She’s not a nuisance, Claire, she’s your soul mate, destined to orbit you eternally.
In an infinite universe, everything is guaranteed to recur infinitely. (That’s Kundera, that is. You should know that, Claire).
She’s also possibly the lead your BFF has been looking for.
Out of curiosity, is Amsport Gyms the Amstrad of fitness? I’m not familiar with them, and searching the web reveals a racquets pro shop as the best fit.
Gotta say, I’m team nuisance. I’d want her to have my back with the knife she surely carries everywhere after we have a drunken night out in Darlington
Sorry Claire, but I think someone who can keep you from reading Kundera is someone who is doing you a favor. Also, I like Lottie’s idea of “Popeye Claire”.
Indeed, and I believe I found the photo in our world that was referenced — the known divergences between our timeline and the Bobbinsverse timeline start about a decade after his amputation. Still, can’t rule out intervention by the Ministry of History to prevent his car crash.
No car crash. “[…] he collided with the Preston goalkeeper George Thompson at Deepdale and broke his leg. […] Gangrene […] set in and it was decided to amputate his leg.”
D’oh! I only just learned about Derek Dooley from looking up the poster on this strip, later saw the comment, and in the interim had already managed to mangle the facts regarding the reason for his amputation. I hereby hang my head in shame. Thanks for setting the record straight, Chris Z.
I understand the impulse to try to get a double seat for yourself, but an obvious solution would be to sit down next to someone quiet. Although I am not sure if it is socially acceptable in the UK to do so if there are still free double seats?
It’s probably more acceptable if you’re tiny and cute. You just have to pick a seat next to someone who won’t take it as a sign that you’re interested n them, or at least won’t work up the courage to hit on you before you get to your destination.
Though that would probably just result in the Nuisance sitting down across the aisle or in the seat behind Claire and doing the lean-over.
Really, the best defense is a good offense. Channel your BFF, Claire! I’m sure you’ve got a chibi Vampirella inside you you can let out.
I am not so sure that summoning one’s chibus vampirellum is something that should be taken so lightly, especially in Clairey’s case. Lottie’s seems to be tied to her mystery sense; if Claire Little has one, it’s probably tied to a fiery sense. But now I want to see their chibi vampirella meet…
It is interesting to see how this concept is evolving. The original coiner of “chibi vampirella” was referring to Lottie herself — one of the circus clown goons, was it not? — but since the appearance of the little conscience-Lottie-goblin or whatever it is, people are more & more referring to that thing as the c.v.
Also, “chibus vampirellum” caused me great delight until I began overthinking it and pondering which word is modifying which? Is Lottie a chibi with Vampirella-like properties, or a Vampirella type who is small enough to be considered chibi?
Claire, driven to extremes, decides to emigrate to Los Angeles. Boarding the trans-Atlantic flight, she settles into her window seat, breathes a sigh of relief… aaaaand…
As a fairly extreme introvert, I surprisingly don’t mind this once in a while as long as the extroverted person is willing to accept FULL responsibility for carrying the conversation along. If there’s an awkward silence, don’t you dare stare at ME for not saying anything! Not saying anything is my normal state. You had ample opportunity to observe this fact when you first approached me.
Hmm. Maybe the Nuisance is a Bus Gremlin. If Claire doesn’t tell her to push off soon, she too will be trapped into forever haunting the bus lines like some sort of Mass Transit Dutchman.
Channel Lottie, Claire! You don’t see her getting trapped in awkward situations because she’s too polite to say what she thinks.
(I’m reminded of that one dude on the train to Wales who naively thought he could win an embarrassment showdown with Charlotte Grote.)
She’s not a nuisance, Claire, she’s your soul mate, destined to orbit you eternally.
In an infinite universe, everything is guaranteed to recur infinitely. (That’s Kundera, that is. You should know that, Claire).
She’s also possibly the lead your BFF has been looking for.
She doesn’t know it because she never gets to finish the book with all that gabbing going on.
I wonder if the espresso machine is named Chobbie.
Out of curiosity, is Amsport Gyms the Amstrad of fitness? I’m not familiar with them, and searching the web reveals a racquets pro shop as the best fit.
Ha! My first thought on seeing that brand was wondering whether it’s affiliated with Amstrad!
A subsidiary, I’m sure.
Lord Sugar seems an unlikely patron of the sweaty arts, at least if we’re going by nominative determinism…
I really appreciate that you went to the extra effort to make the espresso machine look like a real, specific espresso machine.
It’s lovely, I need to go out and find a snob’s snobby espresso bar now. Sigh. They are all doing fruity sour extracts around here.
However, espresso machines do not go “chob-chob” while extracting coffee. It’s more like “rraaaaaaarrrrghh”.
You’ve just never used the right espresso machine.
They only say “rraaaaaaarrrrghh” when they feel threatened.
My machine (admittedly not café standard, but still an espresso machine) goes chob chob when it’s getting the milk frother ready.
The frother was what I was thinking of, that’s the sound I know.
Is this “Nuisance” one of those individuals who literally cannot stop talking for even a moment? Because if so, poor Claire.
This seems like the type of problem that needs a… SOLVER
Dun dun dun!
They don’t do assassinations, though! They were very clear on that.
