Purple Dragon

Here is a link to a bunch of pix of me and mine, from the busy busy month of June

http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=17vn24wd.3n3ef9ct&Uy=-19gyya&Ux=0&localeid=en_GB

I'm in one of 'those moods' today. Can't get motivated blah blah blah

I have a small person in a heap on my lap, with a high temp and a runny bum. Her little butt is raw but she gets upset if I leave her nappy off. Tonight is the boy's school play (he's a rat) and I daren't miss it (don't want to either!) so I'm praying littl'un doesn't scream throughout it .

And to top it all off - bizarre video clip of the day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5r5f8ekDxQ

I thought it might be a bit sick when I read it was a 'cat in a bottle' but it isn't - don't panic

Oh, I don't know where to start.

The house is a pit. Piles of laundry, dishes, kids artwork from end of term clear outs, grass from mowing the lawn, toys, toys and more toys.

The garden is a mess. He didn't have time to mow it properly at the weekend, so he mulched the cuttings over, and every time I go outside, I track in another heap. The strimmer is broken so I'm edging with shears. Ever tried edging 2 acres of grass with shears?

The polytunnel is in that in-between stage - most plants are out, some are still in, the grapevine is going mad, the strawberries have been taking lessons from triffids, and somehow I've got weeds coming thru the black plastic.

The henhouse and the rabbits need cleaned out.

The car needs washed.

The flower garden has sprouted weeds all over the place, overnight, and the kids have made a proper mess of the paths with that horrible bark stuff.

I need a homehelp!

No - sod the homehelp - I need a holiday!!!!!!

A lot of folk who read this blog have kids, and those kids use the net. As we know, there are lots of weird folk out there who use the net to groom kids for some pretty nasty things.

I have just been given two websites to help kids understand the dangers of web use, which also have parents areas to help the parents understand a wee bit of what the kids could be faced with.

http://www.chatdanger.com/
with real life stories about what has happened to kids written BY the kids.

http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/ is one linked directly from a library homepage.

Check them out. Certainly worth it to keep our small puter users safe

I might have mentioned that my hens aren't laying. Being a novice hen-keeper, I have been trying to find out why, because they appeared to be in good healthy condition.

On Saturday, I noticed that one of the girls was separate from the others, not taking too much interest in scratching or wandering. Later in the day, I noticed she was still in the coop, and hiding away at the bottom, instead of sitting on a perch.

I lifted her out, and examined her. She was very docile, not struggling or flapping, no clucking. She panted a wee bit, but as she hadn't been doing that till I lifted her, I thought she was a bittie stressed.

I was gobsmacked when I lifted her. What I thought was a fat healthy hen was skin and bone. Her chestbone was sticking out with no flesh at all, and her belly was swollen.

Well, naturally I knew straight away then what the problem was - internal parasites.

Sunday she was wandering outside again, but not as full of life as the other girls still.

We went on a school trip today, and when we got back, I put the kids in the car and took a trip to the vet to get some wormer. Got home to go to the coop and find she had wedged herself into the corner of the small run.

Oh, what a pathetic sight. I'll spare you the details, but suffice to say, the parasite infestation was so bad that she had strained and strained, and prolapsed her vent. I put her straight into the carrier, chucked the kids in the car, and took her for an emergency appt with the vet.

He tried to replace the vent, but she kept pushing it back out, so in the end we decided the best thing to do would be to put the poor wee thing out of her misery.

I feel so bad. I should have gotten the medication from the vets on Saturday, when I knew she was poorly, instead of leaving her till today. I just thought that it was 'only' worms, and didn't want to disturb the vets for medication when they were closed on Saturday afternoon.

Needless to say, the other girls have been dosed up, and the vet says they should be fine if they aren't lagging around, which they aren't. I even got pecked.

Poor wee thing. I'm so sad.

Yesterday, our local riding stables has an open day. The idea is to generate more business, as they aren't doing so well, apparently.

They had asked if I would provide a rabbit for their pets corner. Well, they asked for both of them, but Waffle bites sometimes, so I said no, they could only have Noodle.

