So tonight is the big night, have we all got the posh frocks and trendy suits ready?? No!! What are you waiting for?

It has been quite a busy nine days since I was last here, many unforseen happenings, as is normal wih me But here I am back again to annoy you with my boring, rambling posts.

At the end of a month that I for one will be glad to see the back of, what is it about February? It seems that it is the catch up month, the one where everything that was sideswiped by Christmas comes back for their revenge.

When people talk about luck they talk about things like runs of bad and good, for instance if something bad happens then another two will as it comes in threes, Seems my bad luck can’t count! I usually have runs of five or six or seven. And as for good, make that a one.

It’s not that good things don’t happen, I think its because when bad things happen they have a ‘Wham’ effect, they usually hit you hard, cause problems, usually ones that are hard to deal with or take more to deal with than normal problems, whereas when the good comes it just balances everything out and so it just seems that things are back to ‘normal’ and the bad luck has come to an end. I guess most of the time we just see it as having solved the problems that came with the bad, so we don’t always acknowledge it as good luck.

And maybe it has nothing at all to do with luck, good or bad, it is just one little thing going wrong that escalates into lots of little things because of the knock on effect. And if it isn’t solved or stopped it becomes a big thing, which then effects all other things until it seems that everything is going wrong, and we get down about it and that impairs our problem solving abilities, so we then create another problem. Until we finally get one thing right, and then the whole thing unravels itself and we are again back to ‘normal’, whatever that is?

Good or bad luck, good or bad Karma, making the wrong choice, whatever it is that you believe in, it is always the bad that we seem to acknowledge more than the good, and we say why me? Or what have I done to deserve this? I try, when things get tough, to think that there is always someone worse off than I am, someone that has things much harder, their life is much tougher. I try to look at the positive things like, well that wont last because this is going to happen on this day, and this wont last because when that happens it will void out this.

See some things I have learned are this, the rain never lasts, there is always sun after rain, and the sky is full of rainbows all the time, we just don’t always see them. The most beautiful things created are free to look at, and are always there. Each day brings a chance to make a difference to someone’s life, even if all you do is smile, remember a smile is catching, and pass it on.

Hmmm, seems I have rambled a bit as usual, so off for a caffiene boost and see you all later at the glittering event of the year

It seems that there are no mail notifications of comments again, so if I am slow at getting round to answering anything I apologise in advance, but it is their fault!!

Anyway apart from that I am just warning you I may be absent tomorrow and possibly the day after as I have an essay to write And this place is far too distracting

Right now what was I going to do, ah yes, book, coffee lounge on sofa

Well thats Monday over with, it didnt go so bad, for a monday. Actually there were less complaints/enquiries than there normally is, but not all the schools have gone back. We did notice how quiet it was last week while the children were on half term holiday.
Of course it is only six weeks and they are off again for Easter! Which is the 6th of April.

It is very noisy outside tonight, one of the penalties of the milder weather I guess.

The problems with the person at work seem to have eased off, at least for now, she had a dressing down off the manager this morning. so hopefully it will stay quiet for a while. Especially as the manager starts her holidays at the end of this week and I will be totally in charge

Now what shall I have for tea??

Good Monday morning, while I know that Monday is the dreaded day, first day back at work and usually the most hectic after a weekend of mirth and mayhem, well you might have had

Still it is also the first day towards the next weekend, if thats the way you want to look at it, it is also the second day of the week, as Sunday is officially the first.

Today is Collop Monday,apparently this day is named after the dish of the day, on this day you are supposed to eat collops of bacon served with eggs, this is because the fat off the little bit of meat was used towards the following days pancakes.It is also known as Nickanan Night (as Shrove Monday evening was called in Cornwall) apparently it was a time for boys to run riot in the villages: hiding gates, taking off door knockers, and making off with anything that householders had forgotten to lock away. Hmmmmm, I will reserve judgment on that one

Tomorrow is Shrove Tuesday, get those pancake pans out!The word Shrove comes from the Old word Shrive, which means to confess,as this is the day you are supposed to confess all your sins before the beginning of Lent.

