tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-11-11:/I'm Carol, married to Gerry, with three children ages 9, 6 and 4. We live in north east Scotland, UK. We have a couple of acres, border collie (Archie), labradoodle (Angus), Dalmation (Oscar), mouse catching moggie (Yoda), and 4 assorted hens.MokoFeed2009-11-11T04:36:11+01:00tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-11-02:/2009/11/02/b-l-o-g-7292897/PurpleDragon2009-11-02T16:07:02+01:002009-11-02T16:07:02+01:00 <p>I have decided that my blog is exactly that : the Boring Log Of Gloom.</p> <p>I really don't have anything cheerful to say. </p> <p>I have been feeling rotten again, and it has been diagnosed as hyperthyroid. I am so sick of feeling ill. I am slipping into a depression here, feeling betrayed by my body. Basically it is all autoimmune - the eye thing, the costochondritis, and now this - my body is slowly destroying itself and the 'me' part is SO over it all. </p> <p>I look terrible. My eyes are drooping, I've really lost too much weight (haha on me for suffering the diet for so many months only to lose 6lbs in 10 days without even trying), and I can barely walk the length of myself.</p> <p>The pills I am on apparently can destroy your white blood cells, so the likelihood of this continual cough going anytime soon is pretty unlikely. Sometimes I am coughing so hard that I can't breathe. </p> <p>Ack. SO I won't be boring you all for a while, till I feel beter. Even *I* don't want to read this crap. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/11/02/b-l-o-g-7292897/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-10-21:/2009/10/21/and-it-s-only-wednesday-7219701/PurpleDragon2009-10-21T23:52:46+02:002009-10-21T23:52:46+02:00 <p>So far my week has been pure shite.</p> <p>On Saturday, the day I was supposed to run my Mum to the airport then go pick up No1Child's birthday present, No2Child woke up at 4.30 in the morning, vomiting. </p> <p>Fortunately, Himself was coming home on Saturday, so he got to drive up from Alloa Saturday morning, grab a coffee, drive back to the airport to drop Mum, then drive down to Stonehaven to collect said pressie. This was on top of driving down to Wiltshire on Thursday night in order to attend the funeral of a favorite uncle on Friday (then drive back from Wiltshire to Alloa Friday night). </p> <p>Sunday was quiet and restful. Keeping the next few days in reserve. I can't think of a witty analogy - perhaps one of you can help <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>Monday morning, 6.30, No3Child wakens by throwing up. I'm helping her out when No1Child starts too. A short while later, I join in. </p> <p>Tuesday was when Himself was supposed to attend an interview for a job that, if he gets it, will literally change the way we have lived our lives since our children were born. Naturally, Tuesday morning, 9am, found him poised over the loo as well. </p> <p>That was the morning we found out that the boiler had sprung an oil leak and we were without heating or hot water. Himself phoned the boiler repair people who told him they would 'hopefully' be out 'before Friday'.</p> <p>I finally managed to crawl out of my bed last night and start to pull myself together a wee bit. I lost 4lbs in weight, which I really didn't need to lose, and look bloody awful. Of course, I would get it worse, having had my immune system compromised by the reaction to the dye in my blood, then a bad chest (remember I had to skip gymnastics one evening?) and then the throat/chest infection. The kids managed to pretty much clear up and be perky after a bout 6 hours. Same with Himself. Not so me - oh no! I was still chucking up the water I was drinking to try and keep myself hydrated a full 24 hours later. </p> <p>Anyway, today was supposed to be a return to normal. Try and get the mountains of laundry done that had appeared with the previous couple of days carnage. Tidy up a bit. Dishes. Both tasks of which can be accomplished without hot water, fortunately. Both the dishwasher and the washing machine heat their own water.</p> <p>Unfortunately, I feel like a complete heap of junk. I could manage to make breakfast, then have to sit down and rest. Tidy up, sit down and rest. Blah blah. You get the picture. </p> <p>Next thing, Himself phones - "Can you cancel my cards - I've lost my wallet". I am not telling you how much cash was in it, because you will fall off your chair, but Oh My Fucking God. He is gutted beyond belief. Not his fault - the flipping virus thing wipes you out so you can't think straight.</p> <p>So this evening, I'm sitting on the chair watching a movie, telling the girls it was their bedtime, and No3Child comes and up says "I feel sick". Now, this kid has been fine since Monday afternoon, so I figure that she is just trying to avoid bedtime. Nope. Next thing - copious amounts of vomit onto the chair, the living room carpet, hall carpet, utility room floor (fortunately missing the piles of clean laundrey - phew!), toilet floor, sweater, socks, and - oh yeah - finally a wee bit down the loo. </p> <p>Do I now feel sick because I am tired? Because the smell is making me gross out? Or - gods forbid! - that I am about to go for Round II as well? </p> <p>Anyway, I shower the child*, clean up the mess, disinfect the floors/carpets, and put the kids to bed. The stink in the living room is beyond belief, even though I have cleaned and cleaned, so I light a candle to try and get me thru the night. Then I go to bed.