Jam but no Jerusalem

I just finished the marathon of making jam! Blueberry and Cranberry, probably the most expensive jam I make, this one had about a kg of each, so including lemon and sugar the ingredients came to around £40! It made about 3 litres of jam, which should see the through the year! If not I’ve still got 500g of cranberries in the freezer, for the next time blueberries are 2 for 1.

Making jam takes a while 4 or five hours in some cases, even longer for one batch of strawberry. But it is worth it, now the novelty has worn out I only make stuff I can’t buy, like my task today. Or stuff that tastes considerably better than shop bought, which I am informed the strawberry is, I don’t taste it but then I don’t like strawberries.

Apparently it tastes good on waffles, which was a discovery we made with the new waffle iron, which was a gift to us from Fuego (nice one you!)

So You Think You Can Dance?

I have a confession, I am a rubbish TV addict , today the EMB woke me up to watch “so you think you can dance” on challenge TV, challenge TV for goodness sake, I, sorry, we, watched 4 hours plus. I found myself caring about people viewed purely thought the edited highlights of the show, that’s the problem with reality TV. Anyway the second half is on tomorrow, starts at 0800, the things we do! (I’ve even resisted looking up who wins)

Am still splated by the W.ii

W.ii splat

Ow, now that hurts – boxing has broken me

The plan this morning was to stay in bed late, only Ulrick started whining at about 07.00 which woke me up, thought he was playing up but went down to check anyway, he’d managed to shut the door between him and the rest of the house, as such was trapped away from everyone else. He has abandonment issues, but on opened the door; all was well with the world again.

As I was up I fed them from their new bowls, “gifts to the granddogs”.

Undefeated: 148

You know who you are

Christmas Comes but Once a Year

We have a set of family traditions; the main one being opening gifts after lunch. It is I feel the best way to do it and no one will ever convince me otherwise. I received many wonderful, thoughtful gifts, thanks to you all!

Most notable information to the rest of the world being that my brothers got a W.ii each, how my father managed to get two is beyond me. After a little fiddling they got them to go and a thoroughly enjoyable time was had by all.

Played on boxing with EMB & Fuego which was cool but I’ll regret in the morning, all so played bowling with all sibs, but that’s covered in the next post. Today was a good day

A Gentleman Caller

TPG came round this evening, we drank wine and told tails of myth and legend, the wonder of age and sibs, talked of people not mentioned never mind seen for years, also how Birmingham will become the capital of England one day, but that is another story.

Think the nice wine may have helped, oh and the pizza! Also about visiting: KL baby

And Breathe

Ok it’s the night before the night before Christmas and all through the house lady’s having a bark so there are no mice, stirring or otherwise.

I’m maybe 2/3 through the bottle of wine opened yesterday, a nice pinot noir. I’m very relaxed, very very relaxed. One of my favourite films, coming to America, is on paramount comedy 2 which I am enjoying. James Earl Jones wearing Mufasa

I went to “guys and dolls” at the Alex today, with DuLa and others, they were obviously late; I think it may well be part of her genetic code. Bless.

The show was damn fine, it’s a fantastic ensemble piece, “Nicely Nicely Johnson” was of course the best but the assortment of soap stars weren’t bad.

Very relaxed, the holiday starts here

Who You Gonna Call ... The RAB

The truck is broken, this is bad.

The truck is the EMB’s range rover classic, with a few modifications. Modifications being a Mazda bus engine – which means it can pull a house if need be (Note from EMB – it’s 3.5 litre turbo diesel. Note from me – it’s still a bus engine). Police shocks, which mean it would be drivable if pulling a house. But my personal favourite is the stereo that plays MP3’s.

Anyway the (size of a breeze block) battery is flat and “the starter motor is sticking (?)” I have no idea of the meaning of this on any more than a surface level. I have no idea of the implications of this, but I know an uncle who does.

Sweet Dreams

Spoke to the GNL earlier on, see how she was doing. Told her of the EMB + sat nav combo & his antipodean concept of distance. Road trip may be in order.

Am in bed now, EMB is under strict instructions not to call before noon

On the Way to the Holiday

The alarm went of this morning & I thought I’d forgotten to turn it off.

