Misfits Mid-Life Crisis Adventures in East London, Essex & Surrey (I wanted an ice cream while out in Essex. But the people in the van didn’t have gloves on, so went without).
Week 315 Saturday 27th June until Friday 3rd July 2020.
Like most people, I haven’t been anywhere these the last few months other than a visit to the occasional shop/supermarket, queuing up outside rushing around as quickly as possible then going straight home. If I am honest, I haven’t missed being around other wheezing, groaning, complaining walking meatsacks.
“Mary, Mungo and Midge the next generation”.
Last Sunday my friend and I ventured further away from home than we have been since March. It was only a journey of 30 to 40 minutes, but seeing more and more cars and people was a little bit of a shock. We were meeting up with Rac an old (she’s actually younger than us) friend. Standing in the car park seeing people walking around, getting in and out of cars or on and off horses did make me feel a little uncomfortable.
“Dirk Turpin, looks different in real life!”.
That inner stress only got worse, when we couldn’t get the car park ticket machine to work, or get a signal (yes, we probably looked silly waving our small electronic devise around hoping to catch a whisp of a stray signal drifting above our heads) to pay on-line. In the end RAC saved us, she really was the responsible adult that afternoon.
“Just beautiful”.
All the stress of getting there, trying to pay disappeared once we were led into the woods. Being surrounded by grass, trees, birds and squirrels really is the best therapy. Even when it was raining, I was happy hearing the sound of the water falling on to the canopy of leaves above, watching drips fall on to the carpet of ferns and grass.
“Singing in the rain”.
I don’t know really where we were, I didn’t need to, it was beautiful. I wasn’t cold in only shorts, a vert top and a shawl, what was important was that I was with friends surrounded by nature and happier than I have been for a long time. Thank you Rac!
“One moment the sun shone, then it rained. Followed by more sun. A really enjoyable afternoon”.
While we were in the woods a little girl stopped (she was with her family) and asked us if we had seen the Gruffalo (normally there is a trail in those woods, that you follow to discover statues of characters from the story). We hadn’t and wished her (We didn’t tell her that the statues have been put on to storage at the moment, so she won’t find The Gruffalo sadly).
“Is some one re-filming Carry on Cowboy”.
And Now For Something Completely Different.
“Not my hand. But if you want to hire it to model your product, get in touch. Special rates for mates”.
Working from home is great, I have mentioned this a lot over the last few months. While speaking to numpties on the phone, I get great pleasure watching birds on the feeders in the garden. Other activities during a working day might include chasing a gang of local hooligan (squirrel) of the bird feeders (in a nice way of course. Which is why they probably keep returning, I am soft with animals). Or stroking a neighbour’s cat that visits the garden, rubbing its face on everything including me (I realise this is its way of saying “I own this, this and you”. I really don’t have a problem being its Baaaaaaitch. I told you I liked animals). All of this is so much nicer than being cooped up in a large stuffy extremely noisy office. However, the main reason I enjoy working from home, is my commute down the stairs from the bedroom to the living room. That journey never gets boring.
“My owner, the neighbours pussy”.
But there are down sides. Because of this quick journey and work know that I am at home they can exploit it. Earlier this week I got an email informing me I had an online appraisal later this month at 8am. When I read that time all I could hear in my head was “Whaaaaaaaaat!!!!” I don’t start until 9, at the time of the appt I am normally fast asleep.
“I am happy after eating a huge curry”.
I have spent most of lockdown in my PJ’s, only getting dressed when I really need to. And am very tempted to attend the appraisal in my PJ’s sat up in bed. I have sent an email asking if this time is correct, will I get paid or time off in leu. At this time I haven’t had a reply! Reading this back, I do seem to just be moaning about nothing. But it’s the principle of having a meeting an hour before the actual time that the office opens. My managers have children (that’s their fault) and have probably up before sparrow fart, but not me!
“An old picture. How i might look during my Appraisal”.
Apart from this gripe working from home is the best thing to have happened (personally) in years. I know plenty of “office workers” who would not be upset if they never stepped foot in another badly over lit, air-conditioned work place. This period of lockdown may have changed the way many of us work for ever. My only issue is that it can be exploited, as with my appraisal. I’ll keep you informed; maybe even take a screen shot for you.
“Always a fave moment when homeworking”.
And Finally……
Spoke to a nice woman who lives in the same street as my brother. She probably could have opened a window and shouted to him and his family.
“Even a small creature is beautiful”.
And
This week I was heard to say with shock “I just splashed coffee on Jon Pertwee’s face” (Liz Sladen and him are the cover stars of the latest Doctor Who Magazine).
“Very distracted at an emotional moment in classic Who, while writing this shiz”.
