It was our 33rd Wedding Anniversary on Friday, so we thought it worthy of a bit of a celebration so I planned us a fun day out! I bought tickets for Birmingham Hippodrome theatre to see 'tonight's The Night' the musical based on Rod stewarts music. It was to be followed by a meal in Ciello's a rather upmarket Mediterranean restaurant in the heart of Birmingham.
All was going well, apart from the weather, we arrived in Brum and started a little light shopping, Simon called us to say he was in town so we arranged to meet him in Starbucks. As we strolled up New Street arm in arm under our umbrella singing the song of the same name ( a sixties song) and laughing as we went, a young man in a suit popped out in front of us to ask us to take a stress test! I asked him 'Do we look stressed?' that phased him a bit and I added 'No mate I've seen your lot on the news' he disappeared into the throng of shoppers at that. He in fact was touting for business for the Scientology Cult and his little entourage had featured on the previous nights local news.
After our bucket of coffee, what happened to cups and saucers? With Simon we headed of for a light lunch and then to the theatre.
The first half of the show was great, excellent cast with great voices, a bit of comedy, a few scantily dressed ladies with legs up to their armpits, good dance routines. We were loving it! We had nothing against the first half of the performance at all, sadly nor did they!!!
We returned to our seats after the interval and eagerly waited for the second half, we waited, we got a bit wriggly, we looked at our watches and wondered what had happened. A few Manager's seemed to be rushing out behind the stage, then a stage hand came onto the front of the stage and took away all the lights and wiring. Now we were worrying that if they did not start the now 45 minutes late second half soon we would be late for our table at Ciello's.
Eventually a Manager came onto the stage and said that due to technical difficulties they could not perform the second half,(they could not lift the Iron curtain) instead they were going to put chairs in front of the iron and perform the songs concert style! Not even Margaret Thatcher had that much trouble getting the iron curtain up!
I was livid, having paid a considerable amount of money to see a musical I was not going to accept a few singers on a row of dodgy looking chairs. I also reasoned if we did indeed stay and watch this debacle we were in fact accepting the alternative and would have less chance of recompense.
I and many other disgruntled people made our way to the ticket office where many heated discussions took place. We were treated abominable and no-one was prepared to take responsibility for the problem apart than we would all have to write to customer services and each case will be looked at individually. Well I tell you now, I will get my money back even if I take them to the small claims court to do it!
The evening ended on a high thankfully after I had calmed my temper and my disappointment. We met up with boys who both looked amazingly handsome (Rob looked kind of pretty in a boy kind of way, he has grown his hair longer and it suits him very well, he also had on a pink stripe shirt, strangely pink suits his coloring)
Simon as usual was very smart and gorgeous, of course I am biased! Jaime who has just moved to Brum joined us as well, she really is a joyful larger than life lovely girl.
Dinner was more a work of art than food, dreadfully expensive but worth every penny, it more than made up for the afternoon. Not one of us could fault anything at all, it was lovely to finish the meal with my favourite Limoncello liqueur.
We went our separate ways after, the boys and Jaime to go to 'The Living Room' (a bar, not their house) to celebrity spot, we made our way back to the station to get the train back to Cov, composing a letter to the Hip as we went.
We had to take Ta-shi on a marathon of a walk on Sunday as the poor boy had been left so long on Saturday. It was so long that he sat down after four miles as if to say 'Ok enough, its not fun anymore'. He perked up when he met a Jack Russel puppy and had a bit of a gambol with him and found a second wind.
Monday, May 29, 2006
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
A Ronnie Barker Moment
A colleague and I had to pop into town at lunchtime yesterday to buy one of those birthday candles shaped in a number. It is the owner of our company's 60th birthday so we were dispatched to buy banners, balloons and the said candle for the obligatory birthday cake! We went to a little cake decorating shop which is charmingly old fashioned, wooden counter, parquet wood floor and a very helpful little lady. We stated our need, a 60th birthday candle! She proceeded to count out 60 separate little candles! Anne my colleague and a director of the company went positively pale as she thought of risk assessments and fire regulations of 60 candles on a cake in our listed 1920's 'art deco building. I stood there trying to suppress my mirth and resisting the urge to ask for fork handles and some O's.
On a different subject altogether as I was driving to work I listened to an astounding news report. Not sure if it was a government department or a health authority being quoted, but the item was that it was suggesting that special rooms should be set up so that heroin addicts can go and shoot up safely with clean needles and under supervision. Did I miss another report maybe that they have let all the lunatics out of the asylum? (oh no sorry of course we have, we went and elected them didn't we) Why stop here, lets set up a special supermarket where shoplifters can do their stealing in safety and without fear of prosecution. While we are at it maybe a dimly lit car park for effect so that car thieves can go nab a few vehicles without being tackled by those annoying little owners who dash out of their homes to protect their hard earned motors and get attacked for their sheer cheek. The possibilities are endless.
Mrs Meldrew signing off!!!
On a different subject altogether as I was driving to work I listened to an astounding news report. Not sure if it was a government department or a health authority being quoted, but the item was that it was suggesting that special rooms should be set up so that heroin addicts can go and shoot up safely with clean needles and under supervision. Did I miss another report maybe that they have let all the lunatics out of the asylum? (oh no sorry of course we have, we went and elected them didn't we) Why stop here, lets set up a special supermarket where shoplifters can do their stealing in safety and without fear of prosecution. While we are at it maybe a dimly lit car park for effect so that car thieves can go nab a few vehicles without being tackled by those annoying little owners who dash out of their homes to protect their hard earned motors and get attacked for their sheer cheek. The possibilities are endless.
Mrs Meldrew signing off!!!
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Life is a bed of Roses
I am very excited and can't stop looking out of my window at my front garden, I have at last got a rose garden again. Safely planted out, I have some old favorites like, Grandpa Dickson, Remember me, and my all time favorite Just Joey. Also I have a brand new rose called White Diamond and a very rich red wine colour rose called Cardinal del Richeleau. Can't wait for them to bloom!
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Wild Card
I am in no way a football expert but having lived and breathed football for 25 years with a football fanatic and coped with the highs and lows of moods that it brings, and the trials and tribulations of if our favourite team is on the up or not. So.... I can feel just a tiny bit qualified to comment on Svens choice of Theo Walcott!
What a truly marvellous opportunity for this boy and what a gamble for Sven, nothing to loose as I'm leaving anyway, Goran Erikson! It could work at least the other teams who would of studied hours of footage of the other players and will know just how the cookie crumbles with the whole team except Theo! They will be saying Theo who? Good Luck to the boy.
What a truly marvellous opportunity for this boy and what a gamble for Sven, nothing to loose as I'm leaving anyway, Goran Erikson! It could work at least the other teams who would of studied hours of footage of the other players and will know just how the cookie crumbles with the whole team except Theo! They will be saying Theo who? Good Luck to the boy.
Monday, May 08, 2006
Ordinary Life.
Its been a fairly ordinary week! BJ goes to work and then surprise, surprise comes back home the very same day. We have been used to BJ going off to work on a Monday and coming home two weeks later. Its been great (most of the time) However I have had to remind him more than once that he is no longer living in a hotel, and that I actually including traveling time work longer hours than he. The very thought that I should suggest that leaving clothes where they drop is no longer acceptable and having a mutual tidy up before leaving in the morning did not go down too well at first. The trouble is I have always been the home maker and still am at heart but now we must either share the household duties and enjoy the bonus of my decent wage coming through the door, or I go back to mundane part time work and take care of the house. Actually there is no way I will give up my job, I would get a cleaner in first but lets not tell BJ!!!
BJ is enjoying his new job and seems to be settling in well, he has already been told to slow down, he is working faster than people can keep up with. He does think some of the work maybe a little repetitive and possibly boring after a while. I suggested that we arrange a more exciting social life to recompense. Poor boy looked a little startled I think he is worried lest I try and get him horse riding or abseiling! (Not a bad idea)
We returned to our dance class this week after a years absence, we got a big welcome which was great and we just about held our own. We had to swap partners with another couple some of the time to learn anew waltz routine but we managed. The class had learned a whole new Tango routine which rather flummoxed us, we new all the steps but not necarssarily in the same order as they were doing!
We have decided to drop down to the intermediate class for a while rather than the advanced as we need to brush up on our steps and learn new routines.
We have decided to stay put in Coventry for now. The new conservatory should be started by the end of May, this will give us much needed space for a decent dining area. I used to love entertaining but it does not feel right eating in the kitchen among the deritus of cooking pans etc. I look forward to Christmas lunch in the conservatory. Actually I think a consevatory warming family dinner will be in I think I will need to hire a Marquee, or re-order a bigger conservatory! As now we have our own darling boys, Rachel and Dan, Stuart and Jaime all living in the vicinity. What a delightful evening it will be. Trouble is as half this lot work in the catering or hospitality business it is going to be a logistic nightmare to get every-one together on one day. I will do it though so watch out kids I will be onto you soon for dates!
I am having a very busy period at work at the minute, we are in 'workshop' mode and are holding training workshops the length and breadth of the Country, all on a Sunday! Its not so bad when you get there, but the thought of working every other Sunday virtually from now until end of July is not good. I don't even get paid for them and have to take time in lieu. This is OK in theory but last year I was so busy that I lost a fair few days as I did not have time to take them all. I will not let that happen again! My boss is back to her old self and is being very sweet and kind, I don't know what on earth has been the problem but I am glad to have the old person back. Work is a great pleasure again!
BJ is enjoying his new job and seems to be settling in well, he has already been told to slow down, he is working faster than people can keep up with. He does think some of the work maybe a little repetitive and possibly boring after a while. I suggested that we arrange a more exciting social life to recompense. Poor boy looked a little startled I think he is worried lest I try and get him horse riding or abseiling! (Not a bad idea)
We returned to our dance class this week after a years absence, we got a big welcome which was great and we just about held our own. We had to swap partners with another couple some of the time to learn anew waltz routine but we managed. The class had learned a whole new Tango routine which rather flummoxed us, we new all the steps but not necarssarily in the same order as they were doing!
We have decided to drop down to the intermediate class for a while rather than the advanced as we need to brush up on our steps and learn new routines.
