tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85741999814551062692023-11-15T14:07:33.740+00:00round the writers blockSometimes, working on the monkeys and Shakespeare theory, I think if I ramble enough I might eventually write something worthwhile.
Lets give it a try..........Toadeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217335281091498806noreply@blogger.comBlogger457125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574199981455106269.post-84026645004329870932013-04-24T11:57:00.004+01:002013-04-24T11:57:59.171+01:00Don't judge meEverywhere I look, at work, around the area I live, on social media, I am constantly reminded not to judge others as to do so is discrimination and for a long time I've been uncomfortable with the whole concept.<br />
I want to say here and now that I DO judge. I judge politics, i judge what people do, how they act and how they look. I believe that it's human nature and my guess is that most people are the same.<br />
we are given 'judgement' for a reason we judge the safety of a situation, we judge the merits of a job, a relationship or a person. We use our life experience to calculate the likelihood of a person liking us, helping us, mugging us or stealing from us.Gosh, I even judge whether a person is attractive (imo), intelligent or overweight.<br />
In employment the workforce has been dumbed down by not allowing managers to exercise the judgement they are paid to have. Most interviews I have attended in the last decade could've been conducted by a computer and I have lost count of the number of ways in which an applicant can 'learn' how to get a job (without necessarily having the skills required).<br />
Yes, I fully understand that some sectors of society have been discriminated against (and still are) but to give someone a job because they tick the right race/gender/sexuality box is wrong and is a wonderful disincentive to learning.<br />
By all means have laws to protect those who are discriminated against but don't let them get to the stage where they are abused and make fools of us all.<br />
I am human, I am made up of negatives and positives, I expect to be judged and i would appreciate it if that judgement is honest and up front.Toadeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217335281091498806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574199981455106269.post-32560019625217975562012-02-01T13:45:00.000+00:002012-02-01T13:45:33.923+00:00the business of banking<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Every time I go into my bank they tell me that their interest rates on loans are 'best ever' and that, as a valued customer, they would love me to talk to them about some borrowing.<br />
So, at the moment things are tight finacially and, to be honest, we have beem struggling to keep our heads above water since I had to leave my job through ill health and take on a lower paid one.<br />
We arranged an appointment and explained to the very pleasant, helpful young man that we wanted to consolidate our existing loan and a number of credit and store cards whose interest rates were crippling us. He was optomistic that something could be sorted out and said he would discuss the best way forward with his manager. Later he called me to say they wanted to look at new lending to cover the existing loan and all but one credit card. I agreed and it was sent on to the lending services department.<br />
I have just received a call from our helpful chap who apologised that, although he and his manager could see the benefit of restructuring, lending services had said no.<br />
We would get a yes if we didn't use our overdraft all the time and if WE hadn't decided to stop using my main credit card.<br />
Apparently this is all about the banks duty of care to us but I'm at a loss to see how as the restructuring would clear most debts and would cost us less per month.<br />
<br />
It seems that if we were in a position where we didn't need to use our overdraft and if we were using a wallet full of credit cards then we could borrow money but of course if that were the case we wouldn't need to!<br />
<br />
It was obvious from talking to the man at the bank that all the people involved wanted to lend us the money but the very clever computer said no.<br />
<br />
So why is it that when it comes to lending a long term customer a few grand experienced bank managers aren't allowed to make a decision but when we are talking about millions gambled on the stock market any boy with a suit and a GCSE from a 'good' school can play?</div>Toadeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217335281091498806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574199981455106269.post-84342422772154308222011-09-04T10:15:00.000+01:002011-09-04T10:15:36.209+01:00if you've got your hands full I'll hold that grudge for you......<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">well maybe i won't, truth is I'm not very good at holding things (I think the only thing I hold well is secrets). <br />
<br />
You know how it is with grudges, when you first get them they are all hot and steamy, a veritable hotpot of fresh, wholesome ingredients. You can't always identify all the ingredients and, truth be told, it's not always possible to say what meat is but you WANT it and you anticipate enjoying it.<br />
<br />
Oh dear, I seem to be drifting off into food heaven.<br />
<br />
