Call me sad, call me a spinster, say I don't have a life - but I wanted to blog a farewell to my good natured furry buddy Tigger, who unfortunately passed away on Sunday 12th December 2010.
He had a very short life being only 3 years old, but he had a very big personality and kept me highly entertained with his funny ways and peculiar antics.
I have never met such a kooky cat in all my life and my house definitely feels alot quieter with something missing now he has gone. He had his moments when I could brain him - like when he would use my bedroom window as a cat flap banging and crashing the blinds on the wall at 3am, or headbutting me awake when he decided he needed a cuddle and not to mention having a profound hate for my laptop, proceeding to try and walk on every key and crash it whenever the opportunity arouse.
But he was also the sweetest, cuddliest cat as well. If I was ever ill he would keep a vigil by my side til I got better, he would come running to the door to greet me no matter what time of night I got in, he would lay on the sofa watching mindless TV (whilst giving me cramp at the same time as never budged an inch) but best of all, I loved the morning cuddles. I got into the habit of setting my alarm 30 minutes earlier, because as soon as heard it he would come running up to my pillow and lay down with his paw on my cheek winking at me with a cat-smile on his face. Bless!
But it's his peculiar antics that I remember the most - he loved chasing flies. If there was one on the wall he couldn't reach he would meow at me to pick him up, then would go frantic trying to catch the fly with his front paws whilst I held his belly. He was also a spider stalker, following it around the floor until it started to crawl up the wall, then he would take great joy it squashing it with his paw and smearing it down my paint work. There were also the summer days of chasing the grass hoppers around the garden, mimicking them with his own jumps whenever they sprung out of the grass, not to mention the countless birds and mice he brought home for me. Not that he ever killed them, he always made sure they was still alive much to my amusement. It's very hard to capture a frantic bird flapping around your bedroom at 6am........
So, even though his spirit may not be here any more and he has been given a proper burial to lay his body to rest, his memory will live on in my household for the cool furry buddy that he truly was.
Wednesday 15 December 2010
Thursday 2 December 2010
Britain Grinds To A Halt
What is it with the UK, no matter what the weather condition the country (in particular train services) always seems to grind to a halt whenever it is slightly out of the norm. It's too sunny, it's too hot, it's too windy, there's leaves on the line, it's the wrong kind of snow - or my favourite - it's too wet! Hello?! You do realise this is the UK where it rains like 350 days a year!
It's not like this latest flurry of snow has come as a surprise, we've had weather warnings in place for nigh on a month now, but did the government or local councils take note? Apparently not! No where has been gritted, there's no budget for it (or rather they are just too damned lazy tucked up in their beds drinking port) and there has been no preparation to keep the country moving what-so-ever!
How can a bit of wet, white fluff bring the Country to it's knees? This is like the third year in a row now where we have had heavy snow affecting the whole of Britain - yet the councils are still claiming it's unnatural and couldn't have been predicted! Yeah right! Unless you really are claiming that the whole of the UK's council system doesn't have five brain cells to rub together.....
I have had the journey from hell this morning - I saw a DHL van crash into two cars on the main road through my home town because no gritting has been done, even though there is about 6 inches of snow, I had to wait over 30 minutes for a train due to numerous cancellations and when I did get on one it took me an hour to do a 25 minute journey into London.
How is it you have places like Moscow where temperatures reach -60C and the country still rallies round and carries on like it's no big deal, yet we struggle to cope with -5c temperatures!
I think that is enough ranting for one day - me thinks it is time for a cuppa to warm me cockles up and defrost a bit. Now, I just need to find somewhere to hang my boots to dry for the journey home later....
It's not like this latest flurry of snow has come as a surprise, we've had weather warnings in place for nigh on a month now, but did the government or local councils take note? Apparently not! No where has been gritted, there's no budget for it (or rather they are just too damned lazy tucked up in their beds drinking port) and there has been no preparation to keep the country moving what-so-ever!
How can a bit of wet, white fluff bring the Country to it's knees? This is like the third year in a row now where we have had heavy snow affecting the whole of Britain - yet the councils are still claiming it's unnatural and couldn't have been predicted! Yeah right! Unless you really are claiming that the whole of the UK's council system doesn't have five brain cells to rub together.....
I have had the journey from hell this morning - I saw a DHL van crash into two cars on the main road through my home town because no gritting has been done, even though there is about 6 inches of snow, I had to wait over 30 minutes for a train due to numerous cancellations and when I did get on one it took me an hour to do a 25 minute journey into London.
How is it you have places like Moscow where temperatures reach -60C and the country still rallies round and carries on like it's no big deal, yet we struggle to cope with -5c temperatures!
I think that is enough ranting for one day - me thinks it is time for a cuppa to warm me cockles up and defrost a bit. Now, I just need to find somewhere to hang my boots to dry for the journey home later....
Monday 29 November 2010
Drunken Ramblings
Why is it every time I meet up with my friends, instead of talking handbags, shoes, reality shows or nostalgic childhood memories - our conversations always turn into drunken remnants.
Is it possible to get nostalgic over nights out on the lash and humouring your friends with highly embarrassing stories that quite frankly, you just shouldn't be repeating? I'm wondering if I should be getting worried about the level of social skills that I have gained and whether this is the norm?
I'm often getting told that I drink too much and should find other ways of spending my social life - and whilst I do highly agree with them, I just don't seem to have the will power to carry it through. I might look into different activities to do - bowling, art galleries, museums, dinner - but whenever I suggest these things more often than not at the last minute someone will say they can't be bothered and can we just go for a drink somewhere instead? Which inadvertently turns into an all nighter with drunken screeches, struggling to stand upright, embarrassing fellow passengers on the train home by commenting on their dodgy outfits (I'm sorry, but who in their right mind would choose to wear a Michael Jackson get up on a night out, bright red jackets and rind stone gloves are really not cool.....) and waking up on random sofas the following morning without a clue as to how you got there.
I'm always telling people that if you can't laugh at yourself then who can you laugh at? It's only a bit of fun at the end of the day, but is it time yet to worry about whether or not I am becoming an alcoholic? Nah, I reckon I've got a few more years left in me yet.....
Is it possible to get nostalgic over nights out on the lash and humouring your friends with highly embarrassing stories that quite frankly, you just shouldn't be repeating? I'm wondering if I should be getting worried about the level of social skills that I have gained and whether this is the norm?
I'm often getting told that I drink too much and should find other ways of spending my social life - and whilst I do highly agree with them, I just don't seem to have the will power to carry it through. I might look into different activities to do - bowling, art galleries, museums, dinner - but whenever I suggest these things more often than not at the last minute someone will say they can't be bothered and can we just go for a drink somewhere instead? Which inadvertently turns into an all nighter with drunken screeches, struggling to stand upright, embarrassing fellow passengers on the train home by commenting on their dodgy outfits (I'm sorry, but who in their right mind would choose to wear a Michael Jackson get up on a night out, bright red jackets and rind stone gloves are really not cool.....) and waking up on random sofas the following morning without a clue as to how you got there.
I'm always telling people that if you can't laugh at yourself then who can you laugh at? It's only a bit of fun at the end of the day, but is it time yet to worry about whether or not I am becoming an alcoholic? Nah, I reckon I've got a few more years left in me yet.....
Friday 26 November 2010
Why Do Buildings Have Such Silly Names...
Have just found this article on the BBC News website and thought it was worth a chuckle:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11838167
If someone came up to you and mentioned the words Gherkin, Cucumber, Shard or Cheese Grater you'd think they would be talking about a dodgy party back in the 70's - but you would be mistaken, as these are the oh so clever 'nicknames' that cast a shadow across our skylines.
When I saw this report I thought 'hmm, maybe there is some deep meaningful purpose to these so called nicknames...' and thought I would take a quick peek to broaden my enlightenment into the British world of Architecture. In actual fact, I can't say I really gained anything from this article other than the fact that British designers seem to have a rather dry sense of humour.
