Hello there.
Long time, no blog.
I've just been having a toot through some old posts that I've made on here over the last (almost) FOUR years!! Four years?! I've spouted some shite on here over the years. Soz.
Aaaanyway - thought I'd just check in to see how you're all doing. Ok? Good good. We should catch up over a coffee some time.
Me? I'm fine, thanks. I'm 38 now. My youngest son is 5 and my eldest daughter will be 16 next month. I know - it's incredible isn't it?
Ok, so what's new with me? Well - I'm a school governor now. I love being one, too. It sounds like something that old people do, but I know otherwise. Wait - I'm old, too, aren't I? Damn. I always think of myself as being younger than I am. Not sure what age, exactly, but definitely younger.
I have also created a Pinterest page. There is considerable interest in Pinterest amongst geeks, so I applied for an invite and got one. I'm still not 100% sure what use I have for a Pinterest page, but hell, I've got one anyway just incase I have some sort of awakening.
Erm... I'm going on holiday in 2 days. I'm in work now, but am 4 hours away from finishing. I love this feeling, knowing that I'm going to be able to properly rest and relax in a few days time. We've hired a car for the first time ever. I've never driven on the "wrong" side of the road before. I'm about 90% confident that I'll be ace at it, though. I will either be amazing, or really shit. We've paid £40 something to have the car for 2 days, so if I don't take to it, no biggie.
I've decided to go Sat Nav Free when we have the car. It's not a massive place we're going to and I'm not one who believes in getting lost. There is no such thing - you just discover new places that you've not been to before. It's all about the learning.
The Olympics have recently finished, here in the UK. From the opening ceremony right through to the closing ceremony - I felt proud to be British. I know it's cost a few quid to stage it here, but I really do believe that it's been good for the country as a whole.
Oh - I've got an ace Android phone now, too. It's a HTC Sensation and I likes it loads. It lets you mess with it and fiddle the tits off it, which I LOVE doing. I post photo's to Twitter via Instagram, which makes all your photo's look old. We constantly push the boundaries of technology to get higher specification camera's in phones, then use Instagram to make the photo's look old. Humans, eh?
Absolute Radio are playing The Stone Roses - I Am The Resurrection. You can't not nod your head to that. It's a joy to listen to.
Right - I'm off to swig coffee and generally try and stay awake until 5am. I've agreed with my work colleagues to leave 2 hours early by forgoing by break. Swings and roundabouts.
It's been... for the old times.
I need to do this more often. It's good for the mind and good for the soul, writing down what's in your head. It really is.
Stay safe, dear reader.
Monday, 20 August 2012
Sunday, 13 February 2011
Selfishness
Hi
Time for me to start self analysing again. Today's vulnerability that I shall be examining is what I think is a relatively new facet of my personality - selfishness. I might be wrong, but I don't think I've ever been particularly selfish in years gone by. However, of late, I've found myself thinking that I have behaved in a selfish way. I hate myself for being that way.
I have just done a quick search for selfishness, and someone's blog came up in the results. I read it, and found it very interesting. The blog lists seven characteristics that make up a good relationship, and here they are:-
So there you go - that's the key to a good, healthy relationship right there. I might get it tattooed on the inside of my eyelids. I wish it was that easy to simply find a list of all encompassing instructions that you could follow to live a happy, healthy life to its fullest potential.
You know what, though - I'm getting tired of my own blog entries at the moment. I'm always coming on here full of either fury or regret. I totally need to get a grip and take a long hard look at what I have in my life. A genuinely stunning wife, who is my best friend. Beautiful children who bring me such pleasure I can't begin to find the words. A job that I enjoy doing (even though it makes me excessively tired), and the love of my family. I am very very lucky, and I really want to be positive in life using the seven characteristics listed above to make my life, and that of my family, better.
I am going to use this opportunity to make a commitment to do something. This commitment is to myself, but publishing on here should give me the impetus to actually do it, instead of it staying in my head on the list of "Things I'd Like To Do". I weigh 14 stones, and I want to weigh 13. I am going to exercise regularly in order to lose 1 stone. It feels good to type this. I look forward to waving goodbye to the extra stone.
I'm off to drink caffeine and research exercises.
Take care of yourself, and be happy! Smile at a stranger, and when one smiles back at you - enjoy the feeling.
Time for me to start self analysing again. Today's vulnerability that I shall be examining is what I think is a relatively new facet of my personality - selfishness. I might be wrong, but I don't think I've ever been particularly selfish in years gone by. However, of late, I've found myself thinking that I have behaved in a selfish way. I hate myself for being that way.
I have just done a quick search for selfishness, and someone's blog came up in the results. I read it, and found it very interesting. The blog lists seven characteristics that make up a good relationship, and here they are:-
1. Both sides see the relationship as an opportunity to give
One of the basic relationship problems is selfishness. How does selfishness occur? In my opinion,selfishness occurs when someone focuses more on getting rather than giving. The more someone focuses on getting, the more selfish he or she becomes. That’s why the willingness to give is essential for good relationships. Both parties should see the relationship as an opportunity to give. This is the foundation upon which the other points below are built.
2. Both sides are willing to change
Nobody is perfect but everyone can grow. In a good relationship, both sides are willing to change. They realize that they are not perfect and there is still a lot of room for improvement. Instead of blaming their partner when something goes wrong, they look inside to see if there is something they can change. When both sides have this attitude, the relationship grows stronger and stronger.
3. Both sides are willing to admit mistakes
In a good relationship, both parties aren’t afraid to admit mistakes. Instead of being defensive, they openly admit the mistakes they make. They can then work together to correct the mistakes. This, of course, is not easy to do. It takes a humble heart to admit mistakes.
4. Both sides are willing to listen first
In a good relationship, both sides are good listeners. They are willing to understand their partner’s position first before trying to get understood. Doing this is much easier when both sides see the relationship as an opportunity to give (characteristic #1).
5. Both sides support each other
Not only are both sides willing to listen, but also they give what their partner needs. The law of reciprocity states that when we do good to others they will also do good to us. We reap what we sow. By supporting each other, both sides in the relationship get what they need.
6. Both sides are open to each other
Misunderstanding is one of the basic relationship problems. That’s why it’s essential that both sides are open to each other. When they have something they don’t like about their partner, they should communicate it rather than just keeping it in their heart. Of course, they should do so in a respectful way so as not to offend their partner.
7. Both sides have integrity
In a good relationship, both parties act in line with what they think and say. They keep their promises. This is important because they can then trust each other. This trust makes the relationship strong.
You know what, though - I'm getting tired of my own blog entries at the moment. I'm always coming on here full of either fury or regret. I totally need to get a grip and take a long hard look at what I have in my life. A genuinely stunning wife, who is my best friend. Beautiful children who bring me such pleasure I can't begin to find the words. A job that I enjoy doing (even though it makes me excessively tired), and the love of my family. I am very very lucky, and I really want to be positive in life using the seven characteristics listed above to make my life, and that of my family, better.
I am going to use this opportunity to make a commitment to do something. This commitment is to myself, but publishing on here should give me the impetus to actually do it, instead of it staying in my head on the list of "Things I'd Like To Do". I weigh 14 stones, and I want to weigh 13. I am going to exercise regularly in order to lose 1 stone. It feels good to type this. I look forward to waving goodbye to the extra stone.
I'm off to drink caffeine and research exercises.
Take care of yourself, and be happy! Smile at a stranger, and when one smiles back at you - enjoy the feeling.
Wednesday, 19 January 2011
What You Going To Promise Me This Time
yello reader.
At the outset, this post is going to be one moan about a broken promise, one comment on a broken relationship, and one comment about being part of a gang. There may be more comments about stuff along the way, but - buckle up - here we go.....
So, following on from my last post about internet tablets like ipads, and samsung galaxy tab's, and the likes, I decided we should own an Archos 101. After a faf with another store, I ordered it from Insight UK on Sunday afternoon. I paid 10.99 (plus VAT) for next day delivery (translate that as Tuesday given the day i ordered it). Today is Tuesday, and it hasn't arrived. I shall expect it to be delivered tomorrow, after which time, I shall email Insight UK and ask for a refund of the (some might say) excessive shipping charge for next day delivery. Because they didn't. I'm going to keep calm and wait until the thing is in my hands before I start complaining. My luck is such that the van it's being delivered in will crash at the end of our road.
The people who live in the (only) detached house on our road seem to have split up. It happened sometime before Christmas (which is sad). Over the last few weeks, on several occasions I've seen "him" staggering out of taxi's with a pizza box before collapsing on the couch watching tv. The whole thing is sad, having gone through that and not having your children with you - it is sad.
Today, another twist, as e-on turned up to forcibly gain entry to his house - which they did with the assistance of a locksmith. Once again, it's sad, but it was a scene that i've seen many times before from when I lived in Skelmersdale. So, I'm going to give it 6 months before we have new neighbours.
