Not Going Out, Not Getting In!

Batman under cover? Holy Steptoe & Son!

If you are going to a studio recording of Not Going Out at Teddington Studios, make a day of it. It states on the tickets that they over-subscribe due to a high number of no-shows and that people are let in on a 'first come' basis.

Here are some tips. If driving, there is parking further along the road from the studio but that could be at least 500 - 800 metres/yards. Also, your average speed for the final 7 miles will be around 11 miles per hour - I kid you not! We left  North Herts at 4pm on the dot, expecting to arrive in Teddington around 5.40pm but it was 6.10pm plus parking and walking back. Still in plenty of time as doors open at 6.30pm for a 7.30pm start and we could see that the queue wasn't too long.

We all stood, unsheltered from the rain, until the doors opened. As we neared the entrance, the queue stopped shuffling with a dozen people in front of us. Full! When we queried that the number of people let in was very small, we were told that some had already been let in earlier (even though we had arrived 10 minutes before 'doors open'). Hmm. It seems that some priority tickets are issued - not sure how you can get them.

So you need to arrive no later than 6pm and not for 6.30pm as implied. It might also be worth finding a route that doesn't use roads, as the A1 was clear but the rest of the journey was a nightmare. Alternatively, the train journey from Hertfordshire involves two changes (Kings Cross and Vauxhall), takes about 2 hours and costs around £20-£30. You won't get back till after midnight.

Time wasted, there & back = 4.5 hours
Cost of fuel (120 mile round trip) = £25

Lifestyle and British Accents

When we bought our house in 2006, it was still in its 1960-built / 1975-redecorated state. We spent a year organising the extension, planning permission, etc. and another year or two with various tradespeople building and finishing and decorating indoors and out. We still hadn't finished everything but felt that we'd spent enough!

The end result was good. In fact, everyone who walks in for the first time uses the same description, "Wow!" Not because it's ultra-super-amazing but because the inside is an unexpected upgrade from the ordinary 1960 frontage.

However, I've never managed to find much time for housework and, with a teenager in the house, it's always a manic tidy/clean when I know someone is coming, which isn't very often as I'm totally unsociable. I sometimes think it would be better to have more visitors so that the house was tidier more often. It was brilliant having builders around - I had a perpetual excuse never to clean or tidy.

There was a Scot amongst the Cockney builders but, in general, I found myself emulating the way that the 'Norf Lundoners' were speaking, despite years of living in middle-class Herts, probably because I was born and schooled in North London.

In the 1970s, I married a Scot who has now lived and worked amongst pseudo-Cockneys for much of his life and now has barely a trace of Scottish accent - except when he wants to - yet his older brother, who moved south at the same time, has never lost his Scottish accent.

There is a great round-up of accents in this video (not Hertfordshire though!)
I hope you will enjoy...

Twitter Lists and trends

I read a blog on using Twitter lists and it made me realise that I must be horrendous to follow - no wonder my number of followers goes up and down like a yoyo. If I was following me, I would have to put me in a few lists because my tweets are so random. I would put me in a THFC list (someone already has) and a F1 list, also a sci-fi list, a 'local' list and a hashtag list (because, recently, I've been very bored on the evenings and joined in lots of twitter hashtag games - this must be incredibly annoying for some followers).

I've created lists and, during THFC matches, I can restrict my interaction to a single topic with other Spurs supporters; during the Grand Prix coverage, I'll just have exchanges with F1 fans watching the Grand Prix.

This is because, during other times, we may have nothing else in common. For example, fellow Whovians might like cricket or politics - or worse: they might be gooners! Of course, if someone tweets about Sci-fi and F1, they'll be in two lists.

Of course, there are loads of people who I follow in a regular way. These are usually people with a similar sense of humour who make me laugh every day or deliver useful or local information for my everyday life.

Update re hashtag gamers... I've noticed a trend recently where some people are tweeting without socialising. The result of not bothering to read other tagged tweets is that 'original' ideas appear in several similar tweets; it also means that tweets which deserve a fave or retweet are getting overlooked.

I don't know why people follow me (thanks if you do) but I choose not to follow those who tweet TOO MUCH or who use bad swear words!

           

♫ Is She Really Going Out With Him?

One phrase links all ... ♫

The Shangri-las: Leader of the Pack (1965) link includes lyrics

The Damned. Ear defenders required.

Acapella Live version (1983) of Joe Jackson's Is She Really Going Out With Him?

♫ Dancing in the Dark Moonlight collection

Dancing in the Moonlight - Thin Lizzy (1977)
Dancing in the Moonlight - King Harvest (1973) & Top Loader (live)
Dancing in the Moonlight - Men Without Hats (synthetic pop)*
*Warning! Listen only if you need a migraine to pull a 'sickie' tomorrow

Dancing in the Dark (single) - Bruce Springsteen (live, Hyde Park, London, 2012)
'The Boss' is So Cool.

Dancing in the Dark - The Muppets

Recommended Music Blog: soundsandvision

Well, what do YOU think it is?

Location: Very posh hotel on the River Thames, not far from London.

Participants: James, the 'footman' (yes, really, that's how he introduced himself) and Mr P, a weekend guest, plus (uncredited) a desk manager and later, another weekend guest.

Going into Breakfast.

James: Ah Mr Pxxxxxx. I have your tea.

Mr P: Tea? Have you mixed me up with someone else?

James: No Sir, don't embarrass me. Please take the tea.

(Mr P takes packet pictured above and slips it into pocket)

An hour later, Checking out.

Guest at desk: Do you have the tea I asked for?

Desk Manager, searching: I'm sorry, Sir, it's not here.

Mr P, standing nearby: Ah, I think I know where it is...

Apparently, yes, it's a rather good breakfast tea from a posh shop in London.

Pillow Talk

Buying new pillows last week, I noticed that there were guidance notes: for those who sleep on their side, for those who sleep on their back, for those who sleep on their front. As a restless sleeper who spends each night in all those positions, I was considering which was best when an assistant offered help.

"I can't decide which is best for me," I told him, "I'm a tosser."

(I still can't believe I said that!)