Moley's Space

2008-03-03T10:36:00.002Z

It's March! And it's 2008! Oh my where oh where does time go these days?

My Masters course is in full swing, one semester down, one to go and about 4 essays and 1 huge dissertation to do... Being a bit of a girlie swot I've started my dissertation, ok, I've only done 1000 words, which means 15000 to go, but it's a start.... The topic is Anti-Social Behaviour and Decision Making Practices.. haven't yet thought of a true title, I'll probably decide on that after I've written most of it.. nonetheless if you want to suggest a title feel free!

In all honesty I can't wait to finish this year of study, I'm just hoping with my fingers tightly crossed that it will be a success. So far I've only had 1 of my 3 assignments back, it was a pass but not a high one... ho hum... though it has been intimated my next one has been viewed as a pass and at a higher standard. Thank goodness.

I've got a wonderful thing to look forward to, check out www.anfi.com I'm staying there in October! Yeah! I can't wait... only around 8 months to wait.... It is lovely... And for me there is nothing like a bit of sunshine around that time of the year... just peps you up in time for the festive season!

Well I really should be doing some reading on the old death penalty subject as that our topic this week in our module, violence, culture and society and being a good student I better get on and read.

Though if I get near to scramble game via www.facebook.com I'll get way too easily distracted... so better sign off the web soon.

2007-11-13T10:45:00.000Z

October has flown past and we are now into the throws of November. Finally the weather is starting to feel a bit winter like and it seems the UK, (well here in the south) has bypassed autumn for now, only last week I was wondering round in tee shirts, feeling all hot due to sunshine. This week has seen a change however, call me mad but I love scraping off ice from my car, the fresh air is invigorating and I see it as a way of cleansing my lungs.

This time of year always makes me feel good inside, I'm not sure if it's due to the copious amounts of fireworks going off (which are starting to annoy me for sure now, as my cat is freaking each time a bang is made), or because it is the lead up to Christmas. Please note I am feeling quite smug as I have purchased some of my presents. Yes I know its early but there is a reason and a major one at that.

You see we've offered to host christmas this year for my partner's family, which means I have a definate 11 arriving for christmas dinner which could increase to 14, and they'll be staying until after boxing day. Though I haven't got definate leaving times as yet... (Note to self don't make them feel too at home as they might choose to stay right up until New Year!)

So over the next month we're going to be moving loads of stuff around the house to make sure there is somewhere for people to sleep comfortably. The drums have to be dismantled and placed in the loft. My suggestion, though my partner thinks they'll be fine under a bed somewhere, that is until I pointed out that drums do increase echo, and some of the people staying do snore... Can you imagine snoring intensified... yep that's why they are going into the loft, safely out of snoring distance.

The holiday in Gran Canaria went well, I actually felt like I relaxed and kicked back. We visited a placed called Anfi, see www.anfi.com it's a 5 star resort and it is gorgeous. On return to the UK we looked into joining it, it is a timeshare thingy and have instigated the process of buying a week from a private seller on a 2 bed apartment there. Buying privately was considerably cheaper than buying direct from the Anfi organisation.

I'm meant to be writing an essay for my course at the moment, so I'm leaving for now. Hopefully I'll be back soon after I've made my list re the preparations for christmas etc..

2007-10-12T19:35:00.001Z

I'm packed and counting down the hours until we make the trek to the airport and then hopefully I'll be in holiday mood.

2007-10-10T23:21:00.000Z

Today was my second lecture for my course and to say I came out of it even more confused than when I went in is a bit of an understatement. I can only hope that a further read of my notes and handouts will finally clarify things for me. It’s at these moments that I wonder what on earth I’m doing studying for an MA especially as I’m suffering from that horrible fear of just not getting it when it comes to the information being offered to us. Oh well perseverance is the key to it, I presume and so I’ll plod on.

I have no idea what on earth to do my main dissertation on, yes I know it’s not due in until after the summer of 2008 but it is apparently never too early to start the plan. Part of me wants to do something around Women and Crime, whether it be offenders or victims who knows, whilst another part finds the whole concept of anti-social behaviour and the government’s response to the same as intriguing. Oh well. I’ll have to think some more on that too.

Next week I’m going to miss the lecture on framing some criminological theories, as I’ll be hopefully (weather permitting) sunning myself in Maspalomas in Gran Canaria. Right now I’m feeling a bit ambivalent to the holiday, and maybe because I feel quite shattered inside and plus my leg is still very sore, which means my lilo antics will be limited. Damn!

Fingers crossed the sun, sea and no doubt sangria will aid toward a fun time.

Life at home has been quite hectic these past few months, unfortunately for us the young man in the home has been pushing the boundaries no end, and has completely wiped us out as it were. I keep praying that around the next corner there will come the stage of development where constant argumentative and challenging behaviour will have been left behind. Right now he seems to be thriving on pushing against authority and to be honest no real reason can be ascertained.

We’ve tried so many methods in the last year to address the behaviour etc, and yet none of them seem to have made any impact. We even tried asking him what makes him tick in this way and is there any way it can be prevented that he sees, in case something in us was triggering it. He commented it wasn’t us, but him and he’d change and then in the next breath tell us he hasn’t got any issues and there’s nothing wrong with him, and that he doesn’t think he’s done anything wrong. It’s just one big cycle, which has ended with us telling him we’re not bailing him out of any difficulties he gets himself into at school, he knows the score, he knows the rules and if he chooses to break them he has to accept the responsibility for doing so.

Initially I thought it was due to him not wanting to remain at school past 16 and as such told him if he didn’t want to, he could leave. Oh my, that instigated something from him as he clearly stated he wanted to stay, and yet he appears to be doing his best to get excluded from it, due to being rude to staff etc. Goodness knows what’s going on in his head right now.

I have to admit part of my reservations and feeling toward this upcoming holiday is due to the fact he’s coming and this time bringing his girlfriend. They’ve been falling in and out of their relationship over the last few weeks, and he’s got in trouble at school as he failed to attend sports commitments and was rude to staff as he needed to sort out issues with her. What those issues are, we have no idea but apparently they’re ‘cool’ now. The only upside is, is that they have their own accommodation on site and we have ours, so some peace will hopefully be secured.

2007-10-05T13:05:00.001Z

OMG I'm in Agony!

I need sympathy and I need it now! On Wednesday evening I thought I'd do something to help get my body into a bit of shape. I admit I'm never going to achieve a slimtastic body nonetheless I felt ready to try something energetic, so I had a bit of a run around. (Yes I did warm up, yes I did stretch!)

Things were going okay, I hadn't collapsed with an asthma attack, my boobs hadn't given me black eyes (thank you sports bra) and then ping, wrench, the back of my right thigh just sort of went. I assume it's my hamstring and that I've torn it, strained it, whatever, I'm no medical person. I just know it hurts and sitting down is a tear to the eye experience. As is walking, driving just about anything which involves movement.

So logic tells me that excercise and I dont equate....

I'm quite peeved about it as I was meant to be attending my second lecture for my MA this morning and have had to pull out due to it! Today was an introduction on qualitative research, mind you I may swap this module for quantative which doesn't start until later in the semester.

Had my first lecture on Wednesday morning, it was an analysis of the criminal policy imposed by the Government over the past 10 years. Bet you think that's riveting eh?

In mid november I'm leading the seminar on Marxist criminology so if anyone reads my blog and has any information which would help feel free to comment, any help is much appreciated.

At least whilst lounging around nursing my injury I've got more time to read, I can't believe how much more reading there is on an MA to a BA course. Wondering now if I've done the right thing, but hey ho, it's early days yet. Hopefully I'll get into the swing of things and things will seem easier.

2007-09-28T11:29:00.000Z

You Are 68% Pure

Well, you're not exactly an angel - but you're pretty darn close.
But chances are, you have a couple juicy secrets deep in your closet.

