I love pottering. I can potter all day. Stuff still gets done but in a slow relaxed way. The current weather helps with potterage…it’s an under appreciated art.
Oh yes. About three times a year I regretfully inform the wife that my old Falklands chum Potter has taken ill again and I must travel to Amsterdam to spend the long weekend looking after him 😉 (“least I can do after he saved my life that time…” “the poor old bastard has no-one else”).
“You go ahead dear”, she will say, “I’m sure I’ll find something to occupy me”.
(Funny thing – last time she said someone by mistake. I think she’s going a bit dotty, poor thing..)
I think it’s the other way round @timbar . I think pootling is very slow progress in whatever it is – but you can break into a sweat during a high-octane pottering sesh.
I have a post-graduate diploma in pottering. I can do it for hours. In order to achieve it I had to spend several days pointlessly pulling books off their shelves, idly flicking through them and putting them back. See also similar activity with CDs, which involves looking at pictures in the CD booklet and turning the CD over to inspect the shiny side before carefully putting it back in its tray. The ultimate test involves wandering at a snail’s pace around the garden, staring at the sky from the comfort of a recliner, and watching the birds and insects do their thing. It’s exhausting.
So far, it seems you all potter about amateurishly beyond the workplace. The real skill of fine pottering is to ‘potter with intent’ in paid employment, perhaps in a management position, ensuring that one does just enough to create the conditions for others to do all that heavy lifting…
“Potter with intent” isn’t pottering is it? But I do like they idea of pottering in the workplace, in paid employment. Unfortunately I’m not back in proper paid employment till early September ( which obviously gives me plenty of proper pottertunities till then) but will seriously think about intent on my return
In the late sixties my father worked for the BBC in Birmingham. At that time the BBC had three sites in the city.
Allegedly, one low-to-middle manager spent his working days pottering between and around the three sites, chatting and catching up with colleagues and generally being sociable. Eventually some darker minds in the lower ranks began to suspect that that was all he did. How he adapted when the BBC consolidated the three sites into “Pebble Mill” is lost in the mists of time.
The trick is to have a perceived purpose. When I was an apprentice, it was prudent, when absent from the bench or machine, to carry a grinding wheel or some such item. “Been to get a new wheel.” These days it would be a cable.
Pottering is strictly Old Bloke activity.
The young do not potter. Women of any age do not potter.
Come to think of it, it’s probably English Old Bloke activity. Are the Scots, Welsh and Irish known to potter?
People from Foreign do not potter, to the best of my knowledge.
I couldn’t contribute to this yesterday because I was really, really busy. I had to do the washing up, make a cup of coffee, drink it, put some music on… I mean that Hercules joker had it easy.
What’s your take on mooching and milling? I think mooching allows for the possibility of some purpose – window shopping with the option to buy – whereas milling, or milling about, is aimlessness personified. I suppose you could be thinking new and bold philosophies and still be in the act of milling. I think milling implies not going anywhere while waiting to do something, but it doesn’t preclude thought.
Very good point. Likewise a horse, or a donkey on Blackpool beach, before it gets the signal to leg it into the distance. I get the sense that milling about involves a conscious effort to stay in one place. It is not a random walk. In many instances, milling about precedes the main event.
You need other people about to be milling. Meanwhile, I have a soft spot for ‘loafing’, which usually involves directionless, unproductive, lethargic multi-tasking (to no obvious purpose or result). Although I feel this is a step up from the ‘vegetating’ I remember doing a lot of as a teenager. This done preferably lying down experiencing vague existential threat which could usually be dispelled by going to the kitchen to make another toasted cheese sandwich.
I have noticed that when the domestic authorities ask you what you’ve been up to today, if you say, oh, you know, pottering, this is looked upon fondly. Whereas if you admit that you’ve been playing Angry Birds and binge-watching Netflix, this is not looked upon fondly. Which only goes to prove that pottering is a worthwhile thing.
