Football Withdrawal

I was going to write a blog tonight about something really interesting but I fell asleep on the sofa instead. I think I have football withdrawal and to fill the gap I started to watch the tennis. Well I don't know about you but I think tennis is one of the most boring sports there is.
My evening went a bit like this;

Got home from work about 6ish.

Made a coffee.

Sat on sofa.

Turned TV on.

Got comfy and fell asleep.

Woke up at 10.30ish.

Pick youngest daughter up from friends.

Turned on computer and here I am.

I must admit it's a bit of a waste of an evening but now I am all refreshed for my night out tomorrow, don't expect I will be getting to bed very early then.

Oh and the football is back tomorrow, I can't wait.

School's Out, Forever

I've just got home from picking my daughter up from her prom. Two of her friends are staying the night with us and they have come straight in and taken their lovely dresses and high heels off. I don't think any of them are used to wearing such 'lady like' clothes.

They all had a good time and so did the teachers that attended by the sound of it. Stories of teachers trying to kiss other teachers and drunken teachers were being giggled over in the back of the car on the way home.

This will be the last time all of the year group will be together and apart from picking up exam results in August, the last time my daughter will have anything to do with the school. The next stage of her life is about to begin and with it will come extra responsibility. Let's hope she's as grown up as she likes to believe and that she will be able juggle her college work with the extra social life that comes with making new friends.

My Little Girl, All Grown Up

Where does the time go? I've just waved my youngest daughter off to her prom. She looks so grown up and not the tom boy I used to have but a beautiful young woman.

A big thankyou to Ill man who has given me the advice I needed to paste the links into my last post. Be warned, at least one of them is of adult content so put the kids to bed first!

I've been surfing blogs this morning and have come across some very interesting ones and some not so interesting.

I've read about every subject possible including, Dog Care, being a Prisoners Wife, Granny Sex, Gay Love, Football, Politics, and Healthy Living. I also took a Rate your Life quiz, which said I lead an x rated life. (Don't believe everything you read)

I only wish I knew how to link some of them to my site.

Now That's What I Call Football

Glad that's over, now I can start beathing again. What a good game of football that was, only one thing wrong with it, Mexico lost. Even though I was cheering them on all the way they couldn't find that extra goal to take them to penalties. But if they did I don't think my heart would have lasted that long.

God only knows what I'm going to be like tomorrow when England plays. If I don't return you know I died happy watching the footy.

Argentina are immediately on the
back foot when defender Rafael Marquez

sneaks Mexico ahead on five minutes

Dating Perverts

I’ve just been looking on one of the internet dating sites and wonder how many men think us women are thick.

The amount of men who have obviously lied about their age and think us ladies won’t notice is disturbing. Do these men really think they will be able to keep up the lie if they arranged to meet up with any of the women? Ummmm I don’t think so.

I could, at this point name and shame and even post their photos on here, but I’m not that cruel, well not today anyway.

And it’s not just dating sites where men lie. I joined a site called WAYN the other day. For those of you who don’t know, it’s a site where you are supposed to be able to get information about places you are going to visit.

There was a man on there whose profile said he was 35 and his photo looked as if he could be 35. We got chatting and he turned out to be 52 and the photo was 20 years old. His excuse? Well he said no one wanted to chat to a 52 year old. I got news for him; No one wants to chat to a liar!!!

Don’t get me wrong, I know there are some nice people out there and I have made some good friends while surfing the net, but I wish the liars and perverts would stay away from me. Ah perverts I hear you saying to yourself, she didn’t mention them before. Well that’s a subject for another day and then I may be posting the actual chat up lines they use. (Far too rude for this post).
Yes I know there are some women just as bad as some of the men, or so I have been told. I just wish everyone would tell the truth, and then everyone would know where they stood and who they are stood with

A week off? You got to be joking.

A week off? You got to be joking. I have a report to write so I thought I would go into work yesterday and get all the relevant information I needed, email it to myself and write the report at home. Well I thought it was a good plan until I tried to open the attachments, the information I need to write the report.

The problem is, my work uses WordPerfect and I have Word. No matter what I try or how I try it my PC won't let me open the attachments. Now I have a dilemma. Do I go into work and waste another day of my leave or do I just wait until Monday and hope I get enough time, without anyone asking me 'How do I do this?' or Can you just help me a minute?' to write the report?

I have one more thing I can try. I also send it to myself on our internal email system, (Groupwise) I will try to open it there first and hope it works.

If anyone out there knows how I can read the documents in word then Please, Please let me know.

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It worked. My Groupwise has an inbuilt page reader and I was able to copy and paste to a word document. Now all I have to do is write the report!!

World Nettle Eating Championships Held in Dorset

I knew there had to be a reason I don't live in Dorset and today I found out what it was. They're all mad.

I just heard on the kid's news thing on the TV that they had the World Nettle Eating Championships there last weekend.




Large men, obviously very proud of their nettle plants, turned up to see if they could gain the tittle of World Champion.

Women, dressed in their finest Sunday dresses turned out to cheer on the large men, and look on as some women tried to match the eating skills of the men.

The winner was Ed Brooks. He scoffed 48 feet of nettles and was thrilled with winning the title, although he didn't break the world record which is jointly held by Simon Sleigh and Simon Slater (maybe sonething to do with the name Simon) who have both managed to keep down 74 feet of nettles in one sitting.

Jo Carter from Weymouth and Liz Gray from Bath shared the womens' title - they both ate exactly 26 feet of nettles.

New Beginnings

I’ve had to start from the beginning again. I tired hard to keep it up last time but have failed miserably and have had to introduce some extras to keep me interested. Instead of one, which isn’t of much use when it’s not regular, I have decided that at least two is needed, if not more.

Also it’s not just the amount but how many times it happens. Before I was content with just once every now and then, but now, through personal experience, I can say that once is defiantly not enough.

I have decided to start this week because I can dedicate more time as I have the week off work and so it can happen not only at night but also during the day, and I’m not too tired to give it my all.

I have in the past done it alone, but now I feel a friend or two would really make the experience more pleasurable. It would also mean I have more venues to do it in which has to be a bonus.

So many people are too tired or too busy or just don’t want to do it these days. I think that’s a big shame as so much can be gained emotionally and physically.

Wish me luck, I’ll let you know how I get on.

Not to far away, I hope

I've been to Tesco again and have another bottle of Caribbean Twist, but now the sun has gone. I think I will have to put it in the fridge and wait for another hot day. Hope it's not too far away.

Playing Today

National Flag of Iran

Thought I would look up the team I picked out in my work world cup sweepstake.

IRAN

Coach: Branko Ivankovic

Tactics: Hard-working and passionate.

Star Player: Ali Daei - veteran striker who holds the record for goals in international football.

Verdict: Appearance in Germany will raise the profile of Iranian football but it will take a miracle for them to qualify for the last 16. Daei will be looking for at least one more goal to add to his collection before bowing out of international football after the tournament. Group makeweights.

Ten things your didn’t know about Iran

1. Formerly known as Persia, Iran was adopted as the country's official name in 1935.

2. The highest peak in Iran, Mount Damavand (5,604 m/18,386 ft high), is a volcano which last erupted in 500 AD.

3.The country is served by some 167,157 km (103,867 mi) of roads, of which 56% were paved in 1998.

4. In January 2002, in his first State of the Union address, US president George W. Bush referred to Iran as one of three countries operating as an “axis of evil” (alongside Iraq and North Korea) because of its development of long-range missiles. The statement was uniformly condemned in Iran and, indeed, travel guides report the country to be a pleasant place: “Axis of evil?” asks the www.lonelyplanet.com site, “most visitors, after experiencing this friendliest of countries, couldn't agree less.”

5.Jaam-e Jam, Iran’s large-circulation daily newspaper, translates as Jam’s Cup.

6. Iranians can vote in elections from the age of 15

7. The national emblem (a representation of the word Allah in the shape of a tulip, a symbol of martyrdom) appears in red in the white band of the Iranian flag (according to www.flags-flags-flags.org.uk).

