My darling daughter, Jenny, is not one of life's natural cooks, and only tackles cooking with a good cook book and scales to hand. She follows a recipe to the letter yet is not always successful. She has her favourite Mary Berry Cook Book and has some success with various recipes from it. Me? I'm the 'oh that looks about right' type of cook - scales? why bother? A few spoonfuls of this and a glug of that will do. So when Jen asked me to make an onion soup from the book I said 'yes of course', when what I meant was 'I'll give it a try'. I checked the list of ingredients and popped out to the local Tesco Express. I did not have any bay leaves so substituted mixed herbs instead. I got some stilton but I could not remember the quantity needed so bought a chunk and hoped for the best. Onions were no trouble! :) I did follow the method even if some of the quantities were guessed at. It proved surprisingly quick and easy and ended up pretty tasty, if a little salty. I think the main reason for this is I use hardly any salt in cooking, and the recipe required stock so I used two knorr veggie stock cubes in 1.5 pints of water and then added most of the slab of stilton which was a bit more than the recipe suggested. So it was salty to my taste buds but Jen was happy with the end result. The onions were in medium-small chunks and not blitzed so it was a lumpy soup. I am sure you could blend it if you prefer a smooth creamy soup.
I have just made my third batch of soup and did not use stock cubes at all. Jen complained the first batches were peppery, and, as I had not added a speck of pepper, it had to have come from the stock cubes. I hope she likes this lot and remembers to bring home her thermos flask to use it for soup for lunch this week. I found the ubiquitous Chinese take away boxes very useful for Jen to take soup to work in and re-heat in the microwave at work. Jen has a mild gluten intolerance and has to watch her intake of bread, pastry and pasta. She is ok with one roll, or 2 thin slices of bread for a sandwich but any more than that and she starts bloating up like a balloon. She seems ok with fresh egg pasta but dried pasta has to be used in very small quantities.
Monday is pub quiz night and it's the one night in the week when we manage to get together as a family. Jen, James and myself, plus a couple of friends make up our little team and have most topics covered. Jen and James are great on celebrity stuff and current tv programmes and movies. Kev is brilliant on music, history, geography and food and drink (he's a chef!) and I cover most other topics :) Our one weakness is sport, particularly football! None of us like it or follow it so changes of player or manager leave us cold, and we don't know which stadium is where or who plays there. Luckily we usually only get one football question a week, and sometimes none! We do well on minority sports and quirky ones.
It's just us three tonight, plus maybe an ex member of the team who has not been to the quiz for over a year. Glynne popped over for coffee last week and it was good to catch up. He's another of my friends who is unemployed and looking. He is over 60 and struggling to get anything more than a few hours a week part time care work. He does enjoy this though and it is done officially and within the guide lines so he does not lose the benefits he gets. I hope he comes tonight because it's always a good laugh with him around.
The sun is sinking low in the sky so I am off to the park with Honey for her walkies (running) and my stroll (crawl). It looks like a lovely sunset tonight :)
PS Jeanette it's a chilly 7 degrees here but dry and bright. Hope it's nice and warm there in Spain :) ... Spain... :| .... warm sunshine ...:( ... *sob*
Emma and Darcy
My new dogs
Monday, 15 November 2010
Sunday, 14 November 2010
Fancy that
Outside England 's Bristol Zoo there is a parking lot for 150 cars and 8 buses. For 25 years,it's parking fees were managed by a very pleasant attendant. The fees were for cars (£1.40),for buses (about £7).
Then, one day, after 25 solid years of never missing a day of work, he just didn't show up; so the Zoo Management called the City Council and asked it to send them another parking agent.
The Council did some research and replied that the parking lot was the Zoo's own responsibility.
The Zoo advised the Council that the attendant was a City employee.
The City Council responded that the lot attendant had never been on the City payroll.
Meanwhile, sitting in his villa somewhere on the coast of Spain or France or Italy ... is a man who'd apparently had a ticket machine installed completely on his own and then had simply begun to show up every day, commencing to collect and keep the parking fees, estimated at about £560 per day -- for 25 years.