Doesn’t say nuthin’ about kidnappings and bus tickets to Serbia though.
It’s only an assassination if someone pays them for it. This would just be murder. No problem!
Or really, a mercy killing to grant Little Claire mercy.
(gets out Sharpie, amends policy)
Gotta say, I’m team nuisance. I’d want her to have my back with the knife she surely carries everywhere after we have a drunken night out in Darlington
My hopes: I’m Oscar Wilde.
My fears: I’m The Nuisance.
Could it possibly be
that my witty repartee
with soda jerks
and check-out clerks
is endured and tolerated,
not enjoyed and anticipated?
There is only thing worse than being Oscar Wilde, and that is not being Oscar Wilde.
Sorry Claire, but I think someone who can keep you from reading Kundera is someone who is doing you a favor. Also, I like Lottie’s idea of “Popeye Claire”.
I second Popeye Claire!
Man, someone’s gotta tell them…! Claire’s diet will never let her bulk up! She’s just going to get really wiry
She needs to switch to GOSAD (Gallon of Spinach a Day) – known Popeye solution to bulking
Oh no! Poor Claire! And here I thought the ultimate evil in the Bobbinsverse was lurking in and around Tredregyn!
Don’t skip leg day and you won’t tip over.
– Ancient gym saying
Another saying is that push-ups train your core, pectorals and triceps, so not isolated on your arms. And they will make you strong, not big.
Good to see Derek Dooley with both legs intact in panel 1.
Indeed, and I believe I found the photo in our world that was referenced — the known divergences between our timeline and the Bobbinsverse timeline start about a decade after his amputation. Still, can’t rule out intervention by the Ministry of History to prevent his car crash.
No car crash. “[…] he collided with the Preston goalkeeper George Thompson at Deepdale and broke his leg. […] Gangrene […] set in and it was decided to amputate his leg.”
D’oh! I only just learned about Derek Dooley from looking up the poster on this strip, later saw the comment, and in the interim had already managed to mangle the facts regarding the reason for his amputation. I hereby hang my head in shame. Thanks for setting the record straight, Chris Z.
Derek Dooley featured in Giant Days’ grand finale issue ‘As Time Goes By’.
I understand the impulse to try to get a double seat for yourself, but an obvious solution would be to sit down next to someone quiet. Although I am not sure if it is socially acceptable in the UK to do so if there are still free double seats?
It’s probably more acceptable if you’re tiny and cute. You just have to pick a seat next to someone who won’t take it as a sign that you’re interested n them, or at least won’t work up the courage to hit on you before you get to your destination.
Though that would probably just result in the Nuisance sitting down across the aisle or in the seat behind Claire and doing the lean-over.
Really, the best defense is a good offense. Channel your BFF, Claire! I’m sure you’ve got a chibi Vampirella inside you you can let out.
I am not so sure that summoning one’s chibus vampirellum is something that should be taken so lightly, especially in Clairey’s case. Lottie’s seems to be tied to her mystery sense; if Claire Little has one, it’s probably tied to a fiery sense. But now I want to see their chibi vampirella meet…
Setting the Nuisance on fire might not be the best solution, but it would be a solution.
It is interesting to see how this concept is evolving. The original coiner of “chibi vampirella” was referring to Lottie herself — one of the circus clown goons, was it not? — but since the appearance of the little conscience-Lottie-goblin or whatever it is, people are more & more referring to that thing as the c.v.
Also, “chibus vampirellum” caused me great delight until I began overthinking it and pondering which word is modifying which? Is Lottie a chibi with Vampirella-like properties, or a Vampirella type who is small enough to be considered chibi?
The places one’s brain will go to avoid work….
The shared nightmare of introverts; being targeted for idle chatter by extroverts.
Oh gods, yes.
Claire, driven to extremes, decides to emigrate to Los Angeles. Boarding the trans-Atlantic flight, she settles into her window seat, breathes a sigh of relief… aaaaand…
As a fairly extreme introvert, I surprisingly don’t mind this once in a while as long as the extroverted person is willing to accept FULL responsibility for carrying the conversation along. If there’s an awkward silence, don’t you dare stare at ME for not saying anything! Not saying anything is my normal state. You had ample opportunity to observe this fact when you first approached me.
Hmm. Maybe the Nuisance is a Bus Gremlin. If Claire doesn’t tell her to push off soon, she too will be trapped into forever haunting the bus lines like some sort of Mass Transit Dutchman.
Channel Lottie, Claire! You don’t see her getting trapped in awkward situations because she’s too polite to say what she thinks.
(I’m reminded of that one dude on the train to Wales who naively thought he could win an embarrassment showdown with Charlotte Grote.)
Pretty sure I know a few such bus gremlins.
Can you link to the Wales train showdown? I don’t remember that bit!
From “Space is the Place”.
Thank you!
Wales? That’ll be SPACE IS THE PLACE…
https://www.gocomics.com/bad-machinery/2019/02/12
Should have reloaded the page before posting this, clearly.
I want (need) a nuisance like that in my life.
That’s the trouble with nuisances. They never come around when you NEED them.
Wouldn’t “nuithanthe” be more appropriate?
Nice effort on the sweater texture. Did you have to do that pattern by hand for each panel?
It’s a highly technical process I like to call “hasty scribbling”!