We have decided to stay put in Coventry for now. The new conservatory should be started by the end of May, this will give us much needed space for a decent dining area. I used to love entertaining but it does not feel right eating in the kitchen among the deritus of cooking pans etc. I look forward to Christmas lunch in the conservatory. Actually I think a consevatory warming family dinner will be in I think I will need to hire a Marquee, or re-order a bigger conservatory! As now we have our own darling boys, Rachel and Dan, Stuart and Jaime all living in the vicinity. What a delightful evening it will be. Trouble is as half this lot work in the catering or hospitality business it is going to be a logistic nightmare to get every-one together on one day. I will do it though so watch out kids I will be onto you soon for dates!
I am having a very busy period at work at the minute, we are in 'workshop' mode and are holding training workshops the length and breadth of the Country, all on a Sunday! Its not so bad when you get there, but the thought of working every other Sunday virtually from now until end of July is not good. I don't even get paid for them and have to take time in lieu. This is OK in theory but last year I was so busy that I lost a fair few days as I did not have time to take them all. I will not let that happen again! My boss is back to her old self and is being very sweet and kind, I don't know what on earth has been the problem but I am glad to have the old person back. Work is a great pleasure again!
Monday, May 01, 2006
Oh Dear what Can the Matter be
Oh dear what can the matter be
The secretary has been sleeping with the prime Ministers deputy
Sold her story to newspapers and the TV
A headache for poor Tony Blair
Oh dear what can the matter be
The prisoners have been let out of our old penitentiary
Should of been sent back to their own fair Countries
Now nobody knows where they are
Oh dear what can the matter be
Nurses shout and stamp at the hypocrisy
Patricia Hewitt saying your jobs are safe with me
Nobody wanted her there.
It may only be a local Election on Thursday but I know who is getting my vote of no confidence!
By the way if ever there is a case for brining back free eye tests for all, then surely it is now! Who in their right mind would choose to have an affair with the ugliest most uncouth man on the planet.
The secretary has been sleeping with the prime Ministers deputy
Sold her story to newspapers and the TV
A headache for poor Tony Blair
Oh dear what can the matter be
The prisoners have been let out of our old penitentiary
Should of been sent back to their own fair Countries
Now nobody knows where they are
Oh dear what can the matter be
Nurses shout and stamp at the hypocrisy
Patricia Hewitt saying your jobs are safe with me
Nobody wanted her there.
It may only be a local Election on Thursday but I know who is getting my vote of no confidence!
By the way if ever there is a case for brining back free eye tests for all, then surely it is now! Who in their right mind would choose to have an affair with the ugliest most uncouth man on the planet.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Rest and relaxation?
Its been quite a happening week in the Mama blog household, lot's going on personally and professionally. BJ has finished one job and has a week off before stating the new one. Aha! He thought a week of R & R! Aha! I thought jobs to be done! So... The poor devil has been gigging up the whole of the front garden and is re- designing it. On the computer design it looked an easy job. Get rid of the grass and the awful slabs up to the front door, lay a stone circular patio, a new pathway and make a rose garden of the surrounding area. Needless to say the poor boy has a sore back,and ended up hiring a turf cutter as the lawn seemed to be welded in place by some supernatural force. B&Q who delivered the patio on a pallet, had not got one of those pallet mover jobby's on board so each slab had to be lifted off the lorry and placed on a separate pallet in the garage. The tool hire company insisted out address did not exist as it was not 'on his map' oh the incompetence of them all.
The patio is half done and is looking brilliant. All the neighbor's are bemoaning the loss of my colourful spring display though. They all love my front garden, but I say wait awhile you ain't seen nothing yet!
At long last I am to get a conservatory! We have had a few quotes and have found a company that will do what we want for the price of a small family car! Not the cheapest, not the dearest somewhere in between.
I went riding yesterday for the first time since my fall. I was very nervous as I drove into the yard, and even more so when I realized I had a new girl tutoring me, kind of got used to Amy. However Paula was a top girl and put me and Hector through our paces very efficiently. I rode the best I have ever done and regained my confidence.
I am re-learning my whole way of riding and undoing many bad habits and at last it is coming together. I got a really good canter going right around the school, got my legs, hands, and body all working in unison which is a first. I can usually get the legs and body working well but not get the steering going very well. This time I managed to make him go right into the corners and not take short cuts. Oh, and they have a new week old baby foal, Jacinta and baby doing well.
I bought on impulse a CD this week, Bruce Springstein's 'The Seeger Years' It is great houlie music and very joyful, just listen to a few tracks and you will be singing along. I love that kind odd gravelly, whisky, wine and fine young women kind of voice! Barry was well impressed as the last folk concert he went to was with Peggy Seeger and Euan Mc Coll, both notable singers of that time. Although the music on the CD is Pete Seeger.
Another big buy for me was a Sat Nav system, I have to drive into London probably once a week from now until August and am very worried about getting lost. So I treated myself to some very serious technology, my first foray with it tried to take me to Bromsgrove road in Stourbridge instead of Halesowen but I daresay I will get used to it. It got me home again which of course I know the way but it was just a practice.
The patio is half done and is looking brilliant. All the neighbor's are bemoaning the loss of my colourful spring display though. They all love my front garden, but I say wait awhile you ain't seen nothing yet!
At long last I am to get a conservatory! We have had a few quotes and have found a company that will do what we want for the price of a small family car! Not the cheapest, not the dearest somewhere in between.
I went riding yesterday for the first time since my fall. I was very nervous as I drove into the yard, and even more so when I realized I had a new girl tutoring me, kind of got used to Amy. However Paula was a top girl and put me and Hector through our paces very efficiently. I rode the best I have ever done and regained my confidence.
I am re-learning my whole way of riding and undoing many bad habits and at last it is coming together. I got a really good canter going right around the school, got my legs, hands, and body all working in unison which is a first. I can usually get the legs and body working well but not get the steering going very well. This time I managed to make him go right into the corners and not take short cuts. Oh, and they have a new week old baby foal, Jacinta and baby doing well.
I bought on impulse a CD this week, Bruce Springstein's 'The Seeger Years' It is great houlie music and very joyful, just listen to a few tracks and you will be singing along. I love that kind odd gravelly, whisky, wine and fine young women kind of voice! Barry was well impressed as the last folk concert he went to was with Peggy Seeger and Euan Mc Coll, both notable singers of that time. Although the music on the CD is Pete Seeger.
Another big buy for me was a Sat Nav system, I have to drive into London probably once a week from now until August and am very worried about getting lost. So I treated myself to some very serious technology, my first foray with it tried to take me to Bromsgrove road in Stourbridge instead of Halesowen but I daresay I will get used to it. It got me home again which of course I know the way but it was just a practice.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Birthdays, Houses and Photo's
The best picture I have seen in the papers this week is one of our jolly old Queen riding a rather fine looking dapple grey mare in a rather jaunty trot! So what, you may all say. Well this woman is EIGHTY years old this week and still riding out, not on a gentle meander through the grounds of Windsor but in the most taxing on the body gait to ride to (except of course the bronco Billy gait) Good on you Ma'am you will do for me. Happy Birthday to you, not that you will be reading this, but who knows.
We have decided to remove our house from the stagnant housing market for the time being. It has been up for sale for six months and we have had three viewings in that time, so on average one couple every two months. I cannot stand the strain of keeping the place in pristine condition just in case! Anyway every time Simon comes round he knocks a bit of our house down and we have to keep mending it. He is however not random but sticks to pulling the coat pegs off the wall every time he hangs his coat up! We have decided to do away with the said pegs now and put the coats somewhere else, I am not saying where as I don't want Simon to know as he may well reek havoc on the new coat hanging area. Now I would not mind but as a lad I could not get him to hang a coat up for love nor money and once even very sarcastically gave him an in depth lesson into what a coat hanger was and how it worked, but no, coats would be slung on banisters, over chairs, dropped in the porch anywhere but on a peg.
This is the last evening of Barry being away, he is home for the foreseeable future tomorrow (Thursday) and starts his new job on 2nd of May. I am sure it is the right decision and wish him lot's of luck in his new foray into a new kind of industry, he will do just fine, he is one of life's good guys.
I am attempting to go riding next week, feeling a little nervous as I still have some pain in the ribs. I do not want to leave it any longer though as I will have to start afresh. I have been promised Hector my safe steady boy, he is the kind of horse you just have to kiss he is so lovely, a bit like my old Alfie, steady as a rock and hopefully not full of nasty surprises. I am told he can have a tantrum if you tap his bottom with the whip. He has to be tapped on the shoulder! Fair enough!
We did an important photo shoot last week at my Nursery. I had a photographer and all his paraphanalia, the MD of my the Company I work for plus one of the directors and the Nursery Manager all in the room watching while I put the kids through their classes and hopefully got them to pay attention to me and act normal. Well, my little kids where absolute little stars and behaved perfectly. The only problem we had was trying to stop the little girls from displaying to much of the next days laundry.
I had to work my little socks of to keep them looking at what we were doing but it worked and we have some great shots for our promotional brochures. I was really chuffed to get personal praise from my MD.
Comment of the day came from one little girl who announced that she had only got nipples now but one day she would have boobies! I thanked her for sharing that with us all and we all sang a song. What else could I have done?
We have decided to remove our house from the stagnant housing market for the time being. It has been up for sale for six months and we have had three viewings in that time, so on average one couple every two months. I cannot stand the strain of keeping the place in pristine condition just in case! Anyway every time Simon comes round he knocks a bit of our house down and we have to keep mending it. He is however not random but sticks to pulling the coat pegs off the wall every time he hangs his coat up! We have decided to do away with the said pegs now and put the coats somewhere else, I am not saying where as I don't want Simon to know as he may well reek havoc on the new coat hanging area. Now I would not mind but as a lad I could not get him to hang a coat up for love nor money and once even very sarcastically gave him an in depth lesson into what a coat hanger was and how it worked, but no, coats would be slung on banisters, over chairs, dropped in the porch anywhere but on a peg.
This is the last evening of Barry being away, he is home for the foreseeable future tomorrow (Thursday) and starts his new job on 2nd of May. I am sure it is the right decision and wish him lot's of luck in his new foray into a new kind of industry, he will do just fine, he is one of life's good guys.
I am attempting to go riding next week, feeling a little nervous as I still have some pain in the ribs. I do not want to leave it any longer though as I will have to start afresh. I have been promised Hector my safe steady boy, he is the kind of horse you just have to kiss he is so lovely, a bit like my old Alfie, steady as a rock and hopefully not full of nasty surprises. I am told he can have a tantrum if you tap his bottom with the whip. He has to be tapped on the shoulder! Fair enough!
