....to everyone of you for all the birthday wishes yesterday, here in comments, on facebook and on Twitter. You lot made my day! :)
It was always going to be an odd day for one reason and another, my home situation is somewhat strange and difficult, it's was my first 'occasion' since my fathers death and the ongoing dating saga wasn't causing me much in the way of joy but regardless, I had a good day and a very nice evening with a friend.
It wasn't anything like the party madness one might expect but I think I'm getting a bit beyond all that, it was however a day full of cake, chocolate and the reminder that I have some very good friends out there.
Again, I thank you guys. It may have been a strange day but ultimately I enjoyed it and the gift of friendship is the very best kind of gift!
Showing posts with label Birthdays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Birthdays. Show all posts
Wednesday, 14 April 2010
Tuesday, 13 April 2010
It's my birthday....
....and it's not started well!
'The date' who showed such promise appears to have possibly done a u-turn and I've woken up feeling poorly. Meh!
Perhaps things will improve as the day goes on. I do at least have the offer of an evening out at a friends later :)
'The date' who showed such promise appears to have possibly done a u-turn and I've woken up feeling poorly. Meh!
Perhaps things will improve as the day goes on. I do at least have the offer of an evening out at a friends later :)
Saturday, 10 April 2010
Un-birthday!
Today is my 'un-birthday'!
On my actual birthday in a few days time there will be only myself here so today my sister and nieces are here and we are having a little family lunch, there will be chocolate and there will be cake!
It feels very odd this year, it's my first 'occasion' since my dad died and life with my mother has been pretty 'challenging' since so this little gathering will be different to those that have gone before. It will be good to be together and to do something nice for a change, family soirees of late have not been happy fun filled occasions needless to say, but this one will be! ;)
Bring on the cake then.....
On my actual birthday in a few days time there will be only myself here so today my sister and nieces are here and we are having a little family lunch, there will be chocolate and there will be cake!
It feels very odd this year, it's my first 'occasion' since my dad died and life with my mother has been pretty 'challenging' since so this little gathering will be different to those that have gone before. It will be good to be together and to do something nice for a change, family soirees of late have not been happy fun filled occasions needless to say, but this one will be! ;)
Bring on the cake then.....
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
Blogiversary......gemmak is five!
Given that when I began this blog I neither expected to maintain to for longer than a few weeks nor thought anyone would actually read it, I still find it surprising when I hit a blog birthday.....and today is my 5th blogiversary!
There's been a fair amount of the proverbial water under this particular bridge in the last five years, some good, some not so good and it's been variably my saviour at times and a mill stone around my neck at other times, but what it has been is fun for the most part....and it's had quite an impact on my life in one way and another.
I've made some of my closest friends through this little spot on the interweb and as a consequence have had some pretty massive support from many, particularly recently. I've made a few quid along the way and I've also ended up in my current 'less than ideal' situation because of it..... but over 2000 posts and almost 128k hits later I'm still at it and you lot are still showing admirable loyalty and tolerance by keeping on coming back!
I thank you :o)
Another five years?....who knows....
There's been a fair amount of the proverbial water under this particular bridge in the last five years, some good, some not so good and it's been variably my saviour at times and a mill stone around my neck at other times, but what it has been is fun for the most part....and it's had quite an impact on my life in one way and another.
I've made some of my closest friends through this little spot on the interweb and as a consequence have had some pretty massive support from many, particularly recently. I've made a few quid along the way and I've also ended up in my current 'less than ideal' situation because of it..... but over 2000 posts and almost 128k hits later I'm still at it and you lot are still showing admirable loyalty and tolerance by keeping on coming back!
I thank you :o)
Another five years?....who knows....
Monday, 13 April 2009
It's my birthday....
.... and for obvious reasons it's going to be a difficult one but it is made considerably better by Daisy the Curly Cat, the best cat in the blogosphere agreeing, very kindly, to write a guest post for me.
Thank you Daisy and thank you to your mommie for taking the time and for making me smile on a day I don't much feel like smiling.
A Shelter Cat’s Story.
Hi everyone! It’s me, Daisy!
I am so excited to get to write a guest post for my friend. My Mommie is a volunteer at a no-kill cats-only rescue shelter, so I wanted to share a story about one special kitty’s journey.
His mother was a feral cat who came to the shelter to be spayed and released, only it turned out that she was pregnant and due to deliver right then. This little kitten and his littermates went straight into foster care until they were big enough to live at the shelter, and he was named “Neptune.”
When Neptune finally went to live at the shelter, they stole some of his blood with a needle. Then they stabbed him with a needle two times. Next, they put some stinky stuff in his neck furs, and his sharp little baby claws got trimmed. And then they made little Neptune eat some yucky-tasting medicine. Our boy was a brave kitten and did not growl or bite even once. When he was big enough, he was also taken to the clinic and given some medicine to make him feel sleepy. When Neptune woke up, he was surprised to find that his “boy-parts” had been taken away! Neptune was a little sad about that, but he got over it by the next day, for the other cats explained that the medicines and tests and such were to make sure he was healthy and stayed that way for a long time.
