Spread your wings and fly away

Friends list - I had it alls et out. those that I wanted friends only posts going to were tagged A, those that I sent lighthearted friends only posts to were B, those I didn't want friend only posts going to were tagged C etc etc.

Basically it all depended on who I had been friends on here with longest and it allowed me that selection process without having to go through a whole long list ticking or unticking who read the post.

Now that has been taken away and I only noticed as I tried to do a friends only post.

Bugger!

Now will have to find another way of doing it!

A rabbit walks into a pub and says to the barman,
'Can I have a pint of beer, and a Ham and Cheese Toastie?'
The barman is amazed, but gives the rabbit a pint of beer and a ham and cheese toastie.

The rabbit drinks the beer and eats the toastie. He then leaves.

The following night the rabbit returns and again asks for a pint of beer, and a Ham and Cheese Toastie.

The barman, now intrigued by the rabbit and the extra drinkers in the pub, (because word gets round), gives the rabbit the pint and the Toastie. The rabbit consumes them and leave

The next night, the pub is packed.

In walks the rabbit and says, 'A pint of beer and a Ham and Cheese Toastie, please barman.'

The crowd is hushed as the barman gives the rabbit his pint and toastie, and then burst into applause as the rabbit wolfs them down

The next night there is standing room only in the pub.

Coaches have been laid on for the crowds of patrons attending.

The barman is making more money in one week than he did all last year

In walks the rabbit and says, 'A pint of beer and a Ham and Cheese Toastie, please barman,

The barman says, 'I'm sorry rabbit, old mate, old mucker, but we are right out of them Ham and Cheese Toasties..'

The rabbit looks aghast.

The crowd has quietened to almost a whisper, when the barman clears his throat nervously and says, 'We do have a very nice Cheese and Onion Toastie.'

The rabbit looks him in the eye and says, 'Are you sure I will like it.'

The masses' bated breath is ear shatteringly silent.

The barman, with a roguish smile says,

'Do you think that I would let down one of my best friends. I know you'll love it.'

'Ok', says the rabbit, 'I'll have a pint of beer and a Cheese and Onion Toastie.'

The pub erupts with glee as the rabbit quaffs the beer and guzzles the toastie.

He then waves to the crowd and leaves....

.NEVER TO RETURN!!!!!!

One year later, in the now impoverished public house, the barman, (who has only served 4 drinks tonight, 3 of which were his), calls time.

When he is cleaning down the now empty bar, he sees a small white form, floating above the bar.

The barman says, 'Who are you?',

To which he is answered,

'I am the ghost of the rabbit that used to frequent your public house.'

The barman says, 'I remember you. You made me famous.

You would come in every night and have a pint of beer and a Ham and Cheese Toastie.

Masses came to see you and this place was famous.'

The rabbit says, 'Yes I know.'

The barman said, 'I remember, on your last night we didn't have any Ham and Cheese Toasties.

You had a Cheese and Onion one instead.'

The rabbit said, 'Yes, you promised me that I would love it.

The barman said, 'You never came back, what happened?'

'I DIED' ,said the rabbit.

'NO!' said the barman. 'What from?'

After a short pause The rabbit said...

'Mixing-me-toasties.'

Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,
Sleep sweet - to rise anew!
We caught the torch you threw
And holding high, we keep the Faith
With All who died.

We cherish, too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led;
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies,
But lends a lustre to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.

And now the Torch and Poppy Red
We wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought
In Flanders Fields.
Moina Michael

In remembrance of those that have died, so that we may live, those that we should never forget, those that are missing loved ones currently fighting in far away lands, those that will never return.

For one grandfather, who I never got to know, who was killed in WWII, the Grandfather who never spoke about the horrors he saw, for a Grandmother who survived to tell her tale, for a Grandmother who had to bring up a child after losing everything.

Let us remember those who have suffered, are suffering and pray that one day sense and reason will one day prevail.

Never forget.

I have a sore throat (again!)

My tooth hurts badly!!

That is all x

Hi all

Still bogged down with form filling for the course and various other things going on.

Lampeter was good, son really liked the style and feel of the uni and is thinking of applying to study Archaeology there. Downside was hubby's sat nav took us down all the A roads which meant it took about 6 hours to get there, down country roads you could only get one car down and in the dark that wan't much fun!
However the scenery was spectacular, driving through Monmouth, Abergavenny, Ross on Wye and Gloucester - did I mention it took us the long way round!

