Another contemplative mood

Have you ever thought about the decisions you have made in your life or things that have happened that have led you to where you are now? I know that everything we do and all the experiences we have had over the years, be they good or bad, shape us into who we are, but can you pinpoint something you have done in the past which has had a lasting effect on who you are and the course your life has taken?
I would say the decision that has led me to where I am now (and I really don't know what I would be doing had things been different) was the one I made, when I was still at school, to do some voluntary work one summer with disabled children at a local charity. At the time, did I think I would still be involved 20 years later? Absolutely not. The voluntary work I did that summer, and continued to do on a regular basis, eventually led me to my current job (I manage the charity), which I absolutely love and to a large extent has shaped me into the person I am. Probably more significantly, had I never volunteered there, I would not have some of the wonderful friends I do have, as I met most of my closest friends either directly or indirectly through my voluntary work.
Another turning point in my life was not getting in to Birmingham University (damn that Physics A Level, if only I had a got one grade higher!) and ending up going to Bangor University through the clearing system. Had I not gone to Bangor I would not have the most fantastic best friend who is such an important part of my life- I had already met him shortly before going to university (another one of those people I met indirectly through my voluntary work), but if I had gone to Birmingham, our paths would probably merely have crossed and life would have then taken us in different directions. I have never been so glad to not do well in an exam!
I know that all sounds a little slushy, but I just think it's interesting to look at the events and decisions that have dictated the course of our life. What would you say are your defining moments?

Don't do it

It's interesting who stumbles upon your blog. Or worrying. I've had two hits in the last week from people doing a Google search for 'how to strangle yourself'. Please, don't do it.

We're all mad here

I went to see Alice In Wonderland in 3D on Saturday. I'm a big fan of Tim Burton's dark, gothic films and this one didn't disappoint. Helena Bonham Carter made an excellent Red Queen and I have to admit to being a secret Johnny Depp fan. As a 3D virgin, I was interested to see what wearing a rather geeky pair of glasses (note to self- don't go to see a 3D film on a first date) would add to the experience. Yes, it was good in 3D but I don't think my enjoyment would have been any the less for it being in 2D...it just cost me more! My friends were somewhat split between those who really enjoyed the film and those who were not that impressed- perhaps Tim Burton is an acquired taste- but I thought it was well worth seeing.

There's nothing better...

...than freshly baked bread spread with butter. Delicious. Thought I would be domesticated on my day off so have baked half a dozen loaves of bread. And I don't mean I have put all the ingredients into a bread maker and left it to do all the hard work- I have made proper bread with real yeast and now have aching arms from all the kneading (and a broken nail into the bargain- don't worry, it hasn't been baked into the bread). Worth the effort though. I'd make someone a good wife..any takers?!

Smile

I've been playing my music loud today to try to distract myself from the tedium of housework. I am sadly finding myself listening to my iPod more these days rather than my vinyl- I feel a little traitorous but it's so much easier when you don't have to keep turning the record over. There's still something nice though about vinyl- different colours, shapes, picture discs- and I love singles on vinyl , something I have never bought on CD. Anyway, I will get to the point of this short ramble. Are there songs that just make you smile? I know we all have songs that we associate with certain events in our lives (and being prone to being a little sentimental at times, I could reel off plenty), but how many of them actually elicit an emotional response? 'Where's Me Jumper' by The Sultans of Ping makes me smile everytime I hear it and today I found myself dancing around like an 18-year old whilst doing my dusting. Yes, it does remind me of my many Monday nights as a 17/18 year old spent at the student night of our local nightclub, but so do many other songs and, although being associated with good memories, they do not literally make me smile. R.E.M.'s 'Losing My Religion' is another song that makes me smile- again it is associated with a specific memory but why, like 'Where's Me Jumper', it should elicit that emotional response I have no idea. Answers on a postcard please.

Valentine's Day my arse

If I see another shop full of Valentine's cards and gifts I think I shall scream. It's everywhere, just acting as a constant reminder of my fast approaching spinsterhood. So, I bought myself some flowers, the only ones I will be receiving this Valentine's.

