Purple Dragon

Can anyoneelse see the flaws?

Return of the Neanderthals
Slate [USA], Nov. 24, 2008

Here's the next question in the evolution debate: We know roughly how the sequence of life ran forward in time. What about running it backward? How would you feel about rewinding human evolution to a species that's almost like us, but not quite?

Last week in Nature, scientists reported major progress in sequencing the genome of woolly mammoths. Now, according to Nicholas Wade of the New York Times, biologists are discussing "how to modify the DNA in an elephant's egg so that after each round of changes it would progressively resemble the DNA in a mammoth egg. The final-stage egg could then be brought to term in an elephant mother."

Wade notes: "The full genome of the Neanderthal, an ancient human species probably driven to extinction by the first modern humans that entered Europe some 45,000 years ago, is expected to be recovered shortly. If the mammoth can be resurrected, the same would be technically possible for Neanderthals." In fact, Wade points out, there are good reasons to re- create a Neanderthal: "No one knows if Neanderthals could speak. A living one would answer that question and many others."
http://www.slate.com/id/2205310/

We used to have a shop, many years ago. We got some seriously weird folk come in, along with normal customers, and one old bloke sticks in my mind.

He owned a 'university' and he was always getting us to do quotes for kitting the place out with computer systems. He had high ideas and was just 'waiting for his funding' before we could get started on the kitting out of his planned huge research facility. Bless. I think he was more 'waiting for his medication' but there you are.

However, one thing he was adamant about was his 'research' about when the space shuttle goes up. He was convinced that he had figures proving that when it did, respiratory infections, flus, bugs, colds and other nasties increased in incidence.

Considering the amount of IRL people and bloggers who are currently or recently suffering from the nastiest bug I have personally experienced in a long time, one has to wonder if he was on to something.

Or perhaps not.

Got up this morning feeling like death warmed over.

I keep thinking that this cold thing has reached its peak, and then I get up and feel worse than I did the day before.

Some time in the night, some bloody total git came into my room and inserted a thistle down my throat. I have yet to find the culprit. I think there is a Cold-Fairy who is having a very busy winter and is wanting a day off, so is taking it out on its customers.

I am having trouble breathing. I can't finish a sentence without having to stop for a breath in the middle.

How sorry do I souund for myself? LOL

Anyway, No1Child is still off school with the lurgy. He is on antibiotics because it hit his ears with a vengeance. Drove the girls down to school this morning to be turned away at the gate - there is an oil leak in the kitchens, so Health & Safety have closed the school. Fair enough. Don't really want to be sitting in my living room and see a fireball enveloping the valley, with my children in it.

Oh, and guess what? Came in cold and miserable from the chickens, filled my kettle for a nice warming cup of tea, dropped the bloody kettle onto the floor, and the bottom came off. Just as well we never throw anything away - we have two spare kettles in the garage. Well, one now, as one of them is gracing my kitchen being cleaned ready for that cuppa!

And it ain't even 10 o'clock yet!

.... cooks the tea for the family, and forgets to cook anything for themselves?

Doh.

Well, today, as my son was off school sick, I took him into the town to get his script filled. We popped into the charity shop to replace his walking stick (the one he lost in the woods) and he also found a flat cap in tweed, in which he is rather fetching.

Anyway, this evening, he came into the kitchen in trousers and white vest, twirling said walking stick in an exact imitation, echo even, of the late lamented Freddie Mercury with his long mike.

All I can say is - I hope when he grows up he can sing.

I got sent this today, and it gave me a smile

Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater.
If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby.
If you give her a house, she'll give you a home.
If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal.
If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart.
She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her.
So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit.

Well, last Thursday Laura had a bad croup than progressed into a bad cold. She is still coughing and sneezing something terrible. She was off school, Thursday Friday and Monday.

Saturday morning, Anthony woke up with the cold. He was off school on Monday.

Sunday morning, I took it.

We three all still have it. Last night Anthony developed earache and was in agony, he cried for two hours. The calpol I gave him didn't do the trick, and at my wits end, I called NHS24 who told me to give him Ibuprofen. I did, and he eventually fell off to sleep at about 2.30 - he will be getting an appt with the Dr this morning!

It is a horrible cold. Headache, sore throat, itchy ears, coughing, sneezing, sore chest, achey limbs and joints, lethargy. Apparently the kids are dropping like flies at school.

As Mum, I don't get to go back to bed with a hot milk and paracetamol. Sometimes I wish Himself was here to baby me, but mainly I just get on with it. Thank goodness it isn't vomiting and diarrhoea!

