Rotherham Weekend 2007
Do you know how it feels when you write a long post and then just before hitting the button you lose it all? I’ve done my fair share of swearing, but not tonight.
The computer shutdown. But I don’t mind, because my eldest daughter is still alive. What happened? She was drying her hair and the hairdryer cut out - so she bent down to untwist the lead near the plug. Next thing she knows is she’s sat on the floor with thick black smoke marks running across all four fingers and thumb.
I heard a big bang, I thought WTF, the computer went off and I rushed into her room. She was getting up off the floor and ran into the bathroom to stick her hand in cold water. Fortunately, she’s just a bit shaken and there are no burns.
I took the plug apart and it looks as though the lead, where it’s clamped to the plug, had worn through and had probably shorted. My guess is that when she tried to untwist it she brought the brown and blue wire into contact, which caused the main fusebox to trip. The outer casing has melted and the inner blue and brown wires are exposed. That girl lives an exciting life!
Now to more mundane things.
Those that know me are aware that unless I’m going out somewhere I don’t frock up. I just don’t find sitting or prancing about the house particularly rewarding, so I don’t bother.
But March is leaving it too long and I’ve been getting a bit crotchety lately so I’ve been looking forward to The Rotherham Weekend: This is not a Beaumont Society run event, but Janett Scott (now ex-president) organises it.
I went last year to give away Vanessa to Jan in a civic ceremony and to my surprise enjoyed the weekend. Of course the ceremony itself was quite emotional, but the weekend as a whole was grea The Friday and Saturday dinners were excellent as was the 60s/70s/80s disco afterwards.
Moving on, I took the opportunity to look round Meadowhall on Tuesday whilst waiting to collect my daughters from a gig at the Arena. And struck gold at “West One”. Saw a gorgeous red dress in the window, but unfortunately they didn’t have one in a 12. But the girl was very helpful and said she’d ring round the other stores in the morning and took my number.
I didn’t get a call Wednesday and thought I wouldn’t hear from them, but on Thursday she came up trumps - the right size at The Trafford centre in Manchester, yay! Downside, it wouldn’t arrive ’til Tuesday at the meadowhall store.
A bit of quick thinking, and I told them I would be in Manchester on Thursday, could I pick it up either on the Friday or Saturday? I could. I called my friend Helena, asked her if I could come over Friday night, which was OK. Brilliant.
Saturday morning Trevor and called in at the store (he excused himself to go and look for trainers, chicken) and I bought it and headed for the loos to make sure it fitted (I’m a chicken too for not asking to use the changing rooms). It did fit, fortunately.
Back to Trevor’s where I had a big de-fuzzing session before heading off to Rotherham. Cutting a long story short I arrived just in time to change for dinner at 7 sharp. Vanessa and Jan did a brilliant job of keeping me calm and the result is what you see in the piccy.
The dinner was just as good as last year and this time I won a bottle of scotch in the Children in Need competition where we had to roll pound coins at the row of spirits - I got closest to the whiskey. We raised £61 all together.
After dinner I had a number of people compliment me on the dress (not the contents) even a dressmaker who wanted to see how it was made.
I ended up talking to Angela (a Rotherham Regular) ’til 4 in the morning. So it’s early to bed tonight.
Would I go again? I think I would. Mind you my guess is I was one of the youngest there, and I’m no spring chicken. ;-)
on November 20th, 2007 at 10:06 pm
Wow, a lucky escape! Hairdyers they seem to be rather scary items. BTW, tell your daughter to keep an eye on her heart rate (not that I want to alarm you) as the shock can sometimes take a while to manifest.
ps: Fab dress. It really looks good on you.
on November 21st, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Thanks for the tip - now she tells me! ;)
Thanks for the compliment. :) Showed my wife and she moaned about never being able to wear pretty frocks (coz she’s so small, size 6) - think there was a hint jealously. Seriously, I don’t think I’m delusional, although maybe that’s for others to judge.
on November 21st, 2007 at 10:46 pm
EEEK! Thank goodness your daughter is OK. I always said hair dryers were bad for you, but thats not quite what I meant. A lucky escape.
As for that dress I am suitably jealous! Of both the dress AND the contents! You look fabulous.
on November 22nd, 2007 at 9:54 am
When I think about it, Maddie, she was indeed very lucky. Apparently the hairdryer had cut out before, but she didn’t mention it - she knows she’s to say something if it happens again. Oh, and yes, we’ve replaced it.
Appreciate your comments about the dress, really. :)
Will you be going to Notts Chams Christmas Do tonight? If so, will see you there.
on November 23rd, 2007 at 1:37 pm
Thank God your daughter’s OK. Makes you appreciate what’s important. I’ve been electrocuted before- wallpapering with a brush fully loaded with glue and tucking the wallpaper behind the electricity meter. Luckily the shock threw me backwards a few feet so I survived.
You look fabulous in that dress. Great taste from that scarlet woman.
Have a great night out.
Julie
xx
on November 24th, 2007 at 10:57 am
Julie: Yes, the hairdryer incident was very sobering. Perhaps you should try sticking your fingers in a sub-station for bigger thrills, never mind domestic meters. ;-)
Love the dress, just got to keep the weight off now.
on November 25th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
I followed you home from Lynn’s…hope you don’t mind. Very glad to see the stunning dress everyone was speaking of! (And some gorgeous legs as well!)
I am so glad your daughter is OK! I’ve been bitten several times through my years, the last time I could feel “the burn” for several days. Not pleasant! (After 51 years I’ve finally learned to turn the power off instead of wiring things live…)
When my sons were 9 and 10 the oldest decided he could recharge their rechargable batteries faster if he strung paper clips from both sides of the outlet, attached them to one terminal then got his “little” brother to attach the other side. My wife and I were sitting in the living room watching TV and the lights dimmed. We looked at each other wondering “what the ***” then we heard a “pop” come from the bedroom. We went running; both boys were OK and the pop was one of the paper clips burning in two, like a fuse, instead of the battery exploding or worse…
Sometimes it feels like we’re lucky if they get to grow up!
It’s very nice to meet you…
alan