8. The text on the Iranian flag, which appears in white on the green and red bands, repeats the words ALLAH AKBAR (God is Great) 22 times. This number relates to the Islamic Revolution of 1979 which occurred on the 22nd day of the 11th month of the Iranian calendar.

9. The currency is the rial. According to www.lonelyplanet.com a double pack of toilet paper in Iran costs IR7,000 (about 43 pence).

10.Shiraz, in addition to being a pleasant variety of red wine, is a city in Iran with a renowned university.

Sun, Sand and Rum Punch

I'm tired and it's only 10pm. If you know me you may be wondering how that can be. If you don't know me you may be thinking 'so what'.

I'm a bit of a night owl and don't go to bed until at least 1.30am, usually later. Tonight I think I will be going as soon as I've finished this blog.

It all started when I was talking to friends about the last holiday I had, which is nearly a year ago now. The talk lead me to looking at my holiday photos and that lead me to wishing I was back in Barbados again.

It was so hot there and the sea was so warm.
I can still, if the house is very quiet, imagine lying on the beach with just the sound of the waves crashing on the sand. The beach we used to go to was like our own personal space. In the two weeks we were there only a hand full of people used the same beach and they were usually men coming home from work. They would park their bikes up at the edge of the sand, take off their tee-shirts and run into the sea, while I just lay there, soaking up the sun, thoughts of England far away.

Still with Barbados on my mind I went shopping at Tesco the other night and came across a drink which looked the same as the Barbados Rum Punch I used to drink while sitting on the balcony waiting for the night life to begin. Although the label on the bottle of Rum Punch said 'Ready to drink' it was clear from the first sip I had that it was far stronger than even the double vodka and cokes I drink while at home.


Anyway, back to the pink drink in Tesco. The drink was called Caribbean Twist, 'A sparkling blend of exotic fruit with Superior White Rum' Once again my thoughts went back to the hot lazy days on the beach, the slow pace of life and the very friendly people. I put one bottle into my trolley and decided I would save it for when I was sat out in the garden on one of those 'too hot to do anything' days.

I know today wasn't one of those days but I couldn't wait any longer. As soon as I got home from work I switched the TV on, tuned it to the football, got my bottle of Caribbean Twist out of the fridge and got myself a nice tall glass. I poured the drink so the glass was full and took my first sip. Ummm, not as strong as the Rum Punch but just as nice. I sat watching the football, shouting at the TV every now and then and before I knew it the bottle was empty.

Since then I have watched another game of football, which Germany were lucky to win, read some blogs written by other people and sat and wrote this one. Now I know why I don't usually drink at home, I can hardly keep my eyes open.

Time for bed I think.

World Cup Sweepstake Disaster

Well it looks like my £2 has just gone down the drain. Iran have just lost their opening match against Mexico and their next match is against Portugal, which I don't think they have any hope of winning. I think I had better just stick to England and save all my energy to cheer them on, God knows they need the encouragement and a positive attitude would be a bonus too.

Off to watch the next game, Angola v Portugal.

See you all later

Bravo puts Mexico ahead.

And I thought it may have been different

We've just finished watching the England game and what a disappointment it was.

I had left my home at 8.30 this morning, after over sleeping for two hours, to collect my daughter from uni. I broke all the speed limits on the way there, packed the car in record time and then broke all the speed limits on the way home, except for the bit of the M27 where traffic was at a stand still due to an accident We arrived home with 15 minutes to go till kick off. I parked the car in the drive and rushed over to our local, leaving all my daughters stuff still packed in the back.

We walked over to the pub and by the time we got served the first half was already underway. We had our pints in hand just in time to see the one and only goal of the game. Yes the goal was good but the rest of the game was the usual boring England side we have seen so many times before.

We only stayed in the pub for the first half and watched the rest at home. Half way through the second half I looked at my daughter and had to ask her what way England were shooting, so boring was it that I had lost concentration. She had no idea because she was reading the free paper we get delivered every Saturday, she said it was more interesting then the football. It wasn't until we spotted our Goalie we knew what goal we were aiming for.

I can only hope that England change their tactics and play to score goals for a whole game by the time they play Trinidad and Tobago.

First game gets the cup off to a good start

The long awaited World Cup has started with a good game in which Germany won 4-2. Two excellent goals by Germany have set the stage for the best goal of the world cup. Can't wait till tomorrow for England to play. Pray for quiet roads as I have to collect my daughter from Portsmouth in the morning and get back in time for the match.

Klose's two goals helped Germany on their way to victory

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Did I mention how nice Torsten Frings is? Mmmmm

World Cup on TV - from 04/06/006

I have at last found the BBC and ITV schedules for the world cup.
You can find them at :-

http://worldcup.itv.com/WorldCup_On_ITV/0,16741,6849,00.html

and

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football

Happy viewing

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Time has run out

Well another week of leave has come and gone and tomorrow I will be back at work. Feeling really miserable now.
but I can't really complain, the weather has been sunny and I have been lazing around all week, althought I was supposed to be getting a lot done in the house, once again I haven't. Maybe my next leave will be different, I've only got 2 weeks to wait for that then I'm off for another week. Lucky me.

This is where I work. You'll be forgiven if you think it's a prison, it's not, but it is in Hartcliffe and why we need barbed wire around it.

The one and only Symes House

RSI - from 03/06/06

Because I'm not planning to go out this weekend I decided to spend my energy doing something else. I thought I would start with the garden.

In my garden I have a bit which goes down the side of my house. At the end of this there is my shed, which I keep allsorts of crap in. Well I have some more crap to add to it so I thought I would go and check out how much room I have in there and how much more I could squeeze in.
So out into the garden I went. Bloody hell it was hot out there, I didn't notice before cause it's the first time I had ventured out of the house today. So off come the jumper leaving only a strappy top, much better. WhenI turned the corner of the house and looked down the side I had the shock of my life. Why is it that when I can't grow anything green or keep house plants alive, do I have hoards of weeds, some of which are up to my waist?

Back into the house and a quick look under the sink found the weed killer. I have two different ones, both in a spray bottle and both with quite a bit left in them.

Back out into the garden and I start to spray the offending weeds. After about 5 minutes of spraying my wrists were hurting so much I had to have a rest. Making myself a coffee I remember the dogs are in the garden. One quick bang of their biscuit cupboard and they are in, without, I hope, having gone near the weed killer. I think next time I am home and bored I will keep my back door closed and find out what awaits me outside the front one.

Lessons Learnt - from 02/06/06

This week I have learnt 3 important lessons.

1. Don't drive to Portsmouth on a hot day wearing a jumper
2. Even friends stab you in the back sometimes
3. Honesty doesn't always pay

Lets Hope I have a better week next week.

What's under the bonnet? - from 01/06/06

When do you know it's time to put oil in your car?

When you lift up the bonnet and don't recognise one little bit of it.

This is what happened to me. I have had this car for about a year now and thought I had checked the oil before but when I had a look under the bonnet, the place where you put the oil seemed to have moved. Further more where you put water had also moved. I had a think and then it came to me. The last time I looked under a bonnet was infact the bonnet of my last car. Needless to say I gave my car a well deserved drink of water and oil and promised her I wouldn't leave it so long next time.

Week Off doing..................... - from 30/05/06

Well I got the week off again and have planned to do so many things. This being the first day, I didn't count yesterday cause everyone had that off, I thought I would have a look on the net to see what's about. I found this joke which I'm sure most women can relate to:-

Q: What is the difference between men and women?
A: A woman wants one man to satisfy her every need.
A man wants every woman to satisfy his one need.

I'll keep you updated if I find anything else of interest.

Internet Dating - from 29/05/06

If you've ever thought about meeting someone you've met on the internet watch this short film first, you may change your mind.

http://www.ukscreen.com/screen/103

Just for Lou - from 12/05/06

Taken just after the thunder storm tonight.

