Feeling sorry for myself

Its new years eve, I feel thoroughly miserable. So far today I haven't even bothered to get dressed. My hair is just plastered to my head, I am all sweaty and expect I stink to high heaven. Nice !!.
This cold etc is really getting me down and I am feeling really pathetic today.
Mother in Law is also ill and has been sick, Hubby feeling the same as me, we are such a jolly household.
I said to my hubby yesterday, please shoot me and put me out of my misery. I just don't know what to do with myself. (isn't that a song lyric!). I hate being ill, its not in my nature, but when I am, I am such a miserable cow.
This is just to wish you all a happy NEW YEAR, don't drink too much, at least I wont be hanging tomorrow, which will be a novelty on new years day.

17.22pm
After blogging this, decided not to wallow anymore and hair is not now plastered to ones head like a grease ball, and one now smells of rose's. I love my shower.
Love to you all

News

I don't really know where to start. Apologies people for not blogging, I have and still have a very nasty cold, cough, I also ache all over. I have not felt like doing anything. I did manage to prepare, cook and serve a lovely Xmas roast before dying.
I have not been on top form, however, so my family didn't feel left out, I have given them a present, they all seem to have caught the lurgy from me. Happy Christmas!!.
My sister, despite not being due to give birth for another three weeks, gave birth on the 27th Dec 06 to a little boy (I have named DAMIEN). 6lb 13oz they are calling it Harry, (it will always be Damien to me).
Hubby also whisked me away for a few days to Stratford upon Avon. Due to feeling so ill, we both are glad to be home, which is a shame, it was a lovely hotel. We did on the first day manage a trip to Warwick castle, which I would recommend to everyone, though a bit expensive, you can quite easily spend all day there, we were not feeling very well and we were there for 3.5 hours.
As my good friend Stegbeetle says in his post, I will be bloody glad when its all over. As for the end of year festivities, the way I am still feeling a hot toddy and an early night for me. Everyone can bugger off. I expect I will recover just in time to go back to work, bloody typical.

The end of the year the telly gets all reminiscent looking back on the last 12 months, this sadly is what I find happening when I get my Christmas card list out. The people on the list, that are no longer with us, I then spare a thought for the immediate families, knowing the grief they feel as there is a hole where the family member should be.
To this end, I want to wish you all a very happy new year, and may you all keep safe.

The aftermath

My bosses let me home early from work and I did manage to get home around 3.00pm. My husband and already rang me to say he was going out for a xmas drink, this was around 1.00pm.
Hubby did not come home, so I got myself all spruced up in my party outfit and went off to dinner with the darts team. The meal was nothing special, however, we did have a really good laugh. We had a few drinks with the meal, then moved onto the next venue, where we stayed until closing, by this time I was flagging a bit, my cold getting the better of me.
I snuggled into bed, and got nice and toastie, where I stayed until 7.00am this morning, surprisingly I felt much better. I still have a cold, but sore throat gone. Have I have found the cure for sore throats? - vodka !!!

Cold versus flu

The partying and the stress of the last few days seem to have caught up with me and I have a raging sore throat and cold. This seems to be most prevalent within our office, whereas the women have colds and sore throats, the men have aching muscles and flu like systoms.
I am supposed to be going to my final christmas shindig tonight and do not feel a bit like it. A night in front of a glowing log fire wrapped up warm, snuggled up to someone seems much more attractive right now.
If I dont get time to blog again - HAPPY XMAS ALL AND HAVE A GOOD NEW YEAR,

Lucky to be alive!!

Pictures speak a thousand words. The picture you see is the wreckage that FOUR young people climbed out of and walked away from last night. Two of those young people were my stepchildren.

We spent most of last night at the hospital while they were both being checked out, thankfully one was let home last night, the other one we picked up this morning. Both have cuts and bruise no bones broken. The other two people in the car did not even end up going to hospital, bloody amazing.

My step daughter was driving not excessively fast and lost the back end, over corrected which then caught the kerb and caused the car to roll approx SIX times by all accounts. It then ended up the right way up, in the fast lane of traffic. How there are no lives lost, or serious injuries is a bloody miracle

My stepson, apparently is a bit of a hero, it was getting dark when the accident happened on a very busy stretch of dual carriage way going down hill. He apparently took complete charge afterwards, as they were all very dazed and shocked, he got everyone out of the vehicle on to the other side away from the car, then he called the police, ambulances etc, himself.

The police got the vehicle and towed it away. Today we went to see the vehicle and had to pay the towing fee, £175.00 ?? broken down to £105 removal, PLUS £60 + VAT for using a winch What's that all about ? I am in the wrong bloody business I can tell you.

In the carnage my stepdaughter lost her mobile, it was ringing but we could only surmise it must have flown out of the car in the rocking and rolling. After we left the hospital last night around midnight, the road the accident happened was so much quieter we pulled onto the grass verge crossed the busy road and rang the phone, lo behold we actually found it, hiding in the grass a bit damp but fully functioning.

This was the brightness for my stepdaughter, boy did it cheer her a lot. I said to them both, better to born lucky than rich !! ( yes i know it helps, I didn't tell them that). At least they live to fight another day. phew, what a day !!

Two Down one to Go

Hence the title, I am of course referring the obligatory christmas parties. This weekend I was lucky (or unlucky as my liver is now telling me) to attend to christmas work parties.
One was in Bristol for the whole of our company which incorporates many different parts and One for our own office in Torquay.
The Bristol party seemed to be an excuse for several people to cop off with one another, married or not. (I suppose a normal christmas party then). Me, myself, No I did not, I just ended up very very very drunk, it was a free bar, some have likened it too the walking dead. I was quite sensible though and did not, when the coach dropped us off at our hotel, go into the hotel bar and continue drinking. I somehow homed in on my room, and bed.
There were some very hung over people on the train back from Bristol, myself not being one of them, luckily!!
A couple of hours kip in the afternoon and I was ready for night number two, a more sober affair, at a very nice a la carte michelin star restaurant. Pre dinner drinks, then wine with the meal, topped up frequently, followed by apperifs, I myself managed a strawberry martini, at midnight called it a night, and went home for a lovely night sleep.
I think (hazy recollections)I took a few photos, depending on how they have come out I may well add to my blog.
One more party next Friday, then I can have a liver transplant, yeh !!!

Three weeks!!

Wow it hardly seems that long, to be honest I have been at a bit of a loss at what to put on my blog, then the longer it went on the more difficult if became. So now I have just decided to burble on a bit and hope you all wont notice.
In between sorting everyone out and work I rarely seem to have time to sit and blog.
Last weekend hubby and I took our xmas trip to see our friends in Warrington. I am really glad to see them on the other side of it, one of my friends has MS and is hardly able to talk, she is very difficult to understand and is now completely dependent on other people to wash, dress and feed her etc. So sad, to see my friend in such a state. She used to be the landlady of my local, so we had numerous good nights out, shopping trips. It really upsets me, whilst at the same time I am pleased to see her, devasting.
Other things of note, stepson, is probably going to move back in with his manipulative pyscho girlfriend.
Mother In law, is in a state about what to buy everyone for xmas, though I have now sorted her just got to wrap them all now.
Husband looks like he might lose his job after xmas, he told me yesterday. Stepdaughter is seeing a bloke 18yrs older than her, whilst that is not a problem, from what I understand he is a complete waste of space.
I think I am all ranted out now, not much of one was it, but on a happier note to finish I found this article on the internet whilst cruising about on it and thought I would republish it here for you people to think about over xmas.

The History of the Kiss
Historians really don't know much about the early history of kissing. Four Vedic Sanskrit texts, written in India around 1500 B.C., appear to describe people kissing. This doesn't mean that nobody kissed before then, and it doesn't mean that Indians were the first to kiss. Artists and writers may have just considered kissing too private to depict in art or literature.

After its first mention in writing, kissing didn't appear much in art or literature for a few hundred years. The Indian epic poem "Mahabharata" describes kissing on the lips as a sign of affection. The "Mahabharata" was passed down orally for several hundred years before being written down and standardized around 350 A.D. The Indian religious text "Vatsyayana Kamasutram," or the "Kama Sutra," also describes a variety of kisses. It was written in the 6th century A.D. Anthropologists who believe that kissing is a learned behavior theorize that the Greeks learned about it when Alexander the Great invaded India in 326 B.C.

There aren't many records of kissing in the Western world until the days of the Roman Empire. Romans used kisses to greet friends and family members. Citizens kissed their rulers' hands. And, naturally, people kissed their romantic partners. The Romans even came up with three different categories for kissing:

Osculum was a kiss on the cheek
Basium was a kiss on the lips
Savolium was a deep kiss

Kissing under the Mistletoe
Today, some people seem to spend the holiday season waiting under the mistletoe in the hopes of kissing whoever passes by. But until the 1400s, kissing under mistletoe was a big commitment. Such kisses often meant that a couple was engaged.