I'm sure the average John Doe could come up with something more imaginative than the Cheese Grater or the Gherkin - lord knows I've heard much more cruder references down the local on a Saturday night! But I guess you do have to laugh at the absurdity of it.
Only in Blighty could you design a building, then give it a really dodgy nickname just for the mere sake of outdoing your fellow rivals. I take it they've never heard of a bit of friendly rivalry over a game of Poker......
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11838167
If someone came up to you and mentioned the words Gherkin, Cucumber, Shard or Cheese Grater you'd think they would be talking about a dodgy party back in the 70's - but you would be mistaken, as these are the oh so clever 'nicknames' that cast a shadow across our skylines.
When I saw this report I thought 'hmm, maybe there is some deep meaningful purpose to these so called nicknames...' and thought I would take a quick peek to broaden my enlightenment into the British world of Architecture. In actual fact, I can't say I really gained anything from this article other than the fact that British designers seem to have a rather dry sense of humour.
I'm sure the average John Doe could come up with something more imaginative than the Cheese Grater or the Gherkin - lord knows I've heard much more cruder references down the local on a Saturday night! But I guess you do have to laugh at the absurdity of it.
Only in Blighty could you design a building, then give it a really dodgy nickname just for the mere sake of outdoing your fellow rivals. I take it they've never heard of a bit of friendly rivalry over a game of Poker......
Thursday 25 November 2010
Snow Is Falling........
The snow has arrived - up north have already received their first snow shower and according to the met office it will be reaching the south anytime from the beginning of next week - great! To make matters even better, we are being told that it will last for two weeks - two whole weeks of freezing our nads off, slipping, sliding and generally just trying not to make a prat of ourselves whilst penguin-style walking down the street.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11836547
How idyllic it looks in photos and on postcards - pure white snow that crunches under foot, making even the most grimmest of towns seem festive and magical. In reality (especially for Londoners) the snow stays white for all of an hour maybe, before it turns to slush that semi-freezes and turns to a deadly sheet of battle-ship grey ice that only the bravest of the brave can tackle in an upright position.
As if that isn't bad enough, councils are saying that they are going to be cutting back on gritting to try and save money. So, in a nut shell having a few extra pennies in your purse is better than the health and well being of your fellow humans. Are councils really going to take on the burden of increased traffic accidents, hospitals groaning from an increased number of broken limbs and a much higher percentage of broken lamp columns, bollards etc - just so they can skimp on the grit?
Hmmm... I hope all those Tory lovers out there are taking note of this. The government they elected have stripped the budget so close to thread-bare, that once again the public are the ones who are going to be bearing the brunt of this ridiculous outcome.
Surely you could skip the trimmings and port this year David to ensure the health and safety of those out battling the treacherous streets in the next few weeks....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11836547
How idyllic it looks in photos and on postcards - pure white snow that crunches under foot, making even the most grimmest of towns seem festive and magical. In reality (especially for Londoners) the snow stays white for all of an hour maybe, before it turns to slush that semi-freezes and turns to a deadly sheet of battle-ship grey ice that only the bravest of the brave can tackle in an upright position.
As if that isn't bad enough, councils are saying that they are going to be cutting back on gritting to try and save money. So, in a nut shell having a few extra pennies in your purse is better than the health and well being of your fellow humans. Are councils really going to take on the burden of increased traffic accidents, hospitals groaning from an increased number of broken limbs and a much higher percentage of broken lamp columns, bollards etc - just so they can skimp on the grit?
Hmmm... I hope all those Tory lovers out there are taking note of this. The government they elected have stripped the budget so close to thread-bare, that once again the public are the ones who are going to be bearing the brunt of this ridiculous outcome.
Surely you could skip the trimmings and port this year David to ensure the health and safety of those out battling the treacherous streets in the next few weeks....
Wednesday 24 November 2010
Retirement Age....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11820660
It's so nice to see that the people at the British Medical Journal have been spending their much needed time researching into a worth while cause - the effects of retiring earlier in the UK - and have come up with the conclusion that it would indeed benefit us to retire earlier like the French.
Well, thank you very much Sherlock Holmes' of the modern world - that information is duly noted. But please tell me - are you honestly saying you needed to put yourself through 4 years of University and waste a load of your time researching and interviewing the public to come to that conclusion? I could have easily told you that over a pint down the local in 5 minutes.
No wonder the UK is in trouble if it deems this to be crucial knowledge the public cannot do without and is apparently the area that we need to be spending (wasting rather) our much needed money on. Is anything going to come of this survey? Is the Tory party going to sit up, take note and decide that in fact the retirement age should indeed be lowered to 55?
Me thinks not - it is almost like the dangling a juicy bit of meat in front of an animal, getting it all excited then whipping it away and saying 'you'd like that wouldn't you? Shame your not going to get any of it though.......'
Total waste of time - and I didn't even need to use 4 years of my life researching into how useless these surveys really are!
It's so nice to see that the people at the British Medical Journal have been spending their much needed time researching into a worth while cause - the effects of retiring earlier in the UK - and have come up with the conclusion that it would indeed benefit us to retire earlier like the French.
Well, thank you very much Sherlock Holmes' of the modern world - that information is duly noted. But please tell me - are you honestly saying you needed to put yourself through 4 years of University and waste a load of your time researching and interviewing the public to come to that conclusion? I could have easily told you that over a pint down the local in 5 minutes.
No wonder the UK is in trouble if it deems this to be crucial knowledge the public cannot do without and is apparently the area that we need to be spending (wasting rather) our much needed money on. Is anything going to come of this survey? Is the Tory party going to sit up, take note and decide that in fact the retirement age should indeed be lowered to 55?
Me thinks not - it is almost like the dangling a juicy bit of meat in front of an animal, getting it all excited then whipping it away and saying 'you'd like that wouldn't you? Shame your not going to get any of it though.......'
Total waste of time - and I didn't even need to use 4 years of my life researching into how useless these surveys really are!
Monday 22 November 2010
The Holiday Season Has Arrived!
Oh lordy - where or where has the last year gone? It seems like only yesterday I was sitting around at my parents on Boxing Day joking about how the festive season was all done and dusted for another year, quoting how the next one would probably be upon us in a flash - and low and behold here it is again.
You know it is officially the Christmas season when you see the Coca Cola advert and hear the unmistakable tune, 'the holidays are coming......!' - that is the moment when you know it will be full steam ahead. Mixing in with crowds galore trying to find your way to a shelf and then onto the till, stocking up on indulgence food because it is the holiday season, therefore it seems justifiable to eat a whole years worth of calories in two weeks and that is without all the partying and drinking where everyone wants to catch up before the new year (which I might add is my personal favourite highlight of the festive season!)
As much as I think Christmas has become a bit of a farce - most kids these days don't even know the meaning behind it other than it's a time of year to get presents - I do love the feeling of climbing up into the loft to dust of the decorations and the tree, ready for another year. Although I must admit I am abit anal when it comes to decorating and I like the tree to look orderly, it's still nice once it is done to switch on those lights and remember nostalgic Christmas' that have already been. The warm fuzzy feeling, everyone being on their best behaviour, the look on people's faces when they open their presents and of course, getting a wee bit sozzled on your dads home made Christmas puddings.
To all those 'bah-humbergs' out there - I say 'the holidays are coming......!'
You know it is officially the Christmas season when you see the Coca Cola advert and hear the unmistakable tune, 'the holidays are coming......!' - that is the moment when you know it will be full steam ahead. Mixing in with crowds galore trying to find your way to a shelf and then onto the till, stocking up on indulgence food because it is the holiday season, therefore it seems justifiable to eat a whole years worth of calories in two weeks and that is without all the partying and drinking where everyone wants to catch up before the new year (which I might add is my personal favourite highlight of the festive season!)
