I have a Renault Megane. It has cause more problems than it is worth. Over the past couple of weeks it has stalled constantly, so today I had it booked into the garage. However when I tried to get it to the garage this morning it wouldn't even start. I phoned the garage and they said that the call out charge to get it to the garage would be a lot of money so I was better off calling the AA. I am with the AA through LLoyds but this would count as a home start and I wasn't covered for that. So I had to upgrade my AA (about £80) after that the AA were able to come round to get it started. The AA guy said that he often gets call outs from people who own French cars. Anyway he got it started and I got it to the garage.
THe garage just called. they have to get a part for the car so I won't get it back tonight. Apparently there were five things wrong with it, all to do with the electronics. Two of which were to do with the cruise control- which is bizarre seeing as we don't have cruise control!
Anyway hopefully it will be all fixed tomorrow---- until the next time it breaks down.

A Staycation {a word I heard for the first time today} is a 'planned for' stay at home vacation. I read it in a playstation magazine referring to those 'professionals' who love gaming and can't find the time during a working week to play computer games. So they arrange holidays around the time of great game releases- Like GTA4
So my question is to blogworld is... Would you organise a staycation for yourself? If so what would it be for? Gaming or something else (like catching up on DVD's or reading?)
Or have you always been a go away for a holiday type?

Last night my OH and I went out with some of her friends from work. We went to see Mamma Mia the film. (See my review here). First we went to have a drink at a cocktail bar, two for the price of one- nice! I had a lime cocktail called a Limerick (Not very imaginative)
The cinema in Hastings is not the one I normally go to, and it was boiling hot in there! But the film was a good distraction. There were lots of cheesy fun moments- everyone in the cinema was in hoots of laughter when the net song started! (especially if it involved Brosnan or the cast of locals that amazingly popped up everywhere.)
We were just getting to an interesting bit when we were about to find out who the father was when...... the film stopped! There was a power cut due to a thunderstorm outside. NOOO!!!!!! the horror. I thought "That's it, I'll never know who the father is now" So when other people were asking how to get a refund I asked.. "Please just tell me which one it was"
Eventually the film started again, and the film ended. And Aaaaaaarrrrgggh! The answer to my quetion. (For those who have seen it, you will understand my anguish)
Still it was fun- made more fun by the audience not taking it seriously- and even joining in towards the end.
When we got back we found that the Sky plus had gone off due to a power cut and we hadn't recorded New Tricks- Booooo!

My Best Friend is a Spurs fan.
I am a Liverpool fan
But after the news today about Robbie Keane, he may not be my friend anymore.

Although he'll be fine as long as they keep Berbatov

My OH and I have just spent a god few hours catching up on the past weeks events in Big Brother. The last thing we knew was that Belinda (Belinda Belinda) had been evicted. We tried our best to avoid any spoilers as to who went out on Friday (and managed it). I must admit that the 'time' tasks were good again- we have thoroughly enjoyed the tasks this year. But I was shocked that Bex was evicted over Mo. The good thing about it is that the HM's seemed shocked too. I like the way they have no indication as to how the public view them!!!

I am also having problems with my foot. On Friday I trod on something sharp and I am not sure if I have a splinter in my foot. I have a pain in my left foot, on the out side. The problem is I have no way of looking at it as it is in totally the wrong position. I can't bend my head round that far, and my leg doesn't bend in the right direction. I wish I was a rubber man! I am hoping that if there is something embedded in my foot, that it will work itself out, because the pain is unpleasant.

How do you feel when one of your favourite books gets Hollywood-ised? and turned into a film? Do you get excited? Or filled with dread.
I never thought this would happen to me but I have recently heard something shocking. My favourite book- The Yes Man by (non American) Danny Wallace, is being filmonised. And it's going to star Jim Carrey
Worried? I am a bit.
SO if there are any film goers out there- I implore you... Read the book before Hollywood ruin it

..after a holiday abroad "Man, I am really looking forward to a proper cuppa tea!"

Hmmmmmmmmm..... Nice!

I'm Back!

...Happy Birthday Subville. For four days time. I will be away on your birthday so I thought I would get one in now.
But there was no need to say that because you have been asked not to look at this now, which for you will be four days ago.
Uh-oh- Wibbly Wobbly timey wimey.......

