PHOTOS ON FRIDAY!

HeHe....what could be so funny!

Hello everyone,

Welcome to a wet and miserable friday.  It`s not a pleasant day at all, so I`m hoping it will clear away later and be nice for the weekend.  The photos I`m posting of Roman were all taken by Kerry.  The one above just made me chuckle when I saw it so I had to share them all with you.

I didn`t post an entry yesterday as I went to Windsor with Kerry for the afternoon.  It was nice to walk around the castle walls and then go on to do some retail therapy in preparation for Christmas.  We had a lovely afternoon and we didn`t get home until nearly 6pm, even though we were originally only going for an hour when we left at 2!

all nice and clean mum!

I am still in the throes of this nasty virus.  I`m still coughing and my voice is getting weaker and weaker  (Hooray, says Jim...lol!).  I have a doctors appointment on thursday and if it`s no better I`ll mention it to her, if I can still speak, that is   lol! I don`t think this weather is helping it to clear up, even though I`m getting plenty of fresh air and I`m doing all the right things ie. plenty of rest, lots of fluids, cough linctus (pholcodeine)  it does help the cough.

This morning I`ve been buying Christmas cards and wrapping paper.  I don`t have that many more things to buy now, aren`t I good?  Just a few odds and ends really and a couple of presents for family.  But most of the major recipients are bought for and I can relax now.   I asked in a baby clothes shop if there were any job vacancies, there were last week but they`ve just been filled, but....there may be another one in a week or two.  On monday I am going to register at the various employment agencies and then finish off my Christmas shopping while I`m on my own.

This afternoon Kerry and I went for along walk, we both need and want the exercise as much as Jake who couldn`t believe his luck at having two longs walks today.  he usually has one long run and another two short walks.  Not that he gets tired afterwards, far from it, but then he`s just a baby really and has boundless energy unlike his owners!

Look at me and grandad!

This morning Jim bought me a DVD copy of the film "Fluke".   It`s a lovely film, the story of a pup who realises that he was a man in another life.  He sets off on an extraordinary journey seeking out his human family,.  It`s a bit of a tear-jerker but well worth watching.

That`s it from me today,  I hope you all have a lovely weekend, enjoy the rest of today and take care of yourselves.

                                          

A BIT BETTER THANKS....

                                           

Hello everyone,

It`s good to be back online today.  Thanks to all of you for wishing me well.  I`m much better today though not 100 percent.  It must have been a virus, there are so many of these nasty little bugs around at the moment.  Jim still has his and it doesn`t seem to want to leave him.  He has a persistant cough but he says he feels fine but the coughing keeps him awake at night .  I have the beginnings of a cough myself but the fever and chills have gone thankfully.

Kerry took Roman to the baby clinic today and she was amazed to find he now weighs 12lbs.14ozs.... he certainly is growing fast considering he was only an average weight at birth.  Kerry does find him very heavy to lift now and he won`t be in his infant carrier much longer if he carries on like this! 

Jim and I went for lunch at the garden centre cafe. Afterwards we bought some pansies and a clematis to plant out for the winter.  We then to Mothercare World and bought Roman his christmas presents.  I must wrap them up soon before Kerry finds them and has a look.  As she will be the one who opens them I must keep her guessing!  When we got home Jim mowed the lawn and I planted the winter pansies in the wall manger boxes. It was a shame to have to dig up the summer bedding plants but we`d had a good showing from them and now it was time for them to go.  I`d bought 48 pansy plants so I have loads left to plant in my half barrel, along with the narcissus bulbs.  The garden is all set for winter now with all the wooden seats put away and the others with their covers on.  So we are all set for whatever winter has to throw at us.

Anyway, I`m off now, but I hope you all have a lovely day/evening.  Please take care all of you.

 

I`M AILING TODAY.....

 

Hello everyone,  

 I won`t be posting a proper entry today because I`m not feeling too well.  I woke in the night feeling sick and feverish so I`ll be dosing myself up with paracetamol and having lots of fluids.  I was supposed to be having Roman for the morning while Kerry has an exercise class but I had to cancel as I don`t want him to get ill.  I`ll just take Jake for a short walk and then spend the rest of the day on the sofa.  I hope I`ll be back tomorrow and feeling much better by then!   Bye for now, take care.  

Love Sandra xxxxxx

OUCH! OUCH! OUCH!

Look at those lovely blue eyes!

Hello everyone,

It`s been an eventful day here one way or another.  It started early for me after Kerry asked me to go with her for her 8 week post natal check-up with the doctor.  Our surgery checks out the babies at this time too, so Roman was there for his once-over as well!  Kerry said the doc was very pleased with them both.  Apparently she thinks Roman has a fast matabolism and is growing very quickly.  She suggested that he is put onto a baby milk especially designed for hungrier babies.  But all in all he is doing very well and mum is absolutely fine too.  Then the surprise..... Kerry knew Roman is due for his first injections but didn`t realise that she would be sent to the practise nurse for them to be done today.  We waited for over an hour for them to be done.  Roman was so bored he fell asleep and Kerry and I thought of doing the same!  We were both hungry and I really fancied a cup of coffee, alas, we had to wait until we got home.  Apparently, they now inject the babies in both legs instead of their arm.... Roman only cried a little bit and I think Kerry was more upset than he was afterwards.

