Lighthouse

Just dropped in.....

2012-01-20T15:14:00.005Z

Can't believe it's been nearly three years since my last posting. Wonder what the next three years will bring?

I've been looking for somewhere to show some of my art work on line and this may be a suitable place. Easy to use, and easy to direct people who wish to view. Or I could set up another Blog just for then drawings. Hmmmm, choices always give me problems.

ADDITION 24th Jan.

Had a think and have opened "What's the Point......illism" Blog. Will get some art work there soon...... and see what happens.

Another first............

2009-03-22T23:35:00.000Z

Another first today..................... and I kept my clothes on for this one.
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I took passage on a bus to the great city of Truro. Quite an experience. Memories of 25 years ago, my last such outing, came flooding back. The hardness of the seats. The way your tried to grip as the bus cornered. And the vibration ............ hmmmmm! Almost like sitting on a washing machine when it's set on 'spin'............. not that I've ever done that. At least I was colour coordinated, my purple coat matched the seat.
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I had it on my mind to look for a suit. I shall need one for later in the year. I don't want to buy it yet, just in case the Summer is unkind to my waistline or I build more upper body muscle (some hopes). It was good to wander without the pressure of having to buy and the pressure of the weekday shoppers snapping at my heels.
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It also gave me time to people watch, a subject that never ceases to interest me. Looking at pretty girls, when I should be more interested in their mothers............ or even grandmothers. The mobile phoners, with facial expressions that go with happy or serious calls. People deep in their own thoughts, deep in their own worlds. The purposeful walkers, with only seconds to get from A to B. Those hurrying days are behind me now............ I hope.
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Looks like I've landed the voluntary work at the Merlin Project, helping in the hyperbaric oxygen therapy room. I have to attend two training sessions this week, ready for the official opening on the 14th of April. A little more added purpose to my life. Then next weekend, it's party time. An anniversary meal, and next day, a birthday celebration. Good company at it's best. I'm rather looking forward to that.

So, what have I been up to..................

2009-03-22T23:31:00.001Z

So, what have I been up to ........................... not a lot ! Not strictly true. I've recently been to an open day at the newly built M.S resource center, The Merlin Project, a few miles from St. Austell. I've been following the project ever since it was first put forward, and now, at last, it's about to open it's doors to the public.

It's the latest of about sixty centers, which provide a range of treatments and facilities for people with M.S. Over £2 million has been raised, mainly by the people of Cornwall, but there is still more needed ( isn't there always ) to fit out more treatment rooms, hydro therapy pool and conference center. http://www.merlinproject.org.uk/

I've applied to be a volunteer, perhaps two or three half days a week, doing whatever is needed and whatever I can. It will give me something to do and help put a little purpose back into my life. I've already been called back for an interview, so we will see what happens from there. I know they are looking for people to assist with the HBO chambers. They are rather like diving bells, where M.S'ers can breath oxygen under pressure. It's a system now used in many treatments for a variety of complaints, so it should be interesting............... and I do have the T-shirt. Fingers crossed.

The photo competition went well. No prizes, not even a place, but the pictures were well received and I was happy with that, for a first attempt. Another judge may have come to a different decision. It's all in the eye of the beholder.

I've been spending a lot of time at the beach recently, taking advantage of the beautiful weather we have been enjoying. Today I went further afield, to Vault Beach, about 10 miles along the coast.

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The far end of the beach is used by naturist ......................... so it needed further investigation. It's a long climb down and a long walk when you reach the beach. Sure enough, there were about a dozen naturists enjoying warm rays and a gentle breeze off the sea. Now I know what you are thinking. Did he?

Well the answer is "Yes". I just couldn't resist it. (Sorry Fi, no photos!!!) After a few minutes, it seemed perfectly natural. Even the odd 'strutter', that makes that unneeded walk, there and back, didn't even raise an eyebrow. So there you go, another 'first', and so early in the year.......... but it was a glorious day.

The other end of the beach. My bit of heaven. Crowded, isn't it?

Now to swim naked............. but it will have to be a little warmer than it is now.

Photo Competition.............

2009-03-22T23:24:00.001Z

It's been a busy few days. Last weekend was spent with family in Devon. A visit to see my daughter first, then the rest of the time spent with sister-in-laws. One of them farms, and the family had been invited there for lambing. I didn't actually see a lamb being 'dropped'. One had just been born before we arrived and the twin arrived while we were in another shed, looking at the other expectant mothers.

Mother and lamb doing fine.

I've been working on the house quite a bit this week, finishing the repair work to the porch area. I'm now going to part roof it to keep the weather off, then hopefully that will solve the problem of dampness along that side of the building. It's not much at the moment, but it's best taken care of before it causes too many problems. I've also dug and cleared all the growing beds ready for planting in a few weeks time. Seeds have already been started, so fingers crossed for a good strike rate.

I've entered three pictures in our Photographic Club's open competition. Not that they will win anything, but it will show some of the other members what sort of photos I like to take. Mother and lamb is one and the one below is another.

I've called this one High and Dry.

The final one is something I saw last Autumn, just as the leaves started to fall and the grass started to brown. It's On Reflection, taken with a 'point 'n shoot', so I'm very pleased with the result.

I'll be interested to see how they are received. It really depends on the judge...................... and what he's had for tea. I shall be happy if they score over 12 out of 20. I'm sure the 'experts' will find a million and one things wrong with them.

And , how am I? Still not fully come to terms with the way that Cag died, or the part I play in the final act. Still angry at times, annoyed with her for giving up the fight, and yet knowing she had no choice in the matter. I thought I might find the answer in church. It's been a comfort, but the truth lies within me and only I can release, or give it up. That needs more time.

I keep wondering what I'm going to do with the rest of my life. I'm spending far more than is coming in at the moment, but there are certain things that I need, for jobs that should have been done over the years and I never had the time. I'm not too worried about this year. I'm happy to treat it as a year of adjustment, but I will need to lay down certain ground rule by Christmas. I need taking in hand.

A re-think..............

2008-10-15T22:38:00.002Z

Some will know that I have two Blogs and most of my infrequent recent posts have been there. I decided that the Lighthouse is going to be used for a bit of silliness, and the more, but not too serious subjects, will stay where they are now. So lets see how it goes. Nothing is written in stone.

This week an American Common Nighthawk braved a 3,000 mile flight across 'the Pond' and made landfall on the Scilly Isles, one of only about 20 who have made the journey. It was promptly run over!

There must be a moral there somewhere.........................

And you wonder why I drink?

2008-06-21T22:56:00.002Z

Lips that touch liquor shall not touch ours..................

The best advertisment for drinking I've seen. Cheers!

Hillary Clinton's driver...........

2008-06-11T23:31:00.002Z

Hillary Clinton and her driver were cruising along a country road one evening when an old cow loomed in front of the car. The driver tried to avoid it but couldn't - the aged bovine was struck and killed.

Hillary told her driver to go up to the farmhouse and explain to the owners what had happened. She stayed in the car making phone calls to lobbyists.

About an hour later the driver staggered back to the car with his clothes in disarray. He was holding a half-empty bottle of expensive wine in one hand, a rare, huge Cuban cigar in the other, and was smiling happily, smeared with lipstick.

"What happened to you," asked Hillary?

"Well," the driver replied, "the farmer gave me the cigar, his wife gave me the wine, and their beautiful twin daughters made mad passionate love to me."!

"My God, what did you tell them?" asked Hillary.

The driver replied, "I just stepped inside the door and said, I'm Hillary Clinton's driver and I've just killed the old cow. The rest happened so fast I couldn't stop it."

Great news..........

2008-01-03T00:28:00.000Z

Yes folks. It's great news...........

Hillary Clinton has found a running mate!...

If Hillary makes it to the White House, who becomes First Lady?

Reasons...........

2007-12-30T23:41:00.000Z

I've not been a great book reader of late, just not enough time. I do like some of the 'two page' stories or reviews that are published in the newspapers, particularly The Mail. It's not the paper I would buy out of choice, a little too far to the right for me, but seeing how it's passed on to me a day late, I do look out for things of interest.

One article that caught my eye this week was in the Saturday colour supplement. Titled as 'The original desperate housewife', it was about a diarist, Ada Reece, who kept a diary during the later part of the 1800's, almost up to her death in her 90's, during the 1960's. She was not only writing a diary about her life, she was writing social history.

She was reasonably well off, had four children, married to a doctor, although it was something of a love less relationship, and she felt inadequate, somewhat unfulfilled in her life. Sound familiar?

The words which particularly stood out in my mind were taken from her notes of 7th March 1911. She was writing about her resolution to write every night, and was concerned about what, and how much she was writing. Her words "......I decided that so voluminous a record of trivialities was unprofitable... I write for my own edification... I write as to The Friend of my Soul, that ideal human who understands. With him I need not pretend to be better than I am..."

True words then, true words of a blogger now.

Just visiting..................

2007-12-21T00:22:00.000Z

It's been more than a month since I've posted anything here, yet I post every day on my Daily Diary Blog. I think, in the New Year, I will have to sort myself out and decide what to do with what. Probably keep the D.D.B as it is and use Lighthouse to discuss the more serious thing that trouble me and the world, carbon footprints, world flooding, and the cost of sprouts.

An Intersting Sky........

2007-11-12T23:34:00.000Z

Many will know I'm a sky watcher. I wouldn't go as far as to joint Clouds R Us or The Cloud Appreciation Society, but I do spend a lot of time looking up. I also take a lot of photographs, always meaning to do something with them, but never finding the time. Perhaps one day......

Last Wednesday evening, just before the dreaded Duck in Orange Sauce.

One of the aircraft with a bad case of hic-cups!

And just before the light fades.

Picking up the beacon, resetting course and heading off to who knows where.

Dancing in the dark.......

2007-10-24T22:20:00.001Z

O.K, as promised, some photos of my in my dancing days. How old was I? About 15, and had been dancing seriously for about 3 years. Ever since I'd found out that it was one way of getting really close to a girl......... without getting punched!

With my dancing partner Bernice, in the Devon and Cornwall Junior Championship, held at Butlins, Minehead.

........and we came second!

I was not really taken with Bernice. It was solely a dancing partnership. I'd seen too many dancers who were romantically involved, get into too many arguments that were carried on off the dance floor, and taken home. Bad news.
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Now this is Susan, the partner I would have really liked to dance with. She was about a year younger than me, but had her heart set on a career in ballet, rather than ballroom dancing. She moved like a dream, poetry in motion. I hope she fulfilled all that she dreamed.

Update...

2007-10-15T22:53:00.000Z

Fear not, I'm still here. Just resting for the time being.........

One 4 Fi......

2007-09-24T22:31:00.000Z

No abused chicken here. Just good old fashioned Corned Beef Hash.............. with a hint of curry!

I was asked by a neighbour how I would make Corned Beef Hash. I'd quite forgotten how tasty is was. With some runner beans and peas from our garden, and some local cauli.......time to cook and prepare, about three quarters of an hour. Time to eat.........minutes!

I've treated myself.......

2007-09-19T22:42:00.000Z

They've been needed for a long time. The handles were becoming loose on a daily basis, and most of the knobs on the lids have been replaced. So I've treated myself with a little recently received windfall. A new set of saucepans. They're not 'top of the range' but they are quality, and should last me for the next twenty years.

I bought a set of five, four saucepans and a frying pan. Then I bought an extra 20cm and a 18cm, as well as a small non-stick frying pan, all from the same line. I've also up graded my steamer to a 3 litre with decent handles that won't smell if the heat is a little high.

