Archive for November, 2009
Posted by Shirley Anne on November 16, 2009
I have lots of things going for me in my life but I still feel trapped. I am in an awkward position in that I still live with my ex..We get on ok, that’s not the problem. The main problem is the house, it isn’t selling. Oh I could throw £20K or £30K at it and that would give it an edge. In fact I am sure it would sell soon after. The problem is my ex. is stubborn and won’t agree to go halves with me at the moment. She doesn’t need the cash up front but could pay her share after the house is sold and she is paid. She insists she needs what she would get to enable her to buy another house. She doesn’t realise that she needs to set her sights lower. I know I could force the issue in court and make her see reason but I am loathed to do that. I love her too much to hurt her. As a result I sometimes feel trapped. I could have retired by now and settled in an apartment which is my desire. In the meantime the house we have needs attention and guess who is expected to fix it? Something has got to happen soon before I am unable to do anything about it.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Life | Tagged: Life | 4 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on November 15, 2009
My whole life consists of work and the occasional dinners out with my ex.. Once in a while I’ll go to the pub but after that there is nothing. I suppose I am not the only person whose life follows a similar pattern. Life can be so very boring at times and I try to fill my days with things I like to do. My children are grown so that part of my life, that is their upbringing is well gone by. I do see them from time to time. So my days have to be filled in other ways. I have hobbies, playing the guitar, exercising on my treadmill, going for walks, writing emails and posts on my blog of course. I like to read but don’t do that as often as I perhaps should and the television is always there but that gets boring after a while. Life is what you make it and I try to make it as enjoyable as I can. I like being with people and socialising and do that whenever I can. Outside of all these things my life is a lonely road. I have no relationship with anyone and I miss that in my life but it isn’t something I worry about. If it happens then it happens. I am comforted by my faith. Many people have a faith of some sort and I wonder why they have these faiths and on what promises are they based. Now this blog is not intended as a platform to preach my faith or any other specific subject but now and then I will make mention of it depending on what I want to say. Today I was glancing through my UCB (United Christian Broadcasting) booklet called ‘The word for today’ and opened it’s page at 26th December. I read the message that is there for that day. Basically it talks about the different religions there are and what they advocate. Many believe that there are many ways to reach God or to reach the ‘next level’ making the assumption that there is a ‘next level’. It talks about Judaeism, Budhism, Hinduism, Islam and a few others and the different routes these religions accept as the way forward. Christianity however boasts but one way. Jesus said, ‘I am the way the truth and the life, nobody comes to the Father but by me’. Some claim! He died on our behalf that we might be saved. Saved from what you might ask? Saved from eternal damnation and punishment for our sinful lives. He paid the price that we should be paying and all he asks is that you believe that in your heart and confess it with your mouth. What could be simpler? Who though takes up his offer? People would rather believe in something else which has no promise and claim that their way to God is just as valid. Well unfortunately God doesn’t agree, Jesus is the only way. Not all roads lead to London, not all boats sail to Australia and not all airplanes fly to Moscow! There is only one way to God and I have just told you about it. Without this knowledge in my heart, without the love of Jesus, I am nothing and he gets me through each day. My lonely road is no longer so.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Religion | Tagged: Hobbies, Love, Religion | 3 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on November 14, 2009
I have been offended tonight by someone writing me an email explaining why my comment to her blog was not published. I have to say that it didn’t come as a surprise because of her attitude toward me in the recent past has been one of coldness. I tried my best with her but you can only do so much. She had referred her readers to a certain website in regard to the subject she was presenting which for obvious reasons I will not disclose here but I wrote in reply to that article my own views on the subject which she felt she couldn’t post. It is such a shame that she has chosen not to do that. If you post something which has to do with a sensitive subject then you have to respect other people’s views as long as those views are not slanderous, vehement or abusive. You can’t hold one sided debates though. I will not be visiting her site in future.
Readers of my blog will always be treated with respect when they make comment as long as they are respectful in those comments.