It took about 10 minutes for me to realise it was Friday and there was one more day left that was a struggle, getting up I mean. EMB dropped me off at work then want off to bang his drum to welcome the dawn from the longest night.

Work is now over for many days, that’s all I have to say about that (in the words of forest) I had a trauma today, I started some new drug about 3 months ago, falling down has stopped, (good thing), but twitchy brain falling out of ears has increased, a lot, people in my team think it’s funny in a used to it don’t notice any more kind of way. The rest of work (& the world) thinks I’m a little weird as in “see the crazy lady”. It’s probably not as bad as that, but it’s noticeable (not so good thing)

So last week I saw the Lord High Dr King of the special people. he said that the old drug (all praise GSK) and the new drug can do that. Quick note – new drug doesn’t stop falling down but helps old drug work more effectively - better living through chemistry. Where was I? So proscribed drug three hopefully stops the “crazy lady” and makes falling down les likely, which is nice.

One concern is drug three has some potential, but hopefully transient, unpleasant side affects. Going to wait till after Christmas before I start taking it. Think that I’ll try to stick with base level grumpy avoiding any chemical enhancements. Should avoid alcohol for a while after as well, so I am enjoying a glass of pinot noir, watching the TV, fun and games.

Oh, I could be the only person in the world on this combination of medication, proof I’m special.

Let sleeping dogs lie

Dogs woke me up with barking at 07.15; think there was a vicious squirrel or something. Anyway, it took me a few seconds to remember the emb was away, so I got up, checked we weren’t being invaded by anything obvious. (they were barking at the roof of Camelot) then having checked the safety of the house I fed them both, & the chickens (cold!), I’m back in bed now, before 08.00 & the bed’s still warm, bonus!

Adwyth epa bachgen i mewn Borth

EMB’s gone away for a bit, for some space & sleep, he just called, in a gone midnight “I love you” kind of way.

He arrived at 22.00; it’s now 00:30.

So far he’s had to much to drink, gone to a lock in, had fun with a harlequin(!) great dane bitch & arranged a play date for Ulrick. Now those would be puppies worth seeing.

Anyway, now going home to a bacon and egg sandwich, which was prepared earlier.

--------------------------------

Ulrick watching me at the computer

sorry mammy - so what does it say?

Public Service Announcement

I had a bit of a shock of late, people are actually reading this, which I find unexpected. Which is a bit silly as that is the whole point, my sibs and some friends. I got my very first comment ….

** Dance scene from knight’s tail, such a good film **

… ok, back with you now, it’s on to adverts. So to the public service bit, if you want to post a comment you can, (Click where it says comments, not the envelope) if you choose other you can put your own identifier in! However there are a few “Safety features” in place after the whole “MySpace – porn cam” debacle
One – you have to type in the letters for the screen to prove you’re not a bot. quite cool is the fact that if you cant read the letters you can get then read out and you just have to type the sounds

Two – I get to read it first, just so I can check you’re not some one about to catch their death from cold!

Check Up

I seem to be a little fixated on my dogs, so here is another post on them, well him to be precise.

He had his first annual check up with the vet today, which was nice. He’s in near perfect health. His lungs, hips and teeth are good and he’s in the middle of the recommended weight range, but now to the purpose of the post, his weight

Which is: 45 kg = 99 lb = 7 st 1 lb = 1 heavy dog!

Hero Quest

It rained all day, it’s cold and wet. It took me two hours to get home, a 100% increase in time taken, rubbish

First Day at School

Not quite school, more training, dog training in fact. EMB and I took Ulrick to a training class. He was so excited! To be technically correct it’s the second class he’s been to, but the first one they were mean to Ulrick, not letting him join in. It was a GSD class and they called him a devil dog (which to be fair is a name sometime applied to Akitas), after which he was home schooled for a while, EMB was quite upset by the whole thing to be honest.

Anyway they let him join in; although they did spray him with water when he started to bark (normal for training) he did enjoy it, licking the hand of the lady who sprayed him. There was also the most barking I’ve ever heard from him, which was a lot. He only went seriously off track once, when he was let off the lead, he ran towards EMB, and then veered towards everyone else, & their dogs. Sniffed some bottoms and then EMB got him back.