And great news.............................. they work!

Lamb stakes, cauli, beans from the garden and 'bubble and squeak' potato. I don't know how many times Cag asked me today, "what are we having for dinner?" It was the B&S that threw her. Her short term memory is getting shaky, one of the joys of M.S, I guess.

Must have been good.......... as Dillon had very little from the plates.

"I can't go......."

2007-09-13T22:40:00.000Z

It's two thirty a.m. A nudge from Cag. The dog is whining. Got to be his ears ( he's had ear problems since he was a pup ).................. or he needs to go out, I think to myself.

I get up and go into the hall. The kitchen door is open. In the kitchen I find my mother has fallen..................... and is sat in the dog's basket! She's distressed.

"I can't go, I can't go.....", she keeps repeating. "Don't let me go", she says. I settle her and manage to bring her back to the here and now. It's a dream that's turned into reality for her. We'd talked about going out during the day, and these thoughts had turned into the real thing, albeit in the middle of the night.

Now the problem of moving her. Luckily Cag's wheelchair strips down, and after a struggle I get my mother onto it. I manage to get her back into bed, with less trouble that I'd expected, and within minutes, she is back to sleep.

I check the dog. He's not flat, so he must have got out of his basket in time when my mother tried to sit on him!

This morning she was bruised, and a little sorry.................. for the dog. It appears that he had escaped the basket just in time. He had wriggled out from in under her, she said, as she slid down the wall. It was probably the truth, as he has given her a wide berth today. He's disappeared every time she has gotten out of her chair. Wise dog!

The vicar came to tea.......

2007-09-06T22:32:00.000Z

The Church Magazine, from Barton in Torquay, arrived yesterday, along with a note from the vicar that said he would be breaking his journey today by dropping into see us for a cup of tea. He was having a few days off and was making his way to Falmouth, his previous parish, to hold the weekend services.

He came baring flowers for my mother, and with all the news of hatch, match, and dispatch from her old parish. It was also a time for me to catch up with news of the kids I grew up with. Those who still attended the church that was so much a part of my early life.

He stayed for an hour, long enough, then promised to visit again when next in the area. His first parish was at St. Blazey, then Falmouth and his parents live in Cornwall, so he has plenty of connections with the area and County.

I thumbed through the magazine shortly before he arrived and came across this little poem which might amuse. Being partially deaf, it made me laugh........

When God passed out the brains,

I thought she said trains

and I missed mine.

When God passed out looks

I thought she said books

and I didn't want any.

When God passed out ears

I thought she said beers

and asked for two large ones.

And when she passed out legs

I thought she said kegs

and asked for two fat ones.

When God passed out noses

I thought she said roses

and asked for a big red one.

Then when she passed out heads

I thought she said beds

and asked for a big soft one.

When God passed out hips

I thought she said lips

and asked for two round ones.

God, I'm a mess!

( from C. Cavanna)

Fully clothed..........

2007-09-05T22:25:00.000Z

I had an early night. In bed just after mid-night, early for me. The nudge came a few minutes after five. Cag needed some gel rubbed into her gum, to ease the pain from an infection. Once awake, I thought I had better take a trip to the bathroom.

I passed my mothers room and I could see her, fully clothed, laying on top of the bed, fast asleep. I tried to wake her but there was no response, so I covered her and thought I'd sort it all out in the morning.

It appeared she had woken and dressed herself and only then realised what time it was, a little after four. She sat back on the bed and went back to sleep. It wasn't a problem, just one of the joys of dealing with an elderly person. Thank goodness she's not a wanderer. Her lack of mobility keeps her 'under control'. I would hate to get up one morning and find the outside door open, her missing, and then what?

Funny old life!

Back to normal?

2007-09-03T22:32:00.000Z

Life's back to normal, what ever that is. My mother is fully recovered from her 'fall', and is back to her 'old' self. Her knees, over the last few days, have been noticeably troublesome, cracking as bone rubs against bone. One of the joys of arthritis.

Cag hasn't been doing very well recently. An infection, re-action to anti-biotics, a further infection, lack of appetite, and now, I believe, trigemial neuralgia in the side of her face, just to finish off an eventful fortnight. A trip to the doctor tomorrow should confirm, but I have the T-shirt for t-n.

I've still managed to find some 'me' time. Cloud watching, when I get the chance. Been trying out different setting on my the camera and shooting into the sun............

...... a favourite sky, and an hour later.........

......looks like night, but it's just the camera, trying to handle too much sunlight.

I've been putting my new Photoshop CS2 to work. Repairing and printing about 80 old black and white photos for a cousin. It didn't take me long to realise that my tired old 810 Epson was due for an update. So replaced it with another 'cheap and cheerful' Epson from Amazon, ordered, delivered and installed in three days! Well done Amazon!!

Where were you.............

2007-08-27T22:51:00.000Z

3.55am, and I can hear moaning. I investigate. It's my mother. Not so much a fall out of bed, more a slide.

I manage to lift her onto a chair, no easy task at about 15 stone...... 210lbs, but it take ages, a couple of hours, before she is able to bend her legs and I am able to get her back into bed.

6.15am and I, at last, am able to get back into my bed. It's cold, I'm cold, even though I'm part dressed. I knew these things would happen, and the only surprise is that there haven't been more of them.

She's O.K. A little disorientated, probably the shock. So worried that she isn't doing anything right. The frailty of the mind having it's effect. The best thing to do is to get her back into the routine again, so that she does things automatically, rather than having to think what to do.

An early night tonight I think, but it's already after midnight. Another few sips of cognac, and then to bed, hopefully a full nights sleep. I hate Bank Holiday weekends.

What a difference a day makes.......

2007-08-22T22:59:00.000Z

What a difference a day makes. This picture was taken yesterday evening........

.......... and one taken this evening.

O.K, I have decided to come out. Yes, I am a sky and cloud fan.

I love big skies. There Cag watching a television programme about the wildlife on the plains of Africa, and there's me thinking if only I could be there, sky gazing. Perhaps one day, but until then I'll continue looking up and enjoying.

Update.......

2007-08-20T23:07:00.000Z

August 11th, my last entry, where have I been for all that time? I just don't seem to have the time for anything recently. It's full days, with little energy to do very much at night. Hope it's only an age thing.

I'm still reading my half a dozen 'usuals', although some of them have been as negligent as I have at posting, so I don't feel alone. Perhaps it's the time of the year.

I can't even get into cooking. Even that's been a chore. Cag's appetite is slowly recovering but she is still not taking meat and is only picking at the vegetables, meanwhile mother is clearing her plate! It's chicken cacciatore for tomorrow, so that should give me something to think about, and get my teeth into............. in more ways than one.

I've just checked the spelling for 'cacciatore' (some hopes!) and have been given jackstraw, coquetry, cuckoldry, and gadgetry! Where did that lot come from?

Extra update........

Not quite the finished article but well on the way.

Still around.......

2007-08-11T22:24:00.000Z

I haven't been able to give the time to this Blog recently. Too much to do, and too tired by the time I get a few spare minutes at the end of the day. Just enough time to read a few Blogs and to keep up with the world out there.

Cag, my wife, has not been well. A water infection, which would normally be cleared with an antibiotic in a few days, has caused all sorts of problems. She re-acted to the tablets and this set the whole process of recovery back. They also caused her to loose her appetite, which is only just beginning to return now. Just the sort of thing you need when you already have problems.

Anyway, the work goes on. Not much 'me' time recently but I hope to grab a few hours next week to do some cloud gazing and watch the stones grow.

A litte windfall....

2007-08-01T22:37:00.000Z

A month or so ago, I had a letter from a tracing agency. They wanted me to confirm my name, address, date of birth and my National Insurance number. They said they were acting on behalf of The Pearl Centre, but gave no other details. I was sceptical. A scam?

Now we have a Pearl Centre here in Cornwall. One of those out of town coach stop-offs for geriatrics on tour. A place to buy a cheap bracelet and use the toilet facilities, or perhaps a cup of coffee, a muffin and a 'wish you were here' postcard. Surely this letter could not have anything to do with them.

Google set me right and supplied a telephone contact number. The Pearl Centre is the new name for the old Pearl Assurance Company, and the letter was legitimate.

It appears they had a 'forgotten' policy I had frozen in 1983 and had lost contact with me after several moves. So a little windfall is on it's way, not life changing, but enough for me to treat myself to Photoshop CS (at long last), and plenty left over for a bottle or three of Merlot.

Waiting for the tide to turn.....

2007-07-31T22:57:00.000Z

"Come on Sally. More sand. The tides on it's way in, so we haven't much time".
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Result of the flooding?

2007-07-23T22:29:00.000Z

I don't usually shop on a Monday, but the weather forecast for today was lousy, and better weather was promised for tomorrow. A chance to get out in the garden and perhaps cut the grass.

The car park was busy, just a few spaces, and it was obvious that some serious shopping was being done. It didn't take long to realise that some were 'panic buying'. Ten 5 litre bottled water in one trolley, a dozen loaves in another. The vegetable section decimated, the meat section half empty....... or half full. Milk was in short supply and great gaps on the bread shelves.

I managed to get most of what I needed, and can always pick up those little extras from the village shop later in the week. But why all the panic? We are 150 miles from the flood area. O.K, some products are going to be in short supply, probably fresh vegetables, but nobody is going to starve, especially in this part of the Country. We can always slaughter an odd yokel and boil up a wurzle or two.

Meal times.....

2007-07-21T22:58:00.000Z

"I may not be a great cook but I do know that macaroni should not be on fire when it is brought to the table....................." ( the words of Andy Capp).

I'm just a little pee'd off. It's been happening rather a lot recently. My wife's appetite has never been that great, but of late I seem to be spending time in the kitchen on meals that just get poked at when they reach the table.

It was her choice tonight. Beef in red wine, with mashed potatoes and green vegetables. Not a difficult meal but it takes nearly an hour to prep and make, then about three hours to simmer. When the meal arrived, she ate a little potato, a few small fork fulls of cabbage and a little cauliflower. Not very appreciative and no 'thank you', but I'm used to that.

My mother, as usual, cleared her plate, just a few scraps of meat left over as a treat for the dog. At least the dog knows how to show he's interested, and a lifted paw is his way of saying 'thank you'. Life's a bitch some days.

The perfect companion.....

2007-07-14T23:31:00.000Z

I have found the perfect companion for my mother. Not that I'm trying to marry her of, I just thought it would be a good idea to introduce her to someone else who is of a similar age and has similar interests.

The interest is obvious, they both spend much of the day in a similar position and in a similar state of consciousness.

He wouldn't be any trouble, wouldn't eat much, you could leave him in charge of the zapper and know that when you returned to the room the T.V would still be on the same channel, something that rarely happens now. Perhaps in a few years I could call him Dad. Hope he's not a smoker.

Twelve months to the day.........

2007-07-12T23:06:00.000Z

It's Friday the 13th, twelve months to the day that I joined the happy band of pilgrims that are wending their various ways through Blogland. It's been interesting and it's been fun. Who could ask for anything more?

One of the first posts I put together was one about the 'neighbourhood watch'. Two of the people in the picture are no longer with us, having passed on over the Winter and one was never there in the first place. It's a reminder that we are all just passing through, and nothing is forever.

It was also about twelve months ago that we lost a brother-in-law to a brain tumour. He was just in his 50's. Another bad deal in the card game of life.