The Romans also started several kissing traditions that have lasted to the present day. In ancient Rome, couples became betrothed by kissing passionately in front of a group of people. This is probably one reason why modern couples kiss at the end of wedding ceremonies. Additionally, although most people today think of love letters as "sealed with a kiss," kisses were used to seal legal and business agreements. Ancient Romans also used kissing as part of political campaigns. However, several "kisses for votes" scandals in 18th century England led – in theory – to candidates kissing only the very young and very old.

The kiss at the end of a wedding probably comes from ancient Roman kissing traditions.
Kissing played a role in the early Christian Church. Christians often greeted one another with an osculum pacis, or holy kiss. According to this tradition, the holy kiss caused a transfer of spirit between the two people kissing. Most researchers believe the purpose of this kiss was to establish familial bonds between the members of the church and to strengthen the community.

Until 1528, the holy kiss was part of Catholic mass. In the 13th century, the Catholic Church substituted a pax board, which the congregation kissed instead of kissing one another. The Protestant Reformation in the 1500s removed the kiss from Protestant services entirely. The holy kiss doesn't typically play a role in modern Christian religious services, although some Christians do kiss religious symbols, including the Pope's ring.

Although few religions currently incorporate the holy kiss, kissing remains prevalent throughout Western culture. Nowadays, people kiss in many contexts and for many reasons.

But not all kisses have been happy events. Works of literature like "Romeo and Juliet" have portrayed kisses as dangerous or deadly when shared between the wrong people. Some folklorists and literary critics view vampirism as symbolic of the physical and emotional dangers that can come from kissing the wrong person.

Most cultures around the world kiss today, but many have different views about when and where kissing is appropriate. In the 1990s, several news articles reported a trend of young people kissing in public in Japan, where kissing had traditionally been viewed as a private activity.


Next time you kiss someone, you can impress your friends by telling them the Roman catergory. Savolium for me please...with chips?

Blogs weekly?

As the title suggests I never appear to have time in the week to blog, nothing ever seems to slow down.
I get to work around 7.30am everyday (sometimes earlier) seem to have numerous meetings, then have to deal with the ususal family stuff.
This week Tuesday my Step daughter had an operation, with an overnight stay, pleased to say she came out on Weds and is recovering well. Tuesday night, was hospital visiting, even though she still really groggy we just popped in to check on her.
Wednesday night was the usual tarts darts, which even though I won my singles and pairs games two nil, the team lost 4-3.
Thursday this is a good one, had phonecall from step daughter to advise step son had been taken to A&E, he had been hit in the face with a mechanical digger bucket !! ouch that hurt!! He blacked out so had to have a scan etc, he is recovering well depsite big bruise and having a bit of a headache.
Friday, I had a meeting an the imperial hotel in Torquay all day, then met my step sister to watch the stage show of Grease. My niece who is mentally handicapped was watching it with her college group, so rather than my SS going home and back again we watched it too, without my niece knowing we were there. I have to say it was very entertaining, made a change for a friday night.
Saturday, have done the usual shopping / washing etc, checked on Step daugher did some chores for her ie shopping, hovering etc.
Now finally I have time for a quick blog.

Didnt quite go to plan

Last night as per my previous post, as you guessed from the title, didn't quite go to plan.

The evening started off okay, at 6.30pm, we trundled down to the pub. There was one nice big sofa left that looked out on to the street. Husband was delighted as Man U and Blackburn, were still playing, which was being shown on the big screen (Man U won 1-0). The carnival came by about 7.30, as scheduled. My stepson (23)came into pub, with his girlfriend and bought us a drink!, even better. (this is the bit were it starts to go wrong).

We left the pub about 8.30pm, my intention then was to go home and be sensible. Trouble was by this time it all seemed like a good idea, and I desperately needed the loo. The nearest place with clean loos was the British Legion. We dived in there, obviously it would of been rude not to have a drink, or two. We then moved onto our local, not intending to go mad so that we both would not be feeling ill today.

My step sister, her boyfriend and her daughter (my step niece) who is mentally handicapped were in there. My niece is just adorable, she sadly has the mental age of around 6 or 7yrs even though she is 23ys. By this time I was starting to feel a little worse for wear, I even pulled by niece up in the pub for a dance, which she loves so much. It was only 10.00pm !!!

My step daughter (25yrs) then came into this pub, with her new boyfriend, who is in fact 19yrs her senior, and by all accounts a total waste of space. Clearly she was quite nervous of our reaction, as I explained to her, all we want is to see her happy. If he makes her happy, and treats her nicely then that is okay with us, despite his reputation.

All of the time the drinks were flowing, Step daughter bought us one, I seem to recall that I drank far more than I intended. Husband is sat on sofa, saying he cannot remember getting home, whilst it is a little bit hazy for me too. I am not feeling too bad yet, however, I think I might still be inebriated, hangover will probably kick in, in next hour or so. Incidentally I seem to have bent the frames on my glasses. The best nights out are the impromptu ones, this was a good one.

We were going to have a trip out today, I think that has been postponed a while.

Why does it always seem a good idea at the time?

Week gone by

I can scarcely believe a week has gone by since my last blog, it must mean I am aging rapidly.

I have recently been given an assistant at work. So I guess this must been I have gone up the world. Today I had to do my first appraisal of my new girl's work, that was an experience and a half, the reason being I had to be subtle!!. Those of you that know me, subtly is NOT my forte. It remains to be seen after my meeting with her as to the outcome, hopefully she will pull her socks up and get on with it.

Tomorrow night is our local winter carnival night it usually is a night where the whole town fills the streets as the procession marches by. Me? Oh, I can be found in one on the pubs on route, near a window looking out onto the cold unforgiving streets, watching the delights of the carnival, supping a beer or two. The only problem is, that in order to get a seat in the pub on route you have to go out quite early, bit of a shame that!

Halloween

As promised photos from our Halloween dress up at work, inevitably not everyone took part. Photo 1 is a group photo, those of you that know me and have trouble picking me out of this group picture. I have published below one of myself for your viewing.

Happy Halloween

As the title suggests, happy haallooweeen everyone. I was going to post the photos taken with myself and work colleagues dressed in our lovely halloween costumes, however, they are still at work, watch this space I will publish them later in the week.
Has anyone been watching most haunted, last part's on tonight, so am off to wash up before settling in front of telly with glass of wine to laugh at Evette and the team. Great telly, make a change from the usual dross.

NEW MEDICAL FINDINGS

Do you have feelings of inadequacy?
Do you suffer from shyness?
Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist about White Wine.
White Wine is the safe, natural way to feel better and more confident about yourself and your actions. White Wine can help ease you out of your shyness and let you tell the world that you're ready and willing to do just about anything. You will notice the benefits of White Wine almost immediately, and with a regimen of regular doses you can overcome any obstacles that prevent you from living the life you want to live. Shyness and awkwardness will be a thing of the past, and you will discover many talents you never knew you had. Stop hiding and start living, with White Wine. White Wine may not be right for everyone. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use White Wine. However, women who wouldn't mind nursing or becoming pregnant are encouraged to try it. Side effects may include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, incarceration, erotic lustfulness, loss of motor control, loss of clothing, loss of money, loss of virginity, delusions of grandeur, table dancing, headache, dehydration, dry mouth, and a desire to sing Karaoke and play all-night rounds of Strip Poker, Truth Or Dare, and Naked Twister.

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may make you think you are whispering when you are not.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol is a major factor in dancing like a retard. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause you to tell your friends over and over again that you love them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause you to think you can sing. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may lead you to believe that ex-lovers are really dying for you to telephone them at four in the morning. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may make you think you can logically converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may create the illusion that you are tougher, smarter, faster and better looking than most people. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may lead you to think people are laughing WITH you. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may be a major factor in getting your ass kicked.

I'm back

I have returned back to chaos, I had a lovely week, I took the train and ferry to the Isle of Wight. The phone was off, the weather was good it only rained one afternoon. I took trips to
Isle of Wight Tiger Zoo
Osborne House
The Needles
I even managed to find time to play pitch and put golf, it was great fun. I did lots of walking, eating and drinking. I wont bore you with the other details, needless to say the fun is over and its back to the grindstone. What a lovely break I feel fully refreshed and raring to go again, how long this feeling will last is anyones guess. If anyone out there is thinking of a quick qet away place then this is the place to go, lovely.
Here is a photo I took of the Needles, also there is a chair lift that goes down the cliffs. I went on that too, I am glad I didnt see how it went before I took the plunge or I never would of gone on it, heights arent my thing.

wonder

Wonder is a fantastic word, it fills you with a sense of what might be, let alone what would, nothing is impossible,
Everyone must have a time when it is just time out- mine is now........
Have told everyone for few days apprx 5 no contact, leave me alone, bugger off.
so goodbye for a week.

