Wednesday, March 31, 2004

Quiz answers
Two days late, sorry

1. The big dump truck
2. Kevin Donahue
3. Buzzstuff
4. Working Mom
5. My boyfriend is a twat
6. Lollipop life story
7. Windspirit
8. Naked blog
9. Cassie-b
10. Nothing but love back from the edge
11. Isaac stolzfut’s journal
12. Busy baby

How many did you know?
Coming up
In May I could have 9 days of supervising exams at Sup de Co. Good news as my lessons start to dry up. On Monday I spoke to Lionel and he thinks there might be some more lessons during the holidays, like last time; 3 hours every morning.

June looks as if it could be dead. Perhaps I'll paint the hall AT LONG LAST!
Something about something Diane Keaton said
She said that she once saw a show called Extreme Makeover and there was a little boy who was confused and upset when he saw his 'new' Mother. It reminded me of a conversation Olivier and I had about remembering people's faces. It was half way through the holidays and Olivier said he couldn't remember what his best friend looked like. I told him that if I died he mustn't get upset if he can't remember what I looked like. People we are close to are made up of voice, smell, touch, their personality.... What they look like comes pretty low down on the list
Cucumber can be a problem
Especially if you happen to be a dwarf hamster. Jupiter has to sort of stand on top of a slice and hold it down to eat. A slice of cucumber is half as big as she is and she loves it.
Alistair Cooke
He died yesterday aged 95. as I said on March 6th, I've been listening to his broadcasts nearly all of my life. He will be missed by listeners all over the world.

Tuesday, March 30, 2004

Finished
watching the first part of the Lord of the Rings trilogy on DVD. It was interesting to see how the costumes were made, the problems with making every one different sizes. I was sure Tolkien had been to the same school as my Uncle, the photo in his biography part confirmed it. I read that they are going to start making 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in New Zealand. Written by C.S. Lewis, he was an old boy of Rob's school. Am I well connected, or not?
Some idiot
hit our car in the car park on Sunday while Rob was a work. Fortunately a witness left the registration number etc. We went to see our garage friend and he told us, for the insurance, he would have to replace the bumper, front wing and lights. For us he would just need to replace the indicator light cover. That's what we're doing. The car's twelve years old. Not really worth making a fuss about.

I came home in daylight yesterday. It seemed so early. Still falling asleep by nine thirty, my body isn't fooled by a mere time change.

Monday, March 29, 2004

Unconscious Mutterings

  1. Pitbull:: Dog
  2. TD:: Technical drawing
  3. Carter:: House
  4. Japan:: Manga
  5. 50:: Half
  6. Streak:: Haché
  7. Rifle:: Gun
  8. Trap:: Door
  9. Easter:: Bunny
  10. Mitt:: Mitten

Sunday, March 28, 2004

Problems, problems
My Blogshares went up by B$2 million overnight to B$8 million. I immediately searched for the shares that had gone up out of proportion and sold parts of them off. This triggered another increase in some, so now I have B$9 million to play with!

Blogshares is much more zippy now and you can easily see your shares, so if you haven't played for a while go take a look, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Rob wonders why I can't be so clever in real life......
Chinese Blogs are back
See Jess and Glutter
Round two
Voted early this morning as Rob is working today. We walked down to the gymnasium, it was a beautiful, frosty morning and a big red sun was on the horizon. Getting up wasn't too bad considering everything was an hour earlier than usual. Tomorrow will be difficult.

Saturday, March 27, 2004

I'm going through changes
I've changed the top line a bit. Have you noticed the quotes at the bottom of the side bar? I'm not so sure about some of them, what do you think?

Friday, March 26, 2004

Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)
D. McClean

Starry, starry night
Paint your palette blue and gray
Look out on a summer's day
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul
Shadows on the hills
Sketch the trees and the daffodils
Catch the breeze and the winter chills
In colors on the snowy linen land

Now I understand
What you tried to say to me
How you suffered for your sanity
How you tried to set them free
They would not listen they did not how
Perhaps they'll listen now

Starry, starry night
Flaming flowers that brightly blaze
Swirling clouds in violet haze
Reflect in Vincent's eyes of china blue
Colors changing hue
Morning fields of amber grain
Weathered faces lined in pain
Are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand

For they could not love you
But still your love was true
And when no hope was left inside
On that starry, starry night
You took your life as lovers often do
But I could have told you Vincent
This world was never meant for one as
beautiful as you

