I was beginning to think that I might never post a post again. It seems easy to stop, and not so easy to start again. I've not even been on the worldwide interweb to look at my favourite blog reads...so I have a lot of catching up to do. The trouble with not paying attention is that it's easy to miss the important things.
So it was just luck that I switched on the puter and the first thing I read was this, followed by this...I'm so pleased for them both.
It's a New Year...so a hearty Happy New Year to you all.
Inspite of not doing the day job for the last couple of weeks, my days have been full to over-bursting. I'm not sure what with...Christmas is that sort of time isn't it? We went to Panto...oh yes we did. We did big Christmas dinner at The Muffins, we did big Boxing Day lunch here..so we were well fed, watered and wined. Our celebrations naturally included a performance from every member of the family and friends. We did a harmony...a version of this:
Can you guess which was my part?
My singing talents are renowned here...my first year with The cat's Mother I gave an interesting rendition of 'A Partridge in a Pear tree'...no not the whole twelve days, just that line, which has become legendary. So it came as a surprise to find myself singing with the choir at Christmas Day Mass. I regard it as an achievement. My mother is probably in a state of shock having read that.
A few days in Brighton should have included skating on New Year's Eve in the shadows of the dome of Brighton Pavilion, but storm force winds and more rain than I can ever remember put paid to that. It didn't put paid to fireworks on the beach though as there was a sudden lull in the weather. A marginal panic as two very determined ladies walked towards us with our assumption we would be asked to stop, only in fact to be asked f we could set theirs off too. And that was where my thumb came a cropper...a slightly explosive fuse caught my thumb off guard, so that childhood rule of never playing with fireworks is very much front of mind as I walk around with a rather large, yellow blister on my left thumb...
Wednesday, 2 January 2013
Sunday, 23 December 2012
Friday, 21 December 2012
Drumming on a bit
I had a grin wider than my face when we donned our 'Working Men and Women' outfits again yesterday. A big song and dance at St Pancras with us, the Pandemonium Drummers and even some Gamesmakers to raise funds for Mo Farrah's Foundation.
Thursday, 20 December 2012
Oh no...the office party...
But for me they're quite important. Because they mark the bank out as liars. When I've questioned why they have not been able to get hold of me, they've not been able to explain. In fact it's fair to say, they're just about the only organisation that can't get hold of me. And I know exactly who I've had missed calls from...mobile phones are wonderful data recorders.
So there are only two possible answers. Either the bank are ringing the wrong number which makes them stupid, because they have been given the right number plenty of times before, or they're lying and they have not tried to contact me and they're just trying to make me pay for their tele-marketing activity. What do you think?
So yesterday we were all sat around in the office with most of our clothes removed.
It was the day of the office party.
Actually the two events are unrelated. As these things do, the heating thermostat had chosen to break just before Christmas, with the result that we felt the heat. It wasn't until the temperature reached 26 degrees and sweat was dripping off our foreheads that we realised something was wrong. The only solution was to switch the whole thing off.
Fortunately, Christmas lunch started shortly afterwards, so we were able to make merry elsewhere....and problems like that can wait until the New Year before they get sorted
Wednesday, 19 December 2012
It's OK to hit a woman (I'm joking)
There is triumph in the house, which is better than a Triumph in the house (that's a car joke).
The Boy was awarded 'colours' for his part in The Edinburgh Fringe...an award well deserved. The Cat has passed her driving test...first time -she will be driving The Cat's Mother's Yaris, we don't own a Triumph.
Last night The Opening Ceremony was voted "Most inspiring TV moment ever"...which is a relief because it could have been Anna Friel's lesbian kiss in Brookside. Here's the article.
I'm reprising my performance in my costume at the OOC with some others including The Pandemonium Drummers tomorrow evening at St Pancras between 7 and 9 pm. If you're passing, do give us a wave...and chuck some money at us as we're raising money for the Mo Farah foundation and NUPAC for kids who have been abused.
Last night I met up with a group of fellow OOC performers - I hadn't been able to go to the event organised by our small group, so this one was full of people I hardly knew or recognised. That didn't stop us all having lots to say to each other...a common bond has been formed..I feel we will be able to do this far into the future...what a wonderful thing that is. I also discovered that one of the performers was the Falkland Islands Harbour Master, so I guess the Argentinians missed an invasion opportunity this summer.
The other night we were watching the BBC's Top 50 Olympic moments. It was full of wonderful moments, and some rather sorry commentary from celebs including Jimmy Carr. At the point the Beeb showed Nicola Adams who won Boxing Gold - the first woman to do so, Jimmy popped up and said it reminded him that "Sometimes it's OK to hit a woman". It's a sign of the times that he then paused and added..."I'm joking". Well obviously he was joking...it wouldn't have been funny if he was being serious. Should he have joked about it...well in my mind absolutely yes, because the joke itself reinforces that it's wrong to hit a woman (or anyone come to that). I laughed, as did The Cat's Mother. By unfortunate coincidence as I rolled over in my sleep last night, arms flailing around I managed to clobber The Cat's Mother in the face.
