Utterly, completely, ridiculously stupid...so much so it's impossible not to laugh...well I did anyway!
What am I talking about? THIS.
Happy weekend! :o)
Cheers JW.
Friday, 5 January 2007
Thursday, 4 January 2007
What's this then?
Anyone like to hazzard a guess at what this picture is all about?
No prizes other than the satisfaction of being right..... the answer will follow in a day or two :o)
No prizes other than the satisfaction of being right..... the answer will follow in a day or two :o)
Wednesday, 3 January 2007
More Tilliness!
You might notice that the Christmas poinsettia is looking a little 'sparse' and that the Christmas cards are in little piles as opposed to the usual way of dispaly.....I don't think it takes a massively high I.Q. to work out why?!!!
In a household where cats aren't the favoured companion 'Madam' doesn't do herself any favours at times! What is it they say......'never work with children or animals'?!
Ugh!
In a household where cats aren't the favoured companion 'Madam' doesn't do herself any favours at times! What is it they say......'never work with children or animals'?!
Ugh!
Tuesday, 2 January 2007
Ohhhh...
....well that was easy, Blogger won't let me move to the new version, apparently my blog is too big!
Pffttt....are they saying I 'talk' too much or is it some disparaging remark....should I be asking if 'my bum looks big in this'??
Shhhh Fletch! ;o)
Pffttt....are they saying I 'talk' too much or is it some disparaging remark....should I be asking if 'my bum looks big in this'??
Shhhh Fletch! ;o)
Anything could happen!
Well it seems that it's only a matter of time before Blogger force us all to move to the new (but apparently now out of beta) Google Blogger so rather than have it all fall apart on me unexpectedly, and given that I keep being asked how it works and I don't have a clue, I have decided I had better take the proverbial bull by the horns and go for it while I still have a choice.
So that's precisely what I'm about to do. The whole darn thing will likely disintegrate and I don't have the time or facility to rectify it right, now so if this little patch in the blogosphere looks decidedly odd for a few days you'll know why....here goes, anything could happen and probably will......
So that's precisely what I'm about to do. The whole darn thing will likely disintegrate and I don't have the time or facility to rectify it right, now so if this little patch in the blogosphere looks decidedly odd for a few days you'll know why....here goes, anything could happen and probably will......
Friday, 29 December 2006
So long 2006
And it was 'so long'!
2006 has for me seemed to drag on forever. It hasn't in many ways been my best year, in fact to say it has been one of the hardest of my life to date, would probably not be an overstatement. It's seen me go through the break up of a relationship, lose my home as a consequence, move 500 miles to my parents, almost lose Tilly (situation still pending) and be declared personally bankrupt. Yup...I think in many respects I recall having had better years!
But it has not all been bad. 2006 has also seen me face some of my greatest demons...and beat them or at least stare them in the face, it has been the year I learned to take some big risks, to jump blindfold off the precipice of life and trust that somehow I would land in a place that was bearable, if completely unknown. Often I still feel in 'freefall', often I still feel scared half to death but even that I suppose is part of the learning curve and part of what life has become about for me.
This year has seen some of my greatest emotional extremes, almost daily at times, as circumstances and emotional issues have created in me some desperate lows but also some amazing highs and one way and another I have got through it all....often not too elegantly but I made it this far none the less.
My year has seen me do things and go places I never imagined I would or could and contrarily it has given me one of the best days of my life and some memories that will stay with me forever. None of this would have been possible without the immense support and care I have been privileged to be on the receiving end of from so many people.
So thank you to you all who stood by me, and yes, that includes you lot here in the blogosphere who were rooting for me throughout and who left me comments and mails of encouragement, help and advice, even when at times this blog was probably about the most depressing thing you read in an average day!
Among those who helped me get through this year there are a few who deserve special thanks, my parents of course for putting up with me day in and day out, 'JW' for always being there when I need him, Lisa who as ever is a friend in a million and of course the individual who said to me (and I quote) "You make it happen, not me, all I can do is open the doors, you have to find the strength to walk through them, and that's the tough bit (and opening doors is easy unless they are on one of those really stiff door closer things)!", to that person: without your understanding and patience, your intellect and care I would never have made it this far and I reckon the 'door closer thing' must have been pretty tough from time to time....so a special thank you to you.... you are an absolute star and you have helped me more than you will ever admit.
And so onward into 2007, I have learned a fair amount of stuff over this last year I hope, about life and about myself and good or bad I wouldn't have missed it. My enduring memories will be very mixed but the good outweigh the bad and whilst I can live without a repeat performance this year has given me a whole new outlook and hopefully a bit more backbone.
