I'm back ...

sorry about the absence I've been doing new things and as such been a bit distracted to be reflective, but I'm stepping away from that now.

I just finished watching studio 60 ... The Long Lead Story which was the first ep I ever saw, watched from bed in hong kong (only English speaking chanel showing anything in sentences). It was actually on the tv on Thursday, but I sky+'s it, so was watching it on Saturday night.

I know this makes me old but I can't get over the way the new world works. So me being in hong kong was a big one, with best mate, even better! Watching some of the best American tv ever, ok it's a small group, but very select. Then watching it again, at home with the puppy at my feet, not coping with the very real fallout of blue stake from Cambodia, both of which were nice.

Anyway nothing groundbreaking to share, sorry ... Will go and be more interesting so I have something interesting to write.

harry potter and the deathly hallows

just finished, it's ok. can't comment more than that as might give the plot away, which I have no intention of doing ...

hen night heaven

one low key night, with dvd's and chocolate. one night out in the bay, less low key loud music and drinking.

cool, but I'm broken now

Things not to happen at 70mph

EMB is fine and well, safe and sound, having established this you are free to read on ...

I got a phone call at 17.20 today, started with the ever reassuring "I'm ok, I'm not hurt ... but there's been an accident"

Look left, that would be a blown out tyre, not a good thing at the best of times, this is the reason for the phone call.

Below is what happens when you combine Armco barrier and Ovlov, scary stuff

Big Damn Showing

dizzykj and I went to see Serenity on the big screen ... and when I say big, it appears the cinema made a mistake so the showing had to move from a smaller screen to a huge screen, which more than made up for it starting at 10am! 10am for goodness sake! There was a raffle which was not random and not a raffle but we won, so that's ok!


we won the juggling goslings, the Buddha and the dinosaur key ring and the browncoat bracelet, how cool is that! The rest of the photo on the right is made of stuff we already had including the wonderful hats made by my wonderful and much beloved mother! Of course having taken this photo I realised I'd forgotten to add the grenades! (given to us for having Jayne hats). Which made me laugh, a lot, and then take another photo, because grenades are handy, as our heroes tell us, maybe not in the real world, but then that's not the point.

Hallowe'en and hounds

Puppies with pumpkins

best till last

Dance your cares away

Does busting make you feel good?

Who you gonna call?

watch for the baron

Greenback that is

Thunder?

they're loose

If you were a child of the sun ...

From what would you build a city?

One for all and all for one

Muskahounds are always ready

Feeling olympic?

I'm not certain there is not some kind on vicious streak in the Olympic 2012 committee not only an eye watering logo but also adverts that contravene broadcasting rules

and only 5 years to go ...

and we're back in the game!

internet back up so I can finaly share the news, I have sucsesfully applied for a secondment. It's 6 months doing something completly different!

Am so excited!

MEET THE AU PAIRS

I just watched this program on the ever reliable More4.

I can honestly say that I have put more time and thought into getting someone to look after Ulrick and the chickens for a short holiday than was portrayed by two of the three families when looking for a long term live in help for their children.

Is this now normal? place an add, have a phone conversation, then pick your new family member up at the station? emb & I spent more time and effort finding the right dogs than was represented by the families looking for child care.

One line was "they need to start in 10 days" if they need to start that soon then why were you not looking earlier? (having said that you don't know how it was cut, if something else fell through, but still surely it's better to find the right person rather than the one that is there?)

Anyway, there's another one on next week!

day of unexpected activity

The chickens have been a little strange of late, it seems that after a while without a male influence they get a bit grumpy, and violence ensues (which is bad).

as such they needed to be separated to prevent untimely death of one or more. which is why, this morning was spent by emb and I building the new chicken house (but don't believe it takes 5 mins to set up, closer 2 hours), it's quite cool really, I'll take pics when it's not raining. Next we went for egg and chips, stopping on the way back for grit and a new water holder.

Then I ordered many new things from ascot, all of which should come soon.

how much fun is my life!

facebook

like myspace but the grown up's got there first.

I've found friends I've not spoken to in years, and they are all to skinny

In other news, complete buffy box set £80 on amazon, my copy is on it's way!

secret swiral news

but I can't tell ....

watch this space

Blah Blah Blah

and again ...

why can't I think of the good things to say at the time?

well it's all about practice, apparently

Possibly the geekiest thing I've ever done

Justifiably smug, while actually helping.

10 things

According to the BBC's 10 things

3. Pre-schoolers will watch a favourite DVD or video for an average of 17 times before getting bored.

So 17 times, I watch my DVD's far more than that a Pre-schooler.

I work there's a chap I lend my DVD's sometimes, and he lends me his, difference is he lends me his kids DVD's, and he shows mine to his kid.

should this worry me?

