Archive for March, 2010
Posted by Shirley Anne on March 31, 2010
Yesterday I completed a fairly difficult job. I was paid according to the agreed price. Originally, last week, after discussions with the client, I submitted a rough verbal estimate for the work to be done and they agreed on the price. later that day I telephoned the client and informed him that I had forgotten to take into account a certain aspect of the job when I gave him the estimate. I gave him the revised figure and he was happy with that and asked if I could start the work the following day which would enable his carpenter to complete his task. I was then to return to complete my work yesterday, which I did. The client was to purchase two light fittings for the job, aside from my estimate. All the work was completed but whilst I was there, an electrician from the electrical supply authority came to change a faulty meter. He informed me that the installation was not earthed. He meant that there was none supplied by the supply authority. He also reported that the client’s supply unit should be fitted with a safety switch (called a trip-switch, actually an RCD). Giving this advice is normal procedure for anyone involved in carrying out electrical work at premises that may require upgrading. I told the client that I would check his earthing status and inform him of the results. This I did and found that an earth did exist which electrically wasn’t as good as it should be but not as bad as it could be. I informed him that sinking an earth rod or two may solve that problem but in the meantime he should consider having the RCD unit to replace his existing unit for safety reasons. Whilst checking the earthing system I discovered that many of his power sockets in the kitchen were not earthed. This was something that he should have resolved immediately and I informed him of that. He paid me for the work I had done and said he would be in touch at a later date. It’s all about money of course!
Later in the evening his partner called me at home and asked why I had charged his partner the amount I had done. Yes, they were two guys living together. I told him that the price was the same that he and I had agreed and in fact was slightly lower than what it should have been. He moaned about having to pay for the two light fittings which cost him £22. He wanted a written guarantee for the work I had done; this is something I never refuse if asked but I would still honour any guarantee even if not asked and I told him so. He relented and said ok. I explained that he had agreed to buy the lights, which I said I could do for him if he wanted me to so they were not part of the estimate I gave him. Given that I had spent about nine and a half hours over two visits to the job and buying in materials plus checking his earthing system, I don’t consider my payment too much. In real terms it is probably a little under what I would normally charge so I was a little annoyed at his attitude. I assured him that I will honour the twelve month guarantee I give should anything go wrong but other than that I want no further contact with him. He can employ somebody else to do his electrical work!
Over the twelve years I have been self-employed I have had but three dissatisfied customers. It seems you cannot please everybody no matter how hard you try.
Shirley Anne
Posted in Work | Tagged: People, Work | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on March 30, 2010
Another busy day at the office leaves me too tired to do much in the way of a post today so I’ll leave you with this one:-
I was thinking about some of the silly things people say and was reminded of these:-
‘I’m going to the doctor with my leg’……. Bit difficult to go without it I would imagine.
‘Isn’t the sun hot today’? …………Well yes, of course it is.
‘I am going to boil the kettle’…………what about the water inside it?
‘I’m boiling an egg’……Is that with or without the water?
‘Go to work on an egg’……….yeah, sure!
‘There will be a stiff breeze blowing today’…….Have you ever seen air that is stiff?
‘The hot water’s cold!…………… Enough said.
‘I’m over the Moon’………… Really?
‘Pigs might fly’…………. Pigeons are bad enough thanks.
‘Throw some light on the subject’……. That could be difficult.
‘I got plastered last night’……….Is that why you are so stiff now?
‘My feet are worn out’……….Off to get a new pair then?
‘The pain is killing me’!………..Take a pain killer then, or die.
There must be plenty more of these around………….
Shirley Anne xxx
Posted in Language, Uncategorized | Tagged: Language | 2 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on March 29, 2010
So far this blog has been protected by ‘Akismet’ technology from 18,924 incidences of spam. I cannot see why people generate spam. I cannot see what they expect as a reaction. Most of the spam comments are sent from sites under the guise of a ‘normal’ individual but in fact they are peddling pornographic material or promoting some service they provide. Can’t they see that their efforts simply get trashed? Although this is done automatically I prefer to manually remove all such unwarranted messages as they are revealed. The same thing applies in my email accounts but in those messages there is potentially a greater risk if they are opened and especially if the links they contain are opened. There is no way in this world that I would do that of course and any sensible person will agree but some people are more vulnerable and are easy prey to these vicious and nasty scams. The world is full of evil and people wanting to do evil things and we must be watchful else we may fall foul of the spam and scams surrounding us.
