Play your own game, shame about London

Well it has taken years and today it finally came about. I played a game of pool against Green car man and I actually won it. From these years of thrashings today I've learnt you can only play your own game. Know your limitations, stick to them and play the best to your abilities. Of course this goes for anything not just pool. I had to do my own thing and this time it worked. As Franky Sinatra says "I did it my way" yep.

I had to travel into London to get my train ticket for Scotland today. Taking a few hours to myself I checked out usually places to eat and found to my horror a significant number of Chinese restaurants have now become eat-as-much-as-you-like, for a set price. Their dishes mainly including onions. All I can think is there must be quite a few onion farms just outside of London and some lucky farmer is quids in. It is a horror story and I mean it. Good quality food has now been substituted for onions with a little black bean sauce. To my surprise the recession is in full swing, it can be seen by the type of shops around. There once used to be an excellent Virgin store not far from Shafetesbury Avenue, it had a coffee shop where you could sit by the window and watch people go back and forth. Being as Virgin shops were bought out, then changed to Zavvi and then became bankrupt, it is obviously going to be different. I looked around to eat in an Indian restaurant, but to no avail could I find on around Leicester Square. So in another lesson I am re taught "things change" and just to get on with it. I vacillated walking around and around the same shops looking for food. Ending up with a couple of Samosas from a confectionery shop. Lunch, and I'm shocked by the downhill roll the area has taken. The cinemas however still charge exorbitant prices for tickets, so it is no wonder people find other means to watch the latest movies. Sounds like someone knows how to shoot themselves in the foot.

Water has a funny taste

The past couple of months or maybe more I've began to notice something. The taste of water, or rather a taste in the water which should not be there. One morning this taste had got so much for me I ended up having a puke. I wonder if it could be something coincidentally related to with morning headaches, these are plaguing me most days of the week. If it is then it's all in the mind and the only explanation is I'm going mental in some way. Next I'll be seeing things which don't exist or talking to lampposts. I can't see it happening, because I doubt schizophrenia can take effect when you're 40 odd years of age.

So I'm bothered by the taste of water. Even this evening I've had a cup of tea and the taste is there again. It's like a kind of metal, iron like taste. But the water has not changed colour, the house I live in has copper piping and so I can not see any feasible reason for this taste. In addition I'm the only one complaining about it. In a bid to avoid water a carton of Smoothie drink has helped. Yet when I return and make cup of tea it's there again. Also it's intermittent. Some mornings I detect nothing and then I really do enjoy my cup of tea, because of it's absence. Other's well, as I said earlier it can be nauseous. When at the Fish Factory in the morning I make a cafetiere of coffee and I don't seem to detect anything wrong with the water. So like a detective I'm narrowing this experience down to me and at home. Truly the voices are nothing to do with it.

Next week I'll be up in Scotland and seeing the wonderful Sparkling Eyes and Rock Chick. I'm sure I will be pretty happy even if I still wake up with a headache, which reminds me must take a medical cabinet in my ruck sack. As for water, I'll buy a bottle at the station after all projectile vomiting in a carriage full of people might not go down well, so to say.

Intentions and VLOGs

It's strange how you can start off the day with all the best intentions, or thoughts if you're still in bed but then do not carry them out. Well, it's a Sunday and Sundays were made to take it easy. Though I do wish the people who were having a loud discussion this morning in my street had an iota of a notion they could be disturbing others just having a nice lay in. It resulted in me getting up before 9 a.m. How indignant.

I been wondering whether to start doing VLOGs (like a BLOG but on video hence VLOG) or just short vids. So got my web cam half working and had a go at it. I've deleted a whole lot more than I thought video would be worth watching and ended up with just one clip. Which I haven't put on YouTube. So I'll just think about it for now. The problem is I don't want to be called a self publicist. I suppose we all are to a certain extent, but I don't want to be one who checks his hair in a mirror every chance he can. I don't have enough hair to start out with. No. I'll think about it, and anyway no one ever seems to watch the stuff I put up. I know I should video the cat, because pets do a lot better, but for some reason my one hasn't learnt how to talk yet. Except for saying hello when he wants attention.

