The wonderful logic of little boys

Two recent examples. I phoned my daughter, and her small son answered the phone.

Me: Hello, Max. Is Mummy there?
Max: Yes.
Long pause while I wait for me daughter, then:
Me: Max?
Max (still there): Yes?
Me: Could I speak to her, please?
And off he went to fetch her. Because, of course, I hadn't asked to speak to her; I'd only asked if she was there. And he'd answered my question and was (presumably) politely waiting for the next one.

Second example. We had two grandsons, aged 8 and 9, staying over half-term. I asked them to go and run their bath, and I would be up in a minute. Off they went. But when I went to check, they had certainly run the bath - gallons of hot water were pouring in - but I hadn't asked them to put the plug in, so the bath was empty.

I shall know better next time.

'Mrs. Stott has passed away...'

...has received the nicest response so far from a cold caller. He was very sorry, and rang off. 'Passed away' (not an expression I like or normally use) seems to work better than 'died'. Interesting.

(Frances Stott is my alter ego)

Come and be tagged!

I'm not very good - no, not at all good - at doing the link thing. So passing on Patsy's 'tag' might prove a little difficult (not passing it on at all would be ungracious). So - some volunteers, please! I need people to answer these questions, and then, if you want to (and unlike me, if you can) pass on questions of your own to preferably eleven (why eleven? I have no idea) bloggers.

Now for the questions:

1. Why do you blog?

2. What do you think of the royal family (not the TV programme; the real deal)?

3. Who - if anyone - would you most like to resemble if you couldn't look like you?

4. What would you do if you had just one day to live (and unlimited funds)?

5. If you were to win the lottery, what would be the ideal amount for you to win?

6. And how would you spend it?

7. What's the best meal you've ever had?

8. And the worst?

9. What's your favourite charity?

10. If you had to live in a cardboard box, where would you put it?

11. If you could have your life over again, what single thing would you change?

Now, please don't be shy. Help yourself to a 'tag', and leave a link. And then pass it on (if you want to). Perhaps something to do in your coffee break?

Magpie 106

The kitchen towels are handy
If you're six foot tall, like Andy.
But he has to stoop
For soup.


(With thanks to Tess at Magpie Tales for the picture)

Horse diaries

We returned from a lovely ramble - okay, dance - round the fields in the sunshine this morning. Titch had stopped shoving me round his box and was nuzzling my face.

Me: What do you want?
Titch: Well, since you're offering, a bit of grass? Just ten minutes? After all, it was my birthday yesterday (it was) and you forgot ( I did).

So I slip on his head collar, and hold the rope while he grazes on the patch of grass by his stable. With the sun on his back, he looks very cheerful

Titch: (between mouthfuls) So have you decided what to do with me yet?
Me: Not really. I suppose we could stop tearing about and concentrate on our flat work.
Titch: You mean, all that going round in cIrcles, and sideways and backwards, like some silly mare?
Me: That's about the sum oif it.
Titch: Boring.
Me: Too right it's boring. They do it in the Olympics, though.
Titch (brightening. He'll do anything for a bit of fame) : Are we good enough?
Me: We're both hopeless, and you know it.
Titch: Shall we just carry on as we are, then? I like it here.
Me: I like it here, too.

And this is so true. After the kind if week I've had (absolutely appalling. Don't ask), being around the horses and the horsey people makes everything so much better.

Titch (who can be quite wise sometimes, and who knows me well): I thought so. Got any carrots in the car?

Caught by Patsy

I've been "tagged" by Patsy. I don't usually do this kind of thing, but since it's Patsy, I'll have a go. These are her questions:

Do you have a favourite word or phrase?
Curmudgeon.
2. What do you like on your pizza?
Spinach and olives.
3. Where do you get you books from?
Amazon and the local bookshop.
4. Favourite drink?
Tea, best bitter and red wine.
5. Who would you most like to meet?
Judi Dench and Desmond Tutu (but not together)
6. And why?
Judi's a brilliant actress, seems a lovely perosn, and hasn't had her face rearranged. Tutu's what a Christian should be. And he has that amazing smile.
7. Favourite colour?
Denim blue.
8. Where have you never visited but would like to go?
South America.
9. Do you like hats?
YES!
10. What weather do you like best?
Warm and sunny, with a very slight breeze. Oh - and rain at night (because we need rain). But only at night.
11. Were these questions random enough?
No.

I'll have to think about whom to send these on to. And the questions, of course...

More cold calls

Two minutes ago:

Caller: Hello. My name is Randall. I want to ask you some questions about your household.
Me: I don't have a household. I've been thrown out of my house, and I'm living in a tent.
Caller: That doesn't matter. You can still answer some questions.
Me: It does matter! You try living in a tent! It's most uncomfortable, and ...
Caller: It doesn't matter. You can still answer a few questions...
Me: IT DOES MATTER! Have you any idea how uncomfortable this is, living in a tent like this? I haven't time to answer questions!
Caller: It doe -

Randall seemed to be very short on sympathy, so I put the phone down. I should have stuck to saying I was dead. That works much better.