Assuming 7 days a week, this amounts to just over 7 million pounds .... and no one even knows his name.
Then, one day, after 25 solid years of never missing a day of work, he just didn't show up; so the Zoo Management called the City Council and asked it to send them another parking agent.
The Council did some research and replied that the parking lot was the Zoo's own responsibility.
The Zoo advised the Council that the attendant was a City employee.
The City Council responded that the lot attendant had never been on the City payroll.
Meanwhile, sitting in his villa somewhere on the coast of Spain or France or Italy ... is a man who'd apparently had a ticket machine installed completely on his own and then had simply begun to show up every day, commencing to collect and keep the parking fees, estimated at about £560 per day -- for 25 years.
Assuming 7 days a week, this amounts to just over 7 million pounds .... and no one even knows his name.
Caught in the act
I had a moral dilemma yesterday. I was shopping in my local Tesco Express, just a couple of items to get, when I spotted a child of about 8 or 9 yrs lurking at the magazine shelves. He was furtively trying to extract the 'free gift' attached to a football magazine - stickers I think or those collector cards. I just stood and watched him. He stopped and slunk off to find Mum and started to pester her to buy him the magazine. She refused saying it was too expensive and she was saving up to get him the computer he wanted. She was unaware of what he'd been up to and I could not make up my mind what to do. She dashed off back into the shop to get something else she had remembered and I had a quick quiet word with the lad about not stealing things and warning him they had cameras in the shop to catch thieves. I said I did not want him getting into trouble for the sake of a few cards. Better to save his pocket money and buy the cards himself. Should I have said something to his mum? I'm hoping I scared him enough to think twice about trying it again. He obviously knew he was doing wrong.
Many years ago I 'shopped' a shop lifter. I saw an old man putting items in his pockets as well as his basket. I did feel sorry for him at first in his rather shabby coat but he was pocketing more than went in his basket. I pointed him out to an assistant and she kept a discreet eye on him before calling for the manager to deal with him. I saw him being held at a till as they opened his coat up to reveal a load of extra inside pockets designed to take goods. I did feel sorry for him at first, thinking he must be really hard up to nick the odd tin of beans, but when I saw his coat I realised he was a well organised and prepared thief. I know sometimes older folk get confused and put something in their bag rather than the basket by accident, but this man could not plead age or confusion with his ill gotten gains so well concealed in special pockets. I don't know what happened to him. I hope he got help and support and not just a fine or a short stay inside.
I know stealing is an issue. I know most of us would not go out to deliberately steal items from shops or other people, but how many of us take home the odd pen from work? Or paper, or maybe borrow a stapler and neglect to return it? What would you do if you found a wallet stuffed with money? or maybe an item of jewellery on the ground. Would you hand it in as lost property or would you keep it?
Ah talking of lost jewellery - here is a spooky tale, and it's true! As the years advanced, I found my original wedding ring getting a bit tight. I had it stretched a little by a jeweller but was worried it had weakened the ring. For our 30th wedding anniversary while on holiday in Jersey, my lovely hubby suggested I get a new one. We had been tight for money when we got married and I had just a narrow plain gold band. Now we could afford something more decorative. We went to one of Jersey's Gold shops and I chose a tricoloured gold plaited band. It was made to my size and we collected it the next day. I stored my old wedding ring and wore the new one with love and pride. It fitted tight enough to stay put but loose enough to remove with a bit of a struggle. When my lovely hubby died from diabetic complications, I was obviously deeply upset. Soon after I realised life had to go on, so ventured out for a walk with a friend's dog I walked regularly. I took the route I usually did and stopped to sit on the bench where I used to sit with Peter, when he managed to come out with me. I headed back to the car after, and as I was putting the dog in the car I noticed my ring was missing! I was distraught and carefully retraced my steps as best I could, eyes glued to the ground. I particularly searched round the bench but could find no trace of the ring. I reported it to the police but they held out no hope of me getting it back. It would either be trodden into the ground or found and pocketed by the finder. As this place was one of his favourite spots to sit and watch the world go by, we made it the agreed resting place for Peter's ashes. I like to think the spirit of Peter was there when I sat and contemplated my life without him around, and somehow I had loosened the ring fiddling with it subconsciously and it was left there where his spirit was.
