13.11.04
Saturday, 13 November 2004
Fickle female
Yesterday.......now let me think, oh yes, I recall now though it seems some time ago.
PG and I had arranged to go shopping after he finished work at 2 pm, I could tell he was enthralled with the idea, try as he might to hide his excitement at the prospect of an afternoon off shopping he couldn't disguise it, it was the positive and enraptured response to the suggestion that gave it away.....NOT! Severely lack lustre would be a closer description in fact!
And so it was, barely out of bed, sun shining and the prospect of the real world not an hour and a half away I decided to go alone, this decision did not displease PG. My destination was to be Edinburgh, purely on the basis that it it marginally closer then Newcastle, and so off I set. The route, assuming one doesn't use the A1, is stunning, winding open roads and unending vistas of hills and turns in all shades of greens and browns.
For me it is a somewhat frustrating journey, never before have I seen roads more suited to being traveled on two wheels. Quiet, winding, smooth, fast, just perfect. There are innumerable bends that I defy anyone, who has any passion whatsoever for motorcycling to be able to ride, without at least attempting to make contact between knee slider and tarmac! Do I miss it?...hell yeah I miss it and I do so wish, that on each occasion I make this journey, some leather clad smart ass wouldn't rub it in by 'doing his stuff' within my line of sight! I could spit feathers of frustration and envy as I potter along unexcitedly in my little car.
My destination arrived at I made purposefully for my first intended purchase, a new cell phone. Of course, having done my research on the internet prior to making the trip, what happened....they didn't have the phone I wanted...no one did.... so what did I do? I'll tell you what I did, what I always bloody well do, I singed another years contract for a different one. I was not, having driven 70 miles going to be thwarted at this point but of course I should learn. I know my self better than that. I love gadgets, I had researched my quarry thoroughly and I knew almost as I signed I would not want what I had signed for once I arrived home and I was right. It just wasn't quite what I wanted, in fact it was far from it.
I am a Nokia woman, I have been for 15 years, this interloper is not Nokia. Life is too short to fight with new menu systems and buttons, places strategically to trip up ones fingers, for weeks on end, missing calls and sending unintelligible messages, I knew that it would aggravate me, I should have had patience but no, I had to have it now! ......I checked the contract, I have 14 days within which I may return it, so now I have to drive all the way back again..........or maybe you will see it on Ebay sometime soon. Arggghhhhh
Is it any wonder guys consider us women fickle on occasion? Lol.
PG and I had arranged to go shopping after he finished work at 2 pm, I could tell he was enthralled with the idea, try as he might to hide his excitement at the prospect of an afternoon off shopping he couldn't disguise it, it was the positive and enraptured response to the suggestion that gave it away.....NOT! Severely lack lustre would be a closer description in fact!
And so it was, barely out of bed, sun shining and the prospect of the real world not an hour and a half away I decided to go alone, this decision did not displease PG. My destination was to be Edinburgh, purely on the basis that it it marginally closer then Newcastle, and so off I set. The route, assuming one doesn't use the A1, is stunning, winding open roads and unending vistas of hills and turns in all shades of greens and browns.
For me it is a somewhat frustrating journey, never before have I seen roads more suited to being traveled on two wheels. Quiet, winding, smooth, fast, just perfect. There are innumerable bends that I defy anyone, who has any passion whatsoever for motorcycling to be able to ride, without at least attempting to make contact between knee slider and tarmac! Do I miss it?...hell yeah I miss it and I do so wish, that on each occasion I make this journey, some leather clad smart ass wouldn't rub it in by 'doing his stuff' within my line of sight! I could spit feathers of frustration and envy as I potter along unexcitedly in my little car.
My destination arrived at I made purposefully for my first intended purchase, a new cell phone. Of course, having done my research on the internet prior to making the trip, what happened....they didn't have the phone I wanted...no one did.... so what did I do? I'll tell you what I did, what I always bloody well do, I singed another years contract for a different one. I was not, having driven 70 miles going to be thwarted at this point but of course I should learn. I know my self better than that. I love gadgets, I had researched my quarry thoroughly and I knew almost as I signed I would not want what I had signed for once I arrived home and I was right. It just wasn't quite what I wanted, in fact it was far from it.
