Tuesday, 16 August 2005
The Tube Fanatic That I Am,
Gem has sent these "live" camera shots to keep me properly envious of her trip to London. :)
Diamonds are a girls best friend
Eventually we made it safe and sound. No great traumas just a slow and boring nine hour drive, I told you that the idea of an overnight journey was becoming less attractive by the moment and by 3 am, after a day at work and only an hours sleep I was convinced.
The numerous coffee breaks en-route coupled with an accident causing a long tail back meant that despite leaving home at 2am we didn't arrive until 10.30 Monday morning.
Of course things have improved since then, much chatter, good food and celebrations of PG's birthday later, a good nights sleep and it's off into town this morning to an exhibition at the Natural History Museum destined to make me spit with envy and keep me riveted for hours. My passion, the one thing that could tempt me to wish I was a millionaire, an exhibition that could have been staged 'just for me'.....an exhibition of diamonds!! Big, beautiful, sparkling, diamonds. Yup, diamonds really are this girls best friend, or at least would be given the opportunity!
More later, train to catch :o)
The numerous coffee breaks en-route coupled with an accident causing a long tail back meant that despite leaving home at 2am we didn't arrive until 10.30 Monday morning.
Of course things have improved since then, much chatter, good food and celebrations of PG's birthday later, a good nights sleep and it's off into town this morning to an exhibition at the Natural History Museum destined to make me spit with envy and keep me riveted for hours. My passion, the one thing that could tempt me to wish I was a millionaire, an exhibition that could have been staged 'just for me'.....an exhibition of diamonds!! Big, beautiful, sparkling, diamonds. Yup, diamonds really are this girls best friend, or at least would be given the opportunity!
More later, train to catch :o)
Monday, 15 August 2005
That's it.....
....everything is done and we are about to head off into the night on our journey South.
The cats are ensconced in their own holiday home for the duration (I miss them already) after a small hoo ha getting them there (more on that when we get back), our bags are packed, I have completed my last day at work for a whole fortnight (yayyyyy) and everything is turned off, all that remains is to make the 400 mile drive.
I will as ever do my very best to ensure my challenge to post something here every day for a year doesn't fall by the way-side, tho likely with a little help from Lisa here and there.
So that's it for now, it's time to hit the road ........ I'll catch you at the other end guys :o)
The cats are ensconced in their own holiday home for the duration (I miss them already) after a small hoo ha getting them there (more on that when we get back), our bags are packed, I have completed my last day at work for a whole fortnight (yayyyyy) and everything is turned off, all that remains is to make the 400 mile drive.
I will as ever do my very best to ensure my challenge to post something here every day for a year doesn't fall by the way-side, tho likely with a little help from Lisa here and there.
So that's it for now, it's time to hit the road ........ I'll catch you at the other end guys :o)
Sunday, 14 August 2005
A fanfare please!
Finally, unbelievably, amazingly, gemmak is coming at you at the earth shattering, stunning, superfast, sexy speed of 2 meg!!!!
Wooooooooo hoooooooooo!!!!
Wooooooooo hoooooooooo!!!!
UK summer
You may need to click this picture and enlarge it too really appreciate what I mean when I say that something just tells you beyond all doubt, that it is definitely Summer in the UK! :o/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Only half a sleep until London now, the half is courtesy of PG, who in his wisdom has decided we will leave at 02.00 hours tomorrow and drive overnight in an effort to miss the worst of the traffic. It's beginning not to seem quite such a good plan as I drag myself off to work this morning!
P.S. Still no broadband!
Only half a sleep until London now, the half is courtesy of PG, who in his wisdom has decided we will leave at 02.00 hours tomorrow and drive overnight in an effort to miss the worst of the traffic. It's beginning not to seem quite such a good plan as I drag myself off to work this morning!
P.S. Still no broadband!
Saturday, 13 August 2005
The sworn enemy
Ditto yesterday spied her sworn enemy, much growling and spitting ensued, paws flailed and much a scene was created....it's easy to be brave from one floor up and indoors!