How Pure Are You?

2007-09-27T23:19:00.000Z

Okay it has been some time since I last put an entry on this here blog, however that doesn't mean I have been writing elsewhere. So what does that mean? Was my life so full that I didn't have time to blog?? Nope.... unfortunately not.

I'm not sure why I left the sphere of blogging in the same way I'm not sure why I ever started or have returned to it once more. But here I am once again entering this realm and wondering if comments will be made or not. Whatever I'm happy to write for now.

So what have I been doing... against the advice of many I went skiing! Okay so it was back around Easter of this year (2007) and I could really have shared the news sooner but hey I didn't so deal with it. I'm quite sure the medication my Dr gave me before I left helped with the feeling that I was gliding across the snow more so than any ski could. I only fell twice, which as a complete novice I'm quite proud of.

I managed to do 2 blue runs, okay 1 1/2 (the half being our groups first major attempt at coming down a hill!) and it was on these I fell. My last fall was quite specatacular if I do say so myself. I discovered that I travelled much faster than the rest of the group and managed to overtake them all as we were traversing across a long downward run. With speed came panic, so I embarked upon the big pizza our instructor had drummed into us (for those who ski, that's a snow plough!) however it wasn't working and I didn't seem to be slowing down... So more panic, and having flashed looks around I noted deep snow to my right.

A turn to the right and I was ploughing through it, such straight plough lines any farmer would be proud. Then the inevitable happened, snow piled up in front of my ski's bringing me to a dead stop, my knees hyper extended and I went flying out of my ski bindings into a superman esk dive! Fantastic, if only I could have truly appreciated the sense of flying but alas know I landed face first into the snow.

I did get back up and continue the run, what a trooper I am, albeit a bit tentatively. When we went sightseeing in the afternoon, I had great pleasure in pointing out my plough lines and dive impression as we sailed over them in the cable car.

Having returned from skiing, life returned to its normal humdrum existence. Not much has changed really at home other than friction between the growing teenager and us the guardians trying to protect. Okay so its really a war zone. I'm at my wits end and can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Work became unbearable so having been pushed to the limit I quit and spent a few months wandering around doing nothing much. No I didn't have the incentive to write here and instead have whiled away time on my Xbox, attempted to get fitter (failed! again!).

Stoolball was played and umpired again, and this year's season seemed never to end due to the constant bad weather we got.

I applied for a job, didn't get it, but at least I got practice at an interview, my first in say 14 years, so at least it was an experience.

So what am I going to do now... Well having decided I needed a challenge I've just enrolled on a course at University and I'm about to embark upon an MA in Criminology. It's been at least 5 years since I've written any form of essay, and so I'm going to have to get back into the swing of things quickly.

The course is a year long, and appears quite intensive in some areas, but I'm sure I'll cope, I better as I'm paying for it. My first lecture/seminar is next Wednesday and I'm looking forward to it.

And that's my update for now. Not sure when I'll next post, it may be more often then again maybe not. I'll try my best.

Hope you are all having fun and enjoying life and if not do so, it is for living!

2006-06-16T15:24:00.000Z

I'm an addict!

I have recently obtained an Xbox 360, which means I have left the realms of the PS2 and neglected my PC gaming for this machine. And I love it. The graphics are super.

I've had so much spare time the last couple of weeks and next week isn't looking mcuh better (I only have to work on Tuesday) and when I couldn't bare the sun any longer I ended up gaming.

I'm loving it and I've entered into the genre of online gaming, scary, especially as I'm such a numpty, but I'm getting there. I'm going down the educational route as I'm learning new skills while playing, so much so that it's no longer frantic button pressing I seem to know what I'm meant to be doing, now its just the execution! lol.

I've managed to link up my xboxlive gamer card with the blog, and hopefully as time progresses my achievements will grow! Right now I'm addicted to Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfare or G.R.A.W. to those who are skilled (ermm that's not me, I often blow myself up!).

Technorati Tags: Xbox360, G.R.A.W, Ghost Recon, Xbox Live, Gaming, PS2

2006-06-16T14:51:00.000Z

Fear alleviated for a further 6 months!

I don’t know about the rest of you but I hate going to the Dentist. The whole concept of it fills me with dread… Which is why when I missed my 6 month check up in January I wasn’t too bothered, until I knew I’d have to go back at some point and off I trundled on Wednesday.

I’m sure I have an aversion to the Dentist due to the horrific amount of orthodontic work I had as a teen and even look back at that time makes me shiver. I so loved my braces not! And that over the head into the mouth thingy to help straighten my jaw and my teeth was delightful, such a crowd pleaser, the offers of dates just rolled in whilst I was wearing it. Yeah right! Nothing like being ostracized!

Then there's always thepleasant sounds that orignate whilst in the chair. Do the drill things really have to whir like that?

Mind you I am blessed with strong teeth, not that I often remove beer caps but I reckon I could. Now that's an attractive thought!

Anyway back to my visit this week, you’ll be pleased to know that I didn’t need anything done! Yippee. I could have skipped! Okay I did skip a little bit as I vacated the building, obviously no-one else could see, but if you wont tell neither will I!

The only downer was that my dentist has now changed from NHS to being solely private, which means I had to part with £34 whole pounds for someone to look inside my mouth, and go “everything’s okay, see you in 6 months”. Which means I can push the thought of dentistry to the back of my mind until 13th December!

I do begrudge being forced to have to pay privately for dental treatment, what other profession charges such extortionate rates, I was in the chair for about 6 minutes which means it cost £5.60 per minute, so on an hourly rate the Dentist is raking in £336! OMG that's horrific! And that's apparently a low rate, well it's the lowest in my area!

Best start saving in case I have to pay more in the future! Where did I put the piggy bank....

Technorati Tags: dentist, fear, NHS, private

2006-06-12T13:33:00.000Z

I'm incensed! Nope I'm mightily grumpy!

As some of you know I've had work done in my house, namely had bathroom's re-fitted and I purchased all the white goods (loo, bath, showers and sinks etc) from BMI in Burgess Hill. And I have to say they weren't run of the mill items so I paid adequately for them. However the quality is good!

My builder being a clumsy oaf damaged the shower plinth, which wasn't discovered until late into the project, so I went into the showroom and ordered a replacement. This was in January (note the month please!).

I get a call in March (yes March) to tell me one has arrived, this is after I spent many times chasing for an update etc. So I dash off and collect it. It is well packaged and I opt to take it home in its packaging to protect it during the I get home and peal off the several layers of shrink wrap, remove the protective stays, I discover this plinth is cracked in 2 places. Curses galore.

So we return to the showroom and ask to order another. I was offered a refund at the time, while I waited but opted not to take it as I knew I needed one so would have to pay for it eventually. I left the showroom with a promise that I would be called when the next one comes in.

Well as its now June and I got no phone call, I went into the showroom in my lunch break. There in the office was a plinth, and yes deep joy it was mine! Yippee... but (you just knew there was going to be a but didn't ya), it had a small crack in that the manufacturer had filled in, and I was told by the showroom staff that it wouldn't be noticeable as it was the bottom side.

They were wrong, as it would be visible as it's the top edge of the plinth and when I said surely they wouldn't want me to take an item that I paid 100% cost for which had been repaired, without recieving some money off? But yes that's what they actually wanted! OMG do they think I'm stupid!

When I voiced my concerns over their stance, voiced not shouted as claimed by their staff! If I'd of shouted you'd all of heard I can tell you. The manager (yes manager walked away!) I am appalled by now! He then returns and said he'll order me another! To which I retort how long am I going to have to wait for this then? Eh? Another 3 months per chance? No way!

