catch up time

I'm sorry, I haven't been so well, and been too tired to blog.

I never found out what the firemen were doing back in November. Ah well!

I've spent most of the past month just trying to make sure I got everything ready for Yule, and some of that seemed to be very last minute.

However, everything was done in time, apart from getting my hands on a fibre optic tree for my dining room. The decorations went up on the ceiling for the first time in three years, the last two years I was unable to climb the ladder to put them up

The tree is a beautiful tree, but my lights are pitifully short and looked stupid, so I took them off.

I don't go for houseblinging, unlike my neighbours. You can either do understated and subtle, or garish....I go for the first option.

It wasn't my fault!

Nearly every workplace has a fire drill every so often, just to check if "the system" for evacuating the building/s works. But....when do they do these drills?
Well, I work in a school, so when do you think they are carried out? At the change of lessons, or just before/during/after? No, they are usually when a lesson is halfway through,and the teacher is half expecting it, so they don't particularly engage the children's attention.
So what happens when it is for real? Like today, well the evacuation works reasonably well, but.....why when the pupils had been told to go to the junior block dining room for their inners, did the insist on trying to go back into the main block where the fire had been? After 35 minutes the all clear was given.
What had been the cause of the smelly electrical type fire? A faulty light fitting. I had switched the light on it the store, and left it on. [It is normally left on] And that is here the fire was, it was the light I switched on. I suppose it was very lucky as the server for the computers in that part of the school is in that room, and it was unharmed.
It wasn't my fault...the light is needed in that room and generally left on.

Oh and it made the local newspaper, must have been a slow news day.

Quiet week and weekend

It's been pretty quiet this week and weekend here, but then the week started with Edwin not being so well, tonsillitis, then I picked something up, nearly lost my voice and kept having choking fits, and now Sam has it. Coupled with that Sam managed to scratch her eye taking her contact lens out.
It was entertaining to see that PIRATES! had hijacked a supertanker. Anyone who reads my blog will know that my three are pirate mad. I love this adaptation of Kenya from Weebl's stuff on the pirate theme. (By the way they don't seem to be "growing out" of the pirate stage, suppose they never will. Perhaps I should join them and dress up as pirate myself next time they decide to.)

And for this Saturday's entertainment

No, it isn't really entertainment, but there's a fire engine just turned up, obviously not an emergency as they didn't have sirens going, but do have flashing lights going. Four firemen jumped out with breathing apparatus. There is a distinct smell of something burning, but I have no idea what, it isn't a car though as I just went out to have a quick look.
Five to ten minutes later the fire engine is on it's way. I presume they went to the houses that have are being done up in the street and are vacant.
If I find out what was the reason for the visit I will post.
Mind you it's still early here; time for more upsets later on. I hope not as I have been sleeping badly, and Tuesday/Wednesday's disturbance robbed me of quite a few hours sleep

I couldn't do that job.

What job would the following qualities be good in?

1. Ability to hold the opposing viewpoint, even if you actually agree with whatever the person is saying.
2. Make promises in order to obtain the post,and then promptly forget all your promises when you are appointed.
3. Have a keen sense of paranoia, especially when considering what other people in the same job are saying about a subject.
4. Have a thick skin.
5. Not mind having your every move documented by the media, if you ever become good enough at the job.
6. The ability to refuse other people a decent living wage, but gladly agree to your own wage rise.

I'm sure I have missed some qualities off this list, but I do know it is a job I could never do. If anyone has any idea what post/job I think requires these qualities, or can supply a few more qualities, please let me know. There isn't a prize unfortunately, it's just for fun.

Hat

I finished the earflap hat I was making. I did have to pull it back twice as I got the increases in the wrong place, the first time, the second time I lost track of where I was. My son's gf looked aghast as I just pulled it off the needles and pulled it back. I just had enough yarn to finish it, but there was none spare for pompoms and ties.

However, although I am satisfied with the result, I couldn't see myself wearing it, ever, I'd have different colours. So I put it in the staffroom at work with a note saying if anyone wanted it, they could have it, just give a donation to Children in Need.

Before I did this Sam tried it on, she loved it, but would like a black one. Today I went to the market, bought a huge ball of black wool and a circular needle. Am sure have the correct size in my workbox, but the this moment in time my workbox is buried under a pile of things. And once I knit one black earflap hat, I'm sure that there will be more requests and the black wool will soon disappear.

I also managed to put quite a few more stitches in the remaining birth sampler I have been cross stitching for work colleagues. This last one is taking some time; as it is mother and baby giraffe and the colours are very close. The effect is worth the effort though.

The other thing I have started to do this week is sort out seasonal presents. With only Oliver to sort something major out for now, and my youngest niece. I no longer buy anything for my other nieces and nephews as they are all over 21.

While I was at the market I found three prefect Xmas cards for Mum and Dad, and a couple of good friends. All three are humourous, and although they were expensive, I am sure they will be appreciated.

Knitting

I have been reading Chronic Knitting Syndrome blog, and am afraid it must have infected me. It's ages since I knitted seriously. In fact I stopped trying to knit anything much around the time my youngest became mobile. He used to play with the wool like a cartoon cat. It drove me up the wall and I started doing cross stitch instead. Since my divorce I don't always find time to do the things I want to do; as at first looking after three children, doing up a house, taking a degree occupied most of the time.
However two things prompted me to tackle what I am knitting right now; one was buying a hat with earflaps for my youngest's girlfriend, and the other was I found this wonderful wool that is just begging to be made up into something. So I looked for a hat with earflaps pattern, eventually found one, but it is knitted on double pointed needles in the round. So I have had to transcribe the pattern in my head so it can be done on two needles. ( I do have double pointed needles, and circular ones, but I can't get at them right now.) As the hat is knitted from the crown downwards the first few rows are difficult, but I'm sure once I have got the required number of stitches, the stiffness will ease. I promise to post a photo of the finished hat.

It's NOT the weekend.

Well, last night I was rudely woken at around 1am. Sound of someone beating on something, then a load of verbal abuse shouted, and fighting ensued.
As the noise had woken me up I looked out of the window to see what was going on. There was a woman screeching at this man, and aiming drunken punches at him. A lot of fighting was going on, I rang the police. after I had called the police, one man was held by one or two men and kicked, just like they show on TV and in films. I wouldn't have believed people could be so vicious if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. The police came, eventually, but it took ages for me to get back to sleep. The whole incident shook me.
I've had a call tonight from the police, it is going to court, as there were three lots of damage caused.
I don't have to watch TV for entertainment, when it regularly happens just outside. Only difference is, real life is scary when it's as close as this gets.
Oh! And why the title I have given this post? Because it is normally Friday, Saturday or Sunday when things kick off like this.

The Return of Rude Food?

For years the UK has been told what fruit and veg it can and can't sell. If a fruit or vegetable doesn't measure up to EU set guidelines, it can't be sold.

To me this seems a total waste of good food, and luckily the EU don't go around people's greenhouses and gardens.

So now, we might be able to go to the supermarket and buy "Rude Food" again. Something similar to the photo at the top, maybe?

Anyway, the link says much more about this subject, that I prefer to think of as EU lunacy

Fireworks!

I dislike fireworks. Have done since I was about 8 years old, when some prat threw a banger at me.



