Womans Hour

Usually one of my favourite programmes but just lately it's been a real turn off. Why? The producers have jumped on the 'as it's Christmas lets put everyone under pressure' band wagon. Yesterday, 23rd December, they had a phone-in with Agony Aunt, Deidre Sanders, on how to survive Christmas with the extended family. On 3rd December they had Delia answering cooking queries. Participants frequently used the phrase 'I want it to be perfect'. Why can't people accept that life happens? Save me from idiots!

On Reacting to Negative People - What Does It Achieve?

People who are easily angered generally have what some psychologists call a low tolerance for frustration, they can't take things in stride, they feel that they should not have to be subjected to frustration, inconvenience, or annoyance. Dealing with these people can be quite a challenge. Negative people drain one's energy, deeply unhappy people will want to bring others down so that they are not suffering alone. Reacting is a waste of time because when people initiate negativity it is a reflection of their inner state. It’s not personal but it is easy to take it personally. Our ego likes problems and conflict, people are often so bored and unhappy with their own lives that they want to take others down with them. It is very easy to respond impulsively but it is not the smart thing to do. It does however feed our ego’s need for conflict. When we fight back, it feels really satisfying in our heads but it doesn’t feel very good in our soul. When we respond irrationally it turns the conversation from a one-sided negative expression into a battle of two egos. It becomes an unnecessary and unproductive battle for 'Who is Right'? When we’re emotionally charged, we are so much in our heads that we argue out of an impulse to be right, to defend ourselves, for the sake of our egos. Rationality and resolution can rarely arise out of an argument.

Apple Fantastic

Due to the weather the others cried off so I went to the Blackmoor Estate 'Apple Fair' on my own. Just as well because I came home with two apple trees and other goodies. As the car was filled up with my stuff there'd have been no room for passengers. Thank you Guardian Angel, you had my best interests at heart. As I hate crowds I set off early. There were lots of exhibitors, wild life, food producers, Blacksmith, Chair Bodger, Morris Dancers etc.... I left around lunchtime, far too many people and much too crowded for me A real treat was going up the Church spire for just £1.50. Narrow spiral stairs led to the bell ringers room where we saw the Victorian clock mechanism spring into action on the quarter hour. Nice to catch one's breath before the next stop which was the actual bell room. We saw one of the bells swing on it's axis while being rung by a volunteer in the room below. The final stop was the gallery which run round the base of the steeple. Lovely views but why did my legs feel like jelly? Journey down phased me a bit, parts of the spiral stairs were so dark I couldn't see where to put my feet. My apple trees were a real bargain at only £10 each, I just hope they thrive. James Grieve, the top one, is a very popular old Scottish apple variety. It was introduced in Edinburgh in 1893. These apples are a red flush stripe over a pale green. A juicy, crisp apple, they have an excellent flavour, hence their popularity. Red Windsor has a Cox type flavour and is a heavy cropper. It is a frost hardy apple tree, especially at blossom time. It has very compact and easy to grow with good disease resistance. This apple is the product of the cross between the apple varieties British Cox's Orange Pippin x German Sport of Alkmene and was first introduced in 1985. They will pollinate each other.

Crash Dummy

This 21 year old has written off three cars in three years and worries her parents to death. They're concerned, and quite rightly, that she'll do it again but won't walk away. Her confidence isn't dented, and she has the cheek to criticise her Mother for driving too cautiously. She commutes 60 miles every day and insists that she’s the more experienced driver. A feisty child will never take heed. As parents they'll always be in the wrong, but she'll expect them to pick up the pieces. You can't put an old head on young shoulders, it is a child's duty to push boundaries. It was ever thus, I seem to remember her Mother not taking much notice of me or anything I advised. All youngsters have to find their own way. I've advised the parents to give her advanced driving lessons for Christmas but will they take heed of me? If it was WWII and women had equal rights she'd be flying Spitfires. For five years I shared my home with a lodger. This young man wanted to learn to drive so lessons were booked. So he could gain experience I went out with him and I was usually terrified. He passed his test 1st time & it went to his head. For a token amount I sold him my J reg Micra and bought myself a W reg Clio. He crashed the Micra shortly afterwards. He drove like the 'Red Baron, I refused to let him drive me and as a passenger he constantly criticized my driving. That really rankled, I'm an experienced and competent driver, at one stage - during paid employment - I clocked up about 1000 miles every week. In the end a friend's husband, a former Police Officer, taught him defensive driving techniques. PS. The driving school car was also a Micra but the controls were on opposite sides. To overcome this obstacle he took it upon himself, and without seeking my permission, to alter the controls on my car. Apparently it was a job easily done. He's now married and lives in London.

On Love & Affinity

One can love one's relatives without having a particularly close-knit relationship. Personal values and lifestyle might have changed so much that there isn’t enough basic compatibility to form a strong common bond. Even though this might be the family one grew up with and shared many memories with, one's core values are so different now that one has moved on. Despite all these differences, one can be on good terms with each other and get along fairly well, but one's differences create such a big gap that one has to settle for being relatives without being close friends. If one is fortunate enough to have a close family that is wonderful but what if one's family isn't close? Dealing with this situation broadens one's definition of 'family'. I feel an unconditional connection with all human beings. I have a strong commitment to doing good for the planet as best I can. And a strong commitment to helping those who are less able. When I see people who are living very, very consciously and deliberately and who’ve dedicated their lives to the pursuit of a worthy purpose, I have a strong sense that on some level, those people are members of my surrogate family.

Motorhome Magazine Letter

My set up is an Autosleeper Symbol and would really love to connect with those who go it alone. My experience of couples is that they are set in their ways and very comfortable in their relationship with other couples. They have no idea what it is like for Solo's but maybe they don't know how to cope with us. I have previously attended rallies with established organisations but people's natural tendency to form cliques has put me off. My last rally was Bank Holiday May 2007. It was Caravan Club's National Rally at Blenheim Palace, with E Hants Centre whose members are mostly couples. I had rallied with them before and was know to the 'officers'. It rained solidly for the duration and I passed the time alone in the van watching the rain turn the site into a quagmire. I got into a right state worrying about getting off pitch and site. In the end I was towed off by total strangers. While driving home I kept thinking. "I've paid good money to go away and enjoy myself but I've been as miserable as sin, why did I put myself through that?" I dropped out of E Hants Centre shortly afterwards. I wrote and told them why I left but didn't get a reply and have been put off established clubs since then. The other thing about traditional established organisations is that they hold events like 'Dinner Dances'. Great for couples but not for people like me.

