What’s on your mind?

[Scepticalscribe]

Ok, it has been an absolutely crap day. Nothing serious. Just other people. And all of my socks have divorced and one partner moved out to who knows where.

So, the only known cure is kitten photos. Herewith --

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This is the look my cat gives me, not when the bowl is empty, but when any part of the bottom of the bowl is visible. There might be 3 days worth of kibble in there, but if 1 square millimetre is visible, I am promptly informed that the situation is not satisfactory.

Ah, divorced socks.

This is something with which I am (or, have been) familiar.

An adjacent problem to divorced socks - not least, because the outcome is the exact same - are sock situations where the relationship has become terminal, in that one partner is unable to continue because of something such as a hole in an unfortunate (and profoundly uncomfortable) spot, such as a heel, or a toe.

These days, mine are mostly black or navy, (there are a few in sandy shades, too), and several pairs of each are bought at a time, which means that fresh partnerships can readily commence without too much inconvenience or a sustained assault on one's senses.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Ah, divorced socks.

This is something with which I am (or, have been) familiar.

An adjacent problem to divorced socks - not least, because the outcome is the exact same - are sock situations where the relationship has become terminal, in that one partner is unable to continue because of something such as a hole in an unfortunate (and profoundly uncomfortable) spot, such as a heel, or a toe.

These days, mine are mostly black or navy, (there are a few in sandy shades, too), and several pairs of each are bought at a time, which means that fresh partnerships can readily commence without too much inconvenience or a sustained assault on one's senses.

What about the Chameleon sock? You but 5 pairs of the same sock. Yet over time they fade so that you have to try and find its correct partner? Even though they are all the same brand, age and washed the same.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

What about the Chameleon sock? You but 5 pairs of the same sock. Yet over time they fade so that you have to try and find its correct partner? Even though they are all the same brand, age and washed the same.

You are absolutely correct.

The chameleon sock presents an insurmountable - and inexplicable - challenge that thousands of years of civilisation have failed to address, let alone attempt to solve.

 

[Keukasmallie]

Well guys, I'm at the 8.5 decade point in life. Done a lot, USNavy, Superintendent of Schools, etc. yeah, a long journey. My advice: Don't race to the end, enjoy, improve your surroundings right now.

 

[AVBeatMan]

I'm obsessed with socks. Always buy Pringle socks and have to have them matched up. I wear a pair a day and keep them all in a basket until I wash them. Drives me nuts when one goes missing! I also pair them together as in right and left socks so that the Pringle log sits on the outside of the leg. I also have far too many and could probably wear a fresh pair every day! Everytime I go shopping I can't resit buying a new pair

 

[kagharaht]

Well guys, I'm at the 8.5 decade point in life. Done a lot, USNavy, Superintendent of Schools, etc. yeah, a long journey. My advice: Don't race to the end, enjoy, improve your surroundings right now.

I recently retired. Have you seen or been on this forum for retirees before? I'm gonna check it out. https://www.seniorforums.com/

 

[Clix Pix]

It's nice to see a few of us "golden (or, actually silver!) oldies" folks here in this thread! I agree with the advice about not racing to the end and enjoy each day as it comes and if possible, improve your surroundings if they don't suit you. I love where I live so have no plans for the immediate future in terms of relocating somewhere else. So far even as the years have been rolling by, I have never been bored, always find something interesting to do and to keep my mind active.

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

What about the Chameleon sock? You but 5 pairs of the same sock. Yet over time they fade so that you have to try and find its correct partner? Even though they are all the same brand, age and washed the same.

Not only that, but in the pairs that don't fade differentially, one sock will shrink more than the other, so no two socks are the same length.

 

[rm5]

I am officially moved out! That took TWO DAYS - yes, two full days. I fly home bright and early tomorrow morning.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I am officially moved out! That took TWO DAYS - yes, two full days. I fly home bright and early tomorrow morning.

Two days? We moved out of our family home of 18 years in less time. Fully furnished 3 bedroom house. Did you have a nap halfway through?

 

[Apple fanboy]

Not only that, but in the pairs that don't fade differentially, one sock will shrink more than the other, so no two socks are the same length.

Well my legs are different lengths so that would probably work for me!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Well my legs are different lengths so that would probably work for me!

This was also my mother's experience, something she seemed to notice a bit more as she got older.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Not only that, but in the pairs that don't fade differentially, one sock will shrink more than the other, so no two socks are the same length.

Unfortunately, this is true.

 

[Apple fanboy]

This was also my mother's experience, something she seemed to notice a bit more as she got older.

I wear an insole in my shoe which helps. But it wasn’t diagnosed until later in life so the damage is done.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I wear an insole in my shoe which helps. But it wasn’t diagnosed until later in life so the damage is done.

The exact same situation applied to my mother.

This condition was only (formally, properly) diagnosed after she retired (which is when she thought to investigate further, and to look thoroughly into it, and - for the first time in decades - actually had both the time and money to do so), and she attended several specialists (one of whom was excellent, - he was a three hour train journey away, a trip she undertook on a number of occasions - and he advised her that he deeply regretted that he hadn't met her earlier, as he would have been able to do much more for her, but he did design, tweak and craft, bespoke insoles for her).

