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Once the camera pointed to the ground, I said, "Whoa!". I thought you'd wrecked. I felt like I was right there with you. It looked like a harrowing trip. I'm surprised you didn't hit those trees that popped up suddenly between the greenery. Yikes!

Your conversations with Elaine are hilarious.

Can't comment on musical instruments. I never played anything.

Great videos on the Thank a teacher section.

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Thanks, Matthew. Yes, it did look rather terrifying, but fortunately it was the only the camera that turned upside down, not me! 🤣

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"I was delighted to discover that they don't appear to be psychopaths."

There's a ringing endorsement if I've ever seen one. Now I finally understand why you led us through all those abandoned alleyways, it was all a test…

In all seriousness though, thank you both so much for a lovely afternoon. Wish we'd had more time to browse more books! Found a couple of interesting ones at Waterstones, though, that I might order once I get back.

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🤣🤣 We both laughed out loud at this, Robert! It was lovely meeting up with the two of you as well and, yes, it was far too short. Do share the books you're going to be ordering. Did you find the writing section? It's pretty extensive.

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Yes but I got sucked into the world/science section so never made it there before closing time. Found a perfect notepad in Edinburgh too!

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Oh, such a shame! Great news about notepad. What sort?

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Found some interesting books regardless, so it was definitely worth it. Books were one about octopuses (many things under a rock), one about the mysteries of the cosmos, always interesting (the known unknowns), and one about how emotions spring out of the brain (how emotions are made) which I wasn't 100% sure about content-wise since it looked like stuff I already knew, but it fits with the ADD book I'm currently reading (scattered minds) so it might hold an insight or two to add to that one, which is brilliant (can also recommend a book by the same psychologist/author Gabor Mate which is about how trauma runs through our society, leading to disease, really going in-depth on the oft-forgotten link between your mental and physicial health. It's called the Myth of Normal)

Notepad: Same one I had before, only more compact, from Leichturm, with the table of contents, page numbers and document holder. I'm really pleased with the bigger one, but I think this size (a5) is more convenient than the a4 one I used so far.

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Those books sound very interesting. One of the great things about that particular branch of Waterstones is that I always find something off the beaten track as it were. I suppose because of its size. Hope you enjoyed Scotland. I like Edinburgh, the countryside further north, and Glasgow.

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Aug 1, 2023Liked by Terry Freedman

Ah the peril of narrow paths!

Lovely to see and hear the snippets with Elaine, and great pic of the meetup with Robert.

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👍 Cheers, Nathan 😊

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A lovely start to the week -even though I didn't get to it til Tuesday. That second bike ride video was scary. All those monster attack plants...!

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Thanks, June. Fortunately they weren't nettles or anything!

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Everything about this post made me smile, but what true got me laughing hard was the interview with your adorable wife, Elaine.

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Aug 1, 2023·edited Aug 1, 2023Author

😂 Thanks, Mary

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Jul 31, 2023Liked by Terry Freedman

Awwww. Thanks Terry for including the interview with Lady Elaine this week. What a sweetheart she is! I definitely see the attraction. Now I REALLY wish we were neighbors. I also loved hearing your voice. One step closer to knowing you. Such an interesting mix of topics today -- you brightened my breakfast of soggy bran flakes and prune juice with your wit. So - let's hear your cool progress on the saxophone!

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Thanks for your nice comment, Sharron. I don't feel quite ready to share my screeching with the world just yet. :-)

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I did rather die at the description of the the cycling video played at double speed and accompanying confusion. I would have just assumed it was avant-garde myself.

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It wasn't double speed. I just cycle fast much of the time. Frustratingly, I just came back from a bike ride with my newly-positioned and much better positioned cam, and all it recorded was me leaving the house and returning to the house. Nothing in between! I must have accidentally disconnected the cam when I put my phone in my pocket. 😖

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I will have to investigate further.

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😊

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After watching the video of your return trip from the park, I suggest you put a bike rack on the car and drive to and from. Looks so dangerous.

Lady Elaine seems like a delightful person. You are a lucky man.

Here is a link to one of my favorite bands and my most fave sax riff of all time.

https://youtu.be/mpqdLqYYpoY

Ian Wright and all the tributes to teachers were truly inspirational.

Thanks Terry.

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Thanks, Jim. I agree, she is very lucky. I think I've read your comment correctly. Thanks for that video -- lovely sax solo I agree.

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I believe you are both lucky.

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What a diplomat you are, Jim! Thank you 🤣

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Thanks, Jim. I shall watch that later. Cheers

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Jul 31, 2023Liked by Terry Freedman

Such a great mixture. Proof that you're not insane, indeed!

