gemmak is in her sick-bed, the dreaded lurgy has descended upon her complete with ragged throat, sore head and much unpleasentness about the hooter region, Rudolph can't compete.
Back later.
Thursday, 8 December 2005
Wednesday, 7 December 2005
Animal lover??
PG and I were presented with a real quandary early this morning and one which we failed dismally and ashamedly to deal with effectively.
Himself was just stepping out side the door on his way for a round of golf, please note here: yesterday he was suffering the usual severe effects of man-flu when golf was not an option, today he has kindly passed it onto me whilst he 'manages', despite his severity of suffering, to make it to golf! But I digress.....
So, he was just stepping outside when I noticed on our access balcony something unusual, a second glance showed it to be a large rabbit! This is stranger than you might think, to gain access to this point said rabbit would have had to climb 15 slippery and frost ridden steel stairs, a feat of some endurance considering it was all too apparent that this poor rabbit was suffering myxomatosis. The poor thing was huddled and shivering up against the wall of the property looking every bit as though he were asking for someone to help.
So how did we fail so dismally? PG and I looked at one another knowing full well what we should do but both also knowing that we wouldn't, despite wishing otherwise, be able to. What we should have done of course was killed it quickly and put it out of it's misery but when faced with the prospect we realised we had no idea how to whilst still ensuring the job was done well, as opposed to making the poor wee thing suffer further. In honestly though, even if we had the knowledge I don't think we could have done it, maybe if we owned a suitable firearm but the bare hands option I really don't think we could have managed.
Some animal lover eh? I feel like crap now about it, if I was truly the animal lover I profess myself to be I would have been stronger!
As it was we did all we could think of. We gathered it up and placed it gently in a warmer and safer place in the sunlight, near to some food should it be up to eating. Not much of a solution eh?. I did try to contact the only person I know who would have been able to deal with the situation correctly and well, but but he wasn't available.
PG went off to golf glum faced and I tried not to think about it but a short while later I stole myself to go back to where we had left the poor mite and reconsider if I could deal with it. I am a city girl, not a country girl, I just don't know how one kills a rabbit humanely but I thought that maybe the vet would attend to it if I could take it to him........but the rabbit was gone, not a sign. I hunted for it a while under the shrubbery and undergrowth but nothing, I couldn't find any sign of it. Now I won't ever know or be able to do anything and I feel even worse.........
Ugh! Useless woman!
Himself was just stepping out side the door on his way for a round of golf, please note here: yesterday he was suffering the usual severe effects of man-flu when golf was not an option, today he has kindly passed it onto me whilst he 'manages', despite his severity of suffering, to make it to golf! But I digress.....
So, he was just stepping outside when I noticed on our access balcony something unusual, a second glance showed it to be a large rabbit! This is stranger than you might think, to gain access to this point said rabbit would have had to climb 15 slippery and frost ridden steel stairs, a feat of some endurance considering it was all too apparent that this poor rabbit was suffering myxomatosis. The poor thing was huddled and shivering up against the wall of the property looking every bit as though he were asking for someone to help.
So how did we fail so dismally? PG and I looked at one another knowing full well what we should do but both also knowing that we wouldn't, despite wishing otherwise, be able to. What we should have done of course was killed it quickly and put it out of it's misery but when faced with the prospect we realised we had no idea how to whilst still ensuring the job was done well, as opposed to making the poor wee thing suffer further. In honestly though, even if we had the knowledge I don't think we could have done it, maybe if we owned a suitable firearm but the bare hands option I really don't think we could have managed.
Some animal lover eh? I feel like crap now about it, if I was truly the animal lover I profess myself to be I would have been stronger!
As it was we did all we could think of. We gathered it up and placed it gently in a warmer and safer place in the sunlight, near to some food should it be up to eating. Not much of a solution eh?. I did try to contact the only person I know who would have been able to deal with the situation correctly and well, but but he wasn't available.