In her defence he has 'knocked holes' out of her on more than one occasion and when one faces the other without glass separating them various neighbor's, along with ourselves rush to her rescue when the yeowling alerts us.
At least this display of faux-bravery doesn't result in sore bits and vets bills and is highly amusing!
N.B. Still no broadband in sight!
In her defence he has 'knocked holes' out of her on more than one occasion and when one faces the other without glass separating them various neighbor's, along with ourselves rush to her rescue when the yeowling alerts us.
At least this display of faux-bravery doesn't result in sore bits and vets bills and is highly amusing!
N.B. Still no broadband in sight!
Friday, 12 August 2005
Nipples and other miscellanea
There is currently a debate going on in gemmak's-ville between Idgie, MIL and myself, a debate of monumental importance concerning the chick at the top of this page, the cat-woman, she who is clad in the stripey threads. The debate is this....can you or can you not detect a nipple escaping from her well designed and carefully placed attire??
I have scrutinised her, I really have but I just can't see it, the other parties concerned are absolutely convinced though that she is sporting a more sassy look that I was aware of and given my somewhat questionable eyesight I am happy to be proved wrong.....any opinions? who is right, who is wrong....should I be visiting my optometrist again?
Onto more serious things......yesterday another hour and a half was time wasted on the phone to BT and our ISP....still of course we have no action and still of course we have no broadband, I begin to despair of it ever happening, PG was so un-amused by last night there was even talk of canceling the order and living with dial-up, I quickly worked to calm him on that one but I can see his point!
We are today in a new situation, apparently, despite promise after promise of connection daily, for over a week now, and despite a 'guarantee' when we placed the order that connection would take place within 10 days, we are now on day 18 and BT now tells us that they don't give dates or times, they work in strict chronological order...end of story! When I put the question to them that engineer after engineer had made specific promises I was informed 'they shouldn't have done' and that he found that 'unlikely'! So now I'm being accused of telling untruths and still there is no route within one of the UK's largest companies for complaint, escalation or access to higher levels. This company seem to have completely by-passed any efforts at customer service or management techniques, hell, you and I could run this company better methinks!
I will of course be spending more time calling them today but in the meantime you might like to join Dave in this amusing little spin off from the gemmak's-ville broadband saga! Too funny Dave :o)
And last but not least in the days miscellanea.......there are only 2.5 'sleeps' left until we go on holiday! This has been the longest period in my life that I have not seen my parents and it's taken it's time in passing. It's almost 6 months since we last headed 'sarf', but at last the day is almost upon us. I have to attend the 'day job' on Saturday and Sunday and then in the wee small hours of Monday morning, in an effort to miss 'rush hour' at all points on the drive, we leave, headed for London :o)
I have scrutinised her, I really have but I just can't see it, the other parties concerned are absolutely convinced though that she is sporting a more sassy look that I was aware of and given my somewhat questionable eyesight I am happy to be proved wrong.....any opinions? who is right, who is wrong....should I be visiting my optometrist again?
Onto more serious things......yesterday another hour and a half was time wasted on the phone to BT and our ISP....still of course we have no action and still of course we have no broadband, I begin to despair of it ever happening, PG was so un-amused by last night there was even talk of canceling the order and living with dial-up, I quickly worked to calm him on that one but I can see his point!
We are today in a new situation, apparently, despite promise after promise of connection daily, for over a week now, and despite a 'guarantee' when we placed the order that connection would take place within 10 days, we are now on day 18 and BT now tells us that they don't give dates or times, they work in strict chronological order...end of story! When I put the question to them that engineer after engineer had made specific promises I was informed 'they shouldn't have done' and that he found that 'unlikely'! So now I'm being accused of telling untruths and still there is no route within one of the UK's largest companies for complaint, escalation or access to higher levels. This company seem to have completely by-passed any efforts at customer service or management techniques, hell, you and I could run this company better methinks!
