Tuesday 16 October 2018

The Incredible Shrinking Man

Who's got a tape measure?
I know I'm six foot tall. I've been six foot since I turned 16. It says six foot on my passport. Just because the nurse at my local GP surgery recently clocked me in at 5'-11" does not mean I'm 5'-11". No way Pedro. If you look carefully at the above photograph (taken on Saturday at James and Janni's wedding party) I'm kinda leaning in - and down - at the same time. James is not a seven foot giant - he is a mere 6'-4". Just to set the record straight. And, to set it straight even further, dad is not taller than me. He must be standing on a book, or something. Must be.

I'm glad I got that out of the way.

A big thank you to my friend Adele who texted me earlier this evening and put a smile on my face. I'd sent her the photo and she replied back:

"Nice pic of the 3 Amigos, looking very trim xx"

(Can I be Steve Martin, can I?)



11 comments:

  1. Loving that Pop Art/Psychedelic/Amazing Technicolour Dream shirt.

    I always thought I was 5 ft 11 and a bit, but lately it seems I've shrunk or maybe I haven't. I was never one to keep a close watch on such matters and growing up I seem to remember reading that you shrink as you get older. Which may or may not be true.

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    1. Thank you - I bagged it in Madrid.

      Mmm, I've heard that we're taller in the morning than we are in the afternoon(?)

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    2. I believe our spines 'stretch' when we're in bed on our backs because there's no gravity pushing down in that direction so that might explain the thinking behind the morning/afternoon thing. Difficult to do for a photo call with your family, though...

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    3. Your reply put me in mind of How. And Fred Dineage!

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    4. Ah, How! And Jack Hargreaves. Amy younger readers are probably thinking 'who?', not 'how'.

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  2. I had a similar moment of realisation during a routine check-up from the neck-up a couple of years back. 'No need to measure me, I'm 6' 6", have been for nearly 40 years' I boomed confidently to the nurse who was busily looking for a step-ladder. The tale of the tape eventually told a different story. '6' 4" Mr Swede' she said, barely able to contain her smirk.
    As my old Aunt Maud used to say, 'I reckon I'm growing downwards'.

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  3. Whatever the height differences, that is a great picture and I trust the wedding party went very well. C is definitely right, our spines compress during the course of the day so best to measure your height first thing in the morning. Fond memories of How - There was also a lady and a bit of a boffin-y guy but can't remember their names. Just checked - it was Bunty (not Sally) James and Jon Miller. Yes, great shirt - no uncomfortable morning coats for you guys!

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  4. PS Looking at that picture of the Three Amigos, it very much looks as if you are Martin "Short" (or was that the point and I missed it).

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