Where do they get their money?
Fireworks going off since 4pm tonight.
Each one seems louder that the last,
Each successive ones giving me a fright.
It’s been going on for over a week.
In the car park behind Coach Mews
A firework spark set the whole box alight.
They didn’t panic they knew what to do.
Shoved a mattress on top of it.
Well, wouldn’t you?
Everyone has one just lying around.
I pray that their money will run out,
lighting fireworks is all their life is about.
Perhaps tomorrow there will be none.
Then Spark can have the late walk,
He longs to go on.
It’s not him they scare,
He’s as brave as can be.
It’s not him they scare.
The scared one is me.





I wrote that poem back in 2002. Where I live now, there are more idiots around with more money than sense, and fireworks seem to start in mid October, and go on until mid November.



I'll be honest, I am amazed that the general public are allowed to buy fireworks these days. Long gone are the genteel fireworks of my childhood. Now it seems bigger and louder are better. What also amazes me is as the fireworks get bigger no-one seems to have anticipated the potential "terrorist" mischief that could be caused. After all, anyone can go into a firework shop, and providing they are over 18, they can buy fireworks. And these days you can buy huge rockets, and batteries! Perhaps I am being a scaredy cat, but what would happen if several of these were bought, and set off in an enclosed space, for example, a shopping centre? The chaos that would cause shouldn't happen. I wish our government would make fireworks only available to people with licenses to put on public displays...after all we are talking about gunpowder in the hands of people who are unaware of the potential.

for further information about UK "Bonfire Night" and Guy Fawkes


http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A199488

and here am I wondering if I should approach my local MP about the sale of fireworks? It really depends on where she spent the weekend...here or Westminster. If she spent it here, she will know why I am concerned. The firework code does say that fireworks should not be let off within 20, (or is it 30ft,) of a public highway? That is blatantly disregarded here. some even being let off in the middle of the public highway!!!!.
For the past week, and more, I have not taken my dogs out after dark! What happened to Bonfire Night being just one night...here it lasts around a month!

apology

First, I would like to apologise for the run together words and typos in the previous post/ad. That is as it appeared on Freecycle, so typos were not my doing.

Second apology is from me, my PC was very poorly and I didn't have access to my own machine for over a week. I was very lucky and got it fixed, and tomorrow I am baking a cake for the person who fixed it for me. Bartering is alive and well in North Lancashire.

I suppose I should start to think about seasonal pressies and buying them. Last weekend I picked up a beautiful china cup and coaster which will be part of Mum's present. It has Goldfinches on it, she has them visit her garden regularly.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/g/goldfinch/index.asp

I have just looked and the USA Goldfinch looks more like our Greenfinch. Not being biased, but ours is much prettier
This mug I bought was one for £3.99 or two for £5, so I got two, the second on has the European Barn Owl on it, or in USA "speak" a screech owl. Think I might keep that one for myself.

Not sure what I will be getting for seasonal pressies for people. I have "Old Bean's" sorted, but that is probably the only one, and I had better sort out posting it soon.
On Monday I posted a piece of cheese to Old Bean. It cost more to post than the cheese cost!
Why can't someone over there get their act together, and import the various British cheeses? Anyway, as I told Old Bean....it's the most expensive piece of cheese she will ever eat, hope she enjoys it.

Freecycle wonders!

This is a real 18 feet long twin keel sailing boat on a road trailer.The boat is structurally sound but needs some tidying up work. Thetrailer has a broken wheel bearing and will need some attention beforethe boat can be moved, or the trailer and boat could be low loaded.The boat was fully re-rigged about four years ago and had a newmainsail and then has been sailed only for a few months. It has asmall auxilliary outboard engine sufficient to push ot along. It hassat on our drive for three years without attention. It is untidy butwhilst it may need consderable elbow grease it shouldn't need muchmoney spending on it.The boat is twin keeled and pretty much uncapsizeable so is ideal forpeople new to sailing or a for a family. It's four berth so you canovernight on it. We sailed it on Ullswater and it was superb.I need to move this boat quickly which is why I'm putting it onfreecycle rather than to selling it.My strong preference is for this boat to go to a family who will enjoyit or perhaps a youth group of some sort so I reserve the right toconsider all expressions of interest before parting with it, but itmust go.I have to get rid of this boat quickly i.e. within the next two weeksso please is express your interest only if you are sure that you canarrange to collect it within that time period.Pictures available on receipt of an email address.

I know, the things you find on freecycle. The above was posted on my local freecycle. If I could sail I would be quite tempted by that!

Frozen in time

Nope , I haven't just found a story about a mammoth found in ice somewhere.

It's just how I feel in myself right at this moment.
A few months back, everything looked great, and seemed to be going right for me, and then bang, it all stopped.
Since then I feel like I'm in a bubble, or frozen in time. As I watch everyone else carry on with their lives, and mine is in suspension.
I suppose sooner or later my life will carry on, but I dunno, of course it will, but after everything going so well, I feel shell-shocked.
At times like this I just want to escape away somewhere, would love to disappear to Skye, or Mull for a while.
I even think I should probably move up there, and just be me. With no one else in my life. Perhaps I might do one day. Who knows?

Strange

Today, for the first time since I went back to work after summer break I have been into Lancaster.I almost wished I hadn't bothered. It felt so crowded, and when I went to Boots there was a dance competition taking place, very noisy, and all I wanted to do was turn tail and catch the next bus back home.I didn't. but it felt very strange being amongst so many single minded people.Won't be venturing there at weekend again unless it is a dire emergency in the near future.I did get everything I needed to do done though.

It was quiet this weekend

Very strange indeed.
The weekend that just passed did not result in any entertainment in the street in the wee small hours.
Not that I'm bothered, cos it's nice to have uninterrupted sleep. I did take the dogs on the Beach, as it is now October, and dogs are allowed on the beach in winter. Yippee!!!!!
It's great, cos the dogs run about 3-4 times further than you would normally walk them when they are off the leads.

Freecycle

I believe that Freecycle started somewhere in USA. But now it is definitely over here in the UK as well.
I am a member of my local group, and get regular e-mails with OFFERED and WANTED listed, sometimes they don't catch my eye, but tonight two have.
I will always see what anyone offering "various" has to offer. The various e-mail I looked at tonight has a huge list of items, a workshop clearance.
The other that caught my eye was a WANTED request, "Big Cat Carrier", I'm sure this is a punctuation mistake, and they aren't wanting a huge basket to put a lion, tiger or some other such creature in, but who knows?