My own life has change quite considerably with the extra caring role I've taken on. It's been a total learning experience. Nothing can prepare you for the work and the shock to your system. I wouldn't put anyone off taking up the challange but I would council some serious thought.

To all I have met and have been kind enough to leave comments ............... thank you. Everyone I had come in contact with has had some effect on me........... so you only have yourselves to blame!

What's going to happen in the next twelve months? Wish I knew..... but glad I don't. I will meet it, a bit at a time, with humour, hope.............. and a glass of Merlot! Cheers!!

Harry has a bit of Trouble.....

2007-07-08T22:09:00.000Z

Price Harry was nearly floored by a left hook after making a derogatory remark to Princess Fiona about her red hair.

The moral of this story is..........

Don't mess with redheads, especially if their name is Fiona.

The Royal Visit.......

2007-07-01T22:31:00.000Z

"Can't hear much cheering from the chaps behind us Liz. All I

said was "You could have dressed for the occasion!""

Will I live to be 80?

2007-06-30T22:12:00.000Z

I recently turned 50 and had to choose a new primary care physician for my Medicare program. After two visits and exhaustive lab tests, he said I was doing "fairly well" for my age.

A little concerned about that comment, I couldn't resist asking him, "Do you think I will live to be 80?"

He asked: "Do you smoke tobacco or drink alcoholic beverages?"

"Oh no," I replied. "I don't do drugs, either."

"Do you have many friends and entertain frequently?"

I said, "No, I usually stay home and keep to myself".

"Do you eat rib-eye steaks and barbecued ribs?"

I said, "No, my other doctor said that all red meat is unhealthy!"

"Do you spend a lot of time in the sun, playing golf, sailing, hiking, or bicycling?"

"No, I don't," I said.

"Do you gamble, drive fast cars, or have a lot of sex?"

"No," I said. "I don't do any of those things."

He looked at me and said, "Then why do you give a sh*t?"

.............Well, it made me laugh!

Spiritual Guidance.....

2007-06-25T23:18:00.000Z

Tony Blair has been seeking spiritual guidance from an old friend.

......and so has The Pope.

A dying breed.......

2007-06-22T22:30:00.000Z

I had an appointment today with one of a dying breed. A National Health Dentist.

I've been without a regular dentist for quite some time. Ever since he went back home to his boyfriend. Being gay does not make you a bad person, just an unreliable dentist.

Believe me, finding a dentist in Cornwall is difficult enough, but finding a National Health Dentist, who's willing to add you to their patients list, is like striking oil in your back yard. I had emergency treatment at the surgery about 10 years ago, and I used this , claiming to be a returning customer, to register for treatment.

Now the bad news. I have to return in two weeks time for a major overhaul. I get the feeling that scaffolding will be required and that an order for Ready-Mix has already been placed. I was asked if I was 'O.K' with injections, so the future is not looking good.

I will be brave, keep a stiff upper lip....................and probably a numb one! Take plenty of tissues............... for my eyes, and remember the old saying.

Always be true to your teeth, and they'll never be false to you.

Happy Father's Day........

2007-06-16T22:30:00.000Z

I can't believe it. It arrived this morning. That's two shocks!

The first was actually receiving a card, my daughter's memory for such occasions is not the best. Then, when she remembered, to actually receive it on time, another minor miracle.

I truly am surprised, but I must admit, very pleasantly surprised.

"Thank you L."

A Little Tied Up.........

2007-06-11T21:58:00.000Z

With the weather we've been having, I have to check the greenhouse every day. Not that there's very much in there other than a few tomato plants and some very old and treasured cyclamen.

Today there was netting all over the place............... and the culprit was a little tied up!

................. a young blackbird, only a few days out of the nest.

How it had managed to get so entangled was a mystery as the netting was rolled up and stored in a large plastic pot. I do encourage birds, especially robins, to treat the greenhouse as home. It keeps down the bugs and slugs, but this little fellow had been too inquisitive by far.

There was nothing for it but to cut, as gently as possible, the netting away from the bird. Blunt nosed scissors did the job with quite a bit of noisy protesting and wriggling from my feathered friend. It's now free, probably looking for more trouble to get into. Lets hope it's as lucky next time.

The shrine.......

2007-06-07T22:12:00.000Z

I've often seen wreaths, flowers or even small planted islands along the road side. Markers where someones loved one had met an untimely end. One such marker suddenly appeared on the main road about fifty metres from our driveway .

It's caused some concern because no one has been able to find out the 'who' and 'how'. Was it a road traffic accident, there have been several in that area? Perhaps a jogger who suffered a heart attack, many use the path? A traveller who died of old age, waiting for a 37 bus that never arrived?

But at last the reason has come to light. One of our neighbours has been responsible for setting up the shrine. With respect I asked him why he was placing flowers at the side of the road, and he replied, "Some bastard ran over my cat!"

I hadn't the heart to tell him that my dog had watered them as we walked pass them a few days ago. My dog must have known, he hates cats!

Withdrawal symptoms........

2007-06-03T23:32:00.000Z

It's my own fault. I have been suffering withdrawal symptoms, after having just spent the day without a Broadband connection. I still have a P.A.Y.G, which takes a lifetime to load, and just enough patience to clear my mail boxes using it.

I, and others, have been having trouble with the amount of Spam we've been receiving, and my I.S.P has been forced to do something about it. Their mail system was 'compromised', and so it's now been modified..................... until the next time.

They suggested I change my password for extra security, which I did. I knew I would have to amend Outlook Express, but I forgot about the Broadband router............Opps! So no connection until I finally figured how to alter the password there.

Like all these things, it was quite simple, but not so simple if you haven't got your 'thinking head' on. By the time I'd finished, there were papers and instruction booklet scattered all over the room. Anyway, all is well for now and I'm now getting my daily dose in Blogsville.

Just to cheer you up.......

2007-06-01T22:44:00.000Z

One from my other Blog. Just to cheer you up.

Don't you just love a fellow with a sense of humour!

Eight random things..........

2007-05-29T22:58:00.000Z

I did thank Fiona for tagging me, but after a little thought, I wondered why. Eight random things about myself. Hmmmmm, quite a lot of thought will be needed for this one. I'm happy to play along, although I won't tag eight other people. I don't know that many people!

So here we go and in no particular order.

1) I don't bite my nails. Not since I started dealing with continence problems. It's advice given to me by a nurse, and I can see the reason why.

2) I hate surprises. I like to be well prepared, and try to envisage all possible situations that could and might happen. It's like having a 'B' movie running through your mind where you play all the parts. It doesn't always work.

3) I have gained patience. Gained, because it was something I didn't have when growing up. I was very impatient and combined this with a quick temper. It's something I'm glad I lost with my youth, even though it was only a few years ago!

4) I'm rich. Rich because I have everything I need. That's not to say that I don't want things but most of those would be for other people. I like the simple things in life, good food on the table, fire in the grate, pleasant company.............. and a good Merlot!

5) I believe in a God, but not in a religion. Think of the pain and suffering caused by religion in this world. I just hope it's not a committee running the show......... although that could explain some of what happens in life.

6) History fascinates me. If ever it became possible to time travel, then put me down for a seat on the coach. I would be quite happy to observe and listen. As long as I could ask the occasional question, like 'why'?

7) I always try to be punctual, making sure I have plenty of time to attend an appointment. And if I am going to be late by even a few minutes, I always try to let the person know. It's something I fine annoying when I'm left waiting around, so I try not to do it to others. My daughter was three weeks late........... but she's apologised for that. It wasn't her fault!

8) I have about 40% hearing. It's hereditary. My father had the same problem as did his father. A lot of the trouble is from tinnitus which has crept up on me over the years. I'm getting better at lip reading, and a pair of new digital ear pieces have helped. But the best thing is, I can totally 'switch off' when I want to. Great to have a bit of peace and quiet at times.

Well, thar ya go, that's eight, or is it 8? Some serious and some not so.

International shopping.......

2007-05-27T22:57:00.000Z

Whitsunday and it poured with rain. I knew the Supermarket would be busy, the traffic nose to tail on the by-pass, but I needed some 'me' time and shopping is a way of achieving that. Just some fresh veg, and a couple of bottles of wine, other bits and pieces.

It wasn't until I arrived home and started unpacking that I realised I had been international shopping. Red wine from South Africa, a rose' from California. The loin chops were French and the beef fillet was Uruguayan. Egyptian green beans, a German cauliflower, and celery from Spain. Scottish Cheddar, it was on offer, then there was Irish butter. I did buy a Cornish cabbage, probably grown just down the road. Oh, and some Head 'n Shoulders shampoo.....................made in France!

I can't think how many air miles that lot must have totaled. And I feel guilty about leaving our C.D player on standby!!!

The Outlaws ride in..........

2007-05-24T23:09:00.000Z

You could hear the throaty purr of the Harley a quarter of a mile away. The outlaws were coming to visit. Neighbours cringed behind net curtain at the sight before them. Big R sat astride the hog looking like a cross between ZZ Top and Grisly Adams. D rode high on the pillion, her skin tight leathers doing little to hide her tattoos and piercings. Both wore tattered denim waistcoats emblazoned with 'Looe Chapter'.

They were on a laundry run, but I knew that was code for a supply drop.
"Hi", I called from the doorway as they parked up.
"Not yet, but soooooon", they chorused in reply.

They had brought gifts. Home baked chocolate biscuit, no doubt laced with something you couldn't buy over the counter............. at least, not without a prescription.

Within minutes the bong was stoked, primed and afire. Now, I could write and tell you how the afternoon went..............if I could remember. I did think that it was a mistake to have my mother in the room where substances were smoked. Within a few minutes of heavy breathing, she insisted she showed us all how she used to dance as a child. It mainly consisted of pirouetting on tiptoe and holding her dress over her head. Thank God I had insisted on clean underwear when she was dressing that morning.

My head was still spinning as they left. All the dusting and Hoovering to impress had been in vain. The neighbours came out of hiding as our little estate returned to normal................. 'till the next time.

Just for Sunny

A plague of............

2007-05-22T23:10:00.000Z

Every years seems to bring something different. Wasps, although it's a little early for them, ants, or greenfly etc, etc. This year we have been plagued by moths. Not the big 'round the light' variety, but the little flitty-flutty-fings that fly erratically passed your line of sight every few minutes.

I've been killing dozens daily. Clapping them out of the air to a chorus of 'Another one bites the Dust'. True, my Buddhist upbringing has taken a knock by this show of violence, but they should know better than to invade our space.

I don't think I have tipped the balance of nature too much, as there seems to be an ever increasing number of the critters volunteering to be clapped. I just hope they stop soon. The vacuum cleaner bag is nearly full.

An age thing.........

2007-05-20T22:27:00.000Z

The last few weeks have taught me one thing. How frail the mind can be at times. It's an age thing, and can be quite amusing, but it also brings worries.

My mother has never been able to get my name right, so I'm not bothered about what she calls me. She has used my father's name a few times, and I know this worries her much more than it does me.

Not knowing the day or forgetting the month is something we all have problems with at times. "Going up to bed" when we have no stairs, is a habit of a life time. These little mistakes are easily passed over.

She's also asked about my brother, the one that helped her back into bed in the middle of the night, a few days ago. It was me. I have no brothers, or sisters for that matter. I thought she should know that. I passed it off as a joke and she seemed happy enough to do the same.

Then there was the other woman, not my wife, who had coffee with us the other afternoon. I promised her there was no other woman. Two in my life are more than enough.

