Reading through the exchange between, most recently, Sir Grumpy But Fair and Curly Lasagne prompted me to think about this wierd blogging world and the 'relationships' you form on it.
I have never met most of my Commenters, as far as I know, but more and more, as they comment on posts, you seem to form this mental picture of these people.
I have these mental images of Sir Grumpy, Cartouche, Pedro, Christina, Zelda, The Grub, Food Nazi and Smurf to mention but a few locals, and also the interstaters like Loney Poloney and Redcap.
I find it intriguing that bit by bit these people colour in more and more of their images for me (and presumably everyone else) to observe who they are through things they write here and in other blog sites.
I love reading your comments, everyone. It's like sitting down at dinner with you all, chatting amiably about many things of common interest, except without the actual food in front of us!
You DO get the odd Anon who likes to hurl some shit then retreat, but luckily they're the exception, and with good friends like Gobbler, and Curly, around to fend off these Anons, why worry?
Tuesday, 18 September 2007
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54 comments:
Yes, I have fuzzy-logic images of the rest of you too.
But let's put meat on the bone, Rita.
Tell me how I look, approx age, interests, demeanour etc.
That would be fun...for I think many of us cultivate in cyberspace and image of how we'd like to be but maybe in truth we are not.
Or, drop the psychobable, shithead, and cut to the chase, as one anon might venture to me in all my gaseousness.
Yes, come on Rita, PICTURE US.
Sir Grumpy but Fair
(important that little bit on the end, as the actress said to.....)
OK Sir G - I'll rise to the challenge! I'll start with my mental image of you.
A pom. I thought you were possibly retired till you mentioned a few weeks ago about something at work - so am not sure about that now. Maybe that thing about work was when you used to go to work? Maybe a bit of a pot tummy? My mind has you physically looking like someone similar to the main character in Dads Army whose name I can't remember at this moment. A bit on the 'normal' side, ie not 'out there', dressing-wise. Wife travels with you a lot, or most of the time, so accompanied by Lady Fair.
How does that sound?
Captain Mannering! (or is it spelled Mainwaring?). I knew it'd come to me when I wasn't concentrating!
``Look Sergeant Wilson, that's insubordination, I'll have you on a charge.
You'll have to smarten up your ideas man (er, Rita). Don't you realise there's a war on?
There's none of your pampered high-society namby-pamby goings on here, old chap.....''
I'll keep you guessing for a while Rita. Meanwhile, I'll begin putting together your desciption and those of Gobbler, cartouche, zelda, Food nazi etc.....
But THAT DESCRIPTION WASN'T BAD old thing.
Sir Grumpy Mainwairing
Gobbler I know already so haven't put him in my list of imagined people. Also know Foodkitty and naturally, Nellie.
Cartouche - I see a guy, late 30's, early 40's? Medium hight (for a bloke). Slim. In chefs whites, teatowel tucked in apron strings at waist. Looking engrossed and concentrating, which could also be interpreted as stressed. Kind.
What do YOU see when you think of hime, Sir G?
An imagined Sir Grumpy.
One part crevat-wearing Terry Thomas,
Two parts one-eyed Warren Mitchell,
A dash of un-PC Sid James,
A lyrical twist of Dudley Moore,
& the dry Julian Cleary all trapped in the body of Jennifer Patterson.
I hope this was not too unkind!
Gobbler - you are a true Pom-fan aren't you? Are you that old that you are so familiar with the likes of Terry Thomas, Sid James, Dud Moore, Warren Mitchell & Julian Clary?
Rita I am a bloody Pom but very few know this-er, until now! Doh!
Oh dear. Can I put in a request for a flattering imagining of me? Coz I'm tall, slim, look like a model and am incredibly smart and talented you know...don't be thinking I'm short and dumpy and odd, or anything. Coz you'd be totally wrong.
:)
And Now Rita....by Sir Grumpy.
Late 40s, black hair, warm eyes and a smiley face.
Nobody's pushover but kind until people go too far.
I have an image of a slightly plumper (SLIGHTLY) Susan Sarandon with an Aussie accent, dressed in a dark skirt-suit.
Always organising and ever-ready to socialise, giggly after two sips of Babycham. Yes Susan Sarandon-ish!.
Sir Grumpy
the rest of you are in the melting pot right now)
Ah Gobbler - at last the truth is out! You're a great pom too!
