Here’s a link to a previous post which explains the origin of this idea.
… that when selecting a password which has to include a “special character”, they do not mean a £ symbol (even when the list of exclusions doesn’t mention it). I was feeling a total dork until the IT support guy I spoke to admitted he didn’t know this either.
… that Alliums release a browny-yellow coloured sap when cut. I completely freaked out when it looked like something had been bleeding into my vase.
… that not all Spitfires had the famous elliptical wings. There was a version with the ends chopped off for the purpose of high altitude flying.
… that the people who bought a neighbouring (and really rather lovely house built in honey stone) only lived in it for 2 weeks before deciding they didn’t like it. Instead of doing what any normal person would do (OK, normal but also rich person) and buy something new while selling this to someone who would like it for for more than a fortnight – they decided to knock it down and start again from scratch. I know they could insist it’s all about location, location, location, and I’m trying to wait and see what they will replace it with before I go full judgmental on them, because this area is filled with mostly beautiful old properties, or those which have been thoughtfully designed and constructed to blend in.
… quite how many knee replacement operations aren’t successful. I learned this through my new job, and am grateful the surgeon I consulted late last year suggested that surgery wasn’t the right option.
… that our local supermarkets are struggling to keep up with supplies of Bitter Lemon. As Himself has become positively addicted to its cooling down qualities, I’ve been shopping daily in an attempt to keep sufficient supplies at home. I’m sure it can’t be just him drinking it all, but I’ve faced empty shelves on more than one occasion in the past couple of weeks.
… that fit, young men carrying boxes of beer from the supermarket are able to completely ignore an elderly gentleman clearly struggling with his bags of groceries, despite the sweat visibly pouring off him. Instead, it was me – the old lady with the walking stick – who thought to offer to help him. He was suitably grateful, but I wanted to bang their heads together (actually, I wanted to do something a lot more painfully personal to them, but I try to keep things clean on here).
What’s new in your world? Anything causing you to raise your eyebrows, feel amusement… or even a touch of rage?
© Debs Carey, 2026
debsdespatches.com 
Many of these things fall into what I call “shake your head” moments Debs. There are often no words at the moment to describe the stupidity, audacity, unkindness…whatever. I literally just pause, probably with my mouth hanging open, and do this head shake thing to acknowledge to myself that yes some people do operate daily in a bubble of their own. My grands have gone back to school. I am on pick up duty daily for the oldest. In just the first 2 days I have already had numerous shake my head moments focused on how many others cannot seem to understand (or choose to ignore) the very simple pick up policies in place.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A friend of mine, age 78, recently had knee replacement surgery on his right knee. I hope it works!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had no idea about the whole £ thing either. I just throw in an ! and call it good. Maybe an @ if I’m feeling especially giddy.
I don’t know what Bitter Lemon is, but if it’s flying off the shelves, it must be good!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Deb, you’re so right. When I used to drop off and pick up my daughter from school, I was aghast at the behaviour of many. When the children were at their youngest, the number of working (presumed from their garb) parents who allowed their children to exit their cars into the road rather than the pavement/side just blew my mind. The blithely unaware, or the willful ones constantly got my goat.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Neil, to be absolutely fair to you friend, the nature of my work means I will likely not get to see the many who’ve had successful replacements. I hope it works for him too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mark, you’re right, Bitter Lemon is a particularly British drink; once popular as a mixer to have with Gin. The closest I can get to what it tastes like is a slightly less in your face version of Lemon Fanta (although I’ve only drunk the Spanish version of Fanta Limon). The pound sign thing came as a result of advice on how to avoid having your password hacked, as they don’t appear on most international keyboards. But no damn good if Microsoft products reject them (probably on that basis).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bitter Lemon sounds like something I would like! Thanks for clearing that up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe elderly gentleman should accept his own limitations and buy fewer groceries? I also used to drink bitter lemon with gin but haven’t had it in years and now can’t remember what it tastes like. Perhaps that’s a good thing…
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was just a few bags, and I suspect was his weekly shop. I guess he could shop daily and so have less bags, but perhaps he is trying to limit the wear ‘n tear on his car and the cost of fuel. I think my awareness has been heightened of the problems many old people face by the job I’m now doing, and it just shouts out at me how easy it would be for someone fit and young to take a moment to help. I came across an elderly gentleman using a rolling walker in the supermarket the other day when the cold counters were all covered up in an attempt to keep the goods properly chilled. He was just standing there shaking in utter confusion, as he’d lost all his usual visual clues to finding what he needed – it only took me a moment to direct him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, confusion is a very different thing – but we do each have to try and adapt ourselves to our capabilities. I’m sure many people have the experience of elderly people hurting themselves by trying to do things beyond their capabilities
LikeLiked by 1 person
Caroline, in my job I see pride playing a big part. But what I also see is a remarkable amount of resilience and an ability to develop coping strategies. This gentleman was coping and unlikely to injure himself, but it was clearly a struggle in the high temperatures we had at that point of the summer. My observation (in both cases) is we’ve become so absorbed in our own lives (and potential struggles) that we’re not seeing, or caring about, times when a couple of moments of kindness would make a big difference to another person’s life.
LikeLike