Fashion Accessory or Something Useful?

I couldn't justify spending over £100 on frivolity so my clothes, shoes and bags are bought in charity shops or Ebay.

But I have just spent a serious amount of money on a new toy, some 'Red Line' Telesteps.

It's a handy ladder for every situation. Always the right length. Always at a safe angle. A telescopic ladder that can help me reach heights of up to 5 metres, amost anywhere and it only weighs 11KG.

This morning I easily accessed the roof of one of my sheds and fitted new felt. The ladder is so sturdy I felt perfectly safe and for someone aged 65 & 5/6's I have to take extra care.

Not having a significant other to deal with this sort of thing a girl has to look after herself.

I will get more value out of these telesteps than any fashion accessory. I will save money by doing the jobs myself and I won't be exasperated by useless workmen so there'll be no drain on my emotional health. All in all, money well spent!!

And While I Am In A Complaining Mood

I have emailed Chief Honcho at Home Retail Group, Oliver Stocken, about Homebase Farlington.

Below is the transcript:

The staff in the above store need retraining in Customer Service & Plant Care. Their attitude is sloppy and they clearly demonstrate that they don't care what impression they give to customers. Saturday evening, 26th September I spent over £30, during the checkout I was not offered the promotional October 10% discount card. It was only after I returned home that I realised that I should have asked for it. I returned the following day. The polite lad at the reception knew nothing about it and asked another lad to fetch the supervisor. The other lad's attitude annoyed me, he made inappropriate comments within earshot so I immediately took him to task and told him not to behave like that in front of customers. Where did he think he was? At home? The supervisor duly arrived, she apologised and I was given my 10% card. While shopping I noticed there were plants wilting through lack of water while the staff have plenty of time to stand around and chat. The paragraph below is taken from Homebase website. "We’re under no illusion that what really brings the customers back every time is our colleagues and the service they receive from them. From the team that purchases our products to the team that work on the tills, we offer the best customer service there is because everybody is encouraged to take responsibility for improving the customer’s experience." I should have been offered the 10% card without having to go back and ask for it. All the staff should have known about giving qualifying customers the 10% card. All plants need water, so what sort of impression does it give customers when they see plants needing a little TLC? I look forward to your comments.

Mandelson!! How Very dare He!!

So rude and superior!! While being interviewed this morning by BBC Breakfast's Sian Williams, he didn't like her question so instead of answering it in an intelligent manner he went on the attack.

Sian was only quoting something from 'The Times' and he sneeringly turned it back on her saying she had got it wrong and it was typical BBC sloppy reporting.

He's forgotten that he works for us, they've all forgotten that they work for us. 

My MP Sarah McCarthy-Fry will be hearing from me.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Creative Vado

Creative Vado. Slim and light, this pocket video cam records in VGA quality at the touch of a button.  The built-in USB connector lets me plug the Vado into any PC, so I can easily upload my videos straight to YouTube.

I bought it from QVC on easy pay otherwise I couldn't have justified the expense.

Yesterday I played with it while I was parked up at the entrance to Langstone Harbour.

Job Done

Even though my shed roof has been leaking for ages it was much too easy to put off this 'Heart Sink Job' and am too tight fisted to pay anyone to do it. It has been so dry in recent weeks that I found any excuse not to repair it. Yesterday it rained and water got in. Even though the hole was tiny I had to do something about it. I really didn't want to out but today I made myself do running repairs. I removed the clout nails and patched up with with an odd peice of new felt pushed under the old. While securing the old felt back in place I whacked in lots of extra nails. I won't know how successful my patching will be until it rains again I was very naughty. If I hurt myself no one can get in so in case I had an accident I should have unlocked the side gate (but I didn't). The words 'Be careful' kept going round inside my head. The new roll of felt will remain untouched until I can get up enough enthusiasm to do a proper job.

Let's Get The Bus

An innocent phrase with huge implications. Our intention was to get from one London Mainline station to another. We had suitcases so we thought it would be easier than the underground.

What we did not know was that 'The Thames Festival' had taken place over the weekend.

Coming out of Kings Cross at 19:30ish we crossed the road and headed for the bus stop. The sign said that the 59 bus ran every 12 minutes but we waited for 40 minutes for it to turn up.

The journey was a nightmare as the traffic was gridlocked. We arrived at waterloo at around 21:00ish and missed our connecting train by 1 minute. It had taken about 90mins to travel across London.

Getting to Cosham is a pain. At 23:00 ish I left the train at Fratton and then had to wait nearly 30 minutes for a connection to take me back out of the city to my local station.

I eventually arrived home at around midnight.

During the nightmare bus ride in my mind I was so fed up I tried to take myself to different place. If I had been a child I would have behaved appallingly.

At Fratton station I was approached by two dodgy looking youths with a feirce looking dog on a lead, all they wanted to know was how to get home to London. But they had missed that last train. Glad I wasn't in their shoes.

RTFM

The little snippet below is the result of a story I heard while attending the 2009 National Women's Register Conference in Leeds.

Four ladies actually admitted going the wrong University. They thought it was being held at Leeds University in the city centre and not Leeds Trinity which is in the countryside near Headingly and Leeds Bradford airport. None of them had read the paperwork and checked directions. They all thought that one of the others had done it!!

I think it would have been much nicer if it had been held in the city rather than being a few miles out and very close to a busy noisy airport.

Oh No John No John NO!!!

Contact the Elderly Tea Parties are held on the first Sunday of the month. The normal time for picking up guests is from 2 o'clock onwards.

John can't hear his mobile phone ring so he doesn't pick up. He rings me but even though I answer he can't hear and thinks he hasn't got through.

Then he thinks because no one has spoken to him he is not being picked up and doesn't want to miss out.

Yesterday at 1:20 John panicked, walked round to Tesco where he picked up a taxi. He paid out £18 to get from central Portsmouth to the host's house in Horndean. He arrived at the venue at the same time as his driver called at his house.

This set off a chain of events in which his driver, myself and his daughter got caught up. Unneccessary mobile phone calls were made. Added to that two guests were kept waiting.