Yesterday, a girl that I've followed on twitter for a while created a list of people she follows who are Evertonians. She added me to that list. All of a sudden, I received several new follower requests because I appeared on that list. It reminded me of a feeling that I had towards the end of my time at high school. I was never one to be included in things at school. With the odd exception, all of my friends were girls. Things changed towards the end of school, though, when I was a mobile dj. All of a sudden, it gave me popularity, and that is how getting those follower requests felt for me. Popular.
I hadn't realised that that feeling still felt good. I could ananlyse the feeling all night long, but there is no point. Everyone likes to be likes, and likes to feel that they are in a group, or part of a gang, so ultimately I'm no different to everyone else in that respect.
At the outset, this post is going to be one moan about a broken promise, one comment on a broken relationship, and one comment about being part of a gang. There may be more comments about stuff along the way, but - buckle up - here we go.....
So, following on from my last post about internet tablets like ipads, and samsung galaxy tab's, and the likes, I decided we should own an Archos 101. After a faf with another store, I ordered it from Insight UK on Sunday afternoon. I paid 10.99 (plus VAT) for next day delivery (translate that as Tuesday given the day i ordered it). Today is Tuesday, and it hasn't arrived. I shall expect it to be delivered tomorrow, after which time, I shall email Insight UK and ask for a refund of the (some might say) excessive shipping charge for next day delivery. Because they didn't. I'm going to keep calm and wait until the thing is in my hands before I start complaining. My luck is such that the van it's being delivered in will crash at the end of our road.
The people who live in the (only) detached house on our road seem to have split up. It happened sometime before Christmas (which is sad). Over the last few weeks, on several occasions I've seen "him" staggering out of taxi's with a pizza box before collapsing on the couch watching tv. The whole thing is sad, having gone through that and not having your children with you - it is sad.
Today, another twist, as e-on turned up to forcibly gain entry to his house - which they did with the assistance of a locksmith. Once again, it's sad, but it was a scene that i've seen many times before from when I lived in Skelmersdale. So, I'm going to give it 6 months before we have new neighbours.
Yesterday, a girl that I've followed on twitter for a while created a list of people she follows who are Evertonians. She added me to that list. All of a sudden, I received several new follower requests because I appeared on that list. It reminded me of a feeling that I had towards the end of my time at high school. I was never one to be included in things at school. With the odd exception, all of my friends were girls. Things changed towards the end of school, though, when I was a mobile dj. All of a sudden, it gave me popularity, and that is how getting those follower requests felt for me. Popular.
I hadn't realised that that feeling still felt good. I could ananlyse the feeling all night long, but there is no point. Everyone likes to be likes, and likes to feel that they are in a group, or part of a gang, so ultimately I'm no different to everyone else in that respect.
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
Stuff And Nonsense And Excitement And Stuff
Happy New... stuff to you all.
I was sat, this morning, wondering what I could blog about. I couldn't think of a single thing. So I came to work tonight, and now I've thought of several things that I want to talk about.
There is a girl on Twitter who's blog I've followed for ages. It is a blog about whatever is in her mind - similar to this one, but not as deep, but I can still relate to it. Anyway, my reason for mentioning it is that I'm going to try and start headlining, or sub-headlining what my ramblings are all about.
Dragons Den
I have an idea, inspired by a Daily Mail article that I read earlier on today. The article said that some children are able to text faster than their parents can type. So that got me to thinking - what about if there was a keyboard, based on a telephone keypad, that would let them type in T9 - on a computer. It could be handheld, like a console controller, with a bluetooth connection to the computer. WHEN this device launches, I want a slice.
Sleepy
I am ridiculously sleepy tonight. I started drinking espresso's earlier on and those two cups that I had pre-midnight have kept my eyes widely open up until now (05:20), when they are starting to feel heavy. Loads heavy. Can't wait to climb into bed.
7.5 Shifts To Go
So - 22nd of January sees myself, my ace wife, and youngest son jet off to Fuerteventura for 11 nights. For the first time in our holiday history, we're staying in the same hotel for the second time. I hope it's as good as we remember it being. I certainly do have some brilliant memories from that holiday and look forward to making some more this time round! I've even emailed the hotel to ask them if we can have the same room that we had last time. It was VERY handy for the pool! Shit, I'm so excited it's stupid.
Ipad / Android Tablet
With a glass or two of wine in her, my lovely wife suggested we buy an iPad the other night. I was shocked. In a good way. I immediately spun into a research frenzy, and - I'm not sure we should. Apple have had a big spat with Adobe (the people who produce Flash), and so all Apple products don't do flash. So - when reading websites, like the BBC for example, they will often have little embedded video's to accompany a news story - on the iPad, they won't work. Applications on Facebook, etc. won't work because they all use Flash.
So - I'm thinking an android tablet thingy might be better. The Archos 101. The Archos 70, and the Galaxy Tab are the ones I've got it down to. Possibly the Dell Streak, too, but I've not done enough research on that one yet. Further updates on my research will follow.
ASDA Entertainment
...are bastards. I ordered Call of Duty Black Ops from them on the 2nd January. They tell me they posted it on the 4th, and still - it hasn't arrived. I am most disappointed. Saying that, we only received Take That Singstar from Play.com yesterday and we ordered that last year. Maybe I just need to have a bit more patience with the postal service. But I haven't.
Ok, that seems like a suitably shit post to start off the new year, so - until next time....
I was sat, this morning, wondering what I could blog about. I couldn't think of a single thing. So I came to work tonight, and now I've thought of several things that I want to talk about.
There is a girl on Twitter who's blog I've followed for ages. It is a blog about whatever is in her mind - similar to this one, but not as deep, but I can still relate to it. Anyway, my reason for mentioning it is that I'm going to try and start headlining, or sub-headlining what my ramblings are all about.
Dragons Den
I have an idea, inspired by a Daily Mail article that I read earlier on today. The article said that some children are able to text faster than their parents can type. So that got me to thinking - what about if there was a keyboard, based on a telephone keypad, that would let them type in T9 - on a computer. It could be handheld, like a console controller, with a bluetooth connection to the computer. WHEN this device launches, I want a slice.
Sleepy
I am ridiculously sleepy tonight. I started drinking espresso's earlier on and those two cups that I had pre-midnight have kept my eyes widely open up until now (05:20), when they are starting to feel heavy. Loads heavy. Can't wait to climb into bed.
7.5 Shifts To Go
So - 22nd of January sees myself, my ace wife, and youngest son jet off to Fuerteventura for 11 nights. For the first time in our holiday history, we're staying in the same hotel for the second time. I hope it's as good as we remember it being. I certainly do have some brilliant memories from that holiday and look forward to making some more this time round! I've even emailed the hotel to ask them if we can have the same room that we had last time. It was VERY handy for the pool! Shit, I'm so excited it's stupid.
Ipad / Android Tablet
With a glass or two of wine in her, my lovely wife suggested we buy an iPad the other night. I was shocked. In a good way. I immediately spun into a research frenzy, and - I'm not sure we should. Apple have had a big spat with Adobe (the people who produce Flash), and so all Apple products don't do flash. So - when reading websites, like the BBC for example, they will often have little embedded video's to accompany a news story - on the iPad, they won't work. Applications on Facebook, etc. won't work because they all use Flash.
So - I'm thinking an android tablet thingy might be better. The Archos 101. The Archos 70, and the Galaxy Tab are the ones I've got it down to. Possibly the Dell Streak, too, but I've not done enough research on that one yet. Further updates on my research will follow.
ASDA Entertainment
...are bastards. I ordered Call of Duty Black Ops from them on the 2nd January. They tell me they posted it on the 4th, and still - it hasn't arrived. I am most disappointed. Saying that, we only received Take That Singstar from Play.com yesterday and we ordered that last year. Maybe I just need to have a bit more patience with the postal service. But I haven't.
Ok, that seems like a suitably shit post to start off the new year, so - until next time....
Friday, 10 December 2010
It's The Little Things
The little things in life are the most important - or infuriating.
I seem to be noticing more and more instances of dickhead-ness in general society. Recently on Coronation Street a tram crashed on to the street. SIX members of public contacted the Manchester Metrolink service enquiring if there would be any delays following the crash that they'd just seen on TV. These people are out there every day, mingling amongst us. Be aware.
Whilst driving to work in the freezing weather we had last week, BBC Radio Lancashire were telling us all about the traffic problems across the country, all very good. However, the presenter went on to say "...and if you can't receive BBC Radio Lancashire, you can always check our website for the up to date travel situation". I actually shouted "dickhead" at the radio.