I told him clearly I'd take the repaired one away if I could have some money taken off, but he said he couldn't do that as it was the manufacturers fault it was damaged. Obviously I pointed out I was his customer and he was their's so he should address my needs and in turn address his own with the manufacturer, but hey that's not possible! Great customer service not!

Even when I asked if they placed the repaired item on show for sale would it be at full retail price or reduced, he admitted reduced but still wouldn't let me have it at a reduced price. Evidently I'm missing something here, but for the life of me can't think what!

I left empty handed with a promise of a call by 2.30 today, wherein I would be told when the plinth would be delivered. I will concede the manager intimated if the next one arrives damaged (whenever that might be) I'll get a replacement for free and a full refund! Believe that when I see it.

2006-06-12T11:58:00.000Z

The sun is shining which means I haven't had much time to blog cause I've been enjoying the moment as it were! The garden is wilting, not through neglect but due to the fact that we have a water shortage and I'm having to be good with the amount I splurge upon it. Nonetheless it is still glorious to lounge in, soaking up the rays.

I love the sun it always brings an air of happiness with it, I will admit I'm not a sun goddess though, I can't just sit in it and would rather being 'doing', hence why when out in the garden I'm playing Swingball {solo! :-( } or reading even cleaning the barbeque which I'm feeling quite pious about having done it to a gleaming standard.

Today however I'm not so happy with the sun, as it's blazing away and I'm stuck in a sticky office, {no air conditioning here!} ewww.... Surely the sun knows to go in when I'm working?

Fortunately for me I'm not due back into this sweatbox until Friday after today, so I've got 3 whole days away. Mind you there is a hint of there being thunderstorms etc on way to us ... sigh..

As you can imagine the gorgeous weather has meant I've been lapse once again on here, and now that the world cup has started my visits are bound to be less frequent. Oh well.. I'm sure it wont go away.

Talking of the world cup (well I was) England seem to be the only team to win without scoring themselves! Fingers crossed this doesn't direct their future games will be so lack lustre and relient on others mistakes!

2006-06-03T13:38:00.000Z

What luck!

Having had a bit of a gruesome week with pain, and extra activites not wanted (see earlier post re my trauma), I had a right result the other day.

As mentioned I'd ordered a new TV which got delivered on Thursday and I had to chip into my savings to pay for it. It was a major extravagance and yet I thought what's the point in waiting, I could get run over by a lorry tommorow, oh no that's right that's already happened, but still. Alright I admit it, I just wanted it and I'd decided to regress into a spoilt child and had a must have need!

Onto the right result! I had to pop into my local town Worthing to go to my bank to get a cheque drawn to pay for the family holiday. I've been very good putting money away each month to pay for this, and having asked for the cheque to be drawn, I decided to close the account as I'm no longer paying money into it. So we started the closing process.

I was met with an 'Ooooh' by the cashier, who said there seems to be an error as your account has now shown an increase of £2000! And so I was asked if I was expecting any monies to be paid in... Wishing I was, I could only say 'No', gloomily. So a call was made to head office to see why I had the increase etc.

On the cashier's return I was advised it was the interest payment for the account for the year, which would have been put in mid June, but as I'd closed it before then, it came in now. It seems it was accrued as I had my compensation money sitting in the account before it all got tied up in hte new home etc. So the £2000 was all mine to have! Yee ha. How big a cheesy grin did I have??? Huge!

Which means I managed to pay back some of the money I borrowed out of savings for the TV, so now I sit watching the TV which the bank paid for! Yippee!

No doubt I've used my luck up for the year, so I'm going to be real careful from now on!

2006-06-03T13:30:00.000Z

It's here and it's wonderful!

OMG, the TV is superduper! How childish does it sound for a 35 year old woman to be saying superduper? Major, I do believe, but I just don't care so again I say super duper! Nah!

Okay I will admit it took a bit of a time for my eyes to adjust to the huge screen, about half and hour and now, the screen looks right at home, which is just as well cause it's not going anywhere!

Surround sound has all been hooked up, I've got to scrub up on my DIY skills and tack the wires to the speakers down, right now they all look higgledy piggledy so they've got to be sorted. Maybe I'll pass that job over to Carole... hmmm... I reckon I'll get away with it. I so love delegating! Rather like I love passing the blame (Jess take note LOL).

We all sat and watched the DVD of Pirates of the Caribbean, so love that film and with surround sound it was fanbloodytastic! I feel a Star Wars evening will be required soon.

2006-06-01T12:29:00.000Z

I'm so excited!

I'm sitting at home killing time as I'm waiting for a delivery. Die time die... and when my item gets here, thrive time thrive.

Last week I ordered an HD ready TV, a whole 40" along with a surround sound system. I so can't wait. If I turn my head and look out the window again, I'm sure my necks going to creak, and yet.... I can't stop myself. Ooooohhhhh heard a car.... Nope not for me... Sigh...

Oh hurry up! This is worse than crimbo time, which is only 6 months away, yippee... Ooooohh another car... Rats it's not the installation people.

Sigh... I'm going to have to do something else while I wait. I know I'll got and have lunch.

2006-06-01T11:45:00.000Z

Traumatic Time was had by me this week.

Okay, no one laugh, come on I wan't your assurances that you will control your sniggers and not laugh too much at the following story, which relates to my misfortune.

In the hope that you will honour your promise I will carry on.

Before I go into the whole story, I’m going to have to give you a bit of background over a major character in it. Before I had my car accident I snapped my anterior cruciate ligament and ended up in the Rehabilitation Home run by the Police for physiotherapy etc. Whilst there I met up with a girl, who I will call M throughout.

The Background!

M had been involved in a car accident arising by her driver responding to a 999 call and taking a corner by St Paul’s Cathedral in London too fast, which resulted in them, ended up smashing through a bus stop. M was the only one injured, and ultimately she got a compression injury in her spine, which developed into a twisting of her spine in the thoracic area. She also suffered from muscle spasms, so severe that they gave her the shakes etc, and these were brought on by her not managing her capabilities properly.

M was as action girl, a real gym addict and as you can imagine her injury was meant to prevent her from carrying on in her attendance. However she went against medical advice and continued to go to the gym etc. This meant her spasms got worse meaning her friends etc were left to pick up the pieces after wards. I can’t begin to count the amount of times she has got herself taken to hospital by ambulance because of her stupidity and mismanagement of her condition.

As most of you know I have back problems but I know my limitations. I know and so does she, when you do too much you can end up in a right state which means you have to be dependent on others, which in my mind isn’t on. I don’t think its fair, when it can be avoided; to have others forced to care for you. I recognise this, she doesn’t, and as such I often perceive her as really selfish. I appreciate she’s got a shit hand in life now, but still. Am I being too harsh in my opinion?

Whenever I would go and visit her, she’d do too much either before I got there or whilst I was there, which would mean the time I was there would be spent nursing her as it were. I’d do anything for my friends but in all honesty I kind of felt I was being taken advantage of. When you asked her to take it easy, she’d rebel, she wouldn’t use things to assist, say a motorised wheelchair as it was too indicative of being disabled, and instead she’d insist on self wheeling (when she had a need for a chair) which in turn meant she’d spasm in an hour and I or others would be left to pick up after her.

M is also the woman who despite having had a throacic spine fused with titanuim bits (way too complicated and dull for me to relate) and who wears a spinal brace, when board kiting, got lifted up by the wind, thrown in the air, fractured her skull and went unconcious and as you can imagine this didn't help the back at all! And still expected people to run around for her! I hated the fact our overstretched health service was picking up after her due to her lack of self restraint!

The Story relating to my trauma

M sent me a text message and said, “Fancy popping round and going out for lunch”. I naively thought “hey, sounds good” and replied with a positive, arriving at her home just before midday.