Little Man and mum

When we got home we had lunch and then took Jake and the still sleeping Roman for a long walk.....  We were going along nicely minding our own business when a woman I know stopped with her dog to say hello.  Well, Jake did something he`s never done before, he lunged forward suddenly almost pulling me over, slipped his collar and lead and went charging off up the road.  I didn`t realise at the time that it had wrenched my shoulder quite badly but I was concerned for Jake on the road.  It`s only a country toad but the traffic is quite fast down there and he wouldn`t stand a chance if he ran out.  Luckily he came back as soon as I called him and I put his collar back on.  While we were standing chatting my shoulder and the muscles across my rib cage started to feel sore, and got worse as our walk continued.  By the time we got home it was really painful.  I know it`s just a strain but it still hurts.

I`ve made an appointment to see the doctor myself next week.  I have arthritis in my thumb joint in my right hand and it`s become very swollen and painful.  I have a support from the hospital but that only helps for a while.  Time for some medication I think.........

Jim has almost got over his cold but is now coughing quite a bit.  I think he may have to see the doctor if it doesn`t clear up in a couple of day.  he feels ok he says, buit he not sleeping and he`s on early shift so he`s tired when he gets up.  That`s not good.  I think I`m getting the cold but it`s slow coming.  Well I`m all ready for it with echinacea, paracetamol and lots of fluids to dive it away...lol!

Well my friends I still have lots more journals to read and I have to play Bookworm again tonight!  So all of you take care and have a lovely day/evening depending on where you are.

 

SATURDAY IN THE PARK

Upton Park

Hello everyone,

Welcome to Sunday`a edition of The Scribbles.  I`ve had the busy day I anticipated with the family over for dinner. I am delighted to say that it all went very well, the food was lovely, especially the roast beef, they all loved it and complimented me....I always like it when they do that....lol!  Everything went really well, no metion from Danny about his relationship problems, we all steered clear of that subject.  Roman was his little smiley self, well, most of the time that is.  Kerry was happy to have a meal she didn`t have to cook and Jim well, what can I say... he was in his element having his own two kids and his baby grandson together under the same roof.

Posin` in the park

Yesterday afternoon we did go to the park.  We had a lovely afternoon and walked around while Jake ran and ran.  There were a group of people from a club who fly model aeroplanes.  It was like a minature airport with the planes landing and taking off, the only thing I don`t like about them is that they flew them very low and close over our heads and I couldn`t help but keep ducking down each time.  I must have looked a funny sight from a distance!

Also they had cut the grass and I am very allergic when it is newly mown.  I was sneezing and my throat became sore, and my nose and eyes were watering badly.  It`s funny that, because I`m ok with grass itself, just not when it`s been cut.

 Windsor Castle from the park.

I always like to take a photo of the castle from this angle, but at diffrent times of the year.  The trees are starting to change so I will get another one in a months time and they should be very colourful by then.  The Queen is not at home this weekend because her Royal Standard isn`t flying from the tower.

Just me!

Jim took this photo without me realising.  I`m not much of a smiler so if he does that usually I look really miserable.  I was so pleased that he had caught me with a natural smile that I thought I`d post it on here.  Sorry for being vain!

So all in all the weekend has been really nice, apart from all the housework I`ve been doing ( I did a huge pile of ironing this morning), but then it has to be done sometime and now I can go a week before I start all over again...lol!  Bye |Bye for now.  Have a lovely day, what`s left of it and please take care.

 

SATURDAY CRUMBS!

Hello everyone and a very happy Saturday to you all,

The above photo is the first one taken with our brand new camera.  Jim put it on automatic and took this in my `office`.  I must admit I like it because it`s a nice one of us both.  The camera is tiny and even with my glasses on I find it hard to see the settings.  It`s a Kodak, the same as the other one so it will be easy to use.  The software is almost exactly the same.

It`s a beautiful sunny day today, though it`s getting much cooler in the mornings.  This morning was quite nippy and I thought about putting the heating on but thought better of it.  It`s a good drying day and the washing is on the line, nearly dry.  This afternoon we are taking Jake to Upton Park so he can have a good run and we can get some photos.  Another excuse to use the new toy!

Jim is still full of cold but he`s not feeling nearly as bad as he was..  I`m sure I`m coming down with it as I have a tickly throat and I`m a bit sniffly...Oh well, not much I can do about it, it`s only a cold.

Yesterday I went Christmas shopping with Kerry but we didn`t even look at any presents.  We just mooched about the town, went into Marks and Spencer for a coffee, and to feed Roman.  Mooched about a bit more and then went home.  I only posted a `tagging` entry yesterday as I had my hands full with all the emails I had.  By the time I`d walked Jake in the afternoon, done some housework and prepared dinner, I didn`t have a lot of time left, but I read all the journals like the good girl I am as I don`t like to miss out on any news!   Danny rang me to say that he is coming over on Sunday.  I asked him to stay for dinner as Kerry will be here as Slava is busy.  I have a nice joint of beef to roast so there is plenty of food to go round.  It should be nice to have both the kids round, lets hope there are no problems.

