Twizi

Choes

2011-10-04T21:13:00.002+01:00

How many shoes do kids need? 1 School pair, 1 with velcro so they can get them on and off, 1 pair of non-school shoes, 2 pairs of wellies... yes 1 for home and 1 pair to leave in school. Next year plimsolls will also be requred.

I used to think that uniforms in school were supposed to ensure equality and a standard now I think they're being used as a money making scheme. Looking into ballet for our DD the uniform costs a minimum of £55 (4 pieces)! And that's for the under 4's - for the full whack (including headband) it's £70 ... of course it's specialist you can't just go out and buy it in Tesco or Asda. What a rip off these uniforms are. When I was a kid you went to your clubs in your own clothes (jeans, leggings, 1 school leotard, 1 set of swim stuff for all swim/water activities etc) now you must have this for that activity and that for the other... do they never consider that you might not be able to afford it all? And then what? Just stay at home watching TV?

Daylight!

2011-09-29T22:23:00.003+01:00

I can see I can see! It might be a right mess but I can see out the windows!

What a palaver, a week worth of upheaval and mess but at least it's done. Now to get the rest of the house in shape.

Portals to my garden

2011-09-25T22:31:00.003+01:00

Yeah finally done it. Managed to save enough to get new windoors (windows and doors) which I shall be able to see out of... I'm determined on that point, I really don't like looking through murk just because the sealant's (or whatever) has gone gone gone...

It shall happen this week (it shall it shall). Today we moved lots of junk away from the vicinity. Yes lots of junk, lots more than the folks back 'ome had to move when they had their windows done and we have the tiny house. I am going to throw some of it out (whether it be mine or not) ... my rule is if it's sat and done naught in the last 4 years then it shall unburden my rooms and disappear into the wide world. I shall put a foot down and say "no more".

.....if I say it enough it might just happen.

Glug glug glug

2011-09-07T15:19:00.003+01:00

I finally got round to taking the darlings swimming (been demanded from the eldest for a long time). So we all toddled off as a family to the local pool. The little pool wasn't open so we went in the "splash" pool.

Cold, very but we got used to it. Eldest did very well considering that when we got it I was half strangled. C gained more confidence when sat on the top step. So it was a case of try this and then you can go back. By the end C was "swimming" (not quite doggy paddle) with us gently holding on. Then there were the tears when we got out. Little R was quiet but enjoying floating and even trying to kick too! We were very impressed with the pair of them. Unfortunately not so impressed with the pool. We had constant crying from Little R until fully clad, including own cardi and C's cardi plus a share in fruity flakes! Cold was not the word North pole was more like it. No way will I go there with the two of them just because they were both chilled to the bone when we left the pool!

The other one nearest us is filthy - they allow people to walk through the changing rooms to pool side to get their kids and dirt is spread around. Yuck. So that's it for pools. I'm going to have to find one with a small pool that's open, warm changing rooms, easy to get to and cheap.... not too much to ask for, is it?

Sunny days

2011-03-07T20:57:00.002Z

What can I say ... a change is as good as a holiday? Perhaps I've had too much sun already :s

100%

2011-03-07T20:32:00.002Z

I was taught in school that 100% was the whole thing, that there was no more because 100% was everything. So why do we now have 110%? or even worse 200%!

I cannot give more than 100%

Someone better explain basic maths to these politicians, economists, sports people etc so when they talk percentages on TV they can at least get it right.

Grrrr.

Family Story

2011-03-01T00:10:00.003Z

As my own has expanded I'm also looking back along the branches and up the trunk. It's quite fascinating working out where people went - from Devon and Somerset to Kent to London and then some moved back through Hampshire back to Devon whilst others came from Suffolk to London and the odd bod disappeared up to Lancashire... people didn't 'arf get 'round.

There's the "How many children!" factor my side has reached 14 whereas the other half has one with 19 kids (ouch!). And my favourite right now is the branches where I've found several Rev.s', some Admiralty clerks and I'm getting quite a collection of Baron's...

heh if I go far back enough I wonder if I can get royalty linked in there somewhere.

Ill

2010-01-21T22:58:00.002Z

I am soooooo ill. I've been off work since week last Wednesday and have been hacking my way through the week since the Friday before then. Wish I hadn't taken a sick day last week I might've been able to "work" my way through it.

Dr finally gave me antibiotics Yesterday and the threat that if I didn't improve in 48 hrs they'd "take me in"! What with the Other half sneezing for the last 3 days and Little C all bunged up I think I might get some peace and sleep if I were taken in. Snot (and there's a lot of it here) fair - why is it whenever I'm ill so is the Other Half? I can never have the peace and pampering I deserve in my sickbed because I still have to cater and care for the other sick people!

I must be getting a little better... I'm beginning to moan more but that could be the effect of having no clean cutlery and having to think about feeding the pair when all I feel like is putting my feet up with a hot cuppa - once a cup's been cleaned! I'd love to be able to sleep in bed too - I can't lay down cause it starts my hacking off.

At least I've had several brief contacts with the outside world just to keep me sane, although my head feels like a lump of cotton wool that's slowly spinning sideways. And just as the weather turns for the better and I could go out and plant and dig things I'm nowhere near up to it. Once I get my real head back I'll have to find my phone charger as my phone's as flat as a pancake and I can't think where I put the charger (sob sob no texting)

Oh woe is me.

Home made food

2009-11-26T21:05:00.002Z

Been watching Jimmy's Food Factory.. interesting, I'd say.

Although I can't really say I'll be attempting to make my own cornflakes or square ham. Somethings are definitely too much trouble and some things have too much added.

It'd be interesting if we could all make these foods - I'd need a barn or out house, and at least one spare tumble dryer and a cement mixer!! Not sure how the family would take to green home processed ham though. Hope he does another series.

Me

2009-11-26T20:48:00.003Z

Life's hectic - as might be noticed from my "missingness".

Work was dodgy there for a while - new processes and procedures (phrase of the moment). But now ideas abound, if only they are actioned! Other than that it's a struggle to stay awake what with all the repetitive copy and paste work. Things are still iffy as the big phrases banded around from on high are "cost cutting" "pay freezes" and "money saving" - we now have to prove our worth!

The other half still spends more time on the "super information highway" than is good... hence another reason I ain't here much. It seems I have to account for everything I do online in the brief hour a week I get whereas other half is addicted to Farmville but very rarely gets to go on at all- except first thing in the morning, when I ring at lunch, when I come home from work, after dinner and before I go to bed I hear the sheep bleat, cows moo, ring of money in the cafe etc.

We have been struck by colds, bugs and now the little one has chickenpox. Poor little mite - the nurse told us it was nothing to worry about and gave C the MMR jab so now we have to look out for the symptoms of "a mild case of measles"! I'm furious at this as I've never seen chicken pox but knew the instant I came home and changed C for bed time. The nurse should've at least said to wait and see what develops before jabbing C in each arm. At least (touch wood) she's not been scratching or moping around. In fact apart from the spots C is very much a handful - demanding, climbing and addicted to Iggle piggle.

History...

2009-02-19T11:47:00.003Z

What would you do if someone you spent most of your time hanging around with at school and uni but hadn't heard from for two and a half years bumped into you in the shops? I was accused of not getting in touch - ok so I hadn't but I don't have any contact details as the said "friend" moved several times (Canada to England once and all!) and never bothered to let me have any phone numbers let alone address.
I was friendly polite person, cheery even, and provided friend with mobile number to call me as we were dashing off to pay the parking fee and didn't want to go over the hour (close we had 2 minutes left on the ticket). It's got me thinking that no matter where everyone else moves to they all knew my parents number and house yet no one from those days gets in touch..... ....perhaps the past is best left in the past and new horizons should be sort.

Progress report

2009-02-17T22:25:00.005Z

Ok so two in one go is a lot from me but I thought I'd divide up to give a Little C progress report.

Slimline Little C hasn't progressed with any more toofypegs - we have random days of red rosy cheeks and drooling and once I even thought I'd found a little toof appearing but alas nothing seems to have happened. We're active little'un, started crawling, walking and climbing all in the last week.... oh when I say walk it's not quite independent walking it's "can you hold my hands please" - this I don't mind as Little C is wibblywobbly still. We've been through the sudden thrusting onto feet just to topple over and bang head on floor phase and Little C has decided to climb people who will hold on and not let such nasty things happen. Except sometimes I'm a baaad person and blink and in that moment Little C always slips or slides down something - at least the crying isn't so bad now.

Talking - I do, I'm trying not to fall into the raspberry-blowing-googoogaga that the other half and other halfs family do. I'm asked if "dada" is on the list and noooo its "a-bprrrrrrrrr" - well that's what dada does to Little C. We do have "mama" generally when Little C is frustrated or hurt, I guess it's as good a time as any.

Food - yummy, Little C eats it all! Well eats what we've tried - baby rice, veggies, fruit, lamb, beef so far and all mushed to a pulp. We've choked on carrot sticks and sucked bread crusts and this week rice cakes (they really are polystyrene, aren't they?). We've reached the stage where Little C can be stuffed yet still cry when the bowl is empty - I did this last night as we were too late for baby rice before bed so I filled her with dinner. Ok so it's not as bold as bolognaise or lasagna which you can get in pots from any supermarket but I thought starting bland with individual flavours would provide a good start, at least then Little C can recognise different flavours rather than a mushy mix. You may thing bread is bland but apparently for little mouths it's a startling taste that needs serious consideration.

