Monday 5 August 2013

Things I've learnt in the past week

1. That even if I've done the same journey literally thousands of times, I can still take a wrong turn and end up near Eastleigh airport. I didn't even know Eastleigh had an airport.
2. That a chattering granddaughter can lead to inattention when driving, resulting in an unscheduled trip to Eastleigh airport (see 1 above).
3. That on a windy day, with no other horse for company, Fairfax can be seriously spooked by the following: a man sleeping in a motorised buggy in a field (understandable); dock leaves (no excuse); a butterfly (ditto); a motorbike (he gets away with this. He really hates them); ragwort (yes. Little yellow flowers, and he's a very big horse. Pathetic); smelly effluent from cattle dung (hmmm); nothing at all (this happens frequently).
4. That the best way to celebrate a three-year-old's birthday is not to invite anyone under twelve to the party. This was my small grandson on Saturday, who had a wonderful time being the centre of attention and didn't have to share anything with anyone. (Now, why didn't I think of that, when mine were small?)
5. That when a man who is known to be clumsy dons a large  apron and equips himself with a pile of old newspapers in order to clean one pair of shoes, it is far better to do it for him.

23 comments:

  1. Oh, no! Where did the polish go?

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    1. I'm afraid I took over. The signs weren't looking good!

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  2. Things I've learnt from your post:
    Eastleigh has an airport!

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  3. On the rare occasions that I visit London and use the tube I usually end up at Green Park. One day I'll have to go on purpose and have a look at the place.

    Horses are strange creatures and dafter in company with other horses. They will happily disregard forty tonnes of lorry bearing down on them and shy at a crisp bag or cigarette packet.

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    1. Mine is much worse on his own. But you are so right about crisp packets. He has nightmares about horse flavoured crisps (or so he says).

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  4. No, I don't care what he wears, I'm not cleaning his shoes.
    Poor horse: he probably didn't know about the airport, either.
    For my next birthday, I'll probably just invite people under the age of 12, to see what happens.
    A very fun post today, Frances. I'm glad I'm not the only one who (a) gets lost (b) gets spooked and (c) doesn't like to share things!
    K

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    2. Kay, I get lost all the time, and have joined the satnav dependent fraternity!

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  5. Offering to do a man's shoes can lead to all sorts of things Frances: don't be fooled.

    I knew Eastleigh had an airport (not bad for someone who lives almost as far away from Eastleigh as it is possible to get in the UK).

    Fairfax sounds inherently unreliable as a means of transporting a delicate human frame from one place to another but then you do seem to have a penchant for having things broken by such means. One major fall was enough for me I have to say. Mind you I might have felt different if I'd fallen onto the ground and not over the edge of a mountain pathway and down the hillside.

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    1. Inherently unreliable. Yes. That just about sums it up!

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  6. I love all these, especially number four. I wish I'd realised this many years ago too. Many of the small people who came to our parties decided to opt out of all our carefully organised games. They just wanted to open my child's presents, hold my hand and wipe their noses on my skirt instead. x

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  7. Joanna, that was the BEST kids' party I've ever been to!

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  8. Love your week, Frances - and good on the little one enjoying being centre of attention!

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    1. It was the donning of the apron that rang alarm bells!

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  10. What a great week, Frances - and fancy that about Eastleigh having an airport! I love number 4 :-) x

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    1. Well at least I know we have an airport (fairly) nearby!

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  11. I daresay that Fairfax sees the horse fairies all about him quite clearly. You know the ones, the ones we humans continue to miss entirely.

    You should rely on his extraordinary equine powers instead of making fun of him.

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    1. Believe me, I never make fun of someone upon whom my life frequently depends!

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  12. Hi Frances!
    Love your list, especially the last one. Thought at first he was going to set fire to the grill, or something!

    Butterflies are scary. Didn't you know? My sister used to be terrifed of them, run screaming for the house and mother's apron.

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    1. And your sister was as big as a horse, Yvonne? I don't think so!

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