Shirley Anne
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Posted by Shirley Anne on November 14, 2009
Well to be exact, we did that yesterday but it wasn’t to watch horses racing around a real track. My ex. and I had spent the afternoon dining out of town and after a short spell back home we went to our local pub where they were holding a ‘Race Evening’. For those unfamiliar with this quaint pastime the idea is to place a small fixed wager of one pound on one of eight horses that are running in an old recording and whose real identities are hidden. The races themselves were recorded many years ago at different venues but the commentary had been over-dubbed with the horses and riders given a number from one to eight. A rider could also be ‘supported’ for an extra sum and a horse be ‘bought’ for an extra sum too. If you were the ‘owner’ of a horse or rider that won you got to win a prize. Last night this was a bottle of sparkling wine. If you had backed a winning horse the prize would be determined by the total amount gambled on the race and the odds given against that horse just like at a real race event. All extra monies became the property of the organiser which this time was ‘The British Heart Foundation’, a charitable organisation. My ex. only won the first race as the ‘owner’ of the winning horse didn’t she? She won another race later. I also won an ‘owner’s prize in a later race and in the last race I had a winning bet too. So we came away with two bottles of wine and a small cash prize each. It was all in fun and we probably spent more than we received back in kind but as it was for charity it was worthwhile. It was a shame though that the event wasn’t as greatly supported as it had been a year ago.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Charity | Tagged: Charity, Entertainment, Fun | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on November 13, 2009
I was browsing the statistics of my blog and noticed someone had visited the ‘My Faith’ page. I am so happy when people read that page because it is a witness for Jesus. It got me thinking and I read the page myself for yet another time. It helps to reflect on things I think, it helps you to stay focused and on the right path in life. I wrote a poem some time ago called reflections which describes what I was thinking at that time. Whenever I look back over the things I’ve done in the past I sometimes wonder why I’d done them but then I think maybe it was all supposed to be that way. Life is a learning curve that never ends until you take your last breath. If you’ve gotten things wrong by then it is all too late. A few years ago I worried some about many things but since I discovered Jesus and became a Christian I worry about nothing. I have a healthy respect and anxiety of course but I believe God will get me through my life and there is no need to worry. Here is that poem, you can also find it in my poems pages.
Reflections
I know not when the Sun will fade
Nor when the seas will dry,
Nor do I know why grass is green
And why so blue, the sky,
I know not where the birds all go
When daylight is all gone
And night brings forth her darkening shroud
Save for a shining Moon,
I cannot count the grains of sand
Which lie upon a shore,
And do I know the Universe
Will be forever more?
I cannot reason why there’s hate
Instead of love and peace,
Why suffering is someone’s lot
While others have a feast,
I can’t deny those things I feel
Nor what my eyes can see,
I know not why that you are you
And why that I am me,
I know that in the scheme of things
We are but very small,
And wonder often why it is
That we are here at all,
But after all is said and done
Regardless of my plight,
I’ll just forget my weaknesses
And get on with my life.
Copyright Shirley Anne 14 March 2003
So now I live my life without worrying too much about things I have no control over. Stay focused, there is no need to worry if God is on your side.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Religion | Tagged: Life, Poetry, Religion | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on November 12, 2009
I have spent most of my life without any real friends. When I was very young I did have a friend but when we moved house we lost contact. I would have been twelve at that time. Quite a few years later when I was about twenty that friend called to my new house and wanted to see me however, I did not wish to renew the friendship. I had become a very anti-social person by then and that continued until I was about twenty-five. I didn’t want friends, I really didn’t want anything and I guess I was just rebelling against society and the fact that I was also suffering from gender dysphoria, something which haunted me all my life until 2002 when I went through re-assignment surgery. My life had changed tremendously when I became a Christian and I realised how precious life is. I love people, I wanted them to know what I knew and had experienced. I still do. The thing is I became very open to friendship and will make friends now very easily. Since my transition too I have become a much more settled and loving person. I first found love when I met my marriage partner and I still love her though we are now divorced. Then along came Jesus into my life and I learned the true meaning of love. Even though I am open to friendship and am very generous to those whom I make my friends, I seldom find people willing to be a real friend to me. There are but a couple of people in my life whom I would call my real friends and they know who they are. One of those friends is going through a bad patch just now and is finding it hard to cope financially. If that person is reading this I do wish my offer to help is accepted, for with me there are no strings when someone is in need and especially if that person is my friend.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Friendship | Tagged: Friendship, Love, Relationship | 2 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on November 11, 2009