OK enough for now have to get some sleep.

Typing to a Guinness

This evening a colleague from the fish factory decided it was time he paid up a bet which was lost some months ago. So we headed off to the pub. It's good collecting you winnings, and in this case I really did enjoy my pint of Guinness it went down so easy. This is what happens when I miss out a week or so of going to the pub and concentrate more on hitting the gym and doing relatively little else with my life. Other than contemplate the question of what it is all about. Life I meant. No answers yet, I'll get back to you when I've got one. No, actually I wont, because if it took me this long to find out I'm not going to give anyone else the pleasure of my painful search.

I'm getting plagued at the moment from messages from L & B man. He enjoys to try and rile me.
I don't think he is working as hard as he used to, given he only does a couple of days a week this stands to reason he's spending more time on his computer. The problem is for two nights in a row he has been vexing me. Trying to taunt me. Being of fast wit I'm able to brush of his remarks. He is a laugh though. It helps I'm being a faster typer. Actually this helps out in lots of ways. Less time spent finding the keys if you know where they already are, and don't have to look down at them.

One of the best things I ever did was to take up typing lessons. Well I was using a computer at work and didn't think two fingers would get me far, so now I use all ten. And still am hardly any further than what I should be. But sometimes it does take a while to get anywhere. I recal there was this bloke called Jimbo. He was a regular pub going person so had developed quite a large girth, one which takes years of practice to acquire. So looking at him on the outside you'd just think all he ever did was prop up the bar. It's amazing how appearances can be deceiving. What I will say about Jimbo though is his ability to type was beyond anyone else in the workplace. He could do 95 words a minute. Blimey, just think of it 95 words in a minute. Some people can barely count to 95 in a minute let alone Jimbo actually typing this many. I saw him a couple of times sit at his keyboard and it was magical. His fingers were actually like butterflies, he didn't stab, or poke his keyboard. Not a single key strike was heavy. It was just the perfect amount of pressure needed to depress. And each finger was so light, it was as though they were actually brushing the keyboard rather than striking the keys. They flowed and so did the words on the monitor. Beautiful and amazing. I'd heard stories of women saying how they could touch-type but when I saw them actually type theirs was nothing like Jimbo. The same finesse wasn't there. I've never been able to improve my typing skills much more, but if I really concentrate hard and relax I like to think I might be a little faster than when I first started. I don't know what happened to Jimbo because he was an agency member of staff which meant he found another job. I didn't even know him much as an individual, but I do know he could type and faster and more beautifully than anyone else I have seen since.

The improbable and probable

I was listening to the radio this morning. And a startlingly obvious fact arose. It was: it is healthy to write about your feelings and in fact is a good thing to do. You don't have to be a novelist, or eloquent, the act of writing something down is in its own way beneficial. For me it is a matter for trying to understand things. Asking lots of questions and doing my best to mentally work out how to discount the most unlikely and weigh towards the probable. Even though the probable can even appear improbable, thinking about these improbabilities puts a spotlight on them. Their importance stands out. Unfortunately I had another STUNNED episode today, something quite different from yesterday. Or not so different in reality. Something improbable but likely given the circumstances, and then considering it in greater details it becomes less of the improbable and more of the probable. So in reality, those things we consider improbable are really pieces of evidence or suppositions we weigh less importance on because we don't want to think about them. Due to personal bias or willful repression or some other hidden psychosomatic agenda. It is only after some real hard thinking about them they are then put in the correct improbability box.

So ends the lesson, I hope someone understood what it is.