Anyway, we took Noodle along for 10am and then stayed right thru till 2.30

The kids had a total blast. Because it was so local, they kept bumping into kids they knew from school, which was good. Made them feel more part of the community I think.

It was also their first time on horseback. Laura has been nipping my head for months, wanting a horse. The first time she asked, we asked her where she would keep it, and she said in her room, and feed it coats. Bless

Now she says she wants a "brown horsey, with legs".

They got to decorate horseshoes, and have their photos taken on horseback. Then they got two lead-rein rides. I was dead jealous because I was dying to get up on one, but they didn't have adult rides.

Laura on her horse

Anthony on his horse

The kids had decided that they would go play at stomping puddles in the pouring rain.

They suddenly rushed in all excitement - I could have powered the lawnmower with the vibes they were sending out.

We had a baby cow in the garden. What a shame. She was petrified. Mooing and lowing, calling for her Mum. I called the farmer, and then went to the window to watch her.

She was running from corner to corner, and then spotted my veggie garden. The gate was open. On went the wellies, and I was out the door like a shot! Closed the gate, and she did an abrupt about face, running off towards the garden gates and the road. I popped down the other side, the shorter route, and intercepted her at the gates. We don't get a lot of traffic but sod's law says she would run out in front of a car or something.

She wasn't too sure of me. Strange person in shocking pink leggings and one of Ger's jackets. I'd have been nervous too

She about-faced again and ran off to the opposite corner of the garden. I thought she was suitably cornered, and decided to wait by the gate for the farmer (who incidentally still hasn't arrived!) but she jumped the fence and was off down the next field.

Man, can that baby run! She's disapeared now into the trees at the bottom of the field, and I haven't seen her for about 20 minutes. She can get into the village if she cuts thru there, and across another smaller field.

Hope she's okay.

Your friend thought you should see this article on NewScientist.com today.

Follow the link below for the full story:

Heavy metals may be implicated in autism
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg19025535.400

NewScientist.com is the world's leading online science and technology news service, with a global network of award-winning journalists. Visit www.newscientist.com now for constantly updated and authoritative reporting that's both fast and fascinating.

AJNSpencer currently has a blog posting about self image. He's pissed because there is a telly ad for male moisturiser, and it is basically saying that if you don't use this stuff, you won't get laid. Good for him. He is one of those apparently rare males who don't care what you look like, as long as what is inside is beautiful. Double good for him.

I was watching Big Brother the other night, and Imogen was in the Diary Room. She made a comment about Lea and Richard (I think) talking about things that don't interest her, and she said she

is interested in stuff, but, like, her Mum talks about stuff from the '80's and stuff, so she, like, knows about stuff

Well, my era was the 80's, but I feel Imogen's age. Whatever that is. Inside I feel like I did back in the 80's.

Which takes me in a roundabout way to what AJ is saying. What I feel like inside. I had a major knock to my confidence on my Bon Jovi weekend. I noticed how much I had 'let myself go' and I seriously considered Botox - enough that I looked up general prices online (and nearly died of shock - I can tell you!!). When I lived where I used to live, I wouldn't have considered going out to pick up the boy from school without (at the least) mascara. I cared about what bag I carried. (Not as much as Trace cared about her bag - or boots - but then ...)

I do want my body back, sans flab. I don't like feeling flabby - I feel unfit and like I'm on the verge of a major heart attack or something. But it is more how I feel than how I look.

And, like AJ, I resent the media telling me how I should look. I think we should start a Campaign for Real People. Any ideas for our catch phrase? Members?

Well, I know I'm on a diet

but

I just polished off a bowl of strawberries and cream.

I grew them myself in my polytunnel, and man they were good! I still have some in the fridge, and there are a load that need picking, but it's chucking it down, so they can wait till morning.

That was the very first taste of my very own homegrown produce, and I'm that proud of myself that they tasted so good. They are completely organic, grown without use of pesticides (apart from my sticky fly-catcher!) reared on love and greed

So - what else will grace my hungry table?

I need to prune my grapevine, because I have an abundance of teeny tiny bunches of grapes, but the leaves are currently taking all the nutrients. I intend to do that this weekend, when Himself is about to watch the sprogs.

