spot a theme?!!

Fairby @ the beeb?

So long

David Tennant....Dr Who won't be the same without you...

The Hotspurs

Am I dreaming? It was weird enough being awake at 5am Sunday and hearing that Ramos had been sacked along with the rest of the Spurs management - but then to hear Harry Rednapp had taken over I was in some secondary universe. Spurs went out and won Sunday afternoon. Tonight in a what on paper was a North London drubbing waiting to happen they went 1 up cf Bentley it returned to form when the Arse equalised but then the game just went mental -- Arsenal going to 4-2 but in the last few minutes the Spurs managed to claw a draw! Mental. Mental. Funny old game - but how marvellous for Happy Harry and his Hotspurs...(oh and my dad and brother!!)

Where did the extra hour go?!

Yoh! readers - amid news reports that Blogging is no longer the thing to do I come to you with a quick whizz around the passed few days. Fair to say been rather non stop and so posting has ground to a halt...

When did I last write anything... oh dear - a week ago.

So Monday - went swimming perhaps the only reason I dragged my sorry ass into work. It also prompted me to consider my week and book Wednesday off.

Nose clamp and goggles ahoy I swam my 32 lengths and then ventured once more out into the rainy Monday night. There were only 3 of us in the pool on Monday and I got promoted to the middle lane. Which was fine until I realised I was veering off towards the lane markers! Oops. But this was a minor problem compared to the horror of getting showered and down to skin only to pull out my lovely pink towel and discover it was not my bath towel but my lovely pink hand towel... thankfully the changing rooms were empty so I could rub dry without too many snigger's! Lesson learnt #2 when swimming. Pack correct towel. Lesson learnt #1 - don't get into pool chewing gum!! Learnt that way back in August!

Tuesday - ah Tuesday night football night. I love evening games. The atmosphere is always different - more vocal. And this trip I took Sparky with me with the added result being guests of Season Ticket holders get in for a tenner. Should really provide a separate match report - erm okay will do that shortly.

Wednesday - found myself on the 6.26am train from Rochester to deeper Kent. A day with the folks. Long overdue and very needed. Got home at 6.55am and after a quick cuppa and a change into walking gear Mum and I went for our country lane yomp. Very bracing and beautiful at this time of year and at that time of the morning. The leaves all on the turn. Charmed. Returned home for breakfast, banter with Pater as I roused him and encouraged him to get out of bed! We then all piled into the car to go to Broadstairs. Not somewhere I have been before - but brilliant for both me and Pa to experiment with our various digital cameras - the results of which I will post up somewhere soon. Suffice to say I love my new camera and I love Broadstairs. If I could work from home 2 days a week I would up sticks and move to the coast, as it was so peaceful and picturesque. We stopped at Manston on the way down to see what if any aircraft where in the vicinity. It was quiet - but bought back good memories of air shows past. In the evening we ventured to Marino's for pukka Fish n Chips. And I once more got a SE train and headed back to London.

Thursday. Work. Work. Walk after work and I think Sainsos. Then again can't remember.

Friday. Work. Lunch and purchase of a Network Railcard (20 quid well spent I fear!). After work drink with friend - bottle of Malbec - which was very lush, followed by a yomp to Covent Garden to the Transport Museum - got a bee in my bonnet about a proper Oyster card holder. So made my purchase and then wandered to Waterloo. I had my camera so made the most of the evening lights. Back to CW - pub to rescue Sparky.

Saturday. Up with a lark to walk and sort. Train to Gills cost me a mere 6 quid when before a Network Card it cost £10.10. Another game of footie. Home straight after. Delayed trains. Another pub rescue mission. Followed by curry and TV. At last a cosy night in.

Sunday. Early waking to get people off to work. The clocks back so felt odd and the crazy news that Harry Rednapp was new manager at Spurs.. Mental!! When rain had eased sufficiently walk whilst listening to The Archers via Homebase to buy some energy efficient light bulbs for those lights which are not part of a dimmer switch situation (tip off Homebase selling a vast majority of their bulbs for 99p!) Then home. The rain now really set in and despite energy efficient bulbs the flat felt dark and dingy...after lunch I gave up and went for a snooze whilst listening to footie. Aah.

Strictly results show followed by 'Little Dorrit' and the then BBC2 programme about 7WTC. Then bed.

And as if by magic its Monday again and my ass is seated here having been dragged for work - been to WW (10st 12) and later - swimming! Hooray.