PG went off to golf glum faced and I tried not to think about it but a short while later I stole myself to go back to where we had left the poor mite and reconsider if I could deal with it. I am a city girl, not a country girl, I just don't know how one kills a rabbit humanely but I thought that maybe the vet would attend to it if I could take it to him........but the rabbit was gone, not a sign. I hunted for it a while under the shrubbery and undergrowth but nothing, I couldn't find any sign of it. Now I won't ever know or be able to do anything and I feel even worse.........
Ugh! Useless woman!
The up's and down's
Two items in the news this morning caught my eye, both very different. One extremely sad and the other highly amusing......tell me, just why would someone attempt to physically dismantle a hard drive to recover it's data in a normal domestic environment?!!! Just a little overly zealous and hopeful!
On reading the first I was struck by just how unfair life can be at times.... minutes later I was hooting with laughter at the second. If you're having a bad day and aren't phobic about cockroaches go straight to number two!
On reading the first I was struck by just how unfair life can be at times.... minutes later I was hooting with laughter at the second. If you're having a bad day and aren't phobic about cockroaches go straight to number two!
Tuesday, 6 December 2005
The inevitable has happened......
....I have told her, I have repeatedly warned her, I have given her illustrations, I have explained until I am blue in the face, I have had mother and daughter talks and I have rescued her from many an imminent disaster but would she listen? Would she hell, she carried on in her own sweet way, oblivious of the impending trauma and this evening, as we knew it would before much more time passed the anticipated event occurred......
Tilly fell in the bath!!
...and would I laugh?*snort*
I have to add here that judging by the speed at which she scrabbled, panic stricken and with claws drawn, to escape her watery kitten disaster, I am eternally grateful that I wasn't any longer lying there wallowing peacefully. As it was my swift intervention to perform a rescue in my 'just out of the bath' unclothed state, resulted in my acquiring scratches in less than ideal areas!
Luckily for madam there was only perhaps enough water to reach her tummy left to drain but once rescued she rushed off, shaking water everywhere like a dog and hurriedly set about the drying off procedures looking more than a tad embarrassed and disgruntled!
I told her but would she listen!
Tilly fell in the bath!!
...and would I laugh?
I have to add here that judging by the speed at which she scrabbled, panic stricken and with claws drawn, to escape her watery kitten disaster, I am eternally grateful that I wasn't any longer lying there wallowing peacefully. As it was my swift intervention to perform a rescue in my 'just out of the bath' unclothed state, resulted in my acquiring scratches in less than ideal areas!
Luckily for madam there was only perhaps enough water to reach her tummy left to drain but once rescued she rushed off, shaking water everywhere like a dog and hurriedly set about the drying off procedures looking more than a tad embarrassed and disgruntled!
I told her but would she listen!
New species?
Wow!!! I find THIS report incredible, the discovery of what appears to be a new species of mammal in Borneo.
I don't recall thus far in my lifetime this ever happening before, and it absolutely fascinates me that here could be a creature who's existence we have never before known about or seen!!! Amazing.
© Stephan Wulffraat
The above is one of only two images in existence of the creature in question, doubtless I am violating copyright somewhere but it's just too exciting to resist!
I don't recall thus far in my lifetime this ever happening before, and it absolutely fascinates me that here could be a creature who's existence we have never before known about or seen!!! Amazing.
The above is one of only two images in existence of the creature in question, doubtless I am violating copyright somewhere but it's just too exciting to resist!
Christmas is coming......
....and the goose is most certainly not getting fat.....
What's all that about then? I'll tell you what it's about, it's about the fact that here in gemmak's-ville fat geese are most definitely off the menu, fat geese are way nicer waddling about on their little skinny legs and as Christmas approaches and whilst the aforementioned goose practices obsessive weight gaining activities at break neck speed, I seem to be hurtling closer and closer to the appointed day in a state of complete disarray and dishevellment!
Now in years gone by Christmas was my most adored time of year, plotted and planned for weeks, if not months, in advance, but employment in retail saw to it that corporate plotting and planning from almost Easter dictated that the excitement and festive feelings began to pall just a little over the years.
