Archive for September, 2009
Posted by Shirley Anne on September 30, 2009
Today I went to a job some miles away and in a place I infrequently visit. It is a nice estate of houses less than ten years old and all privately owned. The couple in whose house I was working were telling me about the spate of vandalism they have been having. It appears that somebody has been throwing eggs at their house in the wee small hours when normal people are asleep. The guy is an ex-policeman who was forced to retire early because of a sustained injury. It appears that a certain family only a few yards away have recently been in trouble with the law and have taken revenge on their house. Very childish behaviour I must say and totally pointless. No doubt they will cease the anti-social behaviour when they realise this. In the meantime I suggested the couple rig a web-cam to their computer and catch them on record. Either that or wait up and catch them in the act. I wonder what makes some people tick. They seem to feel they have a right to misbehave with impunity. Perhaps an ‘asbo’ should be served upon them.
Shirley Anne
Posted in Crime | Tagged: Behaviour, Crime, People | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on September 29, 2009
In the news today there is talk about asbo’s (anti social behaviour orders) and their effectiveness in society. Recently a mother and her disabled daughter died in a car at the hands of the mother who had dowsed herself and her daughter in petrol before setting themselves alight. This was the sad ending of a mother and daughter who had been persecuted and tormented by a group of youths over a period of a couple of years. Police had been informed several times but little or no action was taken. There are calls for an inquiry on that score but today one of the parents of the young tormentors was asked whether he thought his son (and the others) should be brought to account over the affair! ‘That’s up to the authorities’, was his reply. What kind of a parent is that? What kind of society even has to think about doing something?
Again in the news a 14 year old girl has just died as a result of an anti-cervical cancer drug injection and two others are gravely ill. One woman (who might have been her mother) could not understand the need for these injections as she put it, ‘There are several other options for protecting against cervical cancer. It is alright for Governments to say everything is safe when promoting these kinds of (preventative) treatment but the fact is they are not’.
I ask myself do any of those in authority know what they are doing? This world has gone mad.
Shirley Anne
Posted in Behaviour, Government | Tagged: Behaviour, Government | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on September 28, 2009
I hate it when people write ‘u’ instead of ‘you’. I hate it when ‘I’ is replaced with an ‘i’ when it should be an ‘I’. I hate it when a heart replaces ‘love’ or an ’8′ replaces ‘ate’. I simply hate text language especially when it is in a letter or an Email. I have touched on this subject before some months ago. Why are people so lazy? Do I write like that? You will not find it written by my hand anywhere. In some of the replies to my posts I have made amendments to the grammar before I approve them but usually this is only spelling mistakes or slips at the keyboard. For instance someone will write ‘bookmrak’ instead of ‘bookmark’ so I correct it and I do the same if it is written in text language. Well it is my blog and I want to keep it tidy! I guess that makes me an editor! Don’t worry though, I make these amendments and keep them to myself so keep writing.
Shirley Anne x
Posted in Language | Tagged: Language | 2 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on September 28, 2009
Today I will submit my request to have my prescription for meds. re-issued. I do this every twelve weeks usually in the tenth week. This leaves me with a two week supply whilst waiting for my new prescription to be fulfilled. Normally this takes four days and my chemist (druggist, drugstore) collects the prescription from my doctor’s surgery after it has been approved and all I have to do then is collect it from them. The last time unfortunately another chemist had collected the prescription by mistake and nobody knew who had it. I don’t know why that should happen as I write my chemist’s name on mine. Anyway this meant a delay because my doctor had to re-issue the prescription. This time I took it to the chemist myself. That is why I submit two weeks before I need them. Now not having my meds. for a couple of days is not life threatening but I wonder how people who have to have their meds. without interruption manage when things go wrong. I will allow the system to run as it should this time and see what happens. Maybe lightning won’t strike twice in the same place? Mmmm……..I wonder.
