Interesting thing about the rain here: it doesn’t
smell – you know, like that tantalizing aroma it has back home. Too bad.
Learned two wonderfully fantastic things today!
First one over the phone: it was
confirmed that I will definitely be moving to Weymouth* within the month. As
you may recall, I attended a singles convention a little over 2 weeks ago down
there. I became really good, instant friends with the LDS woman, Loraine, who owns
the hotel. During our conversations she had mentioned how she was often
shorthanded. At one point I said that if it appealed to her at all, I would be
interested in coming down to help out, doing whatever she might need – as by
training my expertise is clearly glorified gopher! And she took me up on it.
Another adventure – I’ll be moving down by Christmas!! (Somehow Richard got wind
that I was anticipating this move, and wrote to say how much he LOVED Weymouth (pronounced Waymuth) – as it is right near where his grandma lived, and where he spent many happy
hours as a boy. He said, ‘I'm so excited that you will get to see that
area.’ Cool! You know, Richard has been my advocate all along!) When I
let Myfanwy know, one of the words of her response was something along the
lines of ‘gypsy.’ Me? Actually, my moving about all just happens to be
incidental – honest! (Well, I HAVE been wearing this hippy-esque friendship
bracelet I found – maybe that has something to do with it . . .)
*Check this out (try really hard
not to eat your heart out): Weymouth Bay has long been
called "England's Bay of Naples". Its beautiful scenery of coastline,
cliffs and rolling hills in the distance, as well as its soft golden sands and
safe bathing waters, make it difficult to find anywhere else quite like it.
Surrounded by some outstanding countryside and without too much commercialism,
it remains a largely unspoilt haven. Weymouth doesn't have all the concrete
jungle built up areas around it like Bournemouth does, and with the sheltered
Bay of Weymouth with its natural, soft, golden sands, it cannot really be
compared.
The second incredible thing I learned came in the
form of an email (on my computer) –
it was from Ashley, and it went something like this:
Well...
Andrew and I went to find out the gender of the baby today
and....
It
Is
A
BOY!
The Beck name will live on!
Love,
Ashley
Not to change the subject in any way, but . .
. another electronic devise thing: Okay,
I am SO dense. I was hearing this little boing noise periodically, randomly
spaced – a kind of tinny chirping, faint like a spring going boing. I wondered
what it was, where it was coming from. Went near my window, which was open -
thought I could hear it outside there. Finally decided it must be the aimless cry
of some fluky bird – like a magpie, of which we have many – up on the eaves
near my windows. Sat back down, the sound continued – I’m trying to come up
with some pattern. I’m still looking around my room, when my eyes alight on my
cell phone. Well, duh! There’s a message:
it wants me to top up – you know, give it money so it will keep on giving me
service. (Pretty embarrassing . . .)
One more random phone experience – not quite as bad as the first one. Got a text
yesterday that read, ‘The T-Mobile network now forms part of the EE network -
when you turn your phone off/on you’ll see EE on screen.’ Meant beans to me . .
. A little research revealed the truth: Everything
Everywhere changes name to EE. Manageable name for superfast 4G and fibre
broadband brand. ‘Some Orange and
T-Mobile customers may be wondering why there is an EE logo on their phone in
the place of their normal network. When Everything Everywhere, the parent company
behind Orange and T-Mobile, announced that it would be the first to offer up
4G, the next generation mobile technology that will bring with it faster speeds,
it signaled that users of its subsidiaries would start to notice the network
tag on their handsets change to say EE in the coming weeks and months, with all
devices receiving the new brand name before Christmas. And TechRadar can
confirm that this is beginning to roll out across the UK.’ Well, sure, that all makes sense!
Amidst fact foraying on my computer, it came to my attention that 60’s model sensation,
Twiggy,* is the M & S (major British department store) fashion designer and
image representation for middle-aged female patrons (like me!). How fitting –
maturing, but still beautiful! I’m not at all ashamed to be associated with
that set! (I also see that Twiggy was born in August of 1949. Classic vintage: after
all, it was a very good year!!)
*Twiggy was the world's first supermodel: a skinny kid with
the face of an angel who became an icon. 'She'll last a couple of weeks', a
bystander quipped in 1967 when she took New York by storm. With her waif-like
figure, boyish haircut and striking eye lashes she created an image that would
epitomize an era. Twiggy became the idol for millions of teenage girls of the
sixties revolution. (Me, I knew in a thousand years I could NEVER look like
that – it just wasn’t in my physical makeup. But I liked her cute face – and
attitude, and I could aspire to that!)
Heard
this quote on the radio this
morning, said of teenagers,* by Sam Levenson – American comedian, writer, teacher, television
host, and journalist (well, he oughta know!): Lead us not into temptation; just
tell us where it is, and we’ll find it!
Just went out for a food foray – it’s around 6:00.
I suppose it is about the same distance from my house to the center of BYU that
I have to walk to get to the grocery stores I frequent here in Selly Oak. The
amazing, wonderful thing is, though by now it is perfectly dark outside, I
never feel unsafe. (And the REALLY great thing is that I have NEVER felt unsafe
or threatened – in ANY situation!) Granted, there are a lot of people and cars
around, once I hit the main road; but still, if I were in Provo, when it is
completely dark, walking down Center Street (even University Avenue if you went
far south enough), I WOULD feel unsafe – and that’s sad. Why is like that, in a
place where you would least expect it?!
Photos_
1- the face of Weymouth
2- Is that little Richard at Chelsil Beach?!
3- magic charm?
4- most sought after face in the year 1966 (known for her anorexic physique and gorgeous
stenciled-eyelash eyes)
5- most sought after face in 2012? (not to imply
that this kid is evil – but I mean, he IS a teenager, after all; but heck, it’s just
my grandson - Daniel EmoOmg*)
6- unnamed baby boy Beck (my 4th grandson!)
6- unnamed baby boy Beck (my 4th grandson!)
7- face of the handsomest singing cowboy that ever
there was – Roy Rogers (see Day 130)
 |