Did you know the reason that pancakes are made on Shrove Tuesday is because it is the day before Ash Wednesday which is the beginning of Lent? Apparently during lent you are only allowed to eat plain food stuffs because it is a period of fasting, therefore rich foods such as eggs and milk etc had to be consumed and disposed of before lent started.

I am a mine of useless information

And after all that expounding of knowledge I have to go and prepare for the work day, have a good one

I dont normally do this but hey, why not. Its an easy one

Create your own Friend Test here

My little grandson who is only six, was taken out by his dad so his dad could buy him a treat. Its been a few weeks since he came and stayed with his dad, and he wanted to buy him something.

They went off together in the car and my grandson asked if I would still be there when he came back, so I said I would wait, bearing in mind I haven't seen him since Christmas.

They came back and he walked into the room with his hands behind his back, he walked up to my sons partner and handed her a cup " I got you this" he said, then he came to me and gave me one too " This is for you nana, cos I love you" he said.

My son said they had gone in to the shop, and he had told him to choose whatever he wanted, and he chose a cup for me and one for his step mum, before choosing for himself. Sometimes there are sweet little things that happen that make you smile no matter how you are feeling.

So far not a bad day, how has yours been?

It is indeed once again morning, I am going to have to teach Molly the difference between Sunday and the rest of the week, Sunday is lie-in-day!! but when you got to go you got to go, I guess.

I did the bath, bed, read the book thing, it didnt work, well not completely. I read untill the words were blurring together and my eye were closing, but the minute I put the book down, eyes wide open But I did mnage a few hours in the end, untill The Molly sat on me because she needed to go.

Weird things have been happening in my house, things dissapearing, and suddenly reappearing in a place you looked thrice and they couldn't possibly be there, hmmm. I think Granpa is playing again.

I dont mind Grandad being around, after all he saved my life, in his ghostly form, but it had been very quiet and I had thought he had gone, but apparently not, though he only comes now when I have been having a rough time or when he thinks I need his help or company.

Bearing in mind I dont know if it actually is my Grandad, I just christened him that because of the way he used to be when the children were young. That and his wicked sense of humour, tapping people on the shoulder as they are pouring milk in to cups, opening and closing doors. He used to be the worlds best baby monitor, if one of the children began to whimper or was a bit fretful he would open the door to the stairs. I have to admit though his party trick of picking the kids toys up when they threw them out of the pram was a cracker. My ex hated it, it scared him. But he saved his life too, though my ex would never admit it.

It is just so annoying when you are looking for something that you need for that day for a reason and he has hidden it!!

Right coffee time and maybe another chapter of the book, catch you later.

It has been a long day and now I am off to have a nice long soak in the tub and then in to my lovely warm bed.

Lovely chats with lovely friends has made the day better than I thought it would be, and soon I will (hopefully) fall asleep, probably whilst reading this book.

Night and sweet dreams to you all.

The sun is shining the sky is a lovely blue colour, so why am I so darn cold???

Everyone everywhere is telling me how warm it is, erm, would someone like to tell my shivering body?? The only time I have been warm since I got home yesterday was when I was in bed, and that actually sounds like a good idea

Go to bed with my book, which if you haven't read it, you should it is dynamite, Stephen Kings Cell. I dont seem able to put it down for long which is not good when I should be reading text books

OK, nice hot coffee and curl on the sofa wid de book.

Hope you are all having a great Saturday

Sometimes I feel the need to cut the world off, due to having to make decisions that will affect my life in one way or another. And as much as I love my friends and their company sometimes I have to shut them out, so I am sorry if I have not returned calls/texts/mails but I have been shut away and have only just recieved them. Mails have been written and texts answered, if you called you will know that the mobile was switched off and the house phone unplugged.

I apologise to my friends, but those that know me, know that I dont do this unless I really need to, and it was only one night, I am back in the world of here and now again.