As much as I think Christmas has become a bit of a farce - most kids these days don't even know the meaning behind it other than it's a time of year to get presents - I do love the feeling of climbing up into the loft to dust of the decorations and the tree, ready for another year. Although I must admit I am abit anal when it comes to decorating and I like the tree to look orderly, it's still nice once it is done to switch on those lights and remember nostalgic Christmas' that have already been. The warm fuzzy feeling, everyone being on their best behaviour, the look on people's faces when they open their presents and of course, getting a wee bit sozzled on your dads home made Christmas puddings.
To all those 'bah-humbergs' out there - I say 'the holidays are coming......!'
Monday 8 November 2010
Dark Days Ahead......
So, it seems that winter is officially here - dark days, dampness, rain, rain - and more rain! Plus extremely cold weather that feels like it is peeling the skin of your cheeks and getting your hair back-combed for free in the gale force winds.
Don't you just love the quintessential British weather? Does it make you feel proud to be born and bred in a Country where you get about 10 days of sunshine a year, about 30 dry days and about 325 wet cold miserable days?
I would like to say yes, but right at this moment in time I would just about do anything to be sitting on a beach....in the Mediterranean....with a cocktail and a whole lot of sun!
After this morning's winter weather debut, I am sitting here with feet that are still damp, jeans that are soaked half way up my calves and I keep finding stray bits of hair that have been knotted up and frizzed out that - goddammit - just won't stay in place. I like to think that I am not a vain person, but at the same time this is so not a good look right now.
You could almost say I feel like a drowned rat - I most certainly feel about as attractive as one and to make matters worse I noticed at the weekend that my tan lines have now officially faded into oblivion. How depressing!
I sit here with the knowledge that this is only just the beginning of the dark winter days ahead - it's not quite got to the stage yet where I whip my foot straight back under the covers in the morning, because it is just too damned cold and consider pulling a sickie for the warmth of the haven that is my bed. But I know it is coming, I can feel it brewing in the air.....
I shall try to stay positive and remind myself that I can get through this. I will get to see my ten days of sunshine soon, which will refresh my memory of just how great London really is.
Don't you just love the quintessential British weather? Does it make you feel proud to be born and bred in a Country where you get about 10 days of sunshine a year, about 30 dry days and about 325 wet cold miserable days?
I would like to say yes, but right at this moment in time I would just about do anything to be sitting on a beach....in the Mediterranean....with a cocktail and a whole lot of sun!
After this morning's winter weather debut, I am sitting here with feet that are still damp, jeans that are soaked half way up my calves and I keep finding stray bits of hair that have been knotted up and frizzed out that - goddammit - just won't stay in place. I like to think that I am not a vain person, but at the same time this is so not a good look right now.
You could almost say I feel like a drowned rat - I most certainly feel about as attractive as one and to make matters worse I noticed at the weekend that my tan lines have now officially faded into oblivion. How depressing!
I sit here with the knowledge that this is only just the beginning of the dark winter days ahead - it's not quite got to the stage yet where I whip my foot straight back under the covers in the morning, because it is just too damned cold and consider pulling a sickie for the warmth of the haven that is my bed. But I know it is coming, I can feel it brewing in the air.....
I shall try to stay positive and remind myself that I can get through this. I will get to see my ten days of sunshine soon, which will refresh my memory of just how great London really is.
Friday 5 November 2010
Does one speaketh the lingo?
I love listening to conversations by different people, in particular the way things are pronounced and types of words that are used.
I used to live in East London and never used to think that I had an accent or spoke in a particular way that was outside the 'norm', but after moving out to Essex 4 years ago I am very much aware of the speech patterns different Towns and Villages develop. Especially of late, after becoming a sucker for The Only Way Is Essex - it just makes me realise that I am slowly going over to the dark side and sounding more and more common each day (as much as you can believe than from an East Londoner!)
I admit I've never been one to have a cockney accent or delved into the world of 'Lady Mcguivers or apples and pears' but still, I am who I am and I always liked to pride myself on the fact that you can't take the town out of the girl......but.....
The longer I find myself living away from East London the more my 'non-existent accent' disappears. Gone are the days of 'Alright Mate', 'Hows it going?!' and 'Yeah, nice one!' and in it's place I am finding myself replicating the local Essex sing-song sayings such 'Hi-Ya', 'How-Are-You?' and 'Yeah, that sounds lovely!' I even found myself chatting to the local checkout girl the other day and referred to her as luv! Oh, how degrading.
But I think I am not alone in these thoughts and apparently the local jargon not only exists in the outside world, but also take place in the world of business too. I loved reading this article today on the BBC website and was cracking up at the commentary.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7457287.stm
Not only is there such a thing as business jargon - it has also been complied into it's very own top 50 list, which is not bad going. I particularly love item number 22, having worked in sales for over three years this was a regular saying amongst the directors at our monthly sales meetings.
I wonder what the future holds for the English language and how the local lingo will differ by the time I reach middle age - one can only but imagine....
I used to live in East London and never used to think that I had an accent or spoke in a particular way that was outside the 'norm', but after moving out to Essex 4 years ago I am very much aware of the speech patterns different Towns and Villages develop. Especially of late, after becoming a sucker for The Only Way Is Essex - it just makes me realise that I am slowly going over to the dark side and sounding more and more common each day (as much as you can believe than from an East Londoner!)
I admit I've never been one to have a cockney accent or delved into the world of 'Lady Mcguivers or apples and pears' but still, I am who I am and I always liked to pride myself on the fact that you can't take the town out of the girl......but.....
The longer I find myself living away from East London the more my 'non-existent accent' disappears. Gone are the days of 'Alright Mate', 'Hows it going?!' and 'Yeah, nice one!' and in it's place I am finding myself replicating the local Essex sing-song sayings such 'Hi-Ya', 'How-Are-You?' and 'Yeah, that sounds lovely!' I even found myself chatting to the local checkout girl the other day and referred to her as luv! Oh, how degrading.
But I think I am not alone in these thoughts and apparently the local jargon not only exists in the outside world, but also take place in the world of business too. I loved reading this article today on the BBC website and was cracking up at the commentary.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7457287.stm
Not only is there such a thing as business jargon - it has also been complied into it's very own top 50 list, which is not bad going. I particularly love item number 22, having worked in sales for over three years this was a regular saying amongst the directors at our monthly sales meetings.
I wonder what the future holds for the English language and how the local lingo will differ by the time I reach middle age - one can only but imagine....
Wednesday 3 November 2010
Nostalgic Memories
When did life become so dull and boring? What happened to the days when you would jump out of bed and wolf down your breakfast because you was too impatient and felt like you was missing out on something in the big wide yonder? Where has that added 'zing' gone, the one that would be there whilst you're running down the street in your flashing LA trainers full of joy and wonder?
Fast forward 20 years and this is where it has gone to - a 9 to 5 desk job, mortgages and bills galore and the feeling that life really isn't all that you thought it would crack up to be! Nice one!
I've been trying to pin-point the exact time when I realised my ambitious 'I can conquer the world' phrase ended and my 'oh-my-god-I'm-getting-old' phase kicked in it's place. I'm guessing about 3pm on September 23, 2009. No, kidding!
But on a serious note, why is it you spend your whole youth wishing you could just grow up and be taken more seriously, yet spend your adult life living down memory lane, wishing you could get some of that vitality back?
I even went through a phrase last year of going out and getting drunk just for the sheer hell of it, to do something fun and stupid and irresponsible. But all that made me realise is that the older I get, the worse the hangover gets, which made me feel even more old and depressed than when I had just stayed sober to begin with!
What can I say? I guess I'll just have to think up some other hair-brained scheme to 'mix-it up abit' and inject some fun into my life. To do that, I think I am going to need my nice comfy couch, a cup of tea, dressing gown and my slippers to properly relax and get the ideas flowing.....
Fast forward 20 years and this is where it has gone to - a 9 to 5 desk job, mortgages and bills galore and the feeling that life really isn't all that you thought it would crack up to be! Nice one!
