Odd Thomas Odd Blog

From listening to the radio, there appears to be a long-running debate about whether or not people are affected by their surroundings. They are! My evidence? When the Mark's and Spencer store first opened in Tring, the staff were friendly, welcoming and helpful. And they still are. But after these past few months of serving the majority of Hertfordshire's octogenarians, they are now also loud! It seems that younger generations are few and far between as the basic greeting volume has gone up several decibels to cater for the majority. I'll have to wear ear buds next time, save my hearing.

Either I'm getting old or I'm just not paying attention to what I'm doing. I know that the former is inevitable, but I'm hoping its the latter that is the cause of my memory problems!! I made some notes at work for stuff to blog about but left them there, so I am sitting at home, scouring the depths of my brain in an effort to remember the important stuff I wanted to blog. Unfortunately, it seems my brain is somewhat vacant at the moment as its just repeating 'tea and lemon' at me and won't let me think of anything else ... I'd best go stick the kettle on ... Okay, I can't remember everything, but here goes... With the play out of the way, rehearsals have been somewhat on the dull side, consisting mostly of over-shopping, over-eating and over-staring at the computer screen, wondering what on earth I'm supposed to be doing with myself. So, when a work colleague offered up the chance of a ticket to see Rich Hall last Thursday at the Watford Palac...

Every year, I swear I'll start the Christmas shopping in November. Then November comes and I think, "It's too early! Go away!". Then I end up bouncing around the Christmas crowds like a pinball, entering shops only because I happened to be aimed that way. A couple of years ago, I went to Bluewater about a week before Christmas and was amazed at how clear it was. Ever since, I've been going back there to get the majority of the Christmas presents. So, in preparation for the long trip round the M25, I decided to fill up with petrol the night before. There was a fair queue at the garage, probably due to the weekend protests that were taking place, but I kind of expected that so switched the engine off and waited for the lady in front to fill her car. Good job she wasn't the driver. After putting the nozzle back in its holster, she disappeared to the passenger door ... with the tank cap still hanging off the open cap door! I figured she must be coming back ...

Anyone remember my little encounter with Tring Betty ? Well, I'd just about forgotten about it - though I'm still wary in Marks & Spencer in case she pounces on me again. Which is very daft (though very human), to link a person or event with one particular place when that place actually has no bearing! Its not like she stalks the aisles of M&S looking for people to chat to. As I found out yesterday. I wandered into Tring's rather excellent little card shop, House of Cards, on the lookout for some Xmas cards for the family - completely off guard - and that's when she caught me, just by the Xmas trinkets, disguising herself by wearing a hat , of all things! At first I thought I was going to escape, but then she started with the same stories as last time and I knew I was in for another session. Thankfully, the staff in the card shop were much friendlier than the M&S bunch (who kept looking and frowning at us, like we were about to rush out with armfuls of f...