My World

gone crazy..

well not really just a bit unhinged, for a few days at least, never mind. Back to work for some solace and support. ha ha.

Forward March

As the curse of Southeastern Railways leaves me, the curse of British Summer Time arrives to replace it. I set my clocks forward pre-bed (having caught up with the last Ashes to Ashes - bit emotional I felt) - but somehow I still spent the whole of Sunday thinking I was catching up having lost an hour!

Walk - sunshine, blue sky and very low 747's over Wimbledon. Via shop for a paper and some veg for a ragout. Washing. Ironing. Fresh sheets and fresh face. The light lasting until nearly 8pm - bliss.

My relaxation when dusk came and I'd run out of steam - the new Big Brother - 'Tigers - Spy in the Jungle '- with Elephant cam's and log cams and trunk cams. What next?!?! Tops TV though!

The wild animals seeing their reflection - no doubt this will be an issue in years to come.. delinquent animals in Indian reserve...

'He Kills Coppers' - well sort of I was more engrossed in my crossword and then 'Mad Men' - which seems to have slowed...bed. LOUD radio and earplugs cos the uppers were listening to something rather loud.

Gillingham 0 - Carlisle Utd 0

It was a game of sheer of determination. Or was that me in my efforts to actually get there? Yes I left the house at noon and thanks to no Victoria Line and a engineering works I got to Gillingham Station at 2.40pm. Got to the ground amid chilly and wet weather.

We played better than usual and I refute the BBC's websites description - that the game was dire. We tried bloody hard and with Oli and Jackson up front we looked more eager than before to score. The shame of the game was that we were unable to get a last minute goal and take the 3 points. The saving grace? Those around us losing. Still we are in the bottom 4 and 4 points adrift of Crewe. The home game Tuesday is critical.

So at 4.55 I was pegging it to the station to catch a 5.10 bus. I got home at 7.30pm. What a day. What a total waste of 5 hours of my life! Tube. Train. Train. Bus. RUN!!

UTG -- see you all again on Tuesday.

Not my finest hour

SO I did the networking thing. I did the chat and friendly face of my dept thing.

I drank rather too much. But I remained polite and levelled.

I left. Walking home rang a friend and shared my views.

I got home. Slept.

At 8.26am I was called to make sure I was moving and on my way to work. I did - just. I did not wash. I did not know which way was up. Somehow I got to work. I do recall it was raining. Grey. Darkish and cold. The fresh air a blast to my otherwise drowning head.

9.45am I arrived.

9.55am was my appraisal.

I was touched and noted suit and tie combo. I felt awful. Ashamed. Weak.
I also felt a touch thankfully grateful that I felt so bad cos I had been dreading it so much. I managed with only one trip to the bathroom to retch whatever was left.

Somehow I said words. I helped set an objective or two. What a terrible reflection on me. I make the all too most of free drinks - to celebrate and wind down after months of hard work and the result is a gibbering idiot who just wants to curl up and hide.

I came home. It was harder getting home than getting to work. I lay on the sofa in a ball until my legs were fit to burst with pins n needles. I dozed as 'Inspector Linley', 'Midsommer Murders' and 'Murder She Wrote' played on in the background.

I wish someone could work my mystery out.

Now with cups of tea and toast n jam off to bed I go. To curl up and hide...

Happy Birthday!

To my tattoo.

I think you may have had an airing this evening. I think.

Have

Hit a wall.

The adrenalin and wound-up-ness which kept me moving for the last couple of months has bing'ed it's bolt and now I just feel deflated and very tired. Today so far has been a real struggle... the drive has gone. Someone stole the keys.

It's all hit me...

All.

It's not just me...

Thanks planetface for directing me towards an article in todays Guardian about my beloved football club...an uncertain future indeed.

Not happy.

Ease Free...

After the big board meeting yesterday I can hope for a few weeks when the letter e and the number 3 cease to invade my every working hour... I can but hope...
The meeting itself was well managed - everyone gave good and clear presentations. Just gotta hope that common sense prevails and that some re-thinking and structuring takes place...
Next up? Erm a holiday.
Feet up and no thinking or planning or meeting running or anything....
Oh and some appraisal stuff to do...