Obviously, the strawberries. The floor of the polytunnel is covered in them - you have to watch where you step

My lettuces are in grobags in the tunnel. They are coming along nicely. I didn't put my cos lettuce in although they are my favorite, because you can only eat so many lettuce, you know?

My tomatoes are finally showing some interest. I planted the seeds well in time (again in the tunnel), but Rachel decided to help, and she pushed the seeds down to nearby China. I'm surprised they sprouted at all, TBH!

I still have a load of french beans in the tunnel, and I shall shove some more of them into the plot to replace the ones that the slugs or crows feasted upon. The rest can stay in the tunnel in a growbag in case I end up needing them outside.

I also have a load of peas in pots inside - again - replacements for the slugfest and some into a bag under cover.

I think we went a bit bonkers with the sweetpeas. I have an abundance of them under cover, and this weekend I shall plant them out. The place will look like sweetpea heaven.

So - what is in the plot?

Peas. Obviously. Nothing like podding your own peas for tea. I intend to freeze a lot because I have loads and loads of plants. I shall need to dust down the spare freezer!

Carrots. Yum! I've never grown carrots before, and I've done it wrong. We shant have many, but unless we get carrot rot or something nasty eats them underground, then I shall have enough.

Loads of lovely french beans. I wish I had done fewer french, and added a bigger variety of beans, but I shall know better for next year.

Sweetcorn. I had 12 plants, because they self-germinate and you need to plant them in, like, a square. Unfortunately, they were involved in The Great Leek Accident, and I only managed to save 11. They are now down to 9, because the rotten crows have been at them too. Beastly birds. A woman in the village grows hers, and recommended them to me. I thought the weather wasn't clement enough up here to succeed with them, but I thought I would give them a try. However it turns out she grows hers in her tunnel, not outside like I thought, so we shall have to see whether I've made a big mistake planting them out.

Tatties. The Great British Staple. I have sectioned off my tattie plot into 3 sections. I planted the first section a few weeks ago, and they are just showing themselves, so it is time to plant out the next lot. When they come up, I shall do the last section. That way, hopefully, I can get graduated hoiking. I was going potty because my flippin seed potatoes wouldn't chit. I've got 3 different types, just for fun, and the other lot have chitted nicely, so I'm not so concerned about them.

So. My vegetables. Not a great variety, but this is my very first year of having my own plot, so I didn't want to be too ambitious. Next year, I shall need a bigger plot.

... TODAY!!!

Recently I've been putting on weight. It has been slowly creeping up on me, inch by stealthy inch.

Mum stayed last week, and she is the Queen of the Sweeties. I put on 2lbs - YES TWO POUNDS - during one week!

My God, I'm a bloater!

I didn't do any exercise. I usually walk up and down to the school, which is half a mile each way. The 'up' is very much 'up', and pushing Rachel in the buggy makes me puff, for sure. So, I did no walking at all, coz Mum can't walk the length of herself.

And I ate. Oh, did I eat. Peanuts, choccies, strawberries & cream, cake.

Anyway, I weighed myself, and I'm disgusted with myself. I am the heaviest I have been without having recently birthed a baby. God, I'm heavier now than I was after I birthed Rachel. My clothes don't fit, I feel dough-y, I feel unfit, I'm having headaches, and I generally feel like Buddha without the smile.

Right. I need to lose 11lbs. Encouragment gratefully received.

This is a small book, closer to a booklet really (just 96 pages) about getting chickens.

Introduction
History of the chicken
The house and run
Choosing a breed
Buying the birds
Feeding
Daily and seasonal care
What to do with all those eggs
Breeding your own replacements
Showing
Dealing with problems
Quirky questions
Reference section
index

A handy little book, and great for introduction to hen keeping. I think that a more experienced poultry keeper, though, would prefer something a little more informative. I do think that this would be a great book for someone who has decided to keep hens, but hasn't bought them yet.

Don't know if any of you have heard of this, but I gotta tell you - what a brilliant idea!

Basically (for those who don't know) you join a Yahoo group in the Freecycle area where you live. You then have to put something up that you don't want anymore. I put up a double buggy. After that, any time someone posts something you want/need, you can email them, and if it hasn't gone, you can come and collect it.