But I am of course making excuses, for this year, unlike last when I was sat here on my own while my family gathered elsewhere and PG worked all day and evening, we have managed to pull off a feat of impressive magnitude and both secured a whole four days off work, meaning of course we can this time gather with everyone else in the midlands at my sisters. That bit is fab, I can't wait, what is less fab is that so far my Chritmas planning seems to have gone completely to pot! Not so much as a single card has yet been purchased in gemmak's-ville and as for gifts, I am at a complete loss, the part of my brain that usually comes up with a list of inspired items to offer in sparkly paper has deserted me and I seem to be in a state of early panic for fear that I will never get anything even remotely sorted out in time.
None of this has been aided of course by the sudden and somewhat unexpected death of PG's car and the attendant cost of getting a new one, causing an untimely death toll to ring over our bank accounts, ok, so this is not a new phenomenon here, but the ringing has suddenly heightened to a deafeningly high decibel level this last week!
I wonder what I can make........
What's all that about then? I'll tell you what it's about, it's about the fact that here in gemmak's-ville fat geese are most definitely off the menu, fat geese are way nicer waddling about on their little skinny legs and as Christmas approaches and whilst the aforementioned goose practices obsessive weight gaining activities at break neck speed, I seem to be hurtling closer and closer to the appointed day in a state of complete disarray and dishevellment!
Now in years gone by Christmas was my most adored time of year, plotted and planned for weeks, if not months, in advance, but employment in retail saw to it that corporate plotting and planning from almost Easter dictated that the excitement and festive feelings began to pall just a little over the years.
But I am of course making excuses, for this year, unlike last when I was sat here on my own while my family gathered elsewhere and PG worked all day and evening, we have managed to pull off a feat of impressive magnitude and both secured a whole four days off work, meaning of course we can this time gather with everyone else in the midlands at my sisters. That bit is fab, I can't wait, what is less fab is that so far my Chritmas planning seems to have gone completely to pot! Not so much as a single card has yet been purchased in gemmak's-ville and as for gifts, I am at a complete loss, the part of my brain that usually comes up with a list of inspired items to offer in sparkly paper has deserted me and I seem to be in a state of early panic for fear that I will never get anything even remotely sorted out in time.
None of this has been aided of course by the sudden and somewhat unexpected death of PG's car and the attendant cost of getting a new one, causing an untimely death toll to ring over our bank accounts, ok, so this is not a new phenomenon here, but the ringing has suddenly heightened to a deafeningly high decibel level this last week!
I wonder what I can make........
Monday, 5 December 2005
Paul English: Give this man a medal!
Paul English, a 42 year old Bostonian, yesterday hit the headlines with his 'find a human cheat sheet'.
Mr English, like so many of us, having himself grown utterly infuriated with the inability to speak to a human being when calling businesses using automated telephone systems has set about finding a way around the problem. The result is THIS, a list of thus far approximately 100 companies and the 'button pushing' route that will guarantee you connection to a human being! The majority of companies he has cracked to date are in the US but yesterday, by popular demand he also began working on a UK version.
This guy is an absolute star in my book. These infuriating telephone systems, hailed originally by the companies that employ them as improvements in customer service are in reality just two things, neither of which are anything approaching customer service..... a means to employ fewer human beings who may actually be able to help us with our queries and yet another route by many corporations to make yet more money from us. We the consumer, calling for help mostly to service industries are often the one bearing the cost of the revolving door menu systems that push us from pillar to post but never if they can possibly avoid it, to a human being!
A massive round of applause for Mr English please, the man deserves a medal, it's about time someone fought back and played these companies that have us at their mercy, at their own game!
Mr English, like so many of us, having himself grown utterly infuriated with the inability to speak to a human being when calling businesses using automated telephone systems has set about finding a way around the problem. The result is THIS, a list of thus far approximately 100 companies and the 'button pushing' route that will guarantee you connection to a human being! The majority of companies he has cracked to date are in the US but yesterday, by popular demand he also began working on a UK version.
