from Lisa:
What were you doing five years ago?
Living in Scotland...hmmmm, probably the less said about that the better!
What are five things on your to-do list for today?
1. Attend a doctors appointment.
2. Grocery shopping, online of course.
3. Working on a kinda new project.
4. Working on someones broken blog code.
5. Putting calamine lotion on my heat rash! Attractive eh? ;o)
What are five snacks you enjoy?
1. Does coffee count? I think so!
2. Green olives.
3. Toast and Marmite.
4. Crisps.
5. Chocolate!
What are five things you would do if you were a billionaire?
1. Buy this boat and a cat (called 'Skipper'). You can have a cat on a big boat right?
2. Get on the boat with Fletch and said cat.
3. Sail the world (Having taken navigation lessons!)
4. Not come back.
5. Give all my family and friends the rest.
What are five of your bad habits?
Just five??
1. Worrying about everything.
2. Being obsessively tidy.
3. Being impatient.
4. Not sleeping.
5. Not knowing when to give up.
What are five places where you have lived?
1. Hertfordshire.
2. Buckinghamshire.
3. Cambridge.
4. Manchester.
5. Scotland.
What are five jobs you’ve had?
1. Tax officer *hides*.
2. Retail security.
3. White van driver.
4. Retail manager.
5. British Standards licenser.
Thursday, 31 July 2008
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
Caught!
Ugh...don't you just hate it when you get caught out!
I said yesterday there was an amusing tale to be told about our visit to Whitby Abbey, well here it is.
Having got up pretty early, as we always seem to when we camp, we headed off for the Abbey. I think the early hour was perhaps the cause of our not being quite as compis mentis as we should have been but upon arrival.
Now bear in mind here that Fletch had been here before, there had been no admission fee then and we genuinely didn't know if one was chargeable these days.
The Abbey sits atop a hill and is surrounded by a low stone wall. There was apparently (to us at least) no obvious point of entry and so we began walking kind of aimlessly around the perimeter until we came upon a stile that 'appeared' to be the route into the Abbey.
It seemed simple enough and in our still sleepy state of mind we cheerfully scrambled over said stile........and bang into 'Fiona', a froustly faced English Heritage official who was somewhat less than amused at finding two individuals, who are old enough to know better, trying to sneak in without paying, like kids to the movies! Ack!
I did try to explain but it was pointless, she had her mind made up and her mouth set in a thin line of disapproval and all I achieved was to make myself feel more like a naughty school child than I did already. To make matters worse, when she escorted us to the official entry point it was a very large metal shuttered affair that we couldn't understand ourselves how we has managed to miss, let alone convince Mrs. Frousty face!
By now I was feeling more than a little indignant that it had been a genuine mistake but that the more I tried to explain the less she believed me, so of course we did what you do in these situations and payed up and looked happy.....though we weren't. In usual fashion English Heritage wanted a small ransom for entry into something that one could see no more of on their side of the wall than on the free side but baulking at payment would merely have confirmed her suspicions and there was no way we were going to give her the satisfaction at any cost!
I said yesterday there was an amusing tale to be told about our visit to Whitby Abbey, well here it is.
Having got up pretty early, as we always seem to when we camp, we headed off for the Abbey. I think the early hour was perhaps the cause of our not being quite as compis mentis as we should have been but upon arrival.
Now bear in mind here that Fletch had been here before, there had been no admission fee then and we genuinely didn't know if one was chargeable these days.
The Abbey sits atop a hill and is surrounded by a low stone wall. There was apparently (to us at least) no obvious point of entry and so we began walking kind of aimlessly around the perimeter until we came upon a stile that 'appeared' to be the route into the Abbey.
It seemed simple enough and in our still sleepy state of mind we cheerfully scrambled over said stile........and bang into 'Fiona', a froustly faced English Heritage official who was somewhat less than amused at finding two individuals, who are old enough to know better, trying to sneak in without paying, like kids to the movies! Ack!
I did try to explain but it was pointless, she had her mind made up and her mouth set in a thin line of disapproval and all I achieved was to make myself feel more like a naughty school child than I did already. To make matters worse, when she escorted us to the official entry point it was a very large metal shuttered affair that we couldn't understand ourselves how we has managed to miss, let alone convince Mrs. Frousty face!
By now I was feeling more than a little indignant that it had been a genuine mistake but that the more I tried to explain the less she believed me, so of course we did what you do in these situations and payed up and looked happy.....though we weren't. In usual fashion English Heritage wanted a small ransom for entry into something that one could see no more of on their side of the wall than on the free side but baulking at payment would merely have confirmed her suspicions and there was no way we were going to give her the satisfaction at any cost!
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
Whitby and Robin Hoods Bay
What a fab weekend!
Ignoramus that I am I somehow never imagined that anywhere in Yorkshire could be as beautiful as Whitby and Robin Hoods bay!
And hidden though it was for much of the time in low cloud and fog, Saturday decided to be skin scorchingly beautiful and sunny.
The journey North was relatively uneventful, save for the expected holiday hold-ups courtesy as ever of caravans moving at a snails pace, and we arrived at our chosen camp site mid afternoon, to a sign that said 'full' (we never book, it's too restricting) but I'm an old hand at this. A nice smile and proof that 'really it's only a very small tent' always results in a little pitch being available.
So that was it, we pitched overlooking the particularly beautiful Robin Hoods Bay and then set about our weekend...albeit one day late as the result of of over indulgence on Thursday night!
We did all the grockle stuff. We walked down to the bay (yes we walked up and down those killer hills, even Fletch!) in the evening and ate fudge dipped in melted chocolate from Browns Chocolate Heaven,
we sat on the beach in the evening despite the fog restricting the view down to about 10 yards and we ate dinner off the camp fire, well, it's a camp stove and it runs very nicely indeed on unleaded fuel (we hadn't tested it on run of the mill petrol previously), sites rarely allow actual fires these days unfortunately.