Any way, I think I should share the list of "various"

All to be picked up Wednesday evening from 6pm. Please note all a bit dusty from being in the shed.
2 besoms (broomsticks) one needs a bit of filling out
2 irons, one relatively new, the other old
Duster - yellow nylon
Toaster - small and old but works
CD player/radio
Watering can
Seed trays
Basket of old fabric paints and dyes
Budgie cage stand
Wire hanging basket
Old metal bell - has a good dong
Basket of sponges for craft purposes
Tin of drill bits
Morrocan lantern, ornate metal, in three pieces. Needs repair.
3 hand saws
3 traffic cones
Plastic containers/buckets. Various sizes
Electric seed tray/incubator type thing.
Pile of cushions. Various sizes and quality.
2 bin bags of old jumpers. Meant for felting etc but never got round to it...
Carved pine mirror on stand. Very pretty but water stained.
Pine slatted storage box. 30cm high, 37cm square.
Plastic landscape - for playing with plastic animals. Bit tatty.
Large orange fishing net. Good for displays.
Wooden folding chair
Wind break
Halogen heater
2 rotary clothes lines
Wooden play pen. No base, 3 dowels missing.
Mirror. Approx 1m high by 35cm
Bag of fabric for bunting - some pre cut.
3 cork notice boards 1 x A1, 2 x A2
3carry mats, bit tatty but useful?
Wicker paper bin
Coathangers, mainly wooden
3 oil filled radiators, one large,2 small with broken legs.
2 bookshelves approx 6ft high. Black MDF, insides decorated with colourful images.
2 clothes airers. 1 concertina, one fold out.
Phone. Scruffy but works.
Rag rug in a spider web design. Needs a good clean.
3 stacking tins (plant pot holders?)
Small white coffee cups and ceramic dishes - good for ceramic painting.
3 stacking pots. Red with white spots. Used for plant pots.
2 compost bins. 1 large dalek style, the other small and green.
Compost kitchen caddy
Terracotta tiles. Small pile measure 20cm x 20cm
Blue plastic shell (sand pit?)
Bag of decorative 'bits'.
Wooden box (garden trug?). Has handle. May need small repair.

Please email me and I'll send directions,Jen



For the background on Freecycle

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freecycle_Network

Knitting

I have been looking at http://chronicknittingsyndrome.blogspot.com/ lately, and thought it was about time I did some knitting.

The other week I bought some variegated pastel "fur" yarn, and am just knitting it into a very thin "scarf", mainly to see how far one ball of wool will go.

I also found a project on Craftster, where a member has made Cookie Monster, in crochet, and I thought I might be able to knit a Cookie Monster, have bought yarn for that.

Other craft projects on the go.

A patchwork bedspread for my bed, and bag making. I am trying to use home made strong cloth bags for shopping these days so I don't have to use plastic carrier bags from the supermarket. But Oliver took two of them back to uni, so I need to make more.

Pulling?

Tonight my daughter, Sam, wanted me to drive her into Lancaster to meet up with friends. When she wants a taxi service I agree these days, but drive her in her car.

This is fun, I get to drive a car that looks like a cow.

Can't remember if I have blogged about Sam's car, but will rectify that now, by showing pictures. Also, as I was driving her, another car passed us with lads around Sam's age in it, they shouted to us. Sam said..."that's not fair, I never pull when I'm driving" Don't think I had pulled, just brightened someone's day up.

And now for something completely different!

Yes! I love Monty Python.
So, I nicked the title.yay!!!!!!
On Wednesday it is the 1st of October, which means I will be able to walk the dogs on the beach at the bottom of the road. I think I miss not going on the beach as much as they do. There is a beach I could take them on during the summer, but have only just got to walking that sortof distance without being worn out by the time I have got there, (and still have to get back!)So...if I'm not around on Wednesday it's because I am on the beach with the dogs, and possibly flying one of my new kites

Hard winter? Perhaps.

Am just wondering if we are in for quite a hard winter.why? Cos the past two nights I have heard the geese flying over. Thing is, I'm sure that they are around a month earlier than they usually are. And forgaging. Well, am not fit enough to do that, but around here there seem to be lots of bird friendly berries by the sides of the roads. Lots of elderberries and haws, also loads of rosehips, but have never seen birds eating them, rosehips that is.

Saturday Evening...again!

Yes, it happened again last night!
People yelling and screaming at each other in the street.
This time it was a male and female, but they were further away, so must have been really yelling at each other. The woman kept on screaming.
You know, I think if a Saturday evening goes past without such a happening I will probably wake wondering what is wrong, thinking the world has ended, and I am the only person left alive. (Joking!) But it is so regular that I am getting quite good at turning over and going straight back to sleep again.

Two weeks later!

OK, first apologies. I haven't been awfully well, mostly just very tired lately.....so I haven't blogged. Hope you will forgive me?

Last Saturday evening/night ran true to form. At around 12.30-12.45 I was awoken by screaming banshees, well maybe not banshees in the true dictionary meaning of the word, but the neighbours from the row at the bottom had decided Saturday evening was a good time to have a screaming match at each other over the garden fence. That I was disturbed by, but what else I heard bothered me. At least one child was upset by what was going on, and was outside at that time of the night screaming, just as I was beginning to wonder if it would ever quieten down it went quiet. I hope someone had called the police.

Tonight I am feeling very tired, and may go off to bed early.

I saw the podiatrist on Tuesday, and she told me that I have to have the insoles in my shoes more or less forever, as if I don't my foot will collapse again, and this time it will not be able to be put right. Wonderful, no more ladylike shoes for me. Not that I went in for ladylike, but I do like my sandals. Still I'd rather be able to walk properly.
So, for future reference, if you ever see me, I'm the one with the clunky shoes, and mad socks. The stripey-er and more colourful the better as far as I'm concerned!

Yet another Saturday night!

well, it was in the early-ish hours of Sunday morning really.
Yes! you guessed it, the neighbours couldn't let the weekend pass without some kind of entertainment.
Just before 5am a voice was shouting "move your [swearword] car!" Then there was the sound of a car being moved, and another voice yelling "don't you ever [swearword] touch my car again!" more shouting ensued. this went on for a short while, then the owner of the first voice drove off. Only to return shortly afterwards, and thump the door of the house almost! Nope! not mine, the one he lives at. But the door wasn't opened, so he kept thumping, and yelling. Just before 6am I got fed up with it all, so rang the police about the "disturbance". They said they would send someone, I don't know if they did, as I eventually managed to get back to sleep.
Who said cul-de-sacs are quiet?

Random Thoughts

Does anyone else have daft random thoughts pop into their head?
I like to watch Coronation Street, (for non UK reader's a several times a week soap,) and tonight I noticed a "theme" that the scriptwriters might be pursuing, or at least a variation on a theme.After Roy and Ken were released from the police Station, and walked down the street, was it only me who saw the echo of a "Wizard of Oz" theme? Especially as Becki linked arms with Roy and Ken and tried to get them to "skip" down the street away from camera.My cast list would be Becki as Dorothy, Roy as the Tin Man, Ken as the Cowardly Lion and Vernon as the scarecrow, and Ken does have that silly dog if the dog MUST be there as well. I just wonder who the Wizard will turn out to be, if the scriptwriters have decided on a Wizard of Oz mini plot, please don't let it be Norris.

I just thought I'd share one of my random tangents with you.

Gadgets!

Well, tonight on the news they did a "filler" story.
CUE DRAMATIC MUSIC......" Books are on the way out"

Sorry, the way they presented the story was funny. They gave the example of videos giving way to DVD's, Walkmans to mp3 players and i pods. Apparently books will be superseded by e-books, these wonderful machines can store up to 160 full length novels. Sounds good you might think, you can take this e-book with you wherever you go. It is only the size of a standard paperback, and ...if you finished your book, well it can store 160, so you wouldn't run out of reading material, ever again, or would you?
These are what I see as the drawbacks. The experts say that you should take a est from working at a PC, handheld games, etc, so surely the same applies to the e-book. And something else, it must work on some kind of battery. So, you are just getting to a really interesting part of the book..........
and the battery fails. Wouldn't that just annoy you? It would me.