This guy is an absolute star in my book. These infuriating telephone systems, hailed originally by the companies that employ them as improvements in customer service are in reality just two things, neither of which are anything approaching customer service..... a means to employ fewer human beings who may actually be able to help us with our queries and yet another route by many corporations to make yet more money from us. We the consumer, calling for help mostly to service industries are often the one bearing the cost of the revolving door menu systems that push us from pillar to post but never if they can possibly avoid it, to a human being!
A massive round of applause for Mr English please, the man deserves a medal, it's about time someone fought back and played these companies that have us at their mercy, at their own game!
Sunday, 4 December 2005
Let me sleep!
It's not hard to imagine here who it is who wants to sleep...... and who it is preventing sleep!
Tilly isn't big on sleep, she's big on curtain-eering, she's big on games of chase me, she's big on electrical engineering at the rear of this computer and she's big on face pouncing maneuvers at 4am....but big on sleeping?....nope, most definitely not Tilly's forte!
Tilly isn't big on sleep, she's big on curtain-eering, she's big on games of chase me, she's big on electrical engineering at the rear of this computer and she's big on face pouncing maneuvers at 4am....but big on sleeping?....nope, most definitely not Tilly's forte!
Saturday, 3 December 2005
Friday, 2 December 2005
It's taken.....
....almost nineteen months, over a thousand posts, I have no idea how many words and a lot of much appreciated loyalty from you lot, but finally I've made it to the goal I never imagined I would get anywhere near, 50000 hits!
Yayyyy.
Yayyyy.
Friday's feast (72)
As I haven't done this for an age I thought I would give it a go again this week.
Appetizer
When was the last time you did something you would consider courteous, what was it, and who was it for?
Aren't we all supposed to try to be courteous all of the time? I can't recall anything specific unless you count the standard holding the door kinda thing.....maybe I'm just not courteous enough!
Salad
If you were to have a painting done of you alone, what would you want the background to be?
Can it just be black?
Soup
Describe your voice.
Quite deep for a small woman..... and loud!
Main Course
What is something you would like to do, but you're afraid of the risk(s)?
Get married
Dessert
What was the last television show you watched?
Jonathan Ross' chat show....a repeat late last night.
Appetizer
When was the last time you did something you would consider courteous, what was it, and who was it for?
Aren't we all supposed to try to be courteous all of the time? I can't recall anything specific unless you count the standard holding the door kinda thing.....maybe I'm just not courteous enough!
Salad
If you were to have a painting done of you alone, what would you want the background to be?
Can it just be black?
Soup
Describe your voice.
Quite deep for a small woman..... and loud!
Main Course
What is something you would like to do, but you're afraid of the risk(s)?
Get married
Dessert
What was the last television show you watched?
Jonathan Ross' chat show....a repeat late last night.
Finally I made it!
At last at 7 this evening, I managed to fall through the hallowed doors of Ikea,with PG trailing ten paces behind me looking somewhat glum faced........ and boy did I make the most of it!
Everything we set off to purchase was acquired without much ado, and some, dinner (if you can call the questionable fare on offer dinner) was eaten and we
remained 'in situ' until almost closing time.....hell, we even managed half an hour in Sainsbury's, quite a treat when one is normally subjected to the likes of Kwik Save for want of much else in the vicinity.
All in all a successful, if scarily expensive day, given that en-route we made the previously mentioned 'detour' and bought PG a new car. *Ouch*
Since moving to the outer reaches of the universe I have kinda given up retail therapy as a pastime, the journey to anywhere worthwhile is off putting on a regular basis and so I usually buy things I need here on the internet, or I just don't buy it at all. Unfortunately, having thoroughly enjoyed today's 'spending spree' I could quite fancy taking it up again as a re-visited hobby!
Shhhhhh....don't tell PG! ;o)
Everything we set off to purchase was acquired without much ado, and some, dinner (if you can call the questionable fare on offer dinner) was eaten and we
remained 'in situ' until almost closing time.....hell, we even managed half an hour in Sainsbury's, quite a treat when one is normally subjected to the likes of Kwik Save for want of much else in the vicinity.