We were going out, and I caught her putting on lipstick, only it wasn't. She was using a pink highlight pen. But it wasn't a problem. She was making a good job of it............. and the colour suited her.

It's not every day. Most days everything is very normal, and then something will slip out and stop you in your tracks. And you wonder.

Finished........ I think.......

2007-05-18T23:04:00.000Z

It was our last visit on Sunday, to the house in Torquay. I loaded the car with all we could carry, mostly junk, to be sorted and disposed of when I have the time. The keys were sent off on Monday to the people who are handling the sale, and by Thursday, the locks had been changed. They don't hang about!

I suppose there should have been some regret when I closed the door for the last time, but all I could feel was a sense of relief. I couldn't wait to get started on the journey home.

It took the usual two days to recover, and in those days I contacted all the utility suppliers, insurers, and anyone else I could think of. I'm bound to have forgotten someone, it's Sod's Law.

I am still amazed with my mother's reaction to all this. There's been no questions about what's happening, although I've kept her fully informed at every stage. No regret on her part about leaving her home of sixty years, or none that she's shown. Some might think it a little strange, but in all honesty, I'm not sure what to think. Just lets say, she surprised me.

Now it's a case of sitting back and waiting for others. A situation with which I'm always uncomfortable, so lets hope things move along at a pace.

Wild Garlic.......

2007-05-11T22:21:00.000Z

The hedges are full of it. Brush against the leaves and the scent of garlic will follow you on the breeze. I've never tried it, but I understand it can be used rather like spinach, cooked for seconds and served, or as in a salad, with mixed leaves.

.......and in flower.

A new visitor......and update.

2007-05-06T23:01:00.000Z

We've had a new visitor to our bird table. A beautiful male bullfinch. Whether he is staying or just passing through, time will tell. They were regular visitors, but over the last few years we've only caught the odd sight of these attractive little birds.

A messy eater........

Sharing breakfast with a chaffinch.

..........An Update.

Meet the wife. Yes, there's a pair.

Now we must hope for a good breeding season.

The nestling.......

2007-05-03T22:52:00.000Z

I found a nest a few weeks ago. I thought I saw birds entering a conifer hedge at the back of our property, carrying bits of grass and moss. A dunnock, quite a small shy bird with strange mating habits. A careful parting of the branches, and there it was.

.

.

Hopefully in a few days I would be able to post a result of the hatching's.

But only one of the three eggs hatched.

And the little fellow became........

......... then flew away!

____________][____________

Breaking News.........

2007-05-02T22:18:00.000Z

West Country farmer leaves May Day message for passing alien spaceships.

Beautiful Evening......

The high pressure that's settled itself over the U.K has given us some interesting sunsets recently. Unfortunately the lack of cloud has made them somewhat less memorable than they could have been.

But tonight's wasn't too bad!

Hiding in the hedge......

2007-04-29T22:35:00.000Z

I knew they were there. I had seen them before but I was never sure what they were. A flash of purple, hiding amongst the brambles on the top of a hedge. That's probably why they have managed to grow and survive. It's where the sheep in the field can't quite reach, otherwise they might have been a tasty snack by now.

Orchis mascula, Early Purple Orchid.

It's not rare, in fact it is quite common in this part of the country, but hundreds of people a day pass by without a second glance.

Mother nature at her best.

A cyber bully.......

2007-04-27T16:43:00.000Z

I'm being cyber bullied! I won't say by who, but she knows who she is ( ''Ian...enough frolicking in the woods already...POST!!!!!! :)''). My back is broad, my shoulders are used to carrying the weight of the world. I can take it!!

I've been busy. It was a hectic weekend. Saturday was my mother's birthday, a special one with a big zero in it. We knew we would have visitors, quite a few had threatened to call. Even the vicar from Torquay fulfilled his promise and made the journey down to see her. Plenty of flowers, plenty of chocolates, and enough cake to last a fortnight.

Sunday was an early start because Cag and I had to make the trip to Torquay. More lifting, shifting and debris to clear. Hopefully, just one more trip and all we can do will be done. It will then be a case of meter readings, passing over the keys and waiting.

It took until Wednesday for me to recover. I will be so glad when we can get back to something like a normal life with not having the worry of the empty property hanging around our necks. I'm still quite surprised at my mother's reaction to what's happening. Nothing, or if there is she's not showing it. She's seems to have totally resigned herself to the inevitable and is glad to let someone else get on with it.

I've spent the last couple of evenings looking around recipe sites. I want to expand my culinary talent, or at least what I do with vegetables. Cag will only eat what she knows, my mother will eat anything that's put in front of her, and I feel the need to experiment a little more, hence the potato, onion, tomato and cheese bake on tonight's menu.

And very tasty it was. A good accompaniment to chicken.

Yep! Chicken again!!

Recipe for above.

A layer of thin sliced red onion, a layer of thin sliced floury potato with thin slices of tasty tomato, sprinkle with cheese (mature cheddar would be good) and season with salt and pepper. Repeat the dose for the second layer, add two table spoons of water and some basil leaves ( I sprinkled the cheese with a little Italian seasoning for extra flavour).

It needs a moderate, preheated oven (gas 5) for about an hour or until the potato is cooked. (I usually microwave this type of dish for a couple of minutes to give it a start. ).

Good luck and enjoy.

A bluebell wood.........

2007-04-14T22:40:00.000Z

I'm keeping my eyes open and paying a visit every couple of days to our bluebell wood. It's just greenery at the moment, but with any luck it should be a mass of small blue nodding heads in a few days time.

A Spanish visitor

The bluebells on the driveway are already in full bloom, but these are the Spanish invaders that have crept into the hedge rows from private gardens. The woodland ones are our native variety, smaller flowered with a heady sweet scent that will fill the woods on the breeze.

A pink bluebell!

I'm hoping that the nearby development will not effect that area of the wood. It shouldn't do because it's also the home and playground for a group of badgers and they are well protected under the law. But we shall see.

.... and a white variety.

(more to follow...... hopefully)

Just A Thought......

I found these two pictures of bluebells taken in our Torquay garden last year.

Our Spanish friends, but what a show.

The treacle mines........

2007-04-12T22:47:00.000Z

It won't be long before our regular trips to Torquay are at an end. The house clearance is all but finished. Just a few more boxes of small items to be moved, and the large pieces of furniture that no one seems to want will have to stay for company that's handling the sale to deal with.

Some of things I shall miss most about the journey are the views, especially those places around the area where I grew up. Ten minutes walk from the house and you would be amongst the hills and valleys of Devon.

This is the hamlet of Daccombe. Winding lanes, high hedges, farms, barns, thatched cottages and all the smells of the country. On a clear day you can see Liverton and beyond that, Dartmoor, some twenty miles away, but the haze has rather spoilt the view today. To the left of the farm in the foreground is a lane leading up to the Daccombe Treacle Mines. These are natural caves and caverns formed during the last Ice Age.

The health giving treacle slowly drips from the roof of these caves and is collected in stone jars by dedicated workers. The jars are then decorated and sold to the many visitors, or grockles (a Devon term of endearment), that the area attracts. Just one of the little industries that helps support the local economy. An enterprising lot, us Devonians.

Beautiful Spring......

2007-04-07T22:00:00.000Z

We've been spoilt. Such a mild Winter and now a beautiful Spring. Some of the blooms that appeared a little earlier in the year did fall foul of some heavy frost, especially the magnolia. This little flower that's brightening a corner of our garden is Pyrus salicifolia 'Pendula' or a weeping pear.

Don't be seduced by it's beauty. It has a strange scent, rather like strong pee! An aroma that I am very familiar with. Can't get away from it, even in the garden. Ha, ha!

Blog update.......

2007-04-06T22:26:00.000Z

I'm modifying my Blogs. With the limited time I have available and the way I feel when I do have the time to attend to these entries, I've decided to simplify things.

I have deleted User Error and am going to do the same with my other Blog, just keeping Lighthouse open for now. I'm finding my mind isn't so active as it used to be, a little more fatigued, a little slower than it was.

I know what the cause is and I don't think it's permanent. It's the extra work, physical and mental, I've taken on in the last few months. Once the settlement of the house in Torquay is complete, I shall be able to devote more time to deal with what's happening, and what needs taking care of here.

There are no real problems. Most of the pressure comes from me, wanting to get thing right. Needing more hours in the day............... and another couple of hours at night zzzzzzzzzzzz! I'll get it sorted............ I usually do.

The One Ring.......

2007-03-29T22:19:00.000Z

Nothing to do with Hobbits or Middle Earth. We had a telephone call yesterday to say that Cag's anniversary present was ready for collection. So braving the showers we managed to get to the shop.

I was right. She had forgotten what it looked like and there was pleasure in her eyes as she tried it on.

It's just unusual, we've never seen one like it before.

Of course, the phone was 'red hot' as soon as we got home, but that's only to be expected from someone who can't keep a secret.

Anyway, Cag's happy and that's what it's all about.

Shopping at night.......

2007-03-24T00:05:00.000Z

I've taken to shopping at night. There's a spare hour between finishing the washing up at 8 o'c and the start of the main programme of the evening at 9 o'c. The ASDA Walmart is only five minutes away, with 24 hour opening, so I thought I would give it a try.

What amazed me was the age of shoppers at that time of night. Mostly in their early twenties, bright young things. I felt quite at home.

But seriously, I normally shop in the afternoon and it's a frustrating waste of an hour. In the evening I got every thing I needed, in half the time, with a quarter of the hassle.

Think I will risk some after shave on my next visit. You never know. Might strike lucky. Ha ha!

Looking up........

2007-03-22T23:12:00.000Z

It was a day for looking up. Early this morning to watch the drizzle, wondering if the promised fine weather would make itself known. Mid-day, to watch the great silver birds chase each other across the bluest of skies, when it finally arrived. Then the afternoon was spent looking up once again................ painting a ceiling.

The end in sight at last. Lights up and working. Just some minor touching in with a small brush to finish the job. On and off it's taken two weeks. Something I could have finished in a couple of afternoons a few months ago, but that's the way it is from now on. So I must be patient.

There was a disaster in the day. I knocked over two glasses of wine. One a rather quaffable Rose', Cag's choice, the other, an interesting red Vin de Pays. I tried to throw myself under the tumbling glasses, mouth open in anticipation and desperation, but to no avail!

The Rose' hardly left a mark but the red has left a trace. Now I know the best way to remove red wine from a carpet is to pour on a glass of white wine and sponge off, but two glasses wasted in one day was all I could stand. I wasn't about to waste a third.

Luckily the carpet is dark and old, so I was not too bothered, and besides, people will be looking up, noticing the new lights and freshly painted ceiling. They won't have time to look for a fading wine stain. When you have a dog, who does not know how to wipe his feet, and a slightly leaky mother living with you, a little stain on the carpet is the last thing you worry about.

A little guilty.........

2007-03-19T23:52:00.000Z

I've been feeling a little guilty today. Two of Cag's sisters and a brother-in -law have been working at the house in Torquay, bagging and stacking, getting ready for when we finally arrange the sale of the house.

It was a 9 o'clock start for them, an engineer was coming to dismantle the stair lift. Then later in the morning a Red Cross representative came knocking to collect all the equipment that had been supplied to my parents to make their lives easier.

As soon as the stair lift was out, they started bringing everything that was movable down from upstairs ready to be sorted. Some for the sale room, some for charity and some for the skip. They phoned just before they left. It was 4 o'clock.

I expressed my sincere thanks for all they had done and all they were doing, but I couldn't help that feeling that it should be me there, with sleeves rolled up, doing my share of lifting and shifting.

