TGIS....

Not doing very well am I?

Truth is life has been busy and I wasn't convinced that sharing my news weekly was that popular - tho I sometimes find it therapeutic personally - so I thought I'd try and get going again. Got a fair bit of news - got a right tail to tell......

Last time I blogged I was about to go llama trekking to celebrate my friend Sue's 50th birthday - followed by a hot date......I pulled a rather cute llama called Ayrton - who had fab dreglocks and was chatty and interesting and made me feel really special...then there was the date. I guess I should have read the warning signs when he declined to call it a 'date' more of a 'going out episode' - whatever! We did manage to make it to a second 'going out episode'. On the bright side, neither of them spat at me, despite friends saying they might!
Had some great walks - mostly Cotswolds, Malverns and Worcester way - and got my ramblers tan coming on nicely - one recently ended up at the Hooky Brewery - that was good - and on another we had a steam train and Lancaster/Hurricane/Spitfire flypast! Yesterday was out over the Malverns - gorgeous weather - heard a cuckoo which was cool.

Dennis gave us a bit of a scare recently - I noticed he seemed under the weather so - after one helluva kerfuffle - with the neighbour's help - he hates his box - off we trot to the vet - turns out he has an abscess on his derriere - and so after an overnight stay I go to collect a rather embarrassed cat - when I opened the box to let him out I was gobsmacked - he looked like he was mooning - he had his bum shaved and had some nice neat holes to drain puss puss out! Gross! I was supposed to be baking two cakes that weekend - alas! To cut a long story short, all is now well after a couple more check ups - the vet was quite cute - so it was worth the kerfuffles to get him in his box - when I say cute I wouldn't entertain the thought of going out with someone who relished picking the scabs off Dennis's bum every time we went! Yuk!

In the middle of all this I decided after much to-ing and fro-ing to go for a job interview for a secondment opportunity - and was successful. It's a bit frustrating admitting that the job is to help support nurses get back to what they do best - ie nursing - I have a belief that most nurses decided on their job originally because they enjoy giving something back - it's basic stuff which a fellow blogger (some dick dock who is obviously a great team player - NOT....) berates - possibly rightly so - but anything that makes it better for the patient and the staff surely has to be a good thing? Time will tell of course, and I'll keep you posted.

I am of course going to be sorely missed in my current job - I doubt they'll even notice I've gone! My boss said originally that I would have to work 4 months notice - this is around the same as the politicians who are currently bleeding us dry - though I wont be getting a big pay off - but less than most Chief Executives and Queens and Kings and stuff! Needless to say that they have now realised my worth and brought it down to three weeks - suppose I should be pleased....

Me and pops are still enjoying the woodcarving - I'm on an Orang U Tan now - in jelutong wood. The Gardeners World garden is being filmed right opposite our workrooms - so we get to see Toby and the film crew planting bits and pieces. We also get to see the crows swooping in when the film crew have gone obliterating their masterpieces... CAW...not so good :-/

This is me and Bob with our 'Maquettes' - now go Google that one - mine is an Orang U Tan called 'The Professor' and Bob's is a mermaid called 'Sandy Shore'.... :-D

.... and this is what hapens when you leave your Maquette unattended at the workbench :-D

We all popped to 'Woodex' which was a great exhibition with loads of brilliaaant carvings and woodturners - and I met the real Gepetto - what a lovely man.

The other carvers are all gearing up for the annual competition - which is 'Seasons' this year - there is an air of secrecy around some of the entrants - holding their chisels close to their chest (if Yew get my drift). I'm all fir giving it a go - but I cedar wood be no benefit - especially if I won - I don't think I'd be too poplar - I'd think it was OaK but they'd be just like "Life's a beech!"

and on that note... hopefully I'll be back proper now :-)

Enjoy the sun - loads more photos on Facebook

Kimmie x

TGIS :-)...

Hello TGIFers

Thank God it's Spring eh?

Sorry it's been a while - Bloggers block - plus a combo of having my PC 'fixed' PLUS CBA issues PLUS I've been spending a lot more time on 'Facebook' - tho Janet Street Porter thinks it's sad I am enjoying catching up with some of my past.... which brings me on...

I took mom to see Cirque du Soleil's Quidam - and sadly the NIA are so tight they put a load too many seats on the flat floor - there was me thinking at £50 each that we'd get a good view - wrong! Poor mom (Happy Mother's Day!) could only see the acts when they were being flung through the sky or dangling down from the rafters - but not when they were doing their 'thang' on the stage - with some lovey dovey couple with bad hair in front of her she was well struggling.... and playing the old guilt trip nicely ...coupled with the fact that this humungous arse needed a wee before the interval.... it was really quitesplendid, however I was really upset for mom .