Port Vale 2 Gillingham 1

I cannot begin to tell you how I feel.

I listened to the first half on Radio Kent in the bosom of my family, but at 1 nil down and having missed a penalty I decided I was better off getting the 4.15 train back to London.

I couldn't help myself and went 'wappy' on my mobile phone to get the latest scores... I think I swore out loud to discover we were 2-1 down. Crewe at the time were winning as were Bournemouth. It ended with a Crewe draw - leaving us as follows:

17 Cheltenham 40 -17 47
18 Bristol Rovers 36 -3 45
19 Millwall 40 -14 45
20 Crewe 40 -16 44
21 Gillingham 39 -28 39
22 Bournemouth 40 -17 32
23 Luton 39 -14 30
24 Port Vale 40 -30 29

The plug has got us in it's swirl. There is only one way now. Gravity and inertia pulling us into Division Two.

The team were beset by 'injuries' (Cullip who made the difference on Saturday) and can you believe an international call up (Crofts for Wales) plus the four players sent to Coventry due to failing to turn up to training. Oh which I assume one is Facey - so that's a bonus as he is sooo slow. But Mulligan? Cox? We need our experienced players to dig us out of this turd fest. Look how much the team keeps changing - no wonder it doesn't settle.

Gillingham(v Bournemouth): Stillie, Richards, Cullip, King, Clohessy, Bentley, Crofts, Oli (Cumbers 90), Nutter, Jackson, Miller (Griffiths 81).

Subs Not Used: Kiely, Howard, Fuller

Gillingham(v Vale): Stillie, Clohessy, Richards, King, Nutter, Stone (Griffiths 59), Howard (Cumbers 75), Bentley, Miller, Jackson, Oli.

Subs Not Used: Kiely, Fuller, Bygrave.

So our run in looks like this:

Saturday, 29 March 2008 - Gillingham v Carlisle, 15:00
Tuesday, 01 April 2008 - Gillingham v Luton, 19:45
Saturday, 05 April 2008 - Millwall v Gillingham, 15:00
Saturday, 12 April 2008 - Gillingham v Swansea, 15:00
Saturday, 19 April 2008 - Bristol Rovers v Gillingham, 15:00
Saturday, 26 April 2008 - Gillingham v Swindon, 15:00
Saturday, 03 May 2008 - Leeds v Gillingham, 15:00

Spot the teams who are near us..., mm 2 of them, the rest are all above us therefore probably better than us... therefore I surmise we will be going to Grimsby and Rotherham next season....

Please leave me to be blue and glum. This may take some time to get over.

Blinder

It even smells of 1962!

Today

We (the 'girls!') need an away win!

Come on YOU GILLS!!

(My mum has no letters left on her keyboard and is still on Windows 98....need I say more?! What is the Power key for? Get outside of London and everywhere is backwards!! :-))

Hope you all had a spiffing Easter and the snow didn't affect you too much.....

Above the Clouds

Sometimes it seems like everything goes wrong, KAREN, while sometimes everything seems to go right. This week, the odds are certainly in your favor! You start your week off on a positive note on Monday by getting an invitation to an event you are looking forward to attending. Mercury and Venus conjunct in your sector of communication and you will hear from a lot of your friends and acquaintances. This is a great opportunity for you to jump-start your social life, especially if you are looking to meet new people. You will feel at ease when you talk to others, and be comfortable expressing yourself. You have a lot of common sense and are very practical, but you may decide to splurge on a lottery ticket on Friday, as lucky Jupiter in Capricorn sextiles Uranus. A dollar here or there will not break your bank, and you are too frugal to wager more than that anyway. You have a lot of uplifting energy encouraging you to move out of your normal boundaries. You want to soar above the clouds and may sign up for pilot's lessons on impulse. Of course, as an Earth sign you like always has your feet on the ground, so you may explore your daring side in other ways, too!