I now wear my original wedding ring on a gold chain. It's too tight for my ring finger and too loose for my little finger. I do still wear my eternity ring on my left hand.
This coming Christmas will be the 7th without Peter with us. We have established a whole new set of routines for Christmas since losing him, but it is still very complicated trying to organise seeing everyone over the festive season. All the offspring and their cousins work and get different days off over the period. It's easy for me and my sisters to meet up because we are now all retired and free agents, so we can meet mid-week with no problems, but the younger ones are limited in their holidays. If I arrange a visit without them, my kids complain like mad, but finding a day they are all available is difficult. I have booked a day with my sisters, and arranged both Jen and James to take a day's holiday, so for once we will all be together :) makes a nice change! I'm not sure yet who is visiting who, or if we are meeting half way for a nice pub lunch. It is often easier to do that so we both travel for about an hour to a suitable venue, rather than one lot travel 2 hours or so each way.
I talk to both my sisters at least once a week on the phone and keep in touch.
Although we are sisters we are three very different women. There is almost exactly 6 years between each of us, so my oldest sister is 12 years older than me and more like an aunt. My other sister is 6 years older than me and the hard worker of the family. I am the lazy spoilt youngest 'child'. I always had two older sisters and a stay-at-home Mum to 'help' me so a love of housework did not come naturally to me LOL I was lazy and untidy as a child and have not changed LOL. I now appreciate how my mother felt having me living with her, as my daughter lives with me still and takes after me in too many ways! I am always falling over her 'stuff'! LOL maybe it's retribution!
As usual I have waffled on too long.
Jeanette - have a ball in Spain!
Rosie - take care of your lovely kids and enjoy those horses and ponies. I don't envy you getting up in the dark to see to them in the morning.
Have a good day everyone! xx
Many years ago I 'shopped' a shop lifter. I saw an old man putting items in his pockets as well as his basket. I did feel sorry for him at first in his rather shabby coat but he was pocketing more than went in his basket. I pointed him out to an assistant and she kept a discreet eye on him before calling for the manager to deal with him. I saw him being held at a till as they opened his coat up to reveal a load of extra inside pockets designed to take goods. I did feel sorry for him at first, thinking he must be really hard up to nick the odd tin of beans, but when I saw his coat I realised he was a well organised and prepared thief. I know sometimes older folk get confused and put something in their bag rather than the basket by accident, but this man could not plead age or confusion with his ill gotten gains so well concealed in special pockets. I don't know what happened to him. I hope he got help and support and not just a fine or a short stay inside.
I know stealing is an issue. I know most of us would not go out to deliberately steal items from shops or other people, but how many of us take home the odd pen from work? Or paper, or maybe borrow a stapler and neglect to return it? What would you do if you found a wallet stuffed with money? or maybe an item of jewellery on the ground. Would you hand it in as lost property or would you keep it?
Ah talking of lost jewellery - here is a spooky tale, and it's true! As the years advanced, I found my original wedding ring getting a bit tight. I had it stretched a little by a jeweller but was worried it had weakened the ring. For our 30th wedding anniversary while on holiday in Jersey, my lovely hubby suggested I get a new one. We had been tight for money when we got married and I had just a narrow plain gold band. Now we could afford something more decorative. We went to one of Jersey's Gold shops and I chose a tricoloured gold plaited band. It was made to my size and we collected it the next day. I stored my old wedding ring and wore the new one with love and pride. It fitted tight enough to stay put but loose enough to remove with a bit of a struggle. When my lovely hubby died from diabetic complications, I was obviously deeply upset. Soon after I realised life had to go on, so ventured out for a walk with a friend's dog I walked regularly. I took the route I usually did and stopped to sit on the bench where I used to sit with Peter, when he managed to come out with me. I headed back to the car after, and as I was putting the dog in the car I noticed my ring was missing! I was distraught and carefully retraced my steps as best I could, eyes glued to the ground. I particularly searched round the bench but could find no trace of the ring. I reported it to the police but they held out no hope of me getting it back. It would either be trodden into the ground or found and pocketed by the finder. As this place was one of his favourite spots to sit and watch the world go by, we made it the agreed resting place for Peter's ashes. I like to think the spirit of Peter was there when I sat and contemplated my life without him around, and somehow I had loosened the ring fiddling with it subconsciously and it was left there where his spirit was.