Shirley Anne x
Posted in Health | Tagged: Health | 1 Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on September 27, 2009
At last, I got my lie in this morning! No interruptions, no phone calls, just me and my nice cosy bed. I had been awake since 5.30 though and was now nodding off every half hour or so and hating the thought of getting up. It was 11.30 before my feet finally touched the floor for the last time and stayed there! Missed breakfast but that was my intention. I planned to get some exercise on my treadmill and eating beforehand was out of the question so that’s what I did. One hour later with almost 400 calories burnt off I washed my hair then bathed. I much prefer bathing after exercise, it relaxes the muscles and is nicer anyway. Finally got dressed and went downstairs again for my ‘breakfast’, well lunch to be precise. I had prepared some salad yesterday, chopped onion, capsicum, cucumber, carrot, beetroot, small amount of cheese, tomato, sweetcorn and lettuce dressed in some oil, vinegar with a pinch of salt and black pepper. It has to be spooned onto the plate and goes great with chicken or other meats and fish. I always prepare a large bowl of this salad and leave it covered in the fridge. It lasts for two or three days. Today I had poached cod on a bed of lettuce leaves with the salad on the side. Very healthy meal without bundles of calories. I washed it all down with a glass of pure pineapple followed by a yoghurt. I feel so healthy and fit after all that. Running is a great exercise and dilates the blood vessels. You can still feel the sensation hours later. After lunch I went online and checked emails and other folk’s blogs then played some guitar for a while. Now I am back on my pc. An old Bond movie is on the tv in the background (mostly for company, I’m not really watching it). I have no further plans for today, no pub, no dining out, no meets with friends, just chilling out at home. Now all I need is for someone to call me to book a job for tomorrow! Ah such is life but I’m glad I got my lie in at last!
Shirley Anne
Posted in Activity, Exercise, Health | Tagged: Activity, Behaviour, Entertainment, Exercise, Health | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on September 26, 2009
So there I was enjoying my morning in bed and thinking, ‘At last, I don’t have to get up too early today’, when the phone rings. Typical. Turns out a lady living fifteeen miles away was having problems with her electrics. ‘Half of my power outlets aren’t working and my freezer is stocked with food’. ‘Can you help me’? ‘I will be there as soon as I can’, I replied. A nice lie in bed? Fat chance. I was there within the hour and discovered the fault lay with her kettle! I tested and reset the circuit and tested the kettle which is now redundant. With a little bit of thought she could have discovered that for herself. Anyhow it got me out of bed and paid for my meal out yesterday!
I had been putting off installing an extra power point in my bedroom for weeks now. I needed one for some dressing table lighting I want to fit to help me in applying my make-up now that the darker mornings are here and daylight isn’t available when I arise early during the week. So when I got home I set about installing one. Only took me an hour too! I really must stop procrastinating when I know a job needs doing. Now I am catching up on my blog, other people’s blogs and my emails after a light lunch. The rest of the day is mine now. Yes? Well I hope so.
Shirley Anne
Posted in Work | Tagged: Activity, Work | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on September 25, 2009
I thank you one all for your continued support of my blog. I have just returned from an afternoon at a local pub/restaurant (as many of them are now called). This particular one lies just on the north side of the town of Southport and is one that before today I had never visited. Oh yes, there are some even in my own town in which I have never been before. My ex. and I enjoyed a good meal and some good wine too, well I did anyway. She was driving! I like the occasional meal out especially if it means I can have a drink too! I wish I could treat you all to a great day out wining and dining and if I get the chance I will do just that! Bless you all and thanks for your support. Love
Shirley Anne x
Posted in Life | Tagged: Behaviour, Happiness, Life, People | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on September 25, 2009
Gosh I went to see Lauren today for some hair removal treatment but alas she didn’t turn up. I hope she’s alright. Sometimes she arrives a bit late but still in time but this morning I waited an extra ten minutes after her normal opening time and couldn’t wait longer because of work commitments. No problem, there’s always next week!
I was thinking about appointments in general and do they work? I think the worst offenders for keeping to an appointed time, or as close as is possible, are dentists. Whenever I have a dental appointment I most often find that I am being kept waiting up to an hour after the allotted time. Once or twice this has been even longer but is usually at least a half hour longer. I know it is difficult to keep to a tight schedule and maybe we need to be more patient. Personally I don’t mind too much and I simply wait patiently. There will always be a reason. I think it far worse that people don’t keep their appointments after asking for one. If there has been an emergency that’s acceptable but it should be relayed as a matter of courtesy. Any cancellations should be advised as soon as possible so that your allotted appointment can be given to someone else.
