FAMILY AND ME

Good day Bloggets. I hope I find you well? Teen is away for the weekend not sure where. Irresponsible parent? No, irresponsible Son. I tell you, it’s a dreadful age 17. I hate it. After spending the day with my Niece her lovely Husband and my three great Niece and nephews, I can tell you, seventeen is not a good stage.

 

At least he ate before he left, as the person he’s with, he always comes back starved.

 

My little Niece is so cute. She and I have a connection. I felt it as soon as I met her before Christmas. I said to Hub, it’s something I can’t explain. Just a feeling. I normally connect with boys. I never ever wanted a daughter, only a Son and a beautiful one I got too. But this little girl is something special. Just one of those feelings I get spiritually. Both little children so loveing and the eldest lad, my oldest Nieces child came too, is so polite.

 

But to see my youngest Niece oh, it was lovely. I’m rather overwhelmed. As for her Husband, well, Hub and I think the world of him.

 

This family thing is all new to me. I really hope it continues. I feel as though I can allow my barriers down now. They have been there all of my life. Since six anyway.

 

I hope we can participate in the lives of my great Niece and Nephews and I have another Great Niece who didn’t come today to get to know better too.

 

We put the beasty girls in the office,. I call the cupboard. Oh heck, what a mess that room is, so there are no worries about the girls being in there. That is my next venture, so sort that out.

 

I tell you, I have never had guests who are so tidy after themselves? We went into the kitchen to see what we could clean when they left, and they had done it all. Gosh. It was rather funny though as we have a small table, with four chairs around it. We had to drag the two bar stools from the kitchen, so six seats? But eight for lunch. Oh well, never mind… I’m used to the three of us….

 

Hub played the piano and little one and I sang. Sweet.

 

The family spoke of going places and I so badly wished I could take the children, or at least be with them on the odd trip out. As children, my ex and I used to take the two girls places, picnicks and so on. It was lovely. But that was a long time ago. A big gap in between where there was just Teen and myself. Now I have a normal husband, I hope a normal life will follow.

 

 

A quiet night now. Time to reflect our day. Was sad to say goodbye. Just two people missing from my life now and that is my parents, but I do wonder if they have had some kind of intervention?

 

So much has happened since the end of last year when my brother and I were reunited. My insides shake with emotions. And to think they want to bother with me is the most amazing thing, I keep saying to Hub, why? Why would they want to know me? I’m tearful writing this, as to see/hear these words, to me is quite pathetic.  Hub bless him says all the right things, why they do want to know me, but to get me to believe him? No, not yet. Not yet.

 

I have such a downer on myself. I really do. It’s times like this when I realise just how much I hate myself

I’m a total mess. My past has really damaged me. I shall end this blog now, as it will go to a negative place when today has to be positive. I just can’t get my head around why they would want to make the trip to see us? I pray it won’t be a phase and this time in a few months, I  don’t wan’t to be here feeling again a total failure.

 

I just want to knock down my walls and be normal for once in my life.

 

 

DIARY OF TALKING SCALES MUMS WITH CHILDREN WITH RP TRUE LIFE NIGHTMARE AND MORE

Good day Bloggets. I’m onto my second cup of tea. A lovely tea I have not bought for a while, as had forgotten about. Our shopping came last night. Oh heck. Really. Someone wants to sack the people who write the descriptions of some items we can buy? So it read

“A half pint tumbler”

What would you think it was? It was only a pound in money, so I bought six. Well, when they came. Hub went a little crazy. He asked me what the heck I was doing with these. I asked what? He said cups? I said no, glasses. He replied no, handing me, six packs of ten, plastic cups you get at take aways?

Oh I was so mad? I mean why did they say a tumbler?  Rather than a pack of ten plastic cups.

 

So is it party time at Fifi’s?

 

I mean, what the heckers am I going to do with 60 plastic cups?

 First time I didn’t go to the door to get the shopping in. If I had, I would have sent them back.

 

The sun is shining today and it’s actually hot if you are under it.

 

Good, as I have the dreaded job of the dog run to do soon. I keep putting it off but have to do it, went out to do it yesterday and it was so cold my hands I couldn’t feel.

 

Gosh I have to tell you about my true life nightmare.

I woke up this morning and I have never had this experience before. I actually woke up in terror, as I realised I had lost my sight through the night. I squeezed my eyes together, opened them and put my fingers to them. Nothing. Dark red before my eyes.