The guesthouse was an old vicarage that had been converted into Bed and Breakfast accomodation. The owners were less than helpful. To be fair, he was quite cheerful and accomodating, his wife though made us feel as though we were an inconvenience, probably not impressed that though I had paid for the accomodation in advance, I had requested an evening meal knowing we weren't getting there till late, so she served us a stew with boiled potatoes, a slice of apple pie (which son says had no apple in his piece) with cold custard and charged us £30 for it! I was mortified, did complain and then decided the earlier we would leave the better!!

Back at work this week which has been fraught and it feels like a long week despite it only being Wednesday - it is about to get worse, but can't blog about it right now! On top of it all the car packed up on my yesterday, drove it from work to the shops round the corner from the house to send off a parcel and then turned the key in the car and nothing happened. Hubby came out and jumped started it, got home. This morning same thing happened again, nothing when I turned the key so had to take hubby's car to work (he has a van to take to his work so the car was spare). Spent £60 on a new battery which I can't afford, but at least the car works now, well fingers crossed it will work tomorrow!

Log on here today and lost a friend, haven't had time to check who, so if anyone has left in the last day or so I wish you luck.

Right back to the form filling and trying to sort out our manic life!

Have a good evening

Well so far I have mugged hubby and stolen his sat nav from him. Today I brave the roads and drive son to Llanbyder, where we will spend the night here before we head ten minutes up the road to Lampeter to view the University tomorrow. I have so much to do I am debating taking my laptop with me so that I can try and match up what I wrote yesterday for my coursework to the various standards that I have to meet! Once that is done will only have another 7 forms to waffle on

Left hubby to fend for himself, with a reminder to pick up our other child from his nans on his way home from work tomorrow - of course I could do it on the way home but it all depends on what time we finish looking at the university and how long it takes us to drive home.

Thanks for your help with that laptops yesterday, I bought the one he wanted in the end, a bargain at Argos and had to travel to Harpenden to get it as well as they were the only store that had any in stock!! It is a Toshiba, very basic compared to what is out there at the moment but he only needs one to get on the internet with and do his coursework on. Have seen quite a few that I fancy to replace my desktop which is on a major go slow. I have scanned it for everything, fixed the registry, deleted obsolete programmes, updated, etc etc and it is still slow. Not sure what else to do now so any help with that will be grateful. Mind you it is rarely used, only when I need to print something off and once I get my wireless printer I will not need that so much Once eldest gets his laptop, it will probably be youngest using the desktop anyway so not too bothered if it is slow or not. One day I will replace it.

Right enough waffling on, I have to have some breakfast, shower, get eldest out of his bed and pack before we head out on the roads and brave the day.

Have a good one everyone

Last 10 pence

A father walks into a restaurant with his young son..
He gives the young boy three 10p coins to play with to keep him occupied.

Suddenly, the boy starts choking and going blue in the face....
The father realises the boy has swallowed the coins and starts slapping him on the back..

The boy coughs up 2 of the 10p's but is still choking.
Looking at his son, the father is panicking, shouting for help.

A well dressed, attractive, and serious looking woman, in a blue business suit is sitting at a coffee bar reading a newspaper and sipping a cup of coffee.

At the sound of the commotion, she looks up, puts her coffee cup down, neatly folds the newspaper, places it on the counter, gets up from her seat and makes her way, unhurried, across the restaurant.

Reaching the boy, the woman carefully pulls down his pants; takes hold of the boy's' testicles and starts to squeeze and twist, gently at first and then ever so firmly.. tighter and tighter !!!

After a few seconds the boy convulses violently and
coughs up the last of the 10p's, which the woman deftly catches in her free hand.

Releasing the boy's testicles, the woman hands the coin to the father and walks back to her seat at the coffee bar without saying a word.

As soon as he is sure that his son has suffered no ill effects, the father rushes over to the woman and starts thanking her saying, "I've never seen anybody do anything like that before, it was fantastic. Are you a doctor? "

'No,' the woman replied.

I'm with the Inland Revenue..'

Wednesday already half way through the week. The day so far dawns with a slight drizzle in the air despite the weather man announcing on the radio this morning that it should be at least 20 degrees out there.

Hmm we will see.

Yesterday popped round to see a neighbour and had lunch, a good friend and well meaning who has a few problems and it has been far too long since we have seen each other. Her daughter was there with her eldest son (aged 3) and new son of 11 weeks. Nice seeing them all and catching up for a few hours.

