this post is made of random
Apr. 6th, 2009 01:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
llywela1. Every Monday, without fail, when I go out for lunch and wander past the museum (which is across the road) I see groups of baffled people milling around wondering why the doors are locked.
People: if you tried looking at the sign, you would see that the museum does not open on a Monday. In fact, it has never opened on a Monday. It is written right there on the sign in plain English. And in plain Welsh, for that matter, for the linguistically blessed among us.
The lesson we learn from this is that it is always useful to keep one's eyes open and that it is usually a good idea to read the signs that someone has thoughtfully constructed for our elucidation.
2. Yesterday afternoon my mother phoned me. The conversation went thus:
Mum: So, there are riot police outside our house. A line of them just charged at a seething mass of hooligans and forced them back down the road and away.
Me: Why am I never there when there is drama to watch?!?!?!
Cardiff City were playing Swansea. 'Nuff said. Those two teams haven't been in the same league for a really long time, and you know what? This is why that was a good thing.
Evidently Small and the friend she had around for the day had to be summoned in, because they were out there merrily having a water fight with this actual riot going on all of 50 yards from them. Kids! So oblivious. Having been called back indoors, they went and stood in an upstairs window and watched, just like the rest of us used to when we were growing up. It's nice that Small got to see a football riot before she moves to the new house - there hasn't been trouble like this for years now, so clearly she has been missing out.
3. It was a really nice weekend, no? Because the football match, the timing thereof and uncomfortable proximity of the stadium to our chapel (plus road closures) had forced the cancellation of the Sunday School I usually teach at, I had Sunday all to myself for once. I went for a long walk through the parks and around the lake, had my first ice cream of the year, was overcome with the beauty of spring...and promptly went home and had a massive and very uncharacteristic spring cleaning frenzy.
This kind of behaviour is not like me at all. On the bright side, however, my flat now looks lovely!
4. While walking around the lake reflecting on how lovely nature is in the spring, I was intrigued to spot a pair of swans randomly performing pirouettes alongside one another. Round and round and round in circles they went, on and on and on for a really long time. It was a very pretty dance, I'm sure, and also a fun game, but it made me wonder - what exactly is the point of a mating ritual that involves getting really, really dizzy?
5. The black swan pair were in excellent voice - far more vocal than usual. They make such an odd sound. As usual, they did not stray far from one another's side. How they come to live on the lake I have no idea, since the species is native to Australia, but they have been there for years now. However, since they are both male, they aren't likely to start founding a new Welsh colony of black swans any time soon!
6. The coots remain my favourite wildfowl on the lake. For one thing, the word' coot' amuses me immensely. Plus, they are nesting at the moment and I am always fascinated by the way their nests appear to be floating randomly in the water and yet are somehow rooted to the spot. Plus, their babies are the most adorable little punks ever, with the random tuft of bright orange feathers they have sticking up on top of their heads. So, yeah - coots FTW!
7. I am really going to miss living near the lake when I move. Which should (touch wood) be in a couple of months now. If I am lucky.
8. Mum also phoned yesterday to vent a little stress at me because the girl who lives down the road had been hitting Small while she was out playing with her friend. This girl and her family have been nothing but trouble since they moved in about 4 years ago - she is a couple of years older than Small and huge. Mum went and read her the riot act, pointing out that she is old enough to be prosecuted and that our family has been in touch with the police about her and her brother's behaviour toward Small in the past - we've got photos of the damage he did to her ankle that time. The girl was suitably cowed, but is unlikely to mend her ways. That whole family is vile - they had to move from their last house because there were so many ASBOs out on them. But they are also Asian and use this as a shield to hide behind.
Us: "Please stop your children from hitting our child."
Them: "How racist of you to suggest that our children misbehave!"
Vile.
9. Well, that was a bit of a sombre note to end on, but I seem to have run out of random things to say! Maybe I should get back to work...
People: if you tried looking at the sign, you would see that the museum does not open on a Monday. In fact, it has never opened on a Monday. It is written right there on the sign in plain English. And in plain Welsh, for that matter, for the linguistically blessed among us.
The lesson we learn from this is that it is always useful to keep one's eyes open and that it is usually a good idea to read the signs that someone has thoughtfully constructed for our elucidation.
2. Yesterday afternoon my mother phoned me. The conversation went thus:
Mum: So, there are riot police outside our house. A line of them just charged at a seething mass of hooligans and forced them back down the road and away.
Me: Why am I never there when there is drama to watch?!?!?!
Cardiff City were playing Swansea. 'Nuff said. Those two teams haven't been in the same league for a really long time, and you know what? This is why that was a good thing.