Redundant

2009-02-17T22:16:00.002Z

Oh it's a horrible thing to happen - been there done it myself now the other half is going through it all. And what could be worse? Being at home with the other half underfoot, in my way and basically hogging everything I used to have al day to do..... hence the lack of blogging ...coz I can't get on the Internet as it's always occupied!

One is informed there is a gadget that can be got which will allow all interested parties access at the sametime - but it's like the curtain rail in Little C's room, one day it will be removed from it's wrappings and actually fixed to the wall (we've had it for 4 months already!).

It as been nearly 4 weeks since the news was announced and the p'd off other half came home, and it's been a battle to get things that are normally done with regularity done once. Saying that things have improved slightly, the other half does now fill the dishwasher and make tea without too much complaining and sometimes I'm lucky enough to hear the phrase "can I help" (usually around lunch or dinner time when I've started cooking). The other half has even ventured to feed Little C once or twice, and I've started "it's your turn" when Little C starts moaning.

Perhaps I just demand too much too quickly?!?

Toofypegs

2009-01-10T17:18:00.003Z

We had two toofypegs for christmas and they were quite easy to produce.

This next set are real trouble. We're gnawing thumbs in particular and others things we shouldn't have our little hands on - and I've just been shown how negligent I was at putting away the Christmas "toys" as Santa is getting a good chewing.

Ya know I did a lot of reading about sleep and teething and basically I'd advise myself to throw it out the window if I were to be looking for the information again. Little C is obviously NOT a typical baby - we do not want to sleep the required 12 hours at night with between 3 and 5 naps during the day, we will not be lying or sitting around entertaining ourselves with our own toys and no way will we sleep the whole night through. Sometimes I think I should swap Little C for one of the quieter less mobile models I can find at the baby & toddler club......

MERRY...

2008-12-24T22:10:00.004Z

..CHRISTMAS!

The decorations are up, the presents wrapped, Little C has gone to bed not aware that Santa (or Daddy Lulu as my other half has just told me) will be visiting.... except we have no chimney and I'm not quite willing to leave the front door open for him just yet. ....oh as I was saying, the house is a mess....

But I wish y'all a cheery time with good company and good food.

Little uns and friends part 2

2008-12-24T21:58:00.004Z

Still feel sorry for the pair. My friends in quite obvious pain - yes she's being seen to but it seems the pain eases in one place and reappears in another - hence the strange (to me) feeding positions. I still don't think it's very good bonding or getting the milk into the babe. I went so far as to say I often lay Little C across my lap so I don't have to hold her, but alas this was brushed aside.

At least the changing business looked like it had improved - we took the little uns in together so i could see her and she could see me. I'm afraid I've become a bit of a rabbit-er (?) well non-stop-talker, saying things like "bottoms up" and "put yer trousers on" and "here's the nappy".... in fact I talk alot, an awful lot like that to Little C, and when in a room of mums and babes I seem to be the only one with this verbal dihorrea.

Definitely...

2008-12-14T10:18:00.006Z

oh absolutely positively.... until a new theory comes along.

Oh it gets my goat when watching archaeological and history TV programmes and the "expert" comes on and says well as you can see this is definitely positively..." How the heck do they know? Were they alive then? Have they a time machine to pop back and find out? And worst of all what they say is carved in stone and becomes the acknowledged thing which then becomes taught. And when it is questioned the questioner is wrong because whatever they're questioning is carved in stone.

Honestly I'm not waffling. So far I've seen two Egyptology programmes - one where the skeleton is definitely Queen Nef. who was such a powerful woman and ruled like a man, killed the favoured harem woman and became pharaoh in her own right after the husband died and she was a sensitive woman who listened to her people.... oh and the skeleton next to her is her brother-in-law. The next programme is where they start saying the Sphinx is definitely this pharaoh who built it..... ok so the programme's not finished yet and they may unpick this statement but it's so annoying when you get Professor xyz saying these things. It's only a possibility. We will never know definitely well not until that time machine's built.

Being home...

2008-11-27T15:36:00.002Z

...you'd think you'd have time for things and plan "Yes I shall be able to blog daily" or "I shall complete that project I stated on 4 months ago" and when you throw in the "no I'm not studying right now" you'd think there was even more time. Where does it all go?

I feel I have less time now than I did when I was at work! Cleaning is only done in emergencies, Internet usage is almost zero, toe-tapping dancing is at a minimum, and still nothing ever seems to get done!

Mind you I've learnt that I did have a very good skill for learning dances last minute and now.. well now it takes me some time, I can still pull the easy one off in 20 minutes but anything other than improver level really does need me to practice.

Ok so I might not be being fair on myself, what with the economic upheaval (ooo doesn't that start sound intelligent!), I have been going through all the finance stuff from energy saving, budget shopping, to all the insurances a person needs under the sun and remortgaging. Throw in the mix that I have the stinking cold that's going round (bad head, throat, ears, runny red nose etc) and Little C I should be patting myself on the back and taking a well earned rest... oh is it dinner time, I'd best be off to peel the spuds.

Little uns and friends

2008-10-16T17:18:00.003+01:00

Toughie this. I saw a friend who's Little L is about a month younger than Little C - it hadn't been easy for the pair of them, from pain to bad advice to medical persons discussing what to do infront of her and not talking to her. Then Little L had tongue-tie, and lost a lot of weight due to this. Now I'm no expert but I watched my friend bottle feed Little L and really felt like pointing out that the poor little bit wasn't getting a good amount of milk because of the way Little L was being held. Now I'd lay any baby across my lap with their head in the crook of one arm and tip the bottle up so there was no air in the teat - Little L was being held sitting upright (legs being held between mum's) and the bottle was being held pushing Little L's head back but only around half the teat was full of milk- and winding was not attempted for very long as Little L was crying.

And then when it was nappy time the pair disappeared for 20 minutes or so and once when they returned I was informed that Little L had put her feet and hands in the nappy and spread the contents around. I used to watch my mum doing changes and she'd hold the baby's feet inbetween the fingers on one hand and change/wipe/etc with the other. But how do you pass these tips on without making a new mum feel even worse - plus Little L is (apparently) quite a wailer, enough so to drive my friend to tears. I can understand if Little L is constantly crying if its hunger because more air is sucked in than milk and winding is not very good. But how can you tell someone this without upsetting or offending?

Bedtime

2008-10-06T22:01:00.003+01:00

What is the right time for bed?

I was reading my e-mails and there's one about "Now your baby is 2 months and 4 weeks old"...... erm not that that's the right age, but don't 4 weeks make a month anyway? Perhaps they use some other calendar where 5 weeks maketh a month. "...you'll be in a routine. You will find you're baby sleeps:...... 8-12 hours a night with two sleeps in the day. To help your baby sleep you need to have a routine:... they should be in bed between 7:30 and 8pm" erm fraid not. If Little C went to bed then my day would start at 4am!

Mind you Little C had 2 hours kip and has been up since 9:30 tonight, which is quite usual for Little C. Fingers crossed that if we can get Little C to run round the block I wont get too many wakeup calls in the night...(ok so Little C's legs aren't quite up to running but the Little C fidgets so much we might as well start running).

Closet parenthood

2008-10-06T20:02:00.003+01:00

Huh? What? Ya know it's like sooo long since I actually did anything other than update my reading list here that there are changes afoot which I know nothing about.

It's been a bit of a struggle that I'm not sure how others manage kids, house and... well some could say "the big kid" too. In fact sometimes I catch another parent doing things that I should be happy to do in public with my child but I'm a closet parent. Nought wrong with that I guess, Little C is loved even if I'm not big on public displays. And anyway Little C gets enough public attention and is (usually) quite content with grinning madly at strange people, particularly blondes who'll coo over her.

Something old

2008-09-08T23:01:00.002+01:00

It was a good day, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and I only have 1 quibble.

It went smoothly, in fact it all went too quickly for us. We seemed to zoom through the signing parts and spend a long time having photos taken so we didn't really get to talk to anyone. Then I had to nip off for Little C before dashing down to have dinner. The speeches were good, very funny. The food was fantastic - although a menu card would have meant people knew what they were eating as one table kept telling one of their friends they couldn't have the starter and when he found out what it actually was he was gutted as he'd loved to have it. Then we were on to dancing. Buffet - I'm sure there was one but I didn't get to see it, and wedding cake... well that's my quibble. We wanted to cut it, you know the good old fashioned way "couple cut the cake" business, but I only found out it was cut when my brother asked if I'd had any. Stunned I was!

Well pleased with the whole day otherwise - everyone seemed to be having fun which made us happy too.

Cake, gimme cake

2008-08-12T15:00:00.002+01:00

but only the way I want it!

Mother-in-law-to-be has taken over the cake, well I knew she'd taken on cooking the cake - we negotiated out of chocolate as I don't like her chocolate cake... neither do I like her fruit cake but I can't DO anything about that except not eat it. So I'm not getting the cake I wanted - me and the other half did come to the agreement of carrot, chocolate and fruit to please everyone - god knows why it was thought the fruit cake be the largest, personally I'd have thought the chocolate cake should have been the biggest as I know more people who'd have it...... but now were down to 2 fruit and a carrot. So I get carrot if I get a piece of cake, already said no nuts as some people insist carrot cake has nuts, surely that makes it a carrot and nut cake?

