Answers Coming Soon.........

Q What would have on your headstone?
Wow, Was that It?

Q What's your dream car?
One which goes and doesn't make that rattly noise underneath.

Q Is pornography morally wrong?
Not in all cases

Q Write the opening line of a wonderful novel
She packed her bags, Looked one last time around the house that held so many memories, and left knowing that she would never ever see this place again.

Q What's the best music video ever?

We Close Our Eyes, Go West

Q If you had a big win in the lottery, how long would you wait to tell people?
I wouldn't tell people, I would just keep spending like always, the only difference would be that this time, the bank wouldn't get pissed off.

Q Do you carry a donor card? Why (or why not)?
I have signed onto something on line, so don't have a card. I do, because Kerry had a transplant, and she asked everyone to consider it. I did, and I did.

Q Where would you like to retire?
Kos. To be a Shirley Valentine

Q What is something you wish you were better at doing?
Precision. I start off good, then loose interest. I could never be forensic for police, cause I'd look in a couple of places, and then go "stuff this"


Q What colour do you prefer your pens to write?
Blue, or pink

Q Are babies cute?
Mine were quite the cutest babies in the WORLD, and of course, and now the most spectacularly beautiful people in the world.

Q Do you subscribe to a magazine? If so, what?
US Weekly, cause I am Gossip / Bitching fanatic

Q What's your favorite shape?
Hourglass - cause I'm a very round hour glass. I was actually The model For Venus - before the babies of course

Q What was the last thing you used a microwave for?
Heat a Steam Pudding

Q What book are you reading?
Suite Francais. Is taking me forever to get into. I just finished, Last Breath, and Book of Shadows. I was reading one, and listening to the other. Multitasking!

Q Do you like rollercoasters?
ha ha - No. Well yes, sometimes. However I have to stand and watch for at least half an hour to pluck up courage. I choose 5 people at random and watch and make sure that they get on and then get back off again. If they are okay - chances are I will be too.

Q Which came first – the chicken or the egg?
Yes.

Q Cite a song lyric that means something to you
You and me Baby We Aint Nothing But mamals

Q What's the best photo you've ever taken?
Ages ago :A full face close up of my dad - it's him, even tho he's been gone 23 years.
And recently - one of my family in silhouette against the setting sun.

Q Write a new couch gag for the opening credits of The Simpsons
Erm, They come on, the sit down, and sing "agent Jack Malone".

Q Tell me a knock knock joke
Knock Knock
Whose There?
Interrupting Sheep...
Interrupting she BAAAAAAAAAA eep who

Q Describe yourself in five words
44, Mad, immature, Sensitive, Loved

Q Who should play James Bond now that the role is vacant?
Ruari

Q Write a haiku (3 lines, 5–7-5 syllables)
K Loves Big Sexy
Oh Yes She Will For Ever
It can never work

Q What comic book (or cartoon) character would you be? Why?
Betty Boop - cause Jessica Rabbit sleeps with one????

Q What's the oldest thing you own?
Simon. ha ha ha ha ha ha

Q What's your favourite word?
Buggar-Bollocks That is my word

Q What word(s) do you hate?
aureola

Join the Circus, Like You Wanted To....

My second night at my son's school Musical - Barnum.


I have these little photos - I'm not supposed to take photos during the show, and I sneaked these while they were getting a group photo taken after curtain.

I'm so proud of him, I have no idea how he has the confidence to stand there and sing his heart out.

He is soooo tall - stands head and shoulders above everyone else on stage, and of course, top hat just adds to the height! What a boy! Great Stuff!

Home Again, Cross the Seas......

I attended a Ship Naming and Launching today. It was lovely. For the almost three years I have been here, no one has actually performed this, and it just seemed all right.

Mike&Aida were the couple who were launching and naming "Mija". I have been talking with them back and forward since February, when they were attempting to buy a Boat Aida, with the assistance of the Bank manager also called Aida - it looked like fate, but it wasn't to be!

When all attempts to purchase Aida failed. Mike&Aida were shown the New 43 we had in stock in the Marina. Happily they loved it!


This morning we headed over to the hoist bay, and Mike read a lovely dedication to the name and the safety of the boat, we all toasted her with Champagne and declared her to be the most beautiful boat EVER.



I even jumped on board (I'm not sure that there is photographic evidence of that one), and sailed with them all back over to the berth - her maiden voyage, albeit a very small one.