Curious Mind

Here are few questions to tackle your grey cells;-

Can you cry under water?
____________________________________
How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?
____________________________________
Why do you have to "put your two cents in".. . but it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going to?
____________________________________
Once you're in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in for eternity? ____________________________________
Why does a round pizza come in a square box? ____________________________________
What disease did cured ham actually have? ____________________________________
How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?
____________________________________
Why is it that people say they "slept like a baby" when babies wake up like every two hours? ____________________________________
If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing? ____________________________________
Why are you IN a movie, but you're ON TV? ____________________________________
Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?
____________________________________
Why do doctors leave the room while you change? They're going to see you naked anyway. ____________________________________
Why is "bra" singular and "panties" plural ____________________________________
Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?
____________________________________
Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane? ____________________________________
If the professor on Gilligan's Island can make a radio out of a coconut, why can't he fix a hole in a boat?
____________________________________
Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They're both dogs! ____________________________________
If Wiley E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that ACME crap, why didn't he just buy dinner?
____________________________________
If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from?
____________________________________
Do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune? ____________________________________
Why did you just try singing the two songs above? ____________________________________
Why do they call it an asteroid when it's outside the hemisphere, but call it a hemorrhoid when it's in your butt?

Strange but True

This was a email sent to me, thought I would share it will you all, oink oink!!.


If you yelled for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee.
(Hardly seems worth it.)
If you farted consistently for 6 years and 9 months, enough gas is produced to create the energy of an atomic bomb.
(Now that's more like it!)
The human heart creates enough pressure when it pumps out to the body to squirt blood 30 feet.
(O.M.G.!)
A A pig's orgasm lasts 30 minutes.
(In my next life, I want to be a pig.)
A cockroach will live nine days without its head before it starves to death
(Creepy.) (I'm still not over the pig.)
Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories a hour
(Don't try this at home,maybe at work)
The male praying mantis cannot copulate while its head is attached to its body. The female initiates sex by ripping the male's head off.
("Honey, I'm home. What the....?!")
The flea can jump 350 times its body length. It's like a human jumping the length of a football field.
(30 minutes..lucky pig! Can you imagine?)
The catfish has over 27,000 taste buds.
(What could be so tasty on the bottom of a pond?)
Some lions mate over 50 times a day.
(I still want to be a pig in my next life...quality over quantity)
Butterflies taste with their feet.
(Something I always wanted to know.)
The strongest muscle in the body is the tongue.
(Hmmmmmm......)
Right-handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left-handed people.
(If you're ambidextrous, do you split the difference?)
Elephants are the only animals that cannot jump.
(okay, so that would be a good thing)
A cat's urine glows under a black light.
(I wonder who was paid to figure that out?)
An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
(I know some people like that.)
Starfish have no brains
(I know some people like that too.)
Polar bears are left-handed.
(If they switch, they'll live a lot longer)
Humans and dolphins are the only species that have sex for pleasure.
(What about that pig??)

No blogs for ages

It seems ages ago since I posted a blog, he is a quick recap of the events for a week ago,
Friday that would be the 29th a friend of my sisters was visiting from her home town in Suffolk, as it was pay day (monthly) my friend and I already had planned a trip round the town, so we tagged on three more and had ourselves a really girlie night out, lets just say in one of the pub loos there was a machine that sold vibrators.....what a great laugh and good night out we had!!.
My brother turned up at the weekend for a flying visit, he lives in London and had an errand to run in Devon, so he paid his little sister a quick visit, literally approx 6hours, then he was off again. It was really good to see him, it had been a while since last time.
The outcome of the weekend was I have ended up with a stinking cold and sore throat, never mind it was worth it.
This week at work is a bit better I finally have myself a little trainee, 17yrs olds she is, bless and so nervous, so I have feel like I have been babysitting, also it makes me feel really old. Oh god I am going to have to stop these girlie nights out....I need to set an example or do I ??.

A Breakup

As I mentioned in my previous post, my stepson has split from his girlfriend, it seems now all the fun and games are about to start. My stepson, came round Monday night in tears, his heart is broken at the thought of leaving his son (2yrs). I pointed out that a least the time he will spend with him now, will be quality time, and he will end up doing loads more stuff with him. He has the usual, who has what stuff, who pays what left to sort, times and dates to sort access.
I have assured him it will get easier. Bless..Tonight he has gone with my husband to his former home to get some of his stuff, his girlfriend wanted one of us to go with him as a witness ?, most bizarre...
Only good thing is we (husband and I) will get more time to spend with our cute little bite your bum grandson...I am already looking forward to the trips, when I can get to act like a kid again, and get away with it..... yippeee....now what kiddie films are they showing at the cinema......

News

Good news, husband is going back to work tomorrow. He has had 5 months off due to depression. This is such a relief I did start to fear he may not work again, even though I told him if he wanted to retire he could and we would live off my earnings.
Not so good news, my stepson has just split up with his girlfriend, he is really upset, because they have a little boy together who he will miss dreadfully.
My mother in law (81yrs) who lives with us, fell off the bed. She wanted to adjust the clock on the wall above her bed, when crash she fell. She is okay, just a bit bruised and sore, and still so fiercely independent.
Life is never boring..

Nicked from Stegbeetle

who nicked it from wulfweard who nicked it fromJaffajane who nicked it from....etc
Something to keep things ticking over here until I get around to a "proper post"
.1. (X) Smoked a cigarette
.2. ( ) Crashed a friend’s car
.3. ( ) Stolen a car
.4. (X) Been in love
.5. (X) Been dumped
.6. (X) Shoplifted
.7. (X) Been fired/laid off
.8. (X) Been in a fist fight
.9. (X) Snuck out of your parent’s house
.10. (X) Had feelings for someone that didn’t have them back
.11. (X ) Been arrested
.12. ( ) Gone on a blind date
.13. (X) Lied to a friend
.14. (X) Skipped school
.15. ( ) Seen someone die
.16. ( ) Been to Canada
.17. ( ) Been to Mexico
.18. (X ) Been on a plane
.19. (X) Purposely set a part of yourself on fire
.20. (X ) Eaten sushi
.21. (X ) Been skiing
.22. ( ) Met someone in person from the internet
.23. (X) Taken pain-killers
.24. (X) Love someone or miss someone right now
.25. (X) Laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by
.26. (X ) Made a snow angel
.27. (X) Had a tea party
.28. (X) Flown a kite
.29. (X) Built a sand castle
.30. (X) Gone puddle jumping
.31. (X) Played dress up
.32. (X) Cheated while playing a game
.33. (X) Been lonely
.34. (X) Fallen asleep at work/school
.35. (X ) Used a fake I.D
.36. (X) Watched a sunset
.37. ( ) Felt an earthquake
.38. (X ) Touched a snake
.39. (X) Slept beneath the stars
.40. (X) Been tickled
.41. () Been robbed
.42. (X) Been misunderstood
.43. () Petted a reindeer/goat
.44. (X ) Won a contest
.45. (X) Ran a red light
.46. ( ) Been suspended from school
.47. (X ) Been in a car accident
.48. (X) Eaten a whole pint of ice cream in one night
.49. (X) Had deja vu
.50. (X) Danced in the moonlight
.52. (X) Liked the way you looked
.53. (X) Witnessed a crime
.54. (X) Questioned your heart
.55. ( ) Been obsessed with post it notes
.56. (X) Squished barefoot through the mud
.57. (X) Been lost
.58. (X) Been to the opposite side of the country
.59. (X ) Swam in the ocean
.60. (X) Felt like dying
.61. (X) Cried yourself to sleep
.62. (X) Played cops and robbers
.63. ( ) Recently colored with crayons
.64. (X ) Sung karaoke
.65. (X) Paid for a meal with only coins
.66. (X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t
.67. (X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out your nose
.68. (X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
.69. (X) Danced in the rain
.70. () Written a letter to Santa Claus
.71. (X) Been kissed under the mistletoe
.72. (X) Watched the sun rise with someone you care about
.73. (X) Blown bubbles
.74. (X ) Made a bonfire on the beach
.75. (X) Crashed a party
.76. (X ) Gone roller-skating
.77. (X) Had a wish come true
.78. (X) Worn pearls
.79. (X ) Jumped off a bridge
.80. (X ) Ate dog/cat food
.81. (X ) Told a complete stranger you loved them
.82. (X) Kissed a mirror
.83. (X) Sang in the shower
.84. ( ) Had a dream that you married someone
.85. (X ) Glued your hand to something
.86. ( ) Got your tongue stuck to a flagpole
.87. (X) Kissed a fish
.88. (X ) Sat on a rooftop
.89. (X) Screamed at the top of your lungs
.90. ( ) Done a one-handed cartwheel
.91. ( ) Talked on the phone for more than six hours on one occasion
.92. (X) Stayed up all night
.93. (X) Didn’t take a shower for a week
.94. (X) Picked and ate an apple right off the tree
.95. ( ) Climbed a tree that had a tree house
.96. () Been told by a complete stranger that you’re hot
.97. (X) Ever had a one night stand
.98. (X) Ever missed someone so much it still hurts to think of them
.99. (X) Ever loved someone that you knew wouldn’t love you back
.100. (X) Ever been to a professional football, or tennis game in a stadium ground
.101.() Went hiking in the mountains
.102.(X) Smoked a cigar
.103.() Had a crush on someone you worked with but never told them
.104.(X) Wished you had the chance to change your profession
.105.( ) Ever cremated and kept the ashes of a pet you cared a lot about
.106.(X) Wished you could live your life over again from age 21
.107.(X ) Been baptized?
.108.(X ) Rode a horse
.109.( ) Sent flowers to someone you never met

