Monday 29 May 2006

Greece...

Errr... OK... It's 2:40am... I can handle this... Honest... Of course I can... Because I'm off on holiday to Corfu for a week with some family*... Yay!

I've never been to Greece before, so I'm quite excited, although I've got to be at Birmingham airport for 4:30am to catch the 6:30am flight! ZZZ... Too early

I'm not sure what plane we're on, although Corfu International airport looks rather cool, as it juts out into the sea, and I believe it's one of the shortest runways on an international airport!
Hehehe... lots of reverse thrust may be needed on landing then, cool! Although, it must be a smaller plane than normal, on such a flight, as to use the short runway.
(Not that I've been practicing taking off and landing at Kapodistriason on MS Flight Sim or anything... Honest)
I've got three and a half hours to admire the views, read and chat on whatever plane it is, regardless! :-)

Looks like I'm going to have a fight on my hands, as I will be jostling for window seat position with my nephew. I would be like a dog in a car with ears flapping in the wind if it were possible to open the window, but that wouldn't be a good idea now would it!
It makes me laugh in any turbulence, as apart from adding to the excitement, it also causes my niece and sister squeal, hehehe, how cruel! ;-)

See ya all in a week or so!!!

If you're easily offended or have a weak heart, please DO NOT click on the link below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?world=0069


[* Not just any family I could find to tag along with hehehe. Some of my family of course!]

Today, I'm Most Angry About: Having to set an alarm for 2:30am, Monday morning! Is that the worst alarm call EVER? At least there's no work though!
Grrr-O-Meter Rating: 0.5/10

Sunday 28 May 2006

Pushing the Boat Out...

Yesterday, I spent £8 getting into the Crick boat show!

Ah, now remind me why holding outdoor events in the UK can be a bad idea! No, hang on, it is a bad idea and let me remind you why:

Yup, the weather was awful as normal, and experiencing all the muddy Glastonbury festivals, I'm beginning to think I live in the wrong country! Anyone want a Dogga out there..?
Seriously now... Any takers? [I'm well house trained] ;-)


Anyhow, having been on two canal boating holidays and loving it, I've got a taste for these boats and their associated laid-back lifestyle, so I wanted to see some really nicely kitted out examples and how much they cost. It's great to see so many very nicely kept boats in one place and it's truly amazing seeing some of the really very fancy ones.

I went on board a local-to-my-home-town-boat-builders-boat, which was gorgeous and utilised blue LED lighting in the wine rack, in the bath and up the stairs, giving the already very modern boat that extra phwoar... but not cheap! :-(

There were many attractions and animals around, including these two young Buffalo called 'Richard & Judy', and the nice owner let me in with them for some fussing:

I blew £1 and decided to indulge in one of their Buffalo milk strawberry milkshakes, which was pleasant, although a little cheesy shall we say! Mmm, OK, the milk is a tad 'strong', but hey, I finished it and was glad I tried it.
But then... I then stumbled across the beer tent and what a choice they had. Mmm:

Ooh, I came across a headless man in one boat too! He's very quite and just gesticulates a lot really, but he seriously knows his stuff when it comes to canal boats: I found many cool boat related gadgets and accessories, although it was good to see the punters using a bit of ingenuity too, like this guy's make shift, carrier bag dog coat, seen here being positioned: I also found the most drenched and sad looking dog at the show... Awww: I received a few occasional smirks and pointing fingers myself, while perusing around the boats, although I have no idea why! Perhaps it was something to do with what was written on my umbrella? Who knows... Bar the rain, a good day out was had, if not a little soggy and muddy at times, including when I trod on a joint in the metal track road and it shot a jet of cold muddy water up my leg, litterally up my leg, betwen my boots and jeans causing me to squeel ever so slightly... Grrr... Fluke shot!


Today, I'm Most Angry About: New pre-packed pairs of curtains at B&Q specifying their size as 90" X 72", but not specifying if that is each curtain or the total! Grrr, annoying.

Grrr-O-Meter Rating: 3/10

Friday 26 May 2006

Word of the Week I...

I have many favourite words, and equally ones I do not like.

Years ago, I got ribbed at work for declaring this thought, especially as I would confess a new disliked word everyday, and for some reason, this caused much hilarity with co-workers? :-)
It's not that I like or dislike a particular word because it's meaning [real or not], It's just how it sounds when spoken that does it for me or not! *Dogga starts to suspect he's a little odd*

Wonderful Word of the Week:

Dogbow / n. & adj.
1. An arch of colours (conventionally red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet) formed by the spray off a wet dog when shaking itself opposite the sun by reflection, twofold refraction, and dispersion of the sun's rays in wet dog's spray or mist.

