It was always touch-and-go as to whether the bus from the office would get us to the station in time. Now and again they changed the bus stops out of pure malice, so that you arrived at the furthest possible end of the bus area and had to run into the station and hurl yourself through the barriers and up a flight of stairs to make your train with maybe two minutes to spare.
My trains were awkwardly timed. If I missed the one I needed to get, there was a 45 minute wait for the next which was timed to arrive just after the connection I needed to make. It made it a long day as I would then have been away from home for 12 hours.
I can't really complain though as I used to catch the morning train with someone who did Birmingham to Swindon every day, changing trains twice each journey. I don't know how he survived it.
I don't trust people to sell me the best ticket, to be honest.
There shouldn't *be* a best ticket. This is part of what’s wrong with the railways now. Having to book in advance is a pain - I want to walk on when I need to make a journey, flash my debit card and that be that.
Exactly. It already happens on the Tube so there's no reason it can't happen on normal trains too.
It does happen on normal trains in London if you’re travelling within the London fare zones
The publisher of David Thorne's Mass of St Thomas. Filling in for a stricken colleague I was appalled to discover this only seems to exist in a choral copy with the organ part in a faint small size - what the "$*! It's not something I like in any case but this seems particularly obtuse.
Thank goodness about Hereford ticket office, Baptist Trainfan! I always go there when I travel, and almost always get a better deal than if I tried to book online.
Got a ticket at the station today which was £11 cheaper than the version available online or via a machine. Staff looking very grumpy at the thought of having ticket offices closed and lots of signs up saying "Make your views known". I told them I already had and have signed a petition as well.
ICTH Bride's Mothers, all of them. I've had two in the past week that were enough to try the patience of a saint. How much evidence do you have to give them that the Bridal March from Lohengrin isn't "The Wedding March"? And as for the one who assures me that Widor is starts with a 'V' - *&"*.
Just out of interest @TheOrganist , do you ever have to deal with Brides' Mothers who simply let you suggest and advise as to the music? It must make it much easier for you, if such Beings exist!
The same goes for Funerals and their music, too, I guess.
David had to play for the funeral of some toff or other in Northern Ireland, whose family had requested that he play Thank heaven for little girls as people were coming in. He obliged (he was a very obliging chap), but felt a complete numpty, as there was nothing on the order of service about it, or why it was being played, and the incoming congregation must have wondered what the **** he was doing.
I think there was an equally inappropriate request for extroit music, but I can't remember what it was.
@Piglet Priceless!
Some years ago I did a wedding for a grandchild of American composer John W Bratton who asked if some version of his most famous oeuvre could be included in the music during the signing of the registers. I had great fun sorting out an arrangement for organ and 3 treble parts of The Teddy Bear's Picnic.
TITCH the person who ran into my car while I was parked in a parking lot, eating a hamburger IN MY CAR with no other cars within 15m. You, sir, ran into a parked car in the middle of an empty parking lot.
@Piglet Priceless!
Some years ago I did a wedding for a grandchild of American composer John W Bratton who asked if some version of his most famous oeuvre could be included in the music during the signing of the registers. I had great fun sorting out an arrangement for organ and 3 treble parts of The Teddy Bear's Picnic.
I rather approve of that! 🧸
When the Dean's son in Newfoundland got married, they requested the Star Wars theme, and David suggested it be interwoven into Widor's Toccata, as an extroit. It worked beautifully!
@Piglet Priceless!
Some years ago I did a wedding for a grandchild of American composer John W Bratton who asked if some version of his most famous oeuvre could be included in the music during the signing of the registers. I had great fun sorting out an arrangement for organ and 3 treble parts of The Teddy Bear's Picnic.
I rather approve of that! 🧸
When the Dean's son in Newfoundland got married, they requested the Star Wars theme, and David suggested it be interwoven into Widor's Toccata, as an extroit. It worked beautifully!
Yep we had Bach that morphed into "A whiter shade of pale"
In was the same organist as my parents and grandparents (24 years and 49 years previously) who was my grandad's cousin (their respective Mothers being sisters).
All of them, or just specific ones? Are they living up to their reputation of tailgating?
I have no dog in this fight; I'm not even sure that I know anyone who drives an Audi (I know one or two people who used to, but don't know if they still do).
ICTH My friend J's vicar. The poor girl was in tears last night after a "discussion" she was subjected to with helpful remarks about the Canons relating to music (of course, the pastor concerned can't read music... ).😡
The problem is the dear girl is an incurable optimist and greets every new vicar with hope that they'll be appreciative of the music and supportive of the singers - and every time it doesn't happen. I mean, how big a deal is it to drop into a choir rehearsal once a term just to say hello and thanks for all you do?
TICTH my printer. It said it wanted ink; I fed it. It says it wants paper, which is a lie*, and it refuses to print.
* when I replaced the ink, it spat out a couple of pages of the usual post-ink-replacement gobbledygook, rather like burping a baby after it's been fed, so it was perfectly aware that it had paper.
Have you tried switching it off, unplugging it for 5 minutes, and then starting again?
Of course - that's No. 1 in the troubleshooting guide, isn't it? Actually, it had been turned off for some time, as it had been temporarily relocated to the bedroom when I was having the painting and new flooring done.