Nurses Strike

I cant believe that due to hospital managers mismanagement of funds Derriford hospital has a 25 Million pound deficit. So who pays the cost, us tax payers. The hospital, in a bid to save funds are closing TWO wards and laying off around 100 staff, mostly nurses. Nurses that a few years ago the government were crying out for.
Why not get rid of some of the managers, after all you have bed managers, paper towel managers, pencil managers and the like. These manager usually are earning more money than the hard working nurses. What about the big fat cat consultants, that are usually walking around the hospital like god ?, If they got rid of few of them they would be nearly on target to save the required amount.
I am pleased to hear that they are protesting, the spin has been put on it saying some of the jobs are through natural wastage - Whatever that means ?
I for one am supporting the nurses, Go girls!!!

bibble bibble bibble

It seems just lately all the people I know and love, are going through such traumas, whilst I am in the middle trying to comfort and help them all, wondering were it will all end.
I wont bore you all with all the individual details, but I feel more heartbreak is on the way shortly, a lull before a storm.
I haven't really felt like blogging for the last few days, for this reason. Also I have done nothing of any significance, just the same old same old, get up at 6.30am, at work for 7.30am, no lunch hour (too busy) then home again around 5.00pm, cook tea and go to bed ready for the next day of much the same.
The only difference this week went out Friday night with a friend and she spent the whole night telling me of her own troubles and miseries, by the end of the night I wished I hadn't bothered. Where has all the excitement gone ? Is this it ? Slog your guts out for 48years, retire at 65yrs then only have maybe 10-15yrs off, by which time your all worn out and cant be bothered to do anything and have no income.
At the moment the idea of buying a caravanette and driving around the world seems extremely appealing........

A short story about Great Britain

This email was sent to me, I found it amusing so I thought I would reprint for you all here:-

REST OF THE WORLD VERSION:
The squirrel works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building and improving his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks he's a fool, and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the squirrel is warm and well fed.

The shivering grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in thecold.

THE END... except...

THE BRITISH VERSION:

The squirrel works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks he's afool, and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the squirrel is warm and well fed.

A social worker finds the shivering grasshopper, calls a press conference and demands to know why the squirrel should be allowed to be warm and wellfed while others less fortunate, like the grasshopper, are cold and starving.

The BBC shows up to provide live coverage of the shivering grasshopper;withcuts to a video of the squirrel in his comfortable warm home with a table laden with food.The British press inform people that they should be ashamed that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so while others have plenty. The Labour Party, Greenpeace, Animal Rights and The Grasshopper Council of GB demonstrate in front of the squirrel's house.

TheBBC, interrupting a cultural festival special from Notting Hill with breaking news, broadcasts a multi cultural choir singing "We Shall Overcome". Ken Livingstone rants in an interview with Trevor McDonald that the squirrel has gotten rich off the backs of grasshoppers, and calls for an immediate tax hike on the squirrel to make him pay his "fair share" and increases the charge for squirrels to enter inner London.

In response to pressure from the media, the Government drafts the Economic Equity and Grasshopper Anti Discrimination Act, retroactive to the beginning of the summer. The squirrel's taxes are reassessed. He is taken to court and fined for failing to hire grasshoppers as builders for the work he was doing on his home and an additional fine for contempt when he told the court the grasshopper did not want to work.

The grasshopper is provided with a council house, financial aid to furnish it and an account with a local taxi firm to ensure he can be socially mobile.The squirrel's food is seized and re distributed to the more needy members of society, in this case the grasshopper.Without enough money to buy more food, to pay the fine and his newly imposed retroactive taxes, the squirrel has to downsize and start building a new home.

The local authority takes over his old home and utilizes it as a temporary home for asylum seeking cats who had hijacked a plane to get toBritain as they had to share their country of origin with mice. On arrival they tried to blow up the airport because of Britain's apparent love of dogs.The cats had been arrested for the international offence of hijacking and attempt bombing but were immediately released because the police fed them pilchards instead of salmon whilst in custody.

Initial moves to then return them to their own country were abandoned because it was feared they would face death by the mice. The cats devise and start a scam to obtain money from peoples credit cards. A Panorama special shows the grasshopper finishing up the last of the squirrel's food, though spring is still months away, while the council househe is in, crumbles around him because he hasn't bothered to maintain the house. He is shown to be taking drugs. Inadequate government funding is blamed for the grasshopper's drug 'illness'.

The cats seek recompense in the British courts for their treatment since arrival in UK. The grasshopper gets arrested for stabbing an old dog during a burglary to get money for his drugs habit. He is imprisoned but released immediately because he has been in custody for a few weeks. He is placed in the care of the probation service to monitor and supervise him. Within a few weeks he has killed a guinea pig in a botched robbery.

A commission of enquiry, that will eventually cost £10,000,000 and state the obvious, is set up. Additional money is put into funding a drug rehabilitation scheme for grasshoppers and legal aid for lawyers representing asylum seekers is increased. The asylum seeking cats are praised by the government for enriching Britain's multicultural diversity and dogs are criticized by the government for failing to befriend the cats.

The grasshopper dies of a drug overdose. The usual sections of the press blame it on the obvious failure of government to address the root causes of despair arising from social inequity and his traumatic experience of prison.They call for the resignation of a minister.

The cats are paid a million pounds each because their rights were infringed when the government failed to inform them there were mice in the United Kingdom. The squirrel, the dogs and the victims of the hijacking, the bombing, the burglaries and robberies have to pay an additional percentage on their credit cards to cover losses, their taxes are increased to pay for law and order and they are told that they will have to work beyond 65 because of a shortfall in government funds.

THE END... (and it may well be just that)

Terrible news...Very very sad

ITS STILL NOT FRIDAY !!!!!

History

The weather didn't look too great today, so I suggested to Mr Shywoo, that we take a trip out. A trip down to Stonehenge, I thought that not many people would venture out, as it looked like it might chuck it down any minute.
After a two hour drive, we arrived, the place was heaving with coaches, and cars, clearly other people had the same idea.
The place itself was fascinating, and you get a little audio guide to explain the different stones, and the discoveries made about them. I thought the entrance fee of £5.90 per adult was a little steep, when you can actually see the stones from the road.
On the way back we stopped in the delightful town of Salisbury, for some lunch, and of course an impromptu bit of shopping, before driving home.
Lovely, just the way Sundays should be spent, messing about in the countryside.

TFI Friday

What a heavy meeting it turned into yesterday got a right lambasting (I think that's the word).
Needless to say I did have an inkling hence my previous post. I had to get to the office to do some work which I did at 7.30am before getting the 9.00am train to go to Bristol. The meeting went well left me with lots of further work, as usual, then train home getting home 7.00pm. Today was at work from 7.00am, till 4.00pm did not have time for a lunch hour. So TFI FRIDAY, Two days off, though I was contemplating going into work tomorrow, but after this week they can stuff it. I've done enough, think of all that overtime I hear you cry!, What overtime I say ?
I feel absolutely knackered, always seem to be saying am going to bed, when I am typing this, but that's cause I am. Mr Shywoo is still out, I will be asleep before he comes home and up before he wakes up, like usual.
Goodnight people, my big double bed is calling, mmmmmm, sleep

Darts

Just been out tonight to darts, or team needless to say lost 3-2, par for the course really. I was just wondering what else to post further photos, stories or jokes. who knows. I am feeling really lethargic, tonight, what if, still keeps coming to mind.
One decision can change the course of your life so much, that when you look back on it, you wonder how you came to the point you are at. Oh god I am off on one, not good. Am off to bed now I have a heavy meeting tomorrow in Bristol, deep joy!. Good night people, I love you all, especially some more than other, you know who you are. Goodnight !.
PS post your comments as to further posts, dont be shy now.

Race for Life - Photos

A friend of mine, kindly (or not so kindly) emailed me the photos of the race for life which I did back along. Thought I would give you all a fright by publishing a couple. Those of you that know me, know which one is me, the others can keep guessing....

Poems

I was surfing the net and found this poems, I thought I would reprint for you all,

Thru the eyes of love and desire.

Thru the eyes of love the desire burns in my heart.
Wanting to hold, and look thru your eyes of love.
Thru the eyes of passion, I want to feel love start.
Waiting to find you, a love true, my only dove.

Thru the dreams of my mind, compassion will come.
Dreaming of the tenderness and soft touch of your hand.
Thru the dreams we dream together hoping to meet.
Dreaming of your heart beat next to mine, feeling grand.