Finally, Neptune got put into his very own little room with plenty of fresh water, food, toys, a soft bed, and a litter box. He was sick for a little while with ringworm, but they did not kick him out because of that. Eventually, Neptune and his littermates got moved to the adoption area. Little Neptune was very excited that he might get to have a Forever home of his very own.
Pretty soon, all of Neptune’s littermates were adopted. Nobody wanted Neptune. But he was a happy kitten by nature, so he kept busy playing with the other cats and kittens at the shelter. He was sure that someone would see how handsome he was and adopt him any day. People came to visit Neptune, and the other cats. Sometimes, people would look at him and say things like “this one is cute” and “how about him?” but they always picked another cat. He waited and waited, for six long months and did not ever give up hope.
Until one day, a nice lady that volunteered at the shelter put him in a carrier and took him to her home. She explained to him that he would get to live with her family FOREVER! And Neptune got his true name, which was Harley. You see, this is the story of how my brother Harley came to live with me. But Harley’s story is not unique. There are thousands of wonderful cats and kittens just like Neptune waiting for their chance to become someone’s Harley.
You can keep up with Daisy and Harley everyday HERE.
Thank you Daisy and thank you to your mommie for taking the time and for making me smile on a day I don't much feel like smiling.
Hi everyone! It’s me, Daisy!
I am so excited to get to write a guest post for my friend. My Mommie is a volunteer at a no-kill cats-only rescue shelter, so I wanted to share a story about one special kitty’s journey.
His mother was a feral cat who came to the shelter to be spayed and released, only it turned out that she was pregnant and due to deliver right then. This little kitten and his littermates went straight into foster care until they were big enough to live at the shelter, and he was named “Neptune.”
When Neptune finally went to live at the shelter, they stole some of his blood with a needle. Then they stabbed him with a needle two times. Next, they put some stinky stuff in his neck furs, and his sharp little baby claws got trimmed. And then they made little Neptune eat some yucky-tasting medicine. Our boy was a brave kitten and did not growl or bite even once. When he was big enough, he was also taken to the clinic and given some medicine to make him feel sleepy. When Neptune woke up, he was surprised to find that his “boy-parts” had been taken away! Neptune was a little sad about that, but he got over it by the next day, for the other cats explained that the medicines and tests and such were to make sure he was healthy and stayed that way for a long time.
Finally, Neptune got put into his very own little room with plenty of fresh water, food, toys, a soft bed, and a litter box. He was sick for a little while with ringworm, but they did not kick him out because of that. Eventually, Neptune and his littermates got moved to the adoption area. Little Neptune was very excited that he might get to have a Forever home of his very own.
Pretty soon, all of Neptune’s littermates were adopted. Nobody wanted Neptune. But he was a happy kitten by nature, so he kept busy playing with the other cats and kittens at the shelter. He was sure that someone would see how handsome he was and adopt him any day. People came to visit Neptune, and the other cats. Sometimes, people would look at him and say things like “this one is cute” and “how about him?” but they always picked another cat. He waited and waited, for six long months and did not ever give up hope.
Until one day, a nice lady that volunteered at the shelter put him in a carrier and took him to her home. She explained to him that he would get to live with her family FOREVER! And Neptune got his true name, which was Harley. You see, this is the story of how my brother Harley came to live with me. But Harley’s story is not unique. There are thousands of wonderful cats and kittens just like Neptune waiting for their chance to become someone’s Harley.
You can keep up with Daisy and Harley everyday HERE.
Sunday, 18 January 2009
'Fletch is 40'!!!
Well, I had it all worked out, today's post was going to be simple, none of the 'what shall I write about today' malarkey, it was sorted, I had subject matter right in front of me.....but then, dammit, Fletch mentioned it wasn't er...'necessary' to blog the fact that today is his 40th birthday, and suddenly my easy post was gone!So, no public jokes about age, no rejoicing in the fact that from today, he can no longer poke fun at my having been languishing in the '40 something' category for years while he was merely '30 something', no chance for public asides regarding age, wrinkles or decrepitude, as I can't mention that it is Fletch's 40th birthday today, and of course I wouldn't dream of it, all those opportunities for revenge are lost to me!
Ain't life a bitch!
*Hey...... shhhhh, just between you and me Fletch, HAPPY
Sunday, 21 December 2008
It's all good
Well unsurprisingly I survived the 'corporate bash' on Friday and though amusingly it was worse than expected, the dire-ness of it all made it slightly more entertaining!
You know how these places are, portion control principles and portion control standards, a posh hotel that assumes we minions will be suitably impressed by the name and that they need not make the usual efforts they know their day to day customers would demand.
It transpired that the party was being held in a marquee, granted a big, professional marquee but still, in the high winds of Friday evening, a tent by any other name. It was cold, very draughty and in usual money gabbling way it was stuffed to the gunnels with way too many tables, gold painted, faux elegant, plastic chairs and low end decor. The lighting was straight out of a 70's disco and hung on such low gantry's we all spent the night trying to shield our eyes from green and red spotlight glare, the food was less than average and the 'entertainment' appeared to be a disco with a DJ who was mostly promoting a local radio station! The whole thing was reminiscent of a low budget wedding, only the appalling speeches were missing!
