You've just got a letter saying you are to report for jury duty on the 15th of June. That gives you a week to recover from jet lag. It's on yellow paper this time, rather than pink, but it's still got the white-out.
The tour group has interesting dynamics. We have several whingers. For instance, yesterday ian (our archeological expert) was sick, so they decided to move one visit to today and have today's free time yesterday. "They are always changing things around." We get to the site - a fantastic Kurdish castle. Susan (the chief guide) is harangued by my unfavouritist person about access to the haram being blocked (due to the archeological work on the site). I checked - the haram isn't mentioned in our notes! After a picnic lunch by the lake (were everyone can choose their food - some people really complain about having no choice), Susan announces that they have been able to organize a visit to a local carpet and kilim place to see the weaving techniques. "Yet again they are changing the program". Some people won't go so we have to drop them at the hotel before we go to the carpet place (which was absolutely fantastic and is near the hotel, so I might go back). We finish the day's outings and before tea we are told that today we will do Wednesday's schedule and that tea will not be a buffet but that we can order a la carte. This makes a lot of sense as today will be a public holiday so the island will be crowded." Changing the schedule four times in one day ". " But I wanted a buffet. " ...
The constant whinging is really painful. Our table at tea decided to stay together as much as possible and avoid it - pity the lift had two of them in it.
Note: I have discovered that she is almost everyone's unfavouritist person. The four who wouldn't come to the carpet place are the chief whingers. There are three others. These people are also the snobs of the group. I am happy that I am not alone in finding them exasperating.
Interesting article in the canberra times about road kill and accidents. Queanbeyan post code has the highest number for any postcode in Australia! The act postcodes given in the article have a total of 355 versus the total queanbeyan postcode of 270. I guess that the act may have the highest density in Australia!
I tried to tell you several times about the koalas and kangaroos i somehow managed to end up with, but I don't think I have.
Someone brought about forty to Turkey to give to children and never gave away any. She gave them to Lynda, who gave them to me at the end of the central Turkey trip. Neither of them had handed out any!
I asked Susan and ian about giving them away and they were going to get back to me - but didn't. I thought they would have an excellent solution as they were talking about Syrian refugees who have nothing.
Then I realised that I often see children on this trip. I didn't want to give them to beggars, so I have filled a pocket with them each morning and usually give them to a mother for the children she has with her. Sometimes I think i give them to unworthy causes. For instance, this afternoon I was coming down a steep path from the van castle. A Turkish family was coming up and they were really having trouble with their small boy (the two girls were just being good), so I gave three to the father for the children. The boy stopped crying and carrying on and both parents were embarrassingly grateful. At least the girls got theirs first.
As a result I only have a dozen left, so I will definitely distribute all of them.
Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThe tour group has interesting dynamics. We have several whingers. For instance, yesterday ian (our archeological expert) was sick, so they decided to move one visit to today and have today's free time yesterday. "They are always changing things around." We get to the site - a fantastic Kurdish castle. Susan (the chief guide) is harangued by my unfavouritist person about access to the haram being blocked (due to the archeological work on the site). I checked - the haram isn't mentioned in our notes! After a picnic lunch by the lake (were everyone can choose their food - some people really complain about having no choice), Susan announces that they have been able to organize a visit to a local carpet and kilim place to see the weaving techniques. "Yet again they are changing the program". Some people won't go so we have to drop them at the hotel before we go to the carpet place (which was absolutely fantastic and is near the hotel, so I might go back). We finish the day's outings and before tea we are told that today we will do Wednesday's schedule and that tea will not be a buffet but that we can order a la carte. This makes a lot of sense as today will be a public holiday so the island will be crowded." Changing the schedule four times in one day ". " But I wanted a buffet. " ...
ReplyDeleteThe constant whinging is really painful. Our table at tea decided to stay together as much as possible and avoid it - pity the lift had two of them in it.
Note: I have discovered that she is almost everyone's unfavouritist person. The four who wouldn't come to the carpet place are the chief whingers. There are three others. These people are also the snobs of the group. I am happy that I am not alone in finding them exasperating.
ReplyDeleteInteresting article in the canberra times about road kill and accidents. Queanbeyan post code has the highest number for any postcode in Australia! The act postcodes given in the article have a total of 355 versus the total queanbeyan postcode of 270. I guess that the act may have the highest density in Australia!
ReplyDeleteGood thing we have a pension as well as superannuation. The government reduction in the aged pension in the budget would have hit us hard otherwise.
ReplyDeleteI tried to tell you several times about the koalas and kangaroos i somehow managed to end up with, but I don't think I have.
ReplyDeleteSomeone brought about forty to Turkey to give to children and never gave away any. She gave them to Lynda, who gave them to me at the end of the central Turkey trip. Neither of them had handed out any!
I asked Susan and ian about giving them away and they were going to get back to me - but didn't. I thought they would have an excellent solution as they were talking about Syrian refugees who have nothing.
Then I realised that I often see children on this trip. I didn't want to give them to beggars, so I have filled a pocket with them each morning and usually give them to a mother for the children she has with her. Sometimes I think i give them to unworthy causes. For instance, this afternoon I was coming down a steep path from the van castle. A Turkish family was coming up and they were really having trouble with their small boy (the two girls were just being good), so I gave three to the father for the children. The boy stopped crying and carrying on and both parents were embarrassingly grateful. At least the girls got theirs first.
As a result I only have a dozen left, so I will definitely distribute all of them.