Electric gone

Sparkling's electric supply turned off for no reason at 2 a.m. in the morning. She told me she had not had a wink of sleep and thought there was not enough credit in the meter. Apparently a number of houses had a black out as well. Though I don't understand how not having an electricity supply had such an effect on not sleeping. Personally I would of slept right through it until the morning. Then found out as I kicked my toe into a door the light wasn't working. Mind I just realised she might be able to claim on the insurance. Sparkling has told me this is not going to happen because of the excess. Damn electric companies.

I'm back at the fish factory and Tweedle dee is off on leave. Tweedle dum in the mean time does not have his companion to banter inane codswallop with. Which is a bit like seventh heaven. I do so appreciate quiet when it comes to concentrating on what you are doing. I could moan and groan about their antics but I'll not.

It's mama's birthday tomorrow and I haven't had time to do much about it. Fortunately I have a stack of cards and one of them will have to do. I could get some food and make an attempt at cooking something nice. Salmon perhaps, gently done in olive oil and a sprig of some herb, new potatoes and fresh sweetcorn, followed up by a microwave chocolate pudding. I'll enjoy it as well. I don't know why I went to the gym today. The tea and biscuits i had this evening and tomorrows meal will probably put me back 2 weeks. Well as the Nike advert goes, "belly gonna get ya" and it has.

I've just had some other news which has stunned me. I can't think straight or think at all at the moment. So I'll sign off now and look at chocolate puddings.

Connected at last

Today I have regained my Internet connection and the use of computer, with a lot of help from the little man from Hong Kong. I can surf the net, communicate with Sparkling, download, upload, read email, blog, order from online amazon, eat cakes galore and run the marathon in under 59 minutes. It is like a miracle being connected again. However, it also made me stop and consider life outside of my computer, outside of constant DVD's, online game sites and chit chatting. It has meant a moment of reflection away from dominance. I've also realised how crap the TV has been. How sad human beings we are without TV, Internet or any other electrical thing which is supposed to make our life easier but actually ends up becoming an addictive toy. Which removes the reality of the world. The reality of flesh and bones, of people, of real interactions.

I had the talkatives come today, they have a new dog, called Misty. She's a cross of three different breads, but like their other dog is very affectionate and enjoys a good walk. When they arrived I was in the middle of a shave and part of me dreaded the thought of what the next few hours were going to be like. But I really did enjoy their visit. It ended up being short and sweet, four and a half hours later they were off back home, until the next time.

I am so happy I can now chat to Sparkling on MSN. I'm sad though I could not be up to see her the last few days. Rock Chick has gone off to a party on the West Coast of Scotland. So Sparkling has been without company. I tried to ring her last night and left two messages on her phone. I sent a bouquet of flowers for Valentines day and a card. Mind I had thought about purchasing a year's membership to the AA (Automobile Association). For some reason Sparkling had laughed at this notion and told me not to bother. I sure am glad I went for the flowers though. Last year I got Sparkling just a card, and then the next month I paid for it in guilt trips. It seems even if a woman says No, and a man thinks No is quite simply No, it actually means Yes. No wonder men are often considered to be from another planet. When in reality maybe it's the women who come from another planet. Planet Contradiction. It's about second and even third guessing, and seeing if you get it right. I'm not so good at this, but probably improving as the years go by. Now if only I can improve my practical skills, carpenter, plumber, bricky, car mechanic, gas man etc. But I am a mere mortal, oh dear, just have to take up blog writing instead.

Weather report

I am fed up with the cold weather dictating what I do. Last week I didn't bother with the gym because I thought it was too cold. So today I went back again and was reminded of how unhealthy I have let myself get. Which also made me think about how much junk I eat. I got home after gym and immediately got settled into some junk. Coming home from gym I was pelted by wind and rain and it was cold. The nasty kind of rain and wind, which if it gets to your skin your even colder because of the chill factor. I suppose it could be worse, someone said to me it was minus 16 Celsius in Scotland last night. No wonder they eat porridge with salt.