Big night In

not that big really, just me and da dozy, pizza and DVD's

The Fighting Temptations & the ever wonderful step up, cheese-tastic night was had by all, low key and lots of catch up time.

Very cool

heroes

I've had a worrying discussion with emb, about heroes. Superheroes in fact.

He, incorrectly, doesn't think that Batman is a superhero. This is obviously wrong, so wrong in fact that a major attempt to lighten his foolish assumptions was made. But my logical and true conclusions fell on deaf ears.

Batman is my favorite, and I think the best hero to come from comic books, even though he's a sociopath

emb is just wrong

Insomnia

Lack of sleep, bad. Shouldn't have had that nap yesterday.

However, at 5am I accepted that sleep was not going to happen after a lion (or next doors cat) tried to invade. Luckily Ulrick was there to scare the evil invaders away.

So I got up, and started on my mammoth, and fairly stupid, task. that's what happens when I make decisions after sleep deprivation.

thought I'd feed the chicken and Ulrick.

Once I got outside I decided the chickens needed to be moved on the the grass, to do this I had move the coop and the run, no mean feat, the run is 4by8 foot and 6 foot high. the Coop it 4x5 and also 6 foot high.

After which I did their feed and water, and fed Ulrick, as it was now about 6am. I also had some breakfast (raisin wheat's)

Then decided they needed cleaning out, which I then did, stupid decision making processes

monday morning feeling ...

on a Friday night

You know when you're got something really important to do and then once it's done you just feel awfully.

Like every time you open your mouth you went "Blah Blah Blah Blah", and by so doing confirming the worst of fears.

All in all, rubbish.

having said that only time will tell if I'm justified in my depression and lack of confidence or mealy suffering from early stages of psychosis and paranoid delusions triggered by aspirations of grandeur

oh happy day

emb come home

and Ulrick and I are very happy.

DuLa B'day BBQ

It was DuLa's Birthday BBQ today, and with emb in Borth, it was me and Ulrick out for the day. Now you've got to remember how I fell on my face yesterday ... today he was lovely, a near perfect pup.

The food was fantastic, just check out the fish!

I'll be there for you ...

(When the rain starts to pour)
I'll be there for you
(Like I've been there before)
I'll be there for you
('Cause you're there for me too)

E4 have a tag line, "You don't need to buy the box set, we'll never stop repeating Friends"

I've sky plus-ed the last few episodes, which I've been watching, series 10 finished on Thursday. On Friday they started from the very beginning again! Today was the "I have elbows" episode ...

What did shock me was the first episode aired 28 April 1995 in the UK ... that's bang on 12 years ago.

12 years, I feel so old.

Down But Not Out

I took Ulrick for a walk.

On my own.

Lead to unexpected events ... like me falling on my face

Being pulled onto my face to be more accurate, I'll set the scene.

lady, dog, stick ... a stick which Ulrick wanted to play with. they were in front of us as such didn't know we were there.

Stick was thrown, Ulrick went off to get that stick, leaving me lying on my face.

ow, doubel ow, oh so ow.

Got him back, shouted at him, was so not happy, hurt myself, not just my pride.

little bugger ...

The only show powered by fans

Here's how it might have been...

Can't stop the signal

DuLa

Happy Birthday to You,
Happy Birthday to You,
Happy Birthday Dear DuLa,
Happy Birthday to You!

Here's to an exciting night to gilravage

Jury Service

I'm back!

But on jury service, which is unpleasant but necessary.

post dated updates to follow soon

London, Baby!

12 hour on a plane & I smell.

12 hours on a plane and then 12 at the mercy of British rail (or rail track, or network rail, or what ever it is now) then I'm tiered, grumpy and smell.

it took me more time to get from London to Birmingham than it did for TPG to get from HK to KL, which is silly.

now off for a shower, and a sleep.

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Like new york on steroids, really. All a bit mad, lots of time out and about, lots of time watching rubbish (and not so rubbish) TV. the place is built on a hill, a big hill at that, the view is incredible, photos can't capture it, but we had a go.

We ate lots, & I discovered that I don't rally like real chines food that much, all a bit non vegi friendly. We found a very good Indian, and were shown a lovely whole food restaurant by a lovely lady. We ate there twice.

I could just be where we were but though the visuals were stunning, the tunes were most definitely old school! Not that old, 80's/90's or so, can't argue.

Holiday in Camdodia

This is a strange country, like lord of the flies, with out the seashells, and the complete destruction of society, it's a nation of children, the average age is under 21 years old. while we were there we saw maybe 5 people over 60, and no more than 10 between 25 and 60. Now of course we were in the tourist areas the adults may have been elsewhere, but even the police officers were young, our main "tut tut"(the noise a straining scooter engine makes when pulling a carriage) driver was 15 if he was a day.