I've been trying to pin-point the exact time when I realised my ambitious 'I can conquer the world' phrase ended and my 'oh-my-god-I'm-getting-old' phase kicked in it's place. I'm guessing about 3pm on September 23, 2009. No, kidding!
But on a serious note, why is it you spend your whole youth wishing you could just grow up and be taken more seriously, yet spend your adult life living down memory lane, wishing you could get some of that vitality back?
I even went through a phrase last year of going out and getting drunk just for the sheer hell of it, to do something fun and stupid and irresponsible. But all that made me realise is that the older I get, the worse the hangover gets, which made me feel even more old and depressed than when I had just stayed sober to begin with!
What can I say? I guess I'll just have to think up some other hair-brained scheme to 'mix-it up abit' and inject some fun into my life. To do that, I think I am going to need my nice comfy couch, a cup of tea, dressing gown and my slippers to properly relax and get the ideas flowing.....
Friday 29 October 2010
Mountains & Molehills.......
Do you ever have one of those days when you find yourself asking, 'Why on earth did I even bother getting up today?' It just seems like everything is a mission, anything that can go wrong does go wrong and it feels like you just really shouldn't have bothered anyway?
I really am of the notion at the moment that time could almost possibly be going backwards, due to the fact it is taking me so long to process everything. My brain feels like it has got stuck in slow motion and the only thing keeping me going at the moment is a nice cool glass of vino (or two) with some great company tonight!
I just feel so run down at the moment, I really am finding it hard to concentrate. I seem to keep putting my foot in it lately and saying the wrong thing, thus offending most people who come into close proximity of me. If that is not bad enough, I have also been told by a close friend that I am not doing enough as a mate and I should be trying harder to make more time available for her and for others.
As much as I love my friends and family, sometimes I just want to curl up in a ball and close the world off to avoid all the dramas of everyday life. I really am a simple person as heart - what you see is what you get and I don't understand why people get so upset and uptight about things that are perfectly fine left the way they are.
As the famous slogan goes, 'Frankie says relax...........!' and that's exactly what I intend to do - lets leave the mountains out of the equation and focus on the molehills as the perfect little mounds of earth that they are.
I really am of the notion at the moment that time could almost possibly be going backwards, due to the fact it is taking me so long to process everything. My brain feels like it has got stuck in slow motion and the only thing keeping me going at the moment is a nice cool glass of vino (or two) with some great company tonight!
I just feel so run down at the moment, I really am finding it hard to concentrate. I seem to keep putting my foot in it lately and saying the wrong thing, thus offending most people who come into close proximity of me. If that is not bad enough, I have also been told by a close friend that I am not doing enough as a mate and I should be trying harder to make more time available for her and for others.
As much as I love my friends and family, sometimes I just want to curl up in a ball and close the world off to avoid all the dramas of everyday life. I really am a simple person as heart - what you see is what you get and I don't understand why people get so upset and uptight about things that are perfectly fine left the way they are.
As the famous slogan goes, 'Frankie says relax...........!' and that's exactly what I intend to do - lets leave the mountains out of the equation and focus on the molehills as the perfect little mounds of earth that they are.
Wednesday 27 October 2010
Fatty Cat Intruder Alert
Don't you just hate it when it's the middle of the night, your quite comfy and sound asleep in your bed, when all of a sudden you are awaken by your companion because you have a intruder in the house.....
Now, what I am talking about is my cat Tigger, jumping on my face at 4am because the fatty cat from three houses up the road has entered in through his cat flap - again! - and is not only eating his food, but is also jumping on my sofa and stealing Tigger's pet toys in the process.
When I say fat, this cat is a real life black version of the TV character 'Garfield' and it does make me wonder how the hell he can fit through my flap! I'm sure his owners are feeding him on burgers and full fat milk, as this cat is the fur ball equivalent of obese - and he is a bruiser with it too! He swans into my house and bully's my cat if I don't get up and shew him back out into the wilderness.
But fatty cat is also clever - he knows if he leaves it 10 minutes, I would have turned the lights back off and trudged back upstairs to my bed and will already be dozing again - which is when he tries to sneak back in....
I have gone to some drastic measures to keep the fatty cat out, but so far to no avail. I have tried to border up the cat flap of a night time - which does admittedly stops him getting in, but also stops my cat getting out, thus resulting in Tigger jumping on my face at 4am when he needs the toilet.
Next I tried to stop putting food down of a night time, which also resulted in Tigger jumping on my face about 4am when hunger striked - and I found he also proceeded to leave quite a few bite marks in my cheek, which I can only assume was the side effect from lack of food!
My latest attempt was to bring Tigger's food upstairs into the bedroom out of the way, but it appears that Fatty Cat has no limits and not only comes into my bedroom seeking out his nightly nibbles, but also jumps on the bed too - proceeding in - yep, you've guessed it - Tigger jumping on my face to wake me up at 4am!
I refuse to be beaten by the fatty cat and one of these days I will have my comeuppance, but I think it is a pretty safe bet to say that no matter what I do, my cat obviously finds delight - in jumping on my face at 4am!
Now, what I am talking about is my cat Tigger, jumping on my face at 4am because the fatty cat from three houses up the road has entered in through his cat flap - again! - and is not only eating his food, but is also jumping on my sofa and stealing Tigger's pet toys in the process.
When I say fat, this cat is a real life black version of the TV character 'Garfield' and it does make me wonder how the hell he can fit through my flap! I'm sure his owners are feeding him on burgers and full fat milk, as this cat is the fur ball equivalent of obese - and he is a bruiser with it too! He swans into my house and bully's my cat if I don't get up and shew him back out into the wilderness.
But fatty cat is also clever - he knows if he leaves it 10 minutes, I would have turned the lights back off and trudged back upstairs to my bed and will already be dozing again - which is when he tries to sneak back in....
I have gone to some drastic measures to keep the fatty cat out, but so far to no avail. I have tried to border up the cat flap of a night time - which does admittedly stops him getting in, but also stops my cat getting out, thus resulting in Tigger jumping on my face at 4am when he needs the toilet.
Next I tried to stop putting food down of a night time, which also resulted in Tigger jumping on my face about 4am when hunger striked - and I found he also proceeded to leave quite a few bite marks in my cheek, which I can only assume was the side effect from lack of food!
My latest attempt was to bring Tigger's food upstairs into the bedroom out of the way, but it appears that Fatty Cat has no limits and not only comes into my bedroom seeking out his nightly nibbles, but also jumps on the bed too - proceeding in - yep, you've guessed it - Tigger jumping on my face to wake me up at 4am!
I refuse to be beaten by the fatty cat and one of these days I will have my comeuppance, but I think it is a pretty safe bet to say that no matter what I do, my cat obviously finds delight - in jumping on my face at 4am!
Tuesday 26 October 2010
Indonesia Earthquake
Having just got back from my travels to Indonesia a month ago, I was most shocked to read the following in the BBC news:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11626242
Having experienced an earthquake whilst out there on my first night, it's surprising how quickly they come on with no warning at all. Whilst the locals were making light of it that it was only a small quake, I can only imagine how terrified they must have felt having to experience this bigger one that triggered a tsunami - and it's chilling how it evokes memories from the disaster in 2004....
I really do hope they find some if not the majority of those people missing. The locals I met on holiday were the nicest, humblest people I have ever met & although it is inevitable living on the ring of fire, I do hope they don't get any more tremors there any time soon.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11626242
Having experienced an earthquake whilst out there on my first night, it's surprising how quickly they come on with no warning at all. Whilst the locals were making light of it that it was only a small quake, I can only imagine how terrified they must have felt having to experience this bigger one that triggered a tsunami - and it's chilling how it evokes memories from the disaster in 2004....
