| lesley153
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| That's a point, she might have nightmares. When I was little - much younger than she is - I had dreams in which I wanted to scream and run away but couldn't move or make more sound than a squeak. The harder I tried to run, the more I'd end up shuffling along on my knees. Most frustrating, and probably a good idea if you've got an unsuspecting bed-mate. |
Reply #4241. Dec 08 11, 2:30 PM
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| C30
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When I was "between marriages", my Aunt Ruth "told my fortune" and predicted that I would, "find happiness late in life"...........if the age I married for the 3rd time (55) comes under "late in life", then she was spot on!
Reply #4242. Dec 08 11, 3:07 PM
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| lesley153
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Happy third time lucky - well done. I suppose that means we won't be running away together on your birthday?
I think 55 is late in life in you're under 30. |
Reply #4243. Dec 08 11, 3:30 PM
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| lesley153
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Where's Ray gone - have I frightened him off?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Shopping today. Bright and clear, good day for stocking up on more food. More I get in now, less I'll have to get when it starts going mad later in the month.
First stop, petrol. People inside are wearing floppy pointed red hats, with a white pompom on the point, and feeling uncomfortable and stupid.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Food now. Much happier at the prospect of a quiet shop. I told local people that the music had stopped, and they all said thank goodness for that. I wandered round in peace. All the staff were wearing pointy red hats. The only noise was the sound of conversation, and the occasional screeching child. I talked to a couple of people inside the shop, and we all agreed that we were happy not having electronic dross piped into our ears. I spoke too soon. Without warning, a (female) voice launched into the little drummer boy, gospel-style, complete with wobbly notes and semi-orgasmic groans.
Almost immediately I bumped into one of the managers - a very large man with a pointy red hat flopping over his face. The music's started again - is it going to be playing for the rest of the month?
"Till Christmas, yes. The whole world is celebrating Christmas now."
Well actually no it isn't. A lot of people here are, but not everyone, and much of the rest of the world doesn't even know it exists. Of those who are, not all of them want to be bombarded with music all month. I'm getting out of here. I can’t think straight while that’s playing. I was going to get more but not now. And I commiserated with him for being forced to wear that hat.
"Oh no," he said, "I like wearing it. I'm rather fond of it." And then he went to the staff area, and his long face followed him.
I spotted a long thin man lurking with a clipboard. He was too quick for me.
“Good afternoon, madam. Do you pay the bills? No, you don’t look old enough to pay the bills.”
Lines like that aren’t even funny. He wanted me to switch energy suppliers. I said not again, and started telling him what went wrong last time someone in the same shop talked me into changing. Unbelievable - he didn’t want to hear! I’ve never heard anyone say “I’ll let you get on” so many times in so few minutes. I left him to continue accosting strange people and paying them ludicrous compliments. Some of them answered him. None of them stopped to listen to him.
The till operator wasn't wearing a hat either. She’s part-time, she doesn't know they’re supposed to wear them, that's her story and she's sticking to it.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
When I got home, I rang the head office customer service number, to say the music’s started again. The man who answered said that they’d been swamped with complaints, but they’d also had a lot of calls from people who said it cheered them up. Because a lot of people don’t celebrate Christmas, for any number of reasons - such as religious, or they have noone to celebrate it with - they’ve decided not to start playing the music till 4pm.
He also said that the individual branches have no say in anything. The music is chosen at the London office, and piped from London to all branches. Apparently the songs are chosen to minimise expenses, which probably means royalties. That may explain why the singing is so bad.
I’d still rather they waited till nearer the time (24/12 would be good), but I appreciate the compromise, and will just have to remember to get in and out in daylight. Bah humbug.
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Reply #4244. Dec 09 11, 7:16 PM
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bloodandsand 
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Called at Sainsbury's on the way home last night. Lots of Christmas music from some large contraption in the car park but none in the store - bliss!
Reply #4245. Dec 10 11, 8:25 AM
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| lesley153
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Oh joy!
One little question I asked was why have they started calling each other colleague? Have "staff" and "employee" become dirty words while I wasn't looking?
The answer is that, when Justin King (whoever he is...) took over, Justin King decided that the word colleague shall be used. That is so silly. The manager told me that "the customers and the colleagues" wanted or demanded the music, and a notice on the door says an alarm may mean that a security tag hasn't been removed - go back and get a colleague to remove it for you.
I no longer have colleagues. Perhaps I could get an Employee, or a Member of Staff, to do it for me instead. Silly Mr King. |
Reply #4246. Dec 10 11, 8:42 AM
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Professer
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With you on the music is so annoying i went to sainsburys thursday at first left my trolley by the cuswtommer services desk said sorry the music is annoying me, i will not be back.
Went to Asda on two buses no music just the odd annoucemnet about price checking not being able to be done due to a computer problem, and the odd message for the bakery, butchery manager did my shopping quite happy and spent less then i would have done at sainsburys.
Reply #4247. Dec 10 11, 9:13 AM
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| lesley153
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Welcome aboard, Gary! Funny how the decision-makers insist that the majority of shoppers want music. I have yet to find anyone who enjoys music in shops, at any time of the year. Staff don't like it either. They all say "It does my head in" or "I've learnt to switch off."
It's like reading that "opinion polls reveal..." when you hadn't even heard of the poll, let alone been asked for your opinion.
Shop owners and managers have told me that some shoppers are uncomfortable when they enter a quiet shop. If there's no music, they think they're not welcome. How odd is that?
