Book I have finished

This is the 3rd book in the Wardstone Chronicles. Much better than Harry Potter and seriously scary for a childrens book. Living on my own, I had to save some of the chapters for reading in the day time so I didn't get too scared at night (what a wimp). The next one is already out in hardback but I prefer paperback and eagerly await the paperback version of The Spooks Battle.

Books I am reading

Isn't everyone reading this book? I have to confess I am not a big Harry Potter fan. I read them because when my kids were younger and not that communicative - I could find some common ground by reading HP which they enjoyed and talk to them about it. Of course they are older now but my daughter is still a fan. I did enjoy HP and th Order of the Phoenix and hoped that the rest of the books would be as good. Unfortunately I have not enjoyed them as much and am finding this one a bit of a plod.

CLOUDS

I think the sky is beautiful, I live in the fens and there are no hills or mountains, it is very flat and all you can see is the ground and the sky. Sometimes, out in the countryside, you can stand and look at the world around and feel that you are the only person in it. So its no wonder I spent a lot of my time looking at the sky and the clouds. This summer there has been a lot of cloud because IT IS STILL RAINING - MONTHS AND MONTHS OF RAIN DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY!!!! WHEN WILL THE SUMMER COME _ I HAVE NEW GARDEN FURNITURE AND A BARBECUE WHICH HAVEN'T BEEN USED BECAUSE IT KEEPS RAINING!!!
Please excuse the rant, I feel better now.
Back to the clouds, I bought a copy of "The cloudspotters guide" thinking I would be able to use it to identify the clouds and show off how knowledgeable I am.
Well.....ITS TOO HARD - I can't do it. Sure I've got cumulus - I can even sub divide them into the different little groups but I can't spot any of the others. I think I could spot lenticular but we have no mountains so not likely to from my garden. I think I could spot the mamma type clouds but again I think unlikely where I live. I sit with the book in the garden and its all too complicated.

Feeling sad

Today, a pedestrian who has not yet been identified was crushed by a lorry. Last month, a cyclist was killed when a skip fell off the back of a lorry and killed her. A colleague has a friend who last month was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she has a 20% chance of surviving, she is in her 40's and has a young son.
Life can turn 360 degrees in a blink of an eye. As fast as you can snap your fingers - your life can change - not just the the people mentioned above but their families lives can be turned upside down.
I guess what I'm saying is - we only get one chance at life, there is no dress rehearsal, we need to live our lives to the full because it could suddenly be taken away from us - just like that.
1-2 years ago, just before the students were due to go back home, we heard one of our young patients had been killed in a cycling accident. He was 18 years old and had been at university for 2-3months. He was due to go back home for the holidays later that week. I passed the scene of the accident on my way to work that day, I saw the ambulance and the debris. I never met the young man. I can't even remember his name. Every time I drive by the accident site - I wonder how his mum is. Apparently I'm not the only one, several of the other nurses at work also think about his mother and wonder how she is getting on.
I can't help feeling sad for the poor person whose life was taken away taken and my thoughts are with his or her family whose world must have suddenly crumbled and may never ever be the dame again.

The Washing Machine is Leaking

Oh dear, my daughter rang me at work to say there is water coming out of the bottom of the washing machine. I looked in the yellow pages and someone thankfully came out the following day. After a few minutes, the chap quickly found the problem, an underwire from a bra had managed to poke a hole through the sump pipe which roughly translated into £120 to repair.
My poor daughter has been home for 2weeks, she graduated earlier this month, she hasn't got a job yet and is getting bored and now feels bad about the bill. It has to be her bra - I don't think my son has any as I do all his laundry and I gave up on them long ago - I'm afraid its going to take more than 2 itsy bitsy bits of wire to thrust my chest back up to where it used to proudly be.
Anyway, the chap says the new pipe is on order and they'll let me know when it arrives - 5 days later - no news. Dirty laundry is spilling out and taking over the hallway. Luckily for me, we have a washing machine where I work and they have allowed me to use it during the interim period but I don't like to take advantage of their goodwill and am only doing what is necessary. To add insult to injury - it has stopped raining and we have had perfect laundry drying weather. Oh well, such is life and if a broken down washing machine is all I have to worry about - then life isn't so bad is it?