Why is it that you send a lovely, biddable, gentle, sweet, kind, generous preciousl little angel to school, and after a couple of months, a defiant, rude, rough, and spiteful little monster starts coming home?

One that swears, and whose favourite word is 'no'.

I wish I was smart enough to home school.

Article 26.
(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.

(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.

(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Article 27.
(1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.

(2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

Article 28.
Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

Article 29.
(1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.

(2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.

(3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 30.
Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

Article 21.
(1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.

(2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.

(3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

Article 22.
Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

Article 23.
(1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.

(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.

(3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.

(4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

Article 24.
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25.
(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

I went out to the town this morning. I didn't have a choice, or I would have stayed home, considering the weather. It took my man 6.5 hours to do a 3.5 hour journey last night.

I stay on a hill, up a single track lane. On the way home, I came up behind a car that was stuck - wheels spinning and going nowhere. There was a young boy as driver, and a middle aged man trying to push the car. I got out to help, and we got the car moved and into the farm entrance - off the road at least.

I turned round to find my car disappearing down the lane by itself! What a fright! Just as well I didn't have any kids in the car. Theolder man ran after it, tried to stop it by getting behind it to push it (honest to god - he did! ... bloody madman!) and then he jumped in and shoved his foot on the brake.

It was lucky he caught it because there was a lorry parked at the bottom of the lane, and my car would have crashed right into it. Can you imagine what to say to the insurance company?

"And where were you at the time your car crashed into the lorry, madam"
"200 yards up the road, your honour"

I guess they say - no good deed goes unpunished.

Article 16.
(1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.

(2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.

(3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

Article 17.
(1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.

(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Article 18.
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19.
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20.
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

(2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Many years ago, in another lifetime it seems, I was friends with a penpal in Oklahoma.

For various reasons, divorce (mine) being the main culprit, she and I lost contact.

I have often thought of her over the years, wishing we hadn't lost contact, as she was interesting as a person, vibrant, and loved life. We shared a lot of interests.

Well, thanks to Google Search, I found her again! I typed her name in to the search, and whenever someone with her name appeared on the 'net, Google emailed me with the details. I have never been certain when I have received a link whether the person in question might be her, but today's link was really promising, so I gave it a try, and YEP! it was her.

The internet is an amazing thing. We didn't even have a computer in the house when we were penpals. We met thru a mutual magazine penpal section, and I worked in a place where the massive mainframe computer was housed in a climate controlled room. We had workstations linked to the mainframe, but they didn't do anything apart from their job - accounts. Yawn. I remember one of the tekkies flew over from Houston to set up this dial-up thing so that the tekkies over there could dial into our mainframe and fix technical problems, and we were agog that we could type something on the workstation and they could read it in America. LOL Them was the dayz.

Anyway - I digress. She and I have many years of blether to catch up on, and I am very excited about the whole thing.

Lalala!

OK - I'm gonna quit while I'm ahead. I think I'm a head anyway - there is certainly a LOT of head on top of my blog (shurrup you dirty minded lot!).

I don't know what I have done to make a glaring massive image of me pop up like it does when you come onto my blog, but rest assured it is only for one day, and then I shall go back to what I normally look like.

How on earth does Landers change his every week?

Apparently, today we are supposed to publish a pic of ourselves in our blogs.

I have no idea what I am supposed to be doing, so I have relegated my dragon to the archives for a day, and you are now faced with multiple me's all along the top of my blog. Scary sight.

Looking forward to resuming normal service tomorrow

My middle child gets croup quite a lot, and yesterday it was like living in a zoo with all the seal-barking! Poor wee thing.

She is a lot better today, but the croup has developed into a rotten cold, and she is wheezing a little, so I put some Vicks onto her chest and back. She's only ever had the baby one before (which hardly smells at all) so this has blown her olefactory socks off!

She keeps coming up and taking big deep breaths of my fingertips. LOL So do I. I love the smell of Vicks!

Just got the results for my first assignment on my aromatherapy course. I have passed it (there are only two marks - pass and fail) which I really kinda knew, coz I was good

There were four questions and three essay questions, and the grader said my work was 'excellent, very good, well written, concise and good' depending on which question.

So, I am feeling both rather chuffed and encouraged to continue.

Lalala!

Here is Yoda, keeking at me from his perch on the radiator.

And my front steps this morning, brr!

Article 11.
(1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.

(2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

Article 12.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Article 13.
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.

(2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

Article 14.
(1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.

