Well, that's another Christmas done and dusted! One to go down in the good memory file to be sure.
We had an extra two guests this year in the shape of Grace, Simons friend who originates from Hong Kong and her little dog Tsi Tsi ( have not a clue if that's the right spelling!) who is a little Shih Tzu a similar breed to Ta-shi. I had been warned to expect a really bad, naughty little dog that would most likely wreak havoc and mayhem! What we got was a delightful and sweet little creature who is a little confused as to who is in charge in his life. Ta-shi decided to be boss dog for the time Tsi tsi was with us and steadfastly refused to share any toys and any cuddles if he could get away with it. He occasionally dropped his guard and had a good old romp with his new friend. If and when Grace decides to return to Hong Kong I think Tsi Tsi will find a home with us!
Grace was an absolute diamond of a girl, what IS my son doing letting a girl like that slip through his fingers, but I could really see that there probably was not a spark of romance between them and they really are just good friends but what a waste! They kinda look right together and Grace sure has the measure of Simon and gently teases him at times.
We had a few hilarious moments at times with her accent as typically she cannot pronounce the letters R or L as apparently they do not figure in the Chinese alphabet.
She asked us 'where Ta-shi Sweep' I said 'In the Kitchen'
She replied 'No, when he sweep'
'Well all night and sometimes in the day'
She getting a little excited now made a scissor movement with her fingers 'When he have snip snip'
It was a bit like 'give us a clue' Grace has a marvelous sense of humour so none of our misunderstandings mattered a jot. At one time she was looking at Barry and suddenly loudly proclaimed 'Aw Bawee I love your ears' Bawee looked a little surprised to say the least and clasped the said lugs, 'They are vewy long ears, vewy lucky, mean long life in China'.
So there you have it you guys whose ears appear to grow bigger with age, they are vewy lucky!
I had some marvelous gifts, I am getting to grips with technology with my MP3 player, what a nifty bit of kit. It was marvelous to see Barry's face when he opened my gift to him, a flight in a airforce jet simulator in which he has to bomb targets on the ground. Sorry folks I know it is a little 'rough boy' stuff but he has always wanted to fly in a fast jet and this was the nearest I could get. To say he was thrilled was an understatement!
We all had a marvelous game of cranium on Christmas day (Thanks Rach and Dan for introducing us to this) It was as usual absolutely hilarious! I avoided all humming activities though. I was nearly murdered by my own Husband as he tried to mime 'Buffy the vampire slayer' even though I had not volunteered to be the Vampire but I suppose it would of been quite rude to slay our guest Grace, who indeed thought we had all gone quite, quite mad as they don't seem to play games in Hong Kong.
After Christmas Barry and I headed of for two days away ay Alvaston Hall Hotel where we could relax, dance and eat yet more food. We were entertained on the last evening by The American Four Tops who where just fabulous, and they thought our dancing the 'Twist' was quite spectacular and they gave us a cheer! Both Barry and I can twist down to the floor and back up again, although on the last down twist Barry nearly did not make it back up a gain! My legs the next morning told a different story though!
All that remains to be said is thanks boys for such a lovely Christmas and gifts they were all great! And of course Happy New Year to you all, and happy birthday to me!
Friday, December 30, 2005
Friday, December 16, 2005
The meaning of Christmas came home today!
Today I helped the staff at the Nursery School I visit with their Nativity play. It was the very best place to be! If some-one had come along and tried to whisk me away to Capri half way through I would of said 'No'.
True it was organized chaos, true some of the children were overcome and cried. On the whole the fifty, Two to school age children were wonderful. In the group were two year old triplets, one a sheep , one a cow and the only girl a Chinese lady. They just about caused mayhem between them, the cow kept trying to pull the sheeps tail, the cow then decided it would be a marvelous game to bash all comers with his horns. Once I persuaded him that it was not 'kind' to bash our friends he decided the only way to wear them was over his eyes so he could not see me or any-one else for that matter and immediately tripped over a Abbie who lost her hat with corks all around the perimeter (she was that famous Australian who visited Jesus in the stable) and threatened tears. In the meantime the girl triplet dressed in a floor length real silk Chinese dress pulled a whole washing up bowl of water of the shelf and completely soaked herself from head to toe. I decided to sit them all Down and read a story while the staff sorted out the very wet and distressed China doll, and try to dry her costume over a fan heater.
