Nice people thread part 8 - worth the wait

Generali

GDB2222 wrote: »

DW has now sent the inevitable question:

"how do I know which way's west??

xxx"

In the past, I have suggested looking at the sun, but I will tell her about Zag's answer.

It'll be signposted towards the City/West End rather than to Whitechapel or the East End or City Airport.

GDB2222

Unfortunately, she has the idea that if she just keeps walking she'll get there eventually. So, yesterday she headed East from Goswell Road towards the London Welsh Centre, rather than West, and it proved hard to persuade her that after a mile's walking she was actually a mile further away from where she wanted to be and continuing in the same direction would not improve that.

In this case, it's a question of getting her to take the right exit from Old street underground station, which requires information that I don't have.

chewmylegoff

GDB2222 wrote: »

DW has now sent the inevitable question:

"how do I know which way's west??

xxx"

In the past, I have suggested looking at the sun, but I will tell her about Zag's answer.

When walking west away from old street station you immediately pass a shell petrol station. Therefore if she doesn't pass it within 50 yards she knows she is going the wrong way.


Of course if the shell petrol station has been taken over or closed down this may go wrong.

vivatifosi

I feel for you GDB. My mum, both my aunts and nan have/had the same lack of any sense of direction. Thankfully I've inherited my father's (lir may however challenge this statement given how late I arrived). However it is a real hindrance for them. They are very reliant on what they remember, so in new places it is a total challenge.

For example we know, that if we go left for 50m then south for 50m, that will get us to a place that is diagonally to the south west. However they can't do that in practice. Nor can they turn right, right, right, right to get back to broadly the same place. Those in my family who do this rely very heavily on strong visual cues. So I'd probably look at streetview or google earth and see what dominant buildings or unusual signs there are (such as a purple door, or tall spire). The satellite dishes idea is a good one too.

ETA: cross posted with chewy. The Shell Petrol Station is definitely a strong visual cue!

chewmylegoff

Google says exits 6 and 7 for old st west (6 is south side, 7 north).

vivatifosi

In looking for information for another thread, I've just found out that I'm older than the Governor of the Bank of England. First it was police, then doctors, then the Prime Minister...

Heck I feel old this morning. Especially as my husband will enjoy telling me that he is younger than the Governor of the Bank of England. Drat.

bugslet

Can you print off google maps or just spend a tenner on a taxi? I'm getting worried about Lady GDB, ( whilst making a mental note not to take her on as a driver:p:o)

bugslet

vivatifosi wrote: »

Heck I feel old this morning. Especially as my husband will enjoy telling me that he is younger than the Governor of the Bank of England. Drat.

Pfft, he is less wise, less mature; I amn sure you can think of a few more things!

lostinrates

DH is from the mrs GDb school of getting about I think. I take regular calls from him that start...' Are you able to google map for me....I'm in a road called....'


Annoyingly he then keeps walking, turns onto other roads without telling me (and he scuttles around like a cockroach on speed) so by the time I have found him he's gone way out of his way.

zagubov

vivatifosi wrote: »

In looking for information for another thread, I've just found out that I'm older than the Governor of the Bank of England. First it was police, then doctors, then the Prime Minister...

Heck I feel old this morning. Especially as my husband will enjoy telling me that he is younger than the Governor of the Bank of England. Drat.

It's creepy, the modern craze for young politicians. It's an older person's game and you can see how Blair aged rapidly (and you'll notice the same with Cameron). I think the word senate had the ame origin as senior or elder. The US has a lower age limit for presidents as do many other countries but I think we've had PMs in their twenties!

You really need to have years of experience to do the job. If you're not already old I reckon it makes you old.