The art of silence.

But it may be taken the wrong way!

I tend to agree with Simon and Garfunkel on this subject.

Did they actually sound you out on the matter? If they did, I bet you just played dumb. (As Ringo put it, "All I gotta do is act naturally").

Posted by: @graeme-ogg

Did they actually sound you out on the matter? If they did, I bet you just played dumb. (As Ringo put it, "All I gotta do is act naturally").

Graeme, rather than throw rocks of jealousy regarding my God given 79.1 I.Q. (which I understand, being enlightened to my level), why not spend some time on the phone with "Dial-A-Genius" to develop your mental faculties?  This is a cerebral development service based out of  Florida, USA, run by a tested and proven genius who, having a certain benevolent leaning toward Forum members, will offer a discount for services rendered.  Considering that your application to join the Think Tank(ed) organization may hang in the balance, I believe this to be a timely opportunity to "plump up" your resume as it were.  Believe me, you will not be disappointed.  The number is 1-800-PROUFFA.  Good luck!

Well, I would happily follow your advice about using this admirable dial-up service, but unfortunately about 20 years ago our old rotary dial phone was replaced with a new-fangled push-button device and I have so far failed to entirely grasp the operating principle. Even using a hammer and punch or an adjustable spanner to work the buttons doesn't work for me, and extensive experimentation with magnets and assorted pneumatic and vacuum devices has been unsuccessful so far. Mrs Ogg has a similar visual/manual dexterity problem, so every time we want to make a phone call we have to write a letter asking for a British Telecom engineer to come round and do the business, and that works out at £75 a go. And they always come at 6 a.m. when I'm just finally dropping off to sleep. Why couldn't Alexander Graham Bell just have stuck to breeding ferrets and pruning his bloody roses, then I wouldn't have had all this trouble.

@graeme-ogg Gosh this is quite a nightmare you and the missus are experiencing Graeme; you have my sympathies.  Believe me I would love to help but currently I am heavily medicated due to a near strangling incident I experienced just this afternoon.  My bride was washing the kitchen floor when the telephone rang, so I had to break off supervising her to respond.  I slipped on the wet floor while answering the wall mounted phone.  On the way down I became entangled in the damned cord and basically hung myself.  I'm sure it was a near death experience as I felt myself rise above the scene to ceiling level for several seconds; at which time I observed my wife, who was obviously panicked, doing multiple fist pumps and yelling "YES!"  Fortunately the cord snapped and I was saved; which caused my wife to become understandably emotional. After my recovery I will definitely add a chair to prevent further incidents of this nature, which is really my only possible resolution I suppose.

Next time around, if she's smart she will choose the right moment and kick away the chair.

Posted by: @graeme-ogg

Next time around, if she's smart she will choose the right moment and kick away the chair.

I mentioned it to her Graeme; she sends her sincere thanks and feels that it could definitely happen again; although I can't see it myself as I advised her to use less water when doing future cleaning.  She's asking the technician to install a shorter cord replacement this time; apparently for aesthetics.

Why couldn't Alexander Graham Bell just have stuck to breeding ferrets and pruning his bloody roses, then I wouldn't have had all this trouble.

Getting back to your above mentioned comment on this post, I agree that Alexander Graeme Bell was overrated; it wasn't that big of a deal really.....

Posted by: @david-green

Also gives credence to that saying, "Better to say nothing and be thought a fool; than to open your mouth and prove it!"

🫢

Bell never actually bred ferrets. He simply gave them the opportunities to have meaningful relationships.

Posted by: @jkuvakas

Bell never actually bred ferrets. He simply gave them the opportunities to have meaningful relationships.

As evidenced by the popular saying, "Happy as two blissful ferrets!"

Posted by: @jkuvakas

Bell never actually bred ferrets. He simply gave them the opportunities to have meaningful relationships.

A rather weasel-worded response. I think you're splitting hares.

Posted by: @jkuvakas

Bell never actually bred ferrets. He simply gave them the opportunities to have meaningful relationships.

I'm sure Bell had the best of intentions in doing so too JK, but forcing them to speak into a tin can attached by wire to communicate seems a tad cruel.