Widgets and Whales

Wow, nothing happens, then everything happens at once!

First of all, have you seen the new widget on my sidebar? It's a little fundraiser widget linked to my Race for Life fundraising page.

I have registered to take part in the 2008 Race for Life on 14th June at Lydiard Park (same as last year - here). I just pray it doesn't chuck it down with rain on the day (you can read more here)! This year I will be proudly wearing the name Minerva again, with the word WINNER next to it.

As the 'Race' is in June, there is plenty of time for all my friends and family to pledge or donate money to Cancer Research. This year I have set my target at £500, so I am hoping lots of people will sponsor me.

More on this later.

And cyberkitten and I have decided on the dates to visit Vancouver to see silentmum and Boo. Happily, the dates fall into the new whale-watching season - so we're gonna see some Orcas! I have never seen killer whales in real life - ever......this is HUGE!!

I'm just speechless with excitement.........

cq

It's all in the numbers...

I had an idle wondering recently, as visitors come and go........

I have been blogging for a while now and I had the thought - how many of my many, many posts have not warranted a comment.....?

I have blogged 782 times since Sept 2005.

Over 782 posts, only 6 show up with no comments at all. That is a stunning number.

You know, without all of you, this would just be me blethering on about nothing much at all. But with you putting your tuppence worth in, even when dragged here kicking and screaming by Michele [grin], with your humour and humanity you have helped make the Palace a really nice place to hang out.

Update: lots of people have asked how I got the numbers in this post. Well, if you go into your blogger dashboard and click on 'Posts' (next to Settings and Template), it will tell you how many posts you have made on that blog and lists the posts. When the listing comes up, it shows numbers of comments next to the posts. I admit, I did scan through and picked up the ones showing '0' comments.

cq

Road Rage

Yesterday I saw my first honest to God case of Road Rage. I was not directly involved, but nearly got hauled in because I was behind the Rager.


We have dual carriageway in built up areas which, unlike rural roads, can have speed limits as low as 40 or even 30 miles an hour. The road I was on has a lot of sliproads and entry ways and has a speed limit set at 40, so those driving on through stay in the outside lane. This means you get people wanting to plough on through at speed and the other, more law-abiding folks, who stay in the outside lane at the correct speed.

So, there we were. Miss Law-Abiding, tootling along in the outside lane at about 39 mph. Behind her, Mr Law-Breaker, is sitting on her bumper waving frustratedly at her. Behind him is good old cq, heading home after a long day.

When she saw a suitable opportunity, and obviously aware of the gesticulating male behind her, Miss Law-Abiding pulled into the left lane, to allow Mr Law-Breaker to go on through.

At which point I couldn't believe my eyes. Mr Law-Breaker, in his red Seat Altea (perhaps the wife's car!) suddenly veered in front of her and slammed his brakes on with about an inch to spare. I pulled ahead, not wanting to be caught in a pile-up or make the situation worse. In my rearview mirror I could see him yelling and screaming at her, waving his fists and leaning across his car. He put his car half way across the dividing line, hence creating a barrier to both lanes, and then slowed right down to about ten miles an hour holding back all the traffic.

Realising that being distracted so was causing my driving to deteriorate, I concentrated on the road and drove home, thinking over what I had just seen.

I admit, I get impatient on the road, I curse slow drivers and inconsiderate drivers. I get annoyed when I see people not paying attention, using mobile phones, fiddling with satnavs or even personal grooming (I have seen drivers shaving, women combing their hair and even men reading the paper while driving!).

Then I thought, who was the real bad driver in this whole affair? Miss Law-Abiding who, although mildly annoying, was only obeying the law. She was keeping to the speed limit, driving safely and was aware of her environment. Mr Law-Breaker was rude, abusive, inconsiderate, drove dangerously, threatened and risked innocent people's lives while he let his temper loose.

Have you seen or experienced road rage?

cq

It's Summer and the Living is Easy

I had a bit of a clear out of our kitchen pinboard and took down a newspaper cutting that my mother sent to me years ago.

With (admittedly light!) snow forecast for us in the next couple of days, and the ensuing traffic chaos 'cos no one seems to know how to drive in 1/4" of snow here.......I give you all 'thoughts of Summer'......

An electric hedge-trimmer is competing in a decibel contest with a petrol lawnmower. The cacophony is exacerbated by the buzz of a strimmer and the piercing sound of an electric drill.

The distorted electronic wail of the ice-cream vendor invites a bribe from the disinterested parent, as the volume of music playing at another pseudo-Californian barbeque is drowned out by a bitter argument.

Sweating neighbours and family members are slouched in plastic chairs on uneven patios. Others wait impatiently as friends studiously ignore the new decking, thoughtlessly positioned close to a neighbouring property. They will talk long into the night, their conversation slowly reduced by alcohol to meaningless, unintelligible garbage, interspersed with drunken laughter and mindless expletives.