So I'm already fed up about THE cake, now I find out that she's already got the decorations... excuse me but aren't the groom and bride supposed to be involved? I feel like disowning the cake and when it comes to photos and cutting the blinkin thing to go stand by something else (I shall take a fairy cake and cut that!). I could order my own deco and put it on the cake on the day, wipe hers off the face of the cake. Why don't people ask? huh? is it such a big deal to ask - I don't bite unless provoked and asking wont provoke me. I'd even told her I'd seen some nice ones in a shop and WE should go have a look see if they're ok.

Enough ranting from me for now I have a tiny person, who has wriggled off, to tend to.

Soother

2008-08-08T13:37:00.003+01:00

It's only 3 weeks and I'm giving in to my other halfs insistant on using a soother/dummy when Little C wails - only I will wait for a real episode the other one gives in as soon as there's a hint of wail coming. Little C's also been having episodes asleep (of sudden out the blue wailing) - I'm thinking it's soother related.

The question is, is it a good idea to use one now? I think little C's already hooked on it, which I don't think is good and I'd like to stop it, but I can see how it makes life easy. Particularly as today I took it away and Little C wailed constantly for 15 miutes, and then had a 10 minute break before setting off again. I even managed to do a nappy change and provide a bath (as the little darlings started weeing over the change mat whenever we take the nappy off) and we had a constant wail through it. I'm beginning to wish there were colour coded instructions (blue for feed, red for "I want to be burped/sick" etc.).

Oh well back to servicing the sleepy head.

Wellll hellllooo

2008-08-04T16:06:00.002+01:00

Finally, Little C arrived very early in the morning 2 weeks ago. Tiny little person, all soft and fluffy. In fact in 2 weeks Little C now seems quite big to me.

We went to a meal the other day and I couldn't believe how many 5-6 month olds there were there, also they nearly all had red hair! And there I was thinking redheads are rare, well more so than blondes and brunettes. Well I was mentioning these other babes becuase I couldn't believe how big they are. Now Little C was around 7lb's, so not a tiny baby and not a large one either, but will Little C get to be sooooo large and round faced as these others at 6 months?

Not expecting any long sleeps just yet - except in the car that is - Little C's asleep right now, puckered lips and lying frog-like. So this is now my world - feeds and changing nappies, grabbing kip..... oh plus housekeeping, cooking, teaching and studies (when I can fit them in!!).

Long time no see

2008-07-16T12:33:00.002+01:00

Ok so it's been a while, not that I haven't been thinking (I did manage 5 minutes to update my reading list last time). Been busy.

Excuses, excuses, I know - shouldn't have to, and is any excuse really any good? So what's been happening?

Firstly keeping up the same old - dancing, coursework (which I'm failing, but I've got to the point where the course descriptions are never what the course is actually about so, particularly on this one, why should I get myself overly worried), the house, gardening, and well there was work.

So we decorated the last bedroom and about 2 weeks ago got it carpeted, since then we've had nearly all the decorating and "rubble" removed, a few pieces of furniture moved in and around the house.

Work was a pain in the rear but I was reminding myself (almost constantly) that it didn't matter. We'd have meetings between 6 of us only for things 5 minutes after the meeting to be changed and for 3 of us who attended the meeting to find out by grapevine. Very badly handled. They even put someone in charge without discussing it with the group and completely p'd 1 person off as they were on holiday for that 1 day and didn't even have the courtesy to go tell them face to face but let them "work it out" during the day. Mind you, what should an employee expect? I remember the time I was off sick for 2 days and came back to find I was in a new group - no one told me for 2 days, and then someone slipped up and said "oh you shouldn't be doing that you're supposed to be working in that group". Makes you wonder how these places stay in business!

Anyway I'm not to worry about that, as long as I have s job of the same pay when I go back... yes that's right I'm now "laying in" as the census details on one of my ancestors called in. The baby was due last Monday/Tuesday, hence one reason I feel there should be no excuses as to not being able to update my blog. Unfortunately it's not here yet. Obviously too cozy where it is and not eager to come out into such a mean world - well it has spent the majority of 9 months at work with me!

So on top of everything else we've had to do the whole baby item hunting in our spare moments. At least the first week on maternity I managed to clean the whole house from top to bottom - from window frames to ceiling dusting. Ok so I did have help, there are things that people feel you shouldn't be doing such as climbing 3-step ladders, and lifting anything heavier than a chair.

I had help in the garden yesterday and now it looks better - less weeds more flowers. There's a few odd jobs with the veg, as always but generally I think things are now "under the thumb", at least for a little while. Although saying that we get the odd "bad surprise", like the other week when the baby was due the front door lock failed. In fact it was funnier than that. I had visitors to help clean the bits I couldn't reach and when it came to opening the front door we couldn't. They had to clamber over the neighbours garden into mine. Lots of comments about not dropping the baby just yet else I'd have to climb out the window! Anyway we got a locksmith and eventually got the door sorted, lucky I didn't have to go to work as we could only chain the door shut.

Well for now I think that's enough, must get on as I have some new dances to learn.

Ella Minnow Pea

2008-05-08T21:44:00.003+01:00

I know I don't usually comment on books - I read them and my tastes are the same as everyone elses. it's just I had to mention this one, it's unusual. You could probably read it in 3 or 4 hours - I read it in about 8 days bus journeys.
All I'll say is if you like words and are interested in written English this book is worth a read. I can't say I got overly involved in the whole storyline or characters but I enjoyed it for the concepts it put forth. I'd guess a teenager or thereabouts might find it better.

Nearly there

2008-05-08T21:33:00.002+01:00

Yesterday was another non-speaking day, until lunch time wen I was approached by the "offending" party and we had a chat. There were points of "it's not me, I've been asked to" and as I was relaxing all I could think was along the lines of, then it's the way it's communicated - I attempted a few comments along those lines, whether it's picked up I don't know. If it isn't then I'll have to have words to those above to approach and say that tone and wording needs to be looked at.
Mind you I'm only half and half inclined to believe that it's a response from "other people" complaining about me.... who? That's what I like to know, not to be nasty in anyway, I don't think they have valid points, but often these people do need to be looked at and say "well you expect that of me but you don't actual fulfill it either" like the timekeeping business, the person monitoring the time often has no idea when they themselves go out for lunch or come back, plus they question the amount of time it takes to get a coffee and we know their tea breaks are over 30mins..... is it not fair to say look at yourself before causing trouble for others.
And I'd also like to know, why me? Have I done something to cause all this trouble?

Tuesday

2008-05-08T21:26:00.004+01:00

Apparently my appraisal form showed how angry I was, I got even more angry in the actual face to face. I got it all out right at the beginning. The points were valid and would be looked into.... I wont hold my breath but at least "we" can work forwards from here, I guess.
Then we worked through the form, that part was actually very good. I must have been inspired because I came out with some good ideas and usually in these things I can't think of anything. We were over 2 hours! Quite a record, most manage an hour more or less!
Still a little stressed in the afternoon and definately not usual self, now I have to wait for the colleague to have their appraisal.

Saturday

2008-05-05T23:51:00.003+01:00

What a ruddy pain!
I thought I'd have a nice day at home, catch up on this and the other bits neglected in the past week and then shoot off to get a new car. Then the other half called and said they loke was on lunch till 3pm so no hurry, so when the folks phoned next I thought it would be a quick outing. Only it wasn't that quick - I really don't want to be rushed into a decision and they are pushing. Well dashed home and got the washing out before dashing off again. Got to the car dealers about 3:30pm, and was hanging around reading newspapers whilst he finished with another customer.
One of his colleagues took us through the finance only to have my bank decline us! I couldn't f believe it! After all the stress and trouble and knowing the money's there the bank declines us! I answered all the questions right... mind you the authorisation place was in India and he couldn't understand us very well, had to tell him 4 times my name!!
So ended up calling the folks out to come pay for the car - we're both very down about this. It just seems that we're being kicked in the shins everytime we try to do something. It's like every step forward seems to take us 2 back.
Well they bailed us, thankfully.
Hopefully now we'll have lady luck smile on us - think we need it.

Hi

2008-05-05T23:36:00.002+01:00

I guess I should do a catch-up, I was going to do posts for other interesting points in the last month but I can't really think of anything much except the last week or so it's been soooooooooooo stressful.
Well the car went "pop" again about 3 weeks ago and it took the garage a good 2 weeks to get it sorted to the extent that it runs but not what I say with confidence.
Work is a pig, the lady I had trouble with before is much worse - I learnt this week that it's not just me, although it does feel like she's bullying me. She left a message to adjust my times and I took it up with the boss as the day she told me to change was the day I could prove the times I worked as there was a meeting I went to!
Anyway boss man seemed to brush it under the carpet a bit, thankfully I have my yearly appraisal tomorrow and have notes I want to go through. I mean I'm doing my work and get told to do xyz and when I say there's no chance I can fit that in get told I have to anyway. Well there was no way and a week later was told I should do it in the afternoon so of course I stopped doing the other work I do and got "reprimanded" that there were soo many with my name on without notes - well I couldn't very well do them if I was doing something else, also to make it worse I was off for 2 half days so there was no chance of me doing anything much except desperately try to catch up. So I replied to an e-mail saying I couldn't and trying to lighten it up saying how even W woman can't do it if she's not in the office, well the reply that came back was very officious and "will be brought up in my appraisal". Why can't she just leave me alone for 2 months. Apparently there are now others who think she's becoming a bully/headmistress type too. Mind you I kinda feel sorry for my Team Leader as she's her friend and also she's about 6 months pregnant, so I can see she doesn't need the stress, but then neither do I.
Anyway the Dr took my blood pressure and it's up not badly but it's up from last time so I shall have to take it easier. I also (in 2 lines) said I was pressured at work by someone monitoring my timekeeping and workload - she basically came out with the fact that I was being bullied.
Well we shall have to see how tomorrow goes.