(2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 15.
(1) Everyone has the right to a nationality.

(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

My mother, of all people, sent me this link!

http://www.tagtele.com/v/11924

Article 6.
Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7.
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Article 8.
Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Article 9.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10.
Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Well, yesterday I was driving into town and I saw the first Xmas lights up on a house.

They have been up in the shops - windows displays mainly - but the street lights aren't up yet.

I'm flabberghasted. How can someone put their Xmas lights up in the middle of frickin November for gods sakes?

Are we the first eejit-sighting of the year?

In other news, I think when we wake in the morning, we will no longer be in Kansas, because the wind is blowing a right hoolie outside. Nearly lost my dogs when I put them out for a pee earlier!

I have those patio / french / sliding door things to the outside in the room where I sit on my lappie, and they are in terrible repair. So bad, in fact, that when we got the windows and doors painted in the summer, we never bothered with these doors. They are so rotten, I was afraid that the touch of a paintbrush would destroy them entirely. They are rattling away in their frame right now. I have been expecting to wake up one morning with a gaping hole where the doors were ... on day I think it will happen. I can actually see them moving! Yikes!

Well, once again Laura got Highly Commended on both her exams. I am pleased to bits with her and she is quietly proud as well.

Amazingly (considering her concentration levels) Rachel also got Highly Commended on both her exams. I'm astonished, but I guess it is true what they say - kids are better behaved when they aren't with their Mums! Nevertheless, I am proud as punch with her too.

Article 1.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2.
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4.
No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5.
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

I had never actually read this, although I was aware of it's existance (you can't be a member of Amnesty and not know about it!). Because I never read it, I reckon there are probably quite a few other folk out there who haven't either, so I have decided to reproduce said Declaration here.

As there are 30 articles, I reckon the whole thing in a one-er would be overwhelming, so I shall post five articles a day, starting with the preamble first, till all 30 have been posted.

On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the full text of which appears in the following pages.
Following this historic act the Assembly called upon all Member countries to publicize the text of the Declaration and "to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories."
PREAMBLE
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

It was termly dance exams today. They get their results tomorrow at dance class.

Here is a pic of Laura, who is an old hand now - this is her 4th exams.

Here is Rachel, a first timer

and here is pic of thei girls in their finery, with their big brother

I am not, by nature, a nasty or spiteful person.

I have my opinions. I have thoughts about things. I believe in some things. I disbelieve in others.

Usually I keep my mouth shut when someone I care about believes or thinks something that I don't. Mainly because I don't want to hurt their feelings or negate their beliefs, but also because I don't want to hurt those I care about.

My last post - 'Control' - was supposed to open a dialogue about how society is turning into one of 'blame the other guy', and what we are doing to make it worse.

It was not aimed at one person, one set of beliefs or in fact anything other than something I had been thinking about thru interactions with my kids. Seeing my own behaviour being reflected in theirs.

However, that is not how it was taken.

So. I will do as the title suggests.

I just wrote a big long spiel on a friends blog in her comments section about control in one's life. How people expect other people to run their lives, and how people blame others for their own emotions. "He makes me sad" for example.

I was commenting that we should take more responsibility for our own feelings, thoughts and emotions and particularly our actions. So many people feel out of control in their lives, and need to grab their own lives back, with both hands, and not let go. But how much easier it is to say they have no control and blame others for their misfortunes.

All of my comments have arisen out of conversations with my children, blaming one another and other people for their emotions, their tears, their fighting, their untidy rooms. They none of them want to put their hands up and say "Yeah, twas I who cut down the apple tree".

I was wondering where this tendency comes from. Is it because as children, we are allowed no autonomy? Decisions taken out of ones hands, told to go here, do this, go to bed then, get up now, you must attend school, eat your vegetables? Nothing wrong with that because, as adults, we need to control the lives of children in order to look after them. But at what point does it all go wrong, and they start relinquishing responsibility for their lives, or not fighting for their own control? We should be the ones letting go of the reins, not them fighting to escape!

I don't really know what point I am trying to make. I'm just trying to open a dialogue with you, to get your ideas about self control and self responsibility.

The first was how well the roast beef came out today - just right. Not too dry, not under-done. Yum!

Second thing : http://www.sundrymourning.com/2008/11/12/re-run-parenting-poetry/

Well, once again, I have a couple of 'happy's.

I took No2Child to a birthday party this morning, and a friend of mine was there with her new baby (8 days old). He is a little cracker (what I saw of him, because he slept the entire 2 hours we were there!). His name is Reuben Charles, and he is totally adorable.