I think it would be a nice "gadget"to have, but I'll stick with the real thing. After all, there are still orchestras, and musicians, even though there is a huge range of recorded music. And despite digital cameras people still use "real" cameras. And I do like to have a book, and as the presenter pointed out, you would serious damage your e-book if you read in the bath, and accidentally dropped it in.

And another last thought to leave you with, wouldn't it take the pleasure out of having a good old browse in a bookshop, carefully picking your next book?

Where did they go?

If you are a regular reader of this load of drivel, you will know that I work in a school.
We are back on Tuesday for the new school year, although my youngest isn't back until Wednesday.
What I want to know is, Where does the time go?" It doesn't seem that long since it was end of term. More to the point, have I done what I hoped to do during the break? The answer to that one is simple, NO!
The medication I got from the doctor knocked me sideways for a while.
I have managed to keep up with my swimming, and managed to walk the dog most days, so am happy about that.
I have also read quite a lot of books, and started a patchwork quilt for my own bed.
And painted about a 1/3 of the walls and ceiling in the back bedroom. I hope to paint more tomorrow.
But!!!! my ankle has been aching quite a bit the last two or three days, so I think at some point I may have over done things. Probably on Friday, when I got up early, then was busy until around 4-4.30 in the afternoon.
Old Bean is now safely out of the path of Hurricane Gustav. Just typical ain't it, the hurricane decides to arrive on a USA holiday weekend! I know it's serious, and my thoughts are with them.

Saturday night again

I know I haven't posted for nearly a week. For a Saturday it is very quiet here. No Eastern Europeans wall walking, no TWOCers, no one dumping cars in the street and running off.
Not much happening at all.
There's no-one really online who I talk to either. Mind you, Old Bean is busy getting stuff packed in case Gustav hits. They are going to a relative's house out of the path of Gustav. When the last biggy hit that area I didn't know anyone there, and it was just stuff on a map. I was disgusted then how slowly the USA central government reacted to the crisis. They send aid swifter to places not in their country, perhaps the illustrious leader was trying to find New Orleans on a world map, little knowing it was in his own country.
Have had a busy week, but not really done anything note worthy. Have been doing some work on the back bedroom for Edwin, but not as much as I'd like, due to adjusting to the tablets the doc has given me. I should be able to get stuck into things soon, or rather work my way through thins slowly but surely.
It's back to work on Tuesday for me. Everything should be quite organised, as I think I got most of the resources ready for DT before the summer. We have a new DT teacher starting, can't remember his surname, but his first name is Ben, tall bloke, not that old.

Muuuuuuum!

My youngest came into the living room while I was watching TV , having my random thoughts of the earlier post. He announced, "I've made a bit more room in the glasses cupboard, Mum. Things will fit in a little easier now."
cheeky monkey! He'd broken a glass.
Mind you, he's right, things will fit in better now.
I wasn't cross, but who could be when he cleaned all the mess up himself, well he is 15, and put it so uniquely?
It happens in spates here, glasses and crockery getting broken. There's plenty more glasses, except they are either pint ones or smallish tumblers now, no half pint ones left. What's the posh name for them, Hi-ball glasses?
Should I make my son and his gf eat at Maccy Ds to collect some their promotional glasses? Or just offer visitors teeny tiny drinks, or huge ones. (I do have other glasses, but they are no better as they are champagne flutes ...from waaaaaaaaaaay back, when they used to give glasses away with fuel at garages.)
Nooooooooooo, don't want to be accused of cruelty.

And before I go, the weekend started in true style.
Earlier on there were 2 police vehicles outside, a tow truck thing, and what I can only guess was a stolen Corsa. The Police loaded the Corsa onto the tow truck doodah, and it was taken away, and I heard through the open window something about, driving without a license and insurance. Guess the scruffy looking individual was a TWOCer. And it's only Friday evening!

Random thoughts

Do random thoughts come into other people's heads unbidden? I don't think I'm the only one this happens to.
After eating tonight was watching something on the TV, and for some reason this question popped into my head.
"How do you find out you can sword swallow?"
What sort of thing is the person doing when they find out that they can sword swallow? Trying to commit suicide in a unique way?
Trying to dislodge a stuck piece of food?
Staving off a murderous attack in the only way possible?
What sort of sane person picks up a sword and sticks it down their outstretched throat, after all, if you've done even the most basic biology you would know that around 6 inches down it starts to get twisty.
One on from this is fire eating, or is it? Perhaps I should have asked my friend who fire-eats, what made her decide to give it a try? Mind you, on reflection, fire-eating isn't as bizarre as sword swallowing. And lying on a bed of nails, well so long as you don't bounce up and down I can see that working as your weight is spread over the area, and the nails are fairly close together, aren't they?
Fire-walking is another one that puzzles me, why not just go around?
Perhaps some kind soul will read this, and have the answers, then again, maybe not! More likely to just get even more imponderable questions posed.

Is it just me?

Is it just me, or does this happen to other people?
Sometimes I will be reading a book, and the next book I pick up also mentions a minor incident.
For instance, the current book I am reading, and the two previous have all had the narrator commenting on the behaviour of flies. I know, it's odd. But I have found this before, obviously not about flies in the past, but a minor incident recurring in successive books by different authors.

Tatling Shadow, again!

Today is Spark's 7th birthday.
Last night, Shadow was in the yard, whining and crying, and she came to me, whined and cried.
I called Spark ,but no answer. Shadow went into the yard and cried more.
I called Spark again, and he eventually appeared, covered in erm...I don't know, but he stank and was more brown than white.
Straight in the bath for him. That was what was wrong with Shadow, she couldn't follow Spark and knew he shouldn't be out alone.

Am still here

I'm really sorry that I haven't posted any of my daft guff for a while.
I've been distracted.

Anyway, I thought here might be a fun place to share one of my daft, "off at a tangent moments".
I was talking to a friend about a local takeaway place, and commented that they use "ham substitute" instead of real ham, then I realised that as the place also provided curry they may be Muslim.
My brain went totally off at a tangent then about the "ham substitute"
I had this mental image of little bits of "ham substitute" running around the perimeter of the pizza as the delivery person drove to the delivery, and it leaping into place onto the pizza as the doorbell is rung.
OK!
Yes, I agree with you, a very nutty mental image, but that is what sports subs do...warm up before joining in.

Well Read, or just short of something to do?

I saw a list of top 100 books on another blog. I thought it was the BBC Big Read list, but not. Never mind, the one below is.
The list was compiled by the British public voting for their favourite book, then books were eliminated. There is a list of 200, but that is far too long for here.
You can find it http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/bigread/
It is reference only now though.

I have coloured the books I have read in red, and the one's I have but not read as yet in green, the one's I haven't read are black.