The manager of a local chain store, who decided that loud music would be played all day, said that they had had a Very Favourable Response - that people were complimenting staff on their choice of music, and asking where they could buy it. No, I didn't believe that either. The target audience for loud pop music is not the target audience for that particular chain - and does anyone go into a department store to listen to the music?
The conversation took place on the top floor, which housed the management and administration offices. The top floor was silent. The manager is no longer there, and music is now confined to sales periods.
I feel like King Canute, trying to turn the flood of music back. |
Reply #4248. Dec 10 11, 9:25 AM
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Jazmee27
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I've been in some shops or restaurants with music playing, but not loud, and that was OK. Turn the volume up, and not only can't I concentrate, I get a headache.
Reply #4249. Dec 10 11, 9:36 AM
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Professer
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I been thinking, on bbc 1 at 11am weekdays theres been a programme on noise nusicance, I wonder if we all complained to the local authority noise department they would do something?
Was walking past HMV on my way to the dentist was not close to the door or shop yet could hear the music they were playing, if they can take action agaoinst buskers then surely the same applys to a shop selling music.
Reply #4250. Dec 10 11, 10:01 AM
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| lesley153
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It's OK if you can still hear yourself think over it, but it's more often loud enough to drown out conversation.
The silliest reason I ever heard was from my hairdresser, who said that people often tell their hairdresser things they don't want the world to hear, so the music helps cover it up. No it doesn't - they just have to talk louder to be heard.
Eventually they admitted that it was nonsense, and the music is now quiet or non-existent. Much better. If the salon's not crowded, you can have most of the staff and customers joining in one big conversation, which is much more fun.
Probably the worst noise I can remember offhand was the bagpipes. Pub lunch, TV on quietly and every so often a burst of bagpipes at top volume. I realised what it was the second time it happened. Both times had coincided with the man at the next table answering his phone.
"Definition of a gentleman: someone who knows how to play the bagpipes but doesn't." (Ronnie Corbett.)
We could try fighting it but shop management are notorious for giving us what they want us to have, not what we want.
I believe that buskers have to be licensed, and there are some places, like the Tube, where they have to audition for a permit to play. And then we have to listen to them. :( |
Reply #4251. Dec 10 11, 5:42 PM
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Professer
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In London Buskers do need licensing to play in the tube walkways, however there seems to be different approaches for street ones, thats according to the proigramme i referred too, is like pubs they have to keep doors and windows shut in warm weather and the jukebox volume at a reasonable level.
We do seem to have to suffer what is foisted upon us, we need a strong leader to take up our cause and get rid of the unwanted music blaring out in supermarkets etc.
Reply #4252. Dec 11 11, 4:47 AM
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| lesley153
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| You're right. We have the Noise Abatement Society, which may have a little clout, but not much: and we have local councils' Environmental Health departments. Phone them and they'll throw the onus right back at you - keep a noise nuisance diary for a month. So you'll carry on doing whatever it is you do, while I have to put up with this for another month? Oh great. |
Reply #4253. Dec 11 11, 6:34 AM
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Professer
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Thats our lot really Lesley these people get paid from our council tax, and rent if your a council tenant but you get no help.
Reply #4254. Dec 11 11, 7:29 AM
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rhosyn
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I have heard that the buskers in the tube station are mostly music students trying to supplement their income.
I go to London quite often and enjoy their music.
One year a girl was playing classical music on her violin.
I stopped to listen. It was lovely.
Reply #4255. Dec 11 11, 8:43 AM
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| lesley153
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I think a lot of them are music students. Some of them may be doing it for experience and income, some may be playing for charity during rag week, and they're all good.
Some of them are either past that stage, or very very mature students. A few years ago, I walked past an ancient violinist playing the top line of Pachelbel's Canon, while a loud backing tape played the other parts. It sounded very good. I dropped a coin into his violin case, and stopped to thank him. He stopped playing to grin and answer me, and the violin carried on. |
Reply #4256. Dec 11 11, 9:15 AM
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| lesley153
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Today is the anniversary of the death of my husband = Jonathan's father, and we've spent the day together every year but one. I've just dropped him off at the station.
He'll be here again tomorrow, rehearsing then playing in his old school's Christmas concert, and would have stayed over but he has a medical appointment first thing in the morning. When he's had his jab, he'll be back for a haircut, shower, lunch, and school for two o'clock rehearsal. His girlfriend will join us for the concert after she's finished work, and they'll both go back to London afterwards. I can remember being young and energetic... once! :) |
Reply #4257. Dec 11 11, 4:59 PM
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Professer
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Hope the concert goes well Lesley, and yes think we all remembe being young and active, me i would not even beat the hare in a three way race with him and the tortoise.
Reply #4258. Dec 12 11, 2:45 AM
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| lesley153
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| Thanks, Gary. He's on his way, he'll walk into town from the station (quicker than a lift) and I shall get him when he's shorn, deposit him in the shower while I finish lunch... I should come up for air in about twelve hours. |
Reply #4259. Dec 12 11, 4:57 AM
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Professer
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So pleased Lesley should be good for you, Just watching the programme i mentioned and it seems busking is not illegal in westminister and they do not need a licence, a licence apparently is needed for the underground.
A person can busk for 20 minutes in one area then must move a distance of at least 300 yards from the original place and they cannot return to a spot for at least 2 hours.
Reply #4260. Dec 12 11, 5:35 AM
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