[Fizzlesque]

....and other roads.

The kids on my road, and their friends from other roads, called in to my house during the heavy snow winter before last to ask to borrow a shovel. To shovel snow, to make money, and they even offered to clear my driveway for free (I declined, I like the snow in the driveway). Another day they called in to to ask for a bucket/basin and a cloth to go clean cars. I obliged and told them they'd have to get the water and suds elsewhere...

Off they went, happy with their stock, and got water and suds from one of their own houses (next door ) to make their fortune.

Yesterday evening, as I arrived home, one of the friends from 'another road' was by my house with his flat wheeled at the back bike asking to borrow my seriously snazzy bicycle pump. I splashed out a few years ago and treated myself to one of those pumps you don't have to actually work yourself into a frenzy to operate; it's fantastic

Anyway, the kids sometimes call to ask to use the pump, and usually I leave them to use it themselves, but yesterday the young chap, who was alone, seemed a little reticent (not to ask me, but how to use the pump - it is a tad tricky when you don't know how) so I said "sure I'll do it if you hold the bike still", and before long it was job done.

I thoroughly enjoy my sporadic, and not too regular , interactions with the kids on my road [and other roads], I love their enterprising minds, the making a few bob mentality, and their goodness of heart to also do stuff for free, just because........

And I'm delighted I splashed out on that pump - it felt fantastic to be able to get that boy back on his bike.

[ogriofa]

What a cool post.
I wouldn't be too surprised if those kids say stuff like ...that lady on our road, you know... the one with the fancy pump... she's nice, ask her.

[fataltragedy]

Was a nice thread to read - considering that lately (it seems) when the subject of other people's children is raised, it's usually in a negative sense

[FizzleSticks]

Awh, I like kicking the ball back over to the kids.

Can I be rude and ask what pump did you invest in as I was thinking of spending 30 euro on one with a gauge but as il be cycling so much I want a good one as well :-D

[cdaly_]

I'm using a Blackburn AirTower. Cost about €30 from Chain Reaction Cycles.

[Ambersky]

Some time back I lived with a partner, lets call her Anne Black, in the house she grew up in and in an area where everyone knew one another.
I got to know the neighbourhood children quite well because whenever I was out the front doing the gardening and any of them would come over to watch (as they do) I would ask them to "help" me put all the leaves into a bag or pull some weeds or, a great favourite, hold the hose and water that area right there. If you are going to attempt this one at home yourself some time remember that the job of holding the hose can cause some fighting from children who want a turn and think the current holder isnt doing a good enough job or has been doing it too long.
Anyway this had been going on for some time and one day there was a knock at the door. My partner opened it and standing there was a rather startled young child. He said "can I talk to Mrs Black?" and she said "I am Mrs Black".
There was a pause and the child said "The Other Mrs Black"
From then on I was often refered to as The Other Mrs Black and we both loved it.
Children are so innocent and accepting of what is before them.
Also in my experience if you want to get to know local children allow them to join in on something you are doing or get a dog. They love to do things and to help. In fact they are sometimes so desperate to find things to do and to learn in play or work that once they get to know you they will pester you offering help. Despite all the bad stuff you hear about children nowadays they still are programmed to learn through play and experience and while they are helping they are learning all kinds of things, about turn taking and telling stories and new skills and relating to adults and manners and helping for no other reason than it feels good. I love children.

[Fizzlesque]

Originally Posted by FizzleSticks

Awh, I like kicking the ball back over to the kids.

Can I be rude and ask what pump did you invest in as I was thinking of spending 30 euro on one with a gauge but as il be cycling so much I want a good one as well :-D

How rude are you, FizzleSticks.......

Just kidding, I know nothing about which brand/make is better, but I can tell you it has a gauge and was about 30 euro. It has a little handle like those push-me/pull you carts have (remember them, in the black and white movies?) to be lifted up and down - simple as can be.

It's too cumbersome to be carrying about on the bike, so if you're wanting a pump you can easily take with you, this one won't be it.

[FizzleSticks]

YUP thats the one I was thinking of getting and yeah how rude am I taking half of your name, I've been lurking for a long while and never saw you pop up before

[Fizzlesque]

Originally Posted by Ambersky

There was a pause and the child said "The Other Mrs Black"
From then on I was often refered to as The Other Mrs Black and we both loved it.
Children are so innocent and accepting of what is before them.

Great story, Ambersky. Kids really are accepting of what is before them. I couldn't go as far as to say I love kids - I don't hate them, but I don't seek their company either. However, sometimes I end up having chats with a few of them and they're so open to just chatting, telling me this and that, I find myself thoroughly engaged with them which surprises me, considering my 'quick, get into the house before the kids see me' default [cranky aul one] setting

They bring out a patient side of me - it's weird because the other day I thought to myself, "they're going to grow up really fast and one day soon they'll be young teenage boys and probably won't interact with me as much or in the same way then". I want to be able to freeze them at this age (not sure how old they are, it varies, but they're still youngsters) so they can continue to entertain me.

Originally Posted by FizzleSticks

YUP thats the one I was thinking of getting and yeah how rude am I taking half of your name, I've been lurking for a long while and never saw you pop up before

Fizzlesque started life as Fizzlestix - on a different message board, but I changed it to esqe a few years ago, so it could have been worse

I'm not long here - signed up to post one specific reply and then forgot about the board for about two years. Just recently started blathering the boards with (scarily increasing) regularity