Actually, that was me – the hooded stranger. In the rain (hence the hood). I was trying to maximise my time by making a call on my afternoon walk, but the reaction of strangers made me realise that as a society, we’re still not used to the walking-talking-stranger who has their phone out of sight in their pocket.
I was even getting strange looks from dogs for crying out loud! I know I must have looked a sight…apparently laughing and talking to myself out loud as I walked in the rain (it wasn’t raining when I set off…I’m not that stupid). I became increasingly aware of the reactions of others towards me. So aware, in fact, that I found myself offering apologetic waves and a mouthed “hello” as I encountered other equally foolish people out in the rain.
I don’t know why we aren’t wholly normalised to the sight of people making hands-free calls in public, but perhaps I now understand more why an increasing number of people hold their phones horizontally to their lips on walking phone calls – proudly and loudly declaring to all their current means of communication. Perhaps they’re just making a little more of an effort to show that there is no reason to fear them. Perhaps.
Annoying Dropsies
Have you ever had one of those annoying moments in which everything you attempt to grasp somehow just slips through your fingers…one item after another? I had just that this week! It was innocuous and cheap enough, thankfully – I was merely changing the ink cartridge in my pen. The first new cartridge slipped through my fingers and dropped to the floor before rolling under the fridge door. Right under. It’s still there. Back to my office I went, and dropped the next one under my desk. That one was retrievable at least. Happy that I had at last completed this apparently complex task, I strode purposefully to the recycling bin with the empty plastic cartridge in hand…and dropped it on the floor in front of the bin. I daren’t touch a cup or a plate for hours.
Soccer Saturday Challenge
My two sons took part in the Soccer Saturday challenge this weekend to celebrate a friend’s birthday. For the uninitiated (including myself), you head to a pub (I think that bit is compulsory) and get ready for the three o’clock football kick-offs whilst watching ‘Soccer Saturday’. With a packed overnight bag, and a beer in hand (again, compulsory I believe), you wait to discover which team scores the first goal (top four English leagues only)…and that is where you head to immediately for a night out.
“Dad, we’re off to Shrewsbury for a night out” was not on my bingo card of things I expect to hear in 2026, I can tell you.
