So it's not just me, this post so amused me, it is just too horribly true!
Thank you Bert for cheering me up (again) just when I needed it. :o)
Thursday, 17 August 2006
Wednesday, 16 August 2006
Only the good die young
Way back in the 70's when I started my second job I met and made friends with a couple who went on to remain friends until this day although over the last few hectic years we had seen little of each other, relying instead, whilst I was in Scotland, on phone calls to keep up.
'A' and 'M' were the 'perfect couple',I don't use that phrase here in a derogatory manner, I mean they really were lovely people, kind, honest, hard working, attractive, nice home, good jobs and two much wanted sons, financially comfortable and apparently happy as two pigs in muck. Sadly something went wrong and a few years ago they split, albeit amicably.
Today I learned that 'M' died on Sunday, he had fought a long hard battle with cancer. No one deserves to die at only 47 but 'M' was one of the good guys and if anyone deserved to live he did......
You are in my thoughts.
'A' and 'M' were the 'perfect couple',I don't use that phrase here in a derogatory manner, I mean they really were lovely people, kind, honest, hard working, attractive, nice home, good jobs and two much wanted sons, financially comfortable and apparently happy as two pigs in muck. Sadly something went wrong and a few years ago they split, albeit amicably.
Today I learned that 'M' died on Sunday, he had fought a long hard battle with cancer. No one deserves to die at only 47 but 'M' was one of the good guys and if anyone deserved to live he did......
You are in my thoughts.
Tuesday, 15 August 2006
Help! I'm stuck!
It seems it's not only me who is learning a few hard lessons lately!
For Tilly the lesson seems to be that if you climb up a tree then best you remember you also have to get down....and if you can't, then maybe 7am isn't the most appreciated time of day to expect your mother and grandmother to scramble among the shrubbery and mount a rescue attempt!
An hour of shaking branches and 'gentle persuasion' and finally she took her courage in her paws and made a leap for freedom......my mother and I made a well deserved leap for the coffee pot!
Needless to say there have been repeat performances from 'madam'!
(Images clickable)
For Tilly the lesson seems to be that if you climb up a tree then best you remember you also have to get down....and if you can't, then maybe 7am isn't the most appreciated time of day to expect your mother and grandmother to scramble among the shrubbery and mount a rescue attempt!
An hour of shaking branches and 'gentle persuasion' and finally she took her courage in her paws and made a leap for freedom......my mother and I made a well deserved leap for the coffee pot!
Needless to say there have been repeat performances from 'madam'!
(Images clickable)
Monday, 14 August 2006
The four day week
So it's Monday again and I was learning to truly hate Mondays.
Mondays are never good, I don't suppose there are many that relish them, the start of the working week, the end of that all to short period of time we refer to as the weekend, the seemingly unending five days of day to day stuff stretching ahead of us, none of it yet expired and the next weekend way to far off in the distance to begin to really anticipate.
But for me this Monday has been somewhat better than many of late, for once I haven't dragged myself around in a state of abject misery all day, ok, so to call me 'Ms Happy' would be maybe stretching a point but somehow today hasn't been quite as bad as the average Monday.
The reason? Nothing earth shattering, just an unusual ability to kick my own a** hard early on in the day, in a figurative sense of course, and more importantly, a few well chosen positive words from a friend (thank you, you know who you are) who reminded me, that in fact there are only four days until the next weekend because Fridays don't count!
Why don't Fridays count you might well ask? Well it's simple, they don't count because Fridays are always good, they have that inherent 'Friday feeling', Monday miseries are nowhere to be seen, a dim and distant memory, so when one is counting 'gemmak days' of the week, Fridays have no need to be included!....see, simple, the week is only four days long not five! ;o)
Mondays are never good, I don't suppose there are many that relish them, the start of the working week, the end of that all to short period of time we refer to as the weekend, the seemingly unending five days of day to day stuff stretching ahead of us, none of it yet expired and the next weekend way to far off in the distance to begin to really anticipate.
But for me this Monday has been somewhat better than many of late, for once I haven't dragged myself around in a state of abject misery all day, ok, so to call me 'Ms Happy' would be maybe stretching a point but somehow today hasn't been quite as bad as the average Monday.
