8 Pints of Milk

Here is a little anecdote for you. I had to buy eight pints of milk for the school's fayre last Saturday. To pour in coffee and tea (patently absurd in tea, but I digress). I thought it was too much milk for what we needed, but since I was tasked to do it, I did it. So I stopped at the local Sainsbury's in the morning. They were out of semi-skimmed milk bottles of the right size. So I asked one of the employees there. He asked me to give him less than five minutes and in the meantime, he told me where the find the other bits and bots I had to buy. A really helpful guy. I thought he would come back late telling me they were completely out of stock, but no. Within five minutes, on the dot, he was walking with the milk bottles. As I always like to show my gratitude for helpful staff, I told him he was a man of his word. he replied: "If I was not a man of my word, what kind of man would I be?" Which I think deserves to be a new great unknown line. I might use it in my writing one day, in any case I thought I'd share it on the blog. But yes, eight pints of milk was way too much.

"Mad about... Sharks"

Last year, as I had suddenly turned unemployed and had plenty of time on my hands, I spent a fair deal of it in charity shops. I fumbled upon a children book about sharks, aptly titled Mad about... Sharks. As I explained to the cashier: "For £0.50, it's in my price range." Which I think deserves to be a great unknown line. Anyway, it's cheap, but it's educational, and of course it's a great opportunity for me to read it with Wolfie. We both love to learn about sharks. Especially at this price.

"Magic Mushroom"(?)

 I found this trinket in the local toy shop, of all places. It's a pencil sharpener and rubber in the shape of a mushroom, so it is named "magic mushroom". I said to my wife: "Some people might be disappointed when they see what kind of magic mushroom it is and get buyer's remorse." Which I think deserves to be a great unknown line. Anyway, while I don't like the taste of mushrooms and I am always wary of wild mushrooms, I love the look of mushrooms, because I associate them with autumn. And, since a pencil sharpener can always come in handy, I bought it for my desk. It adds to the autumn decor.

Paddy for Saint Paddy's

 I went to a local pub today for a drink and more to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day. There was only one pub somewhat decorated for the day, so I went in that one. I asked if they had any Irish whiskey to go with my pint of Guinness. They had one: Paddy. The barman was enthusiastic about giving me some, I mean he was surprisingly really happy about it, as if I was the one keeping tradition alive or something. So I had some. End of the story. But I have another anecdote about today: I did really well at work today. Like, really well. So my wife said: "Today you truly had the luck of the Irish." Which deserves to be a great unknown line.

Black and Blue

 Yesterday, when we picked up Wolfie from school, we saw that the dad of one of his classmate was wearing a suit instead of the usual sloppy dad clothes we dads all wear on school runs. A black suit and a blue shirt, no tie. I said to my wife he probably went to a job interview. I was brave (or reckless?) enough to ask him: "Black suit, blue shirt, that's a dead giveaway that you went to a job interview, am I right?" I was right. Thankfully, I was right and he was not back from a funeral or something else. Anyway, I think that deserves to be a great unknown line. I knew he was wearing a suit for a job interview because I did the exact same thing last week, also a black suit with a blue shirt. It's perfect for interviews ad you appear professional, but the blue is not an agressive colour, so you come off as friendly. It's also perfect for all formal occasions: funerals, weddings, baptisms, first communions, etc. But especially for job interviews. Oh, and for the record, he got the job. I didn't.

The Traitors in a nutshell

 My wife has developed in recent year an addiction to the binge-watching reality TV The Traitors. The British version, but also its many other iterations, which she tries to watch wherever she can. She saw the Canadian one (English and French), the French one, the American one, what have you. She also discovered a number of fans of the series among the mothers in our son's school. So she was discussing it with other mums yesterday morning to others. One of the mums had not seen yet and asked what it was about. My wife explained that it was like psychological warfare on a daily basis, with traitors and faithfuls, manipulation from both sides, and so on. The other mother said: "Sounds like what I have everyday at home really." It made us all laugh and I think it deserves to be a great unknown line. On a side note, I don't watch it. I don't care at all about game shows.