11th March

2008-05-05T23:24:00.002+01:00

Dashed round Vale Castle between rain, then on to the most interesting monument - Delurs. It's not well advertised or signposted but it's a definate if you like ancient monuments.
La Villette Military Museum was open and the other half was in wonderland looking at everything. Unfortunately Castle Cornet was closed. So we went back to the Sausmarez manor and managed to look round the garden but the manor itself was closed. There were several other sea view restaurants and cafes we tried but with no luck so we ended up coming back to our room with a packet of cakes each. We tried to get to other places but they were shut or the roads were closed due to last nights storm knocking down the sea wall. It really devastated Jersey and Guernsey too quite a battering - surprised that all the BBC news focuses on the South coast of England, feel that the Channel Islands are rather neglected on the whole.

10th March

2008-05-05T23:16:00.002+01:00

Started at the Candie Garden but it's a very rainy day and the Guernsey Museum is in the grounds... only that's closed.
Went to the Beau Sejour centre to see the tapestry, St James' church and grounds are very pretty, but the tapestry museum is closed.... think there's a theme to our holiday here. The other half got absolutely soaked through when we were walking round the shops - it was a sudden downpour, I escaped the worst as I have a hooded jacket and did lots of ducking in doorways. Well we saw the Pearl shop, not exactly a tourist spot unless you've loads of money and an expensive taste.
Oatlands was better, craft shops and historic stuff to see and a cafe for cream teas (it's quite expensive but then they have you by the wallet as there's no where else for food). Interesting to see Guernsey was originally divided into 2 islands.
Weather's getting rough - lots of lashing rain and high winds so we went back to the Lodge and only just down the road for dinner.

9th March

2008-05-05T23:09:00.002+01:00

Jerbourg was nice, walked around Doyles tower and then round the coast to find the Gardens... only they're closed. So we went back to Sausmarez but the road's closed so we didn't get there either! Anyway we saw Catherine Best's shop (very expensive jewellery) though the mill itself is interesting. Stopped in a pub for a drink then went on to Hauteville House - looks nice from the outside, don't know about inside though as it was.... taadaa closed!
Anyway the Underground German Hospital is open if but briefly and we had a walk round the dark and damp tunnels. Well as it's Sunday we went and had a snooze and then went to St Peter's for dinner. The Library Carvery is fab, if you get a chance go there for food.

8th March

2008-05-05T22:49:00.003+01:00

Flew out to Guernsey, which was ok and then caught the no. 7 bus... well we were supposed to get off at Port Serif but there's no sign, no indication, and very little in the way of recognisable bus stops so we missed it by... well shall we say 2 stops, it was just too far to walk back. Well I asked in the hotel, caught the bus back to the, erm, car park sort of big space and got off. It doesn't look far on the map, and the lady who stopped us (dead obvious tourist as we had suitcases with us) said it was about 10-15 minute walk.... plus the other 30 mins she obviously forgot about!
Sunny so not much complaints except it got hot. Well we finally got to the Lodge, it's rather a pub with a few rooms on the side - think the other half was disappointed with that but it was within our budget, and the "inn keeper" was kind enough to take us to the car hire - after that walk and bus trip it's best to have a car in Guernsey... unless you really like cycling and really really really like walking!
Drove to St Peter's Port (The Town), where we walked round and then had lunch. Walked round the sea front some more enjoying the scene, smelling the smells and wondering at the lack of certain big named shops. Looked through some tourist brochures and decided what to do. Walked up to the Underground Military Hospital... it was closed. Climbed up the cliff path to the military post and looked round.. rather quickly as it started to rain.
Went and had a look round the Little Chapel, then the clockmaker's... which was closed. So we carried on up the road to the Silver and Goldsmiths... which was... you guessed, closed, and so is the woodcarvers down the road.
Well we gave up on indoors and went to the battery and watchhouse in Pleinmount except I'm not really up for walking much.
Drove around some till we found a spot for dinner then realised that as its dark outside there's no street lamps to read the map by - oh what fun we're going to have!

Last Saturday

2008-03-15T16:31:00.004Z

Had an "exciting" week this last week.
Last Friday I went to bed very very late, way too late really considering I had to get up 4 hours later to nip on down to Gatwick.... where of course the plane was delayed by about 40 minutes. We only had an hours flight. Go on have a guess where... how far can you go on an hours flight? And it was one of those propeller planes as well.... we half expected someone to nip out and give them a turn or two to get them going!
The flight wasn't bad (no nibbles just a drink), we went up and up and then came down and down. Guessed where yet? Well we didn't leave the British Isles, Sterling is used but they do have their own coins which aren't acceptable on the "mainland", they took a hammering during the storm last Monday-Tuesday whilst we were there but apparently it wasn't covered here at home, and what else can I say about them..... petrol's gone up from 50p to 88p!

Guessed it....?

Guernsey.

Good afternoon

2008-03-01T16:31:00.004Z

And so far the afternoon has been.
Things are cheery, not sure if its the extra little bit of sunshine we get, or that things in the house finally look like they've moved towards the finishing posts, or possibly because I managed to get an extra hours kip plus get out to plant some more seeds - that'll be lettuces of various sorts, rocket, spinach, carrots and violas. Chuffed with myself, oh just a little.
I'll admit it's all potted as the actual piece of garden isn't really cleared and ready, I guess also all that planting pots is a way out for me not actually getting round to measuring the garden to actually plan where everything goes... or the dusting.... or clearing out the next room to decorate.
We got a venue and set a date, now its dresses and suits, flowers and cake, oh and not forgetting guests!
I guess I better spend some time plotting and planning things.

Oh look!

2008-02-21T16:29:00.002Z

Just noticed its been nearly a month since I last posted - well I've been busy very busy and I've been keeping secrets.... some of which I shall keep a while longer but others I shall shed light on now.
24th Jan went out in the evening and got engaged.
Since then been doing the whole wedding arranging - well we wanted to this year it's just a lot quicker, basically we should've read up about it all and done something last year but there you go, very typical of us. So we've been trying to find a venue (takes a very long time!) and now we have a heap of paperwork to do.
Other bedroom shall be stripped this weekend and decorating shall begin again.
Been spending some few hours researching the family tree - it's rather tangled in that we now have people who'd be about 10 years old when they had their children! Apart from that it's trying to find the evidence (not my job in all this I just surf when I can).
Oh and my next course starts so I must crack on with the assignment.
And on top of that there's the dancing and my other little secret....
oh and incase anyone's following my adventures in the garden we had some success with our crocus' - the mixed ones so far have come up white and yellow, there are signs of life in the other places and hope still holds for the tulips.

I point at myself....

2008-02-21T16:13:00.002Z

...and laugh.
Oh woah is me, snotty, snivelly, red nosed, red eyed me.
I am full of cold, but at least I've not gone to work today. It's knocked me for 6 else I would have gone into the workhouse and spread it back across the people who have soooo kindly donated it to me (via the air conditioning).
Things are a little easier in the place now - although there are digs from a distance - I'm finding senior people are like that (well one is), just because your not in their team anymore means squat they are still senior to you and can still cause trouble. At least the last 2 weeks I've been able to prove that I do work and don't just scratch my head all day. Funny thing is the old group I was in is now 1 person short and they are soooooo bored because there's no work for them to do! Pah! At least I had work to get on with even if it wasn't appreciated back then.
There are niggles still - I get hauled up for the smallest mistake and have been told I have too much work allocated to me, at which point I said I'd dealt with them all and was waiting for responses so i could close the calls down (nernerneenerner!). They shall not take work away from me and start office rumours saying I don't do any work again. And anyway there's Mr D & Mr C who are in my team and will help out if I get overloaded.

Work = misery

2008-01-24T18:04:00.000Z

I think I must have a huge sign above my head which is invisible to me.
Yet again I am pointed at and told I am not working. Well ok so it was a kindly soul who decided to tell me there were "rumours" going around that I do no work... and then I happened to cross paths with someone who was having a rant about people who just sit around and they may as well just go home (I'm trying not to take it as being mememe, but coming after the last comment it's not easy). So I have been forced into changing group suddenly and by surprise last Monday and I had thought even though I pointedly pointed that I didn't want to, as I had thought things resolved.
I mean I could point to people working alongside who spend 2 hours chatting to friends on the work phone, those who sit and surf the net obviously not doing work, and others who have running conversations with friends by e-mail. Perhaps that's what I'm doing wrong. Perhaps because I am actually head down in a pile of invoices all day (no not sleeping no matter how tired I get) that I'm not conforming to what everyone else s doing...... ??
I don't really come to anger or hate easily (I hope) but I really am hating going to work, not quite with a passion these days but I can see that if these things keep happening I will loath it all there.
Mum reminded me that this things about not working has nearly always cropped up in my work life - I remember when I first started work and it was a colleague who pointed out to the manager (while I stood gape mouthed at his accusation) that I had run around the whole shop floor checking that each till operator had enough cash, till roll, vouchers etc and I had just come downstairs from running her and the front tills this errand. Well I always thought if you go for one you may as well check all and get everything needed in one go. I wish sometimes it wasn't in my nature to go out of my way for people and be helpful.
I really don't get it, I don't understand what I'm doing wrong. I've always thought that being busy with work makes the day go past quicker, and anyway I get really bored if there's nothing to do.