We did an important photo shoot last week at my Nursery. I had a photographer and all his paraphanalia, the MD of my the Company I work for plus one of the directors and the Nursery Manager all in the room watching while I put the kids through their classes and hopefully got them to pay attention to me and act normal. Well, my little kids where absolute little stars and behaved perfectly. The only problem we had was trying to stop the little girls from displaying to much of the next days laundry.
I had to work my little socks of to keep them looking at what we were doing but it worked and we have some great shots for our promotional brochures. I was really chuffed to get personal praise from my MD.
Comment of the day came from one little girl who announced that she had only got nipples now but one day she would have boobies! I thanked her for sharing that with us all and we all sang a song. What else could I have done?
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Name or address?
I did not set out to watch the Grand National, I just happenend to be in front of the TV when it came on. It is not a race I wholly like as I feel it is far to demanding on the beasts, to many get injured and often (as on Saturday) one or more literally don't make it to the end at all (shot on the course due to severity of injury)
Well I got drawn into it as I lounged on the sofa and admired the fearless jockeys (still aching from my own efforts as a rodeo rider)on their all to beautiful steeds and then they were off! But no, false start, so back they came. Then they were really off, pounding hell for leather for two circuits of the Aintree course. The jumps were aimed at some jumped, some appeared to run through them, some horses just said "actually no, I don't think so , do you!" and were pulled up, on the rest went.
At the last two fences it was about a four horse race and BJ was convinced that HedgeHunter was about to win for a second year. Nope! I said he is tiring, watch that horse with the sheepskin noseband, he has been held back to a fast canter most of the way and is still fresh, I think he will take it! Mind you I wished the horse had stopped and turned around to the jockey and said "Will you PLEASE stop hitting me with that stick thingy, I am running as fast as I bloody well can!" (Surprised the jockey was not disqualified for over use of the whip. I just wish I had put a few squid on Numbersixvalverde! But then possibly against my principles. Good idea to call a horse after your address, unfortunately mine does not have such romantic zing to it.
Changing the subject, I fell over today, what a muppet, I still have sore ribs from falling of a horse, and I managed to trip up a kerb while walking the dog. I went down with a real thwack and I am quite sure I heard my poor body call out "Oh no not again" as the hard pavement came up to meet it! I furtively looked about to make sure no-one had seen me and got up quickly and hobbled off!
Well I got drawn into it as I lounged on the sofa and admired the fearless jockeys (still aching from my own efforts as a rodeo rider)on their all to beautiful steeds and then they were off! But no, false start, so back they came. Then they were really off, pounding hell for leather for two circuits of the Aintree course. The jumps were aimed at some jumped, some appeared to run through them, some horses just said "actually no, I don't think so , do you!" and were pulled up, on the rest went.
At the last two fences it was about a four horse race and BJ was convinced that HedgeHunter was about to win for a second year. Nope! I said he is tiring, watch that horse with the sheepskin noseband, he has been held back to a fast canter most of the way and is still fresh, I think he will take it! Mind you I wished the horse had stopped and turned around to the jockey and said "Will you PLEASE stop hitting me with that stick thingy, I am running as fast as I bloody well can!" (Surprised the jockey was not disqualified for over use of the whip. I just wish I had put a few squid on Numbersixvalverde! But then possibly against my principles. Good idea to call a horse after your address, unfortunately mine does not have such romantic zing to it.
Changing the subject, I fell over today, what a muppet, I still have sore ribs from falling of a horse, and I managed to trip up a kerb while walking the dog. I went down with a real thwack and I am quite sure I heard my poor body call out "Oh no not again" as the hard pavement came up to meet it! I furtively looked about to make sure no-one had seen me and got up quickly and hobbled off!
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Failed Rodeo Rider!
So far I have had a wonderful time re-visiting a much loved pastime of horse riding. I decided that this was the year that I was going to learn to ride technically correctly and master the technicalities and SHhhh.... Don't tell any-one! I am hoping to work up to some jumps, something I have never done!
All has been going well, I had been riding Molly for 3 weeks, then my tutor swapped me to Hector, an adorable slightly smaller pony of mature years. He has a brilliant smooth canter and I was able to easily find the correct position on him. I looked forward to this weeks lesson and riding Hector again.
I duly arrived for my lesson and found that Hector had already been booked out by some-one else and I was to ride Poppy, now Poppy is a real beauty, jet black with a wavy mane and tail, younger and more sparky than Hector but never the less a great ride. She was very responsive and moved gracefully from trot to canter and was a dream to ride. I was almost finished my lesson and about to transition from trot to canter for the last time when a chicken suddenly flew out of a nearby bush squawking loudly.
Poppy went from trot to full pelt gallop around the school, swerving as she went, Amy was shouting instructions to sit tight, hold her mane, but I was already out of the saddle. I grabbed for her mane and neck but she then put her head down and started bucking wildly. I remember that I seemed to be firstly falling towards the sky, which was odd, then gravity took over and I fell fast and hard onto the ground.
My first fear was that I was about to be trampled on, but Amy had run over and stood over me and assured me some-one had caught Poppy. To say I was winded is an understatement I could not physically move for a while. My first thought was that I must get back on the horse or I would never do so again. Jane the Manager and Amy established that nothing seemed broken on me, just my pride or so I thought! They decided that they would let me get on board again and praised my bravery for wanting to do so.
Amy rode Poppy around for a few minutes to get the demons out of her, then gingerly I got back on, it was a very painful experience as I was very sore, but determined not to be beaten. I was not brave enough to ride without Amy beside me as I was very shaken and I feared Poppy would sense my trepidation and give me another audition for rodeo rider of the year!
The upshot is that I am now on sick leave as I took such a battering that I bruised my right kidney and have had some blood in my urine, which is not so good. I return to the Doctors tonight for a re-examine. My ribs are so sore I cannot let any-one touch them and I have a bruise on my head where the hat has dug into my forehead.
I have just bid on eBay for a riders body protector, I remember that when I rode Teddy, a mad horse that I once owned I never rode without wearing one, as I often ended up on the deck with him. However never at such speed as Poppy threw me!
I will be booking again as soon as I am healed but will request solid dependable Hector! He and I are both middle aged with an eye to mature activities such as trotting along nicely and not getting upset about the odd mad chicken.
All has been going well, I had been riding Molly for 3 weeks, then my tutor swapped me to Hector, an adorable slightly smaller pony of mature years. He has a brilliant smooth canter and I was able to easily find the correct position on him. I looked forward to this weeks lesson and riding Hector again.
I duly arrived for my lesson and found that Hector had already been booked out by some-one else and I was to ride Poppy, now Poppy is a real beauty, jet black with a wavy mane and tail, younger and more sparky than Hector but never the less a great ride. She was very responsive and moved gracefully from trot to canter and was a dream to ride. I was almost finished my lesson and about to transition from trot to canter for the last time when a chicken suddenly flew out of a nearby bush squawking loudly.
Poppy went from trot to full pelt gallop around the school, swerving as she went, Amy was shouting instructions to sit tight, hold her mane, but I was already out of the saddle. I grabbed for her mane and neck but she then put her head down and started bucking wildly. I remember that I seemed to be firstly falling towards the sky, which was odd, then gravity took over and I fell fast and hard onto the ground.
My first fear was that I was about to be trampled on, but Amy had run over and stood over me and assured me some-one had caught Poppy. To say I was winded is an understatement I could not physically move for a while. My first thought was that I must get back on the horse or I would never do so again. Jane the Manager and Amy established that nothing seemed broken on me, just my pride or so I thought! They decided that they would let me get on board again and praised my bravery for wanting to do so.
Amy rode Poppy around for a few minutes to get the demons out of her, then gingerly I got back on, it was a very painful experience as I was very sore, but determined not to be beaten. I was not brave enough to ride without Amy beside me as I was very shaken and I feared Poppy would sense my trepidation and give me another audition for rodeo rider of the year!
The upshot is that I am now on sick leave as I took such a battering that I bruised my right kidney and have had some blood in my urine, which is not so good. I return to the Doctors tonight for a re-examine. My ribs are so sore I cannot let any-one touch them and I have a bruise on my head where the hat has dug into my forehead.
I have just bid on eBay for a riders body protector, I remember that when I rode Teddy, a mad horse that I once owned I never rode without wearing one, as I often ended up on the deck with him. However never at such speed as Poppy threw me!
I will be booking again as soon as I am healed but will request solid dependable Hector! He and I are both middle aged with an eye to mature activities such as trotting along nicely and not getting upset about the odd mad chicken.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Good news and Bad news week
Bj has landed a super new job! Well done that man. He went for the interview one day and was offered it the next, no messing around with second interviews, just offered it straight away. It is mainly office based with maybe a small amount of travel so we are all happy. We have had a year of constant separation and neither of us like it.
Simon has had a bit of a nightmare! He was doggy sitting at our house last week and while watching TV suddenly lost total vision in his left eye. After about 40 minutes it returned but very blurred and with a blind spot in the middle of vision.
He DROVE to the Doctors (daft or what!) who sent him hot foot to the eye hospital where he had a very thorough examination. It seems he may have some retina damage but due to the amount of blood in his eye it is difficult to tell. It seems it is something that can happen spontaneously,or is caused by coughing or sneezing, a bit scary to say the least. He has to go back this week once the bllod has hopefully drained so they can check the retina, he may have to have a little operation to fix it. Hope to God all is well, its all very worrying!
Simon has had a bit of a nightmare! He was doggy sitting at our house last week and while watching TV suddenly lost total vision in his left eye. After about 40 minutes it returned but very blurred and with a blind spot in the middle of vision.
He DROVE to the Doctors (daft or what!) who sent him hot foot to the eye hospital where he had a very thorough examination. It seems he may have some retina damage but due to the amount of blood in his eye it is difficult to tell. It seems it is something that can happen spontaneously,or is caused by coughing or sneezing, a bit scary to say the least. He has to go back this week once the bllod has hopefully drained so they can check the retina, he may have to have a little operation to fix it. Hope to God all is well, its all very worrying!
Monday, March 27, 2006
Giving Out the Wrong Signals
I spent a few days in Herne Bay last week, ostentatiously it was a business trip but I was able to combine it with visiting my family.
I got to meet Sarah's (my niece, yep another, I have many very wonderful versions of nieces each one beautiful and unique!)new boyfriend Steve. He is a wonderful guy who loves Sarah to little pieces but he is profoundly deaf and has been since birth. To those of you who know our Miss chatterbox Sarah you might say 'well that's handy!'