I now wear my original wedding ring on a gold chain. It's too tight for my ring finger and too loose for my little finger. I do still wear my eternity ring on my left hand.
This coming Christmas will be the 7th without Peter with us. We have established a whole new set of routines for Christmas since losing him, but it is still very complicated trying to organise seeing everyone over the festive season. All the offspring and their cousins work and get different days off over the period. It's easy for me and my sisters to meet up because we are now all retired and free agents, so we can meet mid-week with no problems, but the younger ones are limited in their holidays. If I arrange a visit without them, my kids complain like mad, but finding a day they are all available is difficult. I have booked a day with my sisters, and arranged both Jen and James to take a day's holiday, so for once we will all be together :) makes a nice change! I'm not sure yet who is visiting who, or if we are meeting half way for a nice pub lunch. It is often easier to do that so we both travel for about an hour to a suitable venue, rather than one lot travel 2 hours or so each way.
I talk to both my sisters at least once a week on the phone and keep in touch.
Although we are sisters we are three very different women. There is almost exactly 6 years between each of us, so my oldest sister is 12 years older than me and more like an aunt. My other sister is 6 years older than me and the hard worker of the family. I am the lazy spoilt youngest 'child'. I always had two older sisters and a stay-at-home Mum to 'help' me so a love of housework did not come naturally to me LOL I was lazy and untidy as a child and have not changed LOL. I now appreciate how my mother felt having me living with her, as my daughter lives with me still and takes after me in too many ways! I am always falling over her 'stuff'! LOL maybe it's retribution!
As usual I have waffled on too long.
Jeanette - have a ball in Spain!
Rosie - take care of your lovely kids and enjoy those horses and ponies. I don't envy you getting up in the dark to see to them in the morning.
Have a good day everyone! xx
Saturday, 13 November 2010
Saturday, Saturday oh oh-oh Saturday, Saturday
I woke up at 5 am, rolled over and then lay there, wide awake. Too hot? Maybe a bit, so stick my arms and feet out of duvet. That's better. Sleep? nope! Ok stop thinking about that tax form to fill in about my pension. Try to clear my mind. Hmm now my arms are cold. Roll back the other way and pull duvet up. Now the dog is wriggling :( I just can't find a comfy position. My knee is aching. I toss and turn a few more times but just can't get back to sleep. What's the time? 5.45 am :( Way to early to get up, but I just don't seem able to get back to sleep. I turn the pillows over this time. Try again. 6.15 *sigh* I turn on the tv. Watch the news for 10 mins then turn the sound down to a soft level and roll over again.
I wake with a start. Time? Aaaah 8.54! I guess I did get back to sleep then :) I showered and got dressed. I have ordered some Christmas presents and I know I'm likely to get a parcel delivery so I'd better be up just in case, although I did feel like rolling over and sleeping on some more LOL
Parcels can come anything from about 7 am to 6 pm depending on company delivering. Parcel Force is usually mid-late morning. UPS and similar tend to be afternoons here. Other deliveries, any time they can get here!
I was downstairs and half way through my pint mug of coffee when the postman arrived. Parcel Force for this one :) It's the M&S bits :) present for Jen I must find a hidey hole for and not forget it. I have found intended presents before now, stuffed in the wardrobe or drawer and forgotten.