A meme....

2008-01-07T19:52:00.000Z

1. What was the best gift your received ever? Not sure, perhaps it's one of those I remember receiving; a particularly obscure watch, a set of dictionaries, a dvd or cd....ah must include the cherry tree and skimmia.
2. What was the worst?
Usually soaps I don't like the scent, this year a pot pouri I can't stand the smell of and I have to keep as it would offend the person if it wasn't visible.
3. What's the best gift you've given someone else?
Erm...I guess the Pirates of the C stuff I got my neice as
she's still batty over it.
4. What's the worst?
I dunno, I try to find interesting things for people, and it's usually practical. Although being short of cash the next few birthdays could prove particularly bad.
5. What did you get this holiday season?
I got: sudoku game, watch, pictures of my neice a winterflowering cherry tree, male & female skimmia, a fruit bowl and the pot pouri.
6. Where did it fit on the best to worst scale (best being 1 and worst being a 10)?"
This holiday? Around 8, infact I wish I'd cancelled Christmas & just stayed home..... next door said I should've knocked & gone in for dinner, except I was nowhere near home, I think it'd have been more fun.

Happy New Year

2008-01-01T17:17:00.001Z

....to all of you.

Xmas "joy"

2007-12-29T21:11:00.000Z

What can I say. I wanted a nice quite Christmas day (the first Christmas in our new house) at home. I wanted to wake up in my nice comfy bed and know the house was clean, I didn't have to bother doing anything but sit and veg out watching Bond films and kids animations - no rushing around or stressing. What I didn't get was a Christmas at home vegging out.
Instead we had Christmas day on Sunday round my parents, where we were stuffed with gorgeous food, saw my brothers and their families, had fun with the kids and opened the pressies. I was hoping for someone else to put up the Xmas tree and decorations but nothings happened so I did the tree - as a hint that the lights might just somehow appear on it - not being my lights.
Then Christmas Eve we run round like headless chickens cleaning the house (it's not done often enough and I insist on coming back to a clean house). I'm p'd off. I threw some baubles and tinsel on the tree and around the room. I want my Christmas! Packed and leapt in the car around 11am - yes I was made to get out of bed before 8am! (It's a shocking thing when you don't often get a chance for lie-ins).
We got to my "potentially-future-in-laws" around 2pm. They have 2 kids, so we got one of the rooms, I got the bed.
OK so the positive is that we don't have to cook or wash up, the negative is a creaky small bed and not being able to watch what I want on the box... well I saw the end 30mins of the Shrek film, the first 10 mins of Bond and 3 hours of Sky news and sport throughout my stay there.
Christmas Day we opened pressies, I watched the lad play an Indiana style game for about 3 hours (it was good, not one I could do, I'd end up constantly killing the character and getting frustrated). Then - the event of the day - I slipped down the stairs, almost complete set, from near the top to 4 from the bottom. I am still oh so sore, and I don't bruise easily and I have some real shiners on my elbows and forearms.
Boxing Day I was made to walk to the beach and back before lunch - I was sooo unhappy about it by the time we were heading home, and as I slowed I was told by the other half to hurry up as I was falling behind - grrrr. Came home.
The next day I whizzed about tidying bits up and adding decorations to the tree. My folks came round late pm with 3 of our Christmas presents and planted one at the end of the front garden - yippee I have my Autumn flowering Cherry tree! At least the front garden's beginning to shape up. Cooked them dinner which they really enjoyed and we had a nice evening. I even managed to keep the kitchen reasonably tidy and clean.
Yesterday I did dinner and some to freeze whilst the other half boiled up the bones for stock. By the time I left to go teaching the kitchen was in a mess, when I came back nothing had changed at all.
I hate it - we have a dishwasher because of the constant moaning about washing up, and I'll be lucky if things get put in the kitchen let alone the dishwasher! I refuse to do anything about it - I have more important stuff to be doing, plus I have a set of exercises I'm supposed to do everyday and I've not been able to for the last 2 months! I've been neglecting "Me" this year and I'm going to have to do something about it - suggestions on a postcard.

This week

2007-12-09T22:59:00.000Z

Been decorating. Last weekend was wallpapering and first coat of paint, this weekend did the second coat of paint, sanded down the woodwork and gave it 2 coats of primer...... glossing tomorrow?
Been a little lazy too, watching DVD's and that, tidying papers meaning I've been sitting around. Been thinking lots about Christmas too.
I'd love to spend a day or so sitting around just watching TV and not having to do other stuff at the same time. I'm trying to plan several days like this over Christmas.

Sunday sunshine

2007-11-25T21:35:00.001Z

Had a lovely dinner last night round my folks - tomato & basil soup, lamb chops and veggies, then josterberry crumble and custard. And not forgetting good company.... although when we went and sat down afterwards I found it very difficult to keep my eyes open!
Today we went to a toy fair and bought....nothing, we were looking for Xmas presents. Came home for a bacon butty before mum turned up with the bulbs (not light bulbs!).
I helped dig the trench whilst she was digging up part of the lawn, then we planted tulips, crocus's, tete a tete and February Gold daffs, minnows and Ipheiom, primroses and some type of black grass. So come the spring I should have a lovely colourful border.
Follow all that with spaghetti bolognese, then I managed to actual make scrummy custard (it usually goes lumpy or so thick the spoon stands up in it) which we had with fresh pineapple and we actually managed to have it all done before 8pm!! We're usually struggling by the to get it on the table in time for Top Gear. Watched lots of TV this evening which is a nice ending to a good day, especially after just a rubbish day yesterday.

Cars

2007-11-24T14:19:00.000Z

The car went couple of weeks ago and first the garage couldn't find anything wrong, so it went to another one. Then it was an easy fix and now it's a diffiicult expensive fix. I think I should get a different make....
Not something I need right now, not with still decorating and we're going to have to arrange for the tree in the back garden to be replaced (another £400!). Then there's all the housework I've not been able to do. It's all really rather energy draining.
At least my pink carnations are pretty, and soon it'll be xmas and I get some days off work to do what I like (or the housework!).
Chinupchuck.

Lethaaargy

2007-11-10T16:32:00.000Z

My get up and go got up and went, and there I was doing quite well today.
Was ill for a couple of days during the week.... well I was unwell longer but had a couple of days off work. I'm still coughing quite well now and rather gunked up when I get up in the morning but lots better.
I got up did the washing, sorted through the bills and managed to dust some, before I decided for some lunch and reading other people's blogs, and now I am run out of energy. Naught on the box (I have the Red Bull Air race on - something I usually like but I'd much rather just go to sleep (only I wont sleep tonight if I do). Ho hum.
1940's Jive night tonight... should be fun if I can muster the enthusiasm and energy, hopefully all the dancing will get me going.

talking of dancing

2007-10-29T21:49:00.000Z

what's going on with "Strictly"? We managed to see the Sunday show on Sunday but have only just watched the Saturday show.
We thought Gaby Logan must've done something really really wrong to be in the dance off.

Don't feel like dancing?

2007-10-29T21:24:00.000Z

Had a fantastic weekend. Friday was hard work as I hate leaving a dirty house so kitchen and bathroom were cleaned and all washing up done - I had help!! I didn't have to attend to everything on my own. That was niiiiicceee.
Had a good car trip and some nice driving weather (sunny but a tad chilly out of the car). The only slight annoyance was that the "hotel" were still trying to get the rooms ready at 3pm when we should have
been able to get in them at 2pm.
Did quite a bit of dancing, over the weekend, had a lot of laughs with the folks we went with (there were 24 friends there, so the group sometimes dominated the dancefloor). The floor had been "enlarged" - carpet rolled back on all sides to make it bigger. Teachers were ok bit off their form, one had had an op on a knee, and the other wasn't feeling fantastic so it's understandable and they did quite a professional job of it. Dances learnt were generally ok.
Sunday was wet wet wet wet and generally more fine rain. Put a bit of a dampener on our outing - we drove up the hill and stopped to have lunch at the cafe.... it really was only about 15 minute walk from the "hotel", well it was rainy. Had a cream tea. Then went back for a nap. Naps are very important on these weekends, I'm no spring chicken and dancing till 2am and getting up for 8 for breakfast is a little tiring these days.
Today we came back; we opened our doors to glorious sunshine and clear skies. I thought (hoped really) it'd be the same when we got home so I could get the washing dry. The trip back was lovely.
Got busy at home: 2 lots of washing done and 2 to go, the ivy pulled off the wall and as much as I could bare pulled from places I could only just reach along the border, bagged and swept, vacuumed through the house so the kitchen is the only floor left, went out and got fish and chips (which I promptly dropped on the floor - thankfully most was in bags but we did lose a fishcake, guilty yes I felt so as it wasn't my fishcake, my dinner was safe but only just).
Now I'm quickly (well as quick as I can) doing all the internet stuff before turning my hand to yet something else that needs doing before bed.

