Bloody bollards - redux!

So, just in case you were in any doubt as to what these things are all about, I thought I would enlighten you further with a little clip I took yesterday on my travels! Hell, I'm good to you lot! ;o)


Try being behind that....you can't see infront of the first approaching vehicle and by the time you get to them yourself the damn things are back up! Ack.

Bloody bollards!

Necessity dictates that today I venture into the big city, not the big city of course, I'll be damned if I'm driving 100 miles just to pay the congestion charge, I mean the closer to hand big city, Cambridge, that of beautiful architecture, historic interest and top end seats of learning but also sadly a million life threatening push bikes and a traffic system straight from the depths of hell!

You might deduce that I am not keen to be making this trip and you would be right. Cambridge might be famous for all manner of things intellectual, highbrow and beautiful but I don't like it one bit, or at least not in the practical sense and I rarely venture anywhere close. Truly, the place is most definitely not a number one destination if what you need to do is get in and out and do a little speedy practical shopping, so much so that usually I prefer to not shop at all.....and that's quite something!

It's an odd place altogether, it has a strange 'transient' unfriendly feel about it that doesn't endear it to me, maybe it's because most of the population is made up of students who are only there for a few years or tourists who are only there for a few days, maybe it's because the place is so spread out and scattered or maybe it's just because everyone is in as much as a hurry to get back out as I am before they become embroiled in the spokes of a speeding bike or have the front of their vehicle annihilated by a 'rising bollard'.

Rising bollards, now there's a thing, the traffic system is controlled by these items of engineering and they are just that, large bollards that rise and fall controlled by sensors on buses, taxis and other 'allowed' modes of transportation, sounds a clever idea? Well it might be aside from the fact that should you fail among the melee to notice a dropped one (and believe me they are easy to miss if you have traffic infront of you), the speed with which they rise out of the ground again is pretty scary and offers every possibility that you won't get home again without a tow truck!

Maybe the drive into London isn't such a bad idea after all.....

Decisions, decisions!

It's that time of year again, one of my favourites, the one where I can kid myself I am getting something for nothing though of course in reality I am not, instead I am merely paying through the nose by more nefarious marketing routes to fulfil my insatiable gadget obsession!

January is the month my mobile phone contract is due for renewal, the down side is of course that it requires a good deal of haggling each time to negotiate a suitable contract (it's amazing what you can get out of these companies if you put your mind to it) the upside though and the bit that outweighs all other aspects is that I get to choose a brand new shiny handset, a new toy to amuse me and fiddle with, oh the delight!

Of course, I get to this point, a week before I can claim my new piece of technological heaven, and I have never actually made the decision as to exactly which model of gorgeous gadget to choose. As ever I have perused at length the spec. for just about everything on the market and as ever I come to the same partial decision, it has to be substance over style (hey, you can't fiddle with 'style' or connect to the internet suitably fast) and it has to be Nokia, I can navigate a Nokia blindfold and I'm too set in my ways to learn another system to that degree of second nature!

So, all that remains is the final decision, an N95, the N96, though to pay a sum upfront which this model requires is usually against my self imposed phone acquisition rules, or the 6220, which is actually small enough for my little thumbs to race over with the necessary speeds and dexterity!

Hey....this is important stuff don't you know! ;o)

Decisions, decisions!

It's been...

.....a funny old weekend and it's gonna be a funny old week, so the lesson for the coming days, as offered to me by himself is 'Chill out'.

Hence, that is what I'm going to endeavour and do!

Move along, not much to see here today.....I'm chillin'....and shopping and one or two other things I don't usually get around to doing. ;o)

Don't try this at home!

For reasons as yet still unexplained, aside from the obsessive gremlin inside of me that likes everything to neat and tidy, I embarked on one of those 'little projects' yesterday that you soon begin to wish you had never dreamt of, let alone started!

Tagging is what I am talking about. I never bothered before to tag any of my blog posts but for a while I have thought maybe I should for various reasons, so yesterday morning I set about what turned out to be the marathon task of actually getting it done....big mistake! Why? Because there is almost 2000 posts and my chances of recalling what each one is about with only the title for a clue was almost nil!