I have been let down only once or twice in the last twelve years when people have called me out to do some work and have not been there when I arrived. That is inexcusable.
At the end of the day we need appointments so that industry, commerce and the general happenings in everyday life can run smoothly. Make your appointments and then keep them.
Shirley Anne x
Posted in Life | Tagged: Behaviour, Life, People | 2 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on September 24, 2009
Since I started this blog early in the year I have seen much improvement in my writing and subject material. It is difficult to maintain a variety in subject matter even though I suppose I could write about almost anything. I feel however that I should have at least an interest in the posts I write rather than reaching out and selecting something more abstract. That’s not to say I won’t ever do that simply to inject some variety. My English has improved somewhat too. I have always had a keen interest in writing good English and this stems from my early experiences in writing formal letters to organisations. I would write something then analyse it’s grammatical correctness and rewrite it. Spelling was something I had excelled at but occasionally I would become unstuck, after all I cannot be expected to know every spelling. That’s what dictionaries are for. I find that the more I write the better I become. Naturally so. I am not dyslexic as some unfortunately are so I have no real excuse for not getting things right. I despair when I receive emails and see the appalling spelling errors they contain. It might be that the writer has difficulty but I suspect most are just lazy. It is even worse when they write in ‘text speak’ as people do on their mobile phones. I resist all temptations to do the same. I encourage the writing of proper English whenever I can and I expect the same from others.
The Blog itself is moving along nicely and I am getting many visitors to my site. It’s a shame most of them do not comment but I am happy that some do when they have the time. Thank you for that. Now I will have to think about my next subject………….
Shirley Anne
Posted in Language | Tagged: Language, People | 2 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on September 23, 2009
There have been developments in the area concerning whether people who assist their loved ones, that is accompany them to a foreign country where they can arrange their own death, will no longer be liable to prosecution here in the UK. Suicide still remains illegal in the UK. Personally I don’t agree with suicide and that is because of my religious beliefs. People will say, ‘Why shouldn’t anyone be allowed to commit suicide if they are suffering pain or severe disability from an incurable ailment’? I guess it is because the majority rule and whatever laws have been passed are there for the benefit of the majority. Do you consider this fair? Should we, as a country, give way to the desires of the minority when they conflict with those of the rest? It wasn’t that long ago that laws were passed to protect the rights of the transgendered amonst us and those who are ‘gay’. No doubt there are many other examples. Is suicide going too far?
Shirley Anne
Posted in Law, Politics | Tagged: Government, Law, Politics | 5 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on September 22, 2009
I was looking at ‘Picture for Today’ on the Astronomy link (to the left on this page) yesterday and it showed a remarkable picture of galaxies taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. Now there is nothing remarkable about pictures of galaxies, we have thousands upon thousands of them taken by cameras on terrestrial telescopes but it got me thinking. For most of my life I have been keenly interested in astronomy and have always been awed by the sheer and immense size of the universe. It is something that we, as human beings cannot really grasp. For instance take the size of our solar system. We are positioned in it at a distance of (on average) 93 million miles from it’s centre, the sun. How many of us can envisage even 1 million miles? The distance is huge, even light, travelling at 186,000 miles per second takes more than 8 minutes to reach us from the sun and we are close compared to the planet Pluto which is three and a half Billion miles away! Light from the sun takes hours (we might say light-hours away) to reach there and yet our island solar system is but very small in the scheme of things. The next nearest star is almost four and one third light YEARS away! The next nearest star is only one of hundreds of thousands of stars within our galaxy. The galaxy itself (we call it the Milky Way) is over a HUNDRED THOUSAND LIGHT YEARS IN DIAMETER. Mind boggling isn’t it? Now take that extra step and see that our galaxy is only one of probably millions of galaxies scattered around the visible universe. Their distances, even the closest are measured in millions of light years. The farthest that we can detect are billions upon billions of light years away! Do they still exsist? No doubt many of them do not. We are looking at them as they WERE billions of years ago. They may not be there any longer.