Next Friday we've got a big night at the folk club. I've sold almost 60 tickets and our limit is 70, so close to selling out. Makes a nice change to give the artist more than the minimum fee and have a nice bit to put in the kitty to cover recent losses. I hope it will bring the club some good publicity and maybe a few more regular visitors.
I popped out to the local Co-op mini market to get myself a nice British chicken to cook for lunch (I can smell it now mmmmmnom) and do me for the whole weekend. Hot lunches and cold teas :) I picked up a nice Savoy cabbage to have with the carrots I have already. I also bought some of their delicious onion baguettes. Crusty fresh baked rolls with roasted onion bits through them, delicious with cold meat or cheese. Tea will be a baguette stuffed with crispy lettuce and cold chicken with some mustard mayo :)
J has his family round him for the weekend, it's his latest grandson's baptism. So lovely to have his far flung family all close together.
I have the usual visit from my no 1 son for lunch tomorrow. I'll have some more chicken with veg and he'll have his usual sausages and mash. I hope it stays dry enough for him to sweep away the leaves collecting on my drive. My house is the end of a cul-sac and immediately down wind of all my neighbours and their trees :( so the little wall along the edge of the drive makes a natural leaf trap. I get them all blown up the hill and stopping on my drive. That's in addition to my own trees out the front. Anyone want any leaf mould/mulch?
Jen had her car serviced this week *sigh* and her rear brakes needed doing *bigger sigh* and then they told me all four of her tyres were on the legal minimum *scream!* I was mentally adding up - 2-300 for service, 200+ for brakes, 4 x £68 for tyres.. OUCH! In a rash moment I said I'd pay the bill as I was worried her car was not safe to drive and although she had money put by for the service she did not have enough for the extras. So we got it all done, oh with Mum's taxi in operation for the day too! Just before Christmas too :( so much for spreading the spending over 3 months :( make that 4 or 5 months now.
I have a really good widow's pension thanks to my hubby's company, but I still have to be careful with my spending. I have investments I can cash in if need be for large capital items. I am not rich but I have enough to live on and meet my bills. I know I am lucky to be in that position. I could be forced to go back to work at least part time, if not full time, and I'd physically struggle to do a proper job now. Not least having to get up early every day LOL I know I'd adjust to it but I've been retired some years now and I like the freedom. Also who would be available for emergency child care if I was working? There is also the problem of my dog. She loves being with me and is my shadow. She would not like being left alone all day.
MMMM the chicken smells delicious now. Time to cook a few veg to go with it. Have a good day yourself and enjoy whatever you have planned.
xxx
I wake with a start. Time? Aaaah 8.54! I guess I did get back to sleep then :) I showered and got dressed. I have ordered some Christmas presents and I know I'm likely to get a parcel delivery so I'd better be up just in case, although I did feel like rolling over and sleeping on some more LOL
Parcels can come anything from about 7 am to 6 pm depending on company delivering. Parcel Force is usually mid-late morning. UPS and similar tend to be afternoons here. Other deliveries, any time they can get here!
I was downstairs and half way through my pint mug of coffee when the postman arrived. Parcel Force for this one :) It's the M&S bits :) present for Jen I must find a hidey hole for and not forget it. I have found intended presents before now, stuffed in the wardrobe or drawer and forgotten.
Next Friday we've got a big night at the folk club. I've sold almost 60 tickets and our limit is 70, so close to selling out. Makes a nice change to give the artist more than the minimum fee and have a nice bit to put in the kitty to cover recent losses. I hope it will bring the club some good publicity and maybe a few more regular visitors.
I popped out to the local Co-op mini market to get myself a nice British chicken to cook for lunch (I can smell it now mmmmmnom) and do me for the whole weekend. Hot lunches and cold teas :) I picked up a nice Savoy cabbage to have with the carrots I have already. I also bought some of their delicious onion baguettes. Crusty fresh baked rolls with roasted onion bits through them, delicious with cold meat or cheese. Tea will be a baguette stuffed with crispy lettuce and cold chicken with some mustard mayo :)
J has his family round him for the weekend, it's his latest grandson's baptism. So lovely to have his far flung family all close together.
