Easter Hijinks
Sunday, 23. March 2008, 11:39:57
Today I discovered that being organised is only half the battle. In addition, it helps not to be a total dumbass.
It's snowing today in Aberdeen:
I enjoy the snow. Not the cold - cold sucks - but the way it visually revitalises the corpse-like Aberdeen landscape. It's pretty:
I was busy cleaning the house when it started but I just had to stand and watch the prettiness for a while...and, of course, take a couple of snaps for you, my loyal readers.
However, I'm now a touch annoyed with myself having stood out in it for 30 minutes for no reason (This is the part about me being a dumbass).
I'm off to my Parent's house in MacDuff again. My littlest brother Ranald is up; having finished the first part of his university training (Merchant Naval Engineer) he's now awaiting assignment for his first training tour at sea. He knows the ship he'll be working on, he just doesn't know when. So while he waits Mum has dragged him up to MacDuff to help him make sure he's got everything he needs for going away, and to allow her and Dad to shower him with Fatherly stoic pride and Motherly affection. There will even be champagne, I'm told.
An important occasion, so I carefully planned everything out. Mum wanted me to pick up something from a local store here for her - I got it yesterday. I cleaned the house this morning, and despite arguing with my neighbours upstairs over my music supposedly being played too loud (Maybe it was, but stamping on my ceiling like I'm a naughty child only made me turn the volume UP), I managed to get it all tidy with plenty of time to spare. I packed, this time remembering everything I needed (mind like a sieve sometimes), and left the house with more than enough time to visit a bank machine and await the bus. I even remembered to put in my contact lenses so I could read the bus numbers!
I like to be helpful. Most bus drivers will slow down and try to stop if they see someone waiting, so I like to do my bit to help them on their way - wave them past: 'No no, I don't need you, but thanks for looking'. So after twenty minutes of me braving the bitter cold and wet, and having done my bit for two passing local buses, I see a third one coming.
"Oh, here comes the 305 - ooooh noooo, don't get that one! You'll be on that one for hours!' thought I, pleased with my mighty cleverness "You want the number 10 because the 305 goes...goes...-"
There was an awful second or two where my brain sat down with itself for a detailed analysis of the facts.
"-...through MacDuff. While the 10 goes nowhere near..."
I stepped out from the shelter and watched my bus disappearing up the road.
"O-kaaaay. The only bus running this morning that would have got you to Mum's in time for lunch...and you, you great pillock, have just cheerfully waved it past."
Mr Not-A-Happy-Bunny-Anymore then stomped his way home to await the next one, berating himself with every step for his total stupidity. (I've got another hour yet before I have to leave the house
)
So you see, gentle listener, it pays not only to be prepared and plan ahead, but to not be a complete and total dumbass. Thanks for listening.
Sigh.
It's snowing today in Aberdeen:
I enjoy the snow. Not the cold - cold sucks - but the way it visually revitalises the corpse-like Aberdeen landscape. It's pretty:
I was busy cleaning the house when it started but I just had to stand and watch the prettiness for a while...and, of course, take a couple of snaps for you, my loyal readers.
However, I'm now a touch annoyed with myself having stood out in it for 30 minutes for no reason (This is the part about me being a dumbass).
I'm off to my Parent's house in MacDuff again. My littlest brother Ranald is up; having finished the first part of his university training (Merchant Naval Engineer) he's now awaiting assignment for his first training tour at sea. He knows the ship he'll be working on, he just doesn't know when. So while he waits Mum has dragged him up to MacDuff to help him make sure he's got everything he needs for going away, and to allow her and Dad to shower him with Fatherly stoic pride and Motherly affection. There will even be champagne, I'm told.
An important occasion, so I carefully planned everything out. Mum wanted me to pick up something from a local store here for her - I got it yesterday. I cleaned the house this morning, and despite arguing with my neighbours upstairs over my music supposedly being played too loud (Maybe it was, but stamping on my ceiling like I'm a naughty child only made me turn the volume UP), I managed to get it all tidy with plenty of time to spare. I packed, this time remembering everything I needed (mind like a sieve sometimes), and left the house with more than enough time to visit a bank machine and await the bus. I even remembered to put in my contact lenses so I could read the bus numbers!
I like to be helpful. Most bus drivers will slow down and try to stop if they see someone waiting, so I like to do my bit to help them on their way - wave them past: 'No no, I don't need you, but thanks for looking'. So after twenty minutes of me braving the bitter cold and wet, and having done my bit for two passing local buses, I see a third one coming.
"Oh, here comes the 305 - ooooh noooo, don't get that one! You'll be on that one for hours!' thought I, pleased with my mighty cleverness "You want the number 10 because the 305 goes...goes...-"
There was an awful second or two where my brain sat down with itself for a detailed analysis of the facts.
"-...through MacDuff. While the 10 goes nowhere near..."
I stepped out from the shelter and watched my bus disappearing up the road.
"O-kaaaay. The only bus running this morning that would have got you to Mum's in time for lunch...and you, you great pillock, have just cheerfully waved it past."
Mr Not-A-Happy-Bunny-Anymore then stomped his way home to await the next one, berating himself with every step for his total stupidity. (I've got another hour yet before I have to leave the house
)So you see, gentle listener, it pays not only to be prepared and plan ahead, but to not be a complete and total dumbass. Thanks for listening.
Sigh.
You have snow!! We only got a little bit here, but it didn't last long and was nothing like what you seem to have in Aberdeen! Is it normal for it to snow in March/April?! The clocks go forward in a few days to mark the start of british summer time!
By kirstycat, # 23. March 2008, 13:51:57
As I said "Me Grimlock definitely need new strategy!"
By anonymous user, # 23. March 2008, 20:28:39
But sometimes when you do the wavy thing the bus stops anyway...or when I do it they do :|
By galadriel, # 24. March 2008, 07:18:51
Temperature wise it's only around 2 degrees, but you can feel the air chill when the snow comes on. It's been snowing off and on for about two days now. It stops for a while, teases us with a spot of blue sky, then goes right on snowing again. I swear yesterday the damn stuff knew when I was outside! It waited for me!
By GrantTLC, # 24. March 2008, 09:22:36
By ngotadoro, # 24. March 2008, 12:14:26
And here I thought it was just native Aberdonians that abused sheep.
If the amount of snow that has fallen had fallen all at once it would be about three foot deep by now, I'm sure. But it keeps stopping and starting - right this minute it's blue skies and bright sunshine! - so not much gets a chance to lie. Pity.
By GrantTLC, # 24. March 2008, 13:20:44
By galadriel, # 28. March 2008, 08:39:09
Pack plenty of woolly jumpers and a hot-water bottle, that's my advice.
By GrantTLC, # 28. March 2008, 08:46:16
Yes need more jumpers. But don't they take extra long to dry?
By galadriel, # 28. March 2008, 23:52:13
By GrantTLC, # 29. March 2008, 09:17:49