but when I finished - and I do mean finished - that stack of ironing, I did some of Chel's as a  gift for her just because I love her.  Then at 5pm I fell asleep in a chair for over two hours.  I felt sleepy all evening until I got to bed.  Then I needed to go turn off a light and use the loo.  Somehow I ended up at the computer doing some moderating and I find myself still here at gone midnight.  Ah well. It's been a nice day.  Andy in the garden and me in the house - mostly.
  
The Bird.     That cheeky little bugger has been strutting around the garden like he owns it lately.  And yes, he is still here, crapping all over 'his' favourite magnolia bush.  Dirty thing, wish he'd go away.  Rang the RSPB yesterday who said he has something wrong with him to still be here after all this time.  They said to ring the RSPCA or the vet.  The RSPCA weren't much help.  She said to give it another couple of weeks because he's a big breed and need longer to learn to fly and to ring back in two weeks if he's still here. (She also asked if she could contact me when they have fundraising promotions....any guesses what my reply was?  Yes, it was polite.) 

A few weeks ago the vet said I could bring him in.  Yep.  I'm going to catch him and take him to the vet.  Yep.  Piece of cake.  We don't have the net we borrowed and what would we take him in? A box.  Great idea.  Getting him in the box from the net....suddenly not such a great idea.  This is a wild bird with claws and beak..

Well here goes today's episode in this long running saga:  Get your giggles ready here....
Andy shouted to me from the garden to check out the bird wandering towards the kitchen door.  I shot out of the garden door to see bird looking in the kitchen as he strutted past the door.  He looked far too interested in the kitchen so I shouted and clapped my hands and charged down the side of the house towards him.  He then ran into the open garage door. This is the back door that we use all the time.  Brainwave time - if I could just open the big front door, he could go out onto the drive and be on his way with no fences to bother him.  I duly pulled the back door to as birdy raced to the front of the garage.  I passed him so I could open the front door and he sped along to the back one!  I'm not sure who was more panicky by this point.  I managed to open the front door from the inside then ran back behind him as he raced to the open door.  He then strutted out and up the drive like a king surverying his kingdom.  BANG.  I shut that door behind him before he could even think about coming back.  Andy was just shaking his head when I came out to tell him what I'd done.  This is when he told me that birdy had looked into the living room on his way past the door and Andy had thought he was coming in and that is why he shouted for me in the first place!

I went around looking for ways birdy boy could walk back in. Toghether Andy and I blocked them up.  We couldn't see little guy when we went out to check where he was but we could here him going up the alleyway a couple doors away - heading back home?  Parents were calling to him - it seems they found him in the alleyway.  Later we heard him behind the fence and also next door where he has gone before.  As soon as he was gone we took bets on how long before he was back on the magnolia.  We all got it wrong - he was not there when it got dark.  What's the betting he's there in the morning?  It's too much to hope that he's flown away for good.

As far as we are aware, he was in no danger at all in the neighbourhood.  I don't want him in the garden but we don't wish him harm either.  Just in case anyone wondered.   It will be interesting to see what tomorrow brings in this tale.  "The End." is a bit too much to hope for.

Why?

7/27/2010

1 Comment

 
I've been waking up far too early the last few days and it has got to stop!  I don't  DO mornings, not at 6.30am.

Yesterday we went to get a new tyre for the car.  One tyre supplied and fitted - nearly £100. See me cringe.  But now we are again safe and legal.  (Not sure which counts higher with fines and penalty points!)

Didn't seem to get much done yesterday after we did the errands but it was a pleasant day all in all.

Bonus:  A while ago I found a long shirt in the Cotton Traders outlet in a garden centre.  With the top you got a useful white cami and a shrug type thing to wear over it all and tie in the front.  It all came as a set for half price. The cami is put away for when I need a new white one, the shirt is worn regularly and the other thing stayed in the cupboard.  I also own a beautiful sundress with spaghetti straps in shades of turquoise and white.  Love that dress but....am too old for strappy dresses outside the home.  Brainwave - shrug thing over dress.....will it work?  Yes, perfect colour match and it looks and feels great.  And I feel amazing in it. 