Update on plants

Strawberries not looking so good - don't even want to pick them and the birds aren't even trying to pinch them, I thnk they have got too wet.
Tomatoes are finally growing and blueberries finally turing blue. Hooray! and they taste good.

Wimbledon

Saturday 7th July

The day had finally arrived. I was lucky enough to get 2 tickets for centre court at Wimbledon to watch the womens final. Actually not a big fan of womens tennis but as luck would have it - all this rain meant the men were going to play their semi-final first which meant I got to see Federer play. Had actually been dreading going because of the weather, nothing makes me more miserable than being cold and wet (I hate swimming). The weather forecast had not been good and I thought we were in for a dismal time - tennis or no tennis.

Woke up really early Saturday morning to get picnic stuff ready and myself. Drove 30mins to my dear friends house who was getting her husband to drive us to the railway station.

Got a seat on the train and arrived at Kings Cross just as a flower laying ceremony was taking place in memory of those killed and injured 2 years ago at the 7/7 bombings. I mentally said a quiet prayer and carried on. Neither of us had a clear idea of where we were going, we squinted at the tube map and fianlly worked out where we needed to go. After very little hassle, got to Southfields railway station with no problems at all. Then stood there like lemons wondering where to get the bus to the tennis courts. After asking, crossed the road and caught the bus - didn't know where to get off but just followed the majority and ended up near the front of one of the queues, Stood in the sunshine (yippee) and looked as though we would be there for 1 hour - thankfully we were told we would only have a 20min wait before we were let in and luckily again for us - we quickly got in and went to security to have our bag searched.

Packing my bag was a major feat at 6am in the morning and a security guard wanted me to empty the contents - you have to be joking I thought - its all wedged in tight and I'll never get it back in - but oh no, all the contents of my picnic opened. Its a very peculiar thing at Wimbledon - you are not allowed to take anything sharp into the grounds but you are allowed to take glass bottles in - this strikes me as very strange as I have seen some nasty injuries caused by broken bottles. Finally made it through security and headed for a picnic table - both of us desperate for a cup of tea. We sat at this table in front of a HUGE TV screen - we looked around us - is this Henman Hill? surely not - its tiny, its not even a hill. A band played in the background and once again I emptied my bag to get the flask of hot water, a couple of mugs, milk and teabags (you've got to make tea properly). We sat there people watching (fascinating) and taking the atmosphere, both of us admitting we could sit there for years just watching and drinking a lovely cup of tea. Hang on though - looking around us - other people were drinking Pimms and champagne - its 1040am. We worked it out - mens match starts at 12 midday - could go on for hours, then the womens finals after that - the earliest we could expect to have lunch would be 3pm - we'd be starving by then. So we decided to have our lunch at 11am - but what about our champagne - you are not allowed alcohol in the courts and what would we do with a bottle we couldn't get the cork back in? Well, we drank it all didn't we. Got completely sozzled and were giggling like mad. Should have seen us trying to get everything back into our bags. Anyway, we missed the start of the mens semi-final but we got there to watch the 4th game of the first set. By that time I was thirsty and my friend handed me a bottle of water (fizzy) which I opened and of course it went everywhere, luckily it was still early and most seats around me were empty, good job the horrible people with seats in front of me hadn't arrived because they would not have been amused, they were very upset about the "ruddy middle classes being allowed in" as we heard them complaining to someone in front of them who had the audacity to stand up in between play.

I was so excited about seeing Federer play - so much so that first of all I was overcome with awe and kept looking around instead - my friend kept mouthing names of famous people who I couldn't see but eventually spotted Maggie Thatcher, Terry Wogan and the famous tennis players - Virgina Wade, Billy Jean King and Martina Navratalova. I spotted Cliff Richard (who wasn't sitting in the royal box). By the time I did concentrate on the tennis, it was a while before I worked out who was who and then I must admit with the champagne and sunshine I did have to close my eyes a couple of times. Never mind, Federer won, it wasn't that exciting a game but at least he beat the smug french man.

As I said, not a fan of womens tennis and not that fond of Venus Williams who won easily. Marion Bartoli was lovely and had a lot of support.

We left after that and went back to Henman Hill to have the last of the tea and some pork pie. We watched Jamie Murray and Brankovic playing their doubles on the screen, didn't know Andy had a brother but hey - he's british so we cheered for him.