The delightful chatter of children, mindful of their parents advice to respect the Sabbath, is a sad, distant memory. Now, a strange hissing sound announces the arrival of a grotesque structure. A lurid inflatable castle rises up like a cartoon nightmare. The wall of noise begins to close in around the night shift worker desperate for a few hours' sleep.

Smoke from the barbeque wafts around the neighbourhood, as the stench of overcooked burgers fills the air. The slamming of car doors heralds the discharge from another visit to the supermarket. Across the road, the departure for the 'theme' pub to celebrate another decree absolute is loudly proclaimed.

The gently, echoing clop of a horse passes by unheard. Welcome to a summer Sunday in the 21st Century.

Written by Tim Carbus of Guiseley West Yorks and published in the Daily Mail.

Now, come on - doesn't that all just make you yearn for long summer days.....?

cq

[representing local chapter of Cynics Anonymous)

A Little Bit Country, Little Bit Rock and Roll

Something caught my attention on the radio on the way home. The DJ played this song - always a classic:

and mentioned it was actually a cover version (not a lot of people know that!).

So I went a-hunting and found this wonderful footage. Blue Suede Shoes was written and originally recorded in 1955 (52yrs ago!) by Carl Perkins.

Here he is at Music for Montserrat Sept 1997, playing his moneymaker, his only top 40 hit and, as it turned out, his swansong. According to my source, this was his last public appearance. Carl died in 1998 at the age of 65.

Enjoy the music!

cq

2008 Re-Enactment Season

My life has changed rather radically in the last week......

I went to the Company of Chivalry January Focus Meeting; usually a time for us all to dust off friendships after the winter, catch up on all the gossip, pay our membership dues, plan the year ahead etc.

Only this time there was a bit of a shock to the Company. Our beloved Vintner (seen here in his usual place in the kitchen)

chief cook, bottle washer, membership officer, publicity officer, mainstay, friend to all, rock of the company, and all round good egg, has taken a hiatus from re-enactment due to pressures of modern work. Which means the many, many jobs he fills for the company had to be filled with willing volunteers.

Please meet the new Membership Officer for the Company - Mistress cq!

[whisper] I'm the one sitting down!

Yeah, I volunteered. Stuck me old hand up and gosh-darned volunteered!
Hand in hand with Membership Officer comes a position in the Company Council! So I'm now a Yeoman (in the employ of our Lord Hungerford), Membership Officer and Council Member.
Btw - I am the first woman Council Member in the 19yr history of the Company!

Gonna be a challenging year for me!

So - are you one of Nature's volunteers?


cq

Thank You, Heath

You are missed already, our young flame. May your spirit find peace.

This routine was playing in my head as I listened to the shocking news this morning....

And this will always, I think, be one of my all-time favourite films.

Sleep well, Sir William.

- and thank you

cq

Woman's Brain

Ever wondered how a woman's brain works?

It's finally explained here in one, easy-to-understand illustration:



Every one of those little blue balls is a thought about something that needs to be done, a decision or a problem that needs to be solved.

A man, of course, has only 2 balls and they take up all his thoughts.

teehee!

cq

The Law Is Not An Ass, I Say!

I know my US readers have probably seen this, but this story make me howl with laughter - especially the judge's ruling!
Woman escapes jail for swearing at toilet.

Dawn Herb, 31, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, was charged after an off duty police officer overheard her swear at an overflowing toilet.
Officer Patrick Gilman told the hearing he heard someone yell: "Are you f***ing retarded? Get me the f***ing mop."
Patrolman Gilman said he then yelled, "Watch your mouth", to which the person replied: "F*** off."
He then called Patrolman Gerald Tallo, who was on duty at the time, who charged Ms Herb after she admitted cursing at her toilet.
But District Judge Terrence Gallagher has now ruled she did nothing wrong, reports the Scranton Times-Tribune.
He dismissed the disorderly conduct charge which could have led to up to 90 days in jail and a £150 fine.
The language she used "may be considered by some to be offensive, vulgar and imprudent" but she was entitled to use it under the First Amendment, the judge ruled.
Attorney Barry Dyller, who was asked to represent Ms Herb by the American Civil Liberties Union, said Judge Gallagher made the right decision.
"He's exactly right in his reasoning," Mr. Dyller said. "And it's important that the public understands this. There are cases like this each year."

Sorry, but I do I see a little common sense creeping in there? - finally...?

cq

Wordless

I woke up this morning, staggered downstairs, fed the cats, and switched on my laptop. Nothing new, usual Saturday. I've had a long fortnight at work, am fighting off a cold and can't face doing anything. It's early, and I am peering blearily at my screen.
The TV is on, watching Men in Trees recorded earlier in the week.

