Phyllis

What I have I learnt about Phyllis over the eighteen months he has lived with me, is he is incredibly smart.

A few examples:

While checking into the caravan park at the weekend, I was given the usual sheet of paper with a map and the route to our cabin highlighted, and another with the Wi-Fi password and some other information, including the six digit code plus hash for the car boom barrier to enter and exist the park. The first time we exited the park, I realised we had forgotten the paper with the written code. It's ok Andrew, I remember the code. What? I read the code out to him when we entered and there was nothing memorable about the code.

Bone Doctor suggested we take the scenic route home, via her old home town, and it would only take a few minutes longer. It was good choice to travel via the twisting road, and Phyllis drove without fault at a speed like an experienced driver. I only opened my gob once when near home on the motorway and I told him he was too close to the car in front. 

When he moved here, he did not know how to cook. With the assistance of the internet and his mother, plus a little advice from he who professes to not know how to cook, he quickly picked it all up and became a competent cook, better, like Ray, an instinctive cook. As I have told him though, not everything needs to be spiced up. Steamed broccoli alone is delicious, as are many vegetables. Cauliflower and brussels sprouts are excluded.

He and Kosov are bilingual, Kosov having improved his English a lot since he moved in to my home. Between them, they mostly speak their own language but at times switch to English.  I don't dumb down the way I speak when talking to them. 

I won't say Phyllis is manipulative, but he could be if not guided by a firm yes or no. By instinct I tend to say no, and then think about it, and maybe say yes later. He has worked out that if I say no, he just needs to wait for me digest what he has asked or suggested. 

Whatever, they are both agreeable and fun guys and I am fortunate to have them in my life.