Go on kick me

2007-10-22T23:17:00.000+01:00

Well it was a day like any other day last Friday until about noon, an appropriate time for a show down. A comment made by a middleman and hey presto guns are drawn two shots sound, I feign injury and silence falls. Ok so it’s not so dramatic, it’s a work thing. Three of us sit in a row me and one end and a “senior” (because they are supposed to have more experience) sits the other, a comment about me taking Friday and Monday off work sets off said “senior” into an “I’m gonna have to redo the rota because you have too many days out of the team….. blah blah… affects the team and the work”, “huh? I don’t understand”, more rantings from said “senior”. Once “senior” is away middleman (who cowered down close to the desk and focused straight ahead at the pc) says I should say something about that and it was out of order.
So I request an audience with my Team Leader (TL). Told TL about what had happened and middleman saying it was out of order and middleman wasn’t the only one. TL was quite informative; apparently “senior” has a few issues with me:
- I don’t do any work
- I don’t work in the team
- I’m too ridged with the rota
- I don’t respond to e-mails, take action on them
- I have ignored e-mails “senior” sent
- And…and what was the last item….
I’m sure there was something about no more than 2 people going out to get coffee from next door at any time (for the last 2 years there have always been 4 of us, and we got fed up being given orders so we stopped so others now go and come as they like but us 4 are in trouble, even if 2 leave and then the other 2 leave later). It went so far that we had to have permission for 3 of us to go – which I got when we had to go for doughnuts – and “senior” had had a good old moan to TL about it but TL already knew as I’d asked!! It’s me. If the other 3 went out without me they wouldn’t get into trouble.
Well it gave me a chance to say that I offer help and am told to stick to the rota whilst the additional work is dealt out to the others; 1 e-mail missed in 6months, and I’d been away for a couple of days, done what I was told and asked “senior” for help as I was inundated and need to catch up to be told “no” and “tough everyone else has to incorporate it into their work so you have to too”; and as for not responding to e-mails, I was sent 2 that morning which I didn’t receive to find “senior” had only sent 1 which was obviously going through the e-mail system which I can’t do anything about.
Well TL took “senior” aside and obviously had a word as when they came back there was a tension. In fact it must have been bad because when “senior” had gone the other team member still there asked me if it was something they’d done wrong as “senior” wasn’t talking to them. I did have to say a little about what was happening.
Well today, Monday, someone else came up and said that they could hear what was going on, had I upset “senior”, and “senior” had no right to speak to me like that, particularly as they heard it all and they sit apart from us (that’s open plan offices for ya). I’m glad “senior” is off for a couple of days – I’m not sure if I will be very worried about when “senior” is back.
I think I’m getting paranoid.

wicked witch

2007-10-10T17:55:00.000+01:00

She’s back – I thought after all the hassle she gave us to “prune” the tree at the bottom of the garden, once done she would stop pestering but oh no how wrong could I be?
So the first time she called was to ask about taking the overhanging branches off, fine I said I’d get a quote as brother has connections in said business. The next day she’d tried calling us but to no avail (could be because we were out at work… you know something us mortals have to do to keep food on the table and the roof over our heads) so she wrote us a letter. The Wednesday, when I have a whole 30 minutes to myself to wash my hair in I thought I’d go see the tree from her side – spent 45 minutes there having my ear talked off, silly me really expecting just to pop in for 5 minutes, so I ended up running late (again).
I did manage to speak to Tree-man about issues a couple of days later (weekend getting in the way of calling earlier), and I was informed that she has every right to cut the tree back to the boundary. So that’s what I told her when she called, and happened to get it into the conversation at least 3 times but that was another half hour of my life wasted having my ear talked off. I told her the same thing the next time we spoke and when she called round at the front door – yes she managed to wheedle her way in to have a look at the tree from our side, although I shut the doors so she couldn’t snoop too much.
Well, I think understandably, I’m getting slightly annoyed with the nosy parker, but words of calm were spoken to me along the “try to be nice and don’t get wound up” and “you’ll have to live with her there” lines.
I’ve told everyone who’s asked about the tree that we’d look into having it replaced but next year – you know new house that needs attention comes first. Also I’d like the time to plan the garden plus the experts always recommend leaving a garden for a year before altering it (unless it’s just a concrete lump!).
She “pruned” the tree…. back to the trunk…the trunk definitely being on our side of the boundary line… she replaced the corner section of the fence, and moved my compost bin which I had situated and dug in (only about an inch to make sure it didn’t move)…. the retaining wall is missing (oh did I forget to say the back of our garden is higher than hers and someone’s put in a wall about 3 bricks high to hold it all in). Pissed – a bit but nothing that can’t be remedied given some time (hahahahaha hysterical me!?!) Time is something I have little of. Ok calm, calm, quick, quick calm….
So she knocked on the door week ago Saturday to say she was having the whole fence along the back replaced. Ok I say. It’s shared ownership boundary she said. Fine but like I said before we can’t afford it so it’s up to you. I had my ear talked off again, another hour wasted, at least I know now that her neighbour has taken a lot of stuff out of his garden (I know his name and his nickname and that his plans were to chop it next year). I repeat again that I’ve not had time to go look at the tree properly, nor the new bit of fence she had put up, I repeat again that we’re not planning much for the garden till next year, and we need to get the house in working order, and that we have to find out which fence is our as the neighbours either side say we need to repair them (they’re in a sorry state).
Can I strangle the woman screaming, “Have I not got enough to do without you waste my time? Can I not be left to get something sorted in reasonable time; does it have to be done tomorrow? Have you not got something better to do? I’m doing the frigin garden next year! Let me get the lighting and heating sorted out this year!”
Well the lady next door came and said she’d told the wicked witch I was probably out, she tried to save me but the witch had to ring the doorbell. I was also informed that the witch was very nosy and liked to be able to look into everyone’s gardens and houses (I joked about putting on some sort of over 18 floor show). Also I was told she’d been trying to have the tree removed for a long time – I know now it’s been for over 4 years. I’ve been living there just about 7 months, nearly owned it for a year but it was in no state to move into straight off.
Well I got a knock on the door yesterday, just as I was about to check on dinner, and guess what! Well not only was she there but she’d brought a friend (I’ve seen him doing bits in her garden and from the conversation I’d say he wasn’t living with her – having his own kitchen refitted and all). Well we had the “the tree’s roots have shifted the fence”, “I’m losing my garden because of the tree”, “the tree’s roots are damaging my patio and I’ll have to talk to a solicitor to see what the situation is…. You might have to pay for a new patio for me” oh and “the earth at the back is warping the fence…the earth is making the fence bow”. Mind you she didn’t know what the green “thing” in our garden was – it’s a compost bin the council provide free! Perhaps I should have pointed out that the retaining wall at the back is missing but I was a bit occupied looking at the photos they’ve taken and trying not to loose my temper. At least when I explained we’d missed the tree-man and how I get caught up in the appalling traffic (up to 2 hours to get home/to work on routes that usually take 20-30 minutes) the friend-fella she was with said to give us a couple of weeks to get things sorted – she was wanting us to do it now (today). I wonder how long she’ll wait before getting in touch again.

Traffic light people

2007-10-08T16:32:00.000+01:00

I like this (having done a bit of travel, crossing roads is something you notice): trafficlightpeopleoftheworld

How does it start?

2007-10-08T15:54:00.000+01:00

It's the first time we've got to a social dance to set up an hour early to find people already turning up.... 30 minutes yes but an HOUR early!
It was a good night though - nothing taxing, nothing difficult, they must think I'm a little on the odd side as I got the giggles early on, well when we started dancing I was on my own at the front. There were 4 lines behind me and everyone joined in on the end of those so there were 4 crammed lines and me on my tod. And when I tried to go talk to someone she walked away! Well I sat on my own for a while before the others turned up (late) but ti did make me giggles. As this was a mixed ability dance night we had some very lively ladies who were trying everything and wiggling lots - good laugh through.

Friends

2007-10-05T17:46:00.001+01:00

I said the moment had passed and it has in a way but I thought I'd try reiterate some of what I was going on about:

It was the hen night and the wedding, seeing all those friends, some who see each other everyday , some who go out each week together. Perhaps my life is out of balance. Anyway I made a friend which I hope will become a good friend and last, not just "ships passing" - not that I don't have friends but it's kinda hard to nip off down the pub or pop round for tea when they're more than 10 minutes bus ride away and I think that's what these friends had, the men and women all lived close and shared babysitting or houseminding, as well as going out.

Chickadee

2007-10-05T17:39:00.000+01:00

(I shall try again...but I think the moment's passed)
I doing a bit of a catch up, things just cascaded.

So where was I, oh yes I was a "chick" at a hen night, lots of drinking and some dancing, even with the silly women who hate each other. I did enjoy the weekend (does it sound like I’m trying to convince myself? well I’m not). I loved not being around the house…work, I drank loads but unfortunately did not get as pissed as everyone else and have now earned my self a reputation as being able to drink people under the table.

The wedding's also been and gone - more drinking and a kind of shuffling for dancing, well that was me everyone else was strutting their stuff. Don't know why, I mean I do dance and yet somehow put me in a room with work folk and strangers and I'm a shuffler - sometimes I wish I was a bit more of an exhibitionist.

hu....

2007-10-05T17:38:00.000+01:00

ooo how I hate dodgy connections - now I can't remember what I was writing in the post.....

Brave me...