I really do hope they find some if not the majority of those people missing. The locals I met on holiday were the nicest, humblest people I have ever met & although it is inevitable living on the ring of fire, I do hope they don't get any more tremors there any time soon.
Friday 22 October 2010
Wishing my life away.....
Do you ever get moments in your life when you feel you are just wishing your life away, without really realising you are doing it?
I am sitting here on a Friday afternoon, having wished this moment could have come three days ago, pleading for the weekend to land and also for payday to hurry up. It's not like I'm not contented with my job role - I am actually, as far as job roles go, quite happy with what I am doing. I work for a small company so get a wide variety of job tasks to do, but at the same time spend my time clock watching and wishing it would go that bit faster.
Ever since I got back from my travels I feel like there is something missing from my life. It's almost like my little personal world has stagnated and is missing that all important 'oomph' to get up and go with a bit of zest. I know it's out there somewhere, but just don't know what the missing 'bit' is!
The more I try to think about what it is I actually want, the more confused I get. Like last weekend for example - I've been saying for ages now that I just want a bit of peace and quiet, with a lazy weekend at home and no responsibilities. But once I got it, I realised I didn't actually want it, finding that I was profoundly bored by Saturday afternoon.
I wish I had a fairy godmother to grab me by the scruples, give me a firm kick up the proverbial and open my eyes to what it is I actually want and feel I am missing from my life. Either that, or a large glass of vino and a chocolate bar should do the trick of a quick fix until I can actually figure things out.......
I am sitting here on a Friday afternoon, having wished this moment could have come three days ago, pleading for the weekend to land and also for payday to hurry up. It's not like I'm not contented with my job role - I am actually, as far as job roles go, quite happy with what I am doing. I work for a small company so get a wide variety of job tasks to do, but at the same time spend my time clock watching and wishing it would go that bit faster.
Ever since I got back from my travels I feel like there is something missing from my life. It's almost like my little personal world has stagnated and is missing that all important 'oomph' to get up and go with a bit of zest. I know it's out there somewhere, but just don't know what the missing 'bit' is!
The more I try to think about what it is I actually want, the more confused I get. Like last weekend for example - I've been saying for ages now that I just want a bit of peace and quiet, with a lazy weekend at home and no responsibilities. But once I got it, I realised I didn't actually want it, finding that I was profoundly bored by Saturday afternoon.
I wish I had a fairy godmother to grab me by the scruples, give me a firm kick up the proverbial and open my eyes to what it is I actually want and feel I am missing from my life. Either that, or a large glass of vino and a chocolate bar should do the trick of a quick fix until I can actually figure things out.......
Wednesday 20 October 2010
It's a hard knock life.......
So, the chancellor is today unveiling the country's planned spending cuts, the biggest since the second world war - but what does it all mean for the average John Doe?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11579979
As if life is not hard enough already - constantly tightening the purse strings, cutting out as many luxuries and personal items as possible, paying over the odds for, well, just about everything out there and now it looks like it is about to get alot worse for the average person who lives month to month on a budget.
I'm sure that this will have absolutely no effect on people on a high wage salary and the chancellor has put measures in place to protect people on a low income, but what about the average Londoner who doesn't qualify as a low-income earner but still struggles through every day life...
I think the future is looking very bleak and I feel especially sorry for all those working in the public sector who will be affected by the 490,000 planned job loses - it kind of puts the recent strikes by the TFL into perspective!
After seeing the proposals, I guess I should be lucky that I managed to get on the property ladder before the recession started and that I have a relatively stable-ish job, but who knows what the future will hold. For the foreseeable, I guess it's fair to say that it will be hard going for the majority of people.
But, on a positive note, I still like to hold on to the fact that a smile and a laugh does the sole a world of good - and is one of the few thing that you don't get taxed on (yet!). So as hard as things get, I will try to smile as much as I can along with a cheeky wink - because, as they say, the best things in life are free.......
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11579979
As if life is not hard enough already - constantly tightening the purse strings, cutting out as many luxuries and personal items as possible, paying over the odds for, well, just about everything out there and now it looks like it is about to get alot worse for the average person who lives month to month on a budget.
I'm sure that this will have absolutely no effect on people on a high wage salary and the chancellor has put measures in place to protect people on a low income, but what about the average Londoner who doesn't qualify as a low-income earner but still struggles through every day life...
I think the future is looking very bleak and I feel especially sorry for all those working in the public sector who will be affected by the 490,000 planned job loses - it kind of puts the recent strikes by the TFL into perspective!
After seeing the proposals, I guess I should be lucky that I managed to get on the property ladder before the recession started and that I have a relatively stable-ish job, but who knows what the future will hold. For the foreseeable, I guess it's fair to say that it will be hard going for the majority of people.
But, on a positive note, I still like to hold on to the fact that a smile and a laugh does the sole a world of good - and is one of the few thing that you don't get taxed on (yet!). So as hard as things get, I will try to smile as much as I can along with a cheeky wink - because, as they say, the best things in life are free.......
Saturday 16 October 2010
Lazy Days.....
I've been saying for ages now that I would love to have a nice lazy weekend at home, nothing planned, no housemate, just total freedom to roam the house and do nothing amidst the chaos that has become my life - and this weekend it has finally landed. Am I loving it? I am already bored out of my mind and it is only Saturday night........
I've been to Tesco's shopping, went for a five mile walk (just for the hell of it!), tidied up the house, been weeding out the garden, had a mad ten minutes with the cat and even managed an afternoon nap listening to the radio.
I feel so guilty sitting down doing nothing - how do people sit for a whole day on the sofa and just watch TV? I do love the feeling that I know I don't actually have to do these things and can take my time without rushing around trying to fit it in, but at the same time I would love to be able to just switch off and have no guilt for doing so.
I am coming to the conclusion that maybe I am a typical woman, in that I am never satisfied with what I have got and the grass will always looks greener on the other side. Or then again, maybe I just don't have it in my character to be a lazy git.....
When I'm hectic and hardly get to spend time at home, I want so badly to have a night on the sofa doing sweet FA, but then when I am home I want to be out doing stuff to keep from getting bored and idle.
Oh well, I guess I'll just have to make myself another cuppa for the umpteenth time today and enjoy the X Factor - but I do feel another walk coming on tomorrow morning............
I've been to Tesco's shopping, went for a five mile walk (just for the hell of it!), tidied up the house, been weeding out the garden, had a mad ten minutes with the cat and even managed an afternoon nap listening to the radio.
I feel so guilty sitting down doing nothing - how do people sit for a whole day on the sofa and just watch TV? I do love the feeling that I know I don't actually have to do these things and can take my time without rushing around trying to fit it in, but at the same time I would love to be able to just switch off and have no guilt for doing so.
I am coming to the conclusion that maybe I am a typical woman, in that I am never satisfied with what I have got and the grass will always looks greener on the other side. Or then again, maybe I just don't have it in my character to be a lazy git.....
When I'm hectic and hardly get to spend time at home, I want so badly to have a night on the sofa doing sweet FA, but then when I am home I want to be out doing stuff to keep from getting bored and idle.
Oh well, I guess I'll just have to make myself another cuppa for the umpteenth time today and enjoy the X Factor - but I do feel another walk coming on tomorrow morning............
Thursday 14 October 2010
Where art thou summer......
You spend so long wishing and waiting, counting down the months until you can feel your toes starting defrost and secretly dreading getting your white pins out but looking forward to it all the same...... then before you know it, summer is over in a flash and the dreaded winter months are upon us once again.
I'm sure it's all psychological but it just feels like winter lasts forever and then we get about three weeks of sunshine before being delved into Vitamin D deficiency again....and is it just me, or does it feel like it's getting colder alot earlier this year? I'm sure last year I didn't actually turn my heating on until November but I've already had it on three times and it's only the beginning of October!
Gone is the morning sunshine, warm weather permitting lunches al-fresco & pleasant journeys home from work - instead now we have pitch black darkness in the morning, cold winds with grey skies and almost pitch black evening journeys home (which will change to total pitch black after the clocks go back next week....)
