Monday, June 30, 2003
Overtime
Poor me had to work late tonight. There was a bridal flower show in the Banqueting Hall. I suppose we could have left them to do their own thing, but I prefer that the halls be staffed by Clandeboye Staff.
On the bright side that is an extra £15 in my paypacket. As you well know I need the money. My sister still has not paid her appartment rent or electricity, my father is out of work with ill health (he's 63) and my brother rang tonight to say his car had been stolen so he'd lost his job and his girlfriend is about to give birth over the next few days. Well I am sorry but I can't support them, I've already put myself in deep debt for one of them and can't take out any more loans. Aghhhh. Any supportive advice would be welcome.
On the bright side that is an extra £15 in my paypacket. As you well know I need the money. My sister still has not paid her appartment rent or electricity, my father is out of work with ill health (he's 63) and my brother rang tonight to say his car had been stolen so he'd lost his job and his girlfriend is about to give birth over the next few days. Well I am sorry but I can't support them, I've already put myself in deep debt for one of them and can't take out any more loans. Aghhhh. Any supportive advice would be welcome.
Monday Blues
Where did the week go. It is back to work after my weeks holiday. :-(
The weather outside is feeling a bit gray also.
On the bright side the schools are off for the summer and the roads should be clear.
Have you noticed the increase in airplanes flying away with all those package holidaymakers?
The weather outside is feeling a bit gray also.
On the bright side the schools are off for the summer and the roads should be clear.
Have you noticed the increase in airplanes flying away with all those package holidaymakers?
Sunday, June 29, 2003
Sunday
The sun was out again and my sitting out in it has resulted in minor sunburn. It is all the fault of the book I was reading 'Whispers in the Stars' by Patricia Waddell. Wouldn't mind reading some of her work again.
Vicky and the kids came around for dinner. We had white trees which are more commonly known as cauliflower, new comber potatoes and roast pheasant. Now only one person at the table likes pheasant and guess who had made the dinner? That is right the pheasant eater. The other four of us ignored the pheasant and had cocktail sausages instead.
This evening I was fortunate to be able to watch the final day of the UK wide archaeology digs on Time Team. I hope that woman who won the big dig has her garden put back. They certainly dug deep and wide trenches. Of course it would probably be large enough for a swimming pool, large hot tub or deep pond. I just wish he who wants to be obeyed would keep his derogatory remarks to himself. Did I sit through the grand prix and moan about how the drivers did not know a racing car from a bicycle?
The garden is looking well, including the mini-rose display on the patio. I did notice some caterpillars munching their way through one plant, but shhh don’t tell anyone. I let the same plant get ate each year as it spreads everywhere; this is my way of letting nature control the plant.
Rachael the cat is still full of energy and leaping into all the neighbours’ gardens when ever she wants.
My blogg shares are not doing as well as they had been. The increase in funds has slowed down. I have almost reached $9,000,000 virtual dollars, not too bad an increase when you consider I started with $500 a month and half ago. The rules changed during the month making it more competitive like a real stock market. There are new cash prizes for winners in the US, sadly not for the rest of the world.
Vicky and the kids came around for dinner. We had white trees which are more commonly known as cauliflower, new comber potatoes and roast pheasant. Now only one person at the table likes pheasant and guess who had made the dinner? That is right the pheasant eater. The other four of us ignored the pheasant and had cocktail sausages instead.
This evening I was fortunate to be able to watch the final day of the UK wide archaeology digs on Time Team. I hope that woman who won the big dig has her garden put back. They certainly dug deep and wide trenches. Of course it would probably be large enough for a swimming pool, large hot tub or deep pond. I just wish he who wants to be obeyed would keep his derogatory remarks to himself. Did I sit through the grand prix and moan about how the drivers did not know a racing car from a bicycle?
The garden is looking well, including the mini-rose display on the patio. I did notice some caterpillars munching their way through one plant, but shhh don’t tell anyone. I let the same plant get ate each year as it spreads everywhere; this is my way of letting nature control the plant.
Rachael the cat is still full of energy and leaping into all the neighbours’ gardens when ever she wants.
My blogg shares are not doing as well as they had been. The increase in funds has slowed down. I have almost reached $9,000,000 virtual dollars, not too bad an increase when you consider I started with $500 a month and half ago. The rules changed during the month making it more competitive like a real stock market. There are new cash prizes for winners in the US, sadly not for the rest of the world.
Saturday, June 28, 2003
Sunshine
Saturday. Back to the weekly grind of shopping first thing. The schools finished yesterday for summer and the shops were overly busy. The heat was overpowering and the urge for light food and drink had me buying salads and fruit sodas.
Vicky and the kids called around to try and coax one of us into going to the zoo with the kids and her. I managed to get out of it with the excuse of studying. They brought back some lovely photographs of their trip, but came back too soon for me to get much studying completed. I did get a few more chapters of the new Harry Potter book read.
The sun shone down with out any interruptions from clouds. After I decided I had completed enough studying I sat outside and just soaked it up.
Did you realise that the Glastonbury festival has started?
Vicky and the kids called around to try and coax one of us into going to the zoo with the kids and her. I managed to get out of it with the excuse of studying. They brought back some lovely photographs of their trip, but came back too soon for me to get much studying completed. I did get a few more chapters of the new Harry Potter book read.
The sun shone down with out any interruptions from clouds. After I decided I had completed enough studying I sat outside and just soaked it up.
Did you realise that the Glastonbury festival has started?
Rain
Friday it rained confirming the forecaster’s dismal predictions, so I completed some studying.
Florence Court
Thursday had us visiting the last Trust property of the week, this time Florence Court.
This property was built in the mid-18th century by the man whose son would become the 1st Earl of Enniskillen and although quite small with only eight bedrooms on the second floor and a children’s floor on the third is well worth a visit for its fine furniture, paintings and tour of the servants’ workrooms.
The gardens, despite leading down a steep incline, are well worth walking, if only for the spectacular views.
This property was also well laid out with friendly guides only too willing to impart information upon request.
Sadly the drive there was three hours long and if you double that to include the drive back, you can understand that we were quickly tired and on the road most of the day. Florence Court have holiday cottages which make it a great place to use as a base to visit all the other areas points of interest:- the homestead of President Grant, The Ulster-American Folk Museum, Castle Coole and Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge to name a few.
This property was built in the mid-18th century by the man whose son would become the 1st Earl of Enniskillen and although quite small with only eight bedrooms on the second floor and a children’s floor on the third is well worth a visit for its fine furniture, paintings and tour of the servants’ workrooms.
The gardens, despite leading down a steep incline, are well worth walking, if only for the spectacular views.
This property was also well laid out with friendly guides only too willing to impart information upon request.
Sadly the drive there was three hours long and if you double that to include the drive back, you can understand that we were quickly tired and on the road most of the day. Florence Court have holiday cottages which make it a great place to use as a base to visit all the other areas points of interest:- the homestead of President Grant, The Ulster-American Folk Museum, Castle Coole and Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge to name a few.
Castle Ward
Wednesday found us visiting Castle Ward, another National Trust property It is a great place to bring the kids and the adults so if your interest is wildlife, Victorian laundry, farm yard or an eighteenth century house do visit. This place was buzzing with life during off-peak, so I can imagine that it will be screaming with life during the school holidays.
The house is a strange mixture of classical and gothic. Or to put it romantically the wife wanted one style and the husband wanted another. Rather than either one have to give up on their dream home they compromised; the front half is classical and the back half is gothic.
Being trust members we only had to flash our passes to be allowed in, but as the gateman warned “you’ll have spent money before you leave”. He must have put a spell on us because we bought in the lovely shop and had tea in the café. Every member of staff was friendly and well informed in their specialist subject.
We had a laugh with the tour guide who informed us that his dishevelled look was due to him also being one of the cleaners. Cleaner or not, his easy manor encouraged questions and his wealth of knowledge was amazing.
From one of the windows of the house you could see a Viking longboat belonging to the local Viking group. There are two other groups within sailing distance, one of which is on the Isle of Man and who ‘raid’ Castle Ward on request.
The house is a strange mixture of classical and gothic. Or to put it romantically the wife wanted one style and the husband wanted another. Rather than either one have to give up on their dream home they compromised; the front half is classical and the back half is gothic.
Being trust members we only had to flash our passes to be allowed in, but as the gateman warned “you’ll have spent money before you leave”. He must have put a spell on us because we bought in the lovely shop and had tea in the café. Every member of staff was friendly and well informed in their specialist subject.
We had a laugh with the tour guide who informed us that his dishevelled look was due to him also being one of the cleaners. Cleaner or not, his easy manor encouraged questions and his wealth of knowledge was amazing.
From one of the windows of the house you could see a Viking longboat belonging to the local Viking group. There are two other groups within sailing distance, one of which is on the Isle of Man and who ‘raid’ Castle Ward on request.
Wednesday, June 25, 2003
SOME JOKES I HEARD TODAY
The relatives of the family's rich dowager gathered for the reading of
her will after her long awaited death. "Being of sound mind," read the
lawyer, "I spent every last cent before I died."
--------------------------------------------------
Early one morning, a mother went in to wake
up her son. "Wake up, son. It's time to go
to school!"
"But why, Mom? I don't want to go."
"Give me two reasons why you don't want to
go."
"Well, the kids hate me for one, and the
teachers hate me, too!"
"Oh, that's no reason not to go to school.
Come on now and get ready."
"Give me two reasons why I should go to
school."