All in all a successful, if scarily expensive day, given that en-route we made the previously mentioned 'detour' and bought PG a new car. *Ouch*
Since moving to the outer reaches of the universe I have kinda given up retail therapy as a pastime, the journey to anywhere worthwhile is off putting on a regular basis and so I usually buy things I need here on the internet, or I just don't buy it at all. Unfortunately, having thoroughly enjoyed today's 'spending spree' I could quite fancy taking it up again as a re-visited hobby!
Shhhhhh....don't tell PG! ;o)
Thursday, 1 December 2005
The Ikea conspiracy continues
Maybe, just maybe I will actually make it inside this much loved emporium of all things Swedish today, though then again I may not! My conspiracy theory is gaining ground as we speak, for again my long awaited trip to Edinburgh and Ikea has been planned and again, almost before the day is begun it seems to be disappearing before my very eyes, evaporating like butter before the sun.
Today the weather is not an issue, like it ever was last time. The snow drifts that were promised on our last planned day of course never materialised and the forecast is just for the standard 'miserable-ness' of drizzle offered up from dismal skies. No-one is ill, Tilly is mended and no longer needs to be monitored closely, we both have the time off and nothing, but nothing was going to conspire against me this time.....that was until late yesterday when PG's car finally, after a long and expensive struggle against the odds, was pronounced unfit to undergo the rigors of an MOT test......at least that is, without involving further astronomical pecuniary outlay.
And so it seems, that yesterday, having found in my absence a suitable car for purchase, that we can almost afford providing we don't eat for the next three years, I am being ushered in 'Ikea time' to cast my eye over said vehicle and give my opinion. There will of course then be the finance, insurance and peripheral requirements to be attended too, test drives to be taken and unending discussion over price, with a likely smarmy salesman determined whilst smiling a saccharine smile, to screw every last penny out of us.
And all while I secretly clock watch, aware that 'Ikea time' is falling from my grasp, disappearing before my very eyes.
It is of course imperative we buy this car, or at least a car, it is just not possible to live where we do for even a few days without one, the era of two cars being a luxury is long gone in these parts, one car would mean that only one of us could work, there is no alternative transport for the likes of us, who both work odd shift times.....but why, oh why, today? Could the MOT failure not have occurred just a day or two later? Does the grim reaper of cars not realise that a visit to Ikea is just as imperative?
Believe me, if I have to be falling through the doors at 9.30 this evening for a sprint of Olympic proportions I will get there, somehow today I will overcome this conspiracy! ;o)
Today the weather is not an issue, like it ever was last time. The snow drifts that were promised on our last planned day of course never materialised and the forecast is just for the standard 'miserable-ness' of drizzle offered up from dismal skies. No-one is ill, Tilly is mended and no longer needs to be monitored closely, we both have the time off and nothing, but nothing was going to conspire against me this time.....that was until late yesterday when PG's car finally, after a long and expensive struggle against the odds, was pronounced unfit to undergo the rigors of an MOT test......at least that is, without involving further astronomical pecuniary outlay.
And so it seems, that yesterday, having found in my absence a suitable car for purchase, that we can almost afford providing we don't eat for the next three years, I am being ushered in 'Ikea time' to cast my eye over said vehicle and give my opinion. There will of course then be the finance, insurance and peripheral requirements to be attended too, test drives to be taken and unending discussion over price, with a likely smarmy salesman determined whilst smiling a saccharine smile, to screw every last penny out of us.
And all while I secretly clock watch, aware that 'Ikea time' is falling from my grasp, disappearing before my very eyes.
It is of course imperative we buy this car, or at least a car, it is just not possible to live where we do for even a few days without one, the era of two cars being a luxury is long gone in these parts, one car would mean that only one of us could work, there is no alternative transport for the likes of us, who both work odd shift times.....but why, oh why, today? Could the MOT failure not have occurred just a day or two later? Does the grim reaper of cars not realise that a visit to Ikea is just as imperative?
Believe me, if I have to be falling through the doors at 9.30 this evening for a sprint of Olympic proportions I will get there, somehow today I will overcome this conspiracy! ;o)
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