So nothing is new, nothing is different.

Then I open the comments box from 'Common Sense' to find the following message from my dear blogfriend David in California.

"go see Minerva, RIGHT NOW!"

Minerva, as most of you know, is a blogfriend in London who has spent the last couple of lifetimes battling Cancer. It was Minerva who inspired me to take part in the Race for Life. It is Minerva who is the strongest woman I have ever known in my life.

With a sinking heart I click immediately on the quicklink in my sidebar. Is the cancer back, are there problems with the family, has the cancer mestasized?
I am ashamed to say that all my instant thoughts are negative - Mr C is a devastating illness and Minerva has fought long and hard against him, but sometimes the Bad Guy wins...

Oh, I'm sorry - you want to know what she said on her blog.....?

Go here and see!

cq

Common Sense

This was in an email sent to me, accompanied by the words 'You'll like this!'...

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

Knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the worm; life isn't always fair; and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.
Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an Elastoplast to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, It's Not My Fault, and I'm A Victim. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.'

And a little extra........................

Can you imagine working for a company that has a little more than 600 employees and has the following statistics? 29 have been accused of spouse abuse, 7 have been arrested for fraud, 19 have been accused of writing bad cheques, 117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses, 3 have done time for assault, 71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit, 4 have been arrested on drug-related charges, 8 have been arrested for shoplifting, 21 are currently defendants in lawsuits, 84 have been arrested for drink driving in the last year.

Which organization is this? It's the 635 members of the House of Commons, the same group that cranks out hundreds of new laws each year designed to keep the rest of us in line.

It's a mad, bad old world......

cq

Crazie Soapbox

There is a recurring and poisonous news item that is splashed across all the newspapers and is even finding it's way into legitimate news programmes.

Forget the atrocious weather, the rising cost of living, war and strife around the world, death and destruction........

There is a farce of an 'inquest' being held to decide if the death of the former Princess of Wales was an accident or an assassination.
This 'inquest' seems to be an excuse to tell all her secrets, to lay open her humanly fault-filled life for everyone to gloat over.

I had no great admiration for Princess of Wales, but she was a woman, a wife and a mother. She was wronged and she wronged in her own turn.

This court case can't hurt her now, except her already damaged reputation. But she has children, two sons, who, no matter their 'right' of birth, should not hear of their mother being pulled apart by a pack of self-seeking, attention-hungry dishonourable money-grubbing pieces of crap.

Sometimes I am ashamed to be British - or even human, to be honest.

Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.....

cq

Universally Global!

I didn't realise it's Golden Globe weekend until I checked imdb for something and it was on their front page.
I knew JD [gulp] was nominated for Sweeney Todd, which we haven't even had over here yet, so that was no surprise.

The exciting bit for me is the fact that my favourite movie of 2007, possibly ever, is also nominated - and is up against JD....
Read here to see my opinion of the most visually stunning and thrilling movies I have ever seen.

You wanna know how fantastic this film is? Check this out........a beautiful young lady called TV Carpio and her equally stunning voice....



This film is the definition of SERIOUSLY COOL.........This is young unknown Joe Anderson.



Good Luck to Across the Universe!

Sweeney Todd won the Comedy/Musical award (with suitable kudos to Steven Sondheim and Tim Burton), with Johnny picking up Best Actor in a Comedy/Musical.... ironic seeing as JD isn't bothered by awards!

cq

I'm Qualified!

What a week that was! The train service didn't seem too bad and, to me, spending an hour or so on a train with a book (or, god forbid, with my homework!) seemed to beat the prospect over at least an hour driving each way.
But it meant getting up at 5.45am, catching the 7am train, walking a mile or so to the venue, then train home at 4.30pm-ish, getting home at about 6pm - then homework! I was excused houewifely duties for the week, ate my main meal in the works restaurant and tried to get to bed early.

So, what was I learning so keenly?

To sum it up I am now a First Aid Instructor!

A week of intensive training in first aid advanced skills, teaching processes and classroom management. It was exhausting.
It was a mixed class, some were brilliant at first aid and some were very highly qualified instructors in their own field, so it made for an interesting week.

But I got a 'very good' on my practical lesson (which was Basic Life Support, aka CPR!), 33/38 on my first aid written paper (some silly mistakes I realised too late!) and a 'pass' on my theory lesson (cardiac conditions - all four of them!) - so I passed and am now qualified to teach first aid.

cq - teacher!
A bit late, but it's what I was always supposed to be. When I was at school it was intended I should be a teacher - until I failed my exams.

Sunday Update - [sneeze!] [cough] um, I seem to have picked up a sniffle from somewhere....why does one always feel like crap with a simple cold?

cq

Silence......

I apologise for the silence - I have been incredibly busy on a training course this week, with lots of homework and travel.