Gillingham 2 Bournemouth 1

6,540 watched as we won. Just. Thank You Mr Stillie for saving the penalty - else I suspect we would have lost. It was a bloody cold afternoon sleet n snow - so clapping and cheering were a means to keep warm. Kids for a quid and 'young adults' for a fiver helped swell the crowds - only for several at the Gillingham end to be pulled out again. Whatever they were doing I hope it deserved being removed... after all the rest of us had to stay and suffer. I want to say hooray we're safe. But Crewe also won and it puts us adrift. Adrift n doomed.

So off to Port Vale we go for an Easter Monday goal hunt....

Come On Gillingham...

...we need a WIN.

Thankfully 'Fighting Talk' is keeping a smile on my face.

And the thought of a long weekend in Nice...

Still

A waist!

Woh

it's 9.40pm and yes I am still at work - listening to Spurs attempt to beat Chelsea - doing well coming from 1-3 down to be now 3 all.

Spoke to soon - 3-4....!

Ooh - 4-4 - 9.51pm..

I will leave when the footie ends!! Honest.

Twerp

I wasn't going to blog today - but having just read this story I had to have a quick rant...

HOW dare he?!

Scally told BBC Radio Kent: "After Saturday, I'm disappointed, disillusioned, disenchanted and pretty disgusted by their reaction."

Following what can best be described as the most depressing game I have ever seen at Priestfield he has the gaul to be disgusted by US??
I for one did not boo. I rarely do. In fact most of those sat round me did not boo either. We were all too stunned/shocked Booing of itself never changed very much and right now I want to make changes.

Scally said: "Mark has come into a very difficult situation, he has had a lot of internal politics to deal with - there have been a number of players that have caused a few problems around the club which is unacceptable."

Erm and we seem to have got rid of players who are making their mark elsewhere in the Division - come back Danny Jackman all is forgiven based on the Northampton Town rise to success. Someone sanctioned the spending on players who have all but proved to be frankly ineffectual.

I am no expert but I can tell if a player has got it or not. Going out to Barnet in the cup was a low point. Bring back Iffy I say! Bring back Jarvis, Brown, even Hess! We need some leadership and dare I say it, some elder statesmen in the squad to direct this ship. Right now we have a team of nearly-made-it-to-the football-league-until-demented-Gills-took-us-on players. I so wanted to have the faith that youth could turn us round. But this league is tough and but for administration stripping other clubs of points we would be BOTTOM.

What's going on? Are we being driven down the leagues so the ground can be sold quicker and the team moved to some out-of-Medway place? Has the Bank finally decided to make us pay?

Whatever is happening I am deeply concerned that the future is not bright and certainly not paved with gold.

Accrington Stanley anyone?

Today

was a good day -

for a few moments I managed to forget my confusions

and I managed to accept compliments from unprecedented sources...

I even managed to leave work before 5.45pm, do my power walk and shopping, and then be home in time for 'Enders!

TTMIL

Talk To Me In Letters

What is it with acronyms?!

I may need this...

ITMWDTSF?

Please recycle

Your jars, tins, can, pots etc etc. Then I may go for it Deals!

Food processors

Are great. Not so sure re Delia's new recipes...

its 7:01

I am now leaving the office.... JOY!

Purloined from a colleague...

Easter Sunday this year falls on 23 March, 2008..

As you may know, Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is 20 March this year). This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify Passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.

Here are some facts you might be interested in:

• based on the above, Easter can actually be one day earlier (March 22), but that is pretty rare.
• this year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old or above!). And none of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier!
• the next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for that!).
• the next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year!

Talented...

if you think so - say so!

Rainy Days and...

Sundays?

I had lots to share whilst I was walking round the streets of SW19 at 8am this morning. The weather decidedly damp and darkened. But the lure of 'The Observer' and the fact I spent all last Sunday in agony in my bed meant I was determined to make the most of today...