M says we’ll drive into the local village and have a pub lunch and as it was okay weather we’ll eat outside so we can take her German shepherd, but before sitting down we will give him a quick run around the field. M mentions it may be muddy and so lends me her lodger’s welly boots, (slightly too big for me). I go with, though I wasn’t up for dog walking, my back wasn’t in the best shape, and I had a busy evening to attend to, namely Stoolball umpiring, but heck it was going to be a quick dash round a field and then a pub lunch easy! Only it wasn’t!

We enter the field and this transpires into a walk into a wood, ultimately it could have been pleasant if I hadn’t of been sliding all over the place in a quagmire! Not good to have sudden slips when you’re back isn’t the most stable! Neither was it much fun wading through mud, struggling with the possibility of losing the wellies as they were too big. I know it’s a funny image, but I have to say I wasn’t laughing; my sense of humour had totally disappeared. And when I expressed this calmly (yes truly calmly ~ though I wanted to have a major temper tantrum and throw my toys a far distance from the pram so to say) I was cast aside. M just kept on.

M has only recently moved to the outskirts of this village so didn’t really have a good idea where we were, neither did we have maps etc. We end up climbing steep banks and I express I want to go back, as I’ve had enough, a quick stroll round a field has now turned into an hour and it was more like a hike, and I only came for lunch! Again, I was ignored and she carried on. By now I’d had it, my back was screaming, I was totally pissed off, so I tried to be sensible and said I think we should head back the way we came. M said do what you like and just walked off and left me, how caring how considerate. This from the woman whom, I've dog sat for, (though the little bugger bit me), run errands for, sat with her through the night when's she's been really bad, having been stupid by over exerting herself, my god was I feeling bitter and angry at that moment (yes)! Fab!

So I turned around and entered the woods again. Ahem… as I’d spent so much time watching my footing, I kind of lost my way, there were loads of paths crisscrossing the woods and I had no idea which one I needed. Ultimately I got out the woods and hiked across a couple of fields, before stumbling into a farm, where I sought directions. By this time I’d been walking nigh on 2 hours, and not nice level walking. I was in a bit of a state and it’s taken a good couple of days for me to get my back into a manageable level again.

As you can imagine M and I are no longer talking, and to be honest I feel kind of relieved.

Hope you’ve managed to get the picture of me wallowing in the mud out of your mind now! I’m beginning to find the situation slightly amusing, only slightly mind!

2006-06-01T11:35:00.000Z

As I'm never one to accept blame for myself, I've decieded this time it's all Jess's thought that I ended up at Blogthings doing the inane tests so you can thank her for these! LOL.

You Are 40% Boyish and 60% Girlish

You are pretty evenly split down the middle - a total eunuch.
Okay, kidding about the eunuch part. But you do get along with both sexes.
You reject traditional gender roles. However, you don't actively fight them.
You're just you. You don't try to be what people expect you to be.

How Boyish or Girlish Are You?

Do any of you remember when we ended up with silly muppet names in Gars? If so no doubt the following test will apply. Funny how I ended up with the name I chose myself! LOL.

You Are Animal

A complete lunatic, you're operating on 100% animal instincts.
You thrive on uncontrolled energy, and you're downright scary.
But you sure can beat a good drum.
"Kill! Kill!"

The Muppet Personality Test

2006-05-30T00:04:00.000Z

I’m feeling full of self reproach for not attending my blog as often as I ought to. I can’t even use the excuse that the good weather in the UK has kept me away from the PC cause its been bloody raining on and off for the past week. Nor can I offer the excuse that work has had an effect as those of you who’ve read earlier posts know I’ve been bored shitless at work. Furthermore nothing glamorous has been happening anywhere in my life to have stopped me posting and yet I haven’t. Bad Moley!

So I wonder what my punishment would be if I left my blog untended for some considerable time? Is there someone out there employed as the punitive master/mistress who administers punishments to those who fail to update their blogs regularly? And if not, perhaps I should offer myself up for the role. Then again that might be an oxymoron bearing in my lapsidasical approach thus far. Oh well I shall chastise myself and try and try to offer more updates.

I can tell you I have been to the cinema on two occasions since my last post. No not the one to do with the Quiz ‘what pimp name are you’ but the one before that! I’ve seen Mission Impossible 3 and the Da Vinci Code.

I love blockbuster movies, and get immersed in good special effects, so Mission Impossible 3 tended those leanings. Story line wasn’t fantastic, but hey I didn’t have great aspirations that it would be. I went for the action scenes and the whole Impossible ethos and I got it. So I had a great time.

As for the Da Vinci Code, I read the book by Dan Brown when it first came out, I’d also read some years before the Holy Blood, Holy Grail book by Baigent, Leigh & Lincoln. (It was clailmed by the authors of this book that Dan Brown stole their concept, latter dismissed by a Court). The latter I found hard work to read and if the truth be know way too wordy. Funny calling a book wordy bearing in mind it’s full of words. Alternatively I’d describe it as heavy going and not for the subject matter per se but for the way in which it was written. However as I’m such a trooper I persevered and finished it, though I did offer a huge sigh of relief once it was done.

Alternatively the Dan Brown book I read in a whiz, it only took a day. Yes I’m a quick reader, I’m that awful person, who having entered a book shop and headed for the genre they like, stands in front of the bulging shelves, going ‘read it, read it, read it’ in a similar tone to a frog going ‘ribbet ribbet ribbet’. It’s a sad moment, I can tell you, purely as I then become at a loss as to what to do, because when I’m without reading material, I feel bereft.

I am a stickler in that I have to read a book before going to see the film, primarily because I don’t want my personal images of the characters being marred by those imposed upon us by the casting director, I’ve my own personal casting director called my imagination and I don’t want that to be wasted. Evidently having watched a film sometimes I feel the casting director got it right and others well, least said!

The portrayal of the Da Vinci Code was close to the book, though a few bits were missing, nothing too pertinent though in my opinion. Then again what do I know? I though the links to the art works mentioned in the book was cleverly done and enjoyed the whole experience.
Paul Bettany who played the monk was fantastic, and to me stole the show.

Tom Hanks, playing the professor was passable, and in reality I feel any middle aged American Actor could have played the role. Audrey Tautou offered a good reflection of Sophie Neveu the French cryptologist.

I enjoyed the film and would recommend it to others to see. As for the underlying premise of the book/film, it offered a good starting point for discussion, in particular the ethics of the church, hidden agenda’s etc, and for me it makes you question whether there could be some truth in the story. Who knows? I bloody don’t but I do wonder. The whole God thing is one big enigma to me!

Technorati Tags: Da Vinci Code , cinema,
books, reading, enigma

2006-05-29T17:30:00.000Z

Typical I come back here to write something poignant and I end up viewing other peoples blogs, which in turn sends me over to blogthings and once there I while away way too much time doing quizzes. Talking of which, how about this one?

Your Pimp Name Is...
Princess Slick

What's Your Pimp Name?

Thank you so much Cheryl for this one!

2006-05-22T13:33:00.000Z

I'm officially old now!

I've not been up to much over the past week or so, purely because I've been wallowing around at home. And if any of you associate my wallowing with that of pigs in mud, I'm just not gonna speak to ya okay!

Work's been nonexistant again, which meant everyone has been given extra days off. So for the past couple of weeks I've only been into work twice. Great if only others were around on my days off etc. Sigh.

Anyway onto the age issue. Apparently as I have now joined... wait for it...

this directs I am old, as the whole ethos of the National Trust is to ensure our heritage etc is protected. Yeah right, me old... I don't think so, I joined to ensure cheaper days out! Oh and to soak in the history of our country, visit gardens (me visit gardens!) OMG.. life sure is slowing, hey maybe I am gettin old. Plus there's always the likelihood of a cream tea for after the viewing! Yum yum, I so love cream teas, maybe I should go on a cream tea taste tour of the UK, I'm sure I could handle it.. Now where would I get a sponser for that? So far my favourite place for a cream tea not far from me is Shere, Surrey, the scones there are to die for but I digress.