Despite my brave words of last night the wine bottle stands untouched in the fridge, but you cant make decisions when you are fresh/tipsy/drunk, though I have known some that have

There is a saying that is quite true for me right now 'Dont let what you can't do interfere with what you can do' and it is something that I have thought about whilst going through my 'deep' of last night/this morning.

And so decisions are made and right or wrong set in place, so on with Saturday.

Today is a great day to learn something new

The working day is over, the shoes are kicked off, though got to admit the slippers are on due to it being so darned cold in here!

It will warm up soon though, now the fires on, thats if the dog moves out from the front of it and lets someone else have some warmth!!

The kettle is on, tea is cooking and there is a whole bottle of wine in the fridge calling my name, I shall be partaking of that particular delight, so if later for some reason like,you-aint-got-anything-better-to-do-on-a-friday-night, you happen to read an entry or maybe two that dont make sense (Wait thats normal!) ok an entry or two that makes less sense than normal, then you will know why.

Later, maybe

Poets day and the weekend is just around the corner, are we excited yet?

Life is full of little marvels, we never know what is going to be around the next corner. Sometimes it is nothing and life carries on the same way, other times there will be little things that will make you smile, or laugh, fill you with wonder and awe, and even things that can make you sad, rock your world and change things forever. I have had a few of those, not always good ones.

Sometimes even a simple thing like switching on a computer and just playing on the net, I did that, found one place that led me to another and then another and then here.

Whats life changing about that? Well for a lot of people probably nothing, but for Jon the man and Hobbit, it has meant a whole new life and a baby, for Mr G who left his home town to be with Helly, and for our lovely PaulBoyd who is now in America beginning a new life with his John, I would say that it has changed their lives, and they all met on here. And I think it is wonderful that fate stuck its little hand out and said "Oi, in here mate!"

And if we forget about the romantic bits and just look at the people that we 'chat' with, in comments, people we never would have met, from all walks of life, all backgrounds, all countries even.

I have made some lovely friends on here, people I chat to on the phone, people I have a laugh with, and some I have met and others I will meet away from the screen. Who dont mind me rambling a lot of nonsense such as this, in the early morning or even late at night.

I am pronouncing today give a Hug day, and here is one for you all

Isnt is strange how you can have a restles night with little to no sleep yet get up calm, and ready to face what ever the day brings.

I was thinking, musing more, remembering things that had happened in the past, how they happened, yet its very hard to pin point the why's ? Its like an eternal question, why did this happen? why does that happen? Sometimes the answer is glaringly obvious other times it is hidden deep inside other questions. And sometimes there is no answer, it just is.

I spent a long time trying to find the answer to that question when I went through my darkest time, turned every stone, looked round every corner, under every metaphorical bush. I never found it, and it is the question not answered that leaves the biggest hole inside, if there was an answer to why, would we accept the things that happen more easily? I dont think we would, I think we would just find a different question.

They say the darkest hour is just before dawn, sometimes the darkest hour can last a very long time.

We are already half way through February, is it me or is time seeming to be on a little gallop? Doesn't seem too long since that it was just the beginning of the year. What was it six weeks or something

And now tis time to dress for the day ahead, and join the world of 'out there'

: :

Wednesday already where is the week going? It seems to be spinning off on its own little quick march to the weekend.

Which I am looking forward to, but I guess we all are.

It was a wet walk out with The Molly this morning, though it was just a fine drizzle and not the pouring rain it has been doing all night.

And the talk in the office today will be who has got what for Valentines and who is expecting what, but I shall take a leaf out of Mama's book and just call it a friends day, so Happy Friends day to you all.

And for those of you who like me are not expecting the mushy stuff. And even for those of you who are.

Here you go.

One of my failings is that I have to say what I think, I mean I do know the meaning of the words tact and diplomacy. But, when I feel an injustice has been done then I have to speak up.

Except this time I have put my own job on the line by telling my bosses if I dont get my raise in March I am quitting. Sometimes I should try using that tact and diplomacy instead of being honest and saying what I am thinking.