 

Then my brain told me I was being silly, as I had lost my sight seventeen years ago almost.

 

But my eyes were saying different. They were saying I could see before bed. It was horrible. Really horrible. Half in a dream still obviously. Oh gosh, it left me shaking, really bad.

It brought back those horrific hours after I had lost my sight all those years ago. I felt sick.

 

I think I know why this state of mind was. The group I’m in asked a question

“What is best? Waiting to go blind still having sight, or being blind?”

I began to write a blog yesterday in response to this question, but when I read it back, it was so dark, I cancelled it.

 

Waiting to go blind is a death sentence. Being blind is dying. But at least when you die, you can find a place to wrest and calculate your life.

 

Every night when I used to go to bed. I shivered thinking what the doctors said when I was a child of four. I could go to bed at night and wake up blind the next morning. I never slept properly after then. That evil man, I hope he has visited hell now.

 

Thankfully most Doctors now days are not like the old days. And if you are a parent and your child has just been diagnosed, I can’t imagine the pain you must be going through, but, it’s different now days. There is hope. Even ten years ago, there was no hope as far as medical advances go. Research has come a long way and technology. Your child I am sure won’t end up blind, but if they do, please don’t do what my Mum did and not except it. You will only do your child harm. My loving Mum took me all over the world to find treatment/cure. I would do the same for mine, but I would also prepare my child for the inevitable. To ignore, is ignorance and your child will end up a total mess. I promise. When they are young they are like sponges. Allow them to be ready for this world if it happens to them. If it doesn’t, then they have added skills that could get them a good job in the future.

 

It surprises me just how many people with my eye condition put photographs up in the RP groups I’m in without even thinking about those who can’t see them?

 

Is it selfish or burying their heads again. I know when I had some sight, I hated the word blind. To me it was a swear word. A word I felt so uncomfortable with. And this is why I took so badly to it happening. I was totally suicidal.

 

There are Mums in the groups I’m in who won’t tell their children they have RP. If only they knew how much harm they are causing? It’s tragic to be given such news. It would kill me. But your child can live a good life, though different, he/she would have to adjust. I wasn’t allowed to adjust and I suffer each day of my life now.

 

As I said, I am sure that our children of today won’t reach adulthood in the dark.

 

If they do? Well, how ready will they be?

 

Oh we got our talking scales yesterday. Well. Em. They are bigger liars than the old ones. In fact they came with a hu’u’ge Pinocchio nose attached

 

Oh but the best bit was, they obviously talk. They can speek German French Spanish and English, well, in German it read Deutsch, In Spanish Espanol and French it said Francias.  

Well, when it came to the English? Hahahahahaha. It said in a clear voice

Eengleesh.

Say wha’a’t?

Really, so we got on the scales. Not together as there is a limit… As we were not on a visit to the zoo, Hub got on first, he got off blaming his clothes; he even took out from his pocket his mobile. Hahahaha. Like when I could see, I used to remove my glasses, but then I couldn’t see the pigging scales as then I didn’t do the blind thing…

Well, I got on then after hearing my bad news; I looked at the feet on the stupid machine. Obviously they needed adjusting?

Em

No. They were fine.

Well, must be because the batteries are at fault?

Hub said no, if they were they would not work.

Oh well, it must be because they are new and need breaking in.