It's Thursday. Only one day to go.
I had this long post written about what happened today and the bloody page shut down and I lost it all. Now do I have the patience to write it out again? How bloody annoying

I've been feeling sleepy and grumpy all day.

And man, those other dwarves are jealous

It's those telephone boxes that nearly ran into the car

And, I was worried that I wouldn't get any sleep!

Last night was eventful. My OH and I went to the party at about 7pm. It was actually good fun. They had a Hog Roast and there was a great live band doing covers of modern bands like Kaiser Chiefs and Hoosiers. We had quite a bit to drink so we were nice and relaxed. We met a few of the neighbours who were characters! Funny thing is we have been living in the same road for 5 years (We moved from the bottom end to the top end in February) and we hadn't been invited to anything like this before. I don't think the top end like the bottom end at all.

Anyway at 10pm we said our drunken goodbyes and left.
When we got home we went to bed.
At 1pm I was woken up by my OH. She was having severe chest pains and couldn't breathe. So I phoned for an ambulance. After last year's heart operation, I think it is sensible to err on the side of caution. The ambulance arrived really quickly. They took my OH to the back and locked me out- so I stood pacing for about 20 minutes (and some of the neighbours came out to show their concern) After the Paras had done their stuff they asked if I wanted to ride in the ambulance with them or follow on behind. Because I had been drinking I had to ride in the ambulance (the first time I had done that) We got the hospital and my OH had lots of tests. They were being thorough and checking to make sure of the things it couldn't be.
Then they put her in a ward for monitoring and at 4:30am I left to go home.
The only problem was that it was very early- I had no money and no car. So I walked home which took me over an hour! That sobered me up!
This afternoon my OH called from the hospital saying that she had been discharged. It was something muscular, which she will just have to work through with painkillers. Still, it is better to be safe than sorry.
The hospital staff were great!

And I am now really knackered!

We had a builder come round today. He was asked round by the owner of the property we rent (who just happens to be hear with about 10 members of his family staying in the shed at the bottom of the garden- Don't ask) Anyway the builder said he would be here at 8am. Which meant I didn't have a lie in So I was up bright and early and he came at 10am

And now the neighbours have started their 36hr party marathon. I can hear the live music already. We have been invited and may pop over but they said it is likely to continue on until midday tomorrow (non stop) So there goes another night of sleep- and my OH has to work tomorrow! I kinda think it's not right to assume that it's okay to have a loud party all through the night as long as you've invited the neighbours along.

Or perhaps I am just a moany old git

Damnit! I have just trod on a holly leaf and it really hurts my foot. That's teach me for nipping into the garden barefoot- but I only went there because someone has tied some balloons around our front gate.
Oh and I also had to park my car back on the garden lawn just in case the telephone boxes drive by again.

Goodbye Mario!

Click (then click again) to enlarge

Well, I am officially annoyed with some things.
I have cancelled the furniture that I bought from eBay for my OH's birthday. It has been two months since I bought it and all I have heard is the same old excuses. He seems to think that I don't believe him, but that's not the point! I just don't want to her the same excuses again and again. The guy doesn't listen, just waffles on about how things are beyond his control. I have asked for my money back.
I have to go, there are a couple of telephone boxes reversing into my car

Enjoy

I Am

I am: yet what I am none cares or knows,
My friends forsake me like a memory lost;
I am the self-consumer of my woes,
They rise and vanish in oblivious host,
Like shades in love and death's oblivion lost;
And yet I am! and live with shadows tost

Into the nothingness of scorn and noise,
Into the living sea of waking dreams,
Where there is neither sense of life nor joys,
But the vast shipwreck of my life's esteems;
And e'en the dearest--that I loved the best--
Are strange--nay, rather stranger than the rest.

I long for scenes where man has never trod;
A place where woman never smil'd or wept;
There to abide with my creator, God,
And sleep as I in childhood sweetly slept:
Untroubling and untroubled where I lie;
The grass below--above the vaulted sky.

