seen rCySoylent GreenrCO?
On 4.8.26 12:09, Nick Odell wrote:
I apologise[1] if it offends anyone, but I am firmly of the
opinion that care should keep on being passed down through the
generations and not run back up again. My kids have more than enough
to cope with, with their own kids without having to worry about me.
My wife subscribes to the same theory. She spent many years ensuring
her parents' well being - either by them living with her or her
arranging their rentals and eventually together we worked out buying
their maisonette to provide them with security. In her younger years >Jackie's mother looked after the children whilst Jackie worked but that
came to an end naturally, particularly as Stephanie fell outside the
normal spectrum.
We both know that our children are unlikely to undertake our care and >consequently we know that we need to be able to remove ourselves when
the time is determined. A lot will depend on the problems but by then I >hope that there will be a sensitive and caring route which does not >currently exist in this country.
I couldn't keep a straight face though, when I went for an MRI scan, and
the waiting and machine rooms had illuminated pictures of rural scenes
on the walls.
On 05/08/2026 21:45, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
<snip>
I couldn't keep a straight face though, when I went for an MRI scan, and
the waiting and machine rooms had illuminated pictures of rural scenes
on the walls.
But did they find Mr I? Or even Mrs A?
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