My Darling Sparkling has been busy today so I didn't get to hear from her, however with the wonder of modern age we caught up on MSN. I was reminded sometimes a real hug is the only solution to sad times. This of course causes emotional twangs of guilt and pain. It's just the way it is with our relationship. If the trains were faster and cheaper I'd be up there seeing Sparkling every single weekend. Capitalism has put a brake on making this possible, and the fact the UK probably has the most expensive public transport in Europe.

One day transport will be better than it is and cheaper, OK it's a dream. Should I say transport will be even more expensive and slower, because it's never the right kind of snow, leaves or rain which are on the track. Consequently the trains go slower. Lets not forget how expensive the snack trolley will become.

So today there's not much to report. I'll try and make up some outlandish story tomorrow.

A hair cut, a packet of buiscuits and some cats

After fending of the psychological threat of snow today I actually went and got my hair cut. It was in desperate need. Now I look presentable, halfway. I said the to the hairdresser, I'd like a short back and sides but not too much off the top because I'm losing it. He smiled and with skill left most of the stuff on top, on top. This made me happy. If it hadn't of been for the kids who were there as well. Two sets of parents had brought their children along to get hair cuts. But when the dads went up to have their locks shortened the kids then played about. It was noisy. I'm sure there was a 7 year old girl rolling on the floor in the cut hair of a hundred different customers. A woman sitting on a chair waiting for her kid to be done received a phone call from one of her sprogs. It must of been her daughter. She'd asked if she could put on a dress for a funeral. The mother said no. Then one of the customers had some aftershave splashed on his neck and the same mother moaned what a stink. It was like my sanctuary had been invaded. This is a hairdressers. It's a man's hairdressers, not a bloody creche, play pen or place for fish wives to moan. It's a sanctuary one of the few places a man can go and actually feel relaxed. Just sit back and let the hair dresser do the work. Close your eyes and chill. Yes, my sanctuary had been vandalised. Next time before I go in I'll check out to see if there are any kids. Then walk back home if there are.

On the way back I did a little shopping and must say I am amazed how the price of a packet of biscuits has gone up. Over what must only be a year or two they now cost about 50% more than they did previously. I was so amazed I kept going round the shop and returning to the biscuit display wondering if I should go for one brand over another. Whether I should just forget it or whether I should go for real satisfaction and get the double chip cookies regardless of the extortionate price tag. In the end I gave up. I couldn't overcome my distaste at the price. I saw myself becoming a healthy eater even. Actually thinning more about vegetables and how good they are rather than buy biscuits. Though I'm sure this thought will only be fleeing. Vegetarianism is good but it don't console you if you really expected a biscuit with your cup of tea rather than a nut.

I got accosted by a ginger cat as I was nearly home. It jumped down from the bin it had been sitting on and came right up to me for a stroke. What a beautiful temperament, much better than the stray cat we have taken in who I call Stinky. The rescued stinky takes after his name, he stinks and is being a right shite to the other cat Tigger who is an old man and a softy. Tigger never genuinely seeks to get into a fight and his normal behaviour is just to scream and walk away or even carry on sleeping if another cat is nearby. Whereas Stinky likes to get stuck in. Maybe I could of done a cat swap. Just stole the ginger one and put Stinky in it's place. The only thing was I'm sure the owner would not be convinced their ginger cat had suddenly become tabby over night, of natural causes. Such an illness don't exist. Not to mention the fleas. Well it happens with cats.

I sent a picture of my new look hair cut to Sparkling. It must of taken me a dozen photo's to get the one where I was presentable. I'm sure it's to do with the camera lens. Because lens on mobile phones and compact cameras are known as wide angle lenses. This means they distort the image they take. For instance tall buildings can appear as if they are bending slightly. With faces it can make your nose look bigger especially if it is slightly bigger in the first place. The lens would then exaggerate this feature. I know. I saw the pictures. Now if I were a cat it wouldn't matter. Cats never pose for the camera. Unless of course they're eating a biscuit with their cup of tea.