John Clare

It's been a while since I've played around with Tom Swifty, but here are a few more

"The piano fell on me" said Tom, flatly
"But I helped move that Piano" Said Tom, Shiftily
"seventeen plus three is twenty" Tom added
"But seventeen minus three is fourteen" Said Tom, nonplussed
"That'll be 4u²p²(me)²" Said Tom, as he squared up to me
"I am not taking the rubbish out" Tom refused
"I am cutting the sides off of this" Tom decided
"That's one sixteenth of a pound" Tom announced

Summer Mornings
by CJ

Summer Mornings, gentle breeze
Picnic hampers, sweet cream teas
Flower blooms attracting bees
Pollen drifting, makes you sneeze
“Don’t go too far”, mum decrees
Brothers, sisters, keen to tease
See those children climbing trees
Jumping down they graze their knees
Images that my mind’s eye sees
Bring me back my Summers please

Sat(urday) morning and I usually take this time to catch up on the stuff I have recorded over the week and not watched. So I am now going to watch the Heroes FInale, the CHuck finale and the first episode of the new Ghost Whisperer!

So if you've seen them then KEEP QUIET Lalalalalalala I'm not listening

Happy Birthday Kibitz.

I am sitting here with a glass of wine at hand and waiting patiently for tonights eviction. Cannot wait to say goodbye to the Lady ' it's my paaaaaiiiiinting' Jen to be evicted.
I have also been tinkering with my clank. My Ratchet and Clank PSP game that is.

PS_ Rachel is lovely

I was sitting in the staff room this morning with two other people (both talking to me) and one of them read out this story from the paper...

Domesticated chimp is missing in California forest

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A 42-year-old chimpanzee who is toilet-trained and can eat with a knife and fork is believed to be at large in a Southern California forest after escaping his cage.

The story itself is quite bizarre, but it's the information given in the first two lines that really baffled us. The chimp is lost, but why do they feel the need to tell us he is toilet trained?
"I think it is getting itself lost trying to find a toilet" I said! "It may really need to go! Damn there is never a toilet when you need one."
"At least you could catch it easily" I said
"How?"
"Just lower a portaloo into the forest. It will be so relieved, rush in and then you can lift it out! Da-Dah!"
The conversation then went on to how other papers would title the story. My favourite was Zoo loses Loo User
Ho Hum- today is marked down as a happy staff room day

Civilization..... what does it make you think of?
Perhaps your mind wanders to the state of the country, and how civilization has declined where we celebrate moronic behaviour and allow yobbish culture to reign.
Or maybe your mind goes to the classic film Gremlins 2, where the brainy one has a TV interviews "That was not civilized"
BUt at the moment for me civilization is about revolution. The game that is.... I love the Civi games- second only to the Sims on PC. (sad I know) and with this new one coming out.... I can't wait! I must add it to my list.

BUt now I have a hankering to watch Gremlins 2- I think it's been on recently too

PS- does anyone else think that the gremlins appearing in the advert make you think there's a new film coming out? Surely we are in need of a Gremlins 3!

I've just burnt the top of my mouth on my dinner. I can now feel it blistering up with my tongue.

WE have also booked our holiday. As soon as I break up from work we are going to go on another cruise. My OH's bosses aren't happy (but they never are- apparently they are in favour of the idea of my OH taking a holiday as long as she doesn't actually go ahead and take one)

I am still a bit sore from the sunburn yesterday.

The AGM meeting was good fun. (kind of) but it was good to see the kids involved in something. And I got a free glass of wine!

I have just noticed the queens nose has gotten bigger.

I have just been sent information on a little used email address that I can get a tax rebate worth hundreds! All I have to do is fill in the online form giving them all my bank details! Wow. It's even amazing that they managed to get hold of me on that email address.... They didn't even get the name right! Luckily there is space to correct all the details on the online form! Woohooo! I'll just go do it now...
And then I have to fill in another form online from the bank confirming all my bank details with them... even though I don't have an account with them!
And I am pretty sure that neither of them is fake or a scam!

WHAT DO YOU THINK CJ STANDS FOR? COMPLETE JERK?

... seeing as others are doing the 'ask me three questions' I might give it a go. However I do have the right to make up answers, or perhaps not even answer at all
Plus I think I'll be safe because no-one really reads this blog and by the time I have posted several posts afterwards it'll be safe at the bottom of the blog page.

So, you wanna ask three? I dare you!