I am having an ongonig spat with a corporate communications department at work. I have never known a department communicate as badly as they do. They have magazines and posters and big fuck off displays all over the place, but try and email them and see if you get a response! 9 times out of 10 you won't. My latest gripe with them is about the hundreds of posters that have appeared all around our building telling us to turn the lights off. With very very few exceptions, the whole building has sensors fitted so if nobody is there (or if you keep very still), the lights go off. That is knob-headed enough of corporate comms, but they've gone a step further and produced a poster using glow in the dark ink! What the bloody hell is the point of that?
Conversely, there are many little things in life that bring me much joy. When my wife looks into my eyes. She doesn't need to say a word, because I know what she's thinking - and it's beautiful. The times when Luke randomly hugs me and tells me he loves me - those things money can't buy. The little things that almost make me weep, and sometimes do, are the hugs I receive from my children as I drop them back off at Rhyl.
Music. Music is an inconsequential thing to most people, but it brings me SUCH an array of emotions. There are songs that make me smile like a tit, and there are others that will reduce me to tears. How powerful is music?
I seem to be noticing more and more instances of dickhead-ness in general society. Recently on Coronation Street a tram crashed on to the street. SIX members of public contacted the Manchester Metrolink service enquiring if there would be any delays following the crash that they'd just seen on TV. These people are out there every day, mingling amongst us. Be aware.
Whilst driving to work in the freezing weather we had last week, BBC Radio Lancashire were telling us all about the traffic problems across the country, all very good. However, the presenter went on to say "...and if you can't receive BBC Radio Lancashire, you can always check our website for the up to date travel situation". I actually shouted "dickhead" at the radio.
I am having an ongonig spat with a corporate communications department at work. I have never known a department communicate as badly as they do. They have magazines and posters and big fuck off displays all over the place, but try and email them and see if you get a response! 9 times out of 10 you won't. My latest gripe with them is about the hundreds of posters that have appeared all around our building telling us to turn the lights off. With very very few exceptions, the whole building has sensors fitted so if nobody is there (or if you keep very still), the lights go off. That is knob-headed enough of corporate comms, but they've gone a step further and produced a poster using glow in the dark ink! What the bloody hell is the point of that?
Conversely, there are many little things in life that bring me much joy. When my wife looks into my eyes. She doesn't need to say a word, because I know what she's thinking - and it's beautiful. The times when Luke randomly hugs me and tells me he loves me - those things money can't buy. The little things that almost make me weep, and sometimes do, are the hugs I receive from my children as I drop them back off at Rhyl.
Music. Music is an inconsequential thing to most people, but it brings me SUCH an array of emotions. There are songs that make me smile like a tit, and there are others that will reduce me to tears. How powerful is music?
Friday, 3 December 2010
And You Know What Else.....
Morning.
Yep, another night shift post, so stand by for the ramblings of a tired mind.
There is some properly lovely music out there isn't there? I love shuffling my ipod and sitting back to enjoy what it sings for me. If it sings a shit song (and sometimes it does), I mark it as one star and then delete it next time I synchronise it. My logic behind it is that no song on my ipod should be shit enough to only merit one star.
On my way to work this evening I found myself stuck at a roundabout. NObody was indicating so I could not safely pull out. People behind me were flashing, like they had some sort of connection with the non-indicating drivers and they just knew which way they were turning. Fuckers.
I am on my second night of four. I have these two nights this week, then next week two days and one night before having five days off with my family. I am very very excited about spending a night just myself and my beautiful wife at a hotel in Manchester. We're going to visit the Christmas markets and drink that funny wein stuff and generally have an ace time!
In work at the moment, I am slightly fearful for my life. I am working with a bloke who has been sectioned, one who should be sectioned and a third is working on a team across the way from me who is currently looking at very detailed photographs of guns on the internet. Help!!
The weather is all weird at the moment. It is consistently fucking freezing but it keeps kind of giving us a bit of snow then stopping, so now there are white bits at the side of the main road, which are frozen solid (it's minus seven degrees outside, according to the gun fanatic). I LOVE a bit of snow, me. I know it fucks the country up something rotten, but so long as my wife doesn't have to drive in it, I like it. We had some proper snow in January this year. Two highlights for me were using a pick axe to break through the two inch thick ice that formed on the road outside our house, and my naked snow angel in the back garden.
Music Television is really bad. I'm a thirty six year old man, and flicking through the various MTV channels (not just the MTV branded channels), there was absolutely nothing that appealed to me. And then it hit me - AbsoluteTV. Absolute Radio has spawned several baby radio stations this year - Absolute Classic Rock, Absolute 80s, Absolute Radio 90's, and the newest child in the fold - Absolute 00's (noughties). There are two "obvious" decades missing from their lineup, but I'm guessing that would put them in more of a "gold" radio format territory and I'm not sure that is where they belong. So for me, the next step has to be a music television channel.
They could do it Howard Stern style (without the filth and depravity), and broadcast Christian O'Connell's breakfast show on the channel, before moving on to the best bits from their radio family throughout the day. I genuinely think this could work. I need to email someone so I can be told "oh yeah - that's ace. now go away.".
I have tentatively offered Taxi services for tomorrow night. Some of my "colleagues" from work are having a night out in Liverpool and it's quite a lucrative way of making a few pounds offering to pick them up and ferry them home. A taxi would cost about £20, so I've said £15. I won't come close to using a gallon of fuel so will make over £10 profit for my efforts.
I am going to suggest to my wonderful wife that we put our Christmas decorations up on Sunday afternoon / evening. We can listen to Christmas songs whilst we do it - all three of us. I can't wait!! Must make sure we have blu-tac.
I am in to the last month of my daily photo blog. I am very very looking forward to it finishing. It's been difficult to keep motivated enough to do it of late. I've taken to not blogging for several days, then posting a whole load at once. I'm pleased I've done it, but I won't be doing anything similar to it soon. That said, I can't help feeling like I'll be at a loose blogging end come January. Who knows what 2011 will bring?!
Ok, I've gone on for aaaages now so I'll go and drink some hot chocolate.
See ya!
Yep, another night shift post, so stand by for the ramblings of a tired mind.
There is some properly lovely music out there isn't there? I love shuffling my ipod and sitting back to enjoy what it sings for me. If it sings a shit song (and sometimes it does), I mark it as one star and then delete it next time I synchronise it. My logic behind it is that no song on my ipod should be shit enough to only merit one star.
On my way to work this evening I found myself stuck at a roundabout. NObody was indicating so I could not safely pull out. People behind me were flashing, like they had some sort of connection with the non-indicating drivers and they just knew which way they were turning. Fuckers.
I am on my second night of four. I have these two nights this week, then next week two days and one night before having five days off with my family. I am very very excited about spending a night just myself and my beautiful wife at a hotel in Manchester. We're going to visit the Christmas markets and drink that funny wein stuff and generally have an ace time!
In work at the moment, I am slightly fearful for my life. I am working with a bloke who has been sectioned, one who should be sectioned and a third is working on a team across the way from me who is currently looking at very detailed photographs of guns on the internet. Help!!
The weather is all weird at the moment. It is consistently fucking freezing but it keeps kind of giving us a bit of snow then stopping, so now there are white bits at the side of the main road, which are frozen solid (it's minus seven degrees outside, according to the gun fanatic). I LOVE a bit of snow, me. I know it fucks the country up something rotten, but so long as my wife doesn't have to drive in it, I like it. We had some proper snow in January this year. Two highlights for me were using a pick axe to break through the two inch thick ice that formed on the road outside our house, and my naked snow angel in the back garden.
Music Television is really bad. I'm a thirty six year old man, and flicking through the various MTV channels (not just the MTV branded channels), there was absolutely nothing that appealed to me. And then it hit me - AbsoluteTV. Absolute Radio has spawned several baby radio stations this year - Absolute Classic Rock, Absolute 80s, Absolute Radio 90's, and the newest child in the fold - Absolute 00's (noughties). There are two "obvious" decades missing from their lineup, but I'm guessing that would put them in more of a "gold" radio format territory and I'm not sure that is where they belong. So for me, the next step has to be a music television channel.
They could do it Howard Stern style (without the filth and depravity), and broadcast Christian O'Connell's breakfast show on the channel, before moving on to the best bits from their radio family throughout the day. I genuinely think this could work. I need to email someone so I can be told "oh yeah - that's ace. now go away.".
I have tentatively offered Taxi services for tomorrow night. Some of my "colleagues" from work are having a night out in Liverpool and it's quite a lucrative way of making a few pounds offering to pick them up and ferry them home. A taxi would cost about £20, so I've said £15. I won't come close to using a gallon of fuel so will make over £10 profit for my efforts.
I am going to suggest to my wonderful wife that we put our Christmas decorations up on Sunday afternoon / evening. We can listen to Christmas songs whilst we do it - all three of us. I can't wait!! Must make sure we have blu-tac.
I am in to the last month of my daily photo blog. I am very very looking forward to it finishing. It's been difficult to keep motivated enough to do it of late. I've taken to not blogging for several days, then posting a whole load at once. I'm pleased I've done it, but I won't be doing anything similar to it soon. That said, I can't help feeling like I'll be at a loose blogging end come January. Who knows what 2011 will bring?!