</p> <p>As I am dozing, thinking "What have I forgotten" I remember - the bloody candle is still alight. It will be just my luck that a freak earthquake hits the north east of Scotland and knocks the candle over, setting my bloody house on fire. So, I go down to blow it out, switch on the living room lights ... and the bloody lights fuse. </p> <p>For<br> Fucks<br> Sake</p> <p>I am SO done with this week. </p> <p>*Yes, we do have an electric shower, thank gods, but we never use it because there is something wrong with the tiling/waterproofing and if the water hits the walls of the cubicle it rains down in the hall downstairs. You can use it if you make sure the water is only going into the bit you stand in. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/10/21/and-it-s-only-wednesday-7219701/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-10-18:/2009/10/18/virus-checker-7193279/PurpleDragon2009-10-18T12:46:06+02:002009-10-18T12:46:06+02:00 <p>I have had a 'free' virus checker on my laptop for a while now. Every night at 8pm it starts and takes a good couple of hours to scan the files. It really slows everything down and 9 times out of 10 I end up stopping it so that I can use my machine.</p> <p>My machine has been slowing down a lot, so last night I got right fed up with it and bought a proper virus checker. The machine is only marginally quicker, if at all.</p> <p>However, when I fired it up this morning and started downloading my emails it found a Trojan hidden away in them, so it has already paid for itself. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/10/18/virus-checker-7193279/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-10-15:/2009/10/15/happening-now-7177152/PurpleDragon2009-10-15T20:26:05+02:002009-10-15T20:26:05+02:00 <p>Poor we eboy - he must be terrified!</p> <p><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33330516/ns/us_news-life/">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33330516/ns/us_news-life/</a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/10/15/happening-now-7177152/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-10-15:/2009/10/15/seven-deadly-sins-7175753/PurpleDragon2009-10-15T16:36:05+02:002009-10-15T16:36:05+02:00 Greed: Medium   Gluttony: Medium   Wrath: Medium   Sloth: Medium   Envy: Medium   Lust: High   Pride: Medium   <br><br> <a href="http://www.4degreez.com/misc/seven_deadly_sins.html">Discover Your Sins - Click Here</a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/10/15/seven-deadly-sins-7175753/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-10-15:/2009/10/15/one-lucky-man-7175704/PurpleDragon2009-10-15T16:28:27+02:002009-10-15T16:28:27+02:00 <p>I'm am mega pissed off about a few things just now, and although this post is going to be public, the other thing will be private. </p> <p>Today I took my girls to the local indoor play area. Just before their time was up Rachel came to tell me that Laura was hurt and crying so I went to find out what was wrong. She'd received a football in the face and her eye was really sore - bloodshot, swollen and she could hardly open the lid. I got an icepack and asked her what happened.</p> <p>It turned out that one of the parents was kicking a ball around with his son in the ball area and she got the ball in her eye. She walked across and it hit her accidentally but she was really sore and he just let her walk off to find me instead of bringing her to me. </p> <p>I went to ask him to be a bit more careful around the small people, and he absolutely refused to accept responsibility. All I asked was for him to say sorry and he hoped she was okay. But no - he got all defensive and blamed it all on her. <img src="/img/smilies/icon_censored.gif" alt=">:XX" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>Just as well it was me speaking to him, and not Himself, or he would have had a black eye all of his very own. <img src="/img/smilies/icon_evil.gif" alt=">:-[" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/10/15/one-lucky-man-7175704/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-10-04:/2009/10/04/the-current-slightly-strange-meme-7095155/PurpleDragon2009-10-04T11:29:57+02:002009-10-04T11:29:57+02:00 <p>1 Is there anybody you just wish would fall off the planet?<br> Those three 'people' from Plymouth</p> <p>2. How do you flush the toilet in public?<br> Are there different ways?</p> <p>3. Do you wear your seatbelt in the car?<br> Always</p> <p>4. Do you have a crush on someone?<br> Nah</p> <p>5. Name one thing you worry about running out of.<br> milk</p> <p>6. What famous person do you (or other people) think you resemble?<br> I have a vaguely familiar face that no one can place</p> <p>7. What is your favorite pizza topping?<br> mushrooms and peppers</p> <p>8. Do you crack your knuckles?<br> Used to - regret it now </p> <p>9. What song do you hate the most?<br> Too many to list </p> <p>10. Did just mentioning that song make it get stuck in your head?<br> Nope</p> <p>11.What are your super powers?<br> mind reading</p> <p>12 Peppermint or spearmint?<br> peppermint</p> <p>13.Where are your car keys?<br> in the front door</p> <p>14. Last song you listened to?<br> Theme to Ghostbusters</p> <p>15. What's your most annoying habit?<br> I don't have any</p> <p>16 Where did you last go on vacation?<br> Skegness</p> <p>17. What is your best physical feature?<br> Used to be eyes - don't have one now</p> <p>18. What CD is closest to you right now?<br> Pink - I'm not dead</p> <p>19.What 3 things can always be found in your refrigerator?<br> milk, sausage rolls, Activia</p> <p>20 What superstition do you believe/practice?<br> none</p> <p>21. What color are your bed sheets?<br> dark grey</p> <p>22. Would you rather be a fish or a bird?<br> Bird</p> <p>23. Last thing you broke?<br> don't recall</p> <p>24 What are you having to eat tonight?<br> sausages, mash, peas, gravy, yorkshires</p> <p>25. What color shirt are you wearing?