An Anniversary..........

2007-03-16T00:12:00.000Z

It's our anniversary at the end of the month. I won't say which one because I have an age complex. I knew Cag wanted a ring, so I loaded the Master Card into to my wallet and prepared to be shocked.

The good news is, the choice was made at the first jewellers. The bad news, it was the most expensive on the tray................ but I expected that. Past experience played a part. It's unusual, four separate bands in white gold, randomly set with diamonds and rubys.

Of course, there has to be an adjustment to the size. Cag has such small fingers. A two to three week delay, but that O.K. Better the job is done right than rushed.

It took only minutes after we arrived home for the jungle drums to sound, or rather, a telephone call to a sister. It makes me smile, because I know my wife can't keep a secret. She's an open book, which is rather refreshing these days when so many have so much to hide.

The one thing I can be sure of, by the time we collect the ring, she will have forgotten exactly what it looks like, so she will have the same joy all over again.

A day of achievement......

2007-03-14T22:50:00.000Z

It's been one of those days where I've achieved ............... nothing, or at least very little. I only have a couple of afternoons in the week when I do nothing, or rather catch up on all the things I've put to one side through lack of time on other days. Wednesday is one of those days.

The Community Nurse was visiting my mother today, so we made an early start, but that time was lost during the morning in one way or another. Then I opened the post. A credit card statement, with an entry I didn't recognise for £496.98, from a company who were completely unknown to me.

The next hour was spent taking to a machine and finally getting through to a human being at Customer Services. The department I required would phone me back............... within two working days! Note made to change card companies after they get the mess sorted out.

I did finally get down to doing some work, at about 2.30pm, and managed to wash an area of ceiling ready for painting.............. when I get time. At this rate, the ceiling, including replacing the lighting units, will be finished by September.

It really is the one thing that I find difficult to cope with at the moment. The inability to do a job, even the simplest, from start to finish, without having to come back to it at a later date. I guess that's the way it will be for the foreseeable future. The perfectionist in me doesn't like it, but I will live with it.

Kill it, cook it, eat it.......

2007-03-08T23:00:00.000Z

I've had a few days off. Only doing that which was absolutely necessary. Throw in a couple of early nights ...........and ............I don't feel any different! Well, perhaps just a little rested.

I've caught up with some snail mail that's been hanging around for weeks and answered a few queries from GenesReunited contacts about Family History. I also managed to watch the controversial series of programmes on B.B.C.3 Kill it, Cook it, Eat it. It's where an animal, a cow, a lamb and a pig, is shown grazing happily in a field, taken to a local abattoir, stunned, slaughtered, butchered and cooked, all within a few hours.

There's a little more to it than that, or rather a lot more. The programme is designed to show the relationship and the process of how a beast in a field ends up as a meal on our table. It's viewed on site by a cross section of people. They are asked how they feel about what they have witnessed, how it has effected they way they now feel about meat and how it reaches their table.

I must admit, I found it all fascinating. It was nothing that I hadn't seen before, but not as one complete process. The way a slaughter man dressed a lamb carcass before it was sent to the butchers, because that's what he did. Then the way the butchered portioned and jointed the meat to maximise the chances of selling the whole animal and not just the choices cuts.

True, only the tenderest of the cuts were used by the chef, mainly because of the need for meat to be hung for a number of days to achieve it's prime condition. The tasting was joined by all but a few. The inevitable vegetarian and one or two that had changed their eating habits after what they had witnessed.

In all, I found the programme positive and would recommend all, if they get chance, to watch the series. I understand the next in the series is about poultry. I have a sort of love/hate relationship with poultry, having eaten it daily for many years. So I look forward to the next programme with ............. interest?

I've treated myself......

2007-02-20T23:19:00.000Z

I've treated myself. A new laptop. My 'old' one has just celebrated it's fourth birthday so it's future reliability must be suspect. It's recently cost me a new transformer, and is in line for a new battery any time soon.

I've been checking around since Christmas. Keeping my eyes open through the January sales, but thankfully I was not tempted. Toshiba have now offered a £100 cash back on the model I've chosen, so it's too good to miss. O.K, no Vista, just the old reliable XP Pro, but with the option to up-grade at a later date.

I've spent most of my free time today, sorting my e-mail contacts and making sure I have back up for all the information I might need. I've also been clearing out a load of rubbish, amazed at the amount I've accumulated over the past few months/years.

I'm hoping that it will take all my old favourite programmes, and my existing hardware. There was some trouble when I tried to load some items on to a new desk model a couple of years ago. I'm not quit sure about the in built wireless system............. but it can't be that difficult......... surely.

Now, what to do with the old one. I think, a systems wipe, and then pass it on to our daughter. Perhaps it will encourage her to keep in contact more often............ but I doubt it.

So tomorrow, we shall see.

My sense of humour......

2007-02-20T00:06:00.000Z

Thought I'd better start up Lighthouse again, so here's a bit of silliness.

I was watching Mission Africa tonight. It's where a group of young people are helping to build some facilities for the locals, which are to be used by visitors to their game reserve. Apart from the building work, they have been learning about the animals and the work on the game reserve.

There was a young female zebra there, and one group were asked to name her. So they named her 'Spot' ......................... my kind of humour!

25 million pounds.......

2007-02-08T22:55:00.000Z

I went to a presentation yesterday. Our little estate shares a drive way with a Holiday Estate of static caravans and a few mobile homes. It's recently been sold to a family concern that own one of the best Holiday Villages in Cornwall, and they have now produced plans and proposals for a new development. The removal of all the caravans and mobile homes, to be replaced with 70 luxury two, three and four bedroom chalets.

Big plans, big ideas and of course, big money. I estimated that at an average price of £330k, the project should bring in £25,000,000. It's purely holiday, with a ten month occupancy. The other two months, the site will close for maintenance.

What amazed me was the questions some of my neighbours asked of the developers. Although it will not really effect our situation, there are implications if the owner of our estate ever considered selling. It would make sense for one person to own all the land. But this was not mentioned. My neighbours wanted to know what would happen to the swimming pool, to which we have right of use? How high would the hedges be? Are the pot-holes (that we've all come to love) to be repaired in the drive way? Would the water pipe support all the extra building?

I laughed to myself. £25 million and they are worried about the height of the hedges or a pot hole or two! Anyway, they will have plenty of time to think about and ask the really important questions. It won't happen over night and will take about three years to complete, so by that time we will all know what the future may bring.

It will be interesting, especially when I tell them all about the plans for the Mosque.

The Red X.....

2007-02-04T00:07:00.000Z

I've tried to comment on several Posts recently but all I get is the dreaded RED 'X'.

Possibly my security is set a little high.......... or perhaps yours is.

Never again.....

2007-01-30T23:20:00.000Z

It was one of those days where I seemed to spend hours waiting in a queue to speak to an operator who solved the problem with one 'click'. Even worse were the calls made where you were first preached at, about how good the service was, and then offered the choice of 'press 1 for........', but you know exactly what I mean.

Could it get worse? It did! I was asked by a recorded voice at a Power Supplier which department I wanted. Gas, electricity or both. I wanted electricity, but accidentally said gas, quickly realised my mistake and apologised. Apologised!......... to a bloody machine!!!

Never again. From then on, when I heard the recorded voice, I hit the 'hash' key about half a dozen times, and I was through to an operator, a human one, within 15 seconds. And that's the way it will be from now on. Heavy on the hash!

Apoligies.........

2007-01-18T23:21:00.000Z

I must apologize for not keeping pace with 'Lighthouse'. It's been a bit of a systems shock for me, taking on the extra work. But like Arnie......... "I'll be back!"

His True Character........

2007-01-13T23:25:00.000Z

In 'A Little Present', I feel I was slightly misleading about the character of the vicar. The story about the collection envelopes was perfectly true, and as I said, it was no surprise to me. I also remember when my father was spending his final days in hospital two years ago, the same vicar spent many hours taking my mother to and from the hospital, and made sure that if he could not take her, there were others that would.

The vicar was a patient in the same ward only a few month earlier, so he knew all the nursing staff. He made sure that my mother had access to my father, even though the ward was officially closed because of a Norwalk virus outbreak, and others were not allowed visitors.

I didn't think any the worse of him for the 'little present' and I think my mother summed it up when I said that the vicar was probably missing her. She said "I doubt it.........but I bet he's missing my envelopes!"

A little present....

2007-01-08T00:07:00.000Z

I mentioned in the previous post that we had made a trip to pick up my mothers favourite chair and to bring back some clothes, along with other items.

While we were there, the front door was pushed open and in walked the local vicar. He'd brought the Church Magazine for my mother, expecting her to be there with us.

I explained to him that because of her mobility difficulties, she had decided to stay with us and that it would probably be permanent. He then asked if I would give my mother a little present from him, and I said that of course I would.

With that, he went to the sideboard drawer and took out her collection envelopes for the year and passed them to me!

Now why was I not surprised?

The Answer is..............

2007-01-05T00:21:00.000Z

The answer is a definite 'YES'...............well, sort of!! My mother is staying. We finally got an answer at mid-day on Wednesday, about an hour before I had to go shopping for her return home. It was very much a case of 'make a decision for me', which is the most difficult one to make. Anyway, we said 'Yes' and she agreed.

Cag, my wife, and I made the trip to Torquay to collect medication, dressings and most important, her chair. One of those motor driven ones that toss you about in all directions, at the press of a button.

I've set things up in such a way that all options are still open. I've contacted all those who need to know, but I've said the she is staying on in Cornwall for a couple of extra weeks and she will contact them when she returns. That way no doors are closed. Care packages are difficult to set up, so these are on hold for the moment. Just in case there is a change of mind.......... but I doubt it.

Now, an early night I think........ it's been a long day. g'night folks.

Back into the routine.......

2006-12-30T23:49:00.000Z

I'm going to have to get myself sorted out soon and get back into the old routine. I've only had time over the last week to read a few postings and drop a few comments. I've also had to catch up and reply to the usual Christmas letters and notes in cards. The 'once a year' one's you get at this time of the year. It all takes time if you're a one finger typist.

True, I've had a little extra work with my mother visiting over Christmas and for the New Year, but she's not a lot of trouble and is easy to get along with. Her mobility is a real problem though, and I can't see how she is going to manage if she wants to return home. A big drafty house with far too many stairs. Everything is to hand here. It's only a few steps to anywhere, so I do hope she takes up our offer and decided to stay, permanently.

I can see some shuddering at the thought, but there is far more worry in dealing with problems at a distance rather than on the door step, especially if one can't drop everything and run. Anyway, a day or two and we shall know what's happening.

Tagged and Tired........

2006-12-25T23:37:00.000Z

I've been tagged by Fiona.......... but I had to visit Sunny to get the details. Nearest book, page 123, down 5 sentences, then write the next 3.

I had two books to hand. One was Your Rights (Money benefits for older people) by Sally West, and page 123 was about working and receiving Incapacity Benefit. Not very inspiring, but after what we have been dealing with recently, a useful tool to find out what's what.

The other book, and fractionally closer was more interesting, but page 123 had only ten lines....... end of chapter! So I've copied the last few lines to give more sense to the words.

His knees went weak. Omi followed his glance.
A ship was rounding the headland. She was a large galley with a multitude of oars, the swiftest of the Japanese coastal vessels because she depended neither upon the wind, nor upon the tide. The flag at the masthead carried the Toranaga crest.

James Clavell's Shogun.

