Now that we have returned to Thalwil from yet another trip to England, I am now able to offer you some more advice and ideas on how to make the most out of your journeys. For earlier tips, look up http://hawkersustrip.blogspot.com/2010/10/tips-for-travellers.html
Firstly, it is important to watch out for your socks. Having returned to Thalwil, I have now seven odd socks. How anyone can have seven odd socks, having been away for only two weeks, is anyone’s guess. Perhaps the Guinness Book of Records has a category for this. It proves that my pairs of socks are individually identifiable, which is clearly a disadvantage. Anyway, next time you meet me, you can prove that you are a true follower of the Grumpy Blog by asking me “How are the socks?” It is clearly an original password for a secret society.
The second idea is unproven. We will rent out the apartment in Thalwil, and then cruise around Europe and North America, staying with friends and acquaintances, saying “Oh yes, we live near Zurich.” Providing that no one actually checks up on us, I reckon that we should be able to keep this up for a couple for years.
One result of this itinerant life style is the collection of passwords to various folks’ wireless networks. If we are in your neck of the woods, but don’t have time to pop in, you may see a blue BMW parked outside your house, while we check out emails, bank statements and the weather forecast for the next few days.
One of the best part of staying with other people is the ability to bring pleasure to those hosts, who look forward to a guest with whom they can enjoy a fine whisky (malt or blended; I’m not fussy), or other digestive. It’s not that I actually enjoy drinking these for their own sake (naturally), but I feel it my duty to respond positively with “Another one?”
Above all, there is the return home. I do not mean the journey itself, which in this case, included a 15 hour car journey across Holland, Belgium and France in weather conditions that had all but defeated the best endeavours of all the countries concerned (English Newscasters – please note).
No – I am referring actually to that moment when you cross the threshold into the familiar territory of your own home. For some reason, having put the kettle on, the first item to attack is the pile of post. Even bills seem to have a reassuring ring to them, telling you that you are now on home ground.
Now I am going back to the further unfinished business of finding the missing socks. I may be some time.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
what I cannot understand is how you got to the ripe old age that you have got to and only discovered this problem now. If you Google missing or odd socks you will get millions of hits and forums discussing and giving council on the matter. Even Albert Einstein had something to say about odd socks.
ReplyDeleteHere is one of many solutions offered:
"The lost sock problem only afflicts tasteful, unobtrusive socks, in colours like plain black, dark grey or subdued blue. To avoid losing your socks, you must therefore only buy brightly coloured, luridly patterned socks. If your socks are pink or lime green or red, and have Homer Simpson or Barbie or Santa Claus on them, you will never lose them. They will turn up in pairs after every wash, again and again and again. Then you just have to figure out whether you can bear to wear them outside the house"
So now you know what to expect for Christmas next year.
As we know, very problem can also be an opportunity. Having missing socks leads to wearing miss-matched socks.
ReplyDeleteMake it a fashion trend: http://www.littlemissmatched.com/