|
|
Post by PG on Aug 24, 2020 7:50:35 GMT
Martins's post about washing his car before a holiday and my similar action if I can, set me thinking on habits or ways of doing things that we inherit from our fathers (or mothers if a lady), as my dad used to wash the car pre holiday too. And some of those habits seem quirky to people who didn't grow up in your household.
Apart from pre-holiday car washes, mine are probably -
Checking over the car before a long trip. Probably not as necessary with modern cars, but seemed part of the pre-leaving ritual.
My dad had all the shoe-cleaning equipment in a wooden veg box in a cupboard. Woe betide if you used it and did not replace it back in the box. I do the same, but it's a tin (and I do the the woe betide bit too). The first Mrs PG was astounded at that behaviour for some reason....
A loathing of crumpled suits that look like they've been slept in. My dad was ritualistic about pressing his business suits. When I had to wear a suit to work I was the same. Mind you, it's much easier with a steam iron. When I was very young, I remember him using damp tea towels to press a suit.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Aug 24, 2020 8:17:24 GMT
I've always tried to buy wool suits as the creases fall out better and never (a tip from my dad) drive wearing the jacket - always hang it up in the back. He had a Corby trouser press for his suit trousers and when I was about 25 my mum bought one for me - much to my wife's horror. Anyway it sat in a back bedroom and did Sterling service for 25 years until, eventually, the rubber pad de-natured and I had to retire it (still got it tucked away in a cupboard). A colleague I worked for could put on a brand new suit and within hours look like he'd slept in it, in a hedge. I've no idea what he did. My dad also encouraged me to look after my shoes, commenting that the condition of a person's shoes tells you a lot about them so I too have a box of cleaning brushes and polishes.
|
|
|
|
Post by ChrisM on Aug 24, 2020 8:33:50 GMT
When a kid, yes the car was always washed, cleaned and hoovered out to start the annual trip in as clean a condition as possible. It would also have a service just before we went away too. Nobody in the family has an obsession with clean shoes though !
|
|
|
|
Post by Roadrunner on Aug 24, 2020 11:40:07 GMT
Our car is also cleaned inside and out before the holiday and tyres inflated to the 'travelling while loaded to the roof' level. The trouble with seaside holidays means that the car soon looks rather well lived-in, but it will have a thorough do when we get back. My dad always took care cleaning equipment on holiday and I have continued that tradition, although not used it yet other than to give the windows a clean. It is currently carrying off its task of overloaded family hack with aplomb. The Welsh leg of the tour now completed and now exploring the rural lanes of Cornwall.  |
|
|
|
Post by Tim on Aug 24, 2020 12:09:57 GMT
I've always tried to buy wool suits as the creases fall out better and never (a tip from my dad) drive wearing the jacket - always hang it up in the back. He had a Corby trouser press for his suit trousers and when I was about 25 my mum bought one for me - much to my wife's horror. Anyway it sat in a back bedroom and did Sterling service for 25 years until, eventually, the rubber pad de-natured and I had to retire it (still got it tucked away in a cupboard). A colleague I worked for could put on a brand new suit and within hours look like he'd slept in it, in a hedge. I've no idea what he did. My dad also encouraged me to look after my shoes, commenting that the condition of a person's shoes tells you a lot about them so I too have a box of cleaning brushes and polishes. I've never ironed a suit although I think Mrs Tim did it once when I had an interview. I think all the behaviour I've inherited from my dad is more practical stuff, willing to have a go at fitting a kitchen, do some plumbing and occasional car DIY for instance. Like him I'm very good at starting something and then taking a long time to finish it..... |
|
|
|
Post by PG on Aug 24, 2020 12:20:47 GMT
I've always tried to buy wool suits as the creases fall out better and n ever (a tip from my dad) drive wearing the jacket - always hang it up in the back. He had a Corby trouser press for his suit trousers and when I was about 25 my mum bought one for me - much to my wife's horror. Anyway it sat in a back bedroom and did Sterling service for 25 years until, eventually, the rubber pad de-natured and I had to retire it (still got it tucked away in a cupboard). A colleague I worked for could put on a brand new suit and within hours look like he'd slept in it, in a hedge. I've no idea what he did. My dad also encouraged me to look after my shoes, commenting that the condition of a person's shoes tells you a lot about them so I too have a box of cleaning brushes and polishes. It's funny how things jog the memory. You've reminded me that I also never drive in a jacket and my father taught me that. I'll even put a body warmer on to sit in the car after having taken my jacket off (he had a natty sleeveless jumper he wore in the car). Unclean or unpolished shoes with any sort of smarter attire (or even business casual). Yep, utter sacrilege. |
|
|
|
Post by Blarno on Aug 25, 2020 10:37:36 GMT
I sound like my Dad when I cough. I literally make the exact same noise.
