Halloween

Hey, fun party last night. A last minute invitation to Robert's Halloween bbq was accepted and in half an hour I rushed to produce some sort of dress-up effect. Black trews and jumper, a choker which was actually a belt of black stones on leather, earrings that change colour according to mood ... they're always deep red on me ... black boots and then going mad with red hair putty and gel. I gave myself red horns, twisting my hair and reddened the spikes. Drew strange eye brows and used brown eye shadow and last of all, bright red lipstick.
Didn't look at all like myself .. bit scary and horrid, actually!
First of all I had a job to do, though. There was Ashley Mote, MEP for the SE Region, Steve Radford, President of the Liberal Party and Marc Glendening, campaign director of the Democracy Movement.
And I turn up looking like a little devil!!
Give people their due, they managed not to look too aghast. Which was disturbing in itself. Marc thought I was just a Louth Goth. So I began explaining to everyone that I was heading on to a Halloween party.
Gosh, that's awful, really, that people might think I look so awful ALL the time!! :)
Drove to the party and after a hello drink drove my car back home and walked back to the party ... no drinkee drivee.
It was a fun evening and delicious chilli and ostrich burgers. Denise and I each took a bottle of red, which we shared and finished both bottles, then finished the half bottle Q had left on his departure, THEN opened another bottle of red. Not sure how far down that one we got but I do know I stumbled in after very kindly being walked home, immediately washed my hair, was ill and then had a cup of tea and 3 fat slices of Lincolnshire plum bread.
I had to pay a visit in the night down to the bathroom and fair reeled down the stairs!
However, God decided to spare me today and no resultant headache!
I should add that I don't actually drink much nowadays - though that may be difficult to believe!
May have a job avenue to explore.
It would make quite good sense if so.
Would probably mean moving but not too far away. Would mean I could finally invest in my own little property and yet leave me time to do the magazine photography which is mainly evenings, for social events. And it's a term time job so that would leave a certain amount of freedom.
I had a chat with the Angels this morning about it and during the first shuffle a card veritably leapt out of the pack and it was SO relevant I laughed out loud!
It's a bright day. I've done a couple of jobs and met nice people. The police cadets are holding a coffee morning for a local charity and they'd gone to so much trouble, making cakes and puzzles, a tombola and raffle and by 11 am they'd barely had an visitors, despite advertising it in the local paper and putting out about 700 flyers yesterday. Such a shame when youngsters go to a lot of effort and there's little response.
A coffee morning at a youth club in the town was drawing more clientele - who were being encouraged in, off the streets!
I've a dinner to go to this evening, for my niece, Nic. It's her 30th birthday on Monday.
Today feels good.

Erotica Exhibition , Olympia 17-20 November 2005

I went, last year, to the Erotica Exhibition at Olympia and it occurred to me that it's that time of year again! Just looked at the site and see there's even weekend job opportunities .... now maybe that's something I could apply for, huh? Erotica Exhibition job opportunities Actually, it was a fun day's outing. You'd probably need a couple of days to cover it thoroughly but for anyone with an open mind and a sense of fun, it's interesting. There were people queuing for the loos by the entrance, inside, with holdalls and I wondered why so many had bags with them. Then I realised that they had their 'outfits' in the bags. And some weird and wonderful outfits there were. One guy, walking toward me looked like a policeman, turning around after he'd walked past, the back of his uniform from tops of legs to shoulders was completely cut away ;) There were stalls selling fun clothing, toys of all descriptions. Like a kiddie in a candy shop I was wide eyed and wanting to see everything. I tried a nipple clamp on my little finger and by gum did that make my eyes smart! Well, I didn't actually know it was a nipple clamp til I was yelling ouch and an assistant grinned at me and told me where it was supposed to be used. Mind, I suppose once you own the toy, you can clamp it where the heck you like! I'd say, though there were young and beautiful people, that the exhibition appealed to those in their late 30's upwards ... just my observation. There was a very large lady wearing stockings and an extremely short skirt (shorter than Fifi's), bustier and collar, who was being led around on a leash by a suited guy. Quite incongruous! There was dungeon furniture. I did climb on one bench to see if it was comfortable and anyway, I'm always climbing things !! No I didn't get strapped to it! LOL I was just curious! It was a fun event, not at all sordid and I think interesting for the enquiring mind. Take a look ......... Erotica Exhibition see the link in side margin if it isn't here. And for the vegetarians among us, a little clip: Erotic Veg

Wonderful weather

But my how confusing was the weather today? I was dressed warmly from early, ready to go out with a girlfriend, in the latest fashion, viking boots, long swishy skirt and cable woolly. G/f had to cancel so I took me off down town to do some banking , thought a walk would be healthy and blow the cobwebs away and took the precaution of putting a gilet on too. Was I ever hot! And what diverse fashions from me looking like Eskimo Nell to people walking around in tee shirts and shorts and bare bellies! Nope, not done the CV yet and the job offer didn't come through ... would you believe it, there is no job fairy???? However, the Angels (cards, remember?) are telling me to charge ahead and to expect miraculous solutions. ..... Pete, just shush, huh??? I can't afford any more 2 pennies !!!! Sheesh, it's back to reality this week after the great week in Scotland. Not many jobs, bit worrying (bit?????). I went to A&E the other night ... my eyes were really puffy and red. I figured if there were people bleeding all over the place I'd just turn on my heel and walk out. However, no one laughed at me and the man at reception was so sweet and found me on the records. He went thro my details and then next of kin .... Tora (love ya) ... it was her old address in Sheffield, though. It occured to me that with Tora thousands of miles away and nine hours behind us that to attempt to telephone her in the event of dire circumstances ... get your ass over here, your mum's gonna die in an hour ... was, hmmm, maybe a bit pointless. So I gave 'em my neighbour's name and number. Then my bloody eyes got even redder ... cos they shed a tear. Silly, innit?

Hmmmm

Russell Grant today said I must make my mind up quickly if offered the chance to take a change in direction careerwise. That I'll hardly have time to think but it will be an opportunity I won't want to miss. I'll get the chance to pursue and achieve ambitions which up until now have been verging on the fringe of dreams but most things will go my way.