Shirley Anne
Posted in Behaviour | Tagged: Computer, Temptation | 5 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on March 28, 2010
Today I am feeling much better after a couple of days being poorly. I am not quite there yet but things have improved much. I am going to have a lazy day today, taking things easy, no treadmill exercising, no going out for walks, in fact simply being a couch potato! Now this isn’t me at all because I prefer to be active but rather than make things worse or prolong my healing I think being a couch potato for a day is worth it! It is a lovely sunny day too, one in which I would normally like to be outside. Tomorrow however rain is forecast and wouldn’t you know it, I am scheduled to do some work out-of-doors! Typical. Oh well things are improving all round so why moan?
Shirley Anne
Posted in General Chat | Tagged: General Chat, Health | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on March 27, 2010
This week has been a quite unusual one. I have not done a great amount of work but I have earned enough and also have work scheduled for the next week or so. Today I installed wiring in an outbuilding for a guy who breeds guinea-pigs for a living. They are thoroughbred animals according to him and they sell around the world. Strange occupation I thought but hey, what’s it got to do with me? The wiring needed to be in place so his carpenter can line the walls and ceiling with insulation and plywood covering. I return later to ‘second fix’ as we say in the trade. There are other things to do as well like running a supply out there but I digress. This meant I got the necessary work done in an hour. I then visited the Wholesaler to buy some materials and as I was about to return home, for I had no other work to do, a guy called me to another small job 12 miles away. I got that done and returned home. I phoned ahead to E that we might go out for lunch. Where have you heard that one before? So that’s what we did. I was a good girl today and touched no alcohol. In the place we went to they have a free running soft-drink machine, newly installed so that you can help yourself as much as you desire, providing you pay for the first one. That cost a mere £2.09. Don’t ask why the nine pence. Most people only have a small top-up and they probably find they cannot drink too many carbonated drinks anyhow. We enjoyed the meal and I asked E if she would drop by a super-market so I could stock up on wine and colas.
Whilst we were waiting in the bar area to be seated (the restaurant was full so we decided to wait a while). We talked and E was complaining about her back pain. It appears that on her last visit to the doctor, which was some time ago now, she was informed that she had been born with a birth defect. Now I have known E for 38 years and apart from usual illnesses she has enjoyed good health so I was a little shocked at what she told me and I wondered why she hadn’t confided in me sooner. The doctor tells her that she has spina bifida. I held her hand and said, ‘You know you can rely on my support and help if and when things get worse’? She looked straight into my eyes and whispered, ‘Yes, I know’. I could see more than just her eyes. I think you understand. We talked a little about it and I asked if she’d spoken with anyone else. She didn’t wish to tell her elderly mum for fear of her worrying but she did tell her younger brother who lives with her mum. I asked if she had done or intended to mention it to our sons. Again she said she hadn’t for similar reasons. She is frightened that perhaps the gene has been passed on to them. I have assured her that I will look after her.
When we arrived home I had to dash to the toilet and I left the drinks in the car but when I returned to collect them she had already brought them inside. I felt a little pain in my stomach which gradually got worse during the evening. It was a combination of trapped wind and perhaps a tummy bug (hence the toilet!). Later I began to ache all over my torso, especially my arms. I have a headache right now and all I really want to do is retire to bed with some medication. I may have a mild attack of ‘flu or a nasty cold virus. In any event I feel lousy. I hope I am feeling better when I post this in the morning, Saturday. Have a nice weekend everyone!
Now it is Saturday and I am not well at all. If I was an alocholic (LOL) I could explain the delerium tremors I am experiencing but I know it’s the’flu!. Honest. I have just spent three hours trying to get online after my computer decided to go walkabout. With an engineer on the phone we sorted out the problem. I can annoy you all again…LOL
Shirley Anne
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Posted in Health | Tagged: Health, Relationship | 6 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on March 26, 2010
So now it is Spring! When I was young I remember travelling down by steam train to Edgebaston, Birmingham to visit my grandmother with my mother. It was late November, just after my birthday (21 Nov) and the snow was quite deep everywhere. Yes, November. In later years I noticed the snow didn’t arrive until December but there was nearly always snow at Christmas. Later again it gradually stopped snowing at Christmas and we only saw snow in January and February and in some places March too, early March that is. Over the last few years, where I live at least, we have had very little snow over the whole of Winter. Winter is slowly getting milder but so is Summer. I have winter coats that I hardly ever wear now. It may be the effect of global warming, whether that is a natural cycle or aided by mankind. In years to come we might see a reversal. Astronomically speaking of course there is a gradual shift of the seasons caused by what is known as the ‘Precession of the Equinoxes’. We know the equinoxes fall on or around 21 March (Spring) and 23 September (Autumn). Although the precession (or gradual shifting) of the equinoxes is forward, that is they are happening later in the year, the drift is extremely slow and will take many thousands of years before they become appreciably noticeable. We also have a ‘wobbling’ Earth, like a spinning top that is beginning to slow down and this has the effect on the Earth’s axial tilt. At present the axis is orientated so that the north is almost exactly pointed to Polaris, the ‘Pole Star’. In many years to come it will be pointing elsewhere and this will have an effect on the seasons. Although these changes are happening, along with others, we have no need to worry because the changes are extremely slow. Without the seasons life on Earth would be very different from what it is now and possibly human life would be in danger of extinction, if we ever reach that point. So don’t complain because the weather is cold or wet and isn’t dry and sunny all the time, we need the seasonal changes.