It's a clearly bent banana

It's good to read a book and find the language fluid. From this, comes clarity in what the author is portraying through their narrative. I've been reading a book titled "The Book Thief" and think it is the kind of book nearly anyone can pick up and enjoy. Not everyone, just most people would enjoy it. It's the story of a little girl growing up in Germany during the second world war, of her life and the scraps she gets into. The viewpoint is good as well, though I'll not reveal it here. Each night I try and read a few pages just before I sleep. It seems to be the only quite time I get. Life just rolls past, but it's these moments of quite I like and of course the company of Sparkling.

There just seems to be so many distractions around. Be this in noise, or other things to do. It's as if the spirit of procrastination has visited me and now sits perched on my shoulder. But the one thing I am keeping up with and putting effort into every day is this blog. Regardless of only having one reader other than myself. Are there too many blogs in the world so mine becomes lost and no one really wants to know what is going on? Further should it really matter to me and what are my reasons for doing this? Firstly it is for myself, secondly it is for Sparkling so she gets to peak a moment of my day. Even though her days are probably much more interesting than mine and I think would get a greater audience. She just hasn't got round to starting up again. I certainly know Sparkling would say her days are much more filled than mine. But this happens when you spend the most part of your day at a fish counter.

I once read somewhere there were two rules to exercising. These can probably be applied to anything at all. The first is to start it, the second is to carry on. Make it regular and a habit. So even amongst all the distractions the time I spent here, now, writing; is focused, regular and mine. It's a quite space to think. To masticate those thoughts or any thought which comes to mind in this moment. Whether they be about time, space, blogs or bananas. Yes those yellow things with a bend in them, but they don't come back if you throw them in the air. Which is something quite different.

Most times I don't have the faintest idea where my words will take me. I could be on a bus ride to Tanzania, with the locals holding chickens they have just bought. Hot dry air and a bumpy bus. Sitting next to a very large lady who keeps smiling at me, showing the single front tooth she has left. Sweat trickles down my neck, down my forehead and into my eyes stinging them and making me blink. I sure hope this woman doesn't think I am winking at her. Damn am I going to be in trouble if Sparkling finds out. No. This is just a string of words, in a moment, on a blog. It's not real.

Lunch tomorrow: chicken, afters: bananas and custard.

No sun today and L & B Man had his knee fixed

I am sure above the clouds there was sunshine, however I never saw it. In the fish factory I've had to have a light on to see. This is even with the blinds fully open. The building has also been hot, so hot there's no need to order anything spicy for lunch. In the meantime we are warned more snow is on the way. Hot and cold, hot and cold. What about something in the middle I say?

Yesterday L & B Man went into hospital for surgery. He had a problem with his knee. It was freezing up on him and making noises. So they decided to do key hole surgery. This meant he would have to be in over night. Seeing as there are few muscles in the knee I suppose it was reason for them to give him an epidural. Now I've heard of pregnant women get this during delivery but giving it to a man sounded a little suspect to me. Mind if you met L & B man you'd think he was suspect, on account of having difficulty understanding his accent. It's taken me years. Years. Only recently did I realise he was calling me a faggot. There's usually a lot of other expletives which go along with this. But he's a soft hearted bloke at heart. The epidural did its work and made L & B paralysed from the waste down. This had the effect of freaking him out, particularly because he wanted a cigarette and no one would push him out of the hospital so he could have a drag. Awwwe I thought. Sparkling told me this. Sparkling also said it seemed like L & B man was bored. So I thought I'd cheer him up. Maybe it was something to do with the epidural paralysing his legs, or something else.

