I am normally a fairly sociable woman – but at 7pm, I usually feel the need to excuse myself from the room and disappear to somewhere else with a radio, so I can catch up with life in Ambridge. Bob assures me these characters are all fictional – but I quite enjoy “the everyday story of country folk” – and it is the only soap where activities centre around the church as well as the pub, and where they can be truly up-to-the-minute with world events [in Ambridge church, they prayed for Princess Diana in the evening, when she had only died that morning. Beat that, Eastenders!]
And I have a strange fondness for programmes with presenters who are both extremely intelligent but also exceptionally tall. My favourites at the moment are the Essex boy, Richard Osman in Pointless, and Grease Junkie Edd China in Wheeler Dealers. Both of these are 6’7” tall [Xander Armstrong is over 6’, but shorter than my Bob, so doesn’t count!] I will happily watch Pointless or Wheeler Dealers and drink tea, when I ought to be doing more meaningful things. Like tidying the kitchen or preparing a meal.
But in the kitchen…If I find my big blue kitchen funnel in the wrong place [like last week when it returned from being used to pour rice into over 200 juggling bags] I will ‘play it’. I'll pick it up like a shofar and march up and down the hall playing a fanfare.
And if there is a good tune on Radio 2 [Chris Evans, Brian Matthew,] or Radio 4’s Sunday Worship I will not only sing along loudly, but also [if nobody else is around] I will dance. I would love to tap dance like Fred and Ginger. But my hopping about is far more random, far less stylish, and considerably less rhythmical than that remarkable duo.
I discovered the word for it this week - in my kitchen, I’m baltering
Do you ever balter? If so, when and where?
Oh Angela, this so describes my house too!!
ReplyDeleteI'm a complete looney tunes in my kitchen, always have been, so was my mum: I thought it was essential to motherhood! (Do you also do daft things with the tupperware cupboard?
You are going to have to explain 'daft things with the tupperware cupboard' I am currently engaged in an ongoing game of Tetris as I now I only have 2 small drawers where I once had 3 large shelves, for Tupperware storage.
DeleteHah! the secret life of Angela! I have to admit I have never played a funnel, but I have worn a teacosy. Even more bizarrely it was a teacosy in the form of a sheep! I do dance in anungainly manner from time to time, but that is practising line dancing steps. It often ends up with me being wtched by at least one bemused cat!
ReplyDeleteFunnel Fanfares are Fun!!
DeleteHa!!!! Loved this. wondered where you were going with this. Yes, I like baltering when I'm alone or listening to music. x
ReplyDeleteYou spend half your life listening to music, Kezzie- and you've posted videos of your dancing, I would never describe it as 'graceless'
DeleteI often dance around, and it has been known for myself and my husband to pretend we're in the audience of a late 1960's Top of the Pops :)
ReplyDeleteI too have a fascination with tall men, likely because I rarely meet men taller than me. I also have a quirk where I need to know how tall people are and often google famous people to satisfy this curiosity.
You must be a tall lady - I, on the other hand, rarely meet men SHORTER than me. Glad to know I am not the only one googling height statistics.
DeleteI am so delighted to read this! I balter in the kitchen with great, great pleasure. It could be because Prince Charming is playing his guitar next door, or just has very loud music emitting from some device. When the boys were much smaller we used to balter together in the kitchen, mostly on a Friday afternoon when I would get in from the one day a week that I worked at that stage- on a Friday. Oh but a good Balter is good for the soul!
ReplyDeleteI suppose if I baltered with my also very tall husband I could be relevant in two ways to your post! But I don't. He's too tall!
Love the new to me word!
ReplyDeleteA new word - fabulous! Cheers from Carole's chatter
ReplyDeleteI had quite forgotten how much I like to balter, thanks for reminding me, I'll do it immediately!
ReplyDeleteSorry I thought I had lost your blog but found it in quite another place than I thought.
ReplyDeleteI have ambitions of being a chorus girl, and do high kicks - not quite as high as I used to do, around the house. At early 70s, I think my ambitions are in vain. My Mum and I used to fool around by linking arms and doing coordinated high kicks. Hmm, no chorus girls for years and kicks not as high!
PS: I love Ed China but also love Fuzz Townsend, from Car SOS. I have met him at a little country Classic car show in Wales. He's very nice to talk to, although not over 6' tall.