Don't you just love time.

Know Your Friends

Your network of friends and acquaintances is going to have a powerful influence on your life this week, karen. The Sun and Mars in Scorpio indicate that they will be either firmly behind you or trying to manipulate you to take another course of action. There seem to be no half measures. Trying to work out whether your friend has a hidden agenda may be a necessity. A New Moon in the same zone heralds a time of new beginnings. This is a good moment to join clubs or groups that attract you or to move in new circles. It is also a good time to think about your long-term dreams and goals and whether you truly aiming for what you want. If not, think about making changes. You may be doing a lot of organizing behind the scenes in order to get events up and running. Your input will be invaluable at this time. Your love life is fairly quiet right now, but your social life makes up for this in big measure. If you are single, you have plenty of opportunity to get out and meet the right person. Friday is one such time when a meeting out of the blue will have tremendous chemistry. You may find yourself very attracted to the way this person thinks. It will be quite a unique experience.

Film

In traf sq

Paul Merton

Comes out of the curtains!

DIY

Still standing!

Portnoy's Complaint.

Philip Roth (only one 'l'). Have started reading it now.

I guess the biggest clue was the by-line on the cover... 'The most outrageously funny book about sex yet written'...

He is on the couch sharing his life experiences with his psychiatrist. A monologue. A monologue that has shades of other American novels I have read in it...think I may enjoy this one!!

Swimming

32 lengths later - the shoulders and neck still ache and I think my arms are going to drop off!! Oops. The moral of the story - DIY should be left on the shelf - go out and take piccies instead - far less strain!! Hey ho - footie tomorrow night!! UTG!

Hopes And Wishes

Listen up this week, karen, because if you don't, you will miss out on learning some relevant information regarding your life situation. Yes, you are shrewd, clever, and astute, but that doesn't mean you don't need a little cosmic help and guidance along the way. On Monday, the Moon in perceptive and intuitive Cancer trines Uranus in your sector of your mind and imagination, and you come across a piece of information that will set your brain buzzing. Once that happens, you will flash onto the right solution to your current dilemma. Remember that guidance comes in all shapes and sizes, and you can read a passage in a book or overhear a conversation and presto - you have the information you are seeking. On Wednesday, the illuminating Sun enters your sector of hopes and wishes, and you realize that you have changed quite a bit since you first wished on a star long ago and your personal circumstances have altered. You need to refine your goal list so that it fits the person you are today, not the person you were last year or several years ago. Make a new wish list for yourself, one that suits your desires more than your outdated list does.

Who are..

still like a cocktail stick?

yup, Spurs still only have 2 points.

oh dear.

DIY

I would like to add that today has been made quite poor by the self inflicted DIY mission I went on yesterday and the subsequent damage I have heaped on myself as a result.

All plans to go walking and snapping went out the window when I realised my books were piling up in front of my full bookcase. There was only one answer - by a new additional bookshelf. So I checked the Argos offering and decided on a mid size cabinet purporting to be walnut in colour so it would match my tall book shelf. For once Argos as an experience was bearable - in and out in under 10 mins - on a Sunday!! However I had underestimated the weight of said parcel. Funny how a female carrying a large box which is obviously heavy elicits only one reaction - do nothing. No-one steps aside or offers to help but just stares instead. Very irritating. So I get box home. Arms both now 2ins longer. I can see my hands wobbling as the muscles in my arms twang back into place. The shakes. I then proceed to clear floor and get building. Walnut. Mm. Its browner than my other shelves. Not a match in any way. Oh well.

The actual construction was relatively easy and all in all a very satisfying experience. Banging in 20 nails loudly was enjoyable on so many levels - mainly knowing all my neighbours were in.

Cabinet complete my next task was to sort books and move furniture etc to fit it all in. I began this whole jaunt at noon. I finally put the last of the rubbish under the stairs at 6pm. My camera walk right out the window. Stuff to go to charity sky high. A rare occasion I wish I had a car.

At 6.20pm I went out for my 4 mile stomp but I could feel all those muscles I hadn't used in years starting to yell at me. Across my shoulders, my knees are sore from clambering round floor with piles of books and my forearms are fighting back the bruises I know are going to come from carrying the box home in odd way.

At least it achieved one thing - there are no books in front of my shelves just a wine rack with several tempting bottles of red and if anyone wants a Stephen King book I have 10 spare you can have...free. I also discovered several other books I no longer want and a whole speaker system that again if anyone is interested in - its yours.

