Now just the thoughts of me and not my dog until I can persuade Husband we should get another.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Normal service will be resumed ...
We've been forecast traditional British summer weather so we're thinking of stopping en route to buy a thermos so we can sit in the car, drinking tea, looking at the view through the rain-splattered windscreen.
I'll be back a week Tuesday, so I hope to see you then. Have a good week.
Saturday Photohunt - Shiny
Friday, June 22, 2007
Rainy days and Fridays
It was wet summer's day then, and the wedding ceremony was held in an open-sided tent on the lawn of an hotel. In my sleeveless summer dress, with the wind whipping through the tent, my goose-pimples had goose-pimples.
The couple had written their own vows, which included the promise to try and stay friends should they split up. Not a hopeful way to start married life.
But the best bit (or worst) came in the reception. That was indoors in a small dark room that, with the rain outside and the crowd inside, was humid and muggy. The waiter, who was serving the main course of chicken in a sauce, was just putting mine on my plate when a drip of sweat rolled down his nose and dripped off the end, right into the serving dish of chicken.
I don't think anyone else noticed and - as I'd had mine! - and I was worried that he might get sacked, I didn't say anything. Do you think I should have done?!
Fellow bloggers ...
I saw a youtube video on Welshcakes's blog and that reminded me that I wanted to look for a Victoria Wood video. I couldn't find the bit I wanted but came across the one below and that made me laugh so there it is.
Then I went to Serena's blog and found the 'What will your famous last words be?' quiz and was so amused by the result, I had to blog it here. On the plus side, I didn't start doing every quiz listed in the sidebar, which is what usually happens when I go there.
I just have to find out what colour my inner child is, what my Simpson's character is, what song I should strip to, and which great artist should have painted my portrait. I mean, you've just got to know these things, haven't you?
Thursday, June 21, 2007
On the town
Husband is okay about it: he is says he is now owed a date with a floozie.
I'm going to the theatre with Derek, my crazy writing buddy, to the Play-offs. Local writers submit short plays and some are performed at the Play-offs, where the audience get to vote for their favourite (who then goes to the finals later in the year).
Derek and I have been planning a joint play-writing project for months so maybe this will help get us moving.
I hope there'll be chocolate on sale as I'll be going straight from circuits again. After the now-traditional wipe-down with a wet lettuce.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
June is bursting out
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
I just fell out of an airship!
I was doing fine, until I started talking to Ruthie about Little C and shoes. Then I fell out of the airship.
But I'll be back. If I can work out how to get in again.
xx
Dogs and devils
Monday, June 18, 2007
Father's food
Father's Day
A few years ago I was asked to write something for the Father's day service in church. Now I never knew my father so I wasn't really the best person to ask, but i wrote something that reflected that. I read it in prison last week, and thought it would be good to publish here as well. I shall probably get our old friend, Anonymous, accusing me of being a 'miserable so'n'so' again but I hope others will view it more positively.
I can call him Lord, God, faithful one, saviour, creator, anything, except Father. I can’t call him that.
I never knew my father. He disappeared before I was born. I can only assume he didn't think I’d be good enough to make hanging around worthwhile.
When you’ve never known a father, it’s hard to accept a father’s love. When all you have is an empty space how can you relate to one others call father?
All the parables, all the stories in the world, don’t make it real, can’t fill a void, make known the unknown. You can say, ‘Our father, who art in heaven,’ without feeling a word of it.
And yet.
Most of my life, I’ve lived a half life. But now, I is becoming me. I’m learning how to uncover the person I was created to be.
Through my words, written and read, I’m discovering who I am. My writing is an extension of me, it makes me whole
Through it my thoughts are given shape and substance. I have something worth saying, something worth hearing.
Through my writing I can view myself as valuable, worthy, not because I write or because of what I write but, by its very being, my writing earths my existence. My words are as much part of me as my eyes or my toes. Before finding them, I was missing an element as vital to my well-being as calcium is to my bones.
Releasing them allows me to be me, wholly me.
And the key to that release has been meeting God, being accepted into his family.
So I live in that new life, no longer a fatherless child. Instead one whose family has demonstrated a father’s love and allowed me to experiment, learn, develop and build confidence without fear of being knocked back.
I used to think that growing up without a father was my loss but maybe it was his.
I still can’t call God Father but one day, when we meet, it’ll be the only word I’ll need.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
In which Harvey is not happy
The vet wasn't very happy either. He didn't seem to think much of our description of the symptoms. But you just know when your dog's not happy.
He was a new vet who hasn't seen Harvey before so he just told us all the things we already knew about his condition; he didn't seem to think there was any extra problem.
When we left the vet I grumbled but Husband said it was he'd been expecting. He only agreed to the trip to placate me.