I truly felt like Joyce Grenfell, thank goodness there was not a 'George' in the class. It was a case of, 'It was Christmas eve and every-one was asleep, er don't do that Tom! Except the mice, can you tell me who is asleep look. No Cally give Rosie her teddy back, Rosie darling don't snatch, that's right say thank you'. So it went on, I think I got to the end but who knows!
We eventually had to walk the children down the road and, nightmare! Across the road to the village hall. We had them in pairs but some of them are so tiny they have a problem negotiating the deep kerbs while holding hands. The little boy dressed as and Indian prince tripped so many times, bless him that I thought I had better pick him up. The Angels halo got blown askew by a big gust of wind, it never stood up properly again, she looked rather cheeky with it crooked. We must of looked a motley crew crossing the road, a member of staff dressed as a King held up the traffic while Angels, Shepherds, Kings sheep, cows oh of course there was the donkey as well! And 'Children of the World' ranging from Cowboys to Frenchman resplendent with a beret and a string of onions round his neck (type cast or what) crossed the road!
Once on the stage they came into their own I was amazed at how well they spoke their lines. One usually very shy little girl came alive once on the stage singing louder than any-one else and edging all the time to the front centre stage. The songs were brilliant, and I had more than one little tear in my eye. Abbie threatened to cry first because she could not see Mummy, then because she could see Mummy so I sat her on my lap and told her how amazingly clever and beautiful she was and look how pleased Mummy is to see such a clever girl, she settled into her Australian girl part with great gusto after that.
The beauty of working with children of this age is that you get to see the World as they do, a beautiful new exciting adventure, you see the wonder in their eyes as they act out the oldest story in the world but new and wonderful to them. Life is not yet cynical and cruel but a blank sheet of paper to map out their lives on. Already you see who are the peacemakers among them, who are the organizers and as far as quiet little Cally, who will aspire to be actresses.
I felt very lucky to have been part of it! It was the best fun!
True it was organized chaos, true some of the children were overcome and cried. On the whole the fifty, Two to school age children were wonderful. In the group were two year old triplets, one a sheep , one a cow and the only girl a Chinese lady. They just about caused mayhem between them, the cow kept trying to pull the sheeps tail, the cow then decided it would be a marvelous game to bash all comers with his horns. Once I persuaded him that it was not 'kind' to bash our friends he decided the only way to wear them was over his eyes so he could not see me or any-one else for that matter and immediately tripped over a Abbie who lost her hat with corks all around the perimeter (she was that famous Australian who visited Jesus in the stable) and threatened tears. In the meantime the girl triplet dressed in a floor length real silk Chinese dress pulled a whole washing up bowl of water of the shelf and completely soaked herself from head to toe. I decided to sit them all Down and read a story while the staff sorted out the very wet and distressed China doll, and try to dry her costume over a fan heater.
I truly felt like Joyce Grenfell, thank goodness there was not a 'George' in the class. It was a case of, 'It was Christmas eve and every-one was asleep, er don't do that Tom! Except the mice, can you tell me who is asleep look. No Cally give Rosie her teddy back, Rosie darling don't snatch, that's right say thank you'. So it went on, I think I got to the end but who knows!
We eventually had to walk the children down the road and, nightmare! Across the road to the village hall. We had them in pairs but some of them are so tiny they have a problem negotiating the deep kerbs while holding hands. The little boy dressed as and Indian prince tripped so many times, bless him that I thought I had better pick him up. The Angels halo got blown askew by a big gust of wind, it never stood up properly again, she looked rather cheeky with it crooked. We must of looked a motley crew crossing the road, a member of staff dressed as a King held up the traffic while Angels, Shepherds, Kings sheep, cows oh of course there was the donkey as well! And 'Children of the World' ranging from Cowboys to Frenchman resplendent with a beret and a string of onions round his neck (type cast or what) crossed the road!
Once on the stage they came into their own I was amazed at how well they spoke their lines. One usually very shy little girl came alive once on the stage singing louder than any-one else and edging all the time to the front centre stage. The songs were brilliant, and I had more than one little tear in my eye. Abbie threatened to cry first because she could not see Mummy, then because she could see Mummy so I sat her on my lap and told her how amazingly clever and beautiful she was and look how pleased Mummy is to see such a clever girl, she settled into her Australian girl part with great gusto after that.
