Reason to Wear Gloves #493: Interfering Aunts Won't Spot Your Engagement Ring...
Yesterday I was up at the miraculously early time of 9:30am, but only because I'd asked Dad to wake me up for the Saturday flea market. It had been ages since I'd gone, so I thought I'd have a gander and see what was on offer, maybe pick up a few records.
All four of us went; Dad because he needs a crowbar to complete his Gordon Freeman Halloween costume sort out the fence (he's still planning on getting a German Shepherd, but as you'll recall the rescue people who did the home visit said our fence wasn't secure enough on Crazy Dope Guy's side), Nathan for the walk, and Ashley because he's still got a tenner burning a hole in his pocket since his 17th birthday last month.
Dad got his crowbar, Ashley had an embarrassing incident in which he bought a full-face bike helmet for 50p, tried it on, it was too small and he had to take it back. Lesson learned: try before you buy, if possible. As for me, I found three records quite to my liking, which came home with me...
Guest-starring my duvet. As usual, click to embiggify.
First, on the left we have Jeff Wayne's 'The War of the Worlds' (1978), an album which I love and have coveted in vinyl form with the original booklet for as long as I can remember. It's not a particularly rare find as records go, but it was one I couldn't seem to find in Kaleidoscope or at any of the stalls or record fairs I frequent. Yesterday I got lucky, and it's mine now! Yay!
In the middle you'll see Mike Oldfield's 'Incantations' (1978). This is his fourth studio album, aptly-titled because it's sheer magic. This is another piece of music that takes me back as my Dad's had the album for as long as I remember; possibly before I was even born. I personally recommend the second disc containing Part Three and Part Four, though there are some wonderful moments through the album and, if you're familiar with some of his later music (especially through the Eighties), you do hear early hints as to the direction he'd soon be going.
Lastly, one I haven't heard before: 'Pilgrimage' by Wishbone Ash (1971). I bought 'Argus' on CD in December 2010 and absolutely loved it, listening to it every morning on the way to Windlehurst Youth Club where I was doing the Prince's Trust, so I've been looking to listen to more by Wishbone Ash ever since. I do find their vinyls dotted around on my travels, so I'll be sure to pick up some more.
After the flea market, I picked up some more stuff from Morrisons and we headed home. Naturally, I was on Skyrim immediately, gallivanting about and being attacked by wolves. I'm up to level 10 but evidently that's not awesome enough to prevent me from being ambushed and killed by Ice Wraiths. Twice. Le sigh.
Then, Dad suggested we go and visit Auntie Avril. Why not? After all, we hadn't seen her since all the faff with losing Sue and Sharon, plus everything in the family seemed to have been resolved. Ashley and I agreed to go, Nathan decided to stay behind in his man cave.
In hindsight, I think Nathan had a moment of brilliance. Seeing Avril was nice, but she tends to go on a bit about why religion is evil, particularly that of the Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses. It was uncomfortable listening, especially since my technical mother-in-law is a Jehovah's Witness and, like I've already covered a while back, she's such a nice person. She's nothing like the really pushy ones who do door-to-door and try to shove their beliefs down your throat.
In fairness to Avril, what's got her riled is the corruption higher up, and the lies upon which the Mormon religion is apparently built. Plus that they've supposedly been taking people into their religion posthumously and without consent, so she's naturally concerned about Sue and Sharon - things are coming out because of the Presidential Elections over in the US; one of the candidates is a Mormon and I think a lot of people are less than eager to see him do well.
Personally, I think people can believe what they want, as long as it doesn't harm others and they don't force their beliefs on other people who don't necessarily share those beliefs. I'm not religious, but I'm tolerant.
Then, of course, she noticed my engagement ring. How I wish she hadn't noticed that. I should have worn gloves or something. What followed was a lecture on how I shouldn't throw my education away for a bloke (erm, I didn't, not entirely, I was genuinely unhappy over there because I have friends back here too and a father whose health I'm worried about!), how she did the same with her career (the difference there being her first husband was a bit of a tool, where Jason is a loving and supportive guy), and how I should 'listen to your Auntie Avril'. To which I told her, 'With respect... no. I'm not going to listen.'
She didn't ask about was he nice and what he was like. First she asked, 'does he have a degree?'. I said no, he didn't. Then she asked, 'what does he do?'. So I explained about the horticulture course, his twelve weeks down in Exeter, his current placement and the possibility of a job afterwards... and she didn't look impressed. God knows how she would have reacted if I'd mentioned his lack of GCSEs or A-Levels. I'm glad I didn't.
Needless to say I was a bit annoyed by that. How she assumed I'd 'thrown my education away' and talked like Jason wasn't worth it, then focused on his qualifications and career instead of the sort of person he is, which is a little more important when you're planning on spending the rest of your life with someone.
I haven't thrown my education away at all. People still go to university when they're nearly ninety, and I have a good set of GCSEs and A-Levels that will hopefully work when I try a second time round. Plus, like Dad said, what matters is that I'm happy. I'm back, with the people I love (which does, coincidentally, include Jason), in an area I know well, and I'm happy. Avril's the first person to sort-of-disapprove out of dozens who know I'm engaged, so... yeah. Her opinion doesn't really matter in the long run.
So I don't end this post directly after a rant, here. Have a picture of a pony I befriended during my sunset shoot the other day! So cuuuuteee~
And here's one of the new car, with the old one still in the drive...
Last but not least, Ashley photobombing while Jason (the tall and beardy fellow) pulls a stupid face. Also taken during the sunset shoot the other day. The face Jason's pulling is known as 'the Glen face' (named after his brother, who invented it), and he does it every time he makes a terrible joke. Which for some reason makes the joke ten times funnier. Don't ask, we have a weird sense of humour. Bonus points if you spot Ashley, he's an excellent photobomber.