Anyway apart from that, all is getting to where it should be, I think, I have pointed out the flaws in the 'changes' the manager that isnt wants to make, and have staved off the worst of them, the rest, well they aren't really changes, they are just a streamlining of the procedures I already have in place.

So there I am wreaking havoc again, I will never get white wings this way

It has been raining through the night, no surprise there then.

The nice part is when it has just stopped as you walk through the door and you can smell the sweet smell of fresh grass, and the clouds part as you are walking and suddenly reveal a myriad of stars, shining down on the pavement glittering beneath the street lamps. The air is so fresh and clean, no traffic fumes at that time in a morning, most people are either still abed or already at work, possibly preparing for the morning shift before they leave to go home to bed.

It wont be that long before I will be watching sunrises at that time in a morning, as the clocks will go forward in another four or five weeks.

When I went back to work yesterday it was as I had anticipated, they, or rather she, the manager that isn't had decided to try and change the procedure, we had a 'meeting' to discuss it, most of it was my procedure but she had actually put times as in fourteen days for this or seven days for that. That wasn't too bad, then we got to the payment part, this is where the client pays the creditor and us for our time. And I told her in no uncertain terms that sorry, that wont work. I wasn't being awkward for awkwards sake, I just know how the creditors, banks and financial establishments work, I know what their criteria is. And they give time limits on settlements, the way she wanted to do it would in a lot of cases mean we would be out of time. I put forward alternatives, ones I have been trying to get established for months. We will see how it goes.

And now ready for work and a little time with the books.
Have a good day

So Monday, when it all started, I arose at the same time as normal. Yes I know I was on holiday, but that body clock never stops ticking

I did th normal morning things, which we dont need to go inot, not having to rush to get to work meant everything was done a little slower. Switch on the computer and....Nothing, nada, zip.

So like the good, independant person I am I checked all electrical outlets, fuses etc. Monitor works fine, but no tower. I checked the cables, I could find no problems. Switched it off, left it a while, switched it back on. It whirred slowly into life coughing and spluttering, in computer speak. Then it was gone again.

By this time the shop was open, I phoned them, cue first idiot of the day
"Did you check the mains"
"Of course, and the cables and the fuses and every other thing that could be checked" I stated in that what sort of an idiot do you think I am? voice.
To be met with " Well normally when ladies ring they haven't checked the obvious things"
Excuse me!!

If there is one thing guarenteed to get my back up it is a snotty nosed little kid straight out of the sixth form playing the chauvinist card!
So I replied with " Hun, I was playing with electrics when you were sucking on bottles, now, this computer is very expensive, only six months old, and you will get me an engineer out, today"

" Oh, we cant get him out today, its monday"
"Why doesnt he work mondays?"
"Well yes but..."
"Tell you what" I interrupted " Why dont you give me his number, failing that get me a manager"
The manager comes on the phone, I went through the whole thing again, including the engineer today bit
"Oh we cant get him out today, its monday!" now I dont claim to be the brightest bulb in the pack, but what on earth is wrong with mondays?
After more wrangling they decided that the engineer could see to my computer if I took it down to the shop.
Now I paid a lot of money for this machine, including extras to cover all eventualities, including someone coming out to fix it.
After much wrangling I finally got to speak directly to the 'I dont work mondays even though I am here' engineer.
"What is it" he asked, meaning of course make ets, see I aint completely thick!!
So I told him
"Oooh no, I cant touch that it has to go back"
"Pardon?"
"It has to go back to where it came from, its dual core"
"And?"
"Well I cant mess with it"
"So, you are a computer engineer, who doesn't work mondays and cant fix computers?"
"I will come pick it up, it has to go back"
"And meanwhile?"
"Well we dont have another one to your spec in, it should only be a couple of days at most"

So he came, Monday teatime, which meant my computer didnt go back untill tuesday, but in fairness they did their best to get me it back fast, and it has been actually less than a week if you count they dont work sundays, thats the manufacturer, not the shop. And they brought me it back to the house, tonight after work, which was cool as they could have dropped it at the shop.