Read on down and I'll be back on the weekend...

cq

Crazie Commitments

"The strongest force in the world is the genuine and everlasting act of commitment."

I have been very generous with my commitment-making lately....

So what have I committed to?

I have committed to another year in the Company of Chivalry. I enjoy it, I have learned a lot, but I don't think I'll be as committed as other members of the Company.

I have committed to Race for Life for Cancer Research - the dates for this year are coming out 21 January.

I have committed to fundraise at least £500 - last year I raised £400. Once I create my fundraising page, it will be on this blog for everyone to see and pledge/donate.

I have committed to beat my time last year of 54 minutes and 26 seconds.

I have committed to get to the point where I cycle to work at least one day in June. Work is eleven miles away. Every June our local authority organises 'Jam Busting June' when people are encouraged to get to work using more eco-friendly methods - car-sharing, cycling, walking, buses, train.

Wow - definitely a 'one-step' programme....

cq

Must be Love...

I just love this advert - it is one of my all-time favourites.

Not only the incredible original version of the song by Labi Siffre, but the amazing dancing by the unknown young man.

The final small smile of the girl just warms my heart.



This is definitely a Saturday moment.......

More chapters of the 2005 nanowrimo are going up on the storystore.

And Terry - I have posted the vet update on the craziecats blog :-)

cq

So - we went to the V.E.T.

This morning we packed Pandora into her travelling crate to go to the V.E.T.
Her vet for the last eight years has been her precious 'Uncle' Tim, a lovely man and an extremely good vet who is fantastic with fractious cats - and Pandora defines fractious! He has also cared for Ambrose (who died in 2001) and Echo (who died in 2004) and currently, Charlie.
But lately staffing changes have meant Pandora has had to get used to new vets.
Auntie Elena is one of her favourites - a lovely Spanish lady from Madrid.
Auntie Julie - she doesn't like her so much.
And today Pandora met another new vet, Auntie Helen.

Helen was quick, gentle, understanding and dealt with us as well as Pandora (one of the reasons we still use this practice even though it is more expensive than others).
She checked out the lump, then checked out Pandora's lymph nodes and certain specific parts of her anatomy.

As we hoped, it's unlikely to be cancer. It's more likely a lipoma, as I suspected. It's actually on her ribs and not on her shoulder.
She's not 'sick', she doesn't limp, she is eating fine, sleeping well, using her tray properly and still leaping (albeit gently!) onto laps, chairs, tables and boxes. Not bad for an 18yr old cat - which translates roughly to 85-90yrs old!
We politely refused unnecessary testing, figuring it would upset the old dear too much.
We agreed to watch her carefully for the next couple of months and whip her back to the vet if she appears ill or in discomfort.

Once her claws were clipped she was crated back up for the trip home.

Of course, the old madam got her own back, managing to throw up and wee simultaneously on the way home while her crate was on my lap.


Pandora: we know your time here is not infinite but we will still keep you with us, healthy and content, as long as possible.

cq

100 Things….....for New Years

I have never done one of these - so better late than never. Time to demystify the crazie one.....