But, it's very tackiness was mildly entertaining in itself and we all made the best of it. As luck would have it we were seated with all our usual gang of friends and a considerable distance from the boss' so things could have been worse, the beer was free, no-one required issuing with an ASBO and the taxi turned up prompt at 12.30 to effect our escape for another year!
Yesterday evening however was a whole different story. We had a long standing invitation to dinner with a colleague of Fletch's who moved to the area recently and lives just around the corner. We had met him of course but not his wife so it was with a little apprehension that we set off in the evening to their house wondering how well it would all go.
We needn't have worried, it was a lovely night, good food, good wine, excellent coffee, excellent cheese and most importantly excellent company, we all got on like a house on fire! It was chilled, comfortable and a real pleasure. Their daughter, who is to celebrate her first birthday on Christmas day was an absolute delight (even to me who doesn't 'do' children) and the evening just flew by, none of that sneaky clock watching of the previous evening!
It's all good, 'K' is a stay at home mum and new to the area so she knows even fewer people than I do. We have plans to meet up for a coffee and a gossip now and then and we have an open invite back for dinner etc.....you never know if these things will turn into lifetime friendships or just occasional pleasant evening but it got off to a good start and it will be nice at least to have someone close by to share the odd cup of coffee and a natter with.
So that was our weekend. We had also managed to squish in an hour or so with Punctuation for a coffee and a chat yesterday which was cool (more on that another day) and now today we are recovering from the two late nights and the surfeit of last nights feasting, before tomorrow sees the start of manic parcel wrapping and a final shopping trip in readiness for the big day!
You know how these places are, portion control principles and portion control standards, a posh hotel that assumes we minions will be suitably impressed by the name and that they need not make the usual efforts they know their day to day customers would demand.
It transpired that the party was being held in a marquee, granted a big, professional marquee but still, in the high winds of Friday evening, a tent by any other name. It was cold, very draughty and in usual money gabbling way it was stuffed to the gunnels with way too many tables, gold painted, faux elegant, plastic chairs and low end decor. The lighting was straight out of a 70's disco and hung on such low gantry's we all spent the night trying to shield our eyes from green and red spotlight glare, the food was less than average and the 'entertainment' appeared to be a disco with a DJ who was mostly promoting a local radio station! The whole thing was reminiscent of a low budget wedding, only the appalling speeches were missing!
But, it's very tackiness was mildly entertaining in itself and we all made the best of it. As luck would have it we were seated with all our usual gang of friends and a considerable distance from the boss' so things could have been worse, the beer was free, no-one required issuing with an ASBO and the taxi turned up prompt at 12.30 to effect our escape for another year!
Yesterday evening however was a whole different story. We had a long standing invitation to dinner with a colleague of Fletch's who moved to the area recently and lives just around the corner. We had met him of course but not his wife so it was with a little apprehension that we set off in the evening to their house wondering how well it would all go.
We needn't have worried, it was a lovely night, good food, good wine, excellent coffee, excellent cheese and most importantly excellent company, we all got on like a house on fire! It was chilled, comfortable and a real pleasure. Their daughter, who is to celebrate her first birthday on Christmas day was an absolute delight (even to me who doesn't 'do' children) and the evening just flew by, none of that sneaky clock watching of the previous evening!
It's all good, 'K' is a stay at home mum and new to the area so she knows even fewer people than I do. We have plans to meet up for a coffee and a gossip now and then and we have an open invite back for dinner etc.....you never know if these things will turn into lifetime friendships or just occasional pleasant evening but it got off to a good start and it will be nice at least to have someone close by to share the odd cup of coffee and a natter with.
So that was our weekend. We had also managed to squish in an hour or so with Punctuation for a coffee and a chat yesterday which was cool (more on that another day) and now today we are recovering from the two late nights and the surfeit of last nights feasting, before tomorrow sees the start of manic parcel wrapping and a final shopping trip in readiness for the big day!
Thursday, 6 November 2008
A birthday and a big bag!
Yesterday I went to my parents for the day. It's been way too long since I managed to get there, between holidays and hospital appointments (my dad has been a bit poorly) somehow we just hadn't managed to get together for almost two months but finally yesterday we made it at last!
The 5th November is not only Guy Fawkes night but in our family a more important date too, it is my mums birthday and as a consequence there was a small amount of celebrating to be done by way of good food, pretty fireworks courtesy of my brother who I also haven't seen for an age, and much, much gloriously extreme chocolate cake!
It was a lovely day with some serious gossiping, catching up on all things family and much laughter... and there was an added bonus for me too. My sister in law, who has a 'bob or two' and who has a penchant for designer clothing is also, as luck would have it, the same size as me and had been having one of her occasional, 'there's no room left in the wardrobe' turn-outs. This is a good thing because far from it being one of those embarrassing moments when an old aunt presents you with a bag of hideous items that would otherwise 'only go to Oxfam' that you somehow, desperately have to politely decline, my SIL's bags of 'do you want any of these, I don't have room for them' items are like an early Christmas!
