Grumpage

[white_hart]

Having to come back from Norfolk via the M11, M25 and M40, instead of the usual cross-country route, because the A43 is closed at Silverstone because of the Grand Prix, was never going to put me in the best frame of mind for the end of my week off. Though at least the staff at the Starbucks in South Mimms didn't ask my name. (I don't go to Starbucks for many reasons, chief of which is that I don't actually like their coffee very much, but "not wanting to give my name out" is also quite high on the list, especially as it would almost certainly come back as Sandy or Stacy or Sophie anyway and that would be doubly annoying, but South Mimms is the only sensible stop on that route and coffee is essential on long drives.) Maybe they take the view that people who insist on saying "medium" when asked what size drink they want will also not take kindly to being asked their names.

And then we got home and discovered that the power had gone off at some point and had to throw away the contents of both freezers, which was very annoying indeed.

And, as per usual when I have had a week off and not really done anything, I don't really feel as though I've had enough of a break for it to be time to go back to work. (I have read five books and knitted half a cardigan, but I wish now that I'd done something different, rather than just doing more of the things I do anyway when not at work.)

And now summer has turned up I have been considering my summer wardrobe and would quite like to buy a few new things to replace some stuff that just isn't really me any more, but there's absolutely nothing in the shops I like. Which at least saves me some money, I suppose. Just as well, really, given that an ill-advised attempt to sit on T's lap last week resulted in an ominous crack and our already-saggy sofa becoming considerably more saggy*, and we have just booked our proper holiday for September, when we are going to Copenhagen and Stockholm**.


*it's been a bad week for me and furniture, as I also managed to fall through a garden chair at my parents' house, though they assure me that it was down to the chair being a bit ropy and not me being a heffalump. At least it was me who fell through it, and not either of them.

**it has just struck me that we set off two months tomorrow, so I shall console myself with that thought as I return to work for what looks set to be a rather busy and occasionally Difficult week.

Comments

[tree_and_leaf]

There's nothing to stop you giving a name of your choice which is not your name, of course...

[white_hart]

I know, I should just say "Nicola Marlow" or "Lord Voldemort" or something, but when faced with an actual barista my mind goes blank.

[caulkhead]

Provided you can then remember which name you gave, but I probably wouldn't.

[white_hart]

That also crossed my mind, even though there is only a short space of time between ordering and the coffee being ready. I suppose at least picking something like Nicola Marlow would mean that one's mind would be jogged by the familiarity of the name, except that they'd probably only put "Nicola" and that wouldn't help at all.

[caulkhead]

The classic is 'Spartacus'.

[white_hart]

But then everyone else in the cafe would claim it was their coffee, too! And probably one of them would end up getting it, to boot.

[caulkhead]

Well, quite…

Nobody's ever asked my name at Starbucks - it must be the death glare that does it. Not that I go in there if there's any alternative, because I don't like their coffee.

[white_hart]

I do suspect that refusing to say "grande" for medium marks me out as the kind of person whose response to being asked her name would almost certainly be to tell them it was none of their damn business.

(This was my first visit to a Starbucks since they brought in the names thing, because I also don't like their coffee, and even on motorways it's normally possible to pick a service station which has Costa instead. But not on the M25.)

[legionseagle]

Even though techsupportbear was walking with a crutch this morning and in considerable paid he still walked the extra 20 yards to get to a Costa rather than a Starbucks, a choice with which I was completely happy.

[white_hart]

In that situation I think Starbucks' excuse for coffee would quite literally have added insult to injury! Hope he's better soon, though.

[perennialanna]

It wasn't really a day for trying to get in or out of Norfolk - the Norwich line was out of action for emergency bridge repairs.

[white_hart]

In many ways, I would much rather have stayed. Though it's nice to be back in my own house.

[nineveh_uk]

There was a fairly hefty thunderstorm the other night*, perhaps that was the electricity-killer. I like my sofa from www.sofasandstuff.com/ a lot.

I hope your week is less difficult than you are anticipating.

*I can tell I was tired because I woke up, heard it, and couldn't be bothered to get out of bed to watch the lightning.

[white_hart]

We had the same storm, or possibly a relation, in Norfolk. It was very loud.

I suspect we may end up with an IKEA sofa, because they are inexpensive. Although maybe that's false economy, when you consider how much use a sofa gets. Ours was a wedding present, so it has survived twelve and a half years of almost daily use...

[caulkhead]

My old one was IKEA, the new(ish) one is from sofa.com, and it really is worth the money.

[white_hart]

We will ponder. I suspect it will depend how fed up we get with the broken sofa, as having just paid for a holiday means it will take a while to accumulate a sofa fund.

(I am by general inclination and upbringing a person who buys her furniture from Habitat, so the fact that Habitat doesn't really exist any more makes things difficult.)

[coughingbear]

I discovered on Sunday that Habitat do still exist on Tottenham Court Road (sadly I didn't have enough time to go in), but I appreciate this is not particularly useful for you!

[antisoppist]

The cafe on the platform at Taunton station has just turned into a Starbucks. Grumpy commuters in need of coffee were not taking the names thing well. I confused things further by giving my surname. Automatic response due to proper name being shouted out making me feel like I am back at school or at the doctor's and used name being far too familiar when used by total strangers.

[alitheapipkin.livejournal.com]

Sympathy on the annoying travel etc. I know what you mean about not really doing anything and then not feeling like you've had a break either, hope the coming week turns out to be less trying than you fear.

Holiday does indeed sound like a good thing to look forward to though :)

[white_hart]

I am very much looking forward to the holiday :-)

[sollersuk.livejournal.com]

I really liked the tweet "In Starbucks I gave my name as Godot. Then I left."

[white_hart]

That is a good one. I should probably work out a good fake name for use in Starbucks.

[auntyros.livejournal.com]

I always give my surname in those sort of contexts.

[sollersuk.livejournal.com]

I never give my own name. I just have to remember my current alias.