As for my camera it was snug in its carrier longing for me to finish up. Hey ho. Soon Lumix, soon.

Good drive

Next stop Brazil ...

Distracted

This week has been really odd. It has felt like only half of me has really been taking part and the weirdest part is not really knowing where the other half has been. Work wise there has been a sort of stasis pending an important meeting Friday am.

Socially I have been doing the things I enjoy - walking, snapping pix and drinking with chums.

Personally. I have been struggling once again with relationships. The who. The why. The when. Perhaps only half me has been present because I am not really talking about these other influences. But then I tend to not talk too much about me stuff. Bottle it up and throw it in the sea. Maybe someone will get the bottle and manage to read the message inside.

Every once in a while there is a plateau whereby decisions don't need to be actively made - they just are. Then are occasions when you fight to avoid making a decision as you fear the result or you suspect the choice you make will be the one that sets off a whole new chain of events. Then there are the decisions which you actively seek out. Purchases. Hair colours. The less likely to harm your life choices. Then there are the resolves you make but which depend on another to become more than just a resolve.

Currently I am dimly aware that on the horizon I am going to have to decide whether to stay here or depart to other shores. I have to decide how much a value the my current plateau. This is not easy when the mountain peaks around me offer a similar plateau if I am prepared for the upheaval of turning down from this one and ascending a fresh one. I could remain as is. Yet external situations make this unlikely.

To the unknowing these are riddles. The colour lies within the story.

If I had a family member dying a painful death on the other side of the world I would be torn. The stakes are high. A job and its pay, which are already a strain with 12 hour shifts and that have incurred a destination move to a place and a room that are not really my home. A job which I have no control over or any idea when it will cease. The illness on the other side. The pain you know is being suffered. The conversations which mask it. The chats to fellow siblings. The not really knowing - either here or there.

The person who you are closest too here not really at hand and therefore you see in passing so easy to take for granted. The situation you leave behind. The mutual understanding you think you leave behind.
The situation you enter at the other side.

What choice do you make?
This is not my story but that of someone close. It's breaking their heart and driving them deeper into their comforting scene... making them less able to make rational decisions. Making them less easy to reach.

There's another story going on around me which until recently had not been updated. It was a needed venture to hear the next chapter. To understand the behaviour that couldn't be detailed until the moment of explanation.

I am distracted and I am torn.

They are distracted and torn.

Saturday

Today is the first Saturday I have been at home (and up right) all day for AGES!! Well over a month in fact, which is perhaps why I have had a feeling of contentment all day.

I slept soundly - despite several interruptions and turning in very late and the nagging wish to listen to the Grand Prix qualifications when I first woke up at 5.30am. When it was dark. The heating had only just come on. The comforting nose of the warming water flowing through the pipes - the sound of warmth. I snoozed again. Until my alarm went off at 6.10am. The heating drawing to a crescendo before it goes off. The light still trying to sneak in through the cracks between the curtains and the walls. I fall deeply this time - all hopes of China qualification listening out of the window until the doorbell goes. I was expecting it. The postman. It is now 8.10am.

Yes - with curled hair and no sight aids I lurch to the door. Oops a dressing gown might be a better bet. The postie is armed with my parcel and wearing shorts. The sun is out, but the morning spell is starting to lose its hold. I am glad the parcel has come so early - but not early enough for me to go for my walk pre 8am, as I prefer at the weekends so as to avoid too many people/cars but also because the light is different is magical and the smells as the air starts to warm in the sunlight. Mm my favourite time of day. Then again I was dead to the world. Dreaming of my neighbours and landlord (not so much a dream as a glimpse as to how much worse it could be).

It's my new camera and I am very excited. But in a typical fashion I place all thoughts of getting up and going out with it until I have sorted all the other stuff that 6 weeks of no real time in the flat has left me to deal with. So I dig out the battery and the charger. Charge battery - do stuff n nonsense - camera play later.

Dress rapidly - put washing machine on and the leave the house.

The other thing I have failed to do for ages is actually cook myself a proper meal - soup and rolls with cream cheese and pate do not count. So I grab my shopping bag and plan a meal for one for my preparation and later consumption.

I eventually leave the house at 9ish. The traffic is already building. It's a bright Saturday so people are up and about. The roads to Wimbledon are hazardous with pedestrians and push chairs. Its not really helped by my mind being so totally distracted. But that's for another entry.