Christmas day nearly over and I feel tired out. We collected my Mother last Thursday, and she is staying with us for a couple of weeks. There's very little extra work for me, just some leg washing and dressing first thing in the morning. Apart from that, she's very easy to get along with. The trouble I have is not sleeping, or not sleeping well. I'm waking up with every strange noise, and then finding it difficult to get back to sleep again. It is getting better and, no doubt, in a few days I'll be back to normal................... I hope.

Merry Christmas

2006-12-22T23:40:00.000Z

Just Click

I have to be careful.......

2006-12-19T00:27:00.000Z

Now I have to be careful. My daughter informs me that she is getting a notebook for Christmas. I was hoping she meant something you write in with a pencil, but no. So it looks like I'm going to have to take great care in what I say and how I say it from now on.

I may not even tell her that I have this Blog. Why would she need to know? But if she did find out, I must think about using a more secure way of editing comments. Or you might find out what she really thinks of me!

I don't think I have ever posted an untruth or an over exaggeration, it's not really what I'm about. There might be some confusion about my age, but I can assure you, the first seventy nine years are the worst. Ha, Ha!

..........and stand well back... and update!

2006-12-16T23:52:00.000Z

I've had enough. I have been patient, nobody can argue with that, but it came to a head on Friday. My wife still hasn't received the Benefit owed to her from the beginning of November. We've had so many excuses, most based around the need for information from our local office, but on Friday I managed to contact them and they firmly stated that all relevant details had been passed to the main office at Swansea.

So I rang Swansea, and gave them this information. They were unable to pass this to the payments team because the office was closed for the afternoon. They were having a Christmas party! I then asked for the contact number or address of the Ombudsman who can deal with a complaint about the way our situation has been handled, and was told that the information was not available......... but someone would phone me back on Monday. I put the phone down.

To day, I had written to The Rt. Hon. John Hutton M.P, the minister for the D.W.P, the top honcho. I have fully detailed times, dates and subject discussed, the excuses and the broken promises. Even the fact that when I mentioned to one operator that I would have to go around with a begging bowl, she suggested that I take a dog with me as people are more generous when you beg with animals! Funny? Not really!

Now it's a case of wait and see. I didn't really think this would be settled before Christmas, but I did hope. Merry Christmas Department of Work and Pensions. Merry Christmas.

18th. Dec.

A part result today........... after another five phone calls, and for once they actually returned a call! The confusion has come about because my wife is older than me......... a whole three weeks. Her disablement benefit alters and three weeks later the Support I claim is transferred to another department. The information has not been transferred when it should have been as it was only asked for on 11th Dec, not soon after the 7th Nov. as we were lead to believe. Anyway, they have agreed to pay her four weeks benefit to the end of December, and have promised to rectify any back payment by then. We will see.

The fact that I mentioned my letter to the Minister might have had something to do with it, one can only wonder!!!!

Light blue touchpaper......

2006-12-08T00:09:00.000Z

I was afraid it would happen, and if I was a betting person, I could have made a pound or two. I've had to write to our local Member of Parliament to see if he can help in getting my wife's benefit paid.

After her birthday at the beginning of November, her Disability Benefit changed, and the benefit was transferred to a national office from our local office in town. It was quite obvious to me that as it was linked to other benefits we receive, there would also be problems with them as well. I was not wrong!

I've spent the last month phoning, writing, and passing information to the new office, in an effort to get the monies owed paid into her account. I've heard all the excuses. We're waiting for information. Still not received. Received but lost. It's here...... but we can't find it (sounds like 'lost' to me!). I've even been told not to worry, that it can all be backdated, and that we don't want to over pay you as we will have to claim it back! Better that than no money!

Then there was the broken promises. I'll phone you back. The coordinator will phone you. A supervisor or your accounts operator will phone. But nothing! Not one of the promises kept....... and that's the thing that annoys me the most.

So I've called in the heavy brigade. Someone with a bit of clout to sort out the problem. Fortunately we are not desperate for the money, even with Christmas on the horizon, but there will be others in our situation that are, and if they've had no money coming in for over a month, some could be in dire straights.

It's now a case of wait and see. But I do hope that someone get a rocket up their ass, now I've lit the blue touchpaper.

I don't believe it.......

2006-12-01T23:57:00.000Z

In the words of the internationally famous philosopher Victor Meldrew, "I don't believe it!"

But there it was, in the centre of yesterdays newspaper, 'Your choice of Christmas and New Year Viewing'. No, No, No, this can't be happening. Is there a prize for being the first to publish these details? Is it supposed to send us into a frenzy of Christmas viewing planning? Or does it encourage people, like me, to switch off for Christmas and the New Year?

O.K, so I had to look. And what did I find, every other entry was 'To be Announced'. To be fair, most of the smaller Channels have got their act together and worked out their schedules for the Holidays, but the main programme broadcaster were floundering............ or is it a ploy? Perhaps there will be something new, something different for our entertainment, rather than the same old repeats that we are subjected to every year. Perhaps.................. but I doubt it.

Hanging on the Telephone......

Another day spent hanging on the telephone. Then, finally, when I managed to get hold of a human voice, I asked, "I need to know your complaints procedure". Silence for a few seconds, and then I explained the telephone calls that were not returned, promises that were not kept and the inability to get an answer. Within two minutes I was talking to the Supervisor who went through the whole problem with me, and promised (fingers crossed) to have it sorted by Tuesday at the latest.

It appears that two Government offices have not been 'talking' to each other. Now where have I heard that before! It's no wonder some people are driven to desperate things, especially at this time of the year. So I wait for Tuesday........... with baited breath.

Another Milestone.....

2006-11-27T00:45:00.000Z

Middle age........where you can do without sex, but not your glasses!

O.K, it's my birthday. One of those with a large '0' after a number. No, I'm not going to tell you which one, only that if all the candles were to fit on a cake, it would be a fire risk and contribute considerably to global warming.

Have you noticed when you reach one of the milestone ages that everyone, and I mean everyone, takes the trouble to tell you. The worst ones are the people that add "......but I thought you were older!" It's also brought some out of the woodwork. People have sent cards that I haven't heard from for years, people not even on our Christmas card list.

The one small joy I have is that I've been a toyboy for the last three weeks but now I've caught my wife up. I've always had a soft spot (perhaps not the right words) for older women, but the older you get, the less inviting that becomes. Oatmeal coloured shoes and surgical stockings just doesn't do it for me.

So what am I having for my birthday. It's got to be practical. My wife usually get me what ever I want, wheelbarrow, stepladders, etc, but this year I haven't decided yet. It's me that will have to make the purchase because she is physically unable to, and I really have all that I want, which makes it even more difficult. Any suggestions........... but please, NO SOCKS!

Tagged...... again.

2006-11-25T00:49:00.000Z

I've been tagged again and this time it's six weird things about myself. Now I expect everyone who has been caught up in this one has said, "........but I'm the most normal person I know!" I'm not going to be the odd one out............ "I'm normal!" So where to start?

1/ I haven't got a mobile phone. Haven't got one and don't want one. Why would I need one? Everyone else has one so I can always borrow someones if I have a problem There's a lot of generous people out there.

2/ I have worn women's clothes. Well, not exactly worn them, more modeled them. My mother used to make dresses, wedding, bridesmaids, dance etc, for friends and family, and while a dress can be made on a tailors dummy, it's always better on a person to see how it hangs and moves. It never convinced me that there was any future in it for me.

3/ I have worked in a Nudist Camp. We had a Pub for about 15 years. After we gave that up and just to fill in a Summer, we ran the bars and club house on a Holiday Estate which was part caravan park and part nudist camp. No, nobody came into the bars topless or even bottomless. Everyone was very respectful and kept themselves to the different part of the Estate when they felt like letting it all hang out. I never saw a nudist that didn't look better with clothes on.

4/ I'm a Sudoku fanatic. Now what can be more weird than that, filling in numbers into squares? And what's it all for? I use it as an exercise in logic, to keep the brain working, hopefully to fend off any deterioration in the old grey matter. Will it work? I'll let you know! Now where was I?

5/ I see the shadow people. Have you noticed them? You're doing something and you catch sight of something out of your line of vision. Your sure someone has just passed by, but when you check, there nobody there. I've heard about worlds within worlds and sharing time and space. Was it a reflection or just a trick of the light? Or was it one of the shadow people.

6/ I've never watched Desperate Housewives, or Taxi, or Friends, Cheers, Lost, Twin Peeks, Buffy, Beverly Hills 5073846271947563 (or whatever it is),The Simpsons, Scrubs, Dr. Who, 24, Another 24, Yet another bloody 24!, Sex in the City etc, in fact any of the series that have been on T.V in the last 20 years. I did watch as many episodes of Mash as I could and some of the early Dallas and Dynasty. I don't watch any of the Soaps or reality shows that take up so much space in early evening entertainment. I can get depressed enough on my own without watching people playing at it.

7/ I cloud watch, I spend quite a bit of time during the day looking at the sky and how clouds roll and billow across the blue. I know nothing of their names or why they do what they do. Our view is blocked for the sun rising but we have a fair view of the sun setting and I revel in the changing colours against the forming clouds on the skyline.

See! That's it, all six. And I'm perfectly NORMAL.

I know I should now tag six but I don't know six other bloggers........... because I'm shy.

Stares at a blank screen....

2006-11-21T23:34:00.000Z

My mother-in-law has given up. She sit in her lounge, no light, no heat and stares at a blank screen. There is nothing we can do to help.

My wife is worried, and so frustrated with her condition. It's left to her sisters, she's one of five, to do what little they can, but how do you help a person who will not help themselves?

It's fallen yet again on the eldest daughter to try and solve the problem. My mother-in-law was recently sent home from hospital after a self inflicted complaint. She doesn't eat properly and drinks very little, then fills herself up with laxatives, because she 'must go' every day. The result. Chronic stomach pains........... and a trip to hospital.

Carers were arranged, meals to be delivered every day, and a good neighbour to call in a couple of times a day just to make sure all was well. They were all cancelled or sent away within days. The neighbour has persevered and it was her phone call this morning that alerted us to present situation.

The options are running out. We are helpless, others are hopeless. The eldest sister does what she can but lives so far away. Another has just lost her husband a few weeks ago and has enough difficulties getting through her own day without helping others. One sister doesn't care, pure and simple. And the youngest is not capable. When asked to take some food to the house for when mother came home from hospital, she took marshmallows and a cake. No milk, no bread, no idea!

So now we sit and wait for the inevitable phone call, from the hospital, or the doctor, or the neighbour.............. or worst. My wife would feel better if she could participate, if she could share part of the burden of responsibility but that's impossible, so we wait. And I watch.

Hanging on the telephone.... addition.

2006-11-13T23:57:00.000Z

Update.....
I understand that a Building Socity has just introduced a system where you phone them, log your number, and then they phone you back when you are near the head of the queue, so your waiting time is cut to minutes.

Hanging on the telephone....

It was bound to happen. If I was a betting person, I could have made money out of it. Instead, I spent most of the morning hanging on the telephone.

My wife's recent birthday has effected the disability benefit she receives. I'd done all that was asked, notified of changes, and in plenty of time, so you would have thought that everything would be taken care of, and the change over would be a simple matter. Wrong!

I like to support our local village Post Office, and so I chose to have our benefits payed through them rather than have the money paid into our bank account. When I arrived this morning and presented our payment card it registered 'No funds'. I was not surprised! I then offered my payment card and received over £30 more than I was expecting. Strange, but perhaps a telephone call would sort it all out. Wrong!

