Nice People Thread Part 9 - and so it continues

zagubov

lostinrates wrote: »

Le smoking.

I think a lot of smoking is education and hope rather than class perhaps?

Its not uncommon to be v. Posh and a smoker. I'd agree with chewy its the hand wringers in the middle who are the most different from working and v, posh who have some similarities. Most of us are seeming in the middle now really any way ( socio wise, if not econo wise)


I once read that being in Oxford is like smoking forty, or maybe sixty a day. That has to be wrong, surely?

No but I've heard that tending one bonfire a week is like smoking sixty a day.

lostinrates

zagubov wrote: »

No but I've heard that tending one bonfire a week is like smoking sixty a day.

Gosh, I still smoke? .

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2004/aug/28/environment.medicineandhealth

vivatifosi

michaels wrote: »

WE are doing library books on nooks and the reading challenge but they just lie and claim they have read the books when they haven't to meet the challenge stages

You could try having a word with library staff. In practice they are not going to fail a child but they could make it a bit harder. Alternatively don't take them to the library to get their rewards until they can answer questions that you ask about the book. For example.. what was their favourite part and why, which character did they most identify with and why, or how did the book end.

If they are competitive in nature you could also stress that children who do not read across the summer are proven to do less well when they return to school.

The worst thing to do though would be to be a pushy parent, that puts them off and they drop out of future challenges. It is a difficult balance to get right.

GDB2222

Here is my list of the things that boomerang kids or adult children who are home from university for the summer have yet to ever say, alas:

I can’t sleep nights if I know I’ve left my trainers, backpack and several hoodies in the hall.

I just don’t know what class of person would eat at the fridge door like a one-man plague of locusts and then do the most massive sneeze before closing it.

I can’t be expected to lounge on the sofa and watch the cricket on Sky all day.

I wish you’d take the time to sit down and really talk to me, Mum.

Please don’t pick up any beer next time you go to the shops, or cider.

I’ve worn out the soles of my shoes looking for a summer job.

If you have any respect for the living space of others, you’ve got to return towels to the bathroom, haven’t you?

I’m now going to walk the dog I always said I’d walk, if we got one.

I’d much rather stay in with you both and watch Who Do You Think You Are? than go to an all-night rave in Vauxhall, come in at 6am, bang the front door, trip over the dog, vomit on the landing, then get up around 4pm with a face as white as a Geisha girl.

I hope you feel you can give me unsolicited advice whenever you so fancy.

Did you know whites and coloureds should be washed separately and never thrown into the machine in one big, mixed jumble?

Please, please, don’t lend me a tenner; you’re not a bank.

Why would anyone wish to wear big noise-cancelling headphones everywhere; you might as well build a wall between yourself and other members of the household, !!!!!!!

Mum, you just don’t push hard enough when it comes to trying to find out about my sex life and what drugs I’m doing.

I’d happily welcome any financial budgeting tips you’d care to give.

Anyone who puts empty packets and cereal boxes back in the cupboard because they can’t be bothered to put them in the bin is a !!!!!!.

Shall I write out those times I’ll be eating with you and the times I won’t be eating with you? To spare you from all those last-minute under-catering panics and over-catering irritations?

Please don’t give me a lift; you’re not a taxi.

I wish I didn’t have to go back to uni in September.

It’s so cool, being treated as a child again; bring it on.


Alas, not my scribblings, but the work of Deborah Ross in the Indie.

silvercar

:rotfl:

Though I must say we were impressed with the state of the house when we came home to our 23 yr old. He'd even found the washing machine.

GDB2222

So, yesterday evening at 11.15, youngest DS came home with two acquaintances he had been playing football with. One of said acquaintances had the distinction of having been on the St John's University Challenge team (knocked out in the first round by Reading).

"My 30 minutes of fame," he said.

"Rather less than 15 minutes, if I recall correctly. Reading answered most of the questions," I said tactfully, as always.

This morning, it was my pleasure to come downstairs to make some coffee and:
Stack up dirty plates, cups, and bowls.
Top up the dishwasher and turn it on.
Throw away food that had been left out all night.
Wash chopping boards and similar that had bits of dried-on veg adhering.
Wipe all the work surfaces.
Wipe the kitchen table.
Wash out the cafetiere (I normally have instant, as there's too much washing up involved in proper coffee) .

Such a privilege! And then I read Deborah Ross (see above) and realised that I am not alone.

Spirit_2

lostinrates wrote: »

Did they mention your good humour in the face of others lack grace?

That will be my resilience.

Very kind of you to 'look' out for me.

lostinrates

GDB2222 wrote: »

So, yesterday evening at 11.15, youngest DS came home with two acquaintances he had been playing football with. One of said acquaintances had the distinction of having been on the St John's University Challenge team (knocked out in the first round by Reading).

"My 30 minutes of fame," he said.

"Rather less than 15 minutes, if I recall correctly. Reading answered most of the questions," I said tactfully, as always.

This morning, it was my pleasure to come downstairs to make some coffee and:
Stack up dirty plates, cups, and bowls.
Top up the dishwasher and turn it on.
Throw away food that had been left out all night.
Wash chopping boards and similar that had bits of dried-on veg adhering.
Wipe all the work surfaces.
Wipe the kitchen table.
Wash out the cafetiere (I normally have instant, as there's too much washing up involved in proper coffee) .

Such a privilege! And then I read Deborah Ross (see above) and realised that I am not alone.

The thing is. Most of us went through that stage. Even if we don't like to admit it, we had bratty or obnoxious moments.

Som e of still do:o:o


Hopefully, having them to look back on shames us into fewer of them as we grow up. Right?

Spirit_2

GDB2222 wrote: »

Here is my list of the things that boomerang kids or adult children who are home from university for the summer have yet to ever say, alas:.


Alas, not my scribblings, but the work of Deborah Ross in the Indie.

I want to thank this many times.

silvercar

GDB2222 wrote: »

So, yesterday evening at 11.15, youngest DS came home with two acquaintances he had been playing football with. One of said acquaintances had the distinction of having been on the St John's University Challenge team (knocked out in the first round by Reading).

"My 30 minutes of fame," he said.

"Rather less than 15 minutes, if I recall correctly. Reading answered most of the questions," I said tactfully, as always.

This morning, it was my pleasure to come downstairs to make some coffee and:
Stack up dirty plates, cups, and bowls.
Top up the dishwasher and turn it on.
Throw away food that had been left out all night.
Wash chopping boards and similar that had bits of dried-on veg adhering.
Wipe all the work surfaces.
Wipe the kitchen table.
Wash out the cafetiere (I normally have instant, as there's too much washing up involved in proper coffee) .

Such a privilege! And then I read Deborah Ross (see above) and realised that I am not alone.

Your mistake is not making your coffee, drinking it out of eye sight of the tip and waiting for offspring and guests to surface and suggest they clear up one meal before they make the next. If the cleaning fairy always appears then there is no incentive to tidy up. At which point they will offer the reason they didn't clear up after themselves, as that they didn't want to clutter around and make a noise.