All that remains then, in case I don't make it back here before the onset of 2007, is to wish you all a very happy and peaceful new year, here's hoping it's gonna be a good one for us all! :o)
2006 has for me seemed to drag on forever. It hasn't in many ways been my best year, in fact to say it has been one of the hardest of my life to date, would probably not be an overstatement. It's seen me go through the break up of a relationship, lose my home as a consequence, move 500 miles to my parents, almost lose Tilly (situation still pending) and be declared personally bankrupt. Yup...I think in many respects I recall having had better years!
But it has not all been bad. 2006 has also seen me face some of my greatest demons...and beat them or at least stare them in the face, it has been the year I learned to take some big risks, to jump blindfold off the precipice of life and trust that somehow I would land in a place that was bearable, if completely unknown. Often I still feel in 'freefall', often I still feel scared half to death but even that I suppose is part of the learning curve and part of what life has become about for me.
This year has seen some of my greatest emotional extremes, almost daily at times, as circumstances and emotional issues have created in me some desperate lows but also some amazing highs and one way and another I have got through it all....often not too elegantly but I made it this far none the less.
My year has seen me do things and go places I never imagined I would or could and contrarily it has given me one of the best days of my life and some memories that will stay with me forever. None of this would have been possible without the immense support and care I have been privileged to be on the receiving end of from so many people.
So thank you to you all who stood by me, and yes, that includes you lot here in the blogosphere who were rooting for me throughout and who left me comments and mails of encouragement, help and advice, even when at times this blog was probably about the most depressing thing you read in an average day!
Among those who helped me get through this year there are a few who deserve special thanks, my parents of course for putting up with me day in and day out, 'JW' for always being there when I need him, Lisa who as ever is a friend in a million and of course the individual who said to me (and I quote) "You make it happen, not me, all I can do is open the doors, you have to find the strength to walk through them, and that's the tough bit (and opening doors is easy unless they are on one of those really stiff door closer things)!", to that person: without your understanding and patience, your intellect and care I would never have made it this far and I reckon the 'door closer thing' must have been pretty tough from time to time....so a special thank you to you.... you are an absolute star and you have helped me more than you will ever admit.
And so onward into 2007, I have learned a fair amount of stuff over this last year I hope, about life and about myself and good or bad I wouldn't have missed it. My enduring memories will be very mixed but the good outweigh the bad and whilst I can live without a repeat performance this year has given me a whole new outlook and hopefully a bit more backbone.
All that remains then, in case I don't make it back here before the onset of 2007, is to wish you all a very happy and peaceful new year, here's hoping it's gonna be a good one for us all! :o)
Thursday, 28 December 2006
Tilly is back!
Yes, 'madam' is returned from her none too popular 'holiday abode' and leaving a small trail of devastation in her wake presumably to remind us of her disapproval and just how much we miss her carrying-ons!
Every cloud has a silver lining as they say, for despite her displeasure at the whole issue her usual lack of interest in eating when cattery bound has meant she has returned looking less plump and rather elegantly feline!
There is more to come though, for circumstances over this festive period require she returns to the dreaded place again soon for a few days, and whilst she was instructed by the vet to diet there is a happy medium!
Hopefully with a little more 'practice' she will learn that we do always fetch her and this self imposed starvation business is not necessary!
Every cloud has a silver lining as they say, for despite her displeasure at the whole issue her usual lack of interest in eating when cattery bound has meant she has returned looking less plump and rather elegantly feline!
There is more to come though, for circumstances over this festive period require she returns to the dreaded place again soon for a few days, and whilst she was instructed by the vet to diet there is a happy medium!
Hopefully with a little more 'practice' she will learn that we do always fetch her and this self imposed starvation business is not necessary!
Tuesday, 26 December 2006
Sunday, 24 December 2006
Happy Christmas
So, the countdown is nearly over, I have finally managed to get some gifts bought in a marathon one day shopping spree and got myself a little more organised than I had been up until this point!
Tilly puss is in her much disliked 'holiday home', the tree is decorated and a turkey is lurking somewhere.
I'll be spending the time here with my parents and 'Fletch' and as things speed toward the big day I am unlikely to make it here to bash out another post so all that remains is to wish you all much mirth, merriment and peace over the coming mad few days.
Have a good one guys! :o)
Friday, 22 December 2006
Christmas cat of grumpiness!