1. I have registered for 2008 Race for Life in support of Cancer Research – a promise is a promise.
2. I want to improve on 5k in 54 minutes and 26 seconds.
3. But I accept I have bad knees and a bad back. I have started cycling to prepare.
4. I got a letter telling me I was one of the top fundraisers at the Swindon event in 2007.
5. I raised, if I remember rightly (my fundraising page has expired), about £400 personally (without any corporate help).
6. My new target for 2008 will be £500. Cancer Research and I will gratefully accept all help.
7. Mac will help me in 2008.
8. My dad is due his CT Scan in January. Then we will know what the future holds.
9. They have offered him ‘interim chemo’ which he has refused. No wonder, they told him about all the side effects.
10. If my dad is sick I may have to shuttle between here and Scotland to help out.
11. After four weeks on a nicotine patch in hospital my dad is attempting to give up his 40 a day habit.
12. I spoke to my goddaughter and her mother in Canada a couple of nights ago.
13. We have confirmed cyberkitten and I will be travelling to see them (after five years!) at the end of April.
14. I am excited and nervous.
15. I hope to see mah Blogsister, Dawnie (Retarded Rugrat) and her Jeffers while I am there – but I know they’ll be busy…getting married!
16. I am the youngest of four children.
17. Another year has passed and I still don’t talk to my sister.
18. About fifteen years ago, she told me that she thought me stupid and if I wasn’t her sister she wouldn’t choose me to be her friend so I stopped being her sister.
19. My younger brother hasn’t spoken to me for 20yrs, as he thinks I am the spawn of the devil – aren’t psychological conditions fun?
20. My elder brother is currently working in Nigeria, he has a successful marriage, an excellent job, three wonderful children and is gregarious and popular – did he get my life by accident?
21. Younger brother and sister are both happy to talk to elder brother, but not baby sister.
22. Bearing #13-18 in mind, I have surrounded myself with friends who love me for who I am not what I am.
23. Every Christmas I mourn the fact that I couldn't have children.
24. I also mourn on Mothers Day.
25. But it’s a fact I can’t change, so I only allow myself to feel sorry about it at certain times.
26. I have had depression since the surgery that uncovered my barrenness, but lately have been very bad at taking my medication.
27. I am paranoid.
28. I am neurotic.
29. I have mild intermittent agoraphobia.
30. I also have coulrophobia, musophobia, dentophobia and one so far un-named phobia.
31. Coulrophobia is the fear of clowns.
32. Musophobia is the fear of mice (actually all rodents terrify me).
33. I am trying to meet my dentophobia head on – and my dentist is helping me.
34. My un-named phobia is the fear of masks. I am terrified of people wearing masks.
35. I love my cats. They are all rescue animals.
36. Before Charlie we had Echo.
37. I noticed our neighbour’s cat having contractions when I went in to feed her.
38. I delivered three kittens. The first came out no trouble and the second got stuck and had to be delivered by hand. Echo was the runt, stillborn and I revived her.
39. Until she was six months old she could not be clearly identified as male or female – hence the unisex name.
40. When she had her sterilisation it was discovered that the internal female organs were predominant.
41. Echo was due to come in one June evening but it was a lovely night, so I let her have a few more minutes to enjoy the summer evening.
42. Ten minutes later I got a phone call to say she had been in a car accident and was DOA at the vet. So I created her and killed her.
43. Ambrose, Pandora’s life companion, was killed on the same road in 2001.
44. We don’t let our cats out any more.
45. One day I must count my teddy bears.
46. I have 21 around the house, including bears, dogs, penguins, dragons etc.
47. That’s not including the suitcase full in the spare room and the sackful in the loft.
48. In my collection I have a huge Sully and a very big Stitch.
49. I have some bears that mean things.
50. Mac is my Race for Life Bear. He is a breast cancer bear, named for the Macmillan Cancer Support charity. He has two sisters, one in Vancouver (Shanti) and one in LA (to be named).
51. Ginger Pye was one of my first bears, my ‘new dad’ bought him for me on a cross-channel ferry when I saw him in the kiosk window and begged. I think I was 12.
52. Albert is my dentist bear. I take him with me to the dentist as I am very fearful. He takes a beating every appointment.
53. Geoffrey is my polar bear. Bobkat gave him to me. He is my travelling bear and goes with me every time I go away.
54. Bojangles is my stuffed dog. He was a gift from my beloved friend Silentmum and has been adopted by my ancient pussycat Pandora as a pillow in her bed. She looks so cute sleeping with her chin on the little dog.
55. I find my bears comforting.
56. I am a Scorpio, although I do not ascribe to all the characteristics.
57. I was two weeks late. If I was born on time I would have been a Libra – and I fulfil some of the Libra characteristics.
58. I am a wood dragon in the Chinese zodiac, and the character reading is far more accurate than the astrological zodiac.
59. I am a snake in the shaman calendar.
60. I see a pattern in # 56-59 – do you?
61. My real dad died when I was 17. I asked God why and got no response.
62. I didn’t talk with God again until cyberkitten and I started discussing faith.
63. I am a Quaker (although not signed up!) and believe in direct communication.
64. I also respect all other faiths, and am interested in them.
65. I dislike people who say their faith is absolutely the right one and tell me I will be punished for my beliefs.
66. When I was in hospital for surgery, a girl came in having a miscarriage. She got very upset and I tried to comfort her.
67. Nurses in the British NHS have very little time to allow them to sit with distressed patients. You get a lot of distressed patients in the gynae ward.
68. She believed that the earth was created and ruled by aliens in a big ship orbiting the planet.
69. She was cool – we agreed to disagree. I sat with her for three hours, complete with drip and colostomy bag.
70. But at least I comforted her enough to stop her crying.
71. I cry on the inside – a lot.
72. Since I left school I have always had children around me.
73. I have been involved with five families over the years.
74. I started out at 17 as housekeeper for a family of four, including a toddler in a wheelchair.
75. Now I am part of the Aginoth clan, and babysit their three children for free.
76. There is nothing like having a drowsy child in your arms, all soft and clingy.
77. I rocked a child non-stop for 5 hours once – I was fifteen and just couldn’t shift some trapped wind. As the parents walked in the door the baby gave out a huge burp, farted and fell asleep instantly.
78. LMD holds the current record of 3 hours of making me hold her and rock her out of sheer peevishness.
79. LMD is conniving and very clever, and I love her for it. Until recently I called her ‘The Baby That Hates Me’.
80. Whether prompted or not the Aginoth children always seem thrilled to see me and it warms my heart every time.
81. I am interested in forensics and have Bill Bass’ autobiography.
82. Bill Bass created the Body Farm at Tennessee University, made famous in a novel by Patricia Cornwell, to study the decomposition of bodies.
83. I know more than most about gunshot wounds, blood spatter and adipocere (look it up!).
84. Sir Bernard Spilsbury’s biography is on my wishlist along with other forensic books.
85. I refuse to watch CSI as the only episode I ever watched got the forensics wrong.
86. NCIS get the forensics right – but that is partly due to the hard work and dedication of David McCallum who plays the ME.
87. Dead human bodies don’t bother me at all.
88. Dead animal bodies really upset me and make me physically sick.
89. I have seen dead human bodies.
90. A man drowned at the pool I was working at one summer.
91. A 12-year-old boy died in my arms after being hit by a truck. He was a mess. I was twenty.
92. I had survivor’s guilt for years, as he ran past me before being hit by the truck. I could have grabbed his coat.
93. Fifteen years later I grabbed the dungaree straps of a little boy about to run in front of a car. When his mother arrived seconds later, she berated me for ‘touching’ her son.
94. I would do it again.
95. My latest hobby is re-enacting. I have just completed my first season.
96. Our period is the 14C, 1370 to be exact. The company believes in living history and authenticity. If they didn’t have it in 1370, then we can’t have it.
97. It’s nice – and surprisingly relaxing.
98. I am a moneyer. There were no women moneyers recorded in the period, but I am very good at it and raised almost £500 for the company in 2007. So I created a fictional back-story for those who questioned my presence. So much for authenticity [grin].
99. In 2008 I will have an apprentice. A new friend, L, who will also be sharing my tent. She will be my ‘sister’ to the public.
100. I am stunned that I got to 100. When you start these things, 1 seems miles from 100.