"Well, for one, you're 52 years old. And
for another, you're the Principal!"
------------------------------------------------------------
"If you haven't all the things you want, be grateful for the
things you don't have that you didn't want."
---Anon.
her will after her long awaited death. "Being of sound mind," read the
lawyer, "I spent every last cent before I died."
--------------------------------------------------
Early one morning, a mother went in to wake
up her son. "Wake up, son. It's time to go
to school!"
"But why, Mom? I don't want to go."
"Give me two reasons why you don't want to
go."
"Well, the kids hate me for one, and the
teachers hate me, too!"
"Oh, that's no reason not to go to school.
Come on now and get ready."
"Give me two reasons why I should go to
school."
"Well, for one, you're 52 years old. And
for another, you're the Principal!"
------------------------------------------------------------
"If you haven't all the things you want, be grateful for the
things you don't have that you didn't want."
---Anon.
Tuesday, June 24, 2003
Foot
A closed mouth gathers no foot.
Visited Rowallan Gardens today.
Rowallan is the headquarters of the National Trust in Northern Ireland and as such I expected to see a spectacular garden.
The best time to view the gardens is in the middle of May when most of the Rhododendrons and Azaleas are in flower. These plants are so old that some of them are trees and not those tiny shrubs you tend to see in modern gardens.
To quote the National Trust website Rowallan gardens are “A unique and natural landscape garden of trees and shrubs, containing many exotic species from around the world. There are spectacular displays of azaleas and rhododendrons and a notable rock garden with primulas, alpines and heathers. The walled garden has mixed borders which include the National Collection of Penstemons; there are also several areas managed as wildflower meadows.”
This is a great place to play hide and seek through the winding, cross-paths. For the older visitor there are plenty of seats scattered around.
Was I disappointed? Yes and No. There are plenty of plants to look at, many of which have been name-tagged. However, for such an important garden there seems to be a number of key positions open including Head Gardener and catering staff. Yup, it is true, the tea-room was closed and this late-June in sunny weather. Since I didn’t see a trust shop I expect it was to be found in the closed tea-room. The only members of staff spotted during the ramble was one hard working gardener atop the rock-garden and the friendly man at the pay-point who was enjoying the sun.
The rock garden was interesting. It was a granite mount the size of two bungalows upon which soil had been placed in various hollows and various arid loving plants grown. It was off course at this point my digi-cam batteries ran out, just when I had spotted a flowering azalea.
I did get one picture of a squirrel which had been entertaining us by swinging from tree to tree. I had thought that because the animal was so small it must be a red squirrel, however I was informed by the man at the pay-point that it was a grey squirrel . While many gardeners and foresters consider squirrels a ‘tree rat’, Red and Grey Squirrels are a protected species under the Wildlife Act of 1976.
The best time to view the gardens is in the middle of May when most of the Rhododendrons and Azaleas are in flower. These plants are so old that some of them are trees and not those tiny shrubs you tend to see in modern gardens.
To quote the National Trust website Rowallan gardens are “A unique and natural landscape garden of trees and shrubs, containing many exotic species from around the world. There are spectacular displays of azaleas and rhododendrons and a notable rock garden with primulas, alpines and heathers. The walled garden has mixed borders which include the National Collection of Penstemons; there are also several areas managed as wildflower meadows.”
This is a great place to play hide and seek through the winding, cross-paths. For the older visitor there are plenty of seats scattered around.
Was I disappointed? Yes and No. There are plenty of plants to look at, many of which have been name-tagged. However, for such an important garden there seems to be a number of key positions open including Head Gardener and catering staff. Yup, it is true, the tea-room was closed and this late-June in sunny weather. Since I didn’t see a trust shop I expect it was to be found in the closed tea-room. The only members of staff spotted during the ramble was one hard working gardener atop the rock-garden and the friendly man at the pay-point who was enjoying the sun.
The rock garden was interesting. It was a granite mount the size of two bungalows upon which soil had been placed in various hollows and various arid loving plants grown. It was off course at this point my digi-cam batteries ran out, just when I had spotted a flowering azalea.
I did get one picture of a squirrel which had been entertaining us by swinging from tree to tree. I had thought that because the animal was so small it must be a red squirrel, however I was informed by the man at the pay-point that it was a grey squirrel . While many gardeners and foresters consider squirrels a ‘tree rat’, Red and Grey Squirrels are a protected species under the Wildlife Act of 1976.
Monday, June 23, 2003
Amazing
I am managing to post to my web log on the correct day. lol.
It’s Monday and in the normal course of events I would normally have gone to work. Ha Ha Not today. I have a full week to spend doing things I don’t normally have time for.
Today the washing machine is going none stop in an attempt to launder all the clothing that has been hung from my body in the last week. Even those that spend only five minutes to an hour. It is all swirling around various machines getting nice and clean and smelling of spring fresh conditioner.
Okay, I’ve also hovered up every dust ball, cat fur ball, cracker crumb and stray speck of dirt from the floors, chairs and beds. Dusted madly, well sparingly at least…okay I flicked the duster in the general direction of sufaces, are you satisfied?
I have started my studies of Unit 7 – Preparing Reports and Returns…yawn. Something to do with accounting ratios to find and isolate causes in variation of income, expenditure and assets. In about three to four weeks time I will be sitting two assessments on these indecipherable equations.
Finished up the last remains of the cake….except the moulded fudge icing which my sisters kids will devour. If you recall from yesterday the moulds are in the shape of that small furry critter called moles and also caterpillars.
I have once more booked the TV for the daily ‘live’ Time Team specials. Tonight’s half hour programme is on at 8pm.
Did you hear that Russia has shut down its last independent television station has been shut down?
Still no sign of my brothers new sprogling. It is giving plenty of false starts, but there is still no show.
It’s Monday and in the normal course of events I would normally have gone to work. Ha Ha Not today. I have a full week to spend doing things I don’t normally have time for.
Today the washing machine is going none stop in an attempt to launder all the clothing that has been hung from my body in the last week. Even those that spend only five minutes to an hour. It is all swirling around various machines getting nice and clean and smelling of spring fresh conditioner.
Okay, I’ve also hovered up every dust ball, cat fur ball, cracker crumb and stray speck of dirt from the floors, chairs and beds. Dusted madly, well sparingly at least…okay I flicked the duster in the general direction of sufaces, are you satisfied?
I have started my studies of Unit 7 – Preparing Reports and Returns…yawn. Something to do with accounting ratios to find and isolate causes in variation of income, expenditure and assets. In about three to four weeks time I will be sitting two assessments on these indecipherable equations.
Finished up the last remains of the cake….except the moulded fudge icing which my sisters kids will devour. If you recall from yesterday the moulds are in the shape of that small furry critter called moles and also caterpillars.
I have once more booked the TV for the daily ‘live’ Time Team specials. Tonight’s half hour programme is on at 8pm.
Did you hear that Russia has shut down its last independent television station has been shut down?
Still no sign of my brothers new sprogling. It is giving plenty of false starts, but there is still no show.
Sunday, June 22, 2003
Bubba Chips
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bubba was bragging to his boss one day, "You know, I know everyone there
is to know. Just name someone, anyone, and I know them."
Tired of his boasting, his boss called his bluff, "OK, Bubba how about
Tom
Cruise?" "Sure, yes, Tom and I are old friends, and I can prove it."
So
Bubba and his boss fly out to Hollywood and knock on Tom Cruise's door,
and sure enough, Tom Cruise, shouts, "Bubba! Great to see you! You and
your
friend come right in and join me for lunch!" Although impressed,
Bubba's
boss is still skeptical. After they leave Cruise's house, he tells
Bubba that he thinks Bubba's knowing Cruise was just lucky.
"No, no, just name anyone else," Bubba says. ''President Bush," his
boss quickly retorts. "Yes," Bubba says, "I know him, let's fly out to
Washington." And off they go. At the White House, Bush spots Bubba on
the
tour and motions him and his boss over, saying, "Bubba, what a surprise,
I was just on my way to a meeting, but you and your friend come on in
and
let's have a cup of coffee first and catch up." Well, the boss is very
shaken by now, but still not totally convinced.
After they leave the White House grounds, he expresses his doubts to
Bubba, who again implores him to name anyone else. "The Pope," his boss
replies. "Sure!" says Bubba. "I've known the Pope a long time." So off
they fly to Rome. Bubba and his boss are assembled with the masses in
Vatican Square when Bubba says, "This will never work. I can't catch
the Pope's eye among all these people. Tell you what, I know all the
guards so let me just go
upstairs and I'll come out on the balcony with the Pope." And he
disappears into the crowd headed toward the Vatican. Sure enough, half
an hour later Bubba emerges with the Pope on the balcony.
But by the time Bubba returns, he finds that his boss has had a heart
attack and is surrounded by paramedics. Working his way to his boss's
side, Bubba
asks him, "What happened?" His boss looks up and says, "I was doing
fine
until you and the Pope came out on the balcony and the Japanese tourist
next to me asked, 'Who's that on the balcony with Bubba?
Doug
I get sent many jokes, the above one was from Buffalo. To subscribe send a blank e-mail to
Buffalos-G-Jokes-subscribe@egroups.com
Bubba was bragging to his boss one day, "You know, I know everyone there
is to know. Just name someone, anyone, and I know them."
Tired of his boasting, his boss called his bluff, "OK, Bubba how about
Tom
Cruise?" "Sure, yes, Tom and I are old friends, and I can prove it."