The idea behind it is, if you have something you don't want, but it is too good to tip, then you can recycle it to someone else, for free.

You wouldn' believe the things people get rid of on it. Chuckies, slabs, buggies, computers and monitors, kids toys, bikes, wardrobes, cupboards, cookers, garden equipment - the list is endless!

I've got a garage full of stuff that I want shot of, but I need to sort thru it.

If you Google 'freecycle' then you will be able to find your local group, and get freecycling!

Well, Mum just left after being here since last Wednesday, hence the lack of pstings here. Not really very polite to blog when your Mum is sitting in the next room.

We haven't done much. Just pottered in the garden, visited the local town and garden centre. Gone grocery shopping. Watched Big Brother every night. I've converted her, I'm afraid. Last time she came, they were doing the Season 2 preparation by showing all the Season 1 episodes of Lost. Now she is addicted to that, and this time, I've gotten her addicted to BB.

I was supposed to get up this morning at 5.30am, so we could leave to run her to the airport at 6am. At 4.45 the wee man got up with stomach cramps, which rapidly progressed into a nasty little stomach bug. I think he's emptied himself, one way or another, and now he's sleeping peacefully , but Lala just came thru crying with stomach cramps, so she's off to the loo as I type. So much for running Mum to the airport. We had to locate a taxi to take her. A 40 mile taxi ride ain't gonna be cheap Typical. And I'm supposed to be collecting my friends son from school this afternoon, because she is away on a school trip with the bigger kids. Hopefully, they will all feel better by then.

We henna'd my hair while Mum was here. What a mess - it looks awful! It has pretty much gone ginger, the bits that were grey have gone orange, and the underneath is still brown - it didn't take there, for some reason. I went and bought another dye from the chemist (black/red) but when I was reading the instructions it said not to be used on henna'd hair until it was all cut out. Bloody hell.

This is how close we were at the concert. This is actually my pal Tracy's pic that she sent me, because my camera freaked out and wouldn't take any pix

What can I say?

Totally awesome!

I've not been to a proper concert in abut 25 years, and I gotta tell you - I'm not going to be able to go to another one, because you just couldn't top it.

Nickelback backed them, and they were excellent too. They came n at 6.30 and played till about 7.20 and they were great. I recognised their sound, but didn't know any of their songs, until the last one, and then I knew who they were. Good band

Bon Jovi came on at 8pm. There he was - Jon Bon Jovi, just standing about 20 feet away from us. Did I say we have GOLDEN CIRCLE TICKETS Honest to God, there were several times where, if he had put his hand out, I could have shaken hands with him.

What a performer! What a band! What a spectacle! How many exclamation marks can I put in here?!?

They played till about 10pm, and then had three encores, finishing at 10.30.

Fantastic. Just absolutely fantastic. Professionals with a Capital P.

When we came out, I couldn't hear properly, my voice was hoarse, my shoulders ached from waving my arms above my head for 4 hours, and the palms of my hands were stinging and bruised from clapping. SO worth it !

I could fill this page with cliches, I really could. Probably the best birthday present in the world, ever ! Thanks Tracy

I'm sneaking off in the morning to go to the Bon Jovi concert tomorrow night at Hampden Park

Himself will be in sole charge of the sprogs which will be a first since we had all three. He's only ever looked after one or two at a time

I'm kipping the night at my pal Tracy's house http://www.drumboil.blog.co.uk coz it was she who purchased said ticket for me for my birthday last year. Totally cool pal

See ya Monday!

Two guys are pushing their shopping trolleys around a store when they collide.

The first guy says to the second guy, "Sorry about that. I'm looking for my wife, and I guess I wasn't paying attention to where I was going".

The second guy says, "That's OK. It's a coincidence. I'm looking for my wife, too. I can't find her and I'm getting a little desperate".

The first guy says, "Well, maybe we can help each other. What does your wife look like"?

The second guy says, "Well, she is 27 yrs old, tall, with blonde hair, blue eyes, big breasts and is wearing short shorts and a tank top.

What does your wife look like"?

The first guy says, "Doesn't matter……let's look for yours."