The only down side to the weekend was the sleep issue. Despite all the exercise I still couldn't sleep and spending the hours of darkness, wide awake, in a four seasons, expedition grade tent that has no space to sit up properly, becomes a little claustrophobic after hours and hours. Yes, I had anticipated this possibility, I had a book, a light and a torch but the torch bulb chose this moment to fail and anyone who camps will know it's never a good idea to completely deplete the only other remaining source of light. I though daybreak was never going to arrive!
Sunday finally dawned bright and sunny and off we went into Whitby. For Fletch this was kind of a trip down memory lane, he spent many happy childhood family holidays in Whitby and consequently knew his was around.
We had another day of grockle behaviour. We walked the harbour, visited Whitby Abbey (there is a funny tale to be told there another day), though Count Dracula seemed not to be in residence that day,
we ate the most fabulous fish, chips and gravy on the harbour wall and we took a boat ride out to sea resulting in the absolutely best bit of the whole weekend for me. We saw a porpoise!!! How cool is that?! A real live porpoise jumping merrily around just outside the harbour in front of the boat...amazing!!
Sunday evening was cuisine from the kitchen of Fletch and his camp stove again and then a swift walk to the local pub for the obligatory Guinness. By the time we arrived back at the tent the fog had returned and visibility was almost nil again.
Monday dawned damp and foggy still so we packed a very soggy tent (never good) and decided to head off home early on a protracted 'scenic route' via Scarborough (the only place I have ever seen a fetish shop on the main road!) and the moors. As we got further South the fog cleared and we arrived home to 28 degrees to add to our already lobster coloured skin!
It was an excellent weekend, really, I never imagined the area would be as beautiful as it is, I was wrong, I would happily go back tomorrow.
(Images clickable)
*The rest of the pictures and the 'arty'(?) stuff can be found HERE.
Ignoramus that I am I somehow never imagined that anywhere in Yorkshire could be as beautiful as Whitby and Robin Hoods bay!
And hidden though it was for much of the time in low cloud and fog, Saturday decided to be skin scorchingly beautiful and sunny.
The journey North was relatively uneventful, save for the expected holiday hold-ups courtesy as ever of caravans moving at a snails pace, and we arrived at our chosen camp site mid afternoon, to a sign that said 'full' (we never book, it's too restricting) but I'm an old hand at this. A nice smile and proof that 'really it's only a very small tent' always results in a little pitch being available.
So that was it, we pitched overlooking the particularly beautiful Robin Hoods Bay and then set about our weekend...albeit one day late as the result of of over indulgence on Thursday night!
We did all the grockle stuff. We walked down to the bay (yes we walked up and down those killer hills, even Fletch!) in the evening and ate fudge dipped in melted chocolate from Browns Chocolate Heaven,
we sat on the beach in the evening despite the fog restricting the view down to about 10 yards and we ate dinner off the camp fire, well, it's a camp stove and it runs very nicely indeed on unleaded fuel (we hadn't tested it on run of the mill petrol previously), sites rarely allow actual fires these days unfortunately.
The only down side to the weekend was the sleep issue. Despite all the exercise I still couldn't sleep and spending the hours of darkness, wide awake, in a four seasons, expedition grade tent that has no space to sit up properly, becomes a little claustrophobic after hours and hours. Yes, I had anticipated this possibility, I had a book, a light and a torch but the torch bulb chose this moment to fail and anyone who camps will know it's never a good idea to completely deplete the only other remaining source of light. I though daybreak was never going to arrive!
Sunday finally dawned bright and sunny and off we went into Whitby. For Fletch this was kind of a trip down memory lane, he spent many happy childhood family holidays in Whitby and consequently knew his was around.
We had another day of grockle behaviour. We walked the harbour, visited Whitby Abbey (there is a funny tale to be told there another day), though Count Dracula seemed not to be in residence that day,
we ate the most fabulous fish, chips and gravy on the harbour wall and we took a boat ride out to sea resulting in the absolutely best bit of the whole weekend for me. We saw a porpoise!!! How cool is that?! A real live porpoise jumping merrily around just outside the harbour in front of the boat...amazing!!
Sunday evening was cuisine from the kitchen of Fletch and his camp stove again and then a swift walk to the local pub for the obligatory Guinness. By the time we arrived back at the tent the fog had returned and visibility was almost nil again.
Monday dawned damp and foggy still so we packed a very soggy tent (never good) and decided to head off home early on a protracted 'scenic route' via Scarborough (the only place I have ever seen a fetish shop on the main road!) and the moors. As we got further South the fog cleared and we arrived home to 28 degrees to add to our already lobster coloured skin!
It was an excellent weekend, really, I never imagined the area would be as beautiful as it is, I was wrong, I would happily go back tomorrow.
(Images clickable)
*The rest of the pictures and the 'arty'(?) stuff can be found HERE.
Friday, 25 July 2008
Oopsss....change of plan!
Punting: Pretty chilled.
Food: Acceptable, for a chain establishment.
Alcohol: Suitably silly high level.
Company: Completely, madly excellent.
Home: at absolutely stupid o'clock,....a day of recovery needed.
Change of plan: Yorkshire tomorrow!
(Clickable)
Food: Acceptable, for a chain establishment.
Alcohol: Suitably silly high level.
Company: Completely, madly excellent.
Home: at absolutely stupid o'clock,....a day of recovery needed.
Change of plan: Yorkshire tomorrow!
(Clickable)
Thursday, 24 July 2008
Fish and chips and Fylingthorpe
I'm in a rush! Lots to do!