Sarah is the kind of girl that you wind up and let go, she can talk for England, bless her cotton socks! Well, back to Steve, he is a very handsome lad with an elastic face due to having to use exagarated facial expressions while communicating, which he does by BSL signing. He would be great to have on your team in 'Give us a clue!' In fact when he gets very excited about getting a point across he stands up to sign so it is very much like a game of charades, he has a great sense of humour but he obviously does not understand irony or pick up on sarcasm.
Over the course of the evening I communicated well with him, apparently he could lip read me well and I had a crash course in signing over the course of the evening! All was well until the end of the evening when I had been discussing Sarah's forthcoming visit to Birmingham and the fact that she and Steve would stay with us in Coventry. I then decided to extend my invitation by signing to Steve and kindly offered for him to sleep with me!!!!....
Oh ... How quickly I then learned the sign for embarrassed!
Every-one had a good laugh and Sarah told us a story of another friend who when asked if she would stay for another glass of wine at their flat signed that she could not as she had to up early the next morning for sex! She meant work but the signs are similar.
Steve can occasionally hear certain sounds and often imitates them with embarrassing consequences as he does not realize he is being loud. He could easily hear Annette and I laugh and mimicked us relentlessly!
I think I must get a book re-BSL signing before they visit in April otherwise I may be offering services I don't intend.
I got to meet Sarah's (my niece, yep another, I have many very wonderful versions of nieces each one beautiful and unique!)new boyfriend Steve. He is a wonderful guy who loves Sarah to little pieces but he is profoundly deaf and has been since birth. To those of you who know our Miss chatterbox Sarah you might say 'well that's handy!'
Sarah is the kind of girl that you wind up and let go, she can talk for England, bless her cotton socks! Well, back to Steve, he is a very handsome lad with an elastic face due to having to use exagarated facial expressions while communicating, which he does by BSL signing. He would be great to have on your team in 'Give us a clue!' In fact when he gets very excited about getting a point across he stands up to sign so it is very much like a game of charades, he has a great sense of humour but he obviously does not understand irony or pick up on sarcasm.
Over the course of the evening I communicated well with him, apparently he could lip read me well and I had a crash course in signing over the course of the evening! All was well until the end of the evening when I had been discussing Sarah's forthcoming visit to Birmingham and the fact that she and Steve would stay with us in Coventry. I then decided to extend my invitation by signing to Steve and kindly offered for him to sleep with me!!!!....
Oh ... How quickly I then learned the sign for embarrassed!
Every-one had a good laugh and Sarah told us a story of another friend who when asked if she would stay for another glass of wine at their flat signed that she could not as she had to up early the next morning for sex! She meant work but the signs are similar.
Steve can occasionally hear certain sounds and often imitates them with embarrassing consequences as he does not realize he is being loud. He could easily hear Annette and I laugh and mimicked us relentlessly!
I think I must get a book re-BSL signing before they visit in April otherwise I may be offering services I don't intend.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Blondie goes to Penny Lane!
As BJ is working away almost continuously, I thought it would be good to go and visit the fair city of Liverpool and spend an evening with him! I planned it meticulously sorting out a kennel to take Ta-shi too that was conveniently located to the motorway, sorting out the cats and arranging a fun time for us in Beatle land!
I found a nice looking restaurant on the internet, I have to admit I chose it for it's location than any other reason, it was on Penny Lane and to my great excitement was indeed next to a Barber Shop, and across the road from a bank and near a florist! Ok the barber shop did not have pictures of every head ever shaved, I saw no banker in the pouring rain and the girl in the florists did not look like a nurse, and as for fish and finger pie, no... I was like a big kid and felt I was walking through a song, marvelous, marvelous. I can totally recommend 'The Ark' to eat in,see www.arkrestaurant.co.uk
It was totally superb. The food was all homemade, right down to the icecream desserts. The service was impeccable and the atmosphere all candlelit and intimate, It was so good I expected Gordon F**@#! Ramsay to step out of the kitchen any minute.
The weekend started with a Blonde disaster that has so far exceeded anything else stupid I have done in my life , and believe me they have been many and varied! I had spent Saturday morning dashing about getting ready to leave at about lunchtime, I popped down to the shops to buy a new outfit for my dinner date, rushed back, packed my bag, packed Ta-shi's bag sorted out the cats and left. I dropped Ta-shi off at the kennels and hacked up the motorway for a bit, then stopped for a toilet break. As I washed my hands I looked in the mirror and thought , Oh I did not put my dainty earrings in the bag. I was wearing ethnic dangly ones that would not really go with my outfit for the evening. I then had an "Oh my God" moment as it dawned on me that my suitcase was neatly packed and still standing by the front door!!! (on the inside folks)
I was totally panicked, I did not have time to go back for it as I was nearer to Liverpool than Coventry, but I literally had with me just what I was standing up in.
I decided to continue on my journey not sure whether to laugh or cry (so I did both, seemed fair in the circumstances).
Well, every cloud has a silver lining, as I joined the M62 I noticed a big shopping outlet just off Junction 9, so I left the Motorway at the junction and I swear I found the biggest Marks and Spencer in the World and possibly the Universe. The plastic had a bit of a bashing as I purchased a new outfit to 'Wow' my husband with, emergency underwear and then discovered a Boots to deal with all the other things a woman needs for a weekend away. So... I ended up with two new outfits, Ok one is unworn as yet, and yes it has cost me a fortune , but boy did I have a great weekend!
I had another 'Blonde' moment on Sunday morning at breakfast, the waiter asked me how I would like my eggs? I just stared at him in bewilderment, all I could think of was 'medium' like a steak! Barry helped me out by saying he would like his fried! Of course fried or scrambled. Doh! Barry has been calling me Debbie Aka Debbie Harry of Blondie fame. Richly deserved I am afraid.
As I had a couple of hours to spare Sunday morning I took a drive into the city centre. I found 'The Beatles Story' and thought it would round of my trip nicely. No wonder it is an award winning attraction, it is a MUST for Beatle fans.
A total recreation of the Cavern club was one of the attractions, as I walked into the Cavern 'Twist and Shout' started, it was all I could do not to dance! I was blown away, the atmosphere was awesome. I walked through a 'Yellow Submarine' and a 'Magical Mystery Tour', all with the aid of a headphone commentary that could be started and stopped at will. I had to keep stopping mine to listen to the music. A recreation of Abbey road studio's as it would of been in the Sixties.
The tour culminated with the 'John Lennon' room, centre stage was his iconic real Gold Glasses, a movie of lot's of dreadful war shots, including that poor little girl that was hit by nepalm in the Vietnam conflict in the background Johns voice quietly singing 'Love Is' So has anything changed? No we still think it's Ok to maim and kill...
The last and most moving room was a perfect recreation of 'The White Room' where John wrote 'Imagine' Felt really strange coming out into 2006 I was gone man, solid gone!.....
I found a nice looking restaurant on the internet, I have to admit I chose it for it's location than any other reason, it was on Penny Lane and to my great excitement was indeed next to a Barber Shop, and across the road from a bank and near a florist! Ok the barber shop did not have pictures of every head ever shaved, I saw no banker in the pouring rain and the girl in the florists did not look like a nurse, and as for fish and finger pie, no... I was like a big kid and felt I was walking through a song, marvelous, marvelous. I can totally recommend 'The Ark' to eat in,see www.arkrestaurant.co.uk
It was totally superb. The food was all homemade, right down to the icecream desserts. The service was impeccable and the atmosphere all candlelit and intimate, It was so good I expected Gordon F**@#! Ramsay to step out of the kitchen any minute.
The weekend started with a Blonde disaster that has so far exceeded anything else stupid I have done in my life , and believe me they have been many and varied! I had spent Saturday morning dashing about getting ready to leave at about lunchtime, I popped down to the shops to buy a new outfit for my dinner date, rushed back, packed my bag, packed Ta-shi's bag sorted out the cats and left. I dropped Ta-shi off at the kennels and hacked up the motorway for a bit, then stopped for a toilet break. As I washed my hands I looked in the mirror and thought , Oh I did not put my dainty earrings in the bag. I was wearing ethnic dangly ones that would not really go with my outfit for the evening. I then had an "Oh my God" moment as it dawned on me that my suitcase was neatly packed and still standing by the front door!!! (on the inside folks)
I was totally panicked, I did not have time to go back for it as I was nearer to Liverpool than Coventry, but I literally had with me just what I was standing up in.
I decided to continue on my journey not sure whether to laugh or cry (so I did both, seemed fair in the circumstances).
Well, every cloud has a silver lining, as I joined the M62 I noticed a big shopping outlet just off Junction 9, so I left the Motorway at the junction and I swear I found the biggest Marks and Spencer in the World and possibly the Universe. The plastic had a bit of a bashing as I purchased a new outfit to 'Wow' my husband with, emergency underwear and then discovered a Boots to deal with all the other things a woman needs for a weekend away. So... I ended up with two new outfits, Ok one is unworn as yet, and yes it has cost me a fortune , but boy did I have a great weekend!
I had another 'Blonde' moment on Sunday morning at breakfast, the waiter asked me how I would like my eggs? I just stared at him in bewilderment, all I could think of was 'medium' like a steak! Barry helped me out by saying he would like his fried! Of course fried or scrambled. Doh! Barry has been calling me Debbie Aka Debbie Harry of Blondie fame. Richly deserved I am afraid.
As I had a couple of hours to spare Sunday morning I took a drive into the city centre. I found 'The Beatles Story' and thought it would round of my trip nicely. No wonder it is an award winning attraction, it is a MUST for Beatle fans.
A total recreation of the Cavern club was one of the attractions, as I walked into the Cavern 'Twist and Shout' started, it was all I could do not to dance! I was blown away, the atmosphere was awesome. I walked through a 'Yellow Submarine' and a 'Magical Mystery Tour', all with the aid of a headphone commentary that could be started and stopped at will. I had to keep stopping mine to listen to the music. A recreation of Abbey road studio's as it would of been in the Sixties.
The tour culminated with the 'John Lennon' room, centre stage was his iconic real Gold Glasses, a movie of lot's of dreadful war shots, including that poor little girl that was hit by nepalm in the Vietnam conflict in the background Johns voice quietly singing 'Love Is' So has anything changed? No we still think it's Ok to maim and kill...
The last and most moving room was a perfect recreation of 'The White Room' where John wrote 'Imagine' Felt really strange coming out into 2006 I was gone man, solid gone!.....