I have spoken to John's daughter and told her that whatever happens he will be picked up by 14:30 and would she please make him understand this.

John does not have a land line and his daughter says that she can't arrange for one to be installed because they will only deal with the client.

Where to go from here? I have asked H/O for advice.

But the fantastic lemon drizzle and strawberry crumble cakes were adequate compensation.

On Being Let Down

I have five guests to take out to tea tomorrow and the other two drivers are unable to help.

One driver is self employed and is very busy so I can sympathise with his position. But the other has suddenly gone quiet and is not responding to texts, emails and phone calls.

My car is a three door Clio so there are accessibility problems. One guest needs to take along his three wheeled walker and it is difficult for some to get in and out of the back.

The Tea Party is scheduled for tomorrow so I can't cancel. By now the host will have organised all the food. It's the elderly guests and not me that's being let down. But as local organiser I get the stress and the worry. I woke at 4am today which is typical when my brain is overactive. Sometimes I feel like giving it all up but I am unable let the oldies down.

Solo Journeys - The Plus Side of Being Single

Last saturday I went to Worthing on the train.

While waiting on the platform I chatted to a group of women. They were off to Kew Gardens where I had been the previous Sunday.

On the train I had a lovely chat with a little family, Mum and two children. I discovered that in September the young girl was being sent to boarding school in the Pyrenness. I had experienced life in a Convent boarding school so I told her a few amusing tales.

On Worthing Pier I spent a pleasant time talking some of a people of a similar age to myself who earned their living by being full time carers for two disabled adults.

I had lunch with friends, then I went to the theatre for a matinee performance on my own. Then I caught the train back home.

Apart from the lunch with friends all my conversations were with complete strangers. Maybe it's because I am 'old' & not seen as a threat. Maybe it's because I spent my working life dealing with people and this confidence has carried on into retirement? If I'd been with another person I would not have had these little chats.

Hell is?

Celebrated French 'thinker' Jean-Paul Sartre suggested that "Hell is other people".

According to the Office for National Statistics the proportion of people living alone more than doubled between 1971 and 2008. I am one of these statistics and I have no desire to alter my solo existence.

Other people?

One friend is miserable because she hardly sees her traffic cop husband. She works full time, normal office hours. He works shifts so they go for long periods leading parrallel lives. He loves his job but she is lonely and would like to see more of him. But would she be any happier if his job was different?

Another friend is miserable for different reasons. Her marriage has endured for 46 years. They are both now retired which has made things worse. They go for days living in the same house without actually speaking to each other. She tells me that he sulks for long periods and won't discuss his feelings. This sad state of affairs will probably continue until one of them dies. What a waste?

A thoughtless adult grandchild, having flown the nest, doesn't bother to thank relatives for their birthday gifts. Exasperated parents wring their hands. The culprit eventually offers a half hearted apology. A reason is given, 'I am so rubbish at this sort of thing'. This is like saying 'I am fair skinned 'or 'I am short' so nothing can be done. A mature mind would know better. The relatives would like to stop giving, but would it cause a family rift?

History Lesson - Little Known Facts

They used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot & then once a day it was taken & sold to the tannery.......if you had to do this to survive you were "Piss Poor". But worse than that were the really poor folk who couldn't even afford to buy a pot......they "didn't have a pot to piss in" & were the lowest of the low.

The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the 1500s: Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and they still smelled pretty good by June. However, since they were starting to smell. . . brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odour. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married. Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water!" Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath... It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying "It's raining cats and dogs." There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence. The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, "Dirt poor." The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entranceway. Hence: a thresh hold. In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme: Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old. Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, "bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat. Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous. Bread was used as a plate or trencher. The rich would eat off the bottom part of the loaf, and then pass it on to the poor well soaked with gravy & leavings. Hence ‘Upper Crust’, if you were poor you never got that part of the loaf. Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky... The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a wake. England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift.) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, saved by the bell or was considered a dead ringer... Now, whoever said History was boring! ! !

I'm Not a Fluffy Female

Being strapped for cash is a powerful motivator. Over the years I have done lots of DIY. Just give me an electric drill, a saw, a hammer, an adjustable spanner and a pair of pliers and I'm as happy as larry

I started in the early 60's when the window sash cords broke & we couldn't afford to get them fixed. I borrowed a book from the library and read up on it. After that there was no stopping me. Having an engineers brain helps as I can easily take things apart and put them back together.

As a child I frequently 'played' in my Dad's shed; but only while he was at work. I was known as 'fiddle fingers' and always denied that I'd played with his tools. One day I even poked a hairpin in a live socket to see what would happen, I soon found out.

On the odd occasion when we've employed a workman to carry out tasks I've been known to get annoyed. Even though they knew I was knowledgable they'd try to 'pull the wool'. Sometimes I've even 'redone' their work.

While seeking advice, if my husband was present they would always talk to him and ignore me. 'No use talking to me mate! She's the expert, not me.'

My tool kit has expanded over the years and they've usually come from car boot sales.

I can cobble things together with wood but I'd never make a carpenter. I have done a bit of plastering but don't like it as it is messy. I feel the same about decorating, I hate the smell and I loath cleaning the paintbrushes. I avoid doing car stuff because I hate getting my hands oily.

The only thing I haven't done is construct a brick wall. But watch this space.

Plumbers Mate?

My outside tap was leaking badly, ho hum, what to do? Call in a plumber and pay through the nose or have a go myself?

It was impossible to replace the washer as the joints had welded together. I thought it best to replace everything.

I bought an 'off the shelf' kit which contained an outside tap, a self cutting tap just like the ones that the washing machine hose is connected to, and is designed to clamp to the existing cold supply in the kitchen. Plus a flexible hose for connecting the two taps together.

All I had to do then was remove the old installation. Before getting to work I turned off the mains water at the stop cock. Then I cut through the copper pipes with the hacksaw. To get everything apart I had to repeat the procedure outside.

I closed off the end with a push fit blanking cap and then fitted the self cutting inside tap. With the aid of a wire coat hanger to guide it I pushed the flexible hose through the wall . All I have to do now is secure the new outside tap to the brickwork.

The mains is back on and so far everything appears to be watertight. Yippee.

Plumbers mate? I don't think so because I've done him out of a job.

Overwhelmed?