With a little luck and a prevailing wind I will manage to get our recently much unused camping gear gathered together from it's various places of stowage, hither and thither about the flat, and get some degree of organisation going in an effort to set off on a long weekend away, bright and early tomorrow morning.
I don't think the camping equipment has been sighted, let alone checked out, since we returned from our mad long distance tour of Europe (video) on the bike last year! This weekend will be somewhat simpler, Eloisa is currently off the road forcing us to take the car, this is not good, but on the upside I don't have to fight to squish enough gear and camping paraphernalia for two, for 5000 miles, into the limited space available on two wheels! Believe me, it's a skill well honed over the years but to be able to just dump everything in a big car willy-nilly is something of a treat, though it does seem a little odd/sad not to be taking the bike.
So, our destination, probably Robin Hoods Bay on the Yorkshire coast. I've never been there, it's pretty close, it looks fab and it promises fish and chips to die for! Of course, as is our way, when we hit the road we could well have a change of plan and head off in another direction! Who knows.
I'm likely to be a little remiss on the blogging front over the next few days as a consequence but I'll be back next week if not before. Have fun.
*N.B. Archived posts from Europe are HERE if you're interested.
With a little luck and a prevailing wind I will manage to get our recently much unused camping gear gathered together from it's various places of stowage, hither and thither about the flat, and get some degree of organisation going in an effort to set off on a long weekend away, bright and early tomorrow morning.
I don't think the camping equipment has been sighted, let alone checked out, since we returned from our mad long distance tour of Europe (video) on the bike last year! This weekend will be somewhat simpler, Eloisa is currently off the road forcing us to take the car, this is not good, but on the upside I don't have to fight to squish enough gear and camping paraphernalia for two, for 5000 miles, into the limited space available on two wheels! Believe me, it's a skill well honed over the years but to be able to just dump everything in a big car willy-nilly is something of a treat, though it does seem a little odd/sad not to be taking the bike.
So, our destination, probably Robin Hoods Bay on the Yorkshire coast. I've never been there, it's pretty close, it looks fab and it promises fish and chips to die for! Of course, as is our way, when we hit the road we could well have a change of plan and head off in another direction! Who knows.
I'm likely to be a little remiss on the blogging front over the next few days as a consequence but I'll be back next week if not before. Have fun.
*N.B. Archived posts from Europe are HERE if you're interested.
Wednesday, 23 July 2008
Asking for trouble?..... and heros
Tomorrow evening we get to go punting on the river in Cambridge, courtesy of Fletch's employer. It's the annual summer beano when colleagues and assorted guests, in theory at least, get to chill out together away from the pressure of work. In reality of course what happens is that they all spend the evening talking I of course am not complaining, this is an opportunity for Champagne (well it would be if I weren't the designated driver) and dinner at the companies expense and I can think of worse things to do than spend the evening being chauffeured along the river by candlelight.
I do however have just one reservation....the idea of Fletch, a punt, lots of water and a gaggle (what is the collective for intoxicated men incidentally?) of inebriated guys I suspect could be asking for trouble..... and has a higher than average possibility of resulting in any number of practical jokes and/or a very wet ending!
**And on an entirely different subject and more serious note, My Hero, pop over and add your support any way you can please.
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
A literary lightweight!
Over the last few months, as the result of all the time I have on my hands, I have returned to a pass time I used to love but over recent years never seemed to find space in my itinerary for, reading.
I rarely ever read anything very heavy, I read to relax and for me ploughing through something that I can barely even understand is neither fun nor relaxing, education be damned. Non fiction I will fight with should the need for knowledge arise but for me fiction has to be about enjoyment. I hate that scenario when I finally struggle to the last page after weeks of referencing.....and still don't have the damnedest idea what it was reading about all that time!
There is distinct pleasure for me in new books, the smell of the pages, the unbroken spine, the thought that probably no one has ever opened this particular book before, it is pristine. However, due to my current financial predicament I have taken to borrowing books from others (yes, I always give them back!), this limits one choices somewhat but it's benefit is obvious, it's cheap!
As a result I have read various things recently I might not have chosen had I stood among the heaven that is Waterstones, Jodie Picoult, Mark Haddon and Helen Townsend to name but three.
The problem has been this, those very kind people who have been lending me reading matter seem to have a penchant for the most miserable story lines known to man, death, destruction, illness, you name it just about any depressing life trauma or emotional turmoil and I seem to have been reading about it....and I do not need assistance in feeling depressed, I can manage that all on my own thankyouverymuch.
So, all good intentions were flung to the winds on Sunday and I bought a book, a completely appalling, blockbuster, rubbishy chick lit novel, that aside from the fact it makes it's author a living should probably be consigned to the recycling bin.....but this is the thing, it's cheerful and it's easy and right now I don't care if that qualifies me as an incorrigible lightweight, at least I will be a cheerful idiot! ;o)
I rarely ever read anything very heavy, I read to relax and for me ploughing through something that I can barely even understand is neither fun nor relaxing, education be damned. Non fiction I will fight with should the need for knowledge arise but for me fiction has to be about enjoyment. I hate that scenario when I finally struggle to the last page after weeks of referencing.....and still don't have the damnedest idea what it was reading about all that time!
There is distinct pleasure for me in new books, the smell of the pages, the unbroken spine, the thought that probably no one has ever opened this particular book before, it is pristine. However, due to my current financial predicament I have taken to borrowing books from others (yes, I always give them back!), this limits one choices somewhat but it's benefit is obvious, it's cheap!
As a result I have read various things recently I might not have chosen had I stood among the heaven that is Waterstones, Jodie Picoult, Mark Haddon and Helen Townsend to name but three.