<br> pink</p> <p>26. If you could be doing anything else today, what would you rather be doing?<br> chilling somewhere warm with a good book</p> <p>27. Do security cameras make you nervious?<br> Don't notice them anymore</p> <p>28. If you wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?<br> Lazy Sunday</p> <p>29. Last time you went to a cemetery?<br> a few months ago</p> <p>30. Last concert you went to?<br> Bon Jovi with Nickelback supporting</p> <p>31. Favorite musician(s)/bands you've seen in concert?<br> Bon Jovi</p> <p>32. Next concert you're planning to attend?<br> Would like to see Pink</p> <p>33. Do you talk to yourself?<br> All the time - only time I have a sensible conversation</p> <p>34. Have you ever adopted or purchased a pet?<br> More than I can count</p> <p>35. Have you ever been present when an animal is being born?<br> No, just small humans. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/10/04/the-current-slightly-strange-meme-7095155/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-10-02:/2009/10/02/little-miracles-7083275/PurpleDragon2009-10-02T10:13:02+02:002009-10-02T10:13:02+02:00 <p>Well, autumn has well and truly arrived. Yesterday (or was it Wednesday?) we had frost on the grass. Brr. <img src="/img/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":>>" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>I have been poorly all week. Ger brought some nasty little virus home last weekend and I caught it. It makes you incredibly tired, shaky all the time, nauseous, dire rear. Lovely. I'm feeling much better now. I can stay awake all day, for a start! <img src="/img/smilies/icon_yawn.gif" alt=":yawn:" class="middle" border="0"> I just vacuumed the living room, and I'm having to have a sit down, though - my hands are shaking so badly I can barely type. </p> <p>Anyway, the good news. My brother in law (Himself's brother) and his wife have been married for nigh on 20 years and they have been trying to have a baby all that time. They have suffered miscarriages, an ectopic pregnancy, and lots of lost hope and shattered dreams. The good news is, though, they are now 13 weeks pregnant! <img src="/img/smilies/grayyes.gif" alt=":yes:" class="middle" border="0"> She has posted pictures of the baby and a little video set to music, and I can barely tell anyone without filling up. I am so happy for them.</p> <p>Babies truly <em>are</em> little miracles. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/10/02/little-miracles-7083275/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-09-21:/2009/09/21/my-weekend-7008451/PurpleDragon2009-09-21T10:03:35+02:002009-09-21T10:03:35+02:00 <p>Did I tell you about my weekend? The weekend I have been looking forward to for ages?</p> <p>Planned :<br> a course on metamorphic technique, which was both Saturday and Sunday.<br> Saturday night - a meal at the local Indian with my pals.</p> <p>What happened:<br> Friday I got blasted with this horrible dye stuff so they could see if the back of my eye was bleeding. They told me to drink plenty of water to flush it out of my system. Naturally,I didn't manage to drink enough, so on Saturday I got totally wiped out by the worst migraine in the history of mankind.<br> 4pm Saturday afternoon I was laying on my teacher's bathroom floor deciding whether I was gonna throw up some more, or if it was safe to venture out. 5pm I was home and in my bed with an eye mask and migraine pills.<br> I didn't get up again till after lunch on Sunday, thereby missing my birthday meal with my girlfriends.</p> <p>I am still reacting to the dye. My skin feels like I've been flayed, and itches unbearably. I am weak as a kitten, and it is hard to turn my head.</p> <p>But on the plus side - I lost 2lbs this weekend! <img src="/img/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":>>" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/09/21/my-weekend-7008451/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-09-21:/2009/09/21/forty-five-7008398/PurpleDragon2009-09-21T09:58:06+02:002009-09-21T09:59:06+02:00 <p>Yes, I am 45 today. I don't feel emotionally any different from 44, but I didn't expect to. La la. All very boring. Bit of an anticlimax really, becoming middle aged. </p> <p>Onto more interesting matters.</p> <p>Does anyone remember a couple of years ago I was really ill, couldn't get out of the chair, No2Child had to get the bus home from school coz I was too ill to go get her? Lots of chest pain, Drs thought is was my heart even though I knew they were wrong. Tried to palm me off with 'depression' (here have some valium). Turned out to be a condition called costochondritis, which is not very common and therefore quite hard to diagnose. </p> <p>Move on a couple of years. I now have another condition called uveitis, which type they can't decide. They have whittled it down to MEWDS (multiple evanescent white dot syndrome) or Birdshot Retinochoroidopathy. Both uncommon conditions, and neither (it would appear) particularly treatable. </p> <p>So, after major blethering, my thought is this. Why do I appear to keep attracting 'uncommon' conditions that are both hard to diagnose and hard to treat? </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/09/21/forty-five-7008398/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-09-18:/2009/09/18/friday-6992467/PurpleDragon2009-09-18T19:47:36+02:002009-09-18T19:47:36+02:00 <p>Got to the hospital at 1.45 and didn't leave again till 5.30 - so daft it takes so long.