I have a multitude of tasks beckoning. So much to do, only one pair of hands and there are never enough hours in the day.

Life coaches recommend goal setting. My tasks are specific, but there have too many as my enthusiasm runs away with me.

The tasks are measurable and they are attainable. They are also relevant and I am not time bound.

Maybe after a good night's sleep things will take on a different perspective.

It has been a long day, it is now 8:30pm and for some the night is still young.

But I have been awake since 5:00am and was at the Hayling Island car boot sale by 6:00am.

Thoughts on Gardening

Just recently I've been sorting out my 'plant pot' garden. All the plants required repotting and I've got through an awful lot of potting compost. It comes in 75 litre bags. Even though I've been mixing it with the spent compost I've used the contents of eight bags.

Thinking I was getting a good deal I'd been buying it in B&Q but only on 10% discount Wedensdays. Their multibuy offer is 3 for £10 (£9). Then I discovered that there was a good deal in Wickes on any day of the week as their offer is 4 bags for £12. Even the staff were happy to help me manhandle my purchases into the car, that didn't happen in B&Q.

10 litre Black builders buckets at around £1 a pop are much cheaper than buying planters. All one has to do is remove the handles and make a hole in the base.

My own homemade compost needs mixing with commercial stuff as it is too wet. It is also chock full of seeds as young Melon plants have been popping up in unexpected places.

Big fat slugs, when covered in dry compost, feel quite nice as they have the texture of a jellybaby.

Plant saucers are vital as they stop the pots from drying out. Big ones are difficult to get hold of locally but they are available on Ebay.

I've used an old galvanised mop bucket as a planter. I cut away the mop wringer and drilled holes in the base.

I plan to grow strawberries. Using three or four different sized planters to make a cascaded planter is a good idea. Some soil goes in the bottom of the biggest one, then the next size goes in and the gap is filled with soil. The same procedure is followed with the others.

Watching Gardeners World has given me inspiration and I hope to find some interesting containers at car boot sales.

In the meantime the house is gathering dust but all the while the sun shines I am compelled to be outdoors.

Kew

Thanks to the £10 offer from SouthWest Trains I visited Kew yesterday.

It turned into a bit of an adventure. Even though I left home at 7:30am, through my own stupidity I missed the 8:53 train. Because they carry out repair work on Sundays, the final stage was a 45 minute bus journey.

I eventually arrived at Kew Bridge station at 12:45. Was I mad? Probably.

Kew in general is very pleasant. Everyone knows about the famous gardens but few are aware of the Steam Museum.

My intention was to visit Kew Palace, private residence of George III, Queen Charlotte and their large family. She gave birth to 15 children but not all lived. It is rumoured that Charlotte had negro ancestry.

What I didn't know and I was annoyed about was that in order to visit the palace one has to pay the entrance fee to Kew gardens.

Although the palace was quite charming it's small; I was round it quite quickly. Interesting points included a waxwork head of George made by Madame Tussaud herself. George's waistcoat and the chair in which Queen Charlotte spent her final days.

Although the afternoon was very hot I did a very quick tour of the gardens, after all I had paid to get in. Afterwards I visited St Anne's, the church on Kew green. On Sunday afternoons they serve afternoon tea. This little interlude was absolute bliss.

My return journey started at 4:05pm. Three hours later, at 7:05pm I got into the car and drove home.

Interesting But Boring Chores

I usually have the Clio washed by those guys that lurk in supermarket car parks. They do a reasonable job but it really needed a good clean. It’s only £5 and very convenient but it’s the same as going through the car wash. Every so often it has to be done properly. A while a go I bought a waterless car cleaning product called "Showroom Shine"on one of the shopping channels. It really does what it says on the tin. It wiped away all the grime without a scratch. Most car polishes leave a residue but not this stuff, when I'd finished there wasn't a streak to be seen. I spent about 90minutes on the task. I poked into all those annoying little nooks and crannies that one usually ignores. Bearing in mind it’s 9 years old it looks very nice and I almost enjoyed myself. After that I decided to clean my ancient Ransomes ‘side-wheel’ push mower. Although it cuts OK it was packed full of greasy grassy goo. I guess it had never been cleaned so I decided to take it to bits. Out came the spanners, socket set, pliers & screwdrivers. Even though I’d given them a good soaking with penetrating oil the nuts wouldn’t budge. Then I remembered reading that that they might loosen up if heated with a blowlamp. Success!! It worked on nearly all of them. I’ve smothered the mower in oil and newspaper then left it ‘soaking’ in a bin liner.

Japanese Arrow Bamboo

Just bought this from Lidl. 'Pseudosasa japonica'. Apparently this Bamboo was once used to make arrow shafts It is quite different from the other Bamboo on my garden, the Phyllostachys genus 'Aura' & 'Nigra'. This one produces a profusion of slender culms that grow tightly together, forming a dense hedge, with large, dark green foliage and a somewhat tropical appearance. The label says it is a tough and versatile bamboo which thrives in shade but also grows well in a sunny location and is wind tolerant. It can be pruned to almost any height and sheared into a rigid, square hedge. The culm retains a tan colored outer covering called a "culm sheath" which creates a checkered contrast with the green culm. To stop it spreading I will need to restrict the roots with a solid barrier.

Beautiful Pest

I need to get rid of these colourful visitors. Death will come via a small paintbrush loaded with white spirit. I don't mind doing it this way because a chemical spray will kill beneficial insects. The Scarlet Lily Beetle is very destructive to lilies and fritillaries. It is about 8 - 10 mm long and is a native of Eurasia. Lily beetles came into the UK on imported lilies at the start of the 1900's. Now they are commonly found in the South East of England, but are spreading all over the UK. The adult lily beetles feed on the flowers, leaves and stems of the lily, spends the winter in sheltered places in the garden - not necessarily near lilies. They come out of hibernation in late March - May then from late April -September they feed on the lilies and lay eggs on the underneath of leaves of lily plants. The eggs take about a week to hatch - producing beetle larvae which feed on lily foliage. The lily beetle larvae are fully grown in about 2 weeks - they then pupate in the ground and in 2 -3 weeks emerge as adult lily beetles.

So Now I Know What It Feels Like

Being the victim of credit card fraud is most unpleasant especially when there's no one around to give you moral support by saying 'There there!'