This is a Quick Reads offering, by Richard Branson.

Last week, I went to the local library for the toddler group reading session. This was on the shelf next to where I was sitting, and it caught my eye, so I decided to have a Quick Read

Learn the Secrets of a Global Icon.

Throughout my life I have always strived for success - as a businessman, in my adventures, as an author and a proud father and husband. I want to share the many truths I've learned along the road to success which have helped me to be the best I can. They include Have faith in yourself; believe that anything can be done; live life to the full; never give up.

Learn these and other simple truths, and I hope you will be inspired to get the most out of your life and to achieve your goals. People will always try to talk you out of ideas and say "It can't be done" but if you have faith in yourself you'll find you can achieve almost anything.

The premise is good, and I suppose it was an easy read, but to be honest, I kinda thought it was more "Hey, I'm Richard Branson, and I'm wonderful". His ideas are great, he's probably a really nice guy, but because of his writing style, he kinda left me a bit unimpressed. Which is a shame because I always admired him. Let's face it - they guys done really well for himself!

He's a terrible name dropper. Yeah, he moves in those circles, but at the end of the book he pretty much ruined it all for me by this paragraph excerpt

Princess Diana did so much for charity when she was alive, and I was pleased to be able to help her with that in some small way. So I was very proud when I persuaded Elton John to sing 'Candle in the Wind' at her funeral.

I just don't see the point of that paragraph. It came across as boasting that he knew Diana and Elton John, and previously to this he was talking about his part in the Gulf War and how he helped King Hussain and negotiated with Saddam Hussain. Okay, so because he's famous and rich, he gets to know lots of other famous and rich people. That isn't giving advice to the man in the street (who this book is aimed at) on how to succeed themselves. It just seemed like rubbing their noses in it. (See I say 'their' - I'm far too important to be lumped in with 'the man in the street' )

Anyway, on the whole, a good book, and nice little read, but let down by the Big I Am at the end.

This was taken from today's Scotsman. Just goes to show how folk are reluctant to relinquish ancient enmities, allowing them to quietly simmer below the surface, and how mankind just can't seem to let go of a good grudge.

The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II occurred today in 1952, the second Elizabeth on the throne.
This causes some controversy in Scotland where the first Elizabeth never reigned so technically the new queen is only Elizabeth I of Scotland, but II of the rest of the UK.
This led to post boxes being destroyed by disgruntled Scots who objected to 'E II R' being put on such receptacles.
Today, all post-Elizabethan boxes in Scotland bear only the royal crown rather then the full initials.

This was sent to me by someone I know, who thought I would find it amusing. I did, so I thought you might like it as well.

Thankfully, Prydwen (http://wulfweard.blog.co.uk/)___##0##___ knows what he is doing, and has created a link for me to publish, otherwise I would be stuck

http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c103/wulfweard/Video/?action=view&current=FastestSellingIteminLiverpool.flv

What do a dead cat, a computer whiz-kid, an Electric Monk who believes the world is pink, quantum mechanics, a Chronologist over 200 years old, Samuel Taylor Coleridge (poet) and pizza have in common?

They actually don't have much to do with the story at all! I hate it when the folk who write the back synopsis write a load of vaguely unrelated garbage.

Also, I'm not quite sure why Adams gave the book this name, because he isn't even the main character - 2nd or 3rd maybe. Richard is the main character, even though (for a computer whiz-kid) he's a bit vague.

Anyway, it is very Douglas Adams and a not too bad little read. Certainly not rocket science, but then, his books aren't, are they?

Well, finally some good news here.

Himself has secured a position in Inverness, working for a well known company, in an even more well known contract.

The package is great, and the future is so bright - well - you know where I'm going

I am thrilled to bits, obviously, coz it means that I get to stay in the place that, over the last 10 months has worked its way irrevocably into my heart. I used to be homesick for Kincardine, and my friends and the family there. Now, although I still miss the folk, I have made new friends here so I'm not so lonely, and the family are only a short (3 hour) drive away.

The kids are so happy here, and so am I. I really don't ever want to leave - I love the house, the garden, the school, the village, the locale. Only thing I'm not so keen on is the weather, but hey! Everyone gets weather