Ok, I've gone on for aaaages now so I'll go and drink some hot chocolate.
See ya!
Monday, 25 October 2010
Baffled
Last night, we stayed at some friends of my wife's in Derby. I was fed handsomely, and drank what I now know was too much. I genuinely didn't think I'd drank LOADS and loads. So I've been ill several times, and didn't eat a thing all day until about 5pm this afternoon - not at all like me.
My beautiful wife has made it clear to me that she's not impressed with the state of me today, and I agree with her completely. My only defence is that it took me by surprise completely given that I really didn't think I'd drank as much as I must have done.
So, I am very looking forward to a month and a bit off. We'd agreed to have November off the booze, but I'm starting mine as of now. I become a tit when drunk, and almost always wake up with regrets, mostly due to my silly behaviour.
I hate upsetting my wife. She's my best friend, and I know I've upset her, which is crap. I need to make it up to her.
Steps will be taken.
I am baffled as to how I've ended up with such a tremendous wife if I'm honest. I have no clue what she sees in me. I have one HELL of a lot of baggage. I'm fat, balding with lots of body hair. I ming. If I take myself out of myself and look at me from the outside, I might be my friend. No more than that, though. I wouldn't want to visit me for a meal, or go out with me for a night out.
I'm already thinking of new years resolutions. I'm thinking one of mine will be to tone myself up a little and try and give my wife something to love me for.
My beautiful wife has made it clear to me that she's not impressed with the state of me today, and I agree with her completely. My only defence is that it took me by surprise completely given that I really didn't think I'd drank as much as I must have done.
So, I am very looking forward to a month and a bit off. We'd agreed to have November off the booze, but I'm starting mine as of now. I become a tit when drunk, and almost always wake up with regrets, mostly due to my silly behaviour.
I hate upsetting my wife. She's my best friend, and I know I've upset her, which is crap. I need to make it up to her.
Steps will be taken.
I am baffled as to how I've ended up with such a tremendous wife if I'm honest. I have no clue what she sees in me. I have one HELL of a lot of baggage. I'm fat, balding with lots of body hair. I ming. If I take myself out of myself and look at me from the outside, I might be my friend. No more than that, though. I wouldn't want to visit me for a meal, or go out with me for a night out.
I'm already thinking of new years resolutions. I'm thinking one of mine will be to tone myself up a little and try and give my wife something to love me for.
Saturday, 16 October 2010
Everything But The Girl
Hey
Now, I don't see my children from my first marriage anywhere near as often as I'd like, but sometimes things happen and I miss them much more than usual.
Tonight, they are flying out to Spain with their mum and her partner and his children and god knows who else. Loads of them going.
I have mixed feelings about this. I'm really pleased for them. I'm pleased that they're going to experience foreign lands, etc., but from a selfish point of view, I don't want them to go. I want to them stay, I was going to say close to me, but they're not are they? They live in Wales and I don't. They're not close to me from day to day, so why should I miss them more now?
I've tried to contact my eldest daughter several times but her mobile is never switched on. I just want to tell her to be careful. I don't need to tell her, though - she is sensible.
My head is all over the place now I've started typing all this. I'm thinking my problem with is is a lack of control, but what control do I have usually? Little. I don't know. I have no idea why I feel as stressed about it as I do. I wish I was at home (and not at work, as I am now), so I could talk to my best friend about it. She'd be able to help me for sure.
Now my ipod is playing "So Far Away" by Dire Straights. Could not be more appropriate.
I need to get a grip.
Goodbye.
Now, I don't see my children from my first marriage anywhere near as often as I'd like, but sometimes things happen and I miss them much more than usual.
Tonight, they are flying out to Spain with their mum and her partner and his children and god knows who else. Loads of them going.
I have mixed feelings about this. I'm really pleased for them. I'm pleased that they're going to experience foreign lands, etc., but from a selfish point of view, I don't want them to go. I want to them stay, I was going to say close to me, but they're not are they? They live in Wales and I don't. They're not close to me from day to day, so why should I miss them more now?
I've tried to contact my eldest daughter several times but her mobile is never switched on. I just want to tell her to be careful. I don't need to tell her, though - she is sensible.
My head is all over the place now I've started typing all this. I'm thinking my problem with is is a lack of control, but what control do I have usually? Little. I don't know. I have no idea why I feel as stressed about it as I do. I wish I was at home (and not at work, as I am now), so I could talk to my best friend about it. She'd be able to help me for sure.
Now my ipod is playing "So Far Away" by Dire Straights. Could not be more appropriate.
I need to get a grip.
Goodbye.
Monday, 11 October 2010
Wow
Hello.
I was thinking - should I start these posts with a Dear Diary kind of thing? Maybe I will in future.
Anyway - we're back from our hols and what an ace time we had! Gran Canaria was the last of the Canary Islands that I had to visit and it's just as lovely as the others (with Fuerteventura being the exception*). We stayed a few miles away from the famous sand dunes at Maspalomas. They are literally breathtakingly stunning. It was one of those times when you have to doff your cap to nature and look in awe.
Maspalomas beach is famous for the dunes - and the nudity. As you enter the beach from Maspalomas, the first few hundred metres are full of the usual beach types. Men in shorts and women in bikini's (some topless, but nothing unusual there). However, venture down the beach a little and if you don't notice the sign telling you that you are entering the nudist area, you will eventually realise that nobody has got any clothes on! Now - nudist area might conjure up images of a small section of beach with a few nudies in it - not so. The beach is as busy, if not busier in the nudist area.
So - when in Rome and all that. I whipped my t-shirt and shorts off and we continued to walk down the beach front with me all naked! It was the first time I'd been in that situation and all I could say was how liberating and completely natural it felt. Many people associate nudity with sex, and that is the big mistake. It just isn't like that at all. It's just so natural, relaxing, comfortable, and other words like that. Whilst, of course, you do look (or notice) the boobs, bums and genitalia, you become very aware that it's not about the body beautiful - it's just about the body natural. Everyone has parts of their body that they're not happy with, and none of that matters because you're not "on parade", which brings me back to it not being sexual.
Ok - rant over...a short walk further and you notice that the nudey people are now predominately men. The area has a very large gay scene and this is where they (quite literally) hang out during the day! After a while we turned back to walk back towards Maspalomas. The beach does lead round to our resort, but it's a bloody long way!
I thoroughly enjoyed my first beach nude experience, and hope I'll have further opportunities to do it again in the future.
One other thing that I was very very impressed / proud of, was that Luke didn't once comment on the fact that everyone was naked. That goes to show me that he doesn't see nudity as anything unusual, and I'm pleased with his outlook in that respect.
Ok - I'm going to finish my drink and go to bed. Nighty night!
* I LOVE Fuerteventura and I'd be quite happy to holiday there for a good few years to come!
I was thinking - should I start these posts with a Dear Diary kind of thing? Maybe I will in future.
Anyway - we're back from our hols and what an ace time we had! Gran Canaria was the last of the Canary Islands that I had to visit and it's just as lovely as the others (with Fuerteventura being the exception*). We stayed a few miles away from the famous sand dunes at Maspalomas. They are literally breathtakingly stunning. It was one of those times when you have to doff your cap to nature and look in awe.
Maspalomas beach is famous for the dunes - and the nudity. As you enter the beach from Maspalomas, the first few hundred metres are full of the usual beach types. Men in shorts and women in bikini's (some topless, but nothing unusual there). However, venture down the beach a little and if you don't notice the sign telling you that you are entering the nudist area, you will eventually realise that nobody has got any clothes on! Now - nudist area might conjure up images of a small section of beach with a few nudies in it - not so. The beach is as busy, if not busier in the nudist area.
So - when in Rome and all that. I whipped my t-shirt and shorts off and we continued to walk down the beach front with me all naked! It was the first time I'd been in that situation and all I could say was how liberating and completely natural it felt. Many people associate nudity with sex, and that is the big mistake. It just isn't like that at all. It's just so natural, relaxing, comfortable, and other words like that. Whilst, of course, you do look (or notice) the boobs, bums and genitalia, you become very aware that it's not about the body beautiful - it's just about the body natural. Everyone has parts of their body that they're not happy with, and none of that matters because you're not "on parade", which brings me back to it not being sexual.
Ok - rant over...a short walk further and you notice that the nudey people are now predominately men. The area has a very large gay scene and this is where they (quite literally) hang out during the day! After a while we turned back to walk back towards Maspalomas. The beach does lead round to our resort, but it's a bloody long way!
I thoroughly enjoyed my first beach nude experience, and hope I'll have further opportunities to do it again in the future.
One other thing that I was very very impressed / proud of, was that Luke didn't once comment on the fact that everyone was naked. That goes to show me that he doesn't see nudity as anything unusual, and I'm pleased with his outlook in that respect.