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Henry The Mechanical Horse!
It was a very wet Tuesday morning and there I was in a big open fronted barn riding a mechanical horse at top speed canter like a jockey in the Gold Cup!
My second lesson with Molly, it was decided to start the lesson with improving my cruise control... Or at least the various gears involved in trot. The exercise was to drive her forward to a fast trot, slow her down to a slow trot with me giving the right message with my body movements then drive her forward to fast again. All this while steering her in a series of three circles of varying direction around the school. Now this sounds quite complicated but I just got it! I was on a roll and feeling very smug as we trotted fast, slow fast. Not a Foxtrot, but a Molly trot!
So... It was decided to work on canter, a little morsel of fear entered my mind, what if I fall, it's a long way down, what if I start her into canter and I can't stop her, you get the idea. Still a challenge is a challenge! Amy re-assured me that I had proved to Molly that I was in control, she was listening to all my body commands I naturally talked to her a lot, which she likes and at the end if the day if Amy thought I was in trouble she could slow her down with her voice if need be.
Soo... We went for it! It was great, but... I felt like a sack of potatoes, you are supposed to sit down to the saddle, move from the hips with the animal and enjoy the ride. Molly canters like no other horse I have ridden (actually I have never ridden a horse, only ponies) and I could not get with the motion.
It was not just me it transpired. Amy explained that Molly drives from the front in canter, most horses drive from the back end, so you get a slightly different gait which takes a bit of getting used to.
Sooo... I am riding a front wheel drive, with several more gears than I am used to, it's like driving my little Nissan Micra then driving a Jaguar!
Amy decided I needed a short session on Henry! I wondered what kind of Horse Henry was. We returned Molly to her stall and I followed Amy to the barn. Here stood a magnificent shiny black beast complete with mane and tail and a key to get him going.
Up I jumped again with the aid of a handy step ladder, and Amy turned the key. Henry has but three gears, slow canter, medium canter, and fast wind in the hair canter. It was a great way to find your seat as although the movement is totally authentic you don't have to worry about steering, cornering or braking! Just sit tight and get that hip movement going!
It was a really good exercise and I am sure I will be more confident in cantering Big Moll around the school next week.
My second lesson with Molly, it was decided to start the lesson with improving my cruise control... Or at least the various gears involved in trot. The exercise was to drive her forward to a fast trot, slow her down to a slow trot with me giving the right message with my body movements then drive her forward to fast again. All this while steering her in a series of three circles of varying direction around the school. Now this sounds quite complicated but I just got it! I was on a roll and feeling very smug as we trotted fast, slow fast. Not a Foxtrot, but a Molly trot!
So... It was decided to work on canter, a little morsel of fear entered my mind, what if I fall, it's a long way down, what if I start her into canter and I can't stop her, you get the idea. Still a challenge is a challenge! Amy re-assured me that I had proved to Molly that I was in control, she was listening to all my body commands I naturally talked to her a lot, which she likes and at the end if the day if Amy thought I was in trouble she could slow her down with her voice if need be.
Soo... We went for it! It was great, but... I felt like a sack of potatoes, you are supposed to sit down to the saddle, move from the hips with the animal and enjoy the ride. Molly canters like no other horse I have ridden (actually I have never ridden a horse, only ponies) and I could not get with the motion.
It was not just me it transpired. Amy explained that Molly drives from the front in canter, most horses drive from the back end, so you get a slightly different gait which takes a bit of getting used to.
Sooo... I am riding a front wheel drive, with several more gears than I am used to, it's like driving my little Nissan Micra then driving a Jaguar!
Amy decided I needed a short session on Henry! I wondered what kind of Horse Henry was. We returned Molly to her stall and I followed Amy to the barn. Here stood a magnificent shiny black beast complete with mane and tail and a key to get him going.
Up I jumped again with the aid of a handy step ladder, and Amy turned the key. Henry has but three gears, slow canter, medium canter, and fast wind in the hair canter. It was a great way to find your seat as although the movement is totally authentic you don't have to worry about steering, cornering or braking! Just sit tight and get that hip movement going!
It was a really good exercise and I am sure I will be more confident in cantering Big Moll around the school next week.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Horsing Around!
The big day arrived, the day I was going to put my bum back in the saddle after four long years. I was as excited as a kid on Christmas eve.
I got to the posh equestrian centre far to early and had to sit in the car for ten minutes until I was only a respectable ten minutes early. It gave me time to look around the yard from the comfort of my car and take in the surroundings.
I had chosen an equestrian centre in preference to a bog standard riding school as I really want to learn to ride as a skill as well as a hobby, I also want to ride proper responsive well schooled horses rather than the tired 'Duff donkey's' that you get at riding schools. It looked very promising, a very neat tidy well kept yard, a well fenced and marked outdoor school and I could also see an indoor school as well. What I could not see was any horses! There were a few chickens (all healthy and not sneezing) a cute black cat stalking the chickens and being told off by a large speckled hen and a few stable girls pushing wheelbarrows of steaming manure to a hidden heap somewhere.
Once in the office I had to fill in an impressive form with all my personal details, next of kin, doctors name etc. It was also pointed out that riding is a risk sport and I should consider personal insurance. I was becoming a little worried at this point, What WAS I going to be riding!
I was introduced to Amy my tutor and we went to get my mount.
My first thought was I saw Molly was "oh my God she's enormous!" She was however very pretty but I detected a little glint of mischief in her eye. We led her out and her first act was to balk at the sight of the overnight snow, it was a case of "I am NOT walking on That" and she stopped dead and dug her hooves in. A little encouragement got her into the indoor school where she then bit my arm as I adjusted her reins. It was a definite case of her trying it on as she sensed I was a little nervous. It was then decided I needed a step ladder to mount her (I am not joking!)but once ensconced in the saddle I suddenly felt at home!
We pootled around the school for a few minutes so I could get the feel for her, then tried some rising trot, then sitting trot and going from one to the other. She was a bit of a Madam to start with and tried to shortcut circuits or not respond to my commands. However as my confidence grew she pricked her ears and did my bidding. We were flying around the circuit doing 20 metre circles, 40 metre circle, figure of eights. Trotting over poles, trotting up to poles and making her halt with the pole between her front and back legs. All was going tremendously well until a workman banged a wheelbarrow on the wall of the corrugated iron wall of the school, Molly leapt six foot in the air and took of across the school at a fair rate of knots. I was startled but kept control, sat into the saddle and persuaded her stopping would be good at this point! Amy was dead impressed and complemented me on my control and that I had relaxed into the saddle rather than panicking and tensing up. Believe me I have had plenty of practice with bolting horses, I just had not expected it to happen on my first lesson.
Anyway, Molly seemed to gain confidence in me after that as I had reassured her straight away when we had stopped, and she was an absolute star it was truly as if horse and rider were completely in tune.
Amy was impressed with my position and line of body in the saddle and I learnt more about schooling in that half an hour than I ever knew. I have not had a proper riding lesson since I was about ten years old. It is like riding a bike a skill once learned never leaves you. The only thing being bikes usually have brakes!
My tutor, Amy was an excellent teacher the right amount of praise and encouragement, with the skill of pushing you just far enough to stretch you without making you think "I can't do this." I can't wait for next Friday when me and Molly meet again.
My new hobby has cost me dear as I had to go buy a new riding hat as My old one no longer meets British Standards, then I felt compelled to buy a riding jacket, where will it end? (probably with buying a horse again) No, Barry don't worry not really!
I got to the posh equestrian centre far to early and had to sit in the car for ten minutes until I was only a respectable ten minutes early. It gave me time to look around the yard from the comfort of my car and take in the surroundings.
I had chosen an equestrian centre in preference to a bog standard riding school as I really want to learn to ride as a skill as well as a hobby, I also want to ride proper responsive well schooled horses rather than the tired 'Duff donkey's' that you get at riding schools. It looked very promising, a very neat tidy well kept yard, a well fenced and marked outdoor school and I could also see an indoor school as well. What I could not see was any horses! There were a few chickens (all healthy and not sneezing) a cute black cat stalking the chickens and being told off by a large speckled hen and a few stable girls pushing wheelbarrows of steaming manure to a hidden heap somewhere.
Once in the office I had to fill in an impressive form with all my personal details, next of kin, doctors name etc. It was also pointed out that riding is a risk sport and I should consider personal insurance. I was becoming a little worried at this point, What WAS I going to be riding!
I was introduced to Amy my tutor and we went to get my mount.
My first thought was I saw Molly was "oh my God she's enormous!" She was however very pretty but I detected a little glint of mischief in her eye. We led her out and her first act was to balk at the sight of the overnight snow, it was a case of "I am NOT walking on That" and she stopped dead and dug her hooves in. A little encouragement got her into the indoor school where she then bit my arm as I adjusted her reins. It was a definite case of her trying it on as she sensed I was a little nervous. It was then decided I needed a step ladder to mount her (I am not joking!)but once ensconced in the saddle I suddenly felt at home!
We pootled around the school for a few minutes so I could get the feel for her, then tried some rising trot, then sitting trot and going from one to the other. She was a bit of a Madam to start with and tried to shortcut circuits or not respond to my commands. However as my confidence grew she pricked her ears and did my bidding. We were flying around the circuit doing 20 metre circles, 40 metre circle, figure of eights. Trotting over poles, trotting up to poles and making her halt with the pole between her front and back legs. All was going tremendously well until a workman banged a wheelbarrow on the wall of the corrugated iron wall of the school, Molly leapt six foot in the air and took of across the school at a fair rate of knots. I was startled but kept control, sat into the saddle and persuaded her stopping would be good at this point! Amy was dead impressed and complemented me on my control and that I had relaxed into the saddle rather than panicking and tensing up. Believe me I have had plenty of practice with bolting horses, I just had not expected it to happen on my first lesson.
Anyway, Molly seemed to gain confidence in me after that as I had reassured her straight away when we had stopped, and she was an absolute star it was truly as if horse and rider were completely in tune.
Amy was impressed with my position and line of body in the saddle and I learnt more about schooling in that half an hour than I ever knew. I have not had a proper riding lesson since I was about ten years old. It is like riding a bike a skill once learned never leaves you. The only thing being bikes usually have brakes!
My tutor, Amy was an excellent teacher the right amount of praise and encouragement, with the skill of pushing you just far enough to stretch you without making you think "I can't do this." I can't wait for next Friday when me and Molly meet again.
