Free for All on Friday

Hi everyone and welcome to another edition of 'Free for All on Friday', on this Friday 13th!

Are you superstitious? I'm not, at all, though I'll often jokingly refer to not doing something because it might prove to be unlucky!

This morning I heard about the origin of the Friday 13th superstition. It's amazing how the fact that it is supposedly unlucky just slipped into my consciousness from quite an early age I think, and I've never questioned where it originated. I had heard it said that it might have something to do with the tradition of the Last Supper and Christ's crucifixion, from the bible, but now I've learned it's more likely to be connected with the Knights Templar.

It's maybe connected to the tragedy of the Trials of the Knights Templar which started with their arrest in Friday 13 October in 1307, and they were eventually put to death. This was perpetrated by Philip IV of France and his advisors, apparently with the aim of acquiring the enormous wealth of the Templars.

Hope all have had a successful week. Mine has heralded a few more days holiday for my husband and though it's lovely to have him home, he is a little bit, erm..... underfoot!

We were in town yesterday having coffee outside 'Pret', and listening to a really accomplished Chinese violinist who was busking, and whom we often come across on our travels. It's a lovely accompaniment to a cup of coffee and transports dull old Southampton to somewhere similar to St Mark's Square in Venice (if you shut your eyes!). Anyway at one point as this street performer played, my husband said, "this is 'Climb every Mountain', isn't it?"

"Er, no", I said, "It's 'Danny Boy!" Can anyone tell me how he mixed those two up! 🤣

Wishing you all a happy weekend with as much relaxation as you can get.

[sassy59]

Hi Callendersgal, I must admit that Friday 13th doesn’t have any impact on me really. Very interesting to read how it all came about though. Fascinating stuff. We’ve had a good week that seems to have passed very quickly. We had lunch with my sister and brother in law on Tuesday as it was my sisters birthday. A very pleasant afternoon was spent catching up and we sat outside which was very nice.

I do like to be entertained when having a nice coffee but I suspect Pete would get the tune wrong too. Lol.

Enjoy your weekend too and hoping everyone finds some peace and tranquillity if at all possible. Xxxx❤️💜😊☀️

[Hidden]

Hi Sue, I think there's something symbolic about Friday 13th but I don't suffer from Triskaidekaphobia I cant even spell it LOL.

That sounds lovely having coffee outside listening to a violinist there are sone great street buskers so thats the style.

I've had the neighbour from hello pick on me over a few branches when I've already called a tree surgeon in so this was trivial I went and trimmed the branches as soon as I got the letter from their letting agent. Her hubby said to me that was quick and easy and I said things are only a problem if we want them to be. And he told me how difficult it had been with this wife working from home as he's taken early retirement and about all the neighbours they've called the police over. So I'd count yourself lucky.

Fortunately he was happy his wife was at work and I had the chainsaw...😁

In answer to your question I don't like to tempt providence so guess I am superstitious without being spooked.

I hope that you have a great weekend now Sue. 👍😊

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Oh dear Jerry, that was a tricky situation so well handled! It's true too isn't it, that people so often just expect aggression so dish it out and it disarms them when you just do the decent thing with no fuss! It does help though when you're the one with the chainsaw! 👍🤣Enjoy your weekend too Jerry and I'm glad that Friday 13th didn't get ya!

[Hidden]

Busy mixed week this week and I really enjoyed going to the lido on Thursday again.

I enjoyed my morning out in Newport on Tuesday after I had an early job interview at 9am.

Monday I enjoyed going into town for an interview at the park inn hotel which is all great experience to go through along with my friends.

Wednesday I was busy catching up with online learning courses which I enjoy doing and they have been a lifesaver during the pandemic as well as having daily walks rain or shine!

This evening we had a late dinner of leftover veg from the fridge along with chickpeas and stewed beef from the store cupboard as we are using up our store cupboard items as its wasteful to buy food when you have a well stocked store cupboard at home that can easily be used.

Hubby and I were saying how we are thankful about the choice of fruit and veg we have here in the UK and how in this country we are fortunate that we have choices in what we eat and drink as lots of people in the world don't have that option.

Tonight he learned that pumpkins like tomatoes are fruits officially but they are eaten like you would eat veg like carrots and turnips.

Baby is well and enjoying her weekly Monday treats and getting spoilt!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

A really good and interesting week Catgirl1976. We really are fortunate here to have so much fresh produce to choose from, and when something's not available there's often a frozen or canned substitute so we are indeed blessed!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Covid has taught me to appreciate the simple things of life like that more which I feel is a valuable lesson to take with me for the future.

Also I'm thankful I'm not a bully and a coward and think it's true that bullies are just cowards really.

I have just booked another lido visit for next Saturday at 3pm which is nice to look forward to.

With the lido you have to book well in advance as the tickets get sold out quickly and are like gold dust!

Many years ago we were on holiday in Scarborough and I was 9 at the time and had wanted to have gone to their outdoor pool there but had been told no and given loads of excuses of why not and I had been upset as when you are 9 things like that feel like the end of the world and there was also a fuss over the sun centre in rhyl when I was 13 I had wanted to have visited and I did go eventually when I was 29 and was told no to that one and had been upset.

They have replaced the sun centre in rhyl now and made it more modern.

What I would do is save up to go to the suncentre in order to buy a family ticket and say ok we can go and take the 2 hour slot and then hopefully no one would be resentful.

People who know me well know that I will do my best to accommodate requests and that if I need to say no then there's a good reason behind it rather than doing it for no other reason than to deliberately upset someone like that was over those swimming places!

I think it's a shame myself when your life is pitiful and your only source of enjoyment is going round maliciously upsetting people especially doing that to a child!