Everyone seemed beautiful, moved with purpose, and the country is incredible. It's going develop with a bang, hopefully a good one.

Busy Day

Today is my last full day in KL, as such I had much to do. Those Temples don't visit themselves you know!

First step was catching the train by myself, this was a big step. Please allow a slight digression, the tickets have some form of reprogrammable feature, and as such they can be reused, but rather than in the UK, where you have your destination on the ticket, here you don't, so you just have to remember!

First stop Chinatown, where I first went to Chan See Shu Yuen Temple, which was very old, and took a leap of faith to get to as you had to cross a very very busy roundabout to get there, on the plus side you got two for one as there was also the Koon Yam (Guanyin) Temple a little bit over. Next back a bit was yet another temple, Sze Ya Temple which was a little tricky to find but fengshui put it there, so we're all good.

Next, in my attempt to find the train again I went back past the Guandi Temple (Kwong Siew Free School) and the Sri Mahamariamman Temple. (not just an excuse to show I now know the names and put more photos up!)

After all this I still found no postcards!

Running out of options I decided to catch the train to KLCC, which is a temple to consumerism, so still in the same theme. to make it clear there is a M&S, a Top Shop, and many other designer boutique. But most importantly there is a park with the dolphin sculpture.

Today was a long day and I'm very sleepy.

I'm going to Cambodia tomorrow, we have to leave the house at 07.00. I have to pack. I hate packing. EMB has called to make me hurry up and TPG says he's just going to leave me behind.

Should pack ...

Dirty Stop Out

Last night TPG, neighbour + family & I ventured in to town, to KLCC, where we saw the stunningly beautifully Petronas towers by night. Then ate Mexican food and went on to a bar called Luna, to do this we walked through a street of clubs, and in case you were worried the 80's are alive and well, having retired to KL for the sun. I kid you not, if you're not heard Queen with a Malaysian MCing over the top you've not lived. (come to think of it, it's a bit like when we went to a disco in a rugby club, which had welsh MCing over a forgettable dance track)

Anyway, I digress. As we didn't catch the train till 21.00 we ate late, so we got to the bar for about 23:30, discovering that the ING/Renault team had had a party in there until 23:00 or so, and as such the place was packed. To be honest it required more concentration than I have as there is just to much water! Once sat down it was a very chilled place, apartment swimming pool by day, chill out bar by night, unbelievable view.

Solo Adventure

From the apartment you can see a temple. (top right of photo above what looks like a light gray box)

Based on this I hatched a plan, I'd walk down to Freedom Park (Bottom Left), see how I was doing and maybe walk to the temple, now on the photo it may not look far but it is 35c and over 50% humidity. So hot and sweaty.

Anyway freedom park is lovely, very peaceful with lots of shade. I'm not sure what time school finishes here but there seemed to be a fair few school children around, boys being noisy and the like. What I did notice was that everyone was in the shade, of which there was a lot.

Feeling ok I decided to make the trip to what I later discovered was the (Buddhist) Chetawan Temple. which in the photo above looks small but is actually a complex of shrines and temples, even having a homemade waterfall.

First port of call was the office where there was a nice lady looking like she'd just got up and a saffron clad Monk using a computer. I asked if I could look round, was told yes, asked if I could take photos, was told yes, I checked, everywhere? Monk nodded, lady said yes. Hence there are many photos.

As I wondered around I got to see many things and reinforced my belief that fire, smoke, sunshine and faith is a good combination.

It's a Small World After All

And not just in a Disney/Winnie the pooh kind of way.

Much to TPG disgust I've been taking photos of random things that remind me of not here. I'll explain, when you turn on to the complex there is an A&W which does root beer floats just like I remember. (They melt faster there than in Colorado though).

In the mall downstairs there's a Starbucks. Not just a Starbucks but the other day it had saffron clad Buddhist monks enjoying a latte. We couldn't work out a way to photo them with out being hugely disrespectful, so we didn't. Still saw it though.

We went to a "Mega Mall" It had a GAP, and even more frighteningly a Dorothy Perkins. Dotty P for goodness sake, they're a well respected brand over here apparently!

More Small World photos.

*****************************

Multi Lingual Danger Sign

Ding Dong (Secret Swiral Post)

Wedding Bells are chiming,

Best wishes and congratulations

Can't Stop The Signal

A captain's goal is simple: find crew, find a job... keep flying.

With thanks to Da Josephine

Abertawe to KL

A Long Time Ago ... I used to live in Swansea, I loved living there but it was not without its downsides.

One thing I do remember about Swansea is the weather, according to my memory it rained almost every day. It seems to do that here as well, difference being in Swansea, you'd get cold and wet, where as in KL you get warm and wet.