I can't think of any other inherited behaviour, other than being a good person. I was always taught to do right and be myself.
|
|
|
|
Post by garry on Aug 25, 2020 19:13:13 GMT
I’m carrying on the family tradition of being a hopeless gardener and DIYer - both traits of my dad. The bit I’ll always be grateful I inherited or learnt from him is work ethic. He was tireless and it got drilled into me.
|
|
|
|
Post by scouse on Aug 26, 2020 1:44:26 GMT
Drinking with my pinky finger sticking out. Either hand, and regardless of the cup/mug/pint glass/wine glass.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Aug 26, 2020 5:37:47 GMT
Drinking with my pinky finger sticking out. Either hand, and regardless of the cup/mug/pint glass/wine glass. Oh come on, I’m sure we all do that, don’t we?? |
|
|
|
Post by racingteatray on Sept 1, 2020 9:29:57 GMT
I can't think of anything specific that is unusual.
Perhaps only that by British standards, I gather that we eat late. You might think that a legacy of having lived abroad, but actually I don't remember either set of grandparents eating early either. Lunch is almost never before 1pm at either my mother's or my father's home, and supper time is not normally earlier than 8pm. Likewise, in our house.
Otherwise, I look like my mother and really don't look much like my father at all, but am told that I have many of my father's mannerisms. Eg occasionally I'll do or say something and my mother / aunt / family friend will say "gosh you looked / sounded like your father just then".
My father being ex-military, is generally a stickler for all things being clean and smartly presented, whether personal attire, home, car or otherwise. That is definitely a trait he has passed on to me.
|
|
|
|
Post by Big Blue on Sept 1, 2020 20:44:29 GMT
Having had an extremely frugal father and a massively spendthrift mother I have some strange spending habits.
I think nothing of spending large sums on some statement purchase (recently: walnut staircase, commercial grade wall fabric) but baulk at spending £15 on sports shorts when I wear three or four pairs a week.
|
|
|
|
Post by PG on Sept 2, 2020 11:29:23 GMT
I think nothing of spending large sums on some statement purchase (recently: walnut staircase, commercial grade wall fabric) but baulk at spending £15 on sports shorts when I wear three or four pairs a week. I think that's quite a bloke thing. Big statement purchase give a feel good factor. Whereas money on day to day stuff feels like a waste of money somehow. |
|
|
|
Post by scouse on Sept 2, 2020 12:48:59 GMT
I can't think of anything specific that is unusual. Perhaps only that by British standards, I gather that we eat late. You might think that a legacy of having lived abroad, but actually I don't remember either set of grandparents eating early either. Lunch is almost never before 1pm at either my mother's or my father's home, and supper time is not normally earlier than 8pm. Likewise, in our house. We are quite similar in meal times or rather were before the kids came along - a legacy of me & my brother wanting to eat with dad when he got home from work, usually around 7.30-8pm. All changed when the kids came along as Mrs scouse wanted us to eat together at the table, so tea time became 5.30-6 as soon as I got in. Late lunches I always preferred as it meant the afternoon was shorter in work. |
|
|
|
Post by racingteatray on Sept 2, 2020 13:35:14 GMT
Frankly with my preferred meal timings, I could easily live in Spain! Even my wife complains that left to my own devices I eat ridiculously late. Can easily have lunch at 2pm and supper at 9pm.
I get that this is not necessarily considered healthy, but it's when I feel hungry. Much as I'd like to be, I've never been able to be a morning person, and my wife is also a night owl, which doesn't help!
|
|
|
|
Post by garry on Sept 2, 2020 13:54:41 GMT
Frankly with my preferred meal timings, I could easily live in Spain! Even my wife complains that left to my own devices I eat ridiculously late. Can easily have lunch at 2pm and supper at 9pm. I get that this is not necessarily considered healthy, but it's when I feel hungry. Much as I'd like to be, I've never been able to be a morning person, and my wife is also a night owl, which doesn't help! My body clock is set somewhere further north. I have breakfast at around 6am - hunger usually gets me out of bed. I struggle to get to 12 noon for lunch and tea (or supper) is as soon as I get in from work. I can be asleep by 9pm! |
|
|
|
Post by racingteatray on Sept 2, 2020 14:16:38 GMT
You have no idea how much I envy you!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Big Blue on Sept 2, 2020 14:30:15 GMT
Breakfast: normally a double espresso or café latte
Lunch: 1200 hrs, preferably 2 hrs.
Afternoon tea (small cake and ...tea) 1630 ish
Dinner: 1900 earliest; 2130 latest
All that is out of the window at the weekends when food occurs when required.
|
|
|
|
Post by PG on Sept 2, 2020 15:21:23 GMT
We don't like eating late - ideally between 6 and 7 now I'm at home all the time. When I was working it was usually 7.30ish and that always felt too late. It's one of the things I liked about travelling in the US for work - early evening meal. Whereas I found Spain (Barcelona) to be hell. "Well sir the chef does not start till 9pm, so we could give you a table at 9.30pm at the earliest....". No wonder post work tapas is such a big thing in Barcelona. Otherwise your stomach would have dissolved itself by the time dinner arrived.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tim on Sept 2, 2020 15:49:03 GMT
WFH has screwed our schedule a bit but lunch is now usually around 12:30 and dinner about 6 to 6.30.