We ended up visiting Petworth House (not the full tour as we were going to a craft fair in the grounds), which abuts the town of Petworth and which, houses the National Trust's finest art collection. Petworth Park, with its breathtaking views, wandering deer, lakes and ancient trees, was designed by Capability Brown and is open to the public every day.

It was beautiful, the Rhodedendroms in bloom, and the scent coming from some other nameless plants was heady and refreshing, and for once hay fever did not mar the experience. Joy!

Now that I'm a member of the NT it's my intention to try and visit as many places as possible, well I've got to get my monies worth now haven't I?

2006-05-12T10:31:00.000Z

I got a great email today from a friend of mine who often inundates me with mail which makes me laugh and today's effort was a particularly joyful one. So I thought why not share it with you, click on the link and enjoy the Evolution of Dance.

Evolution of Dance

Bet you recognise a few of the moves!

2006-05-08T10:50:00.000Z

Ah Bonnie Scotland!

On Thursday last week Carole and I headed off to the land of the Scots, thank you Easy Jet for giving us a pleasant flight! We were embarking upon a long weekend to visit my bestest buddies whom I don’t often get to see.

I know that may seem weird having a bestest buddy who I don’t see very often but that is the beauty of our friendship. We can go ages without seeing each other or even talking on the phone and then we catch up, and visit and it’s like we were never apart! Fabulous.

The reason for our visit was as my friends were having their Civil Partnership (CP) and they wanted me and Carole to be their witnesses. So I packed my glad rags and happily made our way up to Scotland.

Not sure if all know about the CP, we had a change in the law last year which meant from December same sex couples could register as being in a CP and this directs they are permitted the same rights as couples in a marriage. So no inheritance tax, access to pension rights, official next of kin etc. Obviously it means your partner’s income can impact upon benefits etc but it offers equality and a recognition that those in same sex relationship are as important as those without. (About bloody time!)

The ceremony was on Friday and my friends looked absolutely gorgeous! Stunning in fact. We were picked up by an old Austin Motor Car, classic and driven into Dundee to the registry office where the ceremony was being held.

It was a wonderful ceremony and a very smiley smiley occasion. Happy feelings all round. After the ceremony it was back in the car for a slow drive up to the Lands of Loyal (go on have a look you know you want to!) a fabulous hotel, old Victorian house, with lots of character features. Lots of quaffing champagne on route, so slightly tipsy on arrival.

And forget the imagery of Scotland being a cold blowy place. We had beautiful weather the whole weekend. Glorious sunshine. Which meant we had the roof down in the car, splendiferous!
On arrival we partook in canapé’s and more champagne, and after a short rest a sumptuous meal, with lots of toasting the happy couple.

Our room was the red room, which has a four-poster bed. First time I’ve ever slept in one of those. Climbing up into bed was a weird sensation! A solid night sleep despite my early fears of the house being a venue, which the TV show Most Haunted, would visit. (No ghosties there! Phew).

Following morning a glorious breakfast (I still cant believe how much I’ve eaten over the weekend ~ tubby tummy syndrome!). Fortunately we walked off some of our indulgencies around Forfar Loch later the same day.

A restful Sunday morning before we set off back home. What a wonderful weekend. Thank you girls for sharing your moment with us!

2006-05-08T10:48:00.000Z

I’ve been away but now I’m back!

By the lack of updates on my blog it shouldn’t take a genius to realise I’ve been a bit busy recently and today I’m able to offer an update on my inane life!

Stoolball season is back upon us and for the very first time I’ve become an umpire. Okay I admit I’ve never had any experience of doing this task but surely it’s not that difficult. I trundled out for the first time last Wednesday 3rd May 2006 and didn’t do a bad job me thinks. It is kind of weird standing right in the middle of the field of play without offering yourself to receive a ball being thrown in. I often had to stop myself for reaching out to catch the ball! (When I play I play in close in a slip position or as wicket keeper, which means I’m often near to the wicket hence I had to catch the ball when it’s thrown back from the boundary).

I’ve also discovered other than trying to inhibit your natural desire to get involved you’ve got to be quite good at flinching and getting your lardy arse out the way, if a batsman hits the ball toward the position which you had taken up to umpire. I’m sure one of the girls from Graffham (our opposition) was definitely trying to take me out like a skittle by using the ball as a bullet aimed straight for me! Just as well I was feeling alert! Bruises from Stoolballs aren’t particularly attractive!

2006-04-25T14:05:00.000Z

Whilst perusing the net I discovered my stars for today! And thought why not share them with you all so here it is! My additions/comments are in Italics!

PISCES - February 20th - March 20th

You want to please your friends and satisfy your boss that you are capable of new responsibilities (yeah right! Surely they know that now don't they, mind you some work would help with the proposed demonstration!) .

This doesn't mean you should allow others to rule your life (not sure that I ever had... oh wait a minute... yep I did!). Someone is taking advantage of your good nature by demanding too much of you (Who? And why haven't I noticed? Let me at 'em, let me at 'em!).

The going will be busy but this should not stop you from thinking about your own needs (now my own needs that's more like it... I reckon some sweets and nuturing will gone down a storm!) and demanding (shhsh... don't say this word it's not very appealing!) others do their fair share (yeah give me more time to rest & play!).

2006-04-25T13:48:00.000Z

BORED BORED BORED!

I need entertainment and I need it now. I cannot believe even with the Internet at my fingertips how bored I currently am. The reason our work situaiton, yes right now I'm at work at my desk in the office with nothing to do.

The work is truly: sporadic \spuh-RAD-ik\, adjective: Occurring singly, or occasionally, or in scattered instances. (Even dictionary.com's word of the day is refelctive of my current situaiton.

I've been here since 9 am and the work ran out at 11.30! Sigh.... there are only so many games one can entertain themselves with. I even bought a book at lunchtime and I'm half way through it already. It's James Patterson "4th of July", not a bad read so far.

Well I'm going to go exploring again, no doubt I'll be back soon with other inane comments.

2006-04-23T11:33:00.000Z

The Queen's 80th Birthday!

On Friday it was the Queen's 80th Birthday and my partners son, Alan, had the honour, nay duty to march through London with his school band to lead a procession to deliver a birthday card to her.

However having had this whole thing organised Queenie decided to spend the day at Windsor and so they marched to an empty Buckingham Palace. As you can imagine most of the band were a bit peeved they had to march 4 and a half miles from St Pauls Cathedral to the Palace to deliver an item knowing the person receiving wasn't it. It didn't bode well for an enthusiastic performance!

Irrespective of this, we prepared the lad well and made sure his school uniform was all prim and proper and dropped him off at the school ready for him to join the coach up to London. We then made the dash to the local train station so we could get up to London to watch him. (Note the school did not offer transport to supporting parents).

We arrived about half hour before they were due to set off and as we approached Alan we noticed his pristine Housey Coat (think Neo's coat in Matrix) was sporting a lovely smear! OMG he's been out of our sight for the best part of 2 hours and this??? We discover one of the other lads had unfortunatley suffered with travel sickness and thus thought his friends Housey could do with some additions! We understand copious amounts of bottled water were used to dilute the spill and it was passable. Fortunately for Alan he has to wear a leopard skin thing as he's a Tenor Drummer so this would offer concealment!

Although Queenie was out the band did her proud and marched through London. It was the first time Alan has had to do a performance in public and it certainly dropped him in the deep end as it wasn't a short foray! He was very rosy cheeked and lethargic from twiddling the drum sticks. He has to twirl the Tenor Drum sticks above his head throughout the march. We took a few pictures (understatement) and were rewarded later by spotting him on the 6 0'clock news albeit briefly.

