Friday, November 19, 2010

Wittering On

I don’t like the silences so forgive my wittering. Actually I’ve got a guilty secret – you know I always said that Facebook and Twitter held no interest for me? Well now I’ve discovered Scrabble and I’m hooked. So much more satisfying than those endless games in the sixties where the same culprits always took forever to get a four letter word and the ones who would sneak out to consult a hidden dictionary and the endless rows about permissible words – some of then quite disgusting. One friend would start planning his word immediately after his move and have a hissy fit when, inevitably, someone sabotaged it. Well there’s none of that. THEY tell you what is invalid or not and although I don’t always agree, one accepts it. And I love the trilling sound when you record your move.

Just now I have four games on the go although one lady who appeared from nowhere seems to have returned to nowhere. There are two old blogging friends – Kim and Beleek and a girl I first met on a computer course. Then there is the American equivalent Lexius? (there is a copyright problem with Scrabble in the US)I’m playing Kenju and wouldn’t you know all my opponents are winning

But I expect to improve and rout the lot of them. I’ve notice that some of the bloggers who disappeared are happily chattering away on Facebook and no doubt Twitter also.

When Madonna sings ‘I’ve heard it all before I want to join in. Just this morning Lord Young is in the dog house for intimating we have never had it so good. Do they NEVER learn?

This was in 1957

The British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, has made an optimistic speech telling fellow Conservatives that "most of our people have never had it so good".

And there was the same explosive reaction

Even seeing a young couple sitting in the same positions and sporting that same ring was déjà vu but I sincerely hope there is a happy ending. I wouldn’t say I was a Royalist but I think they are a decent couple and if their wedding brings a bit of glamour and trade to our beleaguered land – Hooray!

November is a busy month – we already had MTL’s birthday, next week is our 31st wedding anniversary – MTL’s free chemo week – a meal has been booked, my best friend has a birthday and my # 1 son has a birthday. I’m going to enjoy it before the Christmas palaver. Never say never – I always swore I would never send round robins but this year to bring old friends up to speed I think I will have to.

Scrabble anyone?

28 comments:

The Unbearable Banishment said...

31 years?! My Lord! I'll bet that wasn't easy but it was worth it. I think we're up to year 11 or so. Amateurs as compared to you guys. Please post the secret to keeping it all together.

Pat said...

UB: second time around one has learned stuff.
My first lasted 28 years but the love had gone and when my first love re-appeared and needed me, there was no contest, but my goodness then it just HAD to work. Throughout the 31 years we have had wonderful times and awful times - happiness and tragedy but the love has always been there. No marriage is easy and there are times when I could cheerfully throttle my beloved and no doubt he feels the same but he's my strength, my raison d'etre, my reason for getting out of bed in the morning and I feel so lucky to have had these years.
Hope this hasn't made you want to puke.

Granny Annie said...

For the height of love and romance you have the eyes of the world on you. None will forget the wedding of Charles and Diana and we're eager to do it again and see it done right for life this time.

Why do you say your land is "beleaguered land"?

Anonymous said...

Congrats to MTL on the birthday and both of you on the upcoming anniversary.

As for royal weddings, most of us colonials stopped paying attention some time ago; the rest of us when the current crop made a hash of their marriages.

I do feel for the young lady, knowing she'll be living in a fishbowl. I hope she's up to it.

Cheers.

Eryl said...

Happy anniversary to the two of you. How's the chemo going, does it still involve biscuits?

I've been playing scrabble with random unknown people on my iPod, in a very irregular way which is currently the only way I seem to be able to do anything non-workish.

kenju said...

I resisted Face book for quite a while (and I am still resisting Twitter), but now I love it and I LOVE playing Scrabble/Lexulous and also Wordscraper (same but scoring is different). I've no doubt you'll be beating us all soon!

angryparsnip said...

Oh Pat...
Congratulations ! what a Fabulous Month !

I confess I have no idea what you are talking about but you are playing Scrabble on Facebook ?
I thought that Facebook was a place were one posted drunken naked photos of the party you went to the night before and then were upset when the world and your boss saw them... and twitter is when you text that you ate 5 bean burritos and just belched.
Shows you how out of the loop I am.

Enjoy the rest of the month it sounds quite wonderful !

cheers, parsnip

Pat said...

Granny Annie: perhaps beleaguered is overstating. It just feels like it sometimes with the downturn and cuts right left and centre. No-one had actually besieged us but one wonders sometimes if there is an enemy within.

Randall: thank you:)
At its best it is something we do extremely well - any kind of Royal spectacle - and I will enjoy a day of goggling and I'm sure lots of people all over the world will do likewise. A bit of much needed light relief.
What one has learned about both of them augurs well. Fingers crossed.

Unknown said...