Or may be not. Later gators. X

FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN ANGELS

                          A true story by Catherine Moore "Watch out! You nearly broad sided that car!" My father yelled at me. "Can't you do anything right?                           Those words hurt worse than blows. I turned my head toward the elderly man in the seat beside me, daring me to challenge him.  A lump rose in my throat as I averted my eyes. I wasn't prepared for another battle.                           "I saw the car, Dad . Please don't yell at me when I'm driving.."                            My voice was measured and steady, sounding far calmer than I really felt.                            Dad glared at me, then turned away and settled back. At home I left Dad in front of the television and went outside to collect my thoughts..... dark, heavy clouds hung in the air with a promise of rain. The rumble of distant thunder seemed to echo my inner turmoil. What could I do about him?                            Dad had been a lumberjack in Washington and Oregon. He had enjoyed being outdoors and had reveled in pitting his strength against the forces of nature. He had entered grueling lumberjack competitions, and had placed often. The shelves in his house were filled with trophies that attested to his prowess.                           The years marched on relentlessly. The first time he couldn't lift a heavy log, he joked about it; but later that same day I saw him outside alone, straining to lift it.. He became irritable                           whenever anyone teased him about his advancing age, or when                           he couldn't do something he had done as a younger man.                            Four days after his sixty-seventh birthday, he had a heart attack. An ambulance sped him to the hospital while a paramedic administered CPR to keep blood and oxygen flowing.                           At the hospital, Dad was rushed into an operating room.  He was lucky; he survived. But something inside Dad died. His zest for life was gone.  He obstinately refused to follow doctor's orders. Suggestions and offers of help were turned aside with sarcasm and insults. The number of visitors thinned, then finally stopped altogether. Dad was left alone.                           My husband, Dick, and I asked Dad to come live with us on our small farm. We hoped the fresh air and rustic atmosphere would help him adjust.                           Within a week after he moved in, I regretted the invitation. It seemed nothing was satisfactory. He criticized everything I did. I became frustrated and moody. Soon I was taking my pent-up anger out on Dick. We began to bicker and argue.                           Alarmed, Dick sought out our pastor and explained the situation. The clergyman set up weekly counseling appointments for us. At the close of each session he prayed, asking God to soothe Dad's troubled mind.                           But the months wore on and God was silent. Something had to be done and it was up to me to do it.                           The next day I sat down with the phone book and methodically called each of the mental health clinics listed in the Yellow Pages.  I explained my problem to each of the sympathetic voices that answered in vain.                           Just when I was giving up hope, one of the voices suddenly exclaimed, "I just read something that might help you!  Let me go get the article."                           I listened as she read. The article described a remarkable study done at a nursing home. All of the patients were under treatment for chronic depression. Yet their attitudes had proved                           dramatically when they were given responsibility for a dog.                           I drove to the animal shelter that afternoon. After I filled out a questionnaire, a uniformed officer led me to the kennels. The odor of disinfectant stung my nostrils as I moved down the row of pens Each contained five to seven dogs. Long-haired dogs, curly-haired dogs, black dogs, spotted dogs all jumped up, trying to reach me. I studied each one but rejected one after the other for various reasons too big, too small, too much hair. As I neared the last pen a dog in the shadows of the far corner struggled to his feet, walked to the front of the run and sat down. It was a pointer, one of the dog world's aristocrats. But this was a caricature of the breed.                           Years had etched his face and muzzle with shades of gray. His hip bones jutted out in lopsided triangles. But it was his eyes that caught and held my attention. Calm and clear, they beheld me unwaveringly.                           I pointed to the dog. "Can you tell me about him?" The officer looked, then shook his head in puzzlement. "He's a funny one. Appeared out of nowhere and sat in front of the gate. We brought him in, figuring someone would be right down to claim him. That was two weeks ago and we've heard nothing.  His time is up tomorrow." He gestured helplessly.                            As the words sank in I turned to the man in horror.  "You mean you're going to kill him?"                           "Ma'am," he said gently, "that's our policy. We don't have room for every unclaimed dog."                           I looked at the pointer again. The calm brown eyes awaited my decision. "I'll take him," I said. I drove home with the dog on the front seat beside me.. When I reached the house I honked the horn twice.                            I was helping my prize out of the car when Dad shuffled onto the front porch.... "Ta-da! Look what I got for you, Dad !" I said excitedly.                           Dad looked, then wrinkled his face in disgust. "If I had wanted a dog I would have gotten one. And I would have picked out a better specimen than that bag of bones. Keep it! I don't want it" Dad waved his arm scornfully and turned back toward the house.                           Anger rose inside me.. It squeezed together my throat muscles and pounded into my temples. "You'd better get used to him, Dad. He's staying!"                           Dad ignored me.. "Did you hear me, Dad ?" I screamed. At those words Dad whirled angrily, his hands clenched at his sides, his eyes narrowed and blazing with hate. We stood glaring at each other like duelists, when suddenly the pointer pulled free from my grasp. He wobbled toward my dad and sat down in front of him. Then slowly, carefully, he raised his paw..                           Dad's lower jaw trembled as he stared at the uplifted paw confusion replaced the anger in his eyes. The pointer waited patiently. Then Dad was on his knees hugging the animal.                            It was the beginning of a warm and intimate friendship.                            Dad named the pointer Cheyenne. Together he and Cheyenne                           explored the community. They spent long hours walking down dusty lanes.                           They spent reflective moments on the banks of streams, angling for tasty trout.                                                     They even started to attend Sunday services together,                           Dad sitting in a pew and Cheyenne lying quietly at his feet.                           Dad and Cheyenne were inseparable throughout the next three years.                            Dad's bitterness faded, and he and Cheyenne made many friends.                            Then late one night I was startled to feel Cheyenne's cold nose                           burrowing through our bed covers.                            He had never before come into our bedroom at night.  I                           woke Dick, put on my robe and ran into my father's room.                           Dad lay in his bed, his face serene.                            But his spirit had left quietly sometime during the night.                           Two days later my shock and grief deepened when I discovered                           Cheyenne lying dead beside Dad's bed. I wrapped his still form                           in the rag rug he had slept on. As Dick and I buried him near a                           favorite fishing hole, I silently thanked the dog for the help he                           had given me in restoring Dad's peace of mind.                           The morning of Dad's funeral dawned overcast and dreary.                           This day looks like the way I feel, I thought, as I walked down                           the aisle to the pews reserved for family.                           I was surprised to see the many friends Dad and Cheyenne had                           made filling the church. The pastor began his eulogy.                            It was a tribute to both Dad and the dog who had changed his life.                           And then the pastor turned to Hebrews 13:2.                           "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers,                           for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it."                           "I've often thanked God for sending that angel," he said.                           For me, the past dropped into place, completing a puzzle that                           I had not seen before: the sympathetic voice that had just read                           the right article... Cheyenne 's unexpected appearance at the animal shelter,                           his calm acceptance and complete devotion to my father… and the proximity                           of their deaths. And suddenly I understood.                           I knew that God had answered my prayers after all.                           Life is too short for drama or petty things, so laugh hard,                           love truly and forgive quickly. Live While You Are Alive.                           Forgive now those who made you cry. You might not get a second time.