I am a Nokia woman, I have been for 15 years, this interloper is not Nokia. Life is too short to fight with new menu systems and buttons, places strategically to trip up ones fingers, for weeks on end, missing calls and sending unintelligible messages, I knew that it would aggravate me, I should have had patience but no, I had to have it now! ......I checked the contract, I have 14 days within which I may return it, so now I have to drive all the way back again..........or maybe you will see it on Ebay sometime soon. Arggghhhhh
Is it any wonder guys consider us women fickle on occasion? Lol.
Bah!
Ugh! 5.20 am on a Saturday and I'm off to work, it's 1 degree outside and my car, for the first time this winter, needs scraping....I will catch up I promise, hell where have the last 24 hours gone? Nowhere too exciting sadly! Lol.
Bah....and now I notice it is also the 13th! Oh no! Not, of course, that I am even remotely superstitious but.......you know.....
Bah....and now I notice it is also the 13th! Oh no! Not, of course, that I am even remotely superstitious but.......you know.....
Friday, 12 November 2004
Phew......
....I've made it here at last!
Most unlike me I know, a whole day gone by and not so much as a peep from me. In fact I can't even remember the last time that it took me until 8.30 in the evening to even check my mails, let alone a whole day without blogging!
That said, I still don't have any time, rush, rush, rush ......I'll be back later!
Most unlike me I know, a whole day gone by and not so much as a peep from me. In fact I can't even remember the last time that it took me until 8.30 in the evening to even check my mails, let alone a whole day without blogging!
That said, I still don't have any time, rush, rush, rush ......I'll be back later!
Thursday, 11 November 2004
What herb are you?
YOU ARE CATNIP
What herb are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
I kid you not....this is truly the result I got! Catnip, Lol
10000 and counting
Hurrahhhh,we got there, while I slept my 10000th visitor arrived and it was none other than MICHELLE of Justitia fame:
I'm kinda glad it was a regular and friend rather than someone just passing through. Amusingly and typically, as I sat an watched for a time last night as the counter had only 12 to go, it's provider kindly took it down and left a message telling me I was required to replace the code with a new one!! Even I don't relish fiddling with even the simplest piece of code and my template at that hour of the night but it had to be done! lol.
Anyways, thanks chaps and chapesses for your continued loyalty....the next big one is 100000 but at current rates it's gonna be at least another 4.5 years so I think for now I will forget about it!
Returning Visits:7
Location: Australia
Hostname:tow-ts1-2600.tpgi.com.au (203.213.0.10)
Entry Page:jmw500.blogspot.com/
Exit Page:jmw500.blogspot.com/2004/11/gemmak-gets-reviewed.html#comments
Referring URL:maggiezfarmaz.blogspot.com/
I'm kinda glad it was a regular and friend rather than someone just passing through. Amusingly and typically, as I sat an watched for a time last night as the counter had only 12 to go, it's provider kindly took it down and left a message telling me I was required to replace the code with a new one!! Even I don't relish fiddling with even the simplest piece of code and my template at that hour of the night but it had to be done! lol.
Anyways, thanks chaps and chapesses for your continued loyalty....the next big one is 100000 but at current rates it's gonna be at least another 4.5 years so I think for now I will forget about it!
Wednesday, 10 November 2004
gemmak gets reviewed
This goes a little against the grain for me but under threat of severe punishment being heaped upon me if I do not, I have promised Magz I will draw your attention to THIS
I submitted my blog to the Weblog Review a few days ago and today the considerations of three brave reviewers were published.
To Magz I have to say the biggest thank you....you flatter me, it is probably undeserved but it's kinda nice *blush*.
Where my other two reviewers are concerned, your points, good and bad, are of value, honest is good. I have taken your thoughts on board and I thank you for the time you spent here and your efforts in writing your reviews. I only take issue on one small point.....my world clocks are there because I need them in my dotage!! I use them constantly, I cannot for the life of me remember the time differences for so many places and when I can afford five small matching clocks for my desk they will be gone. None the less I have to concede, that for those who do not have a fondness for 'busy' sidebars mine was never going to be a winner! :o)
Thank you again to all of you but for obvious reasons a great big thank you to Magz.
I submitted my blog to the Weblog Review a few days ago and today the considerations of three brave reviewers were published.
To Magz I have to say the biggest thank you....you flatter me, it is probably undeserved but it's kinda nice *blush*.