Christmas at the Bookshop

 I went to the local bookshop today for some Christmas shopping. There was so many books stacked that I made a few fall. But the staff was very understanding. One of them told me: "Oh don't worry, books are jumping all over the place today, they're very lively." This deserves to be a great unknown line. I bought nothing for myself. I suspect my wife made a few purchases there anyway. So I behaved.

Mince Pie Day

My wife said earlier: "Isn't today Mince Pie Day?" It is and her question deserves to be a great unknown line. And don't for it on Google, this is not the official Mince Pie Day, which was actually yesterday here in the UK. But today is Mince Pie Day in our household. If you have been following this blog, you know what I am referring to. One evening a few years ago, back when I was studying at uni, I was bored and feeling peckish, so I went to the residence's kitchen to eat a mince pie. Then in walked an English girl, who was visiting a friend, housemate of mine. The English girl, of course, was Veggie Carrie. And this was our very first meeting. Since then, I always eat a mince pie on that date.

Bradley's Railway Guide

We went to the local bookshop today, just for a quick stop to see if we could find any present ideas for Christmas. Yes, it's early, but Christmas will come soon enough and it's nice to be prepared. Within two minutes, I saw two books about trains that I would love to have. One of them being Bradley's Railway Guide. My wife told me: "You are really too easy to buy presents for." I think it deserves to be a new great unknown line, although she might have said it before. In any case, a quick visit to the local bookshop should get her sorted regarding my presents.

A line from the bookshop

 I went to the local bookshop this afternoon, briefly. I behaved: I did not buy anything. I just wanted to see what I could find for my wife's birthday or if they had any new titles. So yes, I did not buy anything, however I heard one of the staff members telling to a customer: "We all love books, but we don't like computers." I'm not certain of the context, either it was referring to an error in an order caused by their system, or about ordering books on Amazon, or maybe something else entirely. Be that as it may, we spend too much time on a machine and I think it deserves to be a great unknown line. 

Mozart Everywhere

"Oh my God, the dude's everywhere!" This is what my wife said on our first day in Salzburg. She was referring to two things: first, the iconic image of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, which was indeed everywhere, albeit mostly in a dignified form, tall, handsome, commanding. Not exactly how I imagined the hot kid from Salzburg to have been in real life. Second, the Mozartkugeln, which are sold everywhere, in every shop, in every form. With Mozart to promote them, of course. They use his image shamelessly. And, I must confess, we bought the chocolates shamelessly. But anyway, what my wife said deserves to be a new great unknown line and I will not end this blog without a bit of Mozart music. So here's the fourth movement of hos Jupiter Symphony, which I think I never shared until now. Enjoy.

Tombola

There was a school fayre this afternoon at Wolfie's school, I went there right after work, for the last thirty minutes or so. I had time to enter a tombola: you buy tickets and you could buy a bottle of wine, of beer or of whatever drink, alcoholic or not. It was £2.00 for five tickets. At first, I only found a pound, so I asked: "Can I have two tickets and a half?" I think it deserves to be a great unknown line. Not my best, but it's been a while since I shared one funny line. Anyway, I found another pound in my pocket, so I got my five tickets, then I bought some more. In the end, we got a bottle of red wine, a soft drink and a bottle of non alcoholic coktail. Not bad.

Things To Do on a Train Journey

 Oh the lovely things Usborne provides for parents! A few weeks ago, I went to the local bookshop and I bought, aong other things, Things to do on a Train Journey. I had no intention to buy anything (I swear), but I saw it and, well, I thougt it might come in handy. Yes, I bought something very similar a few years ago, but we can't have too much of a good thing, especially in book form. Seeing it, the cashier said: "Oh, I think you there is a holiday coming for you soon." I told her: "In fact, I'm back from one, where I discovered new ways for a young child to get impatient, so I am preparing for the future." I think it deserves to be a great unknown line. In any case, this book should be helpful.

Books to Buy, Books to Read

I went to the local bookshop a few weeks ago, and I made a few purchases. Mostly books that I had already ordered (two of them) and one book I found on chance. So I behaved, mostly. This is what I explained to the cashier: "I promised my wife not to keep on hoarding books. I buy them faster than I can read them." She said: "Alas, there are not many people who understand people like us anymore." Which made me laugh. I think both lines deserve to be great unknown lines. I do hoard books a tad too much, perhaps, but I always fear I might never see a certain title again if I don't buy it there and then. Anyway, "people like us", I love it. That's what readers are, nowadays. A sort of secret society.

