You know the ones, where you just can't seem to 'get it together', well I'm having one!
I've drifted about doing damn all this morning, gazing into space and half starting various things but finishing none. This state of mind is no doubt self inflicted, PG has worked a night shift the last two days and somehow when he's absent I don't manage to make it to bed until stupid o'clock. Last night I was still glassy eyed and fiddling here until gone 2am and the previous night almost 4.30 am
When I finally did meander bed-ward I couldn't sleep.....courtesy of one small cat choosing the hours of darkness and the bed, as a platform for her latest rendition of the 'cat tango'! Please don't advise me to shut her out, she begins unending practice of her rotovation skills on the door should I make that move.
So now, PG is home and asleep, the golf course is flooded so that's out and he wants to 'do something' this afternoon. The 'something' is ill defined as yet and I see a difference of opinion on the horizon! Yes, I know I moan intermittently that we 'never go anywhere' and I hate to waste the opportunity of some time together, which is rare, but please....why today? I need to do nothing today!
Hey ho, perhaps I will muster a modicum of energy and interest and head out somewhere............but don't count on it!
Wednesday, 19 January 2005
Tuesday, 18 January 2005
Who says.......
Tortie
....that cat's aren't as bright as dogs?
Meet 'Tortie', affectionately known as 'Poo'..... don't ask, I don't know!
Tortie's humans are good friends of ours, in fact the first friends I met when I moved here and didn't know a soul and long time friends of PG's. Tortie is one of those cats, that given half a chance you would kidnap and take home, she has a particularly soft coat, a gentle nature and a face that appears to be permanently smiling.
Tortie is the apple of her 'mothers' eye, though three years ago, with the birth of her first human sibling 'Tortie time' became understandably, slightly more limited. She adjusted well and settled into the new routine. She now faces a new challenge, human sibling number two is imminent and she has decided that if she cannot naturally command the appropriate level of attention at all times, then she must take matters into her own hands or in this case her own paws!
Tortie has discovered that no amount of incessant, pitiful meowing at the door will attract instant attention when she requires entry into her cozy home from hunting expeditions....... with the added responsibilities and distractions her 'mum' has of late, instant access is not always available.
Not to be thwarted in her efforts to attract the attention she desires, she has recently learnt and perfected the art of 'knocking'! To this end she has begun persistently and intrepidly, balancing on the narrow window ledge, whilst knocking voraciously on the glass with her delicate little paw until someone does the honours and opens 'her' door!!
It's snowing at last!
Not the stuff of blizzards and a whiteout thus far.... but it's a start! :o)
(click to enlarge)
It's snowing!
(click to enlarge)
It's snowing!
Monday, 17 January 2005
The smell of snow?
(Click to enlarge)
Snow clouds over the 'backyard'? 17.01.05 ~ 12.51 hrs
Again we are forecast snow, theoretically this will fall between 15.00 hrs today and overnight, though having learnt from this years previous predictions I will resist the temptation to rush out to William Hill with ideas of making my fortune!
It's looking good having said that, the barometric pressure is falling nicely, the temperature is dropping at about 1 degree centigrade an hour and precipitation looks likely.
In these parts there are locals who profess to be able to 'see' snow in the clouds or even more peculiarly can 'smell' snow in the air. I have to confess that in my short experience they tend to be right in their predictions, unfortunately I don't have access to such a person right now so will have to rely on electronic gadgetry which seems to be somewhat less reliable of late!
As sod's law would have it.....if it is going to snow heavily it will be tonight, why?....because PG is working a night shift for two days and my constant wishing for the white stuff could come back to haunt me by leaving him marooned at work and myself alone in the dark with no heating or power.....not of course that I have any tendency, what so ever, toward pessimism!
Snow clouds over the 'backyard'? 17.01.05 ~ 12.51 hrs
Again we are forecast snow, theoretically this will fall between 15.00 hrs today and overnight, though having learnt from this years previous predictions I will resist the temptation to rush out to William Hill with ideas of making my fortune!
