Ouch!

Olivier came in yesterday with the story that the mayor’s wife has lost some fingers. She was closing the shutters in the wind and the shutter blew back onto her hand. I did something similar when we were living in La Rochelle. The shutter flipped back onto my fingers. It took a while for me to pluck up enough courage to look. Our shutters are old, wooden and ill fitting after the years of damp winters and very hot summers, so hopefully I don’t have to worry too much.

On the edge of a cliff

The new school term has started and Olivier appears to have turned over a new leaf. He’s been getting up in plenty of time to get ready for lycée. He hasn’t missed the bus once this week. I saw him revising for a maths exam, he had a reasonable mark in his Economic science exam. We talked (calmly) about his future and he has been researching his ideas. I had a note that he had skipped school for a day when in fact he was on a school trip.

Now I’m waiting for something horrible to happen….

Where are you?

Spooky - what's happened? Where are you? What about the socks?

A good day

This morning I was driving to work when I saw a (red) squirrel running along the side of the road on the grass verge. I was concerned in case he headed into the road but he continued in a straight line and I left him behind. A little further on I waited at the traffic lights (yet more road works) and who should I see leaping from branch to branch in the trees at the side of the road? It’s nice to see so many squirrels around but I’m concerned that they are leaving the park and wondering so close to the busy road.

A little further on I came to the burnt out chateau which has been turned into holiday flats. There were 4 helicopters parked in the clearing. Rob and I had seen them fly over yesterday evening. So I wondered which rich and famous personalities came to stay near our village complete with convoy of helicopters. Or perhaps and Arab prince? Olivier told me later that it was to film and episode of a treasure hunt for French TV – I never watch it so I wasn’t impressed. When I got home and lunch time Olivier had opened all of the shutters (which we left closed because of the early start) and all of the widows to let some sunshine in.

This afternoon I went to surf on Blog Mad and discovered that I had two messages. Recently my blogs have been voted blog of the day!!

The sun is still shining and it’s starting to feel warmer too. Not a bad day at all

Busy bee

I thought that I was busy before, but now I’m even busier. This week I’m exam supervising again. The week kicked off with a four hour exam and I was on my own. Fortunately someone replaced me for a few minutes half way through so I could pop to the ladies. The main season starts at the beginning of May and will go on till the beginning of July. The school of commerce has expanded so much over the last couple of years the exam period has more than doubled – good news for us supervisors! I’ve asked to work mornings only so that I can carry on with the postcards in the afternoons.

Random game

I haven’t played many games like this. For once I've been sent one by Bomarzo with clear instructions….

Random things about me

1. I was once laughed at because I suggested wasting paper was wasting trees!

2. I’m very hard to make friends with in ‘real’ life

3. I was once in the ladies room at a hotel at the same time as Stevie Nicks or Christine McVie, I’m not sure which - and I couldn’t think of anything to say

4. I consider that I’ve had a lot of ‘lucky escapes’ in my life

5. My personal diary was used as evidence in a court case many years ago

6. Although I’ve lived in France for 23 years, I can’t write in French (I have read quite a few books and novels in French)

Rules of the game …

· Link to the person who tagged you.
· Post the rules on your blog.
· Write six random things about yourself.
· Tag six random people by linking to their blogs.
· Let each of the six know they’ve been tagged by leaving them a comment (on their blogs).
· Let your tagger know when your entry is up.

The victims …

1. Doris Mash
2. The Introverted Exhibitionist
3. Because I can
4. Bo He Mi An RhApSoDy
5. Neutron News
6. A Fifth of Therapy
   

Unconscious Mutterings

It's been a while...

1. Questioning :: defiance


2. Immunity :: strength


3. Online dating :: Hmmmm


4. Calcium :: bones


5. Dressing :: morning


6. Bucket :: spade


7. Stain :: mark


8. Advanced :: ahead


9. Dramatic :: panic


10. Self-medication :: asprin

If you'd like to play go here, The game has been going for five years. Congratulations Patricia!

Glucose tests a waste of time?

I was very shocked this morning when I listened to the news broadcast on BBC radio 4. A report has just been released which says that there is no point in people like me checking their blood sugar levels on a regular basis. The report says that constant checking causes worry and even depression in patients. I strongly disagree. My father was on the verge of losing his toes before he was diagnosed with diabetes. I made sure that my doctor knew that there was diabetes type II in my family for two generations. I consider myself fortunate that abnormal blood sugar levels were spotted quickly and that using tests I could adjust my diet. Testing strips and lancets for finger pricking are expensive, but surely they are a lot cheaper than insulin injections, hospital stays and rehabilitation costs after amputation? I won’t go into the subject of blindness and other organ problems diabetic patients face. I’ll be discussing this with my own Doctor next time I see him to see what is going to happen in France. I’d be interested to know what other people think about this subject; diabetic, pre-diabetic or not.

A Walk in the Black Forest

I was writing up the announcement for an old German postcard of a hotel in the Black Forest this afternoon and I suddenly remembered the piece of music called A Walk in the Black Forest. I’ve always remembered the very first time I heard it. We were in the cinema, my mum sisters and me waiting for the film, Mary Poppins to start. I liked the tune straight away. When we got home my baby brother had walked his first steps for my Granny who was babysitting, 43 years ago, time flies…

My little sister became a granny today!

Talking of number 12

Dom came home for the weekend and borrowed my jacket. She read my blog yesterday and brought the jacket back to me before she left. I wonder if she hadn’t have read that it was my favorite she would have accidentally put it into her suitcase.

Anyway Dom, it’s too big for you really. When I fetched this picture I checked the sizes and colours left and the orange ( pumpkin) coloured one is only available in size 34. There is a blue and white striped one in size 40 left…..

My list

I've seen this before in emails and expect that you have too. The other day Worldman put it up on his blog, I decided to copy his idea, so this is about me!

1 What time did you get up this morning? 6.15
2. Diamonds or pearls? Pearls
3. Last movie you saw in the theater? Lord of the Rings part II
4. What is/are your favorite TV shows? What’s TV?
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? An orange, cereals, yoghurt, thyroid pill
6. What is your middle name? Mary
7. What food do you dislike? cassoulet
8. What is your favorite CD at the moment? One I made up of Colin Blunstone songs
9. What kind of car do you drive? Renault cinq 5
10. Favorite sandwich? Lettuce, tomato, cucumber, avocado surimi on cereal bread
11. What characteristics do you despise? dishonesty
12. Favorite item of clothing? An orange jacket with imitation brass buttons and a wonderful lining – it’s too small for me at the moment
13. If you could go anywhere in the world for a vacation, where would you go? Hawaii
14. What color is your bathroom? white
15. Favorite brand of clothing? René Derhy
16. Where would you want to retire? Here on the west coast of France
17. Most memorable birthday? 17th. The first time I got really drunk and had a hangover
18. Favorite sport to watch? If I have to watch? Football/soccer
19. Furthest place you are sending this to? My blog
20. Who do you expect to respond? I don’t know, it will be a pleasant surprise

21. Person you expect to respond first? Shrugs shoulders
22. Favorite saying? Life is like that – C’est la vie
23. When is your birthday? 26th September
24. Are you a morning person or a night person? Morning!
25. What is your shoe size? 39 Europe 6- 6.5 anywhere else
26. Pets? No, I’d like a cat
27. What did you want to be when you were little? I found in one of my old books an air hostess but I probably wanted to be a pony.
28. What are you today? A deltiologist
29. What is your favorite candy? I’m not allowed, but chocolate
30. Your favorite flower? roses
31. What is a day on the calendar you are really looking forward to? The end of the school year so I can stop worrying
32. What are you listening to right now? Nothing, but I was listening to Bob Dylan before I needed to concentrate
33. What was the last thing you ate? Breakfast - yoghurt
34. Do you wish on stars? I haven’t seen a shooting star for years - yes
35. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Purple!
36. What is your pet peeve? Dirty clothes on the floor and washing up
37. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Dom - Daughter
38. Do you like the person/people you are sending this onto? I love everyone
39. Favorite soft drink? Fizzy water
40. Favorite restaurant? Les Quatre Sergents
41. Hair Color? Blonde
42. Favorite day of the year? Christmas eve
43. What was your favorite toy as a child? A craft kit for making felt flowers
44. Summer or winter? Autumn
45. Hugs or kisses? Hugs
46. Chocolate or vanilla? vanilla
47. Do you want your blog friends to carry this on? If they would like to
48. When was the last time you cried? A month or so ago
49. What is under your bed? Dust, fluff, dead spiders and Rob’s summer shirts
50. Who is the friend you've had the longest? Mysti – 35 years
51. What did you do last night? Approved blogs for Blog Explosion
53. What are you afraid of? Being in pain and losing a limb
54. How many keys on your key ring? 11 keys
55. How many years at your current job? I created my business 1 year ago
56. Favorite day of the week? Friday
57. How many states have you lived in? non, I’ve lived in two countries
58. Do you make friends easily? No, I’m very hard to get to know
59. How many folks will you send this to? I’m just posting it on my blog; I expect about 50 people to see it in passing and hello to the one who’s read this far!

Life is a bunch of numbers

The alarm woke me this morning just as I was discovering in my dream that I only had 14 emails in my inbox. I knew the figure is really closer to 41 so I was cross with Rob for getting rid of them (in reality he never touches my in box) Later I checked my dream book which I didn’t find very helpful as far as dreams of numbers are concerned; I was left with the parting statement “ Numbers are the link between man and science”. “ Now just what is that supposed to mean?” I asked myself as I’d just woken up. After I had made my cup of tea my brain booted in and I thought of what it meant; all of those formulae that we use to calculate this and that = numbers. All this really was too much first think* in the morning so I went back to sleep for a while…..

*That was an error but it fits in better than 'thing'.

A few links

Two links to make up for not posting for so long:

The first was sent to me by that nice English gentleman Keith. I laughed so much I almost wet myself. I really identify with this very funny lady – you’ll understand why when you watch.

The second link is more a feast for the eyes; In my blogroll you will find Malcolm Horton Online Exhibition; well, he’s made a few changes. You can now by posters of his beautiful paintings. If you love nature you will love these…