Being 'Ghosted'

Being born back in 1970 I find learning about 'modern' culture and contemporary society very odd at times and often have to Google strange online dating (OLD) terms such a 'swipe left/right'; 'ghosting' and 'no longer flipping unterested (NLFI). I think that many readers will agree that it's a difficult world to navigate at times?

To cut a long story short, like in the words of the popular beat combo, Spandau Ballet, after a couple of months of not a great deal of contact, James has written me the email detailed below:
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Dear Margaret,

I am writing to respectfully request that you no longer contact me. The methods of communication I refer to are as follows: text message, WhatsApp, Facebook Wall Posts, Facebook Messenger, email and carrier pigeon. Whilst I find your 'unique' sense of humour charming and somewhat endearing, you really should spend more time attempting to find suitable employment.

I enjoyed our time together immensely, but know that it is time for us to part. I truly believed that you would find alternative friendship via the various Meetup Groups you subscribe to.

All the best,

James

Marketing Seminar - Big Pants For Big Women

This afternoon I attended a marketing seminar in my local Holiday Inn Express which was run by Dragons' Den failed entrepreneur, Barney Grahame.  Despite his inability to secure funding for his plan to produce a range of self-propelling suitcases, he has found a niche in selling 'big pants to big women' with the strapline (or should that be 'gusset line'?)  "Life's too short for small pants."

Barney was an arresting sight - he's short, balding and was wearing the shiniest polyester suit I'd ever seen - in fact, I'd imagine that he avoided all naked flames as a result.  That said, he was a charismatic speaker and soon had the audience of would-be knicker salespeople enthralled with his every word.  The package, as he explained, was the ability for the representative to purchase 100 units of pure cotton merchandise for the bargain price of £4 per brief - "or £2 per leg hole" he quipped.  As that added up to an affordable £400 and I decided not to proceed.

As we tucked into our complementary buffet lunch Barney began to become angered that nobody was signing up to his scheme and soon shouted "you greedy xxxxs!" at us and stormed out.  Unfortunately he'd left his laptop behind and had to sneak back into the room two minutes later.

Clothes Upcycling

I just don't write enough blog entries, do I?  Oh well, stick this in your (non hashish) pipe and smoke it ...

Following redundancy I have been scratching around doing various little jobs and attending a selection of adult education courses. This morning's, run by my local council's recycling service concerned 'Upcycling' one's wardrobe to combat the increase in landfill waste. It was only a fiver, so along I went.

Let me just say that I was totally useless. The other women were nice enough, but the sewing teacher was a bit of a snob to say the least. As well as freelance further education teaching she also knits vegetables for the underprivileged and runs an organic soup kitchen from the back of her VW Camper. I made the schoolgirl error of breaking the sewing machine's needle and her face went very sour. Also, stating that a student's sewing project was 'brave' wasn't really a compliment.

Probably the most amusing part of the course was when somebody's grandmother had apparently made bunting from her deceased husband's varied collection of Y-Fronts. Inspired.