Made me anxious but we ended up ok. Going back in the New Year, paid up front. It’s something to make a Sunday afternoon.

The Morning After The Night Before

Ok, so last night I went out with work which leads to 3 points of note

I got I.D.’d!

Bartender asked me for ID, I laughed said I was 30 & didn’t have any. He then settled for having a credit card waived at him. I think this is worth mentioning, as a (probably) never to be repeated event.

I danced like an idiot

Ok probably not shocking news but it was much fun and as such worth mentioning

I got a taxi home at twenty to 3

I shared a taxi back with two friends, it took a long time for me to comprehend that it was that stupid time in the morning, we didn’t quite get to a big hand little hand description, but we were close.

All in all a superior works party - now I'm going to bed

Work Christmas Party

I just got in.

I'm tired, my ears are ringing & I smell bad.

A result of a night; I'm going to die at work!

Insurance

We just got the years insurance premium request for the dogs, which we’ve now paid £665.99, the retail number of the beast (apologies Mr Fry). This is, I grant you, a lot of money. But we’ve already had £2k worth of treatment for lady, and this means that what ever happens, and I’ve heard a lot of horror stories, involving rat poison and cars to name but two.

Sorry, digressed, what ever happens we will never have to say we can’t afford treatment. We may choose not to take treatment, as with lady and chemo, but we’ll have the option. Which is, if not nice, at least reassuring.

Taxi

I got a taxi again to day from work, phoned to book it, chap remembered my name, and where I live. On the way home we talked about the Egyptians and listened to radio 4

MasterCard Moment

Saving 40% on wine - £75

Being able to tell your friends about online viral marketing first – priceless

BBC Radio 4

Got a taxi from the new people today, they were there waiting for me at 07.00. The same driver came so he could check I was ok. Bless.

He was listening to Radio 4, which after 3 days of galaxy’s inarticulate djs and noise presented as music was a joy.

And they were cheaper.

Good start to the day.

Tick Tock

Not happy, very cross, kind of scared, but all safe now, so much calmer

EMB is still in foreign I’m here at the homestead doing the things that need doing. Went to the Dr tonight, the health centre (HC) I go to is in not the best of areas, we’re talking shootings here. Got the bus there, appointment was a 16.40, hoped to be out be 17.00. To get there I have to use an underpass, which is okish in the daylight, not something I going to do at night. But at 17.00 it’ll be ok & I’d be back for 17.30 & all would be well.

Got called to see the Dr at 17.30, luckily I had nothing better to do than wait, or something. The clock on the display is still wrong, but I only mention it every time I go in, so not that often!

So, outside the HC, where it’s enclosed and little I call a private hire company which I normally use. You have to remember I always use these guys for taxi from this side of the city. I’ve caught a taxi the past 3 mornings, that’s £14 a day, they were late 2 out of 3 but moving on.

So call them up for a car, “sorry love, don’t know where that HC is” what! There are about 10 Dr's, 3 nurses, physiotherapist and heath care workers based here. It’s not a small place.

“Where are you near” so I tell her, the name of the road, get told it’s a long road, which I did already know. Get asked what else I can see, tell her the name of a pub on the road, not the nicest of pubs, all boarded windows and cans on the tables from what I can see through the door.

“Oh yes, now I know where you are, wait by the road and we’ll have some one with you in 5 minutes”. So not nice but I do need to get home, it’s 17.40, it’s dark, is cold, but taxi is the only way! So wait by the road, between the HC and the pub (about 20 meters apart).

10 minutes: call again “he’s gone love, you weren’t there” yes I was, told her this, she said she’d try and get him back but there’d be some one with me in 5 minutes, which means 15 minutes in the cold by the time they get there.

20 minutes: call again “any minute now love, he’s just pulling up”.

25 minutes: “we’ve passed the job on love” which means they’d passed it to a different firm, getting cold and scared now.

30 minutes: car from new different firm pulls up, chap goes “Principal Cars” and my address, I get in the car and have a little breakdown. Chap tries to calm me down, asks how long I’d been waiting, & why I was waiting there. So I told him, he seemed actually shocked, said he’d not pass any more of his jobs through to them.