Evidently Small and the friend she had around for the day had to be summoned in, because they were out there merrily having a water fight with this actual riot going on all of 50 yards from them. Kids! So oblivious. Having been called back indoors, they went and stood in an upstairs window and watched, just like the rest of us used to when we were growing up. It's nice that Small got to see a football riot before she moves to the new house - there hasn't been trouble like this for years now, so clearly she has been missing out.
3. It was a really nice weekend, no? Because the football match, the timing thereof and uncomfortable proximity of the stadium to our chapel (plus road closures) had forced the cancellation of the Sunday School I usually teach at, I had Sunday all to myself for once. I went for a long walk through the parks and around the lake, had my first ice cream of the year, was overcome with the beauty of spring...and promptly went home and had a massive and very uncharacteristic spring cleaning frenzy.
This kind of behaviour is not like me at all. On the bright side, however, my flat now looks lovely!
4. While walking around the lake reflecting on how lovely nature is in the spring, I was intrigued to spot a pair of swans randomly performing pirouettes alongside one another. Round and round and round in circles they went, on and on and on for a really long time. It was a very pretty dance, I'm sure, and also a fun game, but it made me wonder - what exactly is the point of a mating ritual that involves getting really, really dizzy?
5. The black swan pair were in excellent voice - far more vocal than usual. They make such an odd sound. As usual, they did not stray far from one another's side. How they come to live on the lake I have no idea, since the species is native to Australia, but they have been there for years now. However, since they are both male, they aren't likely to start founding a new Welsh colony of black swans any time soon!
6. The coots remain my favourite wildfowl on the lake. For one thing, the word' coot' amuses me immensely. Plus, they are nesting at the moment and I am always fascinated by the way their nests appear to be floating randomly in the water and yet are somehow rooted to the spot. Plus, their babies are the most adorable little punks ever, with the random tuft of bright orange feathers they have sticking up on top of their heads. So, yeah - coots FTW!
7. I am really going to miss living near the lake when I move. Which should (touch wood) be in a couple of months now. If I am lucky.
8. Mum also phoned yesterday to vent a little stress at me because the girl who lives down the road had been hitting Small while she was out playing with her friend. This girl and her family have been nothing but trouble since they moved in about 4 years ago - she is a couple of years older than Small and huge. Mum went and read her the riot act, pointing out that she is old enough to be prosecuted and that our family has been in touch with the police about her and her brother's behaviour toward Small in the past - we've got photos of the damage he did to her ankle that time. The girl was suitably cowed, but is unlikely to mend her ways. That whole family is vile - they had to move from their last house because there were so many ASBOs out on them. But they are also Asian and use this as a shield to hide behind.
Us: "Please stop your children from hitting our child."
Them: "How racist of you to suggest that our children misbehave!"
Vile.
9. Well, that was a bit of a sombre note to end on, but I seem to have run out of random things to say! Maybe I should get back to work...
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no subject
Date: 2009-04-06 02:14 pm (UTC)As to the horrible people down the road, bleah. Few things get my goat like the using of PC stuff to escape responsibility. Every time it happens, the legitimate victims of vile racist crap suffer and are diminished. Loathsome creeps.
no subject
Date: 2009-04-06 03:16 pm (UTC)That family really is vile, the way they think they can behave however they want and be completely unaccountable because they can play the race card - as if being Asian means they are incapable of doing anything wrong. So it is okay for their children to chant 'white Welshies' at Small, but if she retaliates, that's racist. Although it did shut the kids up when they were told that what they were saying was racist - it had never occurred to them that it could work the other way around. Because they have been taught that the colour of their skin places them above reproach. The parents are just foul, the things they say and the language they use - to a child, as well. *seethes*
And yes, playing the race card like that diminishes genuine abuses. Political correctness (as opposed to actual equality and fair play) has a lot to answer for.
no subject
Date: 2009-04-06 05:52 pm (UTC)I'm glad your Mum told off the bullying kids (and their folks?) . . . . is it a good idea to mention it to neighbourhood watch type people as well, or would that just fall under 'stirring up more trouble'? They'll be moving away from that situation fairly soon, won't they?
Huggles to all in need of them () () () ()
no subject
Date: 2009-04-06 07:19 pm (UTC)And yes, they are moving away soon - that family was one of the deciding factors behind the move. But then, I'm moving into the house, so I inherit the problem...
Thanks :)
Horse of a diferent colour when you move in!
Date: 2009-04-07 06:29 am (UTC)HOWever, I doubt they will surround you and chant at you more than once :^O
Perhaps you could invite your bare-naked almost-former neighbours over to moon at the troublesome Asian-type peoples?
Poppy may no longer be free to roam, but I'd try diplomacy before resorting to imported shockers.
Anyway, enjoy the day!!!!!!
Re: Horse of a diferent colour when you move in!
Date: 2009-04-07 07:04 am (UTC)Enjoy the day yourself!
no subject
Date: 2009-04-06 11:48 pm (UTC)Omg, this reminds me of a conversation outside my library recently- it was 9.30 and we open at 10, and I was going across the road to get milk...