So I tried to give him a ring. There was no answer. Having my brand new mobile phone, courtesy of Sparkling at Chrimbo I then tried to video conference him but again no luck. Perhaps he had decided to go to sleep this way he'd not think about his craving to smoke. So I sent him a text message. However, I tried to video conference again and this time although I couldn't get through I decided to leave him a message. Maybe he would get it shortly, or even in the morning when he woke up. I told him he had better be careful there wasn't any gay nurses there, because he'd be easy. But if there was it was nothing to worry about, unless he found himself bent over his bed. Then I said but he wouldn't really mind because he wouldn't feel anything anyway. I didn't bother sending my love and kisses with the video message just in case he was loved and kissed all out. However, apparently mine was the first message he received when he switched his phone on and it have him a chuckle. I'm glad it gave him a laugh because if it was anything else I'd be in trouble. He deserved it anyway.

Nearly mugged, is it possible, is it paranoia, lets forget it

At lunch time I decided to take a few photographs of the Thames, it was foggy and chilly out with the scattered remains of snow, turned to ice and then turning to slush. I like my little camera. It's a great little compact and has excited a hobby I used to have many years ago. However the fog was pretty thick and the shots were not quite to my liking.

As I stood there looking across to the East side of the Thames I noticed three persons walking along the path. They were late teens in age or possibly early 20s and wearing the typical baggy jean delinquent look. Two were white one was black. As a precaution I immediately decided to put my camera in my coat pocket. But I still wanted to take more photographs. And the place I had to take them from was immediately in their path. By the the hand rail overlooking the Thames. They were walking in my general direction as well. By heading towards the hand rail I was going to put myself directly in their path. My reaction was it's a free country and I should be able to go where ever I want without worry. Also there was apprehension. The little voice which says, "watch out" well it starts of little but can quickly shout out as the situation is continually assessed. The three delinquents were getting closer to where I was. Then a moment of paranoia did hit me. It was "you could get mugged." I realised although this was a big public pathway there were no other people around. Now two mind sets began to argue, both rational and their arguments swung like a pendulum. Each winning in part and creating a semi-stalemate situation. I stood and waited a little more as they wondered even closer. Where were they going? What were their intentions? Now I was walking in an intercept to a point behind where they had come. The three were side by side. Which was fine my panic monitor said. Then one of them peeled off from his companions and was now walking directly towards me. The alarm began to ring. He had no reason to walk towards me, or should I say he had only one reason to walk towards me. To accost me. He was now about 15 metres or 45 feet away. My heart jumped, and the very real feeling of "you are just about to get mugged" hit me. If I carried on towards him there something would happen. My earlier considerations of freedom and rights went out of the window. These were three youths. The scenarios now running through my mind were along with "I'm going to f*cking hit him" then "the three of them are going to kick the shite out of me, I'll be robbed and senseless." I recalled newspaper articles of people getting mugged and dying from stab wounds. My choice now was to turn around and walk away at as brisk a pace as I could muster at a tangent. The direction was towards a main road about a hundred metres away. As I strode off I heard one of the delinquents say "go on do it." Fortunately for me the do it part didn't happen. I was both afraid and angry at them at the same time. They carried on walking the direction they had intended while I back tracked on myself so I could get the photo's I had set out to get in the first place.

Back at the fish factory I told my colleagues and we then all joked about it. I asked if they would like to go back with me and we could then kick the shite out of them. For some reason the girls were not up for it, and it was way too late anyway. I know there was mischief in those juveniles. I can't say for sure what would of happened. I did the best thing I could and avoided confrontation. As one of my colleagues said, if they wanted to have mugged me then they would have, this has some consoling merit to it. Suggesting my paranoia and cautious view of delinquent 20 somethings was unfounded. However, at the same time, I know how mad I also felt and I was going to go full out and hit back. The problem was whatever physical action I took I was going go come off the worst. And it is so easy to see or note how quite bizarre and trivial situations rise into big mountainous affairs. Things which are out of control and just happen.

I asked my so wise companion Little Monster boy "what do you call it when two people can not agree on something?" His answer was an argument. When I was looking for something like disagreement or dispute. Quite rightly, disagreement and dispute easily becomes argument. When one reasoned view point is unable to change or persuade another. So it seems my own stubbornness led me to a mental argument. And my own fears or affects also had their say.