[Hidden]

Hi Sue that made me laugh it was my birthday yesterday I saw the sea at last here's a couple of photos of my week pixie had to go to vets but he's ok got pain relief for a leg injury from.a fight cannot believe the lady who's cat it was gave me a bill for her vets fees of 4oo pound blaming pixie pixie has a very low heart rate and is asleep a lot for that reason now it was 12o last time was 15o vet said a cat at vets should be 18o to 2oo he may have a condition oh I can't remember name something brachachardia meaning slow beats he's feeling better with his pain relief meds enjoy rest of your Holliday mam.said do I want to go to seaside for a week in caravan with her 🙄I know what you mean about been too much under foot 🙄😁🤗🌅

😁

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Which beach is that?

Baby's mate Percy got attacked once by the bully cat in their neighbourhood!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi cat it's hornsea about 25 Mon car drive from.hull I think.ill move there some day pixies asleep in bed can't settle really with the cheek of that woman people who have pets should accept they have a responsibility which means possible vets bills there's another cat looks likes pixie down here yet she accused him I'm glad she has sold her house and I backed out on that sale couple months ago hope you are well I'll try sleep soon 🤗😿

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I went to hornsea pottery years ago before it went to the dogs and the mere.

Scarborough I adore especially the harbour and peasholm park and the castle.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Yes brid Scarborough are really good I'd like to live there too but bit longer distance if I had electric bike could easy get to hornsea night night 🤗I fancy fish n chips lol 😁

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

It's a nice beach

😁🌅

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

It's lovely and sandy isn't it like the beach at Scarborough.

There's flamborough head as well with the chalk cliffs and the Rocky beaches.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Yes Yorkshire coast is nice I just had crap paiste sandwhich and crisps pixie never woke up like he used to he's so tired

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Fish n chips so good, sue you'll be hungry for fish n chips now

😁

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

We had a fish and chip lunch today which we enjoyed.

Baby got some fish bits in her dish!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

A belated 'Many happy returns' to you Mandy and glad you enjoyed your paddle in the sea! So sorry to hear about Pixie. A bit of a try on with the vet's bill I think as cats are considered to be feral and owners can't be held responsible for their behaviour! Hope Pixie will be OK anyway, and enjoy your weekend.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks sue you too 🤗🌅😺

[Hidden]

Here's pixie on way to vets in one of his grandads wheel chairs was better then car ordeal brought back memories of taking dad in park when he was in care home I got a big wheeled chair lol as easier we saved this one for carrying soil bags from supermarket cane in handy for pixie 😁

😿

[Isinatra]

Didn’t realize it was Friday 13! Im not superstitious or that word that Jerry used up there.😁 (will google it) But the day isn’t over for me for another seven hours …… My day has been good so far. Was told that some much needed repairs on my house will be taken care of. I had decent sleep last night. The tropical storm, Fred, shouldn’t turn serious. Found out yesterday that I need lessons on how to flip a fish in a frying pan without it falling completely apart. Lol But like I said, the day isn’t over yet..🍀

[Hidden in reply to Isinatra]

Hi isinatra nice to see you here😁I didn't know it was Fri 13th either even tho I knew it was Thursday 12th my birthday yesterday 😂😂hope your well 💐🧡

[Isinatra in reply to Hidden]

Happy birthday to you! Sorry I had to leave the site for a while. Had to do some storm prep then sleep. Glad you made it to the ocean! What a time! Good news about Pixie that he’s going to be ok. What a cute pic of him in a wheelchair. You’re such a good mum!

[Hidden in reply to Isinatra]

Hi thanks, lol mam said it's like taking baby out in pram he enjoyed looking at the birds in the animal place we passed its only ten min walk across field from the house he was too distraut in the car last time, I'm still upset about the lady who knocked on my door asking me to pay her very expensive vets bill yet most likely her cat attacked pixie I'm glad she's moving I wish could have stayed longer by the sea it was a real mood lifter 😺🤗🌅🏊

[Hidden in reply to Isinatra]

Yes it was a new one on me too Isinatra, but I guess it's a phobia of Friday the 13th, looking at its elements! I too suffer from the flipping fish thing, and I do sometimes ponder whether the fish of today flakes so much more easily, or whether it's because we were all taught to cremate everything in the days when I was learning these things from scratch. Glad you had a good day yesterday and let's hope storm Fred stays far away from you!

[Isinatra in reply to Hidden]

Lol thank you. I think the storm won’t be too mean this time. 🤞I think the fish flipping thing would work if the fish was double coated with breadcrumbs and super glue. Lol Then cremated. Lol😂

[Hidden in reply to Isinatra]

🤣🤣. I may try that one Isinatra. It sounds like a plan!

[secrets22]

Hey Sue,fascinating insight into Friday 13th.....i cant say i'm superstitious either,but i wont walk under a ladder in case a tin of paint falls on my head.i just love Buskers,some of them are so talented,but although not strictly Buskers,i am in awe of those statue people,in not moving a hair,how they stay 'fixed' for so long is a mystery.x

[Hidden in reply to secrets22]

I absolutely agree about the ladder Roddy, as that is based on common sense and not superstition! Funnily enough I've just seen another of those human statues this afternoon, while visiting Fareham. He was imitating an automaton, which is odd in its own right... a man imitating an automated puppet which imitates the action of a man.... errrr.... have I got that right even? 😃. He was dressed as a clown and every time someone put a contribution in his collection tin, he'd raise a trumpet and play a tune. I was fascinated. Goodness only knows how they stand still for so long. I'd be hopping from foot to foot and rolling my eyes! xx