Bored? How is that possible?

More offensive than their lacklustre performance on the pitch is the news that the England players are bored. Really? No books to read? No newspapers? Surfing the net? Visiting the local area? Rustenburg is on the edge of two national parks in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. A country with a fascinating and complex history. Not actually far from Johannesburg. I was lucky enough to go there about three years ago - can I recommend, Mr Rooney, Mr Terry, a trip to Soweto or to the apartheid museum. A chance to realise what a privileged, over-indulged lifestyle you lead. A chance also to understand how monumental it is to see a sports tournament happening in South Africa when so many of us back here (booing!) can remember the boycotts.....in fact that thought is so uplifting I don't care who wins....one could say that South Africa has won already....

I am back and I am mad as hell....

Did ya miss me? Did you even notice I wasn't here. And, which one of you bastards voted tory while I was out of the room....or voted Lib Dem thinking it was actually a viable alternative? You were warned....you were bloody warned, and now look what's happened. *Frantically searches for her "I didn't vote tory" badge, last worn in 1979, pinned on school blazer*

We are family

I have mentioned my all consuming passion for genealogy on these pages before. I am always interested to find links with past generations, which are often related to health issues or, certainly in the husbands family, ability or skills. In his family there is a clear leaning towards the arts - a family of artists, scuptors and musicians. Mine.....? Drinkers, apparently!

Although it can't be definatively proved, in my family I have found links to my hereditary deafness and my double-jointedness. I also tracked down the origins of my daughter's red hair.

Sadly, I now seem to be in the position of passing on something to a future generation....my poor wee poppet has tonsillitis

I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing

So we hurtle towards 2010 and I feel a review of the year coming on.

I have travelled, and visited some new places and some old places. I have made new friends, reconnected with old friends, met one friend in the flesh for the first time, and been neglectful of some others.

I have been happy at work, cross at work, disappointed at work.

I have been to one wedding and not been to four funerals. I have seen one couple decide to marry, and I await the birth of a baby to a mother whose nappies I changed when she was a baby.

I have watched my beautiful tiny girl grow into a big girl, who reads and writes, and looses teeth, and has grown in confidence, and still brings me so much joy that I am crying as I write this about her.

This year I have laughed and smiled and enjoyed. But I have cried and shouted and despaired too. I have been sadder than I have been for a long time, and found myself in a place I didn't expect to be in twice in my lifetime. This isn't the life I expected, but then, whose is?

Next year.....
I hope the hostilities cease.
I would like to loose weight.
I ought to try to drink less.
I should exercise more.
I will be rid of my glasses.
I suspect I shall still be me at the beginning of 2011, whoever me really is.

HAPPY NEW YEAR Y'ALL

Remember my name

I am going to a family funeral tomorrow (actually, looking at the time, it's later today). As we reach the end of another year and in the style of the TV review shows, let us remember who we have lost this year:

Ron Lemmer, the last of Albert and Annie's four children.

Jack Lemmer, in his 103rd year.

Michael Horkan, 74, after a long and dibilitating illness.

And Nigel Lancaster - suddenly and too soon.


-- Post From My iPhone

Donald, where's yer troosers?

A general rant about a number of things...

Jeans. Am I unusual in wanting to buy a pair of ordinary jeans? NOT made out of stretchy material? NOT full of holes? NOT looking like someone did the painting in them. And most certainly NOT leggings made to look like jeans. In Harrogate I am apparently in a minority of one.

Grammar. It is "you're", not "your", you utter half-wit. You are old enough to know better. Do it one more time and I will correct it, in red, and send a copy to all the *senior* managers you keep going on about.

Mnemonic. I know how it is spelt. However, I also know how it is pronounced. What's more, saying I "mis-remembered" doesn't soften the blow. It just makes you sound even more patronising. I do seem to to have mis-remembered why I married you at this precise moment in time though.


Thanks for listening...I needed that.

I wanna be loved by you..

I was contacted by an old school friend via one of the many social networking sites that I frequent. Well, I say school. It was a boy who was *allowed* to come to our (girl's convent) school to take part in a joint play we were putting on with their school.

Anyway, he admitted to a huge crush on me....28 years ago. And I felt all warm and fuzzy for a couple of days afterwards......That is hopelessly sad, isn't it, and I really...REALLY need to deal with my self esteem issues soon, don't I?

This is me when I was the object of his affection. No...that most certainly is NOT him in the picture. And I am applying stage make up, not gazing lovingly up into this fella's eyes! I was stage manager, you see.....I spent weeks painting shoe boxes. That will give you a clue to the play if you want to have a guess.

Hanging on the telephone

Yay for technology. I am embracing web2.0 by blogging from my phone while on the train.
I am half way to Birmingham for a meeting with our customers. Not all of them. In fact not many at all. It appears that Dudley on a miserable Tuesday is one step too far. I on the other hand have been on the train since 6am, after only three hours sleep. Jetlag. Thank god I wrote my presentation before I went to the US. I can barely string a sentence together at the moment. There has to be more to life, doesn't there? In fact, as Morrisey once said "there's more to life than books you know". Scarily close to my catchphrase, used when a colleague or even a customer, has their knickers is a twist about something..."it's only an f'ing library". Better yet, if we are trading pithy one liners , from the brilliant course I was on last week "your opinion, although interesting, is irrelevant." it's supposed to mean that you need to have facts, not a personal opinion. They even sell mugs with it on.

Oh, a station. Derby? Yes. Good. Still time for a quick nap before New Street.

-- Post From My iPhone