Horsing Around - from 08/05/06

On Saturday I went up to a nearby farm where my friend, Paulette, keeps her horse. I was only giving her a lift as I don't really like horses, well to be truthful I am afraid of them, ever since I was thrown off one when I was about ten years old. Anyway I couldn't leave without having a good look around and started to wander.I met Pete, the farmer, who was busy shearing some sheep and found some chickens locked in a small barn. As I walked in between the barns I spotted a horse which was heavily pregnant. As I stood thinking how glad I was that I didn't have to give birth to something as big as a horse, Paulette came over and told me that the horse was due to give birth within the next couple of days.Paulette went into the enclosure and made a bit of a fuss over the horse while I waited on the outside, making sure the gate didn't open. We stayed about five more minutes and then made our way home, discussing on the way where we were going to go that night.

Sunday morning I received a text off Paulette to say that the horse had given birth a couple of hours earlier and would I give her a lift up to the farm again so she could see the new foal. I couldn't resist. I threw on some clothes, picked Paulette up and headed for the farm.When we arrived the owner was there with about 5 other people who also keep horses there. We went into the enclosure, I was feeling a bit braver since I reckoned the horse would be more interested in her foal than biting me, and Paulette give the new mum some of her polos as a reward for doing such a hard job.

The photos were taken about 5 hours after the foal was born.

Strange Protection - from 07/05/06

What a crap week it's been. I started the week not quite my happy self and that's how it seemed to continue until Friday night.
I've had to write reports at home most nights, when I haven't been distracted by more enjoyable subjects, and it's been busy in work too. I was glad when Friday came and the clock was getting closer to 4.30, that magic time when the pc gets turned off for a whole two days.
Unfortunately 4.30 came and went and I was still in work, well, out on a home visit to be more precise. One where the police were just about to become involved. Luckily I wasn't on duty and I was just helping out the duty worker so at 5pm, while she was still trying to sort the situation out, I was on my way home, planning the evening ahead.And what a good night it turned out to be.
We went to our usual place but it seemed different, not sure why. Whether it was me feeling happier or the fact that I was just glad to be out with no responsibility I don't know, but what ever it was I had a great time.
I was out with my mate, Paulette and her daughter Kate and unlike other weeks where we stayed together the whole evening, I hardly saw them. Not too sure what they were doing, but I was on the dance floor most of the night, apart from when I was at the bar.
There was this one bloke there whom I had met for the first time while getting a drink. I, being friendly and a little nosey, well very nosey, started to talk to him, asking him things like 'Where do you live? What job do you do'? etc. etc. We talked for about 10 minutes and off he went. (It's surprising how much a nosey person can find out in 10 minutes. I think I know his complete life story). Anyway, after that meeting, every time I turned around he seemed to be there, right behind me.
I didn't take any notice at first but then he started to get on my nerves. Every time I went on to the dance floor and there was the slightest hint that a man may join me, he would come up to where I was dancing and look at the man. Then he would turn to me and say 'You ok?' This happened several times and each time I told him I was fine and he would then stand at the edge of the dance floor watching. Also, during the evening he seemed to be there every time I texted my friend and on one occasion he asked who I was texting, I told him it was a friend.
At about 12.30 my friend arrived, the one I had been texting. I had just give him a hug and said hello when, there he was again, the man. Again he asked if I was ok and I replied 'Yes'. I was quite annoyed by now and needed him to stop bothering me. I walked up to him, he was still standing watching me, and whispered in his ear, 'You know that friend I have been texting all night? Well that's him' It did the trick, he looked at my friend and briskly walked away, never to bother me again.
I'm not sure what his problem was or why he felt the need to 'protect' me, but I hope he doesn't try it again, I don't think my patience will last so long if he does.
The rest of the evening carried on in the way that it had started, lots of fun, only now I had my friend with me and knew that things could only get better

Its like sorting your head out - from 01/05/06

I've just spent the last hour or so sorting through my wardrobe. The end result is a large bag of clothes to take to the charity shop, jeans that are too big since I lost lots of weight and many skirts that I have no use for now. Most of the skirts I have only worn a couple of times so I am sure someone, somewhere will be able to put them to better use than I can now.

Buying new clothes can be difficult if you are not sure what occasion you are buying them for and who will be seeing you in them. For work I usually wear jeans but I think I would like a change and wear something more suited to my job. Not too sure what but I am sure if I think about it long enough I will be able to go and buy a whole new look and completely change the image my work colleagues and clients have when they look at me.

Well I had better get back to the ironing, no one else is going to do it.

Fish and ..............Part 2 - from 17/04/06

I knew I would need a new heater so was prepared to fork out my hard earned cash for a new one and as I had received some extra money from work, I decided to renew the contents of the filter.

I took the filter apart, for the first time since I bought it, and found parts that I didn’t know existed. There were four separate filer sections each with their own filter material. The first section contain a sponge, the second, a finer sponge like material inside a frame, the third, two blocks of what looked like lava rock and the fourth, small pieces of clay like substance that looked like elongated washers. I placed all these into a bag and off to Tropiquarium I headed. A great shop where they are very helpful and sell everything you need to keep fish.

The two guys in the shop, brothers I think, looked at me as I entered. Their faces seemed to light up as if business had been a bit slow and I had the feeling they were not going to let me go until I had purchased something. I removed the contents of my bag and placed it on the counter. They looked at each other, then at me, their expressions quite puzzled. I explained what had happen and that I wanted to renew all of the filter materials. They took one of the items I had placed on the counter and, with disappointment in his voice one of the guys said they did not stock the make of filter or the materials I needed. Nor did they have the heater I thought I needed for the size of my tank. They asked me a couple of questions regarding my tank and assured me that a smaller heater would suffice. I bought the heater from them and they directed me to a shop, Mar Pets, which they were sure, stocked the type of filter and materials I needed.

I had been to Mar pets several times before but never to buy fish equipment. My parents used to keep Canaries and we used to go there to buy hemp seed and various other bird related items. I was feeling quite optimistic that I would soon be going home with all I needed to set up my tank.

Once again I took out the contents of my bag and placed it on the counter. Once again the man behind the counter looked at me with a quizzed expression on his face. I explained that I had been to Tropiquarium and they had said he would have what I needed to replace the materials in my filter.
‘Ummm’ he murmured, more to himself than me, ‘No we don’t stock that make, but I can order it for you. It will take about four days to arrive’
I agreed this would probably be the best thing to do and he set about looking on his computer for what I needed.

The first two items, the two sponge like items, were easy to find and he proceeded to click on my ‘shopping basket’ to add them to my order. As for the lava like rock and the clay like washers, they were nowhere to be found. He took another look at them, from all possible angles and tried again, still no luck. At that point I came to the conclusion it would be a lot easy to buy a completely new filter.
I looked around the shop and spotted a filter that would suit my tank. They have to be the right size or the water in the tank wouldn’t get cleaned properly, leading to more dead fish. I took the filter to the counter and handed over my switch card. The man was very helpful, telling me all about my new filter and showing me the filter material inside. This comprised of just two sponges, both the same size, which he assured me he stocked. I gathered up my now useless items and my new filter and made my way home.

Still more to come, don't forget to return and read the concluding (I hope) part,

The tank so far

Fish and …………. - from 08/04/06

Fish and ………….


‘Go on mum, it would be really nice’ my daughter was saying once again to me ‘You have two weeks off so you will have time to do it’

This request was due to a tragedy which had happened about six months previously..........

It was a normal week day morning. My daughter was still in bed and I was shouting up the stairs every couple of minutes, ‘Come on Amy, you’re going to be late and if you’re late that means I’m going to be late’

I usually like to get down stairs before her so I can sit and drink my coffee in relative peace, but we were running a bit late this particular morning. I had been up late reading blogs. You know how one leads to another and before you know it bed time has come and gone, but you are still sat at your computer saying to yourself ‘Just one more then I will go up’.

I had walked through the sitting room into the kitchen, letting the dogs out on the way, and made my coffee. On the way back to the sofa, where I usually sit in the mornings, I happened to glance at the fish tank, which was next to my computer. Something was not right. The fish didn’t seem to be swimming. On closer inspection I could see that some of the fish were floating in mid water, while others were either floating on the top or resting at the bottom of the tank. They were all dead. I had turned off the light the night before just before going to bed and all was ok then but now they were all lifeless and decaying.