I feel so much better

Amazing what a little retail therapy can do. I like spending money. I don't like looking at my bank statement afterwards so much. Why do book shops have to have 3 for 2 offers?- they are just asking for trouble. I really don't need to buy any more books, I have more than enough unread ones to keep me going for at least a couple of years- there's just something strangely satisfying in seeing my bookcases fill up.
Bought a few other bits and pieces too so a fairly successful day. Was a little embarrassed though when a security tag failed to be properly deactivated on an item purchased from Boots and proceeded to set off the alarms in every shop I went into afterwards. The best of it was that none of the shop assistants batted an eyelid. So much for security.

Can you strangle yourself with your own scarf?...

...well, I managed it at work at the weekend, shortly before failing to open a door before walking through it. I am not safe to be let out. Needless to say, I have been the butt of all jokes amongst my work colleagues.

Currently listening to...

..the new Tindersticks album, Falling Down a Mountain. It's very good- thank you Voley.

January's over already

Thought I'd better post something before the month ends. It's not been a great month, hence my being rather quiet on here. We had to have our dog, Sam, put to sleep a couple of weeks ago so I've been feeling a little sad. He was still behaving like an overgrown puppy at the beginning of December so it has all been a bit sudden. The house just seems very empty and quiet now.

Time to look forward to the rest of the year now though. I wonder what it holds in store? My New Year's resolution is to do some different things- I rely far too much on routine, I need to be a little more spontaneous. We shall see how I do with that one!

Visited my favourite vole yesterday. Good company, good food and a couple of Archers- what more could a woman ask for?!...and it has snowed- that makes a fairly good weekend in my books. Oh, and my Father Ted box set arrived in the post along with a Philip Pullman novel.

I'll leave you with a couple of photos of Sam......

Last of the snow?

I've enjoyed finally having a bit of snow around. However, I find it so frustrating that a couple of inches seems to bring things grinding to a halt around here. We've had nothing compared with many, yet many of the local schools have been closed and roads have become ice rinks. I've a friend who lives on Saddleworth Moor- now they have had real snow with up to six-foot drifts. I'm not really wanting to be completely snowed in, but I just wish people round here would keep things in perspective. It has been very cold though...-10C when you leave for work isn't funny.

Back to reality

Happy New Year! Hope you have had a good festive season. Mine has been good but it all seems to be over so fast- I don't know where December went. All the same, it has been good to have time off work and to be able to spend time with some of my favourite people! I've spent my last day of freedom today trawling through the remainder of the sales. I'm not one to battle through the crowds when the sales first start, I'm not that desperate for a bargain. Consequently, there is never much left by the time I reach the shops. Other than a few cut price books, I failed to find anything worth buying, my only bargain being a pack of mince pies for 10p.
Back to work in the morning, back to reality.

Merry Christmas!

How have all the festivities gone? Had plenty of new socks? Fallen out with the family? Eaten and drunk too much? I've enjoyed my Christmas, apart from my dog being rather poorly again- he seems to be on the mend now though. However, I've really struggled this year to feel festive- Christmas just seems to come round far too quickly... I think Christmas every two years would be far better!

My last two days at work before finishing for twelve (yes, a whole twelve) days were fun, if rather hectic. We were charity bag-packing at Morrisons on Tuesday...fun, but I wouldn't like to do it every day. It appeals to the people-watcher in me. It's fascinating both seeing what people put in their shopping trolleys (an awful lot of alcohol) and listening to the conversations/ arguments between husbands and wives at the checkout! Some people really haven't heard of Christmas cheer. We raised just over £520 which wasn't bad for packing a few shopping bags, but I didn't half ache the next day.

Wednesday was our party for the children and young people who come to the Playground. What could be better than a load of over-excited children just before Christmas- poor old Santa nearly got crushed! I do enjoy it though, it reminds me of the excitement I felt as a child at Christmas.

Christmas Eve was busy. Had to clean the house, wrap all my presents up (I was as disorganised and last minute there as usual) and drop presents off all over Stoke-on-Trent. Called in on my brother and saw his new puppy, Boddington. He's a Staffordshire Bull Terrier which isn't one of my favourite breeds of dog- I prefer large dogs- but I must admit he is rather cute.