I will of course be spending more time calling them today but in the meantime you might like to join Dave in this amusing little spin off from the gemmak's-ville broadband saga! Too funny Dave :o)
And last but not least in the days miscellanea.......there are only 2.5 'sleeps' left until we go on holiday! This has been the longest period in my life that I have not seen my parents and it's taken it's time in passing. It's almost 6 months since we last headed 'sarf', but at last the day is almost upon us. I have to attend the 'day job' on Saturday and Sunday and then in the wee small hours of Monday morning, in an effort to miss 'rush hour' at all points on the drive, we leave, headed for London :o)
Thursday, 11 August 2005
The annual tussle
This morning I was forced from in front of this machine at an unearthly hour to make the annual trek to the local vet, two cats in tow, for the much hated booster jabs.
This is not a favourite trip as you might imagine, both for myself or for small cat and big puss. As ever the trip is preceded by the annual tussle to prise both into detested cat carrying contraptions. We have a well honed method, whilst PG holds said carrier in mid air I eject required cat from a faux-cuddle and into the opening, there is nowhere for cat to go, nothing to stand on and it is my proven method of operation. It is usually a succsessful method, however, whilst Poppy generally acquires a sulk on her face but obliges Ditto this morning adopted the 'spread eagle cat' position and required almost unending maneuvering of various limbs to complete the task in hand. Finally, a few scratches and much hissing and spitting later, she was suitably incarcerated, scowly faced, and the 5 mile drive began. This was, it goes without saying, accompanied by the expected duet of howling and wingeing.
Things began to go further downhill upon arrival, we discovered that our 'you don't need an appointment just turn up, vets' had evolved into the 'you do need an appointment' setup. We plead ignorance and I did my best 'oh please just this once' face and 'Mr very kind cat doctor' agreed to take the now silent and jammed into the back of their carriers cats, there and then. Things were looking up.
It was Ditto's turn first and having played merry hell whilst we tried to get her into the box she now dug her heels in and of course wasn't for coming out. No surprise there then! She was consequently ejected unceremoniously and was prodded and poked in the usual manner, her heart listened to and pronounced in excellent health, the feared needle was inserted neck-ward and she made her escape, this time with absolutely no protest, headlong back into the previously hated box.
The came Poppy's turn. This is the bit I dread. At almost 18 years old and already with failing kidneys I just know I am going to hear medical information I do not want to. Her heart is good, her lungs excellent but her kidneys have deteriorated further, she is now showing signs of dehydration and her weight loss is more pronounced. Hell, I know these things, I can see them for myself I just hate to have them confirmed by a professional!
We discussed my 'non intervention' decision of last year and it was agreed it was still the kindest route but the reminder that she is not immortal and that 'things are progressing' is not something I want to listen too.
She received her hated jab, made appropriate growling sounds and fled like a kitten back into her now considered safe, carrier amid warning from the vet that having just paid for a years protection it would be appreciated by all if she could possibly see her little way to making use of at least a fair proportion of it!
So now I'm sat here, heavy hearted, knowing the inevitable will happen probably sooner rather than later and questioning my non intervention decision. I always do this. In my heart I know that to feed her a special and likely hated diet, to stop her drinking her milk and to no longer feed her a myriad of tidbits is not the way to go, that to allow her to carry on happily as she always has is the right route and to let her enjoy whatever time she has remaining....... but right now the temptation to do all the 'life prolonging stuff' is hard to resist. I know though that ultimately to put her through nasty food, more vets visits and more prodding is no joy for her, merely my wanting to hang onto her as long as possible and that at 18 it's not fair, in the end her life would likely only be extended by a few months and they would be less happy months for her, so I'll stick to my guns, but this time I very carefully didn't ask for timescales, last time they said a few months, that was almost a year ago and I don't want to know now, what will be will be.
Why do cats with kidney failure so adore all the high protein foods that do them the most harm?! Gah.
*Sniff*
This is not a favourite trip as you might imagine, both for myself or for small cat and big puss. As ever the trip is preceded by the annual tussle to prise both into detested cat carrying contraptions. We have a well honed method, whilst PG holds said carrier in mid air I eject required cat from a faux-cuddle and into the opening, there is nowhere for cat to go, nothing to stand on and it is my proven method of operation. It is usually a succsessful method, however, whilst Poppy generally acquires a sulk on her face but obliges Ditto this morning adopted the 'spread eagle cat' position and required almost unending maneuvering of various limbs to complete the task in hand. Finally, a few scratches and much hissing and spitting later, she was suitably incarcerated, scowly faced, and the 5 mile drive began. This was, it goes without saying, accompanied by the expected duet of howling and wingeing.