It's looking good having said that, the barometric pressure is falling nicely, the temperature is dropping at about 1 degree centigrade an hour and precipitation looks likely.
In these parts there are locals who profess to be able to 'see' snow in the clouds or even more peculiarly can 'smell' snow in the air. I have to confess that in my short experience they tend to be right in their predictions, unfortunately I don't have access to such a person right now so will have to rely on electronic gadgetry which seems to be somewhat less reliable of late!
As sod's law would have it.....if it is going to snow heavily it will be tonight, why?....because PG is working a night shift for two days and my constant wishing for the white stuff could come back to haunt me by leaving him marooned at work and myself alone in the dark with no heating or power.....not of course that I have any tendency, what so ever, toward pessimism!
A mother at 66
A Romanian woman, Adriana Iliescu, is reported to have given birth at the age of 66 in Bucharest following nine years of fertility treatment. It is believed to be the greatest age at which a woman has produced a child and has earned her a place in the record books. Previously the honour was held by a woman of 65.
Ms Iliescu's daughter was born prematurely by caesarian section weighing 3lbs, after her twin died in the womb.
I don't apologise for feeling that this is a ridiculous, ill considered and selfish act. I do understand that for many women the need to have a child is an inherent and deep seated aspect of their psychological make up and that to have remained childless, is for some a devastating situation. Does there not thought come a point where one learns at least to accept fate and build a life without children.
To become a parent at the age of 66 seems to be a choice entirely about the needs and wishes of the mother, not those of the child. I don't doubt for one minute that this baby will be loved and cared for but in reality, at 66, one is unlikely to live to see many of the important life stages of the offspring and is even more unlikely to have the physical capacity to be involved in the child's life to the degree a younger parent would and should be. This child is very likely to have to deal with the trauma of losing her mother at a relatively early time in her life, something most parents abhor the thought of.....this lady had created the possibility of that happening willingly and knowingly.
And where were the morals and common sense of the medical profession here? Ms Iliescu, a well qualified and intelligent woman it seems, may well have had her ability to see this decision in the 'cold light of day' impaired by her emotional need for a child but could the professionals caring for her not see the problems involved?
I don't believe as women we have an absolute right to children at any cost and particularly where that cost is likely to be highest for the child, though I am an advocate of assisted fertility in appropriate circumstances.
I am childless, in part from choice but in part due to circumstance. My choice was made more on the basis that my life was never in a place where I felt I could offer a child a stable and suitable life, than a decision made purely because I didn't want a child. Yes, certainly my psyche seemed to be lacking the desperate need to reproduce that many women suffer, so the decision for me was not perhaps as difficult as for many who find they are unable to conceive naturally.....but I do know that it is possible to have a life without children!
Maybe I should be rejoicing in the happiness of this lady and in the technology that allowed her to fulfill her dream but I just can't help feeling she has made a selfish decision that has a strong possibility of adversely affecting her daughters wellbeing and happiness at a time in her life when she should be care free and happy.
Adriana Iliescu says her family have a history of longevity, let's hope she is right!
Ms Iliescu's daughter was born prematurely by caesarian section weighing 3lbs, after her twin died in the womb.
I don't apologise for feeling that this is a ridiculous, ill considered and selfish act. I do understand that for many women the need to have a child is an inherent and deep seated aspect of their psychological make up and that to have remained childless, is for some a devastating situation. Does there not thought come a point where one learns at least to accept fate and build a life without children.
To become a parent at the age of 66 seems to be a choice entirely about the needs and wishes of the mother, not those of the child. I don't doubt for one minute that this baby will be loved and cared for but in reality, at 66, one is unlikely to live to see many of the important life stages of the offspring and is even more unlikely to have the physical capacity to be involved in the child's life to the degree a younger parent would and should be. This child is very likely to have to deal with the trauma of losing her mother at a relatively early time in her life, something most parents abhor the thought of.....this lady had created the possibility of that happening willingly and knowingly.