See photographic evidence here:

["Dogbow" Picture courtesy of www.spaceweather.com]

Rubbish Word of the Week:

bunting / n.
1. flags and other decorations.
2 a loosely woven fabric used for these.
[18th c.: origin unknown]

Don't ask why; I just can't stand the word 'bunting'! Grrr... Flags or decorations is fine, but errr... bunting *Dogga shudders after writing it for the 3rd time*

Today, I'm Most Angry About: The crap mixes my iPod came up with when using the shuffle songs feature, even after restarting the song shuffle many times! Some days it's got it, others it just ain't!
Grrr-O-Meter Rating: 1/10

Thursday 25 May 2006

HNT III...

My third HNT entry! Diving into the Villa's pool on holiday in Majorca - Spain last summer. ;->

Was this a bit too naughty to post?


Today, I'm Most Angry About: Getting stuck behind a White Hyundai doing 35mph the whole way to work! And they had a broken brake light AND never indicated once! Grrr
Grrr-O-Meter Rating: 2/10

Wednesday 24 May 2006

Recycle Rant...

This is something that's been building for a while, so here goes!

*Rant mode on*

This morning, I went for a walk around the block, and being mid-week, it's recycling box collection time, so every household has their recycling boxes placed outside, waiting to be emptied. However, me being nosey leads to the following rant!
It can be quite interesting to see the variety of things people consume in a week and it never fails to amaze me how many bottles of wine some people can conceivably consume in presumably one week, but it's far more entertaining *cough* infuriating just seeing how STUPID and IBECILIC most people actually are...

*Dogga takes several deep breaths*

Now, it's NOT hard to recycle your rubbish, one would presume, and this is the reason why...
A. The Council provided every household with two 100% recycled plastic boxes.
B. One of these boxes is black for paper, the other green for glass, plastic and metal.
C. The Council collects these boxes once a week from the front of your abode.
D. The Council provided an easy to understand, 'what to' and 'what not to' put in the recycle boxes. Careful; Here comes the science bit:

So, here's the plastic section's yes and nos. Now this concept is obviously faaaaaaar too much for most households to comprehend, as they stick the most ridiculous things into their recycle boxes, rendering the recycling process completely inefficient. Or they stick rubbish in their normal bin, when it could be recycled... AAAGGGHHH... Grrr... Lets see it go into landfill shall we, and as I do not live near a landfill sight, the rubbish I'm responsible for must obviously magically disappear if I pop it into my wheelie bin and the nice men come and take it away so the waste can be used by knomes to house themselves. Grrr... How convenient! Or if I pop it into a bin that's not in my home, it will also magically get dealt with too... Nooo, where possible, try and recycle it or take it home to do so!

I saw several plastic Easter egg inserts with foil inside the plastic insert. AAAGGGHHH, that plastic is NOT recyclable (it has a number 7 in a triangle embossed on it) and how do you expect the foil to get out of the plastic? Recycle fairies perhaps, tending to your struggling intellectual needs and sorting it out for you? *Breathe Dogga breathe*

The best thing I saw was a large used bottle of Branston Pickle, complete with metal lid still attached and full of pickle leftovers. OMG... Somebody hold Dogga back here. FFS... I mean come on... Grrr... So who is going to separate the metal from the glass here? And what about the rancid rotting food debris eh? Oh, that doesn't matter, I'll just pop it in the recycle box and sleep easily at night, in the knowledge I've done the right enviromentally friendly thing and somebody else will sort it out? I mean, perhaps they thought they where doing the right thing, as the Council will obviuosly be rinsing this bottle out and retuning it to Cross & Blackwell to be refilled with pickle again, plus they have the lid with it too, making it even more handy!!! Grrr... Nooo, put it in the normal rubbish bin if your not going to do it right you pathetic excuse for a decent human being. AAAGGGHHH...

*Dogga takes a few more deep breaths, as blood pressure rises rapidly*

The main one, as seen above, is 'No Bottle Tops'. This is mainly because they are made out of a different material E.G. NOT HDPE or PET 1 or 2, thus contaminating the recycling process and it also stops the bottle from being crushed easily, thus taking up unnecessary room with just air. However, the amount of bottles (like 90%) in people's recycle bins that still have the caps on is unbelievable! Duhhhh... Grrr... Insert tongue behind bottom lip and push really, really, really hard! *Dogga takes a deep breath*

Grrr... and these are the people who immediately complain when a local site is suggested for an incineration plant!