I was very pleased to be part of that wee ceremony, and wish Mike&Aida many years of safe and happy sailing on board Mija.

There's a Bright Golden Haze on the Meadow

Today, I have mostly been driving the crane.

Well That isn't entirely correct, I haven't been "driving" the crane per say, I was bouncing Ryan up and down on the crane. Wow. the Excitement I get to experience in this office is unbelievable. First it was a digger, now the crane, and the boys (sorry, Gentlemen) of the yard, have promised that I can drive the

Boat mover. How exciting is that?

Of course i dont' have a photo of me in the cab, because it was a kinda spur of the moment thing. But I lifted Ryan up off the ground and then swung him about for a bit, but then I got a bit scared, and stopped because I can't help feeling that he would fall out of the bucket.

It's more the way your eyes

If I had A Photograph of you.... Something to remind me.

Flock of Seagulls were cool eh? I never did have a Seagulls hairdo tho.

I was waiting for Boy tonight, he was ages at school, and I created this montage of myself. ha ha ha It was very amusing. You can see how bored I must have been. I was trying to take pictures up my nose. But I couldn't squeeze the camera up there. I did a whole one of my face as well, But Tooli just looked at it, and said my nose looked like a willy, and I had a squint. So I took it away. Because it was all true.

You can sew it up but you still see the tear...

Sunday night again, and all my family back where they should be. But the weekend has gone again. Only good thing about that is that we are getting closer to Shuna time. I love Shuna I do I do I do.

Is Father's day today. I got Si a funny card from Moonpig..... It is a Oi Magazine Cover. Tee Hee, Is briliant. He got Chocolate, chocolate medal, a book, a poster and a CD for the Car.

He came in about 1.30 from Scouts. it was the Giant Sleepover...... 130 Scouts -(you will see from last night's blog). The beavers went to bed about 12, and the parent helpers left then, it was about 3 am before they managed to get the rest of them to bed.
Si had about an hour's sleep til 4 am, when the Explorers decided to go down the beach and fly kites, and then came back and invaded the Scouts Tent dressed in Giant CHicken outfits! These were "fighting chicken suits"... they also had bouncy castles and a boxing ring. Nice gentle activities to keep them all safe.

Boy was at rehearsals all day today. Tooli and me didn't do much. She slept in. I went and got the shopping. I cleaned the bathroom, i prepared the Dinner. I also did a wee bit of knitting.

There's a Touch Upon My Lips..........

Heaven's. What a day. Up at 6.30 am; Shower, breakfast, pack lunch, pick up two of Boy''s sports mates and then headed to Dundee. 2 hours it took me. Dropped them, and headed to my favourite retail outlook.


I love Borders, I do. I can quite happily enjoy Borders for up to 2 hours. Which is a good job, because after 1 1/4 hours, I realised that it was actually a pay and display - I had been so sleepy as I walked in, I completely missed the Pay Points. Still after a nice mocha and a lemon muffin I was feeling so much much better.

I headed town ward, and took two circuits to find a parking space.... not that there wasn't a lot of spaces, I just kept getting in to the wrong lane. Ah Well, Eventually I found a car park, settled in and headed for the town centre. I'd read that there was a market in the High Street. There was - A wee German one, cheese, sausages, donuts, lager etc etc. Just the same as the one which always appears in Edinburgh and Glasgow at Christmas time.. .except with out the christmas decorations.

I did find Desperate Dan and Beryl the Peril, Dundee being the home of D C Thomson, who publish the Dandy.


Funny eh?

Where I parked there was a funny wee big mall... kinda like the Forum... not briliant - weird shops all mussed up. Didn't like it - was over 3 floors.

left there, and found another which was different and nicer, and in there, I found a Beauty Shop, and got my nail buffed and polished. Just for the sit down, quiet and a wee pamper. It was nice.

Wasn't as nice as Kims, but it was a wee spot of Me Time. Which was what I needed.

I continued to bimble about, but not really enjoying Dundee very much - i don't know - maybe it was just that It wasn't familiar. I headed back to the car, and drove nearer to where i had dropped the boys. Visited a massive ASDA but which didn't have Restaurant. I then found a Sainsbury's which was lovely, and had a lovely pot of tea and a biscuit for £1.70. That was okay. I had a wee read of the papers too.

