FOR THE FUN OF IT...THINGS I FIND ANNOYING...

Listed below are a few human traits and actions I find very annoying, and anger-making...I’m sure there are more....

Never fear!  Freely I admit I’m not exempt!  I have traits that annoy others, of that I am certain.  Hey! I have traits that annoy me!  And, if given a chance, I’m sure Remy and Shama would add their two bobs worth!

Here I go......

People who say they are going to do something, and then don't follow through without a valid, believable reason.

Snobs, whether they be social, or intellectual

People who rudely talk over you (me) when you’re (I’m) speaking.  The persons more interested in hearing their own voice, rather than listening to what another is saying.  Wait your turn!

Similar applies to those who interrupt and finish off your story for you...even though they never played a role in the actual incident. Those who interrupt the story-line as if they actually were present when the event, the subject of your story occurred.

Liars

Litterbugs

Hypocrites

Bad hygiene

Ill-mannered people....

Bad table manners

Insensitivity...thoughtlessness

Greed...in all its forms.  (Witness the behaviour of some at buffets!!!!)

No sense of humour...no sense of the ridiculous...not being able to laugh at one’s own self...all of the before-mentioned!

Abuse of others...mental/emotional and physical

People who say, for reasons known only to them, they never watch television, and yet, can quote verbatim sections from various programmes!

Meanness/stinginess

Tardiness

Being taken for granted

Free-loaders

Anyone, for his/her own pleasure, who tries (and/or succeeds) to belittle another

Unnecessary vulgarity

Predators of the human variety

Hinting

Vandalism

Stupidity

Unkindness

Malevolence

Cruelty to animals

Know-it-alls

Self-righteous smugness

People who treat you as if you know nothing

Unnecessary, unwarranted sarcasm

My impatience with myself annoys me...so I’m not let off the hook, by any shape or form!  Being far from perfect, I admit there are blots on my own copybook that I shan’t divulge here and now!!  I refuse to encourage you!!!

Being the weird creature that I am (I’m allowed to say this)...I am a creature of certain habits...e.g...I always start at the same end of the supermarket...at the green-grocery section...finishing up at the pet food section, which is down the far end...the opposite end.

I hate shopping in large, bustling shopping centres, and haven’t done so for 16 years or more...give or take.  

Living here on Tamborine Mountain (for 18 years as of 13^th April) is great because shopping locally has a 'village-atmosphere"...familiarity...which I love.  I have no desire to battle the madding crowd of the Gold Coast, or the city of Brisbane. 

It’s the way I am...the way I feel...who I am...so bet it.  I’m too old...too lazy to change....

If and when I need to purchase something that's not available here on the mountain, I let my fingers do the driving and walking...I shop online.  My purchases are delivered to my door by very pleasant local couriers.  In most instances, whatever it is I’ve purchased arrives within three or four days of ordering, which suits me fine.   

Last week, when delivering a parcel to me, I gave a pile of chocolates to one of the couriers to share with another (for their kiddies).  It was a joy to see her eyes light up, sparkling like stars at night, and her wide smile.  Her reaction...the look on her face...brightened my day.   

It’s that kind of human interaction and reaction, which makes living worthwhile, in my opinion.  It’s fun!

Each to their own ways, of course...friends of mine who once lived here on the hill used to think my behaviour...my choices...very weird. They loved going down to the Gold Coast to shop...about 40ks each way.  They would drive to the Coast’s large shopping centres at least once a week, but more often than not, three or four times a week! That is not my style at all! I’d go crazy...crazier than I already am! I couldn’t stand doing that...I couldn’t sit doing it, either!

We’re all different, with different habits...different quirks.  Different strokes for different folks...and I am different...this I do not shy away from admitting.

Another thing that is weird about me is I'm not fond of being out at sea in a boat.  (Going on a cruise has never been on my bucket list; nor has it ever been a dream of mine).

And yet, during my life I’ve lived on two islands...Hinchinbrook Island and Newry Island where travelling by boat to and from the islands was inescapable.

On Hinchinbrook Island I never had to drive a boat.  Bob, the skipper of the contracted “Reef Venture” based at Cardwell on the mainland, took care of all the guest transfers, and provision drop-offs etc.  Some of my male staff members were in command of the island’s smaller 5-metre Abalone aluminium boat, named, ”Lady of the Island”....”Lady” for short.

However, when I lived on Newry Island, I drove the island boat to and from the mainland.   To reach the resort’s 21-foot De Havilland Trojan, every time I needed to shoot off to pick up guests and/or provisions, it was necessary for me to row a little dinghy to the Trojan’s mooring, which was out in the deep water of the channel between my island and Outer Newry Island.

Being the skipper was different to being a passenger.  Even though I'd never driven a boat before I lived on Newry, being in control of the boat, I never suffered sea sickness, when as a passenger I could be prone.  

Living on Newry, and running the small resort thereon, I didn't have another option. I lived on the island alone.  If I wasn’t the skipper, my two cats, Pushkin and Rimsky weren’t prepared to venture out to sea, even though they loved fresh seafood!   And, they dined...feasted...on an abundance of fresh seafood when they were island residents!

I suppose being a woman, living on the island alone and managing it alone was weird, too. Lots of folk asked me if I was scared/nervous living on the island alone.

My truthful, smiling reply was always: "If I was that kind of person, I wouldn't be doing it, would I?"

Being on Hinchinbrook Island I learned much about myself...things I’d not known about myself previously, and would have argued until I was blue in the face if certain subjects had been raised. To my surprise, I discovered I loved flying in light/small aircraft...seaplanes, in particular.

Another weird thing about me is...I loved Hinchinbrook Island and Newry Island, but I hate Fraser Island!

My now late ex-husband, Randall and I spent a lot of time on Fraser Island when we lived in the Noosa Heads area, but I never really enjoyed going there. Something about the island gave me the creeps, for whatever the reason...one that shall remain unsolved.

Much of the above I’ve previously written about.  If I’ve bored you, I apologise.

Boring people are very annoying, too!   *Smile*

Fish and Prawn Pasties: Melt 30g butter in saucepan over med-heat. Add 30g plain flour; cook, stirring, until mixture bubbles. Gradually add 250ml milk, in 3 batches, stirring constantly. Cook, stirring, 5 mins or until sauce boils and thickens. Remove from heat. Gently stir in 1 red onion, cut into thin wedges, 1fennel, very thinly sliced, reserved fennel fronds, 1 potato chopped into 1cm pieces, 75g frozen peas, pinch of cayenne pepper, finely grated rind of 2 lemons, lemon juice, some fresh thyme leaves, 6 flat-leaf parsley sprigs, finely chopped and pinch of salt. Set aside until cooled to room temperature. Stir in 200g white fish fillets cut into 2cm pieces, 100g skinless salmon fillet, cut into 1cm pieces,  and 100g peeled prawn meat, cut into 2cm pieces; place in fridge to cool completely.  Preheat oven, 200C.  Line a baking tray with baking paper.  Using a dinner plate as a guide, cut 4 x 21.5cm discs from 4 sheets of just-thawed puff pastry. Place one-quarter of the filling over one-half of each pastry disc, leaving a 2cm border. Fold the other half of the pastry over to enclose. Fold in the edge and press to seal. Place on the lined tray. Brush with egg. Cut a slit in the top of each pasty to allow steam to escape.  Bake 25-30 mins, or until puffed and golden. Set aside for 5 mins to cool before serving.