So, grudges. There have been a number of times when people have badly hurt me, things like false lovers, false friends, bad neighbours and bad employers. At the time I spent a great deal of time plotting my revenge (well I am a scorpio) and I do have information which could severely hurt some of these people. <br />
But today I find myself thinking 'what the hell' trust Karma and take control of life because none of these people matter.Whoops, I've dropped another grudge!<br />
<br />
Actually, I only wrote this because I said good morning to a neigbour as I left the house for work and her grunt was so reluctant and full of ill grace that I laughed all the way to the bus stop.<br />
<br />
Now, about that hotpot...........</div>Toadeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217335281091498806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574199981455106269.post-90600961020164126062011-06-13T23:49:00.000+01:002011-06-13T23:49:49.865+01:00The Good, the Bad and the ......'you didn't!'...........did you?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Last Saturday I, along with my family, attended a charity ceilidh which was the culmination of my youngest brothers fundraising for 5 charities close to his heart. The event was to present cheques to the charities for the money raised when he completed the Marathon des Sables.<br />
<br />
<br />
Anyway, it was a good night and more money was raised, people had fun and the odd face from the past popped up....ah, yes, the faces from the past.<br />
When i arrived I was surprised to see that the barmaid was an ex girlfriend of mine but these things happen, Leeds is a big city but we have been bouncing around it for a quarter of a century since we parted ways and chance encounters happen. Moments later I look across the room and there is another of my ex's........ I now start looking around for hidden cameras and t.v etc. two in one night? this is getting weird. I was just in the middle of confiding in my son when who should I spot across the not very crowded room but ex number 3!<br />
<br />
Friends told me, during the evening that ex's #4 and #5 were originally attending but had been unable to make it :o)<br />
<br />
I was pleased to see one but fairly horrified to see one of the others for reasons only a few of my close long term friends will understand.<br />
Because there is a possibility that one of the ladies mentioned could read this I wish to clarify that the title of this blog item refers to my state of mind and not to personal attributes.</div>Toadeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217335281091498806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574199981455106269.post-70750212876741309712011-05-24T23:13:00.000+01:002011-05-24T23:13:55.058+01:00A dry run - starring the man with no brain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Here is a tragic tale which reflects life in Britain in the 21st century and the falling level of ability and intelligence in staff at our supermarkets.<br />
<br />
Last weekend we celebrated my daughters 19th birthday and, she decided she would have a barbecue in the garden. With this in mind she went to our local supermarket, a branch of Morrisons. Because there was a lot of shopping she was accompanied by her boyfriend (aged 19) and her sister and cousin (both 17). As they began to place cases of beer in their trolley they were approached by the security guard who told them that they could not purchase alcohol and must take it out of the trolley. Both my daughter and her boyfriend showed proof of their age but were told that they could be buying alcohol for the under age people with them. To save argument my daughter asked if it would be ok if her dad came down and bought the beer and was told that this would be fine. I arrived and we began to re-load the trolley watched by the security man who then decided to tell me that I would not, in fact, be able to buy the booze. He began to speak to my daughter's boyfriend in a confrontative and belittling manner and I asked him to stop, explaining that to refer to an adult male as 'boy' was not good customer relations. A manager approached and explained that he couldn't serve me as I was associated with my daughter who might have been buying alcohol for under age drinkers. I explained that I was indeed buying alcohol for my daughter as it was her 19th birthday and that I was quite prepared to admit to being associated with all my children, 3 of whom are currently 'under age'<br />
We left having told them that we would shop elsewhere. As we left we were told that two other people had just been refused service because they had been seen talking to people who looked under 18.<br />
<br />
<br />
A supermarket has the right to refuse to serve anyone but they should also have the right to employ people with brains and should provide adequate training regarding retail law. A shop can be prosecuted for selling alcohol to someone under 18 and to this end many challenge anyone who looks under 25. If I buy alcohol on behalf of someone under 18 <b>I </b>can be prosecuted <b>not </b>the supermarket. Further to this, if I buy alcohol I can legally allow my 17 year old daughter or niece to drink within my property.<br />