Went back into the centre court and watch an exciting game - couldn't tell you who was playing though. Then - at the end of that game - they announced Murray and Brankovic would be playing now on Centre court - Brilliant - exciting game - they won! I was getting cold, sun had gone in, I had my jumper on and my scarf and my fleece and I was still shivering. Nightmare journey back, had to stand all the way like sardines on a very packed hot and airless tube train. Finally got to Kings Cross and had time to buy some more tea before getting a seat on the train. So tired, could hardly talk and fell asleep for most of the journey. Got home at 1140pm and got to bed just after midnight. Fell asleep straight away.

DInner

My dear son has cooked dinner for the last 2 nights, this is a new thing for him and how nice to come home from work to have a meal waiting for you.
The old Jamie Oliver recipe book came out and I have had 2 delicious pasta meals the last 2 nights.
Thank goodness for the dishwasher - that boy generates a lot of washing up. It was an absolute pleasure to sit down with him and eat and then load all the washing up in the machine. I LOVE MY DISHWASHER. Life is good.

Rain

Its been raining a lot. I don't have a water butt to collect the rainwater so I have 8 plastic buckets which collect the rainwater and I decant the rainwater into old empty 5L plastic bottles which I collect from work. Unfortunately, all 8 buckets are full from all the rain this week and I have no more platic bottles to decant them into. I'm sure the neighbours think I'm mad having plastic buckets collecting rainwater but am doing my best to live a bit greener.
I have posted photos of my gardening efforts. My ex was a keen gardener but would never grow any produce because he said it wasn't worth the effort.
I'm very proud of my blueberry plant which is now producing fruit, my one strawberry plant which is also producing fruit and of course my 2 tomato plants which look overcrowded in the one pot and next year I must remember to give them a bit more space and put give them a pot each.
My colleagues at work laugh at my efforts - they are all keen gardeners and have been doing this for years but I haven't done this before and really haven't got a clue.
I feel I ought to mention the lettuce plants - I bought 5 plants and put them in an oblong shaped planter - unfortunately I didn't realise how important drainage holes in the planter are and didn't pay much attention at the time, the lettuces were doing fine - I was cutting off a few leaves for my packed lunches and sandwiches etc. and they tasted really good. However - all this rain has left my lettuces swamped with water, I keep tipping the water out (serious flooding in my planter) but it doesn't help and my lettuces are suffering. Another lesson learnt and I promise to do better next time.
More rain is coming today and to be honest - its Glastonbury weekend so its par for the course and of course Wimbledon starts next week so probably more rain on its way - my poor lettuces.

My Dishwasher

Oh my god - finally, after years and years of wanting, I have my first ever dishwasher - plumbed in last week. It is so lovely just being able to stick dirty dishes in there and keep the kitchen clean. i love it so much.
Of course - we had to buy some new plates etc. because when I left the old home - I only took enough plates for the 3 of us and 1 guest. I'm thinking we are probably going to need some more cutlery as well.
I should explain when I finally got my divorce (after years of wanting - similar to dishwasher), my kids and I took very little with us - in fact our house is still very bare and devoid of furniture, but we are very happy and I HAVE A DISHWASHER AT LAST!!
It was plumbed in on the ex husbands 50th birthday - quite fitting I thought and I did wonder about a celebratory glass of champagne when I switched on but decided against it.
Its something I have always wanted and now I have one - how lucky am I.
The ex would never let me have a dishwasher - and I always vowed it would be the first thing I would buy when I got divorced. It was actually a gift from my parents and I'm so grateful.