1. The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien
2. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
3. His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman
4. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, JK Rowling
6. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
7. Winnie the Pooh, AA Milne
8. Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell
9. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, CS Lewis
10. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë
11. Catch-22, Joseph Heller
12. Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë
13. Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks
14. Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier
15. The Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger
16. The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame
17. Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
18. Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
19. Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres
20. War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy
21. Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell
22. Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, JK Rowling
23. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, JK Rowling
24. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, JK Rowling
25. The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien
26. Tess Of The D'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy
27. Middlemarch, George Eliot
28. A Prayer For Owen Meany, John Irving
29. The Grapes Of Wrath, John Steinbeck
30. Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
31. The Story Of Tracy Beaker, Jacqueline Wilson
32. One Hundred Years Of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez
33. The Pillars Of The Earth, Ken Follett
34. David Copperfield, Charles Dickens
35. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl
36. Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson
37. A Town Like Alice, Nevil Shute
38. Persuasion, Jane Austen
39. Dune, Frank Herbert
40. Emma, Jane Austen
41. Anne Of Green Gables, LM Montgomery
42. Watership Down, Richard Adams
43. The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald
44. The Count Of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
45. Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh
46. Animal Farm, George Orwell
47. A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens
48. Far From The Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy
49. Goodnight Mister Tom, Michelle Magorian
50. The Shell Seekers, Rosamunde Pilcher

51. The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett
52. Of Mice And Men, John Steinbeck
53. The Stand, Stephen King
54. Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy
55. A Suitable Boy, Vikram Seth
56. The BFG, Roald Dahl
57. Swallows And Amazons, Arthur Ransome
58. Black Beauty, Anna Sewell
59. Artemis Fowl, Eoin Colfer
60. Crime And Punishment, Fyodor Dostoyevsky
61. Noughts And Crosses, Malorie Blackman
62. Memoirs Of A Geisha, Arthur Golden
63. A Tale Of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
64. The Thorn Birds, Colleen McCollough
65. Mort, Terry Pratchett
66. The Magic Faraway Tree, Enid Blyton
67. The Magus, John Fowles
68. Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
69. Guards! Guards!, Terry Pratchett
70. Lord Of The Flies, William Golding
71. Perfume, Patrick Süskind
72. The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, Robert Tressell
73. Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
74. Matilda, Roald Dahl
75. Bridget Jones's Diary, Helen Fielding
76. The Secret History, Donna Tartt
77. The Woman In White, Wilkie Collins
78. Ulysses, James Joyce
79. Bleak House, Charles Dickens
80. Double Act, Jacqueline Wilson
81. The Twits, Roald Dahl
82. I Capture The Castle, Dodie Smith
83. Holes, Louis Sachar
84. Gormenghast, Mervyn Peake
85. The God Of Small Things, Arundhati Roy
86. Vicky Angel, Jacqueline Wilson
87. Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
88. Cold Comfort Farm, Stella Gibbons
89. Magician, Raymond E Feist
90. On The Road, Jack Kerouac
91. The Godfather, Mario Puzo
92. The Clan Of The Cave Bear, Jean M Auel
93. The Colour Of Magic, Terry Pratchett
94. The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
95. Katherine, Anya Seton
96. Kane And Abel, Jeffrey Archer
97. Love In The Time Of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez
98. Girls In Love, Jacqueline Wilson
99. The Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot
100. Midnight's Children, Salman Rushdie

I did colour one red and green..I just couldn't finish Middlemarch. The vote was open to all ages. There is one thing that annoyed me. All Douglas Adams books were lumped together, as were His Dark Materials, whilst the Harry Potter books were all listed separately. (I do have all those, but have only read the first one.)

My List

Al right then! I swiped this from Complex Femme's blog, who in turn had lifted it from elsewhere and I'm going to see if I can manage the whole thing...

Here goes ...
The challenge is to make a list of my favorites. There can be only ONE answer to each question.
So here's my list of favorite things .... But as this was originally an American list, and I'm from the UK, I'll give UK answers.

1. Sport: show jumping/gymkhana (to watch)
2. Game: Othello
3. Color: purple
4. Movie:Sleeping with the Enemy
5. Broadway play: None seen (Can't remember the name of the Stephen Berkov play I saw back in 1987, but that is the the equivalent, and only one I've seen)
6. Broadway Musical: (None seen in London.)
7. Song: Stevie Wonder's Happy Birthday
8.UK city I have visited: I live near Lancaster, but other than that Manchester. :D
9. Foreign city I have visited: Not a city, but Lorient in southern Brittany, France
10. Book: Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
11. Classic television show: Poldark
12. Recent television show: Doc Martin
13. Actor: Nigel Havers
14. Actress: Julia Roberts
15. Perfume: Oceanus by Body Shop
16. Food: curry, the hotter the better :D
17. Dessert: Cheesecake
18. Chain Restaurant: Don't have them much in UK
19. Local Restaurant: Saffron
20. Car: MGZR :D
21. Condiment: Vinegar
22. Kitchen Appliance: Braun hand blender
23. Home Appliance: toaster
24. Beauty Product: shampoo
25. Piece of clothing: purple and black goth dress
26. HGTV Show: what is this? guessing something like our freeview, so Top Gear on Dave
27. Food Network show: don't have one, but Gordon Ramsey
28. Male Songwriter: The Bees...they are all male
29. Female Songwriter:Shania Twain
30. Holiday: Midsummer
31. Ballet I have seen: Swan Lake
32. Disney character: "Mickey Mouse as Sorcerer's Apprentice"
33. Flower: Iris
34. Alcoholic drink: Soave
35. Non-Alcoholic drink: Water, plain ordinary tap water.
36. Magazine: Cross Stitcher
37. Animated movie: Fantasia
38. Television network miniseries: Don't have any in UK really
39. Season: All 4
40. Male vocalist:Robert Palmer
41. Female vocalist: Pink
42. Day of the week: all
43. Household Chore:Cooking
44. Ice Cream: Vanilla
45. Candy: Liquorice
46. Artist:Renoir and Modern..my friend Piers Bishop
47. Quotation: "Don't Panic" H2G2

I tried this.

As I clicked on the home page of my browser, this story came up
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/itn/20080806/tuk-yawning-dogs-are-copy-cats-dba1618.html
I wasn't sure about this story. So, like an idiot, I sat here yawning at my Westie. He looked at me as if to say..."go away, mad woman" then turned his back on me. I have also seen my friend yawn in front of their collie, and he does yawn.
What the article hasn't considered is the "intelligence" of the dogs concerned. The smarter dogs aren't fooled as easily. After all, you can sit there, looking at another person, and keep yawning, and before long they start to yawn back. (I have tried this as well, and the degree of alertness seems to be a factor.)

Smoking problem?

Just over a year ago in the UK there was a law passed against smoking in public places.
It didn't cover outdoor venues though, but the place in the article below will have areas where smoking will be banned.
For example, if an "building/shelter" has a roof, if it is more than 50% enclosed it becomes illegal to smoke in it. So most bus shelters are non-smoking.
Anyway, I think the smokers in the story below acted to the extreme.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/skynews/20080806/tuk-commuter-thrown-on-to-live-rails-45dbed5.html

busy again

Well, on the surface of things, I have done very little all day, bu no-one counts shopping, tidying and washing as work, do they?
Apart from that, have moved a bookcase, and will later fill it with books, and also put up my spice rack in the cupboard.
Sam is on her way back from The Big Chill. She broke her key in her car door, so that cost her £120, perhaps she'll be more careful from now on, although I doubt it very much, as this is the second car key she broke in one of the locks.
She doesn't want a bath, or food, she is just going straight to bed. Probably won't see her until tomorrow afternoon.

Where is time going?