Anyway interval came and this huge arse struggled past us again - and weirdly enough I recognised it - slightly worrying.... "Is that you Miss M?" She turned and smiled - my PE teacher from 30+ years ago - you still callthem 'Miss' don't you? Anyway she was leading a revolution to the Box Office to swap seats cos she was struggling - there ended up being about 100 of us who swapped seats..... what slightly worried me was the ease in which I said to her "I thought I recognised the arse".... she turned and glowered... but I wasn't a little 16 year old any more...oh it felt good :-) Another bit of good news is that Cirque have offered me and mom complimentary tickets to their next tour....

Last time I blogged was during the snow - and it's all looking very different now - snowdrops just dying off to make way for crocusses and daffs - been on some good bimbles - quite lovely - mostly round the Cotswolds. Spent a weekend in Cheddar and took myself off to find out what happened to my dad's cousin Agnes cos her Christmas cards suddenly stopped. She moved to Shipham some years ago. Well, the old bugger has died and her house is demolished and a 'Grand Designs' styley cottage built there - the current owner Christine invited me in for coffee and filled some gaps - really kind - now I'd like to fill her son-in-law Henry's gap for not telling us of her demise - aren't families great!

Well, I'll be off now - got to prepare myself for a heavy weekend ahead - llama trekking tomorrow - and the first hot date for a year!! Should go swimmingly if I still smell of llamas by the evening :-)

Have a fab weekend folks

Kimmie x

TGIF :-) There's no event like a snow event....when you're wearing the wrong thong

Yo Friday peops,

What a build-up to the ‘snow event’ as the Met Office now call it…there I was Sunday night, taking all the ‘severe weather warnings’ in, peeping out the curtains, watching the first flakes fall, priding myself on my preparedness, laying out my gear in readiness – socks/boots/waterproofs/fleeces – better be sensible and walk to work the next morning. ….

Monday morning…pre-planning falls apart – can’t decide what to wear if I’m not in car - change mind 6 times – leave pile of clothes and boots throughout the house, end up wearing half rambling gear/half work clothes – two fleecy layers and waterproof on top with beanie, snood, trews, waterproof trousers and walking boots - carrying rucky with spare top and work shoes - trudge 2 miles through snow – schoolkids laughing at my abominable ‘fat fart look’ – can’t reach my handkerchief – in a pocket under two layers of fleece – realise after half a mile of arse squeaking that I’m wearing the wrong thong – should be wearing walking thong – wearing work thong – wrong -arrive at work wet and snotty (but glowing green….) half hour late – cancel clinics – ambulances can’t get up side streets – OK coming down tho…. sideways…..boots off - busy busy – change top – doesn’t match bottoms – not a good look - more busy busy – big meeting – attendance poor cos of snow – little meeting - me and Lolly (my beautilicious assistant) forced to eat most of the Sainsbury’s chocolate covered flapjacks (well it was a state of emergency….) tho Wendy & Shazbags felt the same sense of emergency – girls – you gotta stick together – we hide the rest from James so we’d still had some left for the next day – it nearly worked :-/…. spend another half hour getting layers back on to go home – walked home through a Winter Wonderland – detoured through Bournville then bimbled home – got some great flaky shots…..spend rest of evening watching the cars slip down the road sideways – better than telly…..

Tuesday morning….get up half hour early – in case the pre-planning falls apart again – it does. Stiff after the trudging yesterday – put walking thong on – very pleased I remembered. Phone Easton next door who has just finished Cadbury night shift – for live road report – spend 10 minutes gassing – walk through house putting on bits of clothes I left in a trail yesterday….EASTON…it’s 6 am!…...late - decide to catch bus – change again into something more ‘bus-like’…improvement on yesterday - look like a Womble now….worried about whether I’ll get off at the right stop – can’t see out the steamed up windows – there appears to be some respiration going on – though you wouldn’t think it looking round ;-) Arrive at work – how sensible leaving work shoes carried in yesterday under my desk – wrong – they are my ‘trouser shoes’ not my ‘skirt shoes’ – and they don’t go with the wrong thong… I sidle past the Rehab’ engineers open door – they too are all hot and steamy…. 8am – phone call from the beautilicious Lolly “I’m stuck in the car park…help…” She’s skating round the car park in her mini cooper - I pop to the room full of hot engineers and mention Lolly’s name – it’s like a mass ejector button has gone off… I wonder (out loud) whether they would all do the same for a Womble – and they all mutter under their breath….I think I hear one of them (who does a great impression of the Churchill dog)…. mumble “Oh yes”….

Wednesday – took the Hummer in – acted like a big sled all the way there and back – bit hairy…..

Thursday – as per Monday – but wearing right thong, wrong socks – so had to stay in boots all day – another bad look….

Friday – as per Wednesday – it does look pretty though – such a shame that a couple of inches can make all that difference… as the Bishop said…..

Keep warm folks…..