Well, we'll see how Harvs gets on.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Cleaned to death
I hope my death is sudden and quick. I don't do brave. Were I to suffer a long painful illness I would be such a whimpering, sorry-for-myself, miserable, coward, that when my death did come, I'd have no friends left to attend my funeral.
So, assuming my end is quick, I started thinking about cleaning, which is what I am supposed to be doing right now. Just imagine if I dropped dead after I'd spent a day cleaning: what a waste that would be.
'How did she spend her last hours?'
'Cleaning.'
Then again, at least the house would be clean if anyone called in to offer their condolences. They would go away with a good impression of me. Would anyone be fooled though? Not the dedicated cleaners who'd have seen the dust on the skirting and the fingermarks on the windows.
No, so perhaps I shouldn't do any more cleaning in case I die today.
I forgot to say
Although the crisps were Go Ahead low-fat. Low fattish.
Well, God, what are you going to do?
Now I have a problem here.
I have no trouble believing that God can heal; I just doubt if he will. My experience over the last ten years or so has been that, no matter how much earnest prayer goes in, death is the result.
There are plenty of pat Christian answers to this. God does answer your prayers but he doesn't necessarily give you the answer you want. He did answer: he said no. God sees the bigger picture. It's all part of his plan.
Pah!
We hear about miracles - really obvious miracles like the blind seeing - happening all over the world today; I would love to see that sort of instant miracle. But then again I suspect, within weeks, I would be like Peter or Thomas the Doubter, who spent years with Jesus, seeing amazing things, and yet still they denied and doubted and wondered the truth.
There are so many things I don't understand, I will never understand, and yes, I'm angry at the moment. But I continue to ask God for that miracle. I will cling on, even if it's by my fingertips, to the only one who can be trusted completely.
Sicilian rules!
Congrats to all the winners and runner-up (including me who came 3rd in Prettiest or Tastiest blog category). Lots of thanks to everyone who voted once - or more! - for me.
There's to be an awards ceremony on July 1st out in cyber-space. I shall have to wear my ball gown. If I can work out how to get there.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Blogpower awards
If you haven't read her before, do go along and be entertained by just about the best blogger I know. She left Wales to live in Sicily and her tales of that country are wonderful: they've made me want to visit! She should be employed by the Sicily Tourist Board!
But more than that, Welshcakes Limoncello can make you laugh or cry with her stories of her family and her Sicilian friends; her recipes are wonderful and her photos of food, both in the stalls and on the plate are mouthwatering. And her best friend is Simi, a girl who makes Harvey wish he were half his age again.
I suggested the category Prettiest or Tastiest Blog and when I did, it was Welshcakes's blog I was thinking about. Good as many of the other nominations are, Sicily Scene is the predestined winner of this award.
Please make it happen!
Sicily Scene is also nominated in Best Blog and Best Little Blog categories, so you can vote there as well!
Fast cars and funk
'I've just driven here in Betty.'
He looked puzzled so I explained. 'I'm driving along and - clonk - the glove compartment falls open. I lean across and push it closed. Bink - the radio turns itself off; I turn it back on. Clonk, the glove compartment falls open; I push it closed. Bink, the radio turns itself off. Clonk, the glove compartment falls open. Is it any wonder I'm hysterical by the time I get to work?'
Ah, the joys of driving an old car.
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Hair appointment this afternoon. I arrive to be told that Mark has had to go home very sick. Lindsay does my hair instead. She is very enthusiastic. She chops and slices and thins. At the end she says, 'It's very versatile. Next time you're going somewhere funky, call in and we'll funk it up for you.'
She's confused me with someone who goes to funky places but I don't tell her; I just smile. I think about telling her I am going to Zac's tonight; that is about as funky as I get.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Dunnocks to you
38% of Americans are not entitled ...
Research conducted by the University of Chicago, and published recently, concluded that more than one-third of the U.S. population is neither entitled nor qualified to have opinions.
'...we found that many of the opinions expressed were so off-base and ill-informed that they actually hurt society by being voiced," said chief researcher Professor Mark Fultz ...'
P.S. The Onion is an award-winning parody newspaper. But that doesn't necessarily mean it's not true.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Blogpower awards
Knock, knock
I'm delig ... woof ... we're delighted to say that WE've been nominated in the Blogpower Blogger Awards in category 17, Prettiest or Tastiest Blog.
In case you haven't voted yet I'd like to ... woof ... we'd like to suggest some reasons why you should vote for us.
You should vote for us if you think Wales can win the Rugby World cup this year.
You should vote for us if you think Jed Bartlett would be a better president than Bush.
Woof woof woof ... You should vote for us if you're a dog.