In the past week I have been busy doing lots of little things that needed doing, but no one notices they have been done.
I had a lovely weekend.
Then during the week, did several fiddly jobs, such as putting the toothbrush holder back up in the bathroom, fastening the end panel on the bath, knowing no-one would notice.
Have also read three books, (see Book Addicts Anonymous,) made a lap quilt, and put a zip in a jacket, as well as many other normal household chore type things.

Winding up the school year.

When you were a kid, you'd think..."great, nearly summer holidays!" and probably think that the school were just unwinding prior to the summer break. I don't know about other schools, but the department I work for have been getting things ready for the return to school in September Yes, the classes have been more relaxed, but there's been loads of preparation done. To me, it is the busiest time of the school year, not the most relaxed. Mind you unwrapping huge rolls of fleece fabric and cutting it into lengths for next year's groups is lovely. As I don't order the fleece I never know what is in the rolls until I unpack them.

I've been tired from adjusting to full time work again, and my ankle has been slightly achy.

What else has been happening?

Well, Oliver and Samantha have been off to festivals, Samantha is off to another on Tuesday. Then, they are both working Leeds festival at the end of the month.

As promised there are photos of the Kite Festival, and I have made two more of the fish bags.

And, been doing loads of reading, which I am trying to remember to enter on the book blog.

It WAS my birthday!!!!

Well, this last week I have been busy at work again, and on Thursday, it was my birthday.
Still managed to get a couple of swims in, doing a decent amount of swimming each time.
My birthday....dunno why...I enjoyed it in a low key way, got some lovely presents, and a very special card from a very special person in my life.
The weather this week has been rubbish, most of the time, although not too rubbish. It tended to rain in the mornings, and had clear up by 11am. But getting washing dry was a pain.
I got a pressie from OLD BEAN, which I am sure will get some use during the summer break from school.
Well, the Kite Festival has come around again, and provided the wind doesn't drop completely, it should be good day tomorrow. Will try to get some photos and post them on here.
Oh!!! and before I disappear, my wall cupboards are up in the ktchen, at long last, just need to fasten the spice rack on the inside of one of the doors.

Sorry, again!

I can't believe it is over a month since I posted something.
Oh, well, time has been flying past here, and I didn't realise.
Right, what has been going on.
I'm now back at work on my full hours, and for three days last week the entire school were "off timetable", for "enrichment". How this worked, the teachers offered to run short sessions in areas that interested them, and the pupils were allowed to choose what they wanted to do. This had all been set in place prior to me going back to work.
The activities/sessions the pupils could choose from ranged from cycling to relaxation classes, cookery to bard games, various sporting activities to fishing. During the three days all the pupils were very quiet and happy, so were the staff. Design Technology were off timetable an extra day ...nearly as well, as there were year 5 children from the feeder primary schools in, for Toplink Sports Festival, (or something like that.) During these DT is always involved.
Other things have been going on as well, I have managed to figure out how I can still fit my swim in, whilst working. It means going into work and hour earlier on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but that then frees up an hour between 12 and 1 for a swim.
Oliver is back from Uni, and both Samantha and Oliver are off randomly to music festivals over the summer, working.
I have to tell you the quote of Enrichment week.
One year 7 girl was asked, did you enjoy your activity, she said it was rubbish, when asked why, she answered, "All I did was fall asleep", when asked what she had chosen, she answered "Relaxation". These pupils are the future? Who knows?
Another little fact has emerged. One group made "garden furniture", and part of the seats they made were made up from slats of wood with various "signature" insertions. (A circle hollowed out, then random abjects put in, and set in resin) After just one day of these seats being in place, it has been noticed that ants were eating their way through the resin to get at sweets in some hollows. These ants aren't "super" ants, they are just ordinary little black ants, you know the kind that always know where the picnic is.
There's loads of other stuff that has gone on over the last few weeks, but it would be too long a post ...so I might write more soon.

Sorry folks

Hey! I'm sorry that I haven't posted much lately.
Things have been changing, and I have needed my energies to adjust to the changes.
My problem about telling someone something seems to be resolving itself. (phew!)
Work is great, as it ever was, and the one person I was worried about has been re-located....yay!
Life seems to be sorting itself out
I hope that it will carry on in the way it is going
Yes!!!! I know I'm being cryptic, I will tell more when I am ready.

Getting there

Yes!
There are so many areas of my life where that could apply right now.

My fitness is returning after my operation, I'm not pushing things as there is no way I want to end up back having surgery again.
The question I posed on Sunday, I'm working my way around to, as I think it is important. But things are definitely going in the right direction.
I'm happy right now, there are some areas that are not brilliant, but that is just a temporary setback.
I know I am talking in riddles, but people who know me well will unravel my riddles easily.

Went back to work

On Friday, I went back to work, first time since September last year. For the first three weeks I'm only on half my normal hours, (it's what they call a phased return,) in order to help me get my strength and stamina back.
It was a little strange, but I enjoyed it, and doing the jobs I was doing back in September, well, nothing felt strange really, apart from coming back home so early.
And I walked there and back, something I haven't done since November 2006.
It's half term this next week though, so I'm not back again until a week tomorrow.
The oddest thing was the feeling that I was going back at almost the same time as I last worked.
The machines in the textiles room though are terribly linted up and I will have to figure out how to de-lint them or they could start jamming frequently when sewing.

How do you know when?

Ok, first, sorry haven't posted for a while. Been very busy, and so much has been going on, and a lot I haven't wanted to post about, cos it just upset me.
Nuff of that though.

Last night in chatting with Blue, she asked me, had I brought up the subject of religion, or lack of it with the man I am chatting to. The reason for this didn't need any talking about, as we are both of a like mind on that subject.
I don't think it will be a problem for various reasons, but how do you tell someone you are pagan, or "heathen"? (as the Romans used to call the original Britons.)
Perhaps, the first time I meet the man in question, I should wear a pentacle, of some description, mind you, most of my jewellery is pagan/ Celtic/ animal symbol type, and the crystal cage I nearly always wear is a bit of a give away as well.

Talking about crystals, I found a lovely piece of rose quartz on the market yesterday, I need to find it a home yet. She also had a wonderful wind chime, but where would I put it, already have quite a few.

Dump your manure here!

Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, possibly! They do
This new development has knocked me sideways, what with everything else going on, and my soulmate finishing things.
Perhaps I've got an invisible sign over my head "dump your manure here!"
It's difficult enough coping with things, but when you are coping alone....
Ok, I have some lovely friends, but I hate sharing this sort of crap.
No wonder I'm having trouble with my eyesight, from mid afternoon onwards I'm finding it very difficult to focus.
Perhaps I shouldn't tempt fate with putting into words what is going through my head right now about that, for all I know there could be another load of shit looking for somewhere to dump.
Am trying very hard to stay positive in all this, but like I say. It's VERY hard.

Thunderstorms

Aren't thunderstorms great :D ?
I know, you either love them or hate them.
I love them

These things are sent to try us

I won't bore you with the details, but lately I've had a lot of stressful events happen.
This morning I woke, the day is a lovely warm day, at last. I'm in decent health, I'd had a good sleep, and I know that my soulmate loves me, even though communications are difficult right now.
So ...I feel happy today, despite the manure that has been heaped on me, after all, if you have your health and love of your "family group", everything else is just a bonus.
I feel strong enough to sort out the other things that are going on in my life, and will do

Busy, busy, busy!