The problem has been this, those very kind people who have been lending me reading matter seem to have a penchant for the most miserable story lines known to man, death, destruction, illness, you name it just about any depressing life trauma or emotional turmoil and I seem to have been reading about it....and I do not need assistance in feeling depressed, I can manage that all on my own thankyouverymuch.
So, all good intentions were flung to the winds on Sunday and I bought a book, a completely appalling, blockbuster, rubbishy chick lit novel, that aside from the fact it makes it's author a living should probably be consigned to the recycling bin.....but this is the thing, it's cheerful and it's easy and right now I don't care if that qualifies me as an incorrigible lightweight, at least I will be a cheerful idiot! ;o)
Monday, 21 July 2008
Happy birthday Lisa!
For Lisa, my best friend......
who deserves a very 'Happy birthday' and lots of birthday cake this year for many reasons, but particularly from my point of view, for always being there despite everything.
Have a really, really fab one girl! :o)
who deserves a very 'Happy birthday' and lots of birthday cake this year for many reasons, but particularly from my point of view, for always being there despite everything.
Have a really, really fab one girl! :o)
I just did it!
The running thing that is...and as proof of just how un-fit I have become, I have suffered ever since. No great surprise there!
I didn't run far I have to say, more proof of my sadly lacking fitness, but I did come home and add to my run a 30 minute pretty heavy duty workout, none of your 'Thursday evening in a village hall stuff', this was a scaled down version of the warm up I did a million and one times in the days of my gymnastic career. That probably wasn't my best move, and I suspect has more to do with my current degree of painful decrepitude than the run itself! On the positive side however I did discover I can still 'spilt' after all these years.
Jeez....I had almost forgotten where exactly my abs were located but right now, each time I laugh or cough or move almost at all, I am painfully reminded!
I gave it a rest over the weekend to let my long since knackered (thanks to the gymnastics in the first place) and hypermobile joints recover a little, and then it's back to it again today.
....and they say this is good for us?? ;o)
I didn't run far I have to say, more proof of my sadly lacking fitness, but I did come home and add to my run a 30 minute pretty heavy duty workout, none of your 'Thursday evening in a village hall stuff', this was a scaled down version of the warm up I did a million and one times in the days of my gymnastic career. That probably wasn't my best move, and I suspect has more to do with my current degree of painful decrepitude than the run itself! On the positive side however I did discover I can still 'spilt' after all these years.
Jeez....I had almost forgotten where exactly my abs were located but right now, each time I laugh or cough or move almost at all, I am painfully reminded!
I gave it a rest over the weekend to let my long since knackered (thanks to the gymnastics in the first place) and hypermobile joints recover a little, and then it's back to it again today.
....and they say this is good for us?? ;o)
Sunday, 20 July 2008
Does this page load slowly?
I seem to be getting reports that this page takes forever to load for some people since I 'went pink'..... and thus far I am at a loss to know why.
If it loads slowly for you I would appreciate a comment to say just how slowly and if this is a new phenomenon! A few clues as to your browser etc. might help too.
So far my guesses as to why I have gone slow don't seem to have fixed it but I'll keep trying.
If it loads slowly for you I would appreciate a comment to say just how slowly and if this is a new phenomenon! A few clues as to your browser etc. might help too.
So far my guesses as to why I have gone slow don't seem to have fixed it but I'll keep trying.
River dance drums
There are worse places to live than where this ensemble floats by your window on a Saturday morning and then disembarks to continue the cheerfulness on the quay! :o) Sound on.
Saturday, 19 July 2008
Saturday sojourn
At last...a weekend with absolutely nothing planned. Heaven! :o)
We can do exactly as we please for two whole days.... or do nothing at all.
Phones off, music, DVDs and books at the ready.
A chocolate filled weekend of shameless, lazy, indulgent debauchery is in order!
We can do exactly as we please for two whole days.... or do nothing at all.
Phones off, music, DVDs and books at the ready.
A chocolate filled weekend of shameless, lazy, indulgent debauchery is in order!
Friday, 18 July 2008
Just do it!
Sometimes I wonder at why I say some of the things I do....you know the kind of things, the ideas that sound good at the time they are uttered with enthusiasm but that you just know you will regret almost as soon as you hear the words leaving your mouth!
Over the last few months, as a result of my lack of gainful employment, I have turned slowly into something of a mouse potato, my general level of fitness and strength have diminished accordingly and I spend my nights frustrated, bored and sleepless because I'm never properly tired.
Don't misunderstand me, as a child and teenager I was a competitive gymnast and I was always extremely fit but once all that stopped, the umpteen years in a gym was enough for me to consider that exercise wasn't something I was about to do for fun any longer! Subsequently I mostly did physical jobs which maintained my strength (hey, how many 7.5 stone women do you know who can lift 40kg routinely all day long in the course of their work?) and I considered that was enough to prevent me turning into a sloth.....not for me the weekly work outs and all that Lycra malarkey!
But then came the mouse potato era of late and I stupidly mentioned to himself that perhaps I should 'do something' to keep myself a little fitter, the only other thing I had excelled at in my formative years was distance running and in one of those 'I'm feeling unusually positive' moments I very stupidly mentioned that perhaps I could start jogging. Mistake!
A while later mention was made of why I wasn't running yet? I needed a suitable excuse...and fast. One came in the form of a lack of running shoes and lack of money right now for spending on such luxuries. Money was put in my hand. Damnation! I duly attended the local shoe shops....nothing decent was to be found, least of all in a size 3. Phew! The whole shoe thing is a nightmare at the best of times with tiny feet and what's more, the whole running thing might have seemed like a good idea at the time but the status of mouse potato has it's attractions and the motivation to actually do anything about it, had long since disappeared.
I was safe, no shoes, no running! Wrong.