Also thought the storms in Swansea could be impressive, they had nothing in comparison with what's going on outside at the moment, thunder, lightning, flood water unbelievable. Blackpill would be underwater by now, so it'd be not all bad!

Photos

Photo Updates, as they happen

Also

A memory from the Florence

Time in motion

It takes 12 hours to fly to Malaysia.

Everyone was very nice, I watched films (Happy Feet & Miss Potter). The food was pleasant, I'm a firm believer in curry for breakfast.

But it is still 12 hours, this is a long, long time.

After which I got of the plane, where the heat hit me, not true. the heat an humidity hit me. both vieing for my attention like noisy children.

Then collected my bag, the last one off the carousel naturally, and went meet TPG & his lovely lady.

Out here from the airport you pay for your taxi first at a kiosk, then queue outside. once done we got a taxi, and started the hour long drive back to the apartment. It was still very hot outside but the taxi had air-con

I felt very tired, and had been waring the same clothes for about 24 hours so had started to doze when there was a loud bang. I was surprised and not sure what was going on.

It appears a wild cat had run across the freeway and then been hit by the taxi, the driver didn't have a chance of missing it. we pulled over to the hard shoulder and my hopes of a quick brush down were dashed when I saw the driver carry the right headlight and put it in the boot. Even in my confused and jet-lagged state, I knew this was a bad thing.

He tried to restart the engine but appeared that the unfortunate cat had force the radiator on to the fan. The taxi, or as it now was the big black box with no power, and by extrapolation no air-con.

As we sat by the road with the doors open to catch the breeze it did strike me what a beautiful country this is, even if it is bloody hot.

after what to me seemed like hours, but can't have been more than 20 min the new taxi arrived to help us complete the rest of our blissfully uneventful journey.

We then went up to the apartment where I had a shower and fell asleep, all in all a good days work.

*****

View from apartment window
Taken before 09:00
Note the heat haze

Prepare to Launch

Had a half day yesterday, practically ran out of the building to the car where EMB was waiting, after several packing of the case we got it all to fit(ish) and then off to town for the train to London. We were running late and I accepted to myself to missing the train that had a reserved seat so running and getting frustrated would be counter productive. So I calmly went to the fast ticket machine, got my ticket and walked to the platform, where my train was waiting. I took this to be a good omen.

read my book on the train, and listened to the MP3 player, all very relaxed. was met at Euston by dizzykj clutching a coffee having already had a long day. We then got a bus from out side there to outside hers, stopping only to pick up a Chinese takeaway. we then settled in for an episode or two of Buffy before retiring for the night around 22.00 as I had to get to Heathrow for a 12.00 flight.

well that was the plan. we in fact watched four eps (Band Candy, Earshot, Once More, with Feeling, and Tabula Rasa, for those who need to know)

didn't get to bed till 01.00, naughty us!

had to leave the flat a 08.00 so alarm was set for 07.00, getting up was painful, but I managed it. Got tube to Padington and then the Heathrow express. it amuses me that it only cost £4 more for a return to Birmingham - London than a return London - Heathrow

ho hum, got to the airport on time, all so exciting!

Nails

This is a nail

Not just any nail, a broken nail

A nail I broke, by knocking it through a gas pipe.

Just to clarify, this was a bad thing, a very, very bad thing. Also evidence that epilepsy and picture hanging not always the best combination.

So, what to do, emb off out with no signal, left a panicky voice mail … call on Camelot, where lady and knight were out, but came to rescue me, they were about 10 minutes away.

Told to switch off the gas. Now is not the time to realise I don’t know where the gas switch is in my house. To digress slightly the only reason I know the location of the water point is owing to a leak. (All of you reading make a point of finding out where these things are where you live!)

Anyway, having shared the news I had no idea as to the shut off point. I was told to open the windows and doors, and wait for assistance. I stood with my finger over the hole. emb called, it transpires he had no idea where the shut of was ether.

I then stood with my finger over the hole for a bout 10 minutes till I was rescued by my wonderful neighbours. Now as you can see, it is quite high up, and by the end of it my arm hurt a fair bit.

The lord and lady of Camelot arrived first, the lady braving being licked to death puppy wrangled allowing her husband, who’s not keep on dogs but otherwise perfect to locate the shut off and shut off the gas. Then I sat down, all a bit crap but the house was still standing and Ulrick and I were unharmed.

Then emb arrived, greatly relived that I was fine and no one was hurt. Also that there was no structural damage.

After the initial rush Sir Arthur, went to get the correct tools then came and fixed it (with a blow torch), after his lady had given Ulrick many treats. Many thanks again.

We now have gas – and I want something that identifies pipes before you put nails in them.

Post 100 ...

Dear me, 100 posts

World wide readership

Who'd have thought it?

Can you see your house from here?

What’s next?