My Mid Life Crisis Conts……
This week I have mainly been watching:
“Better Than Us”, (S1, ep 14). “Click”, (TX: 27/06/20). “Comedians: Home Alone”, (S1, ep 5). “Crazy Craig’s Pearls – Year 3 Anniversary Video”, (Facebook)(TX: 01/07/20). “Creeped Out”, (S1, ep 1). “DEVS”, (S1, ep 7). “Genius Of The World”, (S1, ep 1, TX: 05/08/15)(ep 2, TX: 12/08/15). “Hidden Wilds Of The Motorway”, (TX: 30/06/20). “I May Destroy You”, (S1, ep 7 & ep 8). “Lost Pyramids Of The Aztec”, (ep 2, TX: 28/06/20). “National Theatre Live: Les Blancs”, (Original TX: 2020)(Rpt TX: 02/07/20). “Rhod Gilbert’s Work Experience”, (S3, ep 3, TX: 21/06/12)( ep4, TX: 28/05/12)(S4, ep 1, TX: 05/06/13)(ep 2, TX: 12/06/13). “The Adam’s Family”, (2019). “The Luminaries”, (S1, ep 1 to ep 3). “The Mike Skipper Lockdown Saturday Quiz”, (FaceBook)(TX: 27/06/20). “Two’s Company”, (S3, ep 1). “You’re Only Young Twice”, (S1, ep 6 & ep 7)(S2, ep 1 to ep 8).
Doctor Who Watched This Week:
“Catrovalva, (S19, Prod Code 5Z)(ep 1, TX: 04/01/82)(ep 2, TX: 05/01/82)(ep 3, TX: 11/01/82)(ep 4, TX: 12/01/82).
“Four To Doomsday”, (S19, Prod Code 5W)(ep 1, TX: 18/01/82)(ep 2, TX: 19/01/82)(ep 3, TX: 25/01/82)(ep 4, TX: 26/01/82).
“Kinda”, (S19, Prod Code 5Y)(ep 1, TX: 01/02/82)(ep 2, TX: 02/02/82)(ep 3, TX: 08/03/82)(ep 4, TX: 09/03/82).
“The Visitation”, (S19, Prod Code 5X)(ep 1, TX: 15/02/82)(ep 2, TX 16/02/82)(ep 3, TX: 22/02/82)(ep 4, TX: 23/02/82).
“Black Orchid”, (S19, Prod Code 6A)(ep 1, TX: 01/03/82)(ep 2, TX: 02/02/82).
“Earthshock”, (S19, Prod Code 6B)(ep 1, TX: 08/03/82)(ep 2. TX: 09/03/82)(ep 3, TX: 15/03/82)(ep 4, TX: 16/03/82).
“Time-Flight”, (S19, Prod Code 6C)(ep 1, TX: 22/03/82)(ep 2, TX: 23/03/82)(ep 3, 29/03/82)(ep 4, 30/03/82).
This week I have mainly been listening to:
“Coronavirus Global Daily Update”, (BBC World Service) (27/06/20) (28/06/20) (29/06/20) (30/06/20)(01/07/20)(02/07/20)(03/07/20). “CNN, Coronavirus: Fact Vs Fiction”, (ep 87, 29/06/20)(ep 88, 30/06/20)(ep 89, 01/07/20)(ep 90, 02/07/20)(ep 91, 03/07/20). “Dear Joan And Jericha (Julia Davis And Vicki Pepperdine)”, (S1, ep 7, 11/06/18)(ep 8, 20/06/18)(Special, 29/06/20). “Grounded With Louis Theroux”, (BBC Radio 4)(ep 10, 29/06/20). “Lazy Doctor Who”, (ep 83, 04/03/17)(ep 84, 05/03/17(ep 85, 10/03/17)(ep 86, 18/03/17)(ep 87, 26/03/17)(ep 88, 21/05/17)(ep 89, 17/06/17)(ep 90, 27/06/17)(ep 91, 23/07/17). “Mystery Hour”, (02/07/20). “NASA: Gravity Assist”, (S4, ep 13, 26/06/20). “NASA: Houston We Have A Podcast”, (ep 151, 02/07/20). “Nick Abbot (Whole Show)”, (27/06, 03/07/20). “Rob Beckett And Josh Widdecombe’s Lockdown Parenting Hell”, (ep 10, 29/05/20)(ep 11 02/06/20)(ep 12, 05/06/20)(ep 13, 09/06/20)(ep 14, 12/06/20)(ep 16, 19/06/20)(ep 17, 23/06/20)(ep 18, 26/06/20)(ep 19, 30/06/20)(ep 20, 03/07/20). “Soundtracking With Edith Bowman”, (ep 200, 26/06/20)(201, 03/07/20). “Strange Times”, (Public Announcement, 20/06/20)(ep 348, 26/06/20). “Sue Perkins: An Hour Or So With…”, (S2, ep 3 (ep 14), 24/06/20)(ep 4 (ep 15), 01/07/20). “The All New Angelos And Barry Podcast”, (01/07/20). “The Adam Buxton Podcast”, (ep 126, 30/06/20). “The Late Night Alternative With Iain Lee”, (ep 6, 29/06/20)(ep 7, 30/06/20(ep 8, 01/07/20). “The Nick Abbot Habit”,(29/06/20). “What’s The Problem? With Nick Abbot And Carol McGiffen”, (S1, ep 23, 30/06/20). “Morrissey”, “Christine And The Queens”, “Elbow”, “My Life Story”, “Haim”, “Echo And The Bunnymen”, “R.E.M”, “Shed Seven”, “Blondie”, “Queen”, “Suede”, “Keane”, “ABBA”.
Misfits Mid-Life Crisis........ 