“Thank you to my friend for sending this to me. He too is an angel. Love and hugs DD.

STATS WHO'S ON TOP THIS MONTH?

The monthsstats and total. Top ten countries a change for some, but two countries stayed the same.

Entry	Page views
United States	892
United Kingdom	651
Ukraine	199
Russia	118
Canada	29
France	28
Germany	25
Jamaica	18
Australia	11

 

 

Belgium

10

 

 

So in total now, since we began

United Kingdom 31518 United States 18395 Ukraine 6818 Russia 2296 Germany 1523 Mexico 640 Japan 598 France 543 Canada 444 Poland 263

 

 

You make this page work and as for the other forty plus countries who have visited, don’t think I haven’t recognised you, just the stat page only shows the top ten most views. Thank you again. Without you all, this wouldn’t be here. Xxx

LISA'S ANGEL BY FIONA CUMMINGS

LISA’S ANGEL

BY FIONA CUMMINGS

 

She left us

Without a fuss

She was given her wings

As the church bell rang

Choirs sang

And her new journey began

Floating to a brand new land

Smiles could be seen

She was a youthful beauty queen

Her pain was lifted

Her departed family were reunited

Pure bliss

From her Sons a kiss

They needed their Mum

They had waited so long

But what was wrong

Was who she left behind?

The pain they feel

Is so unkind

A rough deal

For they will miss

A brand new angel

Out there in the mist

A shining star

To show she’s not far

A bird’s tune

Will be heard on spring bloom

Whenever those left behind

Are feeling so tearful

Remember she is now with other loved ones

So very cheerful

But will wait for your turn

And when you are gone

We will learn

How you’re waiting for those you love

To come to you above

And float on a cloud

Feeling proud

That they waited for their time

I wish I could take away your pain

I want you to once again feel mighty fine

But sadly we have to go through such a process

And feel the thorns of the roses

Your angel has made progress

Her soul has left her shell

She can walk freely in Gods garden

The blossom she can smell

Out of pain

New blood flowing through her veins

She will never forget you

And always love you

Once again these words will be proven true

As she one day,

Will take your hand

Just as someone took hers

And take you to the perfect land

Dry your tears my wonderful friend

Enjoy this earth till the very end

Think of your lovely angel on holiday

She will never go away

Lift the pain from your heart

These words I pray

Believe what I say

Earth is not the place we come to and stay

But there is a queue to wait

To visit after here

The pearly gate

Another hemisphere

A different world

We will find forever flowers

And paths of gold

But in the meanwhile

My hand reaches out for you to hold

Once again you will smile

Though you will hurt for a while

But when the pain gets real bad

Remember one more person will be happy

And that’s your Dad

 

 

To my Dear friend Lisa, I understand how much you miss your Dad, and now you’re Grandmother, I didn’t know how to express the empathy I have for you. Only way I can do it is this.