And so I did. Glad to have removed myself from St Paddy Day celebrations in the pub last night (I went for 2 pints to drown post 'Girls' crap performance sorrows) I was able to wake up with a clear head and better still did not appeared to have upset anyone in my departure last night and from what I can tell am still being spoken to despite my rather rude about turn out of pub. OK okay I left in time to get back for Casualty and Love Soup! True gem of TV. Oh Alice I so understand your traumas and when she put the photo together and it was HIM - the one - I was so gutted for her. The Mr Right she cannot have. 'I smiled sadly for the love I could not obey'. (Name that tune!) Grr why is life so infuriating?

Anyway I digressed. I was meaning to share 2 anecdotes from last Saturday actually. My non-changing red light story and red light crossing cyclist erm sees red story...

So first up - the route of my walk talks me through a trading-ish estate and the road has been up there for ages whilst the Thames water company rearrange the tarmacadam and supposed sort London's Victorian drains. I do this section every weekend and some mornings there have people working there (clearly deranged cos they have been known to whistle at me - despite the fact that my walking gear makes me look a refugee) and on other occasions the pipes have been leaking - amazing jets of water upwards to the skies - and passing cars pay no attention. Last Saturday the lights at the main road end seemed not to be working. None were lit - so drivers were assuming that they had the right of way it being the left lane. However as I approached the other end of the roadworks by walking the not insignificant curve of the road it became apparent that the other end was red. Permanently. There was quite a queue. A restless queue in fact. Blind sided the impatient Sunlight lorry and several cars made a break for it as an estate car was coming merrily along what he assumed was his right of way. For several moments I watched as Whacky Races unfolded before me. With all queued traffic now through there were no cars. I continued walking. Oh dear. The next queue started to form unaware that the light was stuck. I turned into Sunhill territory and kept pace. My last look behind me revealed the same van patiently waiting for a change.. Good luck I thought to myself.

I turned left onto the path which follows the Wandle towards Sainsos. It was pleasant - well apart from the slung empty cans, bottles and fag ends (litter is becoming my new bug bear - its everywhere Grr.) I reached the end passed the waterwheel and up the slope towards the pedestrian crossing. The lights were changing and coming across the road on a bike was a 'lady' with a kid sat on the back. The approach to the lights was narrower than usual due some pathway works so I waited such that she could cross the road and pass me safely. Except she slowed down - and kept slowing so I knew I would not make the pedestrian crossing before the lights changed. Maybe my face gave me away but she got slower and then at the narrow point stopped and looked at me with pure disdain and said something I am sure unpleasant. I removed my earphones and said 'Sorry' and then walked on. The lights had by then changed so I had to wait - as I did so I was sure she would tackle me again. Either way on the other side and further along the river I did actually want to cry. What is it with the average human today - why are they so aggressive and ungracious? I actually felt threatened even though in my head I was doing her a favour and not pushing on at any expense.

Suffice to say the Gills hat has not been worn walking since - just in case. As it was this morning it was far too wet for many people to even bother leaving the house. I prefer it like that. Quiet.
Aside from litter (wine bottles, polish lager, dog shite, plastic bags and empty take away cartons) I was struck by daffodils, blossoming trees, budding bushed and the sweet scent of hyacinths (that smell always reminds me of primary school) in various gardens.

Home. Shower. The Archers. Bacon sarnie (my treat!). Ironing. Sort out very wet clothes on washing line. Go to Next and ponder a new suit. Any excuse to wear Kick Flares! Home settle down for Grand Prix having avoided hearing result all day...

Tea. Spag bol and now this... I feel though my muse has left me now...

Go Lewis!

Well done (Good on yer') Lewis for winning the Melbourne Grand Prix despite the heat and allure of Carlton Black or Dogbolter in the local bars.

Here have a hub cap to celebrate.

Starfish

Oops.

Washed up in Sandwich.

Family Affairs

Trips of both the long and short variety may be subject to delays on Monday, KAREN, but don't get too worked up. The delays may even be in your best interest as they often can be. Go with the flow. Tuesday is more easygoing, so much so that you may be able to negotiate a great deal or new contract that will boost your success. Over this Easter week, you have much to look forward to. You seem to be the one organizing everyone else and deciding who should go where. The Sun moves into your home zone midweek, which as well as being the Spring Equinox makes this a great time for family celebrations. Any get-togethers will be very nurturing for all concerned. But don't try to manipulate events or get people to meet up if they don't want to. Just let it all come together spontaneously. Everyone will have a lot more fun if you do. Mars continues to move through your relationship zone and will stir up issues if they haven't yet been resolved. Don't shy away from this process - welcome it, and work through it. Your love life will improve as a result.