I overate again.  Too idle to make a proper meal with veggies and all.  Now I'm mad at myself again.  Is there a link here, do something to have an excuse to be mad at myself???    If I added a serving of veg to whatever I'm eating, it would be healthy, more filling and with lower calories.  I mean, I made a lovely spaghetti sauce the other day.  Tin tomatoes and all that, almost no calories other than the pasta.  But IF I had done some veg on the side, I'd have eaten less pasta and felt fuller.  Such simple changes to make that take minimal effort.

Now I'll go tackle the ironing that I've been putting off.....

 
after that marathon laundry session yesterday.  Chel took Andy to Farnborough to watch the airplanes for the day so I hit the laundry from the hols big time.  It is all washed, most of it is dry and I have two baskets of ironing to be done.  Not counting Chel's which I will probably do.  I ache all over and am still tired although I slept well.  Just not long enough....

It was nice having the house to myself with only Stevie around me for a change but I wouldn't want to be alone all the time. 

I am pretty down about my weight.  Couldn't get a pair of trousers to meet in the middle yesterday that I wore a few months ago.  I thought I'd been doing okay but it seems not.  And clothes are a far more accurate guide than the scales.  I don't mean clothes in shops as they vary so much.  I mean that clothes you love and wear.

I see other overweight people and don't like what I see, then realise that I'm looking at another person like myself.  I honestly don't see myself accurately, you know.  When I catch sight of myself unexpectedly when I'm out and about, I get a shock each time at the size of me.  I am happy enough with what I look like other than size.  And I know I keep complaining but never do anything about it.....and I hate people who complain but don't try to improve the things they complain about.

I have all the leaflets, all the internet sites, the diet books, the psychology books and still don't do eat right.

What I really need, both with diet and finance, is structure and discipline.  Something to think about. But not to beat myself up about.  I do actually love myself.

 
for a few days.  We all went and took Stevie with us.  That little guy was good as gold all the way.  He is just a joy to live with - except when he empties the bins to see what is in them whenever we leave him alone at home!

We had a very nice break all in all.  Lots of rain.  More rain.  And a bit more rain.  Then some lovely sunshine.

On the way down I got a splitting headache from the sun because reactions glasses don't work in a car.  Andy took me to Llanelli to Specsavers after I phoned to see if they sold clip on sunglasses. They said they did.  When we got there they didn't have any in stock.  How helpful was that.  The young lady 'helpfully' suggested that they have a 2 for 1 sale with a free tint on the second pair.  How I kept a civil tongue in my head I don't know.  She then had the nerve to suggest I go to a fashion store and grab a pair from there.  She is soooo lucky not  to have receiced a good hard slap.  I went to Boots and although they didn't have an opticians the assistant went outside to point me to a small local one. Well, that man was superb.  He offered me two pair which were made for my style glasses.  I got the expensive pair because I liked them better and they have been a godsend.

Oh, and on the way down when I was suffering, Chel let me put her sunglasses over my specs.  One pair kept sliding down so I couldn't breathe but the other pair worked but were very heavy for my poor nose on top of my regular glasses.
 
after a few busy days.  On Wednesday evening Chel took me and Angie for a curry. I didn't really want to go as I had been unwell all day, but I'm so glad I made the effort.  It was a pleasant meal with excellent company.  It was funny when 5 foot nothing Angie asked 5 foot 8 Chel if she wanted to get under Angie's brolly!  Chel would need to get on her knees to manage that one, methinks.

On Friday I was fortunate enough to have a day out at Stratford on Avon with the local Over 55's group.  Thanks to Chris, we had a wonderful day ending with a 2-scone cream tea on a boat, going both ways through a lock enroute.  I shouldn't laugh, but our boat suddenly made a funny noise and slowed right down.  We put up the rain curtains to see what was going on....there was a couple in a rowboat, the girl rowing, and they were in our path.  They kept asking us which way they should go.  Finally they got behind one of the pillars holding up the bridge.  We felt so sorry for them.  The guide says it happens all the time even though there are arrows showing boaters which way to go.