Now Monday morning is not the best time to phone any of the benefit offices but by some small miracle I managed to get through to my wife's department in about 10 minutes. Their excuse was the the change over was still in the process of happening and would be completed by the end of the week. An interim cheque would be in the post and normal payments would resume next week............ we shall see!

My department was Works and Pensions. Say no more! It took 7 phone calls over an hour to even get in a queue. And then came the music. I recon the music repeats every three minutes and after about the 12th repeat the line went dead. Joining the queue was slightly quicker the next time and after only about 20 minutes I was greeted by a human voice.

Two minutes latter it was sorted. The extra was my entitlement, due to our change of circumstances, and would continue until the end of the month when our circumstances will change again. More telephone calls I expect. I can't wait.

When it suits them, we get brown envelope after brown envelope, telling us of changes or more often, non changes. One of these envelopes would have saved me a morning of hanging on the telephone.

A Big Zero..............

2006-11-09T23:46:00.000Z

It was my wife's birthday this week. I won't say which one, except that it had one of those BIG zeros after it. Another milestone or millstone as she likes to call it. For the next three weeks I play out my toyboy role and then I catch her up. Same big zero!

It's said that the years speed up as you get older and I'm in no position to argue with that. Time does seem to pass a lot quicker and even days don't seem to be as long as they did. I used to work an eighty four hour week and always had enough time to have hobbies, read, meet with friends, and find time for anything that needed doing. Now I plan to do just one thing during the day and am often fighting for time to complete the simplest task.

"They have no time to stop and stare"..........that's me! OK, I know I have problems, responsibilities that have to be taken care of, but there still should be some time left during the day, a little space for me.

Well, I suppose this is my space, my little bit of time for me. It's a time I look forward to, make plans for, stir the grey matter and see what comes to the surface. Not much most nights, but if I can't come up with something interesting, I know a few others who can.

So, with three weeks to go before I reach that millstone, I'm preparing myself. Making plans for the future and not dwelling on the mistakes of the past. It's one of the great things about being a Sagittarian, ever hopeful, ever the optimist Something will always turn up, and usually for the better.

Don't you just love birthdays, especially ones with the BIG zero behind them?

Time for a moan........

2006-11-07T00:09:00.000Z

I've had Blogging problems over the weekend. For some unknown reason my connection keeps closing down. Unless I 'save to draft' and do it often, I loose any notes I have made. Then to crown it all, last night I come on line at midnight and Blogger is down for maintenance for 45 minutes.

Right, that off my chest, and now to things that 'P' me off even more. The main road at the bottom of out drive has just been resurfaced. Today the local authority were putting the final touches to it by laying down the road marking. And a good job they have made of it. We've just been informed that the Water Board will be renewing the water supply to our homes next week. Yep! You've guessed it. The Water Board will be digging up part of the new road surface which can hardly be dry.

What's happened to joined up thinking? These two jobs did not happen on a whim. Planning and preparation has gone into them. But what happened to communication? Obviously these departments do not talk to each other.

We had a telephone bill today. it's normally about £50 in credit, so I was a little surprised that the balance was somewhat lower this time. The reason is five 0700 calls I made to my mother while she was in hospital. Each call was charged at 70p a minute. They used to have a mobile phone to the bedside which people could use but now everything is from the bed consul, all at a premium price.

It annoys me how hospitals, or those they allow to offer a service in a hospital, are able to fleece people who have no other choice. Not only do they try to poison the patient with ghastly muck that passes for food but they also try to make you poorer by your stay. And if you're really lucky, you can catch a dose of M.R.S.A!

O.K, I feel a little better now. Another glass of Merlot I think!

P.S. The website crashed again during this posting.

Road trip.............

2006-11-02T23:39:00.000Z

Gone are the days when we used to grab our coat and be off in five minutes flat. It now takes about five hours. To leave by midday, it means a seven o'clock start for me. It's easy for my wife, she just lies there, while I get the papers, see to the dog, bed bath her, then dress her. Next it's hair wash, breakfast, and then she has to wait for me. There's a snack to prepare, washing up, another dog walk, me to get ready..................... and we're off. Midday!

The trip has to be planned for several days and it not until the morning that we know if we are able to go. This time it's to visit my mother in Torquay, about 75 miles away. The journey can take about an hour and a half but traffic and road works slows us to a two hour trip.

This time it's to make sure my mother is managing physically and to sort out some finances. She's in her eighties and the years are taking their tole. The house is far too big, and although she get help with her general care, it's getting to the stage where she will need a lot more help in future. She has excellent neighbours that keep an eye on her but decisions will have to be made in the not too distant future. Just one of the joys of old age.

The afternoon was fine and went all too quickly. My wife can only manage about two hours of sitting unsupported, so by four o'clock we took our leave.

The weather was absolutely beautiful for our trip home. The bluest of skies with a dozen long lasting vapour trails crossing overhead. Before we reached Newton Abbot, the sky had begun to change to gold. As we chased the sunset westward, we were treated to one of the most beautiful shows that Mother Nature has ever put on.

It was difficult to concentrate on the road and traffic with the sky changing colour every few minutes. Every time you thought you had seen the best of it, you were surprised again by a more spectacular show. If only we had had time to stop on high ground and soak in splendour being displayed to us.

I did stop for a minute to take a photograph, not the best of the show, but enough to ever remind us of the free beauty around us, the glory of an Autumn sunset.

The Dating Game.......

2006-11-02T00:21:00.000Z

Two of my elderly neighbours are involved in advertising for companionship in a national magazine, although why they don't get together and save themselves a lot of letter writing, I shall never know. The lady, a young 82 year old, seems to be quite successful in her endeavors, while the gentleman, a mere 77 years, is a little more choosy and so far has not found a Miss Right or even a Miss Wrong.

What I did find amusing is some of the advertisements for friendship or partners. Ones like :-

Bald, short, fat and ugly male, 53 seeks short sighted woman with tremendous sexual appetite.

Mature gentleman, 62, aged well, noble grey looks, sound mind and unfazed by the fickle demands of modern society , seeks..................damn it................I have to pee again!

Not everyone appearing in this column is a deranged cross-dressing sociopath. Let me know if you find one and I'll strangle him with my bra. Male 56.

Or the ladies................

Slut in the kitchen, chef in the bedroom. Woman, 37, seeks man who can toss a good salad.

September 5th is the anniversary of my divorce. So too are November 17th, January 12th, March 8th and June 21st.............

Female 36, suspicious of any male declaring themselves to be in possession of a great sense of humour.

Some of the other out-takes that made me laugh were :-

..........reply to this advert and we can face the harsh realities of my second mortgage. Male 37, WLTM woman, aged to 70, with active credit cards.

..........Must be able to write his own name ( on own cheque book a bonus).

..........WLTM a dizzy female to 50, who doesn't ask too many questions. Male bigamist 48 yrs.

Must be able to read big words in magazines and have big boobies. I can live without the first, but the second is non-negotiable. Shallow man, 34, and I mean 'shallow'.

.......... male wanted. Must be able to breath unaided.

I can take no personal credit for these, I'm just the messenger. They are from a new book, They Call Me Naughty Lola by David Rose. They gave me a laugh and I hope they make you smile as well.

I wonder how my advertisement would read???

......Saturday morning fight.

2006-10-29T00:06:00.000Z

I was hoping it wasn't going to be the same this week, but it was our usual Saturday morning fight.

There was the all too familiar storming up and down, raised voices, clenched fists, threats, followed by tantrum and tears.

Then came the huffing and puffing and finally peace and tranquility.

I'd managed to change the duvet cover!

In second place........

2006-10-27T00:01:00.000Z

England has done it again. It has achieved a commendable second place. Not a first place, that would be too much to ask for, but one of the 'also rans', a runner up!

And who were we beaten by? Who pipped us into second place? Why, the Irish of course.

How humiliating! Anyone but the Irish. The Americans, the Chinese, Russians perhaps, but not the Irish. But there it was, in black and white. The Irish are top of the league and England is in second place.

So come on girls, lift your elbows, tilt those glasses and get England back on course. Put your minds to it and make us a winner. We are counting on you. Don't let us, and yourselves down. Put the 'Great' back in Britain. We are counting on YOU

All pull together and put England where it deserves to be, at the number one spot. Help make it TOP of the league for Women Who Binge Drink.

Your Country wants YOU.

What's happening to Christmas?

2006-10-19T23:13:00.000Z

We don't do a lot to celebrate Christmas. Over the years we've seen the whole idea of Christmas degenerate into a profit driven event, where the shops and manufacturers try to get the public to spend far more than they can reasonably afford. Christmas has become 'How much more was spent this year over last year'.

We've always worked over Christmas until recently, even on the day itself, and have been happy to do so. We ran a Pub, so it really was a 365 day job in our case. What we did like to do is to keep in touch with the people that meant the most to us by sending good quality Christmas cards.

I know it's still October but all the shops and stores have now got there stocks in for the forth coming festive season. So where have all the decent Christmas cards gone?

A tree, with a bit of glitter (hate the stuff) and the word, Happy Xmas or Seasons Greetings if you're lucky. A dismal painting of a nativity scene by some obscure Dutch artist. A pudding with a sprig of holly, penguins, polar bears even Disney characters, with 'Left Blank for your Message'. Now, I don't want a Shakespeare sonnet but I do want a little more than Happy Xmas.

I spent most of an afternoon, going from shop to shop looking for something different, hoping something would jump out at me, but to no avail. Luckily I still have a few cards from last year, some that arrived from a Charity source too late to send, so these will have to do unless a miracle happens in the next few week. I'll hit the Garden Centres next, they sell decorations so they must sell cards. I hear the 'in' colour this year is black. Black trees, black garlands, very festive, just like the cards.

Every year I say I'm going to design my own cards. It's a bit late now but next year........... well, it's definitely on the cards!

I've found the answer.....

2006-10-19T22:24:00.000Z

I noticed recently that I have started to put on a little weight. I usually do add a pound or two over the winter months but this year I seem to have made an early start. But I've found the answer.

It's lack of sleep. It appears that when you are tired, the hormones in your body crave sugar, and the two chocolate digestive biscuits I have during the evening are going straight to my love handles, one each side!

So I have a choice. Early to bed and no blogging or no biscuits......... and the risk of night starvation. It looks like the biscuits will have to go............ but like all good diets, I'll start tomorrow.

Turning out....

2006-10-13T22:44:00.000Z

I've been tidying up and turning out, ready for when my mother visits over Christmas. I know it's a week or two away but I've got to do these things when the mood takes me. I found some scrapper board (scratch board) pictures that I did when I was at school and because they had started to deteriorate I thought I would like to post them while they were still presentable.

I can't remember very much about the young ladies now except they my have been copied from a hairdressing magazine. The last one is a composite of all the pieces Sunny D has posted for H.N.T. O.K so that's a fib, just a little one!

I was told at school that I lacked original ideas and that I would make a good teacher.........or a forger. I liked the forger bit. I was always more interested in the producing rather than the finished product, probably why I've been a butterfly as far as hobbies are concerned. I soon get bored and move on to something new.

To prove a point......

2006-10-07T23:51:00.000Z

I said in the previous post that I distrusted Religions, and what has happened this week has done nothing to change my mind.

I hear the Roman Catholic Church is now to do away with Limbo. That place twix Heaven and Hell where all the souls of good people, who were never baptised, live for eternity. Never achieving the gift of Heaven but not having to suffer the torment of Hell. It is also the place for the souls of children. Those that die before baptism, those stillborn and those that are naturally aborted.