I just love this graphic!

This morning I decided that the house needed an extra clean so I got stuck in with the housework and gave it a thorough polish, dust and vacuum, it is so clean and I wish it would stay that way.  Especially my office which was really dusty and untidy.  As it is the shelves need tidying badly and I`ve sorted out some papers to be shredded.  At least it`s possible to see my computer table and the keyboard, which was full of biscuit crumbs and coffee stains.   I`ve managed to get rid of most of the crumbs but some were stubborn and refused to shift, even though I tipped up the keyboard and bashed and shook the thing vigourously.   I have now decided not to take food into the office....except for a biscuit with my afternoon coffee, and I will use a plate so it will catch any crumbs.  (that`s the plan anyway!)

That`s it for now.  I`ll leave you now hoping you will have a lovely weekend.  Take good care all of you.

 

 

Thanks to Lisa Jo for the tag!

YOU`VE BEEN TAGGED!

Hello everyone,

I`ve been tagged by Jeannette (jlocorriere).

"While I endeavoured to take flight."  

CLICK HERE to read full entry!

I think I`ve done that right, now I have to nominate five people I`m told.  So.....

I nominate:

 

Sara  (SarasDays)

Jen   (jmoqueen)

Sonya  (bookncoffee)

Joyce (springangel)

Sylvia (JottingsfromtheSticks)

In case you don`t already know, you have to go to your journal.  Open up the 23rd entry and and copy the fifth sentence and paste it in your journal.  Then send me a link to your journal.  I think this is right but I`m only following instructions...lol!  Then nominate five more people to tag.

HAPPY DAYS AND DADDY-LONG-LEGS

Jim`s 14lb carp that he caught in Dorset.

 

 

A very late entry for me today, after not having the time for one yesterday.  I was just so busy.  In the morning Jim and I took Jake for a long run in Upton Park and then went for lunch.  In the afternoon we went to visit his sister in hospital after an op.  By the time we got home we had an hour to cook and eat some dinner before we had friends round for a couple of hours.  I got on here properly  (I had been on here and there) at around 8pm when I whizzed through the journals before signing off and going straight to bed.

Today, however, has been lovely.  This morning I was up early and it was very foggy.  Jim was getting ready to go fishing and had woken up with a dreadful cold, so he dosed himself up with paracetamol before he left.  The sun broke through quickly after that and at 8.30 I went shopping to Tesco`s.  As usual when I`m driving I sing along to the radio, but today I was listening to Jonathon Ross who was standing in for dear old Terry Wogan.  J.Ross was telling this silly story about a spider and it made me laugh out loud.... while I was at the traffic lights.  If anyone was looking they would have seen this mad woman laughing her head off, not a usual sight in the rush hour!

When I`d finished the shop in our super-douper sized Tesco, nearly 2 hours later  (It only took an hour in the old, smaller shop)  I went home, packed away and took Jake out for a walk.  Then I went to see Kerry and Little Man.  Kerry was messing about with her camcorder and Roman was lying on his playmat, all smiles and happiness.  I stayed, had a coffee and played on the floor with him.  We had lots of fun playing with rattles and soft toys.  I make lots of funny faces and noises and sing silly songs and he seems to think his nanna is quite funny,....or mad possibly....lol! Oh yes, he is 8 weeks old today.... it`s unbelievable how time flies.

This afternoon Kerry went out visiting the mother of a friend so I have been alone.  It has been really nice too.  Jake`s been asleep and I`ve been up here doing all sorts on the computer, catching up with the journals and commenting on all of them.

This year we have been invaded by craneflies, or daddy-long-legs.  Ugh.... they are horrible things and I`ve been swatting as many of them as I can.  They bodies are lying everywhere and Jim has just told me that are more of them this year for some reason.  Well whatever the reason I can`t stand then as they fly in your face....splat... I`ve just got another one!  They fly in your face and won`t go away, especially in the evening when they all fly towards the lights.  Nasty things.

Jim did well today, he caught several carp and a couple of good size roach.  I told him I`ll post a photo of him with fish tomorrow, but for the time being I made do with this one from our hols in Dorset.  For now my friends, I`ll leave you, but enjoy the rest of your day and take care.

 

 

~~ A man walks into a pet shop and asks for some ants, three mice, a family of cockroaches and fifteen spiders. 

"What do you want those for?" asked the shopkeeper.

The man answers, "I`m moving out of my flat this afternoon and the landlord says to leave it exactly as I found it." ~~

~~ Dance like nobody`s watching,

Love like you`ve never been hurt,

Sing like nobody`s listening,

Live like it`s heaven on earth.  ~~

Mark Twain.

HAIR TINT AND TENNIS BALLS!

Hello everyone,

MORE photos I`m afraid of me and Kerry with Roman.  I really need to find more subject matter ,  but then I just can`t resist the little darling!

