I made a trip to Costco today... the 'cheap' store, where I seem to spend a lot of money. There was method in the madness as items were required, it's just that I always seem to buy things I never knew I needed.
I was going round, having my lunch - they always have free samples going and so today's lunch was vegetable risotto with parmesan, an oaty bar, some Tic Tacs and finally, which was a huge mistake, a piece of Florentine that quite frankly made me feel sick so I had to go back and get some more Tic Tacs - when shock, horror, I came across a complete aisle of Christmas decorations, trees etc. It's only part way through September for ****'s sake. I found myself shaking with terror at the very thought of it.
In order to get over the trauma I headed for the books to have a bit of a browse, and there I was, reading Caitlin Moran's How To Be A Woman, which has been much lauded by Cathy the Bookseller, when I realised three of my fingers were covered in blood. I did rather wonder why people were giving me a wide berth. It was one of those odd bleeds where not only did I not feel myself getting cut, it was also only surface, but you wouldn't have thought it given how much blood was around. I took this as a sign and immediately put the book in my trolley.
The whole experience was shattering... not the bleed, the C stuff. I'm still traumatised by it.
Friday, 9 September 2011
Thursday, 8 September 2011
Hot and bothered
Yesterday, when I left home for Edinburgh, it was cold, raining and altogether Autumnal. I decided not to take much in the way of clothing and dressed appropriately... warm top, long socks, and my shoes that have been away in the cupboard over our so-called Summer while my feet pretended it was warm in sandals and crocs. And guess what? This morning is a bright, sunny, warm day and I'm already hot and bothered, with my face turning redder by the minute. Not the most inspiring look as I head off to work. The worst bit is that I'm working until 9 tonight and so I'm stuck. The only thing I can hope for is that as the day gets on, it will get colder, and I can feel a bit self-righteous. But right now I just feel stupid as the rest of Edinburgh seems to be in t-shirts and shorts.
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
Updates on this auspicious day
Today is an extraordinary date according to mathematicians as contains 3 consecutive numbers, which only occurs five times in every century, today being the penultimate one for us as the next and last one is on 9/11/13 and then that's the lot for this century. When I was a child I always wanted to be born on a date with an interesting number, basically because my brother was 5 on 5/5/55 and I was more than a bit jealous. However, his life hasn't turned out quite so interesting (though I'm sure he'll disagree) and he hasn't become the superhero that I he told me he was going to be when I was 5 and he was 7. Enough of that. Now to the updates:
The last Game of the season:
It drizzled. It was freezing. We played. I lost.
But considering it was the Club skip and I managed to get 12 points to his 21 I was actually quite pleased. I didn't play all that well, and neither did he. The weather can be a bit of a leveller, but not in this case, it was just horrible out there. So different from Sunday when the sun shone and it was a joy to play. Both of us were pleased to finish last night before the drizzle turned to full on rain.
So that's it for the outdoor season for me. There's still another couple of weeks to go but I'm away the rest of this week, then at a wedding this Saturday and then on October 1st, which is the very last game of the season, I'm in London.
And then the indoor season begins.
Coffee plant update:
I'm sure you can't tell the difference between these two photos, but growth is there I promise. There are quite a few new leaves coming at the top, though the one on the front right is looking slightly worse for wear. We'll see what the next few months brings.
Book update:
I had a meeting today with the local Scottish Borders Pharmacy Overlord, who is the owner of 5 pharmacy emporia. I was in my local pharmacy yesterday and had a bit of a brainstorm and asked if they'd like a couple of copies to sell. They told me I had to speak to the buying boss, and I duly phoned. She asked me to come across this morning and so off I set with 10 copies in my bag, and instead of her, it was her husband, the Big Boss himself who interviewed me. He took one look at the book and asked me how many I had in my bag... 10 I replied... I'll have them all, he said. And so now my little book is gracing the bookshelves of the rather splendid Romanes Pharmacy in Duns.
The last Game of the season:
It drizzled. It was freezing. We played. I lost.
But considering it was the Club skip and I managed to get 12 points to his 21 I was actually quite pleased. I didn't play all that well, and neither did he. The weather can be a bit of a leveller, but not in this case, it was just horrible out there. So different from Sunday when the sun shone and it was a joy to play. Both of us were pleased to finish last night before the drizzle turned to full on rain.
So that's it for the outdoor season for me. There's still another couple of weeks to go but I'm away the rest of this week, then at a wedding this Saturday and then on October 1st, which is the very last game of the season, I'm in London.
And then the indoor season begins.
Coffee plant update:
I'm sure you can't tell the difference between these two photos, but growth is there I promise. There are quite a few new leaves coming at the top, though the one on the front right is looking slightly worse for wear. We'll see what the next few months brings.
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| today |
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| 31st July |
Book update:
I had a meeting today with the local Scottish Borders Pharmacy Overlord, who is the owner of 5 pharmacy emporia. I was in my local pharmacy yesterday and had a bit of a brainstorm and asked if they'd like a couple of copies to sell. They told me I had to speak to the buying boss, and I duly phoned. She asked me to come across this morning and so off I set with 10 copies in my bag, and instead of her, it was her husband, the Big Boss himself who interviewed me. He took one look at the book and asked me how many I had in my bag... 10 I replied... I'll have them all, he said. And so now my little book is gracing the bookshelves of the rather splendid Romanes Pharmacy in Duns.