If everyone just tried a little bit and did it correctly, it would make a huge difference! If only people didn't have such an 'ahh whatever, just stick it in' approach to recycling, when it couldn't be made any simpler for them. I'm not talking about going really over-the-top here or being incredibly anal about this, it's just people's arrogance towards it that winds me up and how blasé they are about something that IS important and DOES make a difference and a solution HAS been provided for them in the most convenient and easiest of ways.

*Dogga counts backwards from 10 to keep calm - Rant mode off*

Today, I'm Most Angry About: See above!

Grrr-O-Meter Rating: 9/10

Monday 22 May 2006

Dial-a-Crate...

A friend at work handed me this business card the other day*, as he used the service and thought it was great.
What a superb enterpise eh, although it really made me laugh because the presentation is just all so wrong:

1. Dial-a-crate = Classy
I love the way this is coming from the quantity rather than quality perspective.

2. 24 hour booze = Refinement
Booze; not alcohol, drinks, beverages, refreshment or liquor... Booze!

3. Stella-Grolsh-Sprirts = Spoilt for choice
Lager, lager or spirits. I presume 'Lee' provides more selection, although at 3am, your probably not that fussy; desperate more like.


4. Generic clip art of the champagne bottle opening = Elegance
Should this not be someone hurling or fighting or doing something naughty they're going to regret the next day?

Now don't get me wrong, I love my 'booze', probably more than the next person, and I would readily use this service, should the need occur, it's just the presentation that made me laugh.

[* Dogga has business card pinned to his fridge, for such an emergency]

Today, I'm Most Angry About: People giving me odd looks in Sainsburys, that I presumed where focused on my new, rather dapper shirt, but I realise in the check-out queue, my necklace has come undone and is precariously hanging off my collar, looking a bit daft! Grrr
Grrr-O-Meter Rating: 1/10

Sunday 21 May 2006

Take Hold of Every Moment...

Years ago, I was e-mailed this story and I'm sure it's done the rounds, but it's something I always keep at hand, along with Desiderata.
Now this story may be made up, or even been part of an e-mail scam, but regardless, it portrays a message that everyone should keep in mind.
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A friend of mine opened his wife's underwear drawer and picked up a silk paper wrapped package:
"This, he said, isn't any ordinary package."

He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box.
"She got this the first time we went to New York, 8 or 9 years ago.
She has never put it on.
Was saving it for a special occasion."

"Well, I guess this is it."
He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothing's he was taking to the funeral house…
His wife had just died!

He turned to me and said:
"Never save something for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion".

I still think those words changed my life.
Now I read more and clean less.
I sit on the porch without worrying about anything.
I spend more time with my family, and less at work.
I understood that life should be a source of experience to be lived up to, not survived through.
I no longer keep anything.
I use crystal glasses every day.
I'll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket, if I feel like it.
I don't save my special perfume for special occasions. I use it whenever I want to.

The words "Someday..." and "One Day..." are fading away from my dictionary.
If it's worth seeing, listening or doing, I want to see, listen or do it now.

I don't know what my friend's wife would have done if she knew she wouldn't be there the next morning, this nobody can tell.
I think she might have called her relatives and closest friends.
She might call old friends to make peace over past quarrels.
I'd like to think she would go out for Chinese, her favourite food.

It's these small things that I would regret not doing, if I knew my time had come.
I would regret it; because I would no longer see the friends I would meet, write letters that I wanted to write "One of these days".
I would regret and feel sad, because I didn't say to my brothers and sons, not times enough at least, how much I love them.

Now, I try not to delay, postpone or keep anything that could bring laughter and joy into our lives.
And, on each morning, I say to myself that this could be a special day.
Each day, each hour, each minute, is special.
Remember that "One day" is far away…Or… Might never come…
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Today, I'm Most Angry About: Going to all of Kidderminster's DIY / home furnishing shops and not being able to find that white plastic coated metal chord, for hanging net curtains, so I can put some voile up in my spare bedrooms! [How sad is that?]
Grrr-O-Meter Rating: 1/10

Friday 19 May 2006

Peroxide and Parking...

This morning I went to have my hair 'styled' and dyed / highlighted / lowlighted or whatever they call it!
Now, I have never done this before and usually go for a short back and sides at a local barbers - cheap and cheerful.
However, recently I thought I would pay a few quid more and go to a professional stylist at Umberto Giannini's in Kidderminster.

On my last visit, my stylist Gemma, said I may want to consider some highlight thingy's, so I thought hey, why not, you only live once!

Here's the result! They are subtle, as I told her I didn't want to look like a bleach-haired chav, but you can just see the mousey coloured highlights on top! Rubbish photo really though, but they are very much there - honest, and I have taken plenty a ribbing from fellow employees at work today! "But Am I Boverd?"

Anyhow, from having my hair Peroximafied, I went straight to circuit training and COMPLETELY FORGOT to get another parking ticket, resulting in mine running over by an hour and this excess charge ticket being under my drivers-side windscreen wiper when I returned to my car. Grrr

I know I'm in the wrong, but it does annoy the crap out of me to think how much I have stuffed into those machines over the years and how many times I have over paid because of not having the right amount of change etc. Grrr
I now have to write a cheque for the grand sum of £30, because of my mistake... Whoopee!

Today, I'm Most Angry About: All the times I have over paid for a parking ticket or bought a parking ticket, even though I'm only popping into a shop or something, because I'm honest like that, and then getting fined for when I genuinely forget. Grrr
Grrr-O-Meter Rating: 7/10

Thursday 18 May 2006

HNT II...

My second ever HNT entry.
This was taken at my recent Centre Parcs visit, after being goaded into entering the cold plunge pool... again!

I think I exited the ridiculously cool pool too fast, as it nearly took my trunks off! ;-> Oops...


Today, I'm Most Angry About: Waking at 5:10am and not getting back to sleep until 10 minutes before my alarm went off! Grrr

Grrr-O-Meter Rating: 3/10

Wednesday 17 May 2006

Resourceful Wrapping...

This evening, accompanying many other tasks and chores, I wrapped a present for my Niece's 13th birthday tomorrow. Yay...
[Let the irrational mood swings commence]

Now being male* and having no female around the house, I assumed I had enough wrapping paper in stock; even after my sister had offered me some, and I just passed the offer off saying, "yeah, I've got plenty in Sis."

I also did the male thing of leaving it until 10pm this evening to wrap it.

OK, so put all of this together and add a few beers... What do you get?

This, is what you get...


Now don't laugh! It was this or Merry Christmas paper, so I though I would justify my creation with it being environmentally conscious, as it uses up the two non specific wrapping paper bits I had left over, that other wise would of gone in the bin.

I'm rather proud of this, and my Sis #2 went halves with me on the present, and trusted me to wrap it, so I feel some sisterly love is headng my way, especially as both papers are silver, it's perfectly wrapped and I only messed up writing the gift tag twice; luckily getting it correct on the third and final gift tag.

[* Although not according to Kayla's Blog's Brain test]

Today, I'm Most Angry About: Sellotape! Grrr! Dagnammit Sellotape! Grrr! Sellotape and it's magic disappearing end! Grrr! Sellotape and its 'stick to your arm hair' magnetism! Grrr! Sellotape and its refusal to be broken unless human teeth are involved! Grrr! Sellotape... I love you...

Grrr-O-Meter Rating: 1/10

Monday 15 May 2006

How Did I End Up Here..?

Now, I must profess; occasionally I tend to go into times of spontaneous randomness or I go into sporadic dream-like states, whereby my consciousness seems to temporarily shut off and gives complete control over to my subconscious or some other random part of my brain that reckons it can handle the running of a human beings' body for a little while. [This isn't an illness, it's just part of being me ;-)]

This frequently happens when I'm driving, but not in a dangerous way; I just simply diverge from the planned route and end up heading in a completely different direction, meaning I have to make a U-turn ASAP once I realise.
Now if I'm with passengers, this never fails to stupefy them and many of my friends will vouch that I will just drive in a straight line* until told otherwise, once I've gone into one of my 'Dogga moments'.
What normally happens is: After going over a junction or roundabout, I pick up on the sudden cease in conversation accompanied by a slow turning passenger head in my direction, complete with confused frown, as if to say, "where on Earth are you going..?"

Anyway, on the weekend, I believe I excelled myself when picking up booze from Sainsburys for the weekend.

I was meandering around with a small trolley, trying not to run over the 'heavy petting' couples whose concentration was more on their tongues than their feet, and I thought OK, I have everything now, but I should get a bottle of white wine, for stock at least, but that's now down the other end of the supermarket.

So, I turn around and head off in the wine direction, but a 'Dogga moment' must have kicked in along the way, as the next thing I know, what I can see is this:
Yup... I'm stood, along with a few other shoppers, right in the middle of the pet food aisle, with dog food to my right and cat food to my left... OoooooooooooooooooooohK... How did I get here?

THEN, I realise I'm squeezing these, as if feeling for their freshness or something: WTF! I let go of the dog chews and I feel completely disorientated, as I genuinely have no idea how I got here and have never been in the pet food section in my life, as I don't, and never have owned a pet, other than a hamster etc when I was younger!

I felt most peculiar, like a small child would who has found themselves at the top of the stairs after sleepwalking for the first time; feeling like they'd been magically transported there.
Now I know there's a known phenomenon, with broody women, who will do a similar thing with baby goods; but is it really possible for me to be broody for a dog?

I would love a dogga and always have done since childhood, and I pine for one now more than ever. I'm a real dog lover (as you may of guessed), but due to my work and gadabout life style, it wouldn't be fair on the canine to be left alone for long periods of time.

It's rather concerning though, because what am I capable of when I go into one of 'my moments'?

Any suggestions people..?

[* Not literally, I would crash. I will just keep going until an unfamiliar T junction or similar shakes me out if it]

Photos courtesy of always-keeping-my-digital-camera-in-my-pocket-for-such-an-occasion.

Today, I'm Most Angry About: Going through all of my CDs, trying to find a couple of missing discs that may be hiding in the wrong cases, but then, after half an hour, spot the missing blighters sat in a neat pile, out of their cases, waiting to be rehoused, on a shelf! Grrr
Grrr-O-Meter Rating: 1/10

Saturday 13 May 2006

Less 10%..?

This afternoon, I popped into Halfords. (My local car and bike accessory shop.)

I was only going in for a can of mountain-bike oil, but I thought I would have myself a quick peruse through the latest gadgets and accessories and came across a nice ‘Ultra Comfortable’ saddle that I was tempted by, especially as it was reasonably priced.
I scrupulously inspected the saddle and even popped it between my legs to try it for size, although that’s rather futile without it being on an actual bike and it looks a little odd holding a saddle to your bum and pushing as hard as possible, trying to get even the slightest incling of its claims' legitimacy!

Anyway, half way through this possible acquisition decision, I was approached by a rather debonair guy, who looked like he was about to ask me something… and I was right:

Guy: "Hi, how are you?"
Dogga: "Fine thanks, and you?"
Guy: "Good thanks… That saddle looks nice!"
Dogga: "Yeah, it does, I’m rather tempted by it!"
Guy: [Boldly reaches out to feel the saddle that I’m holding, but accidentally squeezes a couple of my fingers that are underneath, causing him to rapidly remove his hand. Although this does not sway him from his audacious approach]
Guy: "So, are you having a nice day?"
Dogga: "Errr... yeah... and it would be even better if I could find a saddle I liked."
Guy: "Oh, so do you come here often?"
Dogga: "Erm… kind of… I live just up the road, so it’s convenient for me to pop in for bike parts and car cleaning stuff etc now and again."
Guy: "Great!"
Dogga: "OK…" [and carries on fingering the saddle]
Guy: "Did you know lots of people are getting 10% off stuff from Halfords with vouchers."
Dogga: "Erm... Nope."
[OK, what's going on here?]
Guy: "Would you be interested in saving 10% on today’s purchase?"
Dogga: "Maybe, but it’s not normally worth it with low value purchases!" [Ah, I see! Now I start to smell a rat, but ears prick up like some one opening a packet of crisps in front of a dog. 10% is 10% after all!]
Guy: "Yeah? We could also send you vouchers through the post to spend throughout the year, until December 1st, if you prove to be a regular customer."
Dogga: "Mmm, maybe, but it depends on what it involves."
Guy: [Magically produces a clipboard and biro he’s been holding behind his back, that has a wedge of generic photocopied credit application forms attached to the front]
Dogga: "Erm, I’m not sure if I’m…"
Guy: [Rudely interrupts with] "Ah, what’s you last name then? Mr… Err… 'James'?"
Dogga: "Erm, what? Err... Nope, and I’m not interested thanks." [Friendly ‘go away’ smile thrown in too]
Guy: [Writes down the word ‘Mr’ on the dotted line that starts with ‘Applicants Name:…’]
Dogga: [Ignores this and carries on analysing the saddle, but keeping his head forward, moves his eyes to the right (action man toy style) to notice, out the corner of my eye, he’s still stood there, pen in hand, grinning inanely]
Guy: "…"
Dogga: [Uncomfortable silence, bordering on being unbearable if it carries on two seconds longer, but starts to read features label attached to saddle regardless]
Guy: "So, Mr… 'James'… was it?"
Dogga: "NO! LOOK; I don't want a Halfords credit card! THANK YOU!"

(I’d rather pay someone the 10% I could of saved on having him removed from my face!)
Guy: [Halfwitted smile still intact] "Are you sure?"
Dogga: ".......??? YES!" [Startled bunny look] (Is there no stopping this guy?)
Guy: [Goes to put his hand out to shake mine, but changes his mind and retracts it while slinking back off behind a stack of bikes from where he appeared from]

Grrr… Talk about a sales spiel! He could have just asked me if I was interested in a Halfords store card scheme, to save 10%, from the beginning, rather than shove a rubbish sales pitch in my face and pretend to be interested in what I’m buying etc. Grrr… I hate that kind of sales trickery and ‘pretending to be your mate’ stuff!
Grrr! [That's 3 grrr's in one sentence!]


Today, I'm Most Angry About: [Bar the above] Couples 'heaving petting' while they walk up and down the aisles in my local supermarket, when I'M shopping too!!!
No particular reason... Other than IT'S NOT HAPPENING TO ME :'''(
Grrr-O-Meter Rating: 5/10

Friday 12 May 2006

Desiderata...

If everyone were made to read this or had this recited to them, say once a week; would the world be a better place..?
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Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.
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Today, I'm Most Angry About: Everyone seemingly getting thunderstorms by them and there being nothing around here, apart from two very distant rumbles. Grrr. I looove thunderstorms!
Grrr-O-Meter Rating: 1/10

Thursday 11 May 2006

HNT I

While sorting through some other Centre Parcs photos, I came across this one from Saturday mornings' canoeing session and thought it an ideal opportunity for my first Half-Nekkid Thursday entry!


Today, I'm most angry about: This Blogspot editing software that continually plays up in the form of not letting you upload pictures, making the text disappear while editing until preview is pressed and always asking you log in, regardless if you've done this like ten times already! Grrr

Grrr-O-Meter Rating: 5/10

Wednesday 10 May 2006

Centre Parcs...

I have returned from my long weekend break to Centre Parcs, in Longleat, bruised and absolutely shattered, but an outright cracking time was had.

The 9 of us (10 in my last entry, I know... I made an ickle mistake) got on really well and made great company.
Many laughs were had, lots of activities where taken part in [some extra curricular] and we all ate out every night, swilling plenty of yeast 'n' malt brew and fermented grape juice, adding to the merriment.


The Pool:
This has to be one of the best parts of Centre Parcs, as there is so much to do in the pool, from relaxing in the outdoor hot tub [;->] and playing in the wave machine, to throwing yourself down slides at break neck speeds and going down a large rapids flume outside. Also, daring one another to go into a cold plunge pool they have. (Mart never went in...wuss.. Rightly named and publicly shamed now though! See him below] :)
So much fun was had, although mainly because we were all acting like big kids and racing one another down slides etc in the usual lads 'n' laddettes type of way.

We purchased a waterproof 35mm camera and got some good shots.
Here’s most of the crew about to enter the rapids:


From left to right: 'Mart', Duncs, Dogga, Kees, Nephew, The Silver Fox, Niece.
(Missing Andy, who's taking the photo, and my sis, whose back was too bad to partake)

Dogga underwater

Dogga, Kees, Silver Fox and Duncs baring the cold plunge pool for a photo. [See the sign in the background] You would not belive how quickly we exited after the picture was taken! :-)

Two of us decided to use The Silver Fox as a human body board, by piling on top of him down the large rapid slide, riding him (for want of a better expression) to the bottom! He was not best pleased, but didn't really have much of a choice in the matter. :-)

Revenge was had though, when three of us decided to race down the afore mentioned water slope (head first), but, unknowingly to me, they let me start slightly early so they could grab my trunks and pull them down, leaving me to helplessly slide down the open air shute with my bottom on show to all, much to the amusement of the rest of the party and many other onlookers. :-O Luckily, I'm not of a shy disposition and it wouldn't be the first time my bare bum was bared to all! Inevitability, it will not be the last either!


10-Pin Bowling:
We all decided to book a couple of lanes and have an hours worth of cocktail-fuelled 10-pin bowling. Ahhh, we got through several pitchers of Pina Colada, Tequila Sunrise and some other concoctions, which could only of kept the bowling ball going in a straight line… But did it? Waaaay

10-pin Bowling Tequila Sunrise Fuel

Andy going for a serious attempt at a strike...

My Niece using laser guidance

Regardless of the alcohol, I won, although there's no proof, as the scores are not kept or printed, but I got 115, wiping the floor with all the other scores, honest! Shhh… TeeHee…

Jump Zone:
Not really sure for the true name for this, but it's something I did for the first time last year, so I knew what to expect and what to do, but there where four others who had a go too, who had no idea just how disorientating and tiring it is.
It costs £5 for 3 minutes, which seems a short time, but beleive me, you couldn’t go on for longer, as it really is excruciatingly exhausting.



I managed to do the maximum 3 forward rolls in one jump, which requires some serious height and makes you feel like your going to pass out after completing. LOL

Misc:

Kees and my Nephew were playing in the sand, building and burying stuff, although I have no idea what this contruction was about! ;-) However, I found it made a rather conveinient beer can holder while taking the photo...

Dogga, not being able to control himself, and giving in to having a go on the kids zip line! [See my Niece looking a tad impatient, as I take three goes in a row... Oops]

Duncs giving my Nephew a piggyback, who thought it was most entertaining to moon the rest of the party without the knowledge of the transporter! How rude; He doesn't get that from my side of the family... Honest! You'd never catch me performing in such a way in public.

Hahaha, that reminds me! My Neice was after something to read at the other challete, but the only magazine around was New Scientist. We all commented on how boring it was*, as it has no problem pages, so my Niece added, "Yeah, true, but it would be a bit boring anyhow, as it would just say someting like: Dear New Scientist, I can't get my experiment to explode, please help!" LOL, very quick! Not quite the juicy goss you would normally expect.


Safari Park:
On the last day, we left early to visit Longleats’ Safari park.
I love all the animals and always really want to get out and fuss them all, much to the bemusement of my sister, but I reckon I really would be severely savaged if I tried to do so. :-(

We had two carloads going round, and I caught a naughty monkey ripping off the window seal on the Silver Fox's car, much to Kees's surprise, if you look closey at the passenger seat!

Monkeys

[Many photo's had to left out of this Blog entry, but it had to be severly edited to keep it's size resonable]

[* I actually like New Scientist]

Today, I'm most angry about: Waking up at 5am this morning [as normal recently] and my mind going off on one, thinking about stuff, not allowing me to get back to sleep. Grrr
Grrr-O-Meter Rating: 3/10

Friday 5 May 2006

Weekend Break...

This morning (very much not with Richard and Judy) I'm off for a long weekend break to Centre Parcs in Longleat: http://www.centerparcs.co.uk/villages/longleat/index.jsp
I've been to them all many times before (including the Oasis one), all of which are great, but Longleat is the best one, in my humble opinion.

There are several family members and friends going, totalling 10!
It should be a bit of an action type break with many activities, much eating and boozing, and a few laughs thrown in for good measure!

I'm now off to sit on my suitcase in a vein attempt to get it closed. For some reason, I've got loads of stuff with me, somehow... And I'm not even female! [Kidding] (That statement should get me into trouble) LOL

Today, I'm most angry about: It taking me 3 attempts to make a cup of coffee this morning... DOH... poor that one away... Grrr... Oh, for a naughty words sake... poor that one away... Grrr... Woot, I got one at last! Yay
All of this is can be blamed on one single powerful force of nature I often frequent with: 'Muppetry'
Grrr-O-Meter Rating: 1/10

Wednesday 3 May 2006

Dentistry...

Yesterday morning, I went for my annual routine dental check up.
Normally, this involves taking an hour or so off work, preferably in the morning, then having my dentist poke in my mouth for 30 seconds, fleece me £15 for the privilege and send me on my way while muttering something about me booking an appointment for a years time.

Now I'm quite used to this yearly visit and have fairly good teeth and rarely need any work, however, yesterday's session revealed some new decay in a bottom right molar. Grrr...
Mr Dentist asked if I would like a filling done today, so I agreed, but only if he could do it there and then, due to work. He said yes, and delighted in telling me he was going to put my mouth to sleep for 3 hours and accompanied the jovial statement with a little chuckle (like Dr Hibbert off the Simpson's).

Now visiting regularly and having much orthodontist work done when I was younger, I'm not particularly nervous about dentists or the idea of a filling, but I really did not expect it, especially having it done there and then and expecting to be out of there in 30 seconds.
He stuck the injection in and prodded about a bit and thoughtfully decided I actually need two fillings, so might as well do them both at the same time! Superb, why not, in fact lets have a party in Dogga's mouth eh! Pfff...
Here's where they went:
He gave me the option of having a colour matched white filling or the usual metal filling, so I told him I wasn't bothered and being as he's the only person who ever looks in there, it's up to him. :->

He installed the usual metal ones and informed me they are more reliable and last longer than the white ones!

He had a rather nifty new system with a camera, complete with 19" LCD monitor, so you could see your teeth up close 'n personal and he showed me the decay on the screen, took a screen capture and commenced work with his assistant poking all sorts of gadgetry into my chops.

After drilling the two teeth, he thought I might be interested in seeing his handy work, although he was sadly mistaken, but as I showed initial interest in the new technology, I didn't really get a choice. Not really wanting to see my two freshly drilled out teeth, he was more than enthusiastic to get the camera stuck right in there and took another screen capture for me. Cool; maybe I could download it as Windows wallpaper! Grrr

He then did the fillings, leaving the before-and-after-drilling screen shots up, which was nice. [Lie]

Anyhow, all was fine, but it did take me until lunchtime before my bottom lip felt like normal size again! (Why does anaesthetic always affect your lips like that I wonder?)

Today, I'm most angry about: My car deciding to throw yet another spaz right in the middle of me manoeuvring onto my drive. It stuck in neutral and refused to budge no matter what I did, kind of Herbie style! Grrr... Is my car trying to humiliate me?

I had two cars squeeeeeeeeeeeeeze past and one not wanting to try it, so they had to wait a few minutes before I could reset the car and get it all working again, but with large warning lights in the form of cogs with an exclamation mark in the middle flashing at me; whatever that means?
Grrr-O-Meter Rating: 3/10

Tuesday 2 May 2006

Biscuits...

While sat on the throne at work today, I was having a quick peruse through this months edition of T3 magazine, (as you do) and I noticed this on the back page and it made me chuckle...


[Click for larger]

Today, I'm most angry about: Having to go to the dentist... More to come...

Grrr-O-Meter Rating: 2/10

Monday 1 May 2006

Leporidae Love...

My sister is currently looking after a friend of the families' rather voluminous rabbit, 'Floppsy'.
He's staying for the Bank holiday weekend while the owners are on holiday and he's the most adorable thing ever. (Apart from dogs, of course)

My Niece has a pet rabbit called Ben, so the likes of this beast is not new to my sis's household, hence it being the ideal place to be looked after for the weekend.
However, my Niece's pet, Ben Rabbit, is a Norwegian dwarf with attitude* and I seem to be the only person who's really at one with him. Probably because he receives ample amounts of fussing on a regular basis, whether he likes it or not, although he is quite happy to sit there and take it from me. Becuase of this, I guess he knows me and my smell very well?
[* He does have a tendency to growl if you do something he doesn't like; for example, poking him really hard, tweaking his ears or flicking his nose... Kidding... He growls when you take his food bowl out of his cage to refill it etc.]

Floppsy, on the other hand, is anyone's mate, especaially if you have food, so me and my bro in law decided to see what would happen if I got a carrot out while has out having a run.
The answer is, you get mauled, licked, trodden on and generally savaged by the rabbit, as he will do absolutely anything to get some of the tasty orange veg:

Whopping rabbit seeks out goody Dogga has just produced

He has no problem climbing on Dogga to get what he wants

Floppsy giving Dogga a bit of snuffling


He does make a good pillow though
[Also, gives off a special force making Dogga look a right goon]



If in need of an emergency comedy moustache? Not a problem when Floppsy is around!


Today, I'm most angry about: The left side of my HiFi going down, and after much trial 'n error, found it was the left channel of my CD player. The phono lead had bust. (Penknife and soldering iron soon fixed that though!)
Grrr-O-Meter Rating: 1/10