Morrisons supermarket wants to take control where they have none and where they may well end up having fewer customers</div>Toadeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217335281091498806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574199981455106269.post-24179314542273172852011-05-07T23:42:00.000+01:002011-05-07T23:42:49.471+01:00Forget me errrrrrr thingy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I've never been good with my memory but just lately it seems worse and I'm acutely aware that I get midway through saying something and then realise I've forgotten a key point which is a bit embarrassing. My conversation is full of errrrs and thingies and awkward moments and it must seem so insulting when I can never remember someone's name.<br />
<br />
I'm sure there was a reason for me bringing this up but it seems to have eluded me but it was something about the value of memories and how, as a person who lives in the past, I hate the idea of forgetting. I would like to record as much of my memory and my thoughts and feelings but sadly I suffer from terminal laziness and anyway, whenever I make a decision to do something about it I forget to get started.<br />
<br />
Thought for the day: errrrrrr, hold on, it's on the tip of my tongue</div>Toadeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217335281091498806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574199981455106269.post-56738278227141268462011-05-02T23:01:00.000+01:002011-05-02T23:01:10.559+01:00rare friends<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Today, being the first Monday of May, was the May bank holiday and so I headed off to check out the May day celebrations. Where I live we have a pleasant enough day with a small fairground, dancing (traditional and modern) and displays of country craft etc. Amongst the stalls this year was one from a local farm promoting and selling their meat products, I tasted some samples and they were rather splendid but reading the info and ingredients raised some questions which led to me musing deeply on and off throughout the day.<br />
'Made from our own rare breed pigs' ok, does this taste better\different and why, if the poor pigs are already rare, are we eating them? Is this what happened to the dodo? did some entrepreneur see a gap in the game market and fill it? did this mystery business guru increase the price as the breed got rarer and retire on the fabulous price he\she got for the last of breed? We may never know.<br />
'All our animals are hand reared' This conjured up visions of orphan lambs and children's pets, of petting zoos and lifelong friendship. I love my friends but I wouldn't eat most of them.<br />
The labels also had a 'killed on' date to ensure freshness so all in all the only bit of information missing was the name of my sausage\burger and perhaps it's star sign and favourite flower</div>Toadeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217335281091498806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574199981455106269.post-35208493281238695322011-04-23T00:33:00.001+01:002011-04-23T00:35:47.456+01:00Precious precipitates<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I was going to entitle this entry golden shower but I'm not one to tout undeserved hits..................<br />
<br />
The last 24 hours have been a time of golden moments both large and small and for this I am indeed grateful.<br />
Yesterday evening I attended my PTA meeting in a local hostelry (as the token male) and spent several pleasant hours in great company. We ended the night with an enforced redesign of the decor in the pub because we truly love Jimmy, the landlord, and want him to achieve dizzying heights of success.He even paid us in free drinks and chips.<br />
Today I had my first proper sleep in for absolutely ages and when i did get up I found I had received an absolutely wonderful message on Helium complimenting one of my poems and asking permission to read it out at a festival, yay, international recognition at last!<br />
It has been a lovely warm day today and I have managed to hang around the house and garden without getting bogged down with chores and stuff (well not too much) before going out for a meal this evening.<br />
<br />
All little things but good and things that don't often come my way so I am grateful and chilled : )</div>Toadeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217335281091498806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574199981455106269.post-69622079257481364202011-04-18T10:28:00.000+01:002011-04-18T10:28:46.002+01:00a rather hopeless affliction<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I have recently isolated and identified a highly viral and, thus far, incurable disease which has swept through my immediate family with devastating and far reaching results.<br />
<br />
In common with most of the population the members of my family endure periods of intense misery and discomfort. These feelings invariably occur around the middle of the month, just before I get paid, and seem to indicate that they dislike having no money.<br />
<br />
I was confident that we, as a family, could learn to cope with this bi-polar condition but sadly there has been a development. It appears that there is a second condition and that although it is low level it is a constant condition.<br />
Most members of the family hate having (or at least hate me having) any money. Whenever money finds it's way into my pocket it has to be disposed of as quickly as possible.<br />
I am continuing to study this condition in the hope that a cure or at least some relief can be found but would welcome advice and accounts of other experiences (but mainly donations)</div>Toadeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217335281091498806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574199981455106269.post-89420682631647988312011-04-14T23:57:00.000+01:002011-04-14T23:57:01.126+01:00Burn the witch (or something like that)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">There have been times when I've sailed pretty close to the edge regarding my behaviour both on and of the net and I've certainly always had a mischievous and sometimes flirtatious side so I fully expected that one day I would find myself in trouble. What i didn't expect was to find myself in trouble when I wasn't really that close to the line but this is what happened to me last weekend.<br />
Those of you who frequent facebook will be aware of a new feature which allows anyone to post a question and multiple choice answers (you can also leave it open for people to suggest new answers). I decided to throw a few questions out and amongst these was 'Would you pose nude?' with various choices from no, never to yes, where do you want me? At it's heart it was a serious question and allowed people to say they would pose nude i the name of art, for love or for money. I also put out a question playing on an old comedy catchphrase, This question asked, Are you free? and went on to allow people to say yes, no or reasonably priced THIS IS CALLED A JOKE.<br />
<br />
I sent my questions to a few friends at random including a small group of 'friends' and most of them answered and seemed to enter into the spirit then one of these friends received the questions (admittedly very soon after 'friending' me and, obviously without following the link, decided that I was asking her if she was free and also asking her to get naked for me. She posted a dire warning to her friends and I duly received nasty threats from some guy who fancied himself a defender of the weak and helpless. Dutifully ignoring the misguided he-man I attempted to explain to the wronged lady and also apologised if my questions had given the wrong impression and another friend pitched in with a character reference but she had already unfriended me. Ok, end of unfortunate story I thought but no, most of her friends then proceeded to unfriend me too (including one who I have been friends with for a good few years) even though they had all answered my questions and knew that I wasn't perving after them. People are so strange!<br />
On reflection what I find sad is that we live in a time where people are so ready to leap to the assumption that someone's motives are dishonourable and that there are people who are so very judgemental. <br />
It's not the loss of approx six friends that bothers me although I will miss some of them it's more sadness at what they lose when they put on their blinkers and shoot from the hip.</div>Toadeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217335281091498806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574199981455106269.post-46864250038913452132011-02-19T22:55:00.000+00:002011-02-19T22:55:49.712+00:00ten minutes of my life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Dad, carry the laundry up stairs<br />
Dad, come down here, I need to show you something<br />
Dad, bring Jack's medicine up<br />
Dad, get me a clean towel form up stairs<br />
<br />
at leaat I'm getting some exercise</div>Toadeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217335281091498806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574199981455106269.post-59012779964956923412011-02-19T10:47:00.000+00:002011-02-19T10:47:28.269+00:00I like poetry!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I do, I really do but it took me a lot of courage to say so because as soon as I say that I like it people expect me to be sort of knowledgeable and I'm not.<br />
I can't quote poets, i haven't got a clue about poetic form, I can't discuss it in an academic manner.<br />
<br />
When i say I like poetry I mean I like how it feels, what it does to me (and sometimes for me) I can read or hear a piece and feel it so much and I don't care whether it's true to form or written in the poets 'striped cheetah' period, whether it's 'famous' or whether it's someones only ever attempt (and yes, I do think that everyone has poetry within them).<br />
<br />
I like writing poetry as well, sometimes I'm silly, or sad, sometimes I'm awesome or bad but it really doesn't matter because it's my poetry, my life, my feelings and as a sort of human being I do have many facets.<br />
Whenever someone shows me a poem that they have written I remember that it is an extension of themselves and \I am privileged to be allowed that glimpse</div>Toadeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217335281091498806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574199981455106269.post-27297545602065357142011-02-14T00:12:00.000+00:002011-02-14T00:12:40.107+00:00slap me with a rancid fish and call me a fool<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I'm not a happy bunny at the moment because my job, which i love, is under threat.<br />
Now it may not be a massive threat but I'm not a massively tough person.<br />
I have been working on the mobile library for almost exactly three years and have been on a series of temp contracts which have got shorter and shorter. Whenever I have expressed my concern i have been re-assured that, when the council sorts out it's current reviews and housekeeping my contract would be made permanent but for the present they couldn't create or renew ANY permanent contracts.<br />
Fool that I am it never clicked that, in a recent reorganisation they had done exactly that!<br />
So.......last Friday we had a meeting and were asked to talk about any issues we might have and i mentioned temp contracts on behalf of myself and two others. Senior manager tells us that the time is approaching when out jobs will be made permanent (big smiles) and that when they are we can apply for them (big smiles disappear).<br />
I spend the rest of the day feeling very down.<br />
Now most people don't like what is happening and lots of people have said to me 'don't worry, you have the experience etc you will get the job' and yes, that SHOULD be the case and I should be supremely unfazed but let's just examine the recent history regarding my post.<br />
The first time i applied I didn't get the job, it was given to someone who was unable\unwilling to take up the post due to the nature of his criminal history.<br />
The time before the post was given to someone who didn't have a licence to drive the library vans<br />
<br />
so why am i afraid to trust the system?</div>Toadeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217335281091498806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574199981455106269.post-74223364516245139892011-02-05T21:36:00.000+00:002011-02-05T21:36:02.716+00:00doing something different<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I suppose there is a message there for me when I walk into my local chinese takeaway and my order is written before I manage to open my mouth. Yes, I'm getting predictable, boring, stuck in a rut perhaps I need to do something about it...........I have plans lol<br />
<br />
One person who made sure she wasn't boring this week was Sally Bercow, the wife of the speaker of the house of commons who did a bit of a photo shoot and gave an interview this week. Pictured by the window of their apartment wrapped in a sheet she admitted that she loved the idea of having sex under big ben and that power was an aphrodisiac.<br />
being married to one of the most powerful men in Britain she (or he) is very lucky because she must be constantly horny.<br />
It seems that she is required to apologise for her indiscretion but I'm not really sure what she is apologising for; is it that she admits to having sex with her husband rather than random strangers, or that she likes being around power, perhaps it's that she is proud of her body (quite justifiably in my opinion) or that she has a sense of humour.......<br />
I want it on record that I don't require an apology. If she were an elected minister or public servant I would be voting for her because it seems to me she might be the only honest person inside the palace of Westminster</div>Toadeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217335281091498806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574199981455106269.post-84307086136224277192011-01-13T00:32:00.000+00:002011-01-13T00:32:40.464+00:00don't sit hereOne of the blessings (and curses) of modern technology is the speed with which information travels. Occasionally I will see a status update or tweet from someone along the lines of 'fat smelly guy approaching, hope he doesn't sit next to me'<br />
or 'weirdo sat next to me trying to talk to me, help!' These sort of messages are invariably from youngish females.<br />
So now I wonder, when I get on a crowded bus, is she frantically texting that she hopes I don't sit near her?; is she dissing me to her friends?.<br />
<br />
It's not only females who have these thoughts though, I know I do. There are certain people on my morning bus ride who I pray won't sit next to me (and one or two I hope will) Usually it's a decision made on size or odour, I'm not a massive person but the bus seats aren't over generous and I hate being squashed.<br />
It's interesting to watch the body language though, how people shuffle either across a seat or squash into the side to make the vacancy either appealing or virtually non-existent. The old guy ,spread legs pose takes up loads of room even if the user looks like they have a serious hydrocele or ill fitting pants. Bags are great for taking space and once or twice I have either sat on someones bag or politely asked them to move it.Toadeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217335281091498806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574199981455106269.post-9983524000231803842011-01-07T21:36:00.000+00:002011-01-07T21:36:44.444+00:00pulled up short(and that isn't a reference to my impressive stature)<br />
<br />
I had the undeniable pleasure of chatting with a old (as in long term) and dear friend today,the kind of friend who is on the same wavelength and who I could probably tell my deep, dark, dirty secrets to (if I had any).It made me stop and think and did several things to me<br />
1. It made me incredibly happy<br />
2. It made me incredibly guilty (for losing contact)<br />
3. It made me happy to be alive<br />
4. It inspired me (but to do what I'm not yet sure)<br />
<br />