More talk where I’m calmed down on the way home, he said he know where the health centre was & next time wait there & then they’d come get me. So I took a card, paid and got out, feeling better, which was nice. Not every day you manage to find a new good thing

Send All

Moving on from the entry below it made me think, I was putting together a list of people to tell; along the lines of everyone I know who'll be in the UK in the time. There was texting to get emails, all a bit unnecessarily frantic to be honest.

But then I sent this email to quite a few people, in various different batches, made me happy that I could pass it on to so many people! Made me smile.

cheap drink! (offer now closed)

So as you may know, as I emailed most of my inbox, Thresher are doing a a drinks promotion as highlighted in http://www.gapingvoid.com/ 40% off

So go to the website http://www.gapingvoid.com/ find the:

"word-of-mouth story in the making..."

read, download the voucher and enjoy!

as an aside http://www.gapingvoid.com/ is a very cool site, see the cartoon on the left, I highly recommend it

thanks to the good night lady (GNL) for checking this out

lazy sunday afternoon

It's Sunday, I'm sleepy.

M&D came round earlier, they brought cakes and dog treats, for the grand-dogs. M showed her new (Billy) bag (www.billybag.com) (see your very own direct mention) & we talked about Christmas, both gifts and logistics. Also showed them the new home for my wittering. It is quite strange to hear someone read out words you've written but only ever seen on a screen.

which leads on to a digression - long time ago, my sib's and I were talking around the film "Fahrenheit 451". Premise being that book are illegal and the printed word is baned, as such you have an evil totalitarian regime controlling all. Anyway trying to explain this to Fuego, who had never seen the film, to him there was no link between the printed word (ink on paper) and the control of information, all hail the interweb.

time for a nap!

dancing - kind of

I'm tired, well I'm nearly always tired but to day it's because the EMB got up at 0500 to go to "the city" he feed the farm but I still woke up.

all in all not the best of starts.

I went to Bollywood @DX today, I didn't want to but the perfect gentleman (TPG) said I had to, EMB said it was like falling off a camel. (or rather like when I fell of a camel).

what happened I hear you ask, we maybe the few that have this URL. I was supposed to be dancing on Thursday at a thing, very low key, spent ages psyching myself up. I asked about cameras, mainly flashes, I explained but got told they'd not be about while there was dancing. so first go though and flashes so bright the could be used for first contact directed at us. had to run off. response when I asked after the dance had finished "well of course the press is here". I left while still on the legal side of homicide. it was a struggle, the bout of grumpy hysteria helped.


So although embarrassed I went, but, unlike when I fell off the Camel I now want to go back next week.

----------

Shakira, the camel I fell off

me too

Go here, do this ...

http://www.adamgiles.com/2006/11/18/im-a-criminal-help-me-change-the-law/

he explains stuff far better than me

(please)

Best wishes

ML, you'll be missed

SadSac comes to Town

Yesterday was much fun, well it had its moments, went the the land of sugar for work, waited for a taxi for 45min to get to the train station then got sworn at by one of the most disturbing taxi drivers ever. Anyone who starts everything they say with a profanity or "I'm not being funny but..." is not a good person to entrust your safety, but then needs must when I can't drive.

moving on the evening got better

After much planing, and re-planing, I met Mr SadSac we went to chez jules, and had some of their very nice pinot noir. had long chat about the wonders of bollywood, trainers with ticks, and the importance of the work life balance. We've not spent hardly any time just the two of us for probably years, it was really nice to talk. I love being part of a big family, but sometimes it can be difficult to get time just 121.

That was a bit meandering, back to the point.

So after being taken for a lovely meal by the aforementioned SadSac, the chat continued, and a trip to the cinema was proposed. I love the cinema, just don't get to go that often, so hastily agreed.

we walked to the Odeon and looked at the films. after much I'm not seeing that we ended up going to see "Step Up" which is a cheesesy girly dance film. This was obvious from the poster, but bless him, he still came with me. He even got popcorn, now I think of it he got popcorn twice in fact!

There is no plot to speak of in this film and in the first 5 minutes we successfully identified the main characters, including the one that was not going to see the end of the film. having said that I enjoyed every single cliché ridden gloriously predictable moment of it, and would highly recommend it to anyone who prefers there films on the non taxing side. I've pre-ordered the DVD and everything.