Do you think she knew she was about to go to the cattery for the duration? :o(
Thursday, 21 December 2006
Schools out!
Today is a good day, I have just completed my final day in the dreaded white van until next year! My first real Christmas holiday since.....well since so long ago I don't remember since when, but at least 20 years....and I intend to enjoy it!
Of course, the final day could not possibly pass without becoming from the outset, 'eventful', oh no, no chance of that, just one day without incident was too much to hope for.
I arrived in thick, freezing fog at 6.15am to the news that all the company vans had been vandalized overnight. It appears that my employer is the victim of some kind of small time vendetta, this vandalism issue is not new, there have been other incidents just in my short time there. Do I look surprised? Nope, I thought not....lets face it, one can't operate like this place does without rubbing someone up the wrong way at some point and eventually one is likely to reap the er, 'benefits' of such questionable business practice. That said, it's hardly a mature way to deal with whatever issue has been the cause of someone's distain but whatever....my already 'delightful' van was minus it's windscreen wipers when I arrived. The police had already been and gone and I was met with the news I was to take the jalopy out anyways....apparently as it wasn't raining my boss considered I had little need for wipers!
I think the look on my face said it all as I pointed out that I already have one missing indicator, one missing headlight...the other stuck on sidelights, no brake lights, two very questionable tyres, a heater blower that doesn't, a bumper hanging limply about four inches from the tarmac, a sticking accelerator and four doors that don't close properly! Come on now, no wipers added to that is not likely to help my case should I be pulled over now is it?!
His reply....to offer me a window scraper and a bottle of water!!!! Yeah, that's gonna do the trick in sub zero temperatures ain't it.....Not!
In the end my protestations fell on deaf ears....this is selective deafness on his part bought on by the thought of losing a days takings, the God money is this guys sole motivation in life and in the end my choice was to take the van out or take a hike. I took the van out....hey, I need the money too.
I set off very gingerly in the freezing fog on country lanes that have never in their life seen a gritter and by the time I had completed maybe just ten miles I had lost count of the times I had stopped to scrape crap and ice off the windscreen and had already very gently and elegantly 'broadsided' the van around a corner.
My patience was lost, I called my boss, told him I would go get it fixed if he wouldn't and took it into the local 'please mend my van in a hurry' garage. They did, though with two odd sized wipers, miss-matched and too small but beggars can't be choosy and I wasn't, the drivers side worked and that was a 100% better than it had started off!
The rest of course remains in a state of disrepair but I'm kinda getting used to all that, to having to do hand signals and look behind me before I brake etc.....hell, what would I do if I didn't have all that to think about?!
So, the day passed in a haze of thick fog, frost and ice but eventually I completed my round and now I can forget it all for almost two whole weeks!
Yayyyyyyy. :o)
Of course, the final day could not possibly pass without becoming from the outset, 'eventful', oh no, no chance of that, just one day without incident was too much to hope for.
I arrived in thick, freezing fog at 6.15am to the news that all the company vans had been vandalized overnight. It appears that my employer is the victim of some kind of small time vendetta, this vandalism issue is not new, there have been other incidents just in my short time there. Do I look surprised? Nope, I thought not....lets face it, one can't operate like this place does without rubbing someone up the wrong way at some point and eventually one is likely to reap the er, 'benefits' of such questionable business practice. That said, it's hardly a mature way to deal with whatever issue has been the cause of someone's distain but whatever....my already 'delightful' van was minus it's windscreen wipers when I arrived. The police had already been and gone and I was met with the news I was to take the jalopy out anyways....apparently as it wasn't raining my boss considered I had little need for wipers!
I think the look on my face said it all as I pointed out that I already have one missing indicator, one missing headlight...the other stuck on sidelights, no brake lights, two very questionable tyres, a heater blower that doesn't, a bumper hanging limply about four inches from the tarmac, a sticking accelerator and four doors that don't close properly! Come on now, no wipers added to that is not likely to help my case should I be pulled over now is it?!
His reply....to offer me a window scraper and a bottle of water!!!! Yeah, that's gonna do the trick in sub zero temperatures ain't it.....Not!
In the end my protestations fell on deaf ears....this is selective deafness on his part bought on by the thought of losing a days takings, the God money is this guys sole motivation in life and in the end my choice was to take the van out or take a hike. I took the van out....hey, I need the money too.
I set off very gingerly in the freezing fog on country lanes that have never in their life seen a gritter and by the time I had completed maybe just ten miles I had lost count of the times I had stopped to scrape crap and ice off the windscreen and had already very gently and elegantly 'broadsided' the van around a corner.