Kim :-)

How not to park on ice.......

http://www.jokemachine.co.uk/funny_videos/how_not_to_park_on_ice.asp

TGIF :-) PC and PC

Hello Friday peops,

Yes it’s TGI February… only 325 shopping days till Christmas….
I have to eat a bit of humble pie after my daily telephone calls to the Insurance Company to make my PC warranty real, I had a very nice engineer visit ….and give me new CD drive that works – YAY!! Plus a lesson in software – what it is and what it isn’t - it’s hard – well, not really it’s soft, but bit embarrassed not knowing the difference between software and hardware – doh! – his last bit of advice was that I still needed to wipe everything clean to make it work better – so I’ve dusted it down – but the damn thing is still slow?

Went on an E-bay training day last weekend – a proper E-bay educationalist educated me. I’ve bought loads but never sold anything y’see. He told us to start with something easy that we didn’t mind losing out on – so I’ve found some ad hoc antiques and decided to start with a ‘Paired item lot’ – to put in the 'Collectables' category ....took lots of photos from different angles – he said to check the ‘completed lists’ to see similar items that were successful and those which were not - to learn from the descriptions and photos and bottom asking price…..I spent hours writing the ad, “Mother and Father automatons – fully moving parts – bit stiff – very amusing to watch – BUY ONE GET ONE FREE” then bummer - found out you can’t sell live items on E-bay – so wondered if any of you TGIF crowd may be interested? To be honest, I’ve decided to hang on to them for now and try selling the Wedgwood ashtray instead…..

Work has been good – I know I don’t mention it often, but I actually managed to finish a job –YES - Honest – Scout’s honour…. only taken a year – which is good going cos some of the other projects have been ongoing since I started in 2004 – so I’m well chuffed. See…. The NHS CAN get things done (ish)!
So while I’ve been beavering away all week, I’ve been snarling about the occasional ‘funny’ e-mail that my work colleagues send through – I’m far too busy to be having fun y’see – wish I had the luxury of time to send funnies blah blah – however since this appeared to be a short one, I opened it – and smiled quietly at the irony of the non-PC content - since the originator had left their Firm’s footers at the bottom of the e-mail, proudly proclaiming “Law Firm of the Year Award 2008-09…..British Legal Awards” and even better… “Equality & Diversity, CSR Award 2008-09.. from the Law Society”… and the e-mail…..enjoy!

::: BREAKING NEWS :::
Due to the recession in 2009 the government will start deporting all the mentally ill people to save money.
I started crying when I thought of you.
Run my little crazy friends, run!
Well, what can I say ???
Someone sent it to me, and dammit, I'm NOT going alone !!?

TGIF :-) 160109 On line and on a line!

Yo Friday peops,

I know you’re all dying to hear about how my pooter has come back fit and well – but sadly it ain’t. The USB ports have miraculously cured themselves – an IT miracle has occurred…. however the CD bit is still whirring like a Chinook and refusing to open photos – maybe it’s got taste? It has been a delight though chatting to the twoneuronesconnecting drongo call-centre ‘people’ all of whom have a different line in ‘fob-off’

Needless to say the two year ‘desktop warranty’ with the promise of an engineer visiting me in three days is interpreted by the company as ‘we’ll send a courier at your most inconvenient time to take you pooter for a week, and then return it saying there isn’t a problem even though there quite clearly is’…..
I was very calm though – after listening to the “Your call is important to us… these calls are recorded for training purposes…. blah blah”…. I asked the umpteenth drongo “Can you clarify for MY training purposes how the two year desk top warranty stating an engineer will call in three days means that actually it is driven off in a big white van….. blah blah…..” to which Drongo replied….”Ah YES, y’see the warranty doesn’t cover software problems…… blah blah….”, to which I replied… “Ah, YES y’see this is the problem with using a telephone and not sending a real engineer, who for his for their training purposes would see that I’m DYED blonde and not REAL blonde……and I know the bloody difference between software and hardware……….”

Yuuuup…. I’m still waiting for the engineer to call…..which was the last false promise drongo 124 made :-/

On top of all this I’m worried about the credit crunch, but no more….I’ve learned first hand why we are all in this mess……. I raided my piggy bank and bagged up £60 worth of coins (aka shrapnel), lugged them up to the bank, stood in the snakey cordoned queue for 15 minutes, leaning at dangerous angles trying to carry the load….finally resting it on the counter… then the lump of lard behind the counter swivelled on her precarious toadstool and smilingly pointed to the 12 font (bold though?) notice on the back wall ‘Maximum 5 bags per person per day’……….
I ask incredulously, “You’re a bank and you’re refusing my money?”…..
“Well……., she says, we have to pay to have it to be taken away…..”
Well, use some of this to pay for it……”
” Sorry….”
“OK, I understand, rules are rules…..”
…. "Oh….” she says looking at her PC, which has obviously NOT been serviced by the same engineers who shafted me…… “I notice we offered you a mortgage in…..”
“…Before you finish, I’d love to stop and talk but I have £55 worth of shrapnel weighing me down……..”

