I have always loved eccentric people. People who were braver than me to express themselves without worrying what others thought of them. When I was younger I would hang around them hoping that some of their individuality would rub off onto me. But what I usually love most is the shock factor about their behaviour. I was brought up in a very English middle-class family - my parents were hotel managers and I spent my first 17 years living in large hotels. This meant I met/lived/worked with many different kinds of people many of them eccentric. An unconventional childhood in many ways but certainly in my eyes a privileged one. (Though it has played havoc with my cooking skills...well that's my excuse!!)
The wonderful characters I came across still get spoken about today, their catch phrases and some of the outrageous tomfoolery enjoyed even now. Others were like an extended family to me and influenced my life with their artistic and creative ways. I have always been able to mix with people from different walks of life and I put that down to my upbringing and the variety of people I came in contact with.
I recently came across someone who ticks all my boxes for pure, outrageous, eccentric, tomfoolery. Thank goodness I am never likely to meet him (shame he is on a reality show in London) because we would not be a good combination. He never fails to delight me and make me laugh. There is more of him on YouTube - do partake.
My mother says I never know when to stop and yes, I am sometimes judged to be ..er..shall we say inappropriate. I say I have a rather naughty (probably should read outrageous) sense of humour which I don't reveal in all it's ingloriousness on this blog; but that doesn't stop me trying to take any opportunity to see the funny side of most eventualities or better still hoping someone else (like good old Louie above) might be persuaded to do something while I watch on wetting myself with laughter.
It worked well on my 3 brothers when they were younger. Fortunately, I don't know anyone these days who I can lead astray but my brother Matthew and I have on occasion , as Anth says, "New Zealand accent here..Ahh, you have gone too far this time..!"
Yes, I would get no work done with Louie around and I would probably only try and outdo him and fail miserably. I love eccentrics.
And what got me thinking about eccentrics in the first place? Well, I was called one last Sunday - yeah me. Me!
It was by a double-glazing salesman. He had sat in our horrendously untidy sitting-room for 2 hours. Stared at the 2 ginormous flowery bags that had wool spilling out all over the floor like spaghetti. Contemplated the 2 foot tower of magazines and old newspapers in the corner. Stroked the half shaved cat. Gazed at the wall of flowers. Inspected our rotten french doors which we haven't been able to open since December (hence why he was there). Observed the 15 buckets and 5 chimney pots outside with dead plants in them. Did a double take at my sparkly corner. Wondered why there was a Migra Cap (that's if he even had any idea that was what it was!) lying on the floor (I was on Day 4 I think). Mentioned my Mary on the mantelpiece (but can't remember what he said). Drank his tea from a flowery tea cup. Had to be physically pulled out of the chair by the fireplace as it has lost it's springs and he sat down before I could stop him.
But the words were uttered, albeit kindly, from his lips when he was leaving and standing at the front door looking down in astonishment at our flowery side plates and bowls - our entire kitchen cupboard spread out on the floor by the entrance to the house. I just smiled and took it as a compliment. Well I am English I should be a little eccentric if nothing else.
And the reason why we have our crockery by the front door? Last week, yes they have been there over a week, Anth could take the wobbly tower of (fabulous/gorgeous/beautiful) plates and bowls no more and has ordered me (nicely) to sort them into a more manageable hillock. Umm..I haven't quite got around to it yet, but I will tomorrow. I'm sure.
