Misfits Mid-Life Crisis Adventures in Surrey, East and Central London.

Week 366, Saturday 19^th until Friday 25^th June 2021.

I have worked from home since mid-March 2020, Monday to Friday I unfurl a long wire, one end is connected to the router the other into the work phone.  Gradually that wire has got bent, twisted looking a little sad.  I mentioned this to my manager who said to come in and pick up a new one.  This proved more difficult than I thought.

The building I had to visit is one I know well and worked in a lot (it was not my main office, I was able to use this office as a backup if trains were late or adverse weather disrupted London’s delicate transport system) was locked down tighter than the “Del Boys” wallet.  The doors were firmly closed, covered in warning signs and stickers saying “Go Away, Don’t Even Think About Coming In”.  Security were not interested, even when I told them I was staff and dangled my pass at a clear patch on the glass double doors which remained firmly locked.  Under normal circumstances the building would be busy with members of the public visiting to see people or attend meetings.  I suspect this has been a good way for management to push everyone to use the online service that people previously didn’t want to use.

Luckily I was able to contact a colleague inside the secure bunker of a building, but just as I started to explain what door I was locked out of my battery died.  Security were too busy doing Sudoku, defluffing each other’s belly buttons or watching constant repeats of 20 year old comedies to be bothered with my plight.  It was then I remembered my long pink fully charged external power pack, which allowed me to speak to my colleagues who directed me to a dodgy side door that appeared to only be used by smokers from the mountain of fag butts on the floor.  Once the technology was handed over I made my way home as quickly as possible, I didn’t want to get caught up in the rush hour crush on the tube.  I really don’t miss that daily commute, if I can work from home as long as possible I really will be happy.

The wire is great, it’s extremely long.  I had mentioned I needed at least 8 metres; this replacement must be 20 metres long.  If the washing line ever gives up I could string the excess out of the window and put it to good use to stop it from being a coiled trip hazard in the hallway.

And Now For Something Completely Different……

In front of the house I live in is a green, with houses on all sides.  It’s only since I have worked from home that I have noticed that every month (sometimes every couple of weeks at this time of the year) a man in a Hi-Viz vest rides around on an industrial mower cutting the grass.  As I write, this machine is traveling back and forth in front of me, again!  Surely not all local government grass is cut as often, this patch is better maintained than the hallowed turf at Wimbledon.  Maybe my local council has extra money hidden away behind the sofa in the break room; cutting the grass constantly this balances the books.  I don’t go out much these days; maybe I will keep one eye on the calendar and the other on the green.  Stay tuned for more in coming weeks (I bet you can’t wait).….

Have You Room For A Small One……

Lovely seeing some of the family last weekend for a pretend Crimbum, because the last one didn’t happen.  Even though the weather was not as hot as it had been I still brought my cozzie and was determined to get in the inflatable pool in my sisters garden.  Mum shook her head wondering where she went wrong, but the nephew and niece laughed as they squirted me with the hose.  I might be old physically, but mentally I am very young at heart.  I hope I am a fun aunty.

And Finally……

I am on Tik Tok only because my niece does little videos.  Every time she downloads a new one she lets me know so I can view and comment.  A couple of nights ago I thought I would have a scroll through for the first time in a month.  One video I stumbled across and caught my attention because it featured a person I knew over 20 years ago.  It was definitely him because his name was shouted out in full a few times.

That minute’s excitement really was far too much, and sadly I will never get that time back. Unless I am told by my niece that I need to view a new video of hers, I won’t be visiting the platform for a while.  Personally I really don’t see the point of miming badly to songs, dancing in sync or filming random strangers falling over.  If I want to see that I’ll just look out of window.  Of course I will always watch my niece videos and comment; I know my responsibility as an aunty.  My I would never hear the end of it from my niece if I didn’t view them.  I like to think I take my aunty responsibility seriously.

