Snow

I hate snow. I hate the slippy mush. I'm prone to falling over in the stuff. I've looked out of the window and there is a light scattering of snow outside. It has given me the right raving hump.
I just hope it doesn't snow on London, because crossing Southwark bridge is a b!tch.
Bah humbug!

I Knew it!

You Are a Geek

You love to learn, especially when it's about technology. No subject is too obscure for you. You enjoy tinkering with things to see how they work. You aren't a traditional learner either... you need to hack around to figure things out. You may have the brains to be a super rich Silicon Valley geek, but you're truly content to have your own favorite projects, subjects, and toys. For you, being a geek is not about the glory. It's about a love of digging deep and truly understanding the world.

What's Your Stereotype?

Blogthings: We're Not Shrinks, But We Play Them On the Internet

And another thing..

I watched New Moon last night. Bella and Edward don't have much fun do they? I like it because it does remind me that first love is so very intense and serious. I want to shout "Bella! hang on! by the time you get in to your 20s you will have lighten up a lot! You will come to realise that true love is not painful and all consuming!"
Any how I worked out why I like werewolves better than vampires. It is because werewolves are alive.

Stuff and Nonsense

I got a strange e mail the other day. A friend of mine got 2 kittens in the summer and it has got a bit much for him. He is looking for someone to take them off his hands,otherwise he will take them to a rehoming charity.
I'm astounded, because he isn't a frivolous man. He wouldn't have bought the kittens on a whim and then changed his mind. But then I believe if you may animals you are making a commitment and unless your circumstances totally change or you find you are severely allergic to it, I can't understand why you would hand them back.

On a lighter note I lent Mum my kindle to see how she gets on with it. Mum has needs to read large print, and you can alter the font on a kindle. But I am really missing it.

Seaside walk

The joys of living near the coast.

Diamonds and Marketing

I stumbled over this blog, Rowdy kittens.. It really struck a cord.
I love diamonds. I rather I did. I used to love looking at jewellery websites and fantasise over all the lovely rings. I've blogged before about how I'd like to change wedding rings (wearing the same old ring day in day out..)
Then 2 things happened. I watched the WAGS Come Dine With Me , and was repelled by their massive melon farmer of diamond rings. Then I went to a Pampered Chef evening, and looking round at the other ladies there. all of us wearing our solitaires and wedding bands...I felt like a Stepford Wife.
So it made me have a little re think, which is a good thing. Enough of the diamond madness!!!

Saturday

Would like to say haven't blogged the last couple of weeks because I've been on holiday/having exciting times/have a glamorous life. However I would be lying. I have had flu. It was horrible and draining and I felt v.sorry for myself. Pleased to say I feel tons better now. However as I have done eff all for the last 2 weeks I haven't got much to blog about.
I think the dog knows when I'm poorly. he didn't bother me for walks and he did try and take a few liberties. I woke up from an afternoon nap to finds him sprawled out on our (me and Steve's that is) bed. He wouldn't dare do that normally!

Comfort food part 2.

Ocean Jen, this is what Shepherds pie looks like (well, the one I make anyway!)




This is what I had for lunch at work on Friday, raised the spirits after a hard week's work!

Comfort food

When I'm at work , my comfort lunch is : cheese and coleslaw and cucumber baguette,cheese and onion crisps (with some of the crisps in the baguette) and Diet Coke.
At home it is spaghetti hoops and cheese on toast and a cup of Earl Grey.
My comfort dinner at home is :lasagna with a glass or 3 of merlot. Or a shepherd's pie, in fact I am cooking a shepherd's pie now.
Food that sinks the spirits: oven chips and a bean burger.

Now we are wed

I was reading Anna and the Ring, a blog about a girl's preparations for her wedding. it got me thinking, I've been married nearly 12 years. What are my words of wisdom?
The first year of marriage sucks. You will argue loads. I still don't know why this should be, it just is. Like gravity.
Never forget , that he is now your next of kin. HE CAN TURN OFF YOUR LIFE SUPPORT. Bear this in mind in your daily dealings.
After the first year, things do settle down. You remember why you got married in the first place.
You may have married your best friend, but with time he becomes more than your best friend.
These are the people who I take notice of and who can change my mind, in order:my husband, parents and my sister.
I can go off and do new things because I know he is there in the background to support me.