Where my other two reviewers are concerned, your points, good and bad, are of value, honest is good. I have taken your thoughts on board and I thank you for the time you spent here and your efforts in writing your reviews. I only take issue on one small point.....my world clocks are there because I need them in my dotage!! I use them constantly, I cannot for the life of me remember the time differences for so many places and when I can afford five small matching clocks for my desk they will be gone. None the less I have to concede, that for those who do not have a fondness for 'busy' sidebars mine was never going to be a winner! :o)
Thank you again to all of you but for obvious reasons a great big thank you to Magz.
Christmas 2004? No thanks.
I'm feeling a little sorry for myself right now.
As a child and as an adult I have adored Christmas time, it has been marginally ruined by the unending run up entailed in retail but none the less it is a special time and one where I look forward to spending time with PG and our families. It has become more important to me with my move North and the consequent infrequency of time with them.
PG has just called me....what were we saying about employer loyalty? He has worked 9 of the last 10 Christmas's without complaint but this year requested time off to enable us to spend it with my family at my sisters home in the Midlands. Failing that he had asked for an early shift on Christmas day so that we at least could eat dinner together and enjoy the late afternoon and evening.
You know what's coming next don't you? He just received his rota for the festive season, he has the the Thursday and Christmas eve off........I am required to work those two days and that is followed by a 3pm-11pm shift on Christmas day and a repeat on Boxing day.....New Year is much the same!!
I have no relatives nearby and nor does PG and my friends here will be spending Christmas with their families. I could, I suppose, travel South alone but I don't want to leave PG alone for Christmas and I don't want to spend it without him.
I know someone has to do the job but hell......why is it always him?! All of his colleagues have families close to hand, and I know everyone would like Christmas off and that is not possible, it is a drawback of moving so far I suppose but FFS...........good will to all men?? Forget it.
So, if you need a blog baby-sat or a website designed over the festivities call me........I have a few free days!
I'm off to sulk now. :o(
As a child and as an adult I have adored Christmas time, it has been marginally ruined by the unending run up entailed in retail but none the less it is a special time and one where I look forward to spending time with PG and our families. It has become more important to me with my move North and the consequent infrequency of time with them.
PG has just called me....what were we saying about employer loyalty? He has worked 9 of the last 10 Christmas's without complaint but this year requested time off to enable us to spend it with my family at my sisters home in the Midlands. Failing that he had asked for an early shift on Christmas day so that we at least could eat dinner together and enjoy the late afternoon and evening.
You know what's coming next don't you? He just received his rota for the festive season, he has the the Thursday and Christmas eve off........I am required to work those two days and that is followed by a 3pm-11pm shift on Christmas day and a repeat on Boxing day.....New Year is much the same!!
I have no relatives nearby and nor does PG and my friends here will be spending Christmas with their families. I could, I suppose, travel South alone but I don't want to leave PG alone for Christmas and I don't want to spend it without him.
I know someone has to do the job but hell......why is it always him?! All of his colleagues have families close to hand, and I know everyone would like Christmas off and that is not possible, it is a drawback of moving so far I suppose but FFS...........good will to all men?? Forget it.
So, if you need a blog baby-sat or a website designed over the festivities call me........I have a few free days!
I'm off to sulk now. :o(
Bound Stateside again
Today again I am about to pack my virtual case and head off Stateside to take care of 'And now for something completely different'. Lisa, it's owner, is Chicago bound on a business trip and consequently will be absent for the day.
It's a little weird to be let loose in someone else's 'patch', kinda like taking care of someone else's child or pet, almost more worrying than looking after your own.
That said it should be fun assuming of course my small mind can come up with enough posts to keep both sides of the Atlantic up and running all day and can fathom the technicalities and navigation of a different provider!
Catch you there later maybe!
It's a little weird to be let loose in someone else's 'patch', kinda like taking care of someone else's child or pet, almost more worrying than looking after your own.
That said it should be fun assuming of course my small mind can come up with enough posts to keep both sides of the Atlantic up and running all day and can fathom the technicalities and navigation of a different provider!
Catch you there later maybe!
I'm ever hopeful
Today again I am at the mercy of another tradesman! I mentioned last week my small disaster with my car's windscreen whereby in my attempt to remove a large heap of something unpleasant not so kindly deposited by a seagull I scratched it so badly I rendered it akin to that obscure glass one finds in a bathroom window protecting the modesty of those therein! How I hear you say can seagull deposit damage glass........this was a new one on me but once aware it became sadly obvious that seagull 'pooh' is full of sand!