So
Bubba and his boss fly out to Hollywood and knock on Tom Cruise's door,
and sure enough, Tom Cruise, shouts, "Bubba! Great to see you! You and
your
friend come right in and join me for lunch!" Although impressed,
Bubba's
boss is still skeptical. After they leave Cruise's house, he tells
Bubba that he thinks Bubba's knowing Cruise was just lucky.
"No, no, just name anyone else," Bubba says. ''President Bush," his
boss quickly retorts. "Yes," Bubba says, "I know him, let's fly out to
Washington." And off they go. At the White House, Bush spots Bubba on
the
tour and motions him and his boss over, saying, "Bubba, what a surprise,
I was just on my way to a meeting, but you and your friend come on in
and
let's have a cup of coffee first and catch up." Well, the boss is very
shaken by now, but still not totally convinced.
After they leave the White House grounds, he expresses his doubts to
Bubba, who again implores him to name anyone else. "The Pope," his boss
replies. "Sure!" says Bubba. "I've known the Pope a long time." So off
they fly to Rome. Bubba and his boss are assembled with the masses in
Vatican Square when Bubba says, "This will never work. I can't catch
the Pope's eye among all these people. Tell you what, I know all the
guards so let me just go
upstairs and I'll come out on the balcony with the Pope." And he
disappears into the crowd headed toward the Vatican. Sure enough, half
an hour later Bubba emerges with the Pope on the balcony.
But by the time Bubba returns, he finds that his boss has had a heart
attack and is surrounded by paramedics. Working his way to his boss's
side, Bubba
asks him, "What happened?" His boss looks up and says, "I was doing
fine
until you and the Pope came out on the balcony and the Japanese tourist
next to me asked, 'Who's that on the balcony with Bubba?
Doug
I get sent many jokes, the above one was from Buffalo. To subscribe send a blank e-mail to
Buffalos-G-Jokes-subscribe@egroups.com
Sunday
Happy Birthday to Me.
Got some wonderful online cards. Really cheered me up.
No breakfast in bed as the person who would have made it had only gotten to bed a few hours earlier (Boxing!)
Also had to make dinner. I rarely cook so it is a miracle that I didn’t burn anything. The Sunday roast was tender after three hours at a low temperature. Opened a bottle of wine (now have a headache) and ate vast quantities of Birthday Cake.
The cake had been made into a mole, with lots of little fudge moles and a few caterpillars. Very countryside looking. Very chocolaty. My nephew and niece had chosen them. Aren’t they little darlings.
Have booked the TV so I can see my Time Team programme at 5.35. Not long to go now. When it is over I have to go over to my sisters to hand the chilblains over to their father.
It has got cool again, so I’ll pop on sometime a little warmer.
Got Rachael a new collar. It has a bell on which lets us and the birds know when she is moving around. The colour is supposed to be reflectice, but I'm still trippling over her in the dark!
Happy Birthday to Me.
Got some wonderful online cards. Really cheered me up.
No breakfast in bed as the person who would have made it had only gotten to bed a few hours earlier (Boxing!)
Also had to make dinner. I rarely cook so it is a miracle that I didn’t burn anything. The Sunday roast was tender after three hours at a low temperature. Opened a bottle of wine (now have a headache) and ate vast quantities of Birthday Cake.
The cake had been made into a mole, with lots of little fudge moles and a few caterpillars. Very countryside looking. Very chocolaty. My nephew and niece had chosen them. Aren’t they little darlings.
Have booked the TV so I can see my Time Team programme at 5.35. Not long to go now. When it is over I have to go over to my sisters to hand the chilblains over to their father.
It has got cool again, so I’ll pop on sometime a little warmer.
Got Rachael a new collar. It has a bell on which lets us and the birds know when she is moving around. The colour is supposed to be reflectice, but I'm still trippling over her in the dark!
Saturday
Very limited weeks shopping as funds are nonexistent.
Took a copy of the best photo of Rachael to the rescue centre to show them she is doing well. They couldn’t wait to get rid of us after they found out we were not going to buy another cat. If we had had the £50 it would have gone on food.
Travelled into Newtownards and parked near the shore so dad could watch the airplanes. It is cool down on the shore and the tidal area is empty of life.
Moved onto Mountstewart where I got dad an annual membership with the National Trust. Now he has free admission to the Trust properties for a year and can nosey around palaces and mansions and old estates to his hearts content.
Had a wonderful Chinese at a restaurant on the edges of an airfield. It was beautiful. We did have a heart attach when it turned out that the £16 for the two person meal was per person.
Paid the Sky Box Office charge for viewing so big Boxing Match. It started at 10 pm and finished sometime after dawn.
Mark seemed disappointed when I spoke to him earlier today. They had no firsts but only a couple of seconds. I think second is good.
The New Harry Potter book was released today with much hype. The best way to visualise the impact of the book it to look at the eight year old in Sydney train station. Flame jugglers etc entertaining the crowds this girl sat oblivious to them as she read her new Potter book.
Did you realise that the solstice has happened and the days are getting shorter. We are in the quick decline to dark winter days. Time to start gathering in the timber and the marshmallows for toasting.
Very limited weeks shopping as funds are nonexistent.
Took a copy of the best photo of Rachael to the rescue centre to show them she is doing well. They couldn’t wait to get rid of us after they found out we were not going to buy another cat. If we had had the £50 it would have gone on food.
Travelled into Newtownards and parked near the shore so dad could watch the airplanes. It is cool down on the shore and the tidal area is empty of life.
Moved onto Mountstewart where I got dad an annual membership with the National Trust. Now he has free admission to the Trust properties for a year and can nosey around palaces and mansions and old estates to his hearts content.
Had a wonderful Chinese at a restaurant on the edges of an airfield. It was beautiful. We did have a heart attach when it turned out that the £16 for the two person meal was per person.
Paid the Sky Box Office charge for viewing so big Boxing Match. It started at 10 pm and finished sometime after dawn.
Mark seemed disappointed when I spoke to him earlier today. They had no firsts but only a couple of seconds. I think second is good.
The New Harry Potter book was released today with much hype. The best way to visualise the impact of the book it to look at the eight year old in Sydney train station. Flame jugglers etc entertaining the crowds this girl sat oblivious to them as she read her new Potter book.
Did you realise that the solstice has happened and the days are getting shorter. We are in the quick decline to dark winter days. Time to start gathering in the timber and the marshmallows for toasting.
Fridays child is overworked
This poor critter started work at 8.45 am and finished at 8 pm. I wonder if they will give me any overtime.
I had my day planned out. Prepare the payslips, pay urgent suppliers and do the VAT return for May. I did eventually complete these tasks, and in addition:-
a) Prepare place settings for 40 guests and take them to the lodge where the dinner was due to be served at 7.30.
b) Arrange collection of megaphone.
c) Re-arrange collection of megaphone after the police had loaned it elsewhere and it had not been returned.
d) Arrange money and money box for the open-day gate float. This is so that people paying at the gate should get the correct change.
e) Arrange collection of guests from airport after flights had been delayed three hours. Keep all parties involved, including caterers informed of guests ETA.
f) Liaise with guest travelling by hire car, and the hire company after car decides to limit itself to 20 miles per hour.
g) Kidnap the butler and bribe him with a new badge if he would prepare the payslips for me.
h) Print and post the days new job applicant requests.
This list goes on but I think that is enough for one day.
My sisters ex-husband dropped the kids off at the security door, without waiting for her to get from her apartment on a different floor to the security door. The four year old was screaming with fright by the time she got down. My six year old nephew was hammering on the security door.
The Clandeboye Jerseys did well at the Highland Show. It is the first time in many years that any cattle from here, has been out of Ireland. We got two firsts. One for an in-calf heifer and one for a junior champion. Plus a third for overall Jersey.
Tomorrow is the milk interbreed championship.
This poor critter started work at 8.45 am and finished at 8 pm. I wonder if they will give me any overtime.
I had my day planned out. Prepare the payslips, pay urgent suppliers and do the VAT return for May. I did eventually complete these tasks, and in addition:-
a) Prepare place settings for 40 guests and take them to the lodge where the dinner was due to be served at 7.30.
b) Arrange collection of megaphone.
c) Re-arrange collection of megaphone after the police had loaned it elsewhere and it had not been returned.
d) Arrange money and money box for the open-day gate float. This is so that people paying at the gate should get the correct change.
e) Arrange collection of guests from airport after flights had been delayed three hours. Keep all parties involved, including caterers informed of guests ETA.
f) Liaise with guest travelling by hire car, and the hire company after car decides to limit itself to 20 miles per hour.
g) Kidnap the butler and bribe him with a new badge if he would prepare the payslips for me.
h) Print and post the days new job applicant requests.
This list goes on but I think that is enough for one day.
My sisters ex-husband dropped the kids off at the security door, without waiting for her to get from her apartment on a different floor to the security door. The four year old was screaming with fright by the time she got down. My six year old nephew was hammering on the security door.
The Clandeboye Jerseys did well at the Highland Show. It is the first time in many years that any cattle from here, has been out of Ireland. We got two firsts. One for an in-calf heifer and one for a junior champion. Plus a third for overall Jersey.
Tomorrow is the milk interbreed championship.
Thursday, June 19, 2003
~~~ I Ain't Dead Yet ~~~
My hair is white and I'm almost blind;
The days of my youth are far behind.
My neck is stiff; I can't turn my head.
Can't hear one-half of what's being said.