But all is not lost. I immediately phoned Halifax customer services. The person I spoke to was most understanding, they've cancelled the transaction & card and given me a new account number.

Someone called Ernestas Gustaitis bought tickets in Austria through Ryanair to the tune of £285.59.

Halifax has an extra layer of security for online transactions so I don't understand how it happened.

The name is Lithuanian. Thieving bastard, I hope he rots in hell.

Green Fingers

My elderly friend Joan pays the 'Shaw Trust' to cut both the front & back lawns. They recently let her down and can't return for another 6 weeks. So muggins here took pity and helped out. Last week I did the front, which is small and wasn't too bad. Yesterday I tackled the much bigger back garden. The trouble with me is that I have to do everything properly & don't know when to stop. I didn't realise until afterwards just how tired I was. I was asleep by 9pm. Today I feel a bit lethargic but that will soon pass. But that's not the end of it. I have elderly neighbours, their front garden is paved but weeds are growing in the cracks. They hate not being able to tackle the job and worry that it looks bad. When I get a spare few moments I will deal with it.

Emperor Dragonfly

Around lunchtime I saw the female ovipositing eggs in the floating vegetation of my pond. It is probably the UK's most powerful dragonfly, a true predator, more than capable of taking other large dragonflies, small butterflies and other flying insects. The emperor is one of the largest dragonflies in Europe and also one of the fastest fliers. It tends to hover, high above the water in a very regal fashion, before launching itself, like an arrow, at its prey. I was really chuffed, my plans to have a wildlife garden are slowly falling into place. More on Dragonflies & Damselflies here

Ploddishness & Cluelessness

Tired of receiving emergency 999 calls from the chronically clueless about "good stain removers" or "rats in the kitchen" the Met recently launched an alternative phone line for non-emergency situations. It is hoped the number, 0300 1231212, will help cut down the 50,000 monthly calls - a quarter in all - that do not require an emergency response. A laudable effort, though when people are calling 999 because they "can't turn their tap off", one wonders if dialing an eleven-digit number might be beyond their skill. But the Police can also be chronically clueless. Fancy leaving two dogs locked up in a vehicle on the hottest day of the year. Needless to say those poor doggies died.

Encounters with a Guide Dog

I often stick my nose into other peoples' business. That particular bit of nosey parkering took place while I was waiting for a bus in Cosham. A young woman with a guide dog was asking people which bus went to Fareham. She needed to get to a specialist shop and wasn't sure where it was situated. It was an impromptu decision, I had nothing planned so I volunteered to go with her. She readily accepted. We caught the bus and spent the journey chatting. Jenny went blind aged three and is now 37. Her right eye had been removed when she was 15 and was wearing a very realistic false eye. What a small world, it turned out that it had been made by a friend of mine who is now retired. Five weeks previously she'd an operation to restore the sight in her remaining eye. It was very successful, she'd been promised three metres of vision but could actually see as far as six. Jenny is very excited but is philosophical to the fact that it may not last In Fareham I asked other shoppers for directions and it didn't take us long to find the shop. Afterwards we went to a cafe. We caught the bus back to Cosham and then we walked round the corner to another stop where I made sure she caught the right one to take her back to Horndean. Ada her Labrador guide dog is nine years old. As she is too old to get used to another person she will spend the rest of her life with Jenny.

Pick Up Those Feet!

During the last week I've tripped over twice, the first time was coming in the back door, fortunately I landed on a mat, not a hard floor. The second was going UP stairs, on carpet. My 'reward' is a bruised knee and a stiff finger. Both times it was because I was in a hurry and hadn't picked up my feet. This is the sort of thing that old and doddery people do. This posh staircase isn't mine, I wish. Being council built housing mine are very basic.

Times Online - Money Central

MPs' expenses: the ten most outrageous claims ever

MPs are paid an annual salary of £63,291 – yet in 2007 each MP also claimed an average of £135,600 for expenses. Travel costs, staff pay and, of course, the controversial second homes allowance are amongst the many things charged to the taxpayer.

Matthew Elliott of the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: “Some politicians have been taking the mickey and taking advantage of taxpayers’ generosity. It is more important than ever, for the democratic system as much as for taxpayers, that the full details of every claim be published. The minority who are cashing in so disgracefully should be run out of town.”

As the row over the transparency of expenses continues, Money Central lists the 10 most outrageous expense claims ever made by MPs.

1. Jacqui Smith’s pornography

Jacqui Smith was left “mortified and furious” after it emerged she had claimed the cost of two pornographic films her husband had watched from her parliamentary expenses budget. Her expenses claims included two films, each costing £5, viewed on April 1 and April 6 last year.

2. Jacqui Smith’s house

Ms Smith is already facing an inquiry over her decision to designate her sister’s house in London as her “main home”. This allowed her to claim £116,000 on her Redditch constituency house, where her family live, as her “second home”.

3. Tony McNulty’s house

Tony McNulty, the Employment Minister, claimed £60,000 as a second home allowance for staying in his parent’s house and is also facing investigation by the Commons watchdog.

Mr McNulty started claiming allowances for the house in his Harrow constituency in northwest London in 2001 and continued to do so until January this year, even though he moved out in 2002. Since then he has lived in Hammersmith, which is just nine miles from Harrow.

Sixteen London MPs claim up to £16,000 a year for a second home, despite living less than an hour's commute from Westminster.

4. Derek Conway’s son, or “parliamentary assistant”

Derek Conway, the senior Conservative MP, used expenses to "employ" his teenage son Fredrick as a Parliamentary assistant, despite the fact that Fredrick was a full-time Geography student at Newcastle university. Frederick was paid up to £11,773 a year for his work – but was “all but invisible during the period of his employment,” according to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.

5. Nick Bourne’s iPod

Last year it emerged that two members of the Welsh assembly, Conservative leader Nick Bourne and fellow Tory, Alun Cairns, bought iPods on their expenses worth a combined £398. Mr Bourne, who represents Mid and West Wales, also bought a £120 trouser press.

6. Bill Butler’s £1 charity donation

Bill Butler, the Labour MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, tried to claim back a £1 charity donation that a hotel made on his behalf. He says that the hotel made the charge without his knowledge. It was rejected by the Scottish Parliament authorities.

David Whitton, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, also had a claim rejected this year – he wanted £290 in expenses for printing Christmas cards.