Complete accident. Honest. Not funny.
The Boy was awarded 'colours' for his part in The Edinburgh Fringe...an award well deserved. The Cat has passed her driving test...first time -she will be driving The Cat's Mother's Yaris, we don't own a Triumph.
Last night The Opening Ceremony was voted "Most inspiring TV moment ever"...which is a relief because it could have been Anna Friel's lesbian kiss in Brookside. Here's the article.
I'm reprising my performance in my costume at the OOC with some others including The Pandemonium Drummers tomorrow evening at St Pancras between 7 and 9 pm. If you're passing, do give us a wave...and chuck some money at us as we're raising money for the Mo Farah foundation and NUPAC for kids who have been abused.
Last night I met up with a group of fellow OOC performers - I hadn't been able to go to the event organised by our small group, so this one was full of people I hardly knew or recognised. That didn't stop us all having lots to say to each other...a common bond has been formed..I feel we will be able to do this far into the future...what a wonderful thing that is. I also discovered that one of the performers was the Falkland Islands Harbour Master, so I guess the Argentinians missed an invasion opportunity this summer.
The other night we were watching the BBC's Top 50 Olympic moments. It was full of wonderful moments, and some rather sorry commentary from celebs including Jimmy Carr. At the point the Beeb showed Nicola Adams who won Boxing Gold - the first woman to do so, Jimmy popped up and said it reminded him that "Sometimes it's OK to hit a woman". It's a sign of the times that he then paused and added..."I'm joking". Well obviously he was joking...it wouldn't have been funny if he was being serious. Should he have joked about it...well in my mind absolutely yes, because the joke itself reinforces that it's wrong to hit a woman (or anyone come to that). I laughed, as did The Cat's Mother. By unfortunate coincidence as I rolled over in my sleep last night, arms flailing around I managed to clobber The Cat's Mother in the face.
Complete accident. Honest. Not funny.
Tuesday, 18 December 2012
We should be told
Did anyone else see The Killing? Those Nordics are an odd bunch, but they do make great TV. I was so completely engrossed that the only time I noticed there were sub-titles was when I looked away from the screen and thought I'd gone deaf.
Apart from a few absurdities (it never does to think too much about these things) it was a great programme, and it's just a shame we've only discovered it in the third and final series.
I've been so all over the place that I've forgotten what I've written up, and what I haven't. If you like Steven Sondheim, go and see Merrily we roll along, which is both quite sad and poignant, and fun at the same time.
If you're employed, you may like to know that the notice that your employer has to give you for redundancy has been reduced from 90 to 45 days. According to the Government this is something that workers will be pleased about. Yep we all want to rush into being made unemployed when there are no jobs around.
I had to miss one of the Olympic get togethers because it clashed with the last ever School Carol Concert that we would attend. I love a good Carol Concert, and love to join in. Once before at a different one, my girlfriend got slapped round the head by a government minister for joining in...these days, that would be front page headlines, and the man would be in court, resigned and shamed. This time, UP told me off for joining in, but that may have been because I was doing 'yeehas' as the choir did what seemed to be a country and western version of the holly and the ivy...
...The Boy was in disgrace. It had been the rugby team dinner the night before, and true to tradition, 40 or so of them streaked up the high road. The Deputy Head Master was not amused, the rugby trip to Wales was cancelled, and all were threatened with losing their School Colours (award). And there we have it...a clash between tradition and the modern world. I think the school vastly over-reacted, I think the boys should have adapted their tradition so they streaked inside the school rather than outside. And I giggled behind my hands.
I woke up to a Facebook message this morning to find that one of my oldest friends had died...cancer got her. When I say she was one of my oldest friends, I had known her for thirty years, but hadn't spoken for a long time after a misunderstanding. Much as I had tried to reconnect with her, it hadn't happened, but she had remained one of the people that I had retained deep feelings for. So two lessons learned...be careful with your friendships for they are precious, and secondly we all grow up expecting that we and our friends will live to a ripe old age...and many won't. If only I'd been told both those things when I was young and full of fire.
Apart from a few absurdities (it never does to think too much about these things) it was a great programme, and it's just a shame we've only discovered it in the third and final series.
I've been so all over the place that I've forgotten what I've written up, and what I haven't. If you like Steven Sondheim, go and see Merrily we roll along, which is both quite sad and poignant, and fun at the same time.