Lonie - that's eactly the mental image I do have of you - brunette, slim, quick-witted, well-dressed - for work. At home - comfortable - extremely casual (for that, read 'sloppy', and I don't mean that in an unkind way at all. I classify my own home attire as 'sloppy' too!).
Sir G - you are succeeding with the flattery! Late 40's indeed! Nellie is 38 (well, close enough to it!) so late 40's isn't going to work for me unfortunately. Hair was dark brown. Been dying it too long now but the brown is interspersed with greys when it's not dyed. Chemo assisted with getting rid of the greys! No skirts or suits, sorry. Trousers/pants/jeans/trackies (depending on the circumstance)girl.
Not Susan Sarandon but I do wish! Not the wispy little thing I was in my 20's and 30's. Middle age has definitely got a hold of this body!
Aussie accent - yes! Always organising - yes. Always socialising - yes. Not so much giggly as happy after the 2 sips of Babycham. (Gee I miss that Babycham).
And Now Herr GOBBLER.
He is 40 with spikey red hair, medium build but could play rugby (union).
Rather like Prince Harry's hair on top of the face of CHris Evans, the controversial BBC DJ who married DR Who's Billie Piper.
(Do a Google BBC Evans pics to see).
Yes, with those thick-framed specs evans uses.
His gait is chest-led and he has a ``don't mess with the chef'' look about him.
Doesn't suffer fools gladly but often empathises with his staff and would-be staff problems.
Hard working but trying to break out of that white-protestant work ethic brainwashing he can't seem to shake.
Clever but pushes self too far and gets jaundiced by it all from time to time....then BOUNCES back.
There, that will be an $80 consultation fee, Gobbler.
I'll buy you a lot of Old Peculier on that.
Sir Grumpy but Freud
Geez - that's good Sir G! You MUST have cheated!
Dare I ask what your mental image of me is???
Zelda - you haven't so far revealed too much of yourself but the fuzzy image I have so far is - short, 40's, homeperson (as opposed to working person), efficient.
BTW Lonie - I DO realise you're currently pregnant! My mental picture is the normal you.
I'm dying of laughter here, Grumpy as Captain Mannering, Gobbler as Chris Evans, the Jeniffer Patterson comment finished me off entirely. This could run and run.
Sir Grumpy has always reminded me of my old RSM, stocky, funny, and not unlike the guy who used to play Rumpole of the Bailey.
Gobbler for what ever reason I imagine as a once dark haired now grey tight curly hair. No reason. Not tall, not short, a sense of humour and fair play. A book worm. Possible daliances with beards.
Rita, not fair, you have already described yourself.
Me, well, the age is right, except I'm tall broad shouldered, stressed (are'nt all self employed). Not an ounce of grey yet though. The rest of me I would love to see the piss takes.
Sorry Cartouche. I had no idea this post would generate the interesting mental pictures that it has. If I had known, I wouldn't have been so fast to set Sir G straight, and would have given you all a longer time to cogitate about Susan Sarandon!
Your word pictures of Sir G & Gobbler are funny. Glad we finished off your evening with a chuckle.
It IS interesting to me though.
My dad is quite concerned about my blogging though. He is a voracious reader of all things, and is worried that I am putting myself more and more out there for stalkers etc by revealing more and more aspects of who I am in the body of each posting. He has read this somewhere recently and warned me of it!
Hi Rita, you are up bright & early.
Your dad's right, dont give away too much for that very reason, its not big brother you should worry about cause thats already happenede, its the nut-jobs out there. Revealing too much personal stuff online is the terrestrial equilvelent of making eye contact in the street with a weirdo-a green light to pester you!
Thanks Sir G. I did google Chris Evans & I would be happy to look like him. I hope you didn't take the Jennifer patterson thing to badly! Oh I also agree with Rita, you must have cheated!
Thanks Gobbler. Yes I AM about bright and early today, as are you!
Re the not giving away too much - it's a hard one for me. As I said to Anon2 in the previous posting, I try to keep my words and content as 'real' as I can in an effort to not alienate anyone who might want to participate in any discussions we have. In doing that, you really DO have to be yourself. I reckon you could all spot a phony if I was putting it on.
Hence, I suppose it wouldn't be too hard to find out my identity.
My subject content is a giveaway I think. But - I hear what you're saying. Don't know what to do about that.
Oh my! Dear Rita, I think you have slightly the wrong end with me! (But then again you don't have the advantage of reading my ranting blogs about idiotic undergrads.) I also tend to be quite reserved when replying to blogs etc, as I am VERY aware that tassie is a VERY small place and that people work out who you are.