When I asked a colleague whether it was an offence to carry knuckle dusters he said "yes" emphatically. Oh well it looks like I am going to be left with my continued self dilemmas it's either this or carrying around a portable electric fence. Which has also got to be out, the weight of the batteries will make it much too hard work.

Snow comes kids play, ice melts things happen

At last the compacted ice is beginning to melt. But it's still slippery outside. I've heard of one incident where a man slipped over an knocked himself out, a girl from the fish factory also fell over while trying to help an elderly person and she also hit her head. Whilst last night returning home with two bags of shopping I heard a cry out behind me and turned to find a woman had fallen over. I helped her up and she told me how she had been so careful as well, I thought of my mother and hoped she'd been careful as today as well. Fortunately all was well.

Sparkling has told me some bad news about her neighbour's mother passing away today. It was sudden and unexpected. Although she was in hospital recovering from a stroke it seemed she was on the mend. I couldn't believe it when I got the news and I know Sparkling felt the same. Not only this Sparkling's bestfriend's father passed away yesterday as well. Two in two days, both from pneumonia. Mind there was some concerns about the care the hospital was providing and a question over their competency. It's very sad when people are so vulnerable they have to rely on the help of others who are not up to the job. Spakling has been upset, and while I spoke to Sparkling I felt a bit as well wishing I could of done more and feeling sorry for the neighbour and her friend.

It's funny because I was going to go straight home from the fish factory but after receiving the text I went to the pub. With the thought you never know what is going to happens, so I'd enjoy a nice pint, and I did. We chatted about the whiteout on Monday, recent films and how the snow just seemed to have a wonderful effect on cheering people up.

It's odd how the last couple of days the weather has bought both happiness and sadness. The happiness of children getting time off school and being able to take advantage of snow, and the sadness of these passing. From one extreme to the other. We usually trudge along on some middle path of mediocre, but who could of predicted two poles coming together? I could also recount Sparkling's story of how she chased after some boys who had lobbed yogurt at her car and herself, as she ran after them she shouted "come here you little bastards." It's a pity none of them fell on their backsides. But she did catch up with them later and explained in a reasoned way why they should not throw yogurt or snow balls at people they don't know.

I hear the snow is still falling in Scotland. Wrap up Sparkling and Rock Chick.

Sparkling's scared after Fred got taken

Sometimes the most part of a day can be spent sitting next to a colleague in the fish factory, and it becomes the main event. Particularly so if there is just the two of you left on the production line. It can bore me to tears. Especially the droning on and on and on. Without throwing the guy out the window, which is a few floors up there's little else can be done.

So I then wonder what other events have happened in my day. Besides speaking to Sparkling and being called a stalker. Even Rock Chick is beginning to say it. I wouldn't mind when I hadn't spoken to Rock Chick for at least a week and Sparkling a few days, well maybe one or two. Rock Chick getting in on the act is not on. But fortunately she's been busy lately cooking for Dangerous Sports boyfriend. She's found out the secret to his heart. Yes, a good chocolate cake, or anything food orientated.

Then this evening as I was stretching out the conversation with Sparkling, then got told off because I wouldn't get off the phone. I take it tongue in cheek. Because if I didn't I'd be an over sensitive hormonal man. Which I have also been accused of as well when I think about it. But I was able to coax conversation about the procedure to remove Fred. She's concerned because the surgeon had made a longer cut than she thought necessary, stretching downwards by her nose and put 5 stitches in her face. These must be removed in 5 days the man said. We both thought about Fred and said he wasn't really as big as 5 stitches worth. Maybe one or two. Or even none with a bit of glue or something. He's been sent off for testing. Needless to say Sparkling was not entirely happy with the situation and I completely sympathise. It's just something she hadn't expected. It's odd when something happens and it's unexpected because you just don't know how to react. Things take a moment to set in before you get your wits about you and are ready to punch someones lights out. In the proverbial sense.

