Wordless Wednesday

The only advert ever to make us both go.........WOW!

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Tuesday Musings

OK, still hitting the books here.....but it's time to convert the scribbled revision notes to electronic media, so I am on the computer! :-)

Meanwhile - our beloved WendyWings is in the throes of her monthly casting call (with blessings from the Great Michele!)
And there are cookies!! Today she is providing platefuls of Chocolate Fudge Cookies with White Chocolate Drizzle and Wickedly Rich Fudge Brownies while you wait for your audition!

And a new 'thang' on Wendy's Whimsey's is the 'Spotlight On!' The inaugural spotlighted blog is our very own hugely popular and much-loved Naomi, of Here in the Hills. The Hills are, of course, the Hollywood Hills.

Aginoth has some fantastic pictures of the family's trip to a re-enactment event in Italy.

Bobkat has just returned from a magical trip to Prague and has a wonderful post on her blog.

Over on Yellowrose's blog, there is a wonderful post and picture of her precious Miss Priss modelling her graduation outfit - and as always, the most wonderful music, Rosie has great taste in music!

Speaking of graduating - Cat has also graduated! Mom to the Terrible Threesome, Shaggy, Scooby and Scout, Cat has actually found time to study [looks at books forlornly].

And in the land of PetBlogs - it's CatOlympics Time; well, why should the humans have all the fun. At the moment, the CatOlympic Torch is being passed from feline to feline.......Bombay and Bangles 'brought' it to England, Fat Eric has just 'taken' it to Mericky, where Harper and Ramona are preparing to run with it to Miles. Thank god the cats have developed the knack of teleporting!

Oodles of 'stuff' happening in blogland....not enough time to mention them all!

OK, back to the books :-((

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Monday Memory

TEENY TINY EDIT IN BLACK....as this definitely doesn't read right!

OK, another edit - it is NOT my birthday.....this is a memory........my birthday is in November! :-)

But thank you all for the wishes so far, they will be kept in my heart for November! :-D

Watergate Bay

My Monday Memory this week is the first full-on Crazie Holiday we all took. For my 40th birthday in November 2004 me, Cyberkitten, Aginoth, Mrs Aginoth, the Aginothlings, Sleepypete, RCA, Bionicdwarf.....we all crammed into this fantastic huge house in the middle of nowhere, just near Watergate Bay.

We went to........

Eden.....

and we went to........

Gweek (check out those CUTE seals!)

and we went to........

Newquay Zoo (they had an ALBINO peacock - how cool is that!)

and we went to........

St Ives.....absolutely dreamy.......

and I drank......

Doghouse Beer...........can't beat a pint of Dog's!

And guess what?

- we're all going there this year to do it all again! :-)

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Whinge City

I am here........

and my friends are here........

Hay on Wye in the spring time - Literature Festival time!!

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My Life...

This is my life at the moment........

..and I am hating every moment of it. Nothing is going into my head, no matter how many times I read this stuff, write it down, or recite it!

...and this is the little bit responsible for my car being poorly....

It's called an exhaust valve, apparently, and should be a perfect circle.

See where there is like a little bite out of it? - that's gonna cost me £100 or so... :-(

Enough of my whinging, other people are really suffering.

Our very own Last Girl On Earth's beloved mom passed away last week, please go over if you haven't.

Monty is feeling a bit lonely at the moment, some bloglove should see her right.

Over on the 'petblogs', Edsel'smom has found out she needs surgery and is scared.

Sometimes life just throws you a left hook.

[hugs] to all those bloggers who are hurting at the moment.

cq

Sunny Sunday

Morning all, just throwing in a quick blog before dashing to the shops and then settling down to my revision.

Today my revision subjects are:
Inspectors
Enforcement Notices
Employment Tribunals
Organisational Factors
Risk Assessment

[wrinkles nose] bit of an easy day - I may add stuff to that list....

But on the plus side, my dear MB has informed me my car is fixable! He took me out to show me........

WOW! One empty engine compartment..........wonder where it is......?

ah - found it!!! Silly me, of course it's on the floor....where else would an engine be!