One particular couple we're friends with eat late - we'll get to their house at 7:30 and the first time when they put out pitta bread, salad and dips I tucked in not realising that we were going for a curry at about 9:30!
I had to stay up drinking until about 2:30am to make sure I would be able to sleep on that full stomach.
|
|
|
|
Post by Eff One on Sept 2, 2020 19:23:03 GMT
We currently eat once Mini Eff is in bed, with one of us cooking while the other does bath/bedtime. It's usually 8.30 or so by the time we sit down, which is fine by me.
Mrs Eff has made noises about us all eating together once Mini Eff is at school, which will mean 6pm or so - way too early for me.
I envy and hate morning people in equal measure. I struggle to wake up at 730am and barely function before 10.
|
|
|
|
Post by ChrisM on Sept 2, 2020 19:38:14 GMT
Like both my parents, I'm an early bird..... almost half the day has gone by 10.00am ! It's highly frustrating when I am on holiday (like this week) as most museums etc do not open until 10am or later, meaning I have to find things to do (such as wandering around aimlessly or travelling on public transport) until such time as they open. Today I visited the Fuhrer Bunker museum - absolutely fascinating; I wish that Hitler had stuck to being an artist
|
|
|
|
Post by Stuntman on Sept 3, 2020 20:50:24 GMT
I am very pleased to say that I really don't think I've inherited any habits or behaviour from my dad. We really are VERY different people in terms of our values, how we view the world and how we treat other people.
We bear a physical resemblance to some extent, but otherwise I am really not like him at all.
|
|
|
|
Post by Alex on Sept 4, 2020 21:28:05 GMT
Having had an extremely frugal father and a massively spendthrift mother I have some strange spending habits. I think nothing of spending large sums on some statement purchase (recently: walnut staircase, commercial grade wall fabric) but baulk at spending £15 on sports shorts when I wear three or four pairs a week. I'm a bit like that. When making big purchases I'm happy to pay a bit more for quality or an upgrade to a better model, but the supermarkets can sod off if they think I'll spend an extra 30p for a branded product over their own brand. I didn't think I was much like my Dad but I'm obviously starting to get old because my wife keeps pointing out things I say or do as being exactly what my dad does or says. |
|
|
|
Post by LandieMark on Sept 4, 2020 21:43:06 GMT
I am very pleased to say that I really don't think I've inherited any habits or behaviour from my dad. We really are VERY different people in terms of our values, how we view the world and how we treat other people. We bear a physical resemblance to some extent, but otherwise I am really not like him at all. Interesting. That's where I'm at with my dad. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2020 10:11:28 GMT
Apart from being a stubborn barstewerd and losing my barnet, I have nothing in common with my parents at all. The main traits combine in my grandfather who was also impossible to budge once oriented.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Sept 6, 2020 17:50:48 GMT
We still keep on touch with the old couple that lived next door to my parents in Darlington where I was born. They always comment how much I remind them of their old milkman. Apparently I even whistle in a similar fashion.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tim on Sept 7, 2020 8:46:50 GMT
Having had an extremely frugal father and a massively spendthrift mother I have some strange spending habits. I think nothing of spending large sums on some statement purchase (recently: walnut staircase, commercial grade wall fabric) but baulk at spending £15 on sports shorts when I wear three or four pairs a week. I'm a bit like that. When making big purchases I'm happy to pay a bit more for quality or an upgrade to a better model, but the supermarkets can sod off if they think I'll spend an extra 30p for a branded product over their own brand. I didn't think I was much like my Dad but I'm obviously starting to get old because my wife keeps pointing out things I say or do as being exactly what my dad does or says. If you're feeling brave then return the favour and tell your wife when she does the same as her mum  |
|
|
|
Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Sept 7, 2020 9:00:30 GMT
I'm a bit like that. When making big purchases I'm happy to pay a bit more for quality or an upgrade to a better model, but the supermarkets can sod off if they think I'll spend an extra 30p for a branded product over their own brand. I didn't think I was much like my Dad but I'm obviously starting to get old because my wife keeps pointing out things I say or do as being exactly what my dad does or says. If you're feeling brave then return the favour and tell your wife when she does the same as her mum Oh I love doing that. Nothing better than saying "You sounded just like you mum there", and walking off. |
|
|
|
Post by Alex on Sept 8, 2020 19:08:30 GMT
I'm a bit like that. When making big purchases I'm happy to pay a bit more for quality or an upgrade to a better model, but the supermarkets can sod off if they think I'll spend an extra 30p for a branded product over their own brand. I didn't think I was much like my Dad but I'm obviously starting to get old because my wife keeps pointing out things I say or do as being exactly what my dad does or says. If you're feeling brave then return the favour and tell your wife when she does the same as her mum It'd be like chucking petrol on a bbq! |
|
