In a "let's just be real about this" move, I called in to work and took a personal day off tomorrow. I was debating getting up at 5:30AM and surveying the snow situation, then calling the snow removal guy. Even if he didn't already have seventeen people on his list, there's no way he'd get to my house and have us plowed out in time for me to get to work. Assuming that the snow is even finished falling by that time.
The fact that I called out now will give the folks where I work time to get on the horn and call in some of my co-workers who live two or three minutes away for overtime. If I was to call in tomorrow morning, the people working the midnight shift would be forced to hold over until they could get someone in. I figure this is kinder.
My husband's boss called him and his co-workers early this afternoon and mandatorily sent them home because of the already worsening weather and road conditions. I like that - a boss who really looks out for their employees.
My employer is one of those that thinks it's perfectly reasonable to expect people to risk life and limb to get in to work, even if you can't afford to buy another vehicle if something happens to yours, nevermind if something happens to you physically. I seriously doubt the head of the corporation would even send flowers if I died attempting to get to work in a blizzard. It's something they won't have to worry about, because I'm watching out for my own patootie.
The original forecast said that the blizzard would be happening from "late Friday night into Saturday morning". At 3:00 this afternoon, there were snowballs falling out of the sky. Not a good sign. I was so nervous about Bear driving home in the freezing slush and icy roads that I vacuumed, did the dishes, cleaned the stove, ironed a new vintage tablecloth and dish towels and put them out. When I'm stressed out about something I can't control, I do housework. It's something I can get my hands on, and it keeps my mind busy so I don't completely freak out.
When Bear walked in the door, I was so relieved that I immediately got a neck-ache from holding my muscles so stiff while I was worrying.
Now we're all tucked up cozy in our cottage with our kitties, a pot of hot coffee, we know where the flashlights and candles are in case things get dark, we've got food in the house, we have a gas stove so happily we can still cook even if the power goes out, and I don't have to worry about getting up at 5:30AM and stressing about driving in a blizzard.
Life is good.
Now, to the Wall-O-Withnail. I spent a good part of yesterday afternoon working on actually arranging and installing the items I've collected so far, and I have to tell you, I'm really happy with the way it's turning out! There are a few items that I've bought but not received yet, so I'm waiting for them to come in before I photograph the W.O.W. and post it here.
The attractive yet inexpensive "floating shelves" I bought on ebay turned out to have completely worthless hardware. There was much yelling of epithets and stomping about, until I found a stash of drywall anchors in our hodgepodge of household tools and such in the storage room. They did the trick swimmingly, and I was able to install the shelves and display much of my collected Withnailia thereupon.
There are several items on my "must have" list that I have either not been able to find or cannot currently afford because they are truly rare antiques. Just in case any of you Dear Readers have access to any of these at a reasonable price, I'll show you what I'm still hunting:
Black & White Scotch figurine made by Brentleigh Ware
(there are a lot of bad knock-offs of this
lurking around the interwebs)
Where it appears in the film: The Crow and Crown pub, on a shelf in the background as Withnail and Marwood are leaving, visible as they spin around to have one last word with Jake the Poacher, who tells them he's been watching Marwood "prancing like a tit".
A genuine vintage Guinness toucan lamp base
(these are going for big bucks)
I'd even be happy to buy this knock-off version,
if I could find one.
Where it appears in the film: On the mantel of the Crow and Crown pub, visible when Withnail and Marwood get up to approach Jake the Poacher regarding the acquisition of some of the eels he's got down his pants.
A "Brown Beauty Tobacco" tin. Very hard to find, and very expensive when I have found it.
Where it appears in the film: On the top shelf in Uncle Monty's cottage, Crow Crag, just next to the kitchen sink. Visible as Uncle Monty comes to release Marwood from the legumes and transfer his talents to the meat.
There are a million and three vintage Lifebuoy boxes out there for sale, but not this particular style. This one is currently listed for $88.00 - and it's just more than I can countenance for a small cardboard box. With the passage of time, I may change my mind. Probably five seconds after someone else buys it.
Where it appears in the film: On top of the dish drying rack in Uncle Monty's cottage, Crow Crag, in the kitchen. Visible when Marwood is in there dealing with the potatoes while Withnail sits by the fire drinking.
A "Tizer the Appetizer" bottle. So far I have only been able to find a photograph - never yet found an actual bottle for sale.
Where it appears in the film: On the top shelf of Uncle Monty's kitchen, near the Brown Beauty Tobacco tin.
As "Withnail & I" was filmed in England, all of these antique and vintage items are much more common in the UK than they are over here in the US of A. So if any of you folks over the water luck up on any of these items, please do let me know!
Now for the MYSTERY.
There is a tin on Uncle Monty's kitchen shelf that I cannot, for the life of me, decipher. Here are the stills I've captured from the film. I've blown them up and sharpened them as much as I could without totally distorting them.
If any of you recognize this tin, or the brand name, or anything, please let me know so that I can stop tearing my hair out and gnashing my teeth.
There is a tin on Uncle Monty's kitchen shelf that I cannot, for the life of me, decipher. Here are the stills I've captured from the film. I've blown them up and sharpened them as much as I could without totally distorting them.
If any of you recognize this tin, or the brand name, or anything, please let me know so that I can stop tearing my hair out and gnashing my teeth.