This was today's horoscope - bit spooky. I hope the offer comes soon cos the day's 2/3rds over and I can't stand the suspense!!!!

Pondering

On the radio yesterday findings were announced that tall women were less likely to have children and more likely to concentrate on their careers and be seen as stronger characters and more able.
Today personnel officers somewhere or other said that fat people are less likely to be given a job than a skinny counterpart applying for it.
I think I'll update my CV and say I'm 5' 9" and thin as a beanpole.
Well, if potential employers don't look beyond a CV I don't want sieving out before they've even been able to see that a short, average weight lady can cut it, do I?
I suppose interview stage could be a problem?
I'll have to ponder on that one.

Helpless

OK, there was a period when, hormonally challenged, I'd get stressed out over something stupid ... like my car battery having gone flat, I just burst into tears ... mind you, I did that over the parking ticket, didn't I? Maybe I DO have some hormones left?? On the whole, through life (hell, I'm talking like it's over and it's far from THAT!) I've been a coper. Something go wrong? Get on and fix it! Looking after the children, they have a spill, you pick 'em up, kiss 'em better and sorted ... apart from if they need to go to the hospital. How many calls did we have from ATC telling us Chas was at the hospital again? I was squeamish taking Victoria for her first 'jab' but it's something you just have to do. I'm having some tiling done in the bathroom at the moment for the installation of a shower. The young guy who's been left with the job was talking to his partner a while back telling her where I lived for her to deliver some lunch but told her to wait until the rain had let off some. Rain's let off and he's just dashed through, all worried looking. "I've got to go!" "Yes?" "She's trapped the babies fingers in the door and she's only one. I've got to go." Why didn't the daft bint just call the surgery or an ambulance ?? OK, that sounds selfish ... but first I was told this was a one day job. This morning I'm told it's a two-day job, grouting tomorrow and: "Oh, by the way, you can't bathe, can you go swimming and have a shower there?" Fuck! Anyway, it really would have been much more practical to call someone medical. There's a surgery in the next street, too. It would be really nice to have the luxury of not being able to cope. Liar, Julie Coates, you'd do it anyway!!! I hate asking for help. Then again, I'm not sure who'd I'd ask it of, anyway! I'd have stayed in the dark at the top of the landing for ever .... thank you :)

Pyknyk golfing in the buff

Hah, little devil! Got my sunglasses on, see?

The Mini-Mizer


Thanks Kat!

Lucky Heather

Rather than pay the gypsies a £ for a wee sprig of heather I thought it would be nice to pick my own and playing my first round of golf in a couple of years (and a bit), it seemed a good time to take a sprig when visiting Gairloch Golf Course. What a bonnie wee course. It struck me that it was quicker to get around (even though walking) than the US and Portuguese courses I'd played on ... then again, it was a smallish course. However, it wasn't exactly an easy one. I didn't t think so, anyway! There were huge great dips that you didn't know were there (if you'd never played it before) and great inclines to get down and had to ring a bell on the 5th when you'd finished so the people behind knew it was safe to play. Maybe with some lessons in technique (no ones ever complained about my technique, I may add) I can make the balls go further but at least I was consistent with 7s on most holes! Stop laughing! The eighth hole, shown in piccie, is a dog-leg hole running parallel with the beach, then a whacking great dip, then uphill again, of course. Oh lor ... or was this the 9th, pictured? Can anyone read the flag??? Hey, I did par one hole, each time around (9 holes twice). I stood on the tee mat with my wood ... "You won't need that, it's not far!" said Ian. "It's OK, it's just a 9 wood." I do love my 9 wood. I gave the ball a whack and it flew, wheeeeeeee, up in the air and landed on the green. YESSSSS! HAH! Well, it was great fun and not only did I get my trolley pulled up the hills, I got pulled up 'em too! I was given the highest handicap to play with. Y'know, if I'd been given just 20 more, I could have played with Tiger Woods and beaten him??? Oh, I lost my sprig of heather!

Water, Water everywhere

The American lady asked for a glass of tap water. "Are you sure?" "Yes, I'd like some tap water." "Water from the tap?" "Yes, water from the tap." "Ohhhhh ... k. Erm. The water from the tap is good, it just looks funny." "Looks funny?" "Yes, it's sorta pale whisky coloured." "Pale whisky coloured?" "Yeah, but it's used in whisky so that's alright, huh?"





Now who would have liked to have had the opportunity this young chappie had??

In the boat, with outboard motor (and oars, I was pleased to see ... I shouldn't have watched that scary film a couple of weeks back about the outboard motor packing up and the man died and the two boys got stranded and and and .... I digress) I felt a little dis-ease. I'm not a 'water person' generally. I did get over not wanting to go on canoes on the Welsh border river darn sarf by telling myself I had dry clothes, my valuables were looked after and I could swim and it wasn't a fast flowing river. I got over worrying about bobbing about on a little Greek boat that seemed terribly over-laden, and stank of diesel, between islands, by telling myself that the Greeks had been doing this for centuries with only the odd Siren to contend with. Sitting in this little boat in water that's all the same colour of dark peat but translucent, ie. no code ... turquoise - shallow, pale blue - not very deep, inky blue - too bloody deep, and mountains that took a long time to get closer, it occurred to me to ask: "Is the water deep?" (Remember my near drowning experience as a kiddie, in my profile? Oh and then the one in Nigeria when I went surf/body boarding and waved cos I was drowning - I thought - and got waved back at???). Reply: "It is a bit." I decided not to ask how big a bit it was deep, for the moment. I thought about how wet my bum was in my windproof but apparently not waterproof outer garments. But then it was my golfing waterproofs and I've never yet, as far as I can remember (and I don't do remembering, remember?) been required to sit in a puddle on a golf course. Yeuk, when I stood up I could feel the water dripping down my leg. I don't think I'd peed myself with fright!!! Giggle. It was good to get on land on the Enchanted Isle Maree. A consecrated area, people are still buried there occasionally. These two stones mark the graves of a Nordic prince and a Scottish Princess. It's a bit of a Romeo and Juliet story, so you know it's not exactly a happy outcome, eh? There's a wishing tree that you stick money in! There was lots of money there, old pennies that had gone green! I wonder if Queen Victoria spent a penny on the island?? Oh, I slept in her bedroom and had a great morning view. "So, how deep exactly WAS the loch?" "Hmm, about 400 feet minimum." Faints clean away .............

