The Nice People Thread, No.16: A Universe of Niceness.

GDB2222

Do you get out much, Pastures?

silvercar

PasturesNew wrote: »

I had an old photograph from when I was aged about 6-7, in a school group, so posted it on a local group for more names... and the names are coming in ... but, the more I looked at the photo, the more I realised "all those kids are so much smarter than me" ... there I am, at the back, wearing what I'd call normal kids' clothes, only, inspecting the photo, I realise that everybody else's clothes were bought and fitted them... and I think the hand-knitted cardigan I was wearing probably fitted me for another 3-4 years One is even wearing a shiny-buttoned, buttoned up jacket!

It's now all a bit embarrassing Thank goodness I was a bit "tucked away at the back" and not full frontal with my shabby-wear.

On my long drive today I was listening to a radio programme about this. Back in the day when you and I were kids at school, the less well off kids were the ones in school in ill fitting or second hand clothes. Then there was a reversal, where the poorer and proud families made serious effort to make sure their kids didn't stand out and at the same time more afluent / middle class families stopped caring what their kids wore to school and would send them in torn, old clothes. Now social media pressure means the kids want designer gear, even if it is fake if the genuine stuff is too expensive.

PasturesNew

GDB2222 wrote: »

Do you get out much, Pastures?

Only when I have to. So just for viewings and to pick up food essentials, so that's about twice this year. I went out to collect curtains the other week, doing a round robin visit to 2-3 other shops, but that was all "house t1tfering about" purposes.

I sometimes think about it... but then you wonder where you're going and realise "nowhere in particular" and then tot up the cost of going "nowhere in particular/for nothing" and don't bother. Take yesterday, "where are you going?". Well, I could drive out to a village where they have a Wednesday market, only there's never ever been anything I've ever bought at that market and I have to park "quite a way out" to get free parking. It's about £2 in fuel. While out I could trawl a couple of charity shops and pop into Morries and Mr Ts. So all I'd end up doing is spending £5-10 on things I don't really want/need... then home again, so there's no point.... especially as "I might miss a phone call about somebody wanting to come round".

Pyxis

PasturesNew wrote: »

Only when I have to. So just for viewings and to pick up food essentials, so that's about twice this year. I went out to collect curtains the other week, doing a round robin visit to 2-3 other shops, but that was all "house t1tfering about" purposes.

I sometimes think about it... but then you wonder where you're going and realise "nowhere in particular" and then tot up the cost of going "nowhere in particular/for nothing" and don't bother. Take yesterday, "where are you going?". Well, I could drive out to a village where they have a Wednesday market, only there's never ever been anything I've ever bought at that market and I have to park "quite a way out" to get free parking. It's about £2 in fuel. While out I could trawl a couple of charity shops and pop into Morries and Mr Ts. So all I'd end up doing is spending £5-10 on things I don't really want/need... then home again, so there's no point.... especially as "I might miss a phone call about somebody wanting to come round".

You'll probably hate this idea, Pastures, but one way to dabble quite cheaply in things that might interest you is the U3A.
For a very modest annual fee, you can sign up to a certain number of 'classes' per academic year. Th classes are run by volunteers, and some of them are enthusiastic amateurs in their field, rather than 'teachers' per se, and they don't get paid, just expenses, so it's all very informal.

Classes vary enormously from area to area, depending on which volunteers are available, and vary from doing puzzles and games, through languages and different dancing types, to more 'academic' subjects.
Some courses are only a term, or two terms, so the level of commitment isn't high.

I found it was a good way to dabble in stuff. I've done Traditional English dancing, languages, Latin, Crosswords, AmDram, Geology, and I tried another couple that didn't suit me so I gave them up.

Because it's so cheap, it's a good way to try stuff without too much time or financial commitment.

It's also worth looking at the U3A classes in neighbouring areas, as the fee and subjects can vary a lot, and some of the areas overlap.

You don't have to 'make friends' or commit to people, although you can if you want to, and some classes are quite small. I think the geology class only had about 8 people in it.

Apologies if this has been discussed before.

chris_m

Jackmydad wrote: »

The world's only just "got going" again after the holidays. I reckon.

At least spring's on its way - or, even, sprunging.

I've snowdrops out for the best part of a week now and the first of my early daffs is opening this morning - already

michaels

chris_m wrote: »

At least spring's on its way - or, even, sprunging.

I've snowdrops out for the best part of a week now and the first of my early daffs is opening this morning - already

Whereas although we only had about 1cm of snow on Tuesday it is still on the ground this morning as temepratures have been barely above freezing but definitely well below.

PasturesNew

Pyxis wrote: »

...U3A.

I've often looked, but it's something that's never been very "accessible" as to what's actually going on etc. It very much relies on you asking .... etc.... which isn't one of my skills.

I've looked/checked locally a few times since moving here - and there's very little and certainly nothing of interest.

Each group's different as it's the sum of its members; the trouble with that is if a group attracts few members and members of one type .... then you're stuffed. I think, from memory, round here the activities are mostly "playing in a vintage brass band and going to brass band concerts"

I just looked at their website ... and there is one potential item on there, 2 hours/week, calligraphy.... but there's no actual details about that... like how long for, what level, how much, etc. It might be, say, just 6 sessions, that are already half way through - and he never does it again.

There's also a bunch of stuff I'm not interested in and never will be

I mostly want something "indoors, where you sit down"

EDIT: Ah, the calligraphy started last September and runs for three terms... so couldn't even start/do that until Sep 2019 IF he does it again.

PasturesNew

Years ago, wealthy people used to hire hermits ..... because it was a trendy thing to have living on your estate. https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/18th-century-aristocrats-hired-people-live-hermits-their-gardens-1429663

Even in 2017 a hermit was hired in Belgium.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/19/hes-hired-belgian-lands-dream-job-as-hermit-for-austrian-cliffside-retreat

I could do that job. I could be a paid hermit. The Belgian bloke was just a loony as he did it for no pay and without the Internet

If we discount the phone call I got on 2 January, from somebody needing a lift to A&E, I've not seen/spoken to anybody now since 24 December... I'm kind of well qualified

System

Hello nice people! I was wondering if you could help me out. I am doing a peice of research for my dissertation and was wondering if you could help me out and complete a questionnaire looking at what the general public think of drug use.

https://ljmupsych.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cxb05jyLnR9fcR7

Also if you could share the link on any social media or with friends and family that would be very helpful as I would like as wide and varied sample as I can.

Your help is much appreciated
Thanks again.

michaels

PasturesNew wrote: »

Years ago, wealthy people used to hire hermits ..... because it was a trendy thing to have living on your estate. https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/18th-century-aristocrats-hired-people-live-hermits-their-gardens-1429663

Even in 2017 a hermit was hired in Belgium.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/19/hes-hired-belgian-lands-dream-job-as-hermit-for-austrian-cliffside-retreat

I could do that job. I could be a paid hermit. The Belgian bloke was just a loony as he did it for no pay and without the Internet

If we discount the phone call I got on 2 January, from somebody needing a lift to A&E, I've not seen/spoken to anybody now since 24 December... I'm kind of well qualified

Estate agents?

Edit: On second thoughts, I guess they don't qualify as humans....