Going to see TPG soon, it’ll be exciting &, as you can see, I have guide books. Also I have a new camera, 6 mega pixels, which is nice. With the photos set to the highest quality I can still get over a thousand photos on a 2G card. That’s a lot of photos, not sure what I’d do with that many photos …

I could always put them up here … I could just take photos of a non grey sky, which would also be nice.

So the first step is to book the flights, the planed itinerary is flying to KL, then flying to SR (Angkor Wat), back to KL, on to HK and then back home. TPG (with encouragement & assistance) is doing flights and accommodation and I'm doing stuff like checking the indigenous infections, and malaria tablets.

There are at the moment pharmacists at the QE comparing side affects and interactions of different malaria tablets with my medication ensuring that the ones I get to take won't kill me, or interact to badly with my medication. Which is nice.

I'm looking forward to it, so exciting!

Funeral

It was the funeral today, first, thanks to all who came, your support was and still is greatly appreciated, I'm sorry I was so distracted, it all got a bit much to be honest.

A wider thank you to everyone who has helped us through this challenging time, with your actions, words, thoughts and prayers. we are truly grateful.

Evolution

Funny, just substitute cat for dog

Thanks to the TPG

Good job my blog is not like that

Comic Relief …

I just watched the elected leader of my country perform in a sketch with Catherine Tate as Lauren. I’m not a fan of this lady, but my sense of humor is a little peculiar, or it has been said that I don’t have one. Many people find her funny, who am I to argue?

Anyway, it appears than rather than running the country he feels his time is better spent learning scripts for comic relief, alternatively he wanted people to laugh with him for a change! It worries me how he sorts his priority's.

Following our fearless leader, was Ricky Gervais, who is a comic genius, who I also don’t often find funny. His sketch was brilliant, involving him, Stephen Merchant, Jamie Oliver, Bob Geldof, Andi Peters, and Bono! It was very funny, and, well it’ll be on YouTube by morning, see if you can find it

Still Waiting

gone 4, no one came, I think they are unlikely to come now.

On the plus side I've been home with Ulrick while next door have stuff cut down, he's not happy about it at all, much barking, proper barking as well, big grumpy dog barking, bless! I think he thinks they may invade.

<- Watching for invaders

waiting

Ok, so here I am, waiting in for people to come collect things, like beds, mattresses & wheelchairs. I’ve had two phone calls, one about the funeral, and one asking to speak to Tom. I’ve had better days.

On the plus side I’m here with Ulrick, he’s getting a bit clingy, I think he misses Tom & Lady. I know I do.

It’s gone 12 and no one is here yet, I’m starting to think they may not be coming. We have a room full of things that could be used by someone else. Ho hum.

Beware the Ides of March

didn't get job.

Job interview today

Wish me luck!

For Goodness Sake

One of my neighbours is having a skip delivered, I'm not impressed.

So, ok.

Tom & Lady have gone together, within
24 hours, cancer got them both. It’s all a bit numb. EMB & I are upset & Ulrick is confused, we’ve gone from a family of 5 to one of 3.

EMB’s aunt thinks Tom came to get Lady, and they are somewhere where Tom’s feeding her biscuits, and cake, and chocolate, and werthers originals, along will all the other stuff he used to feed her and then deny.

It’s a nice thought

WORLD NOT GOING ACCORDING TO PLAN

All still alive, but things not going well, not ready to talk about it.

sorry

Mondays, Blah Humbug

I don't like Mondays, well the having to be some where through necessity rather than choice, and the getting up part, and the caring about silly things, and the waiting for someone else to do things so you can.

rubbish

I get to play with a knitting machine tomorrow, so it's not all bad.

raising the bowl

had to raise Lady's bowl up last night, she can't bend her neck enough to eat anymore, makes me a bit sad.

I did the chickens this morning,

freezing + chickens = frozen chicken poo

that's what you want on your Sunday morning! on the plus side the guinea pig hutch chicken seems like she's doing fine. The new ark came, it's cool but doesn't have a perch or a dark area, need to look to that.

I have new plan, with the new ark we'd be able to get some fertilised eggs and hatch them, assuming one of the chickens had gone broody, we'd have chicks, and then more chickens! cute or what!

snow

Snow, frozen precipitation, it falls from the sky, it gets cold, it gets wet, and it gets slippery. I know these things, I am not a meteorologist, I have no training. The BBC gave at least 4 days notice that it was likely to snow. So why did it take me 4 hours to get home?

The train was 30 minutes late. There’s a Trans-Siberian Railway (Trans-Mongolian line) it goes from Moscow to Beijing, through Mongolia. It gets cold, these are cold places, for February, in Moscow the average maximum temperature is -6, it’s not hit that here, in Beijing it’s 4, for Ulaanbaatar, capital of Mongolia, it’s -13, where we are unlikely to hit until global warming really hits.

