fun Monday

Gattina asks about Christmas decoration(s) special to you.

I'd thought of taking pix of perhaps the tree, wreath on the front door or other sparklies; then I had another idea. THE Christmas decoration that means the most to me is 60 miles away in my home town. They have been putting out a Nativity scene at the entrance to the Castle grounds for longer than I've been around.

Each year, Christmas was made special when my Dad took me to see the Nativity scene.

Yes, there are similar scenes near where I live, but none have the special magical appeal of the one that was part of my childhood.

Now, I read that idiot 'revellers' have stolen 5 of the figures! They have even broken off a wing from the angel... I feel so upset, so annoyed. How could they do that and why?
Councillor Robinson added: "There is little else I can say to express my disgust, other than to suggest perhaps the town should not provide a crib next year?"

fun Monday set by Faye

I realize that a lot of people don't get into writing and mailing out holiday greetings, especially since we can be in contact with friends and family 24/7 through technology--phone calls, texting, twittering, face-booking, blogging, e-mailing, videoing. But, for most of us it's still a treat to see a holiday envelope mixed in with the bills and junk mail in the mailbox, especially if it's a handwritten message.

Am late taking part, only learnt from tweet by Cynicalgirl what today's topic was.

Some folk are tech savvy, but there are still quite a few who put pen to paper. Hence, a mixture of snail-mail cards and e-cards.
E-cards are lovely especially the animated ones. But, to receive a hand-written card is special as when the sender has enclosed a note telling of the past year's events in their life.

However, time rushes by taking with it old friends who have 'left this vale of tears'. Another friend has been anxious about writing cards this year simply because of the number of names she's had to cross off her list.
As she remarked, 'at her time of life; funerals seem to happen more often'.


Then, there are those who having sent cards regularly for tens of years, suddenly leave you off their mailing list.

This year, the flow of cards dried up days ago... As for the rest of the mail? Some bills are onlne (no need for snail-mail). Junk mail has been almost eradicated thanks to TMS the Mailing Preference Service.

Today's post has arrived! Another Xmas card from former colleague, and a dog-e-gift ready for me to personalise and forward to recipient.The latter is a virtual gift!

Otis a Labrador pup in training to be a guide dog for the blind.

hooray for neighbour!

Today, we can't get out of our driveway as it's blocked by workmen, lorries and plant (diggers, pneumatic drill n big whizzy).
Am I upset? Not in the slightest. Why? Cos they are doing a repair that's been needed for years n years.

Quite a while ago the council had our pavements dug up and replaced. At that time we complained about the way ours had been done. Sloping in all directions with odd cambers. Council came to inspect n said it was 'within' accepted tolerances! Friend with Health n Safety qualifications disagreed. Council adamant 'nothing wrong'.

Moving on a few years, neighbour who has recently lost most of her sight thro' diabetes, stumbled n fell. She reported the incident. Now, we are getting the pavement modified. What a pity the Council didn't rectify the problem earlier!

Wendishness to the rescue!

Oh lookie….I’m hosting Fun Monday again….

I saw Cynicalgirl beg and the moment I saw her post I came up with a great idea for a Fun Monday assignment that isn’t Christmas related and I do hope many will join in this one.

Okay, your mission, should you choose to accept it is this – we’re at the end of decade and in the media we’re seeing a lot of highlights, mishaps, misfortunes etc.. that have happened in the news. But what about everyone else? I would LOVE to see your highlights and lowlights from the “noughties”. Photos would be fantastic but you don’t have to – the choice is yours.

This will take some time I think...
Highlights
2009
November
- Toyota Yaris
- baptism when our god-daughter became a godmother
December my Mac book pro!
2002 EARLY RETIREMENT! YIPPEE!

Lowlights
The lowest of the low has to be dear friends who are no more...
Pol, Liz, Shirley and Mike
Not forgetting the loss of our dear girlie Kira , long-coated GSD and real 'teddy bear'

Reached the end of my working life. Illness and anxiety, pressures of work took their toll. Yet another futile, pointless egregious waste of money aka some £30000 spent by the school to undergo OFSTED! Institutionalised torture!

Now for something more cheerful!

2002 was my first trip abroad in many years (20+) so I needed a new passport. Even crossing the Irish Sea is easier with a passport.

Dublin is a charming, pocket handkerchief sized cosmopolitan capital city. I've been lucky enough to stay there with friends on several occasions in the 'noughties'. Discovering the Gravity Bar (Guinness Storehouse), Jamesons distillery, strolling along the Liffey by day and by night. Temple Bar restaurants, bars and shops.

Craic is an Irish word, redolent with fun, laughter and cameraderie. The Irish Tourist Board website www.discoverireland.com/ is well worth looking at to find out more.

I said it was a work i n progress...
More highlights...
2000 saw me taking up the personal challenge of studying with the OU (Open University).
What a learning curve!
Began with tech and geosciences. This led me to become even more interested in both subjects and joining OUGS the geological society. From that, I began to do fieldwork, something I'd enjoyed many years previously. Culminating in a visit to Iceland (place I had to see). 12 days of travel, along the south, east and north, the reverse of the 'Golden Route'. Returning from Akyureri following a difficult route south thro' Iceland's interior. Wearying, worrisome but well worth the effort. Haven't been on any more field trips to date.

she's done it!

What has she done?

Bought a shiny new Mac book Pro and begun the long, fascinating journey into the World of Mac...

Okay, own up the hype about 'ease' of use is both true AND false at the same time.

The keyboard is a delight to use. But, who decided to 'simplify life by removing the hash key!!!

Luckily, I found a blog with useful tips including the gem that

alt +3 gives...# the missing hash key. Jumping for joy...

Yes, the movies to instruct how to do various things are good, but is the difference between Mac n Windoze so great? Time will tell.

Of course, life would have been a lot simpler if I hadn't needed to reset router to default, reconfigure and redo everything.

And there are lots more things to do/redo such as teach Safari my preferred sites, learn to get it to use Lastpass?

Just been experimenting with iphoto! Stunned amazement at it's recognition of places!

Cynicalgirl hosts Fun Monday

A big part of many holidays is the music, but none more so than Christmas, whether or not you celebrate. It’s everywhere–on the radio, TV, in the stores. While many of the songs are lovely and happy and a part of the holiday tradition, a few songs just drive you insane after awhile. Especially since they tend to be repeated over and over, day after day.

So, my question is this: What Christmas (or other holiday) song would you prefer never to hear again, and why? It could be one song in particular, or songs by a certain singer, or a version of a song you usually enjoy that grates on your nerves. We promise not to judge. It’s your chance to vent.

If you have a YouTube version of the offenders handy so we can share your pain, all the better.

Now, if you'd asked for a favourite, I'd have found it an easier ask...

There are so many boringly tedious renditions played as musak in shops, malls, shopping centres and streets around now...

Pet hates must include anything sung by Jim Reeves, I'm shuddering at the thought...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKrCoZ02Mow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stEjTFMb940&feature=related

Are two of the particularly saccharine ones!

This has to be where I admit to once having owned a vinyl LP of Reeves' Christmas songs. At that time they seemed pleasant. Now, they set my teeth on edge.

Perhaps, another reason would be that the LP, along with all my others and 45s were thrown away by my mother (and the stereo too).

Ending on a happier note...I can't help but enjoy listening to


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrAwK9juhhY

Pogues - Fairytale of New York

And the boys from the NYPD choir were singing Galway Bay
And the bells were ringing out for Christmas day.