</p> <p>I got drops in to make my pupils bigger, anaesthetic drops, dye drops, poked in the eye to check the pressure, dye injected into my veins to see whether the capilliaries in the eyes were leaking (they're not), and now my pee is bright yellow. I've had more bright lights shone into my eyes than you can shake a stick at, including white light, blue light and green light. For a while all I could see was red. </p> <p>So, the upshot of all this poking about is ... they don't know what is causing my condition, they don't know why it isn't going away, and they don't know how it is going to progress. They can see it is spreading though.</p> <p>They did offer for me to be admitted to hospital for 3 days and be on a steroid drip, to see if they could "sledgehammer" the problem into submission. Basically, it might work, and it might not. If it does, then they know my condition 'can be managed'. Three kids, man works away ... not bloody likely is it? </p> <p>Oh, and the reason why no one would give me the results of my blood tests? They lost them. <img src="/img/smilies/grayyes.gif" alt=":yes:" class="middle" border="0"> I have to go back again next week for another round. <img src="/img/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif" alt=":roll:" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/09/18/friday-6992467/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-09-09:/2009/09/09/birthday-pressie-6930417/PurpleDragon2009-09-09T14:18:40+02:002009-09-09T14:18:40+02:00 <p>My birthday present from my Mum arrived today.</p> <p>It is an 18" bodhran. </p> <p>I have coveted one since my next door neighbour got hers. Then another pal got one. Then I read about a course using them with Reiki, so that was it - I needed one. The Universe was telling me so <img src="/img/smilies/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>The postie picked up the box and asked me to sign for it. He passed it to me so I could only see one side of the box. Experience told me to check all sides, and lo and behold! A bloody great hole and a tear down the side.</p> <p>So I took the bodhran out of the box and checked it was in one piece and the skin wasn't pierced before I signed. I think I might have scared the postman because I used my curved gardening knife to cut the tape. It is really sharp so you don't have to do anything other than draw the knife along what you want to cut. </p> <p>Anyway, bodhran in one piece, and a very happy person here <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>And I can't play with it till the 21st {sob} </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/09/09/birthday-pressie-6930417/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-09-09:/2009/09/09/bodyattack-6930378/PurpleDragon2009-09-09T14:13:03+02:002009-09-09T14:13:03+02:00 <p>Well, a pal of mine has recently stopped smoking and was bemoaning the rate of extra weight being piled on, so we decided that exercise was required. We both signed up to something called Bodyattack.</p> <p>I cna confirm that the class was successful - my body feels like it has been very much attacked. </p> <p>It was 45 minutes of sweating, interspersed with groaning and potential weeping.</p> <p>There was running, squatting, knee lifts, jumping jacks, push ups, sit ups (of two different types), lunges and generally flinging ourselves round the hall at great speed. To loud music. And she wanted us to shout as well. I think this was to inspire us to greater exertion - "YEAH!" </p> <p>We were then invited to join two other weekly classes, as we are encouraged to do this three (THREE!!) times a week. Alternatively we could opt for a spinning class (which apparently doesn't involve wool) or BodyPump, which involves everything we did this morning, but with weights. That is SO not gonna happen. I would die.</p> <p>When I walked in, I was blethering to the staff (who I know) and another victim arrived. I took one look at her and decided that if all the class looked like that, I was off for coffee ... bye bye! Fortunately there were varying shades of fitness (or lack thereof) so I didn't show myself up *too* badly. </p> <p>I will say that, about an hour or so later, I was sitting in a chair blethering with a pal when I leaned back slightly and my stomach muscles started quivering. Poor things. </p> <p>I am still shaking in parts, and I am very very worried about tomorrow. Will I be able to get out of bed? Watch this space! </p> <p>Oh, and BDA? Your gardener has <em>nothing</em> on my pits just now! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/09/09/bodyattack-6930378/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-09-08:/2009/09/08/red-mite-6922647/PurpleDragon2009-09-08T13:48:16+02:002009-09-08T13:48:16+02:00 <p>Well, my kids usually go and get my eggs from the coop, and as it is the summer, the birds are out most of the time, so the coop doesn't need cleaning quite so often.</p> <p>Big mistake!</p> <p>I went in to get the eggs the other day and they were crawling with tiny bugs which on examination turned out to be the biggest infestation of red mite in the history of mankind.</p> <p>Okay. There weren't that many, but I don't do bugs. Yeuch. </p> <p>Now, if you don't know, red mites are in the arachnid family (so read : teeny tiny spiders by the thousand) and they hide during the day and then come out at night to suck the blood of your nice cosy hens while they sleep. Eventually, if left untreated, then hens get anaemic and die. Nice. Fortunately, my hens aren't that bad. </p> <p>Oh, and these mites are the size of a full stop and practically invisible when they haven't just fed, after which they are blood red. Of course. </p> <p>So, Sunday, I pulled out all the bedding, and attacked the coop with a blowtorch. Nothing more satisfying that a clump of red mite sizzling into a melted lump of goo. Then the house got sprinkled with red mite powder.</p> <p>I then caught the hens and bathed them in a warm bath (outside) laced with tea tree. When they were dry, they were dusted with red mite powder (much to their disgust). </p> <p>I shall have to do the whole rigmarole again this weekend, to get any I haven't caught. And there will be some, apparently. I found out yesterday that if you don't take the roofing felt off, they hide under there and laugh at you. </p> <p>The other option is to bath and dust the hens again, then put them in the old goosehouse, pull down the coop, and burn the bugger.</p> <p>When I came in, I put my clothes straight in the washer, and hit the shower. I even used the kids lice comb to check my hair was clean, even though I had tied a Tesco carrier bag over my head to stop them getting into my hair. </p> <p>Sunday night, could I sleep? Could I bugger. Every time I started to drop off, I was convinced I had them crawling on me. <img src="/img/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif" alt=":roll:" class="middle" border="0"> In fact, every time I talk about them, I start itching again. </p> <p>I don't do bugs. Yeuch. {Shudder} </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/09/08/red-mite-6922647/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-09-04:/2009/09/04/annoyed-again-6890733/PurpleDragon2009-09-04T15:12:16+02:002009-09-04T15:12:16+02:00 <p>So, my youngest started Primary 1 two and a half weeks ago. She is 4 years old. She is a *young* 4 years old, and although she can cope with the learning, she gets a bit overwhelmed by the sheer volume of 'stuff' she is expected to remember.</p> <p>She usually gets packed lunches. Today, she wanted to try a school dinner, so I agreed.</p> <p>First off, she was worried about losing her dinner ticket. I put the ticket and a break time snack into her normal packed lunch box. When we went down to school, I had to tell them Anthony would be off, so I went in with her. She took the ticket out of her bag and gave it to her classroom assistant, who put it straight into the box with the other tickets. </p> <p>The next step should have been Rachel going into the classroom and putting her name on the board to say she was having a school dinner. I don't know if she did that or not.</p> <p>What I do know is that she expected to be given back her ticket so she could have lunch. Because she didn't get the ticket back, she took the wee snack out of her bag and had that. </p> <p>So my wee 4 year old has been the whole day in school with a little playpiece for her lunch.</p> <p>Man, I'm mad. Can they not look after the wee ones better than that? How can they expect them to understand the routine straight off? She's 4 years old, for gods sakes. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/09/04/annoyed-again-6890733/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-09-02:/2009/09/02/wednesdays-are-busy-6877882/PurpleDragon2009-09-02T19:43:59+02:002009-09-02T19:43:59+02:00 <p>I'm knackered!</p> <p>The kids went off to school no bother this morning, and today's challenge was Laura's room. Good grief - I'm amazed the child could get thru the door. I barely could. Anyway, that is done now. </p> <p>So I get a call from the vet to say that Angus isn't fine after all. In fact, he is highly contagious. </p> <p>Apparently he has a nasty wee bug that causes the skitters, and not only can be transmitted to other dogs but to humans as well. We have to ensure that huge amounts of hygiene are adhered to, and that they are kept away from other dogs. It isn't serious - just highly contagious. </p> <p>I have taken the decision to keep the children away from the dogs, as I don't fancy having to clear up after them either, thanks very much. Dog-dire-rear is bad enough. </p> <p>Two lots of dancing classes and then a long gymnastics class left Laura asleep in the car on the way home and me really tired. God knows how the kids feel. They do most (99%) of the work - all I seem to do is catch them when they fall off the beam. I do some of the warm-up exercises with them, which is probably what tires me out. </p> <p>Right. Time to feed the mutts. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/09/02/wednesdays-are-busy-6877882/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-09-02:/2009/09/02/bloody-annoyed-6875165/PurpleDragon2009-09-02T12:29:50+02:002009-09-02T12:29:50+02:00 <p>I live on a single track country lane. The lane is a couple of miles long, and has farms and private homes along it at discreet intervals. </p> <p>Sometimes, visitors going to the farms/houses, the oil tankers to supply the oil, the tractors, farmworkers, etc etc come along the road like the Wrath of Hell is pursuing them, and you have to be pretty damn quick to jump onto the (dog poo covered) verge or get splatted. Goodness knows why there haven't been head-on collisions because the lane, like most country lanes, is not straight, and the hedges are very high. </p> <p>Anyway, to try and get folk to slow down, I had two signs made. They showed two children, holding hands, cavorting in play and the caption said <em>"Please Drive Slowly - Free Range Kids and Dogs"</em></p> <p>I bought two. One for the top half of my garden (the gate is centre) the other for, guess where? </p> <p>They both frequently disappeared, and upon investigation were found to be lodged in the hedge where someone had actually pulled the signs out of the ground where they were pegged, and lobbed them into said hedges. After about 2 weeks, the one at the top of the garden disappeared completely. Yesterday, I found the other was gone. </p> <p>Someone actually <em>stole</em> my signs! </p> <p>I cannot believe it. I can't believe that people would take such offence that they felt annoyed enough to pull them from the ground and chuck them, first off. But now I can't believe that someone has actually taken the time to steal them. </p> <p>What do they intend doing with them? Putting them in the tip? Because ~ believe me ~ if I see them by someone else's house, I shall know who did it.