……..And here’s me thinking I’d have the afternoon free! Fat chance of that. I received a call from a young woman who told me her neighbour had lost her electrical power supply. The young woman had tried to re-instate the supply but the reset switch wouldn’t work. I agreed to call and see what the problem was thinking it would be a simple affair. On arrival I discovered that the reset switch was faulty. This switch is what most people call a ‘trip switch’ and is actually an RCD, a safety switch to prevent electric shock and possibly death to someone who accidentally comes into contact with mains power. It does ‘trip’ when activated. The problem was that it could not be repaired or changed because this type of switch is now obsolete. It would necessitate the whole distribution board being replaced. There was no time to do that today so I had to effect a temporary repair which by-passed the switch. However the fault had also caused the electricity supplier’s main switch to fuse solid and the main fuse blowing too. I repaired the fuse and arranged for the supply company to replace the switch on Friday. Meanwhile I will return tomorrow and install a replacement distribution board. Quite a costly affair for the old lady but fortunately her son is paying. I get to do some work for him too next week. Can’t be bad. So off I went to the wholesaler to get the materials for tomorrow and I get another call from a woman desperate to have her bathroom lighting sorted. Evidentally she’d changed a switch herself and made a mess of it. So before I went home I called in and sorted it out for her. This is often how my days go but it does make them interesting…………
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Work | Tagged: Work | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on November 11, 2009
Today I am having an enforced quiet day at home. I have no work scheduled but that isn’t by choice, however I will make the most of the opportunity to simply relax. Well that is the plan. Mind you I tackled a job I have been constantly avoiding over the last couple of months and got it out of the way this morning. ‘What was it’, I hear you say? I washed my vehicle! It is the most boring of things to do and I never relish the idea of doing it. So rather than take it to a hand wash station (it won’t go through an auto car/van wash because of the roof rack) I decided to do the job myself. Oh, it isn’t difficult, just a boring task. I must say though it now looks more like a professional person’s transport than a garbage removal truck! I’m surprised the dirt that was removed hasn’t blocked the drains…LOL. Well thats a job I won’t need to repeat for a while. Thank goodness she says. So now then, what do I do for the remainder of the day? I’ll think of something I’m sure. Enjoy your day as I will mine.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Activity | Tagged: Activity, Motoring | 2 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on November 10, 2009
It’s great to be alive…………. today I worked about three or four hours or so, earned some cash and almost blew it all on a great afternoon. I took my ex. out for a meal and then onwards to my local pub for some drinks, darts and pool. I got beat at the darts but held my own at pool. The point is we had a great time. It is certainly great to be alive isn’t it? If you don’t agree then something is surely wrong. I had a really pleasant job this morning and was feeling on top of the world so when I got home I asked my ex. if she’d like to dine out. She seldom says no so off we went. Rather than going too far out of town she elected to go somewhere more local, to a place we hadn’t visited for a while. I always leave the venue for her to decide. I was glad she selected the place for it turned out to be a really nice meal all round. Being in a generous mood I asked if she needed fuel for her car because she never complains about the cost when driving me about. She said she was ok for fuel but that she had a quarter tank full. ‘Come on,’ I said, ‘Let’s go fill your tank’. So after the meal we drove to a filling station and filled up her car. I then said, ‘It comes at a price’. She wondered what I meant and I continued, ‘You’ve got to come with me to the pub and we’ll have a game of darts or two’. She gladly accepted. She doesn’t get out much unless I persuade her so I was happy she decided to come out with me. It feels so nice to be alive and to treat my ex. whenever I can.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Love | Tagged: Drink, Food, Friendship, Happiness, Love, Relationship | 2 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on November 9, 2009
I have been from pillar to post today because people don’t think to get organised. I went to do a job in a certain district north of where I live and completed it satisfactorily. I then went across town to another pre-arranged job which I also completed satisfactorily. Whilst there at the second job I received a request to visit another house and assess a job. The problem was I had just left that same area an hour earlier. If the client knew he wanted the job doing wouldn’t you think he would call in the evening or early in the morning so that I, or whomever he called could schedule our day to accomodate him? Ok, so I went along and assessed the job and am going to do it next week. On the way there I received another call from a guy wanting a job doing as soon as possible. I explained that I was on my way to a job to assess it’s requirements but that I would then visit him after doing so. ‘Where are you’? I asked. He told me and wouldn’t you know it? His house was not far from where I’d just been! Typical. It is frustrating sometimes when I do a job say 15 miles away and arrive back home because I have nothing else scheduled for the day only to be called by somebody living in the same area that I’d just left! It’s not as if they don’t know whether they want the job doing, they do but it would seem logical, to me anyway, that it makes sense to telephone me before the day starts as quite often I am in the same area as the caller. Oh it’s fun being self employed.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Work | Tagged: People, Work | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on November 8, 2009