If you're employed, you may like to know that the notice that your employer has to give you for redundancy has been reduced from 90 to 45 days. According to the Government this is something that workers will be pleased about. Yep we all want to rush into being made unemployed when there are no jobs around.
I had to miss one of the Olympic get togethers because it clashed with the last ever School Carol Concert that we would attend. I love a good Carol Concert, and love to join in. Once before at a different one, my girlfriend got slapped round the head by a government minister for joining in...these days, that would be front page headlines, and the man would be in court, resigned and shamed. This time, UP told me off for joining in, but that may have been because I was doing 'yeehas' as the choir did what seemed to be a country and western version of the holly and the ivy...
...The Boy was in disgrace. It had been the rugby team dinner the night before, and true to tradition, 40 or so of them streaked up the high road. The Deputy Head Master was not amused, the rugby trip to Wales was cancelled, and all were threatened with losing their School Colours (award). And there we have it...a clash between tradition and the modern world. I think the school vastly over-reacted, I think the boys should have adapted their tradition so they streaked inside the school rather than outside. And I giggled behind my hands.
I woke up to a Facebook message this morning to find that one of my oldest friends had died...cancer got her. When I say she was one of my oldest friends, I had known her for thirty years, but hadn't spoken for a long time after a misunderstanding. Much as I had tried to reconnect with her, it hadn't happened, but she had remained one of the people that I had retained deep feelings for. So two lessons learned...be careful with your friendships for they are precious, and secondly we all grow up expecting that we and our friends will live to a ripe old age...and many won't. If only I'd been told both those things when I was young and full of fire.
Time passing
A bit stretched for time at the moment...but there's always time for a good YouTube video...an oldie, but a goldie
Friday, 14 December 2012
It may be fake...but it will make you laugh...
After the usual marathon, the last of the Christmas cards will be posted this weekend...rumour has it that even Grandma in Cyprus will get hers on time.
In the meantime, this video of the Brighton Christmas lights made me laugh out loud...hope it brings cheer on you Friday afternoon
In the meantime, this video of the Brighton Christmas lights made me laugh out loud...hope it brings cheer on you Friday afternoon
Wednesday, 12 December 2012
It's war
I guess that like most people, my heart missed a beat when the news of Jacintha Saldanha came through last week. It was a stupid, mindless prank, but it is a sign of the times that these things goes on without a care or a worry for the 'victims'.
This last Sunday The Times' magazine carried its annual review of the year...which is odd given that there was still 8% of the year to go. One of my pleasures in years gone by was to sit and read these things in those timeless days between Christmas and the New Year. It seems so odd that now, newspapers just cannot wait....it would be wonderful is something amazing happened in the next three weeks which completely re-shapes our view of the year...perhaps that would teach the media to just wait a little.
One of the many highlights of the summer for me were the Wenlock and Mandeville sculptures which were displayed around London. They were decorated by artists, and it was fun following the trails around the city to find them...we managed a few, but were a long way from seeing them all. Since the Games finished , the sculptures have been sold off along with much other Olympics memorabilia here. The money is going to charity. We've hummed and haahed as I've really wanted to get one, but the prices some have gone for is unbelievable...some of that Olympic tickets madness still prevails. But on Friday there were still a few up for grabs, and the prices had remained low. There was one I really fancied....a red cycling Mandeville. Finger at the ready, I clicked away as the auction was coming to a close. The price rose rapidly, and in the heat of the moment, encouraged by The Cat's Mother, I kept bidding. Auction madness had set in. Then just as I thought I'd made a winning bid, the site told me the auction had closed and I'd been outbid. For a moment I was distraught. Then the adrenaline went and I realised what a lucky escape I'd had....but don't be surprised if I weaken should more become available...
Enough is enough. For months now I have battled with the squirrels stealing the birds food....in the warmer days, they gave up when we switched over to dried mealworms, presumably because they didn't like them, whilst the birds adore them. But now it's turned cold, there's no holding them back, they're like locusts. Putting vaseline on the pole doesn't seem to make a difference as they have found a way round that. Worse still, they have taken to chucking the big glass dome that covers the food off the pole...sooner or later it will smash. I've had enough and have started chucking heavy objects at them. Next thing I'll be buying a gun...and that from someone who can come over all Budhist about killing creatures.
And I've come to the very firm conclusion that Rog was right by suggesting it was a waxwing in this post
This last Sunday The Times' magazine carried its annual review of the year...which is odd given that there was still 8% of the year to go. One of my pleasures in years gone by was to sit and read these things in those timeless days between Christmas and the New Year. It seems so odd that now, newspapers just cannot wait....it would be wonderful is something amazing happened in the next three weeks which completely re-shapes our view of the year...perhaps that would teach the media to just wait a little.