Things began to go further downhill upon arrival, we discovered that our 'you don't need an appointment just turn up, vets' had evolved into the 'you do need an appointment' setup. We plead ignorance and I did my best 'oh please just this once' face and 'Mr very kind cat doctor' agreed to take the now silent and jammed into the back of their carriers cats, there and then. Things were looking up.
It was Ditto's turn first and having played merry hell whilst we tried to get her into the box she now dug her heels in and of course wasn't for coming out. No surprise there then! She was consequently ejected unceremoniously and was prodded and poked in the usual manner, her heart listened to and pronounced in excellent health, the feared needle was inserted neck-ward and she made her escape, this time with absolutely no protest, headlong back into the previously hated box.
The came Poppy's turn. This is the bit I dread. At almost 18 years old and already with failing kidneys I just know I am going to hear medical information I do not want to. Her heart is good, her lungs excellent but her kidneys have deteriorated further, she is now showing signs of dehydration and her weight loss is more pronounced. Hell, I know these things, I can see them for myself I just hate to have them confirmed by a professional!
We discussed my 'non intervention' decision of last year and it was agreed it was still the kindest route but the reminder that she is not immortal and that 'things are progressing' is not something I want to listen too.
She received her hated jab, made appropriate growling sounds and fled like a kitten back into her now considered safe, carrier amid warning from the vet that having just paid for a years protection it would be appreciated by all if she could possibly see her little way to making use of at least a fair proportion of it!
So now I'm sat here, heavy hearted, knowing the inevitable will happen probably sooner rather than later and questioning my non intervention decision. I always do this. In my heart I know that to feed her a special and likely hated diet, to stop her drinking her milk and to no longer feed her a myriad of tidbits is not the way to go, that to allow her to carry on happily as she always has is the right route and to let her enjoy whatever time she has remaining....... but right now the temptation to do all the 'life prolonging stuff' is hard to resist. I know though that ultimately to put her through nasty food, more vets visits and more prodding is no joy for her, merely my wanting to hang onto her as long as possible and that at 18 it's not fair, in the end her life would likely only be extended by a few months and they would be less happy months for her, so I'll stick to my guns, but this time I very carefully didn't ask for timescales, last time they said a few months, that was almost a year ago and I don't want to know now, what will be will be.
Why do cats with kidney failure so adore all the high protein foods that do them the most harm?! Gah.
*Sniff*
The blogging elite
The stuff of bloggers dreams...to be included in this list of the elite, the Blogrolling 'Hot 500'. At 49 links I have a long way to go, I'm probably more likely to win the lottery than to ever get in at even last place, requiring over 122 links, let alone the 'top spot', impressively taken by 'Instapundit' with 2200 links!!
Dream on gemmak!
Dream on gemmak!
Wednesday, 10 August 2005
The farce goes on
All I will say is that three hours of phone calls later, much attempted complaining to BT, who apparently don't have a complaints department and who despite my usually er.....'persuasive' manner refused point blank to refer me to a manger or supervisor, I am still broadband-less!
Tomorrow apparently is now the day we will finally emerge into the 21st century. Yeah right!
Tomorrow apparently is now the day we will finally emerge into the 21st century. Yeah right!
In control
I am fascinated by something that happens in gemmak's-ville on an almost daily basis. A happening that displays dexterity, digit-al agility and impressive displays of the human ability to retain information of utmost importance and drag it from the depths of the mind at a moments notice. Proof if ever there was proof of mans ability to adapt and evolve.
And when I say 'mans ability' I mean just that, for I think the skill of which I talk is a 'man thang', something specific to the male of the species that we women have yet to hone.