2006-04-23T11:29:00.000Z

Busy busy busy!

Life's been a bit hectic since the relatives left, we're still in the process of clearing out the other house which has to be done by the end of the month as my partners nephew is due to move into it. OMG when are we ever going to get it all done??

Everything major is out of it now and we've started the brutal cleaning, but it needs a good lick of paint before I'd be happy for him to move in! So it looks like next week is going to be very busy for us, so wont have much chance to blog :-( gloomy gloomy.

Sigh! Wish I could click my fingers and it all be finished... I be clicking real hard and real often but it's not bloody working!

2006-04-18T14:47:00.000Z

Phew… thank goodness the Easter weekend is over. I am so tired. It seems all I have done the past few days is get to know my cooker intimately. Obviously there are many others things in the world I’d like to know intimately and I’m not sure my cooker is it!

Good Friday was a day off from work, so no attendance at the office however this did not mean I could be a slacker. No, I was very busy preparing the evening meal for Saturday night a task I couldn’t do on the very day as we were off to the Theatre.

Saturday was a last minute manic make sure the house is clean enough for guests, I’m sure my buddy Cher appreciates this particular need as she too does this, before heading off to the train station to get the train up to London.

Whenever I had up to the Capital I am taken over by a bud of excitement as it is no longer associated with work but solely pleasure. A quick cab journey from Victoria brought us to the Lyric Theatre where we watched the play ‘Smaller’. Fantabulous! What a superb play, Dawn French and Alison Moyet were wonderful and it was an extremely moving and funny play.

They synopsis of the show is as follows:

The life and soul of the staff room, Bernice Clulow's selfless devotion to her disabled mother, Maureen, is legend. Yet every evening as she heads home, the smile becomes fixed: Mum will want to talk. She demands dispatches from the human race, but Bernice just wants to kick her shoes off. (And her Mum's head in).

Missing out on these precious mother-daughter moments, Cath Clulow wisely flew the nest straight from school. Now belting out Karaoke classics to vomiting, rollicking hen parties in Puerto Banus, she wonders how a promising career in musical theatre has gone so horribly off key. House bound, honor bound and homeward bound, the Allows pick their way through a minefield of guilt, resentment and fear.

The play has little props and holds a focus upon the relationship between Bernice (Dawn French) and her mother who is disabled. From its very nature it ends up becoming quite a black comedy, sometimes cringe worthy yet it is an honest reflection of some a situation. Alison Moyet playing Cath sung new songs written for the play some of which I found haunting. I laughed loads, gasped in shock at some events and had my heart strings pulled all in the same performance. If any in the UK get a chance to see it you really should!

Having got back from the Theatre I set about putting on dinner for my family guests who arrived early evening.

Easter Sunday was started by our traditional Easter Egg hunt, my partner set it up and I was able to compete well with her son as I got up earlier so could undertake some sly investigations before his appearance. I have no qualms in beating the child at some things! Especially as I can no longer match him at things requiring more co-ordination so it’s good for him to lose occasionally! However I am not truly harsh as at the end of the hunt we pooled our finds together and divvied them out equally!

Then began the prep for Sunday lunch, after which a stroll around the local area was followed by table tennis tournament and later eye toy games (see earlier post on this item).

Monday was much the same, though we did embark upon a more energetic walk along the South Downs Way, beautiful views, where we got to see Swifts and Skylarks amongst over birdlife. Then back home before yet again more cooking etc.

My guests were meant to leave on Monday but were enjoying themselves so much they invited themselves for another night!

This morning (Tuesday) I’ve waved goodbye to the guests, pulled out of the planned golf game (the thought of 18 holes was the last straw on camels back) so I thought I’d stay home and recover. However I ended up scrubbing the oven and given the house the once over as it were, until finally collapsing in reach of my laptop! Hence here I am!

2006-04-14T01:10:00.000Z

Another mindless game to entertain yourselves!

Tennis Game

See how long you can keep the ball in the air!
I am no good at this game! My highest is 7!
No make that 8... ROFL

2006-04-13T23:46:00.000Z

HAPPY CHOCOLATE MUNCHING TIME... or alternatively... HAPPY EASTER.

I've got a busy weekend ahead as not only am I'm off to see 'Smaller' at the Lyric Theatre in London, which has Dawn French and Alison Moyet in leading roles, I have relatives coming early Saturday evening and who are staying until Monday.

Best make sure my apron is clean as it looks like a heavy cooking regime over the next few days. Tomorrow I'm planning on preparing my pavlova... (I so love that desert) amongst many other things.

No doubt my entertaining will have an adverse affect upon the time available to pop on here, but I'll do my best.

2006-04-13T23:27:00.000Z

My Wonderful Garden

I've never been one to profess enjoyment at gardening, and even though we've moved to a new home I still don't have the urge to take the task in hand. Hence I've spoiled myself a bit and taken on a gardener. Actually if the truth be know my garden is beautiful and awash with plants and if I attacked it with the venom only a novice knows, no doubt its beauty will become somewhat diminished. Hence the employment of a local gardener. See not only am I avoiding a task which for me would bring no pleasure, I'm helping keep my local economy going by employing someone!

However, although gardening is not for me, (I do have to admit the previous owner of this house/garden had a superb eye for the subject and the planting around is wonderful) I can appreciate it! It is fantastic and I often find my eye being drawn outside. I'm kind of lucky as we have huge windows at the rear of the property (only kind of... cause someone has to clean em!) and these offer fantastic views of the garden. I so can't wait for the warmer climes (if Britain can ever be perceived as offering such things) when I will be able to sit outside lapping up the garden in full, perhaps lounging in a chair with a glass of wine or two... Now that sounds good.

2006-04-12T19:35:00.000Z

Now here's a questionnaire I'm happy to do as it is about sweets.. scrummy! Although I have no idea what the sweet I'm classed as actually tastes as! Sigh, that's my fault for being the other side of the big pond.

Reeses Peanut Butter Cups

Very popular, one of you is not enough.

What Kind of Candy Are You?

2006-04-12T12:04:00.000Z

Missing in Action ~ well sort of not so much action and more of the missing.

Last week I received a long awaited delivery from www.amazon.co.uk and as soon as I nabbed the package from the old postie (yes he was an old man delivering my mail) I rushed into my abode to open it. Ripped packaging moment and there nestled amongst the bubble wrap was my item.

What was it? Was it a book, music…? No it was a new game for my PS2 and my excitement was way up there! Yeah right up there. No higher… keep looking!

It was none other than a copy of the new Lara Croft game; Legend. Fanbloodytastic. I’m a hardened (well soft really) Lara fan and have all the games in my collection, I just can’t bare to part exchanged them so they sit on my shelf, and every now and then I dip back into them although I’ve completed them all. So now I have the newest game to add to my collection and I couldn’t wait to play it. Check out the web site www.tombraider.com

To say I couldn’t wait to get rid of the builder who arrived on Saturday morning accompanied by an electrician to try and finally get the under floor heating in the kitchen fixed is an understatement. Okay so working under floor heating is more beneficial than say my PS2 game, but I didn’t care, I wanted to be a spoilt child and allowed to play and forget the fact that I was an adult and thus should be doing my chores! Sod that!

However it was not until Sunday afternoon that I got a chance to play a bit, and if it wasn’t for the fact that I had to sort out dinner and other mundane stuff I’d still be there now. Monday sadly was a work day and then the hectic preparation for a dinner party. Which went well, it was the first time I’ve cooked a meal for people other than family. It was some of the girls from the stoolball club, and before any of you ask what the hell Stoolball is check out this web site: www.stoolball.co.uk and all your questions should be answered! The season is fast approaching and the first practices are in the next couple of weeks, but I digress… back to Lara!

