Happy Mondays: Travelling, fair
Oct. 11th, 2010 09:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lizzie_and_ariHello!
1. Am typing this on my Ma's computer, as we are down for a flying visit for the Mop (drove down today and back up tomorrow - oy!). The Mop is the annual fair in Stratford - originally it was a hiring fair where servants got jobs. It's followed a week later by the Runaway Mop, a smaller do with fewer rides - which was where those hired at the first one but who were unsatisfied with their masters got to come back for a second shot. It's all very historical and interesting and you can read more about it on the Stratford District Council site if you so desire. It's also very much about candyfloss and the carousel.
I've always wanted to bring Ari because it was an important part of my childhood - the schools used all to close for Mop Day. This actually makes a lot of sense - traffic through the town is a nightmare so buses have to be majorly rerouted, and half the kids are going to be bunking off to run away to the mop anyway. So they used to make it a teacher training day. However, I discovered this practice has since stopped, which is very sad.
Anyway, this year is particularly special on account of my Ma's mayorship - the mayor opens the mop, in full regalia, with an official proclamation:
Known all men by these presents that this ancient statute mop fair instituted when the memory of man runneth not to the contrary has continued to even unto the present day; we therefore do now account it amongst our rights and privileges, which have been granted to us, the Mayor, councillors and townspeople of the town of Stratford-upon-Avon at divers times, therefore we do enjoin all whether ye be townspeople of the town or strangers from other parts and places, that your behaviour be seemly at all times and in all respects, that ye bear good will towards one another and ill will towards none that ye spend this day of merry-making and frolic so that recollections on the morrow may be without regrets or repinings.
And we do further ordain that on this day ye shall have full liberty and licence so desiring to remain in the fair until the stroke of midnight, whereupon at that time, and no later, we do strictly enjoin you quietly and peaceably return unto your dwellings, having proper regard to the comfort and happiness of friends and nieghbours who may then be within their abodes.
God Save the Queen
ie: Everyone here must witness, on behalf of all humanity, that there's been a fair here for as long as anyone can remember, so it's now our divine right. So please, folks - that's locals or foreign types - behave yourselves, don't get too drunk, be home by 12 and don't wake the neighbours.
I can't wait. Then we get to go round the mop and ride everything for free. Rides scare me, but I'll go on the carousel and the bumper cars and maybe the big wheel. Then we're going to a lunch hosted by the people who run the fair.
Then we're driving back oop north. We hope to be home by the stroke of midnight as per the proclamation.
2. We have a new computer! Well, not new new - inherited via my Ma (someone was getting rid of it). In fact, in came with an apology from her that it wasn't the latest computer, it is Windows XP, and you know there have been 2 since then - Windows Vista and Windows 7. I told my Mum that I was just glad it wasn't Vista.
'Oh, but I have Vista' she replied.
'Yes, I know, that's why I have so much difficulty giving you tech support.'
Is everyone under 40 now tech support for their parents?
Anyway, it's very greatly appreciated - Ari needs it constantly - or at least to have it on hand constantly - for her MA, and I need it for trying to chase work and write stuff. So having two comes not a moment too soon.
The eagle eyed amongst you may remember that we already acquired a second computer a year or so ago. Yes, we did. Unfortunately half the keys are stuck and it randomly switches itself off from time to time - four or five times a day. So it has been consigned to the realms of Emergency only.
3. Emily has still not had her baby. We have decided that when Ari and I spawn one day, we are not going to tell anyone when it's due. The whole 'has she had it yet?' extravanganza is driving me crazy, and it really has very little to do with me. Have been enjoying the time spent with her and Toby though. He's essentially the cutest and loveliest boy ever.
4. I have my Blackberry back! I had it registered for insurance under my Halifax Reward bank account, but when I went to look at it to report it as broken, it had fixed itself. Turns out it just needed a five month rest. (I did try resting it for a couple of weeks to see if it needed to dry out, cool down etc. Apparently that just wasn't long enough.)
5. Tristan gets to stay! His appeal against his visa rejection was upheld under the Human Rights Act. I think this means he gets to stay foreverandeverandever. Hurrah!
6. Ari's parents safely ensconced in New Zealand, although they will be sans Stuff until Christmas, shipping takes aaages. But this does mean that between all that, Ari's whole family are settled and sorted in a total of only two countries (counting the UK as a country for these purposes, no political overtones intended.)
7. Ariadne has been avidly researching Papua New Guinea for a terribly exciting novel she is writing - half of which will be for her dissertation - which I confidently expect to make us our first million.
8. Spent Friday afternoon weeding Erin and Brian's garden which was hella awesome. There were some doozies. Then we ate chinese food and watched bad TV. Also, met her Mum, who looks curiously likes Ari's aunt Alex.
