Misfits Mid-Life Crisis Adventures in East and West London, Surrey and Northamptonshire (The NEXT Chapter).

Week 188 Saturday 20^th until Friday 26^thJanuary 2018.

Happy bday to Anoodle on 23 Jan 18.

My niece Anoodle had a joint bday party with a friend; a party where the children made their own pizza.  The look of pride on their faces when a cooked pizza was placed in front of them that they had made was priceless.  One little girl had made hers in to two halves, one for her and the other to take home for her sister, I would have never thought of that (pizza’s not for sharing).  This got me thinking if this had been an adult party where alcohol was flowing, anything could have happened to that half of the dough not to mention the cheese and other toppings.  Luckily this was an innocent children’s party.  Certainly if I had dropped the dough id have admitted it and eaten it as long as the 3 second rule had not been broken.  It’s so sad that as we grow older we tend to become jaded cynical and think the worst about everyone (or is that just me……..it probably is).

  “Anoodle, making her pizza”.

Watching a couple of kids knock seven shades out of the lump of dough flattening it in to a pizza shape, made me think this could be a good stress reliever for adults.  Last year I saw a programme about a craze storming the US where people visit “anger rooms”.  After they have been handed a heavy implement such as a baseball bat, safety glasses and overalls, they beat the shiz out of inanimate objects for a set period of time.  This is how I want to celebrate my (a milestone one in other people’s eyes) bday this year, instead of forgetting it as currently planned. 

  “Everyone loves pizza”.

I can report that the pizza party was a huge success, there were no tears, bumped heads or any of the usual problems associated with children’s parties.  This very old fat lardy aunty was roped in a couple of time to take part in “ring a ring of roses”.  Which entertained the children, while parents watching breathed a communal sigh of relief because they didn’t need to take part.  I really had a great time and look forward to doing it again next month with my nephew.

  “Is it wrong that i wanted to eat this raw”.

 And Now For Something Completely Different……

  “Grandma trying to decide if anyone would notice if she took the machine.  With Aunty MOZ not making pizza”.

Over the weekend I witnessed how hard work and training can pay off.  And I am not talking about running through a swampy jungle environment with a tiny Jedi master strapped to your back.  Humans have mastered many talents, but there are a couple Music and Art which I think are universal no matter what the age or language of the person looking on. 

  “The Bday girls who love cake”.

My sister surprised us all recently by informing the family that she has been having secret Banjo lesson.  Over the weekend she performed in a showcase with a number of other students playing solo or accompanied by the teacher and a small band.  Some of the students were young with instruments nearly as tall as themselves, while others had taken up plucking and strumming strings later in life.  No matter what their age they were all very talented. 

  “The star arrives for a show full of talent”.

Personally I feel that anyone who can make a beautiful sound out of a piece of wood and/or metal is a talented individual.  Over the years I have tried to learn various instruments, I actually own a guitar which has made a great door stop and / or conversation piece over the years.  I love music, especially guitar music and deep down would love to play but I just don’t have the patience (it’s the same with gardening).  At this point I would like to mention that I am a great air guitar player, unfortunately this is not as impressive as my sister or the other students. 

  “My sister live on stage, others sound checking”.

The trip “up north” was fleeting (with some sleet here and there) but it was well worth it.  After attending the showcase I have decided to just continue to enjoy music that other produces, and let my sister entertain me, I’m lazy like that.

  “On our way up north to see real talent”.

And Finally…….

Travelling on public transport is so noisy these days, and I’m not talking about sound spillage from the next person’s headphones.  Have you noticed how people are wearing bigger and bigger headphones that cost a fortune, but just make them look silly?

 “This man worked for the tube and hung his bags on the rail which slide over my head when the train stopped suddenly”.

The noise I am moaning about is all the public address announcements.  I understand why there are so many recorded messages to help people new to the city and of course aid the disabled.  But there really seems to be an excessive amount of announcements.

  “Happy time at work when everything crashes.  Are the bosses hinting”.

On a normal journey some of the regular announcements heard include “the train’s destination”, “what the next station is”, “the station name once stopped”, “what other lines you can change onto, if there are sights of interested these will be mentioned”.  When a train is stuck at a signal there is an announcement, its message overload.  I remember the good old day when all you normally heard was the famous “Mind The Gap”.

  “Even staff on Juby line staff are wearing masks these days, look closely”.

Earlier this week there was silence, the dot matrix screens were not activated either.  This doesn’t happen often, I hope it’s not wrong of me to say it was nice.  As I mentioned of course I understand the need for announcements but I think ”people” in general have we become lazy with a need to be told everything.  At this rate there will be an announcement to remind people to put one foot in front of the other.  Sorry if I’m being an old fart.

  “I do enjoy the tube, especially when the cab door is left open “.

My Mid Life Crisis Conts……

 “Writing this shiz”.

This week I have mainly been watching:  

“After Trek”, (S1, ep 11: TX 22/01/18).  “Click”, (TX: 20/01/18).  “Inside No9”, (S4, ep 4).    “Jeremy Kyle’s Emergency Room: Big Field (BBC3), (TX: 19/01/18).  “Miriam’s Big American Adventure”, (S1, ep 3: TX 24/01/18).  “Room 101”, (S7, ep 1: TX 19/01/18).  “Spiral”, (S6, ep 7 & ep 8).  “Stacey Dooley Investigates”, (TX: 24/01/18).  “Star Trek: Discovery”, (S1, ep 12).  Star Trek (TNG)”, (S4, ep 8 to ep 26)(S5, ep 1 & ep 2).  “The Biggest Little Railway In The World”, (S1, ep 3: TX 21/01/18).  “The Graham Norton Show”, (S22, ep14: TX 19/01/18).  “The Golden Girls”, (S6, ep 18 to ep 19).  “The Mash Report”, (S1, Winter: ep 2: TX 25/01/18).  “This World: The Tea Trail With Simon Reeves”, (TX: 12/01/14).  “Will & Grace”, (S9, ep 3).                   

This week I have mainly been listening to:   

“Brian Gittins And Friends”, (ep 26, 31/10/17)(ep 32, 24/01/18).  “Iain lee (Bonus)”, (19/01, 22/01, 26/01/18).  “Iain Lee (Highlights)”, (19/01, 22/01, 23/01, 24/01, 25/01/18).  “In Poor Taste”, (ep 89, 23/01/18).  “LBC Podcast: Mystery Hour”, (25/01/18).  “LBC Podcast: Nick Abbot (Whole Show)”, (20/01, 26/01/18).  “NASA: Gravity Assist”, (ep 10, 24/01/18).  “NASA: Houston We Have A Podcast”, (ep 29, 26/01/18).  “NASA: In Silicon Valley”, (ep 76, 19/01/18)(ep 77, 25/01/18)).  “Pints And Puzzles”, (25/01/18).  “Soundtracking With Edith Bowman”, (ep 74, 26/01/18).  “Strange Times”, (ep 248, 21/01/1)(9ep 249, 22/01/18).  “The Aggy Fox Podcast”, (ep 27, 20/01/18).  “The Rabbit Hole”, (ep 40, 25/01/18).“Morrissey”,  “Helen Lucas,  “The Manic Street Preachers”,  “Ian Dury And The Blockheads”,  “The Cranberries”,  ”Snow Patrol”,  “Beck”, “Alanis Morissette”, “Julian Lennon”.