Cables.
I have broken my Shark ( hoover). It is only a few months old but won’t be covered by guarantee because Blockages aren’t, and the damage will be deemed to be “accidental, caused by negligent use or care, or careless operation”.
I managed to catch a phone charging cable in it. I know I should have moved it. The wretched cable didn’t even work.
I am hoping the clever people at the local independent shop where I bought it can extract the cable without causing further damage.
Not sure where to put this, but this item from today's Guardian seems to indicate that England (or the housing market, at any rate) is rapidly heading for Hell in a handbasket:
Back in the day when I was young, in the last millennium, I walked around the town going into every shop and restaurant and asked for a summer job. On the occasions I did this, I had one by the end of the day - I was only asking for temporary work though.
Back in the day when I was young, in the last millennium, I walked around the town going into every shop and restaurant and asked for a summer job. On the occasions I did this, I had one by the end of the day - I was only asking for temporary work though.
This is temporary work they're looking for. Most of the places in town just tell you to apply on their website. Which you do. And hear nothing.
TICTH businesses who pay minimum wage, invite you for a "chat", say they'll get back to you and from whom you never hear back again.
I could never get a Summer job as a student and my two sons are finding the exact same, instead getting the above treatment.
How people actually get these waiting, bartending etc. jobs I shall never know.
Networking. Know anyone in the field you can ask about forthcoming vacancies?
Though admittedly it is a rough job market at present with so many out there having been made redundant in the past few years, or trying to find jobs that pay a living wage.
When I finally got the right to work in Canada, I handed my CV in to nearly every shop in the local shopping centre, and within a few days had a temporary, part-time, minimum wage job, but maybe I was just lucky with my timing - it was coming up to Christmas.
Comments
My trains were awkwardly timed. If I missed the one I needed to get, there was a 45 minute wait for the next which was timed to arrive just after the connection I needed to make. It made it a long day as I would then have been away from home for 12 hours.
I can't really complain though as I used to catch the morning train with someone who did Birmingham to Swindon every day, changing trains twice each journey. I don't know how he survived it.
It does happen on normal trains in London if you’re travelling within the London fare zones
The same goes for Funerals and their music, too, I guess.
I think there was an equally inappropriate request for extroit music, but I can't remember what it was.
Some years ago I did a wedding for a grandchild of American composer John W Bratton who asked if some version of his most famous oeuvre could be included in the music during the signing of the registers. I had great fun sorting out an arrangement for organ and 3 treble parts of The Teddy Bear's Picnic.
I rather approve of that! 🧸
When the Dean's son in Newfoundland got married, they requested the Star Wars theme, and David suggested it be interwoven into Widor's Toccata, as an extroit. It worked beautifully!
Yep we had Bach that morphed into "A whiter shade of pale"
In was the same organist as my parents and grandparents (24 years and 49 years previously) who was my grandad's cousin (their respective Mothers being sisters).
It was in 1975 ...
Yeah we did when we redid our vows for our 40th a couple of years ago.
That’s all.
I have no dog in this fight; I'm not even sure that I know anyone who drives an Audi (I know one or two people who used to, but don't know if they still do).
All of them. Every single one without exception.
Code fix - Piglet, AS host
TICTH my printer. It said it wanted ink; I fed it. It says it wants paper, which is a lie*, and it refuses to print.
* when I replaced the ink, it spat out a couple of pages of the usual post-ink-replacement gobbledygook, rather like burping a baby after it's been fed, so it was perfectly aware that it had paper.
Failing that, threaten to turn it into a toaster.
Meanwhile Mr F has a new toy - a Nespresso machine. It comes with its own app, which needs Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and possibly your soul.
Of course - that's No. 1 in the troubleshooting guide, isn't it? Actually, it had been turned off for some time, as it had been temporarily relocated to the bedroom when I was having the painting and new flooring done.
Yup, tried that too.
I have broken my Shark ( hoover). It is only a few months old but won’t be covered by guarantee because Blockages aren’t, and the damage will be deemed to be “accidental, caused by negligent use or care, or careless operation”.
I managed to catch a phone charging cable in it. I know I should have moved it. The wretched cable didn’t even work.
I am hoping the clever people at the local independent shop where I bought it can extract the cable without causing further damage.
You shouldn't anthropomorphise computers: they don't like it.
There's AI for you.
Oh I'm sure you can think of something. Mine's usually 'sure who sees it?'
Mine is, "leave it, after three years it doesn't get any worse", and, "cat hair is good for the carpet".
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jul/30/step-to-riches-disused-stairwell-in-london-could-be-yours-for-just-20000
I'm reminded of the *Four Yorkshiremen* sketch:
You lived in a corridor? We used to dream of living in a corridor...
I could never get a Summer job as a student and my two sons are finding the exact same, instead getting the above treatment.
How people actually get these waiting, bartending etc. jobs I shall never know.
This is temporary work they're looking for. Most of the places in town just tell you to apply on their website. Which you do. And hear nothing.
Networking. Know anyone in the field you can ask about forthcoming vacancies?
Though admittedly it is a rough job market at present with so many out there having been made redundant in the past few years, or trying to find jobs that pay a living wage.