Dear, dear, deer

Click on the picture, then down in the bottom right hand corner when the symbol comes up, to enlarge and look carefully to the left of the picture. Whotcha see?







I raced up to where I'd left my camera bag to get a longer lens and then caught .......

Then at night the deer came up close ....

Fifi La Belle - the waitress from hell

I've remembered why my previous waiting on experience only lasted one day. When 14 I wanted to have a weekend job for extra pocket money but certain jobs were unacceptable to my mother. Potato picking - which I was never terribly serious about anyway - was a no-no ... mum had picked a bucket or two of tatties when in the Land Army and she said it would be too hard work. Paper round - nah, too early and EVERY day. A job in a kiosk along the prom? Certainly NOT ... mum wasn't having HER daughter working on the prom ... interjection ... Mum sometimes had some strange little ideas - don't we all? - like, when aged 16 I dared to suggest I might use tampons instead of sanitary towels (pre wings, we're talking walking with a brick between yer legs), her reply was: "They're only used by married women and prostitutes." Go figure ..... So Mum arranged a little job for me, waitress in a fish and chip restaurant owned by someone with whom she was acquainted. The job seems easy enough, huh? You say hello to the people sat at the table, you write down what they want to eat, deliver it to table, take the plates away and take their money at the end and, if lucky, have a small tip. No probs. Firstly one had to learn how much butter to put on the sliced bread and to cut it in triangles, just two, then arrange them so they didn't dry out, waiting for the lunchtime rush. Taking the order, you actually have to be able to read what you've written and if you use some private sort of shorthand, be able to recall what it stands for and get each order correct! Then it was down to the kitchen and yell the order out at the top of your voice: Haddock, chips, mushy peas twice, fishcake beans and chips, etc. This was my stumbling block ... I'm just no good at shouting .. OK, I want no response to the contrary from my kids here .... I wasn't good at shouting THEN ... I only do it when I have to now! So like a little wallflower, I'd stand there until someone noticed me. However, the customers did get served and left a nice tip ... which when I left the table to be cleared for 5 mins while getting another order, had disappeared on my return ... and then when there was a tip there it had to go into a box for everyone to share. I suppose, in which case, it still means that the nicer to the customer I am, the more they'll tip? Tora did waiting on for a while, at breakfast in one of the lodge chains. Do you know how mean people are about tipping at breakfast? There's no less effort goes into serving the customers, the wait-persons (hah!) get up extra early to serve, too, but for some reason people just don't seem to think they should tip for breakfast service. Fifi la Belle? First night we'd been out, busy and I didn't even manage to get from my black woolly and trousers to Fifi's outfit!! I wrote the orders in triplicate and remembered to write the names on the tabs, forgot to serve from the right, just the nearest side I could get to ... couldn't get the till to open and one of the customers had to come show me how, which I promptly forgot ... Well, suffice to say I wasn't your normal waitress! I did get into my togs the next day, though, pelmet skirt and all ! Didn't get to serve more than breakfast to one table ... they had to depart to sort a domestic ... I wonder if I was the domestic problem??? Served dinner a second evening to the visiting American couple. Offered the dessert they'd chosen and then decided to add a little extra ... "Hmm, I know it's not cholesterolly correct ... but would you like extra thick double cream on that???" Yeah, course they did! I think they got their bottled water free each evening ... I certainly didn't charge for it, I wasn't going to fight with that bloody till again! The next day what had initially been described to me as "someone needs a packed lunch" and bless Ian, cos that's all he knew at the time ... turned into "cater for 50" eeeee-kkkk! Come to the conclusion that I'd rather be in the kitchen doing the cooking (NOT THE WASHING UP THO!) This time it was remembering what I'd written and who exactly the bill belonged to .. for when they came back and wanted something additionally. Then remembering how much the individual dishes were ...and we were only offering two or three, and then adding the totals. I don't 'do' adding - come to that, I don't seem to do remembering! I stopped adding the day I got a plastic card. I'm awfa good at signing my name though! Wester Ross Fisheries Trust Biologist, Peter Cunningham, right, about to lead a group of youngsters and parents around the shores of Loch Maree Hotel on an educational open day, supported by Scottish Natural Heritage, Fisheries Research Services Freshwater Laboratory, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, and in the series of investigations to learn more about the distribution of fishes within Loch Maree, Highland Biodiversity Partnership, the Atlantic Salmon Trust, Loch Maree Hotel and artist Bill Woodrow. There were, on display, European eel, Arctic charr, minnows and an exercise in catching minnows, scale reading to age fish - not tell their fortune, trips out on a boat to fish among other adventures. An excited 5 year old staggering ashore with a bucket containing his fish shouted: "I'm only five and I caught this fish and my brother's 9 and he didn't!" Peter broadcasts on Two Loch Radio (I understand) and very kindly thanked us on Thursday morning for all assistance rendered. Unfortunately, at 7.30am I wasn't around to hear it!

Got a new box!

What????

Went searching for electricals this afternoon. I dropped my little radio the substitute for car radio and broken one of the ear phones and the radio's awfully crackly too.

I had been deriving SUCH pleasure from being able to listen to Radio 4 again so hoped I'd be able to replace it. The little radio was only £2, the batteries cost more! However, searching the town I couldn't find anything similar, what a shame. Still I can listen with one earpiece though it's still crackly. Still, better than nothing and I'll keep an eye open to see if I can find a new one. I suppose I can think about getting the aerial on car fixed but it just needs someone to pull the aerial out again and I'm stuck with yet another £200 bill. It'll just have to be an insurance jobbie next time. It's a little late to report it now, I suppose.

However I did find a digibox. Yes, plenty around, at a price. Basic is good and I found one at £39.99 in the Co-op and I'm up and running. I'd missed those extra channels, ITV 3 particularly. Happy bunny now.

Still have to pack for my Scotland break but the golf stuff's sorted. Clubs, well over the allowed number in the bag. I probably only use about 5 of them with any regularity (that is, when I actually last played) and even then could probably get around with a putter, a 7 iron and my 9 wood. Lotsa spare balls, couple of gloves. Shoes and socks, wet gear, tees. Sorted. Wellies and walking boots, all handed over already for stowing for the journey.