The reason? Nothing earth shattering, just an unusual ability to kick my own a** hard early on in the day, in a figurative sense of course, and more importantly, a few well chosen positive words from a friend (thank you, you know who you are) who reminded me, that in fact there are only four days until the next weekend because Fridays don't count!
Why don't Fridays count you might well ask? Well it's simple, they don't count because Fridays are always good, they have that inherent 'Friday feeling', Monday miseries are nowhere to be seen, a dim and distant memory, so when one is counting 'gemmak days' of the week, Fridays have no need to be included!....see, simple, the week is only four days long not five! ;o)
Sunday, 13 August 2006
Bikers - Top ten!
Maybe you have to have been there but probably not! :o)
Top Ten Reasons Why Harley Riders Don't Wave Back:
10. Afraid it will invalidate warranty.
9. Leather and studs make it too heavy to raise arm.
8. Refuse to wave to anyone whose bike is already paid for.
7. Afraid to let go of handlebars because they might vibrate off.
6. Rushing wind would blow scabs off the new tattoos.
5. Angry because just took out second mortgage to pay luxury tax on new Harley.
4. Just discovered the fine print in owner's manual and realized H-D is partially owned by Honda.
3. Can't tell if other riders are waving or just reaching to cover their ears like everyone else.
2. Remembers the last time a Harley rider waved back, he impaled his hand on spiked helmet.
1. They're too tired from spending hours polishing all that chrome to lift their arms.
Top Ten Reasons Why Gold Wing Riders Don't Wave Back:
10. Wasn't sure whether other rider was waving or making an obscene gesture.
9. Afraid might get frostbite if hand is removed from heated grip.
8. Has arthritis and the past 400 miles have made it difficult to raise arm.
7. Reflection from etched windshield momentarily blinded him.
6. The espresso machine just finished.
5. Was actually asleep when other rider waved.
4. Was in a three-way conference call with stockbroker and accessories dealer.
3. Was distracted by odd shaped blip on radar screen.
2. Was simultaneously adjusting the air suspension, seat height, programmable CD player, seat temperature and satellite navigation system.
1. Couldn't find the "auto wave back" button on dashboard.
Top 10 Reasons Sportbikers Don't Wave back:
10. They have not been riding long enough to know they're supposed to.
9. They're going too fast to have time enough to register the movement and respond.
8. You weren't wearing bright enough gear.
7. If they stick their arm out going that fast they'll rip it out of the socket.
6. They're too occupied with trying to get rid of their chicken strips.
5. They look way too cool with both hands on the bars or they don't want to unbalance themselves while standing on the tank.
4. Their skin tight-kevlar-ballistic-nylon-kangaroo-leather suits prevent any position other than fetal.
3. Raising an arm allows bugs into the armholes of their tank tops.
2. It's too hard to do one-handed stoppies.
1. They were too busy slipping their flip-flop back on.
Top Ten Reasons Why BMW Riders Don't Wave Back:
10. New Aerostich suit too stiff to raise arm.
9. Removing a hand from the bars is considered "bad form."
8. Your bike isn't weird enough looking to justify acknowledgement.
7. Too sore from an 800-mile day on a stock "comfort" seat.
6. Too busy programming the GPS, monitoring radar, listening to ipod, XM, or talking on the cell phone.
5. He's an Iron Butt rider and you're not!.
4. Wires from Gerbings is too short.
3. You're not riding the "right kind" of BMW.
2. You haven't been properly introduced.
1. Afraid it will be misinterpreted as a friendly gesture
Top Ten Reasons Why Harley Riders Don't Wave Back:
10. Afraid it will invalidate warranty.
9. Leather and studs make it too heavy to raise arm.
8. Refuse to wave to anyone whose bike is already paid for.
7. Afraid to let go of handlebars because they might vibrate off.
6. Rushing wind would blow scabs off the new tattoos.
5. Angry because just took out second mortgage to pay luxury tax on new Harley.
4. Just discovered the fine print in owner's manual and realized H-D is partially owned by Honda.
3. Can't tell if other riders are waving or just reaching to cover their ears like everyone else.
2. Remembers the last time a Harley rider waved back, he impaled his hand on spiked helmet.
1. They're too tired from spending hours polishing all that chrome to lift their arms.
Top Ten Reasons Why Gold Wing Riders Don't Wave Back:
10. Wasn't sure whether other rider was waving or making an obscene gesture.
9. Afraid might get frostbite if hand is removed from heated grip.
8. Has arthritis and the past 400 miles have made it difficult to raise arm.
7. Reflection from etched windshield momentarily blinded him.
6. The espresso machine just finished.
5. Was actually asleep when other rider waved.
4. Was in a three-way conference call with stockbroker and accessories dealer.
3. Was distracted by odd shaped blip on radar screen.
2. Was simultaneously adjusting the air suspension, seat height, programmable CD player, seat temperature and satellite navigation system.
1. Couldn't find the "auto wave back" button on dashboard.
Top 10 Reasons Sportbikers Don't Wave back:
10. They have not been riding long enough to know they're supposed to.
9. They're going too fast to have time enough to register the movement and respond.
8. You weren't wearing bright enough gear.
7. If they stick their arm out going that fast they'll rip it out of the socket.
6. They're too occupied with trying to get rid of their chicken strips.
5. They look way too cool with both hands on the bars or they don't want to unbalance themselves while standing on the tank.
4. Their skin tight-kevlar-ballistic-nylon-kangaroo-leather suits prevent any position other than fetal.
3. Raising an arm allows bugs into the armholes of their tank tops.
2. It's too hard to do one-handed stoppies.
1. They were too busy slipping their flip-flop back on.
Top Ten Reasons Why BMW Riders Don't Wave Back:
10. New Aerostich suit too stiff to raise arm.
9. Removing a hand from the bars is considered "bad form."
8. Your bike isn't weird enough looking to justify acknowledgement.
7. Too sore from an 800-mile day on a stock "comfort" seat.
6. Too busy programming the GPS, monitoring radar, listening to ipod, XM, or talking on the cell phone.
5. He's an Iron Butt rider and you're not!.
4. Wires from Gerbings is too short.
3. You're not riding the "right kind" of BMW.
2. You haven't been properly introduced.
1. Afraid it will be misinterpreted as a friendly gesture
Friday, 11 August 2006
I'm easy amused!
Ain't technology wonderful!
Here I am on my way to visit a friend for the weekend, sitting merrily in a service station when what do I spy...an advertisemnet for Wi-fi access. So, me being me there was nothing else to do, I mean, I just had to give it a try. I know it works elsewher, I use it at my brothers regularly, but the possiblilty of connecting to the 'God' that is the internet in any old odd place was too much to resist and consequently, out to my car I went to fetch my now glued almost constantly to my side, laptop.
And that was it, a few quid later and about 30 seconds fiddling and I'm sat here blogging like a fool from a cafe somewhere south of London!
It's the small things ina geeks life that make it worth living! ;o)
Here I am on my way to visit a friend for the weekend, sitting merrily in a service station when what do I spy...an advertisemnet for Wi-fi access. So, me being me there was nothing else to do, I mean, I just had to give it a try. I know it works elsewher, I use it at my brothers regularly, but the possiblilty of connecting to the 'God' that is the internet in any old odd place was too much to resist and consequently, out to my car I went to fetch my now glued almost constantly to my side, laptop.
And that was it, a few quid later and about 30 seconds fiddling and I'm sat here blogging like a fool from a cafe somewhere south of London!
It's the small things in
Thursday, 10 August 2006
Bad move!
When one is living ,gratis, with one's 'grandparents',who would incidentally balk at having themselves referred to in that manner by a cat and who are already somewhat less than enamored with the feline species and their 'quirks' and when one's mother relies on one's grandfather for use of an internet connection and the appropriate hardware with which to access it this.....
....is probably not your wisest or most well considered move!!!!
Children and animals will always let you down!
....is probably not your wisest or most well considered move!!!!
Children and animals will always let you down!