To feel your hand in mine, feel your spark thru me.
Is to feel completed, released from dread fears.
To feel your heart in mine, is the key that sets me free.
Is to feel a heart, taste the tears of love for all our years.

Let me whisper sweet love sonnets in your ears.
And touch you softly, gently dry your tears.
Let me look into your soft glowing dove eyes.
That radiates in my heart, and empowers thru the years.

Thru the eyes of love I dream to find you.
I will plot a course to enchant your heart.
Thru the eyes of my heart I only see you.
Waiting and longing for our love to start.

Aaron S. Thomas, USA (Poems From the Heart)Fri Aug 8 03:02:05 BST 2003

Tagged

As I have been tagged by stegbeetle here goes ;-

10 years ago
Now 10yrs ago, what would that make it, yes 1996. I had just moved into a house, a house I couldnt sell as I had negative equity. So glad I hung onto it now!!, but then it was a struggle. I was working for a company which no longer exsist now. My step-children were going through various stages, one of them I think was shop-lifting, but on the whole I was still having one big party. I was still young then.

5 years ago
Husband had been in intensive care for three days I nearly lost him. I had changed jobs twice within 12 months. Step-daughter had passed her degree a Southampton university getting a 2.1 degree after 3 years, i might add proudly. I was working part-time bar, to help us live due to husband being off work.

1 year ago
Last year was a horriblus annus, a whole collection of events went on that I dont wish to discuss, just to say we lost several family members, which I am still trying to deal with, or should I say help my family deal with. On a happier note, I took a trip on the overnight sleeper from Euston to Inverness with husband for a long weekend. It was gorgeous, a definite must do again soon.

5 songs I know all the words to
(Gosh this one is a bit embarrasing)
~Tainted Love - Soft Cell
~Against all Odds - Phil Collins
~Meatloaf - Paradise by the dashboard light
~Madonna - Like a virgin
~Its raining Men - The Weather Girls

5 Snacks
~White chocolate
~Milk Chocolate
~Dark Chocolate
~Organic Chocolate
~Plain Chocolate

5 things to I'd do with £100 million
~Buy a large remote Scottish Castle
~Buy a London pad
~Put 1 Million in trust for work colleagues for 5 years (ha ha)
~Set up a good cause trust
~Tell my bosses to F**K themselves

5 places I'd run away to
~I'd buy a motor caravan and be a nomad
~London to be lord mayor (oh no thats going to be Jeremy Clarkson)
~I would say Devon, but I already live here
~Amarillo
~Norfolk

5 things I'd never wear
~A boob tube
~A mini skirt
~A shellsuit
~A frilly dress
~A floppy hat

5 favourite TV shows
~Lost
~Scooby Doo
~Simpsons
~Most Haunted
~Cartoons

5 greatest joys
~Early morning down at the sea front
~Moonlight nights
~Being out in the countryside
~Beer
~Chocolate

5 favourite toys
~PC
~Mobile Phone
~My old snes
~DVD Player
~Pc Games




~

Monday again

How it seems to come round really quickly, the weekend was interesting to say the least. I managed to speak to husband about how he feels and try and gee him up again !!.
I think this time it might work. We had a nice night out to the local on Saturday night and Sunday took a pleasant ride over Dartmoor and stopped for lunch, it was really lovely.
Other than that not much happening life is plodding on again as usual. It will soon be Friday again.
Wouldnt it be good if we could work only two days, then had the rest of the week off, now theres a thought, am off to bed dreaming of those days amongst other things.

Weekly update

A quick update on the week, nothing much happened, been a bit down, (after last weekend). Husband has been given another month off work he has now been off since April for depression and I am sure some of you know it is not always easy to keep cheerful. It seems after everything that has happened in last two years (losing several family members) he is only one allowed to fall apart.
This week went to darts as usual, and for some reason got absolutely legless, I didn't plan it, everyone just keep buying me drinks and before you know, I cant remember walking home (yes before you ask I was on my own), even though the same man as before did offer again. I politely refused as we all know what happened last time.
Thursday though wasn't so good for me at work I had a stinking major hangover, and everyone was laughing at me, good job it doesn't happen often. I couldn't cope with that.
Yesterday was the day I was on a downer, I for some reason just couldn't cope and got very tearful when I got home. Largely down to the fact I came home really happy then get ignored or just grunted at. AHHHHHH.
Everyone is still in bed at the moment so thought before another beautiful day begins I would try and lighten my mood by passing it on to you all.
Have a good day all.

Back to old home town

Over the weekend will be away, again. This weekend I am off back to my old home town, husband and I are going tomorrow afternoon and will be staying in a hotel where my sister works at a place called knights hill.
The purpose of this weekend, is to say a final farewell to my niece who sadly died end of May at the age on 26yrs, we are scattering half of her ashes on Saturday, the remainder will be bought back home and be scattered into the sea with the dolphins, they swim by this time of the year, and she really loved them, so it seems appropiate.
Will be back Sun evening my get a chance to have a small blog update, might be too tired.

Great party

Just a quick update on the weekend. The party was really lovely we sat outside, drinking and eating. It was in aid of a fortieth birthday, there was a hog roast, dancing and general frivolities. There were some very young girls there who initially were having a great time, and needless to say off their faces (drunk) very early on. (aaahhhh memories, halcyon days )
Anyway moving on, nothing really eventful happened it was just a nice pleasant weekend. My husbands family in Gloucester are all cricket mad. Two of the younger members actually plays cricket for the county under 13yrs and under 15yrs respectively. The dads coach and the rest go and watch, and help make the teas. It brings it all back watching the cricket that is......ah me memories........am drifting off now.....

Off to a garden party

Husband, I and mother in law are off to a garden party tomorrow up in Gloucester. We are leaving early in the morning and staying the night at husbands sisters, which is always good, she is lovely, I get a lie in and breakfast cooked for me, yummy.
The downside, is it is husbands family, which is a big family so there is quite a lot of bitching. This usually means we have to try to juggle meals with different people so as not to put anyone's backs up.
Mother-In-Law(MIL) usually stays with one sister and husband and I stay with the other one. MIL doesn't really want to go, but I am making her, I think she will enjoy seeing all the family together, which she doesn't see often. At 85yrs MIL is really good for her age, but she likes the comfort of home, so getting her to go anywhere is a real achievement.
Will keep you all posted on the events that occur over the weekend, watch this space!!.

Virus Warning

There is a dangerous virus being passed electronically, orally and by hand. This virus is called Worm-Overload-Recreational-Killer (WORK).
If you receive WORK from any of your colleagues, your boss or anyone else via any means DO NOT TOUCH IT. This virus will wipe out your private life completely.

If you should come into contact with WORK put your jacket on and take two good friends to the nearest bar. Purchase the antidote known as Work-Isolator-Neutralizer-Extractor (WINE) or
Bothersome-Employer-Eliminator-Rebooter (BEER). Take the antidote repeatedly until WORK has been completely eliminated from your system.

You should give this warning to 5 friends. If you do not have 5 friends, you have already been infected and WORK is controlling your life.

Fact of the Day

It has been scientifically proven that if we drink 1 litre of water each day, at the end of the year we would have absorbed more than 1 kilo of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria found in faeces.

In other words, we are consuming 1 kilo of Poo. However, we do not run that risk when drinking wine (or rum, whiskey, beer or other liquors) because alcohol has to go through a distillation process of boiling, filtering and fermenting.

WATER = Poo
WINE = HEALTH
Free yourself of Poo, drink WINE!!! It is better to drink wine and talk s**t than to drink water and be full of s**t.

There is no need to thank me for this valuable information, I am off to the pub.

A loaf of bread!!

Around 6.30pm last night husband asks if I want to go out for a walk round our little town and get something to eat too, and also a loaf of bread as we have run out (coop open until 10pm) it being a lovely evening I agree.
First stop the back beach where there is a nice pub looking down the river over the little fishing boats, gorgeous. (see above)
We move on to find a place to eat, upon approaching one of our favourite places, a gentleman that husband knows comes out and says it is really hot and roasting inside, they look really busy too, so we decide not to go in. We stand chatting for a few mins, so we decide as it is so hot we will get a takeaway cantonese, and walk home and eat it, getting the bread on the way back.
Before we have a chance to do this, someone else walks down the street going to a pub, which I know my step sister drinks in, so I casually ask if she is in there, yes is the answer.
Well a slippy slope follows hastens to add we did not get the cantonese or the bread, and got home around 12.00 midnight.
I am never going out for bread again !!!.