2007-08-24T14:44:00.000+01:00

...no not me. I'm a shy person who wouldn't say boo to a ghost.
Even those I work with think I'm too quiet. There's another person at work they think is too quiet so an "outing" was organised last weekend to go to Soho... an education, well definitely an eye opener in the fact that 3 of the ladies knew which shops to go into, even those not obvious ones where you have to go down stairs into the basement.... oooo!
So i guess it was a bit of a surprise when I stood up in front of the group and had everything organised and under control - well I wasn't standing there on my own and it was just under control in that we had a time limit so I made sure things were got through in time. Guess it's that teacher in me coming out.
Yet someone else recently suggested I was "brave" to meet new people, can't say I am and I'm a nervous wreck when I decide to approach someone. In fact the whole idea of making a new friend each week is something I've not really done for the last year - I had too many people at the new class to get to "know". Really I should get back on that hobby-horse as my friends are not local and even the one local one is thinking of moving further afield..... (haha, just thought perhaps it's me- make a friend and they move away).
So billy-no-mates here should get up and go meet someone interesting that I can go down the cinema with or out for coffee.
Challenge number 2 is to do something nice for someone else..... hmmm will it be friend or stranger.
Now I must go and find a good dentist as my teeth will be grinding and gritted in my "friendship" challenge.

Comments...

2007-08-16T22:52:00.000+01:00

Been going doing a spot of reading and commenting.
Eeeee gads I write more in a comment than I do in a post!
Must get it turned the other way round.

Whaaaa.....

2007-08-16T21:31:00.000+01:00

What happened to the week? Where'd it go?
Sunday - very busy day, full of cleaning and gardening. Never ever have a passion flower it takes over everything. Having taken it out of the front garden I now have a very large bare patch.... hmmmm what to plant.
The furtinia (hah look at me I remembered a plant name, even if I can't spell it!) was overrun with passion flower and now looks very bare and a little sorry for it self.
I'm also seed collecting - not much as I've not grown much, there's rocket and foxglove and marigold and I'm waiting (impatiently) for the poppies to ripen up. Hopefully I'll manage to pick the rare white and pink ones rather than the purples.
My niece was 4 so i had a fun time with the family.... ok so first of all we were late and nearly missed all the grub, then I chatted adult fashion to the adults and was entertained by video clips of my other niece who's now 6 months and wasn't there. Then I got hijacked by my 4 year old pirate niece and her cousin who decided that I was either caught by them or catching them..... mixed in with the cousin (also 4) trying to force feed me fake packets of food. Can't believe how hooked a 4 year old can be on Johnny Depp - her room
is covered with the Pirate of the C. and Jack Sparrow. The way she acts you'd think they were of first name terms! Anyway it makes buying presents easy :D
That's it really.

Weekender

2007-08-07T14:57:00.000+01:00

Been busy, as always.
Had a good long weekend though. Managed to nip off for a while to the seaside and some sandy beaches, not that I managed to actually stand on the sand as those I was with only wanted to walk along the pathway. I should've been rude and whipped off my shoes and run screaming WHOOPEE!
It was fun anyway, too much food, lots of sun and nothing to do. A recipe for sleep.... it was only the "interactive" entertainment that kept me awake sometimes. I now know that some bloke invented bubble gum in 1928, or was it 1929..., and that I can't hum a tune anyone would recognise, I also need to check my spelling particularly when spelling backwards, oh and there's all those card games I played as a kid that I can't remember now, at least my poker's improving.
The fun stuff was accompanied by a stay in a b&b which had a 4-poster bed (I'll work out how to load the picture sometime soon), but it had no towels at least for the first 30 hours.... they did appear very late Sunday night. We left Monday morning. Went for a shopping trip where i got some bargains and some not so bargainee-but-still-cheap clothes. 3 for the price of 1 was the best at H&M.
And it was sooo nice to come home to a clean kitchen and relatively tidy house - see was worth all the shouting, screaming, yelling and tears on Saturday. God it's murder to get some help with the small simple things sometimes. But I've promised myself not to dwell and that I will pointed point out that no the empty crisp packet does not live on the table nor the floor and socks do not belong in the kitchen.
I know I'll probably still get wound up about it all, again, and I hope that it'll all get better once the whole decorating and buildings been done. Can't wait to spend more time in the garden..... my mum would laugh at that, me the one who can kill a cactus from dehydration even though I end up watering it every day.

Interviewee... me?

2007-07-25T18:53:00.001+01:00

Ok so I had the day off work. Originally it was to give me some extra study time as I’ve not had any time but as would happen I got a job interview so it kinda worked well ….as in I didn’t have to change the day or take extra time off work (there goes another days holiday!).
Well there’s the worry over attire. I decided as it’s going to rain trousers would have to do and then I found my white shirt’s too small and I’ve not got anything pastel (a shade they recommend) so it’s lime green day… I know I know, an odd colour for an interview.
So I left, taking my time, and got there early enough for a lazy walk round the shops and local cottages and back to be 10 minutes early. Well he opened the door and showed me in. Coffee or water? Huh? Oh coffee… hmm that’s not like me I usually stick to the easy water option! So sit and talk. Something I did, not sure how well particularly, I think I rambled through my job skills rather and then there seemed to creep in a little bit of wording that implied I already had the job! Argh! Are you allowed to infer and act like you already have the job? I think that’s rather presumptuous. At least I wasn’t a real nervous wreck. Oh we shall see I have several days of agonising until I know if I’ve made the second interview (sounded fun – get to have lunch with them!).

Long time gone

2007-07-25T18:53:00.000+01:00

Ok so maybe not that long.
It's been a busy week what with work and dancing and house stuff and getting back on the study pony. Nothing exciting just the usual..... although last Friday with all the rain wasn't exactly the usual. I didn't appreciate the prospect of a 2 or so hour walk home because part of the one-way system was closed. At least I have some nice colleagues who offeed me a lift after a 30 minute walk to her car. Oh, now how do I appreciate simple things like two-way traffic and how I wish I wouldn't look silly on rollerblades or one of those wheelies you can just push the handle forwards to go.... possibly even a "granny" scooter would suit.

Pills, potions, and flu

2007-07-16T15:58:00.000+01:00

Got some super painkillers from the Dr's Wednesday as my whiplash was a killer by Tuesday night and the ibuprofen wasn't working. I've worked out painkillers, think they should all be classified as something else though mainly because I think they don't really take the pain away they just make me care much less about anything. I was told I seemed to be away with the fairies and quite euphoric at times.
Anyway I was suffering mildly from side effects by Friday so I stopped and went back to ibuprofen for the day. I wasn't feeling fantastic Saturday and I had a temperature and everything by Sunday night. Still very deaf feeling and hot and bothered today so am home alone with the TV.
Hence I've not got round to much this last week. We did though get the new curtains which I have to sew. Will have to whip things into action next week and get a shower installed.

Jive

2007-07-09T17:55:00.000+01:00

Went to a 1940s GingerJive night, and it was gooood. It did involve dressing up and there were loads of army/RAF uniformed people about and several in zoot suits, and as for the ladies well it's obviously an excuse to wear ball dresses for some - I wore a dress from Marks&Spencers and it went ok, did the hair up and it was fine. First one I've been to, I'm obviously obsessive about this dance stuff as now Lindy Hop and Ceroc are on my to do list, oooo and go to some more jive nights.

I like driving in my car...

2007-07-07T14:56:00.000+01:00

Well actually I don't have a car. But it is a car story, about last night. On my way out M and D were giving me a lift and there was a huge amount of traffic around - well it's been an exhibition week so we knew there'd be lots of people around. There were also lots of police around and lots of cars. So you'd think less chance of getting up any speed... true but still some idiot managed to hit us in the back. Can't believe how little damage there was considering how loud the bang was and how hard we hit the headrests. Well it all seemed reasonable, exchanged info etc but we'll have to wait and see if the whole insurance thing goes well. I also hope D doesn't suffer whiplash - as driver D seemed to be suffering last night.
I'm ok, bit tender not as sore as I expected, perhaps all this decorating and moving things has strengthened my neck muscles.
Should I think this a kick in the pants? Hmmm.

Job

2007-07-05T23:54:00.000+01:00

Ok so it's been a while and so much has happened.
Work is worse than the playground - he does she does and I'm fed up with it.
Yesterday I had my "monthly" review and apparently (shock horror) there's work not done by me the following day!! WoW how bad am i! What's happening is we work on a rota and I'll be focusing on one type of task one day and something different the next, and it's been commented on the following day that there's loads of that type of work there to do so the obvious conclusion is that I didn't do it the day before. Now because of the wonder of computers and software it means that people can add to my "daily duty" via the system. Well now that's all fine and dandy except I work an 8 till 4 day and they can still add stuff once I've gone home. Yup you may be guessing the problem here... I'm obviously not doing my work once I've left the office! Naughty me I should be working 24 hours a day and then it wont build up ! Pathetic.
Hate it. I thought I'd got to my most despondent point when they had a go about my hours (you know the usual where I'm sitting at my desk during lunch and get interrupted with work and so I add the time on or I've stayed late and no one's noticed except the following day when it's announced across the office that I'm there after 4 (even more shock horror) and it's the first time I've ever done that!) How can I say this politely - they are really good at demotivation and making me loathe the place. It's like, 'coz I don't have a loud mouth and I just get on and do things I'm obviously not working and I'm taking the mickey. So now not only do I have to tell people to go away I'm on lunch but at the end of the day like a school child I have to report to my teacher... sorry team leader that there's nothing left to do and everything still hanging around has a note on it to say why it's hanging around.
Next they'll be monitoring my toilet use and how long I spend in there (which will be too long!).
Oh set me free from this pathetic place... thinking street cleaning wouldn't be this much trouble.

A Tuesday in the life....