I hate packing to go away, what to take??? Have to have absolutely everything I have available to select from and then agony of choice. It's almost a relief to be coming back again and only have to get everything back in the case.

Still, not wishing the time away, just looking forward to 'the journey' .....

Talking on the tele-phone

I've just had a conversation with myself on the phone. My bedroom handset, for some reason, seems not to be working. I can dial out but not answer calls.
Awoken early (for me) at 8.15 I tried to take the call on upstairs set which wouldn't work, dashed downstairs, by which time the phone had stopped ringing and then my mobile went off upstairs ... dashed up to get it.
All jolly good exercise. However it was a lady who didn't really want to speak to me, because I had no idea what she was talking about but since she had me, she held me prisoner for about 15 minutes anyway, complaining that I hadn't returned her calls for a week, then she'd realised why and that's because she'd been leaving messages on the wrong number and whoever had been picking the message up must think she was batty, then a tirade about the office phone not being answered - I said they were short staffed at present - then going into the office twice and there being no one to serve her - and she's a busy woman and doesn't have time to waste - then that she doesn't get a free paper and the newspapers should pay the deliverers more to make sure that they turn up - then ...... I did manage to get in 'but I'm FREELANCE' .... then .... thank God her other phone rang.
I've just had a look through the instruction booklet but can't see why this problem has come up. I did try to page the second handset from first - doesn't work. However I can page the first handset from the second!
Tis a puzzlement.
I rang my home no. from my mobile to see if the handset worked. I was sitting there, holding both handsets with the mobile on sofa next to me, waiting for the phone to ring, waiting waiting ... looked at the mobile which was emitting small sounds and there was a guy saying "hello? hello?" . Hmm, he shouldn't be answering MY phone, I should be!
Of course I had to apologise .... wrong number!
At one point I had a phone to each ear and was just getting me chuckling in stereo.
I suppose NOW I need a new digibox AND new phone system!
Perhaps I'd just better make a list for Santa?
Bugger!!! I AM Santa!!!!

The Muse

Dang, i had to edit this cos I cocked up the link and now I've got one of these blooming gaps!!!! Grrrrr

I'm supposed to be going to bed early tonight to try to swing my body clock around. Since I said that, about an hour ago, I'm still here (but it's still about 3 hours earlier than I normally get to bed!) and just having a little blogging nightcap.
Last night I was up late, just chittering about on here, looking at this and that, waiting for my 'muse' to arrive. I had a story to write up and stories, other than my own, don't come so easily. If I dilly about long enough, but it usually take a couple of hours at least, I usually suddenly get a phrase in my head that inspires me and off I go.
Silly really, cos it's pretty much chronologically told but I just needed that something to give me the will to get started.
Talking of the will ... this was supposed to be my holiday weeek but I did 4 jobs yesterday and a couple today. But today's were done with more verve than yesterday's since I now have something to look forward to.
Despite Pete's kind offer of a visit to Spain I started mithering about my accounts cos they'd had those ads on the TV again - I hate those! Also I'd had a look at the flights, cost of, to Anchorage next April May and it seemed like a good idea to maybe be a little circumspect?
I decided to stay home and put head down into accounts - I haven't of course!
I seem to have to put myself under pressure to work!
I used to read job ads which said "Can work under pressure" and would think "nooooo, that's not me" but realised I was doing that for many years anyway and now it's just a matter of course.
Last time I prepared the accounts I started at 2pm and just worked all through the afternoon, evening and night (guaranteed peace from the phone) and nipped to the accountants at 10am the next morning.
What I have to look forward to is that I AM going away after all, up to Scotland ... just in case the last post's clues weren't sufficient.
This is where I shall be staying Loch Maree Hotel. A friend, Ian, has invited me to accompany him on a little foray to the Highlands where he's going to employ his culinary talents for a couple of days, to help out a friend who has been incapacitated through an accident and I shall assist as Fifi La Belle and wait on.
I was wondering if I can be like the 'ello 'ello French maids. Short skirt and stocking tops??? Maybe that's not quite Highland style?? I think it would be fun though and I could muddle through with Franglais.
Yell 'soups on' for un soupcon?
Ok, I'll behave myself, Ian!!!
Just two days the guests need to be looked after and then it's going to be discovering the locale and doing whatever one does in the Highlands. I've unearthed my walking boots and all weather gear, dusted off the Tommy Armours (golf clubs) and with a little luck Ian will have the patience of a Saint and won't feel like wrapping 'em around my neck and maybe I can get gently into the game again. I have missed golf.
There are some row boats .. you'll see them on the link. Maybe I could sit in the prow (do row boats have prows???) with a book to keep me quiet.
My camera will obviously be a necessity with that landscape.
I've been squeaky excited about this little ... little???? it's almost 1000 miles! ... roundtrip.
It's a brave man that can stand 10 hours of me in a car!!!!!
Remembering my post on snoring on here ... even if I fall asleep I'll probably snore!
I recall driving up to Edinburgh with Tora, from Oxford, little car fully laden, her bike on the back and we were looking at a 2am ish arrival. Tora chattered 50 to the dozen - doing my trick of thinking that talking to the driver will keep him/her awake.
I finally suggested she have a little nap - I had enough adrenaline coursing through me, driving through that landscape, with big black shadows (mountains) lurking outside the window, to keep me awake for a month!
Quiet for a moment and then "I'm asleep, mum!"
Hey, then there's the homeward journey!!! I'm giggling.
Don't say I didn't warn you!
Are we almost there yet? LOL.

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Just wheeeeee eeeee eeeee :)
Think lochs, haggis, grouse, deer, och aye the noo, wellies, all weather gear.
Think good company, good food and whisky.
Think Pyk grinning!

What a lovely day - and the fat lady aint sung yet!