Happy New Year!!

Here's to 2008!

Christmas with the Crazies

So...the other night was the annual Crazie Christmas party. All my Crazies have families in one way or another that they spend Christmas with. But this group of friends who have been inter-dependent for anything up to eight years always gets together whenever possible. Most years we all disappear to a fabulous big cottage in Cornwall for a week. However with The Girls in London and the Aginoths bound by small children, these days it is difficult to get everyone together for a party - but Christmas is still top of the list.

We all do have intriguing nicknames: craziequeen, Aginoth, Mrs Aginoth, Cyberkitten, Bionicdwarf, SleepyPete, LMB, LMD, Aginoth Jnr, RCA and K (we're still waiting for a craziename for K!)
This year bionicdwarf hosted the party in his nice little house.......it got awful crowded with eleven of us - god help us if any of our bachelor boys gets a girl......anyway, the Aginoth children always have to give up seats to an adult or someone more needy - so once we were all in the house they got to swarm over the stairs....

Studying her Nintendo Wotsit is LMB (Little Miss Blonde) and LMD (Little Miss Dark) is chattering happily to Piglet. Aginoth Jnr is sprawled deep in concentration on his own Nintendo Thingy.

LMD decided she really liked my Santa hat, and had a paparazzi moment as we all cooed and chuckled over her, pulling out cameras around the room and she turned to each camera with a beaming smile......

That girl is going to be a star!

In addition to the Secret Santa gifts (thank you for my Ealing films, Secret Santa!), the children bought us all fun games to play, and we tried My Dog Has Fleas, with LMD helping RCA, K coming close to winning and Aginoth Jnr cheating outrageously!

Then we played Hungry Frogs which, being fun, fast and noisy, the children soon annexed to their toy corner! And finally we broke open my Uno Stacko....

which LMD explained to RCA (not really [snigger]) - but to be honest, RCA had to explain the game to me!

LMD (formerly known as The Baby Who Hates Me) is becoming quite the social butterfly, and really wanted to squish in between mummy and cyberkitten who really, really hates his picture being seen.....

This is cyberkitten getting a masterclass in Nintendo thingys from a 7yr old and a 4yr old. Excellent! Yes, that is a duck on ck's head - it was a duck themed evening as I gave the girls 'Glow in the Duck Ducks'. SleepyPete is on the right taking notes........

I love this photo, with the children swarming over everything and everyone doing something. Left to right from the back: bionicdwarf, LMB, cyberkitten, Mrs A, LMD, Aginoth Jnr, RCA and K.

btw - my mistletoe is still fresh............M'WAH!

cq

Christmas at the Palace

Christmas is over and we're pooped..........

Yup, absolutely...um......cool, you can see my tummy!

I have been practising on my beautiful new purple bicycle - it's all coming back...slowly....

And my new little friend Mac gained a new teddy bear pal - I'm toying with the name Marmaduke...too much for a little bear, d'ya think?