Mother's Day

 Today is Mother's Day here in the UK' so happy Mother's Day to all mothers reading this (there are at least three). Two days ago, I was telling my wife I had to go to the shop and buy something for Mother's Day, she told me I should not worry: it's later in the year in Québec and in any case, my mother is on the other side of the Atlantic, so I cannot send her anything on time. And I said: "Well, yes, you're right, and anyway what other mother do I know here? I'll ask Wolfie if he'd like to give a Mother's Day present to someone." And then my wife laughed because she knew she had said something silly. But all jokes and new great unknown lines aside, it kind of shows how motherly she is: she thinks about others before she thinks about herself.

Black and Green

You may forgive me to come back to Saint Patrick's Day. It was only yesterday and I haven't completely taken it out of my heart and mind until next year. It is my favourite holiday this time of year. Anyway, yesterday on social media, I was sharing this picture from 2015, with the pint of Guinness and the disgusting looking pint of lager with green colouring. I first saw green coloured beer in Montreal, I found it disgusting then, I find it disgusting now. So I wrote: "General principle on Saint Patrick's Day: wear green, drink black. (No but seriously, who thought green beer was a good idea?)" I think it deserves to be a great unknown line.

Starbucks' Matcha Green Tea Latte

This post is a warning for those who might have the bright idea to try something new at Starbucks. Because yes, against my better judgment, we went to the local Starbucks this weekend. My wife suggested that I go for something seasonal, instead of keeping it safe and just having tea. I don't like tea with milk, something they always add in their special menu teas. I don't like Starbucks much in general in fact, I find some items on their menu tolerable, that's it. But I followed my wife's advice, again, against my better judgment. And I ordered a Matcha Green Tea Latte. The horror, the horror. Never drank anything so vile. As I explained to her when she asked for a review: "I can brew the same thing at home. I just need to mow the lawn, then throw the grass in boiling water." Wolfie found it so funny that he could not dirnk his hot chocolate without spitting it. So I think it deserves to be a new great unknown line. And keep away from Starbucks and their Matcha Green Tea Latte.

Two guys and a gal

You may remember, a month ago or so I blogged about Five Guys. I have been curious about the one we have nearby and last time we went to the cinema we pondered about going there for lunch. In the end we didn't, mostly because there is little if anything that is vegetarian, so my wife cannot really eat anything there. Not that she like fastfood all that much to begin with. But Wolfie was quite curious about it. My wife explained the conundrum in these terms: "The problem with Five Guys and us is that this family is made of two guys and a gal and the gal is vegetarian." Which I found very funny and deserving to be a new great unknown line. Wolfie and I share a lot of things, but he got his wits from his mother's side.

Ironic Weather

 It's been kind of stormy these last few days, because of, well, this. So yeah, Herminia has given us rain, wind and even a bit of hail. On Monday, during the school run, it was pouring, windy and hailing when I walked with Wolfie to school. At the moment he walked it, it suddenly stopped and everything went calm. The parents were all dumbfounded. One of the mothers said how typical it was that now the weather was calm. I said: "Don't worry, when it is time to pick them up in the afternoon, of course it will get stormy again." She laughed. And I think it deserves to be a great new unknown line. That said, in spite of my pessimistic views, the afternoon school run was much quieter: no rain, no hail and barely any wind to speak of. Still, walking to the school felt like an epic journey that morning.

A rifle from a stick

 As we were walking back to school with Wolfie, he stopped to pick up a small Y shape stick. He loves sticks, they are toys for him, he uses them for all sorts of games. I mentioned it before. With this particular stick, he broke down one of its end, making it look somewhat pistol or machine gun like. I noticed it straight away. So did he. And he said: "Now I have a rifle." My wife was bewildered. She asked: "Wolfie, how can you be such a boy?" A rethorical question she often asks herself, which is also a new great unknown line. I think my wife feels outnumbered sometimes and she never ceases to be amazed at how much her son's childhood world is so different than her own. She made peace with it, but she still gets shocked from time to time.