I popped into Grimsby today - haven't been there in months, and it seemed a veritable metropolis compared with Louth. Sitting in the Freshney Mall having coffee with a friend reminded me of malls in North Dallas, without the stetsons and 'cowie' boots. It served to remind me that I should get out more. I don't mean get out ... I'm always OUT for work but get away from 'small' a little more often. Must make a resolution! It was good to enjoy company too ....... Had a foray into Staples to stock up on stationery, mainly hard-backed envelopes for sending out photographs and notebooks that'll slip into my back pocket. The day's not yet over, either. I just remembered there's a concert at Welton-le-Wold this evening, in the church, with Hoover The Dog who play, apparently 'mainly Celtic-ish' music. A trio with a violinist, piano accordianist and a guy playing bouzouki and guitar. Not at the same time, one assumes! Got my seat booked! Wore my little red boots today and they're jolly comfortable and make me bounce! Mind you, bounce is often about attitude, too, isn't it? OH, having wondered if I could get a compilation track from the Bridget Jones movie, the answer is yes I can - so I did and had a singalong on the way home. Now, if I throw myself into work for the next hour I can go out with a clear conscience.... and finish it off later.

Smells

Remember I bought a crystal deoderant?
I was somewhat hesitant in using it and sniffed hither and thither about my person every 10 mins the first day I used it.
However, I have to say that it is so effective that it is disconcerting.
Y'know how, after healthy exercise or ... hey, why beat about the bush ... sometimes, one is just aware of one's own personal aroma. It's not unpleasant, it's just natural. Well, if one doesn't let it get out of hand it's not unpleasant!
I think it's quite sensuous, actually and prefer a gentle smell of perspiration on a guy to some of the rather overpowering spray deoderants which seem to be very popular nowadays.
Anyway, this deoderant is SO effective that there's absolutely NO body smell and no perspiration.
It makes me feel like I don't exist!
This particular crystal deoderant, Ice Guard I bought in a Fabian's Health Shop for £4.99. Boots did have two brands, one was £6+ the other a roll on liquid crystal.
Oh, to use the Ice Guard you either rub the crystal on while still wet from bathing or run it under the tap to dampen.
.... Hey guys .... it says it can be used on the feet ;)

***** Star!

These boots were made for walking

New boots! Dash around as I do, my little Pikolinos boots, I just noticed, are just about done for. Not sure if the cobbler can do anything for them. I looked in J Walkers (say it) to see if I could buy a replacement pair but I have very broad little feet (3EE) with a high instep and it's difficult finding comfortable footwear. As a consequence, normally if I do find something to fit I tend to buy 2 or 3 pairs!
I really wanted tan leather boots but searching all the shoe shops in the town I was not suited. But I did eventually get booted, in Peter Scott's shoe shop AND this was the last day of their £5 off offer! I used it to buy a tin of protective spray against dirt and damp - they're suede. My little booties look so sweet!
Damp! I didn't bring my washing in before the rain and returning from town the clothing was dripping, seemed pointless bringing it in by then.
I'm having a day of 'treat Julie'. Filled the fridge with sensible food. I thought for dinner possibly chicken or steak and roasted vegetables. I bought a summer pudding and extra thick cream - big smile - and some Rocquefort and Chevre cheeses. Love the Rocquefort crumbled over salad with a dressing made from walnut oil.
The Chevre is great with caramelised onions on top and then gently grilled.
The roast veg is delicious sprinkled with walnut oil, Balsamic vinegar and a shake of ground cumin.
Also got some fruit.
Gosh, healthy Pyk? I'll probably end up just spooning the extra thick double cream down me!!!
Got a dvd for the evening .. Bridget Jones, the Edge of Reason. I must be the last person in the world to see it.
Oh and I found a dvd "On the Whisky Trail" .. showing he distillery process with visits to various distilleries in Scotland.
Looking around for a new digibox.

Earthquake

From Victoria, in Alaska: "Last night there was an earthquake, just a couple of jolts. Danny, downstairs in the basement, didn't feel it. I looked it up on the web just now and found out it was a 3.29 located just 18 miles north of Palmer. "
"It's good news to have lots of little earthquakes, some scientists say, as that way the plate just keeps on slightly slipping all the time, not sticking and sticking and sticking until the fault gives out in a big way."

I recall six years or so ago there was a big earthquake in the East, we'd heard about it on the TV. In Portugal, about a half hour drive west of Lisbon, sitting in our third floor apartment in the evening, reading by lamplight, music playing, suddenly there was a sound like a train and the lamp began swaying. It only last about 30 seconds. We looked at one another then went out on to the balcony where, all around, people were coming out of their houses and walking to their gates to look around. It was a strange experience.

Lisbon was devastated by an earthquake 250 years ago, almost to the day. On 1st November 1755, in ten minutes between 30,000 to 50,000 people lost their lives. The effect of the quake was magnified by the fact that it was All Saints Day and countless candles were burning in houses, and churches, plus open fires in homes and Lisbon was rapidly turned into a sea of fire.

Some of my lady friends in the US have experienced tornadoes. One lady, Marie, told me how it sounded like a train - I remembered her words.

Staying in a motel in Texas Hill country, there were tornado warnings on the tv. Disconcerting for someone formerly living in a country where they were seldom a problem. The TV screen had a tornado warning permanently on the screen.

I decided to call reception and ask what one should do in the event of a tornado.

Ma'am, take the bed matress, get into the bath and pull the matress over the top of you.

"But the bath is only big enough for one person!"

"Make sure you run fastest then, Ma'am."

Tonighttttt, tonighttt wont be just ANY night ....