The beauty of working with children of this age is that you get to see the World as they do, a beautiful new exciting adventure, you see the wonder in their eyes as they act out the oldest story in the world but new and wonderful to them. Life is not yet cynical and cruel but a blank sheet of paper to map out their lives on. Already you see who are the peacemakers among them, who are the organizers and as far as quiet little Cally, who will aspire to be actresses.
I felt very lucky to have been part of it! It was the best fun!
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
A Brush with Narnia.
I had a fairly eventful end to my week of Friday. I was supposed to be running a course for just a few people on how to run a Gymbob class. No problem!
First one of the delegates was due to arrive at Birmingham airport at 8.30am and I was to pick her up as I pass by that way on my way to work. I get a call at 8 O'clock to say she is still waiting for her flight to be called in Edinburgh, delayed due to a real pea soup of a fog in Birmingham. I hung around for a bit until I got the call to say she would not be coming. OK no problem head to work. I use a laptop and projector to deliver my course and on arriving at work found I had neither. So a little thought and a fair bit of photo copying I delivered my course very successfully without the aid of modern technology. It was great fun, as I just sat down with the 3 remaining delegates and chatted very informally with them and got all the relevant points over really well (I think).
My poor boss was supposed to be heading out to our Company owned franchise later in the day to help out with a couple of classes that they were short staffed in. She was unfortunately laid very low with a very nasty bug. So I had to finish the course as quickly as I could and hot foot it over to Warwick to assist with 24 very lively 5 to 7 year olds. Well.... What fun, they were great fun and I had a very rewarding couple of hours with them.
The equipment theme was 'Winter' and I had opted to man the 'agility' station. I mesmerised them with a theme of Narnia and got them clambering over snowy mountains in search of Aslan, sliding over an ice bridge and into white witch mountain to rescue the treasure which was a key to slide down the shute and escape the mountain (it was a beanbag in reality.) Well, they loved it and really got into the story. One little boy said he could not get out of Aslans den as the lion was biting his feet, little Rachel who has been reading the book told him not to be silly as Aslan was a 'good Lion' who would not do anything as bad as eating your feet. She also decided to be called 'Lucy' and I had to call the two boys in my group Peter and Edmund!
Actually I am not sure who had most fun me or the kids!
I was pretty tired after tackling Narnia but had to dash home to greet guests for dinner. Dan, Rach and Simon headed our way to indulge in a little Curry therapy, it was a great evening. I love to have people to cook for, my wish is to have a really nice dining room in the near future. I have decided our new house must have three bedrooms, a garage, a dining room and a ballroom!
Rach is Ta-shi's new best friend! She and he spent ages playing together. Rach obviously has the same 'animal magnetism' that Simon and I have :-) . Ta-shi thought Rach had stayed overnight and first thing in the morning rushed upstairs to search the rooms for her.
BJ was home for the weekend which was just great! I really miss him during the week. No cuddles when I get home and no three kisses before he goes out in the morning (it has to be three) . My Mother seems to think that we are sure to argue when BJ comes home as that's what she and dad did when he worked away from home. Sorry Mum! We do many things but arguing is not one of them. Close the doors turn the phones off and shut the curtains maybe but no arguing! Not bad for a pair of oldies, after all these years we are still quite silly over each other. Even if he can be a grumpy old git at times!
I seem to be on the wind down now at work towards Christmas, I am finishing work this Friday and even that day is going to be a fun day. I am going to the Nursery School that I deliver 'Leaps and Bounds' to help with their Christmas production. Its going to be organized chaos I am sure as even the little 2-3 year olds are taking part. I can't wait it's going to be the hilight of my week I am sure. What a lucky girl I am to have such a wonderful job. It's hopefully going to get better next year although the downside will be not so much contact with the children as I will be much more involved with the business side of things.
Well I must go and have a chat with Bj we always phone each other at ten pm to have a little chat and say goodnight.
First one of the delegates was due to arrive at Birmingham airport at 8.30am and I was to pick her up as I pass by that way on my way to work. I get a call at 8 O'clock to say she is still waiting for her flight to be called in Edinburgh, delayed due to a real pea soup of a fog in Birmingham. I hung around for a bit until I got the call to say she would not be coming. OK no problem head to work. I use a laptop and projector to deliver my course and on arriving at work found I had neither. So a little thought and a fair bit of photo copying I delivered my course very successfully without the aid of modern technology. It was great fun, as I just sat down with the 3 remaining delegates and chatted very informally with them and got all the relevant points over really well (I think).