My legs are wobbly; can hardly walk,
But glory be, I can surely talk.
And this is a message I want you to get--
I'm still a kickin' and I ain't dead yet!
My joints are stiff; won't move in their sockets,
And nary a dime is left in my pockets.
So maybe you think I'm a total wreck;
To tell you the truth, I do look like a wreck.
But still, I do have a lot of fun,
And my heart with joy is overrun.
I've lots of friends, so kind and so sweet,
And still more that I'll never meet.
Oh, this is a beautiful world of ours:
Shade and sunshine and beautiful flowers.
So you can take it from me, you bet!
I'm glad I'm living and I ain't dead yet.
I've got corns on my feet and ingrown nails,
And do they hurt? here, plain language fails.
To tell you my troubles would take too long,
And if I tried, you'd give me the gong.
I go to church and Sunday school.
For I like the story that is ever new.
And when I reach the end of my row,
I hope to the lovely home I'll go.
And then when I leave this house of clay,
If you listen closely, I'm quite apt to say,
"Well, folks, I've left you, but don't you forget:
I've just passed on--I ain't dead yet!"
~ Grandma Josie ~
My hair is white and I'm almost blind;
The days of my youth are far behind.
My neck is stiff; I can't turn my head.
Can't hear one-half of what's being said.
My legs are wobbly; can hardly walk,
But glory be, I can surely talk.
And this is a message I want you to get--
I'm still a kickin' and I ain't dead yet!
My joints are stiff; won't move in their sockets,
And nary a dime is left in my pockets.
So maybe you think I'm a total wreck;
To tell you the truth, I do look like a wreck.
But still, I do have a lot of fun,
And my heart with joy is overrun.
I've lots of friends, so kind and so sweet,
And still more that I'll never meet.
Oh, this is a beautiful world of ours:
Shade and sunshine and beautiful flowers.
So you can take it from me, you bet!
I'm glad I'm living and I ain't dead yet.
I've got corns on my feet and ingrown nails,
And do they hurt? here, plain language fails.
To tell you my troubles would take too long,
And if I tried, you'd give me the gong.
I go to church and Sunday school.
For I like the story that is ever new.
And when I reach the end of my row,
I hope to the lovely home I'll go.
And then when I leave this house of clay,
If you listen closely, I'm quite apt to say,
"Well, folks, I've left you, but don't you forget:
I've just passed on--I ain't dead yet!"
~ Grandma Josie ~
And There is more...
I forgot to add that I sent out almost 50 application forms for that woodsman position.
The position involves looking after trees throughout their life time. Planting, growing, harvesting. Some of the trees at Clandeboye are over 200 years old. We have the largest broadleaved estate in Northern Ireland and we are proud of it.
There is also an area where we plant Christmas Trees for Christmas.
For the more rarer plants we have a arboretum and pinetum (sp?). Many of these are plants grown from seeds collected by early collectors and so reasonably rare.
The old kitchen garden has been leased to the Conservation Volunteers who have a tree nursery in the kitchen garden. This is an Edwardian large walled garden and just perfect for this. The CV's collect the native seeds and grown them. Then when they are 2-3 years old they are sold to the public, including the Estate.
This is a special link to show what educational activities the Tree Nursery is involved in.
Did I show you the invitation to the garden days. Here is a link to Trevor Edwards
site who has posted a copy of the invitation, which he also helped create. Trevor was also available last night for a chat at the lecture and he will be at the garden event on Saturday.
I forgot to add that I sent out almost 50 application forms for that woodsman position.
The position involves looking after trees throughout their life time. Planting, growing, harvesting. Some of the trees at Clandeboye are over 200 years old. We have the largest broadleaved estate in Northern Ireland and we are proud of it.
There is also an area where we plant Christmas Trees for Christmas.
For the more rarer plants we have a arboretum and pinetum (sp?). Many of these are plants grown from seeds collected by early collectors and so reasonably rare.
The old kitchen garden has been leased to the Conservation Volunteers who have a tree nursery in the kitchen garden. This is an Edwardian large walled garden and just perfect for this. The CV's collect the native seeds and grown them. Then when they are 2-3 years old they are sold to the public, including the Estate.
This is a special link to show what educational activities the Tree Nursery is involved in.
Did I show you the invitation to the garden days. Here is a link to Trevor Edwards
site who has posted a copy of the invitation, which he also helped create. Trevor was also available last night for a chat at the lecture and he will be at the garden event on Saturday.
Thursday
I am almost sure I got everyone paid today, at least I remember that I printed a lot of payslips on from the payroll programme. And I do recall that I promised to pay a few suppliers. It is not easy to juggle the different hats a Accounts Secretary has to do.
My kettle and large coffee pot has been loaned to the Mansion house so I am left with the bottled water and concentrated fruit juice. You start to crave something hot when you can't have any.
Our prize Jersey cows (well two of them) are settling down in Scotland for the Royal Highland Show. Mark the Farm Manager travelled over this evening to be with them. We hope they will do reasonably well. They have shown well in this country, so it will be interesting to see how they compare with Scotish Animals. From the Highland Show they travel south to England for another Show and then they get to come back home in about a fortnights time.
I am not worth $4.5 million dollars, virtual ones that is, on BlogShares, a virtual share market. I started out with the standard $500 and have bought and sold shares madly. Unfortunatly I am restricted to twenty transactions per 24 hour period or I would be much wealthier. LOL I even floated this blogsite and strangely enough people have bought the shares. Good For them.
Keep buying.
I am almost sure I got everyone paid today, at least I remember that I printed a lot of payslips on from the payroll programme. And I do recall that I promised to pay a few suppliers. It is not easy to juggle the different hats a Accounts Secretary has to do.
My kettle and large coffee pot has been loaned to the Mansion house so I am left with the bottled water and concentrated fruit juice. You start to crave something hot when you can't have any.
Our prize Jersey cows (well two of them) are settling down in Scotland for the Royal Highland Show. Mark the Farm Manager travelled over this evening to be with them. We hope they will do reasonably well. They have shown well in this country, so it will be interesting to see how they compare with Scotish Animals. From the Highland Show they travel south to England for another Show and then they get to come back home in about a fortnights time.
I am not worth $4.5 million dollars, virtual ones that is, on BlogShares, a virtual share market. I started out with the standard $500 and have bought and sold shares madly. Unfortunatly I am restricted to twenty transactions per 24 hour period or I would be much wealthier. LOL I even floated this blogsite and strangely enough people have bought the shares. Good For them.
Keep buying.
Wednesday
The Kew people arrived on schedule and most of Wednesday was full of running behind the sceens to make sure everything ran smoothly. There were one or two hicups but I think that everything else went smoothly.
The lecture last night was attended by about 150 guests plus the 8 kew staff who sat in to listen to their collegues. The weather was warm and most people sat outside in the sundrenched courtyard with its central dove cote. It was a great way to mingle and meet everyone. Also attending were three people from MIT (Boston and Dublin).
The two thirty minute lectures were broken by question sessions, however most people by then had had a chance to speak directly to the Kew people and the questions were a little limited.
The Kew people arrived on schedule and most of Wednesday was full of running behind the sceens to make sure everything ran smoothly. There were one or two hicups but I think that everything else went smoothly.
The lecture last night was attended by about 150 guests plus the 8 kew staff who sat in to listen to their collegues. The weather was warm and most people sat outside in the sundrenched courtyard with its central dove cote. It was a great way to mingle and meet everyone. Also attending were three people from MIT (Boston and Dublin).
The two thirty minute lectures were broken by question sessions, however most people by then had had a chance to speak directly to the Kew people and the questions were a little limited.
Tuesday, June 17, 2003
Audit
No rest for the good. I arrived back into work today to a full office. Aparently there was a meeting scheduled for 9 am. A pity that no-one had told the office manager ie ME. As punishment I did not make any tea or coffee.
Delegates from Royal Botanical Gardens Kew near London arrive tomorrow. KEW They are here for four days into which are packed their management meeting, touring around Mount Stewart , speaking at the Clandeboye Lecture tomorrow night and being guest guides at the Clandeboye Garden Open Day on Saturday. If you are going to the lecture don't forget to introduce yourself. I'm not hard to find..I'll be cowering or sleeping in some dark corner.
Did I mention that the advert for Woodsman went into the papers over the weekend. I don't know what the phones were like yesterday, but they rang constantly today. I am going to have my hands full to try and get the applications out before I go off for a weeks holiday.
And finally the auditor called it a day. He is going off to Turkey for a break and will not be back into the office for a fortnight. Hopefully just enough time for me to get caught up on some of my own work. I live in hope.
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.....then cheat.
No rest for the good. I arrived back into work today to a full office. Aparently there was a meeting scheduled for 9 am. A pity that no-one had told the office manager ie ME. As punishment I did not make any tea or coffee.
Delegates from Royal Botanical Gardens Kew near London arrive tomorrow. KEW They are here for four days into which are packed their management meeting, touring around Mount Stewart , speaking at the Clandeboye Lecture tomorrow night and being guest guides at the Clandeboye Garden Open Day on Saturday. If you are going to the lecture don't forget to introduce yourself. I'm not hard to find..I'll be cowering or sleeping in some dark corner.
Did I mention that the advert for Woodsman went into the papers over the weekend. I don't know what the phones were like yesterday, but they rang constantly today. I am going to have my hands full to try and get the applications out before I go off for a weeks holiday.