Why can they get a train to go? Practice I guess, that line is over 4 736 miles long, I needed to go less than 5, but it took 45 minutes to get to town. Waiting for the bus in the snow was unpleasant, the snow had soaked my shoes and my feet were cold, but that was the worst of it. The thick coat, gloves, lovingly knitted scarf and hat helped a lot with that.

So on to the bus, 45 minutes into what is normally a 60 minuets journey. I’ve been to Prague, when we arrived it was -10 (much to DuLa’s trauma) the bus was one of those bendy ones, took us from the airport to the town, no problems, traffic at 50km an hour.

I spent over 2 hours on a bus that got me ½ way from town to home. The emb, who had walked to the bus stop to meet me than called to say that the buses couldn’t get up the hill by where we live, so he came to get me, bless, we then spent an hour and 10 minutes in the car, trying to get home, on the plus side he brought supplies and we had the heat up to 27° with heated seats.

I was glad to be home, but 4 hours is silly to go under 10 miles.

Part Husky

I think Ulrick is part husky, he loves the snow, and so does lady, so long as it’s not too deep. We spent ages playing, throwing snow and the like. Although Ulrick couldn’t work out how the snowballs he fetched disappeared before he got them back, but fair play melting is hard to understand.

Collar problems

I had to take lady’s collar off today, it was pressing on the tumour, so she was having trouble breathing. Not good, but she seems a lot better now. She’s still having trouble breathing but it’s not so bad. Have to say that it’s not looking good though.

Having said that, she was given 4 weeks to live in April, so she’s doing ok. We just got to see how it goes

Henpecked

For some reason 5 of the chickens decided the other one should cease to exist yesterday. Not good, all started last night when after matt brought the eggs in, one was covered in bloud, which had never happened before.

Anyway today I get a call at work, emb had checked on the chickens once the sun came up, and this poor one was in a bad state. Not as bad as when the fox got the rooster, but bad.

So to the phone call, he’d gone to our local pet shop to get something to put her in, which turned out to be a primary colour guinea pig hutch. He’d also ordered a chicken ark. Very busy emb

When I got home, she was installed in her new home, and looking better than she did, or so said emb.

New Thing

Courtesy of Google Analytics I can now see where people are when they pop in for a look at my wittering, I'm thinking 4 Continent's is pretty good considering there is absolutely no worthwhile content ...



now all I have to work out is how to get the others; apparently there is a research centre in Antarctica.

Bird flu in the UK

Bird Flu is back this is not good, if H5N1 virus doesn't get them then DfRA might.

Maybe we should get the chickens masks ...

Oh, just one more thing...

Quote of the Day
(Taken from the popular web page, I thought this was worth sharing)

Idealism is what precedes experience; cynicism is what follows.

- David T. Wolf

- More quotations on: [Cynicism] [Idealism]

So now the question is which one to I click first?

It's Sunday Morning

Morning all, in days gone by I’d be in my parents bed indulging it the “Sunday Morning Gossip Network” deeply involved in the, he said, she said discussions of the night before. However age, and the attraction of DVD box sets comes to us all, so I spent last night in, as such there is very little gossip to share.

Moving on I’m sat on my bed, drinking peppermint tea brought to me by much beloved emb. I’m very relaxed, but eat far to much last night and then stayed up late on the phone to A:J who is going to be a weird uncle again, which is nice. I went out for Hallowe’en in 2005 and meet up with his family & friends and generally imposed my self upon them (cheers all).

So we had a long chat about family, friends, dogs, tea and Tabasco, we were on for a while. Thankfully through the wonder of first:telecom I get calls to the USA at 1.5p per minute (Malaysia is 3p). Which means the call was under £1!

I’ve never had altitude issues before, but then I’ve never been that high before, Denver, CO altitude - 1635 meters, Laramie, WY altitude - 2218 meters (that’s over a mile and a 1/3 up), Saratoga, WY - 2 068 meters. All in all, very high!

It is most concerning being a Brit and being incapable of holding any alcohol, particularly amongst Americans. That is apposed to the very few millilitres I used to be able to manage! No alcohol on the new drugs however, so when/if I can drink again, I’ll be even worse.

Aside from the no drinking, which to be honest is an annoyance rather than a trauma, the new tablets are going well. I’m feeling better in myself, it’s day 31 and it’s fairly calm, looking good.

My Saturday Night

My plan is to go to ASDA, and watch a DVD, how exciting am I!

It's day 30, any I don't know weather it's the 3 days off work, or the drugs but I'm feeling much better.

Wider and Wider

I just got a text from the McLarge, saying some of the links on this don't work properly (they should now).