My poor boss was supposed to be heading out to our Company owned franchise later in the day to help out with a couple of classes that they were short staffed in. She was unfortunately laid very low with a very nasty bug. So I had to finish the course as quickly as I could and hot foot it over to Warwick to assist with 24 very lively 5 to 7 year olds. Well.... What fun, they were great fun and I had a very rewarding couple of hours with them.
The equipment theme was 'Winter' and I had opted to man the 'agility' station. I mesmerised them with a theme of Narnia and got them clambering over snowy mountains in search of Aslan, sliding over an ice bridge and into white witch mountain to rescue the treasure which was a key to slide down the shute and escape the mountain (it was a beanbag in reality.) Well, they loved it and really got into the story. One little boy said he could not get out of Aslans den as the lion was biting his feet, little Rachel who has been reading the book told him not to be silly as Aslan was a 'good Lion' who would not do anything as bad as eating your feet. She also decided to be called 'Lucy' and I had to call the two boys in my group Peter and Edmund!
Actually I am not sure who had most fun me or the kids!
I was pretty tired after tackling Narnia but had to dash home to greet guests for dinner. Dan, Rach and Simon headed our way to indulge in a little Curry therapy, it was a great evening. I love to have people to cook for, my wish is to have a really nice dining room in the near future. I have decided our new house must have three bedrooms, a garage, a dining room and a ballroom!
Rach is Ta-shi's new best friend! She and he spent ages playing together. Rach obviously has the same 'animal magnetism' that Simon and I have :-) . Ta-shi thought Rach had stayed overnight and first thing in the morning rushed upstairs to search the rooms for her.
BJ was home for the weekend which was just great! I really miss him during the week. No cuddles when I get home and no three kisses before he goes out in the morning (it has to be three) . My Mother seems to think that we are sure to argue when BJ comes home as that's what she and dad did when he worked away from home. Sorry Mum! We do many things but arguing is not one of them. Close the doors turn the phones off and shut the curtains maybe but no arguing! Not bad for a pair of oldies, after all these years we are still quite silly over each other. Even if he can be a grumpy old git at times!
I seem to be on the wind down now at work towards Christmas, I am finishing work this Friday and even that day is going to be a fun day. I am going to the Nursery School that I deliver 'Leaps and Bounds' to help with their Christmas production. Its going to be organized chaos I am sure as even the little 2-3 year olds are taking part. I can't wait it's going to be the hilight of my week I am sure. What a lucky girl I am to have such a wonderful job. It's hopefully going to get better next year although the downside will be not so much contact with the children as I will be much more involved with the business side of things.
Well I must go and have a chat with Bj we always phone each other at ten pm to have a little chat and say goodnight.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
It was 25 years ago today!
Well the song almost starts like that! I am talking Sgt. Pepper of course and the song really starts 'it was 20 years ago today.'
Today is the 25th anniversary of the murder of John Lennon one of the icon's of the last century. I grew up with Beatle mania, lived it, sang it, dreamed about them, cried tears of grief when I thought Paul was going to marry Jane Asher (well I was only about 12).
Pocket money was hoarded to save seven shillings and sixpence to buy a record, as they were called in those distant days. As I only got half a crown (two shillings and sixpence) a week pocket money this was no mean feat. (Thank goodness for Granddads)
The year Tracey was born we were staying in my grandparents flat for Christmas and I had a portable record player for Christmas. Well... I was made up, it was wonderful I also had the single 'She loves you' and I must of played it so many times I am sure I drove every-one completely mad with it. In later years Barry was to mend this treasured item many times for me, I even bought it to our first married home.
I tried to get Mum and Dad to name the new baby, Michelle like in the song, they almost did as Michelle was quite an unusual and exotic mane in those days. Tracey must be glad that she was not a 'shell' !
One of the first records I bought for myself was the EP 'Twist and shout' which also had 'A taste of Honey and 'There's a place' and 'Listen, do you want to know a secret'. I loved them all, and can still sing them all virtually word perfect, but probably not in tune :-) but my parents and Nana, who often stayed with us used to complain like mad about Twist and Shout as rock and roll was considered 'devil' music.