Wednesday, 9 August 2006
Tuesday, 8 August 2006
Just a glimpse
A short time ago I found myself in a situation with a small group of people feeling something I hadn't anticipated, a feeling that came from out of the blue, totally unexpected but which suddenly made the often times crap that is my current life, seem more bearable.
This moment was in itself nothing of earth shattering proportions, I didn't win the lottery, Richard Gere didn't suddenly present himself at my door and no one bestowed upon me unexpectedly any usually recognised great honor. No, it was a simple thing but an honor still, the company of a few people, most of whom in reality I barely know but in who's company I found myself completely comfortable and happy.
Whilst there was chatter and laughter all around me I was aware of feeling momentarily detached, of looking in from the outside and knowing this was for me a rare experience, I felt peaceful and relaxed, I was laughing, I felt comfortable and happy and I felt for a short time part of something that has evaded me for much of my life. I was starkly aware of how rarely I have felt as I did at that moment, a feeling of contentment that above almost all other things I would wish to always be part of my life.
It may only have been a glimpse, I may never glimpse it again but that feeling, however brief, will stay with me. A memory of something very special.......
This moment was in itself nothing of earth shattering proportions, I didn't win the lottery, Richard Gere didn't suddenly present himself at my door and no one bestowed upon me unexpectedly any usually recognised great honor. No, it was a simple thing but an honor still, the company of a few people, most of whom in reality I barely know but in who's company I found myself completely comfortable and happy.
Whilst there was chatter and laughter all around me I was aware of feeling momentarily detached, of looking in from the outside and knowing this was for me a rare experience, I felt peaceful and relaxed, I was laughing, I felt comfortable and happy and I felt for a short time part of something that has evaded me for much of my life. I was starkly aware of how rarely I have felt as I did at that moment, a feeling of contentment that above almost all other things I would wish to always be part of my life.
It may only have been a glimpse, I may never glimpse it again but that feeling, however brief, will stay with me. A memory of something very special.......
Monday, 7 August 2006
Friday, 4 August 2006
A 'non' blog post
Oh fer pity's sake....proof positive, if ever there was proof needed that I am getting old and that my mind is turning rapidly to something that should be residing quietly at the bottom of a stagnant pond!
I was woken somewhat violently by the horrendously loudhowl 'bleep' of a new alarm this morning but was surprisingly together...all things being relative.
I was up in a moment for fear of waking the whole house, fumbling for the 'off button and amazingly my mind
seemed sharp(ish). As I meandered my way downstairs, bleary eyed I had a bloc post ready and mentally written, all I had to do was make myself an utterly indispensable cup of strong coffee and beat my father to the computer. I was cooking with gas!
Coffee was made, Tilly was fed, my father was yet to be seen and so feeling pleased with myself I sat down at the computer and hit the 'go' button. The machine spranghobbled into life and I placed my digits over the keys......and the post was gone, completely and utterly gone, absolutely no vestige of recollection as to what it's subject was, nothing, zip, zilch, nada, my mind was a complete void flailing around in a desperate attempt at proving to itself there maybe at least two remaining cells functioning.....hmmmm, not a chance, it was gone, likely never to be seen again!
Two hours later and still not a hint of what my post was to be about, hence this 'non' post....good God! This is age really settling in, I don't even have the excuse that I spent a heavy night on the tiles or that I didn't sleep, for I slept well unusually. Nope, this is the horror that is 'old', the proof positive that the years are catching up with me and poking me hard in the eye to make sure I at least remember that!
Hey ho....it's Friday, Friday's are good (to the best of my memory) so I'm getting outta here for a weekend of drunkenness and debauchery (hey, I can dream) in an effort to rest and re-invigorate my weary mind....have a good one guys.
I was woken somewhat violently by the horrendously loud
I was up in a moment for fear of waking the whole house, fumbling for the 'off button and amazingly my mind
seemed sharp(ish). As I meandered my way downstairs, bleary eyed I had a bloc post ready and mentally written, all I had to do was make myself an utterly indispensable cup of strong coffee and beat my father to the computer. I was cooking with gas!