So? AZAWAFERS? AZAWATTLE? AZAWATTEE? Egads, what the hell does that say? And under the brand name, there are two words, the second of which may or may not be Candy, or Camphor, or Cannon, or Candles, or Camembert. No bloody idea.
Well, I have just solved my own mystery. But I'm not telling. I'd love to see if any of you figured it out, or already knew it. 8-)
ReplyDeleteMazawatee Tea?
ReplyDeleteYou, sir, are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT! 8-)
DeleteWhy the bloody hell don't I read the comments before spending days (well at least fifteen minutes) trying to figure out what it was. Never heard of it - nor seen the tobacco despite being from a house of tobacfo smokers. We obviously weren't upmarket enough.
DeleteThe tin above the OXO tin is a sweet tin. Possibly Quality Street though I don't recall QS being in such small ones. I know we had a small tin like that which originally had sweets in though.
And be careful out there for crying out loud
ReplyDeleteWill do. Actually, I'm not "out there", I'm staying "in here". But I'm touched by your concern, milord. Fear not, I shall be sipping sherry and watching Season 3 of Downton Abbey. At last glance out the window, it's looking like a foot of snow and no sign of stopping yet.
DeleteWhen you do go out - "Hey, let's be careful out there."
DeleteSo glad you and Bear are tucked up safe and sound. These storms are nothing to fool with. But I know how you feel about your employer. The Seattle area is a lovely place -- but it's all hills, which makes it really GREAT in the snow. Especially since the idiots who do manage to get out to plow the streets usually whiz by with the blade of the grader UP, so they don't wear out the blade. The first time I saw this, I couldn't believe it. The second time, I was so mad, I called City Hall. And a fat lot of good it did too.
ReplyDeleteBut back to my employer: I was ready to leave work early one day when the snow was really coming down, but had to stay 'til the bitter end. I was driving a Ford at the time. I set out with great care and trepidation and managed to make it up to the top of my hill (elev. 550 feet) without incident. I was so giddy with success that I slide around the corner by my house, hit the curb with an almighty thump and bent the right front wheel and wrecked the tire. I was so mad I wanted to spit. Well, actually a few well chosen words also sprang to mind, but I try to maintain the illusion that I am a lady, so I won't print them here.
So by all means, stay in with the kitties, the coffee and the fire. Best to be safe rather than sorry. Or as my neighbor the fireman likes to say, "At least then I won't have to risk my neck to rescue you!" Take care and God bless, xoxox
CC - thank you for sharing your story, which completely supports my view. Sorry about your busted wheel. I'm a Ford girl, too. My first car was a '78 Ford Mustang - godawful ugly thing, but a good starter car. Later on I had a Mustang 5.0, which I drove for many years until I was getting a different vehicle, at which point I sold it to the son of a man I worked with, as his first car. I now drive a '98 Ford Ranger stepside pickup truck, which I love dearly. It's not a speed machine like the second Mustang, but it's got style and functionality, which mean more to me now I'm getting older myself. Happily, both me and my Ford are safe home while the snow flies.
DeleteCool! Most of the (best) cars we've had have been Fords too. I also had a Mustang -- a beautiful aqua one, which I loved. I also had a Ford Probe, the nicest car I ever owned. I drove it for twelve years, until it expired from over-use and could only be fixed by spending several thousands of dollars on a new engine and attendant repairs. Reluctantly I traded it. I like the Honda CRV that replaced it just fine, but every now and then I'll see an old Probe on the road, and get withdrawal symptoms all over again. I know it's a bit odd for a woman to wax poetic about a car, but I really loved that one. It wasn't just transportation, it was my alter ego!
DeleteGlad you are staying in - crazy to go to work in that much snow - what if you got snowed in at work?!!
ReplyDeleteHard to imagine all that snow from summer here, but today it is thundering and raining at least, so you don't need to feel too envious!
Well, Kit - I just called out again for tomorrow, because the local traffic cams and news programs are still showing local roads a mess of snow and they're talking about black ice forming overnight as the temps drop into the teens... I'd just rather take a day off work and come back to work another year than chance it and end up wrecking a vehicle I can't afford to replace, or myself in the process. Monday it's supposed to warm up again and start raining here, so hopefully by then the roads will be all right again.
DeleteWell, I'm glad you solved your mystery but I've never heard of Mazawattee Tea or whatever it was. My mum used to get Poonakandy Tea, if that's any help. (No?) I was alive and in Britain in the 50s, so... hmmm... .
ReplyDeleteNor do I have any of your objects, alas, though you'd be more than welcome to them if I did.
I keep thinking that I should watch "W and I". I did see the beginning once but wandered off. I find it hard to sit still for very long.
Keep warm!
The Mazawattee Tea Company has a long and interesting history - check it out on Wikipedia, if you can sit still long enough! 8-D
DeleteMazawatee tea, obvs, but I see someone has already solved it.
ReplyDeleteYou have personal snow-clearing men you can hire???? How exotic!
Your storm gave the BBC plenty of opportunity for comparisons of how the UK (ie England) shuts down at the alighting of a snowflake, while the plucky Americans struggle on through feet of snow.
Hey, Linda, let's be fair - it talds at least three snowflakes before we grind to halt. One snowflake and we smile and admire it; two and we start complaining; three and it's time to start working out who to blame for the lack of gritting, shortage of salt, cold weather, etc. etc.
Delete