2007-07-03T17:56:00.000+01:00

Ok so this might be a cheat – I am going to post this after I get home.
Work is work and boring as ever although I’m surprising myself by not nodding off over my keyboard – might have something to do with reading other peoples blogs and typing this. Oop was going to say I’d done all the demanding things and now no-one wants anything but upon refreshing I see at least 3 people want something…. What I wonder, bet it wont be as interesting as the 300 condoms ordered last month or the cows requested last week. Nope not that interesting just some certificates…hmm wonder when mine will turn up, I did pass the course in February, but then it did have to be returned as they spelt my name wrong! I am fairly sure I’m not a boy.
So the big news today is the centre manager is leaving – oooo wonder what brought that on. And it was sunny with actual sun shinning when I went for my (after) 10am hot choc – trying to wean myself off too much coffee.

Read: not reading any book per se, my bus trips are filled with catch up reading on the magazine I subscribe to… ok both ones full of lovely pictures (wish I could take that kinda shot) and the other’s wordy and informative – like the article about forgetfulness being…. now what was it….
“…failing to remember everything is a sign your brain is working properly.”
Nice to know.
I’ve also got one of these download books “Fallen Angels” by Larry Niven (pg 19 so far).
12:26 I am nodding….sleep is stealing in, well what d’ya expect when my interest has to be kept by ordering leaflets ones I don’t even get to see and larf at the funny people. Lunch will be soon…must keep eyes open….did I mention the ridiculously early time I have to catch a bus to work? Hmm? Ok it’s not that ridiculous – 7:10am – but I feel it should be 7:30 or later so allowing me to stay in bed past 6:30, and the club means I don’t get home till past 10:45 (it’s usually just before 11pm I crawl through the door and think hmmmm tea…bed… zzzz and then it takes forever to get into bed particularly as things just keep getting in the way – must-have-passes-in-the-morning-else-be-walking-to-work-and-unable-to-get-in-the-office-types-things).
Mwaaahahaa! *I roll my head manically left to right* I have the power. Well I’ve decided to look into why the yellow triangle is appearing after raise 8 or 9 order and it appears something is marked for deletion – don’t ask me what as it doesn’t come under my number comprehension – I work with certain numbers and this was definitely outside the realms. Boy if that’s a problem it will come back to me, don’t know why I larf manically about it, perhaps I just don’t care. In this place everything returns with a vengeance.

14:51
Ok I’m getting pissed off.
Bloody e-mail software! Notes won’t let me copy an address and I’m now narked with the system and want to kick it hard. Don’t wanna do it now because it’s bloody annoying – easy enough to copy and paste but it wont so I’m not messing around typing the whole thing in they’ll just have to look the bloody number up themselves.

3:20pm bloody e-mail’s gone down ….. yippee I guess in ways, but boo hiss in that I can’t get my e-mails…Oh what to do for half an hour.. I know.. read (surreptitiously)!

Thought of the day: Will my shower be installed when I get home or not? I’m taking bets that it wont be (either time ran away or there’s a part missing/”it was broke when I opened the box”).

Weekends

2007-07-03T17:46:00.000+01:00

I sanded and primed and then my folks came over with a small shrub which we planted in the front garden (fingers crossed it'll survive the upheaval), then I madly glossed and had to get ready to go out dancing - 'twas a party night as the "hostess" is off to Spain and she did all these intros to the lovely little lady who's taking on the Saturday Socials and the gyrating-naf teacher who's taking on Thursdays. No grudge honest - by the end of it all I couldn't care wether they got it or I did. It's just several of us were not impressed by how a teacher (who should know better) could not dance in line because someone near her wasn't as mobile and was struggling a little with the steps - the teacher then dashed to the front and ensured she took up the space of 4 dancers with her actions.
Professional - pah! I doubt it lots. She writhes as well in the most unbecoming way - it's like watching someone's 50+ mother (can't say mine because my mum doesn't attempt writhing in any circumstances) try to copy Girls Aloud,Beyonce and Shikira. OK saying that then looking at their website they obviously have time to input into their club and seem to do an amazing amount of gigs (from charity do's to Christmas Partys to 4 clubs during the week) why is what I want to know, Why are all the awful teachers the popular ones? Why can't I make my own clubs as popular as their's seem to be? what's the secret? do I need a bad attitude, an awful accent so no one can understand me, or be so up my own b*m thinking I'm so very fantastic at everything? And that was all on Saturday! Sunday I went to the enourmous M&S in Camberley - spent all day there I could but didn't as
dinner from lovely restaurant beckoned my grumbling tummy.

oh yeah...

2007-06-29T16:23:00.000+01:00

At work an e-mail went round:

From Monday 2nd July the smoking area in the courtyard will be removed by the Landlord.

What I want to know is what they're going to do with all those slabs once they've removed them, Could I have them for my garden?

Nooes

2007-06-29T16:11:00.000+01:00

Enjoy doing this sometimes but the headlines were in fine literary form today. Fortunately C had some from her paper:

Stan is Britain's oldest paper boy (wow do they make them in plastic too?)

Postal workers walk out today (Has someone nicked their bicycles?)

Tube Strike Warning (The tubes are going to strike - you've been warned)

Feel sorry for the paper boy must be having a very soggy time outdoors this week and what will smarties do without the tubes?

Life recently

2007-06-28T16:38:00.001+01:00

Just thought I may as well put a bit down of what's been happening recently - fill in the blanks in a way:

I run a small club - it is small and some weeks it shrinks to the point where I wonder if I've said something wrong. I also go to another dance club, where the teacher is leaving. Usually (well the last couple of years) I've covered during her holidays so it would've been nice to have been told she was leaving rather than turn up one week to find some "strange" people taking the class. Strange in oh so many ways, I was so distracted in one dance just by watching the teacher writhing that I kept going wrong - larf I larfed till I cried.
So anyways, this new group were told they were taking over when the teacher left. I heard by the grapevine and then thee was a club vote and then club members could e-mail or call the teacher, get their views across, say who they wanted to take over. It would have been nice to have the story straight. Someone got cross on my behalf on how discourteous the teacher was by not talking to me. And then when we finally gave in and went to see her, went all round the houses up and downstairs and finally into the barn - not to say she contradict herself in the same sentence ("50% of the class voted you to take over....blah blah.... they all wanted new faces to take it on...."). Pants is all I have to say - I'm not one to really dislike people, I usually get on with them, placid me well usually, it's just in the past 4 or so weeks this one nasty vicious old woman (I'm showing restraint)has the loudest mouth ever and she didn't like the group taking over till she new it was them or me and now she's all over them like a rash. Not just that but she's putting pressure on people to vote for them - she's the type that picks friends she can manipulate probably why she don't like me (oh,sobsob). After 4 or so weeks I really can't give a rats botty what they decide as I don't really want to keep going not with the school ground attitude. Sometimes I wish I could slap her.
Apart from that the teacher said "monies" of a small amount whatever that means changed hands but what members D & S wanted to know what was being sold? Not the name, nor the equipment, the hall doesn't have a contract it's nightly hire, can you sell the member's as part of the club? D said she didn't want to be sold.

The man (A) and I have been having major downs and minor ups - he's admitted he's not used to doing things like picking up his clothes and putting them away, his mum's always done. Mum's should be more responsible, your little lads and lasses need to learn about washing up and picking up and digging in dirt.
Don't feel like decorating as each time I do something a week later it's destroyed by A picking at something or in this last case pulling down the reeaallly annoying cables that wind up and down round doorways and up stairs. Glad I'd not got round to glossing.
Well we've kinda sorted out some of the problems, I'm keeping the big baby one till later :s
So that's a quick (yes I said quick) round up.

Mmmm crisp sandwiches

2007-06-28T16:26:00.000+01:00

Ok so I have a few "short" days... tutut trust me to work too many hours in the month!
So I thought I'd pick up some shopping and spend half an hour weeding the front garden... it's not a big garden. Well shopping is same old same old I can do it in about 40mins when there are no old dears tootling along or women with small children who stop willy nilly in front of me and the person in front of me at the check out doesn't have zillions of goods with faulty prices or barcodes, except I always seem to spend twice the amount I planned to even though I get stuff needed.
Well anyway I got my old (2 months old but extremely battered after stripping everything out of the old bed)gardening gloves out and stood in funny positions in the front garden... oh yeah pulling out weeds. Only it wasn't the 30minutes I expected. I was doing well honest, got the first third done in 10 minutes only the other 2/3s took over an hour. I'm just waiting for the sunburn to kick in - yes I said sun, I was going to do it in the rain but I seemed to have managed the one sunny day.
And the crisp sandwiches.... well they were for my very late lunch. I haven't had descent salt & vinegar crisp sandwiches since I was a kid.

Today, tomorrow, sometime

2007-06-27T17:25:00.000+01:00

Ok so I'm still messing about a bit with the setup et al... I'll get there sometime.
All's quiet today - no hassle at work, no emails of the friendly variety, no post - for me anyway.
At least it's been better than the rest of the week what with
missing buses, having PC's crash, no e-mail server.
So far it's just rained on me 2 minutes from my front door...
... apart from that and the weird smell in the porch all's quiet.

Well I say quiet in the loosest terms:
life has been busy and I'm all overcome with the theory that
if I can't do it today there's always tomorrow or the weekend...
one of them anyway.

Well this is a brief attempt at getting started.... something I'm good at is postponing usually just never get round to doing the postponing these days always too busy gallivanting.
Haha just got to love spellcheck - galvanising indeed!

Helloooo

2007-06-26T19:25:00.000+01:00

hello... hello...
is there anyone out there......
hmmm... not sure if I have the hang of this yet........
....oh so much to do and so little chocolate.