Then off to see my hairdresser and apologise for Friday - I forgot I had an appointment and she kindly fitted me in yesterday for a quick trim. Decided going to go as blonde as I feel next time

Shopping and pricing up laptops came next, as it will be eldest's birthday soon and I said he could have one for his 18th. Most come with Vista though at staples they are giving out vouchers for a free upgrade to Windows 7. My laptop and desktop are both XP so debated upgrading them though they were trying to sell me Windows 7 for £100 telling me I would need to buy 2.

Think I will pass on that one.

Looked at the Toshiba's was talked into buying a Compaq. Listened to the sales patter, told him I will think about it and walked out. Looked on the internet and found a Samsung that I like and the price was right as well. Still undecided.

Anyone know anything about Acer laptops?

Any suggestions recommendations? I won't by Dell had one of those and had nothing but problems with it.

Right onwards and upwards as they say better get a move on and do something constructive

Have a good day x

Just something else we will have to pay for. There is a petition as well if you think it is unfair.

So here I am on half term, awake at silly hour and up and about already. Feel crap as well full of a cold and not in a good mood, plus eldest is being a right pain in the backside and if he doesn't watch it will find soap in his mouth to wash it out and hopefully will learn not to talk to me like I am a piece of shit! I am sick of it now.

Yesterday was because I failed to photocopy his passport - hang on a minute wasn't he here all day under my feet and doing sod all, why, if he knew he needed a photocopy, didn't he go and do it? Am I a bloody mind reader!!

Needless to say silence is golden at the moment. I doubt I will see him before I go out and meet up with my friend later for lunch, then I will be getting my hair cut so at least we won't be able to speak to each other for a while.

Hubby tried his hardest to get me to speak to eldest after I blew up at him, but at the moment I am not in the mood, that was the second time yesterday he spoke to me like that and I am not having it. He is a great kid normally but sometimes those hormones drive me nuts!

Youngest is spending the week with his nan so all is quiet here. Nig has gone off to work, I got up early and made him a cuppa before he left, it gives us half and hour of each other's company.

I have a spot come up on my hand, it is very painful and have no idea why. My hands are in water most of the day lately so can't be because they are dirty!

Managed to clear the ironing yesterday, going to start on the housework today and make sure that everywhere is de cluttered again. Amazing how much builds up during term time! Everywhere is such a mess so will probably take me all morning to tidy back to it's former glory. Once that is done, and I have come back from friend's house, hairdresser and shopping I can relax and then do some more coursework. I have a date for my assessment and want to get most of it out of the way before the next day on my course, the last one before the assessment!

Right enough waffling on and being miserable, have to crack on and start cleaning this house!

Have a good day xx

I have just finished playing monopoly with the boys and Nig.

I won but only because I completely bankrupted my youngest child, therefore he is now sulking in his room because I, apparently, am not fair.

Problem is I like to play games properly. I follow the rules to the letter. I built up the sites I bought, built on them, charged rent etc, is it really my fault then if you owe me £450 in rent and can only pay my £20? Of course I am going to make you mortgage your property and if that then means you have no cash then tough!

Life is like that, you can't have it easy and at 11 he should know that. Turns out that as well as all my properties and the amount of cash I had I won by a fair few thousand and was the richest person on the board, now if only life was like that!

Eldest son got the job at the local Beefeater tavern. Turns out they want bar staff and so he isn't working in the restaurant as we first thought. At the moment he is working behind the bar in the restaurant then when he is 18 (in a couple of weeks) he can then work in the main bar. He had a trial period yesterday and enjoyed. He isn't working there again until next Saturday and then he has to tell them that he can't work the following Saturday as we are having a family meal to celebrate his birthday - fittingly in the restaurant there!

It is fitting that he should work in the place where he first learnt to eat with a spoon. When he was a young child we used to go there once a month and he sat in his highchair wanting some ice cream when they gave him one of them long knickerbocker glory spoons and it was with that he learnt to feed himself. Up until them he struggled with baby spoons and used his hands.

We still pop in and out of there, going there for family meals celebrating birthdays etc. Obviously we have been to other places as well but that is the one place we usually end up, so having him working there now is quite funny really.

Right have to go now and sort some bits and pieces out and take some more tablets. Why do you end up with a cold when it is holiday time!

Have a good evening x

It has been a long week. Ok fair play I only actually worked three days, but they felt like I had worked 6.