 

Copyright Fiona Cummings 2015

MY DIARY OF CHINESE PROVERBS

Well, a very short blog today I have been writing a paper all day and cleaning upstairs windows. Have not prepared tea yet, really don’t know what to make. I’m bored stiff with cooking. It’s just thinking what to do? Also I should starve for a year and a quarter, I am sure I have put on loads more weight. The signs are all there, when your stomach says hello to the walls, before your nose…

 

Not even time to make myself a cup of tea today, but my little angel made me one. Again I didn’t have to ask. This new child, I must say, it’s worrying me. You know when a man / husband buys you flowers and he doesn’t normally?

 

It’s tried to snow all day today, but failed.                    It’s very sunny but cool.

 

Nineteen days to go before one of my most favourite days of the year. Pancake Tuesday. Or Shrove Tuesday. I love it, the start of all new and more importantly, pancakes.

 

Our birds in the garden are singing. I hope they are full of food. I hope my guide dog hasn’t eaten it all.

 

Yesterday I promised you some Chinese proverbs or sayings, well; here are a few of my favourites.广交友，无深交c(guǎng jiāo yǒu，wú shēn jiāo) -A friend to everybody is a friend to nobody.

 

So true.

 

万事开头难 wàn shì kāi tóu nán - All things are difficult before they are easy.

 

This one is funny, 身正不怕影子斜 shēn zhèng bú pà yǐng zi xié - A straight foot is not afraid of a crooked shoe. “Hmm?

 

We have this saying too 机不可失，时不再来 jī bù kě shī, shí bú zài lái - Opportunity knocks at the door only once.

 

愿得一人心，白首不相离 yuàn dé yī rén xīn, bái shǒu bù xiāng lí - Catch one’s heart, never be apart.

 

有缘千里来相会 yǒu yuán qiān lǐ lái xiāng huì - Fate brings people together no matter how far apart they may be. This proverb points out that human relationships are decreed by Fate.

I truly believe in that, do you?

 

And how could I not write this one? 爱屋及乌 ài wū jí wū - Love me ,love my dog.

 

So other sayings from around the world? How about this one from Russia, but in English only, as must dash soon to be a slave to my kitchen, haha. Better to be slapped with the truth, than kissed with a lie.

And for a Jewish proverb?

When luck enters, give them a seat. And finally for today, I love this German proverb. Love is blinding. That is why lovers like to touch.

“Hehehehe, yep, I like to know what I’m dealing with… x

 

 

 

A GOODNIGHTS LAUGH

Have I told you about the new application for blind people? Or people who are partially sighted? It’s called be my eyes. It’s free and for all over the world. It’s a volunteer service. There are about eight thousand V.I’s subscribed and over a hundred sighted volunteers.

 

Well, my Husband used it for the first time today. You hear a ringing on your phone as though you are calling someone. Somebody answers somewhere in the world.

 

You ask your question, either, what is the sell by date? What tablets are these or what does this jar say? They answer, live.

 

It worked for us today. Fantastic. Then you can give feedback.

 

Thank you too all the volunteers.

 

Hub said before I go out in the future, I could ask it or them him or her, what my makeup looks like? Haha, cheek. I said wouldn’t it be funny if there  I was doing my impression of a clown, lipstick all over, mascara looking like a panda, and so on, and I phone up. I am looking into the camera and I ask

“Is this a tin of beans, or peas?”

They answer beans; I thank them, then end the call? Hahahaha.

 

Luckily, I am Okay with my makeup. I wear as little as possible then I can’t make a mistake, well, I can, but it’s not so huge. I don’t wear mascara either and over the years, I am used to putting everything on with my fingers, but last time I was out with my friend, I bought for the first time in my life. Make up brushes. Oh heck. I felt as though I was reconstructing Leonardo’s Mona Lisa

   If you can imagine air kissing your love?