As I'm getting my scarf, gloves, hat & winter coat ready for another cold spell I am already thinking, 'where oh where has the summer gone' the same as every year that has come to pass!
I'm sure it's all psychological but it just feels like winter lasts forever and then we get about three weeks of sunshine before being delved into Vitamin D deficiency again....and is it just me, or does it feel like it's getting colder alot earlier this year? I'm sure last year I didn't actually turn my heating on until November but I've already had it on three times and it's only the beginning of October!
Gone is the morning sunshine, warm weather permitting lunches al-fresco & pleasant journeys home from work - instead now we have pitch black darkness in the morning, cold winds with grey skies and almost pitch black evening journeys home (which will change to total pitch black after the clocks go back next week....)
As I'm getting my scarf, gloves, hat & winter coat ready for another cold spell I am already thinking, 'where oh where has the summer gone' the same as every year that has come to pass!
Friday 8 October 2010
Simple Life
Having returned from holiday almost two weeks ago, I am still suffering from some post-holiday blues and sitting at my desk thinking 'there must be more to life....'
The destination for my holiday was Java and Bali in Indonesia - I felt like doing something out of my comfort zone and have a totally different holiday experience than sitting on a beach for two weeks in Spain - and I can definitely say that it was an amazing experience!
I had a few people ask me before I went, 'Why Java? It's a developing country, they're really poor and it's filthy dirty' and whilst they maybe poor material wise, they certainly are not poor in generosity, human spirit and kindness and it was the most beautiful Island I have ever been to.
Americans aside, I have never met a nation that takes such pride in their Country. Everywhere I went people stopped to say hello, the children were all smiling and playing in the streets and what little they had they was willing to offer to others. It certainly made me ashamed to think of the streets of Britain where no one communicates, people pick fights for no other reason than that they are bored, they don't believe in sharing with others and most people don't even know who their neighbours are.
If there was ever an image for 'the best things in life are free' then the locals that I met in Indonesia definitely fit the bill and opened my eyes to the fact that the simple things in life are all that really matter.
You come into this world with nothing and you leave with nothing, but it's nice to make people smile and be loved along the way.
The destination for my holiday was Java and Bali in Indonesia - I felt like doing something out of my comfort zone and have a totally different holiday experience than sitting on a beach for two weeks in Spain - and I can definitely say that it was an amazing experience!
I had a few people ask me before I went, 'Why Java? It's a developing country, they're really poor and it's filthy dirty' and whilst they maybe poor material wise, they certainly are not poor in generosity, human spirit and kindness and it was the most beautiful Island I have ever been to.
Americans aside, I have never met a nation that takes such pride in their Country. Everywhere I went people stopped to say hello, the children were all smiling and playing in the streets and what little they had they was willing to offer to others. It certainly made me ashamed to think of the streets of Britain where no one communicates, people pick fights for no other reason than that they are bored, they don't believe in sharing with others and most people don't even know who their neighbours are.
If there was ever an image for 'the best things in life are free' then the locals that I met in Indonesia definitely fit the bill and opened my eyes to the fact that the simple things in life are all that really matter.
You come into this world with nothing and you leave with nothing, but it's nice to make people smile and be loved along the way.
Friday 3 September 2010
dating etiquette
Is it just me being out of practice and rusty, or do blokes of the modern generation really have no etiquette when it comes to dating?
I met up with a guy for some drinks at the beginning of the week and we got on really well, so you can imagine I was a little chuffed when he text and said he wanted to meet up again asking if he could take me out to dinner. I replied and said that would be lovely.
Being Friday and seeing as we are due to meet tomorrow, I thought I would ask him what the plans are for tomorrow night. My date promptly replied, admitting he hadn't arranged anything and pretty much put the ball back into my court to decide what to do.
Now, don't get me wrong and forgive me for being old fashioned, but if a guy asks you out to dinner surely he should also take it upon himself to make a little bit of effort and arrange the evening in question? i'm not asking him to pay for me - but surely you can pick up the telephone and book a table for two? or is that asking too much?
I guess it is true what they say about romance being dead - but seriously guys, you are not impressing anyone with your so-called laid back attitude! If I wanted a DIY night I would go to IKEA!
I met up with a guy for some drinks at the beginning of the week and we got on really well, so you can imagine I was a little chuffed when he text and said he wanted to meet up again asking if he could take me out to dinner. I replied and said that would be lovely.
Being Friday and seeing as we are due to meet tomorrow, I thought I would ask him what the plans are for tomorrow night. My date promptly replied, admitting he hadn't arranged anything and pretty much put the ball back into my court to decide what to do.
Now, don't get me wrong and forgive me for being old fashioned, but if a guy asks you out to dinner surely he should also take it upon himself to make a little bit of effort and arrange the evening in question? i'm not asking him to pay for me - but surely you can pick up the telephone and book a table for two? or is that asking too much?
I guess it is true what they say about romance being dead - but seriously guys, you are not impressing anyone with your so-called laid back attitude! If I wanted a DIY night I would go to IKEA!
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Wednesday 25 August 2010
Political Correctness Gone Mad.....
The latest updates on the London Underground Tube Strikes:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11083153
What is it with people who work with the public, that have a union representative, thinking it's ok to milk their boss for everything they can get and hold the public to ransom if they don't get their own way?
Hello - have you not heard that we are still in the middle of a recession? What makes you think that you are so special you get to have your cake and eat it whilst everyone else has to suffer and soldier on, trying to make the best of a bad situation?
I think just about every company out there is making cut backs, be it freezing pay rises, asking staff to work less hours, issuing redundancies and stopping overtime - yet suggest this to a union representative and they act like you are asking something of them which is total and utter madness!
If I was to go in to a meeting with my boss and say he was being totally unreasonable by stopping my overtime and freezing my pay, he would laugh quite loudly in my face and tell me the home truths of why it is we are in this situation.
Maybe it is about time someone gave these people a culture shock by making them wake-up and smell the coffee - there are plenty of people out there who would do anything to have the jobs these people are moaning about - at the end of the day if you don't like it, look for something else and stop making thousands of other people miserable in the process.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11083153
What is it with people who work with the public, that have a union representative, thinking it's ok to milk their boss for everything they can get and hold the public to ransom if they don't get their own way?
Hello - have you not heard that we are still in the middle of a recession? What makes you think that you are so special you get to have your cake and eat it whilst everyone else has to suffer and soldier on, trying to make the best of a bad situation?
I think just about every company out there is making cut backs, be it freezing pay rises, asking staff to work less hours, issuing redundancies and stopping overtime - yet suggest this to a union representative and they act like you are asking something of them which is total and utter madness!
If I was to go in to a meeting with my boss and say he was being totally unreasonable by stopping my overtime and freezing my pay, he would laugh quite loudly in my face and tell me the home truths of why it is we are in this situation.
Maybe it is about time someone gave these people a culture shock by making them wake-up and smell the coffee - there are plenty of people out there who would do anything to have the jobs these people are moaning about - at the end of the day if you don't like it, look for something else and stop making thousands of other people miserable in the process.
Tuesday 24 August 2010
Fashionistas
It does make me laugh when I overhear conversations from other people proclaiming to have a love for fashion, saying how they are up on all the latest trends - but I can't help but look at them and think in 10 years time when you are looking back over your old photos, you will be laughing out loud thinking 'my god what was I thinking?'
I overheard two girls talking on the train this morning about the clobber they was wearing and acting like they were uber cool - one of them was wearing stone-washed elasticated jeans with a slouch t-shirt and the other what can only be described as a Pat Evans cast-off - and I was looking at the first one knowing that I had some old photos buried at my parents house, with me dressed in stone-wash denim back in the 80's, that I like to claim no longer exist (along with the cult classic photos of me in the luminous pink shell bottoms).