It`s been a lovely day here, sunny and warm, and Kerry and I sat in the garden this afternoon, all thoughts of job-hunting completely out of my mind.  Hmmm....I must get motivated and get out there and earn a crust.  This morning I was at the hairdressers getting my roots done and I was out in just under an hour because they weren`t very busy today.  Much as I like the girls there it`s nice to get out early and away from the smell of hair tint and perm lotion.

We are getting a new camera.   Jim ordered it last night and it will be delived soon.  He doesn`t want to take anymore pictures with the one I`m using now as he says (his words not mine) it`s rubbish!  Oh well, who am I to argue as I`ll use it more than he will and he can have this one back for his fishing photos.  For some reason the fishing camera doesn`t take pictures of people very well, just inanimate objects, which I suppose, fish are when out of the water.

We are having problems with our neighbours children and tennis balls.  It all started earlier in the summer when they started playing cricket in the back garden.  That in itself was not a problem, what was, however, was when the balls started flying over into our garden.  Nobody minds the odd ball in the garden but not at the rate we`ve been getting them.  We have been getting around 12 a day on average and both Jim and I have asked the kids nicely if could try and not keep knocking them over as Jake sits and waits for them to come over and then chews them to bits. A couple of times I`ve had to get bits of ball out of his throat.  Not very nice but even worse for him. I`ve also been concerned that a ball could hit Roman while we are sitting in the garden.  The last straw was when we returned from Canada.  We had over 30 balls in the garden, including a heavy cricket ball and a basket ball.  We had to search through the shrubs to make sure we had found them all.  This time we didn`t get them back and we are waiting for them to ask and then Jim will speak to their mother.  He is going to give them all back with the warning that it will be the last they see of any that come over in future.   Do you think we are being mean?  As a child I remember having neighbours that wouldn`t give our ball back, but then it wasn`t something that happened often. This to me is different, the `children` are 13 and 12, not little ones.  We have had enough now and surely they must be getting fed-up with buying new balls all the time!

That`s my moan over and done with...lol and now for some funnies.  I`ll leave you all now, so have a great day and take good care.

                     

 

Can You Believe it...?

November 1999, Florida

A Port St. John resident was never what neighbours would describe as friendly, ro they greeted news of his recent self-inflicted wound with amusement.  The man had been standing in his front yard aiming his gun at his neighbour`s dog with malevolent intent.  But his marksmanship proved lacking that day.  We he pulled the trigger, he hit his own foot instead of the dog and wound up suffering in hospital for his transgressions against man`s best friend.

What does the mother buffalo say when her boy leaves home?

`Bi-son.`

Two atoms are walking down the street.

The first one says, "Oh no, I just lost an electron."

The second one says, "Are you sure?"

And the first one replies, "I`m positive!"

 

What do you do if you see a blue frog?

`Stop and cheer him up.`

 

 

A GOOD DAY ALL ROUND

Hello everyone,

I`m a bit late with my entry today.  I spent the whole afternoon looking after Little Man while Kerry went to Tesco.  After much playing and singing ( and that was only me) he went off to sleep, not before I took a few photos.  The thing is, he likes the camera and looked straight at me while I flashed away. I`m sure he knows what I`m doing...lol!   He is really growing now and is almost 2 months old now.  He is very alert and watches what`s going on around him and is noticing his toys already.  The giraffe by his right hand seems to be his favourite and Kerry says he looks at it and tries to grab it with his little fist.

This morning I had a routine hospital appointment ( I know, another one!) and had really good news after 15 years of attendence at the clinic.  I can have a small op. that may improve the symtoms I have had all these years.  I`m thrilled of course, as the disease I have, though not dangerous in any way, has caused me lots of problems over the years.  I have to talk it over with Jim and ask him to go with me to see the consultant but I will give it a go.   I have nothing to lose if it fails and everything to gain if it succeeds.  I go back again in 4 weeks time to tell them of my decision.

Jake has had a trouble-free day today.  He has been very well behaved though partly that is because I`ve been tightening up on his obedience training that I have let slip of late.  He is an intelligent dog but needs a firm hand.  In reality, if I ask him to do something in the right tone of voice, he obeys.  So I must keep up the good work and we will all be happy.  I am the pack leader so I am in charge.  I doubt if Jim would argue with that.....!

I`m sorry this entry is so short but I have journals to read before I go and watch TV at 9pm,   well, I might just record the prog. I want to watch if I don`t get finished in time.  Must read journal as they are v.important...lol!

 

SMILES FOR TODAY

"Be happy with what you have.  If you spend your life looking for greener pastures.  You might find you`re too old to climb the fence."

 

"If you cross a four-leaf clower with poison ivy, would you get a rash of good luck?"

A father was reading his son the story of Lot in the Bible.  He explained that Lot was to take his wife and flee from the city, but his wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt.  The little boy looked aghast.  "What happened to the flea?" he asked.

What do you call Santa`s assistants?

"Subordinate clauses."

 

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

1998, London.