And finally the auditor called it a day. He is going off to Turkey for a break and will not be back into the office for a fortnight. Hopefully just enough time for me to get caught up on some of my own work. I live in hope.
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.....then cheat.
Monday, June 16, 2003
Exams
Thank goodness that is over. The exam I mean. Maintaining Financial Records, one of two exams I need for Level 3 Accounting. For the past three weeks I have revised, revised, revised.
I was up at the usual time this morning even though I could have had an extra hour in bed. Who needs an hour in bed when they could be studying. I quickly wrote out the accounting principles SSAP & FRS's and attempted to memorise them. I in-depth studied how to do an extended trial balance, profit and loss and balance sheet. reminded myself how to calculate stock under FIFO, LIFO etc.
Apart from the overwelming heat and the extreme need for a bathroom I arrived at my destination with fifteen minutes to spare....Donegal Square South...except it wasn't..I was on the wrong side of the city hall! city-hall-belfast. I quick marched across around to the back of the hall and arrived on the correct side. Noteing on passing that my favourite drop in 'very posh' cafe had turned into a grocery store.
Then I walked up and down that side trying to find the correct door......10sq streetcafe....empty shop...renovation.15....16..darn I've passed it....16...15....renovations...empty shop.....10sq ???? Okay I know it is between 15 and the cafe...ahh would this non-discript door between the cafe and the empty shop be it...? Well it opens into a hall...and oh look a uniform behind a desk, just the person to ask....2nd floor? Great.
http://cipfa These are the nice people who kindly allowed another girl and I to sit our exam. They are the only people in Northern Ireland who do the course as a day release and they were kind enough to allow an outside student to sit the course. Thank You. Thank You. Thank you.
It was a lovely room with a large board table, comfortable chairs and a wonderful fan that kept the temperature at not to hot a temprature. There was even a jug of water and glasses. Heaven. It was wonderful to be able to spread out over the desk. I took one side and the other girl who's name I never asked took the other.
We started the 3 hr exam at 2 pm. At 3.30 I had completed all I could. At 4 pm I had reviewed the thing three times, altered it here and there and now sat looking out at Belfast. I must have looked pathetic as I was allowed to hand in my booklet and leave.
I was disapointed in the exam. I knew how to do TB's and BS and P & L's and Stocks. Was that why there were none., unless you count the journals to amend a TB. On the bright side I did get my suspense account to zero. There was something to do with cost of sales and another question on partnerships, which I guessed on. Of course it was not until I arrived home that I remembered all my SSAP's and FRS's. Double Darn I see points vanishing. Still if I get a point for getting my name correct I am doing well and I do have a chance of re-doing it again in Decemberif I fail.
I hope I passed. I've scheduled another exam in December, if I pass it and today's I will have achieved a level three accounting. About the level of a degree or is that digree? My head is spinning. If I didn't have work tomorrow I would open a bottle of wine.
Have a nice evening. ZZZZZZZZzzzzz
Saturday, June 14, 2003
Sunshine
Who says it always rains in Ireland? Today I went from trousers and t-shirt, to very very thin sundress, to shorts.
Okay I know, you ask why the change from sundress to shorts....well I couldn't very well chase Rachael (nine month old kitten) around the neighbours garden in a see through dress now could I? The little escapee kept sneaking into their gardens chasing birds, butterflies and flies.
Either the cat is mad or I am. At least it has stopped chasing blue-bottle flies. LOL She must have finally caught one!
It is still around 20 degree Celsius at 11 pmish. Dare not open the windows to get the evening breeze, the youngster started jumping out of the open windows today. We did try and intorduce her to the cat flap in the hope that she might start to do her business outside. Not a bit of her, the minute the door was opened she dashed in to her deposit tray. Phewee!
Right now I can hear the fireworks in the distance. I don't know where they are being let off, they started banging at about 10.45 and are still going strong. Pity that I can only hear them and not see them. Oops shouldn't have spoken they have just ended. hmmm 15 minutes of constant banging. I wish they had given me the money instead of burning it like that.
Perhaps I will win the lottery. With having to support my dad and my sister being made redundant last week money is very thin on the ground. Ah well, we live and hope. If I won the lottery I wouldn't know what to do with it.
Dad is upset at the moment. His cousin invited his (Dads) best friends to a birthday party and he was left in ignorance. They know he is at home all the time now and he could have gone. They often drive up to cousins house together. I think it is just mean of them. You sure know who your friends are. I feel hurt for dad, so he must feel worse.
Poor Concord,
After thirty years of flying 1300 mph, which is twice the speed of sound, the supersonic airplane will soon fly no more.
The French have already retired its service and the British ends its service in October.
The Smithsonian Institute in Washington is taking one of the concords to sit alongside their other famous planes.
After thirty years of flying 1300 mph, which is twice the speed of sound, the supersonic airplane will soon fly no more.
The French have already retired its service and the British ends its service in October.
The Smithsonian Institute in Washington is taking one of the concords to sit alongside their other famous planes.
Friday, June 13, 2003
Its Friday
What a week. The auditor has packed up and gone home. My nephew and neice have been around and terrorised the cat. The aformentioned cat is attempting to sit on my lap even tho there is no space in front of the keyboard. And the pollin count is high.
In three days time I will have sat my exam, for better or worse.
If at first you don't suceed, remove all the evidence you ever tried it.
School
In school one day, a teacher asked a six-year-old boy why his handwriting wasn't as neat s usual.
He explained, "I'm trying out a new font."
In school one day, a teacher asked a six-year-old boy why his handwriting wasn't as neat s usual.
He explained, "I'm trying out a new font."
Counting Bricks
While a friend and I were visiting Annapolis, we noticed several students on
their hands and knees assessing the courtyard with pencils and clipboards in
hand.
"What are they doing?" I asked our tour guide.
"Each year," he replied with a grin, "The upperclassmen ask the freshmen how
many bricks it took to finish paving this courtyard."
When we were out of earshot of the freshmen, my friend asked our guide: "So
what's the answer?"
The guide replied: "One."
Thursday, June 12, 2003
If you write a mental note to yourself, and you then forget what you wrote, did you write with disapearing ink?
Never anger a women in high heels.
At least that is the word in Brooklyn where in the early hours of Saturday morning a woman won an argument with her ex-boyfriend…permanently.
The ex-boyfriend was battered to death with her size 12 high heeled shoe in self-defence when he punched her in the mouth and knocked out two teeth.
Wednesday, June 11, 2003
I have heard that old dogs can not learn new tricks. What about old people?
Some people get absent minded as they get older and some people seem to keep broadening their horizons. In California a 97 year old great grandmother started computer classes in January and is due to receive an high school certificate in June.
Gustava Bennett-Burrus has always wanted to learn but had to leave school in fourth grade, because her parents could not afford it. Instead of learning, she helped her parents pick cotton. These days she encourages her grandchildren, and great grandchilden, to keep their ‘mind elevated’.
-----------------------------------
When I was doing my BSc with the Open University I met another woman like Gustava. This woman was in her 80’s. She also had not been able to indulge in learning at a young age and now that her family had moved on she was able to catch up at her leisure. She was a hero of my summer school and whilst I have forgotten her name, I still remember that whilst her physical body had slowed down, she could out think the rest of us.
The Open University
Some people get absent minded as they get older and some people seem to keep broadening their horizons. In California a 97 year old great grandmother started computer classes in January and is due to receive an high school certificate in June.
Gustava Bennett-Burrus has always wanted to learn but had to leave school in fourth grade, because her parents could not afford it. Instead of learning, she helped her parents pick cotton. These days she encourages her grandchildren, and great grandchilden, to keep their ‘mind elevated’.
-----------------------------------
When I was doing my BSc with the Open University I met another woman like Gustava. This woman was in her 80’s. She also had not been able to indulge in learning at a young age and now that her family had moved on she was able to catch up at her leisure. She was a hero of my summer school and whilst I have forgotten her name, I still remember that whilst her physical body had slowed down, she could out think the rest of us.
The Open University
Fortune
Fortunately, a friend offered my wife a ride in his airplane.
Unfortunately, the car wouldn't start when she left for the airport.
Fortunately, my car did start, and I took her.
Unfortunately, we got caught in a major traffic jam.
Fortunately, the traffic jam let up, and we headed down the road.
Unfortunately, a truck flipped over and blocked the road in front of us.
Fortunately, I knew the back route, and I turned around.
Unfortunately, the back route was very circuitous.
Fortunately, we did make it to the airport in time.
Unfortunately, it was too windy to fly.
Fortunately, the wind died down, and the friend and my wife took off.
Unfortunately, about 3,000 feet up, the engine caught fire.
Fortunately, he pulled the fire handle, and the extinguisher put it out.
Unfortunately, the engine quit, and the oil tank started burning.
Fortunately, they had parachutes.
Unfortunately, the plane started burning violently.
Fortunately, they managed to bail out, and my wife's parachute opened.
Unfortunately, his parachute wouldn't open.
Fortunately, he had a reserve chute.
Unfortunately, his reserve chute wouldn't open either.
Fortunately, he was dropping toward a haystack.
Unfortunately, the haystack had a pitchfork in it.
Fortunately, he missed the pitchfork.
Unfortunately, he missed the haystack.
Don't we all have days like that.
Fortunately, a friend offered my wife a ride in his airplane.
Unfortunately, the car wouldn't start when she left for the airport.
Fortunately, my car did start, and I took her.
Unfortunately, we got caught in a major traffic jam.