Birthday and a win

It hardly seems a week has passed again, the time seems to being going incredibly quickly. This week was husbands birthday on Tuesday, as he wanted to spend the evening with his children. We went out on Monday night, to the next town for a meal and a few drinks. On the way back we met some friends and got roped into a pub quiz.
Tuesday night we went to my stepsons house for a family takeaway, grandson (2yrs) beat up my husband (grandad) it was great.
Wednesday night it was darts night again this week we surprised ourselves with the first win of the season (3-2). The guy from last week turned up a bit late, he tried to avoid talking to me, however, I was one never to be ignored tried to talk to him, but what I said he took the wrong way and twisted it into what he wanted to hear so I gave up and didn't bother.
Thursday I actually managed a night in !!!!!!
Which brings on Friday am I going out, I haven't decided yet, as I am typing this the answer is No, cos I am tired, my hours of work have changed and I now work 8am-4pm, this means getting up at 6.30am everyday. The night is yet young yet though, and I am working tomorrow, but not going to be there until 10.00am (a lie in, whoopee)
Enough of my waffling byee

Hanging

I woke up this morning feeling a bit delicate (yes again, and no I am not a raving alcoholic. Yet !!)
I didn't go out until 9.30pm, so late so that I didn't wake up feeling delicate. I meet husband at the Royal British Legion (where he likes to drink) he had gone out early, I had one in there with him, and suggested we go to our favourite local The Kings arms.
We went down there for a quiet drink, saw a few people we knew, then before we know it, it midnight and they are shutting, well almost, I think we managed to stagger out at around 1-1.30am this morning.
I know I made sandwiches when I got home, as I remember eating them funny shaped, obviously it was how I had cut them.
The highlight of the evening was I won some juggling balls now I have two lots, its a promotion when you buy a pint you get scratch card, and I won the first lot last week.
Now I will have to practice juggling balls - oh er missus :), any takers ?

Men !!

As many of you know, Wednesday nights out if my darts night (mid week p*** up). This week we had no game but all the team went out anyway. I was chatting to a guy in our team, he only joined a few months ago. We were talking about relationships, marriages.
He is deeply unhappy, his marriage had just broken up (3rd one) he's got two kids a 1yr old and a 6 yr old. I was telling him about my husband, about my good marriage and various other trials and tribulations of life.
The pub closes and as he has to walk past my house, I tell him he can walk me home.
I get to my door, and go and give him a peck on the cheek, to thank him for walking me home, he grabs me and sticks his tongue down my throat !!!.
Hello are you stupid !! I had just ten minutes or so before been telling him how good my marriage was, so why did he feel the need to try it on ?
I went in and immediately told my husband, who needless to say was not impressed.
Whilst I was shocked, secretly I am extremely flattered, and it has done my ego no end of good.
It just proves I've still got it and it is a myth that blonds have all the fun !

CANNIBALS

A large corporation recently hired several cannibals."You are all part of our team now", said the HR rep during the welcoming briefing. "You get all the usual benefits and you can go to the cafeteria for something to eat, but please don't eat any of our employees."

The cannibals promised they would not. Four weeks later their boss remarked, "You're all working very hard and I'm satisfied with your work. However, one of our secretaries has disappeared. Do any of you know what happened to her?"

The cannibals all shook their heads "No."After the boss had left, the leader of the cannibals said to the others,"Which one of you idiots ate the secretary?"A hand rose hesitantly.

"You fool!" the leader continued. "For four weeks we've been eating managers and no one noticed anything. But NOOOooo, you had to go and eat someone who actually does something

Good news

Everyone, will be glad to know, my step-dad came out of hospital yesterday evening, the doctors advised that he has an inflamed stomach, caused by the tablets he takes. What have they given him for it, more tablets !!!!.
At least he is on the mend, we all had quite a scare there for a minute or two.
We all celebrated last night, at the local hostelries I don't know what time we got home as someone opened their house for a party afterwards. (she delicately types, trying not to make to much noise as it hurts.)

Rude people

I was at work today, and was speaking to someone on the telephone, when a customer knocks on the office door, we have a security swipe card system. I look up and acknowledge the lady standing there, but continue and finish my call only a couple of minutes. I go to the door and ask the lady if I can help, they are my only words to her, with that she starts shouting at me, she is right in my face and told me I should of put my caller on hold let her in, to deal with her, unfortunately not being in the best frame of mind I ask her not to be rude and that is no way to speak to me. This client is not even one of our clients but one from our office in Southampton, so I let her use our phone to ring them to sort the query out. She starts again, by which I time, I completely lost my temper (my fists are clenched, if someone deserved a smack in the mouth it was her). I ask her if she would like to be spoken to in this way!! (How I said that so politely is still beyond me) She states she could go elsewhere, I advised her that is her choice (why don't you F**K Off came to mind) She starts again so I leave my office slamming the door leaving her on the phone to ring Southampton.
I was not very proud of myself, however, I did tell the MD when he came out of his meeting, his
answer was don't worry she is a silly cow anyway !! It still took me all day to calm down.

A week of highs and lows

This week started on quite a positive note, on Tuesday I had a big meeting scheduled at work, which went onto around 8.30pm, then we went out for food and I stayed in Torquay got put up in hotel, which wasn't too bad. The meeting was quite successful with support from people within the company who have a bit of clout with the MD, so things have moved on in my favour.
The feeling sadly could not last, and last night around 9.00pm I had a phone call my step-dad was rushed into hospital he had been sick and there was a severe amount of blood loss with it, he was shaking uncontrollably, very pale I thought he was done for.
We spent a worrying evening at the A&E dept of the local hospital, until around 12.30am they advised that they were trying to find a bed and going to keep him in. My husband and I left then, my mother and sister were still there ( I had to be up for work at 6.30am) They finally got him a bed at around 3.45am.
He seems a lot better today, more colour in his face he has had an endoscopy today, they have taken biopsies and we are waiting the results.
Today has been the usual juggle of work, but with lunch with my mother, a visit to the hospital after work, then picking up husband with the shopping, now kids have rang and they have problems with a car, so husband has rushed off again. My stepbrother, wife and kids are also here for a holiday, came yesterday and rang to see if we were going out tonight, unfortunately I am not as young as I used to be. I declined, am off to bed.
Never a dull moment in our house, I am really begging for one now. Please all leave me alone, I don't want to play anymore.

Last Weekend

A bit delayed in continuing about last weekend, where does the time go. I wont bore you all with the details of last weekend, we stayed at a lovely country house hotel. The place was gorgeous, food good, but it was over too quickly a life style i definitely could become accustomed too!!. If anyone is offering.....

Ps Thanks to my friend stegbeetle for helping me with the links and photos uploads.

Celebrations

Hi everyone, Its been a really busy week last week. What with working full time as I do, I had numerous things to fit in.
Weds night was the usual darts, incidentally we lost 5 nil, last week we lost 4 - 1 and the week before was 5 nil, so we are quite used to that. Its only a charity league afterall, a good laugh for a good cause. This years proceeds go to the local sea cadets, bless.
Thursday, this just so happened it was my birthday!!. Thanks to all for the cards, the money must of been stolen out of the envelopes, feel free to send it too me now though !!. Also our great team (great at the moment cause there through, it might change) England were playing, managed a 4.30pm finish at work, then trotted to the pub to watch the game. I reluctantly had to leave the pub a 7.00pm for a family meal at a local restaurant. I would of preferred to stay in the pub and forget about the food, however, (this is sods law) Friday morning I had a 9.30am meeting at our head office in Bristol and was being picked up at 7.15am. So I went home around 10pm like a good girl sober ( yes me sober on my birthday, unusual I know, tell me about it!!).
Friday, off to my meeting at Bristol got taken out to a pub lunch with the people I was meeting (bonus).
My next blog will continue about the weekend cause I am bored now with this. I've already done this!!. Incidentally if anyone that reads this could help me out with how to add a link and a photo please email me. Am loving your work byeeeeeeeee.

Race for Life - The Result

Re my earlier post. I was just assuming everyone knew what the "race for life event " was all about. It's a 5km (3miles) run or walk for Cancer research purely for women. In order to raise money for the charity.
Okay you are probably dying to know how I did. I completed it in 49mins, which to be honest I was quite please with. You would normally walk a mile in around 20mins, the other girls I did it with some finished 43mins, some 45 mins, then me 49mins then the other around 59mins, so I did not disgrace myself. I did forget the sunscreen and have a bright red face, makes a change it not being from alcohol.
Would I do it again next year, you bet !! what a good cause !.

Race for Life

Today I am doing the race for life. I am off in a minute, a rare sight to be had by all me in shorts!!. If I can figure out how to post a photo I might even put one on. I will check in later and let you all know how I got on.
Many thanks to you all that sponsored me. I will have raised if I can collect it all £141.50. If I could figure out how to do a link I would do it to the website for you to look at.
Am off now, training has started, bacon buttie mmmmmm.

Has a week really gone

Cant believe its Friday again so soon seems to have gone really quickly this week. The builders finished Thursday, nice job they made too. I decided as all of the furniture out of the lounge we may as well go for new flooring. So Thursday night we traipsed to the DIY shop and bought some laminate flooring for husband to spend all day today laying.
I made the mistake of ringing him lunchtime to check in. Whoops I got a few choice words from him, he not a happy bunny. Anyway its still not all down yet, he reckons it will take him another day. (Monday).
Tomorrow we got to go back upto Gloucester to pick up mother in law, it will be nice and hot in the car stuck in road works again, really looking forward to it.