I'm 29, glasses, 5 foot 5, long brown hair, grad student, live in jeans/shirts/RM boots or flannies and t-shirts, depending if I am home or not. Spend too much time in cafes or with various friends in the art community. I SHOULD be finishing my PhD.
Zelda, if you're tassie Girl, I had a image of taller, blonder, and a bit glam. Not sure the flannies suit that mental image!
Foodkitty xx
Yes, remember, Rita we are giving a cyberspace description of how others perceive us.
I've never been trapped in Jennifer Patterson's body that I can recall. I'd rather be trapped in Jennifer Hawkins'.
Cartouche, you have descibed yourself in actuality but your cyber profile is somewhat different and I, as Rumpole and Capt Mainwaring, will brook no argument.
You are a pom, but one of those Liverpool, open easy-going guys, friendly and ready for a laugh.
Your cyber looks like a combination of Jamie Oliver and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.
But you don't have Jamie's pushiness and ultra-ambition.
Every time you say cartouche someone says, Bless You.
Sir Grumpy
Zelda - I got that well and truly wrong didn't I? Sorry for instantly ageing and transforming you!
Kitty - I'd like to hear someones interpretation of you! Meeting you after reading your posts was hugely enlightening for me, and you were extremely different to that mental picture I had of you, I must admit! With Gobbler, I had had previous business dealings with him, so he was a no-brainer.
Sir G - you crack me up! I'm now picturing Jennifer Paterson trapped inside Captain Mannering! The mind boggles!
Now for a recce of some others on this blogsite that Corporal Jones and Private Fraser will be whipping into shape.
Zelda...30s, of middle european Austro-Hungarian lineage, looking like Cruella DeVille, bit NOT cruel!
Can be waspish and has a 20s flapper-style black hair bob with those sharp flicky front edges. She's been bred from stock that includes the Vulcan Spock and is forever battling to stay on top of the volcano bubbling away underneath. ``Fascinating, Captain Kirk (Mainwaring)'' as Spock might say.
Kzee....Late 30s, twin-set and pearls. A bookworm who has a warm heart and wants to save the world ...starting with the kids.
A Miss Marple in the making.
Food Nazi....Frankenstein. Someone whose personality (!) has been cobbled together in the middle of a gigantic thunder and lightning storm. Would invade Poland but has heard the food's not worth it. Spends the day banging his head and neck bolts against a wall.
Sir Grumpy
Food Kitty - yes I am one and the same. I am sorta blonde (I call my hair brown, but technically its kinda strawberry blonde) and I CAN do glam if needed...but I hate heels so dont. The flannies are for those days were you really DONT want to get out of bed but you have to.
Rita - no offence taken..I tend to act older than I actually am (always have) I just didnt realise it came across so well!!!
Sir G - I like that description of me....I always wondered if I could carry the 20's bob, somehow dont think my dead straight hair would do it properly. I definately did the WASP schooling thing - though thats as far as that went. And i do tend to get absorbed in things.
Hi to all,
Sir Grumpy, I happen to know Kzee and I love your description of her, as I'm sure will she. It's not too far off the mark, except for the twin set and pearls. Sooo not Kzee but could see her in them in a pinch,{remember you love me Kzee}. Other than that I think you're pretty spot on.
This is great. Am absolutely loving these descriptions. As have we all, I've built up mental pictures of how we all look.
Sir Grumpy I've always pictured like the older gentlemen in Are You Being Served. Captain Peacock if I recall. But with a much better sense of humour.
Cartouche to me has a touch of Darren Simpson about him. Cheeky bugger.
Curly Lasagne, just curly red hair and freckles with a quick wit.
The Gobbler is a little harder. I don't know why but a safari suit keeps coming to mind.
Zelda for some reason I always imagined as blonde, perfectly kept, manicured, not a hair out of place.
Food Kitty, long and lean and sophisticated.
And as for your wonderful self Rita, pretty much as you described. Someone who seems pretty comfortable and at home with exactly who she is.
I guess I had better have a stab...
Sir G - slightly older gent, dignified but with a wicked sense of humour. The ex english military type who you really are initially scared of, until you find them on the floor with their grand kids giggling.
Cartouche - solid dependable non nonsense type, passionate about their job and their staff but with exacting standards.
Gobbler - I think my impressions have been summed up quite well by others.