Coffee was made, Tilly was fed, my father was yet to be seen and so feeling pleased with myself I sat down at the computer and hit the 'go' button. The machine sprang
Two hours later and still not a hint of what my post was to be about, hence this 'non' post....good God! This is age really settling in, I don't even have the excuse that I spent a heavy night on the tiles or that I didn't sleep, for I slept well unusually. Nope, this is the horror that is 'old', the proof positive that the years are catching up with me and poking me hard in the eye to make sure I at least remember that!
Hey ho....it's Friday, Friday's are good (to the best of my memory) so I'm getting outta here for a weekend of drunkenness and debauchery (hey, I can dream) in an effort to rest and re-invigorate my weary mind....have a good one guys.
Thursday, 3 August 2006
Open wide!
So yesterday was the day of the dreaded dental visit, for whilst I have been unable to secure for myself a place with a dentist for the last seven years....I didn't actually have a great wish to visit one, just a need to. The fact that I couldn't did have a positive side in that I wasn't forced to look the demon drill in the eye and handle the gut wrenching fear it instills in me!
But yesterday was the end of the line and with a broken tooth to attend to and my father as moral support off I went looking considerably more cheerful than I felt about the whole process.
Dentistry requires way more trust in an individual I have never met than I would usually consider it wise to show but my ignorance of the subject requires, like most of us, that I offer myself up like a lamb to the slaughter, close my eyes and hope for the best whilst trying not to notice my sweating palms, banging head and impending panic attack.
And thus it was, almost upside down and braced for the worst the guy could hit me with that amazingly I survived....yup, I am still alive and more amazing even than that is the fact that this torturous appointment was in fact not torturous at all! More specifically it was a walk in the park, it didn't hurt one iota, he didn't pull my mouth in that way that feels like one is competing in an international gurning contest and there was none of the prodding with heinous tools of torture in the darkest recesses of my mouth!
The guy was a star, completely understood my fear and worked with me on it, the whole incident was over in a few minutes and my confidence that I can cope with the next stage is boosted.....for there is a next stage to be faced. One crown and one filling, not bad after seven years of no treatment but whilst I can't say I am exactly looking forward to it I will perhaps sleep the night before the next time.
All that remains is to raise the £300 for the bill. Of course whilst I am in receipt of benefits I could claim reimbursement for treatment but not for the most appropriate treatment of my problem. That of course is not covered, so as ever seems to be the way if I want the job doing properly I'm gonna have to pay up and look happy.....hey, it will be worth it, the treatment offered on the NHS is liable not to last too long and £300 to only have to do this the once seems a bargain.
However less of a trauma it was than I imagined, a visit to the dentist will remain in my top ten list of things I wouldn't choose to do for fun but it was considerably more bearable than my little mind envisaged! :o)
But yesterday was the end of the line and with a broken tooth to attend to and my father as moral support off I went looking considerably more cheerful than I felt about the whole process.
Dentistry requires way more trust in an individual I have never met than I would usually consider it wise to show but my ignorance of the subject requires, like most of us, that I offer myself up like a lamb to the slaughter, close my eyes and hope for the best whilst trying not to notice my sweating palms, banging head and impending panic attack.
And thus it was, almost upside down and braced for the worst the guy could hit me with that amazingly I survived....yup, I am still alive and more amazing even than that is the fact that this torturous appointment was in fact not torturous at all! More specifically it was a walk in the park, it didn't hurt one iota, he didn't pull my mouth in that way that feels like one is competing in an international gurning contest and there was none of the prodding with heinous tools of torture in the darkest recesses of my mouth!
The guy was a star, completely understood my fear and worked with me on it, the whole incident was over in a few minutes and my confidence that I can cope with the next stage is boosted.....for there is a next stage to be faced. One crown and one filling, not bad after seven years of no treatment but whilst I can't say I am exactly looking forward to it I will perhaps sleep the night before the next time.
All that remains is to raise the £300 for the bill. Of course whilst I am in receipt of benefits I could claim reimbursement for treatment but not for the most appropriate treatment of my problem. That of course is not covered, so as ever seems to be the way if I want the job doing properly I'm gonna have to pay up and look happy.....hey, it will be worth it, the treatment offered on the NHS is liable not to last too long and £300 to only have to do this the once seems a bargain.