I spent Christmas Day with my family and that was a lovely relaxing day. Just wish there had been some snow. I love my turkey dinner, and Christmas pudding with rum poured over it (my grandad started me on that one at a very young age!) is one of my favourites. Actually that is a good enough reason not to have Christmas only once every two years. Yes, I had some socks, but no, I didn't have any arguments and no, I didn't drink too much, though I did eat quite a bit. Had some fab presents including another new bookcase from my parents (Voley is very jealous), some Morph and Chas bookends and books to go on my new bookcase (by the way Voley, did I mention about my new bookcase?!!), vouchers which will be happily spent when I next go shopping, and a variety of other bits and pieces...oh, and a mini Radley bag keyring, just to feed my obsession.

Christmas Day wouldn't be Christmas Day without Doctor Who and I wasn't disappointed there. Fab. David Tennant is soooo good, can't wait for the New Year's Day episode. I may well cry when he regenerates though (and I never cry at television programmes or films...well, except for when E.T. dies, that gets me every time- sorry) and I think an official week of mourning may be necessary. Matt Smith is going to have to be very good to top David Tennant, don't think it's going to happen.

Voley came to stay Boxing Day, bringing me more books for my....wait for it....new bookcase. Much appreciated. We watched Doctor Who (yes, it was good enough for me to watch twice) as Voley's family didn't quite get the timing of their Christmas dinner right and I actually spent most of an hour not annoying Voley with my incessant waffling...didn't last, especially after I had drunk a couple of Archers. Yesterday we had lunch at my brother's pub and then went to the book shop (no surprises there!).

I've done very little today. Had a lie-in and mooched about. Am off out later for a post-Christmas buffet soiree with my good buddies. Hopefully I will be able to follow conversation tonight as when we went out for dinner last weekend I was deaf in one ear- the whole evening was a bit like a game of Chinese whispers!

Toodle-pip for now.

It's Panto time (oh yes it is)!

I bravely took 40 of our children and young people to the pantomime- Dick Whittington this year- at the Regent Theatre in Hanley last night (not single-handedly I hasten to add, I did have a little help from my staff). Robbie William's best mate Jonathon Wilkes was starring again for the fifth year running (he is obviously inundated with offers of work) alongside a cast of other not-quite-made-its. I didn't realise till after the show that Robbie's dad was actually one of the main characters- he needn't give up the day job. The only really well-known cast member was Three Degrees singer, Sheila Ferguson, who belted out a few numbers as Fairy Oatcakes!Pantomime isn't something I would normally choose to see if going to the theatre, but I must admit I do love taking all our children, they get so much from it. We got loo rolls thrown at us and got drenched with water guns (why do I always book the front row seats?) and laughed lots. There was plenty of slapstick and a lot of double entendre (didn't help that the main character is called Dick).
We didn't lose any children (never have yet!), we didn't gain any, noone required rugby tackling after making a break for the stage (that was last year), and I didn't have to clamber over the cubicle wall of a toilet to get someone out (the year before). I make that a success.

Cinderella went to the Ball...

...but was rather ill. Couldn't believe it. I am rarely ill so it was just my luck that I had to catch the bloody flu. Typical. Voley (who I must say looked very dapper in his dinner suit) was suffering with an ear infection and had gone deaf in one ear (yes, he strategically placed himself so that I was talking to his deaf ear) and my voice became more and more non-existent throughout the course of the evening- we made a right pair.
Illness aside, the evening was fairly successful- we raised £4500 for our charity which isn't a bad sum at all and money that we desperately need towards our £200 000 a year running costs. Highlight of the evening?- had to be seeing Voley dancing to Wham!

Cinderella is going to the ball

...after I have scrubbed the hearth and done the hoovering anyway. I have the dress, I have the shoes (I thought glass slippers may be a little dangerous, so I have sparkly sandals with killer heels instead), I have the carriage...just need a Prince Charming now!
It's our Charity Ball tomorrow evening at the Britannia Stadium, home of Stoke City FC. Stoke will be playing at home (so I am told) so I'm hoping they win or we may have one or two bears with sore heads. On the other hand, if they lose, sorrows may be drowned in copious amounts of alcohol and from past experience, drunken ball-goers equals more money raised.
Here's hoping it will be a good night. I am being accompanied by Voley- I'm looking forward to seeing him in his DJ! Just hope I can get rid of this awful cough.