Tomato plants

I have 2 tomato plants, I have never grown plants before and am very new to this sort of thing. Apparently you have to break bits off them, apparently this is obvious and the bits you break off are obvious. I broke off off the bits that struck me as looking "obvious" then luckily a friend of mine told me kindly that I was doing it all wrong and have taken off all the obvious bits that need taking off and now I get it.
My kind friend Geoff then told me they needed watering and feeding and I hadn't staked them right and corrected them for me. I feel happier, Geoff feels happier about the state of the plants and I'm damn sure my tomato plants are happier. Looking forward to a bumper crop of tomatoes.
So much for today being lovely weather - its been grey and murky all day and is set to get worse. Have spent some time this afternoon trying to clean darling sons room, too much to accomplish in 1 day (and boring) so will have to tackle again tomorrow.
The rest of the house if fairly tidy and I'm looking forward to a quiet evening in in front of the TV, gonna watch Dr Who for a change and then get another early night as up early to work again in the morning.
Much better now the roadworks have finished and getting to work is suprisingly boring, no hedges to look at and the road stretches away ahead of me for miles. I don't have to change gear atall for ages which is a bit of a novelty. I'm not complaining though, it has made life much easier.
Can't decide what to have with my tea tonight - beer or wine, I guess the beer isn't mine technically (belongs to darling son) and wine would be nice with the pasta I'm having for tea. I guess I'll go with the wine.
Well, as you can see, another exciting day in my life but I'm happy and thats all that matters.

Well, Yesterday I found out I had failed my coursework and it has to be repeated. What a bugger. Failed on lots of trivial things too. Never mind. I guess it gives me a second go at it.

On a bit more of a whingey note:

Questions members of the public can't seem to answer.

Q: Do you smoke?
A: Not really.

SO YES YOU DO SMOKE

Q: Is your face swollen?
A: I don't know, let me have a look..........................uhhhhhhhhhhh I'm not sure, maybe, hold on I'll ask my wife, sister husband brother etc..........."DOES MY FACE LOOK SWOLLEN?" Other voice replies..Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.......maybe, yes I think it is a little.

IF YOU HAVE TO HAVE A DEBATE ABOUT IT.............YOUR FACE PROBABLY ISN'T SWOLLEN.

Q: Can you/he/she swallow?
A: No
Q: Its important to distinguish between being able to swallow and finding it painful to swallow.
If you can't swallow, you would probably be sitting leaning forward with saliva drooling out of the mouth - is that happening.
A: Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.............................................

THIS SHOULD BE OBVIOUS - EITHER SOMEONE IS LEANING FORWARD DROOLING SALIVA OR THEY ARE NOT - YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THIS.

Please please please, just give a straightforward answer to a question. It makes my life a lot easier.

I think thats enough whining today. Obviously in a bad mood because I failed my course.
On a lighter note - the weather is lovely, beautiful and sunny. A shame I have to be at work.

Busy Week

So far, its been a hectic busy week. But I have been organised and everything at home and at work so far working like clockwork - can I keep up the good work I ask myself.
Its been pissing with rain all week. Managed to collect a whole bucket full of rainwater yesterday for the garden.
Have been cutting off bits of my lettuce to eat. I'm very proud of growing my very own produce for the first time.
Yesterday evening, went out with Jane, we had a nice evening with sausage and mash and we had a few laughs. Walked into town after work for a drink and a bit of grub. We were the only ones holding the fort at work in the afternoon so we thought we may need to have a bit of alcohol to sustain us.
Tonight I have a meeting with the OOHs lot - hope it doesn't go on for too long - want to get home to watch the apprentice. Have tried to set the DVD recorder to record it - I hope it works this time.
Still pissing with rain and the temperature has got much colder too.

This is my first attempt at a blog.........and I have writers block.
Best go away and return to it when inspired.

So, a few weeks ago, I re-arranged all my afternoon appointments to enable me to see a phsyo about my shoulder. No mean feat re-arranging my working day - someone else had to take my list at the branch surgery so I could stay here and get to my appointment with ease.
Of course, having reached the age of 50 years this year - I have many a "senior moment" and I now feel very bad as my physiotherapist fitted me in as an extra and I cocked up my appointment times and had to cancel at the last minute. How good a start to the afternoon is that!
Never mind, its Janes birthday and I now get to have a teabreak with CAKE! Kinda makes up for it all.
Last night, catching up on "24 Series 5". Only intended to watch one epsiode - however, didn't bank on CTU being compromised and not only did Edgar die ....................but so did Tony. How awful is that. Bad enough 2 favourite characters being killed off in the first 5 mins of episode 1. And would you believe it..........Kim Bauer............still alive!!! If anyone should be killed off..............
Anyway, ended up watching 2 episodes instead of 1. Can't watch any tonight though - have to watch "The Apprentice" - so looking forward to that.
Have had a busy day at work - a member of staff off sick so having to see her patients as well as my own, still, the day has gone fairly quick.................Only 3 hours and 5 mins left to go before home time.