Weekend in the car

Just a quick update on what I've been upto, gosh where to start, last week was just work. Then at the weekend we had to take mother-in-law to Gloucester to stay with husbands sister for the week. We are have rising damp in the lounge which is being done this week, so for her to avoid the mess we shipped her out for a little holiday.
From Gloucester (which took about 3.5 hours to get there, usually only 2.5 hours, traffic horrendous) we travelled upto Warrington to see our friends, who we haven't seen this year, one of whom sadly has MS. She can hardly speak now and is unable to do anything for herself. We stayed overnight then trundled back Sunday afternoon, got back around 6.15pm, and had to finish clearing the room for the builders.
The builders arrived at 9.00am, tonight I came home from work and there is dust everywhere.
More cleaning, oh well back to work tomorrow, builders should be finished by Friday, then were are off again to Gloucester to pick mother in law back up. It never ends......

Corporate lessons

Here is three corporate lessons to help you survive changes.

Corporate lesson 1

A crow was sitting on a tree doing nothing all day. A small rabbit saw the crow and asked him "can I also sit like you doing nothing all day". The crow answered "sure, why not."
So the rabbit sat on the ground below the crow and rested. All of a sudden a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit.....And ate it.

Moral of the story is..........To be sitting and doing nothing you must be very, very high up.

Corporate Lesson 2

A turkey was chatting with a bull.
"I would love to get to the top of that tree," sighed the turkey,"but I haven't got the energy."
"Well why don't you nibble on some of my droppings?" replied the bull "they are packed with nutrients".
The turkey pecked at a lump of the dung and found that it actually gave him enough strength to reach the first branch of the tree. The next day, after eating more of the dung, he reached the second branch. Finally after a fortnight he was proudly perched at the top of the tree. Soon he was spotted by a farmer, who promptly shot the turkey out of the tree.

Moral of the story is.........Bullshit might get you to the top, but it wont keep you there.

Corporate Lesson 3 (and my favourite)

A little bird was flying south for winter. It was so cold the bird froze and fell to the ground in a large field. While it was laying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on it. As the frozen bird lie there in the pile of cow dung, it begun to realise how warm it was. The dung was actually thawing him out !. He lay there warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy. A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung and promptly dug him out and ate him.


Moral of the story is ........1) Not everyone who drops shit on you is your enemy
2)Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your friend
3)And when your in deep shit, keep your mouth shut.

A day out and a surprise

Just a quick post to update anyone who looks in. Yesterday had a day where I did absolutely nothing (well nothing means apart from washing, cooking and cleaning) I did not step foot outside the door.
Today though husband and I enjoy another day out in the countryside, this time going to a big old manor house just over the border in Cornwall. We ended up having a lovely lunch in a barn that had been converted to a restaurant. Then after lunch walked to quay on the river Tamar, and the old working water mill. It was quite a trek through the woods, but quite lovely with the river burbling away, and the bluebells in full bloom.
A nice surprise was waiting for us when we finally got home, my darling step-children bought us round a surprise. They have booked for both of us a three night break all inclusive at Littlecote House in Berks. They said this was our joint birthday present, and a thank you for being there all these long years for them.
blub blub blub, bless them, this fair touched my soul.
Tomorrow back to reality - work !!!

Busy Week

Woke up this morning feeling a little worse for wear. Been a long week at work this week again, maybe because every evening this week after I got home from work I have been stripping wallpaper. We have rising damp in our lounge and a week on Monday a firm are coming to start the work. This will involve knocking a metre high of plaster off the walls and injecting them with some sort of chemical. So I decided as there was going to be such a mess we would totally redecorate, hence the wallpaper stripping. Mr Shywoo does not like decorating so this falls firmly on my shoulders, at least it gets done then too !!.
Last night after work and wallpaper stripping I decided I deserved a beer or two. Well it turned into several, getting home at around 1.30pm (I think). Never again, well until tonight as I have a birthday party to attend. I might pop off for an afternoon nap, so I am revitalised and raring to go tonight (oh the thought is making me feel ill). It makes you wish you were young again.

What to do on a rainy day.

This morning the rain was falling looking like there would be no let up. I suggested to husband that as it was raining we could go to Cheddar Gorge caves. Its only an hour or so up the motorway.
What a fantastic place to go (for adults and children) the caves are absolutely magnificent with the stalactites and stalagmites in the caves being around a quarter of a million years old. You pay a price of £11.50 per adult you can get family tickets too, but this covers all the attractions, the car park is also then free and if like us you didn't get to do everything on the ticket, it is valid for TEN years for you to go back again.

We had a nice lunch in a riverside cafe, looked around the little shops, the highlight being the home made sweetie shop. Where there was a demonstration, they were making humbugs, yummy. Then we trundled home, and lo behold the sun has now broken through the cloud.

Come on ENGLAND !!!

I say COME ON ENGLAND you can do it. What am I talking about ? Only one of the best programs on television tonight, that is of course, THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST. (No I am not sad). This has been a tradition for me to watch this every year, and no, not for the songs or singers but for the fabulous Sir Terry Wogan's comments, that without would not be worth a second glance.

Every year I settle down with a bottle or two, popcorn, chocolate (goes without saying) and phone to hand. Why do I need to the phone no its not to vote but to ring my brother, and step daughter who also watch. We laugh and comment on the acts, singers and of course Sir Terry.
Do I think we have a chance, not a hope in hell, the voting is so political that it makes it even better, its the taking part that counts, but I do end up having a fabulous night watching the telly (husband usually disappears mumbling about dross).

Worlds Easiest Quiz

This week so far has progressed thus, work, home sleep, work, home, sleep. I have had deadlines to meet so had to work loads of overtime. The mood has brighten, there is sunshine on the horizon, ie I have had no time to think of anything. Anyway this quiz came my way please feel free to test yourselves (if anyone is reading this of course).

WORLD'S EASIEST QUIZ (Passing requires 4 correct answers)

1) How long did the Hundred Years' War last?
2) Which country makes Panama hats?
3) From which animal do we get catgut?
4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution?
5) What is a camel's hair brush made of?
6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal?
7) What was King George VI's first name?
8) What colour is a purple finch?
9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from?
10) What is the colour of the black box in a commercial airplane?

Remember, you need 4 correct answers to pass.
Check your answers below.




ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ
1) How long did the Hundred Years War last? 116 years
2) Which country makes Panama hats? Ecuador
3) From which animal do we get cat gut? Sheep and Horses
4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution? November
5) What is a camel's hair brush made of? Squirrel fur
6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what>animal? Dogs
7) What was King George VI's first name? Albert
8) What colour is a purple finch? Crimson
9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from? New Zealand
10) What is the colour of the black box in a commercial airplane? Orange[of course]




What do you mean, you failed? Me, too. (And if you try to tell me you passed,you lie!)
Pass this on to some brilliant friends, so they can feel useless too!!

Long lost love

Further to my previous post my mood unfortunately still has not improved. My mind started to wander and think about all old friends and boyfriends.
When I was in my late teens, early twenties I used to go to the pub a fair bit, and get very drunk a lot. I didn't really have any boyfriends at this time just a group I used to hang out with, but there was one, who invariably caught my eye, he was clever, funny and drunk just as much as me. He was also so sweet he would quite often walk with me part way home, and we would have a drunken snog or two. This went on for a while, until one day I realized I was in love with this guy. Oh deep shit.

I did not say anything to him or anyone else. I thought stupidly he felt the same, until one day I overheard him in the pub talking to his friend about another girl, meeting her and going out with her, my heart was broken, smashed. I realized he had never taken me seriously, I also realized he didn't love me, so I let him go, I moved on. My job was going nowhere, my parents had split up and moved so I packed up and moved out of town.

About twelve months or so later I went back for a visit and tried to find my friends, I met up with a few, who told me he was getting married. This cut even deeper, I felt cheap and used, I had not even been given a second thought. So I put him out of my mind and carried on with my life.

This is to say about five years ago I went back to this town and bumped into this guy, wow ! The fire, the passion, the spark was all still there and it seemed like yesterday I had seen him last. I got chatting and he gave me his email address and we began corresponding. Anyway it turns out he's not very happy with his lot. He also says he realizes now what he had. Too late I wanted to say, but no, I wanted to see how I felt I needed to know. My sister still lives in town so I used her as an excuse to visit and met him again.

What if.... What if...... Is all I keep coming back too. The passion, fire and alcohol were all still there, as was my husband. I am glad he was, I have never contemplated or even wanted to disregard my marriage vows, that is until now. Needless to say it didn't happen and I have said farewell.