So why have the Cardinals decided that there is no further need for Limbo. Could it be, I wonder, that other faiths in the emerging countries are offering a better deal and the Church is missing out? Is it that parents, having just had a sad experience, are seeking solace with faiths that promise their children's souls will go to paradise and be with angels, as the Muslim faith does. All poor old Rome can offer is Limbo. It's like so many other things in the Church, a man made idea to solve a problem of the time. It has been on the books for about 1500 years, but nothing is forever, unless you're a soul trapped there.

Does this mean that other ideas and edicts can be done away with at the stroke of a pen, by the old men in fancy dress at the Vatican. Women at the alter, celibacy of clergy, fish on Friday, the idea of Purgatory, perhaps even Hell itself. Maybe the only Hell is one we create for ourselves, here on earth?

What's going to happen to all those millions of souls now? Will it create an over crowding problem for someone? Just think, if Hell and Purgatory were to follow Limbo, that would only leave Heaven. Then what?

"Look out Saint Peter. Unlock those pearly gates. It's party time and we're all coming in!"

Tagged.....

2006-10-05T23:47:00.000Z

I was tagged. It was Emily at http://emilys-post.blogspot.com/ who was responsible for the deed. I'm not one to get involved in the question and answer games, usually I give too much away, but it seems like fun and I might find out a bit more about myself.

Nine statements with nine explanations. How difficult can that be......

1. I am a night person........ probably due to my working hours, when I was working. I spent twenty years behind bars, not the prison kind, although in some ways it was just that. Especially when Mr. Boring cornered you and you had to hear the same sob story for the n'th time.

2. I believe in love at first sight........ it's what happened to me. I was working in a shop when my future wife walked in with her sister, who was engaged to one of my colleagues. We found out years later that it was all planned, because they thought we were right for each other. Our relationship has lasted a lot longer than theirs.

3. I am an only child........ and was spoilt when I was young. I was brought up mainly by my maternal grandmother who lived with us. My parents were in business and I didn't see much of them until the evenings. I was taught to cook, sew and crochet by my grandmother, and she gave me a view of life through older eyes.

4. I think before I buy........ I remember a saying 'I've never bought anything I didn't need'. I think it was from Paul Getty. The emphasis was on need. I tend to do a lot of research before I buy to make sure it's a need and not a want. On general shopping, I always shop to a list. That sounds controlling but I'm not a controlling person.

5. I worked for eleven years without a day off........ but I wouldn't recommend that to anyone. I was self employed and forgot that you should work to live and not live to work. Strange when I look back on it, as all I ever wanted was to be happy.

6. I don't smile often......... or enough but am really happy inside. I was always being told to 'cheer up' when I was having a riot inside. I have a good sense of humour, if a little dry at times, and am quite willing to turn the joke on myself.

7. I always carry a camera........ and a roll of cling film (for Sunny and Fiona). I love taking pics and have had some published. It also allows me to record things that I can show my wife, as she is unable to go out very often.

8. I distrust Religions........ I believe in a God, the one that speaks to me in the quiet times. The more I see of recognised religions, the more I see greed and corruption, not love and understanding. Show me the profit and I'll show you the reason.

9. I do not fear death........ but I wouldn't court it. Take away the fear of death and you have a new meaning to life. I may have to help my wife to die one day. It's not beyond the realms of possibility. Will I be able to do it? The answer this in statement number ten.

Well, there you go. I won't tag six other people. I don't know six people well enough on line. Thank you Emily for making me think and I hope the reasons are of interest

Merry Christmas.....

2006-09-29T23:02:00.000Z

Merry Christmas. Ho ho ho! The Christmas decorations are up in St.Austell..........91 days before the big day. I jest not!!

The reason given is that the place where the lights were stored is about to be demolished and they couldn't find anywhere else suitable to keep the lights safe. Everyone is thrilled to bits to be plunged into Christmas so early in the year.

Now isn't that spectacular? Wouldn't you be proud to be part of such a forward thinking community? It made the National Press and made headlines on the National News, really putting the town on the map. I can't wait to see Easter Bunnies on the first of January. I know they are not due to be switch on for a few weeks and unfortunately I shall have to miss the ceremony, afraid of getting crushed, but I shall be visiting to take photos of the display, so watch this space for further news.

Tesco's has moved....

Tesco's have moved at last. After months of discussion and argument between the Council and Tesco, the biggest U.K retailer, an agreement has been reached.................and Tesco has got everything it's asked for. Surprise, surprise!

The proud edifice is no more and all that is left is a pile of rubble. We have even more in common with the Lebanon now......... except for the cluster bombs, but we can do without those little joys!

An old friend......

2006-09-26T23:47:00.000Z

I thought I'd like to introduce you to an old friend.

His name is Dillon, and you might be able to see that he is a West Highland Terrier....... a rather scruffy one at that. We've been friends for over thirteen years, had our ups and downs, but best of all, we have kept each others secrets.

He hates a lot of exercise, thankfully, and insists on being carried when his poor little legs get tired. He has his own armchair, which I've recently lowered by sawing four inches off the legs, so the old chap hasn't too much of a struggle to get comfortable.

He can be a bit snappy but he has only bitten the best people. My mother, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, daughter's boyfriend, a couple of neighbours and the lady who reads the gas meters. In each case it's been their fault.......or so he told me. The problem is that he's deaf and people will keep coming up behind him when he's not expecting it, or he has his nose in his feed bowl......a most dangerous time. Luckily, the bites have not cause him any serious harm.

A true four legged friend....or fiend!

Welcome Flags....

2006-09-22T23:51:00.000Z

They've gone!

Quietly taken down while no one was looking. And still the argument goes on about their reason for being. I wonder if those people that protest too much ever gave them more than a glance.

Did they take the time to stand with them, look up, see the multitude of colours caused by the movement, and hear the wind roaring through their twisting form? Did they see them against the blue of the sky or see the sun shining through them?

No, all they could see was the cost. The sort of people who would look at a picture by Monet and see only a £20 canvas and £20's worth of paint. People who have never watched a stone grow or drank tea from an empty cup. People with no imagination or joy in their hearts. Did they appreciate that the gardens beneath them were planted with wild flowers? I doubt that they even noticed.

Well, I look forward to next year, when the Welcome Flags will return, and I shall visit them again to see and hear them fly. I expect the moaners will have their say once more. I expect nothing less!

Post Script to Welcome Flags....

It appears they were taken down early so that they were not damaged by the tail end of Hurricane Gordon............ which never arrived!

Foot in Mouth....

2006-09-16T23:27:00.000Z

I hear the Pope is in trouble. I'm not the best one to advise the old chap, and I usually try to stay away from anything religious. Far too much harm has been caused by the religions of the world.

He definitely did not understanding implications of his words. A grave error for one in such high office. Ask George W.

In the Pope's case it's a highly educated academic, using examples which have no relevance to the modern world, then being taken literally by the peasant masses, or those who have their own agenda, who see only the words and not their meaning.

I must e-mail His Reverence and tell him not to mention cling-film in his address this Sunday. It could land him into even more trouble!

A New Purse....

2006-09-11T00:02:00.000Z

It took me a while, and many endless hours waiting in shops, to understand the fascination with shoes and the 'must have' matching handbag. But why would she need a new purse?

The old one had hardly been used. Carried everywhere, but never opened, well, not in my presence anyway. The catch still brand new, as shinny as the day it was made, and the leather in perfect condition. Even the coins it contained showed our Queen as a young woman.

Credit cards in neat rows, never scuffed by scanning or chip 'n pin machines. Not much use any more as the pin number have long been forgotten. A receipt, some four years old, print faded and hardly readable, despite never being exposed to daylight. A card warning of an unusual blood group, and a Donner Card with next of kin carefully printed. All now have a new home.
It was a suggestion from her sister. She had just bought one and was showing it off at a recent visit. As she was getting one for another sister, would my wife like one too? Well, of course she would.

"I'll post it to you", said sister, "and you can send me a cheque", looking in my direction, knowing that my wife can't write a cheque. "It will last for ages", she added. I bet it will, thought I.

We took it for a drive today. To a garden centre where it easily could have been put to good use. No, it was my wallet, my very old battered wallet, that was opened to make the purchases. A watering can for me, an orchid and two Christmas cards (buy them when you see them), for my wife. She didn't flinch, not even when I mentioned that now would be a good time to see if her purse worked. It stayed hidden in the dark recesses of her handbag. There, I expect, it will languish, until another new purse takes it's place.

But it's hardly been used, so why would she need a new purse?

Crabby Old Woman....

2006-09-07T23:23:00.000Z

This was e-mailed to me from a friend in Australia. No doubt it's travelled around the world quite a few times already, but for those who have not seen it before, I think it's worth a read.

Crabby Old Woman

What do you see, nurses ......... What do you see?
What are you thinking ............. When you're looking at me?
A crabby old woman ................ Not very wise,
Uncertain of habit, ............... With faraway eyes?

Who dribbles her food ............ And makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice, .. "I do wish you'd try!"
Who seems not to notice ......... The things that you do,
And forever is losing .............. A stocking or shoe?

Who, resisting or not, ............ Lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding, ...... The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking? .... Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse, ......You're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am .............. As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, .......... As I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of ten ............With a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters ................ Who love one another.

A young girl of sixteen ..............With wings on her feet
Dreaming that soon now . .........A lover she'll meet.
A bride soon at twenty, ............. My heart gives a leap,
Remembering the vows .......... That I promised to keep.

At twenty-five now,..... I have young of my own,
Who need me to guide......And a secure happy home.
A woman of thirty, .................. My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other........... With ties that should last.

At forty, my young sons ........... Have grown and are gone,
But my man's beside me .......... To see I don't mourn
At fifty once more, .................. Babies play 'round my knee,
Again we know children,....... My loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me,..........My husband is dead,
I look at the future,........ I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing..........Young of their own ,
And I think of the years .............. And the love that I've known.

I'm now an old woman................ And nature is cruel;
Tis jest to make old age ............ .Look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles, ............... Grace and vigor depart,
There is now a stone ............... Where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass .. ....... A young girl still dwells,
And now and again, ................. My battered heart swells.
I remember the joys, . I remember the pain,
And I'm loving and living . Life over again.

I think of the years ................. .All too few, gone too fast,
And accept the stark fact . That nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people, Open and see,
Not a crabby old woman; .......... Look closer....see, ME!!

Another exciting Saturday night.....

2006-09-02T22:46:00.000Z

Another exciting Saturday night on television. It's the time of the year for repeats and general mind numbing twaddle. Test the Nation, Story of Light Entertainment, Celebrity Who Wants to be a Millionaire, etc, etc, etc. There were some repeats of N.C.I.S, C.I.S and Law and Order, but even their greatest fans can have too much of a good thing.

So it was an evening with another repeat, a raid on the video cabinet for Dirty Dancing, with Patrick Squeezy and Jennifer Grey. O.K, I must have seen it a dozen or more times, but you can always see something new, and the music's grrrrrrrreat.

I looked at it from the view point of the father. Poor old Daddy. A dad who takes his family away for a late holiday, for a few days relaxation after a punishing schedule. He gets conned out of $250. Patches up someone who was the subject of a medical malpractice, that he paid for. Finds out his favourite daughter is shagging one of the staff. Then has to apologise for a misjudgement. Some holiday!

.
Bet he wished they had stayed at home..................... and watched repeats on the television!