And where were the morals and common sense of the medical profession here? Ms Iliescu, a well qualified and intelligent woman it seems, may well have had her ability to see this decision in the 'cold light of day' impaired by her emotional need for a child but could the professionals caring for her not see the problems involved?
I don't believe as women we have an absolute right to children at any cost and particularly where that cost is likely to be highest for the child, though I am an advocate of assisted fertility in appropriate circumstances.
I am childless, in part from choice but in part due to circumstance. My choice was made more on the basis that my life was never in a place where I felt I could offer a child a stable and suitable life, than a decision made purely because I didn't want a child. Yes, certainly my psyche seemed to be lacking the desperate need to reproduce that many women suffer, so the decision for me was not perhaps as difficult as for many who find they are unable to conceive naturally.....but I do know that it is possible to have a life without children!
Maybe I should be rejoicing in the happiness of this lady and in the technology that allowed her to fulfill her dream but I just can't help feeling she has made a selfish decision that has a strong possibility of adversely affecting her daughters wellbeing and happiness at a time in her life when she should be care free and happy.
Adriana Iliescu says her family have a history of longevity, let's hope she is right!
Sunday, 16 January 2005
What a lightweight!
I'm feeling pathetic!
It's not three years since I was working full time and I had done since leaving school, it never bothered me, I still found time to do the things I wanted to and I still had at least a modicum of energy left at the end of it all.
Not so now! Two days at work, granted it's quite a challenging job now and then, particularly on the weekend but I'm shattered....yup....in just two days I'm pathetically tired. The energy remains for nothing more than a half hearted crawl around the blogosphere and to fall into bed....perhaps one episode of CSI if I make a concerted effort.
Is this the dreaded age catching up, is it just that I'm no longer used to it, or am I turning into a laid back, life's no rush, country bumpkin already?
Whatever...where did the 'city girl' go?....what a lightweight! Lol.
It's not three years since I was working full time and I had done since leaving school, it never bothered me, I still found time to do the things I wanted to and I still had at least a modicum of energy left at the end of it all.
Not so now! Two days at work, granted it's quite a challenging job now and then, particularly on the weekend but I'm shattered....yup....in just two days I'm pathetically tired. The energy remains for nothing more than a half hearted crawl around the blogosphere and to fall into bed....perhaps one episode of CSI if I make a concerted effort.
Is this the dreaded age catching up, is it just that I'm no longer used to it, or am I turning into a laid back, life's no rush, country bumpkin already?
Whatever...where did the 'city girl' go?....what a lightweight! Lol.
Strawberry milkshake
For an old cat who would have us believe she is incapable of much exercise nowadays, Poppy appeared to manage remarkably well in navigating her way along the sofa, making a significant leap onto the desk and in picking her way through items thereon....... to obtain access to the remains of a strawberry milkshake PG left unattended!
And they say cat's don't have a sweet tooth!
The cat that got the 'cream'
And they say cat's don't have a sweet tooth!
The cat that got the 'cream'
Saturday, 15 January 2005
Friday's feast (31)...ooops, on a saturday!
Er...I forgot to post this yesterday!
Appetizer - If you could have a free subscription to any online service, which would you like to have?
Ebay
Soup - Describe your bathroom (furnishings, colors, etc.)
Cream porcelain suite, taupe carpet, blue and white walls with silver 'swirls', blue shower curtain with silver swirls, chrome shaving mirror, chrome over sink mirror and pots, tumbler etc. Pine door, architrave and loo seat, floor to ceiling unit for all of PG's 'stuff', never have I known a guy with so many 'personal grooming' items, Tart! :o)
Salad - What does the shape of a triangle make you think of?
The 'Bermuda Triangle'.
Main Course - Name 3 things or activities that you consider to be luxuries.
1. An 'anytime' cell phone contract.
2. A pair of 'Gucci' shoes.
3. To buy all my chocolate from Charbonnel and Walker.
Dessert - What was the last really great movie you watched?
God knows.....I haven't watched what I consider to be a good movie for years.
Appetizer - If you could have a free subscription to any online service, which would you like to have?