My patience was lost, I called my boss, told him I would go get it fixed if he wouldn't and took it into the local 'please mend my van in a hurry' garage. They did, though with two odd sized wipers, miss-matched and too small but beggars can't be choosy and I wasn't, the drivers side worked and that was a 100% better than it had started off!
The rest of course remains in a state of disrepair but I'm kinda getting used to all that, to having to do hand signals and look behind me before I brake etc.....hell, what would I do if I didn't have all that to think about?!
So, the day passed in a haze of thick fog, frost and ice but eventually I completed my round and now I can forget it all for almost two whole weeks!
Yayyyyyyy. :o)
Wednesday, 20 December 2006
Some Tilly-ness
It seems an age since I wrote here about Tilly, so long in fact I can't recall the last time I did.
The reasons are various, namely that my laptop has completely died so the photograph thing is a little problematic right now and for a while I was very wary of tempting fate by mentioning that for the time being at least she is still with me.
So what has she been up to. Well firstly her diet seems not to have done the trick, or at least she and I haven't managed to gain to tight a control over her eating habits and hence she is still a little 'portly'! We have promised each other we will try harder in the new year, her at not eating in a fashion reminiscent of a large horse and me at not giving in so readily to her pleading looks by an empty bowl! Hmmm....we'll see.
This week has seen her first experience of a Christmas tree, last year she was tiny and I was convinced the tree would prove too much temptation so didn't have one, but I have to give her her due this year, whilst there have been one or two 'slip-ups' in the main she has been remarkably well behaved and thus far has only managed minor wrecking sprees on a few occasions....I won't speak too soon though, 'well behaved' is not her forte! ;o)
She still persists in sleeping on my head and in waking me at 5am most mornings though at the moment that is a bonus and guarantees I'll be up in time for work....the weekend is another matter entirely though but last weekend she managed to allow me a small lie-in! :o)
Winter she has decided is not quite her 'thing'. Her days of gallivanting in the garden have come to an abrupt halt since she had a rather major 'run in' with a big local Tomcat and came off the worst for the encounter. That along with the dramatic drop in temperature have reduced her to very short trips to the 'bathroom', a preference to laying stretched out under a radiator and to much time looking at the outside from inside!
As I mentioned at the start of this post, for now we are still here together and though I am still scared to tempt fate it is beginning to look like there is a possibility it might stay that way. I have absolutely everything crossed but for now I'm not counting my chickens. The thought of losing her now seems even harder than it did a few months back and the thought of going through all that upset is not something I want to deal ever again so it's fingers firmly crossed that somehow this time it will work out.
So that's about it, a quick round-up and a new picture of madam and her antics, she is off to the cattery for a few days over Christmas which won't please her (or me) but will allow my parents who now I'm at work have taken on much of the day to day feeding etc. a few days 'Tilly rest' and a few days without having to pick every Christmas card off the floor at least a thousand times a day!
The reasons are various, namely that my laptop has completely died so the photograph thing is a little problematic right now and for a while I was very wary of tempting fate by mentioning that for the time being at least she is still with me.
So what has she been up to. Well firstly her diet seems not to have done the trick, or at least she and I haven't managed to gain to tight a control over her eating habits and hence she is still a little 'portly'! We have promised each other we will try harder in the new year, her at not eating in a fashion reminiscent of a large horse and me at not giving in so readily to her pleading looks by an empty bowl! Hmmm....we'll see.
This week has seen her first experience of a Christmas tree, last year she was tiny and I was convinced the tree would prove too much temptation so didn't have one, but I have to give her her due this year, whilst there have been one or two 'slip-ups' in the main she has been remarkably well behaved and thus far has only managed minor wrecking sprees on a few occasions....I won't speak too soon though, 'well behaved' is not her forte! ;o)
She still persists in sleeping on my head and in waking me at 5am most mornings though at the moment that is a bonus and guarantees I'll be up in time for work....the weekend is another matter entirely though but last weekend she managed to allow me a small lie-in! :o)
Winter she has decided is not quite her 'thing'. Her days of gallivanting in the garden have come to an abrupt halt since she had a rather major 'run in' with a big local Tomcat and came off the worst for the encounter. That along with the dramatic drop in temperature have reduced her to very short trips to the 'bathroom', a preference to laying stretched out under a radiator and to much time looking at the outside from inside!