Tuesday, 6 September 2011
Zumba night and day
I've had this rather weird thing happen on Monday nights for the past few weeks, and that is that my mind starts throwing up all the Zumba tunes and moves ready for my Tuesday exercise class. Don't get me wrong, I like the music a lot, and I like the exercise too... but not when I really should be asleep.
Last night I slept for about an hour and then that was it. I spent the rest of the night in Zumba-land and by 5 am I was wide awake and tired. I started reading under torchlight until my Beloved woke up, and then it was time for the day to begin.
By the time I actually got to Zumba I was exhausted and while flinging my body around I began to get a migraine headache, so much so that when the class ended I knew exactly how I was going to spend my day. I got home, went straight to bed and there I stayed until teatime. I am supposed to be getting ready for a bowls competition that in all probability won't take place because it's started raining. We'll see what happens by 6, but if it carries on like this then it's definitely off the agenda.
So there you have it. A day of fitness I don't think.
Last night I slept for about an hour and then that was it. I spent the rest of the night in Zumba-land and by 5 am I was wide awake and tired. I started reading under torchlight until my Beloved woke up, and then it was time for the day to begin.
By the time I actually got to Zumba I was exhausted and while flinging my body around I began to get a migraine headache, so much so that when the class ended I knew exactly how I was going to spend my day. I got home, went straight to bed and there I stayed until teatime. I am supposed to be getting ready for a bowls competition that in all probability won't take place because it's started raining. We'll see what happens by 6, but if it carries on like this then it's definitely off the agenda.
So there you have it. A day of fitness I don't think.
Sunday, 4 September 2011
Almost nearly but not quite
Today was the Bowls Open Pairs and my pal, JT came all the way from Perthshire to play with me. It just happened to be the sunniest, best day of the year to play bowls, and to go along with that we got through to the final, which was brilliant. Sadly that was it as we managed to lose 5 in the penultimate end and we were done for. Until then we were all even. Still £30 each at the end was not a bad consolation prize, and then of course there were a few gins that needed to be shared with folk in the club.
There was one bit that did make me laugh a bit... a bit mean of me I know, but heck some people are just not good sports. Last year's, and in fact the last 3 years winners, 'forgot' to bring the cup back, and we were playing them in the semis. Last year we lost to them in the first round and they were all smiles when they realised this year they were playing us to get into the final. However, it just happened to be one of those games that both JT and I were playing ok and we won that by 1 point. They were the most unhappy bunnies I've seen in a long time and they went back in the clubhouse and muttered all the way through our final and beyond.
So last year we were out in the semis, this year in the finals... maybe next year will be the year?
There was one bit that did make me laugh a bit... a bit mean of me I know, but heck some people are just not good sports. Last year's, and in fact the last 3 years winners, 'forgot' to bring the cup back, and we were playing them in the semis. Last year we lost to them in the first round and they were all smiles when they realised this year they were playing us to get into the final. However, it just happened to be one of those games that both JT and I were playing ok and we won that by 1 point. They were the most unhappy bunnies I've seen in a long time and they went back in the clubhouse and muttered all the way through our final and beyond.
So last year we were out in the semis, this year in the finals... maybe next year will be the year?
Saturday, 3 September 2011
Taxing matters
After ignoring that gnawing feeling inside and the ever-present item on my 'To Do' list for at least a month, I finally got down to get my tax affairs in order for 2010 - 2011 yesterday. It took me pretty much all day. This is partly because I spent a good hour trying to find my P45 from last October when I changed my status from employee to self-employed at the firm I work at in Edinburgh.
The problem turned out to be that the said P45 was not the same shape and design as my wage packets, like they used to be in the NHS. No this one was two A4 sheets in an envelope. And where did I find it? Exactly where it should have been in the file marked 'Accounts', it's just that I'd completely overlooked it and only when I started taking everything out and checking all envelopes, admittedly with a slight sense of panic arising, did I find the offending item. I was mightily relieved.
I think a lot of my problems with getting my accounts together for last year are because I had four jobs that all had slightly different things that needed taken care of accounting wise, and because the jobs ran into each other where some weeks I was working 8 days a week and was totally exhausted, I didn't take as much care to fill in my monthly figures as I've done in the past. I'm making sure that doesn't happen again... that is both the 8 days per week and the non-filling of monthly figures, though being honest here, I've already slipped a couple of months and so will spend time catching up this month, so that by this time next year I'm already done and dusted.
Once I'd finished for the day I had little time to walk the dog and then get over to my bowls competition with the Club President, so things felt a bit rushed, which didn't help my bowls any. I started off pretty badly and lost 10 in the first four ends, but after that I think I gave him a reasonable game. He won of course, but I did get 8 points (to his 21), which pleased me greatly as my goal was to get 1 point, so I exceeded that by... well by 7 obviously! Still he was pleased and I spent a pleasant hour afterwards, armed with gin and tonics (yes, plural) with him and his fiancee, which was a nice way to end the day.