And do you know - he is pretty sure he can put everything back where it should be! :-)

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Revision

Visits to blogs will be spotty at best this weekend because........

I am revising!!

While MB sees if my car is saveable, I have been hitting the books today.

Definition of Revision - masochistic tendencies resulting in qualifications....

My head is spinning, my eyes are aching and my throat is sore.......

I have found my ideal revising method - open the book and stride around the room, declaiming the information to my invisible friend!

I have also been doing the laundry (being Saturday) and MB watched me as I loaded the tumble-dryer, muttering the POPIMAR to myself....

POPIMAR? Never heard of it? You lucky people........

POPIMAR is the acronym used in the Health and Safety Guidance as the key to good health and safety management.....

see? POPIMAR!cq

Tags.......

I got tagged by Fizzy for a five things meme.......

FIve things in my refrigerator:

1. Milk - milk is good. MB needs it for coffee and cereal, I need it for drinking and custard :-)
2. Margarine and butter - two for one! Margarine for spreading on bread and toast (it's the sort for cholesterol and everything), butter for cooking...
3. Fruit - apples and oranges. MB has apples in his lunchbox and I am an orange freak, I LOVE 'em!
4. Vegetables - what do we have [muses]........potatoes, carrots, broccoli, babycorn, onions.......
5. Coffee - yup, coffee in the fridge! It's ground coffee for the coffeemaker and it keeps better in the fridge.

5 things in my closet:

1. Clothes - lots of them all sizes.....a reflection of my bizarre eating issues.
2. shoes - too many, mostly never worn any more, dumped in the back.
3. bags - various bags and rucksacks are slung away in the bottom of the wardrobe until needed again.
4. oily clothes - there is a separate compartment for MB to keep his oily clothes until they need to be washed.
5. cat - our wardrobe has no doors (MB just never fitted them; I call it 'open-plan') and there is usually a cat somewhere in there.....

5 things in my purse (handbag):

1. purse - with very little money and lots of receipts in it!
2. filofax - it looks good, but I never remember to use it!
3. business cards - yep, I now have business cards as a Health and Safety Officer. I have plenty, I think I've only doled out a couple!
4. pass - I have to display an ID at all times at work, this is it. It has a microchip fitted and they can tell which building I am in at any time.
5. Body Shop White Musk body spray - oh, a must!!

and.....

and by rashbre for a monster meme........

1 I am a contrary person

2 I want to be respected

3 I wish for peace of mind

4 I hate people who disresepct me

5 I love MB!

6 I fear clowns, called coulrophobia.

7 I hear the sound of cows lowing in the evening from my garden.

8 I wonder why I was put here.

9 I regret everything, it's a martyr syndrome.

10 I am not a terribly exciting person.

11 I dance in my own kitchen, alone....

12 I sing along to my favourite songs.

13 I cry at the drop of a hat.

14 I make people happy - apparently.

15 I write in proper words not 'txtspk'

16 I confuse myself easily.

17 I need MB and my crazies.

18 I should be braver.

19 I start lots of things and never finish them.....

20 I finish my tags.

21 I tag no one - but leave a note in the comments if you do either of these!

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Thursday Thirteen

Been scratching my head about TT - and then realised I hadn't told you about this place.....

1. This is Glastonbury...

oops - nope, this is the Glastonbury you all know from the news.......

2. This is OUR Glastonbury.......

cyberkitten, bionic dwarf and rca admiring the remains of the magnificent Lady Chapel.

3. Here is a nice shot of Lady Chapel to the left and the cloisters to the right.

4. This precariously hanging rock is the remains of the Abbot's Hall.

5. After a lovely stroll around the remains of the ancient Abbey, we left RCA in a comfortable pub and made our way to the Tor.

6. We walked........and walked........and walked........

7. The signs said '1 mile' - actually they ALL said '1 mile' - the National Trust is nothing if not consistent!

8. Cyberkitten and bionic dwarf ploughed on up the hill, while I rested with a mild (chronic) case of the vapours as my vertigo kicked in.....