Starry, starry night
Portraits hung in empty halls
Frameless heads on nameless walls
With eyes that watch the world and can't forget
Like the strangers that you've met
The ragged men in ragged clothes
The silver thorn of bloody rose
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow

Now I think I know
What you tried to say to me
How you suffered for your sanity
How you tried to set them free
They did not listen they're not listening still
Perhaps they never will

Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) Dutch Painter

I can't resist a beautiful song
All Typepad Sites Banned in China (Story Filed For Independent Media)
Copied from Glutter. Apparently the Chinese bloggers are being stopped. Yan is a Chinese citizen based in Hong Kong and seems to have a nose for trouble spots! Originally came across the story on Jess' Blog
Oldies but Goodies
This morning “The Bubble Car” was going through my head. Not that I know many of he words. How many of you remember that song? You are allowed to consult your parents, if you need to. I started thinking about the songs I listened to as a child:
Sparky and his magic piano
Puff the magic dragon
Hello Mother, Hello Father
I can’t dance
What about Danny kaye; The kings new clothes, Thumbelina, the ugly duckling…?

It was interesting looking for links, I couldn't find anything on the bubble car, Sparky seems to have gone porno.
Blogger’s quiz
I thought it might be fun to see if you knew these blogs:
1. Who has been throwing thought pebbles at your windshield since 1996?
2. Who runs the Texan Bluebonnet contest?
3. Who asks “Was you ever bit by a dead Bee"?
4. Who started up Scripty Goddess?
5. Who’s family has been likened to a mixture of The Osbournes and Absolutely Fabulous.
6. Who is heading straight for the stars
7. Who loves fairies?
8. Who is a Scottish bingo caller?
9. Who is Buzz’s Mom?
10. Who joined blogs?
11. Who is the Silver Man?
12. Who is the youngest blogger?

It was very hard finding 12 questions. They are all on my blogroll. Answers on Monday or Tuesday.

Thursday, March 25, 2004

Smart huh?
Think you can beat a twelve year old?
I couldn't, I got a D.
Well
I certainly had a bit to say today. I'm off to make myself some lunch.
Speed
Started to watch the film with Keanu Reeves (no, he wasn’t with me, he was in it), on Tuesday night. I’d seen it before so I went to bed before I fell asleep. It’s a good film, Olivier loved it, lots of cars being crushed. A little bit like me playing Midtown Madness III. The idea is that the bus mustn’t travel below the speed of 50 m.p.h. or it will blow up.

I take the bus quite a lot and I assure you that there is never that much excitement and I haven’t seem any one like Keanu Reeves around, unfortunately. We sometimes have a driver that glares as you get on. A lot of children who use the bus are very polite and say ‘Bonjour’ as they mount, he never answers them. He also swears at the traffic when we hit the jams at around 5 o’clock in the afternoon. That’s when he uses the brakes with a vengeance.

We’ve also got a nice warm waiting room in town. A comfortable place to read between buses. Sometimes there is a big old lady in there, she thinks that people are being rude to her and shouts at everyone. It’s amazing how quickly the place empties when she gets going.

If you want to read some really good bus stories you must visit Dan at the Chucklehut. Does anyone else use the bus?
Doctor’s visit
Had a tetanus vaccination too. The doctor looked at my TSH figures chart and agreed to put my medicine down by 25 micrograms. It doesn’t sound like much but it can make a lot of difference. I’ll go back in three months and them get a letter for a check up with the specialist. On the down side, my blood pressure is even higher, hope the change in medicine will help that too. Am I stressed about anything. I don’t think so? I miss working during the day but I’m quite well occupied visiting all of you wonderful friends.

Michelle made a helpful remark about exercise which got me thinking: Last year I was at college three days a week, I had two flights if stairs to go up and down several times a day. I never sit when I'm in class and am constantly moving around the room. I also had four hours with primary school groups. That meant a lot of action songs and games and constantly moving around the room to supervise drawings, writing etc. This year I have small groups of two or three around a table and I'm sat the whole time. As I work in the evening I don't get home till after eight most evenings, by the time we've eaten and supervised homework going out for a walk isn't really on.
That's why I'm not losing weight!
Family update
Dom and Olivier’s reports arrived this week. Both of them excellent. They both need to participate a little bit more in class. Olivier came home on Tuesday, he had 20 in maths ( marks are out of 20). He’d also had 18.5 in biology and gained extra marks for describing the respiratory system to the rest of the class. We are very satisfied parents.