So that was Monday.

And so here I am back again, Did you miss me?

All up and running, and back in the fold, fingers crossed that everything is fine and dandy, though it appears to be at the moment.

And what have I been up to in the past week? Wouldnt you like to know

First I need to get rid of this back log of emails and then I will tell all, though most of it is pretty boring.

It is just not on, it really isn't, I swore I would never have to do it again, I gave it up. I got tired of it being expected and now, now!!............. I have baked a cake!!!!

These holidays are definately NOT good for me, I am becoming all..all..I dont know if I can say it * deep breath* Domesticated

I dont mind the cleaning bit, I dislike clutter and it is nice to have the time to sort everything out, but I have been sorting for two days and scrubbing and polishing and, it doesnt need it

And now I have not only been cooking proper food, I have commited the ultimate sin, and baked.

But man you should smell my house, the aroma of fresh baking and freshly brewing coffee, all clean and gleaming, and smelling of polish and cleanser upstairs. Mmmmmmmmmm, it smells homely

I thought holidays were supposed to be good for you?

Cracking tunes

The middle three are from one of my favourite sixties bands

8 Days

I did something unprecedented last night, I am still feeling somewhat in wonder of actually doing it, actually I did two things but the second one normally makes no difference. The second thing was actually the first thing, because I actually did it first, or rather I didn't do it, though not doing it doesn't normally make a difference because I dont normally do the second thing, which I mentioned first

The thing is by doing the first mentioned second thing, and not doing the secondry mentioned first thing, I am behind on everything, including The Molly's morning walk.

OK deep breath, the secondary mentioned thing that I did, erm, didnt do, was set the alarm.

The first mentioned thing that I actually did after not doing the secondary mentioned thing, was *looks from side to side* 'Go to sleep' at about three am, and not wake up until nearly seven am!

The Molly danced about like a loon, she was after all late for her morning ritual, so, even before a morning coffee ( which is normal ) off we went, imagine my surprise to see a light early morning sky, with pink ribbons of cloud announcing the arrival of the sun, then to turn the corner and there in front of me the Lady Moon in all her glory, full and shining, surrounded by a halo as though the sun had sent the clouds to wrap her up and keep her safe. Her beauty shining through them and creating instead the most magnificent of Halo's, pale orangey pink.

The morning is chilly, ice covers the windscreens of the cars, a sign that Mr Frost has visited with the Lady Moon before the Sun strives to take back its heaven for the day, and there hung low above one hill is the sun painting the sky in shades of pink and orange and red,as it says good morning, and on the opposite side, The Lady moon,hung low above another, bathed in a Halo, brightening the sky around her as she says good night. Awesome sight.

And now I shall partake of my second coffee, as it is chilly in here too having only just put the fire on

I have just gone down on my hands and knees and cleaned my living room floor, I am sat here feeling completely satisfied at the lovely way my laminate now gleams in the sunshine. Job satisfaction

It is a beautiful day, the sky is blue, the sun is shining, and though there is a chill in the air, it is not really cold.

It is times like this that I really wish I had a garden, I used to love this time of year in the garden, preparing it for the onset of spring planting, once again able to hang washing out without having to bring it in every five minutes or chase it over the next five gardens Watching the birds and the little animals preparing their new nests ready for the new young that will soon be on the way.

Ah well soon maybe, one can dream, and wish and hope.

And with all that wishing and dreaming I have totally forgotten what I was going to say! Thats because I m away in my special garden again

9 Days

My morning post is here

http://thebloscars.blog.co.uk

I shall do another later

Friday night, I should be down the pub with my glad rags on, but I decided not to go. I know party pooper

Anyway I have had a lovely evening chatting to my friends, and drinking coffee, and surfing, and studying and half listening/watching the tv, and surfing some more, oh and a little walk out, now that was nice, a calm mild evening, and a myriad of stars outshone by the full face of the Godess herself.