Nellie/Kitty - I kind of see you two as best friends who have grown up together. Mid 30's, maybe a kid or two. You are neat, tidy but ejoy the ocassional night out and can still party with the best of them.
Rita - Mother hen. Always running around trying to organise things and people. Well dressed, but slightly harried.
Rita, your Dads worried. Shit I bloody knew it, all this time I've been talking to a 15 year old. Any minute now AZIO's gonna come and kick the bloody door in and label me the kitchen predator!!
Sir Grumpy, God bless you man. You have likened me to God himself, and God wears a Red number 8 shirt. I have and always will be a Liverpool fan. But I'm not a scouser. Otherwise I'd be round to nick 'yer car mate.
By the way, it was'nt Rumpole I was thinking of, it was James Robertson Justice.
Zelda my image of you is simple, Your hungry.
Ah, yes, Christina, I was coming to you...
You like things precise, but that's because you know when it's all sorted it'll work. Won't buy soggy chips, like things as they should be. You are Victoria Stilwell from It's Me Or The Dog!
I see you in that role but without the wanky E-Type Jaguar. I think you'd ditch that as a painful, needing fixed write-off.
You're a Volvo Wagon girl and Victoria's dominatrix leather outfit would be replaced by Williams and Blunnies. With a dash of David Jones or Country Road in the wardrobe.
Sir Grumpy
Come on down CURLY LASAGNA....you are GINGER MEGGS.
Up to tricks but nothing horrible.
HRV is a combination of Fanny Craddock's poor old put-upon husband Johhny and food expert and panel commentator on The Iron Chef Dr Hatori (i think that's his name...he has a sort of Nehru suit on and even took part in the cooking contest once).
Sir Grumpy
This has been a fantastic post! I love all the descriptions!
And Cartouche - what the hell are you doing home so early in the evening? Yes - I am really the evil 15 year old online creating havoc amongst you old farts - John Howards worst nightmare!
And I'm SO sorry HRV - I left you out. How could I? For you I see an older man, stout, tall, slightly acerbic.
In short, I have the snots (consequences of kids in daycare), its Wednesday, fairly safe night to leave the eager wannabe's in charge. Call it charecter building for the summer onslaught.
LOL - cartouche - thats about right. I'm perpetually looking for good quality decent food that is made with passion.
(either that or I'm setting the smoke alarms off in my kitchen by virtue of the lack of extraction fan on the cooker).
I'm hungry for life and learning as well...I mean why else would I be sacrificing the former in pursuit of the latter?
I like to think that Food Nazi is a hot 20's something super chef with a small.........
Teehee
I have not participated in this blog because I have been sulking. However, I am unable to contain myself any longer.
My picture of Rita is a woman in her mid 50s, dark hair, cooking up a storm in her new kitchen and singing along to the sound track from “The Sound of Music”.
She’s not seriously into glamour and you can tell this because her shirt is hanging out the back of her grey trackkie dacks.
Despite a lot of evidence to the contrary she still trusts people and remains a romantic (she might even give marriage one more go).
When she is happy her eyes smile and if I were her friend I would consider it a great privilege.
My picture of Sir Grumpy is a man of above average size to match his big blog personality. In looks he is a cross between Rupert Everett and Russell Crowe. He is intelligent and creative. He enjoys expressing his views strongly and may even enjoy pissing people off. He does not hold grudges. His missus finds him a bit over the top but consoles herself by thinking that at least life isn’t boring.
I am looking forward to meeting Sir Grumpy at a party sometime (with my calorie counter).
Cheers
Curly
Onya Curly. No. I don't hold grudges....me hands are usually too full already with a pint and a pie.
My missus is nice but can wriggle me round her little pinky. I know when she's doing it but can't bring myself to stop her. She looks after me too good.
If we do meet at a party I'll have a heart-to-heart with my relative of calorie-counting infamy beforehand. Then I'll be able to do the right thing kilojoule-wise and you'll be proud of me Curly. You watch.
Cheers, Sir Grumpy
Aha! My cunning propaganda operation worked. Now how to make your vision of me into a reality...?
Lonie...I had a look at you blog bio and am shocked.
For a leo you are a hopeless romantic. With Love Actually as one of you favourite movies and being a lionness an all, I'd say you were trying to buck your stereotype.
But with Grease and The Princess Bride there too, I'd say you've drowned in pink and roses.
Now that chinless Huge Grant....I'm surprised a good Aussie girl could fall for all that foppery.
