An Untimely Visit

After much planning, preparation and anticipation the evening finally arrived when Evil Twin and her husband (whose self-chosen Barton Lives name will not be repeated, see the corresponding episode: http://barton-lives.blogspot.com/2007/10/october-2007.html) arrived in the Shire for their long-awaited inaugural visit to the Local and for their eagerly awaited participation in Pub Quiz.

Suitable words cannot be rendered to describe the bitterness of their disappointment when, by some bitter and cruel twist of fate and coincidence, Evil Twin and nameless husband's visit coincided with a freak disruption of the one power cable that wends its way from the National Grid to the Shire thus rendering the Local plus Barton's one currently remaining grocery outlet inoperable in one fell swoop.

In a desperate bid to salvage something of the soiree they roamed the streets until spotting a dimly flickering light in an alternative drinking establishment that someone had informed them had reopened, although they were now not so sure (and which, incidentally, Billy Idle did declare to be far further from the Local than he remembered from the rare occasions he had ever ventured any further in the past.)

Inside this hive of inactivity they huddled for warmth and solace in a corner with their fellow inhabitants, largely comprising other refugees from the Local who subsequently praised Evil Twin and the nameless one for surviving a night in 'the Morgue'.

The entire evening's entertainment was not lost, however, as on leaving 'the Morgue' a large and excited crowd had gathered in the Market Place to admire the midnight floodlit display incorporating a freshly appeared large hole in which a troupe of performers in hard hats and costumes which, in the Shire, passes for 'Street Theatre'.

Inspiration

After finding this week's pub quiz this particularly challenging, the Regulars decided to turn to their mentor for guidance:

Chores

As Billy Idle reluctantly agreed, on a particularly rare occasion, to complete a household task and return the ironing to the respective wardrobes and cupboards, pointing to the garments in question Gobby reminded him not to miss the 'little black one on the chair'.

To which Billy exclaimed with surprise,


"What, is Tattoo here?"

wondering how he had managed to sneak into the living room unnoticed.

A New Leaf

Gobby hoped and prayed that, with his new purchase of a Wii fit, Billy Idle might finally be seeing the error of his slothful ways and making amends.

After a ceremonious unpacking, not wishing to interrupt such a momentous occasion she left Billy to "feel the burn."

Returning some time later armed with isotonic sports drinks, halved oranges and Deep Heat, Gobby was slightly under awed by Billy's levels of exertion though, notwithstanding, presumed this could be construed as a start.

A Guiding Star

It would seem, despite efforts on many occasions, that several of The Regulars were still not truly at one with technology and the modern world.

They were then eternally grateful when Adopted Ginger Child sent them a guide that could have been tailor-made for them that he had come across in a strange place far-away from the Shire known to its inhabitants as 'Universe City.'

Bad Experience

Hamish's solicitor sister, Wee Morag, soon realised that despite her efforts to help him find his way in the world of work, she had made a grave mistake in allowing Hamish to undertake work experience at her firm.

Role model

On reflection ,Gobby could only surmise that it was a blessing that she and Billy Idle had no actual children of their own when it came to light, on the occasions he was left alone with them unsupervised, what a terrible influence he was on their stuffed ones:

Which just goes to proves why he clearly is more of a roll model than a role model.

Surfing

Passing the time with a little surfing, Gobby had to forcibly prevent Billy Idle clicking the link he was trying to access lest he should crash the entire website: