Excruciating isn't it? But my toes are curled when I saw I'd spent more on biscuits and stuff than I did on veg. Excuse: I use quite a bit of frozen veg which is listed separately. They've opened another can of worms for me to worry about. I can barely believe they paid someone to compute the statistics and impart such useless information to cause disgruntlement and malcontent. Well I'm disgruntled and a bit cross they didn't mentioned how I'd spent the unmentioned missing 31.33%!
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It's Earth Day today - I've been aware of it in recent years but apparently it's been going since 1970. There's been much debate and criticism on matters pursued by the environmentalists which I guess will continue to be argued. Some experts say that some of the good intentioned projects are failing and not doing enough to stem climate change. For example, campaigner Greta Thunberg tweeted in 2022 that Earth Day "...has turned into an opportunity for people in power to post their 'love' for the planet, while at the same time destroying it at maximum speed".
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I guess she has made a good point, it's clear we not any nearer to improving matters. Heroic environmentalists, David Attenborough and Chris Packham, must be in despair and probably so too are all the "right minded" people who take these things seriously. I've just visited The International Rescue Committee website who warn of the dangers currently faced by many countries around the world - drought, famine, war, terrorism, climate change and natural disaster etc. It's a gory story: forty plus countries are in dire need and there is a list of around ten who are facing total disaster - and it's all happening now! The weather people have just announced that 2024 will be the hottest ever recorded in the UK.
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Iambic pentameter (pronounced eye-AM-bik pen-TAM-i-ter) is a rhythmic pattern that consists of ten syllables per line, with alternating stressed and unstressed syllables. The pattern that emerges sounds like this: da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM. I'm just preparing myself for a session of da-DUM-ing. Gadzooks! |
5th April 2024
Wow! There's excitement in the air... my little group of writer friends is buzzing with news of Cora's book. We say mega congratulations to our literary friend, Cora. Her first novel is hot off the press and awaits our attention. A big "well done Cora" for undertaking the necessary research, the many hours spent glued to your computer inputting text; and finally, the difficult and lengthy task of knocking a manuscript into shape. Navigating the complexities of getting into print is no mean feat, one has to sort out an ISBN numbers, endless discussions with editors which includes arguing what stays in and what comes out, the decisions can be fraught and seemingly endless. The story is set in Ludlow, the hometown of Cora's ancestors. Although it is a work of fiction, she found her inspiration from her family roots and stories that have been passed on over the years. Cora will be signing copies of her opus majus at the book shop in Ludlow high street. It is also available on Amazon. I've had another busy morning at the hospital, including blood tests. I was told that there's one or two more investigations to come plus some therapy/exercise sessions for my arthritis in the interests of maintaining mobility. I was reprimanded for not wearing gloves today as my hands had turned a weird colour by the time I saw the practitioner. Oh dear! |
The sun comes up and the sun goes down
The hands on the clock keep a-goin' 'round I just get up and it's time to lay down Life gets tee-jus don't it, hmm,,, My shoes untied but I don't care I ain't a-figurin' on goin' nowhere For I'd have to wash and comb my hair And that's just wasted effort The water in the well's gettin' lower and lower Can't take a bath at six months more But I've heared it said and it's true, I'm sure That to much bathin' will weaken yer I opened the door an' the flies swarm in Closed the door and I'm sweatin' again And in the process crack my shin Just one darn thing after another Old brown mule he must be sick I jambed him in the rump with a pin on a stick He humped his back but he wouldn't kick Now there's something cock-eyed somewhere |
A mouse a-chewin' on the pantry door
He's been at it fer a month or more When he gets through he'll sure be sore 'Cause there ain't a darned thing in there Hound dog howlin' so forlorn Laziest dog that was ever born He's a-howlin' 'cause he's a-sittin' on a thorn An' just too tired to move over The tin roof leaks and chimney leans An' there's a hole in the seat of my old blue jeans And I ate the last of the pork and beans Just can't depend on nothin' Cow's gone dry and the hens won't lay Fish quit bittin' and it's Saturday Troubles are pilin' up day by day And now I'm gettin' dandruff Grief and misery, pains and woes Debts and taxes, yea, so it goes I think I'm gettin' a cold in my nose Life gits tee-jus don't it?... |
29th March 2024
Phew! I thought I'd never squeeze through the door into our chatting space again... Apologies for the long absence: invaders had wheedled their way in so I sent for trusty Richard to come and boot them up the backside. I've also had several hospital visits plus a few unwell days, but I'm ready for a catch up today. So; hi everyone, I hope you've all been ticking along spurred on by the promise of chocolate eggs, hot cross buns, and maybe some warmer spring weather. This week's hospital trips were action packed. First one was for steroid injections into my hands - bit painful, bloody sore afterwards, but feeling better now although I'm still dropping things - it's surprising how one can't manage without thumbs in working order. I can't even squeeze a hair thingy without uttering undesirable invective (can't think what they're called, those things that grab your hair out of the way when it's too messy for polite society. |
1st March 2024
Happy St David's Day - bring out the leeks, daffodils, dragons, castles and all things Welsh. There's loads of folklore and traditions associated with today's date but I think the usual leek in the hatband and daffodil on the lapel will suffice for today. Here's a quirky little fact to ponder - up until the 16th century, in Wales the daffodil was called affodil a variant of aphodel. |
26th February 2024
Welcome to a new week - to date no medical matters in our diary, we have a week off from all the NHS stuff. A tiny bit busy this morning... I pushed a few buttons on the washing machine. Bern's in the garden pegging it on the line. Then we wandered off for a mooch round the Co-op. I popped a bunch of daffs into our basket as I fancied a taste of Spring - Just a metaphorical taste, I don't eat 'em! My hands and arms are painful today and I had to offload my handbag on Bern in the supermarket - no doubt we looked an odd couple but it's only because of my painful joints; most of the time we're normal-ish. I think... |
14th February 2024
Anyone one doing the hearts and flowers thing for St Valentine's day? I reckon it's become just another overpriced commercial catch-penny day - an opportunity for us to part with a load of dosh in exchange for stuff we could do without. I'm a critical kill-joy when confronted with mercenary money-makers. Perhaps cupid will pop in to help settle the dust. I also note that it's now referred to as Valentine's Day - has Valentine been demoted to an ordinary guy and defrocked of his Saint status? |
If Candlemas Day be dry and fair
The half o'winter's to come and mair, If Candlemas Day be wet and foul The half o'winter's gane at Yule. |
Down with the holly, ivy, all
Wherewith ye dress'd the Christmas hall That so the superstitious find Not one least branch left there behind. |
1st February 2024
White rabbits and all that stuff... however, I've just been reading that uttering "white rabbits" on the first of the month only brings you luck if it's the first thing you say aloud on waking. Too late for me then, my first words are always "what time is it?" No one seems to know how the superstition originated. The 1909 book "Notes and Queries" states that children were in the habit of ensuring 'rabbit' was the first word spoken aloud on the first day of the month hoping that it would bring them luck. This is considered the earliest reference to “white rabbits” Not that long ago then, what's a hundred years or so in the grand scheme of things? |
23rd January 2024
There's trouble at mill today... actually it's a tiresome cock-up with hospital appointments. Last Tuesday I had a phone call telling me to attend Rheumatology today and they would send a letter with the appointment time. I waited all week but no letter. This morning I spent ages on the phone trying to get someone to tell me what time to be there. Outcome: no appointment after all, the secretary I spoke with promised to chase the consultant and this afternoon I received a message to say this morning's appointment will now take place on 19th March. Disgruntlement rumbles - right now I'm a patient who's short of patience. |
17th January 2024
Three of our little guys have been on the rampage in Rotterdam and are due home today. Carol, Andy, and Toni took them to visit Jon and Zara Pics are on their page. |
Rheumatology consultant rang yesterday. He's decided I need a face-to-face visit following recent happenings, It's scheduled for next week. Yet more medical stuff: Bern has a hospital visit tomorrow for "further investigations" following his recent MRI scan. Looks like we're both a bit out of sorts at the mo. All I can say is, we shall plod on and look forward to spring. |
1st January 2024
Morning all, here we are at the start of another year. I'll bypass the usual perennial platitudes and sentimental slush that gets churned out at New Year, however I sincerely hope that the coming year manages to treat you well. Recent years haven't been the best in UK and around the world so I'm sure you'll join me in hoping for better times to come despite the sound of rattling sabres in certain areas of the our planet. |
Apologies for my somewhat maudlin start to the New Year, maybe it's the bleak wet weather that's dampened my spirits, damp being particularly pertinent. I've also had to confront the absolute antithesis of "happy" by carrying out my first chore of the day - i.e. coughing up for my Road Tax - it took all of one minute online to part with £180 just so that I can drive to the Co-op. I reckon some days refuse to be fun days.
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And there's yet more anti-fun going on. Have you ever suffered a real good crick in your neck? Three days ago I woke up with a stiff aching neck. I've no idea why. Over the next couple of days the pain intensified forcing me to think hair-tearing time was nigh as I'd spent two nights trying to sleep sitting up. It's calmed down a bit now so (hopefully) it'll soon be time for me to let go the self-pity.
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