Shirley Anne
Posted in Astronomy, Nature | Tagged: Nature | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on March 25, 2010
I was listening to the evening news on TV last night. I heard that a young boy, who was having an asthma attack was told to leave his classroom and sit in the corridor outside. Nobody thought that he might be suffering and accordingly did nothing about it. What on earth were they thinking? How irresponsible is that kind of behaviour especially as the boy died from his affliction. The gate has been closed but the horse has already bolted! I am ashamed to think that supposedly responsible adults have allowed this unfortunate thing to happen. What were they thinking? My thoughts and prayers are with his bereaved parents. I am lost for words.
Shirley Anne
Posted in Behaviour | Tagged: Behaviour | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on March 24, 2010
Many of you will probably not remember a song performed by Ringo Star when he was a member with The Beatles. It was called, ‘What goes on in your heart’? This morning as I awoke and still in that dreamy state in between sleep and consciousness this question, as well as the song, popped into my head. I was asking myself what goes on in my heart. Recently I have begun to read about many things concerning my faith. I have been reading what is written on one of the website links I have on my front page. The link is to Midnight Ministries. The information there is extremely challenging for the Christian reader and for anyone else who has an open and inquisitive mind. I don’t wish to write in detail here suffice to say what I have read I believe to be true and it certainly has made me look at my own heart. I got to thinking about other people and what goes on in their hearts. I wonder what thoughts people have about life and death, what they believe in their own hearts but more specifically, why? One of the things that Midnight Ministries challenge is that of ‘tradition’, why people follow after doing things or believing in things because of traditional influence. Many of us follow tradition sometimes without realising and we don’t challenge for many reasons. Over the last few years I have challenged why we do things in my own heart and have subsequently altered my activities accordingly. I am doing the same now in regard to my Christian teaching. One of the main reasons I left the (specific) Methodist church I attended and moved to a Pentecostal one was because of the ‘pomp and ceremony’. I have since left the Pentecostal church too but now I realise how both of them are sadly out of tune with what is written in Scripture. The teachings are leading people away from God instead of drawing them closer but the people are blind to it. This is tradition at work in the Church but it equally applies elsewhere in our lives. What goes on in your heart? Why do you do the things you do? What is the reasoning behind your thoughts and attitudes to life (and death)? I know that what I have written here will fall on many deaf ears but I hope people will read and be open-minded to hear what I am saying.
Shirley Anne
Posted in Philosophy, Religion | Tagged: Life, Philosophy, Religion | 2 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on March 23, 2010
Well I am wondering what today holds for me. Nothing is planned except one small job this morning. Yesterday I visited my doctor’s surgery to sort out the mess they caused issuing my repeat prescription last week. I was there before the surgery opened to make sure I didn’t have to wait in a queue, I had work scheduled for the day. As it happened I finished around 3 o’clock and returned there to see what they’d done. It transpires that they have forwarded my request to the chemist (drug store) so all I need to do is collect. I may not do that today in case one day isn’t enough time for them to fulfil my prescription. When I was there, at the chemist, last Friday, the guy said he hadn’t any of the hormones I needed anyway had they got my request. So that will leave most of my day free,…………unless…
Shirley Anne
Posted in General Chat | Tagged: General Chat | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Shirley Anne on March 23, 2010
When I was young I got the chance to ride on an elephant. What an experience! The animal carried six of us, three each side and I suppose he couldn’t have even felt the weight! Well we were quite small. Since those days I have ridden on the backs of horses and camels. Did you ever ride a camel? I felt very insecure on a camel. They have an unusual gait and I got the feeling that I was going to end up on the ground in front of the one I was riding. It was a Bactrian camel, that is one humped. I am not sure whether the Dromedary or two humped camel would have been an easier ride. In fact I am not sure if you can ride on them. Of course I have been on a donkey too but only when very young. Has anyone ridden on any other animal? I would be interested to know.