I have another competition tomorrow, with my pal JT from Perthshire. Last year we made the semi's, which was none of my doing I can assure you. And then on Tuesday I have my final competition of the year against one of the best players in the Club. Another match where my aim is for 1 point I feel. Still with my tax affairs in order I might not be quite so tired... I live in hope!
The problem turned out to be that the said P45 was not the same shape and design as my wage packets, like they used to be in the NHS. No this one was two A4 sheets in an envelope. And where did I find it? Exactly where it should have been in the file marked 'Accounts', it's just that I'd completely overlooked it and only when I started taking everything out and checking all envelopes, admittedly with a slight sense of panic arising, did I find the offending item. I was mightily relieved.
I think a lot of my problems with getting my accounts together for last year are because I had four jobs that all had slightly different things that needed taken care of accounting wise, and because the jobs ran into each other where some weeks I was working 8 days a week and was totally exhausted, I didn't take as much care to fill in my monthly figures as I've done in the past. I'm making sure that doesn't happen again... that is both the 8 days per week and the non-filling of monthly figures, though being honest here, I've already slipped a couple of months and so will spend time catching up this month, so that by this time next year I'm already done and dusted.
Once I'd finished for the day I had little time to walk the dog and then get over to my bowls competition with the Club President, so things felt a bit rushed, which didn't help my bowls any. I started off pretty badly and lost 10 in the first four ends, but after that I think I gave him a reasonable game. He won of course, but I did get 8 points (to his 21), which pleased me greatly as my goal was to get 1 point, so I exceeded that by... well by 7 obviously! Still he was pleased and I spent a pleasant hour afterwards, armed with gin and tonics (yes, plural) with him and his fiancee, which was a nice way to end the day.
I have another competition tomorrow, with my pal JT from Perthshire. Last year we made the semi's, which was none of my doing I can assure you. And then on Tuesday I have my final competition of the year against one of the best players in the Club. Another match where my aim is for 1 point I feel. Still with my tax affairs in order I might not be quite so tired... I live in hope!
Friday, 2 September 2011
A Belated Happy Birthday to Nell
I was reminded by Mari that yesterday was Nell's official 14th birthday.
She came to us when she was approximately 6 months old, so thin she could get through the bars of a baby gate and with no muscles in her legs. We couldn't walk her for 8 weeks until she was fed and gently exercised so she could actually walk without damaging herself. We thought she'd live for about 7 years at the outside. She has been a wonderful companion, and we love her dearly.
The story of how Nell came to us:
The boys really wanted another dog after our Bull Mastiff died and then we had a very sad time with a lurcher, who had a brain tumour and was only with us for just over 9 months. We debated whether we should get one or not. We decided we could handle having a small, old dog. So No. 2 son and I went down to the Munlochy Animal Aid to see if they had such a thing and we came away with a six-month old Alsatian puppy. Actually she was a small dog. She also didn't jump up, which was one of our requirements, but we didn't realise at the time that she couldn't. 8 weeks later we had a manic Alsatian who jumped up at every opportunity. Now she is old, and is also one of the smallest dogs I've owned and doesn't jump at people so she totally fulfils the criteria. Though I have to admit she has a not very pc habit of wanting to sniff people's privates but I'm not going to talk about that!
Nell has always been the most wonderfully biddable pet. In her time she has been a registered Therapet and used to be regular, first at Highland Hospice when my Beloved was Charge Nurse of the Day Hospice, and then she joined us at Maggie's Highlands where I was Centre Head and my Beloved was Cancer Support Specialist. She was much loved there by most who came. And in fact many would come just to see her.
We feel truly blessed.
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| The official birthday photo |
She came to us when she was approximately 6 months old, so thin she could get through the bars of a baby gate and with no muscles in her legs. We couldn't walk her for 8 weeks until she was fed and gently exercised so she could actually walk without damaging herself. We thought she'd live for about 7 years at the outside. She has been a wonderful companion, and we love her dearly.
The story of how Nell came to us:
The boys really wanted another dog after our Bull Mastiff died and then we had a very sad time with a lurcher, who had a brain tumour and was only with us for just over 9 months. We debated whether we should get one or not. We decided we could handle having a small, old dog. So No. 2 son and I went down to the Munlochy Animal Aid to see if they had such a thing and we came away with a six-month old Alsatian puppy. Actually she was a small dog. She also didn't jump up, which was one of our requirements, but we didn't realise at the time that she couldn't. 8 weeks later we had a manic Alsatian who jumped up at every opportunity. Now she is old, and is also one of the smallest dogs I've owned and doesn't jump at people so she totally fulfils the criteria. Though I have to admit she has a not very pc habit of wanting to sniff people's privates but I'm not going to talk about that!
Nell has always been the most wonderfully biddable pet. In her time she has been a registered Therapet and used to be regular, first at Highland Hospice when my Beloved was Charge Nurse of the Day Hospice, and then she joined us at Maggie's Highlands where I was Centre Head and my Beloved was Cancer Support Specialist. She was much loved there by most who came. And in fact many would come just to see her.
We feel truly blessed.
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