I have the usual visit from my no 1 son for lunch tomorrow. I'll have some more chicken with veg and he'll have his usual sausages and mash. I hope it stays dry enough for him to sweep away the leaves collecting on my drive. My house is the end of a cul-sac and immediately down wind of all my neighbours and their trees :( so the little wall along the edge of the drive makes a natural leaf trap. I get them all blown up the hill and stopping on my drive. That's in addition to my own trees out the front. Anyone want any leaf mould/mulch?
Jen had her car serviced this week *sigh* and her rear brakes needed doing *bigger sigh* and then they told me all four of her tyres were on the legal minimum *scream!* I was mentally adding up - 2-300 for service, 200+ for brakes, 4 x £68 for tyres.. OUCH! In a rash moment I said I'd pay the bill as I was worried her car was not safe to drive and although she had money put by for the service she did not have enough for the extras. So we got it all done, oh with Mum's taxi in operation for the day too! Just before Christmas too :( so much for spreading the spending over 3 months :( make that 4 or 5 months now.
I have a really good widow's pension thanks to my hubby's company, but I still have to be careful with my spending. I have investments I can cash in if need be for large capital items. I am not rich but I have enough to live on and meet my bills. I know I am lucky to be in that position. I could be forced to go back to work at least part time, if not full time, and I'd physically struggle to do a proper job now. Not least having to get up early every day LOL I know I'd adjust to it but I've been retired some years now and I like the freedom. Also who would be available for emergency child care if I was working? There is also the problem of my dog. She loves being with me and is my shadow. She would not like being left alone all day.
MMMM the chicken smells delicious now. Time to cook a few veg to go with it. Have a good day yourself and enjoy whatever you have planned.
xxx
Friday night - Saturday morning
I have had a blissfully lazy day. Not been out apart from quick walkies with Honey - was a bit damp!
I've been updating the website for Swanage Folk Festival. Starting the revamp for next year's fest. Quite a few pages to update, and a few new ones. It just takes time uploading artist's pics and weblinks.
Friday night is my soap night - Emmerdale, Corrie, Eastenders, Corrie again. Love it! Eat my dinner in front of TV in solitary splendour. I had one of my 12 tins of bargain baked beans tonight. It's ok because I'll be sleeping alone and alone tomorrow LOL well they did forecast more wind didn't they?
No need to worry about watering garden for the next month. It's sodden and full of puddles. Plants look a bit sad, and the garden is full of leaves :( Will have a nice pile on the drive for James to sweep away Sunday :)
Oh Jeanette, I hope you have a lovely time in Spain. I am really not jealous at all LOL
 |
| Poole, Sunset Wednesday |
I've been updating the website for Swanage Folk Festival. Starting the revamp for next year's fest. Quite a few pages to update, and a few new ones. It just takes time uploading artist's pics and weblinks.
Friday night is my soap night - Emmerdale, Corrie, Eastenders, Corrie again. Love it! Eat my dinner in front of TV in solitary splendour. I had one of my 12 tins of bargain baked beans tonight. It's ok because I'll be sleeping alone and alone tomorrow LOL well they did forecast more wind didn't they?
No need to worry about watering garden for the next month. It's sodden and full of puddles. Plants look a bit sad, and the garden is full of leaves :( Will have a nice pile on the drive for James to sweep away Sunday :)
Oh Jeanette, I hope you have a lovely time in Spain. I am really not jealous at all LOL
Thursday, 11 November 2010
we will remember them...
It's a day to remember those who have died in the service of our country, and to remind ourselves it is still happening. Those who serve today deserve our utmost respect for what they do and the risks they take on our behalf.
I get so angry when I see shirkers who pretend to be unable to work to live on benefits and do nothing to earn them. I would also hate any truly deserving people who genuinely cannot work, have to beg to survive. What I really want is everyone to have a conscience and do the right thing. Work if you are able to and need to, and leave the benefit system for those who truly need it.