As I mentioned at the start of this post, for now we are still here together and though I am still scared to tempt fate it is beginning to look like there is a possibility it might stay that way. I have absolutely everything crossed but for now I'm not counting my chickens. The thought of losing her now seems even harder than it did a few months back and the thought of going through all that upset is not something I want to deal ever again so it's fingers firmly crossed that somehow this time it will work out.
So that's about it, a quick round-up and a new picture of madam and her antics, she is off to the cattery for a few days over Christmas which won't please her (or me) but will allow my parents who now I'm at work have taken on much of the day to day feeding etc. a few days 'Tilly rest' and a few days without having to pick every Christmas card off the floor at least a thousand times a day!
Tuesday, 19 December 2006
Pet rules!
(To be posted VERY LOW [snout height] on the refrigerator door)
Dear Dogs and Cats,
The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other
dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the
middle of my plate of food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food
and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.
The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me
to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall
faster than you can run.
I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about
this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your
comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is
not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the
fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and
having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but
sarcasm.
For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some
miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not
necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under
the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I
entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years -- canine or feline
attendance is not mandatory.
The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I
cannot stress this enough!
To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our
front door:
To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About Our Pets
1. They live here. You don't.
2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture.
(That's why they call it "fur"niture.)
3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
4. To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is
short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.
Remember: dogs and cats are better than kids because they:
1. Eat less
2. Don't ask for money all the time
3. Are easier to train
4. Usually come when called
5. Never drive your car
6. Don't hang out with drug-using friends
7. Don't smoke or drink
8. Don't worry about having to buy the latest fashions
9. Don't wear your clothes
10. Don't need a gazillion dollars for college, and
11. If they get pregnant, you can sell their children.
Dear Dogs and Cats,
The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other
dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the
middle of my plate of food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food
and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.
The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me
to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall
faster than you can run.
I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about
this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your
comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is
not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the
fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and
having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but
sarcasm.
For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some
miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not
necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under
the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I
entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years -- canine or feline
attendance is not mandatory.
The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I
cannot stress this enough!
To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our
front door:
To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About Our Pets
1. They live here. You don't.
2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture.
(That's why they call it "fur"niture.)
3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
4. To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is
short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.
Remember: dogs and cats are better than kids because they:
1. Eat less
2. Don't ask for money all the time
3. Are easier to train
4. Usually come when called
5. Never drive your car
6. Don't hang out with drug-using friends
7. Don't smoke or drink
8. Don't worry about having to buy the latest fashions
9. Don't wear your clothes
10. Don't need a gazillion dollars for college, and
11. If they get pregnant, you can sell their children.
Sunday, 17 December 2006
I woke up this morning....
....as one does on occasion in a state of 'ugh-ness' and panic at the realisation that Christmas is now only a week away and I am still completely unprepared for it!
I don't 'do' disorganisation very well, I like to have things sussed as a general rule and yet this Christmas I seem to have 'gone to pot' in a big way.
I still have way too many gifts un-bought and little idea of what to buy to rectify that situation, I have managed to gather together some cards but as yet they are still nicely packaged and completely un-written, and aside from Christmas day itself, which we will spend with my parents, I have absolutely no idea where or what I will be doing for the rest of the festive season. This is the first year I have been in a job (if you can call it that) where I have the whole period off work (unpaid mind you....eekkk, I need the money) but I have no idea what I'm going to do with myself.
For reasons I won't bore you with I have a slightly difficult week ahead of me before I even make it to the season of 'joy' and right now I still just wish I could hibernate until next year and a return to some semblance of normality.
Ok....I'm gonna go back to bed and see if I can wake up in a better frame of mind.....
Bah, bloody humbug!
I don't 'do' disorganisation very well, I like to have things sussed as a general rule and yet this Christmas I seem to have 'gone to pot' in a big way.
I still have way too many gifts un-bought and little idea of what to buy to rectify that situation, I have managed to gather together some cards but as yet they are still nicely packaged and completely un-written, and aside from Christmas day itself, which we will spend with my parents, I have absolutely no idea where or what I will be doing for the rest of the festive season. This is the first year I have been in a job (if you can call it that) where I have the whole period off work (unpaid mind you....eekkk, I need the money) but I have no idea what I'm going to do with myself.
For reasons I won't bore you with I have a slightly difficult week ahead of me before I even make it to the season of 'joy' and right now I still just wish I could hibernate until next year and a return to some semblance of normality.
Ok....I'm gonna go back to bed and see if I can wake up in a better frame of mind.....
Bah, bloody humbug!
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