Playing a piano without being allowed to touch the keys?

Driving without a wheel. So having to wave your direction.

 

Best way to put make up on is using your fingers. Remember to washing them afterwards though. If you do have to use a brush, gently tap it over your make up, to release any loose powder before putting it on your face, then you won’t get smudges/blobs.

I always put my lipstick on more the inside of my mouth than the outside, then put my lips together and hope it covers all over.

 

I have recently bought an eye shadow. I never wear that, but dared myself. Well, my new blush looks the same as my eye shadow. If I get them mixed up, it won’t be disastrous, as they are both pink, but imagine if my shadow was blue? Or green? And I put it on my cheeks?

Then made a call to be my eyes. Hahaha.

 

Going back to Be my eyes, my friend is going to down load it to see what the Doctor put on his Prescription. It’s for work, he has to show it. Well, if you can see, you will look, if you have no sight, it’s a bit of paper.

 

Dusted today my precious ornaments. Gosh I have a load of them. But I love every one so much. They are all special to me for so many reasons. I think if I were to count the ones I have in my living room, I would have about one hundred.

 

I collect Beatrix Potter and I love them also elephants, fairies, angels and blue and white china.

 

Even my Husband has a little collection of rather nice bronze.

 

Then in my conservatory? Oh they go on. About fifty in there. It would break me if any of them got broken. This is the trouble when you collect something. You start to love it/them, so they become precious to you. Some things my Mum and I received in Russia. A lot of ornaments my friend bought me. She was so very kind, and I see what she has bought me and feel very sad.

 

I have Pegasus too; my friend Vivi bought me those. And some lovely things my Son bought. So a lot.

 

Upstairs though, not many at all.

I’m trying to get my Husband to help me to sort out his office. Oh it’s a horrible cupboard full of junk right now. Everything we don’t want goes in there.

 

It’s the only room we haven’t bothered with since moving here.

 

I want to turn it into a bedroom for when our two girls come, right now, they will have to sleep in the same room and it’s not that big.

 

The wind is wild. It’s cold enough to have a visit from Jack Frost. Snow is forecast overnight too. My brother and Sister are in Jamaica. Wow, they will feel the cold on their return.

 

Okay, before I go I hope to put a smile on your faces.

Q: What do you get when you cross a karate expert with a pig? A: A pork chop.

 

Now some questions

Q: Mary’s father has 5 daughters – Nana, Nene, Nini, Nono. What is the fifth daughter’s name? A: If you answered Nunu, you are wrong. It’s Mary!

 

Q: How can a pants pocket be empty and still have something in it? A: It can have a hole in it.

 

Q: In a one-story pink house, there was a pink person, a pink cat, a pink fish, a pink computer, a pink chair, a pink table, a pink telephone, a pink shower– everything was pink! What color were the stairs? A: There weren’t any stairs; it was a one story house!

 

Q: What word becomes shorter when you add two letters to it?
A: Short

Q: What travels around the world but stays in one spot?
A: A stamp!

Q: What occurs once in a minute, twice in a moment and never in one thousand years?
A: The letter M

 

Okay, I could go on, but I think I have lowered the tone of the blog page enough.

Goodnight, sleep well wherever you are, at some point today. Xxx

NEWS VIEWS AND SO MUCH MORE

Oh my word. What a morning so far? Well, I went to let my dog pollute in her dog run and almost went flying.

No, I didn’t grow wings, but I did leave the ground for a brief while. You know one of those stupid walks you do when you know you are falling? Thankfully no one can see me from our back yard.

Well, apart from neighbours looking out from their window upstairs. Oh and those passing on a bus. Oh, and the gap in my fence. The birds and if anyone is looking down the side of my house, but apart from all that, haha haha, no one else.

 

I tripped over something huu’uuge.

What was it? Well, I didn’t know until I had a look. Our wheel bin had fallen over. Nightmare. The winds are blowing so hard it was almost inaudible to even hear me shouting at Wagga as I tried to keep her from eating the entire contents from our bin. Gross considering I cleaned the dog runs yesterday after two days. It was really horrible. The bags I used burst and there were bits of food and other stuff all over the yard.

 

I wanted to get her in first.

She wanted to stay out.

Who won?

Not me!