Random Lady: Excuse me, what time do you open?
Me: 10 o'clock
Random Lady: (sadly) Oh. Yes, that's what the sign said.
Me: No shit? (I didn't really say the last bit, rofl)
Soooo... apparently reading signs and actually taking them on faith is a different matter as well.
no subject
Date: 2009-04-07 07:00 am (UTC)People are crazy.
no subject
Date: 2009-04-07 03:37 am (UTC)what exactly is the point of a mating ritual that involves getting really, really dizzy?
*sprofle* What mating ritual isn't totally ridiculous? It just goes to show procreation makes all creatures crazy. ;)
However, since they are both male, they aren't likely to start founding a new Welsh colony of black swans any time soon!
You know, the first thought that popped into my head was "Oh, they're like Sam and Dean." LOL. I suppose having just read an interview about an academic talking about slash, incest, and SPN didn't have any influence on my train of thought.
8. *thumbs down* I'm sorry Small has to deal with this on top of everything else.
no subject
Date: 2009-04-07 07:11 am (UTC)We had April showers most of yesterday, but it seems sunny enough again now. And my garden appreciated the rain. *G*
You know, the first thought that popped into my head was "Oh, they're like Sam and Dean." LOL. I suppose having just read an interview about an academic talking about slash, incest, and SPN didn't have any influence on my train of thought.
ROFL Although, you know, I don't do slash in any form. ;-) I don't know exactly what these swans are to each other, but they are very definitely the best of companions!
I'm sorry Small has to deal with this on top of everything else.
Thanks. The trouble with this family has been ongoing for years - she usually won't play out if she thinks those kids are out. And to make matters worse, she now finds out that one of her erstwhile friends has started hanging out with this girl...and lo and behold, all of a sudden last night she starts getting prank texts and phone calls. My mother went nuts - all the more especially because they started calling the house phone and didn't care that there was an adult on the other end, not Small. But having it pointed out that we have an incident number and police contact from last time, more than happy to trace the calls, shut them up in the end.
Sometimes, I really hate kids. Small always seems to fall in with the wrong crowd, and then when the friendships inevitably break down (because she doesn't understand social dynamics and because they are not nice children) there is always trouble.
With the family down the road, though, there was no friendship to break down. They were like this from day one - the first day they moved in they knocked on the door, barged their way in and up to Small's room to poke through her stuff, and asked what they could keep! They were kicked out immediately, and have been trouble ever since. And it's all down to the parents setting them a bad example.
And...this got longer than I expected, sorry!
no subject
Date: 2009-04-11 09:13 pm (UTC)Yes, I figured as such. :) For SPN I don't mind slash between fictional characters (RPS is something I'm still not entirely comfortable with). I can see where people get the slash context from the Show and I find it really interesting to read about WHY and HOW and WHEN that crops up. I guess I find reading about why slash exists more interesting that the slash itself. But on the few occasions I do read SPN fic I usually gravitate toward Gen, Het, or non-incestuous wee!chester fic unless someone on my flist writes or shoves a highly recommended Sam/Dean fic under my nose.
They were like this from day one
That is really unfortunate. Mostly because your family has to deal with other people's poor parenting, but also because those children have been taught to be bullies and that it's acceptable to treat other people in such a disrespectful manner. You have to wonder how far they're not going to get in life with attitudes like that. Karma will come back to kick that family in the butt (parents and children), believe me. All your family can do is what you're doing: looking out for Small and teaching her how to deal with less than perfect people/situations.
And...this got longer than I expected, sorry!
Ah, no apologies. Life has a way of making us ramble about important things. :)
no subject
Date: 2009-04-07 12:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-07 05:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-07 03:51 pm (UTC)Bank holiday Mondays they're open I think - but that's all.
As for the vile family - I have no idea what the answer is. It's hard to ignore and avoid people who refuse to be ignored and avoided, and it's so unfair on people like Small who just don't understand what they've done 'wrong' to attract such behaviour toward them. I hope she realises that it's them and not her who are in the wrong.
no subject
Date: 2009-04-07 05:18 pm (UTC)Madness.
As for Family Vile, I really don't understand why people feel it necessary to go out of their way to be rude and unpleasant, for absolutely no reason whatsoever. Surely life is much easier if we all just live and let live? They've been like this since the very first day they moved in - we'd actually looked forward to their arrival, knowing that there would be children for Small to play with... *sigh* Instead all they ever want to do, since that first day, is steal and break her stuff, call her names, push her around - all supported by their parents. I just don't understand the mentality.
no subject
Date: 2009-04-10 09:57 pm (UTC)You have some of our black swans? Be careful of them - they can be nasty when in a mood! :P