Tuesday, March 23, 2004

?
Anyone seen Matron?
T.S.H.
I've just copied out my TSH levels since I was diagnosed in 1995. Since January 99 my levels have yo-yoed beween 7.05 and 0.08. Interesting. I'd be also interested to know why I haven't lost (or gained) any weight since last June despite going to England, Christmas, cutting down on carbs. I'm careful with fats and sugars anyway. I'd like to see the specialist, if my Doctor tells me again to cut out salami and beer from my diet (I never touch either) I shall SCREAM

Monday, March 22, 2004

Grapefruit warning.
If you remember, just before Christmas, I found a warning in a French magazine about eating grapefruit combined with high blood pressure medication. When I spoke to my Mother-in-law about it, she told me that the warning appeared on the notice enclosed with her tablets. Last week I saw the warning again, this time in an English magazine. There are enzymes in the grapefruit that prevent the medicine from working properly. I love grapefruit, hopefully I’ll be off the tablets soon.
Back to back
I slept quite badly last night. The pain in my back has returned but on the other side. Fortunately it's not down my leg any more. When I did sleep I had weird dreams, a Mixture if the war in Iraq and the Pasha of Marrakech I think.

Sunday, March 21, 2004

Voted
We went before lunch. It's so wastefull in France, you're supposed to take a paper from each party, go into a booth and put one of them into a blue envelope. I hope that the leftover ones are recycled. I never pick up a National Front paper on principle.
Unconcious Mutterings
  1. Wife:: husband
  2. Criminal:: prison
  3. Campaign:: fight
  4. Infection:: cough, cough
  5. Portland:: USA?
  6. NASCAR:: what's that?
  7. IMAX:: computers
  8. Martian:: little green men
  9. Nike:: trainers
  10. Trial:: toil


What does it all mean? I ask myself.
From Luna Nina
I will get the button sorted out soon, I promise.

Saturday, March 20, 2004

Happy spring
Not very spring like today here. Hope the days are getting warmer and longer, wherever you are. Except of course, Michelle who is now going autumnul on us.
Remote control things that can go inside and out
Someone came looking for them, I haven't got any ot those.
The return of Madame Poulet.
I thought I'd let you know that she arrived and is very well. We had an interesting conversation about Sarah Baartman (see below) and the European habit of taking ancient treasures and not wanting to give them back. She had also been to see holiday in Ice mid-week and brought the program to show me, the costumes are fabulous.
Experiment II
I woke up in the night and realised that if I'm not on line you won't see anything because it's linked to my windows clip-arts. I'm a strong believer in learning something new every day!
  • Cassie-B I'm glad you're back, I owe you an e-mail.
  • Matthew What about taking a coat next time?

Friday, March 19, 2004

Experiment

A poem for Sarah Baartman

By Diana Ferrus
“I’ve come to take you home –
home, remember the veld?
the lush green grass beneath the big oak trees
the air is cool there and the sun does not burn.
I have made your bed at the foot of the hill,
your blankets are covered in buchu and mint,
the proteas stand in yellow and white
and the water in the stream chuckle sing-songs
as it hobbles along over little stones.

I have come to wretch you away –
away from the poking eyes
of the man-made monster
who lives in the dark
with his clutches of imperialism
who dissects your body bit by bit
who likens your soul to that of Satan
and declares himself the ultimate god!

I have come to soothe your heavy heart
I offer my bosom to your weary soul
I will cover your face with the palms of my hands
I will run my lips over lines in your neck
I will feast my eyes on the beauty of you
and I will sing for you
for I have come to bring you peace.

I have come to take you home
where the ancient mountains shout your name.
I have made your bed at the foot of the hill,
your blankets are covered in buchu and mint,
the proteas stand in yellow and white –
I have come to take you home
where I will sing for you
for you have brought me peace.”

Diana Ferrus
Diana Ferrus, of Khoisan descent, wrote “A poem for Sarah Baartman” while studying in Utrecht, Holland, in 1998. She told Marang Setshwaelo: “One evening I was looking at the stars and I thought to myself, ‘They’re so far away. But if I were home, I’d be able to touch every one of them.’ My heart just went out to Sarah, and I thought, ‘Oh, god, she died of heartbreak, she longed for her country. What did she feel?’ That’s why the first line of the poem was ‘I’ve come to take you home.’”