And now another walk out, well soon, if I am not too comfy, lol, what am I saying, Molly will do a freaky on me if she doesn't get her walk

Hope everyone had a good evening.

I donned my exploration gear and set off, knowing not what dangers or fearsome creatures I might meet en route to 'Town', some might gasp at the sheer bravery of mounting an expedition into the seething core of this metropolis on the day known as 'Friday', and it was with nervousness and dryness of the mouth that I set forth.

As I reached the outer laying regions of the place to be explored I paused to replenish the food that would be needed inside the caves and hovels in the centre of the 'Town' taking the 'food' from out of the mouth of the silver one and retreiving the plastic instruction giver, I placed both in the small leather pouch that fit inside the bag slung round my shoulders.

I took a deep breath and waiting for the signal that announced the desisting of movement by the large Iron beasts I crossed the black tar river and found myself facing the bright coloured hovels of 'shopkeepers' in and out of which travelled many brightly plumed 'shoppers' and some not so brightly plumed.

I ventured first in to a brightly lit cave with large blue and white lettering called 'Bodycare' with all manner of scented vessels for the temptation of the senses, friendly enough creatures and I purchased some nice smelling goods with the food from the leather pouch, having taken with me another less experienced explorer and her young ( She would not allow me to tie him up in the cellar till we got back ) I then followed them to a cave known as 'Boots' where she apparently had some special things called 'points' which she used to buy the magic hair changing potion.

The next part of the exploration is not for the weakhearted, so those with a sensitive nature must now lookaway!! Against all my better feelings and grasping the spear of courage, I ventured in to the '£2 shop' They were having something called a 'Half price sale' I did not spend long in this dwelling as it appeared that this seemed to attract many of the 'Shopers' of the more aggresive kind, pushing and shoving and when it became clear that the place seemed to be filling with this tribe, I made a hasty if somewhat surreptious retreat for the exit.

We then made a detour around the outside of the hovels to reach one where you could purchase the furnishings for the hovels that the 'shoppers' tribe lived in, where my companion gave over food for things she had purchased some time gone.

Then the journey across they grey river called the 'Carpark' to the largest of the caves called 'Morrisons' Several tribes seem to frequent this place, the Aggresive ones, the quieter ones, the ones that speak incantations to themselves to ward off evil spirits as they wander around clutching the magical 'baskets' which every so often they use to ward off other 'Shoppers' .

The 'Trolley Pushers' are by far the worst of the tribes in this place, using their wheeled apendages to clear the path in front of them in order to grab from the shelves the edibles, which though there are many they all seem to want the same one? The ferocious glares and the baring of the teeth, tis advisable to try to keep as large a distance from these as is possible!

To exit this cave we had to go past the 'Till' tribe and pass them the strange food gained from the silver wall, before they would allow us to have the goods we had found. Once past this barrier we could exit.

By now being tired fron the great expedition and worn out from the clashing with the many different tribes it was agreed we would call upon the tribe that had mastered the 'Iron Beasts' to help us to navigate the black tar river home this tribe had named their beasts 'Taxis' and they were of course named 'Taxi drivers'

Home and relatively unscathed, and the sweet nectar of caffiene helped to relax us after the harrowing exploration of 'The Town' be warned do not attempt this without a guide

10 days

I had such a relaxing evening last night I didnt want to get up and go to bed! Which was probably because despite the total relaxing I still couldn't find that sandman untill a few hours ago and then the alarm went off!!

Still, no rushing about is needed for getting ready for anything, and it is Friday, the weekend begins here, or something

The birds were singing this morning while I was out walking, I haven't heard the birds sing on my morning walk for ages, which proves mornings are getting lighter earlier, I already know that evenings are staying lighter longer as it was actually light as I walked home from work on Wednesday.

It is almost Springtime! And that has to lift the spirits of everyone, hasn't it?

And if not here you go, just to cheer you all up this morning

Pass on a smile, you will be surprised how fast it comes back