All in all a brilliant night out

OPM

They were fab, da fresher came down so EMB didn’t have to go, they were support so we didn’t have to stay late, and got chips on the way home.

http://www.opmden.com/

Also the academy sells its water in corn starch bottles, which are penguin approved and all the profits go to clean water projects, which is nice

http://www.belu.org/

Bollywood fever

just got off the phone with my a baby bro, the sib aka SadSac

muck talk of bollywood and jam, we're going to meet up soon, he gave me jam making stuff for Christmas, I've got some of the results to give to him, and the circle continues

bach b’day bash

Went out Friday night bach b’day bash (b3), me, emb, DuLa, M&D. to the ever wonderful chez jules, can’t fault it ever, very nice pinot noir, which in case you ever feel the need is my fav (http://www.chezjules.co.uk/ ).

Between us we had 2 red 1 white & 1 verve, as there we many celebrations to be had, many toasts as well, the first being the family fav “to cooked bread” also Emb &; D had “Romeo y Julieta”.


DuLa gave me a photo of emb & me with a tourist goat, a tourist

pony & 2 very very cute girls, taken in Egypt.


Today went to DX & sweated red wine, felt most ill, got home to find a goat (fridge magnet) from DuLa through Oxfam. I still have visitation rights, well I think I do!

-------------------------------

tourist goat

back to reality

First weekend back, spent washing and sleeping, sums up the whole thing. Oh & KN:FM

Heard my first firework – earlier every year

Looking Back

Back to the UK, yesterday I was swimming in the sea and lying on a beach, when I landed it was cold and wet and raining. I want to move, south Spain would be nice, but right now it is any place but here. (that dog passports work, so EU)

looking forward

Holiday soon, to the sun, that will be nice, can’t wait, going to be 30, not sure what I think of that. It will be nice to get away, will miss emb et al

early o'clock

I'm ill. Not as ill as I was, which is nice.

Still a bit ill, however I have dogs and chickens which require me being awake at stupid o'clock.

So I'm awake, typing this, which is supposed to help, how being awake at stupid o'clock helps I'm not sure. Even the chickens are hiding, which is unusual, ulrick is barking at the rain, not sure what he thinks the rain is, but he's not a fan of thunder and lightning, but then who is. I'm worried about bonfire night, not sure how he's going to do with fireworks, that'll be interesting.

He's still barking at the rain.I think he misses EMB, who is at the wedding where I should be. Such is life!

excuse for use

So, I got a new laptop! Is very cute & little & tiny.

I've not spent the whole weekend playing with it how ever as the emb & I had guests, da fresher & da lady. Mr fresher came down first, & was cutting down trees, 4 to be precise, big ones at that, by the time I came back they were gone. However not that far as we now have a pile of wood in the front of our house, I didn't realise that that many trees would make such a comparatively small pile of wood. EMB is going to be da freshers best man, which is fab.

EMB thinks an aga is a good idea, what with all the wood, which would lead to us having a solid fuel for the winter, but as Birmingham is a smokeless zone were not sure how to limit the smoke from a wood fire. The suggestion of a plastic bag over the chimney possibly needs work, if only from a logistical view point.

It's mammy's b'day tomorrow, we're going for a curry, which is nice. I've got her a couple of books, which she wanted, so I'm proud of my organised nature. I have also set myself up on skype, of which I am also proud. So much fun, anyway, should go and make the puppies less fractious

ow - but in a good way

Good news, dancexhange (DX) has reopened, new term and everything!

Bad news, think I may be broken.

Went to a contempary dance class last night, ow, very ow, seems like a good idea at the time, but now I'm broken, my legs are killing me, my arms are killing, my body hates me & I want to do it all next week. Why do I think this is a good idea? Who can say!

http://www.dancexchange.org.uk

looking for lost time

Wow, how long with out typing! Im rubbish, Id love to say that my life got in the way but it didnt, to be honest at the moment Im avoiding course work, because its dull!