Ebay
Soup - Describe your bathroom (furnishings, colors, etc.)
Cream porcelain suite, taupe carpet, blue and white walls with silver 'swirls', blue shower curtain with silver swirls, chrome shaving mirror, chrome over sink mirror and pots, tumbler etc. Pine door, architrave and loo seat, floor to ceiling unit for all of PG's 'stuff', never have I known a guy with so many 'personal grooming' items, Tart! :o)
Salad - What does the shape of a triangle make you think of?
The 'Bermuda Triangle'.
Main Course - Name 3 things or activities that you consider to be luxuries.
1. An 'anytime' cell phone contract.
2. A pair of 'Gucci' shoes.
3. To buy all my chocolate from Charbonnel and Walker.
Dessert - What was the last really great movie you watched?
God knows.....I haven't watched what I consider to be a good movie for years.
Friday, 14 January 2005
Very strange
I am reliably informed that momentarily, at some point yesterday my blog appeared in the top 5 list on The Weblog Review! I have absolutely no idea how or why, I haven't done anything, I haven't contacted anyone and it's months and months since my own review took place and even then it wasn't the stuff of top 5's.
Had WSH not mailed me the instant she saw it I would never have known, indeed when she checked back I had disappeared as rapidly as I had appeared! No doubt in my case the result of an incorrect 'click' on the part of some anonymous individual at the 'working end'.
Which brings me to more oddities. Late last night I meandered around in my stats and pondered the searches that had led people here....slightly worrying!! Among the searches were the words or phrases 'foot fetish', 'pornography' and 'knickers'......all I can say is whoever ran those searches must have been horribly disappointed to arrive here, I can't imagine this what they were looking for! Others of amusement included 'mysticalball works', 'slippery flowers' and 'life and crime of Mike Tyson', heaven knows how those three landed up here at all.
Oh....and to whoever searched 'gemmack' 27 times in one day.....you got it wrong matey :op
Had WSH not mailed me the instant she saw it I would never have known, indeed when she checked back I had disappeared as rapidly as I had appeared! No doubt in my case the result of an incorrect 'click' on the part of some anonymous individual at the 'working end'.
Which brings me to more oddities. Late last night I meandered around in my stats and pondered the searches that had led people here....slightly worrying!! Among the searches were the words or phrases 'foot fetish', 'pornography' and 'knickers'......all I can say is whoever ran those searches must have been horribly disappointed to arrive here, I can't imagine this what they were looking for! Others of amusement included 'mysticalball works', 'slippery flowers' and 'life and crime of Mike Tyson', heaven knows how those three landed up here at all.
Oh....and to whoever searched 'gemmack' 27 times in one day.....you got it wrong matey :op
Cold start
The gales have now departed this corner of Scotland to be replaced by sub zero temperatures, fiery skies and a harsh frost.
These two pictures where taken only a few seconds apart but in opposite directions.
(click to enlarge)
Sun up 14.01.05
Cold Start 14.01.05
These two pictures where taken only a few seconds apart but in opposite directions.
(click to enlarge)
Sun up 14.01.05
Cold Start 14.01.05
Three things....
I thieved this quiz off Wacky Southern Housewife, who in turn thieved it from elsewhere, blah, blah ,blah, you know how it goes!
3 names you go by:
1. My own
2. gemmak
3. JK
3 screen names you have:
Uh?
3 things you like about yourself:
1. I'm honest
2. My size
3. I'm stubborn, ok, so it annoys the hell out of others, do I care?
3 things you hate/dislike about yourself:
1. My nose
2. Having my ears pierced twice
3. Smoking
3 things that scare you:
1. SPIDERS!!!
2. Violence
3. Dying
3 of your everyday essentials:
1. Cigarettes
2. Coffee
3. Computer
3 things you're wearing right now:
1. Track pants
2. Fleece.....I never promised I was elegant!
3. My grandmothers wedding ring
3 of your favourite bands/artists:
