Incognito

On holiday, as at parties or here, I don’t really want to talk about what I do for a living.
So, when I was asked on the first evening of my recent holiday, I explained that I had been trying to think of an alias, something that would not appeal to people so they wouldn’t want to talk shop.
I thought pest controller might fit the bill.
The conversation diverted and we talked of more interesting things. Then it was time for an early night.
A couple of days later, I was walking beside Our Glorious Leader, as one of our group dubbed him, when he asked me if I had any advice to offer about getting rid of moles.
For a moment I was completely at sea, and then the penny dropped.
Presumably, someone had half overheard my conversation and believed that was my profession.
So if you meet someone just back from holidaying with a ratcatcher in Sicily, you’ll know it was me!
Next time, I’m going to be a debt collector.

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Author: Isobel

I like animals, colour, the Thames, reading, cooking, writing, eating, walking. I don't like bullies, butchers' shops, crowded public transport, Nigel Farage.

76 thoughts on “Incognito”

  1. I was once at a dinner party in London’s Notting Hill and, filled with ennui, I decided to change my profession from stock broker to bus driver. After a few moments of incredulity on the part of my neighbour at the dinner table, she eventually bought into my convincing account of what it was like to drive the No 19 bus from Mortlake to Edgeware Road or whatever the route was. It came back to bite me in the bottom when I met her at another party and she asked me if I was still on the same route. I had no idea what she was on about. She was quite pretty if I recall correctly, so I blew it. Or rather, did not.

  2. I think we should have a concerted effort to start conversations with strangers that do not revolve around their work or their address. Maybe I’ll be a ratcatcher living in Belgravia.

  3. You made it here, Isobel, well done!

    Asking people what they do for a living is extraordinary bad manners, or so I was brought up to believe, and if they are ill-bred enough to ask, then you are quite right to them spin them a yarn. If you choose to volunteer such information, then fine but I think it is a blooming cheek. Give them an inch and they’ll be asking for your bra size next 😉

    Secondly,

  5. Hello Isobel, Ara, Sipu. I was at a kids’ party for my son last September – loads of parents and tots running around – but above the din, could hear someone whining about national curriculums and assessment criteria. Never mind pin the tale on the donkey, it was like Spot the teacher..hence why, unless I am sufficiently goaded on MyT, I NEVER talk about my job…; )

  7. Araminta I thought you were on the point of delivering another bon mot!
    I prefer the layout of this page to mine, especially the clarity of the comments’ boxes, so I would appreciate some more techno advice.

  8. Interesting Sipu…

    Many, many years ago, I was the statistical researcher for a firm of stock-brokers. I ‘chose’ my occupation according to whether I wanted to talk to the person who asked, since I knew that to tell any male what I did would send them running a million miles…

    At a party, I met an absolutely crashing bore, so he got the ‘full description’ in the certainty that it would send him running. No way! I had to spend the next hour or so discussing discussing stocks and shares…

  9. I was looking for something that no one else was likely to do and which no one would aspire to being. All suggestions welcome.
    On another walking holiday, one man, kept everyone at bay by saying he could tell them what he did, but then he’d have to kill them. It was very effective.

  11. Hee hee, Isobel, I ran out of steam!

    Regarding your page. All the themes have there advantages and disadvantages and it’s easy to change. In fact you have a preview facility so you can check to see how it looks. I agree with you, how the comments look is important.

  13. Isobel – I forgot the welcome! Welcome 🙂

    That was a long time ago and in between marriages! I’ve had several ‘careers’ since then … and the last is usually a conversation stopper!

  14. Swimming instructor – toilet attendant – writer – WI flower show judge – masseurs’ receptionist –

    you could have such fun, pretending!

  16. Hi Bearsy
    I think it was the ‘visible’ bit that did it.
    Not sure about primary.
    Thanks Boadicea, now I am intrigued.
    Pseu, one of those is one of the things that i do, and the others, well maybe not toilet attendant, could excite unwelcome interest and I would be out of my depth immediately.
    I’ve just fiddled about with my page too, and I think it looks better.

  17. Oh and Pseu, it was v funny when I realised that my pest controller persona had taken hold. Psychotherapist could keep them at a distance.
    One man, a retired maths teacher, said he sometimes told people he was a brain surgeon.
    Tocino, or they’d ask for advice.

  18. “I’m not a gynaecologist by trade luv but I’ll gladly take a look.”

    Funnily enough that one never got many takers at parties. 🙂

  19. Ferret; I wonder why..? I have lied, shamelessly, in the past, just to see how far I could go. Doctor, psychologist, children’s entertainer. Actually, that last one is not so far from the truth…; )
    Bearsy; did you say our emails were visible to each other, or just the word press ones?

  20. Underwater Welder
    Dolphin Trainer
    were a couple we would use on detachments

    Every now and then we would tell people we were RAF Aircraft Engineers. 🙂

  21. Claire I can see your email address, and everyone else’s, if I go to my account, so if you want it to be more private you should perhaps change yours.

  23. G’day Claire – no, e-mails are not visible, but e-mail addresses are. Each author can see the e-mail address with which anyone who has commented on that author’s post registered with WordPress. They’re shown on the Dashboard Comment page.

    BUT – you haven’t written any posts yet, so you won’t be able to see anyone’s e-mail addresses.

    Any author whose posts you’ve commented on will be able to see your e-mail address.

  24. Hi Isobelandcat and welcome. Here is the secret to anonymity you simply tell everyone that you specialize in the development and testing of advanced metal composite materials. Believe me, in thirty years no one has ever asked me for more information.

    Boadicea: Re. your #8, so this is when you met Bearsy?