Junior Wells says
Oh indeed bur too often i go the route of its cousin pfaffing.
Freddy Steady says
Oooh no Junior. Pottering is a deliberate mindset, it’s cousin suggests uncertainty.
Junior Wells says
Indeed hence the “unfortunate “.
fishface says
It’s only pukka pottering if you “Tum tee Tum”.
Or at a pinch…”Do de Do”.
Askwith says
“Pottering” indeed. And usually “about the place”
Sewer Robot says
Oh yes. About three times a year I regretfully inform the wife that my old Falklands chum Potter has taken ill again and I must travel to Amsterdam to spend the long weekend looking after him 😉 (“least I can do after he saved my life that time…” “the poor old bastard has no-one else”).
“You go ahead dear”, she will say, “I’m sure I’ll find something to occupy me”.
(Funny thing – last time she said someone by mistake. I think she’s going a bit dotty, poor thing..)
andielou says
Pottering is THE best thing to do. Fact. You can get things done in an enjoyable way, without even realising you’re being active.
Timbar says
But if you’re too active, or too quick, you move into pootling territory.
Freddy Steady says
Hmm, I’m not sure. I think pootling is very similar to pottering but slightly less gets done. It’s not a bad thing.
Black Celebration says
I think it’s the other way round @timbar . I think pootling is very slow progress in whatever it is – but you can break into a sweat during a high-octane pottering sesh.
bungliemutt says
I have a post-graduate diploma in pottering. I can do it for hours. In order to achieve it I had to spend several days pointlessly pulling books off their shelves, idly flicking through them and putting them back. See also similar activity with CDs, which involves looking at pictures in the CD booklet and turning the CD over to inspect the shiny side before carefully putting it back in its tray. The ultimate test involves wandering at a snail’s pace around the garden, staring at the sky from the comfort of a recliner, and watching the birds and insects do their thing. It’s exhausting.
chumpy says
Did you get your diploma from Keele University? It is in the Potteries after all.
bungliemutt says
Arf!
Rob C says
I live beneath my bed.
ipesky says
So far, it seems you all potter about amateurishly beyond the workplace. The real skill of fine pottering is to ‘potter with intent’ in paid employment, perhaps in a management position, ensuring that one does just enough to create the conditions for others to do all that heavy lifting…
Freddy Steady says
“Potter with intent” isn’t pottering is it? But I do like they idea of pottering in the workplace, in paid employment. Unfortunately I’m not back in proper paid employment till early September ( which obviously gives me plenty of proper pottertunities till then) but will seriously think about intent on my return
aardvarknever says
In the late sixties my father worked for the BBC in Birmingham. At that time the BBC had three sites in the city.
Allegedly, one low-to-middle manager spent his working days pottering between and around the three sites, chatting and catching up with colleagues and generally being sociable. Eventually some darker minds in the lower ranks began to suspect that that was all he did. How he adapted when the BBC consolidated the three sites into “Pebble Mill” is lost in the mists of time.
davebigpicture says
The trick is to have a perceived purpose. When I was an apprentice, it was prudent, when absent from the bench or machine, to carry a grinding wheel or some such item. “Been to get a new wheel.” These days it would be a cable.
Moose the Mooche says
Carry a broom. Or a clipboard. That’s the way.
retropath2 says
It is officially called masterful inactivity.
Black Celebration says
I suppose tinkering is more focused pottering e.g. you tinker with an old motorbike but pottering could be anything.
Freddy Steady says
Definitely. Tinkering with intent.
Pottering is a bit more free form. But not in a jazz way, oh no.
ipesky says
Is pottering by definition a solitary activity – as opposed to just fucking about?
Junior Wells says
Pottering def solo
Mike_H says
Pottering is strictly Old Bloke activity.
The young do not potter. Women of any age do not potter.
Come to think of it, it’s probably English Old Bloke activity. Are the Scots, Welsh and Irish known to potter?