Actually, I don't know if there'll be a morning star. I wouldn't know one if it jumped up and bit me. There was a tremendously bright night recently. I just went to stand in the yard for a while and chanced to look up ... I mean, I don't normally see anything over 5' and lo (and behold) the sky was amass with the twinkly white things! BUT there was an interloper. A yellow twinkly thing. I thought it must be a plane, or maybe even a shooting star (I tried, quickly, to think of a wish but I couldn't decide which one to select) ... I watched the yellow star and I'm sure it moved but that could be because I blinked??? Where the hell is this going??? Erm, hold on a mo. ............... re-read, re-read de dum, de dum. Anyway it turns out it might have been Mars!!! I think it's misty tonight, lemme look ......no twinkles. I hadn't looked at the sky in ages. That must mean I've either been at home, indoors, working or just dashing from place to place. I do that, just focussed ahead. Tonight. Well, I had an emotional wobble, the way you do, from time to time ... You don't???? Well I do! I came over a bit emotional and teary ... I suppose it could have been hormones but I'm not sure if I have them now!!! Anyway, I was back on track, quickly, after a hug from Anna and packed my camera bag and off I went. Two harvest suppers, a service before a harvest supper (or was it auction) and a 'Kay-lee' I just can't be fagged to decide how many i's and e's there are in the word (Ceilidh?) First stop ..Legbourne for their harvest supper. Must have been about 100 people there, just about to start their supper. Pic, thank you. whoooooooooooosh On to the Woolpack for the service and whatever. Erm, it was cancelled. OK. Fine On to Alvingham where the kaylee was being held by Rushlinc, except it wasn't because there was one sole car outside Alvingham Village Hall. Wrong night. Bugger. On to Fotherby. (pictured, in St Mary's Church) Fotherby's nice. I like the people at Fotherby. Park down Church Lane under this hangy type tree and it was like the Night of the Triffids. I'd had my window open and when I closed it, bits of tree were still in the car. They were still there when I drove off. Get OFF ME!!! Used the magnalite on my keyring to lock the door and find my way up the church path. Open door YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY Light, bright, smiley, happy people!!! Hello Julie would you like supper???? Too right I would!!! How lovely Roger dashed off for a plate of chine. I'll have to explain chine to you I spose. It's a Lincs delicacy. Do you know ...........it takes a big black bin bag full of parsley to stuff a chine? I did get an explanation from a butcher lady once how it's all done but I've got cotton wool for a brain and I can't wholly recall. But it's the back of a pig and big slashes are made into the meat and stuffed with the parsley and whatever and then it's boiled so it becomes ham. It's something of an acquired taste but once aquired it's very lovely. I learned something tonight. You're supposed to put vinegar on it! So I did. Now that wasn't all! There was trifle and apple pie to follow AND cheese and Plum Bread (another Lincs delicacy). There are no plums in it though. It's a bread with raisins and currants. And the company was sooooo convivial. I chatted at table with a lady who was visiting her parents, originally from Yorkshire, who recently moved to Fotherby. What nice people. The lady's son, Sam, is a Christian. I know that sounds strange, but he made a commitment almost 2 years ago (he's 20) and it was delightful chatting to him. Asking how his friends treat him. Though there is quite a number of young people in his church, once outside he's still something of an 'oddity' in this age of binge drinking youngsters. I was surprised when I saw him, initially, cos the mean age must have been about 45, of the diners and there's this young lad who didn't in the least look sulky cos he'd been dragged along. He belongs to a church in .... damn, I really must take in details better (Keithley may ring a bell, but I was writing, earlier, about Keith Sharp - chair of Louth MS Society and there's going to be a Louth Male Voice Choir concert with some welsh guys in aid of the local MS branch). Well wherever and they have a band and the words to songs (they dont say hymns) are displayed on a screen, and there are lots of youngsters and they do happy clappy. Well, he just seemed like a really nice lad. Then after tea/coffee we had a rousing hymn singing session of ............of course ...... We plough the fields and scaaaaaat -ter etc. Then, ..... can't remember, Oh, ... Raise the song of Harvest home, that one. Then ...... oh yes, How Great Thou Art. Wow, i really got into that one. Shame I stopped going to choir. I really do love to sing. Thenthe answer to a puzzle. The puzzle was .......... What is this???? I'm not going to give you any clues since we didn't have any .............. OK, I'll be kind, but it's a very obscure clue ... look at the colour of the casing. What edible product do we Brits automatically associate that colour with (think a bit darker) .... then you'll have to go to a plant site to look up its common name with this word preceding it. I could be really really generous and tell you that the second word rhymes with wine. Sheesh, if you don't get it now, then you're an eejit!!! Whoops, Sorreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee . Snort, laughter. Yes, of course I got it ... I got the name of it from the lady who brought it along!!

Off the shoulder

Phewwwww, almost off the chest!! I bought a lovely black deep V neck (and back) soft velour-type woolly last week. It feels so wonderful to stroke it ... I sorta hoped someone might find me tactile enough to stroke, LOL. Anyway, I had a job this evening, which I'd diaried, for the local Lions and had a panic call at 7pm to check I was coming and inviting me to stay 'for a bite'. Now it struck me that this wasn't just an 'ordinary' presentation and I ought to pull the stops out a little so I jumped into one of my 'little black numbers', figure hugging trousers and this super woolly. It did slip a little off my shoulder but since I was running late I pulled a jacket on and dashed. I arrived to find the room choc-a-bloc. Not only were there Lions, district Lions plus the Louth Old Boys under 16A football team, which won a national football competition sponsored by the Lions, plus all the parents, aunties and grannies. When I took my jacket off the shoulders on the woolly began to slip and I spent the rest of the night oiking them up. I was chatting to Nigel Gay, he's a volunteer at the local theatre and we discussed plays, holidays etc and I would oik shoulders every now and again. By the end of my drink I was just fed up with doing it and the shoulders slipped down and down and down 'til it was decided OFF shoulder and damn near off chest. I looked at Nigel and grinned, which he returned: "Think it's time I went before I end up half naked!" Damn, think I'll have to wear a bra with it next time and pin the shoulders to the strap. Tch. Don't think my tum's too keen on white bread. Got some delicious buns but going swimming even a couple of hours after eating, the bread felt like a huge weight in my chest. I only did 26 lengths then hied me to the jacuzzi and found a nice strong jet to put my feet up against for a session of auto-reflexology. Finished off in the steam room. OH, I had 9 minutes in the sun cabin today. If I'm not going away next week (and I'm not, methinks) then at least I can appear to have by topping up my August tan. I asked the beautifican if a sun cabin was free and got a very strange look. "Sun bed you mean?" Well, I don't know what her bed looks like but if she goes to bed standing up with her arms up in the air on grab handles, then yes, it's a bed. Now, let me go see if the fridge is worth raiding. From memory .. it isn't !