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Jul 31, 2023Liked by Terry Freedman

Wait a minute...I wouldn't go THAT far, Jillian. I, for one, am going to require a little more proof.

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Thanks a bunch, Sharron! 🫤

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😂 Thanks, Jillian

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Blimey, Terry, those bike videos are seriously hair-raising! Loved seeing your feet pedalling like billy-o around four minutes into that second one. 'WOW!!!!' I thought. 'He's REALLY going for it!' Only then did I realise that I'd set the video to play at double speed. 🙄 It's a compliment to your bike handling, by the way, that it took me a whole four minutes to notice!

Elaine's lines: 'You know why she said that, don’t you?' and '...because it’s so unusual' - I absolutely agree that that's rather sad. Gosh, something to think about there. I remember watching your fabulous video interview with Elaine when you shared it last year - brilliant!

I'm saving the Ian Wright part for later, because it's not convenient for me to get too emotional until at least after lunch. 😉 Apologies.

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Prepare to weep. 😭

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😢 '...because he was like three or four steps up, I felt like I was seven again...' 😢

Just wow. I love 'Desert Island Discs' - I've learned so much about people I hadn't known were fabulous until I'd listened to theirs.

Thank you so much for this, Terry.

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Jul 31, 2023·edited Jul 31, 2023Author

You're welcome, Rebecca. Agree about desert island disks, but I prefer dessert island disks, where you listen to records while scoffing a gigantic blancmange

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Excuse me, did someone mention dessert?

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🤣 LOL, Terry!

There is no depiction of blancmange in my emoji menu. #devastated

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Have this instead, Rebecca: 🍰

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😁

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Hello. As I've just finished cleaning drains I am in need of a cuppa, so this is just to say thanks for commenting, and I was cycling fast even without double speed. On that stretch it was about 10 mph on average I think. The first one looked scary cos of the angle I think, but I think I've fixed that now: undid the cam and placed it more centrally. Liked my pins did you? I'm thinking of applying to be a male model for socks

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Jul 31, 2023·edited Jul 31, 2023Liked by Terry Freedman

Didn't see your actual pins, just the tip of your shoe - but I'm well aware of what your pins look like thanks to your drawings that have featured them in the past. Reckon you've got excellent prospects as a sock model - which is really good timing, given that EasyLite are needing to add pictures to the fabulous words of their new advert: https://terryfreedman.substack.com/p/experiments-in-style-advertisement

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This is true. Did you notice what I am using for weightlifting? 😂

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YES.

On an absolutely, definitely, unquestionably different matter, and totally, entirely, utterly (and tautologically) unrelated to it, have the people I've sent round knocked on your door yet? 👀

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😂 I am at a local police meet and greet event, so I missed them, but I'll turn myself in.

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😂

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That Wright video is one of my favorite things!! Thanks for sharing it and linking out to teacher appreciation.

So cool about the sax. I played the clarinet (much lighter) and think the reeds are the trickiest thing, so well down if you’ve got that part figured out. You’ll soon be whittling your own!

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I admire your optimism, Kathleen 😊 Thanks. Why don't you still play clarinet? You mean the actual meeting, as opposed to the radio clip?

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Actual meeting!

Well I’ve thought about getting back to the clarinet...just a time thing. And it’s not so easy to find the “correct” time to practice a musical instrument in Switzerland. Laws about that! Ha, true. But one day. Or maybe I’ll pick up the sax! Anyway, it’s still around, just need to get new pads on the keys if I play.

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I love the clarinet. As a five year old I loved the music of Benny Goodman. Still do :-)

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I laughed at Elaine’s sacrifice. So damn true - in general.

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Sacrifice? 😂

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Did I put the words in your mouth?! If so I apologise.

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s'ok, I know you wimmen always stick together

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Oh yes.

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😂

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Jul 31, 2023·edited Aug 2, 2023Liked by Terry Freedman

Gee but that path in the second biking video is just as bumpy as our apartment building's parking lot (there are quite a few holes in it so that when you are driving over it, you feel like you might lo

se your teeth at any moment).

But I am happy that the geese let you have the right of way in the first biking video. :).

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LOL. I was going to let them pass, but they hesitated. My motto: you snooze you lose. I always like the fluffy heads! I wonder if the same people are responsible for my pavement and your parking lot.

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Jul 31, 2023Liked by Terry Freedman

The pavement and parking lot people are probably related to the Puddlegate ones.

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Lol 😂

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Marvellous!

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Thanks!

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