I stood for a couple of minutes thoughts going through my mind as to what could have happened during the night to cause all my fish, some of which had names and were like members of the family, to die so suddenly. I called my daughter once again and this time I added ‘the fish are all dead’. With this I heard her jump out of bed and run down the stairs.

‘Why?’ she said, staring at the fish tank. ‘What happened?’
I said I didn’t know and for her to hurry up and get ready for school, I had already been late for work twice that week and didn’t want to make it a third time. She went back up stairs and into the bath room and I sat down on the sofa to drink my coffee, all the time looking at the fish tank, wondering.

Now I had a dilemma. Do I try to get the dead fish out now and risk being late for work or do I leave them till I get home? I decided to lift the lid of the tank and have a look directly at the fish floating on the top. As soon as my nose was over the top of the tank I wished I had waited till after work.

The smell was like rotting carcases in an abattoir. It was the sort of smell that lingers in your nostrils for hours after. The fish looked flaky, like they would have if they had been cooked, I put my finger into the water, and it felt very hot and slimly. The heater had gone wrong and had been heating the water all night. The fish WERE cooked.
I decided to put the lid back on the tank and leave it till I got home from work. This was going to be a big job, not just a case of netting the fish and putting them down the toilet. On the contrary, I was going to have to completely empty the tank and disinfect it and all its contents.

Well that was six months ago and I have finally got around to setting it up again. Easy, you would think and so did I until I started it…….

End of Part One.

Watch out for Part Two coming to a screen near you very soon.

Busy again - from 02/04/06

Well I've had quite a busy weekend really. Went out with friends on Friday night, Umm not a bad time. We tried somewhere new and it took me a while to get into the swing of it, but a few vodka's soon took care of that.

Saturday I met up with some other friends and we went off to see Bristol City. We started the afternoon in The Robins pub. We got there quite early about 11.30 I think. I was supposed to be giving a lift to a friend and his family but ended up getting a taxi.

The night before I had driven my car to my mate's and left it there while we went into town. On Saturday I walked back down to my mate's house, jumped into my car and turned the key. Nothing. Turned the key again, still nothing. I sat for a couple of minutes wondering 'what now'. I phoned my friend who I was picking up and explained about the car. We went through a couple 'could it be' and the car still wouldn't start. We did manage to work out it wasn't the battery and came to the conclusion it was most probably the starting motor. There wasn't going to be a quick and easy solution so we decided we had better phone for a taxi. The chap on the control at the taxi firm was really nice and sent a five seater to collect me. We chatted football all the way to pick up my friend and his family. It turned out he used to play football and his brother used to play for Cheltenham and was captain for Gloucester County.

We arrived at The Robins with time to spare before another friend, who was coming from Yeovil, arrived.
The game was quite good with Bristol City beating Yeovil Town 2-1, although Yeovil looked like scoring a second all through the second half. The City supporters were relieved to hear the final whistle but all I wanted to do was find out how Plymouth Argyle had got on. Then I heard it. Plymouth had beaten Wolves 2-0.
Off to the pub to celebrate. We were going to call back into The Robins but we were cold and still a bit wet from the down pour at half time so we decided to go a bit more local. A couple more beers and a chip butty later I decided it was time to go home and have a nap before meeting them later at my local.

Back home I sat and relaxed on the sofa, my eyes feeling very tired, I finally gave into sleep. I woke up at 3am, TV still on, and too late to go to the pub.

Sunday morning and my car was still at my friends house. I text my other friend, who's partner is brill with cars and explained my predicament to her, Once again she came to my rescue and arranged for her partner to pick me up and go to have a look at my car. About two minutes after we arrived at the car he had found what was wrong. One of the cables going to the starting motor had broken off and was hanging loose. We bump started the car and I drove it to his house. While I sat drinking coffee with my friend catching up on some gossip, he was outside, hard at work under the bonnet of my car. He came in briefly to show me the broken cable and then he was back outside fixing it. Half an hour later it was all done.

Now I'm back home looking forward to the two weeks I have off work. My daughter is due home next weekend and we are off to the theatre on Saturday, really looking forward to that.

Just heard the ping, so my tea must be ready.
Bye for now.

Secret Viewing - from 26/03/06

After going out Wednesday night, Thursday night and Friday night, by the time Saturday night came I was too knackered to do anything except veg out in front of the TV. Well, I thought, no problem, its ages since I watched all the good weekend stuff and I was quite looking forward to it. That is until I started to flick around the channels (not only a man thing), and couldn't find one thing which was mildly interesting or entertaining or even mind numbing, where you can sit with your eyes on the TV but your mind somewhere else. Bloody hell what was I going to do now. I know I should have come home earlier the night before and maybe not spent so much money. That way some energy and the funds would be there if I wanted to go out.

After sitting and wallowing in self pity for about 10 minutes, debating whether or not to walk over to my local I remembered the TV had a hidden extra, something which I had received a letter about and put in the bin after reading just the first sentence. TELEPORT. Now was my chance to see what my money had been paying for each month, what my daughter had been watching the other night when I sent her up stairs because I wanted to chat to my friend about 'adult' stuff.

With remote in hand I pressed the interactive button. God how come I hadn't noticed before all this extra stuff my TV could do? The answer probably has something to do with me never being at home since I had found my local, just five minutes walk from my house.

My friend and I have renamed the pub 'The queen Vic'. It's just like the pub in Eastenders. Lots of fights in the bar, regulars who arrive straight from work and don't leave until they are kicked out by Dave the landlord, several couples swapping partners, without each of them knowing they are doing so and the best thing of all, the landlady. If you want to know who went home with whom or what time that bloke you fancy was last in, she's the one to ask. I don't think there's one thing that goes on in the pub that goes unnoticed by her and she passes her knowledge on willingly to anyone who wants to know. She will even make it her business to single you out to tell you information if she thinks it is something you should know. Dave, the landlord, though not quite as bad as his wife, also knows who is with whom and who should be with who and if they are not with each other he will ask!!

Anyway, getting back to the subject I was writing about, Teleport, I was able to watch the second part of dramas I had missed, only being in to watch the first part. Even though I had to watch the first part again to remind myself what it was about. And then there's Cracker. I used to love that when it was first shown. I watch one of the episodes last night and couldn't see why I ever liked it in the first place. Funny how time changes lots of things for no apparent reason including what and who we like.

I'm not taking any chances next weekend, I've already got my time arranged. Friday night is town night and Saturday i will be at the city ground watching 22 men trying to play football (don't ask it's a long story) but the best bit is the pub crawl after. Watch out Ashton here we come.

Man goes missing while buying a waterproof coat - from 08/03/06

While reading the lost and found column in the local paper last week, I came across the advert below:-


Lost, one white male approximately 6ft tall.
Last communication was at the end of January when he said he was going to buy a waterproof coat so he could walk in the rain.
If seen, do not approach as he can be a little weird and often talks in riddles.


I wonder if he bought the coat, if he didn’t he would be very wet with the amount of rain we have had this week.

The first of two this month - from 05/03/06

Plymouth Argyle have moved up one more place since I last wrote about them. Saturday saw them win against Brighton, although they should have won by a bigger margin, it was still a win. Their next match will be the first of two against Preston this month. Preston are nine points ahead of Plymouth in the Championship and are currently at 6th position. The two teams haven't met this season yet, a match was postponed eariler this year due to the pitch being frozen, so there is no past match to look back on and see how they played against each other.
With a win on Tuesday Plymouth could well go up into 10th position as the three teams above them, Coventry, Luton and Norwich, don't have their next match until Saturday 11th March and only one point below Ipswich. (watch out Jack we're coming to get you) If that happens it will be the highest Argyle have been in the Championship league since the beginning of the season and with the form they are on at present, they won't be stopping there.