Bah Humbug

How's your Christmas shopping going? Mine's going really badly. I'm slightly concerned at my lack of sense of urgency- I only have a couple of days free before Christmas to get practically all my presents bought, it's not good. I think some internet shopping may be in order...how ever did we all manage in the pre-technological era?
In fairness, I was intending to go out and buy most of my gifts at the beginning of this week as I have had a couple of days off work, but my dog has been rather poorly so I have been somewhat housebound. He's on the mend now though so perhaps a trip out tomorrow may be called for. I did manage to get out to buy my Christmas tree this afternoon so a spot of decorating will be on the cards- maybe that will get me into the festive spirit.

Christmas starts here...

...well, I suppose it actually started at our Variety Show considering the number of Christmas songs that were performed, but my first Christmas 'do' was on Saturday. We went out for our staff Christmas meal, and what a civilised affair that was. All I can say is that it was a good job we had the whole upstairs of the restaurant to ourselves. Much alcohol was consumed (more by some than others- I must say I was just nicely tipsy, thus avoiding the inevitable hangover the next day) and presents were exchanged. The highlight of the evening is always our Secret Santa competition. Usually, Secret Santa is about the present that you give, but not with us- we compete to see who can come up with the best wrapping, and we have had some fantastic creations over the years. It does get exceedingly competitive though and when it comes to judging the winner it has been known for waiters to be bribed and flirted with! I didn't win this year, must try harder next year.

Another of those strange weeks

Last week was hectic. I am just drawing breath now. The first part of the week was spent setting up for our annual fundraising Variety Show, so amidst my usual day-to-day duties of managing a charity, I was putting together staging and scenery and even turned my hand to setting up the sound system. I want a T-shirt that says 'Stage Crew' on the back.
We then had two evenings of the show. I must say it all went very smoothly, not a single hitch this year (last year we had to do the second night minus a guitarist in the house band after he very inconsiderately slipped on ice on his way to work and dislocated his shoulder), and the audience was packed. The stars of the show were, as always, our children and young people- I wish I had half the confidence to get up on stage as they do, they were absolutely fantastic. We raised just over £1200 so it was a success all round.
The day after the second night's performance I was in work, bright and breezy, to conduct interviews for new staff members. OK, so I wasn't exactly bright and breezy...I felt more like I had a hangover but without the pleasure of getting drunk first. I can't cope with late nights at work followed by early mornings. Fortunately, the standard of our interview candidates was exceptionally high, which somewhat lifted my spirits- I think if we had had a bad round of interviews I was probably in danger of falling asleep through half of them.
An enjoyable week in general, but by the end of Friday I was certainly ready for the weekend.

Would you.....

....apply for a job by email if your email address was (name)_is_sex@....? I never fail to be astounded. We are currently recruiting new staff and this was the email address of someone requesting an application pack. Wouldn't you just ring up instead if you had that email address?
I will be short-listing for interviews on Tuesday. Should be fun.

A little nostalgia

Plashing Vole's Friday conundrum was about what sort of leaves are the best for piling up and running through. I used to love doing this as a child and I still cannot resist the urge to kick a pile of crisp leaves, especially if someone else has tidily swept them up! I loved autumn... helping my dad collect up all the leaves in the garden and barrowing them to the compost heap (though the year I put the garden fork through my foot was not the best!), conker collecting followed by the conker fights, bonfire night. Now, just the smell of a crisp autumn morning can bring back all the childhood memories.
When I think back to all the things I enjoyed doing when I was young, it was invariably the things that cost no money that created the most pleasure for me- making perfume out of rose petals (smelled nice the day you made it but fairly rank once it had been in the jar a day or two!), making dens, recreating the Olympics in the back garden, playing 40-40 (a cross between hide-and-seek and tic with a base), putting on shows in each others houses, making things out of junk, ball games and skipping rope games, dressing up and role play games.
I loved bike riding and roller skating. Sunday mornings when I was about 10 were eagerly awaited as my Dad used to take me and my brother to the local roller-disco whilst mum was preparing the Sunday lunch...what could be better than skating round a sports hall in circles for an hour to the likes of Aha and Wham! In the winter (when winter really was winter) we made huge snowmen and igloos and we had a fab sledging field just down the lane- I used to get the same mix of feelings of excitement and anxiety the first time down the hill that in later years I got from going on a rollercoaster.
If you were to ask me what were my favourite things to do as a child, these are the sorts of things I would tell you about. What are your memories of childhood and the games you used to play?

Would I cheat?....

