What rhymes with....

At the moment I'm reading "What rhymes with Bastard?" by Linda Robertson. I find her story touching because Linda is very honest about her own short comings. How never feeling that you quite belong, that you're not good enough led her to put up with so much rubbish. Saying that I find the pair of them irritating (which I think Linda intends) and at this stage of the book, think they deserve each other.

BTW Linda is always saying how friendless she is...and then mentions her friends. She has got more friends than I have!

Bits and Pieces

A few points:

This morning I'm sitting reading the paper, drinking a cup of tea. The door bell rings  and it is a salesman from Eon. Now I hate people trying to sell me stuff at the door. But I'm polite, I appreciate the man has a job to do.  I told him I was happy with my energy provider (stupid term) and he asked me who my energy provider was. Instead of telling him to mind his own business and set Tommy on him, I just said that my husband takes care of all that (Steve was upstairs and said he had to choke back a laugh, hearing me being such a 50s wife) and the man sneered at me. No need for that was there?

I popped in to Sainsburys yesterday and the Big Issue seller was aggressive. I'm not being bullied into buying a copy, and anyway Ricky Gervais is on the cover and I hate him. I used to dislike him when he was on Liquid News before he became famous. That dislike has grown in to hatred.

About 4 years ago I bought 3 pairs of jeans from Peacocks. They were the best jeans ever. But Peacocks don't do that style any more and I really need to buy new pairs. Today in George  I bought 2 pairs. I did  my normal tests  in the changing room (sitting down, bending over , walking , to see if the jeans stayed put - I hate jeans that gradually ride down and I'm in horror  of  builders bum).  Obviously changing room tests aren't the same as real life, but I have high hopes.   

When I got home and opened the door I could hear scrabbling in the kitchen. I don't know what happened but Tom couldn't get up from the lino. He wasn't crying, didn't look in pain and  I lifted him up and put in the hall. Tom walked away, and if a dog can look embarrassed, he did. I think he is ok. Made mental note to always shut the kitchen door when we go out.

Terror in the Playzone

At Center Parcs there is a Playzone/arcade thing. Steve and I had an enjoyable game of air hockey.  Then Steve suggested we go in this car simulator thing. Like street racer but you are in this car. I said "ok". We squeezed in (having bulky coats and bags with us - and don't forget this game is aimed at kids and I have a decidedly grown up bottom.) Once in side Steve said "Right I'll pull over the roof" and as he did so, the side doors shut and we were completely enclosed in this tiny space. Reader,  I never realised that I am claustrophobic.

Gina: Oh I don't like this.

Steve: It'll be ok when it gets going..

Gina grabbing at door handle and door won't open: GET ME OUT! GET ME OUT!

Steve unable to get door open starts hitting the STOP button. But nothing is happening. I suppose it is unusual to try and stop the game before it starts. Steve opens the "sun roof" to let some air in.

Steve: I think we may have to do the ride.

Gina: GET ME OUT! GET ME OUT!

Luckily the stop button thing kicked in and the doors opened. Reader,  I was shaking. I had gone from calm to barmy on 0000000.000001 seconds.

Later telling the Little Dudes how their aunt went barmy, they told me no one can hear you shouting in that car terror thing. It turns out earlier in the day they had got trapped in it and luckily Dave realised it wasn't moving and got a member of staff to let them out.  I'm NEVER getting into one of those things again. 

Fun! Fun! Fun!

Last night we got back from a long weekend at Centre parcs.  We had 2 chalets, the Robbos and my parents ; and in the other Angela , Dave and the little Dudes. Steve and I rented bikes - and its true you don't forget how to ride a bike.  I was a bit wobbley at first but was soon racing Steve. Us ladies kicked off the holiday going to the Aqua Spa (I've raved about the Centre parcs beauty treatments before.) we all did bowling (and I got a strike!) I did silk painting (I found the technique difficult but Jim was v. patient. The finished piece of art is now sitting on the window sill). The husbands played pool( and were shocked at how bad they are now - apparantly they wer ebrill when they were teenagers). The Dudes and Grandparents had a horse carriage ride. Angela, Littlest Dude, Mum and I played ping pong (mum and LD were vicious) Little Dude and Dave played pool. We all did short mat bowls. Amongst all this there was much swimming and the boys playing in the adventure playgrounds. It was fun and we all went home exhausted.  What I like about Centre parcs is that you do things that you would never normally do (in my case riding a bike, silk painting and ping pong.) Every night we were all soundo by half ten and up again at 8 raring to go. 

Saturday

Last night we went out for dinner with Tim and Sharon. I can't remember the last time we all went out and it was a really good night. You could see the effects of the credit crunch - 20% of set meals and the place was half empty.