Energy - from 04/03/06

After a night of drinking, I have woken up surprisingly full of life. Not sure what I should do with all this energy, Saturdays are usually spent recovering, so this is a bit of a strange feeling. I have already changed the covers on my sofa and done a general tidy up in the sitting room. I was thinking about stripping the paper off my bedroom walls ready for someone to put some more up for me, I don't do decorating so I need a man who can. I did, by chance, meet one of my daughter's old class mates last week, Dan, brother of Bree. My friends and I and my brother and his partner, went to the pub last Saturday and I think I must have had a few too many because I found myself saying, 'right all back to my house' Something I have never done before but the boyfriend of one of my friends, friends, was this guy who knew my daughter. We didn't realise this until about 3am and he had been at my house about 2 hours by then. Anyway, he is just finishing a three year painting and decorating course and, being the nice lad he is, offered to come and decorate my bedroom for me, for free. How can I refuse an offer like that. Think I had better go shopping for wall paper today, not sure what I want, I may call in and get my friend to help me find just the right one. Well that's enough of me rambling on, I had better go and find something to do with all this energy.

Now at 14th - from 18/02/06

Coventry City may have beat Southampton on Wednesday but they couldn't do the same to Plymouth. Today at Home Park Vincent Pericard, who is on loan from Portsmouth, scored a hat-trick to give Plymouth a 3-1 win. This takes Plymouth one more place up the Championship league to 14th, with the same points as Burnley.
Our next match is away against Derby County on the 25th. Lets hope we can get a better result than the last time the two teams met, Derby beat Plymouth back in August 2-0.

Waiting to go out, very bored - from 16/02/06

With three hours to go, I have already washed and dried my hair and the clothes I am going to wear tonight are ready laid out on my bed. I wonder if I will be phoning my daughter for advice tonight? She has been able to answer my questions in the past and has been very good at giving just the right one, I wonder if she will be on the end of the phone tonight for me just in case I need her?
Umm not sure if I should drink tonight or just stick to coke. True enough I do like my vodka, but I did manage to go out last night and not a drop touched my lips. I know I think a lot better and clearer when I don't have a drink, just one drink can effect my judgement as most ppl in my mobile know, sorry if I have text you when I have had a drink, take no notice. I did sort my numbers out the other day so some people won't be harassed anymore by midnight texts and phone calls. (I'm sure they know who they are by the fact I haven't text them)
It's Friday tomorrow and I can't believe I have had the week off and have don't nothing, well apart from going out every night. I still have lots of paper work to do before Monday so I think I will have a busy weekend, that's if my hang overs aren't too bad.
My youngest daughter went to stay with family on Friday but when I phoned to see how she was on Monday she was ill so I ended up going to Buckingham to collect her. I am used to driving but it's usually mostly motorway, the trip to Bucks was dreadful, loads of road works and mostly A roads.
Well I just got a text from my friend and we're going out a bit earlier so I had better go and put some war paint on. Bye for now

Watching with Interest - from 14/02/06

Will Plymouth Argyle be the only team to beat Reading from the Championship league this season? It's not looking very good for any other team at the moment. Reading are at the top of the league, 12 points clear of their nearest rival, Sheffield United, who only managed a draw against them tonight.

Mean while Argyle are creeping up the league and are now 15th and still with a game in hand over 9 of the teams above them. They play Coventry City on the 18th at their home ground of Home Park. Coventry are currently one place above Plymouth but I have a feeling that after Saturday, Argyle will be waving good bye to them as we head on up the league again, leaving behind teams who when you use to say 'Plymouth Argyle' to them they used to say 'Plymouth who?' Well no more is that the case, Plymouth are a team to be reckoned with and anyone who thinks they will be a push over should think again.

Endings - from 05/02/06

Well I don't think I should be writing this now because I have just come home from the pub, but I am going to anyway.

It's sad when something ends, even if that something wasn't a regular event. It tends to leave an empty feeling, like something is missing. if you've been use to either talking to someone or seeing someone and that suddenly stops, what is there to replace it? if you had warning that it was going to stop then you can plan what you will do instead, but when you think it is still there and then realise that actually it has gone and you didn't even notice that it was going, then it is hard to accept. You are always hoping you are wrong, that there is something still there, but in you heart you know that the person you thought you knew is no longer there.

Wouldn't it be much better if people were able to be up front, no matter what the other persons reaction will be, then everyone will know where they stand and be able to move on much easier.

Be open and honest there's no better way to keep friends.

Found - from 29/01/06

When she woke the sun was shining through the wooden blinds and she could just about make out a noise, which she couldn't recall hearing before, coming from somewhere else in the flat. She lay there for a moment reliving the events of the night before.
'Was this the one?' she thought out loud, 'Could she have made another mistake?'
He seemed to have all the characteristics of the last one, but was definitely more loving and maybe, just maybe, a little more handsome.

She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and sat up, slowly. Her body was aching and she still felt tired, the events from the night before taking their toll. She couldn't remember the last time she felt so happy. After, what seemed, a life time of searching she had found him, and this time she wasn't going to lose him.

The last one had left, leaving no clue to where he was going. She had cried for days over him. Her heart felt heavy for weeks and she found herself thinking about him in the most strangest of places. Once she was in the queue at Tesco and the woman in front of her had just placed his favourite food on the belt. Tears had flowed down her face and the woman in front had turned and stared at her as if she had never seen anyone crying before. She didn't care, she missed him so much.

A loud bang brought her back to the present time. She threw on her dressing gown and headed for the kitchen. There she found one of the pans she had washed up the night before, on the floor. Next to the pan was the plate she had given him his supper on, now empty. He must have knocked it off, but where was he now? She turned and slowly walked towards the living room, trying not to make too much noise, she didn't want to scare him on his first morning in the flat.

Then she spotted him, sitting on the sofa, in the same place she usually sat. She went over to him and gently put her hand on his head, her fingers going through his hair, moving gradually down his back.
'So there you are' she softly whispered. 'Did you sleep well?'
He looked up at her, his green eyes full of love. The only sound in the room was him, purring loudly. She pick him up and placed him on her lap, it was all worth it, she thought. Finding you trapped in that old building, climbing over walls, breaking down doors, was all worth it now I have you.

Oh when the Saints - from 28/01/06

Southampton have won with a 91st minute goal by Jones and are through to the 5th round of the FA cup, lets see if they can do as well against Plymouth Argyle.

Tony Pulis, manager of Argyle, was at the match to see what The Pilgrims will be up against next Tuesday, I don't think he will be too worried as most of the game was described by the commentators as a 'shambles'

I will be listening to the game on the net as Radio Solent have decided to let all the Saints supports listen to their team being trashed.

Roll on Tuesday

Will it happen? - from 22/01/06

Plymouth Argyle played a good game on Saturday beating Crewe two goals to one. Next in line for Argyle on the 24th January, are Leicester City, who they drew against in their last home match with a 0-0 result. Argyle will be hoping for a better result this time around to take them even higher up the league and further away from the relegation zone. And with another home match lined up for 31st January, who knows they could move another two or three places away from the bottom teams, taking the pressure off the players and allowing them to get on with the art of playing football.
There's just one other small point to make here. Argyle still have 2 games in hand over most of the other teams in the championship, lets hope the points don't go to waste.

Addiction - from 14/01/06

It took all my will power, but I did it and now I am really proud of myself. Proud because I usually don't stick to things and my will power is chased out the door, but on this occasion I found the strength to keep to what I wanted and now I feel, (I would like to say happy, but I think that's not how I feel) a little empty maybe, but I do feel I have broken a barrier which had been with me a long time.

Now for the hardest bit, sticking to what I want. This is going to be really difficult and I am going to have to take some drastic steps to ensure I never go back to it again. I think it must be like being addicted to drugs, always in the back of your mind, always that craving there.

I will need to fill the gap with something different and I should start looking straight away. I know it's not going to be easy, saying goodbye to something I like so much, but it has to be done and I know with the help of my friend, Lez, I will be able to conquer this 'addiction' once and for all.

Well here's wishing me luck!!!

The workings of a man's mind - from 08/01/06

While looking on the net for a site that may help me to understand how men's minds work, thats if anyone does, I came across a book which I feel would be interesting while informative. I thought I would let all you women out there share the info I found, cause unless you are a sex changed female, you won't have a clue how they work either.