Two 28 yr old building workers, apparently experienced in their work, fell a hundred feet ater cutting a hole through thick concrete without realising they were standing in the centre of the circle.  Neither was wearing a safty harness to arrest his eight storey plunge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE DOG AND THE LIGHTS!

Is this the face of an innocent dog...???

Hello everyone,

  I asked the question and now I give you the answer. NO it is not....  Jake is guilty, caught red-pawed and banged to rights.

Yesterday afternoon, Jim caught Jake chewing up one of our solar lights he had removed from the garden.  Alas, the light couldn`t be saved and was consigned to the dustbin, and the culprit shouted at and banished to his bed looking very sorry for himself indeed!  

Last night after Kerry and myself had enjoyed our fillet steak, (thinking of you journallers while I ate the succulent meat!)   I let Jake out for a ten minute stroll around the garden.  It was cold last night so I closed the door on him and went back to watch the film on the TV....and totally forgot he was outside.   I hour later I remembered and opened the door expected to see him waiting there....he wasn`t and I saw him on the lawn with another light in his mouth, well what was left of it anyway.  Now what was I going to tell Jim?   Er well, as it happens nothing, because like the coward I am I went outside armed with a torch and picked up as many bits of plastic and debris that I could find and disposed of them in the bin with the remains of the first one.

After that I put it in the back of my mind, saw Kerry and Roman to the car, and went off to bed.  Jim and Danny got back home some time between 1 and 2am after having an excellent night out and then after that I went to sleep.  When I awoke this morning I went outside to check if I had cleared up the garden properly.  I had, a job done well!

Jim took Jake out for a run, fed him and let him outside to sleep in the garden.....very bad move.  I was upstairs ironing when I heard the shouting.  I heard this " HAVE YOU SEEN WHAT THAT B*%£^Y DOG HAS DONE OUT HERE?   COME HERE YOU MONGREL.....! GERRIN THE HOUSE!  HE`S ONLY GONE AN CHEWED UP ANOTHER ONE!   Hang on....it looks like he`s had two of them, there`s only three left now.  Do you know anything about it?"    ( Me...never  lol!)

I owned up and told him about last night.  Jim threatened to have Jake crated up and sent to the Dogs Home if he didn`t start toeing the line and has vowed never to have solar lights in the garden again.  He will, I can guarantee it.

 

Well nothing else has happened here today.  It`s a normal quiet Sunday for which I`m grateful.  Danny has gone home.  Kerry and Slava are out visiting and I`m all on my own and it`s really nice too!

So now I will leave with a few odds and ends for your amusement.  Have a nice day dear friends and please take care.

 

ODDS AND ENDS

"Insanity is hereditary: you get it from your children."

Sam Levenson   (1911-1980)

 

Mat Hand holds the record for eating 211 peas with a cocktail stick in three minutes. He also holds the record for eating 133 grapes with a plastic spoon in three minutes.

 

A skeleton walked into a bar and said, "I`ll have a lager and a floormop please."

" Women have many faults, men have only two: everything they say, and everything they." 

 Anon

14 July 1999, Arkansas

A mobile home in Little Rock was destroyed when a resident used a cigarette lighter to peer inside a gasoline can.  It`s the same old story:  Marcel was trying to determine whether there was water in the gas can when he discovered it contained....gas!   The flammable fumes caught fire and Marcel slung the can onto the floor, splattering gasoline which ignited and set the residence ablaze.  He suffered minor burns to his hand.  The homeowner and her son escaped the blaze, but the family dog did not not survive.

 

 

TOYS EVERYWHERE!

Hello everyone,

 I hope you`re all having a nice restful weekend.  This morning I went with Kerry to visit some friends and came away with a whole load of toys for Roman.  The toys all belonged to their two children who have grown out out of them.  They were so very generous, giving Kerry a pushchair/stoller as well!  They also bought Roman a couple of pairs of babies jogging bottoms and a sunhat with matching sunglasses for next year.  Kerry put the glasses on him and I wished I had the camera with me for that.  I`ll see if I can`t get a photo of him wearing them so I can put it on here.  I spent an hour or so washing the toys and cleaning up the pushchair.  They are all such good quality and are mostly Fisher-Price.  Roman will be spoilt for choice with all the toys he has inherited!

Danny arrived this afternoon and he came out with me when I walked Jake.  We had along chat but I didn`t find out anything that I didn`t already know.  I can only be there for him and will have to stand back and whether his relationship with the `princess` (as I call her) will work out or not, as the case may be.  I can`t push him or he will withdraw from me completely.

It is all change here with no-one staying overnight now.  There is now, 2 brothers-in-law and one nephew coming over, but they are coming by train so they will go home the same way.  I really don`t mind that as our house is quite small and not really the right place to have an army of visitors.  Also our bathroom doesn`t have a door since the new bathroom and shower was fitted in January!  We WILL get round to it eventually but Jim is waiting till the winter when he is changing all the upstairs doors.  It`s not bothered us in the past because there`s only the two of us.  Oh yes, in case you wondered, the `smallest room` does have a door...lol!