Shirley Anne
Posted in General Chat | Tagged: General Chat | 4 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on March 22, 2010
What is it with soap operas? They are addictive to many people who watch them. My ex. watches East Enders, The Bill, Holby City and Neighbours and woe-betide anyone who interrupts her sessions at the box! These programs are akin to the virtual worlds you can lose yourself in on your computer. They are a form of escapism I think, a fantasy world we can escape to from the real one in which we live. To me that speaks volumes. Why would anyone want to escape from their own lives? You may say there are many potential reasons but I say it is a sign of weakness. We should be able to face life’s problems because after all they won’t go away! I admit to watching the occasional ‘soap’ but mainly because it is already being watched by E. Whereas I am not a fan and couldn’t care less if I miss the next episode, she on the other hand is an avid viewer! I always maintain that people who watch too much television or play too much on the computer need to get a life! What can I say?
Shirley Anne
Posted in Behaviour | Tagged: Behaviour, Entertainment, People | 4 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on March 21, 2010
Do you like cooking or are you the type of person who favours the microwave oven instant meals? I like to cook but I am no haute cuisine chef that’s for sure! I simply enjoy cooking meals. I have been watching the Master Chef programs on tv and I am always fascinated by them. Some of the contestants produce very good dishes. Sadly many do not. All the contestants aspire to do great things with their skills but unfortunately not all of them are skilful enough. I have never considered myself to be anything but an average home cook and I generally stick to basics although I do like to experiment with food. I will often try tasting two things together before I mix them in a complete meal. I do similar things with drinks. Many things compliment each other and many do not so it is best to try things first. Better than throwing away food that has become inedible through the mixing of mis-matched ingredients! Too many recipes are complicated and unnecessary I feel. Simple cuisine is often nicer to eat anyway. You may spend hours preparing food that is then consumed in a few minutes and forget the flavours that you strived to achieve. Often I find the simplest of flavours linger on the palette. Too many flavours can cancel one another. Whatever I do in the kitchen though, I enjoy. It is a relaxing pastime for me. Is it the same for you?
Shirley Anne
Posted in Food | Tagged: Activity, Food, Hobbies | 8 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on March 20, 2010
I finally sorted out the problem with my computer’s sound. I could playback stuff on Media Player but couldn’t listen to anything else on the Internet for instance. This meant I couldn’t hear Nicky’s music, or anyone else’s! I couldn’t watch tv, that is listen to it online or listen to radio or other things. Such a pain and all it turned out to be was a simple software adjustment! Typical.
Shirley Anne
Posted in Information | Comments Off
Posted by Shirley Anne on March 20, 2010
As a parent I have learned to expect demands upon my skills and my time. As somebody who was married for thirty years I was expected to pull my weight in the relationship and it was a responsibility I did not shun. Now that I am no longer married and my children have grown my responsibilities are fewer but I am still expected to do certain things. Sometimes the demands on my skills or my time can be tiring. I don’t mind so much helping out when I can and doing my bit as it were for I do it in love. I may have a little moan but I fall in line and get on with it. If I am honest I have to follow my beliefs and not complain because that is expected of me as a Christian. The problem is though I am also a human being, prone to moan sometimes. I relent, repent and just do it! It’s an attitude of mind as I have said before. Half the battle is won with the right attitude in place. This is a demand on my faith and one that I cannot ignore. My time isn’t really my own and what skills I have been given are to be used for the good of others. Demanding times require the right attitude. Anything else is selfishness.
Shirley Anne
Posted in Philosophy | Tagged: Philosophy | 3 Comments »
Posted by Shirley Anne on March 20, 2010
We had the annual ‘Sport Relief’ event on television last night. It ran for three hours during prime-time viewing. It is an event akin to ‘Comic Relief’ which takes place later in the year. Basically it is about raising money for deserving causes both at home and abroad and focuses mainly on the needs of children. This is a good thing of course and I would be the last one to criticise such a cause. However, the event is all about ‘celebrities’ doing weird or unusual sporty things to prompt our giving.
I read in Scripture that our good deeds should be done in secret. Our Father will see this and our reward will be in Heaven. Those who proclaim their achievements here on earth will receive their reward here on earth that is praise from men.
So do your good works but keep them to yourself. I wonder though just how many people would simply give a donation to a cause without all the hullabaloo that is associated with it? Just thinking.
Shirley Anne
Posted in Religion | Tagged: Behaviour, People, Philosophy, Religion | Leave a Comment »