Oh I was furious with her. She is dreadful. She knows she is doing wrong but doesn’t care. She also knows how to walk without rattling her bells on her collar so I can’t hear her.

 

Sometimes I can hear her claws on the ground. Not today. The northern winds prevented me from doing so.

 

The fastest I was putting things back in the bin, the more the wind was blowing it back out the more Wagga was enjoying her second and third courses.

 

I put on gloves, disposable ones we keep outside for the dog run. And began the worst job I have ever done. Our bins stand to about my Hmm. I would say chest and I am tall. I’m 5ft9inches. Not sure in metres and so on. About 178? But a guess.

 

Anyway, they are big.

The bins that is, not my chest…

 

Though, that isn’t small either.

 

It got done and I tried to shelter it as best as I could.

I can’t believe I’m writing a blog about my bins? Really, I promise a more intelligent conversation. Just wanted to tell you how my day has begun.

 

We have snow too. Just a little, it’s sunny and very cold. Weird.

 

I’m in my sitting room all warm and it’s peaceful. My girl is in her bed as she has been a very naughty girl. I don’t want to put her on the naughty step, as the only one we have in our house, are the stairs to upstairs  and she is parcel to teens bedroom, in fact his blooming bed. Mind you, all his Christmas sweets are gone now, so may not be so appealing.

 

Teen is in college and Hub with LC at work.

 

I know I go on about Hub, and his job, but I am buzzing with pride for him. He has been highly praised at work by his boss and the top man of his organisation. I can’t write of his achievements, but really I wish I could? Let’s just say he has gone into a war zone. Saved so many people, brought in good people to help to rescue and has discovered so many resources to finance and rebuild the area. The people are all well now and stronger than ever. Committed to peace and achieving goals now they have pride so the work starts to have belief in them. More so, he is helping so many of us blind and partially sighted. Not me personally, as he and I now are under a different team for his organisation. He thought that would be best.

 

He is over qualified for his job, but is enjoying it so much as he is in direct contact with the people. Because he makes sure he is. He doesn’t have to. It’s not his roll.

 

I’ve said too much already, good job he doesn’t read my blogs. He wouldn’t be happy. He is very reluctant to blowing his own trumpet.

Though is very musical. Hehehe.

 

Okay, enough mind puzzles now.

Last night, well, my friend Terry asked me to give an update on my blade carrying, wrapping southerner, who came to visit me yesterday afternoon.

 

Remember him? He was the one supposedly from the RSPCA? So trying to cause awareness for animals? Hmm. I’m sure he was from a proper organisation, as there were a lot of them in the streets, now at the time when he came and did his wrap on my doorstep, with a mouth full of cotton wool,

I was unaware of this. I thought I had a weirdo at my door. And I still think that.

When I told him I was on a conference call, so couldn’t talk with him. He said he would come back at half eight tonight?

He did too, but a bit earlier than half eight.

 

Hub answered this time.

Funny, as I bet he knew I couldn’t see, as probably not looking at him until he spoke. Well, when Hub answered, he probably thought,

“Heck, there are two of them!”

Hehehe.

Well, Hub works for a charity so always does this rather anal thing and I really have to block my ears as I cringe, but he asks for statistics of finances and goals and so on. He says to prove they are who they say they are? If they aren’t he would report them. But this lad knew his stuff. Though I do wonder if he was from the young offender’s prison.

As I said yesterday, I can’t see him bonding with bouncing bunnies, or Coochie cooing, with cute kittens.

 

Well, he went on his way to try to get money from other neighbours. I can’t stand cold callers. And I feel sorry for elderly people. People coming to their doors as especially at nights?

 

Now, what’s in the news?

Well, I didn’t know that Chinese builders were all over the world, constructing palaces and other buildings of importance. Really? Apparently so. I am so suspicious. I shouldn’t be, it’s just the way that China is seaming to rule the world. I don’t like any country doing this. I have spoken before about when I visited Russia, after Perestroika and how ancient buildings, golden globes and bronze statues were draped with American flags, and how the repressive empty shops were brash flashing lights advertising US products. It all just didn’t fit in with the classy culture of Moscow streets. Too glitzy. How the $, was recognised more than the rouble I just like each country to have their own individuality. I know coming from England, where we used to own a lot of countries is a little rich, but I am modern in the respect that I personally didn’t own land that didn’t belong to me. I went to buy something today that I thought was typically English. When I looked into it further, it was made in China. I didn’t buy it on principle. Now I know that is stupid, as I would have a very difficult life if I were to follow that way of shopping, as everything is from China. Because we have allowed it that way, as we want cheap. Or do we? Not always, I wish there was a choice. But there’s not.