All four of us went; Dad because he needs a crowbar to complete his Gordon Freeman Halloween costume sort out the fence (he's still planning on getting a German Shepherd, but as you'll recall the rescue people who did the home visit said our fence wasn't secure enough on Crazy Dope Guy's side), Nathan for the walk, and Ashley because he's still got a tenner burning a hole in his pocket since his 17th birthday last month.
Dad got his crowbar, Ashley had an embarrassing incident in which he bought a full-face bike helmet for 50p, tried it on, it was too small and he had to take it back. Lesson learned: try before you buy, if possible. As for me, I found three records quite to my liking, which came home with me...
Guest-starring my duvet. As usual, click to embiggify.
First, on the left we have Jeff Wayne's 'The War of the Worlds' (1978), an album which I love and have coveted in vinyl form with the original booklet for as long as I can remember. It's not a particularly rare find as records go, but it was one I couldn't seem to find in Kaleidoscope or at any of the stalls or record fairs I frequent. Yesterday I got lucky, and it's mine now! Yay!
In the middle you'll see Mike Oldfield's 'Incantations' (1978). This is his fourth studio album, aptly-titled because it's sheer magic. This is another piece of music that takes me back as my Dad's had the album for as long as I remember; possibly before I was even born. I personally recommend the second disc containing Part Three and Part Four, though there are some wonderful moments through the album and, if you're familiar with some of his later music (especially through the Eighties), you do hear early hints as to the direction he'd soon be going.
Lastly, one I haven't heard before: 'Pilgrimage' by Wishbone Ash (1971). I bought 'Argus' on CD in December 2010 and absolutely loved it, listening to it every morning on the way to Windlehurst Youth Club where I was doing the Prince's Trust, so I've been looking to listen to more by Wishbone Ash ever since. I do find their vinyls dotted around on my travels, so I'll be sure to pick up some more.
After the flea market, I picked up some more stuff from Morrisons and we headed home. Naturally, I was on Skyrim immediately, gallivanting about and being attacked by wolves. I'm up to level 10 but evidently that's not awesome enough to prevent me from being ambushed and killed by Ice Wraiths. Twice. Le sigh.
Then, Dad suggested we go and visit Auntie Avril. Why not? After all, we hadn't seen her since all the faff with losing Sue and Sharon, plus everything in the family seemed to have been resolved. Ashley and I agreed to go, Nathan decided to stay behind in his man cave.
In hindsight, I think Nathan had a moment of brilliance. Seeing Avril was nice, but she tends to go on a bit about why religion is evil, particularly that of the Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses. It was uncomfortable listening, especially since my technical mother-in-law is a Jehovah's Witness and, like I've already covered a while back, she's such a nice person. She's nothing like the really pushy ones who do door-to-door and try to shove their beliefs down your throat.
In fairness to Avril, what's got her riled is the corruption higher up, and the lies upon which the Mormon religion is apparently built. Plus that they've supposedly been taking people into their religion posthumously and without consent, so she's naturally concerned about Sue and Sharon - things are coming out because of the Presidential Elections over in the US; one of the candidates is a Mormon and I think a lot of people are less than eager to see him do well.
Personally, I think people can believe what they want, as long as it doesn't harm others and they don't force their beliefs on other people who don't necessarily share those beliefs. I'm not religious, but I'm tolerant.
Then, of course, she noticed my engagement ring. How I wish she hadn't noticed that. I should have worn gloves or something. What followed was a lecture on how I shouldn't throw my education away for a bloke (erm, I didn't, not entirely, I was genuinely unhappy over there because I have friends back here too and a father whose health I'm worried about!), how she did the same with her career (the difference there being her first husband was a bit of a tool, where Jason is a loving and supportive guy), and how I should 'listen to your Auntie Avril'. To which I told her, 'With respect... no. I'm not going to listen.'
She didn't ask about was he nice and what he was like. First she asked, 'does he have a degree?'. I said no, he didn't. Then she asked, 'what does he do?'. So I explained about the horticulture course, his twelve weeks down in Exeter, his current placement and the possibility of a job afterwards... and she didn't look impressed. God knows how she would have reacted if I'd mentioned his lack of GCSEs or A-Levels. I'm glad I didn't.
Needless to say I was a bit annoyed by that. How she assumed I'd 'thrown my education away' and talked like Jason wasn't worth it, then focused on his qualifications and career instead of the sort of person he is, which is a little more important when you're planning on spending the rest of your life with someone.
I haven't thrown my education away at all. People still go to university when they're nearly ninety, and I have a good set of GCSEs and A-Levels that will hopefully work when I try a second time round. Plus, like Dad said, what matters is that I'm happy. I'm back, with the people I love (which does, coincidentally, include Jason), in an area I know well, and I'm happy. Avril's the first person to sort-of-disapprove out of dozens who know I'm engaged, so... yeah. Her opinion doesn't really matter in the long run.
So I don't end this post directly after a rant, here. Have a picture of a pony I befriended during my sunset shoot the other day! So cuuuuteee~
And here's one of the new car, with the old one still in the drive...
Last but not least, Ashley photobombing while Jason (the tall and beardy fellow) pulls a stupid face. Also taken during the sunset shoot the other day. The face Jason's pulling is known as 'the Glen face' (named after his brother, who invented it), and he does it every time he makes a terrible joke. Which for some reason makes the joke ten times funnier. Don't ask, we have a weird sense of humour. Bonus points if you spot Ashley, he's an excellent photobomber.