It does make me wonder whether it is actually possible to 'create' your own image, as there have been so many different trends over the decades that surely it can't be possible to invent something completely different that hasn't already been worn at some point or other by someone else.
Take where I used to work in Shoreditch as a classic example. It's deemed a trendy area full of hip, funky, original individuals - you wouldn't be out of place wearing over-sized Ray Bans, with multi-coloured skinny-jeans, vintage t-shirts and back-combed or afro hairstyles. But when you wander around the area every single person is wearing these clothes to look like an 'individual' resulting in them looking as un-original as possible and instead looking like clones of each other.
When I was out at dinner the other week with a friend I was told I should be more adventurous and 'funky' with my clothes choices - but at the end of the day I am comfortable with what I wear, I can wear it for as long as I want without worrying about them being out-of-season clothes - and most importantly I can look back at myself in 10 years time and be quietly happy in the knowledge that I don't look like a complete and utter twat thinking 'oh my gosh........!'
I overheard two girls talking on the train this morning about the clobber they was wearing and acting like they were uber cool - one of them was wearing stone-washed elasticated jeans with a slouch t-shirt and the other what can only be described as a Pat Evans cast-off - and I was looking at the first one knowing that I had some old photos buried at my parents house, with me dressed in stone-wash denim back in the 80's, that I like to claim no longer exist (along with the cult classic photos of me in the luminous pink shell bottoms).
It does make me wonder whether it is actually possible to 'create' your own image, as there have been so many different trends over the decades that surely it can't be possible to invent something completely different that hasn't already been worn at some point or other by someone else.
Take where I used to work in Shoreditch as a classic example. It's deemed a trendy area full of hip, funky, original individuals - you wouldn't be out of place wearing over-sized Ray Bans, with multi-coloured skinny-jeans, vintage t-shirts and back-combed or afro hairstyles. But when you wander around the area every single person is wearing these clothes to look like an 'individual' resulting in them looking as un-original as possible and instead looking like clones of each other.
When I was out at dinner the other week with a friend I was told I should be more adventurous and 'funky' with my clothes choices - but at the end of the day I am comfortable with what I wear, I can wear it for as long as I want without worrying about them being out-of-season clothes - and most importantly I can look back at myself in 10 years time and be quietly happy in the knowledge that I don't look like a complete and utter twat thinking 'oh my gosh........!'
Sunday 15 August 2010
Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat....
When I moved into my house I realised that winters would be a problem as I have an allotment behind my garden and the mice like to come knocking when the cold spells are here, looking for a warm place to lay their heads.
I decided to get a cat like all my other neighbours to keep these pesky mice at bay - and felt even better when I got a rescue cat who was only 5 weeks old and was going to be put down as he had been abandoned by his mum. He was a scruffy little might who had a big personality, a spring in his step and was into everything...... how could I resist? Fast forward three years to today and I am sitting here looking at the cat world's version of Jekyll and Hyde....
Today is the first Sunday in a long time where I actually haven't had anything planned and could relish in a Sunday morning lay-in without feeling guilty. About 7ish I woke and stuck on the radio, dozing on and off when my little fur ball came sauntering into the bedroom and snuggled up against my neck purring away happily.
This bliss lasted about 45 minutes until Tigger's belly started rumbling - then out came Mr Hyde. The first port of call was my hair, pulling at it with his paws, when this didn't work I got a few nibbles on the shoulder - when I tried to bat him away he then decided to latch onto my arm like a leech, using the full force of his claws whilst sinking his front teeth into the soft fleshy part on my hand next to my thumb. This in turn resulted in a string of explenatives from myself and a loud guffawing from my flatmate in the room next door.
When I managed to get Tigger detached from my hand he shot of the bed, up the blinds and out of the bedroom window - managing to break one of the blind slats in the process. Git!
Considering I was well and truly awake by this point, I decided I may as well arise into the land of living. I had only been up for 10 minutes when I heard the cat flap going and saw Tigger standing in my kitchen - with a mouse tail dangling out of his mouth (he still hasn't figured out the concept of keeping mice out of the house!) I'm sure I've read somewhere that cat's see this as a type of peace offering, but it really doesn't feel like that at 8 in the morning when you're still half asleep, with puncture marks in your hand.
As much as I want to be mad at him I can't help laughing at this situation I've found myself in, chasing a baby field mouse around my kitchen and taking it back out into the garden to live another day. Although he drives me round the bend, I couldn't imagine it any other way, especially when I know he will be curled up on my lap later the picture of innocence.....
I decided to get a cat like all my other neighbours to keep these pesky mice at bay - and felt even better when I got a rescue cat who was only 5 weeks old and was going to be put down as he had been abandoned by his mum. He was a scruffy little might who had a big personality, a spring in his step and was into everything...... how could I resist? Fast forward three years to today and I am sitting here looking at the cat world's version of Jekyll and Hyde....
This bliss lasted about 45 minutes until Tigger's belly started rumbling - then out came Mr Hyde. The first port of call was my hair, pulling at it with his paws, when this didn't work I got a few nibbles on the shoulder - when I tried to bat him away he then decided to latch onto my arm like a leech, using the full force of his claws whilst sinking his front teeth into the soft fleshy part on my hand next to my thumb. This in turn resulted in a string of explenatives from myself and a loud guffawing from my flatmate in the room next door.
When I managed to get Tigger detached from my hand he shot of the bed, up the blinds and out of the bedroom window - managing to break one of the blind slats in the process. Git!
Considering I was well and truly awake by this point, I decided I may as well arise into the land of living. I had only been up for 10 minutes when I heard the cat flap going and saw Tigger standing in my kitchen - with a mouse tail dangling out of his mouth (he still hasn't figured out the concept of keeping mice out of the house!) I'm sure I've read somewhere that cat's see this as a type of peace offering, but it really doesn't feel like that at 8 in the morning when you're still half asleep, with puncture marks in your hand.
As much as I want to be mad at him I can't help laughing at this situation I've found myself in, chasing a baby field mouse around my kitchen and taking it back out into the garden to live another day. Although he drives me round the bend, I couldn't imagine it any other way, especially when I know he will be curled up on my lap later the picture of innocence.....
Friday 13 August 2010
Living life in the fast line.....
It's Friday and I am thinking to myself I have made it through another week - yay! The worst thing about having a Monday - Friday job is that you do end up wishing your life away.
You start the week on Monday thinking I can't believe how fast the weekend went and dreading the fact you have another week ahead of you. Tuesday rolls around with slight more optimism, knowing you have Monday out of the way but also knowing you are not yet at the half-way mark. Wednesday is the sun braking through the clouds day, when you know after lunch you will be over the hump and speeding towards the next weekend. Thursday is like a neither-here-nor-there-day where you know you're only one day away but can't quite reach the finish line just yet. Then Friday is here and you're full of the joys of summer knowing you can literally count down the hours until you are free to roam the lands for two whole days. Then before you know it, it is Monday again....
I have been trying to become more adventurous by arranging activities mid-week, in the vain hope that I can break up the monotonous routine that has become my life. In doing this I hope to become more of an interesting person with a brighter outlook on life, rather than someone who counts down the hours from her desk waiting for the weekend to land.
I met up with a newly single friend of mine at the beginning of the week who is still savouring the awe of becoming her own free person again, who quite rightly told me I should be out every night living the high life of a singleton. After much deliberation over a few G&T's I decided that I would give it a go.
Rather than trying to break my week in gently I thought I would take my life by the scruff of the neck and go full speed in fifth gear, enjoying being a singleton every night this week - and now Friday is here I feel......well..... absolutely knackered! The thought of going out tonight makes me feel weak in the knees and I still have a full weekend ahead of me.
I think next week I will opt for the middle lane instead on cruise control and will leave living life in the fast lane to one of my younger peers......