 

Now why are so many of the world’s buildings now being built by Chinese builders? I find Chinese proverbs fascinating

 

Dismantle the bridge just shortly after crossing it.

Everyone speaks well of the bridge which carries him over. But my favourite Chinese quotation is this one and I love it. It’s deep and meaningful. From

Sun Tzu

“If you wait by the river long enough, the bodies of your enemies will float by.”

I may write a blog later on quotes and proverbs. I’m so intrigued by such things. I wrote one way back, but may revisit the subject with different words.

 

A cat in Florida crawls out from a grave.

A zombie cat, five days earlier, was hit badly by a car and was found in a pool of blood. Stiff. He was buried by his owners neighbour and after five days, the cat clawed his way out. It’s now been looked after by the human society after substantial treatment.

 

Police raid Tokyo’ Amazon offices looking for child pornography. Books have been sold on line featuring children.

 

Now this headline was one that made me think, say whaa’aat?

Five ways to survive sharing a bedroom with five strangers?

So, Okay, how many of us do that? Those who do, will they read the internet? I guess I’m boring.

It’s written that people in London are now sharing their bedrooms as the price of accommodation is becoming so expensive. So here are the five tips to survive.

1. Stay out until bedtime

2. Get changed in the bathroom

3. Stay at your partner’s house; don’t bring back to shared room.

4. De-clutter in other words, do not hawed.

And 5 don’t stay too long.

 

Well, that advice was given by a girl who shared, but I know I couldn’t. I’m lucky, I have never had too. I can’t think of anything worse, unless you call boarding school, where to be honest; we all were like sisters at school. We were us and the house staff. The house staff were horrible, so we were our own army. But as an adult, I can’t think of anything worse.

 

A government minister gave the gift of a watch to the mayor of Taipei in good will, but ended up breaking local cultural norms because clocks are considered a harbinger of death. What gifts is taboo.

 When transport minister Susan Kramer gave Taipei mayor Koi Wen-je a small watch as a present, she was simply following standard diplomatic protocol. The exchange of gifts is commonplace on such trips abroad, but cultural norms differ from country to country, and Baroness Kramer was caught out.

Giving a clock to someone in Chinese culture is a bad omen, suggesting they are running out of time on earth. The mayor laughed off the joke, while Baroness Kramer apologised, saying "we learn something new each day". It appears her office may not have read Delbert’s, the etiquette guide, which advises readers to "do some research to avoid making a basic error - the bottle of whisky to the teetotaller, or the chocolates to the dieter".  An etiquette expert says that most diplomatic gifts are agreed between both parties in advance - and regardless, "research should be done".

 

"A ceremonial sword in [some parts of] Africa is a symbol of power; in Switzerland it would be seen as a sign of aggression.

Or if you are me, a sign of someone collecting money for animals? Haha.

Some things are constant, though. Almost all cultural taboos revolve around death, regardless of location. The number four is considered bad luck in China, because it tonally sounds like the word for death, while the number eight is good, because it sounds similar to the word for wealth.

In the UK, knives are generally not given as presents because superstition says it could cut through a friendship. Similarly, in Japan presenting a knife to a colleague is seen as suggestive of suicide. A bunch of chrysanthemums are a no-go area for the Spanish, because they are associated with death, much in the same way you wouldn't present a bunch of white lilies to a Briton.

Oh I love Lilly’s though, but only the ones that smell good. My Mum wouldn’t have them in her house. They are what we give for funerals.

Indeed, flowers are a particularly troublesome area. Red roses - a traditional lovers' gift - would appear out of place at a business meeting, while yellow roses commonly suggest infidelity in France, and death in Mexico. And superstition declares that you should always give an odd number of flowers in Russia.

 

So a gift you can give to a colleague not to offend? I say a book on the country you are from. Or area. Now then, you will only offend a person who can’t read or can’t see so then what?

Take them out for a meal?

A steak house? What if they are a vegetarian?

Oh heck. The stress.

 

Okay, I shall go for now, but hope you are all well. X