Sad

I sit here alone trying to struggle to come to terms with losing an Angel. The funeral is next Thurs, how will we all cope, only time will tell. I think this family is cursed, we had six family members die last year and two so far this year, where will it end.
I would apologise for the doom and gloom of this blog, but no-one reads it anyway.
I think therefore this is purely to get my thoughts out. Has anyone looked at gravestones or memorial plaques and looked the year born and died. I have, has anyone ever thought about the dash in between, that represents someones whole life in a single dash, everything they thought, felt and loved is marked with a line.
The childhood dreams that as you grow up turn into adults regrets, things you wish you had said and done or never done. I fear i am rambling now, oh well never mind. You think you have done everything right in your life when something happens and questions everything you feel, all the decisions you took and you were sooo certain, what if ..... keeps going on in your head until it drives you crazy and you cant sleep.
Is this normal am i normal ahhhhh yep i am definitely losing the plot. Am off to bed now to try to sleep and dream nice thoughts, hey its another day tommorrow, what else can go wrong ?

Have they not heard of video conferencing

My working day started a 7.15am today with being picked up by a colleague. It had been arranged to go to a meeting in Stockport (Approx 250 miles ), it took 4.30 hours to get there the meeting was 2.30 hours and i arrived home at 7.30pm.
I suggested to my boss that perhaps a video conference call would of been easier. It looks like due to the amount of work load and the fact i missed a day out of the office i am now going to have to work the whole weekend. Deep Joy .....

Goodbye my Angel

Sadly the phone call came at around 10.00pm, she lasted until 8.30pm once the machines were switched off at around 6pm. So here is goodbye to a sweet angel. she was so brave in her illness and after seeing what she went through with the blood and platelets, she became my inspiration to give blood.
I will never forget you Angel, be at peace now...

Sad Day

Today has been a sad day. Firstly Mr Shywoo still unwell enough to go back to work and is off for another week with a lung infection, which is now in its second week, he is getting better, but slowly.
Secondly and even worse, my niece has been in hospital for nearly 4 weeks, she suffers from Aplastic anemia
a rare blood disorder. For the last 6 years she has been going to hospital twice/three times a week for blood and platelets (white blood cells). She was waiting for a bone marrow transplant but it was left so long that she will never have that now she is too ill. She has no immune system and caught pneumonia. Over the last 4 weeks since being in hospital (Addenbrookes) they have tried everything, today it was decided as she is heavly sedated, and the ventilators are doing more work than she is they are turning the machines off. I am just now waiting for the dreaded phone call.

I know though that after her struggling for 6 years it will be a relief, but having said that she was only 27yrs old, just passed her vetinary nursing exams before she started being ill. So very very sad..................sob sob...

Tytnesfield - National Trust

Today, Mr Shywoo and I went to a lovely 17th Century gothic manor house, that is Tytnesfield, a big house tucked away 7 miles south west of Bristol owned by the National Trust.
The house and contents were purchased by the National Trust in 2002 for 25.2 million pounds. A grant of 17.1 million, 3 million by public appeal donations, then 4 & 1 million by annoymous benefactors. A deal was agreed at the eleventh hour on the condition that 10 days after purchase it would be open to the public.
This house i have to say is unique owned by 5 generations of the Gibbs family. The Gibbs family did not chuck anything away and the house has most of its original furniture, sadly the upper floor is not yet ready to be viewed. The 47 bedrooms currently stores quite alot of furniture and possesions which need to catalogued before being made ready. The house was used in the war efforts of WW1 & WW2. It boasts its own chapel, which is magnificent and i was told was the largest private chapel in the country, but sadly it was never conscreated.
Being a member of the National Trust means that you can visit these types of properties all over England free of charge, well worth the £68.00 a year.

Off to watch Most haunted now and count how long it will be before Yvette starts crying.

Extremely long week

First week back to work and i need another holiday. Loads of grotty stuff kindly left for me to deal with upon my return which i finally completed. Along with the fact we have just changed to a new computer system (one which i have already used), so a million and one questions to answer.
It was only a 4 day week due to the bank holiday, but it felt longer. I now have to asked myself was it worth going on holiday or is it time to ask for a pay rise ?

Sausages

Bloke goes into a shop and asks for Irish Sausages.
The assistant looks at him and says, "Are you Irish?"
"If I asked you for Italian Sausage, would you ask me if I was Italian? Or if I asked for Bratwurst, would you ask me if I was German? Or if I asked you for a Kosher Hot Dog, would you ask me if I was Jewish? Or if I asked you for a Taco, would you ask me if I was Mexican? Wouldya, eh? Wouldya?"
The assistant says, "Well, no".
"And if I asked you for some Bourbon, would you ask me if I was American? What about Danish Bacon, would you ask me if I was Danish?"
"Well, no, I probably wouldn't,"
Indignantly the man says, "So why did you ask me if I'm Irish; just because I asked for Irish Sausages?"
The assistant replies, "Because this is Homebase."


Ps. I am sorry i just couldnt resist these !!.

Scientific Study

A South American scientist from Argentina, after a lengthy
study, discovered that people with very low intellect read blogs
with their hand on the mouse.



Don't bother taking it off now, it's too late.

Poor Thumb

It being Sunday and just back from holiday, we did not have much in cupboard so thought I would make a Corned beef hash pie (not to be confused with hash as in hish hash).
It seemed like a good idea and all was going well until I got to the tin of corned beef. Why are the tins so awkward to open ? They should write on the tin a guaranteed cut every time you open. Today was no exception, with thumb on right hand neatly sliced. Mr shywoo (husband) being as about as useful as a chocolate fire-guard. Being that I am right handed and pie only halve finished I then had to struggle to finish making, as rolling out pastry was all to much for Mr Shywoo.
I have advised him in order to preserve the plasters he finally administered, he would have to wash all the dishes. I see a cunning plan forming, what else needs doing that I am now too injured to do ...................................

A handy tip that actually works!!!!!

Now, I ask you, why didn't someone tell me this a long time ago?

This is for everyone whose eyesight isn't what it was. I just found out about this. Thought I'd pass this on. It's very useful when trying to read small e-mail print (especially in the early hours). If you hold down the Ctrl key on your key board and turn the small wheel in the middle of your mouse, the print size will change - it will either get larger or smaller - depending on which way you turn the wheel. Pass this on to other friends who may find it very useful....I'm glad I was told.

Holidays Over

Sorry there been no blogs from few weeks, Just been on my annual holiday. We went to the lovely island that is Malta. Without boring the pants off you just a brief note of this historic place.
The Maltese are extremely religious with 95% of the population being Roman Catholic, this being said, there are supposed to be 365 churches one for every day of the year (what happens on a leap year I am not sure). The churches and cathedrals are magnificent works of art. The Maltese people are themselves warm and generous, being the only country collectively to have been awarded the George Cross for there efforts in the second world war. They gained independence from Britain in 1964, though through the centuries have been occupied by 12 different nations. Okay history lesson over.

The hotel was nice, the food was great, buffet style, help yourself as much (or as little) as you wanted (including the desserts), alas this has not helped the diet and upon weighing on return have chucked the scales out.
So back to work and normality on Tuesday and the early mornings, however, secretly
missing it. (don't tell the bosses though).

Easter Sunday

Today husband and I being the sorts to get out there, decided to have a trip out on the train. Husband works for railway so travel is 1st class and even better FREE.
We took a trip to Bristol, only just over an hour away, it was quite a nice day, so we let (pardon the pun) the train take the strain.
Why didnt someone tell us that no shops were open !!!. As we live in a seaside town, most of the cafes etc where we live are normally open especially holiday times.
Needless to say we didnt stay long ........

A Day to remember

Today didnt start out as expected, thought husband and I, it being the start of our long awaited holiday would go out for breakfast, and i thought i would get a lie in, but no it was not to be.
At 8.00 am (so a small lie in there), was wide awake, then remembered that today was husbands late ex-wifes birthday (the mother of his children) my step-children, so could be a traumatic day. Especially as said children decided that today being her birthday they wanted to scatter her ashes.
Husband and I went along for moral support for the children. On the occasions that i did meet her we got on fairly well !!. I think husband, ex-wife, and me all tried very hard to keep it civilised, for the sake of the children.
Husbands exwife was only 48yrs when she died so this blog is dedicated to her, and believe it or not, i miss you Julie.

Men Are Just Happier People -- What do you expect

• Your last name stays put.
• The garage is all yours.
• Wedding plans take care of themselves.
• Chocolate is just another snack.
• You can be President.
• You can never be pregnant.
• You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.
• You can wear NO shirt to a water park.
• Car mechanics tell you the truth.
• The world is your urinal.
• You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky.
• You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
• Same work, more pay.Wrinkles add character.
• Wedding dress~$5000. Tux rental~$100.
• People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.
• The occasional well-rendered belch is practically expected.
• New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
• One mood all the time.
• Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
• You know stuff about tanks.
• A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.
• You can open all your own jars.
• You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.I
• f someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.
• Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.
• Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
• You almost never have strap problems in public.
• You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.
• Everything on your face stays its original color.
• The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
• You only have to shave your face and neck.
• You can play with toys all your life.
• Your belly usually hides your big hips.
• One wallet and one pair of shoes one color for all seasons.
• You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.
• You can "do" your nails with a pocket knife.
• You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
• You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.

No wonder men are happier. This to the women who can handle it and to the men who will enjoy reading it.