The point being I didn't even know that the McLarge even knew about this whole thing blog thing. Although, thinking about it, I should have told as they were my most vocal and consistent reader on MySpace (Boo Hiss).

So anyway, I just got thinking, about the wonder of the Internet, the web, text messages, telephones, that sort of thing. I've been to many places, some countries, a few continents. I've got used to being able to text home when I land. It amuses me that of all the places I've been the one I can't reliably text from is Wales, Africa yes, Wales no.

Tables

Ok, so I saw this along time ago, I know YouTube has it's issues but when it comes to random bits of coolness, YouTube is one of the best

I'm a geek, I know I'm a geek but I want one

Thanks to Mr J for the heads up

Day 29

& it's going to get better

I'm going to sleep now

(5 comments in one day, nice)

Happy Anniversary to Us

Happy Anniversary to Us,
Happy Anniversary to Us,
Happy Anniversary Dear Us,
Happy Anniversary to Us.

Four years today!

It seams like a really long time and hardly any time at all at the same time, but good in both way. It was an incredibly powerful day, glad it happened.

The Nature of Addiction

I love rubbish TV, not that all the TV I love is rubbish.

My latest addiction is "Bones" it is rubbish but I can't help myself.

My favorite quote so far is the character Dr. Jack Hodgins talking to Zack Addy. Zack, who is so sweet has built a robot thing (which has a proper tec description but I can't be bothered to find it)

"Your Robot reminds me of you. You tell it to turn, it stops. You tell it to stop, it turns. You ask it to take out the garbage and it watches reruns of Firefly"

I've watched all the first season, there is a 2nd, showing in the US ... possibly a 3rd to be filmed.

(dizzykj & Da Josephine, this one's for you)

Extra - dizzykj & Da Josephine - GO TO BED, it's gone 01:00

I'm on holiday ...

Woo Hoo

3 days off school & nothing much to do, does it get any better?

Hamster Meet Wheel

back, sleepy, new top gear is on, that looked like it hurt

(Day 24, need sleep)

Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau

0ff to Cardiff today, to go see the relatives, nanny a grampy, plus an aunt or two.

m & DuLa are picking me up in 2 hours, I've still got to pack, shower, feed the dogs and do all those other dull things, so of course I'm typing this instead. maybe I should get up?

two steps forward, one step back

I feel sick, I've been sick (before I took my tablets), my tummy's messed up and I feel awful.

It's day 22, surely it should be getting better by now?

Moving Home

www.SwiralsDrey.Net

I own a Website - how grown up is that?!?

Ok so technically emb owns a website (to add to the collection) but it's mine really. emb owns many sites, not sure why, still if it keeps him happy.

Now all I have to do is wait for it to register ...

...

...

Still Waiting

7 days

Happy Birthday to You,
Happy Birthday to You,
Happy Birthday Little Squidling,
Happy Birthday to You.

9lbs 14.5oz, born at 15:35 on Thursday 18th Jan

The first of my friends to have a baby on purpose, in order and everything. Congratulations to all three!

new side effect alert! (continued)

Stomach ache & anxiety (manifesting as a nightmare from which I wake up screaming)

there's lovely

When emb came to see what was wrong Ulrick had his front paws on the step but his back on the floor. He's not allowed upstairs you see, he came up with the emb. There is nothing better a scarring away monsters than a husband and a very big dog

Day 20 - same as CBB

new side effect alert!

Infection ... how fun is that?

this is on top of:

somnolence (sleepiness).
asthenia (tiredness).
thinking abnormal (slow thinking, unable to concentrate).

also

Emotional Instability
Irritability

(but these two are anecdotal from EMB, I've not noticed it)

now I have a bit more of a brain I've downloaded the interactive Seizure Diary to help keep track of things. It's day 18 and I can just about think in sentences again

benefit humanity - without the hard work

Right now my computer is taking part in the FightAIDS@Home project, helping to find new drugs. It may one day help in one of the other projects, it is all part of world community grid which means they use the bits of my computer that I don't.

It's not a short term project, in my case it's been going for 15 minutes and is 1% complete, but just think, my computer and by proxy me is helping to kind a drug to combat HIV/AIDS (or identify drugs that don't, which is just as important, but less exciting)

There are other projects on which they work, and you can choose just one a few, or like me just tick all, working on the principal that they know better than me what needs doing when.

If you're worried about it slowing you’re computer down (which is unlikely unless you're playing a very processor hungry game, or encrypting top secret files). You can set it to only run when your screensaver is active, so while you go make a cuppa, your computer is helping to one day save lives.

We’re on day 17, and this morning seems better.

Friend of Thor

I just woke up.

Took my extra dose today, at 15:00, I feel like I've been hit by a hammer.

Back to Reality

Did something today, went to ASDA, that's all. They're changing their uniforms.