The short route along Queens Road - a road I haven't walked up or down for months. Sainsburys. Where I get what I need quickly but then seem invisible in all till queues and end up somehow being overtaken by a pensioner. Hey ho.

Home. Hang out washing. Listen to fighting talk. Prepare for clean busting. I sort out my Everest mountain of Observer papers, the recycling items and generally put stuff away - where it belongs. Th ehhover even makes along awaited appearance in all rooms! The sun streams through the windows and the flowers I have bought brighten my mood. As of now I don't have to leave the house, be social with anyone or doing anything except please myself - and it feels lush.

I cook up my delicious vegetarian lasagna and prep the cooking apple I bought back from Exeter for some cous-cous and fruit stuffing before it is baked. These chores done I turn to myself and dye my hair, and go through all the 'beauty' regimes us girls must do. Pluck, remove toe nail polish, epilate. Etc. Etc. It makes me feel more lively. Now I can settle down for five live football and look forward to an evening of eating nice proper food, having a glass of red wine and dipping in and out of Saturday pm TV.

Bliss.

Days like today just don't happen often enough.

Tomorrow - me up to watch Grand Prix then out to explore the city with new camera!

Bradford 2 v Gillingham 2

Which though just a draw is actually something of a result.
We were 2-0 down and looking like another 3 goal defeat by half time. But no the plucky lads fought back to even the result, maintain our goal difference and prove we can pull ourselves together after a bad start.

I wasn't there but I was whooping in the lounge at each goal flash on Radio Five.

Go the Gills!

The team lined up as follows:
Royce, Fuller, King, Mills, Nutter, Southall, Bentley, Weston, Barcham, Mulligan (McCammon 74), Jackson (Richards 86).
Subs Not Used: Lewis, Julian, Jarrett.

Sent Off: Bentley (58). (Oops)
Booked: Fuller.
Goals: Jackson 51, 84

Got a double dose this week - home Tues and next Saturday - so 6 points please lads!!

----

Additionally - good to see the Bradford manager complaining!! (To think I used to think he was a sort!!)

Capricorn - Day Ahead

Maybe your energy level is not very high, so basically you can't be bothered doing very much. You just want to put your feet up in a chair and daydream your way through the day. If you can manage it without upsetting your schedule, well, why not? The Full Moon falling at the lowest point of your chart is not gloomy, but it is a warning that you need to draw back slightly from too much work and ambition to consider your feelings more.

Week Ahead
With Venus in the secret area of your chart this week you are feeling more sensitive in your romantic life, yearning for a beautiful, spiritual connection. Just watch you aren't being too sentimental. You'll be inclined to retreat into your own dream world at the slightest hint of rejection. Your busy schedule won't allow you to play truant for long, but you must take a break along the way otherwise you will get stressed.

Dip

I have started the day full of loathing. Not even sure its self loathing.

Disappointed and hurt by several events this weekend. Actually 3 events this weekend - so that's Fri/Sat and Sun pm. Makes me feel meaningless.

And now feeling underwhelmed at my desk.

Hey ho.

Must cash in my audible credit too today before I lose it.

Oh and nose clamps make swimming more fun!! Well struggling for breath and forgetting that to use your mouth the aim is not to swallow a whole pool do test your mettle! Oh well got me 30 lengths in and am making a friend. Life under water feels so much different!

In Demand

Mars and Venus in your social zone mean that you will be far more in demand than usual. You may be busy organizing events or getting people together for meetings or for fun and enjoyment. Meanwhile, a Full Moon in your home zone on Tuesday may bring issues to a head, creating a very emotional atmosphere. Try not to get involved, but instead stay detached, and this will allow you to see the whole thing in perspective. Don't make any rash decisions, but bide your time until you are certain of what to do next. Tuesday is not the best day for closing deals that involve a lot of money or asking for that pay raise. You have better luck if you wait until the end of the week. Meanwhile, Mercury turns direct on Wednesday in your career zone, which will make life a lot easier. If you've experienced delays and frustration, this should come to an end fairly soon. From this point on, doing business will be a lot more rewarding than it has been. From Saturday, you may find that you don't have as much control of your business affairs as usual. Events triggered by those in key positions may cause you to change direction or rethink your decisions.

Today

... not the day for Lewis to stamp his sterring wheel on the WDC. Pity, some of us were up to see it (well most of it - and not the beginning - I over slept. So its my fault!).