The other happy is having someone else share the responsibility for the children for a couple of days. How nice to say "Ask your Dad" and relinquish my role as 'god' for a short while. How single parents cope, day in, day out, with complete 'the buck stops here' pressure all the time is beyond me.

Well, a couple of them today.

Firstly, Himself is coming home tonight. That always makes me happy

Secondly, I sent off my assignment that was overdue on my aromatherapy course. I had three questions to answer and three essays to write, and I was freaking out. Then, when I actually sat down and did them, they were done no bother and I am embarrassed to think I was worried. Ho hum.

Oh, oh, three things! I have enrolled for a kabbalah course that starts in January and I am all excited about that too! Should be very interesting.

Crumpets dripping with butter for breakfast

Nice

Well, my Wednesday happy is another cliche!

I am so happy I have my health.

Last November I took food poisoning, and I was really ill for a good week. The result of that food poisoning was costochrondritis (inflammation of the costal cartlidge - or pain of the ribs!). Originally, they thought it was a heart condition because the pain is exactly like having a heart attack, so for a while there, things were a bit scary.

Part of the illness is the severe fatigue that goes with it. I was pretty much armchair bound for several months, and could barely walk the length of myself. It was torture. I can hardly believe now how bad I was back then. Part of my sister's illness is severe fatigue and, naturally, the fear was there that I was going down with MS as well. To end up like she is now is one of my biggest fears in life.

I started doing yoga, and it was that, eventually, that cured my condition. I feel like a completely different woman to six months ago. I have energy, although I still get tired quickly. I can do a good workout at the gym. I do regular yoga. I give myself regular Reiki.

I am so thankful that I am getting my body back, and when I am dripping with sweat and out of breath at the gym, or when I have mastered an asana (yoga pose) that a week ago was out of my reach, I am so happy.

I am currently reading The Diary of Anne Frank. Thought it was an appropriate mention, today being the 11th and all.

Anyone else read it?

Gotta be my man!

We've been married for something like 12 years or so. Can't remember exactly how long. I think our wedding anniversary is in January but I would have to check that.

I drove home from the gym this morning, thinking of all the things I would write about him. I know I don't write much about him, and that is because he doesn't like to be 'out there' in the public forum. So - what to write about someone who doesn't want written about?

He is a good husband, an excellent father, and a good provider.

Tall, dark and handsome. Well, tall, bald and handsome anyway. He used to be dark, but now shaves his head.

And he's mine

My children.

I am blessed with three happy, healthy, stroppy children. Why am I happy they are stroppy? Because it shows they know they are loved enough to show their true feelings without fear of reprisals

My kids are wonderful. They are good tempered (on the whole). They are intelligent. They are thoughtful. They are strong and healthy (on the whole).

We are lucky to have children. Some people aren't so lucky. Some people try and try to have children, and they can't. Every month, there are hearts breaking.

I love them, and I am proud of them

In fact, I'm away to squidge them with cuddles

Right, I think it is time for a challenge for everyone on my friends list, and everyone else who reads me who isn't on my list.

The challenge is:

Every day this week, starting today and ending Sunday, you have to post on your blog one thing that makes you happy in your life. One good thing. A different thing each day, obviously. You can do one line, or you can write a whole essay - it doesn't matter.

What is the point? Well, I think it is the time of year, the dentist, the rain, whatever, but I am feeling a bit sorry for myself tonight and I damn well don't want to! I need to learn to appreciate all the good things in my life, and not whinge so damn much!

You're tagged!

I went to the dentist a week or so ago. She thought my teeth were fairly sound, but it was time for my annual x-rays, so she took some.

I went back today to get some cosmetic work done on a front tooth. Unfortunately, my x-rays came back with two cavities. I opted to have them filled there and then.

Oh, god, I hate the dentist. Not her personally, of course, but the experience.

I had to have three injections, and then three drillings, and then three fillings.

Unfortunately, one of my reactions to having someone stick needles in my mouth is that I shake. All over. Quite dramatically. It's like I'm having a wee fit and there is nothing I can do to control it.

When I came out, I felt like I'd had three rounds with Mike Tyson. I couldn't talk properly, couldn't have the cuppa that I so desperately needed. I ended up having a cup of tea souked thru a straw.

I am feeling ghastly now. I just need my bed and to sleep the whole trauma off.

Well, I know I write about this every year, but I'm still not really over it.

Four years ago (on the 7th) my youngest child was born. She was pretty much the easiest birth of the three of them, although the first was not too bad either.