</p> <p>You know how I will know? Because I had them made specially for me ~ they are unique. <img src="/img/smilies/icon_twisted.gif" alt=":>" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/09/02/bloody-annoyed-6875165/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-09-01:/2009/09/01/september-september-6867452/PurpleDragon2009-09-01T13:31:52+02:002009-09-01T13:31:52+02:00 <p>Well, September is my birthday month. </p> <p>I shall be 45 this year, and as I figure that 90 will be pretty much my limit, this will be me, officially middle-aged! </p> <p>I have decided to go out for a meal. I am on a course the weekend 19/20 but I will be at home, so I figure hitting the local indian restaurant on the evening of the 20th.</p> <p>I'm rather looking forward to it - me and my girlfriends <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> Two invitees have already said yes. </p> <p>La la. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/09/01/september-september-6867452/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-08-30:/2009/08/30/a-happier-note-6855046/PurpleDragon2009-08-30T17:40:46+02:002009-08-30T17:40:46+02:00 <p>On a happier note than my last post (Into the Wild) I watched another film last night.</p> <p><em>Meet The Fockers</em></p> <p>I have one thing to say about this completely hilarious film ...</p> <p>Asss<br> Hole </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/08/30/a-happier-note-6855046/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-08-30:/2009/08/30/into-the-wild-6855018/PurpleDragon2009-08-30T17:36:14+02:002009-08-30T17:36:14+02:00 <p>I did the ironing this afternoon, and to take my mind off the torture, I also watched a film.</p> <p>I've had this rental film sitting for weeks waiting for an opportunity to watch it (yeah, yeah - who irons <em>every</em> week??) and decided today would be the day.</p> <p>Into the Wild<br> Director - Sean Penn<br> Starring Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt<br> Gntre - drama</p> <p><em>After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions, gave his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhiked to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters that shape his life"</em></p> <p>When the film started, I was full of admiration for him, for his courage to grasp with both hands what he stood for and believed in. He disagreed with the way of life he had all his life and eventually said enough was enough, and took off.</p> <p>For me, this was bittersweet. I always wanted to 'just take off' and do what he did. Mind you, starting out in Buckinghamshire wouldn't have offered the same opportunities for wilderness living. Te bottom line was, I was a coward. I have always been afraid to let go, in case I fuck it all up, make the wrong choices, blah blah. So I held on tight with both hands. It is different now. Now I am happy and at peace, content with my life. Not so in my early 20s the same age as when Christopher took off. </p> <p>So, he meets people, inspires them and is inspired in turn. His integrity shines thru. And then - spoiler moment - he makes one small mistake, which proves to be his fatal mistake. </p> <p>I don't think he ever intended to die in the wilderness. I think he was ready to go back home and start to forgive. I feel so bad, wondering what he was thinking of, when he realised he was going to die and there was nothing anyone could do to save him.</p> <p>I have so many more impressions of this film, but I can't find the words to express them. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/08/30/into-the-wild-6855018/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-08-19:/2009/08/19/overload-6758103/PurpleDragon2009-08-19T12:12:15+02:002009-08-19T12:12:15+02:00 <p>I am a bit nervous about using my computer just now.</p> <p>I have a 4-slice toaster. A short while ago, one half it is stopped working - it started burning one side and not doing the other side at all. Now the other half of it is playing up a bit.</p> <p>Then we had the incident with the fuel pipes on the Monza.</p> <p>Before that I was standing doing the ironing when the iron went on fire. </p> <p>My microwave went on fire not long after I dropped the kettle and the bottom fell off.</p> <p>I was vacuuming the other day and it stopped. Just died.</p> <p>Oh, and don't forget I've recently had to replace both washing machine and tumble dryer. </p> <p>Ho hum. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/08/19/overload-6758103/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-08-17:/2009/08/17/my-course-6744810/PurpleDragon2009-08-17T15:23:00+02:002009-08-17T15:23:00+02:00 <p>I got the confirmation thru the post this morning that I have passed my Aromatherapy Course and that my Diploma will arrive within 12 weeks. </p> <p>Apparently, my last assignment was 'brilliant' and it was 'a pleasure' marking my assignments. <img src="/img/smilies/icon_redface.gif" alt=":oops:" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/08/17/my-course-6744810/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-08-17:/2009/08/17/summer-s-end-6742681/PurpleDragon2009-08-17T10:38:19+02:002009-08-17T10:38:19+02:00 <p>Well, today is the last day of the summer holidays. The teachers are back today, but it is an 'in service' day, so the kids have one last day of freedom.