.....and as a consequence I left for my long, late night drive home clutching a big bag of almost new, mostly designer gear, worth originally a four figure sum, that all fitted like a glove and that I would have chosen myself if I ever had that kind of money!
Result! :o)
The 5th November is not only Guy Fawkes night but in our family a more important date too, it is my mums birthday and as a consequence there was a small amount of celebrating to be done by way of good food, pretty fireworks courtesy of my brother who I also haven't seen for an age, and much, much gloriously extreme chocolate cake!
It was a lovely day with some serious gossiping, catching up on all things family and much laughter... and there was an added bonus for me too. My sister in law, who has a 'bob or two' and who has a penchant for designer clothing is also, as luck would have it, the same size as me and had been having one of her occasional, 'there's no room left in the wardrobe' turn-outs. This is a good thing because far from it being one of those embarrassing moments when an old aunt presents you with a bag of hideous items that would otherwise 'only go to Oxfam' that you somehow, desperately have to politely decline, my SIL's bags of 'do you want any of these, I don't have room for them' items are like an early Christmas!
.....and as a consequence I left for my long, late night drive home clutching a big bag of almost new, mostly designer gear, worth originally a four figure sum, that all fitted like a glove and that I would have chosen myself if I ever had that kind of money!
Result! :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)
Friday, 20 June 2008
Party on?
At the beginning of the week in our usual chrome and glass encrusted drinking establishment, Fletch and I were joined by one of the bar-maids. A nice girl, friendly, chatty, good at her job and about to go off to university.
The conversation began with her asking me if I 'do dresses' and asking our names, because somehow over the months the 'introductions' had never happened, despite much chatter.
"I wonder where this is going" I thought to myself, while rapidly enlightening her to the fact that the last time I 'did' a dress I was about six years old!
It transpires that today is her 21st birthday and she is having a 'bit of a do' tonight, to which we found ourselves rather unexpectedly invited!!
There are two drawbacks here; Firstly it means I have to drag myself kicking and screaming into some less than laid back attire (ugh)and secondly I suspect we are going to increase the average age to a rather significant degree!
We are going to know no-one, Fletch will be fine, apparently her boyfriend is something of a geek so that's him sorted for conversation but me....hell, I can only hope her parents are there, as was suggested they may be!
The conversation began with her asking me if I 'do dresses' and asking our names, because somehow over the months the 'introductions' had never happened, despite much chatter.
"I wonder where this is going" I thought to myself, while rapidly enlightening her to the fact that the last time I 'did' a dress I was about six years old!
It transpires that today is her 21st birthday and she is having a 'bit of a do' tonight, to which we found ourselves rather unexpectedly invited!!
There are two drawbacks here; Firstly it means I have to drag myself kicking and screaming into some less than laid back attire (ugh)and secondly I suspect we are going to increase the average age to a rather significant degree!
We are going to know no-one, Fletch will be fine, apparently her boyfriend is something of a geek so that's him sorted for conversation but me....hell, I can only hope her parents are there, as was suggested they may be!
Tuesday, 15 April 2008
The perfect birthday
You have to be impressed by a man who not only lets you have chips and apple pie from McDonald's for breakfast on your birthday but also presents you with a big bag of presents and chocolate and then, way beyond the call of duty, organises a trip to a National Trust property...... just because they have a farm with lots of 'lambing action' going on. If there is one thing guaranteed to make me happy it's anything with fur and four legs and particularly new lambs. :o)
Ok, so fair comment, a National Trust property isn't our 'thing' by a long chalk, all those verynicemiddleclass families with hordes of screaming kids in their Barbour wellies just don't do it for us but the lambs do, well for me they do.
Fletch prefers his very rare on a plate with an elegant sauce (ugh!) but I have a passion for the living kind and since I left Scotland my annual small pleasure in watching the new born lambs playing in the fields has been severely lacking.
So, Sunday, off we went to Wimpole Hall, the aforementioned NT posh residence, not for the architecture or the Capability Brown gardens....nope for the farm, in search of lambs....and lambs we found, lots and lots of them, many only a few hours old and so utterly cuddly and cute....and daft! :o) And not only lambs, but donkeys, pigs with piglets, cows with calves, chicks of various breeds and big shire horses
......it was positive plethora of 'awwww-ness'....and ok, this farm facility was no doubt really intended for the under 10's but who cares, I loved it....and Fletch soldiered on bravely. ;o)
Then it was home to have dinner cooked for me, my favourite rich chocolate souffle for pudding, chocolates and more chocolates and my choice of movie, The Shawshank Redemption (incidentally a 9.2 on the IMDb scale).....the perfect 'gemmak' birthday.