Ok - I'm going to finish my drink and go to bed. Nighty night!
* I LOVE Fuerteventura and I'd be quite happy to holiday there for a good few years to come!
Sunday, 19 September 2010
Wide Open
It was fed back to me recently, that my other Blogger blog is becoming more like a diary, and less like a way of achieving my ambition of taking one photo a day and publishing it on line. As soon it was mentioned, i knew it was right.
As you may know from reading this blog, I do go on a bit sometimes, and that's ok - here. The other blog is not the place for it. On top of that, my Twitter and Facebook lives have started going the same way. I was almost laying my life, and that of my family, wide open for anyone and everyone to see.
For those who really know me (and that's nobody as no bugger reads this!), you will know that deep down I am shy. On reflection, I never saw Facebook or Twitter as.... reality. I protect my profiles on both of them so if you are Tom, Dick or Harry you can't look at them. Based on that, I gave myself a false sense of security and almost felt that I could comfortably post anything I liked, not only about me, but about my family, too. It is for that reason that I haven't tweeted or said anything on Facebook for a few days now. I have taken stock and I shall approach them in a different way from now on.
In my real life, I have always been guilty (if it's a crime), of befriending people too easily. I will meet someone and work with them for a short time, and believe that they are good friends. It's not always the case. Being honest - sometimes it IS the case, but other times, not. I have transferred that "crime" to the virtual world, too. I have followed complete strangers on Twitter - people I've never ever met, and they have followed me back. We've had discussions about all sorts of things, and in my head - I had got to the point where I thought these people were my friends.
Now, because access to my profiles is restricted and also because of how choosy I am, these people might actually be really nice, and would make lovely friends in real life. But it's the difference between real life and my virtual life, that has become a bit grey. So - I'm not going to close my Facebook and Twitter accounts, but - I do intend to "hold off" a bit on there.
Whilst typing all this shiz, it's got me thinking as to why I felt the need to be everyone's friends, and to hold people close to me and consider them friends. Having analysed myself, it comes back to me being one of the following. Too trusting - easily led - desperate, and generally yearning for affirmation from everyone I come in to contact with. I'm proper weird, me. I might need to speak to someone.
As you may know from reading this blog, I do go on a bit sometimes, and that's ok - here. The other blog is not the place for it. On top of that, my Twitter and Facebook lives have started going the same way. I was almost laying my life, and that of my family, wide open for anyone and everyone to see.
For those who really know me (and that's nobody as no bugger reads this!), you will know that deep down I am shy. On reflection, I never saw Facebook or Twitter as.... reality. I protect my profiles on both of them so if you are Tom, Dick or Harry you can't look at them. Based on that, I gave myself a false sense of security and almost felt that I could comfortably post anything I liked, not only about me, but about my family, too. It is for that reason that I haven't tweeted or said anything on Facebook for a few days now. I have taken stock and I shall approach them in a different way from now on.
In my real life, I have always been guilty (if it's a crime), of befriending people too easily. I will meet someone and work with them for a short time, and believe that they are good friends. It's not always the case. Being honest - sometimes it IS the case, but other times, not. I have transferred that "crime" to the virtual world, too. I have followed complete strangers on Twitter - people I've never ever met, and they have followed me back. We've had discussions about all sorts of things, and in my head - I had got to the point where I thought these people were my friends.
Now, because access to my profiles is restricted and also because of how choosy I am, these people might actually be really nice, and would make lovely friends in real life. But it's the difference between real life and my virtual life, that has become a bit grey. So - I'm not going to close my Facebook and Twitter accounts, but - I do intend to "hold off" a bit on there.
Whilst typing all this shiz, it's got me thinking as to why I felt the need to be everyone's friends, and to hold people close to me and consider them friends. Having analysed myself, it comes back to me being one of the following. Too trusting - easily led - desperate, and generally yearning for affirmation from everyone I come in to contact with. I'm proper weird, me. I might need to speak to someone.
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
Faith
Boo!
So - George Michael, or to give him his actual name, Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, is going to live in Pentonville Prison for the next four weeks. He smoked one hell of a lot of cannabis, then went out for a drive in his Range Rover and crashed it into Snappy Snaps after apparently blacking out. Well done George. Well done more to the person who wrote "Wham" on the wall of the shop he crashed in to. Most amusing.
Pope Benedict XVI visits the UK tomorrow. I remember standing on the streets of Liverpool with my mum and dad in 1982 to catch a glimpse of Pope John Paul II. It was billed as a tremendous moment in my life and one not to be forgotten. To give my parents credit - I haven't. The whole place seemed to be filled with such love, and happiness it was quite strange for me as an eight year old to understand. John Paul II seemed like such a lovely, warm man - and everybody thought so. Not so, for Benedict XVI.
Before being inaugurated as Pope in 2005, Cardinal Joseph Alois Ratzinger was head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), an institution set up by the Catholic church to deal with child abuse by Catholic priests. He had exposure to how widespread this problem was like nobody else before him because before the creation of the CDF, child abuse allegations had been dealt with at diocese level. Almost all of a sudden, the Catholic church and Cardinal Ratzinger in particular, could see the full, disgusting picture.
The way the church chose to deal with these disgusting individuals was to move them. Remove them from their parish, and move them elsewhere. Not go to the authorities and say "we've got a bad one here, chief", no - just move them on.
I was brought up a Catholic. I served as an altar boy for many years. My beautiful mother rediscovered her Catholic faith in a huge way in the early 1980's, and that gave her tremendous strength and belief, which no doubt helped her through the darkest of times whilst she fought cancer. It is because of that - that I find myself in a difficult place right now. I have always called myself a Catholic. I don't attend mass with any regularity - not at all if the truth be told, but I know that when I fill forms out and it asks for religion or faith, I always tick the Catholic box. I'm not sure I can do that anymore. Faith is about having faith in something - believing in something. How can I say that I believe in the teachings and ways of a church that has - and let's be blunt about it - covered up known instances of child abuse. Not only that - the current Pope was responsible for some of those cover ups!
It pains me to say, but - I'm putting my faith on hold. I am fully aware that I am judging the whole church by the actions of a tiny minority, but one of those minority is sitting at the top of that very rich, very powerful, and was I perceive to be very corrupt church.
I'm sorry mum, but at the moment - even in the smallest of ways like ticking a box, I can't be part of a religious group like that.
I know that if mum was still around, she'd want to sit down and talk with me about this. I await that chat - however she wants to do it.
So - George Michael, or to give him his actual name, Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, is going to live in Pentonville Prison for the next four weeks. He smoked one hell of a lot of cannabis, then went out for a drive in his Range Rover and crashed it into Snappy Snaps after apparently blacking out. Well done George. Well done more to the person who wrote "Wham" on the wall of the shop he crashed in to. Most amusing.
Pope Benedict XVI visits the UK tomorrow. I remember standing on the streets of Liverpool with my mum and dad in 1982 to catch a glimpse of Pope John Paul II. It was billed as a tremendous moment in my life and one not to be forgotten. To give my parents credit - I haven't. The whole place seemed to be filled with such love, and happiness it was quite strange for me as an eight year old to understand. John Paul II seemed like such a lovely, warm man - and everybody thought so. Not so, for Benedict XVI.
Before being inaugurated as Pope in 2005, Cardinal Joseph Alois Ratzinger was head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), an institution set up by the Catholic church to deal with child abuse by Catholic priests. He had exposure to how widespread this problem was like nobody else before him because before the creation of the CDF, child abuse allegations had been dealt with at diocese level. Almost all of a sudden, the Catholic church and Cardinal Ratzinger in particular, could see the full, disgusting picture.
The way the church chose to deal with these disgusting individuals was to move them. Remove them from their parish, and move them elsewhere. Not go to the authorities and say "we've got a bad one here, chief", no - just move them on.
I was brought up a Catholic. I served as an altar boy for many years. My beautiful mother rediscovered her Catholic faith in a huge way in the early 1980's, and that gave her tremendous strength and belief, which no doubt helped her through the darkest of times whilst she fought cancer. It is because of that - that I find myself in a difficult place right now. I have always called myself a Catholic. I don't attend mass with any regularity - not at all if the truth be told, but I know that when I fill forms out and it asks for religion or faith, I always tick the Catholic box. I'm not sure I can do that anymore. Faith is about having faith in something - believing in something. How can I say that I believe in the teachings and ways of a church that has - and let's be blunt about it - covered up known instances of child abuse. Not only that - the current Pope was responsible for some of those cover ups!
It pains me to say, but - I'm putting my faith on hold. I am fully aware that I am judging the whole church by the actions of a tiny minority, but one of those minority is sitting at the top of that very rich, very powerful, and was I perceive to be very corrupt church.
I'm sorry mum, but at the moment - even in the smallest of ways like ticking a box, I can't be part of a religious group like that.