7. Caroline Spelman’s nanny

Caroline Spelman, the Conservative Party Chairman and MP for Meriden, was found to have broken the rules for MPs expenses when she hired her nanny as a secretarial assistant in the late 1990s.

Tina Haynes received free board and lodgings - but was not paid - for looking after Mrs Spelman's three children. However, she was paid £13,000 a year, from Mrs Spelman's expenses, for 18-hours work a week as the MP's assistant.

8. Brian Gibbons’ remembrance wreath

Brian Gibbons, the the Labour Minister for Social Justice and Local Government, claimed £16.50 for a Royal British Legion wreath that he presumably laid at a remembrance service.

9. Alex Fergusson's charity advert

The Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament attempted to recover £132.78 for the cost of a "congratulatory advert" for a constituency charity for disadvantaged children. His claim was rejected.

10. Council tax

With the average annual council tax bill set to increase to £1,414 from next month, many struggling pensioners will be interested to learn that MPs do not have to pay council tax on their second homes. They can, of course claim it on expenses.

Can Any Mother Help Me?

This play is based on the book 'Can Any Mother Help Me?; by Jenna Bailey. In 1935, a young mother wrote a letter to a magazine, asking readers for help. She was lonely and frustrated, stuck at home with two children, unable to express her thoughts and ideas. The letter struck a chord with women all over the country and someone suggested they start a private magazine.

And so the Cooperative Correspondence Club, or CCC, was born. The women wrote about every aspect of their lives - the pain and elation of childbirth, the challenges of marriage, broken hearts and fading dreams. None of them could have anticipated the friendships that would grow nor that the magazine would last their lifetimes.

The play opens in a 1930s world of teacups and Vim where young mothers exchange childcare tips in the pages of “Nursery World”. The Foursight Theatre Company has captured the essence of the lives, times and personalities of the assorted women who committed half a century of joys, fears and sorrows to paper. At first, it’s a bit like a schoolgirl club. Everyone has a pen name - Isis, Angharad, Cotton Goods – not forgetting Ad Astra the indomitable headmistress cum editor-in-chief who masterminds the enterprise. The club is secret especially from husbands and has rules “members must be mothers”, “no footnotes”. Developed by members of the company, this play is an exquisite evocation of the friendships fostered between the women who made up the CCC. With the passing years the magazine becomes a place where they can not only be themselves, but where they can grow up and grow old together. Fine, well paced performances from all members of the cast are complemented by a well chosen set and lighting that captures the dinginess of the mid 20th century British home. Funny, entertaining, moving and above all truthful, this is a first rate piece of theatre.

Lionel Blue, a British Reform Rabbi and Broadcaster

He appeared at the Kings Southsea last night. He is best known for his wry and gentle sense of humour on "Thought for the Day" on BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Blue is 80 and still performing, his kindness and common sense shines through. At times he appeared to lose his thread but quickly recovered. He is known to millions through his broadcasting on BBC Radio. Many others know him from his numerous TV appearances and his books, among them 'Bolts from the Blues' and 'Simply Divine'. Using his own experiences and offbeat sense of humour, Rabbi Lionel Blue told a selection of stories, incidents and conversations whose dotty inconsequential flavour will appeal to people from all religions, and from none. He’s thoughtful and funny with it, mixing humour with humility, compassion and common sense. He talks about the people he has known with affection and about himself with a delicious sense of the ridiculous. He can spot when his dog is having an existential crisis and knows that the best cure for insomnia is a straight-from-the-tin baked bean feast. “My aim”, Lionel said, “is to give people the courage to get out of bed”. He made me feel better by recounting that as he's got older his life has got better. His 60's were good, but his 70's were even better. At the interval and at the end he was available to sign books and share thoughts. What a lovely guy.

Help For Heroes

My friend Stella Astbury is also involved in the community and does a lot of charity work. Last Saturday, 21st March, she was a major player in the 'Colossal Cake Sale' which took place in the Brook Centre Winchester. From the Fareham and Gosport area Stella took 80 large cakes, around 250 small cakes plus biscuits jams and chutneys. Donations are still arriving in lieu of purchases but the total she has to date is around £4,000!! Just from selling cakes! She said it was a very special day. The spirit was amazing, everyone involved was just fantastic, even if it was just coming and ' buying a cake for a Hero', or sending a donation, and then those who 'baked a cake for a Hero', kneaded, iced and packaged and delivered the BEAUTIFUL cakes of all descriptions were just fantastic. There were so many cakes they lost count, but there must have been upwards of 1500 cakes, teabreads, scones, cupcakes, flapjacks, meringues, brownies, biscuits, jams, chutneys etc etc. It was quite overwhelming...... none of them believed they would sell them all, but by 4pm the last cake had gone! The Mayor bought a cake and they had the most wonderful man in kilt playing the bagpipes which attracted people from all around the town and gave the day a great sense of occasion. She is fellow organiser for 'Contact The Elderly' in Gosport-Fareham. Help for Heroes is a very worthy charity.

April Fool's Broken Promise

What is this about? A promise our 'Esteemed' Prime Minister made. Fuel duty is set to rise by roughly 2 pence per litre on April 1st meaning that 66 pence of the average litre of fuel goes directly to the Treasury. Fuel tax goes into a central government tax pot. It's not necessarily allocated back out to motoring, so fuel tax can be spent on anything – the NHS, housing, pensions or even banking bailouts. At the height of soaring pump prices Brown made a promise during Prime Minister's Questions on July 16th 2008 not to raise fuel duty for a year. He stated: "In recognition of the problem people face with petrol, we are freezing duty on petrol for the full year." Brown broke this promise in December 2008 when he added 2 pence per litre to fuel duty to offset the reduction of VAT to 15% - a move which angered UK hauliers who are able to claim fuel VAT back, but not fuel duty. He is set to break the promise for a second time on April 1st when fuel duty on unleaded and diesel will rise 1.84 pence per litre. Including the additional 15% VAT on top this will make the rise at the pumps around 2 pence per litre. The Treasury have said that the only time further changes to fuel duty can take place are at the next Budget – which has been postponed from March until April 22nd, after the duty rise comes in. Do you think the Budget has been postponed to push through a duty rise unchallenged? Do you think it's fair that 71% of the cost of a litre of fuel goes directly to the Treasury? Should Brown be held to account for breaking his promise not to raise fuel duty?