Yesterday was a true PS2 fest day and although I sadly have to admit I’ve killed Lara a few times, (bless her cotton socks) we are, together managing to get through the game! In fact I can’t believe I’ve taken a break from it to come and post on here. What am I thinking!

I accept that Lara is in essence not real, but I’m sure in my heart she is. Yes I know I sound like a sad geek, but who cares, I don’t. People who watch me play, such as my significant others laugh there heads off, because I become part of Lara so when she peeks round a corner so do I, and I’m sure my bobbing in my seat, gives her extra lift on those tricky jumps! I know I’m disillusioned.

Surely you can see the attraction; her whole persona is hot, with a capital ‘H’! And Angelina Jolie, brought her to life fabulously in my opinion, which evidently is biased as I think Jolie is super too! Sigh!

Well that’s enough for now, she be calling me and I must run, leap, shoot, dive, roll, swim oh no that's not me that's Lara! Hey I can dream.

2006-04-04T15:34:00.000Z

I found this little gem whilst I was wondering around blog pages.. Well what else do you expect me to do when I'm sitting at work with no work to do? Enjoy! See how much you can annoy it!

I thank Steve for this game.

2006-04-04T10:55:00.000Z

Crash the Movie

Last night I watched Crash on DVD having missed it when it came to our local cinema and all I can say is “wow!”

What a film for discussion! I found it truly poignant of how society has developed over the years and saddened by the themes inherent within it. For me it reflected a lack of trust between races and how this itself permeates into all aspects of society. It was a clever portrayal from each characters perspective of the inherent paranoia toward other races.

Initially I thought it was very disjointed and wondered if I’d be able to stay with it. I’m so glad I did, it was fabulous and I’d highly recommend it to any who haven’t seen it. I’m not sure I’d call it an entertaining film, more of thought provoking one, and in all honestly I think everyone should see it.

2006-04-03T13:26:00.000Z

Errr… So I got tagged, which apparently means I have to answer the following questions or?…. Goodness knows! So here goes, as I would ever wish to be abiding by Cher’s request, mind you one day I really must refuse her requests if only to find out what the punishments might well be!

Who was your first prom date? Prom… I presume this is some form of party thing that is popular in the States? As such we were never given the pleasure of such a pastime, although there was the odd school disco now and then (and please note there should really be extra emphasis on the ODD!) Date… ermmm… how do I come to terms with the fact that in my school years dating didn’t come into it? Oh heck, I have and am I emotianally scarred and traumatised? No I don’t think so, though if you whisper as I walk past I may freak out a little, of course I am totally in control.

Who were your first roommate(s)? Some chaps whose names I can’t recall thank goodness, as it was while living in a squat and it was truly a squat. Looking back I can’t believe how unclean the place was, but hey it was a safe haven (ish).

What alcoholic beverage did you drink the first time you got drunk? OMG the trauma of recalling that time, how could you make me answer such a thing??? It was whiskey ewwwwwww… still now I cannot even take a whiff of it without the stomach churning and the dry heaving. I recall at the time I didn’t like the taste and to mask it I mixed it with, of all things, powdered orange drink. Double ewwwwww…. I was so so ill that day, maybe this contributed to my capabilities to control my drinking levels now?

What was your first job? Fruit picking, well actually more fruit eating than picking. Hey I got paid to eat nice scrummy strawberries. Well that’s not strictly true I was meant to be putting them in punnets to sell on, but more found their way into my mouth than the punnets. I so love strawberries!

What was your first car? A VW Polo which I had to start by tapping a hammer (very carefully) on the starter motor thing in the engine else it would turn over and start. It was Silver and I got rid of it to my ex’s sister for a fair price I might add!

When did you go to your first funeral? That would be my grandfathers and I think I was about 8 or 9 but appallingly I couldn’t say for sure.

How old were you when you first moved away from your hometown? That would be between my 14th & 15th Birthday. It was something I had to do as living at home was pure hell then. Hence how I ended up in a wonderous squat.

Who was your first grade teacher? Ermmm can’t think, now if you’d asked me to name a teacher who I admired (okay adored) now that would be a different kettle of fish altogether!

Where did you go on your first ride on an airplane? That would be Spain, when I was about 7 for a summer holiday.

When did you sneak out of your house for the first time, who was it with? From the age of about 12, I mastered the whole climbing out of window upstairs, with a little shimmy across the sloping roof. (Note if you face toward the roof it’s easier). Finally reaching the dividing point between our house and next doors, enabling me to hop down delicately (shush cant make a noise) onto the fencing, before commando crawllng past the patio doors and then away up the drive! I knew watching programmes like the Proffessionals and playing action man with the boys would help! And the reason for my escapte? A Tryst with my then partner.

Who was your first Best Friend and are you still friends with them? That would be a split between Nicola Crofton and Alison Jones. Haven’t heard from the latter since secondary school, but caught up with the former through http://www.friendsreunited.co.uk/ albeit very briefly.

Where did you live the first time you moved out of your parents' house? A glorious squat! After which my sister took pity on me and let me kip in the lounge of her shared house.

Who is the first person you call when you have a bad day? Myself! Did you not realise I had multiple personalities. No honestly, probably my partner, but if not then my buddy Tanya.

Who's wedding were you in the first time you were a bridesmaid/groomsman? Brian and April, Brian was my cousin, I was meant to be joined by my two sisters but April was so tiny they towered over her, so it was down to me and some lad who was the page boy. I had to wear a peach dress with flouncy bits (the trauma is still with me to this day) and small floral pattern. I never ever wear dresses (well obvioulsy some times I do, but I’m just not comfy mumfy in them).

What is the first thing you do in the morning? Stretch, and try to get upright with the least amoutn of pain! Then it’s a bathroom moment for ablutions, afterwhich a nice cup of tea!

What was the first concert you ever went to? Michelle Shocked at some university campus in London, it was when she did her Short Sharped Shocked tour.

First tattoo or piercing? Earrings, one per ear, at age 13. Had a tattoo done when I was about 28.

First celebrity crush? Probably Amanda Donahoe, in fact I still harbour a secret
admiration (oh darn its nto secret anymore)!

Age of first kiss? It coudln't have been that eventful as I’ve blocked it out,
probably was with a guy, hey maybe that’s why I can’t recall it!

First crush? I take it you mean one of those uncontrollable emotional things rather than the other where you squish someone? If the former then it was my PE teacher.

First time you did drugs? I went to some party in the back of beyond around Margate/Ramsgate way and someone put speed in my drink, well I’m manic at the best of time and on speed I’m just plain awful. Never done anything like that again.

2006-03-29T00:26:00.000Z

Today I got a surprise visit from my partners Nephew (he's the one in the white T shirt) who runs his own website company thingy! Don't ask me too many questions on that as I'm a wee bit clueless (no change there then). Anyway bless his little cotton socks I told him I was attempting to compile a blog and commented I so wanted to make separate boxes in my side bar, and he promptly logged on to my computer and showed me how!

He could have continued to blind me with the depths of HTML but he obviously noted the glazed look sneaking across my eyes and withdrew for now, but left an offer in the back of my mind that if I need anymore help, just ask and he'll see what he can do for me. I feel in awe!

And if you're wondering what on earth is going on in the photo... Well ahem... My partners family have a tradition that games MUST be played at Christmas time and the above is evidence of the same. This is the game where you have to put hat, scarf and gloves on, before attempting to eat a bar of chocolate with a knife and fork. (Hmmm maybe I should take this method up if I'm hoping to beat my chocolate addiction? No doubt the lack of luck in dice throwing, combined with the effort required to dress, cut and then eat may defer me from the task... Yeah right... I don't think so) In order to have the right to dress, you have to throw a six on a die, once that's achieved you head for the clothing and if someone else is wearing it you just rip it off 'em! Nice friendly game, obviously a non contact sport!