The book is called 'He's Just Not That Into You: The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys'

Author: Greg Behrendt (note a man wrote it)

About the book:
He's Just Not That Into You is provocative, hilarious, and, above all, intoxicatingly liberating. It deserves a place on every woman's night table. It knows you're a beautiful, smart, funny woman who deserves better. The next time you feel the need to start "figuring him out," consider the glorious thought that maybe He's just not that into you. And then set yourself loose to go find the one who is.

I'll let you know how they work when I've read the book.

Yesterdays Events - from 08/01/06

After time to reflect on yesterdays events, I have decided that its not that bad really.

Feeling a bit low anyway, I drove home from Portsmouth listening to talk sport, following every word that was spoken. No mention of Plymouth for ages and then a round up of the scores so far. Plymouth were 1-0 down. Well there was still plenty of time for them to score and it being such an important match, I was sure they would. Other teams were putting the ball in the net like there was no tomorrow but it was not to be for Argyle. Even with me, all by myself in the car randomly shouting out comments like 'come on you can do it' and 'ffs just one goal, that's all you need' didn't help things. Although there were lots of mentions of other teams such as Southampton, who won their game 4-3, Plymouth's name was not heard again. I got home just in time to get the full time scores on the TV. Maybe, just maybe they had scored and it had not been reported on talk sport. I was hoping against all odds that is what had happened. But my hope soon turned to disappointment. There it was on the TV for all to see. Wolves 1 Plymouth 0.
But as I said at the begining, its not all bad. Now Plymouth can concentrate on the matches they have left in the league. Without the distraction of the FA cup I am sure they will be able to climb up to at least 13th or 14th position by the end of the season, keeping them in the Championship for another season.


And if you're wondering, Yes my cup is always half full!

They are coming - from 07/01/06

They are coming and we can not stop them. They will be here next Tuesday all suited and booted, with their rule book's in their brief cases. They are just like you and I but with lots more power. They will be watching and listening, to all that is said and done. Who will they pick on? Not me I hope!
The last time they came we were all rushing round, trying to get things just right for them but this time its different. We have just carried on as normal, not changed a thing and I think it will be our down fall. Those higher up will get a roasting, which will be passed on to us. I don't want to leave the house next Tuesday, I don't even want to get out of bed.

Argyle on the box - from 03/01/06

I'm not sure if that was a real football game I just watch or if it was a practice session. If Plymouth think they will be able to make it in a league where there are top class teams, they will have to think again. I sat and waited with anticipation for Argyle to show me why they are now in the Championship league, but all I saw was a side who couldn't pass the ball to one of their own players if their life depended on it. What a disappointment.

The first half wasn't too bad and Argyle managed to hold their own againt Leeds but during the second half, Leeds showed why they are at the top end of the league. their passing was far superior to that of Argyle's and their accuracy in placing the ball just where they needed it was what won them the match in the end.

Plymouth's next game will be against Wolves on Saturday, the last time they met the score was 1-1 so lets hope Argyle get some practice in and tighten up on their passing and get though to the next round of the FA cup.

Plymouth's man of the match, in my opinion, was Akos Buzsaky. I only hope he stays at Argyle and dosen't decide to move on just yet.

Plymouth move up three places - 25/01/06

I wish I lived in Plymouth

Then I would have been able to watch as Argyle beat Leicester City 1-0 tonight. This win takes them three places up the Championship league ending up one place above Southampton and on the same points as Coventry City.
Of course Argyle still have one game in hand over most of the other teams in the league and another win will see them up with the likes of Stoke City. who at present are on the same goal difference.

Plymouth Argyle's next match is not until a weeks time, on the 31st January, giving them plenty of time to rest up and preserve their energy. Their opponents on that day will be Southampton, who have two games before they travel to Home park. Tomorrow they meet Crystal Palace and then on Saturday they play Leicester City in the FA cup.
I wish I lived in Plymouth

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Update 25th January

Plymouth's win final straw for Leicester

It seems that Plymouth's win over Leicester City was the last straw for the club and it was announced today that the club's manager, Craig Levein is to leave the club with immediate effect. Along with Craig, coaches Peter Houston and Kenny Black will also be leaving the club. Assistant manager Rob Kelly will take charge of the team in the short term with assistance from goalkeeping coach Mike Stowell.

Christmas has arrived,well nearly - Originally posted 23/12/05

Well I finally put up our tree so Santa has somewhere to leave the pressies. I thought I would quickly put it up while the girls were at their dads but it didn't turn out to be quite that easy.
First of all I had to get it down from the loft. I'm not the best person at climbing, I placed the ladder at the top of the stairs, where the hatch for the loft happens to be, and started to climb it. I got to the top and opened the hatch and all was in darkness, I had forgotten the plug for the loft light was in the cupboard I had just placed the ladder in front of. Back down the ladder I went, moved it out of the way and found the plug and plugged it in. I went back up the ladder, which by now I was a little shaky on, and opened the hatch again. Now the light was on I could see all the cob webs which were attached to the hatch.

Visions of massive black spiders on the other side of the hatch filled my head. Should I just give up now? I know Amy would be really disappointed if I did, or should I wait for Lou to come home so she could face the killer spiders? No, I decided I could do it with a little mind over matter thinking and by telling myself that I was a grown woman and after all I was a lot bigger than any spider I should happen to come across up there.

I lifted the hatch to one side and poked my head into the loft space. I could see the Christmas tree, where Lou had placed it when I made her put it up there last January. Seeing the tree was the easy bit, being able to reach it was a bit more difficult. Lou has longer legs than me and is able to get right up into the loft, but my legs aren't long enough to get me from the top of the ladder to the edge of the hatch. I looked around the loft to see if there was anything within reach that I could use as a type of fishing rod which would act as a hook to drag the tree to the hatch.

I found a long length of wood, which used to be one of the side rails on the girls bunk beds. I managed to pick the wood up and then I started to poke at the box which the tree was in. The box moved about 2 inches and then got stuck on another box which was full of 'things from the past' which should have been thrown away years ago but me being me, I could never quite bring myself to do it. Moving the 'past things' box out of the was I could see there was a section of the tree percariously clinging to the edge of the box by only one of its branches. One wrong move and it would fall. Well you guessed it, I dragged the box a few more inches and out it fell. Now not only did I have to get the box to the hatch but also the section of the tree which had fallen out. After about 30 minutes I managed to pull the box to the opening. Then after another 45 minutes the other piece was next to the box, now all I had to do was get it all out of the opening, down the ladder and into the sitting room.

I took the piece that had escaped the box and throw it down to the ground, that bit was easy. What was more difficult was getting the box through the opening and down the ladder while not falling off myself. I balanced the box on one hand and held on tight to the ladder with my other hand as I started to climb back down. It's surprising how heavy a Christmas tree can be when you are up a ladder, trying not to drop the box, while also trying to climb down. After a few frightening moments when I thought me and the tree were going to end up at the bottom of the stairs, I had done it. We were safe.

By the time the girls had returned from their dads the tree had been decorated. Lou didn't even notice it and all Amy said was 'oh the trees up'
Ummmm next year I don't think I will bother.

One For the Pilgrims - Originally posted19/12/2005

Nick Chadwick scores within 12 seconds

Argyle took only 12 seconds and 5 touches of the ball to go from 0-0 to 1-0 up against Crystal Palace and Palace hadn't even touched the ball.
The final score was Argyle 2 Crystal Palace 0.

See the full match report at the link below.

www.pafc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/Report/0,,10364~30682,00.html

WHAT DOES YOUR NAME MEAN? - Originally posted 18/12/05

Umm, how did my mum know I was going to be just like this?

You entered: vivienne

There are 8 letters in your name.
Those 8 letters total to 46
There are 4 vowels and 4 consonants in your name.
Your number is: 1

The characteristics of 1 are:

Initiating action, pioneering, leading, independent, attaining, individual.