Two days later a courier knocked on the door with a parcel for me, inside of which was to be found a pristine pair of Nike running shoes...it seems himself had taken matters into his own hands having listened too long to my excuses and instead scoured the web for appropriate, decent quality, children's sized foot garb..... my by now increasingly vain efforts at avoidance were foiled yet again when they also fitted like a glove! Goddamn.
A final and desperate excuse for maintaining my mouse potato lifestyle also failed me dismally. The argument I presented, that my lovely new shoes were far too nice and white and cute to get muddy and yukky and nasty, was scorned and derided and met with mirth!
Any day now it would seem I am off pounding the pavements and river banks!
Please let it rain......what? you can run in rain??
Over the last few months, as a result of my lack of gainful employment, I have turned slowly into something of a mouse potato, my general level of fitness and strength have diminished accordingly and I spend my nights frustrated, bored and sleepless because I'm never properly tired.
Don't misunderstand me, as a child and teenager I was a competitive gymnast and I was always extremely fit but once all that stopped, the umpteen years in a gym was enough for me to consider that exercise wasn't something I was about to do for fun any longer! Subsequently I mostly did physical jobs which maintained my strength (hey, how many 7.5 stone women do you know who can lift 40kg routinely all day long in the course of their work?) and I considered that was enough to prevent me turning into a sloth.....not for me the weekly work outs and all that Lycra malarkey!
But then came the mouse potato era of late and I stupidly mentioned to himself that perhaps I should 'do something' to keep myself a little fitter, the only other thing I had excelled at in my formative years was distance running and in one of those 'I'm feeling unusually positive' moments I very stupidly mentioned that perhaps I could start jogging. Mistake!
A while later mention was made of why I wasn't running yet? I needed a suitable excuse...and fast. One came in the form of a lack of running shoes and lack of money right now for spending on such luxuries. Money was put in my hand. Damnation! I duly attended the local shoe shops....nothing decent was to be found, least of all in a size 3. Phew! The whole shoe thing is a nightmare at the best of times with tiny feet and what's more, the whole running thing might have seemed like a good idea at the time but the status of mouse potato has it's attractions and the motivation to actually do anything about it, had long since disappeared.
I was safe, no shoes, no running! Wrong.
Two days later a courier knocked on the door with a parcel for me, inside of which was to be found a pristine pair of Nike running shoes...it seems himself had taken matters into his own hands having listened too long to my excuses and instead scoured the web for appropriate, decent quality, children's sized foot garb..... my by now increasingly vain efforts at avoidance were foiled yet again when they also fitted like a glove! Goddamn.A final and desperate excuse for maintaining my mouse potato lifestyle also failed me dismally. The argument I presented, that my lovely new shoes were far too nice and white and cute to get muddy and yukky and nasty, was scorned and derided and met with mirth!
Any day now it would seem I am off pounding the pavements and river banks!
Please let it rain......what? you can run in rain??
Thursday, 17 July 2008
Don't you just hate it....
....when you manage, with a stunning degree of excellence, with prove yourself wrong!
Last night I decidedin my wisdom that in my efforts to give Hammy as much free space as possible to exercise, that not only would I allow her time in the hallway, that has been proven to have no hamster sized escape holes, but to expand her playground to include the kitchen.
I had checked it thoroughly for possible escape routes and had found only one, but having considered her increasing girth, upon further investigation I disregarded it as now way too small.
Fletch begged to differ and when I flounced out of the living room to the new and expanded play area with hammy in hand, it was to the sound of his voice ringing in my ears saying 'you'll be sorry'.
Ppfftt...does he think I'm stupid I thought as I gleefully placed one small critter on the floor.
You know of course what happened next don't you?!
Within seconds she had found the little hole under the cooker that I had deemed too small...It would appear I had seriously underestimated her ability to squish herself into a tiny place by 'playing flat'!!
Bugger! In an instant all I could see of her was her rear end, I made a grab for her....and then all I could see was one back foot! Oh no! Disaster!
This was not a time for pride! In a something less than calm manner I shrieked to Fletch that I needed help, I had images of my little hamster lost forever in the labyrinth that is this 140 year old, 8 story building, worse still a local cat might be significantly intrigued by this new variation on a mouse.
Fletch duly 'attended' to find me scrabbling around on the floor trying to find a way to coax out said lost critter in something of a panic. He poked at the little foot while I panicked some more, extracted a treat from the bag nearby, held it near to her and in just a few seconds she was out. It seems I had also underestimated the power of hamster treats!
He didn't actually utter the words 'I told you so' but there was the definite hint of a smirk on his face as he left me to put madam (complete with attached post adventure cobweb) firmly back in her cage with my tail between my legs!
Last night I decided
I had checked it thoroughly for possible escape routes and had found only one, but having considered her increasing girth, upon further investigation I disregarded it as now way too small.
Fletch begged to differ and when I flounced out of the living room to the new and expanded play area with hammy in hand, it was to the sound of his voice ringing in my ears saying 'you'll be sorry'.
Ppfftt...does he think I'm stupid I thought as I gleefully placed one small critter on the floor.
You know of course what happened next don't you?!
Within seconds she had found the little hole under the cooker that I had deemed too small...It would appear I had seriously underestimated her ability to squish herself into a tiny place by 'playing flat'!!
Bugger! In an instant all I could see of her was her rear end, I made a grab for her....and then all I could see was one back foot! Oh no! Disaster!
This was not a time for pride! In a something less than calm manner I shrieked to Fletch that I needed help, I had images of my little hamster lost forever in the labyrinth that is this 140 year old, 8 story building, worse still a local cat might be significantly intrigued by this new variation on a mouse.
