The Colonel wrote:
Thank you Deepwaters.
It was a good occasion and my boys are absolutely delighted (still showing them off this morning). Matthew is 14 today, so my parents and my wife’s parents will be coming around, so I am not expecting a nice reception from them. However, hopefully they will not air any disagreements in front of them.
I suppose you are right about Claires, I think its feminine façade might be a little off-putting for some. However, before we got served there was another boy who looked a bit older than Matthew (probably 15 I’d say) who was in front of us with his mum. I assume as it is the school holidays a lot of boys and girls are getting it done. I got a smile from his mother anyway!
As I’ve said before, I don’t really have a personal interest in it (other than for my boys who enjoy it – I’m basing that mostly on my eldest two obviously, but it seems it will continue with my younger two). If I was a teenager nowadays then I think I probably would, but my teenage years ended around the time of the last ice age!! The only way I’d ever consider it would be if my wife asked me, which would be the only reason I’d think about it.
I’m not actually “a Yorkshire lad”, I am a “son of Hampshire” born and bred! I have a second home in Yorkshire and a branch of my business, so I am up there a lot of the time. So Yorkshire day I think I’m exempted from!
Ah, it's a small world. I too lived in Hampshire for most of my life (but not born there) and am now in Yorkshire. I started out as a southerner and have been quite successfully converted into a northerner. I prefer the county of my adoption!
I think many guys can be put off by Claire's style, but they (Claire's) are making the effort to remove that barrier without risking a winning business formula; they even had a man serving at one branch I went to. They looked after me well on my first visit and have never given me any cause to feel awkward in going back, to any branch. They definitely have my recommendation.
I've often had to consider things my wife has suggested. Best, not say any more!













