my being I wanted to say...
‘Come for Hogmanay!’
The phone rang this afternoon, it was our very lovely but very eccentric friend who I so dearly wanted to invite to come up and see us. Prior to the call I idly floated the idea, the husband was adamant that I shouldn’t. His excuse was because of my frailty after being poorly. Me frail!?! The very idea!
As ‘Sir Royston’ cracked on, as is his want, I did feebly (in view of my fragility obv!?!) enquire as to what they were doing for new year.
The husband who could see where this was going started doing odd things with his head... shaking it side to side. I did idly wonder whether like a dog he had got a burr in his ear? Never one to pass up on a direct veto I said
‘If you were going up to Scotland (as I know they do) you could always call unannounced!
This way ... I am dropped in the deep end and don’t feel the need to dust and do boring stuff like cleaning!’ He was certainly up for the idea. I let it hang.
Husband put the kaibosh on it when he spoke to him.
I am sorely tempted to email under cover of darkness to say...
‘ Bring your drum and cornet!’
Jamming on new year’s eve between obviously the wall to wall talk that accompanies Sir Royston.
Husband as the call ended did say
‘Remember how wiped out we are after just one day’s visit?’
I had to agree.
What’s your candid opinion?
I'm afraid I cannot honestly comment here as I absolutely hate Hogmanay with a passion! I have been forced - yes forced - to partake in jolity and such for many a year now and this year I say, 'no more' 'I am too old for this nonsense now'!! However, I'm a wimp when confronted by people who do want to partake and want me to suffer with them so, so far I've said, 'we might be busy that night!!' The look I got said, 'don't be silly dear'. So, as one who would rather spend the night in jammies in front of the fire watching a good film with a big bag of popcorn and a large lemonade I'm not the person to answer your question I'm afraid. Perhaps the Ludlow neighbours will do first footing like we used to do in the olden days? Do they do that in England? Whatever you do, I hope you enjoy it and feel much better come the BIG day! xx
ReplyDeleteHogmanay in the years I Ilived in the Highlands were an amazing time. All that has changed now I am reliably informed by my much loved neighbours.
DeleteThe old days of even going to buy a stamp any time of the year, you would be offered a dram, those days are long gone. That actually did happen to me when first I went to buy some stamps from the postmistress who operated the post office from her house. Being conscious not to offend as an incomer I accepted not knowing a wee dram is three fingers depth the glass. Then coffee and a ‘piece’... oatcake with cheese, drop scone with jam and some fruit cake. ‘Another wee dram?’ I staggered back hardly being able to put one foot in front of the other, two 1st class stamps clutched in my pickled hand!
LX
It's so difficult to deter visitors without hurting their feelings, I find. This morning I waved off two visitors with a huge sigh of relief at getting my house back to myself. Even my little dog was exhausted - he retired back to his bed and didn't leave it again for 6 hours solid. They spoke about 'popping down' (a 4 hour journey) more often as they hated the thought of me being all alone . . . . NOOOOOO!!!!! Please don't!! I love my own space, pleasing myself what to do and when, having duvet days when the weather is grotty, having my bathroom to myself and not having to quietly bolt the door against invaders. So when you discover a polite way of telling them to stay away, please advise me how to do it.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
I find as I get older the friends who use you as a free airbnb are slowly being tippexed out of my life. There is a lot to be said about just doing your own thing. Why is the word No such a difficult one to say, I wonder? Next time you will be prepared and have a year to practice the art. ‘Not this year as I much prefer my own company!’ ‘I’m getting too old for all the extra work involved!’ Whatever objections they put up have ones to counter. Or you could just say ‘No!’ without qualification always a killer blow as they have no cotton picking way to go!?! Life is too blooming short to waste time entertaining folk who are at the end of the day just using you.
DeleteMy trouble is I am a good time girl, I love the idea, then get seriously hacked off with myself for my need to show people fun times forgetting myself along the way! And as you might have got the idea from my blog post I’m still at it! Happy New Year!
LX
Sigh. It's the same the world over, yes? Being able to politely, kindly, say NO to a request of our cherished, valuable time. Since we've retired, you would think we have oodles of time, and can fritter about saying yes to every invitation. No, folks, we can't. I really mean won't. We, instead, get to be selective about what we do with ALL of our time. We have elderly parents for whom we care, we have elderly neighbors whom we treat as our own grandparents, we have our own "little jobs" that we've created in retirement, we have a son in the Air Force in Texas whom we LOVE to visit, and the list goes on. However, I do not feel compelled, any longer, to list the reasons why I say no to something. A dear friend of mine taught me how to say no, without saying no right off the bat! She will say, "I will have to get back to you on that." Then she's not on the spot! That has been most helpful. I hope this has been helpful to you, Lettice. I dearly LOVE your blog, your style of writing - you are such a bright light in this world of damp wood. Thank you, from across the pond!
ReplyDeleteThank you Karla for your lovely comment about my blog, I get so few that I sometimes wonder why? Perhaps folk don’t get where I am coming from... then I remind myself I am doing this for ME. I enjoy the weird and wonderful way I see the world and funny things that happen, my warped take on life, so if I don’t get many comments... so what!?!
ReplyDeleteI do love the ‘I will have to get back to you on that!’ One I will use. When I said to the husband to stop me from issuing invites to the world and his wife, his pithy reply... ‘And just how am I going to do that when the words are already out of your mouth?’ Must confess my mouth opened and closed without a word uttered...
LX
Never apologise, never explain - when refusing an invite :)
ReplyDeleteGood thought... one to add... never issue the invite in the first place, that’s where I go wrong!
DeleteLX