However, three days later (ie 4 years ago today) she was taken badly ill and admitted to hospital, where she stopped breathing and they had to bring her back to life. She wasn't absorbing the oxygen from her breathing into her blood, and she was, effectively, slowly suffocating to death.

She was in hospital on several machines, oxygen etc etc and I sat with her almost non stop from when she was admitted to when she came home again.

There are so many 'what ifs' from what happened to her. If I hadn't realised there was something serious going on earlier in the day, mothers intuition, she would have died. If the GP hadn't decided he didn't have a clue what was wrong with her, and passed her onto a paediatrician, she would have died. If the paediatrician hadn't believed her own intuition, to admit a baby that had no symptoms apart from a high temperature, she would have died.

They knew I was quite ill too, but didn't know what was wrong with me apart from my blood count was falling and falling for no reason. I ended up with a blood transfusion, for no reason other than I needed one. I wasn't bleeding out. I had a mild haemorrhage, but not enough that made me so ill.

They still don't know what was wrong. They never knew what cured her. They don't know why she nearly died, or why, ultimately, she lived.

All I can do, every year, when I go thru the anguish again, is to thank god that she lived, and count my blessings that I still have my baby.

Got up Saturday morning to my youngest child's birthday. She was 4. I can't believe it! She thoroughly enjoyed her birthday, got super excited, and had lots of fun opening her presents.

Saturday night we went to my sister in law's 50th birthday party, for which I had purchased all the finery the other day. New frock, new shoes, and a foundation garment to try and control my belly. I have to say, I looked fab

Had too much to drunk albeit not as much as some others, and was pretty useless on Sunday.

Twas a good weekend though. Needless to say, there are no photos of me in my frock,apart from one showing me from the waist up, and is a poor showing of my dress. Typical.

Another original blog title.

Went to the gym this morning. Had a really good workout. I found my MP3 player, after a long search. It was in the 'MP3-player-place'.

So there's me, on the cross-trainer, working really hard, sweat dripping off me, and I let go a series of farts. Proper rat-a-tat-tat of farts, in fact. Then, suddenly, I realised that just because I couldn't hear them over the sound of my music, didn't mean the rest of the roomful of folk couldn't either. Well, I was fair mortified. I could feel the blush starting somewhere around my toes and heading north. Thank goodness I (a) was on a machine facing out the window, with my back to the room and (b) still had a good 10 minutes left to run on its program, so that I didn't have to face the horrified and/or hysterical throng behind me.

Lost my eyesight this afternoon for about 10 minutes. Actually, I am getting a wee shimmer just now too, so I better be brief. Suffice to say, I have hit the migraine relief drugs. That is two in two weeks. Not good.

Perhaps I shouldn't hold my farts in when at the gym - I wonder if that gives you migraines? Research subject, anyone?

JenRay posted this, borrowed from someone else, and I am passing it along.

'i was thinking that we ought to show our respect for people who have died in conflict all over the world - and the family and friends they left behind - by holding a one minute blog silence at 11am on 11 November (or the equivalent local time for you, wherever in the world you are).
so, let's try to be online, but no blog posts for one minute ...

would you be willing to take part?
would you pass this message on to your friends?'

I know that there are probably going to be people here who will think I am a miserable old Fuddy Duddy - "Angry from Aberdeenshire" - but this really makes me sick.

I went to post a letter yesterday and the letterbox has this thing bolted to the front of the letter-hole, leaving a teeny wee gap to post your letters thru. I went inside to ask if the box was out of commission, and was told that the thing was bolted on to stop the kids putting more fireworks into the box.

What??

For fun, some kids had put lit fireworks into the letterbox.

Now, I often post really important letters than can either make or lose me thousands of pounds. If those letters don't arrive, then my pocket can be hit quite substantially.

A couple of months ago, the main letterbox in the town was set on fire and all the contents were lost. The village box had some 'minor' damage to the letters therein.

It just makes me sick that these kids have no thought in their heads further than the fun they are having at that particular moment, or the problems they can cause by destroying other people's letters.

I am also informed that another 'fun pass-time' is to post doglogs. The postman opens the box, and - lo and behold! - gets a handful of Fido's leavings. Nice.

Oh, just let me catch them. Fuckers.

First off, sorry about the recent titles. I can't think of anything sensible.