1. Katie melua
2. Lighthouse family
3. Robbie Williams...yeah yeah, I know.
3 of your favourite songs at present:
1. The closest thing to crazy ~ Katie melua
2. End of the sky ~ Lighthouse Family
3. Chained to you ~ Savage garden
3 new things you want to try in the next 12 months:
1. Build my own computer from scratch
2. Learn to ride a horse
3. Learn to play chess
3 things you want in a relationship (love is a given):
1. Intellect
2. Sex....who doesn't?
3. Sensitivity
2 truths and a lie:
1. I competed in the Olympics as a gymnast in 1976
2. I left my husband for someone I had never met
3. I live in one country and work in another
3 physical things about a love interest that appeal:
1. Strong thighs
2. Good butt
3. Nice hands....I can't define that, sorry!
3 things you just can't do:
1. Play an instrument
2. Look at a spider
3. Tolerate unkindness
3 of your favorite hobbies:
1. Er...blogging!
2. DIY
3. Photography
3 things you want to do really badly right now:
1. Sleep
2. Meet whoever sacked Joe Gordon
3. Find a magic potion to make Poppy live forever
3 careers you're considering:
1. Idle rich!
2. Anything where the main purpose is not economic gain
3. Hell, if I had this many ideas I wouldn't be working in retail!
3 places you want to go on vacation:
1. USA
2. Switzerland
3. Canada
3 kids names (either boy or girl):
1. Horatio
2. Hermione
3. Hubert ........Well no one said they had to be nice names :o)
3 things you want to do before you die:
1. Pay off my credit cards!
2. Own a dream car/bike
3. Make a difference somehow
3 people who have to take this quiz now:
1. Lisa
2. Jack
3. Magz
3 names you go by:
1. My own
2. gemmak
3. JK
3 screen names you have:
Uh?
3 things you like about yourself:
1. I'm honest
2. My size
3. I'm stubborn, ok, so it annoys the hell out of others, do I care?
3 things you hate/dislike about yourself:
1. My nose
2. Having my ears pierced twice
3. Smoking
3 things that scare you:
1. SPIDERS!!!
2. Violence
3. Dying
3 of your everyday essentials:
1. Cigarettes
2. Coffee
3. Computer
3 things you're wearing right now:
1. Track pants
2. Fleece.....I never promised I was elegant!
3. My grandmothers wedding ring
3 of your favourite bands/artists:
1. Katie melua
2. Lighthouse family
3. Robbie Williams...yeah yeah, I know.
3 of your favourite songs at present:
1. The closest thing to crazy ~ Katie melua
2. End of the sky ~ Lighthouse Family
3. Chained to you ~ Savage garden
3 new things you want to try in the next 12 months:
1. Build my own computer from scratch
2. Learn to ride a horse
3. Learn to play chess
3 things you want in a relationship (love is a given):
1. Intellect
2. Sex....who doesn't?
3. Sensitivity
2 truths and a lie:
1. I competed in the Olympics as a gymnast in 1976
2. I left my husband for someone I had never met
3. I live in one country and work in another
3 physical things about a love interest that appeal:
1. Strong thighs
2. Good butt
3. Nice hands....I can't define that, sorry!
3 things you just can't do:
1. Play an instrument
2. Look at a spider
3. Tolerate unkindness
3 of your favorite hobbies:
1. Er...blogging!
2. DIY
3. Photography
3 things you want to do really badly right now:
1. Sleep
2. Meet whoever sacked Joe Gordon
3. Find a magic potion to make Poppy live forever
3 careers you're considering:
1. Idle rich!
2. Anything where the main purpose is not economic gain
3. Hell, if I had this many ideas I wouldn't be working in retail!
3 places you want to go on vacation:
1. USA
2. Switzerland
3. Canada
3 kids names (either boy or girl):
1. Horatio
2. Hermione
3. Hubert ........Well no one said they had to be nice names :o)
3 things you want to do before you die:
1. Pay off my credit cards!
2. Own a dream car/bike
3. Make a difference somehow
3 people who have to take this quiz now:
1. Lisa
2. Jack
3. Magz
Thursday, 13 January 2005
Wednesday, 12 January 2005
Another one bites the dust!
