As you grow older, does it ever occur to you that the words coming out of your mouth are making you sound exactly like your mother did during that heady time when you were a teenager and knew it all?
At the weekend we had a family trip to a local zoo. I won’t say which one, as then the brown stuff might hit the fan. Suffice to say we were a family of four adults, one child of four years, and one baby of 18 months.
After queuing in the heat for 20 minutes to reach the ticket booths I stepped up to the window, after my son and daughter-in-law had discovered that the vouchers which would have entitled them to half-price admission were still sitting pretty at home on the window sill.
“Tickets for four adults, one child of four and one baby, please.”
I was radiating bonhomie as well as heat, having had a good month for book sales, and decided there and then to spend my earnings on my son and his wife, who were at the struggling-parents-with-young-children phase of life. The ticket assistant punched a few numbers into the till, and smiled at me.
“That’ll be one hundred and eight pounds and seventy five pence please.”
I stopped my mouth gaping in surprise just at the last minute. In fact first of all I thought the woman must have been joking.
“What?” I couldn’t help but give a nervous laugh. “You’re having me on, aren’t you?”
“Would you like to make a donation to the zoo?” The woman’s face still had the same fixed smile in place. “The price includes the donation.”
“I think we’ll be donating enough, don’t you?” Sam gave the woman an evil eye and pulled out his wallet, wanting to help me with the admission price. However, I shook my head and looked back at the woman.
“What’s the price without the donation?”
“Ninety eight pounds and eighty pence.”
I looked down at my little grandson’s face. He was eager to see the Sumatran tigers, his favourite animals. I saw my profit instantly dissipate into the August heat, but gave in.
“Okay, no donation though.”
As we passed through the entrance gates I looked at Sam:
“I don’t believe it!”
My mother often says the selfsame thing about the price of goods and services, for instance if we take her out to dinner or for a cup of coffee in the market. Unfortunately, Mum has found to her dismay that costs have risen quite a bit since 1945.
Oh dear…I’m now sounding just like she does!
Fabiola Garcia said:
I will watch the planet animal channel instead, lol. I will like to see your posts at our Sunday pty Inspiration Galore Project Pty. Still on time for this week pty.
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks for the invite. Please send me a link.
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Stevie Turner said:
Ah, just followed you and found the party. Is it just for food? Unfortunately I hate cooking and stay out of the kitchen as much as possible!
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ellenbest24 said:
Horrendous prices! I baulk at a meal out (not literally ) if it’s in a pub and more than £20. I am not mean! The cost should equate to both the experience the quality, I would pay for a special treat a one off magnifiscent experience but a pub in the village? The zoo is educational and no child should pay … By the way I was gazing in a shop window yesterday and caught a glimpse of something someone… i whipped around thinking how did my mother get here … yep you guessed it was me 😨😱
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Stevie Turner said:
I think museums should be free too. I’ve also had that thought that I’m turning into my mother. When I’ve looked through old photos of her as a middle aged woman, she looks eerily like I do now. Oh dear!
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ellenbest24 said:
Not a pretty thought for me, I’ve spent the best part of my life making sure I am nothing like her… personality , or morally even the way I walk, but We can’t change how we age in the mirror or the occasional phrase that you can still hear in your memory.
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Bernadette said:
I absolutely hate it when I start to sounds like my Mom. I also think that fund raising is a necessary evil for organizations but should not be used at the time of admission to a museum, zoo, etc. Nice to hear about successful book sales, though.
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks Bernadette.
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robjodiefilogomo said:
It’s hard not to be concerned about the prices—but complaining about it doesn’t seem to help, huh?
But of course we echo what our parents said —it’s all we knew growing up! And it’s quite a challenge to change it! I do the same thing about commenting on stores as we drive by!
jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
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Stevie Turner said:
We cannot escape our upbringing and our parents’ values, no matter how hard we try!
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franklparker said:
Son and grand-daughter are coming over this weekend for a music festival. Because we live within a mile of the event we get concessionary tickets (they still cost €50 each for just one of the 3 days). Over lunch we were discussing whether we’d need to top up any of our food cupboards/fridge. I said, to Mrs P’s amusement, “Should be alright if the kids don’t eat it all”. (Son will be 51 on the 11th, grand-daughter 22 on 17th). Mrs.P reminded me how my Mum used to refer to me as “That boy”!
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Stevie Turner said:
I have one son of 34 and another of 30. They’re married with children of their own, but still act like kids when they come to visit us, play-fighting and teasing each other!
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Darlene said:
Sooner or later we all sound like our mothers! I am amazed at how expensive things have got in the UK. Hopefully, everyone had a good time and you got lots of pictures. As grandparents, we are responsible for creating wonderful memories. (at a cost it seems nowadays)
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Stevie Turner said:
Yes it was a lovely day, but I couldn’t help but think that I’d been ripped off yet again.
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joanneeddy said:
Good grief! The cost of entertainment is not amusing, which perhaps costs a little less. Even with a good month, easy come does not lead to easy go! Anything involving children here can be terribly expensive. It seems like they know they have you over a barrel, particularly grandparents, though I haven’t run across a built in donation yet. I hope, at least, you all enjoyed it, especially the little ones!
About the turning into your mother part, I think we are all doomed to some degree. Nature, nurture, and ingrained sensibilities all catch up with us eventually…probably as hopeless to avoid as the cost of family fun! Cheers, Diana. Jo
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thejuicenut said:
Ps and don’t get me started on the price of children’s footwear! Boys grow at such a rate of knots they are in adult sizes before they are in their teens and every 6 weeks you have to replace all their shoes/trainers/sportswear//wellies…
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Stevie Turner said:
I know. I had two boys myself. The eldest without fail used to lose his new P.E kit within 2 weeks of going back to school after the summer holidays. Eventually I refused to buy any more, and he had to fund a new kit out of his paper delivery money.
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thejuicenut said:
I find the cost of family outings staggering and often unaffordable for most unless they sacrifice something else. Many a grandparent has to help out with so many things nowadays. Good job you did well with your book sales!
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Stevie Turner said:
This month anyway!
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Clive said:
It’s the equivalent of the ‘optional’ service charge in a restaurant, which they include unless you notice. Sharp practice! Are you morphing into Victor Meldrew? 😊
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Stevie Turner said:
Yes I think I am. I’ll change my name to Victoria Meldrew.
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Clive said:
Sorry, but I just can’t see or hear that phrase without thinking of him! 😀
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Stevie Turner said:
It’s Victor I had in mind when I wrote the post.
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Clive said:
He’s a part of British folklore now!
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colingarrow said:
Sadly, all too familiar!
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jenanita01 said:
Everything is far too expensive these days, getting ridiculous!
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Stevie Turner said:
It is for sure.
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The Opening Sentence said:
I don’t like the way these organisations have started to assume you want to pay the donation/gift aid. I pay if they don’t assume, and refuse if they do. The National Trust staff always give you a dirty look if you refuse to pay gift aid.
Would it not have been cheaper to go to Pets At Home?
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Stevie Turner said:
Probably would have been cheaper to get a virtual pet…
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