I know that if mum was still around, she'd want to sit down and talk with me about this. I await that chat - however she wants to do it.
Wednesday, 18 August 2010
Two In One Day
At my age, too!
I've had second thoughts. I think I still need something like this to speak at.
I currently have old photo's from my childhood and some of them have made me well up. It's the one's featuring my parents from before I was born. I want to ask questions about them. Who was that couple with you? Where was that taken? WHEN was that taken. Another photo just came up. Me, aged about 6 or 7 in a field with cows in it. I've NO idea where or when it was taken. The only two people who know the answers have gone - and it fucking hurts.
Day to day stuff is fine- I can cope a-ok with that. But now and again things like this crop up, and I hate it.
I've had second thoughts. I think I still need something like this to speak at.
I currently have old photo's from my childhood and some of them have made me well up. It's the one's featuring my parents from before I was born. I want to ask questions about them. Who was that couple with you? Where was that taken? WHEN was that taken. Another photo just came up. Me, aged about 6 or 7 in a field with cows in it. I've NO idea where or when it was taken. The only two people who know the answers have gone - and it fucking hurts.
Day to day stuff is fine- I can cope a-ok with that. But now and again things like this crop up, and I hate it.
Chasing Clouds
Hiya!
It's been a while hasn't it? How are you? How's the family? Work ok? Good. Me? I've been keeping busy, you know.
Whilst driving home from work the other day, I was driving along a stretch of road that runs between two villages. I could see the edge of a cloud reflecting on the road, in front of me. I calculated that the cloud was moving at about 30 miles per hour. I slowed down, just so I could literally chase the cloud. It was - for me - beautiful. I love nature. It's magnificent.
We're going on our summer holidays this weekend. Up to Blackpool with my children in a caravan for a week. Staying at a site that we've stayed at many times before. Now that might seem dull and predictable, but it means that my children can have some freedom on the site. Freedom to come and go pretty much as they please. If they want to go up to the arcade for a bit - they can - because they know the site so (hopefully) they won't get lost.
Luke just sang a song to me the lyrics of which were along the lines of "I'm so happy, I'm so happy, I can't wait to see my brothers and sisters on my holiday because I love them. I'm so happy, I'm so happy". He is so happy and very very excited! Bless him.
My laptop has been an arse for me this last week. I've re-installed Windows on it three times. I'm getting a bit (lot) pissed off with it now.
My blogs are so so so shit it's upsetting me. I might mothball this effort until the new year. My one a day blog has completely sapped my words. Or - maybe I don't actually need this anymore. My head is still weird and messed up, but not AS messed up as it was when I started this blog. Maybe I'm "OK" now? Relatively speaking, of course.
Hmmmm.. Ok, so this might be the end of the road for anything close to a regular update on this blog.
Thanks for viewing & sorry I've bored you shitless. T'ra.
It's been a while hasn't it? How are you? How's the family? Work ok? Good. Me? I've been keeping busy, you know.
Whilst driving home from work the other day, I was driving along a stretch of road that runs between two villages. I could see the edge of a cloud reflecting on the road, in front of me. I calculated that the cloud was moving at about 30 miles per hour. I slowed down, just so I could literally chase the cloud. It was - for me - beautiful. I love nature. It's magnificent.
We're going on our summer holidays this weekend. Up to Blackpool with my children in a caravan for a week. Staying at a site that we've stayed at many times before. Now that might seem dull and predictable, but it means that my children can have some freedom on the site. Freedom to come and go pretty much as they please. If they want to go up to the arcade for a bit - they can - because they know the site so (hopefully) they won't get lost.
Luke just sang a song to me the lyrics of which were along the lines of "I'm so happy, I'm so happy, I can't wait to see my brothers and sisters on my holiday because I love them. I'm so happy, I'm so happy". He is so happy and very very excited! Bless him.
My laptop has been an arse for me this last week. I've re-installed Windows on it three times. I'm getting a bit (lot) pissed off with it now.
My blogs are so so so shit it's upsetting me. I might mothball this effort until the new year. My one a day blog has completely sapped my words. Or - maybe I don't actually need this anymore. My head is still weird and messed up, but not AS messed up as it was when I started this blog. Maybe I'm "OK" now? Relatively speaking, of course.
Hmmmm.. Ok, so this might be the end of the road for anything close to a regular update on this blog.
Thanks for viewing & sorry I've bored you shitless. T'ra.
Sunday, 1 August 2010
Repression
Hi
So my daughter is finally here for a visit, which is nice - I'm pleased. I know it's an age thing, but I hardly ever see her because she just camps out in her room with her psp chatting on facebook.
My hair is fucked. It's such a state. My lovely wife clippered me tonight because it was so bad. I have a ridiculous hairline which produces a V at the front and goes all wonky at the back. I am SO tempted to clip it right back, but I look like an AIDS victim when it's like that.
My children have no manners. They're not nasty, they just don't naturally use please and thank you. We've done loads for them the last few days and a little bit of gratitude wouldn't go a miss. I don't want them to be grateful for every little thing I do because some things you just do as a parent, but just occasionally to acknowledge hard work would be nice.
I like being nude. Or rather - I'm comfortable being nude. Nude around the house. Nude on holiday. I'll never shy away from a nude dare. I have no hang-ups with nudity. Now, I'm no adonis, not even close to one, but for me, nudity isn't about having the perfect body and showing it off. It's not about anyone else - it's about me. I cannot explain (and I've thought about it a lot today) why I feel so comfortable about nudity. As a child, I am not aware that my parents were care-free in anyway when it came to nudity. My lovely wife, however - does not feel the same. I don't mean she's prudish about her body because she's not. She just doesn't want to be nude as often as me! :-) I love every part of my wife's body and my view is "it's a shame" that she doesn't feel the same way I do. Hmmmm. One to ponder for me.
I'm tired and cranky and short tempered today. All in all - an arse to live with. Sorry to those sharing a house with me.
So my daughter is finally here for a visit, which is nice - I'm pleased. I know it's an age thing, but I hardly ever see her because she just camps out in her room with her psp chatting on facebook.
My hair is fucked. It's such a state. My lovely wife clippered me tonight because it was so bad. I have a ridiculous hairline which produces a V at the front and goes all wonky at the back. I am SO tempted to clip it right back, but I look like an AIDS victim when it's like that.
My children have no manners. They're not nasty, they just don't naturally use please and thank you. We've done loads for them the last few days and a little bit of gratitude wouldn't go a miss. I don't want them to be grateful for every little thing I do because some things you just do as a parent, but just occasionally to acknowledge hard work would be nice.
I like being nude. Or rather - I'm comfortable being nude. Nude around the house. Nude on holiday. I'll never shy away from a nude dare. I have no hang-ups with nudity. Now, I'm no adonis, not even close to one, but for me, nudity isn't about having the perfect body and showing it off. It's not about anyone else - it's about me. I cannot explain (and I've thought about it a lot today) why I feel so comfortable about nudity. As a child, I am not aware that my parents were care-free in anyway when it came to nudity. My lovely wife, however - does not feel the same. I don't mean she's prudish about her body because she's not. She just doesn't want to be nude as often as me! :-) I love every part of my wife's body and my view is "it's a shame" that she doesn't feel the same way I do. Hmmmm. One to ponder for me.
I'm tired and cranky and short tempered today. All in all - an arse to live with. Sorry to those sharing a house with me.
Sunday, 4 July 2010
Who'd Have Thunk It
Well - I think I jinxed myself with my last, somewhat morose post.
My daughter did not come to stay this weekend. She went to the cinema to watch Twilight with her friends, instead. Fair enough. However, when I dropped my other children off with their mother this evening, she told me that my daughter has.... a boyfriend.
I took it all very well at the time, but driving home I quite literally was in a daze. I know she's months off being 14, but - just - no. No. Not my Abbey. I feel ridiculous because I feel so ... upset. She is obviously very happy and this is her first love. We all remember our first love's and it's such a special time. That said, I'm still not a single bit happy about it.
I need to dwell for a few more minutes then do some exercises.
Hmmmm.
My daughter did not come to stay this weekend. She went to the cinema to watch Twilight with her friends, instead. Fair enough. However, when I dropped my other children off with their mother this evening, she told me that my daughter has.... a boyfriend.
I took it all very well at the time, but driving home I quite literally was in a daze. I know she's months off being 14, but - just - no. No. Not my Abbey. I feel ridiculous because I feel so ... upset. She is obviously very happy and this is her first love. We all remember our first love's and it's such a special time. That said, I'm still not a single bit happy about it.
I need to dwell for a few more minutes then do some exercises.
Hmmmm.
Thursday, 1 July 2010
Woah!