9. I pulled myself together (sort of) and struggled to the top and there was:

St Michael's Chapel. Once I had caught my breath and stopped quivering from fear, we debated why the Chapel had been put in such a ridiculous place. We decided it was a medieval form of 'Naughty Step' for the baaaad monks!

10. This is the view from the top, looking towards Bristol - or so the dial said!

11. Of course, what goes up must come down...........we came down the easy side - and there must have been HUNDREDS of steps. That coupled with a terrible wind made the descent almost as hairy as the ascent - luckily I had cyberkitten to hold on to!

12. The first church built in Glastonbury was built in the 7thC (600AD) and then added to by subsequent generations. It is reputed to be the resting place of King Arthur. It was destroyed during the reign of Henry VIII in about 1537 as part of the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

13. Want to know more?

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Wordless Wednesday

see post below!

Morning After

Morning all!!

You know, I am impressed by my constitution. I don't drink very often; in fact I can't remember the last time I was properly drunk, and I have issues with alcohol (but then I have issues with a lot of things!). But when I do, I can drink a lot and not suffer the next day.

We finally went to bed at 3am and I was asleep within seconds of my head hitting the pillow in RCA's very comfortable spare bed. Drinking from 7pm to 3am will have that effect :-)

Also watching three films end to end have a draining effect!

I woke, headache free, at about 6.30 (brain still 'on-the-clock') and then dozed until 8.30. Ah, the luxury of not getting up at the whim of two feisty felines!

RCA is not doing so well, but she was on 'proper' beer and, as said below, made a dent in her stocks! But my sweet girly is busily cooking us breakfast while I blog. What luxury! Told you she spoils me!

During a break in the triple-header film fest, RCA read my tarot. Now, I'm reasonably sceptical about tarot, but I bought her this fantastic set of dragon tarot cards and she has to practice reading. My question was 'will I pass my exams?' - there's a no-brainer! What else am I likely to ask atm? Cyberkitten has also read my tarot in the past and he won't do it again, 'cos I rolled on the floor in paroxyms of laughter. RCA didn't reduce me to screaming hysterical laughter, but the cards dealt did bring a couple of tears to my eyes. (for those tarot readers out there - these are an illustration, NOT my cards!)

ooh - I hear the breakfast gong.......

Update: back at home now with two very happy felines. And my bed is calling to me.......

cq

Drunken Blog Time

[concentrating very carefully on my typing]

Ok, we've been drinking for about five hours now...RCA has demolished most of her stock of beer, and I have steadily worked my way through two large bottles of Blue Wkd (that's vodka and....er...something blue!)

We have drooled over (in turn) Michael Vartan, Drew Barrymore and Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles and now - it being the witching hour - we are breaking out the Depp...Pirates of the Caribbean...[big grin] that should keep me awake for another couple of hours.....

Now where's that big bottle of Bacardi Breezer...??

(RCA cutting in)

The Bacardi is now in Crazie Queen's grubby little hands. There is always more beer (but I have made a fair dent in my stock) 10 things I hate about you is a fantastic film.We're now yawning in stereo but nothing will keep us from the delightful (if wooden) Mr Bloom, the Ravishing Miss Knightly and the suave Mr Depp. Good thing we have tomorrow booked off work :-)

Oh and I'll let Crazie Queen tell you about the Tarot cards tomorrow (if she remembers)and the saga of the phones :-)

[cq retakes control] [YAWN] Johnny!!! Johnny!!!.....ah...Johnny...... :-)

Oh, the music has started, RCA is dimming the lights......ooh 'elp! :-)

cq

Hospital Stuff....

Like the day in this picture, I have been told I am all clear. The growth found during the MRI has vanished/dissolved/popped/gone (and yes the doc used all of those words!).

Thank you for all your good wishes......they all meant a great deal to me.

So why I feel so bad?

Was it the greeting 'Right, go in that cubicle and strip off all your bottom half then come in here and wait for the doctor!' That was a heck of a greeting...
Or was it the embarrassing attendance of one extremely young medical student - trust me, he looked about 12!
Or was it the invasive internal scan - which wasn't needed as they then did an abdominal scan with the same results. (I am a very, painfully modest person).
Gotta love the NHS.