I think we were talking about crushes and Sharon announced that she couldn't see the appeal of Angelina Jolie....and the lads went very quiet and a bit uncomfortable looking. Although they denied it, they so love her.

I took the test

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The Loyal Friend
Others see you as sensible, cautious, careful & practical. They see you as clever, gifted, or talented, but modest. Not a person who makes friends too quickly or easily, but someone who's extremely loyal to friends you do make and who expects the same loyalty in return. Those who really get to know you realize it takes a lot to shake your trust in your friends, but equally that it takes you a long time to get over if that trust is ever broken.

Feet and other things beginning with f.

I had a pedicure today. My feet were covered in paraffin wax ( a rather nice sensation) and then the hard skin was skimmed off and my toe nails painted and cuticles trimmed. 

I've always thought my feet were a bit yucky and I have the very bad habit of picking at my feet. Natalie said that my feet weren't as bad as I thought they were and she could tell that I wear good (ie sensible ) shoes.  And its true I do wear good shoes. My Clarke shoes are the very antithesis of f* me shoes but so what. When I wear them I feel like I'm putting on a pair of slippers. I want comfort when  I'm walking .  I agree with Nigella Lawson, high heels are for the bedroom. If I'm going have the discomfort (I do I mean agony) of wearing f* me shoes I want to be well and truly ****'d.

Wot I'm reading

I am reading The End of Mr Y by Scarlett Thomas . I first discovered Scarlett Thomas  a few years ago through her Lily Pascale crime series. They were 3 in total, but I read on her website that she didn't feel comfortable with the crime genre, so she won't be writing any more.  I liked Lily, she was how I liked to have been when I was in my early 20s , cool and independent. her own woman. Lily was  half French- I'd love to be half French and fluent in the language , rather than wholly English with one useless French O level (how can you learn a language for 5 years, get a qualification in it and still not be able to speak it or understand it? How?) I remember in one scene Lily is asked if she has got any chocolate and she thinks she may have some Green and Black in the fridge. And I thought yeah there are the girls that buy Green and Black and the girls who buy Cadburys. Guess which one I am.

I've read her other books, Going out, Popco, Bright Young Things. I didn't like Going out so much, but I think that's because I just finished Lily Pascale and the book was completely different from what I was expecting. I'm enjoying The End Of Mr Y. Auriel, the heroine , doesn't have much money. She lives in a freezing cold flat without any nice things. Auriel follows what interests her. She hasn't joined the rat race. Now I have joined the rat race, and given the current economic climate I very much want to stay there.  The idea of not having a nice warm home, my ornaments, my candles, my  treasures makes me feel ill. I'm more than happy to get up very early, work hard in a job that no one has ever had a burning ambition to do in order that I can afford the life style I have.

I do recommend Scarlett's books. I won't say much about them because I don't want to spoil them for you, but they do make you think.

Don't mess with me..

here is your handwriting analysis.

 Gina uses judgment to make decisions. She is ruled by her head, not her heart. She is a cool, collected person who is usually unexpressive emotionally. Some may see her as unemotional. She does have emotions but has no need to express them. She is withdrawn into herself and enjoys being alone.

The circumstances when Gina does express emotions include: extreme anger, extreme passion, and tremendous stress. If someone gets her mad enough to tell her off, she will not be sorry about it later. She puts a mark in her mind when someone angers her. She keeps track of these marks and when she hits that last mark she will let them know they have gone too far. She is ruled somewhat by self-interest. All her conclusions are made without outside emotional influence. She is very level-headed and will remain calm in an emergency situation. In a situation where other people might get hysterical, she has poise.

Gina will work more efficiently if given space and time to be alone. She would rather not be surrounded by people constantly. In a relationship, she will show her love by the things she does rather than by the things she says. Saying "I love you" is not a needed routine because she feels her mate should already know. The only exception to this is if she has logically concluded that it is best for her mate to hear her express her love verbally.

Gina is not subject to emotional appeals. If someone is selling a product to her, they will need to present only the facts. They should present them from a standpoint of her sound judgment. She will not be taken in by an emotional story about someone else. She will meet emergencies without getting hysterical and she will always ask "Is this best for me?"

 People that write their letters in an average height and average size are moderate in their ability to interact socially. According to the data input, Gina doesn't write too large or too small, indicating a balanced ability to be social and interact with others.

 Gina will be candid and direct when expressing her opinion. She will tell them what she thinks if they ask for it, whether they like it or not. So, if they don't really want her opinion, don't ask for it!