I was completely besotted with Paul as most girls were, those big brown puppy eyes and the gorgeous hair that he would shake maniacally during a song. As for the way he screamed and did those kind of 'woo's' with John during chorus' would drive us into a frenzy.
I was watching the Royal Variety when John told the Audience 'Ok those in the cheap seats clap your hands and those in the front rattle your jewelry'
I remember being uncomfortable when he announced The Beatles 'were bigger than Jesus'. But hey, that was John.
John Lennon was of course a total genius, a visionary, eloquent a man of deep contrasts, peace loving, yet sometimes aggressive. Kind but often very cruel, Thoughtful, but outspoken In fact a very human man with all the foilbles of most of us.
He had a very sad childhood really, bought up by his beloved auntie Mimi who led him to believe his Mother lived hundreds of miles away when really she lived close by. He found her again when he was twelve and it was she who taught him to play the guitar. Sadly by the time he was sixteen she was killed in a traffic accident. How tragic for him.
John lived life through his songs particularly in the later years. 'Watching the wheels go round' written while he was a bored house husband and had not written anything for about five years.
'How do you Sleep at Night' was a very vitriolic dig at Paul after the split. It must of been very hurtful for Paul. It is also claimed it is about his withdrawal from drugs at the time as well.
'Mind games' written during his short separation from Yoko, and so it goes on.
He had a comment for every world event in a song. Mind you we all hated Yoko Ono, we were convinced she split the Beatles. I think now it was Johns complete obsession with Yoko that split the Beatles! It was time, they all had to move on and grow, no boy band sticks together for many years. They certainly brought a bit of magic into our lives at the time.
favorite Beatle or Lennon tracks for me:
In My life.
This Boy.
Twist and shout
She's leaving home
Help
Lady Maddonna
The Long and Winding Road
The whole of Lennons 'Imagine' album. Particularly the title track and 'Woman.'
'WhenI'mSixty Four', because we would play it on the way home on long car journeys and Barry the boys and me would sing to it at the top of our voices, being Sixty four seemed a life time away back then, its slowly edging nearer now. I desperately want a couple of grandchildren on my knee in a rented house on the Isle of Wight, by then!
Oh, probably most of Sgt pepper.
'Maxwell's Hammer, because it has such a catchy cheerful tune, but the words are gruesome!
A new generation are learning to love Lennons music all over again, so really he lives on in his music and words.
As the song again almost say's "It was wonderful to have been there, It certainly was a thrill"
Today is the 25th anniversary of the murder of John Lennon one of the icon's of the last century. I grew up with Beatle mania, lived it, sang it, dreamed about them, cried tears of grief when I thought Paul was going to marry Jane Asher (well I was only about 12).
Pocket money was hoarded to save seven shillings and sixpence to buy a record, as they were called in those distant days. As I only got half a crown (two shillings and sixpence) a week pocket money this was no mean feat. (Thank goodness for Granddads)
The year Tracey was born we were staying in my grandparents flat for Christmas and I had a portable record player for Christmas. Well... I was made up, it was wonderful I also had the single 'She loves you' and I must of played it so many times I am sure I drove every-one completely mad with it. In later years Barry was to mend this treasured item many times for me, I even bought it to our first married home.
I tried to get Mum and Dad to name the new baby, Michelle like in the song, they almost did as Michelle was quite an unusual and exotic mane in those days. Tracey must be glad that she was not a 'shell' !
One of the first records I bought for myself was the EP 'Twist and shout' which also had 'A taste of Honey and 'There's a place' and 'Listen, do you want to know a secret'. I loved them all, and can still sing them all virtually word perfect, but probably not in tune :-) but my parents and Nana, who often stayed with us used to complain like mad about Twist and Shout as rock and roll was considered 'devil' music.
I was completely besotted with Paul as most girls were, those big brown puppy eyes and the gorgeous hair that he would shake maniacally during a song. As for the way he screamed and did those kind of 'woo's' with John during chorus' would drive us into a frenzy.
I was watching the Royal Variety when John told the Audience 'Ok those in the cheap seats clap your hands and those in the front rattle your jewelry'
I remember being uncomfortable when he announced The Beatles 'were bigger than Jesus'. But hey, that was John.