'Villages'

Is rather fruity.
I do not do fruity.
Well not whilst reading on the tube at least.
Cor.

Gillingham 0 - Crewe 3

That was quite possibly the most depressing game I have ever watched. I felt numbness and resignation. I hate to think that my prophecies may be coming true - but the non-league experiment is failing to ignite the penalty box.. well at our end at least.

I was in a buoyant mood as I set off from London. The sun had come out, I was wearing my all singing and dancing kick flare jeans (I am in love with them the narrow waist and wide legs just make you look well sexy - oh to have been in my early 20's in the early 70's - Bowie and flares.) and had managed to get the right train, no engineering works, no fights en route. I even texted Pops to say I had a good feeling about the game.

Had is of course the operative word. I had hoped for goals galore from our lads. Bentley was back and Twiglet started, Crofty has been scoring and King was fit again. Ah yes. The rest of the team, painters and decorators who have joined the team for some work experience.

The crowd were moderate in numbers but loud in voice. Oh the irony. The louder we got the more we felt we could score. Each time it was Crewe who did. So in the 9th minute we were caught on the hop by a bad goal clearance which bobbed and bounced from red shirt to red shirt into the net. The blue shirts were no where to be seen.

The afternoon was greying in.

Half time. The usual suspects appeased their anguish with pies, chips, hot dogs, burgers and more chips.

Second half - more noise. Another Crewe goal. 57 minutes our latest loan signing gets sent off so he won't play for us again this season. Finally glossy head decides to finally remove the 'Statuesque' (had to get that Sleeper song reference in as it played on my random Walkman choice - Playlist = Freakscene. Remind me to recount my rediscovery for Rage Against The Machine too sometime) Delroy Facey - he is without doubt the least likely striker ever. Let's look at the evidence - never moves, never gets in the box (too scared) and erm never scores. The substitutions made little difference however and again it was Crewe who scored.

As the third went in the 'faithful' departed. The true macohists like me, Pops, the twins, Arfur and Colin stuck it out to the bitter end. However as the final whistle went and the cries of Scally Out reverbed round the Rainham End is was with shell shock I remained still. Seated. Head in hands. The dreams are over. The new stadium, the poxy fireworks against Tranmere, the 4-nil defeats of the last few games. We had to beat Crewe today to stay in contact with the bottom teams. But we had nothing. We had no fight. No-one looks like scoring. It's woeful.

My predicted motivation - lessens with each parted 9 quid train fare and wasted Saturday.

We left the ground. It was raining. Cold. Grey. Sums it up really.

Att: 4,956. - all of whom could perhaps have found something more inspiring to do - like pick up litter for a couple of hours.

[There was an incident at the front of our Block - not sure what or who - but it was certainly more riveting than the on pitch action]

Also note - Ebbsfleet - going to Wembley - they will soon be our local rivals....

Books etc

I finished Revolutionary Road last week. It's taken me a week to give the goss on it. That is actually a good thing for when I completed it last week I was stumped for ways to describe it - now with a week to think about it some more - to let it sink in I can say it did make an impact on me. It's the 'in your face' vividness of Updike's Rabbit books (I can still feel Rabbit driving alone in his car - escaping; and feel the waters of the holiday the couples all took - Miss Murkett et al) with Frank and April well I felt little until the tragic end. Then the novel unraveled again for me and suddenly I was connecting and understanding and to be honest despairing of the life they had been living. I can see it would be an easy plot to take to the screen and no doubt Winslet as April will be in parts simpering and strong but I am not so sure I will go and fragment the now solid pair who reside in my mind.

So I have now turned back to Updike to see if beyond Rabbit there are other characters I can place in my trophy cabinet mind... 'Villages', Owen and Julia. I'll let you know.