Hello there singular reader
So today I found out that a girl who I used to work with has gone to jail for dealing drugs. I say drugs, I don't mean a bit of weed. Serious drugs. Heroin and Cocaine. It might seem trivial, but I don't know how to feel about this. See, I liked Ali (I seem to be using the past tense?). We worked together for several years and she was always always full of beans, bubbly and anyone having a down day, she'd cheer them up.
Back in the days when going to the pub for lunch was seen as normal, we spent many lunchtimes together (with others). She'd back-packed round Australia and it was her dream to return there to live. She absolutely adored the place. She won't be able to do that now. She won't be able to do so many things. She left my employer because she got a job paying more working on the Wirral. She had a good job. She had been with her boyfriend for years and years and loved him to bits. He's gone and another bloke became her boyfriend. They're both in jail now. I was talking to a friend from work about Ali today and we agreed that above all else - it is so sad, and such a shame. Such a waste.
On a slight tangent... We are having my children to stay this weekend and I'm silly happy about it. Well - I was. My wife just pointed out that my eldest daughter has posted on Facebook saying that her and two friends have tickets booked to see Eclipse at the cinema. It might not be this weekend, but I'd be bloody surprised if it's not. The thought upsets me, but I know it's something I have to deal with. She's 14 in September and I totally understand what it's like to be that age. She will have friends that she wants to go out with. Not boys though. No. No. No no no no no. Seriously, though. This is a really important time in my relationship with her. This is the time I have to let my baby girl go, and hope that she'll come back one day. I've made it sound worse than it probably is, but you get my point.
I feel like my live is changing. Maybe that's not such a big revelation. Life is a constant evolution. Everything changes - all the time.
Whilst I have given her the choice to make about whether or not she comes to stay here, the more often she doesn't, the harder it is. Right now, if she isn't here tomorrow, I think I may cry. If she is - I still might cry. Different emotions - same tears.
I feel low right now. It's probably for the best that I end this post.
Until next time.
So today I found out that a girl who I used to work with has gone to jail for dealing drugs. I say drugs, I don't mean a bit of weed. Serious drugs. Heroin and Cocaine. It might seem trivial, but I don't know how to feel about this. See, I liked Ali (I seem to be using the past tense?). We worked together for several years and she was always always full of beans, bubbly and anyone having a down day, she'd cheer them up.
Back in the days when going to the pub for lunch was seen as normal, we spent many lunchtimes together (with others). She'd back-packed round Australia and it was her dream to return there to live. She absolutely adored the place. She won't be able to do that now. She won't be able to do so many things. She left my employer because she got a job paying more working on the Wirral. She had a good job. She had been with her boyfriend for years and years and loved him to bits. He's gone and another bloke became her boyfriend. They're both in jail now. I was talking to a friend from work about Ali today and we agreed that above all else - it is so sad, and such a shame. Such a waste.
On a slight tangent... We are having my children to stay this weekend and I'm silly happy about it. Well - I was. My wife just pointed out that my eldest daughter has posted on Facebook saying that her and two friends have tickets booked to see Eclipse at the cinema. It might not be this weekend, but I'd be bloody surprised if it's not. The thought upsets me, but I know it's something I have to deal with. She's 14 in September and I totally understand what it's like to be that age. She will have friends that she wants to go out with. Not boys though. No. No. No no no no no. Seriously, though. This is a really important time in my relationship with her. This is the time I have to let my baby girl go, and hope that she'll come back one day. I've made it sound worse than it probably is, but you get my point.
I feel like my live is changing. Maybe that's not such a big revelation. Life is a constant evolution. Everything changes - all the time.
Whilst I have given her the choice to make about whether or not she comes to stay here, the more often she doesn't, the harder it is. Right now, if she isn't here tomorrow, I think I may cry. If she is - I still might cry. Different emotions - same tears.
I feel low right now. It's probably for the best that I end this post.
Until next time.
Sunday, 20 June 2010
Facets
Boo!
Thought I'd put in an appearance over here. It's been a proper long time since the last blog I did on here - which seems to be normal now.
I've just watched the last episode in day 7 of 24, and it was a good one! It ended by highlighting the incredible bond between a father and a daughter. Particularly poignant at the moment.
I have just spent 15 mins stood on the roof of the building I work in. Not in a suicidal way, I hasten to add. It is lovely up there. We have a roof garden and I love going up there at night. It is so peaceful, and on a clear night like tonight, to stand there and see the stars shining, and the planes making approaches to land at Liverpool and Manchester, is very relaxing indeed. I could spend a lot of time up there.
It's another facet of my personality that doesn't get used that often. I like to reflect. That's kind of what I've used this blog for I suppose. But to stand alone and reflect in complete silence is an amazing feeling.
I've been doing a fair bit of tweeting recently. I had 2 replies from Liz McClarnon which pleased me (although I will admit to hamming it up a little for effect). I've also come across a lady on twitter who calls herself lady godiva. She's a nudey and has a fantastic attitude to it. She has been on telly (Sky Arts I think it was) when they did an all night live broadcast from London featuring different people on a plinth for an hour each. Her hour was her, nude, on a rocking horse, "educating" people about attitudes to nudity. As you may, or may not be aware, I feel completely cool about nudity and it doesn't phase me a bit being in that state. I have no idea where this woman lives or what she does, but she is amusing and interesting so she shall remain on my list of followers.
I feel well rough this evening. My stomach feels rock hard and I feel a bit ill with it. I didn't have any food before I came to work tonight and I still dont' feel at all hungry, which isn't like me. Weird. I probably need a great big crap. I'll keep you posted on that one, eh?
We watched Jason Manford on tv in work earlier and I was surprised at how funny I found him. In my had, I had decided that he was a bit annoying and I wasn't going to like him. I stand corrected.
I might have finished this blog entry for now. I'll save and publish, but there might be more to follow. Not sure.....
Thought I'd put in an appearance over here. It's been a proper long time since the last blog I did on here - which seems to be normal now.
I've just watched the last episode in day 7 of 24, and it was a good one! It ended by highlighting the incredible bond between a father and a daughter. Particularly poignant at the moment.
I have just spent 15 mins stood on the roof of the building I work in. Not in a suicidal way, I hasten to add. It is lovely up there. We have a roof garden and I love going up there at night. It is so peaceful, and on a clear night like tonight, to stand there and see the stars shining, and the planes making approaches to land at Liverpool and Manchester, is very relaxing indeed. I could spend a lot of time up there.
It's another facet of my personality that doesn't get used that often. I like to reflect. That's kind of what I've used this blog for I suppose. But to stand alone and reflect in complete silence is an amazing feeling.
I've been doing a fair bit of tweeting recently. I had 2 replies from Liz McClarnon which pleased me (although I will admit to hamming it up a little for effect). I've also come across a lady on twitter who calls herself lady godiva. She's a nudey and has a fantastic attitude to it. She has been on telly (Sky Arts I think it was) when they did an all night live broadcast from London featuring different people on a plinth for an hour each. Her hour was her, nude, on a rocking horse, "educating" people about attitudes to nudity. As you may, or may not be aware, I feel completely cool about nudity and it doesn't phase me a bit being in that state. I have no idea where this woman lives or what she does, but she is amusing and interesting so she shall remain on my list of followers.
I feel well rough this evening. My stomach feels rock hard and I feel a bit ill with it. I didn't have any food before I came to work tonight and I still dont' feel at all hungry, which isn't like me. Weird. I probably need a great big crap. I'll keep you posted on that one, eh?
We watched Jason Manford on tv in work earlier and I was surprised at how funny I found him. In my had, I had decided that he was a bit annoying and I wasn't going to like him. I stand corrected.
I might have finished this blog entry for now. I'll save and publish, but there might be more to follow. Not sure.....
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Peer To Peer
Erm... Hello?
Thought it was about time I wrote something on here. I really do blame the other blog for zapping all my blogginess. Anyway, at least I have somewhere to come that doesn't involve me posting photo's every day!
At the weekend just gone, we attended Phil's 50th birthday party. It was - superb. Just about everyone there had a grand old time and celebrated way into the early hours. The next day, however, Deb and I were good for nothing. The joys of getting old (and out of practise!)
Deb joined slimming world on Monday and has introduced a new diet, or rather, a new way of eating. I don't mean like ingesting food up her nose or anything, it's more of a new way of thinking when it comes to food. I, too, have become a little more health conscious. I will now admit that my middle is slightly larger than it used to be. So, in my own way, I'm doing something about it. I'm never going to proudly announce that I've lost 2 stone in the last week or anything like that, but - I recognise that it is too big, and I'm dealing with it. My wife has been excellent regarding my taking part in the healthy eating business. I will be honest, I was worried that she'd be on my back about it and I knew that that would have the opposite effect. As it is, she's ace. She herself is doing really well thus far and we've had some lovely healthy meals this week.
I went swimming last week and loved it! Well, I would have loved it more if it hadn't been full of pensioners complaining about how full it was! I am also toying with possibly maybe riding my bike to work occasionally? I did it a few years ago (rode to my sisters which is a stones throw from work), and it did almost kill me. Maybe next time, I'll ride a tad slower.