So please go ... woof WOOF woof woof WOOF
Harvey says - and I want to stress that this is Harvey's idea - that you should vote for us ... because he's cute.
So please go along here and cast your vote today! Thank you for listening.
P.S. Thanks to those who have already voted. And big slobbery kisses from Harvey. And dainty little kisses from me.
P.P.S. Welshcakes is nominated in several categories; jmb, lady macleod, crushed by ingsoc, delicolor, and, of course, james, as well as lots of other familiar names are up there too. You can vote for as many people as you like, so do go and join in the fun.
P.P.P.S. Voting closes at 9.00 pm on Wednesday evening. That's probably British time. I think.
xx
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Am I who I say I am?
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Saturday Photohunt - Shoes
Thursday, June 07, 2007
What price health?
Diddly de do click click
He looked a bit like Lurch only shorter. He was waving a tool in his hand. 'Would you like me to' he said, sidling closer, 'sharpen your shears?'
'Um, no thank you.'
'I do it all here on the premises. You have my guarantee that you won't get ... sharper.'
'Um, no, thank you. Husband does it himself.'
You'd have thought I'd waved garlic at a vampire.
'Urargher,' he scowled as he made his way down the path.
I went and kicked Harvey. (I didn't really.)
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Motor biking
Your majesty
I had them dabbed with just a little butter, some courgettes and a fillet of local wild sea bass. I ate like a Queen! If the Queen ever eats her dinner on a tray listening to Radio 4. And it felt so healthy!
I'd better not go to the Philippines
Apparently violence is not uncommon in Philippine karaoke bars. The Frank Sinatra song "My Way" has been taken off the programme in many places after it was found to be the cause of fights and even deaths when patrons sang out of tune.
* * * * * * * * * *
On the news tonight, it said that Moscow has responded to George Bush's plan to build this space umbrella thingy, by saying, if America goes ahead with it, they will target their weapons on Europe. Excuse me?! How is that fair?
If they do that, we'll ... we'll smuggle all our old barometers into their country. See how they like that.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
What does fly poo look like?
Now behind the door, next to the heated towel-rail I had hung some jumpers to finish airing. This morning I found some little tiny greyey-black piles on one of my jumpers. They definitely weren't there before so the only thing I can assume is that the flies took their revenge on me for locking them in.
But I had the final laugh. I taught them not to argue with the fastest towel in the west of Pontypool. And just to make sure they were dead, I drowned them in the toilet.
The interesting thing is that the poo - if that is what it was - was only on the dark red jumper, with nothing on the pale turquoise, suggesting that flies a) are colour-blind; b) prefer red. I wonder if I could get a research grant to study this further. It could prove vitally important. For instance, if i could show that they hate all shades of blue/green, farmers could be encouraged to produce appropriately-coloured fly-deterring meat. Then in a restaurant, you'd be asked, 'Would you like your steak aquamarine or azure?'
* * * * * * * * *
How is it possible for me to go into a shop for two cards and come out without the cards but having spent £32?
To be fair, that does include a citronella candle. On her blog, Welshcakes says she has been told that citronella helps stop dogs barking, so when I just happened to see such a candle today, it seemed like fate, or too good an opportunity to miss. (Regular readers will be aware that, with increasing senility, Harvey barks pointlessly for long periods of the day.)
I also bought a coconut grove candle because the smell reminds me of summer. As a foolish youth, as a sun-tan lotion or rather a frying fat, I used melted coconut oil. How simple life was in those days. It's also the smell of the gorse when it's out in full bloom, in the warm sunshine.
Not at all soporific
xxx
Monday, June 04, 2007
It'll be gnomes next
Now the People's Friend is very gentle and traditional. No celeb gossip here, just a weekly rumination on village life from the vicar and adverts that reflect its audience. I sat in the garden at lunchtime browsing through it and reading the stories to try and work out where I'm going wrong.
And that's when I came across this advert for casual trousers in 'pull-on style with back elastication'. 'Mm,' I thought, 'they look comfy.'
I sat up suddenly and slapped myself several times across the face.
It was the second time in three days that I'd had a middle-aged moment. On Saturday, walking through the village, I spotted an outdoor clock cum thermometer. 'That would look nice in the courtyard,' I thought. And then pulled myself up. Oh dear, what is happening to me? I'm turning into a mother-in-law!
P.S. If you have an outdoor clock/thermometer, I apologise. These were particularly twee and I'm sure yours isn't.
xxx
Vote early and vote often
In a Welsh suburban garden
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Yo ho ho
This is from a cartoon creator site where you add your own caption to a picture of your choice.
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Is anyone else getting a problem with a little box popping up and asking about ActiveX? Is it a blogspot problem?