Of course, there is still acres of revision, two exams and a dead car to deal with - but I can worry about those tomorrow........

Off to RCA's tonight for alcohol, pizza, alcohol and Johnny Depp :-) (she spoils me, you know.....)

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I guess it had to happen......

Here I am, minding my own business.....tootling along happily in blogland and enjoying every minute of it.....

My blog is a work-free haven of jokes, stories and music.....with a little bit of journalling thrown in.......
Well, no one wants to hear about my boring office job.........

AND I GOT FLAMED!!

[flamed: def: Informal. An insulting criticism or remark meant to incite anger, as on a computer network.]

Yep, someone flamed the Queen [looks righteously indignant] on a friend's blog - not only me, but my friends too........

and you wanna know what I got flamed for? 'denying' where I work.....odd thing was, I wasn't even IN the conversation....... and I have never denied where I work - of course, to be honest I have never actually *mentioned* it [chuckle]

So, it begins.....the flaming. I have retired from many forums at work because there were some people who couldn't resist having a pop at an easy-going popcorn-brain like me.

Why do some people feel the need to attack people like this? The worst offenders are usually nice as you like to my face, but on-line they tear me apart.....

I only warn of one thing - if the person responsible for the attacks on my friend's blog turns up here, I am going to have to install comment moderation. I hate CM, but I don't like being intimidated....and this is MY blog, MY palace, MY place, MY sanctuary from the madness of the world - which includes work!

Right, now that's off my chest I'm off to see my singing hippo again!

cq

Decoded!

Today was a day I have been looking forward to for a long, long time.
Today was the day we went to see the Da Vinci Code :-)

I have avoided almost all of the reviews - cos I'm like that, preferring to make up my own mind.

Starting with the cast; I was thrilled when I heard Tom Hanks was to play Robert Langdon, I thought he would be perfect. Audrey Tatou was a delightful Sophie, Paul Bettany made a fair stab at the much-maligned and abused Silas, Jean Reno was an excellently stubborn French detective, Al Molina portrayed Bishop Aringarosa, and Ian McKellen continued to bolster his retirement fund with a cracking 'Leigh Teabing', or Teabag as I call him.

And to the story. Let's ignore the current war between Brown, Howard and the Church for a bit.
If you've read the book, the plot twists and turns might make more sense, but if you haven't you may find yourself floundering in all the information thrown at you.
In my honest opinion, the film is a credible dramatisation of a very complicated story. When I first read it, I had to keep going back and checking stuff in the earlier chapters.
But if they were to dramatise the book 'as is' the film would be about 6 hours long. So they tricked a few turns and almagamated some of the story.
What Ron Howard produced was a film that reflected the book, and with the aid of double-scening, showing two scenes at once (used a lot for 'thought' etc and in this case 'historical' storylines), managed to cram most of the background story into the film.

Kudos to Howard and Hanks. I loved the book (actually, I loved all of them!) and I liked the film. I would whisper periodically to cyberkitten 'There's Silas', 'Aringarosa is good', 'Look, do you see that.....' 'Wow, they fit this in!'.....

And finally, was Sarah the daughter of Jesus? Was Mary Magdalene one of the disciples and Jesus' wife (companion)? Did Sarah produce a family that married into the Merovingian kings?
The answer to all these questions and more set in the book lie in your own beliefs.

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What Subversive Paradigm Are You?

Found on Pearl's blog.... You scored as Otherkin. You are Otherkin. You identify with otherworldy beings and feel you are truly something other than human. You are only biding your time here until you can return to where you truly belong. You seek others who share your yearnings and spend your time commiserating with those you like and mocking the ones you don't. Otherkin 95% White Lighter 95% True Alternative 70% Mystic 70% Spiritualist 65% Discordian 65% Aimless Eclectic 50% Magician 20% What Subversive Alternative Paradigm Are You? created with QuizFarm.com

LOVE IT!

Love it, love it.......

The 2006 Eurovision Song Contest is over for another year - and I am thrilled to announce the winners - by a landslide 50 points!