</p> <p>Well, I say 'freedom'. What I mean is one day of getting all their stuff ready for tomorrow. School bags packed, sports kit found and packed in sports bags, packed lunch boxes ruked out from the back of the cupboard, shoes cleaned, baths taken, hair washed, toenails scrubbed. </p> <p>It also means that I shall be getting back into a routine. I have enjoyed not having one, floating thru my days like thistledown, achieving just enough to get thru the day with kids fed and clothed. But, oh my goodness!, how I am looking forward to getting back into a routine!</p> <p>I have a 'system' on my computer that tells me each day what I should achieve and when. On a Monday, I clean my ensuite, my bedroom and Laura's bedroom. The rest of the house is in zones as well, and each day gets a different part of the house properly cleaned. It takes a week to do the whole house. Naturally, things like picking up rooms and cleaning the kitchen are on top of the zones.</p> <p>Then I have the dogs to walk every day. I take them up the woods, which entails a drive. They love it up there - loads of sniffs for them <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p>I want to start hitting the gym regularly again - get rid of some of this summer flab that has crept up. I put on 2lbs over the 6-weeks holiday, which considering I have done bugger all is not too bad! </p> <p>I also want to get back into regular yoga practice, which has also drifted to the wayside. </p> <p>Decorating comes in as a priority - I am half way thru the downstairs loo just now, and have been for about 3 months now. <img src="/img/smilies/icon_redface.gif" alt=":oops:" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p>Now the dogs are in outside kennels, I have my back garden back, and I can continue getting that back in order so it is nice for BBQs and so on. It won't be good enough for the year, but it really needs work done.<br> Oh, and my polytunnel (or what is left of it) needs to be sorted out as well, so I can get another cover up on it. </p> <p>Oh, my! The kids are only in school 6 hours a day and I need to fit all that stuff in! Then, when they come home, homework, supper, baths to be had, stories to be read, early nights. </p> <p>How on earth do working Mums manage to fit everything in?? </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/08/17/summer-s-end-6742681/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-08-14:/2009/08/14/conversation-6722398/PurpleDragon2009-08-14T13:35:50+02:002009-08-14T13:35:50+02:00 <p>Smallest child : Do you have a sharpener?</p> <p>Me : Nope. I don't use one.</p> <p>Smallest child : Is there not one on your desk?</p> <p>Me : Nope, but there is one in your pencil box in the living room.</p> <p>Smallest child : Hmm. Nah. Here's a rubber. That'll do.</p> <p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p> <p>What?</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/08/14/conversation-6722398/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-08-09:/2009/08/09/awol-6685311/PurpleDragon2009-08-09T15:43:53+02:002009-08-09T15:43:53+02:00 <p>Well, I have been one of the AWOl bloggers lately! I haven't felt in the mood for blogging, so I haven't really blogged.I think everyone goes thru these hiatus periods and everything gets quiet, then we all get back from holidays or whatever, and none of us have time to keep up with blogs and comments <img src="/img/smilies/graylaugh.gif" alt=":))" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p>I haven't really been up to much. Hanging out, chilling out, occasional cleaning of the house, occasional messing about in the garden. I have been doing a lot of clearing out, but for some reason I <em>still</em> have loads of stuff ~ junkshop! I gave away two carrier bags full of books that were no good for selling online, and it turned out they were the books HImself had put aside to read in the sauna <img src="/img/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif" alt=":roll:" class="middle" border="0"> Oops. </p> <p>The weather, along with pretty much the rest of the UK, has been shite. Much rain. But not so much that it has ruined our holidays or anything. The Turriff Show was warm and dry. I am glad it was just warm and not hot because I don't do hot. </p> <p>Our three chicks are growing fine. They are surprisingly large. I'm not laying bets if any or all of them are female because knowing my luck, they will all be boys. When they are grown and sexed the girls will move into my neighbours coop. I *so* don't need 7 hens! </p> <p>The kids go back to school a week on Tuesday, which is amazing to me. Five weeks have just flown by. No3Child starts P1, which means I shall be out of full-time-Mum-hood and into lazey-mare-hood. Actually, it really means I shall have loads of time to do the stuff I haven't been able to do when Rachel is here ~ polytunnel, weed killing, painting and decorating. She was at nursery for such a short amount of the day that by the time you got her settled, got back home, got sorted for doing what you planned, it was time to go get her again. </p> <p>Anyway, I'm just blethering, saying Hi, letting you all know I'm not dead yet <img src="/img/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":>>" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>I'll be back ... when I have something to say <img src="/img/smilies/graylaugh.gif" alt=":))" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/08/09/awol-6685311/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-08-03:/2009/08/03/poorly-6641293/PurpleDragon2009-08-03T12:07:23+02:002009-08-03T12:07:23+02:00 <p>Another one down with the nasty little cold that we've all had.