My missus says he makes her spew!
Hugh the Spew, that'll do.
Sir Grumpy, toodle-oo
Rita, I imagine you look like Sally Fields.
And I bet the Gobbler is a spunk with kitchen-scarred, battle worn hands!
Rita has been described as similar to Denise Drysdale .....
Nellie
I have always pictured the gobbler as the chef from China Diner - frugal but fair, and only slightly too zealous with a kitchen knife.
... and I see Rita as a female John Farnham, always ready for another tour.
Sir Grumpy
Based on her evaluation of Hugh Grant I would have to say that your missus appears to be very discerning when it comes to blokes.
Also Sir G I should confess that I am not really a calorie counter. The T42 breakfast analysis was performed after a number of glasses of red wine which inspired me to provide the pseudo-scientific calculations to support Rita's complaint regarding oversized breakfast servings.
Of course it all came to nothing with the "breakfast like a king" argument which will require Rita to stop whinging and just eat up.
Cheers
Curly
Rita I now know how you can put your dear father's mind at rest and make yourself totally safe on the internet.
Just follow Whitey's example and publish an absolutely appalling photo of yourself on your blogsite.
Bob
Fair enough too, on the calories, Curly.
You now know my psychological knee-jerk reaction to this subject!
I'll tell the missus what you said about her taste in blokes...it'll make her day until she has another look at me.
Sir Grumpy
Curly - I'll stop whinging now & eat up - just for you!
Bob - I thought I HAD! PS great you finally got your surname spelled correctly.
Sir G & Curly - I love Hugh (the Spew) as Sir G nicknamed him! You two just BACK OFF now! You can attack my taste, or lack thereof, in all things food and wine, but criticise Hugh and you're dead meat!
Whitey - thank god you didn't liken me to your true favourite - Radar! Mind you, having said that, my kids always like to slam home the fact that they think my glasses are outdated when they tell me I look like Radar! That's the minute I scurry off to the optometrist!
Yes - I'm liking the Ding Dong and Sally Fields comparisons. Have now made appointment at hair & beauty salon for Mon morning to get this all happening!
My image of the food nazi is a younger version of Simon Bryant,wearing a PVC apron and uttering the words "I love the smell of Bernaise sauce in the morning". The rest of the staff are uniformly busying themselves with prescribed tasks to the music of flight of the valkyries. Meanwhile our boss is perusing a copy of the Ikea good food guide with its precise lines and clean punctual food.
Achtung baby.
Oh Boy!!! Have I missed out. Leave blog world for a few days and see what happens
Older - no, stout - yes, tall - no, slightly acerbic - definately.
Sorry Sir G, I ain't no Iron Chef.
Rita - I see you as a very Grandmotherly figure in a very funky 'naugties' way.
Gobbler - kind of like Peter Berner with a carrot top and a bit more fire in the belly. Same mischievous grin.
Sir G - buggered if I know. Sometimes the old head copper of Heartbeat (original) othertimes like a ruddy faced Yorkshire farmer mated with Man United fan. Either way you're clutching a Thirkstens.
Rita, I can’t believe you have such strong feelings for Hugh Grant.
Please tell us you weren’t the woman I saw on TV outside the court in the Divine Brown case wearing the “I would have done it for nothing Hugh” placard.
OK - I'm taking the fifth on that one, Curly!
Dear Sir Grumpy,
My husband loves your description of me and wants to know if we,ve met. I am the queen of every thing being in order. Unless all around me is organised to within an inch of its life, I cannot relax.
I hardly ever purchase take away food, {soggy chips ugh!} as I find I'm usually so disappointed I spend the next 3 days moaning about it to anyone who will listen.
As for your physical description, I only wish. Maybe if I was a foot taller I could pull that off!
The comment about the blunnies had us wondering if you do know me as, on my wedding day, I wore a gorgeous Yeltour dress, with a ruffled petticoat and my favourite Blundstones! No one expected anything less.
Glad it gave you a smile, christina.
I am a bit of a tidy-upper myself but have relaxed as I grow older (well I ain't growing younger).
My wife always knows when I'm churning over something or getting a bout of flu or whatever.
Because then I'll get tidy-itis and put all my books, magazines and newspapers away neatly and begin sorting my spices and herbs!
But ``Tidies'' can have a rebellious side...(hence the blunnies), so maybe I recognised some of your traits from the bloggies.
Cheers, Sir Grumpy
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