Last week, I went for a hair cut at Dads and Lads in Springfield (not the Simpsons one). The lady barber was chatting away about nothing, as usual, and when she'd almost finished, she asked me a question that I have never ever been asked before. I didn't know how to respond to it. I was literally lost for words. She said "would you like me to trim your eyebrows, love?". She must have seen the puzzled look on my face because without me speaking, she acknowledged it was no, and started brushing hairs off my neck instead. The more I think about it, the more puzzled I am. I'm hardly Denis Healey!
Had a proper panic in work the other day. The "wiki" that I have developed over the last almost two years resides on quite an old server, and it died. A man drove from Liverpool to Salford at 4am to try and fix it, but it was not to be. Fortunately, later in the day, a man and a woman went from Manchester to Salford and they were able to fix it for me. I was very worried.
On Sunday (the day before slimming world), we had a Peters tea (the local Chinese). It's only a few minutes walk from our house, so I did just that. As I got near the corner where it is, I passed a parked car. A man got out of the drivers seat, and opened the rear door. He asked the female occupant of the vehicle what drink she wanted. I didn't hear her response, and to this day, I am still baffled as to what it must have been for him to retort "Shut the fuck up before I jizz in your eye", as he slammed the door shut and made his way up to the Chinese. What could she have said to angered him to that level???
Right. My lunch is over, and my lemonade is gone. Time for me to go and do something with the front garden. If it was up to me, I'd burn it, but my wife wants something slightly more... traditional. Grass.
Until next time....
Thought it was about time I wrote something on here. I really do blame the other blog for zapping all my blogginess. Anyway, at least I have somewhere to come that doesn't involve me posting photo's every day!
At the weekend just gone, we attended Phil's 50th birthday party. It was - superb. Just about everyone there had a grand old time and celebrated way into the early hours. The next day, however, Deb and I were good for nothing. The joys of getting old (and out of practise!)
Deb joined slimming world on Monday and has introduced a new diet, or rather, a new way of eating. I don't mean like ingesting food up her nose or anything, it's more of a new way of thinking when it comes to food. I, too, have become a little more health conscious. I will now admit that my middle is slightly larger than it used to be. So, in my own way, I'm doing something about it. I'm never going to proudly announce that I've lost 2 stone in the last week or anything like that, but - I recognise that it is too big, and I'm dealing with it. My wife has been excellent regarding my taking part in the healthy eating business. I will be honest, I was worried that she'd be on my back about it and I knew that that would have the opposite effect. As it is, she's ace. She herself is doing really well thus far and we've had some lovely healthy meals this week.
I went swimming last week and loved it! Well, I would have loved it more if it hadn't been full of pensioners complaining about how full it was! I am also toying with possibly maybe riding my bike to work occasionally? I did it a few years ago (rode to my sisters which is a stones throw from work), and it did almost kill me. Maybe next time, I'll ride a tad slower.
Last week, I went for a hair cut at Dads and Lads in Springfield (not the Simpsons one). The lady barber was chatting away about nothing, as usual, and when she'd almost finished, she asked me a question that I have never ever been asked before. I didn't know how to respond to it. I was literally lost for words. She said "would you like me to trim your eyebrows, love?". She must have seen the puzzled look on my face because without me speaking, she acknowledged it was no, and started brushing hairs off my neck instead. The more I think about it, the more puzzled I am. I'm hardly Denis Healey!
Had a proper panic in work the other day. The "wiki" that I have developed over the last almost two years resides on quite an old server, and it died. A man drove from Liverpool to Salford at 4am to try and fix it, but it was not to be. Fortunately, later in the day, a man and a woman went from Manchester to Salford and they were able to fix it for me. I was very worried.
On Sunday (the day before slimming world), we had a Peters tea (the local Chinese). It's only a few minutes walk from our house, so I did just that. As I got near the corner where it is, I passed a parked car. A man got out of the drivers seat, and opened the rear door. He asked the female occupant of the vehicle what drink she wanted. I didn't hear her response, and to this day, I am still baffled as to what it must have been for him to retort "Shut the fuck up before I jizz in your eye", as he slammed the door shut and made his way up to the Chinese. What could she have said to angered him to that level???
Right. My lunch is over, and my lemonade is gone. Time for me to go and do something with the front garden. If it was up to me, I'd burn it, but my wife wants something slightly more... traditional. Grass.
Until next time....
Saturday, 1 May 2010
Interest And Rejection
Morning reader
Just a quick post for now. I've had about 5 hours sleep after being awake for 20 hours, so I'm suitably tired for my afternoon nap before my night shift tonight!
I've just found some websites that will monitor your twitter followers (I'm @adum by the way), and tell you who un-followed you. I almost signed up for one, but I'm not sure I could cope with the rejection. I had noticed that someone un-followed me and that set me off looking.
Whilst mooching round on tinternet last night, I came across another website that has listings for this very blog you're reading. People over at www.wikio.com actually seem to read this blog sometimes and several people have clicked the "like" button next to it. My "ranking" is increasing all the time, although I don't know what this means. It certainly looks good, though.
So yeah - rejection and interest all in one blog.
I said it'd be quick today and that is that.
Until next time!
Just a quick post for now. I've had about 5 hours sleep after being awake for 20 hours, so I'm suitably tired for my afternoon nap before my night shift tonight!
I've just found some websites that will monitor your twitter followers (I'm @adum by the way), and tell you who un-followed you. I almost signed up for one, but I'm not sure I could cope with the rejection. I had noticed that someone un-followed me and that set me off looking.
Whilst mooching round on tinternet last night, I came across another website that has listings for this very blog you're reading. People over at www.wikio.com actually seem to read this blog sometimes and several people have clicked the "like" button next to it. My "ranking" is increasing all the time, although I don't know what this means. It certainly looks good, though.
So yeah - rejection and interest all in one blog.
I said it'd be quick today and that is that.
Until next time!
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
Hairy Times
Hi there
Sorry it's been a while. It's always been a while hasn't it? Hmmm.
We watched a programme on tv the other night called A Passionate Woman. It was a two-parter starring Billie Piper and Sue Johnston and it was absolutely fabulous. It told a story about regrets. A young woman had an affair with a man she fell passionately in love with, but he got killed. As the woman grew older, the regret ate away at her and sent her a bit mental. Deb and I agreed that we would not go mental because of regrets in our old age. I love my Deb.
However, she fell down the stairs last week holding our Luke. Luke banged his arm and Deb bruised her arse...
Sorry it's been a while. It's always been a while hasn't it? Hmmm.
We watched a programme on tv the other night called A Passionate Woman. It was a two-parter starring Billie Piper and Sue Johnston and it was absolutely fabulous. It told a story about regrets. A young woman had an affair with a man she fell passionately in love with, but he got killed. As the woman grew older, the regret ate away at her and sent her a bit mental. Deb and I agreed that we would not go mental because of regrets in our old age. I love my Deb.
However, she fell down the stairs last week holding our Luke. Luke banged his arm and Deb bruised her arse...
"Ouch"
Poor bruised wife.
Last week - in fact, exactly a week since, we gave Luke a hair cut. He looked like a proper scruffy tramp so we decided that rather than subject professional hairdressers to his screaming, we'd tackle it at home. Out came the trusty hair clippers and about 20 mins later, a tidy (ish) haired boy emerged. He claims it hurt loads, but I think otherwise.
Speaking of hair cuts, I am noticing more and more grey hairs. Around my ears, on my chest, and, of course - pubes. I'm not massively bothered by it on my head. I must have mentioned before, I am looking forward to going grey as I will look distinguished and interesting. Grey chest hairs - hmmmm. Not too sure about that. Maybe when we retire to the Canary Islands and I have a tan like David Dickinson, maybe then - they'll look ok. Pubes? Just ridiculous. If I was brave enough I'd wax.
Been working WELL hard on the garden during the last few days. Got a load of photo's over at OneADayFor365Days blog of my progress. As a result, my back is knackered and my shoulders hurt quite a lot. I also burned my lip and tongue on one bloody hot chip this evening. I was fortunate to have an icy cold can of Blackthorn to hand to ease my distress.
I am on day 5 of my 6 off and I can honestly say that I think this is the most productive 6 off I've ever had. It started with a visit from my lovely children (minus Abbey), which was ace. Weather was perfect and our new barbecue was christened. Lessons were learned from that, by the way. Following that, we had a relaxing Sunday evening with an Indian (meal, not person). Monday saw the start of the garden refurb and tomorrow will see me getting Deb's Corsa valeted. I can't remember what occasion I promised her I'd get it done for, but at least it's finally being done!
Right, that'll be that then - I'll do another of these sometime soon.
Be young, be foolish, but remember to be happy.
Goodbye reader...
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