Fortunately, the traffic jam let up, and we headed down the road.
Unfortunately, a truck flipped over and blocked the road in front of us.
Fortunately, I knew the back route, and I turned around.
Unfortunately, the back route was very circuitous.
Fortunately, we did make it to the airport in time.
Unfortunately, it was too windy to fly.
Fortunately, the wind died down, and the friend and my wife took off.
Unfortunately, about 3,000 feet up, the engine caught fire.
Fortunately, he pulled the fire handle, and the extinguisher put it out.
Unfortunately, the engine quit, and the oil tank started burning.
Fortunately, they had parachutes.
Unfortunately, the plane started burning violently.
Fortunately, they managed to bail out, and my wife's parachute opened.
Unfortunately, his parachute wouldn't open.
Fortunately, he had a reserve chute.
Unfortunately, his reserve chute wouldn't open either.
Fortunately, he was dropping toward a haystack.
Unfortunately, the haystack had a pitchfork in it.
Fortunately, he missed the pitchfork.
Unfortunately, he missed the haystack.
Don't we all have days like that.
Fire
During a recent ecumenical gathering, a secretary rushed in shouting,
"The building is on fire!"
The Methodists gathered in the corner and prayed.
The Baptists cried, "Where is the water?"
The Quakers quietly praised God for the blessings that fire brings.
The Lutherans posted a notice on the door declaring the fire was evil.
The Roman Catholics passed the plate to cover the damage.
The Jews posted symbols on the door hoping the fire would pass.
The Congregationalists shouted, "Every man for himself!"
The Fundamentalists proclaimed, "It's the vengeance of God!"
The Episcopalians formed a procession and marched out.
The Christian Scientists concluded that there was no fire.
The Presbyterians appointed a chairperson who was to appoint a committee
to look into the matter and submit a written report
HOWEVER... The secretary grabbed the fire extinguisher and put the fire
out.
Tuesday Night
What kinds of additives are in cat food these days? It has turned my cat hyper.
Take the early hours of this morning. The cat was going mad running up and down the hallway, bouncing off my bed, off the walls etc.
At the end up I had enough, got up, cleaned the litter tray, and give her some food. Then closed my door as I went back to bed.
I had hoped this would keep her quiet for the remainder of the night, but no, a few moments after I had settled myself into a tight bed ball there came the sound of galloping feet down the hallyway, culminating in the thud of a cat body hitting the door half way up. Since this did not get my door open the cat raced up the hallway, turned and raced back down towards the door...crash. The door still did not open.
Now who said cats are stupid. Since the two attempts had not opened the door, the cat stopped running and sat for the next few hours alternating between crying and scratching the door.
Tuesday, June 10, 2003
Screw or cork?
If you were offered a wine bottle with a screw top or a wine bottle with a cork top which would you choose?
Is it an old social status complex that makes many people reach for the corked bottle because it is considered to be a posh, superior wine?
Now that we are being educated in sustainable shoping should we be buying only screw top wines?
What ever your opinion mine remaines unchanged. Scew top wines for everyday use and corked wines for the more intimate shindig.
The West Nile virus has reared its ugly head again in around twenty four US states.
Mosquitoes are generally blamed for being carriers of the disease, but the virus has also been found in horses and birds.
The virus was first reported in the US four years ago and last year they had two hundred and eighty four deaths in during the outbreak.
As there are no known human cases this year the resurgence of the virus is not considered a crisis.
It is recommended that mosquito breeding grounds are drained and that repellents are used.
Information on the virus
West Nile Virus Maps - 2003
Mosquitoes are generally blamed for being carriers of the disease, but the virus has also been found in horses and birds.
The virus was first reported in the US four years ago and last year they had two hundred and eighty four deaths in during the outbreak.
As there are no known human cases this year the resurgence of the virus is not considered a crisis.
It is recommended that mosquito breeding grounds are drained and that repellents are used.
Information on the virus
West Nile Virus Maps - 2003
A messy kitchen is a happy kitchen, and this kitchen is delirious.
Tuesday
Can the audit get any worse? My translation of the journals for last year was incorrect and we have been trying to correct them all day. How was I supposed to know some of the journals were virtual for auditing purposes only. Well I live and learn. The thing is...will I remember them in six months when I finally get the journals for this year?
Studying tonight..tried some past papers but got totally confused.
Can the audit get any worse? My translation of the journals for last year was incorrect and we have been trying to correct them all day. How was I supposed to know some of the journals were virtual for auditing purposes only. Well I live and learn. The thing is...will I remember them in six months when I finally get the journals for this year?
Studying tonight..tried some past papers but got totally confused.
Monday Blues
The annual audit has started. This is that annual cringathon when all my work for the last year is analysed and checked for errors. The first hurdle is to get past the TB check. This is when they make sure that my translation of their journals agree with the what they wanted me to do.
Downloaded yahoo messenger in the evening and played chess online. I won. hehehe
My website building has started. Check out the first page www.dracofalls.com I still have to decide on the blurb for the homepage, but the layout is there. The typestyle and colouring of dracofalls was not my idea, but the web designer telling me it was better that way. sob. Tell me what you think.
Monday, June 09, 2003
AS promised Saturdays Outing
Anyone who follows my blog knows that each Saturday I go shopping and spend the rest of the day clearing up the weeks mess and getting ready for the following week.
Today we decided to break free. This sleepyhead did not wake when the alarm went off. Something to do with going to bed very late or very early depending on which day you are talking about. So instead of going shopping we decided to visit my great aunt and take her out for lunch.
After almost two hours driving we rang her to prepare her for our arrival and to offer her lunch. Since she said she was not feeling to well we decided to make the visit brief.
Now my Aunt is in her mid-eighties, lives on her own and has a small back garden to die for. She is tall and lanky and not at all hard of hearing. In fact her worst complaint is that we speak to fast for her…a nice way of asking us not to slur our words together. For those who do not know what slur means it is talkingveryfastandjoiningallthewordstogether or abbreviating don’t, can’t bol’ks etc.
I’m convinced she was a teacher in a past life. She is forever entering competitions and winning small things. At her age she has done everything and seen it all. Travelled the world and written about it.
She was a child during the swinging twenties and a young lady during the roaring thirties etc. She has seen the new millennium and things are just going down hill from there. I think you get the picture of the strong woman who married my grandmothers’ brother in the last century.
So we flew up the motorway on a beautiful sunny day, slipped onto the back roads to cross country and ended up by the river Foyle close to where it empties into the sea. The original valley was created during the ice age when an ice river carved its way into the land. Much of this has silted up over the ages and now there is a large flat lowland of bright green fields, before the blue of the wide river. The river is also deep and during the 2nd world war navy submarines and battleships would sail up the river…in some cases to Londonderry. You hear many people calling it Derry, but Derry is the name of the old city which in the 17th century was behind the, still existing walls. There are plans to change the name back to Derry. To be honest everyone tends abbreviate the name and drop the London part anyway. http://www.visitderry.com/walls.htm
We eventually arrived in Eglington, a lovely little village with ancient stone walls and humped back bridge. My Aunt has a cottage surrounded by carefully maintained gardens. How she gets so much into so little is beyond me. Even the greenhouse is packed full of edibles. How at her age she keeps it so immaculate is a mystery to me.
Since the Great Aunt was not feeling we had decided on a short visit. Imagine our surprise to find she had dinner on for us. Sigh..I had been so looking forward to the little café we always visit when in that part of the woods.
After relaxing over dinner, admiring the garden and attempting some logic problems it was obvious she was very tired. So we quickly said our goodbyes and set out on the road again.
We decided to follow the river Foyle to its end. One of the largest beaches in Northern Ireland is found there and, naturally we drove across the sand, past all the happy kiddies and their parents. I found it amusing the two pink ice-cream vans park on either side of the seaward end of the exit road. If you ever get lost when looking for the way out look for the ice-cream vans. Without them you do not have a hope of finding the way out. Especially if the sand has not been cleared away from the road top. We even found time to stop and go for a paddle. Brrrr the North Sea is C O L D even in high summer. Even so there were a few mad...err...brave soles who ventured out.
The cliffs along the eastern side are a good spot for gliding. Today it was only the birds taking the thermals. The cliff is pale granite on top of limestone, with mudstone and a red sandstone layers somewhere in between. The limestone gets weathered out first and the granite slides down in chunks, so you get a stepped appearance in places. I dare say the slipped granite protects the limestone behind from further weathering, or at least slows the process. This area was part of a fault line that continues through Scotland. I think it is basalt, I could be mistaken. It looks too pale for the basalt that I know can be found further round the coast at Portrush. I did get a few good picture which I may upload to my website if it ever gets going. www.dracofalls.com
The day trip was fun, the weather was good and by the end of it I was so exhausted I could have slept the trip home. I was very thankful I was not driving or we would have been over a hedge a few times when I did dose off.
Anyone who follows my blog knows that each Saturday I go shopping and spend the rest of the day clearing up the weeks mess and getting ready for the following week.
Today we decided to break free. This sleepyhead did not wake when the alarm went off. Something to do with going to bed very late or very early depending on which day you are talking about. So instead of going shopping we decided to visit my great aunt and take her out for lunch.
After almost two hours driving we rang her to prepare her for our arrival and to offer her lunch. Since she said she was not feeling to well we decided to make the visit brief.
Now my Aunt is in her mid-eighties, lives on her own and has a small back garden to die for. She is tall and lanky and not at all hard of hearing. In fact her worst complaint is that we speak to fast for her…a nice way of asking us not to slur our words together. For those who do not know what slur means it is talkingveryfastandjoiningallthewordstogether or abbreviating don’t, can’t bol’ks etc.
I’m convinced she was a teacher in a past life. She is forever entering competitions and winning small things. At her age she has done everything and seen it all. Travelled the world and written about it.
She was a child during the swinging twenties and a young lady during the roaring thirties etc. She has seen the new millennium and things are just going down hill from there. I think you get the picture of the strong woman who married my grandmothers’ brother in the last century.
So we flew up the motorway on a beautiful sunny day, slipped onto the back roads to cross country and ended up by the river Foyle close to where it empties into the sea. The original valley was created during the ice age when an ice river carved its way into the land. Much of this has silted up over the ages and now there is a large flat lowland of bright green fields, before the blue of the wide river. The river is also deep and during the 2nd world war navy submarines and battleships would sail up the river…in some cases to Londonderry. You hear many people calling it Derry, but Derry is the name of the old city which in the 17th century was behind the, still existing walls. There are plans to change the name back to Derry. To be honest everyone tends abbreviate the name and drop the London part anyway. http://www.visitderry.com/walls.htm
We eventually arrived in Eglington, a lovely little village with ancient stone walls and humped back bridge. My Aunt has a cottage surrounded by carefully maintained gardens. How she gets so much into so little is beyond me. Even the greenhouse is packed full of edibles. How at her age she keeps it so immaculate is a mystery to me.
Since the Great Aunt was not feeling we had decided on a short visit. Imagine our surprise to find she had dinner on for us. Sigh..I had been so looking forward to the little café we always visit when in that part of the woods.
After relaxing over dinner, admiring the garden and attempting some logic problems it was obvious she was very tired. So we quickly said our goodbyes and set out on the road again.
We decided to follow the river Foyle to its end. One of the largest beaches in Northern Ireland is found there and, naturally we drove across the sand, past all the happy kiddies and their parents. I found it amusing the two pink ice-cream vans park on either side of the seaward end of the exit road. If you ever get lost when looking for the way out look for the ice-cream vans. Without them you do not have a hope of finding the way out. Especially if the sand has not been cleared away from the road top. We even found time to stop and go for a paddle. Brrrr the North Sea is C O L D even in high summer. Even so there were a few mad...err...brave soles who ventured out.
The cliffs along the eastern side are a good spot for gliding. Today it was only the birds taking the thermals. The cliff is pale granite on top of limestone, with mudstone and a red sandstone layers somewhere in between. The limestone gets weathered out first and the granite slides down in chunks, so you get a stepped appearance in places. I dare say the slipped granite protects the limestone behind from further weathering, or at least slows the process. This area was part of a fault line that continues through Scotland. I think it is basalt, I could be mistaken. It looks too pale for the basalt that I know can be found further round the coast at Portrush. I did get a few good picture which I may upload to my website if it ever gets going. www.dracofalls.com
The day trip was fun, the weather was good and by the end of it I was so exhausted I could have slept the trip home. I was very thankful I was not driving or we would have been over a hedge a few times when I did dose off.
These adverts have been doing the rounds. So I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon and post them.
Real-Life Classified Ads:
2 female Boston Terrier puppies, 7 wks old, Perfect markings,
555-1234. Leave mess.
Lost: small apricot poodle. Reward. Neutered. Like one of
the family.
A superb and inexpensive restaurant. Fine food expertly
served by waitresses in appetizing forms.
Dinner Special -- Turkey $2.35; Chicken or Beef $2.25;
Children $2.00.
For sale: an antique desk suitable for lady with thick legs
and large drawers.
Four-poster bed, 101 years old. Perfect for antique lover.
Now is your chance to have your ears pierced and get an extra
pair to take home, too.
Wanted: 50 girls for stripping machine operators in factory.
We do not tear your clothing with machinery. We do it care-
fully by hand.
For Sale. Three canaries of undermined sex.
For Sale -- Eight puppies from a German Shepherd and an
Alaskan Hussy.
Great Dames for sale.
Have several very old dresses from grandmother in beautiful
condition.
Dog for sale: eats anything and is fond of children.
Real-Life Classified Ads:
2 female Boston Terrier puppies, 7 wks old, Perfect markings,
555-1234. Leave mess.
Lost: small apricot poodle. Reward. Neutered. Like one of
the family.
A superb and inexpensive restaurant. Fine food expertly
served by waitresses in appetizing forms.
Dinner Special -- Turkey $2.35; Chicken or Beef $2.25;
Children $2.00.
For sale: an antique desk suitable for lady with thick legs
and large drawers.
Four-poster bed, 101 years old. Perfect for antique lover.
Now is your chance to have your ears pierced and get an extra
pair to take home, too.
Wanted: 50 girls for stripping machine operators in factory.
We do not tear your clothing with machinery. We do it care-
fully by hand.
For Sale. Three canaries of undermined sex.
For Sale -- Eight puppies from a German Shepherd and an
Alaskan Hussy.
Great Dames for sale.
Have several very old dresses from grandmother in beautiful
condition.
Dog for sale: eats anything and is fond of children.
Reply to Tommy,
Thanks for your message. No I cannot read Norwegian, but a friend of mine does. Not that he has got around to translating yet..
Duct tape is like the Force.
It has a light side and a dark side,
And holds the universe together.
Sunday, June 08, 2003
I've still to post about my day away yesterday. That is if I can still see after my optician's appointment tomorrow.
3 Men, 3 Wishes
Three men were trekking throught the desert and came across a magician.
The magician was standing at the top of a slide, and he said,
"You may each go down the slide, asking for a drink.
When you reach the bottom of the slide you shall land in a hugh glass of that drink."
The men were thrilled, and the first man went down yelling, "Beeeeeerrrrrrrrrrr!!"
Plop! He landed in a hugh glass of beer and was very happy.
The second guy went down the slide yelling, "Llleemmoonnnaaadddee!!"
Plop! He landed in a large glass of lemonade, and was delighted.
The third guy went down the slide yelling, "Wwhhhheeeeeeee"...
Friday, June 06, 2003
Virus warning
Every now and again my antivirus agent notifies of virus's. This time round it is a new bugbear worm and they are advising everyone to make sure that they have downloaded all the latest protection. I'm just passing the warning on.
If you go down to Kuala Limpur today do not hold hands
Muslim religious police are clampling down to keep the city morally clean. One youth was beaten after placing his hand on his girlfriends shoulders and many unmarried couples were fined for holding hands.
It is interesting to see how different cultures view holding hands. In many non-muslim countries holding hands is a form of human bonding. Behavoural experts believe it strengthens the ties between couples.
Twins Joined at the chest
In Brazil doctors are researching ways to seperate male twins joined at the chest. However, a preliminary examination has shown that they share the same heart. If there is only one heart is it ethical to sacrifice one twin so that the other may live a single life. Or will would the doctors attempt to implant a new heart. With cloning opening new avenues is it too early to grow a heart? Or will another baby have to die.
Horray It's Friday again.
It is 7.30 am and I am drooping all ready. I really aught to get to bed before midnight. If the cats faught last night, I sleept through it.
Listen, the world is quiet. The wind has passed and the trees are still again. Not even a breeze.
I guess I had better get ready for work. It would not do for me to be late on the last day of the working week.
Catch you later and have a nice day.
Thursday, June 05, 2003
I did write a nice blogg but It seems to have vanished into cyber space. I'll try again tomorrow I'mm away to dream of winning the lottey.
Vesuvius moves
Almost everyone knows that Vesuvius is a volcano that dominates the landscape around Naples, and that it is famous for devistating the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum in AD79. Tens of thousands of men, women and children were killed.
In this century the population has grown and Vesuvius is surrounded by houses containing over half a million people in the danger zone alone. In the event of a volcanic eruption the damage caused to lives and property would be devistating.
In an effort to plan for the future the local officials have outlined a plan to the regional government which they hope will be agreed shortly. This plan aims to encourage people to move to safer areas outside the danger zone by offering 25,000 euros to ease the move.
-----------------------------------------------------
Most people need to sell a house to raise enough monies to fund a new one. The offer of 25,000 euros sounds good until you realise that it would not buy even quarter of a house. I just hope that the officials have as past of their payment plan a clause that insists that those taking up the offer will abandon their house and not sell it. Otherwise they might as well just burn the money.
Everybody on earth dies and goes to heaven.
God comes and says, "I want the men to make two lines. One
line for the men that dominated their women on earth and the other line
for the men that were dominated by their women. Also, I want all the
women to go with St. Peter."
With that said and done, the next time God looked, the women are gone
and there are two lines. The line of the men that were dominated by
their women was 100 miles long, and in the line of men that dominated
their women, there was only one man.
God got mad and said, "You men should be ashamed of
yourselves. I created, you in my image and you were all
whipped by your mates. Look at the only,one of my sons that stood up and
made me proud. Learn from him! Tell them my son, how did you manage to
be the only one in this line?"
And the man replied, "I don't know, my wife told me to
stand here.
Wednesday, June 04, 2003
Test Test Test
Japan has gone hugging mad.
With their economy currently in a slump, the normally reserved Japanese have been lining up to be embraced an Indian holy woman.
On a world hugging tour, this middle aged woman is bringing happiness to the business community of Tokyo who are depressed by their current economic state. Some of them leaving in an emotional state feel that she is bringing to them love.
………….