Digibox dead

Duke of Gloucester at Kidgate School, yesterday













Sharron Davies at Lacey Gardens Junior School today

Rev Richard Holden being presented with a photograph of the celebration of his first communion in charge, that is. The photographer was .....? Yeah! I got to stand in the pulpit!! Coun Grant Allen, Chairman of Alford Civic Trust addresses guests invited to the 'topping out' of Alford Manor House. I shinnied up the ladder behind him. Week ago, Friday, a couple of girlfriends came back here for a drink and chat after closing time and we chatted and chatted and chatted a bit more and them some more and at 9.30 am on Saturday we finally parted company. We'd talked alllll the way through the night. However, the wine flowed a little more liberally than I'd intended since Julie (another one, not me) managed to send her glass of wine (Villa Maria) flying (twice). Needless to say I slept much of Saturday, worked Sunday and it wasn't until Monday that I turned the TV on and wanted to scan what was on via the digibox. It was all fuzzy. Very poor reception, so I put it down to interference due to the weather conditions. I tried again the next day, same problem. I unplugged it all and thought maybe the problem would go away when I plugged it back in. Wrong. Then it dawned on me .... two glasses of wine inside a digibox probably do it no good whatsoever! It went in the dustbin bag today. I've been loaned a copy of the Da Vinci Code. I keep seeing that it's a favourite in various dating profiles. Seems people either love it or hate it, so I thought I'd give it a go so I can have an opinion on it. I had dressed crab today. Ate it from the shell cos I'd forgotten, nah, couldn't be bothered to queue, to get salad. Looked at the label which read: "This product may contain pieces of shell." To which my mind responded: "oh yeah, duhhh". I was wondering if I could do anything with the shell, maybe have a little 'seaside' spot in the garden, or make a feature of one of the pots, shells, sand, weed ... then I saw printed inside the shell was 'Reg Des 917059'. I thought it was real, not plastic!!! I wonder if that crab knew that it was going to be famous posthumously?? I'm eating half a melon, spooning into it and it's delicious!

Car Boots and Traffic Wardens!

OK, by request, this is the full length version. Pete said it didn't show my big arse, which I claim is a matter of opinion as to whether it's big and it's also a matter of preference as to whether big is beautiful!
I mean, it's only a size 12 bottie and not exactly humongous!
Moving on ...
What do you have in your car's boot??? (trunk)
I listed the things I had in mine in a comment below.

A stepladder
Little green wellie boots
Half a dozen bottles of water
A blanket
A beach tent
A tweed hat
An umbrella.

oh, and I forgot:

A pair of golf shoes, a 7 iron, a beach mat, windscreen defroster and a bag from the Erotica Exhibition last year which a sachet of lube. What?
Pete's got a blanket and two bottles of Rioja.
I was driving around with 6 bottles of wine in mine but finally got fed up of the clanking sound - though they were in a bottle carrier. The bottles were 3 of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, Villa Maria Reserve. This must be my favourite wine. Used to buy it in the US for about $5 but even there is got popular and went up in price. Here it was £8.99 a bottle but there was a 3 for the price of 2 offer so I thought I'd take advantage of it.
Also, listening to Radio 4 on my tiny radio (that I have to use because my aerial was stolen and uprooted with such force it's a £200 jobbie now!!!!) I heard a programme where Raymond Blanc, who used stoutly to support Australian/New Zealand wine is now gung ho about some of the French wines now being produced. So I grabbed a bottle of French Connection Merlot Grenache.
http://www.bottlegreen.com/ French Connection is a supporter of the Royal British Legion and there's a piccie of a poppy on the bottle. They will make a donation to the RBL for every poppy bottle purchased, "With a minimum £30,000 guaranteed each year." Which sounds good to me. So if you see a poppy bottle, grab yourself one and feel good in more ways than one.
I got another parking ticket today. I went into a local school to pick up a press release re. The Duke of Gloucester's visit in the town tomorrow. A reporter is coming from Boston and I was asked by the school sec if I'd fax the press release to her. I'd only paid for 30 mins parking and wasn't going to go into town but - out of the goodness of my little heart - trotted down to the office to use their fax. Got caught with a call to take another picture and since I was in town and needed a couple of toiletry things I nipped into Boots.
I had that feeling again though, re my car.
Sure enough as I dashed up to it there were the two parking wardens. I wouldn't mind but couldn't one of them been hitting another car??? The guy hadn't pressed 'go' yet and I yelled NOT AGAIN!!! I was ten minutes over time. He hit go. B******. He pointed out that had I spent a further 10p I would not have been late back. Yes I ****ing well know that but I wasn't originally going to stay that long ... I'd just gone to do someone a favour! Damn, blast. I didn't say all that, of course, I just burst into a torrent of tears, threw the ticket on the front seat and burned rubber ... stalling in the process.
Arrived at my next job with red eyes. Parked up, took a jolly picture of childen doing African dancing at St Michael's CofE school, got back to find my car, which I'd cleaned the day before, had the biggest slidey bird poop down the passenger window you could ever imagine!

Drove on to next job and still bloody well cried!
Oh well, better phone 'em up and pay for it while it's still only £30 and not £60 if I leave it over a week.

Put the car thro the wash, tumble dried it ... HAH, just checking you're reading properly!
Went in to pick up the bike (but it's not ready yet) ... I wonder if bicycles can be parked free - if, indeed, there's anywhere to chain them to?
One of my toiletry purchases was a crystal deoderant. Though I'd try a little experiment. I'll see if it loses me friends!
A few years ago I bought a 'natural' deoderant ... that one where in the ad. people were camouflaged as tree trunks, Natura, I think.
It definitely did not work and I was so annoyed I wrote to the manufacturuer and told them it made me smell like onions! The letter must have amused the recipient but they had, of course, to reply that their product was of the highest quality yardy yah - but they did send me a voucher to buy another one.

Managed 38 lenghts tonight but realised I hadn't eaten since I can't remember when so dashed off to Somerfield (not so cold today in there!) but got chucked out after 15 misn of mooching. Or soliciting?

I wanted a melon which was on the top shelf, bigger than my head I reckon but I couldn't reach to grip it and they were pushed quite tightly together. I gave a tall guy walking in a big big beaming smile.

Why'd he look like rabbit caught in headlight?? He looked worried but calmed down when I stopped jumping about like a monkey and said I only wanted him to reach me a melon. He picked a nice one too! Told him he can shop with me another time.