There is a magical shop in Stratford.  Magical because not only does he stock a wide range of Moorcroft but also some amazingly wonderfully breathtakingly beautiful art glass.  And I've seen Moorcroft on the antiques shows on TV but in 'person' it is more beautiful than I thought it was.  I I felt a bit 'mean' because I was looking with no intent or ability to buy and that isn't fair to the shopkeeper.  He was a lovely man whom I'd like to thank again for his welcome and our nice chat.

Aha, I just remembered what I was going to make note of on here.  I have been eating a lot of foods that I haven't had for a long time: cottage cheese, whole grain bread, yoghurt, cream cheese, that sort of stuff.  And I have had dreadful headaches, catarrah, sore throat, bloated and more.  Guess what....I do not get on with those foods.  For years I've known that they make me (and Chel) ill.  I forgot that and enjoyed them to the max.  And we all paid for it.  When I mentioned that I hadn't had them for years my darling daughter said, "Well now you know the reason why you haven't had them for a long time, don't you."   So it's out with all that so-called healthy eating stuff.  It's only been 36 hours or so and already I'm feeling a lot better, especially the sore throat.

That stuff will also prove to be why I have put on so much weight lately when I haven't had sweets or many crisps.  I shouldn't have lost much weight but I definitely should not have gained that much either.  So after a few days when the system gets back to normal, my weight should settle. 
 
and maybe not!  I went several aggravating sessions with  the TalkTalk technical department yesterday and and gave up in tears of frustration .  Another long story.  It would help so much if you could understand the person you are speaking with - wish they'd use all UK call centres even thought it is hard to get staff and they have to pay them. 

And that damned theme song they use. In the end one man was kind enough to put me on mute so I didn't have to listen to it any longer when he put me on hold.  I did speak to customer services to see how long remains on my contract - six months.  But she did activate a free speed boost.  So something good did happen.

Rang again today and got a lovely Irish man who spoke clearly - great start.  He was 2nd line technical support.  Again he insisted that I plug the router into the main phone socket into the house.  This socket is behind a base unit in the kitchen. To get to it I have to remove a corner plinth, get flat on the floor and stretch to reach it.  And..it gets better.... wait for it....take the pc tower unit, monitor, mouse and keyboard down as well!!!!  Our pc is set up in a bedroom. The furthest from the stairs.  It's a big tower unit and I can't carry it that far.  But these men I spoke to over the past few days kept insisting it was the only way to diagnose the problem.  Wonderfully helpful indeed.  The last one did a line test - or so he said -  and that the line is fine and the problem is within the house.

Our solution:  bought a new wireless usb dongle (exactly like the old one) to see if that is the problem.  If the problem is sorted, fine.  If not, we will get a new phone extension cable and replace the existing one.  If that doesn't work we will scream...loudly.  Let's see what happens.

I was ill yesterday as well.  Wore my clear glasses to go out and forgot to change back to the reactions ones.  Big mistake, big migraine with all the associated problems.  Feel better this afternoon so went for a quick shop at the Currys and Comet.

I sincerely hope this saga is over and life can get bck to whate
 
One of my best friends, Maggie,  is emigrating to New Zealand next month.  Tonight a few of us went to a restauant where we used to go for lunch when we all worked together. We had a lovely meal and chat, took some photos, and generally enjoyed each other's company.

I am proud of  myself tonight. I turned down dessert - and they had summer pudding and a Baileys cheescake among other mouth watering treats.  I did not give in and have one.  Go me!!  Even better, if I had one, Kathy would have as well.  When I said no, so did she.  So I guess I did us both a favour.

This afternoon I fully enjoyed a pampering session, salt body scrub, manicure and pedicure, soaky bath with lovely smellies, and an overall relax.  Ooooh it was nice.  I really should do this more often; not just doing my nails or feet, but turning it into a real pamper session rather than a chore that needs doing.  It is good for the spirit as well as the body.  I am trying to be conscious of my body when it comes to eating and drinking, exercising and resting. 
 
I am sooooo p'd off with TalkTalk tonight that I could scream.  I've spoken to two of their nice call handlers today but I still have a lousy wireless system and I'm fed up with it.  But my contract doesn't expire until January.  The only good thing I can say right now is that it is cheap.