As anyone who passes by here regularly will know, there is little that is guaranteed to get my hackles to rise more rapidly than the current 'trend' for employers to dismiss employees who apparently 'bringing the company into disrepute' by blogging on the subject of their work.
It is thus that I sit here now steaming, to coin a phrase.
Blackrat yesterday posted on the subject and via his comments I came upon this article in the Guardian today.
The blog, 'The Woolamaloo Gazette' and it's author can be found here
It is pointless my banging on about freedom of speech again, indeed freedom of speech is something I hold very strong views on but I have been there before. What amazes me most, aside from the obvious pomposity of companies who feel they have a right to control an employees life outside of work, is how the buffoons who attempt to hold that control persist in turning what where small blogs, read by only a few individuals into front page news for the broadsheets and thereby providing all the bad publicity they apparently seek to avoid!
Very astute move guys!
I for one will not be patronising Waterstones, Edinburgh again, or Waterstones anywhere for that matter. I doubt the loss of my meagre annual spend will give the C.E.O. nightmares but a few thousand 'me's' might give him or her a little discomfort and it will sure as hell make me feel better!
It is thus that I sit here now steaming, to coin a phrase.
Blackrat yesterday posted on the subject and via his comments I came upon this article in the Guardian today.
The blog, 'The Woolamaloo Gazette' and it's author can be found here
It is pointless my banging on about freedom of speech again, indeed freedom of speech is something I hold very strong views on but I have been there before. What amazes me most, aside from the obvious pomposity of companies who feel they have a right to control an employees life outside of work, is how the buffoons who attempt to hold that control persist in turning what where small blogs, read by only a few individuals into front page news for the broadsheets and thereby providing all the bad publicity they apparently seek to avoid!
Very astute move guys!
I for one will not be patronising Waterstones, Edinburgh again, or Waterstones anywhere for that matter. I doubt the loss of my meagre annual spend will give the C.E.O. nightmares but a few thousand 'me's' might give him or her a little discomfort and it will sure as hell make me feel better!
Let's go fly a kite
Not for the feeble!
With all this talk of wind there has been much mention of kites, mostly related to myself and the possibility that the kite would in fact fly me.
I have been there, I promise you!
Many moons ago, well I can't do the math to tell you exactly how many moons but something in the region of 12 years in any case, my then husband got 'into' flying power kites. These were most definitely not the kites you might buy for £20 and fly gently on a hill somewhere with children in tow, these where 'grown up' kites, power kites, flexifoils, stunt kites and fighting kites.
It was an eye opener for me at the time, this kind of kite flying I think was in relative infancy at the time though still quite technically advanced. We trailed all over the country attending 'kite festivals' and to the few outlets from where we could purchase the damn things.
As time went on we learnt to build our own, I doubt many households purchased an expensive sewing machine purely to build kites or had cupboards full if carbon fibre spars and 'ripstop' parachute fabric!
The majority of these things were beyond my physical capacity, without a doubt most would fly me, many of them required two men to hang onto them in any strength of breeze, could pull a buggy at relatively high speeds along a suitable open space and the line would easily remove ones fingers in an instant without heavy leather handwear as protection.
The specifics of the type of wind required were beyond me but one things was for sure, in wind of strengths such as we have here right now it was a 'no go', a grown up kite can be flown in remarkably little breeze and still have the ability to drag a grown man uncontrollably. The greatest fear of course was being in the position of losing control, these things cost hundreds of pounds and to 'let go' was not an option!
I for my part, unable to fly with the 'big boys' for much of the time, produced my own more novelty version which drew much attention at the various flying meetings we joined...... a black cat with 4 kittens hanging off the line below it,( a cat? no surprise there then!). This game was a damn good way of building upper body strength! Even that, with its 2 metre diameter 'mother cat' and .75 metre kittens was a handful that my 7.5 stone frame struggled with and often had to be anchored or rescued by a kindly and more suitably macho counterpart!
Even kite flying has it's attractions! ;o)
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