My new hobby has cost me dear as I had to go buy a new riding hat as My old one no longer meets British Standards, then I felt compelled to buy a riding jacket, where will it end? (probably with buying a horse again) No, Barry don't worry not really!
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Have You Ever Seen an Elephant Fly?... No, but I've Seen a Horse Skip!
What fun we have had this weekend! It started Friday evening we met the boys to celebrate Simons birthday at a Greek restaurant in Bearwood where they live. The restaurant's a small and friendly privately owned establishment called 'Antonio's' the owner being of course, Antonio! He was a small round middle aged Greek chap who made a big fuss of Simons (as he called him), it was a small place and our party of ten rather overwhelmed a few customers who had come for a quiet and intimate romantic meal with their partners. No problem for Antonio who deftly and unobtrusively moved people to quieter tables and cheerfully dealt with the the lively party that was us! I have to say Simon and Rob's friends were delightful, a good mix of personalities and they did not seem to mind a couple of oldies tagging on to the celebrations. Kalps, a Sri Lankan girl who reads the news on Asian network radio was a lovely girl a real smiler she put me in mind of my adorable niece Jamie who is another smiley miley.
We had a musical accompaniment to our meal, a chap very expertly played I think it was called a bazouki (or is that a machine gun) anyway it was a small fat stringed instrument a cross between a guitar and a banjo. Boy, could he play, it was real good fun. He decided to get all the restaurant to sing the 'appy birthday to Simons and after much shouting of "yamos" Simon was invited to do a Greek dance! Well... a few red wines had been consumed by the Simons so he was happy to oblige! It was hilarious is all I can say, I think the Simons could have a new career ahead of him if he chooses. A real good fun evening oh, and the food was not bad either.
Saturday dawned and at last it was the day I had been looking forward to as I had tickets for 'Apassionata'at the NEC. No, it was not some high brow opera or ballet, well maybe it had some ballet elements in it. It was a festival or celebration of the Horse. It was totally fabulous and as good as any ballet you could see as it had you crying with the emotion of the spetacular beauty of the beasts and laughing at the antics of the comical Miko the donkey! In fact he could have a catch phrase of his own 'Its Miko time' No sorry its been done already!
I have never seen so many breeds of horse in one place and all superbly trained and tuned out.
We saw rampaging Cossacks hurtling at break neck speed around the arena, the riders doing spectacular acrobatic feats on the move including riding in handstand on the saddle while at full pelt, jumping from one side of the pony to the other again at gallop. Then one rider stood one foot on the saddle of one pony and the other foot on the saddle of another pony and cantered around. All was well until one pony changed stride making the rise and fall mismatched and the rider fell. Gasps... But all was well but one pony gave the rider such a look of disgust as if to say "what did you go and do that for?"
I had never seen a Friesian Pearl in the flesh before, my goodness are they the most gorgeous creature you have ever seen! They are a breed that goes back to medieval times and are often depicted in paintings from that era. Big solid barrel chested steed with manes so long they almost reach the ground in a mature horse, spectacular does not even begin to describe them.
The Portuguese Lusitano's were grace personified, they performed dressage to music' and that is how I saw a horse skip!
It was intriguing how they get a horse to perform such an unnatural movement, both front and back leg move forward on one side then the same action on the other side and in time with the music. A bit spotty dog! I could see how the rider was signaling the maneuver but what a totally acclomplished thing to do.
We saw American quarterbacks, stunning Carmagues, Arabs, and Andalusians all wonderful creatures.
My favorite of all were the Carthusians, stunning greys who were loose schooled in the arena as if they were running free on the plains in Spain. They looked totally noble and serene and although free running no tack of any kind, they were watching the master of the horse on his mount for signals as to which way to move. He deftly moved his horse (also a Carthusian) one way or another and the horses went in the direction he signaled, if he turned his horse into the ring they all stood stock still, ears pricked waiting for the signal to move again.
I have to say the horse is the most magical and beautiful creature put on this earth! I was emotionally drained by the end of it all.
Oh! And I have made a move on one of my New Year resolutions, I am starting riding again next Friday. I have decided to have a couple of private one to one lessons to get me going again as it's easily 4-5 years since I have been in the saddle. Maybe walking like John Wayne next weekend!
I also have a great idea for the next celebrity reality show.
'Celebrity Cossack Riding' Please, please lets put that awful simpering Bonnie Langford on as first rider.
We had a musical accompaniment to our meal, a chap very expertly played I think it was called a bazouki (or is that a machine gun) anyway it was a small fat stringed instrument a cross between a guitar and a banjo. Boy, could he play, it was real good fun. He decided to get all the restaurant to sing the 'appy birthday to Simons and after much shouting of "yamos" Simon was invited to do a Greek dance! Well... a few red wines had been consumed by the Simons so he was happy to oblige! It was hilarious is all I can say, I think the Simons could have a new career ahead of him if he chooses. A real good fun evening oh, and the food was not bad either.
Saturday dawned and at last it was the day I had been looking forward to as I had tickets for 'Apassionata'at the NEC. No, it was not some high brow opera or ballet, well maybe it had some ballet elements in it. It was a festival or celebration of the Horse. It was totally fabulous and as good as any ballet you could see as it had you crying with the emotion of the spetacular beauty of the beasts and laughing at the antics of the comical Miko the donkey! In fact he could have a catch phrase of his own 'Its Miko time' No sorry its been done already!
I have never seen so many breeds of horse in one place and all superbly trained and tuned out.
We saw rampaging Cossacks hurtling at break neck speed around the arena, the riders doing spectacular acrobatic feats on the move including riding in handstand on the saddle while at full pelt, jumping from one side of the pony to the other again at gallop. Then one rider stood one foot on the saddle of one pony and the other foot on the saddle of another pony and cantered around. All was well until one pony changed stride making the rise and fall mismatched and the rider fell. Gasps... But all was well but one pony gave the rider such a look of disgust as if to say "what did you go and do that for?"
I had never seen a Friesian Pearl in the flesh before, my goodness are they the most gorgeous creature you have ever seen! They are a breed that goes back to medieval times and are often depicted in paintings from that era. Big solid barrel chested steed with manes so long they almost reach the ground in a mature horse, spectacular does not even begin to describe them.
The Portuguese Lusitano's were grace personified, they performed dressage to music' and that is how I saw a horse skip!
It was intriguing how they get a horse to perform such an unnatural movement, both front and back leg move forward on one side then the same action on the other side and in time with the music. A bit spotty dog! I could see how the rider was signaling the maneuver but what a totally acclomplished thing to do.
We saw American quarterbacks, stunning Carmagues, Arabs, and Andalusians all wonderful creatures.
My favorite of all were the Carthusians, stunning greys who were loose schooled in the arena as if they were running free on the plains in Spain. They looked totally noble and serene and although free running no tack of any kind, they were watching the master of the horse on his mount for signals as to which way to move. He deftly moved his horse (also a Carthusian) one way or another and the horses went in the direction he signaled, if he turned his horse into the ring they all stood stock still, ears pricked waiting for the signal to move again.
I have to say the horse is the most magical and beautiful creature put on this earth! I was emotionally drained by the end of it all.
Oh! And I have made a move on one of my New Year resolutions, I am starting riding again next Friday. I have decided to have a couple of private one to one lessons to get me going again as it's easily 4-5 years since I have been in the saddle. Maybe walking like John Wayne next weekend!
I also have a great idea for the next celebrity reality show.
'Celebrity Cossack Riding' Please, please lets put that awful simpering Bonnie Langford on as first rider.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Its Been A Bad Week For.........
Danish Journalists....
So....! Did these jouro's imagine a scenario in a little cafe in the back streets of Baghdad that went a bit like this:
"Hey Abdul come look at this hilariously funny cartoon of our most esteemed and revered Holy man in this newspaper"
"My Goodness Abu, my sides are splitting with the laughing. How very amusing".
Of course not, they were being deliberately provocative in exercising their right to 'free' speech.
Because we have the right to speak freely and openly about our views does not mean we have the right to disrespect and provoke people that have very set ideas of how their faith should be followed.
What a Pandora's box! How will we close the lid?
Now the government can't make it's mind up as to what constitutes free speech and what is incitement to terrorism, as we saw at the weekend people holding the most inciting and hate filled placards imaginable, by religious fanatics. It would never happen, but what if.... A Christian group retaliated and held their own demo with equally hate filled banner's. I am betting a few arrests would happen pretty sharp.
I suggest the World's journalists put a lid on this area of 'free speech for all our sakes and let the dust settle. For Gods sake! (Actually as a Mother I would ground them for a month and take away their lap tops and only feed them fish fingers for a week and absolutely no beer.)
Now one good thing to start to come out of this is a lot of peace loving British Muslims are standing up and speaking out against these militants, they will have no truck with extremism, hate or terror and wish to live in peace and harmony and quietly practice their Faith without fear and reprisal.
One funny thing that happened as I listened to my radio in the car, I was listening to Radio 4 news and a spokesman for the Danish government was appealing for calm and also said the 'way forward was', at that moment the traffic news cut in and added 'the M42'! So now we know folks the way forward is the M42! (But not usually when I am trying to get to work in the mornings)
I do think we are lucky as a nation that we DO have the most marvelous sense of humour and laugh at ourselves first! My Sister is convinced that both God and Jesus see's the funny side of life. She is right, watch God laugh if you make a plan!
Its Been A Bad week for Abu Hamza...
Thank Goodness we are rid of this poisonous evil excuse of a man, please lets deport him to the USA, they want him, let them have him.
I picked up a copy of the Koran in my local bookshop, I thought it would be a good idea to read some of it's theology, however the text although in English is almost indecipherable and I could not understand any of it. Maybe those little yellow and black books could oblige us with a 'For Dummies' book, they have one for Buddhism! I am being serious here folks. If we are to understand and not fear this religion we must find out the facts about it and come to our own decisions.
Its Been A Bad week for One Estate Agent.....
They have been terminated (just the contract, not the people) for being absolutely useless and downright liars! They told a neighbor of ours that they had sent four lots of people to view our property in a fortnight, when in reality not one prospective buyer has crossed our threshold since November 5th! So it's goodbye to them and....
HelloTo...
Your Move, lets see if they can sell out most desirable little residence!