And the $64M question: Did the tree survive?

Yup :-)

Mind you, MB tested my patience by spilling red wine twice, including on my irreplaceable Bangladeshi Christmas table runner. Luckily it all came out with lengthy soaking and washing.

About two weeks before Christmas I was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome (hence the downturn in blogging), so I have catered this Christmas with a wrist brace - makes the simplest tasks impossible by forcing the wrist into the correct position to relieve the pressure on the median nerve. Lucky there was only the two of us :-)

cq

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas to all...

....and to all a good night!!

**********************************************

Anyone want to grab a kiss under the mistletoe?

M-WAH!

In fact, you are welcome to take a piece and go on over to Michele's, where the Meet and Greet is still going on - and give her a nice kiss too!

cq

Must be Christmas....time to trim the tree....

With memories of this.....

and this....

and this....

Not forgetting this....

Here is the 2007 tree.....

any bets on how long it will last before a big male feline decides to play with it?

Look at that angelic little face....is this year going to be different?

Update: Mum! Mum! I'm guarding the presents!!.........which one is mine....?

cq

Not just humans

Mysterious lumps and bumps are not restricted to humans..........

This is Pandora, our precious ancient pussycat who is the grand age of 18 and a half.

This week we found a large lump by one of her shoulder blades, about 2cm in diameter. We are very, very scared.

I don't want to take her to the vet. Her brother, Pushkin, died of abdominal cancer.
She's very old to go through the stress of treatment, and the vet may decide to take her away from us forever, or whatever is causing the lump may steal her away.

I can't imagine life without 'Pandy'.

Meanwhile, she is ok in herself for an octogenarian pussycat, she isn't showing any signs of pain, she doesn't flinch when I check her lump, she still begs to be carried around, she still tells us she loves us, she chatters at us, she purrs so loudly, she isn't limping, she is eating well, she is still using the litter tray without accidents and she seems very happy.

But a lump is a lump.....

To those that have left messages, thank you :-) Your support is valued beyond words.

cq

Santa Came Through...

Well, it seems MB was drafted in by Santa to help sort my request here - so Santa could concentrate on the little people.

MB tried to buy the red bike I wanted,

but the nasty people in the shop couldn't guarantee the larger frame (I have 33" inside leg!) so he left feeling downhearted.

He searched out some bikes for me to look at, but I had set my heart on my second choice - a purple one.......here..... and it's here! Look......

hmm - might be me, but it looks like a box....

Yep, definitely a bicycle.......!! woohoo!! It's a purty purple bicycle.......

cq

Swannie

You all wanted to see pictures of the adolescent wild swan eating from my hand......full story here. Swannie is a young swan who has become very attached to his little pond and refuses to, or can't, move out.

Here he is - meet Swannie...our young friend. See his two tone plumage? Swannie is on the verge of adulthood and that beautiful white plumage is coming through.When I call him, he comes rushing over, clattering his bill as if saying 'Where have you been?'

He takes nice healthy wholemeal bread off the bank......'washing' it before swallowing it. We took the box of shortbread to tease my boss :-)

He gently takes bread from B's hand.....hungry boy - well, I think he's a boy!

..and then eats from my hand - newly dressed in a wrist brace! He even playfully nipped at my fingers several times.

A couple more days and if Swannie hasn't made a move, we'll bring in the swan experts to remove him and take him to a safe home.

cq

Some Days

Some days are made special by the smallest of wonderful experiences.

On our site is a large lake and we have a Mute Swan couple who come to stay each year, build a nest, lay eggs and raise their young. It is a wonderful opportunity to watch swan family life as the cygnets grow and learn to be swans, alongside ducks, coots and moorhens - we even have a crane and a couple of kestrels on site. All the swans leave in the late autumn/early winter and we never see the young ones again, as they go off to find their own mates, but mum and dad come back every year.

This year there are a couple of adolescent swans who are resisting the urge to leave as their parents and siblings have done. Two of the teenage cygnets are not a problem as they are mooching around the lake and flitting between us and the nearby AXA insurance company (who also have a small lake!), but one of the young swans is causing us a few headaches. In addition to the large lake, we also have several smaller ponds and fountains. The young swan has found his way into one of the fountain ponds and he is either reluctant or unable to get out. He has been caught and released, but when straight back in again. After several weeks we are starting to worry about his overall health, although he is still ok and is feeding on bottom algae. He is just starting to moult and his beautiful white plumage is beginning to show. He must leave soon to mature and find a mate.

(photo: wikipedia)

We have contacted the local swan rescue who have advised us to watch him and occasionally feed him, and to call back next week if he's still in there.