Blog of Note

Eric's Planes - made my day for sure!

12th March

National No Smoking Day - hooray! I am already there - in fact it will be DAY 74 for me!

So I am now officially a non smoker

- practically tee total and, erm, basically dull.

Not even a saucy photo for a over 2 months...

and then I am asked where am I going for my holiday... ha ha .. holiday what's that? Something people with friends/lovers and families do...

I fear waking up one day and realising how many things I let slip me by... with or without a ciggy in my hand....

Donny 2 - Gills 1

The future feels bleak. Very bleak. My Dad though seems to think there is still hope...I mean we did at least get a goal... I sadly don't see it. A team in decay - primed for a different division entirely. For the first time ever I am truly questioning my efforts and commitment. Maybe I could do more interesting things with my time.. maybe I could lose the 'footie fan' tag people use liberally around me. Maybe I could be many splendid things. Instead I am just this - losing faith with all the foundations I held too so dearly for so long.

Delia!

Is back.

I did not get chance to comment this week - oh but I shall.

Top Tip thus far - frozen spuds. Mainly.

Social

Style Model... cf David Merrill a Denver psychologist

On Friday I learnt that I was predominantly an Analytical type of person.... and represented 1 of 3 similar types of people in the team (consisting on Friday of 18 of us) there was 1 driver and the rest an equal split between team players and expressives... interesting sort of day. Appears there are valid reasons for my, erm, truculence...

Hartlepool 4 - Gills 0

Yup we are rooted to the bottom four. Not overly happy. Not sure I can see this changing. Have resigned myself to Div Two next season. Face it we are heading for non-league supremacy.

However as Man U were dismissed from the FA Cup and with Barnsley seeing off Chelsea my despair was briefly respited. True football fans were witnessing scenes that 24 hours before were being written off as unlikely. The bookies no doubt sure Man U and Chelsea would feature in the final once more.

BUT the big four were being uprooted and the Football League was reclaiming its sport.

It continued into Sunday which saw Cardiff oust the Boro and WBA do the only 'in form thing' by stuffing Bristol Rovers. The final four now include only 1 premiership team and the history books will mark 2008 as the year the FA Cup rekindled the sparkle for those fans who don't expect to win everything and for those teams who handle defeat with the same energy as they do winning. How dare Sir Alex come out and blame the ref... bad losers huh?! Just as I always suspected.

In any event for the first time in a long while I am looking forward to the semi's and the final - back like it used to be - exciting even for a neutral!

Semi final draw 5th/6th April:

Barnsley v Cardiff

West Brom v Portsmouth

Unfinished Business

You need closure this week, KAREN, but it might be very hard for you to find it. You may have to settle for less than what you want and need. Currently your ruling planet, Saturn, is in Virgo in your sector of philosophy, and you may have to deal with some hard facts concerning an important issue you are struggling with. Not everything in life has a cut-and-dried outcome, and you have to accept that fact. There are a lot of gray areas in life, and while that does not always sit well with your practical Earth nature, it is the simple truth. On Friday, Mars in Cancer trines Saturn and you will find that you are able to cope with your current dilemma a lot easier than you previously thought. You have the ability to go with the flow, and it is just a question of giving yourself a little time. On Sunday, you will find it easy to express yourself as Venus in your sector of communication trines daring Mars. You will feel a lot more confident, especially if you need to make a speech or talk to someone about an important issue. You may find you enjoy your newfound boldness of speech more that you thought possible!

Ouch, my head hurts.

I began the weekend on an enlightened high - all day training on Friday with the rest of the team proved at once inspirational and to the other extreme gave me sufficient insight to understand how leaving or staying were viable.

So sauntering home I felt quite happy in myself.

Saturday I woke up with what felt like a hangover - but could not have been. I forced myself out on a walk and my general Saturday work item list. Interspersed with generous amounts of football and rugby. I managed to tidy the bathroom cabinet and realised that I really had no need to buy shower gel or shampoo for a year as I have hoarded so much already. I also managed to get washing dry and in before the wet and grey weather set in. Baked a cake, cooked veggi chili and made some bean & rosemary soup for the freezer. Went to bed with tablets and bongela to kick the pain out for good.