FINLAND

Yep, the land of ice and snow sent Europe a proper band (guitars, drums etc) of zombies, yes ZOMBIES, called Lordi and their fantastic hard rock number 'Hard Rock Hallelujah!' - the video is rather cool too!




And I LOVE it!! One in the eye for the usual run of the mill out of tune Euroboppers....

And to think - the organisers, even some Prime Ministers, wanted to ban their taking part [pokes out tongue to fogies] HA!

Go Lordi!

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Thoughts for a Saturday

1. It's nice to be home (well, that's a no-brainer!)
2. I'm still watching the hippo vblog every few hours - it cracks me up!
3. And - I still watch the Evolution of Dance with a silly grin!

No, seriously.....I have been thinking about my blogroll lately and how each 'person' fits into my life, in a small way or a big way.


My blogroll is such a mishmash of people, topics and life. Bit like my life, really - never settling on one thing for very long, concentration skills of a gnat, no manual skills and dubious social skills.

I feel like I have been hunting for something my whole life. Perhaps my blogroll is my personal Holy Grail.

It includes friends I have had for years (cyberkitten, aginoth, mrs aginoth and sleepypete) without whom I wouldn't be the person I am today. And nestled in there is also, believe it or not, my former boss - who I adore! [waves at bobkat] :-)

It includes people I have never met from Hollywood to the Philippines, Birmingham to British Columbia, even Tanzania [waves at eric]

It reflects every aspect of life from the serious to the extremely crazy. From harsh reality to complete fiction. From deep and meaningful to playful and fun.

It is made up of men and women, all religions, all nationalities and all ages.

I have friends I have made through my blogroll - people I now communicate with by email and people I have grown to admire.

It includes people I have grown to love, even though I have never met them.

I know I will probably never meet any of my blogroll in person, although a trip around the world taking everyone in sounds like a good plan!..... but do I have to? Do I have to meet people in the flesh to be touched by their love, their honesty of expression, their deepest thoughts and their senses of humour?

What kicked off this little monologue? Well, I was so scared in Birmingham, not only in a city (hate cities!), but doing a difficult course that I was worried about. And my blogbuddies kept on visiting, even though they knew I was 'out of touch'. They left messages and in doing so, left an indelible mark on my life. When I struggled with my depression last week, there again were the messages of love and strength. And in showing them to my tutor, I saw everyone through his eyes, and I was touched.
And then there were the 'welcome home' messages. I was so glad to be back in my little house, and there were all these messages bringing me love.

Of course, if anyone has been keeping my schedule up to date [grin], they will know that I have a hospital appointment this week to get some worrying 'growths' looked at.
And my regulars will know that I had major surgery ten years ago for a similar problem and this is scaring me half to death that I may have to go through the whole rigmarole again.

BUT - things are different this time. For the first time in my life, I have an amazing band of close friends on whom I know I can rely (including RCA who will be getting me stonking drunk and filling me up with pizza after the appointment - whatever the results!). And I have this new incredible fellowship of bloggers to support me and help me.

I know I have said this before - but thank you.

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Something Extra

I saw this last weekend and thought it was adorable........




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Home, home on the range....

...where the lovely pussycats roam.....[hums]

Yup, I'm home again, this time for good - well, until my exams proper in June!

ok, ok, first things first [twizzles fingers] wow - two weeks of writing with pen and paper and I've forgotten how to type!

THE EXAM:
(for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Safety Inspector's qualification):
I may have scraped through, but I'm not hopeful. I was reasonably confident last night as I crammed my fire extinguishers (is it me, or does that sound painful?), but this morning the nerves set in and everything just flew out of my head - and I mean EVERYTHING. Faced with what were, well, fairly simple questions....I managed to royally screw it up.
But time will tell.
[whisper] Ian has said there will be opportunities to take it again!

However, I now have three weeks of cramming time and two days of revision before my National Certificate exams in June.

On the blogging front, there is some news :-)
I see my dear blogpal Jean-Luc has made it onto Blogger's Blogs of Note! Well done, JL honey :-)

And........I have picked up a another silver medal in the BlogOlympics Training Camp at Binnsy's place this week. Thank you to Killired for submitting my results for me :-) Love ya, honey!