Real friends are forever and I'm blessed with the ones I have those I've met and those I've yet to meet.Toadeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217335281091498806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574199981455106269.post-57395813417169475282010-10-04T10:41:00.000+01:002010-10-04T10:41:31.646+01:00what, no friendsA couple of days ago one of my daughters, in the heat of an arguement, told me that I spent all my time on the internet and that I didn't have any real friends, just internet ones.<br />
To a large extent she is right in that I don't have friends who I meet with and stuff but I do take issue with her making internet and real friend mutually exclusive.<br />
I have known some of my internet friends for about 7 years now and they probably know things about me that no-one else does. If I was looking for someone I could trust then I think (with very few exceptions) I would be looking to the computer.<br />
I'm not saying that I have a lot of internet friends in the real sense but there are a few I know well and have done for quite a while and others who I have met more recently but are showing promise. I used to give my trust easily but I think I am wiser now and certainly more vulnerable so I proceed with caution and only a handful of people in this world know the real me.Toadeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217335281091498806noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574199981455106269.post-9628358675784332992010-09-20T16:11:00.000+01:002010-09-20T16:11:15.997+01:00if you've got it flaunt itThe big news on X factor at the moment is the call girl, Chloe, who has managed to get through the auditions. When it was discovered that she sells sex there were demands for her to be thrown out.<br />
I think she is very lucky to have two saleable talents and she is right to use them both. I am a little jealous as I can't make a living with my voice or my body but, hey, perhaps one day I'll find my talent.<br />
I do think that show business is pretty much into selling sex anyway but Chloe is just more honest about it.<br />
above all other considerations she is from my area so I will obviously support her to the hilt (wonder if she wants a manager.....)Toadeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217335281091498806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574199981455106269.post-55312707220239758112010-08-30T20:14:00.000+01:002010-08-30T20:14:41.737+01:00assorted secretsI sometimes use applications on facebook such as honesty box and truth box (yeah ok I sometimes use 100's of applications but this isn't about my lack of life). It's interesting to offer people the chance to comment anonymously and I always hope that with the promise of anonymity people will be more likely to be honest. The only problem is that when I get into discussions I get a bit stuck because when someone asks me a question I don't know who I'm telling and, the truth is, there are some things that some people shouldn't know.<br />
So these anonymous things are fine for a bit of fun or learning a few home truths but when it comes to revealing my feelings or stuff about me I like to know who I'm telling. I'm actually quite an open person but I'm not good at initiating conversation so I actually like people to ask me things. I never take offence (I might not tell all but will always explain why)and I really do prefer sharing with friends.Toadeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217335281091498806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574199981455106269.post-52622970937620534852010-08-25T23:36:00.000+01:002010-08-25T23:36:08.192+01:00How to make money from the side effects of medicationJust now and again I've had a slight sight disturbance caused possibly by some of the medication I wolf down daily and possibly by my habit of staying up far to late.<br />
This sight disturbance takes the form of double vision but I didn't realise this until after I'd sold all my duplicate DVDs on e-bayToadeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217335281091498806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574199981455106269.post-70414955654084060682010-08-03T01:03:00.002+01:002010-08-03T01:10:46.876+01:00Stuff KarmaI've always been a great believer in the karmic nature of life, turns out I have always been wrong.<br /><br />Sunday: I spend my valuable time being a defender of man's friend the honey bee, extolling the virtues of this wonderful little worker and the value of honey to mankind. I suggest the planting of bee friendly flowers and ponder the possibility of installing a bee shelter in my garden.<br /><br />Monday: running up my own drive I collide with one of my buzzy friends, he takes offence and leaves his abdomen protruding from my face a cm below my right eye.<br /><br />Ouch!Toadeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217335281091498806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574199981455106269.post-92226032443314034372010-07-23T12:46:00.003+01:002010-07-23T13:03:13.672+01:00secret livesThere are times when on a bus journey when I don't feel like reading and lack the inspiration to write. At these times I tend to observe my fellow passengers (some more than others) and imagine their lives. Following this train of thought does sometimes give me ideas for writing and it passes the time.<br />Recently I have discovered a new tool to aid me in my amusement\research - bluetooth!