  26. Isobel; Door mat designer? Or just doormat, in my case.
    Re the email addresses, I was convinced it wasn’t the case…ah well; I am exposed. Not that I mind – as long as we don’t get any of the ahem, more virilent characters from Mother Ship coming over. ; )
    Bearsy; is that a nudge in the posting direction?! I only ever did three things on MyT – short stories, arguing and bickering…so the idea of coming up with a serious post knocks me for six ; )

  27. LW,

    Thats fascinating do tell me more.

    Are we talking memory metal here or bi-material electro deformables?

    Purely metals or do you use carbon in your composites?

  28. Claire – you can change your e-mail on this site, unlike Mother Ship (what a great description!) – so if you feel exposed get a new one exclusively for here.

  32. I prefer the term Jammy Git Isobel.

    Anyhoo it is well past this li’l furballs pillow time. Yawn.

    A pleasure to see you here Isobel and Cat I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

    Good night everyone ‘cept Bearsy and Boa who may substitute “mornin” for “night”.
    8)

  33. Furry, let me know your email address and I’ll send you a 180 slide Power Point presentation on the technology (78 MB) prepared specifically for the unsuspecting. By slide number six most audiences resemble glazed doughnuts.

    Oh! the two questions. No and Yes. Be very grateful I made the answers that short.

  37. Claire – no, it wasn’t a hint, just trying to be helpful. Honest!

    How about a blog on the incomprehensibility of contemporary French colloquialisms to past-their-use-by-date Aussie retirees – in French? 😯

  38. Thanks for the welcome everyone. Off to bed now.
    But am intrigued by some of the things around here.
    What does ‘report mature’ mean?
    Bonne nuit tout le monde. Faites de beaux rêves.

  39. Ok Bearsy; will think about that one!
    Boadecia; thanks for the tip. I will leave it; don’t know why I’m getting all precious about it, especially when I’m up there on FBook anyway!
    Bonne Nuit, Ferret, IsobelandCat…dormez bien ; )

  40. Isobel – The furballs send their feline welcomes to Cat.

    Araminta – Secondly, and your bra size is??

    OZ

  41. You haven’t asked me what I do for a living yet, Oz. 😉 Then you can my bra size again, and I will send you a brisk cyber-slap, followed by a visit from Eff!

  44. Eeeek OZ,

    There are certain things a lupine should never ask a mouse.

    We have all seen the photos of how Minty MBE opened up a can of whupass on you before, what makes you so brave this time? 😉

  53. Well, you have to turn the page (back) Furry!
    When this happen though? I don’t remember posts having PAGES, she yells in surprised fashion 🙂

  54. Minty MBE,

    I did.

    All I saw was OZs latest dark in ‘ere comment with a very thin red line under it.

    On further investigation, I C&Pd his comment into MS Word and presto! Everything becomes clear.

    OK Detective Mouse, what the hell is happening there then?

  55. Hi Ferret – many thanks for the support!
    As a reward I shan’t tell you how we beat the West Indies with 8 wickets and 8 overs to spare. 😆

  58. Oh, sorry Furry: I saw the picture straight away; must be your browser!

    Thanks Bearsy: I’m not a great fan of “pages”, I preferred the old MyT, when you could see all the thread at a glance.

  59. Pages is orf. All the thread is on one page. The comment box is dahn the bottom (if you’ll excuse the word). Yer jumps straight to the latest comment.

    Good ere, innit? Betterer’n the old MyT, even.

    Ferret’s browser must be suffering from a gross deficiency of cricket.

  61. Thanks L Dubya,

    I am an ex Aircraft Engineer who now works in manufacturing where weight considerations are crucial. Why wouldn’t I be interested in new metal technology?

  63. Oh you’ve lost me again. Too much techno. But I have just posted a new blog on my page.
    Can anyone tell me i it is the done thing to put the obligatory first comment as on MyT here?
    Off out again shortly. read you later.

  66. Well it’s just me.

    But Old Movie Guy is OMG: Oh My God.

    And Soutie was Scoutie for a long time and no-one told me I had it wrong. With new glasses I can clearly see my mistake 🙂

    There are others, but I won’t bore you

  67. Hello Isobel, well done, Ferret accused me of being a bit ‘short’ with you last night, that wasn’t my intention and if I offended my apologies.

    I was however delighted to see this post make an appearance shortly thereafter though 🙂

    Ha ha Pseu, I remember 🙂

  69. Soutie Pal,

    It wasn’t an accusation that sounds so confrontational.

    I merely pointed out the fact that your tone appeared a little abrupt. Perhaps I made a hash of it. This blogging lark is a tricky bugger. :0)

  70. No problem Ferret, you’re right accused does sound a bit confrontational, wasn’t meant to, lets move on 😉

  72. Hi Isobel, Pseu; for me, Old Movie Guy was Oh my God, OZ was some big man from – er, Australia, Soutie was a big dog (sorry about that, it’s what I thought!), and I thought that Bilby was a bloke (sorry again!) Wrong on all counts…but what I will say is I had MyT’s Samanta pegged as a ‘vieille salope’ from the start… ; )

  74. Hi, Isobel

    You’re back! Hope you had a great holiday. I’m back too, so will catch up later. 🙂

  75. OZ; have just spoken to you on t’other side. Really must stop meeting like this…but yes, I am happy to keep the shaggy wolf in my mind’s eye ; )

  76. Hi again
    Soutie (and everyone else) I do hope you’ll visit me on my page too!
    I am branching out and visiting other people’s pages as well as having my own, rather like I did when I first joined MyT. This place is a bit bigger it seems and harder to spot the new and interesting.
    In case you don’t know how to find me, if you click on my name where I have commented on a blog here it’ll take you to my page. There may be an easier way of doing it, but that’s how I have found the pages of some you posting here!
    Off to bed now.
    Goodnight.

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