Now, what do tutors do while they are invigilating an exam? Yep, they create blogs! You can't visit yet, as he has yet to actually put anything on there, but yes, my tutor has succumbed to the lure of Blogdom and has created his own blog! Didn't take long, I was impressed that he was making his own after only a week of hearing about mine! Should be good....... :-) I look forward to reading it (and commenting!) - Lord knows what he'll say about his awkward student :-)

and I thought you might all like this picture - this is my lap five minutes after slopping in front of the TV after getting home today.....

Pandora to the left and Charlie edging in on the right [big grin]

and finally (as they say on the news) a little something from bionic dwarf (my joke provider!) to make you chuckle over the weekend.....


Chocolate is a Vegetable: Chocolate is derived from cocoa beans. Bean = vegetable.

Sugar is derived from either sugar CANE or sugar BEETS. Both are plants, which places them in the vegetable category. Thus, chocolate is a vegetable.

To go one step further, chocolate candy bars also contain milk, which is dairy. So candy bars are a health food.

Chocolate-covered raisins, cherries, orange slices and strawberries all count as fruit, so eat as many as you want.

If you've got melted chocolate all over your hands, you're eating it too slowly.

The problem: How to get 2 pounds of chocolate home from the store in a hot car. The solution: Eat it in the parking lot.

Diet tip: Eat a chocolate bar before each meal. It'll take the edge off your appetite, and you'll eat less.

If I eat equal amounts of dark chocolate and white chocolate, is that a balanced diet? Don't they actually counteract each other?

Chocolate has many preservatives. Preservatives make you look younger.

Put "eat chocolate" at the top of your list of things to do today. That way, at least you'll get one thing done.

A nice box of chocolates can provide your total daily intake of calories in one place. Now, isn't that handy?

If not for chocolate, there would be no need for control top pantyhose. An entire garment industry would be devastated. You can't let that happen, can you?

REMEMBER: "Stressed" spelled backward is "desserts".

cq

[gulp]

First lot of exams today!

cq

Rock Bottom

Today I have hit rock bottom.

Not only are we talking about work equipment I know nothing about (lathes, drills etc) but Ugly Monster (depression) is well and truly in residence.

The really odd thing is I *get* the theory of plant machinery and recognising the risks and hazards, and how to apply assessment.
But with Ugly Monster here, I am finding it hard to even concentrate, let alone see the simplest applications.

Had a quick chat with Ian (tutor) and a few girly tears this lunchtime.

If you have ever suffered from chronic or extended depression or are bipolar, then the situation will be oh so familiar.
Considerate colleagues etc trying to explain and make it easier, and the reluctance to come clean and admit you have what is essentially a psychological disorder preventing you from understanding the simplest things.

In Great Britain, there is allowance in the Disability Act for 'invisible' disabilities; depression falls into that category (along with dyslexia etc). But the hardest thing in the world is to admit you have it/them.
I sit, staring at my hands, fiddling with a pen, usually with tears running down my face and trying to get out those magical words 'I'm ok, it's just I suffer from depression and sometimes it gets in the way of.....'

Ah well, maybe it'll improve through the week. Just a case at the moment of keeping my head down and ploughing through the classwork.

Ian, if you're reading this - and I know you're reading my blog! - your consideration is so much appreciated and I'm still 'with the programme'! :-)

cq

My weekend.....

is almost over.......

It SHALL be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees. An employer must do this by providing and maintaining the following, so far as is reasonably practicable:

Sorry, I think my revision is pouring out of my ears...

To provide and maintain:
2(2)(a) Maintenance and provision of plant and system of work that are safe.
2(2)(b) Ensuring safety in relation to use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances.
2(2)(c) Provide necessary information, instruction, training and supervision.
2(2)(d) Maintain places of work in a condition that is safe including safe access and egress.
2(2)(e) Provision and maintenance of working environment that is safe and adequate as regards welfare facilities.

oops, there I go again......

So, to sum up.......my weekend is passing in a blur of laundry and Health and Safety.....