However less of a trauma it was than I imagined, a visit to the dentist will remain in my top ten list of things I wouldn't choose to do for fun but it was considerably more bearable than my little mind envisaged! :o)
Tuesday, 1 August 2006
A rock and a hard place
Once before in my life I had to learn to create a mental image of myself in my own psyche, an image that enabled me to visualize that somewhere, at some point there was or would be a light at the end of the tunnel I then found myself in. Recently I have found myself relying on that same image once again.
To say I currently feel between a rock and a damn hard place is an understatement, no matter what course of action I decide upon, no matter how much research I do into the options open to me it seems that there is always a new hurdle. Each day, just as I begin to think I can glimpse the chink of light I am looking for some new difficulty presents itself and obscures my view.
As with all of us very little of what we do impacts only on ourselves, each decision I try to take, each time I think I have found a way out of this bloody mess it becomes apparent that my course of action will affect others negatively and I have to consider a whole new set of circumstances. How do I choose who's life to disrupt, who to hurt. I wish I could only affect me but that seems impossible.
I feel as if I am walking a tightrope trying to keep everything together, trying not to affect others more than I absolutely have to, trying to keep everyone happy, trying my damnedest to 'do the right thing' for everyone and somewhere among it all what I need or want is lost.
Perhaps having gotten myself into this situation I have no right to consider myself, I have to take the responsibility for the current state of disarray my life is in
and practice damage limitation for those around me but just once, it would be so good for one tiny aspect to be simple, for one situation to be resolved without the now seemingly habitual multi-faceted problems that arise. Without feeling guilty or scared of the reverberations around me.
I can't move forward without resolving some of this and I can't seem ever to get anything resolved for tripping up on a multitude of new difficulties almost daily.
I am beginning to feel well and truly hacked off with it all. I know and I always knew it was never going to be an easy situation I was putting myself into but I didn't ever imagine it would be quite so difficult....somewhere in all of this there is me squashed firmly between a rock and a hard place and the option to spend my last few quid on a 'flight to disappear' before I implode, is rapidly becoming more and more attractive by the day.....but then that would be running away and running away doesn't count as an option in the 'do the right thing' stakes. :o/
I wonder if screaming would help?!
To say I currently feel between a rock and a damn hard place is an understatement, no matter what course of action I decide upon, no matter how much research I do into the options open to me it seems that there is always a new hurdle. Each day, just as I begin to think I can glimpse the chink of light I am looking for some new difficulty presents itself and obscures my view.
As with all of us very little of what we do impacts only on ourselves, each decision I try to take, each time I think I have found a way out of this bloody mess it becomes apparent that my course of action will affect others negatively and I have to consider a whole new set of circumstances. How do I choose who's life to disrupt, who to hurt. I wish I could only affect me but that seems impossible.
I feel as if I am walking a tightrope trying to keep everything together, trying not to affect others more than I absolutely have to, trying to keep everyone happy, trying my damnedest to 'do the right thing' for everyone and somewhere among it all what I need or want is lost.
Perhaps having gotten myself into this situation I have no right to consider myself, I have to take the responsibility for the current state of disarray my life is in
and practice damage limitation for those around me but just once, it would be so good for one tiny aspect to be simple, for one situation to be resolved without the now seemingly habitual multi-faceted problems that arise. Without feeling guilty or scared of the reverberations around me.
I can't move forward without resolving some of this and I can't seem ever to get anything resolved for tripping up on a multitude of new difficulties almost daily.
I am beginning to feel well and truly hacked off with it all. I know and I always knew it was never going to be an easy situation I was putting myself into but I didn't ever imagine it would be quite so difficult....somewhere in all of this there is me squashed firmly between a rock and a hard place and the option to spend my last few quid on a 'flight to disappear' before I implode, is rapidly becoming more and more attractive by the day.....but then that would be running away and running away doesn't count as an option in the 'do the right thing' stakes. :o/
I wonder if screaming would help?!
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