Good afternoon. Had a good weekend? I spent an enjoyable couple of days in the company of my good friend Aidan and it was also all the better for having an extra day off work. We went for a mooch round Dagfields’ antiques centre yesterday after a hearty lunch at an excellent pub in Madeley, near Crewe, called the Offley Arms (it is run by my brother so I am not in the least biased!)- you should try it if you are ever in that neck of the woods, I can highly recommend the steak-in-ale pie.
A visit to the second-hand book shop at Dagfields was necessary to give Aidan his daily fix of book-buying. It wasn’t the best bookshop I have been in, being highly disorganised and cramped, but I managed to pick up a couple of copies of texts that I studied for my Latin A Level- the poetry of Catullus, in translation, and Virgil’s Aeneid Book IV, in Latin.
It’s strange that I used to enjoy Latin verse so much because I’ve never been a huge fan of poetry. When I was at school they used to make us write poems, which I found really difficult- the mere mention of poetry homework was enough to make me break out in a cold sweat! I remember once being so stressed about having to write a poem and not being able to do it that my dad wrote it for me. Great!....Not. To my horror the teacher decided it was good enough to enter into the school poetry competition…I have never hoped so much not to win something and, I hasten to add, I have never cheated at anything since.

Dog on wheels part 2

Sorry, no exciting or ludicrously silly ending to the dead dog story. I was hoping for a funny follow-up, but all I can tell you is that the girl had to come clean to the owners on their return from holiday and that they were devastated at the loss of their 14 year old pet. No laughs there then.

I'm in a contemplative mood.....

Did you enjoy the extra hour in bed this morning? I was very good and didn’t turn my clocks back until after I got up, so I’ve had an extra hour during the day instead. For one who is quite attached to weekend lie-ins, I am quite impressed with myself.
Despite the extra hour, I’ve had a fairly uneventful day. I have however been working on my brother’s petty cash books, preparing them for his quarterly VAT return, and it got me thinking about what job I would do if I could go back and start my career over again. I do enjoy working with figures, but I think following in the footsteps of my dad and becoming an accountant would drive me nuts.
I must admit that I love my job but I guess in a way I just fell into it. I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I left school so at university I did a subject that interested me; I have always found anything to do with the brain and human behaviour fascinating (I am a bit of a people watcher wherever I go), hence the psychology degree. I never really wanted to pursue psychology as a career though, so when I finished university I still didn’t have any sound plan as to what I wanted to do next. I was fortunate that, after a couple of short-term jobs, I was employed by the organisation at which I had volunteered from the age of fifteen, working with disabled children and young people. I have never looked back and now manage the charity. As I say, I love my job and I wouldn’t change it now for anything. However, I think if I was to go back to being 18 again and got to make my choices for a second time, I would probably go into medicine or nursing.
If you were to start your career again, would you choose a different path or do you have the job you always wanted?

Dog on wheels

This really happened.

A friend of the son of one of my work colleagues was house and dogsitting for a family in London whilst they were on holiday abroad. A few days into her stay, the dog died. Not wanting to phone the owners whilst they were on holiday, she phoned the vet and asked what she should do. The vet said that they could perform a post-mortem on the dog so that they could say it had died of natural causes (it was quite old) and then at least she would know she had done nothing wrong. The girl asked if they could collect the dog for her as she had no access to a car- the vet said that unfortunately they couldn't, she would have to find a way of getting the dog to them.

.....I know this is already sounding like a tall story, but it did really happen, and it gets even more incredulous.....

Realising she would have to travel on the tube to get to the vet, the girl had to work out how she was going to carry the dog, not particularly wanting to be seen lugging a dead animal around. So, what did she do? She found a suitcase on wheels, put the dog inside and wheeled it to the tube station! When she reached the station she started to struggle down the stairs to the platform, at which point a kindly gentleman offered his assistance. Having carried the case down the stairs, he asked the girl what she had in her case to make it so heavy- "You got a dead body in there or something?"!! Again not really wanting people to know she was carrying around a dead dog, she told him that her boyfriend was a DJ and she was taking some of his equipment to a gig for him....

.....wait for it, it gets better.....

..........at which point the man legged it with the case! She ended up having to report it to the police. I've no idea how she planned to explain that one to the owners.

This story actually made me cry laughing. I know it sounds far-fetched but I can guarantee it is genuine. I must find out what happened next!