Secondly, this morning I found out that Oscar's litter-sister is also losing weight, vomiting and skitters, for no apparent reason. I can't decide if that is a good thing or a bad thing. Are they linked? Is it coincidence? Is it genetic (which will mean we can't breed from him)? Will it make it easier now to find out what is wrong with him? I've left a message for his vet, and she will consider it and get back to me.

Went to the gym this morning, for the first time since beforee the summer holidays. Crikey, you sure notice the difference if you miss a wee while! I feel goooood! Mind you, tomorrow I shall feel like a complete heap.

I know I have written several blogs today, mainly about abso-bloody-lutely nothing, but here is another one, anyway.

Today the weather was totally cracking! Spent the afternoon in the garden, trying clear up the piles of dog-logs that littered the area. Since my dog has had the skitters, there were just piles of goo, really, but I don't suppose you really want to know that.

I also built a wee wall around my ornamental cherry. I used concrete blocks, which sound awful. Well, they don't look that great actually, truth be told, but they are achieving what I wanted to achieve, which was to delineate the space between dog area and cherry tree. My tree is coming along nicely and I don't want them peeing up it.

Did some strimming too. I wanted to get the tall grasses down to locate any more doglogs, before I go out there with the hover mower. I just don't fancy hovering the garden and getting a nasty spray!

I have a large drain cover and a small one for the stopcock, and I have been thinking about what to put on them to pretty them up. JackFrost posted about Japanese draincovers today - go check it out - very nice! I was thinking of putting some potted plants on them, but I am worried the dogs will think they are portable peeing posts.

Anyway, I am happily achey this evening. I think I will nip in for a sauna when the kids are unconscious. I had one yesterday afternoon - big mistake! I was practically comotose for the rest of the day. Definately something to do at the end of the day

I have been reading a lot of blogs lately, and also speaking with other people, who mark Hallowe'en as New Years. The Celtic people apparently celebrated this festival as Samhain, or their new year.

However, personally, I am more inclined to mark my New Year as spring. May day, perhaps, or when I see the first crocuses.

To me, this time of year is the winding down of the old year. The time to wrap up cosy, sit at home with family, and reflect on the year that has passed. A time to slow down and chill out, make plans for the next year and fill up on biscuits

If I compare the seasons to the life of a person, I see spring as birth and childhood, lambs kicking up heels; summer as teenage and middle years, a bit slower, restful and sensible; autumn as middle age, stoutness, mulled wine; and winter is age ... wisdom, reflection and venerability.

What do you think?

Kid it's cull time. I reckon that if I do a private post, and don't add some friends to it, then I can't really call them friends, can I?

Sorry if you've been cut and didn't want to be. If you wanted to stay, give me a message and perhaps we can try a bit harder to maintain a friendship, yes?

I have just finished a book by Sheri S Tepper called The Margarets.

Basically, Margaret has imaginary friends when she is a kid, growing up friendless on Mars. When she moves back to Earth, whenever she makes an important choice in her life, she makes the choice but one of the imaginary friends splits off from her, making the other choice and goes off to live the consequences of that choice.

Does she want to marry Bryan? No. Off to another planet to become a shaman. Oh, she does? Off to another planet to live as a Drs wife, then.

An excellent book, and the reason for Margaret splitting into another six people is explained very well. Another Must Read by Tepper - one of my favorite authors.

Anyway, it also got me thinking. I guess everyone is familiar with the whole multi-dimensional universe theory. Imagine taking it a step further and think of all the decisions you have made in your life. You didn't divorce your first husband; you stayed with the abusive lover; you didn't move abroad or back home; you joined the convent/ coven/ commune. Imagine the possibility that right now, every choice you were given was made - both options taken - and those lives are now being lived by you, alongside the people who made their choices as well.

Mind boggling, but fascinating too!

You know anorexics - they look in the mirror and they see someone who is like 20 stone, when they are really just two?

Well, I think I have that. Only in reverse. I don't feel overweight, and when I look in the mirror I don't particularly look overweight.

My scales say otherwise, and - man! - so did my jeans! I hung them up on the drawers in my bedroom earlier. They were clean on, but got soaked with water, so I just hung them up to dry. Unfortunately, they had already taken on my shape, and I was sitting on my bed this evening, happened to glance across, and there were my jeans. OMG! Does my arse really fit snugly in them??

Perhaps I shouldn't be looking for a dress for this party. Perhaps I should invest in a corset instead! LOL

I wonder what reverse anorxia is called? Oh yeah. Fat-arse.

Would I be able to wear brown leopard print shoes with red heels with this dress, or should I just go buy a pair of copper coloured shoes?

Edited:

Okay - what about these?