My Mid Life Crisis Conts……

This week I have watched:

 “Black Summer”, (S2, ep 1 to ep 2).  “Brian Cox’s Adventures In Space And Time”, (S1, ep 4, TX: 20/06/21).  “Clarksons Farm”, (S1, Chapter 1 to Chapter 8, TX: 21/06/21).  “Click”, (19/06/21).  “Colony”, (S2, ep 3).  “Farscape”, (S4, ep 14).  “Friends”, (S5, ep 14 to ep 15).  “Fringe”, (S4, ep 10 to ep 22).  “Horizon: 2021: 1 – Special, The Vaccine”, (TX: 16/06/21).  “Luca”, (2021).  “Manic Street Preachers: Escape From History”, (2017).  “Pandora”, (S2, ep 8 & ep 9).  “Star Trek (Original Series)”, (S2, ep 22).  “The Great British Sewing Bee”, (S2, ep 7, TX: 01/04/14)(ep 8, TX: 08/04/14) (S3, ep 1, TX: 05/02/15)(ep 2, TX: 12/02/15)(ep 3, TX: 19/02/15)(ep 4, TX, 26/02/15)(ep 5, TX, 05/03/15)(ep 6, TX, 12/03/15(S4, ep 1, TX: 16/05/16)(ep 2,2TX: 23/05/16)(ep 3, TX: 30/05/16).  “The Last Leg”, (S22, ep 3, TX: 18/06/21)(ep 4, TX: 25/06/21).  “The Man In The High Castle”, (S1, ep 9).  “Top Of The Pops – 1983 Big Hits”, (TX: 06/01/17).  “Van Helsing”, (S2, ep 8 to ep 10).  “What.If : What If There Is Life On Venus?”, (Facebook)(TX: 20/09/20).  “Wonder Woman”, (2017).  “Z Nation”, (S5, ep 9 to ep 13).

This week I have listening to:

“30 Animals That Made Us Smarter”, (BBC World Service) (S2,Trailer, 21/06/21).  “Anglophilia”, (S2, ep 6, 20/11/18).  “Anti Social Show “, (ep 93, 019/06/21).  “Betamax Video Club”, (ep 75, 20/08/20).  “Coronavirus Global Update”, (World Service)(19/06/21) (20/06/21) (21/06/21) (22/06/21) (23/06/21) (24/06/21) (25/06/21).  “Doctor Who”, (TeeVee/The Incomparable)(S10, ep 9, 11/06/17).  “Griefcast”, (ep 147, 23/06/21).  “NASA: Houston We Have A Podcast”, (ep 201, 25/06/21).  “Nick Abbot Whole Show”, (19/06/21)(20/06/21(25/06/21).  “Smersh Pod”, (02/02/18).  “Space Soliders Podcast: Flash Gordon’s Trip To Mars”, (Chapter Two, “The Living Dead”, 19/06/21).  “Star Trek Universe”, (07/12/18).  “The Audio Guide To Babylon 5”, (ep 34, 22/08/15).  “The All New Angelos And Barry Podcast”, (21/06/21).  “The Friendship Onion”, (S1, ep 6, 22/06/21).  “The Nick Abbot Habit”, (21/06/21).  “The Skewer”, (BBC Radio 4/Sounds)(S4, ep 4, 23/06/21).  “The Space Above Us”, (044, 30/11/17) (045, 14/12/17)(046, 28/12/17)(047, 11/01/18)(048, 25/01/18)(049, 08/02/18).  “The Supermassive Podcast”, (ep 18, 25/06/21).  “This Week In Time Travel “, (The Incomparable) (13/06/17).  “Toby Hadoke’s Time Travels – Happy Times And Places”, (17.2, ”Dragonfire”, Pt 2, 21/06/21)(17.3, “Dragonfire”, Pt 3, 25/06/21).  “WTB”, (S2, ep 20 (ep 42), 25/06/21).  “What’s Your Problem With Nick Abbot And Carol Mcgiffin”, (21/06/21).  “Wolf And Owl”, (ep 29, 23/06/21)(Bonus #18, 25/06/21).

Songs I enjoyed this week, were by:

“Morrissey”,  “All About Eve”,  “All Saints”,  “Blur”,  “Cocteau Twins,  “Malcolm McLaren”,  “Manic Street Preachers”,  “Mike Oldfield ft Maggie Reilly”,  “Oasis”,  “Orbital”,  “Paul Young”,  “Pulp”,  “Siouxsie And The Banshees”,  “The Corrs”,  “The Creatures”,  “The Cure”.