Thank you to he who organised it all :o)
(Images clickable)
Ok, so fair comment, a National Trust property isn't our 'thing' by a long chalk, all those verynicemiddleclass families with hordes of screaming kids in their Barbour wellies just don't do it for us but the lambs do, well for me they do.
Fletch prefers his very rare on a plate with an elegant sauce (ugh!) but I have a passion for the living kind and since I left Scotland my annual small pleasure in watching the new born lambs playing in the fields has been severely lacking.
So, Sunday, off we went to Wimpole Hall, the aforementioned NT posh residence, not for the architecture or the Capability Brown gardens....nope for the farm, in search of lambs....and lambs we found, lots and lots of them, many only a few hours old and so utterly cuddly and cute....and daft! :o) And not only lambs, but donkeys, pigs with piglets, cows with calves, chicks of various breeds and big shire horses
......it was positive plethora of 'awwww-ness'....and ok, this farm facility was no doubt really intended for the under 10's but who cares, I loved it....and Fletch soldiered on bravely. ;o)
Then it was home to have dinner cooked for me, my favourite rich chocolate souffle for pudding, chocolates and more chocolates and my choice of movie, The Shawshank Redemption (incidentally a 9.2 on the IMDb scale).....the perfect 'gemmak' birthday.
Thank you to he who organised it all :o)
(Images clickable)
Sunday, 13 April 2008
Tuesday, 1 April 2008
Spam, a birthday not to celebrate
'VnIAGRnA'
Few of us have opened our mailboxes each day without being greeted with the sight of the bastardised word above, or something similar, yet another offer of a penis enlargement, the best 'no strings hot sex' we are ever going to experience or a life changing chance to purchase the aforementioned blue pill or other pharmaceutical wonder, at a knock down price!
Spam...the bane of the internet 'celebrates' it's birthday today, it's fifteen years since the phrase was first coined and thirty years since the first spam message went off on it's merry way into cyberspace. It still accounts for 99% of all email messages sent, it still slows down the proceedings the internet is supposed to be used for and the guys on the wrong end of it still manage to find ways to circumnavigate attempts to stop it!
What amazes me is that presumably, if it remains so prevalent it must still be economically viable for those that use it as a medium for advertising. The fact that they do use it doesn't surprise me one iota, where there is money to be extorted there is always someone ready step in. What does confound me though is that the very fact that it is viable must mean that recipients of this scourge must continue reading and responding to it in numbers vast enough for that to be the case!
It's a little like prostitution in that no one ever admits to availing themselves of the service but by definition they must....and in considerable numbers!
Few of us have opened our mailboxes each day without being greeted with the sight of the bastardised word above, or something similar, yet another offer of a penis enlargement, the best 'no strings hot sex' we are ever going to experience or a life changing chance to purchase the aforementioned blue pill or other pharmaceutical wonder, at a knock down price!
Spam...the bane of the internet 'celebrates' it's birthday today, it's fifteen years since the phrase was first coined and thirty years since the first spam message went off on it's merry way into cyberspace. It still accounts for 99% of all email messages sent, it still slows down the proceedings the internet is supposed to be used for and the guys on the wrong end of it still manage to find ways to circumnavigate attempts to stop it!
What amazes me is that presumably, if it remains so prevalent it must still be economically viable for those that use it as a medium for advertising. The fact that they do use it doesn't surprise me one iota, where there is money to be extorted there is always someone ready step in. What does confound me though is that the very fact that it is viable must mean that recipients of this scourge must continue reading and responding to it in numbers vast enough for that to be the case!
It's a little like prostitution in that no one ever admits to availing themselves of the service but by definition they must....and in considerable numbers!
Monday, 21 January 2008
I'm getting too old for this!
Result! It's a Monday and I'm not at work! And I'm not ill! Yayyyyy!
The reason? Fletch's birthday.....and a very heavy weekend of partying preceded by a suitable degree of forethought that today we would require a 'day of recovery' and hence a days holiday leave. It's a good feeling, Monday morning, the world is back to work and we ain't! ;o)
So, the sleepless weekend: A hundred mile drive to Cambridge on only three hours sleep the night before and then a mad night out in St Ives with friends, much beer, much food and much hilarity.
Bed for a few few hours then on the road again to the South coast, another two hundred miles and another night of hilarity, beer and this time tapas. Sunday, the return two hundred miles and finally a whole nights sleep!
It was a damn good weekend, a distraction and relaxation (mental if not physical) from the normal day to day hassles, I even got to sit on the beach (in strong winds and drizzle I hasten to add) and fit a rapid moment of retail therapy in, but really I am getting way to old for all the partying malarkey, or at least for whole weekends of it.
The tell tale signs of this I suspect were that and there were more than a few moments when curling up in a corner for a snooze seemed a very attractive prospect and that despite chastising myself for the reaction I found myself aggravated (just once mind you) by the volume of music preventing any conversation!
Yup....ten years ago I would have been horrified had anyone suggested the music was too loud......definite proof of age!