Our serving troops deserve every penny they earn and more. The armed services are always recruiting so why not encourage more long term unemployed to join up? They learn trades and skills and are equipped for a productive life after serving.
I know I should not generalise and every person is an individual with their own problems and needs, but if many work-shy people can be bothered to give up smoking pot and drinking and go out and do something worthwhile, we would all be better off.
The other side of the argument is that there are not enough jobs available out there to enable those willing to work to get back into work. Past governments have destroyed our manufacturing base industries (thank you ,Maggie T) and we have lost many skilled workers and engineers, so the chances of rebuilding our industries are slim because we have no-one with the necessary skills to pass on their knowledge to the young. We are now a nation of bankers and w.......rs. We do need bankers but not just bankers. There are more people employed in the service 'industries' than in engineering or manufacturing. We end up importing most of our goods from the far east.
Oh Lord - sorry for the rant.
Several friends are already unemployed late in life and struggling to cope and now a very close friend is facing redundancy at 60. He is a skilled printer but the company is closing presses and his job will go. He is prepared to do almost any job to give him enough income to keep him afloat until retirement. He wants to work. But once you are over 60 you slip out of the normal system and don't appear on unemployment figures because you are deemed unemployable! Nice eh? So most unemployed 60+ people end up doing part time work and claiming all the benefits they are entitled to.
Enough ranting - it's depressing. Something weird happened while I was writing this blog and I could not get back into it to continue. I had to post it then edit it after. Strange.
I'd like to thank Jeanette for her kind comments about my blogs. I actually write them for my own benefit, but if anyone else enjoys them then that's a bonus. Oh BTW, Jeanette, I do hope you're enjoying your time in Spain. I am not in the least jealous, nope not one little bit. I mean who'd want to swap the delights of a blustery autumn in England for the warmer climes of Espagna? My garden in full of dead leaves blown down by the gales, and a mass of puddles from the torrential rain on already soaked ground. The temperature was 12 Tuesday, 7 yesterday and 14 today - coats on - off - on - off LOL I'm booking my ticket out of here tomorrow!
I have just shoo'd off the pesky squirrel for the 4th time today and I'm off out with the dog. I need to be quick as I have to pay my daughter's garage bill *sigh* then fetch her from work to go collect her car. I'm off out tonight to the local folk club with friends :)
To my few readers, have a pleasant evening, and a good Friday. I promise to keep away from political issues next time. xx
I get so angry when I see shirkers who pretend to be unable to work to live on benefits and do nothing to earn them. I would also hate any truly deserving people who genuinely cannot work, have to beg to survive. What I really want is everyone to have a conscience and do the right thing. Work if you are able to and need to, and leave the benefit system for those who truly need it.
Our serving troops deserve every penny they earn and more. The armed services are always recruiting so why not encourage more long term unemployed to join up? They learn trades and skills and are equipped for a productive life after serving.
I know I should not generalise and every person is an individual with their own problems and needs, but if many work-shy people can be bothered to give up smoking pot and drinking and go out and do something worthwhile, we would all be better off.
The other side of the argument is that there are not enough jobs available out there to enable those willing to work to get back into work. Past governments have destroyed our manufacturing base industries (thank you ,Maggie T) and we have lost many skilled workers and engineers, so the chances of rebuilding our industries are slim because we have no-one with the necessary skills to pass on their knowledge to the young. We are now a nation of bankers and w.......rs. We do need bankers but not just bankers. There are more people employed in the service 'industries' than in engineering or manufacturing. We end up importing most of our goods from the far east.
Oh Lord - sorry for the rant.
Several friends are already unemployed late in life and struggling to cope and now a very close friend is facing redundancy at 60. He is a skilled printer but the company is closing presses and his job will go. He is prepared to do almost any job to give him enough income to keep him afloat until retirement. He wants to work. But once you are over 60 you slip out of the normal system and don't appear on unemployment figures because you are deemed unemployable! Nice eh? So most unemployed 60+ people end up doing part time work and claiming all the benefits they are entitled to.