Think I have crammed today.
No, not been studying for an exam, just got as much done as I possibly can.
The best thing about today...for my own personal goals is!!!!! I swum 1/2 a mile !!!!! Yay!!!!!
That is what I was doing before my op, it was the only thing I could do. My stomach muscles ache, as 1/4 of the mile was backstroke, but I do feel good.

Also put the shrubs in that I bought, although one looks dead!
No matter, will buy another, and plant it when it should be next year, I couldn't when I bought this one.
I sowed seeds....but will just watch to see what pops up

Then I cut out the outer of Sam's messenger bag, and the inner of one I am giving to a friend for her birthday..Hey! does it matter, Fluffy probably doesn't even know I have a blog!
Also cut out some shopping bags, although right now I am trying to decide if I should line them, and I chopped the t-shirts I bought, as the one I shortened looks OK, so should have a few new t-shirts soon, and can chuck the old ones.( they are about 5 years old, and I've worn them sooooooo much!)
The rest of the day was so busy, walking dogs, talking with my friend, now am sleepy, even though I woke at 3am last night and didn't sleep soundly after that

Yay!!!!

I've had a very busy day today.
Waking at around 6.30am, then dozing until 7.30.
Went for a swim, dropped Edwin and his gf at school, right next to the pool.
Swam 16 lengths without stopping, must try to extend that, but am sure if I was still seeing physio, he would tell me what I'm doing is good!
Then I saw Ratty at work, discussed me going back...I need to contact my solicitor about it, before I contact the personnel peeps at work.
Got back home, intended walking dogs before going to Asda, but Mr Casson rang, my sewing machine was ready to collect.
So.....I went to pick my machine up, then went on to Asda.
Had dinner when I got back, then have chilled since then
Machine is sewing great now. Pity I can't just cut off the excess of my tummy.
Although I did shorten one of the t shirts I bought.

Sigh!

Just a quick up date on the problem with my sewing machine.
After a good night's sleep I tried again to see what was wrong.
After changing the needle, thread, switching it off and on again, still nothing.
So I took it to be repaired/serviced. The man said that the timing was out, but he should be able to fix it.
Then I came back and tried to sort out my old machine, as it was refusing to sew as well. The man, Mr Casson, had told me what could be wrong with it, and after oiling and cleaning it, the machine still had the same problem. So when I pick my other up, am going to take the old one, so he can tell me if it is worth fixing it. As it has a metal body, and drop-in cams, it will probably be worth fixing. If not I'll have to consider getting a "stand by" machine, as I am seriously considering selling the messenger bags.

Can you see the smoke?

Right!
Am fed up.
I bought myself some t-shirts from Matalan, but they are too long for me, so I thought I would shorten them. So, I cut some off the bottom of one of them, then thought I'd overlock the raw edge before I hemmed the t-shirt.
My machine sewed ok, for around half of the lower edge, then it didn't like the side seam, and after that it wouldn't sew.
I tried to sort it out, but it was getting me frustrated, so I decided to go for a bath and tackle it in the morning.
***Sigh*** It's not a cheapjack machine, and I hope nothing major has gone wrong with it.

Just need some cord to fasten them

A day late, but am chuffed with the results.

I have finished the Big Mouth Fish bags.

The pattern is from Katie Lane, an American company. I used plain quilting fabric from Fabrix in Lancaster, and Gradations that I bought from Quilter's Haven.

http://www.quilters-haven.co.uk/acatalog/Graduations.html

http://www.katielane.com/pages/_patterns/fishBag.html

Strange week

I always expected there just to be two of us left here...and I thought it would be Edwin and myself, but this week the world has been turned upside-down. Oliver returned to Manchester Uni to complete his first year at uni!!!!!!!! Yes! Already! And Edwin returned from France only to go to Scotland a day and a half later. Sam has either been working or with her bf, so it's been pretty much here, all alone. I suppose it is a taste of what is to come. The bloke I'm seeing is working in USA with no way of us contacting each other, so Ive been doing my usual distraction technique....that is bury myself in practical things to do so that I don't have time to feel so lonely.

The messenger bag I posted a picture of now has a home, but I may make others. In fact I did tell Sam I would make her one, and the lining is done, I just need to construct the outer. If you read this regularly, it will not come as a surprise that she wants skull and crossbones lining. The "fish" bags should be finished tomorrow, and I will be posting pictures of them here.

Been bothering me

Something happened a couple of weeks back now, and it has been bothering me.
The best way to relate what I has been worrying me is to put the e-mail I sent my friend about the incident.
Here it is;

Do I just pretend the incident that happened this morning , didn't happen?
If I'd been out for a walk, or something and a total stranger had flashed at me, and invited me to do"something" about it. Would I really have laughed and walked away like I think I would?
But ...it's very different when you get a phone call from someone you look upon as a friend, (and they are old, ) and you think they might be having trouble. Getting out of bed or some such thing, and they do the equivalent of flashing at you.
I feel quite shocked at the moment, and am having trouble getting my head around this. I was being invited to.....in my eyes....be a tart. This person knows I have a partner, even though I don't see much of him.
It's upset me.
Dunno what to think.


The person concerned has apologised for their behaviour, but since then I have not felt at all comfortable around them. There are also other events that have supposedly happened in the past that I now find myself questioning. Did I believe the wrong person? If I did, many others did as well.
It seriously unsettled me, and still does now.

Hey, it ain't a train!

Sorry I haven't written much lately. That's just because I've been concentrating on getting myself back to fitness ..as well as I can.

Anyway, I can now swim 16 lengths without stopping, but no more. OK, it's only half what I used to swim, but then I have had my foot reconstructed, and a tendon replaced. I've been told my progress is very good.

I've also been busy sewing. I finished a Chinese style jacket, and have made a few messenger bags, the one in the picture doesn't have a home to go to ...yet! Am now sewing a couple of Big Mouth Fish bags. (scales take ages to sew!)

By the way...the light at the end of the tunnel..just may not be a train this time.

I had to share this

I was sent this by a friend, I just thought it was rather appropriate, so thought I would share it with you.



This is a strictly mathematical viewpoint...it goes like this:
What Makes 100%?
What does it mean to give MORE than 100%?
Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%?
We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to give over 100%.
How about achieving 103%?
What makes up 100% in life?
Heres a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these questions:
If: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z is represented as: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.
Then: H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K 8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%
and K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E 11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%
But , A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E 1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%
And, B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T 2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20 = 103%
AND, look how far ass kissing will take you. A-S-S-K-I-S-S-I-N-G 1+19+19+11+9+19+19+9+14+7 = 118%
So, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that
While Hard work
and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there,
its the Bullshit and As s kissing that will put you over the top.

Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, And never regret anything that made you smile.

Fluffy visits

Yesterday, my friend's daughter, Fluffy, visited.
She needed help with her sewing machine, which quite frankly, after looking at it, I thought it could do with binning. Every time an attempt was made to sew the thread jumped from the tension disc, which was very difficult to alter, and the whole machine was sealed, so you can't actually take it apart to service it. The only thing I can think of that is causing the problem is the feed dog is full of lint, and that could be removed by vacuuming it.
Anyway, we tried my old machine, and that didn't want to play ball either. So I used my newer machine, which gave no trouble at all.
(I have since suggested to Fluffy that she tries vacuuming out her machine, that's about all she can do.)

Erm!