The impressive skill of which I speak is of course the male 'domain' that is control of the television remote. It goes without saying that this little gadget will reside almost permanently in the palm of the male of the household from morning until night should the opportunity arise, and whilst I struggle like a fool to decide which button controls exactly which piece of equipment in the 'all wired together' array of in-home entertainment hardware, PG sits relaxed and apparently in a world of his own (a world incidentally into which the female voice does not penetrate), channel hopping to his hearts content.
What fascinates me about this male skill in gemmak's-ville specifically is that it is carried out blind, PG never looks at the keypad but instead his thumb races over the buttons switching from one option to another at lightening speed without ever looking at the damn thing. Said keypad is the standard 'Sky' control but ours is no longer in it's standard condition, it has been modified by excessive speed of use, to further confound myself in so much as it no longer sports any symbols on it's buttons....they have been obliterated by high speed thumb friction! This is most certainly not an aid when I struggle at a snails pace to find just one page on teletext. I am left like an idiot counting along the little buttons in an endeavor to find the correct digit whilst male impatience at my inability to operate this such simple device huffs and puffs in the background, just itching to snatch the beloved control from my grasp!
There is of course a silver lining to every cloud and in this case it is that I never get to see the ads. Ads? hell no, we don't watch ads, the two minute break used by the marketing guys to imprint on our minds items we will purchase the following day are not tolerated here, these breaks are of course provided so that the man of the house may catch up with the other eight channels he is currently watching!
This has to be a 'man thang'.....and then they wonder why we women sit all evening here in the world of the web! ;o)
And when I say 'mans ability' I mean just that, for I think the skill of which I talk is a 'man thang', something specific to the male of the species that we women have yet to hone.
The impressive skill of which I speak is of course the male 'domain' that is control of the television remote. It goes without saying that this little gadget will reside almost permanently in the palm of the male of the household from morning until night should the opportunity arise, and whilst I struggle like a fool to decide which button controls exactly which piece of equipment in the 'all wired together' array of in-home entertainment hardware, PG sits relaxed and apparently in a world of his own (a world incidentally into which the female voice does not penetrate), channel hopping to his hearts content.
What fascinates me about this male skill in gemmak's-ville specifically is that it is carried out blind, PG never looks at the keypad but instead his thumb races over the buttons switching from one option to another at lightening speed without ever looking at the damn thing. Said keypad is the standard 'Sky' control but ours is no longer in it's standard condition, it has been modified by excessive speed of use, to further confound myself in so much as it no longer sports any symbols on it's buttons....they have been obliterated by high speed thumb friction! This is most certainly not an aid when I struggle at a snails pace to find just one page on teletext. I am left like an idiot counting along the little buttons in an endeavor to find the correct digit whilst male impatience at my inability to operate this such simple device huffs and puffs in the background, just itching to snatch the beloved control from my grasp!
There is of course a silver lining to every cloud and in this case it is that I never get to see the ads. Ads? hell no, we don't watch ads, the two minute break used by the marketing guys to imprint on our minds items we will purchase the following day are not tolerated here, these breaks are of course provided so that the man of the house may catch up with the other eight channels he is currently watching!
This has to be a 'man thang'.....and then they wonder why we women sit all evening here in the world of the web! ;o)
Tuesday, 9 August 2005
In gemmak's-ville today......
...the word broadband is considered akin to blasphemy!!
You will gather I am still at 44kbps, BT promise something more impressive for tomorrow but the words 'BT' and 'promise' no longer being appropriate in one sentence dictates that breath is again not being held!
I am taking Bert's advice from this point on...chill, when it's here it's here, no sweat, it's of no consequence..........are you convinced?
You will gather I am still at 44kbps, BT promise something more impressive for tomorrow but the words 'BT' and 'promise' no longer being appropriate in one sentence dictates that breath is again not being held!
I am taking Bert's advice from this point on...chill, when it's here it's here, no sweat, it's of no consequence..........are you convinced?
Nerds make better lovers
Next time some smooth, smart ass 'romeo type' or a Barbie look-a-like calls you a nerd or a geek, in that annoyingly condescending and diparaging manner they have, you might just like to refer them HERE....smiling politely as you do of course! :o)
Monday, 8 August 2005
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