I went on a hen weekend a while back which was lovely got to see a couple of people Ive not seen for ages, which was fab. Much talking, drinking and eating, the Friday we had a select refined evening of wine, (chosen by EMB), food, cooked by me eaten round a table!!! Then watched Bride & Prejudice the best P&P adaptation since the BBC, and it gives that a run for its money. Watched on the new TV with surround sound, still have the tunes in my head. Went to sleep very late, woke up very late, to discover we (SGOD stayed over) were late & that EMB had cleared up. Saturday day Aston hall (very cool but closing for refurb soon), eve bank, most cool, personalise menus and everything, I took mine home, ulrick ate it, such is life. EMB drove SGOD home on the Sunday, I slept, a lot.


Less fab is that my laptop broke, so have to use the main computer, which the EMB uses to take over the world (civ III) so I dont get on that much, however hes out to night and as such Im on the computer. Not sure where hes gone, town I thing to a bar which plays good music, metalli-maiden or something, its got a basement, so no mobile signal, or hes switched his phone off, ether way Ive got the computer


I was looking at friends reunited and found a comment about a party Id help organise over 10 years ago (St N:NYE )which got me thinking about people Ive not seen in years, so I did a Google search on them, and have tried to get in touch. I think it must be that Im getting old, birthday next month, Im wondering how other people are doing. I updated my email address, after 3.5 years of marriage my own dear email now has my married name, how organised am I?

Wish the weather was less wet

+44 to +60 & +1

The good thing about not sleeping is that you get to phone friends in different time zones

The bad thing is not sleeping (international phone bills not that good either)

EMB got in & told tales of drunken debauchery with a hen night dressed as pirates, the things they get up to! Apparently the only song he asked for broke the console, of which he was justifiably proud.

Why can I only not sleep at night, Ive got no problem in the daytime.

Think Ill go for a nap

where's the monkey?

It's 5am, I've not had enough sleep, EMB was talking about pirates, which reminded me of this ...

It's what Joss Whedon does when he's not being popular

Ulrick has eaten another shoe

miracles do happen

So here we are, a little while later, have eaten far to much chocolate, however I should now stop, because:

a) its very bad for me,
b) it has no powers of reincarnation & its not going to bring them back,
c) the diet is working &
d) its chocolate, not love!

So on to happier news, as you may know, lady had cancer, nasty, aggressive dead in 3 months cancer, she had it when we got her from the dogs home. However the dogs home had given her a clean bill of health, which was worrying when you realize that she had a tumour the size of a golf ball in her mouth.

In a way it worked out as when we got them we got them both fully insured, I could honestly say they had no outstanding medical conditions which I know about. The reasoning being the insurance being we never wanted to have to say that, if they needed treatment, we couldn't afford it. Which was a good thing, as we paid £600 for the pair & lady has wiped that out on her own in just 6 months! (never mind when Ulrick found broken glass on Christmas eve.)
As part of her treatment she was referred down south to an animal hospital which was better equipped than any NHS hospital Ive ever heard of, had its own MRI for goodness sake. Having done biopsy & other such things we told she had two types of cancer. Unfortunately they could only treat one type. (pause while you laugh at the image of a dog after chemotherapy, you're allowed) . So, after discussion with the uk expert on small animal cancer, we decided not to have treatment.

I know you're waiting for happier news, stay with me, nearly there. She went to the vet the other day, he was a little shocked he pronounced that he was confused. He checked his notes, he'd done a biopsy, he had all the test results and then looked at her again.
Here's the happier news, the cancer in her mouth has gone, the vet said it was a miracle, the actual vet! There is no trace, not even a scar, it's probablyonly temporary but still cool. Vet says hes going to write a paper ! Happy time now!

why I hate hot weather

Not written for a while, not been to happy, we had a couple of tragedies, not end of the world, just ends. Do you remember the day it was really, really hot? It'd been hot for a while but then there was one really hot day?

We have an ant nest in out dining room, which is a glorified junk room & corridor. Its next to the kitchen any way, EMB went out for the day to somewhere with no mobile signal. Maybe 30 min after he'd left the ants, who had been dormant since last year decided to swarm. I hate flying bug type things, really hate, bees, wasps & flying ants, which were now making there way across the kitchen! Did I mention EMB had gone out?