</p> <p>The first day is horrible. They lay on the couch / in their beds, feeling horrid - lethargic, heavy, sniffy, a bit hot. When Mr Boy went down with it last week, I thought it was the swine flu, because he was such a heap, but he had no temperature, and the GP said he would have a high temp if it was that. The next day he was fine, apart from <em>incredibly</em> snotty. </p> <p>Well, little one is usually up and at 'em well before 8am most mornings, and she *never* sleeps in after I'm out of bed. This morning I had to go and get her up at almost 11am and she begged to be left in bed. SO I did. </p> <p>She came down about half an hour later and has been on the couch ever since. She's a bit spaced, but ate breakfast and is drinking some juice, but is very lethargic. </p> <p>Poor little tootie. </p> <p>In other news, I had my blood test this morning to see if I have that gene marker or not. I get the results in a week. Here's hoping for 'negative', eh? </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/08/03/poorly-6641293/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-08-02:/2009/08/02/teasing-6638159/PurpleDragon2009-08-02T21:05:54+02:002009-08-02T21:05:54+02:00 <p>As I mentioned before, we had kennels and a run built outside for the dogs. They are totally loving being outside all day, and so are we <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>They are outside from when I get up in the morning until I go to bed at night, and around the time I put the kids to bed (8-ish) the dogs really start kicking off, barking.</p> <p>Found out the other day what they are barking at. There are rabbits in the gorse hedge that surrounds our property, and they come out around twilight to nibble on the lush meadow grass of my front garden. They also hop up to the end of the run (about 4' away) and stare at the dogs. And the dogs go totally mental. </p> <p>They can't reach the rabbits, and the rabbits bloody know it. I have been trying to get a photo, but unfortunately they are a bit more flighty around me - I guess they know I'm not behind mesh and locks. <img src="/img/smilies/graylaugh.gif" alt=":))" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/08/02/teasing-6638159/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-07-26:/2009/07/26/eye-update-6592024/PurpleDragon2009-07-26T16:20:04+02:002009-07-26T16:20:04+02:00 <p>Well, on Friday we went back to the hospital, two months after my last appointment, to see how my eyes are progressing (or not).</p> <p>Apparently they are exactly the same as before. No improvement. No regression (which is good news!). Unfortunately, the diagnosis I have (multiple evanescent white dot syndrome) is expected to clear up within 6-8 weeks, and although it can recur, often doesn't. Also, it is a really rare condition, so they don't particularly know much about it. Apparently it was only recently 'discovered'. Also, I have it in both eyes, which is even more rare. </p> <p>So, the Prof has decided to test for another condition - birdshot chorioretinopathy - which presents much the same, but which has a less happy prognosis. With my current diagnosis, it will clear up 'eventually'. With the potential one, it can progress to 'complete loss of visual acuity'. I have to have a blood test to see if I have the marker - no marker leaves me with the original diagnosis. Marker is less happy news. </p> <p>Incidentally, these two conditions are both uveitis, and when I got the original (less specific) diagnosis back in May, I got major spooked by there being one type of uveitis which is an early symptom of MS. Naturally, I lost rather a LOT of sleep over that little snippet of information, so I checked with the Prof on Friday, and he said that <strong>neither</strong> of the potential diagnoses are MS-markers. Whew! </p> <p>So, get my bloods done, see if the marker is there, then go back in two months time. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/07/26/eye-update-6592024/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-07-23:/2009/07/23/united-breaks-guitars-6571270/PurpleDragon2009-07-23T09:14:34+02:002009-07-23T09:14:34+02:00 <p>This has been posted on YouTube by a bloke in a band who got his guitar broken by United Airlines in America. They refused to compensate him, or even take responsibility, even though a fellow passenger witnessed the throwing of the guitars, so he took a different path to make his point.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo</a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/07/23/united-breaks-guitars-6571270/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:purpledragon.blog.co.uk,2009-07-21:/2009/07/21/skegness-beach-6560539/PurpleDragon2009-07-21T15:08:58+02:002009-07-21T15:08:58+02:00 <p>One morning when we were in Skegness, we decided to take the kids to the beach.</p> <p>Armed with buckets and spades we trooped down to the water where the children proceeded to make sandcastles, dig holes, paddle in the waves and generally get sand in every crevice known to humankind. </p> <p>No3Child didn't want to get the hem of her dress wet (you try getting her in shorts or trousers) so we took her dress off and let her paddle in vest and pants. </p> <p>When we decided to move closer to the nicer sand, we lifted her dress to find it <em>crawling</em> with thousands of tiny sand-spiders. I'm surprised they didn't lift the dress and wander off with it, there were so many of them. When we looked, every light coloured piece of fabric - my top, No2Child's top, the aforementioned dress, were all hoaching with the damn things.</p> <p>Needless to say, we gave the dress a good shaking and repaired to the (indoor) pool.</p> <p>Never again. I shall walk the promenade, but I'm not going onto sand again. Yeuch. Shudder. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://purpledragon.blog.co.uk/2009/07/21/skegness-beach-6560539/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>