Good Movie
Walk The Line, the story loosely based on Johnny Cash life story. It is a BRILLIANT film I wanted it to go on forever. Joaquin phoenix was just so good in the part of Johnny Cash he did all the vocals and had the guitar action absolutely perfect. I haven't stopped singing 'Jackson' and 'Fulsom Prison Blues' since Saturday, sorry everyboby who has had to listen to it.
Barry can do a pretty mean impression of Mr Cash, I suggested he should do Stars in their eyes but he would have to be 'Toy Boy Johnny Cash' as he is about half the size of the man in black.
Work
Not such a bad week, lots of moral support from my colleagues which is great. Down moment last Friday when I had to with my boss and actually sack some-one! Not a pleasant thing to do but it was the only thing we could do!
My boss has been away from the office this week soI have been able to get a lot of stuff done (my way) and coped really well with all the queries and problems the franchisees have thrown my way.
High points
Saw a Kingfisher this week, I adore it when I see these mystical little halcyon birds. A flash of quicksilver and the most iridescence blue flashing in the gloom and mist of an early morning walk by the canal. Priceless. It made my day.
Did some gardening, I love to garden, get mud under the finger nails, get up close and personal to sweet smelling earth (not where the cats have been). I planted 48 little plants in the front garden and gave the back a good tidy up. Saffy (cat) was very excited and dashed from fence to fence doing her clucking mewing noises, a characteristic of the Maine Coone is that they almost chatter to you when happy. Ta-shi did some ungardening later and knocked over a newly planted pot of pansies as he decided it was the very place to hide a chewy bone! A few sharp words has persuaded him this is not the case!
Down Point
Barry is back in Liverpool!
High point
Tidy House!
So....! Did these jouro's imagine a scenario in a little cafe in the back streets of Baghdad that went a bit like this:
"Hey Abdul come look at this hilariously funny cartoon of our most esteemed and revered Holy man in this newspaper"
"My Goodness Abu, my sides are splitting with the laughing. How very amusing".
Of course not, they were being deliberately provocative in exercising their right to 'free' speech.
Because we have the right to speak freely and openly about our views does not mean we have the right to disrespect and provoke people that have very set ideas of how their faith should be followed.
What a Pandora's box! How will we close the lid?
Now the government can't make it's mind up as to what constitutes free speech and what is incitement to terrorism, as we saw at the weekend people holding the most inciting and hate filled placards imaginable, by religious fanatics. It would never happen, but what if.... A Christian group retaliated and held their own demo with equally hate filled banner's. I am betting a few arrests would happen pretty sharp.
I suggest the World's journalists put a lid on this area of 'free speech for all our sakes and let the dust settle. For Gods sake! (Actually as a Mother I would ground them for a month and take away their lap tops and only feed them fish fingers for a week and absolutely no beer.)
Now one good thing to start to come out of this is a lot of peace loving British Muslims are standing up and speaking out against these militants, they will have no truck with extremism, hate or terror and wish to live in peace and harmony and quietly practice their Faith without fear and reprisal.
One funny thing that happened as I listened to my radio in the car, I was listening to Radio 4 news and a spokesman for the Danish government was appealing for calm and also said the 'way forward was', at that moment the traffic news cut in and added 'the M42'! So now we know folks the way forward is the M42! (But not usually when I am trying to get to work in the mornings)
I do think we are lucky as a nation that we DO have the most marvelous sense of humour and laugh at ourselves first! My Sister is convinced that both God and Jesus see's the funny side of life. She is right, watch God laugh if you make a plan!
Its Been A Bad week for Abu Hamza...
Thank Goodness we are rid of this poisonous evil excuse of a man, please lets deport him to the USA, they want him, let them have him.
I picked up a copy of the Koran in my local bookshop, I thought it would be a good idea to read some of it's theology, however the text although in English is almost indecipherable and I could not understand any of it. Maybe those little yellow and black books could oblige us with a 'For Dummies' book, they have one for Buddhism! I am being serious here folks. If we are to understand and not fear this religion we must find out the facts about it and come to our own decisions.
Its Been A Bad week for One Estate Agent.....
They have been terminated (just the contract, not the people) for being absolutely useless and downright liars! They told a neighbor of ours that they had sent four lots of people to view our property in a fortnight, when in reality not one prospective buyer has crossed our threshold since November 5th! So it's goodbye to them and....
HelloTo...
Your Move, lets see if they can sell out most desirable little residence!
Good Movie
Walk The Line, the story loosely based on Johnny Cash life story. It is a BRILLIANT film I wanted it to go on forever. Joaquin phoenix was just so good in the part of Johnny Cash he did all the vocals and had the guitar action absolutely perfect. I haven't stopped singing 'Jackson' and 'Fulsom Prison Blues' since Saturday, sorry everyboby who has had to listen to it.
Barry can do a pretty mean impression of Mr Cash, I suggested he should do Stars in their eyes but he would have to be 'Toy Boy Johnny Cash' as he is about half the size of the man in black.
Work
Not such a bad week, lots of moral support from my colleagues which is great. Down moment last Friday when I had to with my boss and actually sack some-one! Not a pleasant thing to do but it was the only thing we could do!
My boss has been away from the office this week soI have been able to get a lot of stuff done (my way) and coped really well with all the queries and problems the franchisees have thrown my way.
High points
Saw a Kingfisher this week, I adore it when I see these mystical little halcyon birds. A flash of quicksilver and the most iridescence blue flashing in the gloom and mist of an early morning walk by the canal. Priceless. It made my day.
Did some gardening, I love to garden, get mud under the finger nails, get up close and personal to sweet smelling earth (not where the cats have been). I planted 48 little plants in the front garden and gave the back a good tidy up. Saffy (cat) was very excited and dashed from fence to fence doing her clucking mewing noises, a characteristic of the Maine Coone is that they almost chatter to you when happy. Ta-shi did some ungardening later and knocked over a newly planted pot of pansies as he decided it was the very place to hide a chewy bone! A few sharp words has persuaded him this is not the case!
Down Point
Barry is back in Liverpool!
High point
Tidy House!
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Acting your Knicker size!
Definition of loneliness:- That little empty space deep in the heart of you that you don't even realize you have, until the person you miss comes back and gives you a big hug. Suddenly you are whole and full with no empty bits.
I guess I felt like this as I am having a tough time at work at the moment. Its made worse when you get home to am empty house and no-one but the dog to share your bad day with.
However the good news is, Barry is now home for a few weeks as he has some nodding dogs to design software for (Robots to you and me). It will take about 3 weeks to complete with the odd few days up in scouse land now and again.
Work has not been all bad, just the manic boss who is hating the re structuring of the Company and because I will not agree with her is hardly speaking to me or any one else in the office who disagrees with her. I truly think we should all give the new ideas a fair trial and I think they are basically sound and sensible and will with a little tweaking work well.
It has been an amusing week on the children front. I was at my Leaps and Bounds class and trying to engage one little boy in conversation during the 'news' time. He had been away for 3 weeks on a visit to Australia, but it seemed the most exciting bit of the trip was getting off the aeroplane back here and catching a bus to go and find the car! Nothing would entice him to tell me anything else at all about the trip.
During the same day but with the younger class, I had the parachute out and we were all having a wonderful time lots of laughing and shrieks of delight (and that was just me!) . I was suddenly aware that water was dripping on me every time the parachute went up in the air. The excitement had become to much for one little girl and she had spectalularly wet herself and was sitting in a large puddle in which the edge of the parachute was dipping into! So dear neighbor's that is why I am drying a parachute on my washing line today!
One of my colleagues has her 7 year old Granddaughter living with her and she told Nanny she had a 'secret' to tell her! It transpired that they were going to have a wedding in the playground the next day. Matthew Perry was to 'marry' Gemma Bennett and Jake was going to be the Vicar and Jess (the granddaughter was to be a bridesmaid! My colleague made all the right comments on how lovely and exciting it all was and said she could not wait to hear all about it when Jess came home the next day.
After school the next day Jess was asked how the Wedding went, the reply came "Oh it was to cold so we played chase instead"
Now why did I not think of that one!
Barry and I went to Milton Keynes on Saturday as I had a need to visit John Lewis! While there we went to see a new activity set up in the snowdome called Airkix! It is truly amazing, you dress up in skydiving gear and go into an amazing wind funnel and 'fly'. It truly looks the BEST fun, there is a viewing area, we sat for ages watching it. We are going to give it a go ourselves, but I have decided to make it a family affair and get the boys involved (and any-one else who wants to join us) Go to www.airkix.co.uk to see what it is all about.
We have also decided to take ski lessons, and I am about to book the first one at Tamworth ski dome. OK just 'cos I am 50 plus one doesn't mean I have to behave like it! I am acting my knicker size and no I am not telling you what that is, suffice to say its not 10!
I guess I felt like this as I am having a tough time at work at the moment. Its made worse when you get home to am empty house and no-one but the dog to share your bad day with.
However the good news is, Barry is now home for a few weeks as he has some nodding dogs to design software for (Robots to you and me). It will take about 3 weeks to complete with the odd few days up in scouse land now and again.
Work has not been all bad, just the manic boss who is hating the re structuring of the Company and because I will not agree with her is hardly speaking to me or any one else in the office who disagrees with her. I truly think we should all give the new ideas a fair trial and I think they are basically sound and sensible and will with a little tweaking work well.
It has been an amusing week on the children front. I was at my Leaps and Bounds class and trying to engage one little boy in conversation during the 'news' time. He had been away for 3 weeks on a visit to Australia, but it seemed the most exciting bit of the trip was getting off the aeroplane back here and catching a bus to go and find the car! Nothing would entice him to tell me anything else at all about the trip.
During the same day but with the younger class, I had the parachute out and we were all having a wonderful time lots of laughing and shrieks of delight (and that was just me!) . I was suddenly aware that water was dripping on me every time the parachute went up in the air. The excitement had become to much for one little girl and she had spectalularly wet herself and was sitting in a large puddle in which the edge of the parachute was dipping into! So dear neighbor's that is why I am drying a parachute on my washing line today!
One of my colleagues has her 7 year old Granddaughter living with her and she told Nanny she had a 'secret' to tell her! It transpired that they were going to have a wedding in the playground the next day. Matthew Perry was to 'marry' Gemma Bennett and Jake was going to be the Vicar and Jess (the granddaughter was to be a bridesmaid! My colleague made all the right comments on how lovely and exciting it all was and said she could not wait to hear all about it when Jess came home the next day.
After school the next day Jess was asked how the Wedding went, the reply came "Oh it was to cold so we played chase instead"
Now why did I not think of that one!