I have to go to the doctor's in the morning. My sick note runs out on Thursday. I know I'm not ready to return to work just yet, due to the problems the insoles are causing me. I know I can't yet stand all day, as my job usually requires me to do. If I had a more sedentary department to work for, I might be able to return, but not yet. I just hope the doctor agrees, as the physiotherapist told me not to walk so much until I've seen him again, and we have looked at other solutions.

Back to swimming

Well, have got myself back swimming now, but only doing 16 lengths, and pausing every second length, but at least I am progressing.
The physio said I could try cycling now, if I wanted to. So will probably try that tomorrow morning. I think a ride along the prom would be the best idea, for first ride.
I am not too happy with the insoles though, as they are making my toes go numb, and my feet go tingly, plus the only thing I can get my feet into with them in is a pair of black leather trainers. I'm going to have to speak to a doctor about it, as the physio didn't think it was such a problem, as he thinks I won't need them for so long, whilst the consultant thought I would need them for quite a while. I think he will have more idea of my long term needs.

Wind.

I still like it being very windy, even though it took my TV aerial down. Mind you, it had only loosened the aerial, then lifted it off the mast. The men who came to put it back up told me that some people they had been to had their mast and aerials broken, and there had been damage to roofs as well, by aerials. So, I suppose I got off lightly.
Am a little poorer now, but my TV is now working again, without snow, or the picture breaking up.

That's more like it!

Well, we got the strong winds etc, today. Although being honest, the sea wasn't at it's roughest, and the wind only got up to 54mph here, although I believe it was much higher in other places. I went and had a look, took some photos, but as you can see, it still wasn't so rough here.

Strange habits

On Saturday, my friend's daughter called round. I'll call her Fluffy. She was rolling herself a cigarette, and then she told me that her Dad now knew that she smoked. She went on to tell me about her friend's Mum, who "sniffs" her friend's fingers when she has been out. as you've probably noticed, my brain joins up some strange dots, and I started laughing. Fluffy asked me why. So I answered, telling her to ask her friend if her Mum only sniffed her finger...after all..if she doesn't like her getting up to things she's too young to do.
I didn't need to explain any further to Fluffy, and I won't do here either...as I'm sure you can join up my wacky thoughts as well.
Needless to say, we both kept bursting out laughing.

What storm?

Our weather forecaster's predicted winds of up to 80 mph, through last night and up to around mid-afternoon today. I realise the whole of the British Isles hasn't got off Scot-free, but we seem to have been pretty fortunate here.

During the night the wind got a little playful, and reached 44mph at 5.53am, but a couple of weeks back it reached 58mph here.

I know this time there was the Spring high tide to contend with, and I believe that it was a 10m high, but we just didn't get the wind. In fact at 1pm, when the tide was high, I walked on the prom and took some pictures of the sea, as you can see, it is almost still, but the tide is high on the sea wall, the steps in the picture go down around 20 feet.

Mind you, it has been known for forecasters to be wrong. What a shame they get paid whether they get it right or wrong.

Still, I would have loved to see some wild water.

Parent's evening

Well, that time of year came around, again.
It was Edwin's parent's evening today.
I don't know why parents moan about these events. Mind you, I have never had complaints from any teachers, apart from when Sam was still at school, and she kept being ill. So her attendance wasn't up to much.
Anyway, tonight was about Edwin. It was funny, all four teachers I saw all were very pleased with him, and three of them complained that he isn't "vocal" enough in class. I nearly said, "he'll tell you when something is wrong" He's essentially a quite shy boy, and won't speak out unless he has to. Although he does in one lesson, I'm guessing that both the mix of children in that class, and the teacher make him feel more at ease.
As regular readers of this load of claptrap will know, I work at school, or do when I'm fit to. So it was nice to see people. Several wanted to know when I was coming back, and even the head came so speak to me to ask me how my recovery was going. I felt quite touched, especially when one of the teachers I work with told me that she needed me back, in front of the Headmaster.

Progress?

I think that I'm beginning to make forward progress, at last, with my recuperation. The exercises are going OK. The insoles are driving me nuts, but I'm going to ask for thinner ones to be made special if possible. (And I don't see why not, as the consultant said he could arrange them.)
I've managed to walk the dogs on the beach today, then go shopping to the supermarket, and do one or two other jobs before I felt I had to stop.
Whether the activity will hit me and make me tired tomorrow remains to be seen.
Over the past few weeks I've been cross-stitching and sewing. Have made a couple of waistcoats for my partner, and nearly finished a third cross-stitch project. (There are 4 that I would like to complete before returning to work. :D )
And if possible, and time allows, a fifth one, may get done.
After I've made up a garment I have cut out I intend doing some more patchwork, and make some crazy bags. I think it's time everyone became more conscious of how long plastics take to degrade, and revert to real shopping bags. (But that's just my opinion)

Thought I'd share this

A friend sent me the piece below, via e-mail.
I thought I'd share, and No, I didn't even know we'd had an earthquake. I was asleep, like most sane people are at 1am.

News Item: An Appeal for Your Help. A major earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale hit in the early hours of Tuesday morning.Epicentre: Barnsley, England.News of the disaster was swiftly carried abroad by the town's 35,000 racing pigeons, as victims were seen wandering around aimlessly muttering 'fookinell' and 'chuffin-norah'.The earthquake decimated the town, causing £6.84 worth of damage. Several priceless collections of mementos from the Balearic Isles and the Spanish Costa's were damaged beyond repair. Three areas of historical burnt out cars were disturbed. One hundred and seventy three pints of Sammy Smith's were spilled at a local 'community centre'. Many locals were woken up well before their Giro arrived. Radio Barnsley reported that hundreds of residents were confused and bewildered, still trying to come to terms with the fact that something interesting had happened in Barnsley. Most are finding it difficult to come to terms with finding two nine o'clocks in one day.One resident, 15 year old mother of 3, Tracy Sharon Braithwaite said: 'It was such a shock, my little Chardonnay-Madonna came running into my bedroom crying. The twins, Tyler-Morgan and Megan-Storm slept through it all.”Locals were determined not to be bowed, as looting, muggings and car crime carried on as normal.So far, whilst the British Red Cross has managed to ship 4000 crates of Sunny Delight to the area to relieve the suffering of stricken locals, rescue workers searching through the rubble have found large quantities of personal belongings including, benefit books, jewellery from Elizabeth Duke at Argos, and bone china from Pound-stretcher.Can You Help? Please respond generously to our appeal for food and clothing for the victims of this disaster. Clothing is needed most of all, especially: * Fila or Burberry baseball caps* Kappa tracksuit tops (his or hers)* Shell suits (female)* White sports socks* Rock-Fort boots or any other product sold in PrimarkCulturally sensitive food parcels are harder to put together, but your efforts will make a difference.Microwave meals, tinned baked beans, ice cream and cans of Colt 45 or Special Brew are ideal. Please do not give anything that requires peeling.Remember: * 22p buys a biro for filling in compensation claims* £2 buys chips, crisps and a blue fizzy drink for a family of 9* £5 will pay for a packet of B&H and a lighter to calm a child's nervesUrgently required: Tinned whippet food. Bones for Jack Russells. Please do not send tents for shelter. The sight of such posh housing will cause discontent in the surrounding South Yorkshire communities.

Thanks Jimmy