I`m looking forward to dinner with Kerry tonight, I`ve bought fillet steak, only small ones, as they are so expensive but there`s enough there for the two of us.  I`ll cook it with mushrooms, peas and potato wedges.  We won`t eat until about 7.30 when the men have disappeared for the evening and can eat in peace!  I hope I can find a good DVD to watch.  I`d better have a look later.

I`ve just been outside to get the toys I washed from the line.  It`s getting really cold out there and I`m considering putting the heating on this evening.  I even called Jake back inside so that I could close the door, poor thing, he doesn`t feel the cold with that fur coat of his.  Seeing as I`ve been boasting about being a warm person lately I`m surprised that I`ve even felt cool, let alone cold! It`s only to be expected at this time of the year with the short days looming ahead.

Well that`s it from me today.  I hope you all have a lovely day and please take care.

 

Can You Believe It...........???

September 2000, Germany

The picturesque medieval city of Rotherburg was the scene of a dramatic artistic effort.  A fifty-three year old man from Baden-Wurtemberg was posing nude in front of his camera balanced on top of a stone wall, when he lost his balance and fell sixteen feet to the ground below. Unlike it`s unfortunate owner, the camera remained safely on the tripod on the wall.  The police plan to develop the film for clues to the man`s death.......

 

CHRISTMAS IS COMIN`!

Hello everyone,

I`ve posted this graphic for no other reason than I like it, I hope you do too.

Today I started...wait for it....Christmas shopping....there I`ve admitted it.  I`ve bought several presents and some christmas cards, and the sooner I buy the rest the better.  Mind you, I`ll run out of money before long so a job is needed very soon.  I looked in the situations vacant pages of the local paper and all I can find are jobs that I`m too old for, not qualified for, or so badly paid it`s not worth the trouble of working in the first place.  There is a vacancy for a receptionist at Battersea Dogs Home, Windsor, but the hours cover the weekends and that is a no go for me.  Next week I`m going to ring around the employment agencies to see if I can get some temporary work for the time being.

This morning I helped Kerry with Roman`s bathtime.  She hurt her back lifting him and couldn`t carry the baby bath.  She was sorting through some of his clothes and has found that some that he hasn`t even worn yet are too small for him.  He certainly is growing well.

This afternoon I had a hospital appointment for 3.30.  I arrived a bit early to find that the clinic was running over an hour behind schedule.  I didn`t wait around, the clinic was so busy that most of the people there were standing so I decided that I wasn`t going to join them.  I changed my appointment and left.  The next earliest appointment is 4th November but I don`t mind, I can wait.  It was for my arm and I have had the appointment changed twice already.  When I was last at the clinic in July, the doctor wanted to see me in three months to see if my arm and hand had more feeling by then, so I came away with an appointment for late October.  Several weeks later I got a letter from the hosp. saying that they had brought my appointment forward to August....why?.....  Then I got another letter saying it had been changed to today, early yet again.  So my cancelling the app. isn`t a problem at all.  It simply gives me the time I needed before the doctor sees me again

Danny has decided he isn`t coming tonight after all.  He called me a little while ago to say that he will make his own way here tomorrow.  I asked him why and he said he`s tired, but I can tell there is something wrong because he was very quiet.  Usually he is very chatty, one way or another.  He does worry me.

Tomorrow I think I will have not just Danny and my brother-in-law staying, but two of my nephews as well.  I just hope we don`t have to play host to any other relations, never mind though, it`s only for one night.

I haven`t looked properly at any journals today so I had better make a start.  I`ve got loads of alerts and they are mounting up as I type away. So for now, dear friends, I hope you all have a lovely weekend and take it easy.

 

Can You Believe It?????

One day a ranger for the Yellowstone National Park Service joined a crowd of people, cars, trucks, and motor homes that had congregated to watch a bear.  One woman and her little boy stood out in the crowd.  She was smearing something unidentifiable all over the boy`s face.

The ranger asked the woman what she was doing.

She answered, "Putting honey on him, of course!"

Stunned, he asked the obvious question: "Why?"

She answered matter-of-factly, "I want to take a picture of the bear licking it off his face!"

Fortunately the ranger prevented the child from approaching the bear but the ranger still has nightmares about it.

  Thank you Sara for my bouncy tag!

A SCARE AND A LAUGH!

Hello everyone,

It`s pouring with rain today.  I`m indoors keeping dry and nothing much has happened so...... I give you a ghost story and a funny, well I think it`s funny....so tell me what you think because there`s more where that came from!

The Ghost of Abraham Crichton

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the churchyard of Sanquhar, in the Scottish borders, achieved notoriety on the account of the ghostly activities of a man called Abraham Crichton who died in 1745 in a very unpleasant manner after living a colourful life.

Cricton was a wealthy man, Laird of Carco and the owner of several properties in the area as well as a geat deal of land.  However, much to the suspicion of of various local people, he was declared bankrupt in 1741.  His properties and land were sold off bit by bit, but rumours circulated that Crichton was not in the dire straits he would have people believe.  He had somewhere, secreted away a great deal of money.  This, combined with the manner of his death, it was hardly surprising that his tortured soul would be unable to find peace.