Ban Alcopops

They taste just like fizzy pop and are one of the reasons we have a destructive binge drinking culture. Sir Liam Donaldson, the chief medical officer for England, makes alcohol abuse the main focus of his annual report. But suggesting that low-cost drink is heavily taxed is not the answer. Pandora should never have been let out of the box in the first place. When Bass launched Hooch lemonade in 1995 even I could predict it would lead to a disaster. Hooch has since disappeared but it paved the way for the billion pound market which is now dominated by the likes of Smirnoff Ice, Bacardi Breezer, WKD, Reef and Red Square. I'm guessing that alcopops earn the government lots of tax so I can't envisage any sort of ban. As a youngster I loved fizzy pop and all things sweet. I hated booze because it tasted bitter and disgusting. In my twenties I developed a taste for sweet cider. By this time I was married with two young children money, was short so it was only an occasional treat. Everyone lived within their means because there was no such thing as credit or credit cards. One either made do and mended or went without. Being ever resourceful I learned how to make country wine from fruit leaves and vegetables. Once the equipment had been purchased it was cheap, easy and very tasty. The garden shed was full of 1 gallon demijohns and I became a regular tippler. So began my love affair with alcohol. The first time I got totally plastered I was 27. I had just failed my first driving test, felt sorry for myself and drank too much. Very strong Dandelion wine was the culprit. I'd followed a very old country recipe which advised gathering the flowers at midday on St Georges day. Both children had beach buckets and we gathered them in a local field. Being so drunk was a nightmare, my entire body felt like it was made from cotton wool and the real me was trapped inside this stupid body. But once I had recovered from the horrendous hangover I wasn't put off. In my thirties my life changed. I had a different husband, a proper job and a lot more money. My second husband liked his booze and encouraged me to drink. Alcohol was treated like a reward for stress. At the weekend lunchtime was the signal to start on the wine and quite often we'd drink and not eat, on holiday we'd often start at breakfast time. It felt hedonistic and was a world away from my previous life. And so began my descent into alcohol dependency.

Self Indulgence

L'Oreal's selling point is, 'Because I'm worth it!' We willingly respond to his subliminal message by constantly reward ourselves. We convince ourselves that we are special but the truth is that we are self absorbed, self-indulgent spineless idiots. So why can't we exercise self-restraint, and self-denial? Why are we so weak? Fire-fighters are being called out at least once a day to lift obese patients weighing as much as 40st into an ambulance or on to a hospital bed. Thousands of individuals are claiming incapacity benefit as a direct result of obesity. Middle aged, professional Britons are more likely to exceed recommended daily levels of alcohol consumption than the working-classes, with twice as many drinking every night of the week. They do not believe they are drinking too much and that simply having a large glass or two of wine each evening is an acceptable way to unwind after a stressful day at work. Wine is presented in such a way the bottles appear to contain something precious. Since potential buyers can’t taste it, the bottle design and label seduces them. NHS spends 3billion on treating liver disease. Doctors report that people don't want to give up smoking because it costs too much, they want to quit for health reasons. Having an addictive personality isn't easy but I keep it under control. I was once a moderate smoker but gave it up over 20 years ago. For many years I was gripped by alcoholism but am now tee-total. Giving up was extremely difficult, I was successful but I do know that not everyone has my strength of character.

Card Skimmers In Store

A friend was duped by criminals. She used the self service checkout in Asda Portsmouth and Hey Presto! £100 disappeared out of her account. I've used self service tills but the prospect of being a victim has put me off. I'll stick to Tesco Cosham, a small friendly store. "CUSTOMERS from three major banks have reported that their cards have been cloned in recent weeks. Initially, it was thought only Barclays customers had been affected. At first, investigation into the thefts centred around the Gosport branch of Asda after bank customers reported using chip-and-pin machines before losing money. But bank customers from Portsmouth have now come forward to say they have been targeted too. Customers reported money being withdrawn from their accounts in Canada and China. Banks, the supermarket chain and police are all involved in a probe into the incidents and are checking whether they are linked."

It Was Written

In the mid seventies I got my first ever 'proper' job. My employer was Mars Confectionery. During my training I learned about forecasting, not the weather but future trends. Thirty years ago it was predicted that small shops would close and they were so right. Other aspects of shop closures is greedy grasping councils believing they can milk car drivers by charging extortionate prices for parking and unrealistic landlords for constantly pushing up rents. The likes of Tesco also use forecasting. Not only future trends but the long term weather. That way they can easily swap between soup and salad. Added to that the general public are like sheep. Lets all pile into the car and go to the supermarket where we can buy everything we need under one roof and parking is free!! Yay!! I can't remember the last time I went shopping in Commercial Road, Portsmouth. I would never pay to park in the town centre car parks. But I know where I can park for free and walk. Years ago I stopped buying new so what do the town centre shops offer that I could possibly want? The fashion brand Principles is in receivership and 66 of their 85 UK shops will shut. In my view they were selling over priced clothes. Who will be next? This blog makes interesting reading, apparently the future is renting.

On Scrubbing Up Well

One day a friend advised. "You know Liz, if you made an effort you'd scrub up very well." I didn't take offence because I knew she meant well. Later this year she will be 69 and is still very good looking - but she has to work hard at it. Her hair, if left in a natural state, would be snow white. Visiting the hairdresser every three weeks keeps it a nice shade of chestnut brown. She paints her nails and spends a fortune on makeup. When it started going grey I dyed my hair. One day I announced that I would let it revert to it's natural state and hands were thrown up in horror. After it had grown out comments were made about how nice it looked. If I had taken heed I might still be dying it. I do my very best not to keep the cosmetics industry afloat, and I would never be a slave to fashion. Even if I followed my friends lead I would still the same person. I hate wearing makeup because I forget it's there and it wouldn't be long before it was smudged. How silly would I look with smeared panda eyes? I am confident and comfortable in my own skin. I am my own person. I don't want to look like Barbara Cartland. There's nothing so ridiculous as an overly made up old bag. What if one became very ill and spent months in hospital. Would visitors have to be turned away because one hadn't been able to keep up a beauty routine?