I've just been fortunate enough to hear the poem read by a South African voice.
Madame Poulet
For a long time I’ve been meaning to tell you about my favorite lesson of the week, Madame Poulet, or Mrs. Chicken as she once called herself. She’s a retired History and geography teacher (History and Geography come together in France) and is very well read. We talk about everything. During the war she was amongst a lot of people who fled from the Nazis, they had to return home as they were cut off from the other direction too. the hour goes so fast. Last week she had a couple of funny turns while she was here. I offered to take her home but she insisted on walking on her own. I was very relieved when she telephoned to say that she’d arrived safely. I wonder if she will be well enough to come this week
Equinox
According to my French post office calendar, yesterday was the equinox. It was certainly nice to come home last night around eight o’clock and see a little light left in the sky
Belle et Sébastien
Do you remember the French series from the early sixties ? I don’t know if it got across the pond. But it was lovely, snow and a huge mountain dog called Belle. The series was revived a few years back and included the second series where Sebastian was living with his Father, lots of horses and the third series he was with his Grandfather in Brittany. Today I read an article about the actor Mehdi, who played Sebastian, he’s 47 now. He’s one of those actors who doesn’t have a high profile (i.e. not on the telly) but keeps on working. He’s planning to make a film about the incredible life of his own Grandfather who was the Pasha of Marrakech.
" The Glaoua tribal chief Thami, made Pasha of Marrakech by the French in 1918, regularly horrified his European patrons by hanging the heads of his enemies from the gates of Marrakech – a practice that he apparently continued with impunity well into the 1940s."
He’ s famous for this too
Lunch
Should I choose:
  • Sardines
  • Paëlla
  • Cold pizza (home made)?

Thursday, March 18, 2004

Ahhhhh
I found this on Mary Lou's site too! Sorry Mary Lou, I'll have to come up with something for you to take from here!






what's your inner flower?


[c] sugardew

Scrabbled
Found on Mary Lou's site

Pholph's Scrabble Generator

My Scrabble© Score is: 34.
What is your score? Get it here.

Happy to be me
I found her, but she didn't last very long.
Blackbird
Besides the beautiful song by the Beatles. Olivier and I were watching Mrs. Blackbird being courted by three suitors no less! So I told him my blackbird story:

One spring afternoon, a few years ago, I was out in the garden and there was a horrible noise. Nothing makes more noise than that an angry blackbird or two. I followed the sound to investigate what was going on and there was a young bird cornered by a cat, so I chased away the cat and continued gardening. A few days later I had the doors open onto the garden in the living room and all of a sudden there again was the noise of an angry blackbird hopping around the porch. I went to investigate and followed the blackbird to find yet another cat cornering a young bird. Anji to the rescue!! This is a true story.
Avocadoes
I love them. I heard on the radio that in the States they are really expensive. This week I bought TEN small avocadoes for 1euro21. How does that compare with what you pay? A euro is more or less $1. What a pity, I’m alone at lunch time, I shall be forced to eat one all by myself.
Le Printemps des poètes.
At this time of the year we celebrate poetry, it’s everywhere, even on the bus. For people like me, a wonderful treat. While I was waiting to collect Olivier from table tennis yesterday evening I read the poems displayed on the board near to the gymnasium. One of them made me cry, I can’t quote from it as I would never attempt to translate a poem. It was by a woman looking at her sleeping son and thinking of her husband who had died before he was born. Very simple and very moving.
Barbie
Our newspaper ran an article on Barbie yesterday, she’s forty-five years old. What caught my eye was the sub headline; “No wrinkles and breasts high!” Barbie didn’t come across to France until 1963 and even then was slow to catch on, as French TV didn’t have advertising. (Rob: they certainly make up for it now) I know someone who collects Barbies, she never takes them out of their boxes. Dom had a few, The one I remember the most was the one with a foot chewed off. We also had Barbie’s ski chalet. The thing took up a lot of room and bits dropped off if you tried to move it around.

I had Tressy; “Her hair grows”. I was given her one Christmas complete with six high fashion outfits. Funnily enough I saw a dress just like hers the other day in a magazine, hipster waist and box pleated skirt. My sister had a Sindy doll; “the doll you love to dress”

I seem to remember that another doll was launched a few years ago. Happy (to be me), she had shoulder length brown hair and her figure was more realistic, she arrived wearing jeans, a sweat shirt and FLAT shoes. I might have some of the details wrong there. I wonder what happened to Happy?