John Lennon was of course a total genius, a visionary, eloquent a man of deep contrasts, peace loving, yet sometimes aggressive. Kind but often very cruel, Thoughtful, but outspoken In fact a very human man with all the foilbles of most of us.
He had a very sad childhood really, bought up by his beloved auntie Mimi who led him to believe his Mother lived hundreds of miles away when really she lived close by. He found her again when he was twelve and it was she who taught him to play the guitar. Sadly by the time he was sixteen she was killed in a traffic accident. How tragic for him.
John lived life through his songs particularly in the later years. 'Watching the wheels go round' written while he was a bored house husband and had not written anything for about five years.
'How do you Sleep at Night' was a very vitriolic dig at Paul after the split. It must of been very hurtful for Paul. It is also claimed it is about his withdrawal from drugs at the time as well.
'Mind games' written during his short separation from Yoko, and so it goes on.
He had a comment for every world event in a song. Mind you we all hated Yoko Ono, we were convinced she split the Beatles. I think now it was Johns complete obsession with Yoko that split the Beatles! It was time, they all had to move on and grow, no boy band sticks together for many years. They certainly brought a bit of magic into our lives at the time.
favorite Beatle or Lennon tracks for me:
In My life.
This Boy.
Twist and shout
She's leaving home
Help
Lady Maddonna
The Long and Winding Road
The whole of Lennons 'Imagine' album. Particularly the title track and 'Woman.'
'WhenI'mSixty Four', because we would play it on the way home on long car journeys and Barry the boys and me would sing to it at the top of our voices, being Sixty four seemed a life time away back then, its slowly edging nearer now. I desperately want a couple of grandchildren on my knee in a rented house on the Isle of Wight, by then!
Oh, probably most of Sgt pepper.
'Maxwell's Hammer, because it has such a catchy cheerful tune, but the words are gruesome!
A new generation are learning to love Lennons music all over again, so really he lives on in his music and words.
As the song again almost say's "It was wonderful to have been there, It certainly was a thrill"
Training the Owner.
Ta-shi decided last night that I was in much need of play training! Lets set the scene. In Ta-shi's little doggy world certain people have certain commitments towards him. I for one am most definitely the pack leader, Alpha Female or she who must be obeyed! I am responsible for feeding and that means which order in the animal hierarchy they get fed as well as the actual food part. I require the cats to be in a higher status in the pack from the dog for reasons of peace and tranquility! So they are fed first Ta-shi see's this and is ordered not to touch their food, this he accepts unless he thinks I am not looking of course! Before the cats, we are fed so he realizes that at the end of the day I am top dog and BJ second in command.
Now because I am top dog I am not really considered a playmate! This is BJ's purpose in Ta-shi's life. He is happy for games of fetch with the ball when out for a walk with me but that is about it.
Bj plays exciting rough games with Ta-shi and he just LOVES it. The problem has arisen because BJ is working away from home for months and months and so Ta-shi is missing out on both games and peanuts again only BJ provides these.
Well Dogger decided that as his pack playmate is no longer available at 9pm every evening he had better train another.
So.... at nine o'clock precisely last night he brings 'Ha ha' to me and sits at my feet. I am required to throw it hard so it makes the mad ha ha noise as it lands. This I do, he looks at me pathetically as if to say 'is the the best you can do' and just strolls to fetch it back. OK, I think I will throw it up the stairs, this he likes better and breaks into a trot. I remember then that he likes to be tickled and gently bashed with his toy before it is launched at great speed towards the bookshelf, if it lands on a shelf he takes great delight in trying to jump high enough to get it, or to practice his 'door shutting' technique in order to get BJ to get it down for him.
I can see he is a little more impressed with me now, so we repeat the game over, and over ,and over again! He eventually gets very excited when I manage to launch Ha Ha onto the very top of the bookcase and have to get a chair to retrieve it.
Next minute Ha ha is abandoned and he arrives at my feet with 'Monkey' this toy has very long arms and legs and is a 'shaking the prey' sort of toy.
Ta-shi says 'Ok you have got the hang of that one, lets see if you can manage this' So I am lectured by my small dog how to play a decent game of tug, I think he was impressed as I was allowed onto the hallowed Telly Tubby toy which tummy squeaks, you MUST squeak before you throw otherwise you get the look of disdain.
