If you buy a new-build home on a new-build housing estate, unfortunately you must expect to be tied to your house quite frequently, waiting for somebody to call and fix some defect, and today has been that sort of a day for Lois and me. The building-site's new customer-care gofer, Harry (aka Kieran) was going to call by "first thing this morning", but he gets diverted onto other tasks and eventually puts the appointment off till 10 am tomorrow. However for much of the day, I can't get in touch with him, and it isn't till past 3 pm that he reschedules, by which time most of the day has gone.
But thank goodness for Sue, delivery woman for Britain's worst delivery company! We've crossed swords with Sue in the past, after she falsely claimed that she had rung our doorbell and that she "hadn't been able to deliver" our package.
Today Sue comes through with an on-schedule delivery, and she gladdens our hearts, although she takes a puzzling photo of Lois's legs, which seem to have become detached from her feet - possibly an Evri software error?
Sue's enigmatic "delivery photo" - the left leg of Lois, who answers
the door to Sue in her purple slippers, has become detached from her slipper,
which is weird!
But let's look on the bright side! Lois has imparted a "woman's touch" to our downstairs loo, with some nice things she put on the top of the wall-cabinet. What a woman!
And I've made progress today with the Danish book of short stories, written by Sissel Bjergfjord, a collection that the U3A Danish group that we lead is currently reading: I've read a couple more pages of the current short-story, and written out vocabulary lists for the more difficult words.
Danish writer Sissel Bjergfjord with her book of short-stories
about the tempestuous lives of some passionate Danish vegetable-growers
The story we're reading currently is about a Danish woman who's a vegetable grower and allotment owner. Her partner is currently abroad on business, and he's just texted her with a picture of his hotel room, which is nice of him - but unfortunately the woman spots the fact that there are 2 wine-glasses on the table on the balcony: and it's only 11 o'clock in the morning local time. Suspicious, or what? And we gather that her partner is probably a bit of a serial philanderer, because the woman considers asking him if he "paid for it this time". Oh dear!
But at least I've done another couple of pages of the story today. This is definitely progress, but the downside is that I come across a number of references to the woman's partner's penis. The woman starts chopping up some slugs on her allotment, and she's obviously thinking of her partner's penis when she does so. Oh dear (again) !!!
Poor little slugs !!!! [It's only a story, Colin! - Ed]
And this presents me with a quandary - do I censor these penis references, in case any group members will be embarrassed? I suspect, however, that in the situation the woman is in, these penis-like slugs that she's exacting vengeance on, are central to the point of the story - the book's cover features a slug after all. so the implication is clear. And so maybe my hands are tied here, and I'll have to keep it all in, slugs and all.
It's not easy being a group-leader, that's for sure!!!
our Danish book's cover which pointedly
features a slug - oh dear!
19:00 Sad news comes in from our friend Jen in Kennington, Oxford: Jen's sister-in-law Ann has died after a short illness. Lois and Ann were good friends in their younger years, and on one occasion the two went on a holiday together to Cornwall.
And Ann and her husband visited us in our house in Maryland USA during our 3 years over there in the early 1980's: I can still picture them sitting there on our American 3-seater settee - we didn't get many friends visiting from the UK in our time there, so it really stands out in my memory. A sad time also for our long-term friend, Paul, Ann's brother, and for Paul's wife Liz.
20:00 We settle down on the couch again and watch the latest episode of "Atlantic Crossing". This is a series which details the troubles of the Norwegian royal family during World War II, and in particular, the troubles of Crown Princess Martha, exiled with her children in the US for their own safety, who attempts to use her growing friendship with FDR in order to press him into leasing arms, ships and planes to the allies.
This is a really odd series, we think. It's incredibly slow-paced, and a bit self-indulgent to spread itself over 8 episodes.
Eleanor Roosevelt gives Martha some lessons in speech-making, so that she can make more of an impact on her planned speaking tours of the US. Everybody seems to be impressed by Martha's new style, but Lois and I can't tell the difference - to us it looks the same as it was before, but what do we know!
The Swedish-born Princess Martha's relationship with FDR seems to be getting closer and closer, but it may have peaked in this episode. The two are driving around one evening in the President's sports car, but as always they are being closely followed by the cars of FDR's security guys.
At one point, however, FDR gives his "minders" the slip, and, now parked on their own they go into a warm embrace. FDR gives Martha a kiss on the cheek, but then seems to be aiming for her mouth.
At this moment, however, the President's security men roll up in their cars, and the moment passes.
Poor Franklin !!!!!!
But Lois and I are left wondering - how much of this series is based on fact, and how much on imagination? I think we should be told, perhaps, and quickly!
22:00 We go to bed - zzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!
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