The reason? Fletch's birthday.....and a very heavy weekend of partying preceded by a suitable degree of forethought that today we would require a 'day of recovery' and hence a days holiday leave. It's a good feeling, Monday morning, the world is back to work and we ain't! ;o)
So, the sleepless weekend: A hundred mile drive to Cambridge on only three hours sleep the night before and then a mad night out in St Ives with friends, much beer, much food and much hilarity.
Bed for a few few hours then on the road again to the South coast, another two hundred miles and another night of hilarity, beer and this time tapas. Sunday, the return two hundred miles and finally a whole nights sleep!
It was a damn good weekend, a distraction and relaxation (mental if not physical) from the normal day to day hassles, I even got to sit on the beach (in strong winds and drizzle I hasten to add) and fit a rapid moment of retail therapy in, but really I am getting way to old for all the partying malarkey, or at least for whole weekends of it.
The tell tale signs of this I suspect were that and there were more than a few moments when curling up in a corner for a snooze seemed a very attractive prospect and that despite chastising myself for the reaction I found myself aggravated (just once mind you) by the volume of music preventing any conversation!
Yup....ten years ago I would have been horrified had anyone suggested the music was too loud......definite proof of age!
Thursday, 25 October 2007
Tilly is two!
Today is Tilly's second birthday.
I never imagined two years ago that I would have to part with her, I still miss her and still think of her every day and I still feel kinda guilty that somehow I let her down...... but for today I'm going to try and concentrate on knowing she is happy and very well cared for in her new home and remebering all her stupidities and funny little cat-ways that gave me such pleasure for the time she and I were a gang of two.
"Happy birthday little Tilly puss".
I never imagined two years ago that I would have to part with her, I still miss her and still think of her every day and I still feel kinda guilty that somehow I let her down...... but for today I'm going to try and concentrate on knowing she is happy and very well cared for in her new home and remebering all her stupidities and funny little cat-ways that gave me such pleasure for the time she and I were a gang of two.
Friday, 13 April 2007
Oh how typical!
I don't have a very good record with Friday the 13th as long serving readers here will know, so it seems appropriately typical that today, yet another Friday the 13th, should be my birthday!
Kinda figures....bloody typical!
Kinda figures....bloody typical!
Wednesday, 11 April 2007
A multi story!
Good grief...on a scale of one to ten for idiocy and lack of concentration I was up there at something around 1000 this afternoon!
I have been on a 'shoe quest', that is I need new shoes and my parents offered to buy me some for my birthday. This should not be a trauma but with size 2-3 feet and manufacturers beginning sizes at 4, buying new shoes is always somewhat of a tiresome carry on!
And so for weeks intermittently I have been trying to track down the one pair of size 3 shoes apparently left in the world, but time is running out, the birthday is soon so this week I have spent 7 whole damn hours on the shoe quest in shopping centers. I found one pair size 3....but that is not the point of this tale of stupidity!
Upon arrival at the local shopping centre this afternoon my phone rang, I answered it and became embroiled in the conversation. I think it pertinent at this point to suggest that blame may be laid at the feet (no pun intended) of the caller, for had he not called, my afternoon would have gone swimmingly...yes, definitely not my fault! ;o)
So.....embroiled in the call I left the car, locked it and headed for the shoe shops. It was an hour or two later I realised I had absolutely no recollection of where in the multi story car park I had left it......and furthermore my ticket for escape seemed to be missing....again no recollection of where it was! Gah!
In very slight panic mode I made my way back to the parking levels (still shoe-less) and began the hunt for my car......four floors I trawled and not a hint of it could I find. In slightly more severe panic mode at this point I decided best I go for a coffee and a cigarette and re-group my thoughts. I was not after all looking forward to subsequently having to pay a whole days rate (£25) for my also lost ticket!
Coffee and nicotine consumed I decided there was only one thing for it, wait for the shops to close, the car park to empty, and then take another look....my car should by then be almost alone and although I would have to walk a number of flights of stairs in my search, it should be easier to spot. In the meantime to kill the remaining time while I waited for the close of business I set about more shopping.
I decided to try on some items in a clothing store sometime later and in the usual hot and unpleasant scramble out of my clothes in the dressing room I took off the baseball cap I had been wearing to hide my rather less than perfect 'post work' coiffure. As I took off my hat what should I see but my parking ticket float down to the ground from my head....uh??....please don't ask how it got there, I have no idea whatsoever!
Things improved from that point on....I found some shoes that fitted (black and shocking pink....don't cringe) and my plan for the vanishing car was a success too. I had only to trail three flights of car park stairs before my little car stood out alone in front of me in the wide open space of the now almost empty parking bays!
Hurrahhhh!
I have been on a 'shoe quest', that is I need new shoes and my parents offered to buy me some for my birthday. This should not be a trauma but with size 2-3 feet and manufacturers beginning sizes at 4, buying new shoes is always somewhat of a tiresome carry on!
And so for weeks intermittently I have been trying to track down the one pair of size 3 shoes apparently left in the world, but time is running out, the birthday is soon so this week I have spent 7 whole damn hours on the shoe quest in shopping centers. I found one pair size 3....but that is not the point of this tale of stupidity!
