Tuesday, June 30, 2009
666 - the number of the beast
Yes - it has been hot.
Yesterday we were the hottest place in the country - well, strictly that is Charlwood, where the weather recording station is for this area.
I think it has been hotter today.
So we behaved as people in hot countries do - activity morning and evening.
Um - should rephrase that because we are feeling too idle for more than necessary activity this evening; I must get the washing in off the line.
We got up at half past six and had some breakfast.
I got the ironing board out and dealt with a reasonable sized pile.
Bill did some trimming in the garden first, because we felt he shouldn't be mowing grass before 8 o'clock.
By quarter past nine we were having a mid morning cup of tea.
And then we travelled on the road (by free bus) to meet "the beast", though we had not heard of this term before.
We actually went to have our eyes tested. We were there quite a long time.
My eyes have deteriorated, which I had guessed. It has been 4 years since the last eye test.
Bill's eyes have changed very little - but he did need new glasses because of the big chip on the lens of his vari focals.
We were in Spec Savers - who offer 2 pairs for the price of one.
So then we had to debate which two types we needed.
And then we had to choose frames. Fortunately I had pretty well done that last week.
We played around with their camera - at least I could then put my specs on and see what I looked like in various frames.
It all seemed so easy.
The glasses we were choosing were marked up at £89.
I was lulled into thinking that the bill would not be too bad then.
But silly me - that price is just for frames!
The lenses cost more - much more.
I wanted vari focals again - these come in 3 qualities and I opted for the middle one - Bill then chose the top quality one.
The optometrist suggested that ones that react to light might be useful - and on a day like today I could agree with him. I used to wear sun glasses a lot before I needed prescription specs.
My new reading glasses are being prepared more specifically for computer use.
I must tell you that the frames I chose are called Emery and Elliot. My new men friends!
Yes, I chose frames designed for men - I really didn't want the narrow little frames that are fashionable just now for women.
Bill will have some Emery frames too - his new vari focals.
And he is having distance glasses.
And then there were the finishes to lenses to discuss - anti scratch, anti glare etc.
And then there was the totting up of figures - and that apparently is where "the beast" enters the tale.
I'll have a quick gulp and tell you that our 4 pairs of specs came to the total of £666.
The number is the number of "the beast" as described in Revelations and other biblical and Greek texts etc. I have looked it up and it all seems quite deep and complicated.
But our salesman laughed that our total was the mark of "the beast".
I would not have known.
We collect the specs in a couple of weeks.
This afternoon I finished describing books I had in my June box - just in time, for it is July tomorrow. They are listed and I have a bid already.
The July box sits waiting to be done now.
Tennis was boring today - one sided matches in the women's singles.
And there was sad news today. I mentioned that our nephew Stephen's father in law was close to death and would not see his two grandsons due to be born in a very few weeks. Today was the day of his passing. We send love and much sympathy to all the family.
But, to end on happier times, scroll down for a few pictures of us at a special restaurant in Thailand.
Yesterday we were the hottest place in the country - well, strictly that is Charlwood, where the weather recording station is for this area.
I think it has been hotter today.
So we behaved as people in hot countries do - activity morning and evening.
Um - should rephrase that because we are feeling too idle for more than necessary activity this evening; I must get the washing in off the line.
We got up at half past six and had some breakfast.
I got the ironing board out and dealt with a reasonable sized pile.
Bill did some trimming in the garden first, because we felt he shouldn't be mowing grass before 8 o'clock.
By quarter past nine we were having a mid morning cup of tea.
And then we travelled on the road (by free bus) to meet "the beast", though we had not heard of this term before.
We actually went to have our eyes tested. We were there quite a long time.
My eyes have deteriorated, which I had guessed. It has been 4 years since the last eye test.
Bill's eyes have changed very little - but he did need new glasses because of the big chip on the lens of his vari focals.
We were in Spec Savers - who offer 2 pairs for the price of one.
So then we had to debate which two types we needed.
And then we had to choose frames. Fortunately I had pretty well done that last week.
We played around with their camera - at least I could then put my specs on and see what I looked like in various frames.
It all seemed so easy.
The glasses we were choosing were marked up at £89.
I was lulled into thinking that the bill would not be too bad then.
But silly me - that price is just for frames!
The lenses cost more - much more.
I wanted vari focals again - these come in 3 qualities and I opted for the middle one - Bill then chose the top quality one.
The optometrist suggested that ones that react to light might be useful - and on a day like today I could agree with him. I used to wear sun glasses a lot before I needed prescription specs.
My new reading glasses are being prepared more specifically for computer use.
I must tell you that the frames I chose are called Emery and Elliot. My new men friends!
Yes, I chose frames designed for men - I really didn't want the narrow little frames that are fashionable just now for women.
Bill will have some Emery frames too - his new vari focals.
And he is having distance glasses.
And then there were the finishes to lenses to discuss - anti scratch, anti glare etc.
And then there was the totting up of figures - and that apparently is where "the beast" enters the tale.
I'll have a quick gulp and tell you that our 4 pairs of specs came to the total of £666.
The number is the number of "the beast" as described in Revelations and other biblical and Greek texts etc. I have looked it up and it all seems quite deep and complicated.
But our salesman laughed that our total was the mark of "the beast".
I would not have known.
We collect the specs in a couple of weeks.
This afternoon I finished describing books I had in my June box - just in time, for it is July tomorrow. They are listed and I have a bid already.
The July box sits waiting to be done now.
Tennis was boring today - one sided matches in the women's singles.
And there was sad news today. I mentioned that our nephew Stephen's father in law was close to death and would not see his two grandsons due to be born in a very few weeks. Today was the day of his passing. We send love and much sympathy to all the family.
But, to end on happier times, scroll down for a few pictures of us at a special restaurant in Thailand.