Touché :-)

Have a great weekend folks x

Normal service will be resumed....

Hi folks

I've had one of those weeks where everything I've touched has broken - it started with those stuffing balls, then has moved on to all things technical - tho I suppose it is all balls still?
My PC is poorly - probably all the USB gizmo's dangling from it's aching ports!!! My CD is not reading CDs properly - and is clunking (that's a technical term) and my USB ports aren't working - so it is off with it to Pooter Hospital tomorrow. :-(

It stopped talking to my camera first - when I tried to download pics of mater and pater as stuffed as the proverbial Turkey clucking round my living room on Christmas day till I shooed them out :-D

I'm not sure how I'll manage without Facebook - it's my first real test - I'm not sure they do withdrawal treatment for Facebook addicts?

My new years resolutions include several things - one of them was to get back to nature - I've decided not to scare the window cleaner off again (if he ever returns?) though - so have joined the local wildlife Trust. Myself and Sue went to spend loadsamoney on new walking stuff at 'Go Outdoors' and were drawn towards a very nice man all in green (with blue nose and hands) - and he managed to talk us into vole counting - well there's something new for 2009 I thought!!! If you want to join me let me know :-)

Another resolution was to make abit more effort - I'd let myself go a bit last year - so since I had lost 10lb and started to feel better about my dangly bits I decided also to start putting my face back on - though it is an effort when the eyeliner pencil sort of bumps across the eyelid wrinkles - necessitating a bit of a sharpening job - then.... bugger me... the end snapped off so I had to fish it out with my fine tweezers - success... I'm looking in the mirror feeling mighty pretty then see one of those witchy hairs poking out of my chin - it happens to us all at this age, so I decide to pluck it out - and then you get carried away don't you - so I yanked a few more out - I was going to look gorgeous..... anyway I refocused and leant back to admire my handiwork and AAAARGHHHH!!! I looked like 'Desperate Dan' - I'd not cleaned the tweezers out so I had lots of blue dots all over my chin. Decided I couldn't be arsed and went to work like it - nobody said a thing - it's great being old!!!

Have a good un - hopefully be back on line soon

Kimmie x

TGIF Boxing Day :-)

Hi peops

Hope yours was a good un? Ours went without a hitch…… nearly :-/

There was (those of you on Facebook knew of) the problem the couple of weeks trying to get a Gressingham duck from Sainsbury’s but they appeared to be only delivering two at a time I think – and could I bloody find one!!?? NO! …so I plumped for a Crown – and had muchos debatos with mater about whether there would be enough meat on it… so I decided to get some venison to plump it out – with the idea of ‘theming’ the menu as ‘Christmas is ducking feer”
This year I decided to try and do away with my usual ‘OCD’ itinerary – and just enjoy the foodie prep – first big mistake…..my absent peas, cremated stuffing balls and bleeding duck proved the point! Jamie said in his new Ministry of Food book that his balls needed 50 mins in the bottom of the oven… bollox – poor mom and her new fangs couldn’t cope! The very rare duck was still quacking when it flew in and landed on their plates! As for the minted peas, I trimmed fresh mint off the windowsill herbs - after washing all the greenfly off – and paced it in the bottom of the dish ready for the peas to nestle on top and absorb the fresh mintiness – only problem – I forgot to put the peas in – talk about peased off!

That was all after I greeted mom and dad with Marsala and canapés – blue cheese stuffed medjool dates, Ostrich pate & Salmon & dill on ciabattas….a St.Irchley attempt at being posh….dad was mithering because he “hadn’t even sat down yet..” and there was no plate? Mom is saying “No Ken, canapés are for nibbling and mingling…..” and then looked around to see who else there was to mingle with….. oops!

Still the chestnut soup and the dessert were hits – a stollen based boozy trifle – needless to say the 10lb I have lost over recent weeks all went back on yesterday!

Had some lovely pressies too off mom and dad - friends too – a beautiful white gold and pink sapphire bracelet and watch -I wont list them all cos that would just be showing off – needless to say I sent some mobile phone pics of me wearing my 4 new scarves (you can never have enough), one headlamp, one earlamp and my new vibrating duck to a few! The prize goes to Numpty who got me a remote control chilled bag on wheels – so you can send the chilled wine or cans across the room! Numpty’s dog Ben gave Dennis his own cat nip flower pot which Dennis has panted in his plot around his basket – he is Mr Clutter Cat! I’m off over to mom’s shortly - if it's dark wearing my lamps.... for warm turkey sandwiches – yum yum. I’m taking the dish of minty peas over with me :-D

Hope yule still be having a merry time

Kimmie x