Hence it is that I await the arrival of the tradesman charged with the job of replacing the windscreen. Forgive my lack of faith but I'm not holding my breath. I have no reason to doubt this guys appearance at the stated appointment time other than my lifetime's experience of tradesmen and women. If this guy arrives at the time and place designated it will be a rare occurrence and I am currently attempting to think of a suitable prize should he do so. No lewd suggestion thank you!
Plumbers, electricians, heating engineers, landlords, insurance salesmen,telecommunications professionals and motor mechanics, none in my experience ever arrive on time if at all so why should a vehicle glazier be any different? I am ever hopeful though that this time will be different and that by dinner time I will have a bright shiny new windscreen designed to be seen through, installed.
There is of course the other issue involved here....how successful said installation will be, I have been this route before only to discover 3 inches of rainwater loitering under foot subsequent to rainfall and the fitting of a new windscreen. Again I am ever hopeful thought not convinced!
Hence it is that I await the arrival of the tradesman charged with the job of replacing the windscreen. Forgive my lack of faith but I'm not holding my breath. I have no reason to doubt this guys appearance at the stated appointment time other than my lifetime's experience of tradesmen and women. If this guy arrives at the time and place designated it will be a rare occurrence and I am currently attempting to think of a suitable prize should he do so. No lewd suggestion thank you!
Plumbers, electricians, heating engineers, landlords, insurance salesmen,telecommunications professionals and motor mechanics, none in my experience ever arrive on time if at all so why should a vehicle glazier be any different? I am ever hopeful though that this time will be different and that by dinner time I will have a bright shiny new windscreen designed to be seen through, installed.
There is of course the other issue involved here....how successful said installation will be, I have been this route before only to discover 3 inches of rainwater loitering under foot subsequent to rainfall and the fitting of a new windscreen. Again I am ever hopeful thought not convinced!
Tuesday, 9 November 2004
I must learn to say 'NO'!
Grrrr...I have to work today, it's not the work that is bugging me rather the inconsideration and stupidity that surrounds my working today.
I agreed a week or two back to take on an extra day a week, no problem, I need the money and was glad of the offer. Needless to say though this was not contracted and hence can be fiddled with at corporate will!
It is thus that on Sunday my shift for this week was changed suddenly, this is not unusual, apparently we as employees have no life outside of work and never have arrangements made! I would normally have worked a full day on Thursday which suits me fine but it has been decided in someone's wisdom that my presence is required for half a shift today and half a shift on Thursday instead.
This may sound like no big deal and mostly it isn't save for the fact that I have an almost 40 mile round trip on each occasion and as my remuneration is not impressive, once one deducts the tax and the cost of the fuel it is barely worth my working at all! In fact if you consider that it also makes two days this week unusable then from my point of view it is completely pointless.
Add to that this shift is across the middle of the day, I get no break, the length of the shift is carefully engineered just within employment laws to make sure I don't get one, and hence don't have a chance to eat the whole thing aggravates me intensely!
Of course, this situation is within the parameters of my contract so apart from appealing to the common sense (???) of my management I have no argument. I have had this 'discussion' on many occasions with those that decide my shifts but still it appears to fall on deaf ears!!
Why do I not just learn to stand my ground and say NO!? I'll tell you why, in the first place I am not good at the 'no' word and in the second, despite 'talking the talk' on employee considerations, when push comes to shove there is little action..... should I make my point too loudly they will stop offering me overtime at all. It seems we have to be more and more flexible as time goes on..........it will come as no surprise to learn that flexibility and loyalty seems to be a one way street!
This is a small point but it aggravates the hell out of me. Rant over.
I agreed a week or two back to take on an extra day a week, no problem, I need the money and was glad of the offer. Needless to say though this was not contracted and hence can be fiddled with at corporate will!
It is thus that on Sunday my shift for this week was changed suddenly, this is not unusual, apparently we as employees have no life outside of work and never have arrangements made! I would normally have worked a full day on Thursday which suits me fine but it has been decided in someone's wisdom that my presence is required for half a shift today and half a shift on Thursday instead.