Enough ranting - it's depressing. Something weird happened while I was writing this blog and I could not get back into it to continue. I had to post it then edit it after. Strange.
I'd like to thank Jeanette for her kind comments about my blogs. I actually write them for my own benefit, but if anyone else enjoys them then that's a bonus. Oh BTW, Jeanette, I do hope you're enjoying your time in Spain. I am not in the least jealous, nope not one little bit. I mean who'd want to swap the delights of a blustery autumn in England for the warmer climes of Espagna? My garden in full of dead leaves blown down by the gales, and a mass of puddles from the torrential rain on already soaked ground. The temperature was 12 Tuesday, 7 yesterday and 14 today - coats on - off - on - off LOL I'm booking my ticket out of here tomorrow!
I have just shoo'd off the pesky squirrel for the 4th time today and I'm off out with the dog. I need to be quick as I have to pay my daughter's garage bill *sigh* then fetch her from work to go collect her car. I'm off out tonight to the local folk club with friends :)
To my few readers, have a pleasant evening, and a good Friday. I promise to keep away from political issues next time. xx
Wednesday, 10 November 2010
A black (bin) day
No need to panic. I put the rubbish out first thing this morning - well 9 ish LOL - and rolled the black bin down the drive. The men managed to come and empty it just after 5 - well done them! It was almost full too.
Nothing nasty happened today in case you were wondering about the title LOL
I watched the squirrel trying to steal my bird seed and kept chasing him off. He looks very plump and well fed so short rations today will not hurt it, and I'm sure he was back as soon as I went out. Honey very nearly caught a fox last night in the garden - I was letting her out to pee just as Mr Fox came through the hole in the fence and shot across the garden.
He just went straight up and over the chain link fencing into the playing field next door leaving Honey huffing and puffing and prancing around stiff legged. She then pee'd in several places round the garden, scent marking her territory. The down side to this is that the fox will probably do the same tonight and I'll have a stinky garden in the morning LOL
Honey had a good walk this afternoon. The temperature fell below 8oC so I put Honey's coat on her. She has a light, soft, warm, fleece dog coat and she loves it. It's light enough and stretchy enough to move well with her when she runs and does not seem to affect her at all speed-wise. She raced around as usual at top speed. The light fades rapidly now late afternoon and although it's light when I go out it's usually dark by the time we get home.
Oh blimming heck! Someone is letting off banging fireworks - WHY???? I hate fireworks at the 'official' times and can see no reason to let them off any other time. It just makes unsuspecting pets and wild animals seek shelter and shiver in fear for hours.
Jen's home from work so I need to go cook dinner. Have a good evening xx
Nothing nasty happened today in case you were wondering about the title LOL
I watched the squirrel trying to steal my bird seed and kept chasing him off. He looks very plump and well fed so short rations today will not hurt it, and I'm sure he was back as soon as I went out. Honey very nearly caught a fox last night in the garden - I was letting her out to pee just as Mr Fox came through the hole in the fence and shot across the garden.
 |
| Fox in my garden |
He just went straight up and over the chain link fencing into the playing field next door leaving Honey huffing and puffing and prancing around stiff legged. She then pee'd in several places round the garden, scent marking her territory. The down side to this is that the fox will probably do the same tonight and I'll have a stinky garden in the morning LOL
 |
| Honey |
Honey had a good walk this afternoon. The temperature fell below 8oC so I put Honey's coat on her. She has a light, soft, warm, fleece dog coat and she loves it. It's light enough and stretchy enough to move well with her when she runs and does not seem to affect her at all speed-wise. She raced around as usual at top speed. The light fades rapidly now late afternoon and although it's light when I go out it's usually dark by the time we get home.
Oh blimming heck! Someone is letting off banging fireworks - WHY???? I hate fireworks at the 'official' times and can see no reason to let them off any other time. It just makes unsuspecting pets and wild animals seek shelter and shiver in fear for hours.
Jen's home from work so I need to go cook dinner. Have a good evening xx
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