My connection keeps dropping suddenly.  It can be the devil's own job to reconnect or it can be as simple as disconnecting from the network and connecting again.  But still, I should not have to do that at all.  And to cap it all, a while ago it dropped again while I was in the middle of moderating.  So I trot off downstairs to get the portable phone (I'm not using my mobile to ring an 0870 number that is free from the landline.)  By the time I got back upstairs, and had not touched a thing before I want down, it was working again. 

I just knew that if I rang the tecchie guys they'd tell me to connect the cable again.  So I have to move the monitor, turn the heavy tower around to reach the back ...then trail the yellow cable across this room, across the hall, and across the room where the phone line and router are.  Such fun.  I have to leave it for 24 hours to see if the connection fails with the wire in place to help them diagose the fault.  SO WHY DID I PLONK FOR WIRELESS in the first place???  I do not want a cable trailing around.  

Watch this space for an update.

 
 
I slept late.  Then that damned dog that someone leaves outside the community centre when they take their kid into playgroup woke me with it's high pitched yappy bark.  Every day for the past couple of weeks that creature has barked non-stop for what feels like hours but is really only minutes.  At least school finishes soon so it isn't worth going over to say anything.  That is no guarantee that I won't go over and strangle it first though. :)

Before breakfast I installed Google Reader, added a lot of blogs and read some of them, did some moderating and had an online chat. After my scrambled eggs I pottered about for a bit, then fell asleep in my chair.  Then it was back to the computer to do paperwork, sorted out a sim card for hubbys phone, and all that kind of time consuming annoying stuff that just has to be done.  Ah, well, at least it is done for a while.  Don't know why I'm the only one of us who has to do it though.

I felt bad when I couldn't read the laptop very well tonight to proofread Chel's CV.  Proofreading isn't a great idea when the letters blur as you are looking at them!  And I am more visual that auditory for jobs like that.  She can read it to me and I can help some but I find it easier to read it.

Oh, and I had a packet of crisps as well as a magnum today.  Wonder why I'm afraid to get on the scales.  And      I have only had about three glasses of liquid today.  No tea or coffee either.  Guess when I go put a load of laundry in and tidy the kitchen for the night that I'd best get some cold water ready.  I am enjoying tap water with ice in it.  Cheap and healthy.  What more can I ask for? 

It just feels like one of those days when you don't do much, but you really have, you just don't see the progress and have nothing to show for the effort.  As opposed to ironing or weeding where you can look at the result.  A fuddled day.
 
It's technically Monday!  Okay, it's 12.45 am and to me it's still Sunday because I haven't gone to bed yet.....

Shopping is sooooo tiring.  Especially when I am trying not to spend much of my own money (but I'm good at helping others to spend theirs.) 

Ever heard of Ed Hardy?  Neither had I until recently.  Chel likes his stuff and has his perfume.  Today we saw the special offer where you get a bag if you buy perfume.  No I did not succumb.  The bags really aren't my style but I discovered that I do like his new perfume.  And even sadder, I love some of his artwork!!!  Ah, well.  Maybe I'll grow up some day.  And no, I do not want to have a tattoo.

I'm so lucky to be able to go shopping with my daughter and have fun and laughter doing it. 

Reading the Sunday papers and shopping left no time or energy for stitching.  And yesterday was far too hot.

The local fun day was held near our house yesterday.  We all went over for a while and enjoyed it.  We didn't stay long because of the heat.  I had to go indoors later on when the DJ got going.  One can take only so much of Amy Winehouse at the levels he was using.  (I quite like her stuff).  So here we were, indoors with the windows and doors shut on that hot day.  Thank heaven for fans.   But anyway, there was sport on TV all weekend so Andy was happy as a hog in.....now how does that saying go????

The World Cup is finally over.   Andy had Holland in the draw at work so that was okay.  Would have been nice if they'd won, but you can't have everything I guess.  Andy and Chel did have a lot of father/daughter time in front of the telly and can I admit that I enjoyed some of it.  And ignored the rest.