When I run from home there is a nice route of exactly 5K that starts exactly 5 minute walk from my house, it is perfect. Just at the point where I start and finish my run there is a lovely bungalow. The owners, a retired couple and are always working in their garden rain or shine. Their whole plot is like one big allotment with fruit and vegetables everywhere. They always say "good morning" or "good afternoon" then "enjoy your run" and smile. When I mentioned this to various people they said "oh you mean Barbara and Tom", and "yes they are lovely" or words to that effect.
For the last couple of months I have replied, "Morning Tom", or "Morning Barbara" and then started my run. A few days ago I heard Barbara call out to Tom from the front door "Ken, phone call," and he turned to go in. I thought it a bit odd but then some people do have pet names for their partners. Today I heard Tom call out the name 'Carol', now that seemed strange too.
I mentioned this to my husband when I got in and he laughed and said that Tom and Barbara are not their real names, people just refer to them as that because their surname is Good and they grow all their own veg. "Well, why is that so funny" I said. "Haven't you ever seen The Good Life TV series" he replied. "No, what is that?" Out came the tablet and on to YouTube.
Well, how was I to know? The series ended years before I was born. He said the program is a classic and could not believe I had never seen or heard of it. Of course, when I told him I had been using those names when saying good morning he nearly wet himself laughing. He still starts laughing again every time he looks at me.
I spoke with my younger sister on the phone just now and told her about what I have been calling this couple. That made things worse, as rather than get sympathy from someone else who had not heard of this program she too could not contain her laugh. "How did you not know that" she said, "it is a classic". "So I have heard" I said and hung up the phone.
How on earth am I going to face them next time? Have I got to try and find another route that does not pass them? Does everyone know about the program? HELP!!
Tom and Barbara were rather sweet. The central characters were the two of them and their neighbours, Jerry and Margo. None of them were terrible people, but Margo was snobbish and annoying, and Tom & Barbara were very much the heroes of the piece. Felicity Kendall played Barbara, she was considered rather attractive, and Richard Briers who played Tom wasn't ugly.
I spent three years calling a mum at school Melissa......I only found out after her children left that she was called Jane 😳 She was so polite not to say anything! I’ve also been talking to a man in my village since we moved in a year ago, petting his dog and chatting to Hamish.....the dog’s name is Brodie 🤦♀️ So don’t worry, it happens to us all!!
Too funny, I'm sure they were amused. Just keep saying it but with more of a grin. As though you knew all along. Totally flattering and as someone said, could have been Hyacinth and Victor, not nearly as flattering.
Brilliant, I called another mum at the school the wrong name for a whole year before she asked me why I kept calling her Rachel when she was Carol. I was mortified, but then wondered how she felt not liking to correct me for all that time.
I am sure they will be fine, and find it quite funny. Carry on your route and one day stop and talk to them.
Brilliant! 😂 Name mistakes is part of life - no worries. They were obviously supremely unconcerned because they greeted you so happily. Don’t change your route - they will miss you! Familiar faces saying hello is one of the great pleasures of front garden gardening. 😄
PS I think you could seamlessly change to using their real names, or explain & chuckle with them, whichever you prefer - I’m sure they are used to this scenario.
Funny 🤣🤣🤣.My sister is forever channelling her inner Margo! In fact she's more Margo than Margo. If the couple are that nice they would probably find it funny if you told them why.
Now I feel old ... and nostalgic 🤣 I honestly wouldn’t worry, if they haven’t been giving you disapproving looks I’m sure they’ve taken it in good humour. Personally, if it was me it would have amused me no end. Just smile confidently next time you go past.
I’m sorry I don’t mean to laugh but that is hilarious 😂 Next time I am wanting to stop on my run I’m going to think of this and it will cheer me up. I don’t think the couple will mind in the slightest. X
Well I did it. I plucked up the courage to do a run passed their house. I was almost hoping that for once they would not be outside but on such a lovely day there was no such chance.As I reached their gate I could see Tom/Ken pottering about so I called out "Excuse me", (carefully not using his name). He walked over and I apologised for calling them Tom and Barbara and explained why I thought that was their names. I was so relieved when he laughed and told me not to worry, everybody does it.
Apparently it all started as a private joke when his neighbours said that it was like living next to Tom and Barbara when they first expanded their vegetable patch. They replied that it would make them Jerry and Margo and that's how they have referred to each other ever since. Some people get the joke, others (like me) just assumed that was their names. He said just keep calling them Tom and Barbara, if I call them by their real names it will confuse people. I got the impression that they quite like it.
Oh, and their surname is not Good, that is just a rumour that seems to have taken hold.
I am so relieved.
My darling little sister failed to tell me that the reason she knew about the TV series was that she researched a lot of film and TV for her dissertation which was on "The affect media has on reinforcing the stereotyping of the modern social classes". I think she chose that subject as she could watch TV and call it work!!
I did spend a bit of time over the weekend watching more YouTube clips of the series and it does look funny. My husband said he is not sure when he was first aware of the series but remembers seeing various clips on one of the outtakes programs on TV recently. We will have to find out where we can watch a few episodes in full.
Thanks for all your replies, it did help me decide that apologising was better than finding another running route. I also know who Hyacinth Bucket is now too!!
Yay! Yay! Yay! Well done you for being bold!! How fitting that ‘Tom’ was lovely about it. Sounds like he enjoyed chatting to you. You’ve given them a nice lockdown story to tell too. Brilliant!
I’m just working out what my route will be... and wondering which characters I might see on my way!
p.s. hope you heard Hyacinth’s “the Bouquet residence - the lady of the house speaking!!”
I am compiling a list of these 'classic' programs that I want to take a look at in more detail, Mrs Bucket's being one of them. My sister watched a lot of the programs from that era for her degree dissertation and said that I need to watch a few episodes to get accustom to the humor of the day. That would seem true as I love "Allo Allo" now, but initially didn't get it. Its one of those programs that can use the same joke again and again but it is still funny every time. 😀😀😀
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