Eventually I went and parked up next to the school where Boy was training, and started my knitting, my inital thought had been that I would find a park and sit and knit - but I couldn't find anywhere nice enough.

Tooli was away to Ayr for the day shopping with her pals - We kept in touch with mobiles and I was hoping she wouldn't be home too much before us.

The boys finished at 4, on the dot and I got them all in the car, and we headed back down the road.

Si is at Scouts. it is "the giant sleepover" tonight. I think He said there were 150 Scouts / Beavers / Cubs there! Joyous fun eh? tee hee. Rather him than me.

Just watched Dr Who there. That is one programme that just seems to get better and better every week. Heaven's above, I was breathless waiting for the conclusion. And next week..... Rose is back.

Don't Do It, When You Got To Go Do It

Friday 5

Who gave you your last balloon, and what was the occasion?
Si gave me a Balloon Trip. A Big Hot Air Balloon. How Lucky Am I? It was the most beautiful thing in the world. So quiet, and eerie, floating over the Lothians. It was truely the best thing ever. It was my birthday

Who gave you your last scolding, and what was it for?
Si. Atlways. He is forever scolding me, sometimes he doesn't scold me, sometimes he asks rhetorical questions which are set in order to make me feel like I'm being scolded. Why? well (a) I have left dishes undone, or (b) not emptied the buckets, or (c) not put the ironing away. (d) bought take away instead of cooking. Hmmmm Not the best mother in the world am I?


Who gave you your last attaboy, and why?
Me. I attaboy, me all the time, and I say Sir to everyone. I said Sir to a woman yesterday and she wasn't very happy. I didn't mean that I thought she was a man, I was just trying to be polite. But obviously she that I mistook her. Whoops.

Who gave you your last haircut?
Pamela at Nats. Pamela does lovely haircuts. I've never been so happy with my hair than since Pamela started doing it. Is Loverly!

Who gave you your last massage?
Physical contact with people I don't know. I don't think so. Here's the funny thing. I'm a qualified Reiki practitioner, but I can't practise, because I don't want to be touching people that I don't know. I was freaking out at training sessions and then I went to a group one and that did me in.... too many many people I had to touch, and they touched.

And now I live in a world that I call my own.......

For the last three days I have been very very busy. But I am really enjoying myself. However, the best thing ever today : My Lunch.

Rocket from the Garden, Corriander from the Garden, Feta Cheese, Grilled Bacon, Chickpeas and Dressing.

O M Goodness Gracious Me.

It was loverly.

My wasted Heart Will always love you.

Aw.

What a Nice thing to say.


My heart is wasted. and I will. Always love him.

Hel

It's Warm, In and Out.....

Imagine living here... where this is what you see in the evening.... How could you take this for granted?




This is just a normal sunset over the Clyde. Okay so the colours change every night - no two nights are the same. But it is lovely isn't it?

As promised Last night I gardened. Boy Did I garden. Cut the grass, weeded my border, and then weeded the drive.

I must have been out there for about an hour and a half. I think however that the results speak for themselves.

I have to get back at it tonight, assuming that the rain stays off. I still have to do the bottom end of the drive. Am quite amazed. The left hand of the drive in the picture - was completely solid with grass. Now is beautiful and stoned the way it should be. How satisfying was that!


The lavender in the border is coming up beautifully and the Cornflowers which I grew from Seed has taken root as well, so I should soon have lovely blue and green border.

but the friendship's built on trust......

So, I'm in work this morning, still astounded by how Tidy I left the house after the weekend.

I'm already planning an evening's gardening activities to bring the garden
up to scratch with the inside.

Is much better when the house is tidy - although it looks like something is missing a bit. K is gobsmacked that I have gone Houseproud. Can't say I blame her.

Am currently awaiting the arrival of her business notes. So far today she has suggested Pre-School Percussion Teacher???!!! On a franchise???? Where do these people come from, and a Cleaning service. I quite like the idea of the cleaning service - being that is where I am right now. In a cleaning frame of mind. However I will have to contemplate..... How many people do you think would pay for cleaning?

All the Stars Are Coming Out Tonight

All my family are back, and am happy.

Tooli is knackered but happy - had a ball, abseiling, River Running, JAcobs Ladders, and all sorts.