Wednesday, March 17, 2004

Do you know this book?
A few weeks ago Dom borrowed a book from friend. It was about a group of women who were given to the Indians in exchange for some horses. It's supposed to be a true story, possibly the diary of one of the women. Dom couldn't keep it for too long as other people wanted to read it and I don't read very fast in French. Do any of you know the title and author of the book? Thank you.
Wierd
I don’t know what’s going on today and I don’t like it. AOL is all over the place and keeps going off. I’ve also had two ‘AOL Alert’ e-mails which I haven’t opened because I think they might be a virus, any ideas? People’s comments boxes are slow or jumping about. Then we have Buzz and Cassie-b who don’t seem to exist any more. Is it just me? The tablets I’m taking make me feel all funny (Like not a very nice drunk) Have I been pressing the wrong buttons?
Cassie-b and Buzz
I can't get on to either of your sites as they show up as unknown! Cassie I've tried to send 2 e-mails but they both came back. I tried out my comments and they seem to be working okay. If anyone else is having problems please let me know. How am I going to manage without my daily 'Buzz'?

Tuesday, March 16, 2004

Sarah Baartman.
The radio program Woman’s Hour is running a serial on the tragic life of Sarah Baartman. You can read about her here. Her remains were eventually returned to South Africa at the suggestion of Nelson Mandela. There is also a very moving poem by Diana Ferrus.
The Russians are coming
I was rather pleased to see a Russian search engine had sent someone my way yesterday. I called Dom in who confirmed, yes it was Russian (I get mixed up with Greek sometimes). She even read 'Russian Internet'. As she's only been learning for the last six months I think that's great. She also managed to translate some of the ingredients on a McDonald's sauce wrapper. This time next month she'll be there, probably freezing to death.

Monday, March 15, 2004

unconscious Mutterings
I've seen this over at Patch's a couple of times and thought I'd give it a go:

  1. Old Navy:: Old Spice
  2. Out:: Slamming doors
  3. Indecent:: No
  4. UPN:: What's that
  5. Pupil:: They grow up too quickly
  6. Toothpaste:: Signal (the original white with pink stripes)
  7. 1999:: Hurricane
  8. Passion:: Madam Bovary
  9. Social security:: free bus pass
  10. Cliff:: Richards (Oh no!)

The list comes from LunaNina
If Stacey can do it, well so can I!
I'm talking bullets here*. I've even managed to decide on a list. New skills may as well be useful, right?
Dom is going to help me make a CD Anji's Greatest Hits of my favorite music, So I'll list what I'm thinking of putting on it.
  • Got my mind set on you - George Harrison
  • Mercedes Benz - Janis Joplin
  • Ode to Billie Joe - Bobby Gentry
  • Thousand Island Park - Mahavishnu Orchestra

That's the beginning, Yes I know my tastes are a bit weird, must be my age.

I got it wrong at first and had different types of bullets: I haven't managed to get them back.
* You have to scroll down to March 10th

Sunday, March 14, 2004

Tuna, hold the mayonnaise
Olivier was imitating a tuna sandwich this morning, no mayonnaise. Don't ask me.
Seventeen
I came across this again recently; I remember thinking the first time I heard it "Hey, that's me!"

AT SEVENTEEN
(Janis Ian)

I LEARNED THE TRUTH AT SEVENTEEN
THAT LOVE WAS MEANT FOR BEAUTY QUEENS
AND HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS WITH CLEAR SKINNED SMILES
WHO MARRIED YOUNG AND THEN RETIRED
THE VALENTINES I NEVER KNEW
THE FRIDAY NIGHT CHARADES OF YOUTH
WERE SPENT ON ONE MORE BEAUTIFUL
AT SEVENTEEN I LEARNED THE TRUTH

AND THOSE OF US WITH RAVAGED FACES
LACKING IN THE SOCIAL GRACES
DESPERATELY REMAINED AT HOME
INVENTING LOVERS ON THE PHONE
WHO CALLED TO SAY - COME DANCE WITH ME
AND MURMURED VAGUE OBSCENITIES
IT ISN'T ALL IT SEEMS AT SEVENTEEN

A BROWN EYED GIRL IN HAND ME DOWNS
WHOSE NAME I NEVER COULD PRONOUNCE
SAID - PITY PLEASE THE ONES WHO SERVE
THEY ONLY GET WHAT THEY DESERVE
THE RICH RELATIONED HOMETOWN QUEEN
MARRIES INTO WHAT SHE NEEDS
WITH A GUARANTEE OF COMPANY
AND HAVEN FOR THE ELDERLY

