Libraries 'aint what they used to be either

[fredikins]

Libraries once to be sought out for a little solace are now a major source of stress, I can remember being almost afraid to cough, these days they are more like a nursery come café, (this would drive me round the twist pre BI, but have to admit to liking a coffee with a crossword) people seem to have no sense of place or the loudness of their voice, even staff who might be expected to set an example can be loud, I would not think of going in without earplugs, and now even ear defenders over the top of those for maximum blocking. I'd be interested to hear others thoughts on this.

[Kirk5w7]

Hi Fred , I used to have to wear earplugs but find I can cope on the whole without now but it does restrict evenings out now. I can't deal with noisy pubs or restaurants I can't filter the conversations going on around me after about an hour. So it means we have to pub hop if we go out, and parties etc are a no no too.

Public transport and people taking phone calls when on the bus is a nightmare too, do they not realise you don't need to raise your voice when speaking!

Janetx

[fredikins in reply to Kirk5w7]

Working "in tandem" with Cat again eh Janet, I've been looking through a selection of post most of the morning, I'm really warming to the site and have learned a few things as well, its a shame Headway withdrew from Dorset due to lack of funding (that's one of the things learned) but found something almost fated whilst browsing the replies. 'Talk' to you again for sure.

[steve55 in reply to Kirk5w7]

janet, it was my 38th anniversary last friday, we found this place by accident, got there at 4pm had a meal, wasnt noisy and even when we left it wasnt too bad.

my wife is usually on tender hooks, but behaviour wise, i had a good couple of days.

[Kirk5w7 in reply to steve55]

Fantastic and Congratulations xxxx

Janet

[steve55 in reply to Kirk5w7]

thank you. i still take ear plugs with me and wear them to bed.

[cat3]

I was 'imprisoned' in the overflowing waiting room of a fracture clinic earler this year for 3&1/2hrs and, having forgotten earplugs, had to sit with my fingers in my ears.

There were two young women discussing their love lives, throwing their voices as if to a theatre audience ; they were way over the other side of the waiting room, yet there was a beautiful Indian lady right next to me, talking continuously with her young daughter and I couldn't hear a single word they said.

I think it's a new, cultural trend. Whereas my kids had to sit quietly in public, weve seen a massive shift in behaviour & manners during the past 40+ years. I find that an MP3 player loaded with my favourite music is a great dross-blocker ! x

[fredikins in reply to cat3]

Its that old "one two" again from Cat and Janet, you both continue to make me feel "at home", I really look forward to getting on here in the morning and even leave the tab open. Well I suppose I'll have to brave the library to apply for the Headway ID card, let me see.... ear plugs....check.. ear defenders ...check, and over the top I go, wish me luck!!

[cat3 in reply to fredikins]

Good luck fred ! 😳

[fredikins in reply to cat3]

Bloody library had a kiddies sing-song could not have chosen a worse time, even with ear defence I could not concentrate, well at least its just round the corner so will try again later.

[Kirk5w7 in reply to fredikins]

Fred, that was totally unintentional this morning, I’ve been having a mini-meltdown and your post popped up in between my posts to Exhausted wife.

We do try to help where we can.

I’ve never been to a Headway meeting yet, the 2 closest to me are either Rochdale or Salford both requiring 2 buses to attend so I’ve never even enquirer maybe next year is the year.

Who knows xx

Janet

[steve55 in reply to cat3]

cat i agree. my daughter was the same, it wasnt because we were strict, she could wrap me around her little finger, we explained why it was important to show people you can behave, it looks good on the parents too.

[steve55]

i found the one in worthing not too bad but that must be ooh 4 years ago, as i dont go out now when we house sit for our friend ( i dont go out when im at home, except with my wife).

[LukeB]

Yes I found that.

I found Wetherspoons better

The countryside is great for a break but wifi is limited😄

I found myself at quiet train stations with phone data, a packed lunch, gorgeous English ale, flask and the right moment.

Hope you find your place. I suppose the good or bad is you appreciate the good when it's bad. Some say we should cherish the bad, hard, tough, difficult times because that's when we learn. Implementing that can be tough but that's the idea...

[Davebe]

I know it's me, but I wouldn't even think to drink in a library, coffee worse of all due to the powerful smell that comes with it. If you want a coffee, go to a cafe. Libraries are for reading and studying only.

[fredikins in reply to Davebe]

Hi Dave, I was like you pre BI, in fact I would complain about the library not being a picnic area, now most have coffee machines, I have become tolerant of some things post BI, perhaps balancing the irritations, I'm still very much against talk though, even a considerate whispering can be annoying, maybe even more so.

[Davebe in reply to fredikins]

There was another reply about Wetherspoons pubs. I won't use many pubs now, because of the reek of coffee ( sorry my phobia ). As I said before if you want a coffee go to a cafe and leave pubs for what they are meant for. Maybe I'm just a miserable old goat living in the past. Dave