If we’ve any sense at all we watch what we eat and try not to put in more calories than we take out. Ideally the two should be the same but how often do we indulge in that extra snack, drink or treat? Life would be so boring if we took things too seriously but some people do go to extremes making sure their intake of calories never goes above their set limit. I am aware of my own needs and I take a casual approach to my calorie intake. I think most people know when they’ve eaten too much or know when to stop. This morning I burned off approximately 460 calories on the treadmill which represents an average meal. I will still need to eat my usual amount for the day although after this morning’s exercise I am mostly sitting down now! My metabolism has been raised, if temporarily, so I will be burning calories more quickly for a couple of hours after my exercising. So I am enjoying a couple of drinks and relaxing. Tomorrow I will be active at work and will be burning calories accordingly. All in all I am keeping my weight stable. My advice to anyone is not to be stupid and over indulge too much and to take regular exercise to burn off those extra calories that you might have consumed. Have fun and be happy! For healthy food information see my links or pages on the left.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Health | Tagged: Activity, Exercise, Health | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on November 7, 2009
Bring out the cider, bring out the cider, for tonight we’ll merry be……….and so the song(s) go. I love cider, it is one of my favourite drinks and has the capability of having as many varieties as wine. The drink can be sweet, dry, bitter and be distinctively different depending on the varieties of apples used to make it. I like mine to be less sweet, more sharp and tasting less of apple than some do. I bought a bottle of cider a day or two ago and I am going to open it this afternoon. It is a simple commercial product and will not taste anything like that brewed in the southwest of our fair land. Cider made in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall are the most flavoursome and strong ciders ever to be made. ‘Scrumpy’ is the term most used to name these brews and it is indeed extremely strong. Traditionally here in the UK if one visits the southwest and asks for a pint of the local brew you may be offered but a half pint for your own good. Those not used to drinking the stuff might find themselves admiring the ceiling sooner than they might have expected. So I’ll be content with the less strong commercial liquid until I can visit down south and bring some real stuff home. Cheers everyone! Now bring out the cider and let’s be merry…….
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Drink, Leisure | Tagged: Drink, Leisure | 4 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on November 6, 2009
I am sitting here writing this and there are explosions going on outside. It is that time of year here in the UK. We are a strange lot over here (stop laughing), we celebrate the attempted blowing up of our Parliament building some 400 years ago by setting off fireworks and lighting bonfires. The plot itself was organised by a group of men in order to kill the King and members of Parliament because of the oppression of Catholics at that time. I personally cannot see the reason why the tradition still persists and to be honest it becomes a nuisance when the celebrations go on sometimes for days.
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Government, History | Tagged: Government, History | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on November 5, 2009
On my way back home today I stopped by a pub and had lunch. During the meal I got to thinking about some soft drinks I kept promising to buy for myself. So, after leaving the pub I drove around the corner to a mini-mart and went inside and collected the drinks. At the check-out there was an old guy deep in conversation with the check-out girl. They were talking about the unnecessary food consumption that goes on at Christmas time. I waited patiently and tried not to seem too eager to pay for my drinks for I was interested in the conversation. The girl was saying that she and her family were going to spend less on food this year than they normally do. The old guy was talking about ‘tradition’. When they glanced in my direction I popped in with, ‘I have beans on toast for my Christmas dinner’. I didn’t think they believed me but I reitterated and the girl replied ‘Well it is silly spending too much on food because it is Christmas’. It seems to me that today, because of ‘tradition’, people do spend unnecessarily large amounts on food. The way I see it you can only eat so much in any one day and normally you would eat the same amount no matter which day it was. However, because you’ve bought more ‘delicacies’ you indulge more with the subsequent consequences. I piped in again, ‘People don’t celebrate Christmas for the right reason anymore’, to which they replied, ‘No they don’t’. Christmas isn’t about stuffing as much food and drink inside you at all but it appears that it has become that way for the majority. What a shame that they misunderstand the true meaning and reason for the Chistmas celebration. The old guy finished by saying, ‘People should give food to the starving and poor instead’. Now there’s a thought eh?
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Celebration, Religion | Tagged: Celebration, Food, Religion | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on November 4, 2009
I was just looking at a program about children’s ambitions. Do you remember the ambitions you had when young? Did you have any at all? Many of us would admit to having ambitions in our past but how many of us have fulfilled any of them? The only main ambition I ever had was to transition and be able to live as the woman I always knew I was. If I had any other ambitions they were transient even if they were realised. I cannot think of any major ambition other than that which I have stated, that I might have had. Every day brought something new into my life and I suppose my course in life has adjusted accordingly. Situations encourage change and we can be sent off course quite easily. It takes dogged determination to fulfill a lifetime ambition sometimes for many things can get in the way. I can say that there have been many ‘new horizons’ in my life but eventually I reached my goal. Have you reached your’s yet or is it still an ambition?
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Ambition | Tagged: Ambition | Leave a Comment »