The expression or destiny for 1:
A number 1 Expression denotes the skilled executive with keen administrative capabilities. You must develop the capacity to be a fine leader, sales executive, or promoter. You have the tools to become an original person with a creative approach to problem solving, and a penchant for initiating action. Someone may have to follow behind you to handle the details, but you know how to get things going and make things happen. You have a good mind and the ability to use it for your advancement. Because of these factors, you have much potential for achievement and financial rewards. Frequently, this expression belongs to one running a business or striving to achieve a level of accomplishment on ones talents and efforts. You have little need for much supervision, preferring to act on your own with little restraint. You are both ambitious and determined. Self-confident and self-reliant must be yours, as you develop a strong unyielding will and the courage of your convictions.
Although you fear loneliness, you want to be left alone. You fear routine and being in a rut. You often jump the gun because you are afraid of being left behind.
The negative attributes of the 1 Expression are egotism and a self-centered approach to life. This is an aggressive number and if it is over-emphasized it is very hard to live with. You do not have to be overly aggressive to fulfill your destiny. The 1 has a natural instinct to dominate and to be the boss; adhering to the concept of being number One. Again, you do not have to dominate and destroy in order to lead and manage.

Your Soul Urge number is: 1
A Soul Urge number of 1 means: Your Soul Urge is the number 1. With a Soul Urge number of 1, you want to lead and direct, to work independent of supervision, by yourself or with subordinates. You take pride in your abilities and want to be recognized for them. You may seek opportunities to display your strength and usefulness, wanting to create and originate. In your desire to manage the big picture and the main issues, you may often leave the details to others.
The positive 1 Soul Urge is Ambitious and determined, a leader seeking opportunities. There is a great deal of honesty and loyalty in this character. If you possess positive 1 Soul Urge qualities, you are very attainment oriented and driven to success. You are a loyal friend and strictly fair in your business dealings.
The negative side of the 1 Soul Urge must be avoided. A negative 1 is apt to dominate situations and people; the home, the spouse, the family and the business. Emotions aren't strong in this nature. If you possess an excess of 1 energy, you may, at times, be boastful and egotistic. You must avoid being too critical and impatient of trifles. The great need of the 1 Soul Urge is the development of friendliness, and a sincere interest in people.

Your Inner Dream number is: 9
An Inner Dream number of 9 means: You dream of being creative, intellectual, and universal; the selfless humanitarian. You understand the needy and want to help them. You would love to be a person people counted on for support and advice.


See what your name means, click the link below

http://www.paulsadowski.com/Numbers.asp

Help Needed - Originally posted 12/12/05

I only just realised, when I was cooking tea for myself and my daughter, what the gas strike could mean for us. We have a gas cooker, so not much cooking is going to be done. Well that's a blessing in disguise for me, I don't like cooking and I see eating as a necessity to staying alive, so not a problem, the girls can live on takeaways without me feeling guilty. But what about my heating and water, both run off gas. I could still boil the kettle to make my coffee, and if all else fails I could drink vodka for the duration of the strike, but boiling enough for a bath, well thats just not going to happen. Thats our first problem.
The second is the heating. I'm not the warmest of people at the best of times and so with no heating I think I may have to take to my bed and stay there until the gas man goes back to work. I will need at least two hot water bottles, one for my feet and another for my body, oh and some bed socks for when the hot water bottle goes cold.
If you can help with bed socks or bottles please let me know, I will be eternally grateful. Thanks

Creative Times - Originally posted 10/12/05

What a nightmare I am going to have trying to figure out when I need leave. If all is well then I will need more leave, but not on the days when I will be at home anyway. And then there's the question of 'how many do I want to watch, all of them or just select a few?' And then if I just select a few, which ones? I think I am going to have to study the timetable closely and do a bit of creative appointment booking so I am home for as many as possible. For those people who don't work, they have no worries, they will be the lucky ones, unless they don't like it of course, then they will be the unlucky ones, they will be wishing they worked by the end of it.

Up date:-
I worked it out, don't need too much time off just the odd hour here and there, well that's if I only want to watch England's matches.

We Can Do It, Can't We? - Originally posted 06/12/05

We will know in three days time and I can't wait. The apprehension is killing me, like when I had to wait for the Christmas morning I knew I was getting a Tiny Tears doll. Will the wait be worth it or will disappointment set in and depression take over the whole body making even the easiest of tasks difficult to carry out? Will it be a Friday best forgotten or will it seem like someone from up above is looking down on us? (Umm, not sure who the one above will be though). What ever the result on Friday turns out to be, I know it will be something I have been planning for and even looking forward to.

I have two plans of action, depending on the outcome of Friday, and both involve getting very drunk, not that unusual for a Friday I know, but this time I will have a good reason. Will I be dancing for joy or will I be sat drowning my sorrows? Only time will tell and that time is fast approaching.

I know, only a couple of my friends will have the slightest idea of what I am on about, but I think this time Lou will guess in one, it usually takes her two or three guesses to work out the meaning behind my blogs.

Bored - Originally posted 04/12/05

Right time for a change I think. Been bored and slightly pissed off with it for a while now and I think a change would be good. I got some advice about it from my best mate and she thinks the same, so its not only me being irrational or impractical, as I thought it may have been. I got the week off so plenty of time to look and see what I need/want and how I can brighten it up a little, well a lot I hope.

One thing my friend said to me will be my quote of the week, 'if you are not happy with it, change it' and she is right. There is nothing stopping me from changing it, something I should have done a while ago. I can't believe I have been sat here for so long bored with it, making excuses not to change it. No more excuses, it's got to change, the sooner the better.

I did make a start last night, with the help of someone who don't realise they helped me, and now I just got to carry on until I am happy with the result. I know it may not be easy, well you do get a little used to things that feel comfortable, safe even, and so it may take some time for me to get used to the idea of change and the change itself. but that's not going to stop me.

No better time then now to carry on with it, so bye for now and next time I write on here I should be a little happier with it.

Spiced up _ Originally posted 01/12/05

They are trying their best. They have spiced it up. They have added black pepper to it in an attempt to attract more buyers. It used to be a popular choice years ago, but now I don't know anyone who eats it. It's about the cheapest of it's kind you can get, but some wouldn't put cost before quality.

I, personally, wouldn't buy it for my girls, but one does eat it, but in a different disguise, which, of course, costs a lot more. My other daughter would stare at me with a look of disbelieve on her face if I even suggested it while out shopping.

I don't think its just the taste, but the texture of the stuff as well, that modern day people are sickened by. It has a slightly gooey consistency, when it is chewed and a very bland flavour which wouldn't entice the hungriest of children. The presentation is not much better, although now, with the added black pepper, it may have a bit more colour to it.

I think time will tell if the new image gets the thumbs up from the shoppers. Keep an eye on the shelves at Tesco, if you blink you may miss it.

Making a Change (for a Wednesday anyway) - Originally posted 30/11/05

Well we have sorted it at last. It took a while, but we have come to an arrangement, which we are both agreed on. It's not the usual thing for us to do on a Wednesday, but then again this Wednesday is different. We both deserve a reward and that's what we are going to get. They say a change is as good as a rest, well we could both do with a change, not too sure about the rest though, I don't think we will be getting much of that. I'm looking forward to a change of scenery too, so will be killing two birds with one stone, and, no, one of them isn't Tracey, although I wouldn't mind one of the tee shirts.

Oh and that's another thing, what am I going to wear. It's a bit cold for a skirt, but I shouldn't really notice that after a while. But then again, it is the afternoon and not too sure a skirt would go down too well. Umm, may have to be jeans. And if I wear my jacket, there and home again, I shouldn't need a jumper.

All sorted then, oh apart from my daughter. Do I tell her I have a change of plan for the afternoon or no? If I do, she will want to be collected from school, cutting short my afternoon. If I don't tell her and she phones me during the afternoon she will guess I am not in my usual place. I think I may have to suggest she goes to friends after school so she won't want a lift. Yeah good plan.

Now I am really looking forward to tomorrow, hope it's as much fun as I imagine it will be.

Practice - Originally posted 27/11/05

Well I have learnt one thing this weekend and that is I need practice, and lots of it. Out of the 4 of us that were there, I was the worse. There was one other who wasn't very good too and we have decided we will practice together. We are not sure when we will because we are both busy people, him more than me, but if we want to improve our performance we will have to get together at least once a week.
I used to be good at it, but now, because I don't do it enough, only about once a month, I am not so good. I think if I did it at least once a week, although more would be good, I will be up to the standard I was a few years ago. It may be good to find someone else to practice with as well, so then if he is busy at least I can still do it.