So I was looking at the picture and thinking about just one of those distant galaxies then the individual stars in it and maybe planets circling with life on them, intelligent life? Maybe. the thing is this, if there was life there it has probably all gone now. Here on our little ‘speck of dust’ we think we are something. We are but dust, mere dust in the whole scheme of things. All that we know, all that we are is but a passing second in the endless time of Space. We should be humble knowing that, we should be less arrogant and more loving toward each other. None of us is anything special above our neighbour, we are all in the same boat. Bears thinking about don’t you think?
Shirley Anne
Posted in Universe | Tagged: Aliens, People, Time | 4 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on September 21, 2009
Well back to work this morning (I didn’t win on the Lotto!). This particular house was situated very close to an intersection and this makes it difficult to reverse into their driveway because of the traffic. I arranged to be there for 9am so as to miss the rush-hour traffic and fortunately there was then little traffic to worry about. Not an easy job but it should have been, sometimes goes that way. Anyway it was approaching noon by the time I’d finished and as I had no other calls I went home. I put the van in the garage and went indoors. Ten minutes later I got a call. It never fails. Every time I put my vehicle away I seem to get another call. I wonder if there is a plan behind all this because it happens most of the time. I don’t mind of course, every little helps!
Later I returned home to have a belated lunch and was watching the television. I was about to eat when the phone rang. Never fails. It’s as though I am destined to be interrupted whenever I am doing something.
One of the worse things that happen to me is when I am in conversation with somebody and I get interrupted. I may have taken quite some time to get to talk with somebody and when the opportunity arises to do so their phone rings or somebody else gate-crashes the conversation. It almost never fails.
Is it just me that these things happen to or do other people have the same experiences too?
Shirley Anne
Posted in Life | Tagged: Behaviour, General Chat, Life, People | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on September 20, 2009
I just happened to be watching the X Factor this afternoon and heard some really good singers. However…………..there were also inevitably some sorry people auditioning. All I could do was laugh. Surely they know that they cannot sing? Yes? NO! It seems they do not. I cannot understand how some people have the guts to expose themselves on National Television when they must know how silly they sound. I like a good laugh of course but would rather listen to proper singers who have real talent. Leave the laughing for the comedians.
Shirley Anne x
Posted in People | Tagged: Behaviour, People | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on September 19, 2009
I was called to do a small job at 8.30 this morning and was back home by 9.15………Now I have the rest of the weekend to myself but what to do? That is the question. With me, this sort of thing creates a dilemma. I can never make up my mind what I want to do and yet there are probably many things I might like doing. Already I have browsed the blogs of other bloggers and made comments on some. I have played my guitar for an hour or so and no doubt I’ll have another session later. It is approaching lunchtime now and once that is out of the way who knows what I’ll do? I am the kind of person who likes to be doing something but I find it so easy to just sit on my butt sometimes which isn’t really a good thing if I want to remain healthy. Oh yes, there’s my treadmill but if I use that it will be later in the evening so that I can rest, shower and then go to bed. So what to do during my day? Maybe I need someone to keep me occupied….LOL…but I wonder what we’d be doing? Tehe…..Life is full of decisions isn’t it? Well I will do something, maybe, perhaps……..Make your weekend a nice one.
Shirley Anne x
Posted in Activity | Tagged: Activity, Behaviour, Hobbies | 2 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on September 18, 2009
I get aches and pains like anyone else and last night was no exception. I thought I might be coming down with a cold but this morning all it well and I feel just fine. Now that’s just fine for the physical aspect of my life but as for the spiritual aspect, well I have ups and downs there too. We all do. Today however I am feeling good in both departments. I cannot account for my physical well being considering I felt a little out of sorts last night but I can account for my spiritual well being. This time it is due to some of the nice people I meet in my life, specifically those I met last night. It is nice to know just how much I am loved by people who are really only aquaintances. Some people can be horrible and others can be quite the opposite. I am blessed with many more of the latter in my life. I do get strong feelings of self awareness concerning who I am which blesses me and makes me feel good. I also get strong feelings concerning my relationship with God which also makes me feel good. Yes, today I am feeling good and I thank those who have made it so.
Shirley Anne x
Posted in Happiness | Tagged: Happiness, Love | Leave a Comment »