People from Foreign do not potter, to the best of my knowledge.
Junior Wells says
Mrs Wells often declares that “today I am just going to potter around”.
Kiwi / Aussie extraction.
Sniffity says
Quite so – never heard it as simply pottering, it’s always pottering around or about.
Uncle Wheaty says
A retired French chap sat at a Cafe looking at his 2CV he know needs to be washed, but he doesn’t care, is definitely pottering.
Or just being French!
Moose the Mooche says
I couldn’t contribute to this yesterday because I was really, really busy. I had to do the washing up, make a cup of coffee, drink it, put some music on… I mean that Hercules joker had it easy.
hubert rawlinson says
A slight pause as we gather our strength.
chumpy says
What about mooching?
Moose the Mooche says
Moochin’ ain’t easy, dog.
chumpy says
It’s just that I was on annual leave last week and I’m afraid I may have mooched when I meant to potter.
Moose the Mooche says
Easy mistake to make. Last night I maxed went I meant to chill. Nearly did myself a mischief.
Freddy Steady says
I think mooching is very similar to pottering but you don’t necessarily achieve anything.
Martin Hairnet says
What’s your take on mooching and milling? I think mooching allows for the possibility of some purpose – window shopping with the option to buy – whereas milling, or milling about, is aimlessness personified. I suppose you could be thinking new and bold philosophies and still be in the act of milling. I think milling implies not going anywhere while waiting to do something, but it doesn’t preclude thought.
Can you mill about while sitting down?
nigelthebald says
No.
nigelthebald says
(Milling about involves movement.)
Martin Hairnet says
Yes. There is movement. But no progress.
chumpy says
You could always ‘mill about’ on a mobility scooter.
Martin Hairnet says
Very good point. Likewise a horse, or a donkey on Blackpool beach, before it gets the signal to leg it into the distance. I get the sense that milling about involves a conscious effort to stay in one place. It is not a random walk. In many instances, milling about precedes the main event.
Mike_H says
I’ve always understood milling to be an aimless thing done in the company of other aimless millers.
Not a solo thing.
nigelthebald says
This.
Freddy Steady says
Just a thought…is milling a solitary thing or done by groups?
ipesky says
You need other people about to be milling. Meanwhile, I have a soft spot for ‘loafing’, which usually involves directionless, unproductive, lethargic multi-tasking (to no obvious purpose or result). Although I feel this is a step up from the ‘vegetating’ I remember doing a lot of as a teenager. This done preferably lying down experiencing vague existential threat which could usually be dispelled by going to the kitchen to make another toasted cheese sandwich.
Junior Wells says
Milling is not without purpose, it is mooching with the anticipation that something “might” not “will” happen.
Demos are a good example.
Freddy Steady says
@ipesky
I think vegatating is so far removed from pottering it should be barred from this thread.
Vegatating is for lazy good for nothing loafers. Or if you’ve a monumental hangover. With pottering, stuff happens but within your own timescale.
Billybob Dylan says
I love pottering, too, but Mrs. Dylan is not a fan. Ironic, considering her maiden name is Potter.
Over here (in California) we usually refer to this sort of activity (or lack thereof) as “futzing.”
bigstevie says
I’ve been waiting for an excuse to post a clip of Mrs Potter’s Lullaby.
Miss Potter?
I hope you don’t mind…….and they’re Californian too.
mikethep says
I have noticed that when the domestic authorities ask you what you’ve been up to today, if you say, oh, you know, pottering, this is looked upon fondly. Whereas if you admit that you’ve been playing Angry Birds and binge-watching Netflix, this is not looked upon fondly. Which only goes to prove that pottering is a worthwhile thing.
davebigpicture says
This: my wife got home today (not from work I might add) and asked what I’d been doing.
“Watching telly.”
Slight frost enters the room.
Mousey says
“‘Ello then wot’s this?” enquired young PC S. Frost, anxious to get to the bottom of it…