Anyway, in common with your good self, she, too, had proper (bespoke) insoles designed, - which were worn in whatever shoes she wore on a given day - and I recall how she did comment on how much more comfortable this was.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

In addition to my usual weekly delivery of citrus fruit, and organic milk, this week, seasonal strawberries have made a very welcome appearance.

 

[Apple fanboy]

In addition to my usual weekly delivery of citrus fruit, and organic milk, this week, seasonal strawberries have made a very welcome appearance.

Ours are growing in the garden. Strawberries that is. Not citrus fruit!

Not quite ready yet though.

 

[Clix Pix]

Yep, June is Strawberries Month!!! Mmmmmmmmm!!!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Ours are growing in the garden.

Wonderful.

Strawberries that is.

Enjoy.

Not citrus fruit!

Indeed.

Not here, alas.

Though I have seen them growing in the Balkans, and whimpered with sheer joy when my eyes alighted upon this glorious vision (my interpreter and driver were cracking up laughing, and commented that their previous international observers - from Scandinavia and the Netherlands - had also whimpered helplessly at the sight of dark green foliage lit up by the contrasting glory of seasonal citrus fruit).

Not quite ready yet though.

Actually, I wasn't expecting them, - I never think of strawberries until Wimbledon, - but the lady who owns the shop - and they are locally grown - remembered that I had liked them a lot last year.

Thus, along with my citrus fruit (grapefruit and lemons each week, with the exception of blood oranges when they are in season, which I have delivered and which I also buy whenever I see them, usually, I buy the oranges separately), and organic milk, - plus the FT on Saturday) - from now until the strawberry season ends, I can expect to receive one punnet of strawberries a week.

Needless to say, this one punnet is often added to, whenever I visit the farmers' market, or spot tasty (local) strawberries - and other seasonal fruit - somewhere else.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Wonderful.


Enjoy.

Indeed.

Not here, alas.

Though I have seen them growing in the Balkans, and whimpered with sheer joy when my eyes alighted upon this glorious vision (my interpreter and driver were cracking up laughing, and commented that their previous international observers - from Scandinavia and the Netherlands - had also whimpered helplessly at the sight of dark green foliage lit up by the contrasting glory of seasonal citrus fruit).

Actually, I wasn't expecting them, - I never think of strawberries until Wimbledon, - but the lady who owns the shop - and they are locally grown - remembered that I had liked them a lot last year.

Thus, along with my citrus fruit (grapefruit and lemons each week, with the exception of blood oranges when they are in season, which I have delivered and which I also buy whenever I see them, usually, I buy the oranges separately), and organic milk, - plus the FT on Saturday) - from now until the strawberry season ends, I can expect to receive one punnet of strawberries a week.

Needless to say, this one punnet is often added to, whenever I visit the farmers' market, or spot tasty (local) strawberries - and other seasonal fruit - somewhere else.

Strawberries are very easy to grow. You could do it in a pot.

 

[decafjava]

Strawberies, apricots, peaches and of course melons, the joys of summer!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Strawberies, apricots, peaches and of course melons, the joys of summer!

Agree completely.

Wonderful selection, to which I would also add both cherries and nectarines.

And of the various berries, not just strawberries, but raspberries, loganberries, red currants, black currants,.......

 

[avro707]

Yesterday I was wearing a 787 Dreamliner jacket which I've had since before the plane entered service. That was an eerie coincidence given what happened yesterday in India.

 

[rm5]

I made it home, finally! It's good to be back after so long away. Though to be honest, I feel sad. I wish I could be in both places at once (at home and at school). I'm friends with so many seniors who are graduating, and I don't think I'll see them again. It will be a very different place when I return in the fall, on many different levels, but in part because basically all my friend group is graduating.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I made it home, finally! It's good to be back after so long away. Though to be honest, I feel sad. I wish I could be in both places at once (at home and at school). I'm friends with so many seniors who are graduating, and I don't think I'll see them again. It will be a very different place when I return in the fall, on many different levels, but in part because basically all my friend group is graduating.

How long is your programme, three years or four?

Colleges, conservatories, universities always have a rapid turnover of a student body; this is inevitable.

However, that is no reason not to see your graduating friends again, and, moreover, modern means of communication (including social media platforms) will allow you to keep in touch with them in a way that was not possible with earlier generations.

More to the point, even when - and if - you do meet some of them again, - despite the shared past, the shared interest in music, and the shared world of working professionally in music - things will have changed; they will have changed - personally and professionally - for, the world of work is different to that of student life, and, in addition, as time goes on, some of them will find life partners who will have become, perhaps, a more pressing priority in their personal lives.

In any case, when you return to college, I daresay that you will find yourself among the seniors - and therefore, you may find yourself mentoring, teaching, guiding, advising - people studying music who are junior to you, some of whom - as is inevitable - will also become good friends.

And, given the very intense environment of a college education, where your entire day (environment, life, world) is taken up with shared activities, such as the study of what you like in the company of many others who also find this shared subject matter of study to be of compelling interest, I would be very surprised if you did not make fresh friends over the coming terms and years.

Anyway, my counsel would be to be open to the possibility of new friendships, and to be prepared to put the time into sustaining and maintaining your existing friendships, even if they have graduated.