One of the many highlights of the summer for me were the Wenlock and Mandeville sculptures which were displayed around London. They were decorated by artists, and it was fun following the trails around the city to find them...we managed a few, but were a long way from seeing them all. Since the Games finished , the sculptures have been sold off along with much other Olympics memorabilia here. The money is going to charity. We've hummed and haahed as I've really wanted to get one, but the prices some have gone for is unbelievable...some of that Olympic tickets madness still prevails. But on Friday there were still a few up for grabs, and the prices had remained low. There was one I really fancied....a red cycling Mandeville. Finger at the ready, I clicked away as the auction was coming to a close. The price rose rapidly, and in the heat of the moment, encouraged by The Cat's Mother, I kept bidding. Auction madness had set in. Then just as I thought I'd made a winning bid, the site told me the auction had closed and I'd been outbid. For a moment I was distraught. Then the adrenaline went and I realised what a lucky escape I'd had....but don't be surprised if I weaken should more become available...
Enough is enough. For months now I have battled with the squirrels stealing the birds food....in the warmer days, they gave up when we switched over to dried mealworms, presumably because they didn't like them, whilst the birds adore them. But now it's turned cold, there's no holding them back, they're like locusts. Putting vaseline on the pole doesn't seem to make a difference as they have found a way round that. Worse still, they have taken to chucking the big glass dome that covers the food off the pole...sooner or later it will smash. I've had enough and have started chucking heavy objects at them. Next thing I'll be buying a gun...and that from someone who can come over all Budhist about killing creatures.
And I've come to the very firm conclusion that Rog was right by suggesting it was a waxwing in this post
Tuesday, 11 December 2012
Living in fear
If you happened to watch the Channel 4 mini series The Fear last week you will have seen where we live on the south coast. The programme was set in and around Brighton, and the main setting, one of Brighton's regency squares is where we live. I would like to be able to tell you whether it was good, or not, but I was so overcome with excitement to see the place on TV so much, I couldn't pass fair judgement. As ever, Brighton was portrayed as slightly seedy, down at heel and the scene for squabbling gangsters. The place has never recovered from Brighton Rock. It was funny seeing car journeys being made across the city knowing that it was jumping all over the place. And I wish I'd been there when the blew up a car in our Square...no wonder we'd had warning notices put through the door! It's still on 4oD if you want to watch it
Apart from the location, I think the programme resonated with me because the main character suffers from alzheimers, and I could see similarities to the deterioration of my father as Parkinsons took a hold of him (not the violent outbursts, but the fear it induced). Horrible and sad.
I think that if they'd asked her, The Cat's Mother would have organised the Olympics single-handedly. she has that mind and that ability. In our house, we undergo a complete and utter transformation. Not one single room goes untouched. Christmas Lego in the bathroom (calm down Steve). Christmas mugs in the kitchen. Christmas toilet role in the loos. Not one ornament is not replaced by a Christmas equivalent. Everything is stripped away and replaced by something with a seasonal tint. We have enough decorations to stock Harrod's Christmas Department. The preparation of our Christmas wonderland takes a week of hard labour. We even have four Advent calendars, if you count the Advent candle.
One made by The Muffins - every day is a clue for us to guess, hidden under an icicle. H is wrong...answers on a postcard, please. And don't mention E. We all love this one
One for The Cat plus the candle
And then there's my favourite - mine - just a tot a day to keep me going until the Christmas break...this is indeed the finest Scottish whisky
Apart from the location, I think the programme resonated with me because the main character suffers from alzheimers, and I could see similarities to the deterioration of my father as Parkinsons took a hold of him (not the violent outbursts, but the fear it induced). Horrible and sad.
I think that if they'd asked her, The Cat's Mother would have organised the Olympics single-handedly. she has that mind and that ability. In our house, we undergo a complete and utter transformation. Not one single room goes untouched. Christmas Lego in the bathroom (calm down Steve). Christmas mugs in the kitchen. Christmas toilet role in the loos. Not one ornament is not replaced by a Christmas equivalent. Everything is stripped away and replaced by something with a seasonal tint. We have enough decorations to stock Harrod's Christmas Department. The preparation of our Christmas wonderland takes a week of hard labour. We even have four Advent calendars, if you count the Advent candle.
One made by The Muffins - every day is a clue for us to guess, hidden under an icicle. H is wrong...answers on a postcard, please. And don't mention E. We all love this one
One for The Cat plus the candle
And then there's my favourite - mine - just a tot a day to keep me going until the Christmas break...this is indeed the finest Scottish whisky
Friday, 7 December 2012
Thursday, 6 December 2012
Picture daily 138
OK I know this isn't a great picture technically, but I just love the expressions on the faces...especially the guy in the middle, who I'm pretty sure I know exactly what he would be like to speak with....
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