Suffice to say I was still sat here tearing my hair out and trying to scan read almost every post at 2am this morning and as far as indexing goes it's still pretty poor.....but on the upside, they are in some degree of order now and it pushed my Technorati rank up two points instantly (small compensation I know)....though I doubt anyone will ever actually want to search here by tag in the first place and now I discover that unless I convert to the nasty widget template, even if they do Blogger will only kick up the first twenty or so posts in a category anyway!

I suspect there is a conspiracy afoot to make us use that widget thing!

My kinda kitteh!

The JW interview

Following on from the 'interview meme' of a few days back my good friend and blog-buddy JW decided to invent a new one....this one has twelve questions but you only have to answer those you want to. For more details go here, you don't even have to have a blog to join in.

So....verbose as ever, I'll try and do all twelve, here goes!

1. If you could change one piece of legislation, national or inter-national, what would it be and why? Would you just kill it or amend it?

Can I say the 'no smoking' legislation or is that too shallow?

Ok, more seriously, politics and law aren't my forte so I can't come up with one specific piece of legislation but any legislation that is forcing us into a namby-pamby nanny state instead of individuals with responsibility for ourselves should be revoked in my opinion.

Oh....and those bloody speed cameras! They can go.

2. If able to remove all mention of one individual from all media, who would it be and why? I have already done Simon Cowell, Bruce Forsyth and Michael Winner.

David Miliband, why? Because his ineffectual excuse making and ability never to answer the question have the ability to anger me almost before he opens his mouth these days.

3. What has been your most memorable meal and why? Was it the food, the company, the occasion celebrated or – what?

The meal Fletch and I had at a Chinese restaurant the night before we flew to Andalucia (see answer to question 10)...why? I was soooooo excited and I got to fulfil a small dream I had held for a long time.

4. You may go on vacation to anywhere you choose. Where, why and with whom?

Easy. Fletch and I had a two year round the world motorbike trip planned down to the last detail a year or two back. 55000 miles beginning in Dover, ending in North America and going via all but one continent en-route - ex-China, who wouldn't allow our bike in unaccompanied. It was almost fully financed and completely scheduled but circumstances conspired against us and the project was forced onto the shelf indefinitely. So...if I could go anywhere, I would go everywhere, we still have all the plans, the routes, the legalities in hand, it's ready to roll if you're providing the finance and the time out.

5. Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Do you believe that? If so, why do we have appeal courts?

Correct, ignorance of the law is no excuse, though of course there maybe in very occasional situations some extenuating circumstances.

6. Boy friends or dogs – which are the most loyal and loving?
Can I add 'Cats' here??

No brainer....dogs! But cats even more so....that said, boyfriends are pretty cool too! ;o)

7. If doing good resulted in personal danger or inconvenience, would you still try?

Yes, where the outcome for me was purely inconvenience of course, however if I was putting myself in real danger I would attempt to weigh up the odds before making the decision to help, though under extreme circumstances my adrenaline kicks in and I tend to act/react and think of the possible consequences later.

8. Who had the most influence on you during your growing up period? Mother, father or A.N. Other. Why?

I'm not sure I can choose one person, both my mother and father had a huge influence in shaping who I am now, each of them gave me different strengths. My mother instilled in me what I hope is some understanding of people and emotional issues along with a quiet strength, which whilst I might not always display it is an excellent 'model' to follow and from my father I got my cussedness, determination and sense of 'fair play'.

9. What will you do tomorrow that you would not have done this time last week?

Nothing! By that I mean I will do nothing I don't want to or have to....the last few weeks have been hectic/stressful, tomorrow is for chilling! Despite not working, weekdays I still have a 'work day' mentality, there is still stuff I have to do, chores, look for a job etc. etc. Saturdays I try to allow myself not to think of any of that, usually it doesn't work but tomorrow it will! ;o)

10. In your life to date, which were the best of times? Why?

My early childhood, why, because I felt completely safe and secure and life seemed simple. Yes, I can remember back to about age 1!