The snow we had yesterday has now been compacted and turned into ice. Yesterday was one of those nice free days which get thrown at you maybe once every ten years. Everyone just takes them and enjoys them. Except for the ones who do make it into their workplace and make those who didn't appear like slackers. I got a name for them, I wont mention it though. In fact those people should be sent for testing, just like Fred.

Snow and there's no denying it, winked the surgeon

Well it happened. Today it has snowed. There has been so much of the fluffy white stuff no trains or buses were running in London this morning. With a few just starting up later in the day. I took the day off and enjoyed the company of little Monster Boy who was very happy. The snow is like a key to happiness for children. They can't help themselves, they have to go out in it. Play snowballs and make snow men or snow women. Seeing those big flakes fall out of the sky is a amazing to watch. Everything is coated in it. There must of been about 8 to 12 inches of the stuff. And we were told more is on the way this evening. I have a sneaky feeling though the melting has began and it will be a lot easier travelling tomorrow than it has been today. It's sad but there is too much of a good thing.

Sparkling Eyes is having a minor operation on a spot near her eye. It's been there for some time but has grown slightly. She saw the doctor and decided it was about time it went. Because it is close to the eye a plastic surgeon will be doing the procedure. I said it would be a shame to see it go and called it Fred. She said she didn't want to have the operation because it was close to her eye. My reply is there will be nothing to worry about as it will only be a local anesthetic. She'd prefer a general. The scheduled time of operation was 6 p.m., but it's been snowing even in Scotland so I expect there could be a delay and sit waiting for any news. I've now heard all is fine, and couldn't finish the paragraph till the message came. I'm sure Sparkling will have a swollen face in the morning and possibly even a black eye. It's always good to hear it's all over with when it comes to things like this. Even minor ones. Mind I wonder if she will be wearing an eye patch, and if Fred is being bought back in a bottle of formaldehyde. Hmmm perhaps she'd be up for a Long John Sparkling routine at the next time I see her lol.

In the warmth - try a peanut not

So far it has been an uneventful Sunday. The cold weather has kept me locked behind doors. Scratching at the walls wondering if it is wise to go out and see the light of day. Now though it is no longer light. The sun has tucked itself away to sleep and only the cold dark sky covers above. Do I stay or do I go? To be or not to be? Get cold or stay in getting fatter. I need the exercise so I will hit the pavement shortly. I have to get out, have to walk, anywhere will do. It's the fear of cold which holds me captive and just trying to stay warm. Mind it has been many years since we have had a prolonged cold winter, even though this one has been intermittent the forecasts show snow for tomorrow, there's no denying it. If it snows at least it will not rain fish.

The bag of honey roasted peanuts lay opened and beckoning me. A stray one lay by the bag. I'll eat it I thought. It looked a little odd, slightly more crusty and browner than normal even reddish. Don't matter. I picked it up and popped it into my mouth. "Crunch" it was dry, very dry. Then the taste took a moment or two to filter. It's dusty crumbs needed to circulate, become dampened by my saliva, then touch a taste bud. It did. I wondered. Considering one thing "what am I eating?" Then I recognised the flavour. And realised why the peanut was so dusty in it's crunch factor. It actually was not a peanut at all. But a cat biscuit, and the taste was a mild fishy taste. By this time it was too late. Powdered into a mulch in my mouth. I couldn't get away from it and ran for the tap washing out my mouth with bitterly cold water. Idiot. When I picked it up, it wasn't actually in the peanut bag. It lay next to the peanut bag and I had assumed it was a peanut, because it was the right size and the colour was just passable. Then I'd eaten it. Oh well. How odd it is the cats whine so much to eat this stuff. Mind I'm told one of them did eat a peanut the other day. Maybe he thought he'd like a change, I don't blame him. I would to if I ate fishy dusty biscuits.