Am I the only one?

[Boxer6]

Spleen,

You might have a point there.
I remember doing my Cycling Proficiency Test many moons ago and I think I was in a thing called The Tufty Club in
primary school. I think it was to encourage children to cross the roads safely and looking left and right etc.

That's quite right, as I remember it! I was in that too, I think when I was about 5 or 6, so would have been 1968 or 69.

[The Creeping Spleen]

I was a proud member of the Tufty Club back in the day.
Pretty sure I've still got my badge somewhere.

[Dot]

Spleen,

Talking of badges I had a Blue Peter one back in the day but not sure where it is now.
I can't even remember what I had written in to the programme about.

I loved that programme and always thought the things they made were amazing like the Christmas decoration they made with coat hangers and the model of Tracy Island.
I was a big fan of 'Thunderbirds' and 'Captain Scarlet' among other things.

It is funny because when my youngest son was born the whole 'Thunderbirds' thing became popular again.
We were on a holiday in Fuerteventura once and we had a wee routine every day.
We would spend the afternoon in or by the pool and then at a certain time we would pack up, rush back to our room and put some euros in the slot so we could watch 'Thunderbirds'.
I think we must have had an extensive collection of DVDs at home.

[The Creeping Spleen]

Oh, I'm a massive Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Stingray etc. fan.

Did you ever go to the exhibition of puppets and props in the Edinburgh City Arts Centre? Mid/late 80s it was on.

[Dot]

Spleen,

No I didn't get to the exhibition but I am sure that was interesting.

I was reading somewhere recently that Gerry Anderson was actually born in Belfast in 1929.
His real name was Gerald McAnulty but he changed it when he moved to London in the 1950s.
He was finding it difficult to get work with an Irish surname and so he adopted the name Anderson after his home in
Andersonstown.

Apparently F.A.B. is an abbreviation for the Irish phrase 'Fadhb ar bith' meaning no problem.

Perhaps some folk knew that already but I have to say I didn't.

[Dot]

Am I the only one who has never bid in a silent auction?

I was at a charity fundraiser coffee morning and met up with a friend.
There were various things for sale and both my friend and I bought a few inexpensive items.
We both bought some small pictures which were framed and ready to display in your home.

Also at the fundraiser they had some more expensive things like a voucher for a nice restaurant and one for a spa/beauty treatment. I know the idea is you write down a bid as do others and someone will win the prize.
I wouldn't know where to start as if you bid a very small amount people might think you were a tight wad.
Then if you bid a lot people might think you were trying to impress.

Has anyone ever taken part in something of this nature?
I don't mind donating to charity but I just didn't feel totally comfortable with it so I didn't bother. We made contribution as you you could donate cash or scan a bar code on your table.

I remember there was that programme where antique dealers had to leave sealed bids on any items they liked but those people
knew what the items were worth and also how much they prepared to pay for them. Also in that case they were going round a persons home so no charity involved.

[Henrysix]

With a sealed auction you only get be sale to the highest bidder, we have a Dutch Auction where people donate items they no longer need, wrap it up and write 3 clues on it, people imagination rubs riot with them and they generally bid more than the item is worth, it can be funny, mysterious and of course everything be rose is desperate to see what you have won, at the end of the day a lot of unwanted items are moved on, a lot of sales are made and lots of cash is made for a charity!

[Dot]

Henrysix,

Well that sounds interesting and if there is money being made for a charity it sounds like a good thing.

[The Creeping Spleen]

Outdoor music festivals. Don't understand why people go to them.

[Dot]

Spleen,

I always think Glastonbury looks like it would be a great atmosphere but I have to say that I think I like my home comforts too much to do the whole camping thing and not to mention toilet/washing facilities.

It's like a friend of mine said that if you could hire a motor home and park it in a suitable spot that might work.

[RDR]

Outdoor music festivals. Don't understand why people go to them.

When you were younger and probably more innocent, very much seen as a 'rite of passage', something you had to do.
What gets me is people in there mid to late 60's still going to outdoor music festivals. I think they must be trying to recapture their youth!

[Henrysix]

I go to the odd concert, never do festivals, sometimes I have been dissapointed by artists performances, sometimes they make changes to their songs and then of course there is the new material which always sucks, I prefer to listen to whatever artist in the comfort of my own home or in the car, must be because aim in my sixties too!

[The Creeping Spleen]

Don't get me wrong, I like live music. I just prefer it to be indoors, and viewed while sitting down.
I'm nearly 53, I've got rheumatic knees and a bad ankle.

[Dot]

I don't mind outdoor concerts as have been to a few over the years but as Spleen says I think I am at point where I like to
be seated. I think something like Glastonbury is probably suited to all ages as there seems to be a wide variety of acts.

I also think because people were stuck in the house for a while at the start of Covid19 and you couldn't travel far it's made some people more adventurous and wanting to get out more.

[The Creeping Spleen]

There's "The Gig on the Green" later in the year. A few local bands playing at the Greenock Cricket Club.

That's just along the street from me, so I'll go to that (weather permitting).