Fletch duly 'attended' to find me scrabbling around on the floor trying to find a way to coax out said lost critter in something of a panic. He poked at the little foot while I panicked some more, extracted a treat from the bag nearby, held it near to her and in just a few seconds she was out. It seems I had also underestimated the power of hamster treats!
He didn't actually utter the words 'I told you so' but there was the definite hint of a smirk on his face as he left me to put madam (complete with attached post adventure cobweb) firmly back in her cage with my tail between my legs!
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Simon Toefield's 'TV dinner'
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
Monday, 14 July 2008
Twenty happy things
Inspired by Lisa who is trying to start a trend! All you have to do is think of twenty happy things in your life...it's a good exercise in positivity!
In no particular order....
1. I slept straight through for the last three nights! This might not be too astounding but it's the first time in five months.
2. I have 'outlaws' who I would choose as friends. One of the few positive things about my marital/divorce history is that I got to ditch the bad ones along with the husbands!
3. The sound of swans taking off and landing on the river.
4. However much I still miss Tilly I know she is very happy where she is.
5. I think I am winning a personal battle with a long standing difficulty.
6. I love and am loved.
7. TP continues to do marvellously.
8. 'Hammy' is learning that I am not scary.
9. I don't own a house... I never thought that would be a good thing but in the current political/financial climate I consider it a very good thing!
10. Losing almost all of anything I ever owned has taught me just how unimportant 'things' actually are.
11. Being broke makes even the tiny treats such a pleasure.
12. I have two baby blue tits on my bird feeder :o)
13. The sun is shining.
14. The man I love is also the person I respect most in the world. Don't assume the two always go together!
15. I have a Costa within two minutes walking distance!
16. I can eat any amount of chocolate without putting on weight.
17. Living on a river bank is fab. (unless you try to get home insurance!)
18. I was gifted a beautiful seriously pink orchid at the weekend.
19. I have a roof over my head and food in my tummy.
20. I get cuddles every day.
I'm not going to tag anyone...if you wanna do it, do it.
In no particular order....
1. I slept straight through for the last three nights! This might not be too astounding but it's the first time in five months.
2. I have 'outlaws' who I would choose as friends. One of the few positive things about my marital/divorce history is that I got to ditch the bad ones along with the husbands!
3. The sound of swans taking off and landing on the river.
4. However much I still miss Tilly I know she is very happy where she is.
5. I think I am winning a personal battle with a long standing difficulty.
6. I love and am loved.
7. TP continues to do marvellously.
8. 'Hammy' is learning that I am not scary.
9. I don't own a house... I never thought that would be a good thing but in the current political/financial climate I consider it a very good thing!
10. Losing almost all of anything I ever owned has taught me just how unimportant 'things' actually are.
11. Being broke makes even the tiny treats such a pleasure.
12. I have two baby blue tits on my bird feeder :o)
13. The sun is shining.
14. The man I love is also the person I respect most in the world. Don't assume the two always go together!
15. I have a Costa within two minutes walking distance!
16. I can eat any amount of chocolate without putting on weight.
17. Living on a river bank is fab. (unless you try to get home insurance!)
18. I was gifted a beautiful seriously pink orchid at the weekend.
19. I have a roof over my head and food in my tummy.
20. I get cuddles every day.
I'm not going to tag anyone...if you wanna do it, do it.
Sunday, 13 July 2008
Joe Cocker...then and now!
This will send chills down your spine....well it did mine anyways! Amazing.
Saturday, 12 July 2008
Friday, 11 July 2008
Sun, sea and sleep?
I wish! .....the reality is probably rain, rough seas and re-boots!
We are off for the weekend again, I say 'again' because whilst I enjoy the current seemingly constant visiting of folk, the idea of a few weekends just doing damn all at home, is becoming more attractive as the weeks go by. This time our destination is to the south coast and the 'outlaws', who's computer has died a very significant death and requires some heavy duty resurrection. Consequently instead of suncream and surfboards our weekend's packing includes Fletch's ever ready 'geek box' of miscellaneous hardware items (which as sod's law dictates will contain everything but the one item we desperately need to get the machine up and running), software and the statutory tool kit!
Hey....the weather forecast is dismal anyways and the sleep, well I'm still having major sleep issues (i.e. I don't) but at least I can wander a different house in the wee small hours, as always, enjoy the company....and there is Sophie the cat! :o)
We are off for the weekend again, I say 'again' because whilst I enjoy the current seemingly constant visiting of folk, the idea of a few weekends just doing damn all at home, is becoming more attractive as the weeks go by. This time our destination is to the south coast and the 'outlaws', who's computer has died a very significant death and requires some heavy duty resurrection. Consequently instead of suncream and surfboards our weekend's packing includes Fletch's ever ready 'geek box' of miscellaneous hardware items (which as sod's law dictates will contain everything but the one item we desperately need to get the machine up and running), software and the statutory tool kit!
Hey....the weather forecast is dismal anyways and the sleep, well I'm still having major sleep issues (i.e. I don't) but at least I can wander a different house in the wee small hours, as always, enjoy the company....and there is Sophie the cat! :o)
Thursday, 10 July 2008
Mother needs police check to escort son!
A mother from Wales is required to have a CRB check before escorting her own severely epileptic son to school!!!
He is liable to have a seizure whilst travelling in the taxi provided by the local authority and his mother is qualified to administer the necessary medication, she would not come into contact with any other child than her own!
The full story is HERE.
Are the powers that be in the UK now completely demented?!! The more of this kind of idiocy I hear the more I begin to really dislike my own country. Are those holding positions of authority no longer able to make individual judgements because the nanny has state has rendered them completely witless and unable to rationalise anything at all?
Best I say no more for fear of a long line of expletives being the only likely result!