Happy everything to all,
Lizzie xxx
1. Am typing this on my Ma's computer, as we are down for a flying visit for the Mop (drove down today and back up tomorrow - oy!). The Mop is the annual fair in Stratford - originally it was a hiring fair where servants got jobs. It's followed a week later by the Runaway Mop, a smaller do with fewer rides - which was where those hired at the first one but who were unsatisfied with their masters got to come back for a second shot. It's all very historical and interesting and you can read more about it on the Stratford District Council site if you so desire. It's also very much about candyfloss and the carousel.
I've always wanted to bring Ari because it was an important part of my childhood - the schools used all to close for Mop Day. This actually makes a lot of sense - traffic through the town is a nightmare so buses have to be majorly rerouted, and half the kids are going to be bunking off to run away to the mop anyway. So they used to make it a teacher training day. However, I discovered this practice has since stopped, which is very sad.
Anyway, this year is particularly special on account of my Ma's mayorship - the mayor opens the mop, in full regalia, with an official proclamation:
Known all men by these presents that this ancient statute mop fair instituted when the memory of man runneth not to the contrary has continued to even unto the present day; we therefore do now account it amongst our rights and privileges, which have been granted to us, the Mayor, councillors and townspeople of the town of Stratford-upon-Avon at divers times, therefore we do enjoin all whether ye be townspeople of the town or strangers from other parts and places, that your behaviour be seemly at all times and in all respects, that ye bear good will towards one another and ill will towards none that ye spend this day of merry-making and frolic so that recollections on the morrow may be without regrets or repinings.
And we do further ordain that on this day ye shall have full liberty and licence so desiring to remain in the fair until the stroke of midnight, whereupon at that time, and no later, we do strictly enjoin you quietly and peaceably return unto your dwellings, having proper regard to the comfort and happiness of friends and nieghbours who may then be within their abodes.
God Save the Queen
ie: Everyone here must witness, on behalf of all humanity, that there's been a fair here for as long as anyone can remember, so it's now our divine right. So please, folks - that's locals or foreign types - behave yourselves, don't get too drunk, be home by 12 and don't wake the neighbours.
I can't wait. Then we get to go round the mop and ride everything for free. Rides scare me, but I'll go on the carousel and the bumper cars and maybe the big wheel. Then we're going to a lunch hosted by the people who run the fair.
Then we're driving back oop north. We hope to be home by the stroke of midnight as per the proclamation.
2. We have a new computer! Well, not new new - inherited via my Ma (someone was getting rid of it). In fact, in came with an apology from her that it wasn't the latest computer, it is Windows XP, and you know there have been 2 since then - Windows Vista and Windows 7. I told my Mum that I was just glad it wasn't Vista.
'Oh, but I have Vista' she replied.
'Yes, I know, that's why I have so much difficulty giving you tech support.'
Is everyone under 40 now tech support for their parents?
Anyway, it's very greatly appreciated - Ari needs it constantly - or at least to have it on hand constantly - for her MA, and I need it for trying to chase work and write stuff. So having two comes not a moment too soon.
The eagle eyed amongst you may remember that we already acquired a second computer a year or so ago. Yes, we did. Unfortunately half the keys are stuck and it randomly switches itself off from time to time - four or five times a day. So it has been consigned to the realms of Emergency only.
3. Emily has still not had her baby. We have decided that when Ari and I spawn one day, we are not going to tell anyone when it's due. The whole 'has she had it yet?' extravanganza is driving me crazy, and it really has very little to do with me. Have been enjoying the time spent with her and Toby though. He's essentially the cutest and loveliest boy ever.
4. I have my Blackberry back! I had it registered for insurance under my Halifax Reward bank account, but when I went to look at it to report it as broken, it had fixed itself. Turns out it just needed a five month rest. (I did try resting it for a couple of weeks to see if it needed to dry out, cool down etc. Apparently that just wasn't long enough.)
5. Tristan gets to stay! His appeal against his visa rejection was upheld under the Human Rights Act. I think this means he gets to stay foreverandeverandever. Hurrah!
6. Ari's parents safely ensconced in New Zealand, although they will be sans Stuff until Christmas, shipping takes aaages. But this does mean that between all that, Ari's whole family are settled and sorted in a total of only two countries (counting the UK as a country for these purposes, no political overtones intended.)
7. Ariadne has been avidly researching Papua New Guinea for a terribly exciting novel she is writing - half of which will be for her dissertation - which I confidently expect to make us our first million.
8. Spent Friday afternoon weeding Erin and Brian's garden which was hella awesome. There were some doozies. Then we ate chinese food and watched bad TV. Also, met her Mum, who looks curiously likes Ari's aunt Alex.
Happy everything to all,
Lizzie xxx
