Man flu - swine flu - Posselq flu!

Poor Posselq has had man-flu this week. At first he thought it was swine-flu. That's what he was looking up on t'internet at 2.30am on Wednesday morning when I woke up to find he wasn't laid next to me. I was convinced he'd sneaked downstairs to look at porn on the 'net - but alas no - he was on the NHS website!!! How sad is that????

As soon as I woke the next morning he told me he wasn't going to work - so that meant it was serious - Posselq would have to have a leg hanging off before he would willingly miss work. At this point - had he been Canine, Bovine Equine or Feline I would have called out the vet and asked him to bring his despatching kit.

I dutifully popped down to Boots to fetch a thermometer and some medicines. When I got home the thermometer wouldn't work (what a waste of £14.99 - and time - somebody could have died) so that meant another trip out - this time to Tesco where I managed to find a "Mr Sneezy" strip thermometer for children's foreheads. That'll do nicely!!!

I arrived back home and ran upstairs to the patient - we took his temperature - only to discover that it was normal!!!!

Anyway after three lemsip sherbert lemons - poss decided he was feeling up to the drive to Leeds and duly set off. He stayed away overnight with ne'er a complaint and came home again on Thursday. He did say he felt a bit chilly and so went to pop on his thermal undies before we nipped to Tesco (in the tundra), but all in all he's on the mend now thank goodness.

For a minute back there I thought we might lose him.

Update - I know he's better now as he's flouncing round the kitchen a la Keith Floyd making a god-awful mess!

On the dole!

I've just been to the job centre. Apparently as I'm 'looking for work' I am entitled to 'Job Seeker's Allowance'. Back in the day this was called dole money - but now it has a much fancier title. To qualify for this government funded gift you have to be seeking work - which I am - so I am therefore entitled to some sixty-odd quid per week for my trouble. I'm not going to say no - now am I?

Anyway - my visit and subsequent interview was a tad traumatic. Firstly the place was full to bursting with pikeys. No offence to the mass unemployed - but one glance would tell you why the majority of them are unemployed. I know I'm a bit of a snob (no? really? you're kidding - right?)

I was a wee bit discombobulated to discover that the job centre has had an interior designer in to give it a kind of make-over. Designer carpets, fancy desks, up to the minute electronic notice boards - all a bit worrying if you ask me...I would have thought it would be better if they were grey and institutionalised - a bit like an open prison - and I would have them turn the thermostat right down - it needs to be chilly? right?...but no - it's very comfortable, I could have stayed all day! (if you pay income tax - you should be weeping right now!)

Anyway - my interviewer - was a wee bit amazed when I told her I had applied for more than 6 jobs in the last week and had been for three interviews - I get the feeling that most 'customers' don't manage that in six months - let alone six days.

She asked me what kind of job I was after - Office Manager, PA - that kind of thing.....imagine my surprise when she printed off the details for a night time shelf stacker in a well known supermarket!!! Beggars can't be choosers it seems.

I didn't think it was prudent to mention that I won't actually be able to make my next signing on date, as I'm going to be away on holiday!!! (ouch).

Needless to say once the interview was over I made a hasty exit - came home and spent half an hour in our fumigation chamber. I have set myself a goal to get a job wthin the next 2 weeks so I never have to go there again!

Perception

Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:
the violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly.. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:
The musician played continuously.  Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace.  The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theatre in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:  If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made... How many other things are we missing? 
 

Dr Drill

This afternoon has been grave. Very grave indeed. I have been to see 'Dr. Drill' the dentist. Whilst I was on my scuba course the other week I grew a very impressive abscess in my gum and finally decided to not leave my dental well-being to fate any longer - but rather to put my money where my mouth is (loving these puns!) and make the call. 

My new dentist is called Lana and she's very nice. When I walked in today I promptly burst into tears (the fear was making my hands sweat and my heat beat that little bit too fast!) - and she was very kind to me!!!!! She took ages to explain what she was going to do and how long it would take etc. She promised not to hurt me and suggested that I hum a tune while she did the drilling as this would help me relax. 

It had to be Monty Python's "Always look on the bright side of Life" - what else could it be?

Anyway - I have my root canal drilled, cleaned, disinfected and temporarily filled - and I have to go back after our holiday to have it completed. I am pleased to report that it didn't hurt a bit - and now that I know that - next time I will be much more relaxed.

I am now dribbling when I drink anything and I have just bitten my tongue whilst eating half a cheese sandwich!

Latest news - read all about it !!!!

I've just had a message on Facebook from my beloved daughter asking me to write something on here as she has nothing to read. I think perhaps she should be reading her university books seeing as she has just embarked on a second degree course at Bournemouth Uni - but - clearly not!!!

I can see that I have been a bit remiss with the blogging of late and for that I apologise. I have, however, been a bit busy!

So - what's been happening in the throbbing metropolis that is Banbury (not by the sea)?