Barry and I went to Milton Keynes on Saturday as I had a need to visit John Lewis! While there we went to see a new activity set up in the snowdome called Airkix! It is truly amazing, you dress up in skydiving gear and go into an amazing wind funnel and 'fly'. It truly looks the BEST fun, there is a viewing area, we sat for ages watching it. We are going to give it a go ourselves, but I have decided to make it a family affair and get the boys involved (and any-one else who wants to join us) Go to www.airkix.co.uk to see what it is all about.
We have also decided to take ski lessons, and I am about to book the first one at Tamworth ski dome. OK just 'cos I am 50 plus one doesn't mean I have to behave like it! I am acting my knicker size and no I am not telling you what that is, suffice to say its not 10!
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Whale Meet again!
What a strange week we had! A whale in the centre of London! Never before has that happened. It was fascinating to see one of these truly majestic and mysterious creatures of the deep in the midst of our modern fast moving Capital City. But very sad! The creature was doomed from the start, I rightly guessed this chap was going to die, one way or another no happy outcome was about to happen. How I would of loved to be proved wrong, but these creatures seek shallow waters if they are sick or dying, and my guess is this is what happened to this guy. Sadly real life ain't the movies and despite truly heroic efforts of rescue this Willy was not to be free. But maybe he is! Irony won the day when he demised at 'Gravesend'. A little tear was shed in this household as I am the worlds biggest softie where animals and children are concerned.
I visited Lancaster TT this week, to see how they are doing. It was great fun to see they were running so very well and what nice folks they are up there. I had a great game of 'snap' with a little boy who was watching his younger brother participate in a class. He was great fun and told me at least a dozen times it was his daddies birthday today! I asked if he had given Daddy a present, and he had. 'It is a special book' he told me ' but I don't think it is very special 'cos its only got words in it, no pictures'.
The only fly on the ointment is that my boss seems permanently in a bad mood at the moment. She gets very stressed and takes it out on the nearest person which was me last week! Its like working for a truculent teenager at times, however I cannot 'ground' this one.
It also appears that part of my new role (starting 1st March) is looking after the East of England Franchises, now this puts a different perspective on whether we move nearer the office! I am nicely situated for easy access to the A14 and M11 where we are, the main routes to the East. So now we don't know what to do. Maybe get a better car!
The weekend was good! got over my crossness at Barry being away all the time. I decided to arrange an outing for this weekend which was a trip to Stratford on Avon and actually visit the Shakespeare Birthplace Museum. I can recommend it as an interesting way to spend a couple of hours along with lunch in our favorite Italian restaurant a very convivial way to spend a Sunday! BJ thought he was back in Italy and spent the lunch speaking Italian to the Waiters. This was Ok except I suspected our waiter was probably Rumanian but after a glass of red wine it did not seem to matter a jot!
I visited Lancaster TT this week, to see how they are doing. It was great fun to see they were running so very well and what nice folks they are up there. I had a great game of 'snap' with a little boy who was watching his younger brother participate in a class. He was great fun and told me at least a dozen times it was his daddies birthday today! I asked if he had given Daddy a present, and he had. 'It is a special book' he told me ' but I don't think it is very special 'cos its only got words in it, no pictures'.
The only fly on the ointment is that my boss seems permanently in a bad mood at the moment. She gets very stressed and takes it out on the nearest person which was me last week! Its like working for a truculent teenager at times, however I cannot 'ground' this one.
It also appears that part of my new role (starting 1st March) is looking after the East of England Franchises, now this puts a different perspective on whether we move nearer the office! I am nicely situated for easy access to the A14 and M11 where we are, the main routes to the East. So now we don't know what to do. Maybe get a better car!
The weekend was good! got over my crossness at Barry being away all the time. I decided to arrange an outing for this weekend which was a trip to Stratford on Avon and actually visit the Shakespeare Birthplace Museum. I can recommend it as an interesting way to spend a couple of hours along with lunch in our favorite Italian restaurant a very convivial way to spend a Sunday! BJ thought he was back in Italy and spent the lunch speaking Italian to the Waiters. This was Ok except I suspected our waiter was probably Rumanian but after a glass of red wine it did not seem to matter a jot!
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Highs and Lows
Ok enough is enough, I have had quite enough of BJ being away working and only getting home every other weekend. To top it all a whole load of redundancies have been announced again, and we have to play the will it be him, or will it not be him game again. To be honest we don't really care if it is him as we have a plan! As my old Mum will say 'Time will tell'.
I thought I had got the hang of the big ball exercise thingy ma jig, I practiced every evening until I could stay on board and not roll off the darn thing. All was well until Thursday evening and I tried to do the sit ups on it. The problem being I did not realize just how sore my tummy muscles (yes! I do actually have some) were until I tried the sit up. Well I rolled sideways at the shock of the pain, straight onto the brass fender of our 'living flame' gas fire, which thankfully was not 'living' at that particular time. I truly thought I had broken my arm, drama queen that I am and sat nursing the poor bruised limb wondering how I was going to explain THAT at casualty! All was well after a minute ot two just a small bruise on the arm and an enormous one on my leg where it hit the fireplace kirb, and one bruised ego!
I struck gold one day this week when some-one truly thought I was in my late thirties or early forties, after I had put her down after kissing and hugging her!. She could not believe I had a Son who would turn Thirty-one in a few weeks, I love her! Mind you I was having one of those rare good hair and make up days!
BJ came home for the once a fortnight visit, we were not really cooking on gas as I was feeling a little fed up with him for being away so much, although I know he has to do it. I do not have to like it though do I. He says he will try and get home every weekend now the worst of the job is over.
We did have a very convivial evening out with the two boys, we went to The Boot at Lapworth and can highly recommend the food at this traditional English Country pub. The restaurant is in a reclaimed old barn and has a marvelous atmosphere, good food and friendly attentive staff.
The food is the best we have had out in a restaurant since moving to Coventry. This City maybe famous for many things but cuisine is certainly not one of them.
It was great to spend some time with the boys,as we had not seen the Rob since Christmas as he is such a busy boy at work. He gave me the cutest wine coloured suede handbag as a belated birthday pressie. He has such good taste for a man! Thanks Son!
I think the boys enjoyed the food, although they had waitress problems, in so much as they could not peel the eyes of one of them. Ok, she was very slim, very blonde, very tall and very Swedish, yep, drop dead gorgeous in fact. I had to pick there chins up off the floor several times.
Not sure if I should let BJ go back there to work if that's the caliber of the female folk.
One really exciting thing we did was to book our holiday. Surprise, surprise we are not going to our beloved Italy! In fact totally different as we are renting a log cabin on the shores of Loch Ness! We were going to hire a boat for the week and float on the Loch but I decided I would not mind seeing Nessie from a distance but did not really want to look him in the eye if he was to pop up in front of the boat. Actually we felt as inexperienced boaters Loch Ness is a bit vast to learn on. I am very excited as the area looks phenomenal, lots of walks, bike rides and slobbing out as well.
Definitely need to replace my beloved old walking boots before we go though. I have been putting off the evil day as I love those boots. They must be 18 to 20 years old as I had them when Ben was a young dog. Me, the boots and Ben trudged many a happy mile together. They have walked me up Snowden Three times, over dales and streams in Derbyshire, tramped heaths. Moors and woodland in The New Forest, they fit like a soft suede glove but sadly leak like a rusty bucket now, despite re-proofing them every year. The seams have given up the ghost sadly.
I thought I had got the hang of the big ball exercise thingy ma jig, I practiced every evening until I could stay on board and not roll off the darn thing. All was well until Thursday evening and I tried to do the sit ups on it. The problem being I did not realize just how sore my tummy muscles (yes! I do actually have some) were until I tried the sit up. Well I rolled sideways at the shock of the pain, straight onto the brass fender of our 'living flame' gas fire, which thankfully was not 'living' at that particular time. I truly thought I had broken my arm, drama queen that I am and sat nursing the poor bruised limb wondering how I was going to explain THAT at casualty! All was well after a minute ot two just a small bruise on the arm and an enormous one on my leg where it hit the fireplace kirb, and one bruised ego!
I struck gold one day this week when some-one truly thought I was in my late thirties or early forties, after I had put her down after kissing and hugging her!. She could not believe I had a Son who would turn Thirty-one in a few weeks, I love her! Mind you I was having one of those rare good hair and make up days!
BJ came home for the once a fortnight visit, we were not really cooking on gas as I was feeling a little fed up with him for being away so much, although I know he has to do it. I do not have to like it though do I. He says he will try and get home every weekend now the worst of the job is over.
We did have a very convivial evening out with the two boys, we went to The Boot at Lapworth and can highly recommend the food at this traditional English Country pub. The restaurant is in a reclaimed old barn and has a marvelous atmosphere, good food and friendly attentive staff.
The food is the best we have had out in a restaurant since moving to Coventry. This City maybe famous for many things but cuisine is certainly not one of them.
It was great to spend some time with the boys,as we had not seen the Rob since Christmas as he is such a busy boy at work. He gave me the cutest wine coloured suede handbag as a belated birthday pressie. He has such good taste for a man! Thanks Son!
I think the boys enjoyed the food, although they had waitress problems, in so much as they could not peel the eyes of one of them. Ok, she was very slim, very blonde, very tall and very Swedish, yep, drop dead gorgeous in fact. I had to pick there chins up off the floor several times.
Not sure if I should let BJ go back there to work if that's the caliber of the female folk.
One really exciting thing we did was to book our holiday. Surprise, surprise we are not going to our beloved Italy! In fact totally different as we are renting a log cabin on the shores of Loch Ness! We were going to hire a boat for the week and float on the Loch but I decided I would not mind seeing Nessie from a distance but did not really want to look him in the eye if he was to pop up in front of the boat. Actually we felt as inexperienced boaters Loch Ness is a bit vast to learn on. I am very excited as the area looks phenomenal, lots of walks, bike rides and slobbing out as well.
Definitely need to replace my beloved old walking boots before we go though. I have been putting off the evil day as I love those boots. They must be 18 to 20 years old as I had them when Ben was a young dog. Me, the boots and Ben trudged many a happy mile together. They have walked me up Snowden Three times, over dales and streams in Derbyshire, tramped heaths. Moors and woodland in The New Forest, they fit like a soft suede glove but sadly leak like a rusty bucket now, despite re-proofing them every year. The seams have given up the ghost sadly.
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