Upon arrival at the local shopping centre this afternoon my phone rang, I answered it and became embroiled in the conversation. I think it pertinent at this point to suggest that blame may be laid at the feet (no pun intended) of the caller, for had he not called, my afternoon would have gone swimmingly...yes, definitely not my fault! ;o)
So.....embroiled in the call I left the car, locked it and headed for the shoe shops. It was an hour or two later I realised I had absolutely no recollection of where in the multi story car park I had left it......and furthermore my ticket for escape seemed to be missing....again no recollection of where it was! Gah!
In very slight panic mode I made my way back to the parking levels (still shoe-less) and began the hunt for my car......four floors I trawled and not a hint of it could I find. In slightly more severe panic mode at this point I decided best I go for a coffee and a cigarette and re-group my thoughts. I was not after all looking forward to subsequently having to pay a whole days rate (£25) for my also lost ticket!
Coffee and nicotine consumed I decided there was only one thing for it, wait for the shops to close, the car park to empty, and then take another look....my car should by then be almost alone and although I would have to walk a number of flights of stairs in my search, it should be easier to spot. In the meantime to kill the remaining time while I waited for the close of business I set about more shopping.
I decided to try on some items in a clothing store sometime later and in the usual hot and unpleasant scramble out of my clothes in the dressing room I took off the baseball cap I had been wearing to hide my rather less than perfect 'post work' coiffure. As I took off my hat what should I see but my parking ticket float down to the ground from my head....uh??....please don't ask how it got there, I have no idea whatsoever!
Things improved from that point on....I found some shoes that fitted (black and shocking pink....don't cringe) and my plan for the vanishing car was a success too. I had only to trail three flights of car park stairs before my little car stood out alone in front of me in the wide open space of the now almost empty parking bays!
Hurrahhhh!
Tuesday, 23 January 2007
Prague....at last!
So....the first few days of our holiday having been spent in Cambridge it was off to Prague in the Czech Republic on Wednesday for a few days.
This had not been as simple an operation as one might like to have imagined. Paris had been the originally intended destination but on discovering Eurostar had almost doubled their prices in the space of a few days, and determined not to be ripped off, an alternative 'city experience' was sought and late on Tuesday night, Expedia having nearly exasperated 'him' booking the trip, finally Prague was decided upon and booked.
Things were still not to be quite straightforward. Having made last minute arrangements we set off for Gatwick and our flight. We should have heard the warning bells ring when the automatic check-in 'thingy' appeared to have no record of us, but assuming (as one does) that it was the fault of the computer, we made our way to the desk. One look at the operators face was all we needed to impress upon us that something was wrong....and indeed it was. Our flight was from Heathrow! Oops!
We had needed to change the outbound flight at the last minute on the previous evening and had assumed (ok wrongly) that the new flight would still depart from the same airport. Um....lesson....never assume anything!
Thankfully we had arrived in plenty of time and luckily the M25 was clear as we made a mad-ish dash for LHR...I think if I am correct we did it in less than 30 minutes! Yup...Fletch can certainly drive, though it isn't always an experience for the faint of heart! ;o)
.....and finally we were checked in, boarded and airborne,
only to discover two hours later we had to remain 'parked' on the Prague runway for over an hour, courtesy of a bomb scare in the terminal. This did not look an overly promising start to our break, but things from there on in thankfully improved dramatically!
Our hotel was amazing, if you like 'modern and funky' which I do, (I can't tell you what the red 'thing' is in the image of the hotel foyer but there were a number of them dotted around and they were fab and fluffy) and was situated just off Wenceslas Square,
perfect for a few days meandering around the city...which is just what we did, wandered to our hearts content enjoying the beautiful architecture and scenery.
I'm not sure quite what I had expected Prague to be like but the reality was far and above anything I had imagined. This was perhaps a good time of year to visit, there were no hordes of tourists and none of the much warned of 'hen and stag nights' to contend with...though with beer at a pound a pint one can see why it attracts those in search of some 'pre-nuptial' party fun!
The architecture is stunning, the castle and churches adorned with incredible spires and gilding, gargoyles seemingly by the hundred hanging from every corner and masonry so intricate in places it's hard to imagine how it was ever completed!
Oh....and this is one very clean city!
There were of course other pleasures to be had, Prague is a cosmopolitan city with restaurants from most major cuisines, heaven for those among us who 'do food'....the inclusion of very good wine at very reasonable prices is a also a bonus and not one to be overlooked!
We were lucky, for whilst the UK suffered quite extreme storms while we were away we had only one night of wind and rain which provided us with a suitable opportunity to sample the hotel's noodle restaurant and celebrate Fletch's birthday without having to 'stagger' back in any kind of inebriated state!