SO REMEMBER THOSE WHO WIN THE GAME
LOSE THE LOVE THEY SOUGHT TO GAIN
IN DEBENTURES OF QUALITY AND DUBIOUS INTEGRITY
THEIR SMALL-TOWN EYES WILL GAPE AT YOU
IN DULL SURPRISE WHEN PAYMENT DUE
EXCEEDS ACCOUNTS RECEIVED AT SEVENTEEN

(INSTRUMENTAL)

TO THOSE OF US WHO KNEW THE PAIN
OF VALENTINES THAT NEVER CAME
AND THOSE WHOSE NAMES WERE NEVER CALLED
WHEN CHOOSING SIDES FOR BASKETBALL
IT WAS LONG AGO AND FAR AWAY
THE WORLD WAS YOUNGER THAN TODAY
WHEN DREAMS WERE ALL THEY GAVE FOR FREE
TO UGLY DUCKLING GIRLS LIKE ME

WE ALL PLAY THE GAME, AND WHEN WE DARE
WE CHEAT OURSELVES AT SOLITAIRE
INVENTING LOVERS ON THE PHONE
REPENTING OTHER LIVES UNKNOWN
THAT CALL AND SAY - COME ON, DANCE WITH ME
AND MURMUR VAGUE OBSCENITIES
AT UGLY GIRLS LIKE ME, AT SEVENTEEN

Saturday, March 13, 2004

The Silver Man
I wonder how many of you have actually seen him? Read about his beginnings and his daughter Ruth who likes to tidy up
Go Jody!
Jody is magnificent when she's angry and has come up with some interesting ideas.
Great start to the weekend
Rob got the car out this morning as I was supposed to go to a general meeting at Dom's lycée about her future. I'd asked him to drive round the block as I thought it was vibrating a bit yesterday. It was shuddering and giving out lots of smoke. I can't go to the meeting because the bus would get me there too late. I've sent Dom a message but her phone's turned off. Hope she manages to go herself.

Rob will phone our tame mechanic, but he's not always that easy to contact, oh well.

Friday, March 12, 2004

The hole in the road
It's coming along very nicely thank you. We can just about get the car in and out of the garage (I say 'we', but Rob does it as I'm sure I'd end up in the hole). Yesterday the boss asked us very politely if we wouldn't mind if they parked their little shelter van on the footpath/sidewalk at the side of the house. A pleasant surprise, no one else ever asks and anyway we don't own the footpath. Olivier is enjoying the trucks and digger. It's been a while since he played with his cars.
The photograph
I went into Dom’s room this morning and noticed a couple of new Buffy posters in weird colours. They are next to the last photo that was taken of her Granddad. In the photo he’s in front of a Tudor house with a dog. The house and the dog belonged to a couple who he worked for part time. He used to look after the animals and do odd jobs. Even after he went blind they would find him things to do. They would even arrange his transport; They understood his need to feel useful. (Peter that is why I was concerned about the miners being asked to retire at fifty).

The last job he did for them was to bury the dog. She died soon after the photograph was taken. Shortly after that, Dad started to take lemon cough and cold medicines for what he thought was a cold or maybe even flu. He had lung cancer, he didn’t survive much longer.

A few days after the funeral the people who owned the dog gave my Mum 5 copies of the photo, one for her and us four children.

Dom was more upset about her Granddad dying than the boys, she cried and cried, in fact she cried so much that he visited her in a dream and told her that she should stop crying. That’s why I gave her the photo. So there he is shining out amongst posters of Buffy, Charmed and Mylaine Farmer
Oh my goodness, here comes another...

It's all about class, my dear.
Aristocat! You're a sophisticated cat, proud to
hold your head up high even when somebody ruins
your day. You do have your bad hairball days,
but instead of freaking out over something,
you'd much rather take it in stride and move
on.