Yeuk, Spider

HUGE great spider in the bath ..... it must have been at least 3" across. Time of year to start putting t' plug in t'bath'ole methinks! Just realised I haven't eaten today ... I've defrosted a steak and will break open a bottle of red. I've been captioning, periodically, inbetween a visit from a girlfriend and a few of phone calls. Realised also that I've left it rather late to draw up my monthly invoice. Bad Julie. I DID however, get my bike around to the Bike Doctor and should be able to collect it tomorrow. I freewheeled all the way down Church Street, the penance was having to pedal up Newgate hill (if that's what it's called). It wasn't much exercise. I'll have to go for a swim tomorrow. I also made chutney today! Pink (cos the toms weren't yet red) and green. The pink tastes better but thre's more of the green. I've already given two pots away. Anyone want chutney??? Ok, dinner ..........

OOps

OK folks, this is the type of picture you DON'T take!!! Oh my gosh, Julie ..... I knew there was something wrong with the background.
Sorry Nikki.

"What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare?"

I've been prompted to think a little about my life (thanks, Pete). Writing is cathartic; it helps sort out the mind. Well, sometimes. Other times too much thinking can just be confusing. One friend commented I seem to be thinking to myself on here. If no one was reading this blog I would still find an outlet in writing because I have done that for so many years; written either my own words, or someone else's since the day I learned to write. I am thinking to myself when I write. I can see the counter going up and that tells me people are reading my words and of course the occasional comment confirms this. So my life must be interesting enough for others to read about. Why do we read? To escape? To learn? To be amused? Simply to pass the time? Until four years ago I had always lived with some one, except for a year when I lived alone in a bed sit in London. I was excited about that prospect, fresh from college, going to live in The Smoke. No more curfews, no disapproval of what I did. No threats of what would become of me if I didn't behave. I found that far from becoming a gallivanter I haunted the library and read, alone, at night. I recall I had a crush on Tony Blackburn (arghgh) - he was a constant in my life, a cheery voice in the morning. I had gone to work in a very large organisation where people went into London from far and wide. I was 17 in a bedsit in London. The friend whom I'd gone up to London with and I had parted company after just a few weeks when she got on drugs. The girl she palled up with was dead within the year. I either went home at weekends or was visited by my then boyfriend, husband to be. For all my life until four years ago, apart from the bedsit period, I have lived with someone and though I may have, did, pull my weight in a relationship and at times was the stronger spirit I nevertheless had the 'luxury' of being able to feel 'looked after', either by parents or partner. Parents died, partners gone, it's just me. It's scary to be 'just me' for the first time in your life at 50! A front goes up. Getting used to travelling alone, at hotels I decided not to be pushed into a corner, the lady on her own consuming one glass of wine, being the one speculated about by dining couples. "Just one?" "No, all of one and I'd like a centre table, please." "A glass of wine, madam?" "May I see the wine list, please ... I'll have a bottle of .... " I could be the voyeur instead of the viewed. I may be able only to consume a couple of glasses of the wine but I'd have the remainder sent to my room. I'm a loner. I always have been. I didn't realise that as a child. My grandpa bought me a bag of oranges one day as a gift. I rarely saw him. He gve them to me and said something about my being a loner. I didn't understand what he meant. I put the fact that I didn't seem to be a crowd person down to feeling my parents would not, somehow, be happy if I invited friends back home. I did, on the odd occasion and there was no problem with that. So maybe it wasn't a potential lack of hospitality on my parents' part but more the fact I was simply a loner. A leader, yes. Not short of friends but someone who preferred her own company? We moved house a lot anyway and it didn't do to cultivate friendships since one never knew when the next uprooting may happen and have to start all over again. Broken home. Strange place, strange people. Yet again be the outsider and have to conform or be admired or to excel to be acceptable. Average intelligence but with potential not realised. I was told 'we know you'll do your best.' No direction given though. How does someone young know where to go if there's no one to lead? I was practical, a good athlete, developed a knack for making people smile. Maybe my own ready smile helped? If you smile people are nicer to you. You're not a threat. So introduced into new communities and situations time and again, once just smiles. So what of my first four years as all of me? Returned to these shores traumatised. No home, no job, but some money. Anyone having lost a 'loved one' be it through break up of relationship or death knows it takes a while to get over ... if one ever does, entirely. I once read a list of the top 10 stress factors and in the first couple of years I had about 8 of them, all at the same time. Within a month I had a home and two jobs, one of which was wholly new to me, learning on the job. Maybe working on automatic pilot but I was independent. Though not quite because I was living two lives. My own and that of my incarcerated partner. When the cancer came to light I realised, at least, that I had to live just one life, my own. And I only had one opportunity to do this. I gave up one job .. the one I had been trained for, for the one I enjoyed. Anti social hours and all. But it's taxing at times. A few months ago I applied for and was granted an NUJ card. I realised I had succeeded in something I'd done for myself. I would like company - at the same time, being self-employed and new to this keeping oneself, it was (is) scary. At the moment I sacrifice company for security? Maybe one day that feeling will go. Maybe it's as well to keep an element of fear, since it does, at least, drive one. So, do I need to get a life? I did get one. It's my own. It's not ideal but it's mine. I can do what I want and when I want. I can't belong to things that need attendance on a regular basis .. I did try the choir but their busy time coincided with busy work periods too. I used to quite enjoy golf but don't really have four hours to spare very often. Also, it's better with a partner but I'm shy of my skills and I'd probably be a fairly irregular player. I thought about joining a tennis club. I tend to think that everyone is brilliant at the game if they own a raquet. Clubs are very competitive. I like to play for to enjoy the experience, not to compete. Sports tend to be very competitive. I swim (alone) ... I now cycle (alone) :) Other 'societies' also tend to need regular attendance. Anyone in the newspaper industry, well, on the photography/writing side will know full well what I mean. Maybe it's difficult for others to comprehend? A loner, I appear to have acquired what is essentially a loner's job. So I suppose it suits me for all that. I enjoy company and I think I'm fairly amusing company. I have been the new, independent me for only four years. With luck I'll have it sussed in a few years' time. Am I loitering on the edge of life? Actually, I think I threw myself into the deep end of it and I flounder a little at times. When I've learned to swim more strongly I'll be OK though.