<br />All I have to do is go to the bluetooth on my phone and scan for new contacts and in no time at all I have a list of bluetooth devices in range. I'm not so much interested in the ones that are just a device name and apart from looking around to try to put names to faces stuff like Sue or Sue's phone are of limited value. The ones I like are the nicknames because then i can really have fun trying to fit nicknames to people, could 'fuzzmop' be the woman over there with frizzy hair? Is 'beaky' the guy with a rather large nose? who's 'donkey'? and why?<br />Suddenly a whole world of secret life possibilities is available and i have some possibly wonderful situations and characterizations for future use.<br /><br />Just one thing I'd really like to know, who IS 'spunk gobbler'?Toadeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217335281091498806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574199981455106269.post-18937284717920873752010-06-02T23:58:00.005+01:002010-06-03T00:19:59.071+01:00nothing reallyI suppose we all go through phases when we aren't writing much and the idea fairy takes a break....<br />Anyway i decided to just sir down and type so goodness only knows what will emerge. It's been am up and down few weeks. As usual I'm spending far to much time on facebook. I've made a few new friends on there and having road tested them I have a fairly good idea which will work out and which won't. Friendship is always a bit of a risk, especially in the early days when you are sort of feeling your way but you do get a feel for who people are whilst swapping silly comments and poking.<br />I am constantly thinking about a very special friend who I know has had a tough time of late, I never stop thinking about her, usually I keep a positive spin on things but now and again the old negativity creeps in, that happened last night, I really plummeted and really suddenly but luckily my most stalwart friend happened to be on line and a simple hug arrested my fall (who would believe that several sets of brackets could do so much - perhaps there's a story or poem in that 'saved by parenthesis')<br /><br />Hospital in the morning, would you believe this will be the first time I've seen the cardiologist on my own, not through my choice! At least I'll be able to talk about my issues without being contradicted or rubbished.<br /><br />I'm loving my job at the moment, perhaps because I am working alone and being allowed to make decisions. Got some really nice compliments from customers today and asked one customer the question we've been dying to know for ages- what sort of doctor are you? she's a forensic psychologist, a real live cracker?<br /><br />On the writing front there isn't much happening but I'm pleased to note that my Helium earnings are now at $32Toadeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217335281091498806noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574199981455106269.post-19224750123265670892010-05-29T11:04:00.003+01:002010-05-29T11:12:44.794+01:00Got your C card?I've known about the C card scheme in my town for a while, I'm not sure whether it's local or national though.<br />The C card is a plastic card given to teenagers under 16 so that they can get free condoms without any questions being asked.<br />Last night my son came home from youth club with his C card and his supply of condoms HE IS 12 YEARS OLD.<br />My son knows about sex and about safe sex and he is bound to be interested but I advise him to wait a while yet, the local council knows better and are happy to provide 6 condoms a week to him.<br /><br />I don't know why our country is having problems with under age sex<br /><br />Condoms are available at the central library in my town so it was strange when a librarian complained about young boys harassing girls by making lewd suggestions and throwing condoms at them. 'Who the hell gives them condoms' she exclaimed. errr, we doToadeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217335281091498806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574199981455106269.post-34241523984404777422010-05-24T10:50:00.003+01:002010-05-24T11:05:51.116+01:00the karmic nature of my healthwhen I was first diagnosed with depression I was (predictably) wondering what the point was and, as I began to make my first recovery I struggled with how the depression had changed my life, taken away opportunities and stained my memories. Depression is such a pointless thing and i really was resolved to cancel my subscription especially as some very special people didn't want me to be sad.<br />Then I get the second health blow, I suddenly find I have a heart condition and my future options are even more limited.<br />Either of these health problems is bad on it's own but I suddenly realise the heart thing gives meaning to the depression. people (professionals) look at my heart diagnosis and sort of mutter things like 'this could kill you' they then offer counselling to help me cope. Ha I don't need counselling because I have had a low level depression for years and death no longer holds any fear for me as in:-<br />'you might die tomorrow'<br />'that's ok, I have nothing to live for' (Ok not strictly true, I have one thing left and when I get there it will mean I need to live for a very long time)<br /><br />Suddenly I don't think I'm making sense but at least I've found a way for depression to make me happy. Isn't the human brain an amazing thing?Toadeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217335281091498806noreply@blogger.com231