There was an unused church in the district, which had belonged to another parish, that of Kirkbride.  For some years there had been a dispute as what to do with the building.  Some wanted to pull it down while others considered that to do so was sacrilege.  Previous attempts to demolish it had been unsuccessful and those that had had any part in it had met with much misfortune.  In the eyes of those believers these things were the wrath of God.  Abraham Crichton was having none of this and wanted the church pulled down.  He employed a group of workmen to accompany him to the building to start demolition. They set to work but as soon as they started an almighty storm blew up preventing them from carrying on that day.  They all set out for home, hoping to resume the next day. 

Whilst riding back from Kirkbride, Abraham Crichton`s horse was frightened by a bolt of lightening, causing it to rear up in panic and Crichton was thrown off.  A fall from a horse is bad enough but Crichton had caught his foot in the stirrup and was dragged along in the horse`s wake.  The horse galloped away at speed and it did not stop until it reached Sanquhar.  When the terrified horse eventually stopped, its owner lay dead, bloody and lifeless by it`s side.  His death was seen as divine retribution.  Not only had he been dishonest in his financial dealings but he had been guilty of sacrilege too, said his critics.  He should have never tried to pull down the church, the locals said self-righteously as preparations were made for his funeral.

But, they had not seen the last of Abraham Crichton.

Not long after he was buried in the graveyard at Sanquhar, he returned in ghostly form.  His ghost caused much consternation in the district.  He would chase passers-by in the fields next to the churchyard.  He would appear in the churchyard itself, frightening the life out of anyone there.  He always seemed to be trying to speak to thse he followed, his hand stretched out pleading, but nobody would dare take it. The churchyard became a place much feared in the hours of darkness and locals would take long detours to avoid the ghost of Abraham Crichton.

News of the haunting spread and much discussion took place among those interested in the paranormal.  Eventually, it was decided that something had to be done as the ghost was causing so many problems.  A minister by the name of Hunter was brought in to deal with the troublesome spirit.  The brave minister went to the churchyard at night, armed only with a Bible and a sword to await an encounter with Crichton.  He insisted on carrying out his vigil alone and no-one saw what happened that night.  When the morning came, however, the minister arrived back from the churchyard, tired but in a very confident mood.  He would not say what had happened in the long night hours and would only say that Abraham Crichton`s ghost wouldn`t wander again.

The ghost was never seen again but, just in case, the people of Sanquhar secued his tombstone in it`s place over the grave with very sturdy chains.

 

and now for something different......

September 1999, New York

A 44 year old Mineola man was more desperate to be rid of his flab than most.  Why not save money and allow his friend to perform amateur liposuction on him in his garage?

As you might guess, using a vacuum for liposuction is not the safest of weight loss programs.  He died in the makeshift clinic, the victim of a lidocaine overdose.

The fake physician apologised to the man`s family.

 

 

NOT MUCH TODAY!

Hello everyone,

Just look at Grandad Jim with Roman fast asleep in his LAP!  He started out on his shoulder but after falling into a deep sleep gradually slipped down and ended up in what must be the most comfortable position.  Little Man will grow up to adore his grandad I`m sure.

I haven`t paid much attention today with regard to the petrol blockades but Jim tells me there are not really any but people are still panic buying. Apparently one man queued up for ages just to buy £1.30`s worth of fuel!  We`ll see what happens but it won`t affect affect me directly as I`m saving my fuel in case Jim needs my car for work.  Public transport just wouldn`t get him there at 4.am or home at 11.30pm.

This morning I finished all the ironing from the holiday, phew.....I`m glad I`ve got that out of the way, despite the fact that by Friday the basket will be full again, a woman`s work and all that...lol!

I`ve just started a new book, it`s called How To Be Good by Nick Hornby.  It`s a really good read and very funny, something that I like in a book.  It`s about a woman doctor who`s marriage is in trouble.  How can that be funny you ask?  Well it is, I can assure you and I`m going through it really quickly.  I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good yarn that makes them smile!

I had a phone call from Danny last night and it was a bit disturbing.  I know he is feeling down at the moment and he wants to come and stay with us for the weekend. It will be nice to have him here and he will be on Friday night after work. On the Saturday, the men are going out for a drink to `wet the babies head`.  Kerry is coming here with Little Man and we can have a nice peaceful dinner, free of distractions...lol!  That night our brother-in-law is staying as well as Dan, so one of them will have to sleep on the sofa.

Kerry has arrived with Roman and I`ve left her to feed him while I finish this entry off.  So I will say goodbye for now and enjoy your day and take care.

 

 

THE BEAST OF BOWLEAZE COVE and other stories!