The chickens are doing well - all laying at least one egg per day - mind you the other day we had an egg count of four - so somebody (cluck cluck) is clearly working overtime. I managed to decipher a recipe for Green Tomato chutney last week and created 6 jars of the same - very nice too.

On Saturday night we had Lisa and Giles from next door round for dinner with their two little girls - Lisa is a vegetarian - so that involved creating a veggie burger with cous cous and other unmentionable ingredients...I just don't 'get' vegetarians...although as Veggies go Lisa is very nice - and not at all pale, fainting or ridiculous.

In just over two weeks time Posselq and I are off to the middle east for a spot of diving - 7 days in Jordan (is that a Peter Andre quote?) to be enjoyed - a last bit of sunshine before the winter really kicks in.

I have applied for about 7 or 8 jobs in the last few weeks - have been for three interviews and as I write this am still jobless. I was quite annoyed by one company when I applied, chatted to one of the directors on the phone - went for an interview - and then heard absolutely nothing - despite being promised a response before then end of the same week! I know that job applicants far outnumber jobs advertised at the moment - but that surely doesn't obliterate the need for basic manners - does it? A simple note in the post saying - "thanks - but no thanks" would have been fine - but to just be completely ignored?...how very rude!

Finally as I sit here I am trembling with fear. Later today I am due at the dentist for some fairly extensive root canal work. I just know - despite the lovely lady dentist's reassurances - that some pain is heading my way. Today I am going for drilling and packing - with the remainder of the work to be carried out when I return from our diving holiday (that's if I return - hopefully Posseql won't drown me!!)

So that's the latest news....dull isn't it?

Review of the week

Well - it's been a busy week. After my last post I spent Wednesday in Sheffield with my Mum and Auntie Mimi - we went to FAB dress shop and I got 2 new dresses for my birthday. Then - on Wednesday evening we went for birthday dinner celebrations with my oldest friends and my Mum and my brother. We had a fantastic meal here and a very nice evening. If you've never been there and you get the chance I would take it :)

Thursday and Friday were spent at Stoney Cove dive centre in Leicestershire doing more learning and more diving to finally qualify as a 30m diver by the end of play on Friday. This was not without hazards and I very nearly drowned as my buddy didn't check that my dry suit was zipped up - and I very nearly entered the water with the zip wide open. My suit would have flooded and I would have ended up on the bottom being eaten by a giant octopus (a la Captain Nemo - you just know it would have happened to me) fortunately my instructor has eagle eyes and spotted the horrific faux pas just before he launched me off the end of the jetty!!! Phew!

On Friday morning I woke up with toothache and a big blister / abscess in my gum. Ouch - it hurt - a lot. I left posselq with the job of finding me a dentist for the weekend -- or Monday at the latest.....then, in the car on the way to the dive centre the afore mentioned abscess popped!!!! Urgh - not pleasant - not pleasant at all. Now I am left with mild discomfort - some nerve pain and the joy of root canal work to look forward to tomorrow - or maybe she will just whip the bad tooth out altogether (it's at the back so no-one will see that it's missing)?? Who knows - but I do know that I shall wimper - a lot.

Yesterday we pottered about a bit then last night we went to a marquee in the middle of a field for Wendy's wedding party. Wendy is our cleaning lady and she is so lovely. When I first moved here she was the only person I knew apart from Posselq and she was always very friendly towards me. Anyway - she's now married to Robert and I hope that they'll be very happy together.

So a quick week review - I'm a year older than I was this time last week - a super scuba - ist, I have two new frocks, an appointment for root canal work - our cleaning lady got married and I didn't drown. Fab X

Scuba Course in a gravel pit - day one!

Oh My God - look at my hair!!! This scuba business is not condusive to looking glamorous - by any means. This picture was taken at the end of the day after three dives in the freezing cold water of a skanky gravel pit in Leicestershire - where the visibility was about three feet. Just enough to spot the sunken submarine seconds before I crashed into it. It was an eventful day. I learned that diving in the UK is not a pleasure leisure activity. I also learned that I don't like to be cold - not too bothered about the odd chill - but when my hands stop working and I can't do the simplest of tasks with them I am not a happy bunny :) I also realised that I remembered my basic training and when my dive buddy kicked my regulator out of my mouth while I was about 20 metres (that's over 60 feet - crikey!!) underwater - I didn't panic........oh no....not me.....cool as a cucumber (despite the very real risk of drowning) I did the drill - recovered it - and popped it straight back in my mouth again without batting an eye. I must have learned something then!!! I also learned that my buoyancy is not that good and it's not really that funny when your dry suit feet inflate and you end up hanging upside down in the water!!! (reminded me of when I abseiled - head first - down the side of The Grosvenor House Hotel in Sheffield for charity a few years ago!!!) Not once - but over and over again - to the point where the instructors were laughing at me and decided to christen me 'fruit bat'....I really need some leg weights!!!

All in all a good day - and I am now a qualified dry suit diver. More to come on Thursday and Friday - I can't wait!!!! Brrrrrrr x