We got, aside from food, some electronics, a new alarm clock, for under £4 and a freeview box, for under £25. I know it's sad but I was really looking forward to setting it all up, plugging in tuning that sort of thing. It took less than 10 minutes, there was a definite sense of anticlimax.

Why is it I can't think, I can't stay awake but give me a spreadsheet or some setting up of electronic I can do it, it's just this interaction stuff I have trouble with.

which is unlike me ...

Other Side of the Mountain

Day 15 - all most a full day, getting better, am battered, but feel more like me. Had a long chat with Da Lady last night, was incoherent, but tried hard.

Up the dose tomorrow, so sleepy now, may not do anything after then

Email from Number 10

as some of you may recall in the post "me too" i asked you to read and if you agreed sign up

Well guess what, I got an email from the government, the prime ministers office no less, responding.

OK so it's not exactly what we asked for, but it's a start

the page response is here

I never thought I'd ever actually get a response, I know it is a mass mail appeasement, but it's better than nothing

(Brain Still Jam)

Better a Gramme than a Damn

I called the special nurse today, told her I was exhausted and on the point of tears, no matter how much sleep I got it didn’t have any effect.

She said that that was about right but after 4 weeks it will start to get better … but it will get worse first

4 weeks = 28 days this is day 13

Abandon brain

Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam Brain Jam

Tolerance

Increased my dose yesterday, as per instructions … I think my new medication’s destroying my brain, it’s escaping through my ears

Hurray for Bollywood

One of the side effects of this new drug is dizziness/loss of balance. I was doing ok till the turns, then I nearly fell down, I’m normally rubbish a turns but this was something different. Wanted to run out & cry (emotional instability is another side effect) but I just didn’t do the turns. Worked out ok in the end

Don't Give a Damn, Take a Gramme

Week one of the new drug

Weekend: kind of fluffy, with m&d so protected from the harsh realities of the world (once again thank you so much), which was nice, I slept a lot, a lot of a lot, in the car to London, in the room before the play, after dinner (in the night), after breakfast, in the car on the way home, then at home. It was going ok

Mon to Wed: very fuzzy didn’t do a full day in this time, after discussion with boss not doing anything I can break & not over tiring myself. Am battered but happy in my own soft eged world, hardly any twitching, good thing

Thu & Fri: I’m so tired, so tired, so tired, so tired. Did a full day on Friday, then slept from 18.00 t0 10.30 pretty much straight through

Baby Bro

Happy Birthday to You,
Happy Birthday to You,
Happy Birthday Dear SadSac,
Happy Birthday to You!

ok, so I know you don't like the name but it’s the thought that counts. Plus I can't think of another one, do you have any ideas? TDP? TMo?

Answers in a comments field please!

Bestest Friend

Happy Birthday to You,
Happy Birthday to You,
Happy Birthday Dear TPG,
Happy Birthday to You!

you may be feeling old, but remember, I'll always be older than you!

Yellow Brick Road

Home now, had a fab weekend, saw all the sibs met many people who had heard of me, as the non London sister, whose names I had heard but have now forgotten. I have visions of the sibs spending so much time together, when it’s not true.

We stayed at the “Ibis London Earls Court” which I can not recommend highly enough, not a thing to complain about, which as you know is so unlike me

I am suppose to give m a “shout out” for something but don’t remember what.

I Witnessed

Went with m&d to London, no streets paved with gold, and no visits to the queen, we went to see a play, which was incredible “IWitness” very moving, and scary, insight into martyrdom, interesting perspective. I wish I knew more about such things to appreciate it better. I feel a fraud, sitting there, watching. As if I don’t understand it well enough to do it justice, best I can say is: if you can see it, you should.

Better Living Through Chemistry

so going back to 22/12 I had new drugs I start taking them today, wish me luck!

The Little Misses, & the Fearless’ Leader

Went to jamhouse last night for little miss sunshine 21st went out late, 20:00, and so ate before, FL(D) arrived about 21:00, much talking and drinking.

I was berated profusely for drinking twice as much water as wine, where as LMS and little miss diamond went shot for shot, never clever, on a school night.

LMS was free with her blessing the next morning, having an emergency half day & LMD didn’t make it in at all. I may be old but I did make it through!

Business as Usual

I’m sleepy, so sleepy, it’s new year, last night I stayed awake till at least 00:05, we played poker, had pasta and stuff & waffles, nice. Work tomorrow, such is life.

Had a relaxing night, a good welcome for the New Year.

Happy New Year

That’s about it really, I’m thinking of having resolutions, all of which involve diet, exercise and stretching or garden. But not sure if that’s the right way to do it, maybe I should just do these things with out a resolution. Or should I set quarterly objectives with a reassessment point every 3 months. Maybe clear and specific goals are better?

Less like a resolution though …