Empty - Originally posted 26/11/05

It was so empty last night I thought I had got it wrong. Even the changes didn't make a difference. Usually its packed and everyone is aware of each other but last night was different. Not sure why this happened. Could have been due to several different factors or just one, all by itself. whatever the reason, it was empty. Ummm after thinking about it for a while, it was the same last time too. Why the sudden change? I've looked on the bbc news site and theres no item there to suggest why. I may try a google search and see what that turns up..... No nothing there either. Its a mystery, one which I can find no answer for. Maybe next time it will be full.

I can't find it - Originally posted 21/11/05

Where has it gone? It's usually here at this time, but I can't find it. I've looked everywhere I thought I had seen it before, but no luck. It was there last week and the week before, so why is it not there now? Maybe someone thought it would be a good idea to move it, well I wish they had told me cause I have wasted time looking for it. Time which could have been spent more productively, actually enjoying myself, instead I have been looking for something which isn't there. Maybe it will be back in its place next week, I hope so cause I miss it. I look forward to it all week and now, I can't find it, I am frustrated. I will have to find something else to replace it, but having looked already I don't think anything can.

Well I hope you are happy, who ever you are, you have a lot to answer for.

Doing it now - Originally posted 20/11/05

I can't put it off any longer, I have to start it. I have tried everything I know to distract myself, this being one of them, but I know it has to be finished by tomorrow so no more digressing. Control, that's what I need, but then again I always need controlling. If I could just start it I know the words would flow, but getting out all the files and actually finding a pen and paper seems an impossible task. It reminds me of all the essays I had to write at uni, I was the same then, putting them off till the night before then having to stay up all night to write them. Still not sure how I ever passed. And what if I hadn't passed, well I wouldn't be here now talking about putting it off again. I would probably be in Tesco stacking shelves, I wouldn't have as much money, but then again I wouldn't have to do so much work at home, in my own time. Umm not sure which would be best, no holidays, no car, kids going without, maybe no pc or working my socks off and having all the above and more. The thought of going into work tomorrow and telling my manager to stick her job is becoming more and more tempting, but what would I do then? I could live off the state, like so many of the people I work with, but that wouldn't even cover my direct debits. I could go back to uni and do something different, but that would mean more all night sessions writing essays and I don't think I could do that again and I would still have to work to pay for it. I could start up my own business, but doing what? Or I could apply to Tesco to fill their shelves up for them, no I don't think that's for me. Only one thing for it, I have to start it and start it NOW.

I Know the answer - Originally posted 18/11/05

Ah I know the answer now.

It's the way that the people go to work that makes the difference. If the car didn't drive that way then it would make it a lot easier. Then when the kids go to school they would know. But its not that easy really. What would happen if the shops didn't open and the kettle didn't boil? Well these are resolutions I haven't worked out yet.
When I was chatting last year sometime, it was worked out. But now its gone and now that christmas is imminent, well who knows.
Its Tuesday tomorrow and that means the red will be yellow and when that, the sky will fill with goats. My name will not be Roger and no one will devour mash potato.
If we sing of sorrow, does that insinuate snow the next week? i may not be an elephant, but I do comprehend that sometimes we may have to eat. Jam is not hot enough to be any assistance to the problem, so why talk about it?
Well I know why, its because the coal is black and the cup is empty.
Ummm I must fill up my glass, brb. HANG ON, what about the ear lobes? They would be just disorganised if the glass was dry. High temperature has a lot to say. They consider life in a diverse approach. If the table has to be martian, then its possible that my leg is efficient in its attitude.

Is This a Friend? - Originally posted 01/11/05

An e-mail I received from one of my friends


Hi
I'm getting a bit tired of all those namby - pamby, girly, sissy,
completely wet "friendship" poems, that never come close to reality.
So, here are a series of promises that really speak of true
friendship:

1 When you are sad - I will help you get drunk and
plot revenge against the sorry b*st*rd who made
you that way.

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

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

4. When you are scared - I will tease the crap out of
you about it every chance I get.

5. When you are worried - I will tell you horrible
stories about how much worse it could be and to
stop your bloody whining.

6. When you are confused - I will use only little
words.

7. When you are sick - Stay the hell away from me
until you are well again, I don't want whatever
you have.

8. When you fall - I will point and laugh at your
clumsiness.

This is my oath...I pledge it till the end.

Why you may ask? Because you are my friend.

Send this to 10 of your closest friends,
then get depressed because you can only think of two, and one of them isn't speaking to you right now anyway.

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.

Christmas Meal - any offers? - Originally posted 01/11/05

How hard can it be for 15 people to agree on where and when they want their meal and what they want to eat?

It’s been 3 weeks now and still all we have is a date. Numerous restaurants have been phoned and menus faxed but all have been rejected. Either the location is not right or there are not enough veggie options, and we haven’t even talked about cost yet.
Should we have a traditional dinner or something a bit different?

As you could have guessed the decision is split.

What we need is somewhere that offers a Christmas menu with a difference but still includes turkey. It has to be in a central location, so those who want to drink can get to it easily and leave their cars at home and if possible a ‘bring you own’ so it don’t cost the earth.

If you think you can organise our Christmas meal for us, please do, everyone in the office is fed up with trying.

3rd Nov......Up date.

We've got somewhere that at least 3 of us agreed on so its settled.
A place not in the centre, which doesn't do traditional, but does offer pheasant, which I love and is very expensive. We can't sit til 9.30 so we will all be pi**ed by the time we get there. I think it will be a good night.

Another night of fun - Originally posted 20/10/05

Hi all. seems ages since I last wrote anything on here, so thought I would quickly jot something down.

Met up with a group of friends last night and what a great time we had, well I hope everyone did, I know I did. I had promised myself I wasn't going to drink so much but I forgot and ended up drinking quite a few vodka and cokes before going on to the water , a tip I got from my daughter to help with the hangover the following morning. (how come she knows that, shes only 18)

Started off in the pub next to the club we were going to so didn't have to fall far from one to the other. Lots of new faces to meet and all very nice people, shame i forgot I had my phone cam, could have added some very interesting pics to my space lol.
It was really nice to see a friend who hasn't been out with us for quite a while, glad to see you haven't changed Rich, but next time leave the ice cubes in your drink.

When I woke up this morning I remembered why I wasn't going to drink so much. I was taking my daughter to the train station at 9.30!! I really surprised myself and was out of bed by 9 and on my 2nd coffee by 9.15, yes you guessed I still felt drunk. One more coffee and we were on our way to the station. Why do places like that have to be so noisy on a Saturday morning, and me with a thumping head. We got her ticket and waited for the train in the cafe with yet another coffee. 10.22 her train pulled in. I saw she was safely seated, then waved her off for the next 4 days. Bliss, the house to myself. No cooking if I don't want to, no being a taxi services, no waiting to use the bathroom in the mornings and thats not even thinking about the money I am going to save as she can't go out with her mates. Well, have a great time Amy, no need to rush home lol

Since Amy left I have chatted to a few people on msn and took some milk over to a friend so we could have a coffee while we caught up on the gossip from last night and now I think I need a nap. So until I write again, nite nite

Next Friday - Originally posted on 25/09/05

This is the last Sunday for a while both my daughters will be at home. As most of my friends know, my eldest is off to Portsmouth next Saturday. I am really pleased for her but I will miss her so much, never thought I would be saying that. We are off out next Friday night to say bon voyage, leaving my youngest at home with 4 of her mates, god knows what I am going to be coming home to or even if I will have a home to come to.
Anyway back to next Friday, it’s also a meet for the Bristol room on Lycos so I will be meeting lots of friends and lots of new people. We usually have a great time so I am really looking forward to it but because my daughter is going it will be extra special. She will get to meet some of the people I sit and chat to and have a laugh with, and the reason why I sit laughing at my pc screen, I’m sure she thinks I’m mad.

Moving Over

I have decided to post all my other blogs onto one blog and this is it. Please leave comments and any advice you may be able to give. Thanks.