Hi Pat
I play Lexulous regularly with my Mom who lives in Florida. (Yes, online Scrabble isn't allowed there) But I'd love to play a game of Scrabble with you. :)

Pat said...

Eryl: thank you:)
Chemo/biscuits- I'm puzzled but we do keep the nurse coffee and biscuited. We've just finished the first cycle and so far so good.

Judith: I still get a bit lost but it is becoming more familiar and the games we play are a bonus.

Pardnip: I can't speak about Twitter but slowly I am coming to see Face book in a kinder light although it is still pretty confusing. Yes I am playing Scrabble on Facebook. You might like it but it took me years to actually get the hang of it and I still feel somewhat of a stranger.

Pat said...

Luna: great! I'm not sure how to start but will happily join you.

Kim Ayres said...

Scrabble, Lexolous and Wordscraper all feature in my procrastinations. Though Twitter doesn't - I really cannot understand the purpose of it.

Hearty congrats on the 31 years next week!

Your move by the way :)

Pat said...

Kim: 'Your move by the way :)'
Cheeky monkey - I've been waiting for hours!

Kevin Musgrove said...

I still can't see a point in Twitter socially but I do find it a very useful work tool (some very good people are more than happy to provide running commentaries on conferences I can't get to).

Lord Young was an arse in Thatcher's government and hasn't changed one jot.

Pat said...

Kevin: it's incredible to me that he could be such an ass as to use the very same words as Harold. My memory is by no means perfect but those words are ingrained in my brain.

Ponita in Real Life said...

Pat, congratulations to you and your MTL, both on his birthday and your anniversary! How lovely that it falls on a chemo free week! Do enjoy your dinner out and all the festivities.

I play Wordscraper on fb... and that's really about it. An occasional status update but I'm not really on there that much. Did the twitter things for a bit but found it too limiting. I much prefer the blogging avenue!

Pat said...

Ponita; thank you for your good wishes.
I'm glad you are pro blogging; we can't afford to lose any more.

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

My new guilty secret - Majong, a game that came with the new pooter programme. Solitaire must be feeling pretty lonely without me.

I'm still not on Facebook. Isn't there a word limit or something? I can't see me writing there.

I read this post yesterday, before two or three powercuts, and it made me think about marriage, relationships, give-and-taking [is there such a phrase?] and choosing a partner who's also a best friend.

Congratulations to you and YTL, Pat.

Pat said...

GG: I think the word limit is on Twitter but I'm not sure. It's been a slow burn with me and blogging is still my favourite.
Thanks for the congrats and I hope you will be so lucky.

Daphne Wayne-Bough said...

Try Pathwords, you can play against an opponent or on your own. I got 940 once and am still trying to beat my own highest score, although I'll never beat Kevin Musgrove's 1640.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Is Blogging becoming extinct? Well, my dear....I am glad you are enjoying Scrabble on Facebook---I am having trouble just keeping up with Blogging, I cannot imagine sitting and playing games in front of my computer....!

31 Years....! BRAVO, BRAVO, my dears.....You have a lot going on, my dear Pat...And a FREE CHEMO WEEK coming up...HOORAY!

Pat said...

Daphne: must concentrate on improving my Scrabble but it is puzzling what is allowed and what isn't. What's wrong with Texan and what''s right with Qi?

Naomi: no blogging isn't becoming extinct as far as I am concerned. I am as surprised as you to be playing a game.
Thank you - we shall make the most of our free week.

Nea said...

Hi Pat!

Facebook confuses me too, but I do use it to play Scrabble, although that's not the reason I haven't been about so much during the last few months, that's all down to work and way too much of it. How come unemployment is high and yet those of us with a job can't cope with the work load? I'd be quite happy to share my pay, what little there is of it, and split my workload. Anyone want to come and help me teach Art in the middle of Sweden?

I've got another book for you, Pat, "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. A friend lent it to me and I've just finished it. It has kept me going through one of my worst weeks ever :)

Ruth
xxx
PS Happy 31st Anniversary and belated Happy Birthday to YTL

Pat said...

Ruth: let me know when you want a game. I hope the pressure lets up for you soon. as MTL says - at least we don't have to go out to work.
Bless you for the book. Now I have three in the pipeline which helps to keep me sane. The other two have arrived and I've almost finished Carol Burnett.

lom said...

Happy anniversary, birthdays and everything eles, enjoy Pat, you deserve it.

Pat said...

Thank you dear LOM:)

rashbre said...

Online scrabble is an interesting idea, although
I always seem to get the ZQJ type letters and our original set was French so the letter mix was wrong.

Mezquita, anyone? Oh no. Its a proper noun. Oh wait - so it's allowed. How about Jay-Z?

Pat said...

Rashbre: It is unbelievable the words considered invalid and vice versa. Strangely I always seem to be the loser but I'm learning;)