I have to say that I love being hugged. Even receiving hugs via e-mail is a nice thing.
Brighten up someone’s day….give a stranger a hug today.
With their economy currently in a slump, the normally reserved Japanese have been lining up to be embraced an Indian holy woman.
On a world hugging tour, this middle aged woman is bringing happiness to the business community of Tokyo who are depressed by their current economic state. Some of them leaving in an emotional state feel that she is bringing to them love.
………….
I have to say that I love being hugged. Even receiving hugs via e-mail is a nice thing.
Brighten up someone’s day….give a stranger a hug today.
Just upgraded the Norton Internet Security to block out all those strange messages that i seem to be spamed with. Now have to work out how to use it.
Tuesday, June 03, 2003
I am having problems getting the blogcircle link to sit on one line. It has now been banished to the bottom of the page where it seems happy to stay together. AGHHHHHHHH
Its raining men
In my dreams! It is raining again, but sadly not men. But hey, I live in hope. :-)
Had lunch out today at a garden centre restaurant. They do a delicious sweet and sour chicken with peaches. Yummy.
Sadly there was no pavalova. I don't care that 'pavalova' is so 'last year', Good things should last for ever.
Darn I did so want to break my diet.
The best laugh was that the man I was with had only a scone so he could have room for the pavalova.
Perhaps I should have warned him the chill cabenet was empty, nah, he walked past it on the way in and should have noticed.
The housekeeping staff visited into my office today bringing me bleach and fairy liquid. What, do they actually think I wash dishes by hand? What good is their dishwasher then? Perhaps it is retaliation for leaving a pile of dished outside their pantry door. If they had wanted me to enter their inner scantum they should have left the door unlocked! Correct?
CWM BREFI, Wales
The village of Cwm Breifi has been waiting 100 years for the electricity man to call.
This week, weather permitting, they will finally be connected.
Having fought for the connection for years, it is rumoured that each household paid £5,000 for their connection to the grid.
Just wait until they get their first bill and their old friend 'Jenny' will be switched back on.
I had thought that all new installations were being placed underground, however was that electricity poles I saw going up.
I hope that when bad weather bring down the line the village of Cwm Breifi will not have to wait another 100 years before the repair men come.
Owl Joke
Each evening birdlover Tom stood in his backyard, hooting like an owl - and
one night, an owl called back to him. For a year, the man and his feathered
friend hooted back and forth. He even kept a log of the "conversation."
Just as he thought he was on the verge of a breakthrough in interspecies
communication, his wife had a chat with her next door neighbor.
"My husband spends his nights ... calling out to owls," she said.
"That's odd," the neighbor replied. "So does my husband."
Then it dawned on them.
Monday, June 02, 2003
Rachael
Took the new cat back to the vet today. The swelling caused by the glandular porblem seems to be going down. The vet wants us to stop the medication and hopefully by the end of the week everything should be back to normal.
Rachael slept most of the day and is now running around trying to get outside. No no little kitty cat. Remember yesterday? You tried to run away. Sorry pet you are housebound for the next few weeks.
Oh stop moaning and use the litter tray. Yes I know the other cat is allowed to go outside to rake the weeds, but you are not.
Hey leave my ankle alone....eaaoooowww
Audit Woes
The audit was due to start today. I rushed into work just minutes before 9 am and started up my trusty computer.
9.30 The auditor has not arrived... I will just complete the stocktake costings and post to the accounting programme.
10.30 Still no auditor...I'll just check the bank reconcilliations and make any necessay changes.
11.00 Probably the auditor is not coming until after lunch....I'll just journal some year end accruals.
1.00 Cat is due at the vat at 2.40, someone else will have to take her I've the auditor coming today.
2.00 Where is at auditor hiding, I've waited almost a whole day for him. I'll just start on the printouts.
3.00 Hello may I speak to the auditor please........hello?...we were expecting the auditor today and there is no sign of him.....Oh I see we have been rescheduled?....hmmm?.....that is all very well but I am away that week....yes I know the audit is important that is why I booked my holidays around your schedule....I...you...ring me back when you have scheduled around my holidays.
4.00 Well that gives me time to start my own checks prior to the audit. I wonder how my sick cat is. They could at least have notified me of the changes. I could have taken the cat to the vet myself instead of relying on someone ese. humph
5.00 Still no phone call from the auditor to say when he is starting.
The audit was due to start today. I rushed into work just minutes before 9 am and started up my trusty computer.
9.30 The auditor has not arrived... I will just complete the stocktake costings and post to the accounting programme.
10.30 Still no auditor...I'll just check the bank reconcilliations and make any necessay changes.
11.00 Probably the auditor is not coming until after lunch....I'll just journal some year end accruals.
1.00 Cat is due at the vat at 2.40, someone else will have to take her I've the auditor coming today.
2.00 Where is at auditor hiding, I've waited almost a whole day for him. I'll just start on the printouts.
3.00 Hello may I speak to the auditor please........hello?...we were expecting the auditor today and there is no sign of him.....Oh I see we have been rescheduled?....hmmm?.....that is all very well but I am away that week....yes I know the audit is important that is why I booked my holidays around your schedule....I...you...ring me back when you have scheduled around my holidays.
4.00 Well that gives me time to start my own checks prior to the audit. I wonder how my sick cat is. They could at least have notified me of the changes. I could have taken the cat to the vet myself instead of relying on someone ese. humph
5.00 Still no phone call from the auditor to say when he is starting.
This is my new blogchalk:
United Kingdom, , English, 36-40. :)
Sunday, June 01, 2003
Sams Confessional
Because our former small-town parish was not a wealthy one, our pastor
was dependent on parishioners for upkeep and maintenance of the church.
Once he asked my husband, Sam, to rewire the confessionals. The only way
to reach the wiring was to enter the attic above the altar and crawl
over the ceiling by balancing on the rafters. Concerned for my husband's
safety, I waited in a pew. Unbeknownst to me, some parishioners were
congregating in the vestibule. They paid little attention to me,
probably assuming I was praying. Worried about my husband, I looked up
toward the ceiling and yelled, "Sam, Sam -- are you up there? Did you
make it okay?" There was quite an outburst from the vestibule when
Sam's hearty voice echoed down, "Yes, I made it up here just fine!"
Sunday Afternoon
Its raining again. That fine stuff that is known as Scotch mist. You've probably seen it. It's the type of rain that is very good at getting through any gaps in your clothing.
On the bright side it means I don't have to water the lawm OR do any weeding.
The Monaco Grand Prix is on TV at the moment. I wonder if the drivers get as bored as I do at their driving around in circles? You begin to hope for some excitement. A little fender bender to liven the action or a comercial. I really dislike looking at the Monacco race. All those jewels, all those big boats. Blah you'd never find me wasteing a few thousand dollars on a nights accommodation . . . unless someone else was footing the bill. Nah, not even then. It wouldn't feel right.
Well it is back to the studies. Only two weeks before my MFR exam and I need all the practice I can get. err....I'll just go and get a cup of tea first...
Young Criminals
Two 9 year old girls have been released uncharged after hurling bricks from a bridge at cars on the motorway below. Not because there is no evidence to link them to the crime, there is, they were caught on CCTV. It is because they are under the age the law sets as being criminally responsible.
Now correct me if I am wrong, but is a child deemed responsible enought to be allowed out of the house unsupervised, not old enought to know right from wrong? Because if they are not, why are they being allowed out?
Is it a case of copy cat? After all it is only two months since a brick was droped through the windshield of a lorry on the M3 killing the driver.
If you are travelling at seventy miles an hour and a brick comes through your windowscreen, does that mean the smashed glass drives into you at seventy miles an hour? As your hands leave the steering wheel to protect your face, who protects the other drivers whilst your vehicle is uncontrolled?
Parents do you know where your children are at this moment? What do you think the punishment solution should be?
Should there be a childrens court? Set up a court in the school and have the offenders own class mates be the jury, with perhaps the head girl as the judge. Have the punishment worked out with the parents beforehand. For example some sort of community work.
Do social workers get involved in cases like this? I cannot imagine that these children get off totally free. (Excluding what ever the parents do.) Then what happens to the parents? Is there some sort of councelling for them? After all they are as much victims of their childrens actions as the drivers at risk on the motorway.
Two 9 year old girls have been released uncharged after hurling bricks from a bridge at cars on the motorway below. Not because there is no evidence to link them to the crime, there is, they were caught on CCTV. It is because they are under the age the law sets as being criminally responsible.
Now correct me if I am wrong, but is a child deemed responsible enought to be allowed out of the house unsupervised, not old enought to know right from wrong? Because if they are not, why are they being allowed out?
Is it a case of copy cat? After all it is only two months since a brick was droped through the windshield of a lorry on the M3 killing the driver.
If you are travelling at seventy miles an hour and a brick comes through your windowscreen, does that mean the smashed glass drives into you at seventy miles an hour? As your hands leave the steering wheel to protect your face, who protects the other drivers whilst your vehicle is uncontrolled?
Parents do you know where your children are at this moment? What do you think the punishment solution should be?
Should there be a childrens court? Set up a court in the school and have the offenders own class mates be the jury, with perhaps the head girl as the judge. Have the punishment worked out with the parents beforehand. For example some sort of community work.
Do social workers get involved in cases like this? I cannot imagine that these children get off totally free. (Excluding what ever the parents do.) Then what happens to the parents? Is there some sort of councelling for them? After all they are as much victims of their childrens actions as the drivers at risk on the motorway.
