Month: November 2023

Everything is selfish

My experience of working with teenagers is that on the whole they are kind, supportive of one another and quite touchingly optimistic. I sat through a secondary school Assembly this morning which I assume was part of an anti-bullying week programme – not sure, because I did miss the beginning. The students were urged to go out and do something kind. The presentation was led by a science teacher, in a lab coat. We were told we had to believe him because 1) he had a white coat on (maybe not too serious!) and 2) because he was a doctor (PhD in physics, I’m pretty sure…)

It was all very interesting. Neurobiology. Not just the hormones oxytocin and dopamine – increased levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin as well. The whole Helpers’ High.

We listened politely. It was certainly well meant. But I began to feel uneasy at the direction we were taking – which was brilliantly expressed by a couple of students in front of me on the way out. “So,” said one of them, “everything is selfish.”

Is that the message then?

Just grumbling….

And not even any pictures for Blogvember 14…

I’ve spent the day working with teenagers, followed by a rearranged evening to help out with young grandchildren – and I don’t share pictures of either of those groups.

So not much to add. But I know if I miss a day I will never climb back on board!

The grumbling relates to the Post Office. I rushed into town on Sunday so that I could avoid the Monday crowds. It is supposed to stay open till 3pm – but they couldn’t staff it, so no possibility of posting my ball of hand spun wool to the USA – self service machines can’t cope with Abroad. So, back into town next day – long, uncomfortable queues as expected. The staff in our main PO are amazing – NOT their fault at all. But the organisation they work for? No-one updates opening times on the web site, the staff are run ragged performing all sorts of extra duties, the delivery times are erratic, the prices increasing all the time (£15.65 to post that ball of wool!) – the whole experience is dismal. Closing all the little local POs has put extra strain on the main branch, which is now squashed away in the basement of WHSmiths. Previously we often had 10 hatches open – now you’re lucky if there are two. Can it really be this bad everywhere?

Day 13: Unfinished business

Listing on Etsy, that is. And today other work (which I love doing) got in the way as well. But I’m on it now – much of the yarn from yesterday’s pictures has already made it up there and I am beginning on the hot water bottles. I am under some pressure to clear space in the house (photo on Blogvember day 5 gives just a partial view….) People helpfully point out that until I do list the stuff, no-one can actually buy it. Well, of course I do know that, but describing finished items is so boring, compared to making them…. Very important to do it carefully though, so I’m now back at it.

Cup of tea in 20 minutes? Chocolate in an hour? Sneaky bit of spinning at midnight? That’s the kind of desperate bribery I seem to be into.