 

Hello everyone,

I`m going to tell you the story about the Beast of Bowleaze Cove.  Last Sunday week, a large black labrador was on the beach at Bowleaze Cove in Dorset with a blonde-haired woman who is reported to be its owner.  The dog was first seen dragging the woman down to the water`s edge, where there were some children and adults having a leisurely paddle in the sea.  What they didn`t realise was the havoc that was coming their way with the arrival of that dog.  The woman who looked around to see if the coast was clear ( no pun intended!)  and then proceeded to let the dog off it`s lead.  The dog ran about and splashed happily in the water at first until he got bored when he realised he had nothing to chase, and so the woman decided the time was right to throw the tennis ball she had in her hand.  With hindsight she would never have thrown it, but then hindsight is a wonderful thing.  The dog eagerly chased the ball into the waves and the woman called the dog back to her. "Jake," she shouted, "Come on boy!,"  Well he obviously didn`t want to come back as he just run up and down the beach with the ball in his mouth, perhaps he was having too much fun, who knows? Well, the more she called him, the more excited he became, until he ran from the water to the beach, ignoring her totally, despite the fact that she was becoming more frantic by the moment.  Of course by now, the whole of the beach was aware of the mad woman who was chasing the dog across the shingles, and they were all looking and rather enjoying the situation, that is, except for one family who were about to have their day ruined.

The dog Jake, ran up to the family hotly pursued by the woman who was by this time furious with her mutt.  When he reached them she was quite some way behind and she couldn`t have stopped him if she had tried.  He then stopped and lifted his leg......... straight into the bag of beach towels that where there to dry the childen!  The mad woman was horrified, the mother of the family was so angry she couldn`t speak.....  Mad woman truly wished the ground would swallow her up as the embarrassment was almost too much to bear, but as that didn`t happen, she grabbed Jake dog and left the beach very quickly , apologising profusely as she went and not waiting to hear the reply!!!!

 

Meet Bruno, Banjo and Bandit, my latest and most likely last Critters, at least for this year!

I just had to buy Bruno as he was in the sale at the shop in town that is closing down soon.  I had saved some money from my holidays to get him and Jim said he`d buy Banjo and Bandit for me....what a sweetie he is too! (Jim that is...lol!)

Any photos I take now won`t be as good as the ones I`ve posted in the past according to Jim.  The motor has gone on the camera so we have to use his little digital that he uses mainly for fishing photos.  I think the photos ARE as good but Jim says he can tell the difference!

Another thing I meant to say about the holiday was about me being attacked by a can of hairspray.  How can that be, you ask?  Well, it happened like this;  I sprayed my hair..... I dropped the can on the floor..... the lid broke and the pieces scattered everywhere, including one bit that jumped up and stuck in my leg. It really hurt too....How many people can say that has happened to them...lol!

Roman and Kerry this afternoon.

I just had to take this photo of Little Man looking at his toy cow. It has a sucker on the bottom and you stick it to any surface and he can hit it.  For the moment he has to let Kerry hit it but he loves looking at the bright colours with those beautiful blue eyes of his!

I loved catching up with thr journals yesterday and I was delighted to look this morning and see that I`ve had 10,000 hits since I started my journal in August last year.  Thanks to all my friends and readers for all of them. When I first started doing entries I really didn`t think I`d carry on but Jeannette  encouraged me and gave me lots of advice and I carried on and now am so pleased that I did.  The people in J-Land are so interesting and friendly, we all seem to learn so much from each other too.

Anyway, I will take my leave of you for today.  I hope you all have a lovely day and do take care!

HI! I`M BACK AT LAST.....

Welcome to Blueberry and Beanno!

Hello everyone.....

I`m back from my hols in Dorset , refreshed and tired out at the same time.   Yes, we had a wonderful holiday and yes, it was exhausting.  All of us, me,Jim and Kerry, enjoyed ourselves and I`m sure if he could talk Roman would say the same. He was a very good baby and I think the sea air really agreed with him as he has started to sleep better than before, giving Kerry more sleep.

Us three on the clifftop close to our cottage.

Our Cottage

 

The weather was really kind to us and one day Kerry and I got quite sunburned, something that we regretted the next day.  We went to lots of places that we have been before and we took Jake down to the sea.  Every morning Jim took him for an early walk into the field next to our cottage, and then down the cliff path ro the beach where he would swim.  It would be idyllic to live there and walk Jake along the cliff paths each day, ho hum......back to reallity now I`m afraid!

We arrives home to lots of mail, mainly `junk` mail and THREE bills, (one of which I paid this morning) and a pile of washing.  Now I only have to face a pile of ironing, a job I totally hate doing.  I also have much catching up to do on the journals, I`m keen to know what`s been going on in J-Land in my absence.

Meet my two new Critters, Blueberry and Beano (pictured at the top of this entry).  I just love Blueberry in particular, he is very fat and round and I think he must have eaten too much of his namesakes!  Thank you for all the suggestions for names of Itsy Betsy`s babies.  I have decided on Brewster and Basil, suggested by Colleen and Jeannette respectively.

We took this photo of Roman, fast asleep on his playmat.  He looks so angelic lying there, without a care in the world!

I just couldn`t resist this photo of  two of the three the men in my life, seeing as how the younger looks just like the elder when he is asleep!

And finally, the third man in my life holding his nephew.  Danny doesn`t like his photo taken and it was a treat to catch him smiling!  Though Roman did choose this moment to exercise his lungs!

I`ll finish now and try to catch up with my journals.  I hope you all have a lovely day, take care now.