Latterly the first holiday Fletch and I took together, a week in a very posh villa in the hills of Andalucia. We hadn't known each other very long and it was like every girls romantic fantasy but for real. Walks on the beach hand in hand, long nights under the stars, days out exploring the Moorish architecture and Andalucian mountains, the heat, the sun, skinny dipping, fantastic food and fantastic company!
(My apologies, can I offer you a sick bag?)

11. Burial, cremation, leave body to science?

Cremation, though if those I left behind felt strongly that they would prefer another way I would be happy for them to make that choice.

12. What on earth made you buy THAT dress/pair of trousers?

A moment of madness and probably the momentary belief that I would actually have the courage to wear it in public!


Your turn now!

Taking a Benylin day!

Company bosses seem to have taken exception to the recent TV commercial from the makers of cold remedy's Benylin, so much so that it has been referred to the advertising standards authority!

And what is the problem? Apparently they don't approve of the fact that the advertisement promotes the perfectly sensible very silly idea that should we fall genuinely ill we should perhaps take a day off work and look after ourselves. No surprise there then! In fact the very thought is described by Stephen Alambritis of the Small business Federation as 'outrageous'!

These I assume are the same bosses that have their staff jumping through hoops when they call in sick, who treat their employees like they perpetually lie and aren't ever actually ill, those who terrorise and threaten what should be their most precious resource into working despite even obvious ill health and who ostracise those individuals when they return to their desks. That is what is really outrageous Mr. Alambritis!

I'm not advocating here the taking of a true 'sickie'...that is a day off for fun under the pretence of illness, and I am not stupid enough to think that doesn't cost employers dearly, but what I do advocate is that if one is ill then time off is appropriate and that we minions shouldn't be treated worse than criminals for our human failings!

I for one have had some pretty appalling responses to a day off sick in my time, even more worryingly have allowed myself to become quite seriously ill as a result of my reticence to face the wrath of the boss should I call in sick and more worryingly still, having worked at both management and 'low end' levels it is apparent that trust from employers diminishes rapidly the further down the hierarchical ladder you get!

So....'GO BENYLIN' is my feeling, a little bit of support for the underdog is never a bad thing....even if it is in the name of advertising!

Snow fight

I'm poorly and I have the definite hump, I don't know what ails me but all of me hurts, I feel sick, I have the tummy and head ache from hell and I don't like it....but this video clip in my mailbox this morning cheered me up so I will share it with you coz I'm nice like that! ;o)


Sound on

Interview me!

I did this a few years back but I thought another go might be fun. This version comes via Mr Nighttime and it works like this;

If you want to be 'interviewed on your blog' drop me a mail or a comment and I will mail you five questions, you answer them in a blog post and send me the link. I think originally the rules said to mail the originator the reply as well as post it but just a link seems simpler.

Here's my interview, as supplied by MrN.

1. Which movie/television show best describes your life and why?

'Forrest Gump' for this quote alone; "Life is like a box of chocolates....you never know whay you're going to get"

2. A former friend that badly hurt you in past, now calls you up and asks for your help with a serious matter, one of life or death. Do you help them?

Yes, no question. To be honest I'm not sure if that's because I would feel guilty if I didn't or because I would actually care about the outcome for the individual but either way, yes.

3. Vacation - Paris or New York City?

No brainer - NYC, my #1 destination since about age six!

4. What is your favorite curse word? (okay, I stole this from "Inside The Actor's Studio.)

Um....'f*ck', sorry but it can be said with real feeling. If I'm in the company of anyone I might offend then 'bugger' would be my second choice.

5. If there is one moment in your life that changed your outlook on the world forever, what would it be?

I'm not sure I can come up with just one, there have been a few instances that changed my outlook on life significantly for differing reasons so I'm going with three;

a. Meeting Fletch....who taught me to look at life differently and made the previously impossible seem possible.

b. Losing my career through long term health issues.....not to be recommended.

c. Having to give Tilly away.....which taught me a degree of cynicism.


Ok....your turn now guys, come on, join in! ;o)

A little bit of SNOW!!!!