Criminal (Statute) Law is:
Rules of behaviour laid down by the Government or State and normally enacted by Parliament through Acts of Parliament.
Courts determine innocence or guilt.
Burden of proof is known as ‘beyond reasonable doubt’.
Outcome is fines or imprisonment.

Trying to get this stuff to stick in my head is NOT easy....and don't get me started on acronyms.....

There's ASIT, IAIDIM, ERICPD, ACATSPP, PEME, CCCC.......and the list goes on. Oh, and they are just the ones that help me remember the processes!!

Happy Mothers Day to all my Mommyfriends who celebrate it today. I know it's a 'Hallmark Day' but I don't know one woman who would turn down garage flowers, kiddie-drawn cards, choccies and breakfast in bed! :-)

Update - got my new specs.....and the rumours are correct. Vari-focals make you nauseous....[oo-er]

Another update - thanks for the emails - I am much encouraged :-)

cq

Friday Firteen

Firteen Fings about this week....on a Friday.....

1. I'm Home [tired 'Yay!'] for the weekend....

2. Health and Safety is SUCH a broad spectrum of stuff! And the Legal stuff!....[looks totally bewildered]

3. I am the only girl in the class [snigger]

4. My tutor is nice. Oh, and I showed him the comments the other day :-)

5. My classmates are nice, although *certain* people keep bugging me about 'centre lathes'.

6. I've now seen a picture of a centre lathe and I'm still no clearer. See?

7. Birmingham - wow, good thing I don't live there!

8. The Birmingham roads are absolutely crazy. I couldn't find my way to and from the centre all week - best one was when I ended up accidently by the Bullring! [for my non-Brit friends - I think it's a shopping centre...not an actual Bullring!]

9. Only a week to go, then three weeks cramming, then exams....[gulp]

10. I have serious doubts I am going to get this qualification, but my tutor is encouraging.

11. All my classmates work in industry, I am the only office/clerk type manager there.

12. I drove home through a raging thunderstorm.....poor ickle car....

13. I'm tired.....so I'm off for a nice bath with a *non* - health and safety book!

cq

Quick Hi

My lecturer has kindly lent me his 'hot' laptop to have a look at my blog :-)

What a nice man!

Hello everyone. Course is difficult and getting more so day after day. A lot of law....

Time to go, everyone is back from lunch.

cq

A Pause oh so Brief.....

....in the cleaning, laundry, packing and preparing for visitors...

The house is clean, the clothes are laundered, the freezer is full of food (not, I hasten to add in packages labelled with the correct day!), my suitcase is all but packed, my reading material has been printed off, my laptop and briefcase are by the door. Aginoth's portable DVD player is in my car all ready.

What am I taking for Me-Time....
well, there won't be a lot of Me-Time, apparently.......but I am taking:

Lifeless - Mark Billingham's new book. I like him. Standup comedian turned novellist!

Finding Neverland DVD - sorry........but a week without Johnny - oh no!

Crash DVD - bought it on the strength of the reviews and haven't watched it yet. That is earmarked for tonight.

My Cousin Vinny DVD - a classic. Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei are absolutely fabulous in this!

And about a kazillion CDs.......

Don't be strangers, guys. I'm gonna try and find an internet cafe if I get time around my homework [looks worried] but I can't guarantee it. I am leaving my blog in the tender care of cyberkitten in case of any problems.

Please continue to leave comments and I will read them all on my return Friday night. Just time to kiss the cats and pet the MB (is that the right way around??) and do my laundry, then I'm away again next Sunday for the week too! :-(

cq

Don't Look!! oh, please don't look.....

A comment on my previous post of the delightful Judson Laipply by Buffy reminded me I had seen a youtube link entitled 'Tom Cruise doing a dance' - bit of a broad brush there......

I urge you, if you watch this - wash the memories away with a visit to the below post 'Evolution of Dance' to see a master at work.......hmm - wonder if he could teach Tom a thing or two.....?

If you have a weak stomach, look away now. My friends know I loathe Tom Cruise.....but seriously - he is NOT doing himself any favours.......