He is liable to have a seizure whilst travelling in the taxi provided by the local authority and his mother is qualified to administer the necessary medication, she would not come into contact with any other child than her own!
The full story is HERE.
Are the powers that be in the UK now completely demented?!! The more of this kind of idiocy I hear the more I begin to really dislike my own country. Are those holding positions of authority no longer able to make individual judgements because the nanny has state has rendered them completely witless and unable to rationalise anything at all?
Best I say no more for fear of a long line of expletives being the only likely result!
Free range!
Perhaps I will live to regret the fact that I kinda feel sorry for Hammy (why we gave her a name I don't know, it never gets used!) being shut in a cage 27/7...but thus far a little free range time seems to work well, providing of course I limit her geography to some degree!
Wednesday, 9 July 2008
Fellatio is good for you!
Warning: Adult content.
Here's one for the boys!
I can't help but wonder if a news story that has re-surfaced on CNN this morning is for real!
We women are only too well aware of the male penchant for a 'certain' sex act, and we have listened to a lifetime of unending jokes and suggestions that 'it is good for us' but from a north Carolina state university comes the findings of a 'research project' that suggests performing fellatio twice a week will reduce our risk of breast cancer by up to 40%! Is this maybe substantive proof that what the guys have been telling us all along, is in fact true.....or is it perhaps just way too convenient a result! ;o)
Ok, the rationale seems perfectly feasible to my limited intellect but I'm still wondering if somehow I've lost the plot and today is April the 1st!
Too much opportunity for hilarity...I am resisting, for the full story hit THIS
Here's one for the boys!
I can't help but wonder if a news story that has re-surfaced on CNN this morning is for real!
We women are only too well aware of the male penchant for a 'certain' sex act, and we have listened to a lifetime of unending jokes and suggestions that 'it is good for us' but from a north Carolina state university comes the findings of a 'research project' that suggests performing fellatio twice a week will reduce our risk of breast cancer by up to 40%! Is this maybe substantive proof that what the guys have been telling us all along, is in fact true.....or is it perhaps just way too convenient a result! ;o)
Ok, the rationale seems perfectly feasible to my limited intellect but I'm still wondering if somehow I've lost the plot and today is April the 1st!
Too much opportunity for hilarity...I am resisting, for the full story hit THIS
Tuesday, 8 July 2008
Monday, 7 July 2008
Biking border terrier!
A border terrier in the south of England with a penchant for riding pillion!
Click here for video.
Love it!
Click here for video.
Love it!
Saturday, 5 July 2008
Mission accomplished
The mission has been accomplished...and in more ways than one.
Patient transport services have been carried out successfully and with only one major traffic jam to contend with in 400 miles of motorway, which was pretty impressive so I can now hang up my chauffeurs cap for a week or two, all things being equal.
More importantly the consultation at the hospital was even more impressive!
The prof. (hey, no common or garden consultants or registrars here thankyouverymuch) who carried out the surgery was completely amazed by TP's speed and manner of recovery, suggesting that maybe plastic surgery had been carried out in error for such an apparently well looking patient to be in front of him, as opposed to the massively invasive surgery that it actually was!
Of course things are never quite that straightforward, we also learned, as we expected though one always hopes won't be the case, that 'phase two' of this experience will next move onto a course of chemotherapy but, and it's a big but, the chemo is a 'belt and braces' maneuver, just in case one or two of those nasty little mutant cancer cells made a last minute run for it. None have been tracked down in any place they shouldn't be but they can be masters of disguise so for safety's sake the buggers are about to encounter the chemical version of Pearl Harbour!
So, we have a few weeks to regroup the troops both emotionally and in the case of TP also physically and then it's onward and upward.
It may sound somewhat peculiar that we walked into a consultation to discover a confirmed diagnosis of cancer (the boffins could only be 90% sure prior to surgery) and that chemo was the order of the day but despite that we came out on a relative high, but on the scale of all things cancerous, and particularly the cancerous thing in question, TP and the rest of us couldn't have been luckier! It's a tough thing to go through but by chance we got one of the world's most experienced and knowledgeable professors in the field on the case and performing the surgery and the hospital houses one of the leading oncology units and research facilities. If you are going to have cancer then this is the place you want to be treated! It's amazing, as is the prognosis for recovery and as ever TP's resolute and inspiring approach to the whole issue!
None of us are under any mis-guided idea that chemo is going to be a walk in the park but methods of delivery and the pharmacology of anti-emetics have come on in leaps and bounds in recent years..... so with a little luck and much finger crossing it should all be reasonably civilised and before long this whole hoo ha can be consigned to history! :o)
Patient transport services have been carried out successfully and with only one major traffic jam to contend with in 400 miles of motorway, which was pretty impressive so I can now hang up my chauffeurs cap for a week or two, all things being equal.
More importantly the consultation at the hospital was even more impressive!
The prof. (hey, no common or garden consultants or registrars here thankyouverymuch) who carried out the surgery was completely amazed by TP's speed and manner of recovery, suggesting that maybe plastic surgery had been carried out in error for such an apparently well looking patient to be in front of him, as opposed to the massively invasive surgery that it actually was!
Of course things are never quite that straightforward, we also learned, as we expected though one always hopes won't be the case, that 'phase two' of this experience will next move onto a course of chemotherapy but, and it's a big but, the chemo is a 'belt and braces' maneuver, just in case one or two of those nasty little mutant cancer cells made a last minute run for it. None have been tracked down in any place they shouldn't be but they can be masters of disguise so for safety's sake the buggers are about to encounter the chemical version of Pearl Harbour!
So, we have a few weeks to regroup the troops both emotionally and in the case of TP also physically and then it's onward and upward.