You start the week on Monday thinking I can't believe how fast the weekend went and dreading the fact you have another week ahead of you. Tuesday rolls around with slight more optimism, knowing you have Monday out of the way but also knowing you are not yet at the half-way mark. Wednesday is the sun braking through the clouds day, when you know after lunch you will be over the hump and speeding towards the next weekend. Thursday is like a neither-here-nor-there-day where you know you're only one day away but can't quite reach the finish line just yet. Then Friday is here and you're full of the joys of summer knowing you can literally count down the hours until you are free to roam the lands for two whole days. Then before you know it, it is Monday again....
I have been trying to become more adventurous by arranging activities mid-week, in the vain hope that I can break up the monotonous routine that has become my life. In doing this I hope to become more of an interesting person with a brighter outlook on life, rather than someone who counts down the hours from her desk waiting for the weekend to land.
I met up with a newly single friend of mine at the beginning of the week who is still savouring the awe of becoming her own free person again, who quite rightly told me I should be out every night living the high life of a singleton. After much deliberation over a few G&T's I decided that I would give it a go.
Rather than trying to break my week in gently I thought I would take my life by the scruff of the neck and go full speed in fifth gear, enjoying being a singleton every night this week - and now Friday is here I feel......well..... absolutely knackered! The thought of going out tonight makes me feel weak in the knees and I still have a full weekend ahead of me.
I think next week I will opt for the middle lane instead on cruise control and will leave living life in the fast lane to one of my younger peers......
Wednesday 11 August 2010
Another 5 Minutes.......
I'm laying in bed curled on my side, duvet pulled up around my ears and the cat taking a nap by my feet, when my early morning dreams are rudely awakened by the drruu,drruu,druuu.......drruu,drruu,drruu of my alarm clock.
I roll over take one look at the time and make a mental note of 'what was I thinking?' before hitting the snooze and saying 5 more minutes.... The reason why I'm making a mental note of what time it is, is because I have set the alarm an hour earlier for 5:30am to be able to get up and go out for a jog before getting ready for work. The only problem is my 5 more minutes normally ends up as 50 more minutes whilst continually hitting the snooze button and grumbling something along the lines of 'aaruughhh tooooooo earrrrlyyyyyyyy' into my pillow.
This is the routine I have found myself in over the last 5 weeks as I continue to wrestle with my consciense over what I should be doing and what I can actually be bothered to do. Now last year I had got into the habit of going jogging 3 times a week and kept it up religiously until it started getting extremly cold as winter set in, followed by the snow, then a bout of swine flu. By the time I recovered and spring started rolling around my body had got far too used to the extra hour lay-in and refused to be roused at an un-sightly hour.
I find that I have now come to a crossroads where I can either admit defeat and embrace my bodies demand for that extra hour of sleep it so obviously is craving, or do I continue to live in denial that one of these days I am actually going to get up when the alarm comes calling and put on my trainers to pound the street.
I have come to realise that I will never be of the fitness level to compete in the London Marathan but I also like to think that I am not that lazy that I am in danger of becoming a real life Waynetta Slob. I was quite proud of the fact that I did a 10 mile hike on Sunday, most of which was uphill, even though I had to literally drag myself home from the station at the end of the day and am still suffering from it three days later - the shame!
I have got into the mind-set of thinking I'll do it tomorrow, although at the rate I'm going my tomorrow will end up being in 2011. I guess there is only one thing for it - to pre-set the alarm that little bit earlier so I can actually have my 5 more minutes..........
I roll over take one look at the time and make a mental note of 'what was I thinking?' before hitting the snooze and saying 5 more minutes.... The reason why I'm making a mental note of what time it is, is because I have set the alarm an hour earlier for 5:30am to be able to get up and go out for a jog before getting ready for work. The only problem is my 5 more minutes normally ends up as 50 more minutes whilst continually hitting the snooze button and grumbling something along the lines of 'aaruughhh tooooooo earrrrlyyyyyyyy' into my pillow.
This is the routine I have found myself in over the last 5 weeks as I continue to wrestle with my consciense over what I should be doing and what I can actually be bothered to do. Now last year I had got into the habit of going jogging 3 times a week and kept it up religiously until it started getting extremly cold as winter set in, followed by the snow, then a bout of swine flu. By the time I recovered and spring started rolling around my body had got far too used to the extra hour lay-in and refused to be roused at an un-sightly hour.
I find that I have now come to a crossroads where I can either admit defeat and embrace my bodies demand for that extra hour of sleep it so obviously is craving, or do I continue to live in denial that one of these days I am actually going to get up when the alarm comes calling and put on my trainers to pound the street.
I have come to realise that I will never be of the fitness level to compete in the London Marathan but I also like to think that I am not that lazy that I am in danger of becoming a real life Waynetta Slob. I was quite proud of the fact that I did a 10 mile hike on Sunday, most of which was uphill, even though I had to literally drag myself home from the station at the end of the day and am still suffering from it three days later - the shame!
I have got into the mind-set of thinking I'll do it tomorrow, although at the rate I'm going my tomorrow will end up being in 2011. I guess there is only one thing for it - to pre-set the alarm that little bit earlier so I can actually have my 5 more minutes..........
Tuesday 10 August 2010
Life's Tribulations: A Womans Decision
Life's Tribulations: A Womans Decision: "Why is it that the average Joe Blog seems to think they can push the boundaries of freedom of speech to the limit by constantly asking singl..."
A Womans Decision
Why is it that the average Joe Blog seems to think they can push the boundaries of freedom of speech to the limit by constantly asking single people 'why are you single? don't you want to get married? what do you mean you're not sure if want kids?' then comes the usual response 'Don't worry that'll change, you just haven't met the right person yet'
I have felt very isolated over the years and had come to the assumption that I must have been dropped on my head as a baby myself, which knocked out the brain cells that make women go all gooey eyed at the thought of starting a family and marching down the isle in a larger than life dress.
But I am starting to realise the older I get, that I am not of an alien species and I am not actually alone with my inner feelings. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against relationships or children in general, in fact I would love to meet someone who I could share 'life's experiences' with and I am not of the mind that I never want kids. I just don't see why I should have to settle for someone because it's the done thing and start popping out a mini harlem of children to add to the ever growing Essex population.
I guess it is the flip side of the coin - are women put here on earth for the mere fact that they are to reproduce mankind and shouldn't really be doing anything more than our predessesors by stopping at home, doing the house work, keeping the husband fed and raising the kids in a respectable manner (in the vain hope they won't become asbos when they grow up). Or is it really acceptable for women to embrace the modern life by having a career, a social life and the freedom of movement to pretty much do whatever they please.
There really isn't a right path to choose and I do believe that it is different strokes for different folks, but it would be so nice the next time I say to someone that I'm just enjoying life the way it is that they could say with a bit of oomph 'you go girl and enjoy whatever life brings your way!'
I have felt very isolated over the years and had come to the assumption that I must have been dropped on my head as a baby myself, which knocked out the brain cells that make women go all gooey eyed at the thought of starting a family and marching down the isle in a larger than life dress.
But I am starting to realise the older I get, that I am not of an alien species and I am not actually alone with my inner feelings. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against relationships or children in general, in fact I would love to meet someone who I could share 'life's experiences' with and I am not of the mind that I never want kids. I just don't see why I should have to settle for someone because it's the done thing and start popping out a mini harlem of children to add to the ever growing Essex population.
I guess it is the flip side of the coin - are women put here on earth for the mere fact that they are to reproduce mankind and shouldn't really be doing anything more than our predessesors by stopping at home, doing the house work, keeping the husband fed and raising the kids in a respectable manner (in the vain hope they won't become asbos when they grow up). Or is it really acceptable for women to embrace the modern life by having a career, a social life and the freedom of movement to pretty much do whatever they please.
There really isn't a right path to choose and I do believe that it is different strokes for different folks, but it would be so nice the next time I say to someone that I'm just enjoying life the way it is that they could say with a bit of oomph 'you go girl and enjoy whatever life brings your way!'
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