This blog holds no responsibility for any conditions brought on by this video. You have been warned.....

Tom Cruise should never *ever* dance again in public....or private....

cq

Evolution of Dance

50 Years of Dance in Six Minutes!

The funniest 6 minutes you will ever see! Remember how many of these cool moves you have done?




sent to me by bionicdwarf - and I watched it twice! :-)

URL if the embedded file doesn't work:
Youtube

The man behind the mania......

What a little angel-face!

"Once described as an “inspirational comedian,” Judson Laipply draws upon the power of laughter in helping people achieve their full potential and maximize their leadership ability. Since 2001, he has been traveling the United States speaking, writing, facilitating, and leading others in an array of workshops, conferences, and retreats. He is most recognized for his finale called, “The Evolution of Dancing,” in which he recaps 50 years of popular dancing in six minutes."

cq

Frolicking Friday

What are CATS?
- Cats do whatever they want and you have no idea what they are thinking.
- They rarely listen to you.
- They're totally unpredictable.
- They whine when they are not happy.
- When you want to play, they want to be alone.
- When you want to be alone, they want to play.
- They expect you to cater to their every whim.
- They're moody.
- They leave hair everywhere.
- They drive you nuts and cost an arm and a leg.
CONCLUSION: Cats are little WOMEN in fur coats.

What are DOGS?
- Dogs lie around all day, sprawled on the most comfortable piece of furniture they're allowed to sit on.
- They can look dumb and lovable all at the same time.
- They growl when they are not happy.
- They can hear a package of food opening half a block away, but don't listen to you when you're in the same room.
- When you want to play, they want to play.
- When you want to be alone, they want to play.
- They are great at begging.
- They will love you forever if you rub their tummies.
- They leave their toys everywhere.
- They do disgusting things with their mouths and then kiss you.
CONCLUSION: Dogs are little MEN in fur coats.

cq

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen things going on in my life at the moment:

1. Next week I am going back to school.

2. It's an intensive two week course with exams in June for a qualification in Health and Safety. Passing this course is a requirement of my new job.

3. It means two weeks away from home - and I suffer from terrible homesickness.

4. And two weeks away from my blog - although I will be back on the weekends.

5. It's equivalent to an A'level here in England, and I am acutely aware I failed my A'levels 23 years ago!

6. My sister in law has had an operation and is recovering nicely :-) [hugs, M]

7. I am arranging to go to see my Mother in June.

8. While I am away on my course, my office will be preparing to move to another location - hope they leave me a map, or at least a trail of breadcrumbs!

9. I have decided to do the Sunwalk this year - more later.

10. Ugly Monster is here.

11. I went to see 16 Blocks last night - I can recommend it as a light piece of action movie fluff - with blood!

12. My parents in law are visiting this weekend on their way on holiday.

13. I'm scared I will fail my course........

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Thursday Thirteen Blogroll - All Thursday Thirteen participants can be seen on the Thursday Thirteen blogroll to your right and down a bit - go on...have a wee surf!
Thursday Thirteen Blog - Yup, the phenonomen has its own blog!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants via this linky thing

Wordless Wednesday

Seen in a pub in Glastonbury.....

cq

Mopping Up

Any big event requires a lot of cleaning up.....[waves mop] Good thing I have staff!!

Clara! You missed a bit!

First of all, an apology - chichimama.....you were right I missed you off the medals.......so here you go! :-)

chichimama - 6511

Hope you won't hold this mistake against me - and come back soon! :-)

To my dear friend, OldOldLady - what can I say, you should have been recorded with 9586....I was reading too quickly!

And how the scores change? Egosurf is not static. The more you visit your ego - the totals change. There also may have been people visiting your blog or searching for it, or linking to it while we were playing! My ego is never the same twice! Sometimes it goes up, sometimes it goes down......bit like Real Life actually! :-)

To all those first time visitors - you are welcome to come back...more the merrier at the Palace.....

And if you want the html for the medals - I just saved the icons to My Documents, then uploaded them into my template and the posts through blogger photo. I don't know if Barbara holds html for the medals.

cq