Povey Prattle

I am not a great lover of animals. My Dad loved dogs, and my Mum hated cats, and I am somewhere in the middle. I’ve had two cats and one dog. They were OK as pets go, but I never lavished them with attention. My brother Martyn and his wife Wendy had a retired Greyhound names “Misty”, and I grew very fond of her. But, then again, she did not live in my home! Glen Oaks Ridge, where I live, is a 55+ community. This means that there are no children or young people in the neighbourhood, but there are a ton of dogs. And it is my duty to fawn over them. Betty live across the street. She owns a Chihuahua named “Dauncey”. He is a barker. He does not care for people. When I walk at 6:00 a.m. and Betty is out, her “shushing” of Dauncey is noisier that the dog’s bark. I’ve bribed him with “doggie treats” so he no longer barks at me. But I am no more than a food supply. He will never like me (Ior anyone). “Little Betty” lives around the corner. Her miserable pooch died, so she has ju...

So there I was, aged 21, working as a low level civil servant, with no plans for the future. But I had learned to drink and to smoke. And I had left one Plymouth Brethren Assembly for another. Now I was “in fellowship” at Abingdon Road Gospel Hall. It was perceived to be slightly more progressive, but the perception and the reality were far apart. After a year I applied for a job at the Westminster Bank. They’d turned me down when I had returned after the Eric Hutchins debacle, but “if at first you don’t succeed….” A Mr. Hooper interviewed me. His opening words were not promising “Well Mr. Povey”, he said, “you are very persistent”. But I knew the game and pledged my life long fealty to the great and glorious Westminster Bank. “Never again”, I declared, “would I leave them”. (Luckily for me the Westminster Bank merged with the National Provincial Bank a few years later, so my vow was null and void. I never left the Westminster Bank, but later I did leave the new “National Westm...

Is that time of year when we who live in South West Florida vest ourselves with a self satisfied smile, and say “this is why I moved to Florida”. In short, the weather is gorgeous. It was in the 80’s yesterday, without a trace of humidity. In Pittsfield, MA where I once served it was in the 20’s, and in Bristol, U.K., where I grew up, it was in the 40’s. I am writing at 5:00 a.m. and the outdoor temperature is 72. That’s good for me, and especially good for my homeless friends who sleep in the woods. Just outside my back window is a lovely orchid tree. Its branches, swathed in purple flowers attract monarch butterflies. There’ll be more next year as the “butterfly friendly” plants I put in a few months ago begin to settle in and blossom. The old vine at the front of my home was long since past its best, so I dug it out and replaced it with three hibiscus bushes, each with a different coloured flower. They are in bloom, as are the chrysanthemums and geraniums in the little garde...

He was microwaving some sandwiches in my local convenience store. I reached over to pour a coffee. He flashed me a gorgeous smile, thinking that he was in my way. I assured him that this was not the case, and moved away to add some cream. I went back to him and said “We do not all hate you, you know”. He was puzzled. “Immigrants” I said. “We are not all bad” he replied. “I know that”, was my reply. He smiled again and we shook hands. (I am an immigrant too!). “Fred” was in jail for 34 years for murdering a prison guard. He is cagey. He utters possible threats - “I’ll not be pushed around”. He was talking to C, one of our Resurrection House Volunteers. She was nervous. Me too, but I rescued her by calling him to his shower at Resurrection House. We do not want to offend him. “Tim” asked me to take care of his belongings. He is an affable Irishman. I told him that I could not be responsible if they were stolen, but he took the chance. His belongings were in wel...

Things to say when stressed (stolen from the Web) 1. "Okay, okay! I take it back. Unf--k you!!!" 2. "You say I'm a bitch like it's a bad thing?!" 3. "How many times do I have to flush before you go away?" 4. "Well this day was a total waste of make-up" 5. "Well aren't we a bloody ray of sunshine?" 6. "Don't bother me, I'm living happily ever after." 7. "Do I look like a f--king people person!" 8. "This isn't an office. It's HELL with fluorescent lighting" 9. "I started out with nothing still have most of it left" 10. "I pretend to work, they pretend to pay me" 11. "YOU!!... off my planet!!!" 12. "Therapy is expensive. Popping bubble plastic is cheap. You choose" 13. "Practice random acts of intelligence and senseless acts of self-control" 14. "Errors have been made. Others will be blamed" 15. "And your cry-baby, whi...

My good friend Betsy Pusey of Pittsfield was here for the long weekend between Thursday last and today (Dec 10th). We had a blast and a ball! Betsy arrived on Thursday evening and we prattled and enjoyed beverages until about mid-night. Friday morning saw us prattling again over coffee and toast until we hoved off to my bowling group. There I bowled (dismally); Betsy visited with the folks she had met last year; and one and all nibbled on chicken wings and pizza provided by Marie to celebrate Ann’s birthday. After bowling Betsy joined the others at “Findaddys” (bar) for libations, whilst I rested and farted around at home. At about 8:00 I broiled the most delicious T Bone steak, which we shared, with no veggies, potatoes or salad. Just steak! On Saturday Bets and I went down to Sarasota’s North Lido Beach and swam in the 70 F water - my first time in the Gulf of Mexico since I moved here. Wonderful! http://www.4sarasota.com/lidokey/beach.html In the evening I hosted a party for t...