So I sent the dogs out the back shut the door, checked the fish tank was all shut up & laid down ant powder. Did I mention I hated ants? So then I realised the powder was making me dizzy & a fit & poison is never good. (ask DuLa about rat poison, lockers & river island). So I opened the back door, lady tried to come in & I sent her away. At which point tom went out to sit with them on the new swing seat. I forget, did I tell you about the swing seat? It was toms birthday present . Any way then I started to Hoover them up, the ants, not the dogs.
Brushing them together, I was kind of fixated on this when movement caught my eye, I looked up & saw Ulrick licking up a combination of dog fur, flying ants & most worrying ant poison! I shouted at him & as I did I heard the voice of my mother shouting down the years. I think its the sound you make when some one who's your responsibility does something which could really course them harm. He ran in to the garden, frightened & whining, & then hid. Not an experience I'd want to repeat.

That was Saturday, were now on Sunday, Janet in my friend & lady of Camelot, she'd gone to a civil ceremony -ing on the weekend, she made the cake, it had sugar flowers which she made also, including pansies. I had no idea about such things but she still asked my opinion, how many time can I say yes, add more glitter! I was much fun!
Anyway Janet got back & there was lots of (vegetarian) food left, mainly cake to be honest. Any way, I digress, I tipped the cake out into the coop & 7 chickens can running, they love cake! They love food in general, if you've never seen chickens eat grapes it is a sight to see!
Any way as you probably noticed 7 chicken, not 8, so I thought that was unusual & checked the nest box. Chickens who are laying or broody will prioritise that over all else. So I checked the nest box & discovered a dead chicken, heat exhaustion. Looks like shed gone in to lay and it just got to hot, poor girl. That was not a nice thing to discover. EMB sorted it out, I didn't want to go see them for a little while, I'm over that now though, well mainly.

Moving on to Tuesday morning, it had been a very warm night I got up, fed the dogs & noticed there had been some kind of strange algae bloom in the tank. Thought that was strange, and opened the lid to feed them, they were two dead fish floating on the surface, we had 3 fish, so I put some feed in, & cleared the filter. Fed the chicken & told EMB, not sure what else to do. EMB called me at work, told me they had all gone. That was very sad. We now have an empty tank.

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Tank (Empty)

Wheat & chaffing

Another day, still have hay fever, which is rubbish, eyes hurt, nose is running. Went to m&d, D liked the home made wine & pork pie, I'm a prezzi kind of girl. Going to CVI (106! cool) for a meal after the BV fate on sat, they've got craft fair, last year there was jam.

Evil monkey boy (EMB) cut the grass the other day, lady kept biting the wheels of the mower. I say grass, it was actually, wheat, barley and what ever else the chickens didn't eat from there feed. Ulrick likes the ears of corn, he'll happily chew for ages, or until something more interesting happens, which happens a lot, when you're a dog. Unfortunately EMB wasn't wearing the right clothes for the job, got a little hot & bothered.
Ulrick has a new way of sneaking in to rooms, its kind of like a sin wave, think back to maths. As he gets up & down while sneaking forward. He has now eaten Lady's bed, maybe he needs more fibre.

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Tasty bed

Scarlet woman & the farmers market

Another long day at work, so tired, went to m&d's for hair cut from Keith, who is the best hair dresser in the whole wide world, full stop, ever! Really!


Anyway went to co-op first to buy beer, Hogaarden 4 for £4, which can only be good. Then walked back, had hair done, colour 666 - scarlet woman, strangely I have no problem remembering that. after which the conversation through "deep and meaningful" past "childhood experiences" brushing "sibling interaction" finishing with "comparative religion".
Now don't get me wrong, I've been known to dabble in religious discussion & spiritual awareness but I firmly believe that no one should have a conversation more complicated than "DVD", "more beer?" or "pizza?" probably finishing up with "Taxi?" after midnight as down that path madness lies. I find it have to focus after any alcohol & prefer not to say blatantly inflammatory comments when dazed and confused. Unfortunately never really works that way, such is life.

So up at 08.30 (not good after sleep at 01.30)to go to KN farmers market, which is good, but very bright thank goodness for sunglasses. Got many good things, like green top, un pasteurised, non homogenized, soon to be illegal milk, for the making of ice-cream & English strawberries for the same. Also meat for barbecue, it must be summer

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(Milk label - dont you just love the EU?)