So today my colleague B and I set out with a wholewheat bread roll and some unwanted low sugar fruit and nut Flapjack to feed Little Swan and check on his general health. As usual, and somewhat of a surprise to B, Little Swan came to us as I called 'Swannie, swannie!' and looked up at us, chattering his bill - saying hello, probably [grin]. We gave him some bread first to judge how hungry he was.

Have you ever seen a swan eat?

It will take the food from the water/ground and then dunk it in the water to soften it up - but it just looks like the swan is washing it's food!

So Little Swan took the bread, 'washed' it and gulped it down. And I tried him on some flapjack. The flapjack sunk, so I broke it up into pieces and laid it on the bank. Little Swan arched his neck and snuffled the food off the bank, 'washed' it and munched it down.

Now for the 'wonderful' bit.....

see this hand?

No, not that hand........this hand.......

A wild swan ate out of this hand today, straight from my hand with his big old soft bill. He took the food from my hand, nipping my fingers gently as he did so. B and I were ecstatic (me more so, obviously!), at the sight of a large wild adolescent swan eating from my hand, lots of 'OMIGOD, did you see??'!

As Little Swan was obviously hungry, I went back alone with another flapjack bar and he ate it all very quickly and again contentedly ate out of my hand.

How do I describe the sensation of a large young swan eating out of my hand?

It was amazing, absolutely mindblowing. I was so worried Little Swan would nip me, or hurt me somehow, but he was so gentle with his soft big bill. The first time he took my fingers as well, making me flinch although it didn't hurt, but he was more careful after that and took food almost like a horse, placing his bill carefully in my hand. I could have stroked his beautiful neck or touched his head, but I didn't want to scare him.

Just when life is dark and unhappy, Mother Nature sends a messenger to remind you that, big and scary though the world might be, you are definitely not alone.

Then when I got home there was a parcel waiting for me all the way from LA, and another one at the Post Office for me to collect tomorrow. Ain't life grand?

cq

Gorillas and Girls

Continuing a show of great British commercials, here is the one recently voted favourite advert of 2007 - and one of my particular favourites...it's the look of total ecstasy on the gorilla's face that I love......



Tomorrow is our office Christmas party. It's been a stressful year and the team are demoralised, so the Christmas party is suitably subdued - a Christmassy meal in the site restaurant and then off to a local pub for a couple of beers. Luckily for me, this year Cyberkitten is working in my office, so I get to go the Christmas party with my best friend!
On the subject of Christmas parties, I think this commercial sums up the British Christmas party; girls going barmy with outfits and makeup, men just 'making do'....



You'll notice I love commercials with music - music says so much more than words ever can...

cq

Is this.......?

..possibly the most beautiful and original commercial we have ever seen...?



Enjoy

cq

Christmas Carols for the Seasonal Defective

I like some of the Christmas stuff I posted last year so much, I am repeating them again for sheer entertainment....

Last year at this time one of my regular readers gave me grief about not taking my depression seriously. Good grief - if I took my depression seriously, it would kill me....it has tried enough times in the past.

So - to the one person who harangued me here about posting this I say 'tough cheese!'. Some people give in to their depression - I will fight mine with every cell in my body.

* 1. Schizophrenia --- Do You Hear What I Hear?

* 2. Multiple Personality Disorder --- We Three Kings Disoriented Are

* 3. Dementia --- I Think I'll be Home for Christmas

* 4. Narcissistic --- Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me

* 5. Manic --- Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Buses and Trucks and Trees and.....

* 6. Paranoid --- Santa Claus is Coming to Town to Get Me

* 7. Borderline Personality Disorder --- Thoughts of Roasting on an Open Fire

* 8. Personality Disorder --- You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout, Maybe I'll Tell You Why

* 9. Attention Deficit Disorder --- Silent night, Holy oooh look at the froggy - can I have a chocolate, why is France so far away?

* 10. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder --Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

cq

Twelve Signs of Christmas

12 - first sighting of the Famous Grouse and Coca Cola adverts.

11 - supermarkets stocking up with Christmas stuff in September.

10 - the annual debate on who is going to host the Crazie Christmas party.

9 - The days get dark and the weather grows cold...but it is still raining.

8 - we have to issue the traditional health and safety notice at work about decorations.

7 - we gather courage for the impending viewing of the Great Escape and The Santa Claus(e).

6 - everyone collects Christmas catalogues from shops they don't usually use.

5 - half the supermarket freezers are full of turkeys and shelves are empty of bread.

4 - the pile of presents gets bigger in relation to the shrinking of my finances.

3 - I wander the shops looking for the perfect cards for my parents.

2 - I panic...not knowing what to get MB.

1 - The nagging feeling that once this is all over, it's only 12 months until we do it again!

cq

Must Be Christmas

It must be Christmas - this little character is back on TV...showing off his many, many talents.

Meet the Famous Grouse - the first sign of Christmas in the UK. When the video is done, you can find more Famous Grouse on the replay screen.

cq