All this went on for an hour, but I think I have passed the training, I have to wait and see If he allows me to play tonight at nine!
Now because I am top dog I am not really considered a playmate! This is BJ's purpose in Ta-shi's life. He is happy for games of fetch with the ball when out for a walk with me but that is about it.
Bj plays exciting rough games with Ta-shi and he just LOVES it. The problem has arisen because BJ is working away from home for months and months and so Ta-shi is missing out on both games and peanuts again only BJ provides these.
Well Dogger decided that as his pack playmate is no longer available at 9pm every evening he had better train another.
So.... at nine o'clock precisely last night he brings 'Ha ha' to me and sits at my feet. I am required to throw it hard so it makes the mad ha ha noise as it lands. This I do, he looks at me pathetically as if to say 'is the the best you can do' and just strolls to fetch it back. OK, I think I will throw it up the stairs, this he likes better and breaks into a trot. I remember then that he likes to be tickled and gently bashed with his toy before it is launched at great speed towards the bookshelf, if it lands on a shelf he takes great delight in trying to jump high enough to get it, or to practice his 'door shutting' technique in order to get BJ to get it down for him.
I can see he is a little more impressed with me now, so we repeat the game over, and over ,and over again! He eventually gets very excited when I manage to launch Ha Ha onto the very top of the bookcase and have to get a chair to retrieve it.
Next minute Ha ha is abandoned and he arrives at my feet with 'Monkey' this toy has very long arms and legs and is a 'shaking the prey' sort of toy.
Ta-shi says 'Ok you have got the hang of that one, lets see if you can manage this' So I am lectured by my small dog how to play a decent game of tug, I think he was impressed as I was allowed onto the hallowed Telly Tubby toy which tummy squeaks, you MUST squeak before you throw otherwise you get the look of disdain.
All this went on for an hour, but I think I have passed the training, I have to wait and see If he allows me to play tonight at nine!
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Things Self help Books Never tell You
I came across an article in a magazine today that rather tickled my fancy! It is called 'Things Self Help Books never tell You', here are a few I thought particularly amusing.
* When you go on a diet, you will lose all the weight from your boobs before a single ounce goes of your thighs. (Actually I would not mind that scenario as I have a veritable bouncy castle for a bust, I also have very small feet as nothing grows in the shade.)
*Drinking 8 to ten glasses of water a day means you can never watch a film all the way through or sleep through the entire night. (Yep, tell me about that one)
*Eating only when your hungry is a habit we abandoned thousands of years ago- along with cave paintings and dragging one another home by the hair. ( Tell that to Gillian McKieth, the "I am so smug" 'You are What you Eat' author)
*Ignoring your inner critic is not a good idea after an entire bottle of wine and the first three chords of 'I Will Survive'. ( not really likely to happen to me, unless I have to hum of course)
*It's not a good idea to attempt body brushing in front of a mirror while naked, it looks as if you are dragging a fork through blancmange.
*Building up you confidence by starting conversations with people you do not know, will guarantee you a seat alone on the bus or train.
* Having your hair style changed radically will make your children laugh and you cry for a week ( I have to say I can relate to this one, except my hair made ME laugh for a week)
* Finding your inner child is healing... Unless she turns out to be the spoilt brattish she devil who would send supernanny into retirement.
*If you have time to fold your knickers neatly into drawer dividers, you need to get out more. (My knicker drawer resembles a jumble sale after the hoards have rummaged through it)
* Some stress is actually good for you, it can be energising and creative. (Totally agree with this, I am at my best under a bit of pressure. )
These were taken from January's issue of Good Housekeeping.
* When you go on a diet, you will lose all the weight from your boobs before a single ounce goes of your thighs. (Actually I would not mind that scenario as I have a veritable bouncy castle for a bust, I also have very small feet as nothing grows in the shade.)
*Drinking 8 to ten glasses of water a day means you can never watch a film all the way through or sleep through the entire night. (Yep, tell me about that one)
*Eating only when your hungry is a habit we abandoned thousands of years ago- along with cave paintings and dragging one another home by the hair. ( Tell that to Gillian McKieth, the "I am so smug" 'You are What you Eat' author)
*Ignoring your inner critic is not a good idea after an entire bottle of wine and the first three chords of 'I Will Survive'. ( not really likely to happen to me, unless I have to hum of course)
*It's not a good idea to attempt body brushing in front of a mirror while naked, it looks as if you are dragging a fork through blancmange.