2006-03-28T12:01:00.000Z

I have just learnt how to get some photo's onto the site. HTML is not easy! It took me four attempts to link it, yes I know I'm a numpty and can't follow instructions easily. Anyway, sorry the pictures in my side bar are dull, but hey it took ages for me to try it out. No doubt at some point in the future I will put others on. So for now bear with me (and its a huge bear, a great big grizzly one!)

2006-03-28T10:34:00.000Z

I got sent 'The River Crossing' in an email along with a description that it should take about 10 minutes to do! Yeah right it took ages. So for all of you lot out there who want to while away a bit of time click on the link www.brandstrategy.co.za and select the fun and games bit. Its full of brain teasers and some totally inance free online games which help you loose yourself for a wee bit. But please have a go at the 'River Crossing' one, and leave me a comment so I know how long it took you! I can disclose it took me 17 minutes.

2006-03-23T14:16:00.000Z

Cat with Attitude!

I'm sure you agree this cat is just oozing attitude. It belongs to a buddy of mine who for some reason believes this animal to be the most scrumptious being, I just cant see it to me its ewe...gly (ugly with extra inference on the U).

2006-03-22T12:23:00.000Z

The start of the pain!

To give you some perspective of how come my back is shot to pieces here is a picture of what's left of the car after the nice Italian Lorry decided to squash it with me inside.

2006-03-21T15:04:00.000Z

Yippee! I've bumbled about a bit and worked out how to put some links in! I feel so proud of myself, there have a pat on the back!

If you get a moment have a look at the link relating to the Author of Sins of the Father. I am doing a bit of crude advertising as I work with the partner of the author. Having had a wee sneak at the web page I see he intends to put regular short stories on the site so it will offer you a moment to while away some time. The book itself is in the final stages of publication and I've just ordered my copy from trusty old Amazon on www.amazon.co.uk

Obvioulsy I'll be able to get my copy signed, well there has to be some perks!

2006-03-21T13:57:00.000Z

I’m feeling a wee bit sorry for myself today my arms hurt, my legs hurt, my hips hurt oh and my feet are sore, and the backs just the same as usual. Diazepam you are my friend! Okay I have to admit my current problems are self induced so no need to feel sympathetic, just in case the emotion passed over you.

For my birthday I was given a wonderful game for the PS2 with which to use the Eye Toy thingy, I was given some time ago. Well god knows what the neighbours thought if they walked past the house over the last couple of days.

Picture this, you walk past the house where people have just moved into the neighbourhood, and begin to ponder, “What are they like? Will they fit in etc?” And you are met with a major site for sore eyes. Namely two adult women jumping around waving arms, ducking, leaping, stretching, running on the spot and saluting! Oh my god what on earth are they doing? Actually I roared loads to myself at the thought of what others may think up to offer reasoning for our actions. Even now thinking about the images we must have portrayed brings a smile to my face.

All I can say is Eye Toy games rock! Ok you have to get over the self conscious moment of realising the lumpy doughnut on your own TV screen is in fact you. And also conquer the fact that you look a complete fool but once you get involved it becomes highly addictive and dare I say competitive. Well I say competitive but obviously as it’s my game then I always win, that’s just the rules!

The game we’ve got is Eye Toy play and you end up competing against each other in a series of events in an athletics/sporting vein or silly party games, basically anything that makes you forget you had any self respect as you launch into a series of arm waving and body movements. In fact the more movement you do the better! Flailing arms are super; you get mega bonus points when doing the virtual window washing game!

The downside to all this is the day after, when you discover that your energetic leaps to scale the virtual hurdles have left your legs feeling like lead the next day and that your arms no longer wish to raise. At least it made me feel slightly virtuous and less guilty when I reached for one of the peanut cookies I baked the next day (yes I do have a go at baking occasionally!)

Evidently I have now decided the PS2 is to be the source of my entrance back into the realms of physical fitness as a dance mat has appeared and I’m now tackling the whole coordination thing, with see thing on screen and stamp foot to where it tells you. I definitely do not have rhythm! I never asserted I did to be fair. I recall in the days when I used to go clubbing, that copious amounts of alcohol had to be consumed before I embarked upon the dance floor after which I was certain I could dance, albeit not in time with the music, mind you by this point I didn’t really care! I do however accept other viewing my attempts at dancing to be rather analogous to suffering a bodily fit, obviously I cannot see any similarities to that comparison, cause I am such a good dancer

At least my PS2 activities at home enable me to avoid trudging to the local gym to position myself next to skinny individuals who really shouldn’t be there and should instead be safely tucked up at home stuffing fattening foods into their malnourished bodies. Okay yeah I admit it I’m jealous!

I shall leave you now, as I need to reach for my heat pack in an effort to ease the cramp like pain in my legs and arms! Hey but it was wroth it, I haven’t laughed so much in ages. I must however remember to warm up and stretch and cool down and stretch after.. yeah right as if that's going to happen.

2006-03-17T01:27:00.000Z

Pain Management!

Once again I’m awake when I should be sleeping all thanks to my back spasms, so here I am reaching for medication again followed by a chaser, namely a glass of milk. Well I am trying to ensure my stomach lining isn’t too messed up by the cocktail of pills! I just can’t seem to get comfortable today and no matter how much I try to shut the pain gate it keeps on opening! I would try to explain the whole pain gate theory but I’m not sure I could right now. Please note is a theory and its not one I’m totally at ease with as it seems flawed in some way. Here’s a link which you may find useful, it offers an explanation of sorts. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pain/PN00017

However as I’ve already mentioned I’m not too connected with the theory and funnily enough neither was my last physiotherapist (she’ll probably be my future physiotherapist but I had to take a break due to financial constraints). Its ethos is that your pain receptors never switch off and thus give you false readings, so although you feel pain your body isn’t suffering damage, as such all you need to do is ignore the pain and disassociate yourself. Yeah as if that’s easy when it feels like 1000 spikes stabbing in your back followed swiftly by a horse kicking it. Oh and did I mention the cramp? The dissociation is known as ‘shutting the pain gate’.

A lot of it is supposedly to do with your state of mind and whether you have the mental tenacity to climb over the pain and carry on. An analogy of an athlete running a marathon that hits the ‘wall’ and yet carries on. So thus your pain is purely a ‘wall’ and is not really damaging or affecting you.

So why do I think it’s a flawed theory? Well in my instance if my situation was due to misinformed pain receptors, why are my muscles constantly in spasm? Why do other pain receptors work fine and dandy, like when you stub your toe, god does that hurt and of course that pain subsides whilst my back pain remains? Why does the pain get progressively worse as the day goes on or if I do too much? And surely as you’d have to agree I wouldn’t give up my comfy mumfy bed for no particular reason now would I?

2006-03-16T21:12:00.000Z

True Friendship is.........

This made me smile when I got sent this so I thought I'd drag it over here. This is a series of promises that really speak to true friendship:

When you are sad - I will help you get drunk and plot revenge against the sorry bastard who made you sad.

When you are blue - I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.

When you smile - I will know you've finally had sex.

When you are scared - I will rag on you about it every chance I get.

When you are worried, I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be and tell you to quit whining.

When you are confused - I will use little words when you are sick - stay the hell away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever you have.

When you fall - I will point and laugh at your clumsy arse.

Remember:
A good friend will help you move.
A really good friend will help you move a body.
Let me know if I ever need to bring a shovel.

2006-03-16T20:35:00.000Z

Hello! Well this is my first entry on this blog site. My, am I getting into the swing of things by doing this? Who knows. I started out by joining up with my spaces via msn and ended up here by leaving a message on another's site.

I'm slowing getting to grips with all this stuff and I feel a wee bit lost I just hope I don't make a mucking fuddle of it all! As this is going to be my first entry on the site I don't want it to be too long in case I get it all wrong. So that's it from me for now.