October

... the new summer?

US

We are all aware of the upcoming American elections. You know pit bulls with lipstick. A Palin that isn't Michael. An Obama that has no relationship to Osama. A McCain that isn't an oven cooked chip. And Obama's right hand man who barely seems to be getting a mention....here at least. My feelings for the US vary. Ask me about the landscape of the states I have visited and I will talk enthusiastically. Ask me about invasions and I will berate. So the current flurry of US themed programmes poses treats and tricks in equal measure.

I end my weekend with Stephen Fry in America. Why o why does the BBC keep doing this? They tried it with Victoria Wood in India and it was cringe worthy. These programmes only graze a surface and leave me feeling short changed. I want more detail - I want a unique view. Not a contrived celebrity view. 'It's typically American'. Fine Stephen but when are you going to explain WHAT that actually means? He went to several states and got to see some views and sights that not everyone will. But it was brief. His trip through New York - ah let's pick up Sting so we can play his song. I was disappointed. The old dear in the gambling hall who claimed he had a great personality did make me chuckle. Yes indeed he has. In Blackadder maybe. This was an hour in poor contrast to the more challenging and consequently BBC 2 programme I started my weekend with. The American Future: A History, by Simon Schama was by far, a more considered hour. It had personal significance as it dealt with issues I had first been made aware of way back in 2000 when I spent 3 months in the American West.

Water. Marc Reisner's Cadillac Desert. The taming of the Colorado which has had some benefits and also caused some major problems. It did not dumb down the content. And yes the camera work did the scenery justice. You go to America you see that everything is on a huge scale. Both programmes captured that. But I didn't really learn much from Stephen. (It was too much about him) Expect how to put a lobster to sleep. But Simon helped put my earlier knowledge into a more current perspective. I am not so sure about Mr Schama (too many Deadringers memories) but he did at least get under the skin of the issues.

I am about to return to Phillip Roth's novel and get his view on the place.

Oddly a year ago I was finishing Updike's Rabbit Series.

An autumnal cycle is in flow.

Sunday Sunshine

It's all too good! SO my catch up will continue later - now though - time for a walk!!

Gillingham 5 - Morecambe 0

I only sing when we win? Maybe.

Okay so its 5 goals at home and it brings our goal difference back to -1 which is a better place to be. Not sure why the difference in performance. Southall's return, home crowd, sunshine and maybe the fact that the Morecambe side showed shades of being a pub team. Or maybe it was because Arfur had bought his grand daughter - a new lucky charm. Or my new haircut or boots. Who knows. But I couldn't get excited until number 3 went in! Then it was a total reversal of the game I watched last Saturday.

And so it was there in the sun we won 5 and set the bar for the later England game. 5-1 huh.

Anyway Stimson went from monster to hero in 90 minutes. Funny old game. Funny old league.

Gillingham lined up as follows:

Royce, Fuller, Mills, King, Nutter, Southall, Weston (Lewis 88), Bentley, Jarrett (Barcham 22), Jackson, Mulligan (McCammon 66). (Yup more squad numbers!!)

Subs Not Used: Richards, Julian.

Goals: Bentley 21, Jackson 24, 36, Artell 73 og, McCammon 80.

Exeter City 3 - Gillingham 0

(October 4th 2008) A trip to the South West served 2 purposes - firstly to catch up with Baggy and Chuffy and secondly to go to my first away fixture of the season. It was the perfect combination to get me out of London and away from work for 4.5 days. It felt good for that reason alone.
So Saturday traffic in Exeter suggests that football and shopping are quite popular. And the ground was heaving with Exeter fans - standing at both ends. The Gills had bought 407 trusty fans - I think I was probably #400. And we were all stood in a fairly small terrace behind the goal. It was football I as I remember it. Exposed to the elements and at the edge of the action. (I do though wonder at the philosophy of putting the family section (seated) next to the away fans small seated section)

Come the 43rd minute and the third Exeter goal I had convinced myself a pasty was in order...the second half was more even and no more goals were scored. I enjoyed it just for the thrill of standing on the touch line practically and leaning on the rails whilst corners were taken right in front of me.




The fans were less enthused. Mr Stimson not a popular chap by 4.45pm.

Mornin mist

Good choppy bob

At back too

Fab sunset this pm

Choppy bob

Need I say more?!

Spot the beebs

Over used finance graphic!