 In reference to Gina's mental abilities, she has a very investigating and creating mind. She investigates projects rapidly because she is curious about many things. She gets involved in many projects that seem good at the beginning, but she soon must slow down and look at all the angles. She probably gets too many things going at once. When Gina slows down, then she becomes more creative than before. Since it takes time to be creative, she must slow down to do it. She then decides what projects she has time to finish. Thus she finishes at a slower pace than when she started the project.

She has the best of two kinds of minds. One is the quick investigating mind. The other is the creative mind. Her mind thinks quick and rapidly in the investigative mode. She can learn quicker, investigate more, and think faster. Gina can then switch into her low gear. When she is in the slower mode, she can be creative, remember longer and stack facts in a logical manner. She is more logical this way and can climb mental mountains with a much better grip.

 Gina is a practical person whose goals are planned, practical, and down to earth. This is typical of people with normal healthy self-esteem. She needs to visualize the end of a project before she starts. she finds joy in anticipation and planning. Notice that I said she plans everything she is going to do, that doesn't necessarily mean things go as planned. Gina basically feels good about herself. She has a positive self-esteem which contributes to her success. She feels she has the ability to achieve anything she sets her mind to. However, she sets her goals using practicality-- not too "out of reach". She has enough self-confidence to leave a bad situation, yet, she will not take great risks, as they relate to her goals. A good esteem is one key to a happy life. Although there is room for improvement in the confidence catagery, her self-perception is better than average.

 Gina is selective when picking friends. She does not trust everyone. She has a select group of people that are truly close to her, usually two or three. She is careful when choosing her inner circle of friends.

 For a graphologist, the spacing on the page reflects the writer's attitude toward their own world and relationship to things in his or her own space. If the inputted data was correct Gina has left lots of white space on the right side of the paper. Gina fills up the rest of the page in a normal fashion. If this is true, then Gina has an unhealthy relationship to the past and has a fear of moving forward. The right side of the page represents the future and Gina seems unwilling to face the fear of getting started living now and planning for the future. Gina seems to be clinging to past events and spending lots of time thinking about what happened. It would be best to leave the past behind and move on. Stop crowding that left margin.

Seaside and raindrops

I love taking Tommy for a walk when it is raining. This is because only the "proper" dog owners still take their dogs out in horrible weather, so you don't have to worry about people who can't control their dogs. For me the only drawback about having an ex racer is that you can't let them off the lead. When off lead dogs come running up to on lead dogs, for some reason it never ends that well. I find it easier to just avoid the situation. But on rainy days I don't have to worry, any off lead dogs soon return to their owners when called.

When we got home we were both dripping wet but happy. It doesn't take much. I dried Tom and he is laying by the radiator and I'm going to have a nice hot, bubbly bath, followed by a fried egg and tomato sauce sandwich. Yum yum.

I couldn't help but wonder...

I watched The Sex and the City film on DVD last night (£8 from Tescos, what a bargain) I had seen it at the pictures, so it was the second time I've watched it. I'm a Sex and the City geek. These people are real to me.

My main gripe was the Miranda /Steve storyline. By the end of the film when they had reconciled, she had come to terms with him shagging else where as she was too exhausted from being a working mum to "meet his needs". They were having energetic sex (and it you haven't seen and I've spoiled it for you, tough you've had ages to go see it) - and I couldn't help but wonder -what had changed? Miranda was still a working mum, where she had suddenly found all this extra energy? I thought that was the fairy tale ending rather than Carrie and Big getting married.

Still who watches SATC for believability? I love it. I love the way they are all loaded. That they say how busy they are but they have always got time to go out together. The weird clothes Carrie wears (which none of the other characters ever comment on). Their fabulously big apartments. it is pure escapism. A fairy tale for people like me.

Soul Mates?

Do you believe in soul mates, that there is some one out there for everyone that is perfect for them? That is just a matter of finding them?

I've thought about this a lot, partly because people have said "Oh you and  Steve are soul mates" and I've always thought, no it isn't as easy as that. I've had serious relationships before Steve that crashed and burned, but at the time I thought they were"the one". Now I think "Oh Gina what were you thinking!"

 I think, no I know, that you BOTH have to work at relationship, but there has to be something there  to work on.  And feelings do change. I think that a good relationship  is a magical mixture of luck and work.

Now would do I mean by working on a relationship. These are a few things:

Not blaming them for your inadequacies.

Not expecting them to change, but don't try to stop them changing

Treating them with kindness.

Counting to ten, or ten thousand

Remember you might not have meant what you said in anger..but too late it has been said.

Learning to forgive them

Making time for fun- which funnily enough can be difficult.

Respecting their boundaries.

Allowing yourself to be open with them.

Right, I'll get off my soap box now.