*Building up you confidence by starting conversations with people you do not know, will guarantee you a seat alone on the bus or train.
* Having your hair style changed radically will make your children laugh and you cry for a week ( I have to say I can relate to this one, except my hair made ME laugh for a week)
* Finding your inner child is healing... Unless she turns out to be the spoilt brattish she devil who would send supernanny into retirement.
*If you have time to fold your knickers neatly into drawer dividers, you need to get out more. (My knicker drawer resembles a jumble sale after the hoards have rummaged through it)
* Some stress is actually good for you, it can be energising and creative. (Totally agree with this, I am at my best under a bit of pressure. )
These were taken from January's issue of Good Housekeeping.
Friday, December 02, 2005
An Ali G moment
Well... I had this mad idea that I would like a MP3 from Santa (Or at least BJ), this is a daring move from me as I am completely techno phobic but anyway my dear Husband decided to indulge my whim and we went looking.
Now, I wonder do electrical salesman go to special 'nerd' schools or was I just unlucky. By the way have any of you girls tried to actually buy something from one of the big electrical stores such as the one who's name sounds like an Indian dinner. You amazingly become totally invisible! Any way I digress.
We went into the first shop and a friendly young guy asked my Husband if he could help, we explained our needs and that was that, he went of like rocket into his sales speil. He was not letting us of that shop without having sold us the top of the range all singing (well I suppose that's what they are supposed to do) all dancing MP3 player with all sorts of unasked for appliances to go with it, and did his best to sell an ipod instead. When he realised I had glazed over and began sucking in my cheeks in despair at his tactics he decided I needed time to think about it. He then decided we could not leave the shop without a catalogue to browse through at our leisure at the marvellous price of £3.99. We declined but he followed us to the door still trying to get a sale. Nothing turns me off more than the hard sell!
We then decided to have a go at another household name electrical store! We were onto a winner here with a very knowledgeable man who went through all the options on the various models and explained the technology in laymans terms for me. We had more ar less decided between two and asked if he could get them out of the cabinet for us. He went of to get the key and returned with a young Indian guy who unlocked the case for us. At this point the other guy was called away but he said he was leaving us in the capable hands of Sandeep. Oh yeah!
Sandeep was unable to speak in more than monosyllabless and grunts and for a young man new very little about the product he was trying to sell. BJ asked a relevant question about the USB port and he was clueless. Not only that he would make no eye contact with us and obviously wanted to be anywhere but in our company.
Oh,how I nearly said 'Ees eet cos I's white'
Now, I wonder do electrical salesman go to special 'nerd' schools or was I just unlucky. By the way have any of you girls tried to actually buy something from one of the big electrical stores such as the one who's name sounds like an Indian dinner. You amazingly become totally invisible! Any way I digress.
We went into the first shop and a friendly young guy asked my Husband if he could help, we explained our needs and that was that, he went of like rocket into his sales speil. He was not letting us of that shop without having sold us the top of the range all singing (well I suppose that's what they are supposed to do) all dancing MP3 player with all sorts of unasked for appliances to go with it, and did his best to sell an ipod instead. When he realised I had glazed over and began sucking in my cheeks in despair at his tactics he decided I needed time to think about it. He then decided we could not leave the shop without a catalogue to browse through at our leisure at the marvellous price of £3.99. We declined but he followed us to the door still trying to get a sale. Nothing turns me off more than the hard sell!
We then decided to have a go at another household name electrical store! We were onto a winner here with a very knowledgeable man who went through all the options on the various models and explained the technology in laymans terms for me. We had more ar less decided between two and asked if he could get them out of the cabinet for us. He went of to get the key and returned with a young Indian guy who unlocked the case for us. At this point the other guy was called away but he said he was leaving us in the capable hands of Sandeep. Oh yeah!
Sandeep was unable to speak in more than monosyllabless and grunts and for a young man new very little about the product he was trying to sell. BJ asked a relevant question about the USB port and he was clueless. Not only that he would make no eye contact with us and obviously wanted to be anywhere but in our company.
Oh,how I nearly said 'Ees eet cos I's white'
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