Floaters

It is quite upsetting when changes to one's vision suddenly occur. Last week a big floater appeared in my right eye. It has settled down but is sitting in my direct line of vision. It is Posterior Vitreous Detachment. It's a common condition which occurs in about 75 per cent of people over the age of 65. As people get older the vitreous, a jelly-like substance inside the eye changes. It is essentially a harmless condition although with some disturbing symptoms and that it does not normally threaten sight. When it gets dark I experience flashes of light. As my Mum used to say, getting old isn't for the faint hearted. I'd be less polite, I think getting old 'sucks'.

James Ravilious - A World In Photographs

On BBC 4 this evening Alan Bennett narrated a documentary about James Ravilious, one of the great unknowns of British photography. Son of the renowned water-colourist and engraver Eric Ravilious, he dedicated his art to a small area of north Devon, where over a period of two decades he took more than 80,000 photographs. This collection has become one of the most comprehensive and poignant archives in the country, documenting an English world and way of life most people had thought long gone. His photos show real people, mostly eccentrics earning their living as smallholders and getting by on very little. Years ago they were part of everyday life. It begs the question, where have they all gone?

Did The Earth Move For You Darling?

Only in my dreams. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the piles of earth in my front garden was able to move itself. I shifted some of it during the week, it was easier then because the earth was dryish. And then it rained I have spent most of today shifting it. The soil has become wet and claggy, just like digging into fudge. It sticks to the spade but I am able to use the fork to move it into the wheel barrow. My next door neighbour is very pleased that his garden is looking look neat and tidy. I have got rid of his nettles - dandelions and I have removed all the builders rubble.

Was He Looking For Eye Candy?

About a week ago this guy approaches me on Saga Zones. He writes that he's read and likes my profile, do I wanna chat? I thought "Why not?" After a couple of emails he suggests we converse by IM. During our only session I feel uncomfortable. I ignore his invite to resume at 6:30pm but we continue to correspond by daily email. It hasn't taken him long to work out that I have a brain. Surprise surprise he's suddenly gone silent. So where are they? Are there any nice men out there? Maybe.

People Who Have Let Me Down

Last Christmas the campervan wouldn't start, something was draining the starter battery. I contacted a mobile mechanic, he inspected the system, disconnected the battery and said that he was very busy so he couldn't do it then but would come back later. He phoned me after about two weeks and said he hadn't forgotten and would be back. I waited patiently but he never got back to me. A couple of weeks ago I contacted another and made an appointment. Even though I waited in all day he was a complete no show. In the meantime I found someone else, he came yesterday and said that he was worried, as it hadn't been charged for two months the battery might have sulphated and I would need another one. He took it home to recharge , he phoned me shortly afterwards and said it was charging OK so would bring it back at on Thursday. I really do hope he doesn't let me down. If he comes up trumps it will have taken me over two months to get this resolved. Then there's the "slime ball" cheating nearby neighbour who took advantage of my good nature. I wanted to build up the earth in my front garden, as he was digging out a hard standing he had soil he wanted to get rid of. We came to an agreement. On two occasions he moved earth over and promised me he would dig it over and level it. I was quite happy and trusted him. Last November I went away for a few days and came home to find piles of it, more than I wanted or deal with. He had moved everything he wanted rid of into my garden and did it while I wasn't there to stop him, oh how he must have laughed. It hadn't cost him a penny and I was stuck with the problem. If I try to talk to him about it I am met with a reception committee, all standing there in the doorway with their arms folded across their chests. As I am articulate they are probably frightened of me. Being blunt these people are uneducated and ignorant so I can't reason with them. I would guess that there aren't many in my neighbourhood who have what I would call 'middle class moral values', it's the way these council tenants appear to live. Being both desperate and cheeky I came to an arrangement with my immediate next door neighbour. I asked if I could spread it over his front garden and he agreed. He doesn't do gardening or look after it so I would actually make it look better. Later on the same day his nephew, who lives opposite, knocked on my door and declared he would do it for me on Sunday. He was another 'no show'. Monday was sunny so I dusted down the wheel barrow and spade. I spent all morning manoeuvring earth from my side to his. I haven't done much exercise since last autumn so I didn't over exert because this earth is damp and very heavy. I have dug out all the nettles from his side. I have moved over quite a lot the surplus earth and will continue until both gardens look good. If there is any surplus earth I will use it in my back garden. My attempt to benefit both the weasel faced "slime ball" and myself turned totally sour. And my faith in human nature has been shaken. My wish is that they'll all rot in hell, not very Christian is it?

Apathy Monster

I don't know what is wrong but for quite some time I've been struck down. It's best described as apathy. The following is a good example of how I am behaving. Last summer I bought a very expensive single ticket to see Tina Turner perform at the O2 Arena. The performance is tonight so this afternoon I should be making my way to London. I really can't face travelling to Waterloo, getting myself to the O2 and back by Thames Clipper and then not getting back home until about 2am. I know the journey and staying up late will make me feel awful and it will take me several days to recover. I would rather kiss goodbye to £120 and put it all down to fate and experience. I actually feel relieved that I have made the decision not to go. I've never ever behaved like this before. If I am very lucky Tina will be unable to perform and I will get my money refunded. I would guess the cause is because in the last few weeks I have been badly let down by people who have lied and cheated. I chose to live alone so I can close my door on the the world and then choose who I let in. But living alone means that I have no one to lean on, help out or advise.

The Real Story of Valentines Day

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Valentines

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Service With a Smile

Bad Banks and Good Banks LloydsTSB weren't very interested. The clueless Halifax staff were unable to give me an appointment for several weeks. What am I talking about? Transferring the Guides Rainbow account from Alliance & Leicester. As treasurer I try to make life easy for myself. A&L have very few branches and there isn't one in Cosham High Street. I can pay in cheques via the Post Office but they won't take the cash. I pay the cash into my current account with Lloyds, write out a personal cheque to the Rainbows and then pay that in along with other cheques via the Post Office, all rather unethical. Queuing in line today took 20 minutes. On the other hand Barclays Bank couldn't be more helpful. Branch members and telephone staff are both personable and knowledgeable. I'm a rate tart, Barclays have a 12 month regular savings account paying a massive 6% interest so I've opened one over the counter. Over the phone I set wheels in motion to get the A&L Rainbows account transferred over to Barclays. I do hope they don't let me down.