This may sound like no big deal and mostly it isn't save for the fact that I have an almost 40 mile round trip on each occasion and as my remuneration is not impressive, once one deducts the tax and the cost of the fuel it is barely worth my working at all! In fact if you consider that it also makes two days this week unusable then from my point of view it is completely pointless.
Add to that this shift is across the middle of the day, I get no break, the length of the shift is carefully engineered just within employment laws to make sure I don't get one, and hence don't have a chance to eat the whole thing aggravates me intensely!
Of course, this situation is within the parameters of my contract so apart from appealing to the common sense (???) of my management I have no argument. I have had this 'discussion' on many occasions with those that decide my shifts but still it appears to fall on deaf ears!!
Why do I not just learn to stand my ground and say NO!? I'll tell you why, in the first place I am not good at the 'no' word and in the second, despite 'talking the talk' on employee considerations, when push comes to shove there is little action..... should I make my point too loudly they will stop offering me overtime at all. It seems we have to be more and more flexible as time goes on..........it will come as no surprise to learn that flexibility and loyalty seems to be a one way street!
This is a small point but it aggravates the hell out of me. Rant over.
Monday, 8 November 2004
gemmak goes Stateside
I made mention yesterday that someone had kindly and somewhat flatteringly, extended an invitation in my direction over the weekend to do something I have never done before and promised further details, well this is those details.
This morning I packed my virtual bags and headed Stateside to take up that invitation HERE for the first time.
Here's hoping I can maintain the standard, it's kinda scary to be plodding around in someone else's territory!
This morning I packed my virtual bags and headed Stateside to take up that invitation HERE for the first time.
Here's hoping I can maintain the standard, it's kinda scary to be plodding around in someone else's territory!
A narcissistic moment
Please excuse my narcissitic tendencies where my visitor stats are concerned!
Those of you who visit here regularly will have noticed by the number of bits of tracking code scattered around, that I am more than a little interested in seeing who has been here!
This week I am hoping to make it to what I see as a tiny milestone.....10000 hits, I never in a million moments of imagination envisaged when I began this, that anyone would read it let alone that number. There are those among us who have far more impressive stats but for me what I have is just fine. I might add here that my stats are reasonably accurate. I persist in using the less than professional Bravenet counter purely because it is the only one that allows me to ignore my own hits without having the luxury of a static I.P. and thereby does not artificially inflate my figures. On the odd occasion I have lost the cookie and registered my own visits I have even been know to subtract them! How's that for honesty? Lol.
Hidden away there are others that supply me with much improved tracking facilities, it fascinates me to see who has been here and where they came from etc. To be able to watch someone navigate my tiny little patch of the w.w.w. and know they are in the Bronx, Saudi, Spain, Canada or wherever and to narrow it down to a specific city or closer is still just amazing to me.
So like I said, apologies for my narcissism and to those of you who visit, ta very much!. I will endeavor, with all this technology, to define and report back who exactly makes the 10000th hit when it happens but I make no guarantees! I recently read a blog in which the author was thanking his 100000th visitor, hell, if I ever make it to that I will throw a party but by then I imagine I will be too decrepit to join in! :o)
Those of you who visit here regularly will have noticed by the number of bits of tracking code scattered around, that I am more than a little interested in seeing who has been here!
This week I am hoping to make it to what I see as a tiny milestone.....10000 hits, I never in a million moments of imagination envisaged when I began this, that anyone would read it let alone that number. There are those among us who have far more impressive stats but for me what I have is just fine. I might add here that my stats are reasonably accurate. I persist in using the less than professional Bravenet counter purely because it is the only one that allows me to ignore my own hits without having the luxury of a static I.P. and thereby does not artificially inflate my figures. On the odd occasion I have lost the cookie and registered my own visits I have even been know to subtract them! How's that for honesty? Lol.
Hidden away there are others that supply me with much improved tracking facilities, it fascinates me to see who has been here and where they came from etc. To be able to watch someone navigate my tiny little patch of the w.w.w. and know they are in the Bronx, Saudi, Spain, Canada or wherever and to narrow it down to a specific city or closer is still just amazing to me.
So like I said, apologies for my narcissism and to those of you who visit, ta very much!. I will endeavor, with all this technology, to define and report back who exactly makes the 10000th hit when it happens but I make no guarantees! I recently read a blog in which the author was thanking his 100000th visitor, hell, if I ever make it to that I will throw a party but by then I imagine I will be too decrepit to join in! :o)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