All too quickly Saturday came and along with it our return flight back to Heathrow. I could happily have filled another few days 'investigating', I loved the place and I had the most fantastic time. The language might have been a little 'challenging' but aside from that it was perfect.... cigarettes were £1.50 (or less) a pack and there was even a Marks and Spencer! ;o)
(All images clickable)
This had not been as simple an operation as one might like to have imagined. Paris had been the originally intended destination but on discovering Eurostar had almost doubled their prices in the space of a few days, and determined not to be ripped off, an alternative 'city experience' was sought and late on Tuesday night, Expedia having nearly exasperated 'him' booking the trip, finally Prague was decided upon and booked.
Things were still not to be quite straightforward. Having made last minute arrangements we set off for Gatwick and our flight. We should have heard the warning bells ring when the automatic check-in 'thingy' appeared to have no record of us, but assuming (as one does) that it was the fault of the computer, we made our way to the desk. One look at the operators face was all we needed to impress upon us that something was wrong....and indeed it was. Our flight was from Heathrow! Oops!
We had needed to change the outbound flight at the last minute on the previous evening and had assumed (ok wrongly) that the new flight would still depart from the same airport. Um....lesson....never assume anything!
Thankfully we had arrived in plenty of time and luckily the M25 was clear as we made a mad-ish dash for LHR...I think if I am correct we did it in less than 30 minutes! Yup...Fletch can certainly drive, though it isn't always an experience for the faint of heart! ;o)
.....and finally we were checked in, boarded and airborne,
only to discover two hours later we had to remain 'parked' on the Prague runway for over an hour, courtesy of a bomb scare in the terminal. This did not look an overly promising start to our break, but things from there on in thankfully improved dramatically!
Our hotel was amazing, if you like 'modern and funky' which I do, (I can't tell you what the red 'thing' is in the image of the hotel foyer but there were a number of them dotted around and they were fab and fluffy) and was situated just off Wenceslas Square,
perfect for a few days meandering around the city...which is just what we did, wandered to our hearts content enjoying the beautiful architecture and scenery.
I'm not sure quite what I had expected Prague to be like but the reality was far and above anything I had imagined. This was perhaps a good time of year to visit, there were no hordes of tourists and none of the much warned of 'hen and stag nights' to contend with...though with beer at a pound a pint one can see why it attracts those in search of some 'pre-nuptial' party fun!
The architecture is stunning, the castle and churches adorned with incredible spires and gilding, gargoyles seemingly by the hundred hanging from every corner and masonry so intricate in places it's hard to imagine how it was ever completed!
Oh....and this is one very clean city!
There were of course other pleasures to be had, Prague is a cosmopolitan city with restaurants from most major cuisines, heaven for those among us who 'do food'....the inclusion of very good wine at very reasonable prices is a also a bonus and not one to be overlooked!
We were lucky, for whilst the UK suffered quite extreme storms while we were away we had only one night of wind and rain which provided us with a suitable opportunity to sample the hotel's noodle restaurant and celebrate Fletch's birthday without having to 'stagger' back in any kind of inebriated state!
All too quickly Saturday came and along with it our return flight back to Heathrow. I could happily have filled another few days 'investigating', I loved the place and I had the most fantastic time. The language might have been a little 'challenging' but aside from that it was perfect.... cigarettes were £1.50 (or less) a pack and there was even a Marks and Spencer! ;o)
(All images clickable)
Thursday, 18 January 2007
Where are we?
By the miracle (not) of modern technology and a very odd keyboard I have finally managed to post something from a place far from home. The 'miracle' however doesnt seem to allow me to transfer a photo from either my camera or phone so for the purpose of this post the image is stolen from the web.
So.....where are we?
Answer can be found HERE......along with an amusing tale!
Oh, and a very happy birthday Fletch........ how drunk??? :o)
So.....where are we?
Answer can be found HERE......along with an amusing tale!
Oh, and a very happy birthday Fletch........ how drunk??? :o)
Wednesday, 25 October 2006
One whole Tilly year!
Today is Tilly's first birthday...well really it's a year since I got her, I always do cat birthdays on the date I bring them home, because I never know the actual birth date!
I really didn't think she would still be here with me by today but she is so we're gonna have some cat birthday celebrations...that said I'm not sure quite what because she's had a new bed, toys and a collar in the last week and she doesn't like all the usual 'human food' treats (chicken, tuna etc. she's not interested!!!) most cats would kill for!
Perhaps it will just be a day of her favoured game,'worm catching', extra cuddles and bigger rations of her favourite cat food, one day ignoring her diet can't do any harm, it is her first ever birthday after all and I'm just grateful she's here with me at all. :o)
"Happy birthday Tilly puss".
25 October 2006
25 October 2005
Oh...and she never did grow into her ears! :o)
I really didn't think she would still be here with me by today but she is so we're gonna have some cat birthday celebrations...that said I'm not sure quite what because she's had a new bed, toys and a collar in the last week and she doesn't like all the usual 'human food' treats (chicken, tuna etc. she's not interested!!!) most cats would kill for!
Perhaps it will just be a day of her favoured game,'worm catching', extra cuddles and bigger rations of her favourite cat food, one day ignoring her diet can't do any harm, it is her first ever birthday after all and I'm just grateful she's here with me at all. :o)
Oh...and she never did grow into her ears! :o)
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