What kind of cat are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

This one is from Mary Lou
So this is who I am



From michelle who got it from Kim

Thursday, March 11, 2004

I have done some research
There are no trackback facilities on Blogger. I'll have to write a little letter.
Trackback
I'm trying an experiment, Cassie-b was brave enough to ask how in works. No, it says I need a source URL, A source URL? If I get one where do I put it? No it doesn't work. Where do I find the ping thing on Blogger?
My cousin paul, again.
I had a nice suprise this morning, another e-mail from Paul announcing the launch parties if his new album. He also has a very neat site to visit. I haven't actually seen him for many years, he was a punk then!
Doctor's report
I took along the X-rays from 1998 when I last had a bad enough problem to get it seen too. While he was looking at the X-rays he muttered arthritis and rheumatism. I've got three lots of tablets to take, all of which could make me sleepy (fortunately, two I take at night) and two of them are addictive. I could also get awful gooey spots and diarrhea/constipation. My back should be fine though. He gave me a lecture about watching my weight (again). I know that he's right. I have a good excuse now for taking it easy on the housework.

Talking of addiction to pain killers I came across this on kill as few patients as possible

Wednesday, March 10, 2004

Don't let your daughter push the trolley Mrs. Worthington
Dom met up with Olivier and I at the supermarket near to his school. I drop him off and pick up Dom. She was so kind, she pushed the trolley to save my back (not that there was much in it). Unfortunately she put one or two extras in including crinkle cut chips/fries. Très 60's. Now we know where the idea came from for bendy toothbrushes
Two weeks of NOISE
Due to the houses being built all around us, the road outside our gate has to be dug up for the new sewers. This morning we had trucks and noisy machines and men with ear protection digging away. The mayor has assured us it will only last two weeks. They've gone away for the moment. I have a lesson here at three. I bet they come back then.
Back update
Have made an appointment with my Doctor this evening. My back feels much better now.
Older than I look.
Or is it the other way around? There's no school on Wednesday afternoons here, so over lunch we were talking about what homework needs to be done etc. Olivier announced that for English his class have got to write about the ages of everyone in the family (I think they're learning about comparatives and superlatives at the moment). He's sooo sweet, he offered to make me younger than I am.

Tuesday, March 09, 2004

My back really hurts today
This is what you get for having an orthopedic mattress; It's so heavy that you injure your back moving it around.

Monday, March 08, 2004

Friday 8th March 1974
As I haven't got much to blog about at the moment, I thought that I'd drag out my old diary again. 1974 was the first year I started 'a page a day'. My handwriting was pretty neat and readable for me. Nothing much was going on I see I had a row with my boyfriend at the time. We were always rowing because he was a very jealous type; I stuck with it for a few more months and started to realize that I could actually enjoy male company with out having to avert my eyes in case I might fall in love with any male I came across. If I ever found out that Dominique was stuck in a relationship like that.....
Back to school
Dom and Olivier went off in the nearly daylight this morning. It was peaceful after they'd gone. I'm hoping to catch up a bit on my reading now.
appearances revisited
I've no idea what the film is called in English. The baddy was Harrison Ford. We did enjoy it. This morning Rob called me into a very steamy bathroom.... As he'd opened the window to create more steam the neighbours were treated to shreaks and giggles. What a way to start the week.

Saturday, March 06, 2004

Yippie!!!!!
Dom discovered that Rob had the firewall turned up way too high (That's why I've been feeling too cold) She's now downloaded all of the things we need and I can play Alchemy and my favorite version of Mah Jong again. Thanks Dom, you're a real geek.
Letter From America
Alistair Cooke has finally put down his microphone at the age of 95. I've been listening to his letters nearly all of my life.
You must read this
If you haven't already. Letter from the Smithsonian Institute over at Patchwork Progression. I think I shall be using 'The cranal capacity' of a Barbie as an insult from now on.

Thursday, March 04, 2004

Talking of Quantum Leap
For years on Sunday lunch time we have been able to watch Early Edition. Of course, they are repeats of repeats now, but I still enjoy them. It must be the feel good factor.

I'm off now to catch up on what you've all been doing since Sunday.
Busy, busy week
Not only have I been teaching every morning this week but I seem to have had 'something to do' every afternoon. I always feel sorry for the kids I teach during the holidays, first of all they are usually weak in English, then they have three hours of the subject in one go, sometimes one to one. All this while their friends are probably still asleep.

I really enjoy these lessons and the time goes so quickly. This week I've had a 14 year old called Benjamin who really has made a great effort. For two days we were joined by another boy who really had great difficulties. Two days is not enough to re- teach 18 months worth of language. I could see a little bit of progress but he still has a long way to go. I am really tired.

One of the advantages of working in town was that Rob and I had time to have a coffee on the old port most mornings. It was a bit too cold to sit outside; It won't be long before the seats are filled with tourists. Tomorrow we're going to have breakfast there too.