It may sound somewhat peculiar that we walked into a consultation to discover a confirmed diagnosis of cancer (the boffins could only be 90% sure prior to surgery) and that chemo was the order of the day but despite that we came out on a relative high, but on the scale of all things cancerous, and particularly the cancerous thing in question, TP and the rest of us couldn't have been luckier! It's a tough thing to go through but by chance we got one of the world's most experienced and knowledgeable professors in the field on the case and performing the surgery and the hospital houses one of the leading oncology units and research facilities. If you are going to have cancer then this is the place you want to be treated! It's amazing, as is the prognosis for recovery and as ever TP's resolute and inspiring approach to the whole issue!
None of us are under any mis-guided idea that chemo is going to be a walk in the park but methods of delivery and the pharmacology of anti-emetics have come on in leaps and bounds in recent years..... so with a little luck and much finger crossing it should all be reasonably civilised and before long this whole hoo ha can be consigned to history! :o)
Friday, 4 July 2008
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Thursday, 3 July 2008
One the road again
Today begins phase two of 'The Patients' (from here on in referred to as 'TP') possible medical treatment.
Phase one, the surgery, has been a resounding success with recovery, albeit far from over, progressing much better than we had dared to hope, phase two begins this evening as I hit the road again to start on the first leg of a 400 mile round trip as 'patient transport services'.
The designated hospital is far from home and for obvious reasons a 'driver' is required, that's me! I may not be much help medically but driving I can do and this time I get a stop over. I am only leaving tonight because tomorrow's appointment is early and we do actually need to get there! The M25 and M40 being what they are, if I attempted the whole journey in one hit we would likely never make it on time!
The appointment is an important one, with the attendant concerns and anxieties, it's the day that should provide us with all the detailed post operative information and where we will learn if any further treatment is required.... and if so then specifically what.
There is an up-side in all situations if you look hard enough, so they tell me.... the up-side to this one?....I get to drive TP's verynicethankyouverymuch car, it being much more comfortable and more importantly, more reliable than my old jallopy!
Fingers and thumbs crossed please if you will, for a positive outcome :o)
Phase one, the surgery, has been a resounding success with recovery, albeit far from over, progressing much better than we had dared to hope, phase two begins this evening as I hit the road again to start on the first leg of a 400 mile round trip as 'patient transport services'.
The designated hospital is far from home and for obvious reasons a 'driver' is required, that's me! I may not be much help medically but driving I can do and this time I get a stop over. I am only leaving tonight because tomorrow's appointment is early and we do actually need to get there! The M25 and M40 being what they are, if I attempted the whole journey in one hit we would likely never make it on time!
The appointment is an important one, with the attendant concerns and anxieties, it's the day that should provide us with all the detailed post operative information and where we will learn if any further treatment is required.... and if so then specifically what.
There is an up-side in all situations if you look hard enough, so they tell me.... the up-side to this one?....I get to drive TP's verynicethankyouverymuch car, it being much more comfortable and more importantly, more reliable than my old jallopy!
Fingers and thumbs crossed please if you will, for a positive outcome :o)
Wednesday, 2 July 2008
Hamster power!
The tale of a hamster, a mobile phone and a turbine!
Perhaps Nutmeg can be of more use than I previously imagined! ;o)
Perhaps Nutmeg can be of more use than I previously imagined! ;o)
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
Stitched up!
If you are in any way squeamish or do not appreciate a sick sense of humour can I suggest before you read any further, that you instead click the little red cross at the top right of your browser.
Right, warning issued, I shall proceed with the post, accepting no further responsibility for any offence caused or injury sustained through fainting!
If you aren't familiar with them the picture on the right is of surgical staples. You may or may not recall I posted recently that a member of my immediate family had undergone very major surgery, these staples are just five of a scarily large number removed recently from 'the patient'. I say a scarily large number because the incision required was what is termed a 'roof incision', named as such because it is the shape of an apex roof.....and about the same size in this instance! Running in both directions from just below the sternum to just short of each hip bone in a perfect inverted 'V'. If I were to hazard a guess I would say the combined length is somewhere in the the region of 20-24 inches, hence the horribly large number of staples required to close the wound.
So what are they doing here? Well, the patient decided upon removal of said staples, that the care received by the hospital which carried out the surgery was very deserv'ed of a donation of funds by way of a thank you.... and to 'top up' the donation it would be very amusing to 'sell off' the items in question!
The sale proved to be popular, the entire stock selling out in a day with a child of the family even insisting on having the one's 'with bits on', or she wouldn't buy!
...and those in the picture are mine, bought and paid for in full, though quite what I should do with them next is beyond me! ;o)
Right, warning issued, I shall proceed with the post, accepting no further responsibility for any offence caused or injury sustained through fainting!
If you aren't familiar with them the picture on the right is of surgical staples. You may or may not recall I posted recently that a member of my immediate family had undergone very major surgery, these staples are just five of a scarily large number removed recently from 'the patient'. I say a scarily large number because the incision required was what is termed a 'roof incision', named as such because it is the shape of an apex roof.....and about the same size in this instance! Running in both directions from just below the sternum to just short of each hip bone in a perfect inverted 'V'. If I were to hazard a guess I would say the combined length is somewhere in the the region of 20-24 inches, hence the horribly large number of staples required to close the wound.
So what are they doing here? Well, the patient decided upon removal of said staples, that the care received by the hospital which carried out the surgery was very deserv'ed of a donation of funds by way of a thank you.... and to 'top up' the donation it would be very amusing to 'sell off' the items in question!
The sale proved to be popular, the entire stock selling out in a day with a child of the family even insisting on having the one's 'with bits on', or she wouldn't buy!
...and those in the picture are mine, bought and paid for in full, though quite what I should do with them next is beyond me! ;o)
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