Sunday morning however I woke up and my head still pounded - it was teeth, yes teeth. All my wisdom teeth were throbbing and causing me untold pain. So I numbed what I could with clove oil and downed as many pain killers as were 'safe' and stayed in bed. All day. In pain and trying to sleep. At one point I was sick - retching so hard I hurt my ribs. I barely ate all day and try as I might watching the footie made my head spin so I returned to bed to listen to it.

I feel less nauseous now but my teeth still ache and now and again I get a shooting pain up the side of my head. I feel robbed of my weekend. As for the weather - its blowing a gale and very very wet.

AND I still wait for the Interflora refund.

The world according to Planetface...

Planetface and I have been discussing how things like Radio Five's football night has been getting close to discussing wider aspects of British life.. we have also been talking about a certain Attenbore's dumbing down - this post is not intended for all readers - just for one to vent his spleen!! I suspect some of his points he is not alone in viewing...

Go get em Planet. F. !

Brighton 4 - Gills 2

Not what you need to see - bottom four. But at least we went down fighting - erm I mean down to 9 men... quality.

Neutral Stitch

And there was I struggling to describe my new suit purchase... thanks Next - though why I thank them when they failed to charge me for a skirt, and neglected to take a security tab off something else which meant I had to go back as the alarm went off and then having a conscience I queried what she had charged me. Wish I hadn't bothered for the shop assistant cared.. no thanks or acknowledgement. Just that'll be x pounds please. Charming. What would you have done? 'Fessed up or gone home feeling up in the wallet department?

Internet Shopping...

I am starting to lose faith.

I ordered some flowers for Mother's Day - last Thursday. My Mum still has not received them.

I have emailed Interflora and tried calling them two days on the trot. WHY oh WHY claim to be able to deliver on high profile days when they cannot - it's my Dad's late mobile phone Christmas present all over again. We, the consumers, need to rebel - except they NEVER answer their optimistically named 'Helpline' nor respond to their 'enquiry' emails.

SO consumer - forget using online Interflora - it's twice they have done this to me. Anyone would think Kent was an out of bound part of the country...

So sorry Mum - the thought was there but the action was not... I am fuming. I could have walked there and back by now - would have been quicker and more reliable... love ya all the same x

Darn those

Life in Cold Blood male turtles.... how on earth the mating couple kept together I will never know...

and from now on if anyone asks me what sort of animal I am - think I'm changing it to crocodile as opposed to an elephant - they are amazing creatures - worldly wise indeed. The maternal instincts made me think about my own. You know I do rather think I have them... and quite strongly at the moment.

Hooray

For the return of Love Soup... the driving instructors agony for some reason had me in fits. Will the series be as inspiring as the first without the key lead American actor, Michael Landes and his female protagonist, Trudi Styler... who can say - and very odd to be on a Saturday night - but delightful.

Oh and check out Mad Men on BBC 4 if you get the chance..my life at the moment is one long 1960's American dream - novels and drama don't ya love em!

Power & Purpose

As Mars moves back into Cancer, KAREN, you may notice a degree of tension developing over the week ahead. If you have had problems in your relationships over the past months, they may come to a head one more time. But now there is a difference, as you won't have to deal with this matter again once this transit has passed. That feeling of being stuck that has been bothering you will fade away. But in the meantime, you could become very frustrated with your lover, business partner, or best friend. In short, whoever has been pushing your buttons! It is possible that they are also very annoyed and irritated by you too, so don't immediately decide that it is all their fault. You are moving into a phase in which you are learning to handle your power. You may not have got this right just yet, so be sensitive to others and their feelings, while making allowances for yourself. Meanwhile, the New Moon in Pisces on Friday helps you to make a fresh start when it comes to projects associated with the written or spoken word. If you are about to start writing a book, teaching a new subject, learning something new or unleashing your new advertising campaign, you are in luck! Wait until after Friday for best results.

A true scenario it seems...