Monday I was on a course where we discussed how to fill in a form from 9.30-3.30 - ok slight exaggeration but we have to fill out a form with as much detail as possible for the assessor and most of the lesson was learning about what to put on the form.

Tuesday to Thursday working - felt like I had to put 5 days work into 3, not helped by a teacher having a sulk because I refused to dress up in 1940s dress for their VE day celebrations (don't ask had a lot to do with the topic they were doing!). Giving me a few hours notice of this is not going to get me to take part and dress up for it, anyone who knows me knows I need at least a month to plan these things

I have my assessment date set for the 11th of January, just have to clear it with the headteacher and the teacher who are both going to be interviewed by my assessor.

Today I start the half term. So far I have met with youngest son's form teacher to discuss various reports that have been done on him by outside agencies and how to deal with him when he gets frustrated and upset. It was a useful exercise despite my reservations, and she is happy with his progress which is good.

I have arranged lunch next week with a neighbour whom I have been trying to catch up with all year! We both are busy people and it has been difficult to get dates in our diary.

Waiting to hear from another friend if she wants to have lunch sometime.

What I should have done is blitz the mess in this house and restored it to calm and tidiness, done the ironing, cleaned the bathroom and the kitchen. Needless to say I fed myself and am now on here.

Just one other thing before I go. As much as I hate the party and the views they represent, I did watch the BNP, namely Nick Griffin on Question Time last night rather than go and do the weekly pub quiz. Now I didn't have a problem with him being on there, after all his party is getting votes from somewhere and over the years they have been growing. So I watched and felt at the end of it that Nick Griffin is not as stupid as people are thinking. I firmly believe he knew the fuss it would cause. He knew that it would be a slanging match against him. He knew he would not be able to answer questions without having people braying at him or shouting him down. He knew the fuss it would cause and consequently the fall out that will be all over the papers, the internet and aired on the radio. What does this do? It gives advertising to what is essentially a party that is racist there is no denying that.

They do have supporters, a lot of whom will tell you that they are not racist and that they are only voting for them because no other party is listening to them. Hubby, in the course of his work this week, met 5 families, none of which were 'indigenous Britains' to use a quote used by Nick Griffin last night, but they all had one thing in common they are going to vote for the BNP. 2 Asian, 3 African/Caribean/British (what ever the politically correct term is now days), were saying this which is scary. They gave their reasons, hubby argued against them but he did say to me afterwards that he could understand how they were feeling, hearing their stories and how they felt they were being treated. They are disenchanted, disillusioned and felt that they were not being listened to. Who do they turn to? They felt the BNP was the party that promised them what they wanted, forget the fact that if they were in power (God Forbid) then they were not likely to be able to live their lives in the way they do now because of the colour of their skin.

Which raises the question: How many other people feel the same way that these people do? How many feel that there is no other option?

Ok so there could be more people who will refuse to vote, what does this achieve, because you may refuse to vote, main political parties get less voters, which could lead to more support going to the BNP or a hung parliament where they can have a say as well just because of the amount of votes they have.

It can happen.

As much as it kills me to say this, because I for one will never vote for them, but yesterday, with all the heckling, today with all the uproar and fall out from yesterday, listening to people phone the radio station and texting them, reading various comments posted on the net, I fear that Nick Griffin got what he wanted out of this.

Support.

It wasn't the most organised of programmes yesterday. People tuned in to listen to policies, to hear how the other parties were going to deal with NG's claims. The only person that talked sense was Sayeeda Warsi, the only person who managed to conduct herself with decorum, to face NG and look him in the eye and tackle him. The others were shameful, not answering questions, using diversion tactics and downright rude. What people saw was a lynch mob. The panel was weak, Dimbleby, another man I despise, was more so. It was shameful and I fear that those people out there that are dillusioned, ill educated, apathetic, will, on that performance, look to NG as being bullied, will listen to his propaganda and believe it. They are the ones who will stupidly give him the sympathy vote.

I really hope I am wrong but I fear the day will come when they will get enough votes to have a say, they have, rightly or wrongly, gaining support.

I will not vote for them, never will. I can only hope that all those that do not ever vote, will do so, come the next election, even if it is for a party that will never get anywhere, because the only way we can stop these cretins from gaining support and getting more votes is if everyone made a stand and voted. We need to stop them.

Right I am getting off my soap box now and will try and do some housework