When white goods go bad

I have had quite a busy time and there is a lot of stuff that is blog worthy. But that has been over shadowed by my washing machine scaring the ba jaysus out of me.
We've had the thing for at least 8 years. Steve thinks we had it at the flat, but I'm pretty sure we bought it when we were living here. Any how I put a small load on this morning ( I like to start the week with an empty washing basket) and then there was a big BANG and it died. Steve changed the fuse in the plug, but it was still dead. Steve then went off to do his radio stuff and I took the dog for a walk.
When I got back I could smell burning rubber. Going in to the kitchen, smoke was billowing out of the washing machine.
Now , this is when I surprised myself. I never think of myself as a practical person. But I ran (ran!) the under stairs cupboard to switch the mains off. After opening the windows, I then tried to take the plug out of the washing machine (which is on the side of the machine). To do this you have to move the washing machine to the right. But it was burny hot to the touch! Undeterred I got my trusty oven gloves and wrestled with the fecking thing (as I was now beginning to think of it) and took the plug out.
I dread to think what would have happened if I hadn't had got home when I did.

Out of date

Steve got stung by a was today. Under his toe. OUCH! After I pulled the sting out with a pair of tweezers (to my amazement as I am a bit cack handed)I hunted around in a medicine tin for some sting gel thingy. I found some , but was shocked at all the out of date stuff we had. Stuff like Deep heat spray, stuff you put in your ears if you have an earache, cystitis powder, vitamin c - were years out of date. The only stuff in date was the panadol. So I had a throw out and will have a re stock.
Re the wasp sting - the thing that helped was ice cubes. Steve is feeling ok now.

Class Words

I was watching a programme on the English class system.

I say:
living room, settee, loo, serviette, dinner is my evening meal, my house has fitted carpets.

I know I should say:
sofa, sitting room, napkin, (not sure about loo - is it smart to say lavatory?) have wooden floors.

I'd be interested in learning how Americans tell class origins.

Tuesday

Another funny website

Pets

Steve and I have been talking about getting another dog.
Then I came upon this.

Sterling v Dollars

Hurrah!Q Sterling is getting stronger against the US dollar. Not that I'm going to America- but my kindle downloads will be cheaper. I still *love* my kindle..

Books

I downloaded Under the Dome by Stephen King. Now I do like my Stephen King - I've read the full version of The Stand- so I had high hopes.
Reader, I gave up after the first few chapters. The goodies seem too good and the baddies seem too bad - where are the shades of grey? I felt I knew where the story was going in that Barbie will be framed for Angie's murder and it will all go a bit Animal Farm/Lord of the Flies....I just lost interest.

Home

However much I have enjoyed myself that day/evening out my bestest bit is coming home. Coming home, giving the dog a cuddle for being such a good boy when we were out,changing in to my dressing gown and watching something on the telly from the personal planner to unwind. Oh and after yesterday at Latitude, using a loo that flushes!

Chick Flick

I was watching a chick flick - a respite from football and grand prix- I won't say which film as I'm giving the ending away. At the end the heroine is told :you made a difference to him, you changed him
And I thought : DON'T SAY THAT! That is where women get all fecked up in relationships and get bitter and feel let down. They want to change the men. They want ot make a difference. No, no, no! How would you like it if someone tried to change you? The transformative power of love is a dangerous fairy tale.
I would have liked it better if they had said: he could really relax and just be himself round you.

Surprise!

When I got in today Steve was in the bathroom. "I'm in the bathroom!" he yelled.
Note to reader: we have one bathroom in the house and it has the only loo, sink and bath.
I made myself a drink and went upstairs to empty the washing bin. I heard the bath room door bolt lock. "Its all right I don't want to see you on the loo!" I yelled back. I put the washing on, drunk my drink and started to think...he is taking his time. I also heard him grunting and hoped that he would at least open the bathroom window when he had finished his "business".
"You can come in now" Steve called. Oh yuk, why would I want to do that?!?! But I went in anyway (in sickness and in health and all that). And you know what he had been doing? He hadn't been douing his "business" He had been changing the loo seat! Instead of the rickety pine seat we now have a brilliantly clean, white plastic seat.