This morning I woke to snow!!!....I'll grant you only a tiny bit but snow nonetheless and I'm grateful for what I can get! :o)

Apologies for the picture quality, too dark and too lazy to go down three floors this early to get closer!

Reality bites!

Today is the last day of our holidays, as I don't actually go to work I define that by the fact that Fletch returns to work tomorrow after his two week break, most of which it transpired was pretty stressful and not much of a break for him at all but hey, that's life.

So, what of the return to the day to day routine for me? The coming year is likely to take himself away on business more than this last year has, not something I relish one bit, I cope with weeks alone but I don't like it, in fact I hate it, there are times I can go for days and days without seeing another human being, one of the inevitable side effects of moving so often and of not working is that one learns quite rapidly to become something of a hermit!

Things need to change some. I am very lucky in that I don't desperately 'need' to work from the financial aspect (thank you Fletch) but like everyone we could use more income and I need to be occupied if I am to spend much time alone. To that end, starting tomorrow I need to either kick start the design thing into greater action or get a bloody job! Neither seems to be a simple option, a new blog design in a recession is probably not top of anyone's 'must have' list and with most of my work experience in retail and retail management, and retail being at the sharp end of said recession, that too is going to present it's own challenges!

Likely I won't blog much about the in's and out's of the job hunt, last time I did that the perpetual reporting of my not getting a position became somewhat disheartening and the thought of getting 'out there' again is pretty terrifying in itself, but things will change gradually with a bit of luck..... and perhaps somewhere out there will the perfect little job and some life outside of these four walls.

I'm used to my hermit existence, I would even go as far as to say I like it in many ways, I don't deal with stress well to put it mildly and the thought of going back into low end employment where one is treated like dirt as a rule, is not overly appealling to me but at least this time, if I get another employer who thinks he is above employment law, I can just shoot through instead of having to tolerate it endlessly, thank you again Fletch.

So, reality bites, it's back to the real world....and whatever it may bring here's hoping some of it at least is good!

'The wonder of Woolies' - end of an era

Call me sad but I happened to be in our local branch of Woolworths on Thursday at the close of business. This wasn't any old day of course, it was the day the receivers closed the doors of this particular branch for the very last time and the staff became from that moment, unemployed and headed for the benefits office.

Woolies was all the things it has been accused of as the media have watched it draw it's last corporate breath, directionless, tatty, low end etc. etc. etc but for all that it was an institution and who among you can honestly say it doesn't have a place in your childhood memories or that you never popped in from time to time when it was the only shop in your high street that sold some obscure item you desperately needed!

Woolies will be synonymous for me with pick and mix, household hardware and all those dreadful compilation vinyls we bought as teenagers, way back far too many decades than I care to remember. It was the place where you went with your posse of 14 year old mates and pulled funny faces in the photo booth on a Saturday afternoon, in an era (God forbid)when mobile phones hadn't been thought of let alone included cameras. It was where we bought 'Brut' for our fathers, nasty rose bath salts for granny and probably our very first make-up and despite it's faults I still regularly went there for odds and sods and a lottery ticket!

Ours here I have to say had some of the best behaved and trained retail staff I have come across, way better than many in some high end stores, staff that actually knew the meaning of the words 'polite' and 'service'(and believe me after 25 years in the business I am picky)and watching them work there last few minutes, with the receivers actually standing over them waiting to dismiss them made me feel quite sad...but you know what, right to the end they still behaved well and did their jobs without a hint of their own future worries!

Perversely, with the announcement a few weeks ago that good old Woolies was about to be consigned to the scrap heap, the branch here became really busy, even prior to the sales....maybe a case of we don't appreciate things until they are gone?

It might not have been Fortnums but I'll quite miss it.

Hamster!

I'm feeling pretty witless today, I think the last week finally caught up with me and what little mind I had remaining has imploded temporarily, leaving me staring blankly at anything I have attempted to do since I crawled out of my bed this morning!

It is thus that the best I can manage today is the offering of a small 'toy' for your amusement....



(click on the wheel/bottle etc.)

...well it amused me! ;o)