No 1 Boy came home about 11, sat around for a couple of hours, and then headed out for a game of football with his mates. He called for a lift home, just at the same time I was heading off for Tooli - I passed Si on the road and screamed at him to go and get Boy.

I was really missing them all this afternoon and went into mad cleaning frenzy. All sheets off the beds and washed and put away. Matresses turned and flipped, dusted, floors swept, hoovered. Kids clothes all away. Ironing done. Place look spotless. Am very confused.

I also made sweet potato, Feta, spinach and chickpea salad. That was a bit good. Then a Strawberry Tart, with Creme Anglais.


And of course, England aren't in, but Boys still want to watch it. Bloody hell. I'll be demented before someone gets the trophy.

Flipper.

Close my eyes and drift away,.......

what a strange weekend.

Toolibelle left on Friday evening, in a rush of Boots, too many pairs of trousers and hair baubles. She hugged us like she was going for a month...... What is she going to be like when she leaves for Switzerland? She is off to Lochgoilhead with the guides. Check the web page - she is going to be soooo busy.

Gran and me delivered the papers for Tool. We did it in 1.5 hours which wasn't bad going for a middle aged me, and an old bird!! We treated ourselves after by heading to the Towers for a wee half shandy! Wow we deserved it. It takes about 6000 steps to do that round! all for £4.00 Can you believe! Slave labour

Boy No 1 was out being drunk on Friday night... not far, just next door, so I could keep an eye on him, woke up at 5.00 am being sick. Although I'm not totally convinced it was a hangover. He didn't eat his dinner on Friday evening, which is TOTALLY unlike him. I'm thinking he was a bit off colour. Anyways - he headed off at 710am.... to play beach volleyball. He had to take breakfast away with him. - The fact that he took breakfast assures me he was feeling fine!

He arrived home about 4 - sunburnt down one side! Lovely. Then got changed, had dinner, and went to catch train to Glasgow, which he missed, so I drove him up and dropped him at Hampden Park for his mate to find him.

Me and Si headed home, had a couple of drinks and watched Dr Whooooo FANTASTIC. and then wandered down to the Towers for a pint. We were almost chased out the door by the staff who would have preferred us to be sitting in the bar so we left, and I obliged the staff by pointing out the failing in my clothing. They had mercilessly slagged off a female who was very poorly dressed in one of those dresses with squee wiff hems, - except I think she had it on wrong - the long corner was hanging down between her legs, and the short bit was skirting (literally) her ass at the back. Apparently all night she had been sitting crossed legs, almost killing some old age pensioners who were sitting to her left who had a prime view of her ass hanging out her pants!

We watched Galaxy Quest - which I love. Tim Allen and Alan Rickman.... what more can you ask for, and headed to bed about 1. So So Weird. Only Me and Si... no weans. How lovely, we could "chat" and not have Tool screaming in the back ground " I AM STILL AWAKE DO NOT BE HAVING SEX". Which she does with horrifying regularity. Please note - each time she shouts we are not always partaking.

Anyways....Si is off again... to Scouts to Pioneer today. How lovely. Boy No 1 is on route home. Has just telephoned from Central Station... I'm very proud of him, I thought for sure he would be sick as a dog today and be calling me to come and collect him! Tooli will be leaving Lochgoilhead tonight about 4.30. And I'll collect her about 6.30. All good. Family all home.

Friday 5 Came Back

What piece of information do you keep forgetting?
Ages. My Age....I told people for so long that I was 28, I lost track of where I really was. Now I think I'm about 38, but I know deep down I hit 44 this year! Bummer.

What regular event in your life do you keep forgetting?
I forget Bedtime. I love my bed, I truely truely do, but then I find something to do, and I stay up later than I should, and by the time I get to my bed I'm exhausted, and I remember how much I love my bed, and I think to myself, why do I forget to come to bed earlier, when I love this soo much.

How are you with remembering the names of people you meet?
I am brilliant at names. I have photographic memory and if I talk to someone for a while calling them by name I will remember them after. I passed exams at school on the basis that I was in the classroom and heard the theory, i could recall the pages of my text book, and the day a subject was discussed in class. I've met people years later (see above for how fripping old I am), and called them by name, and they have looked at me confused and bemused. That makes me sad.

What kinds of tricks to you have for remembering to do stuff that falls outside your regular routine?
I write things on a calendar or on a blackboard in the hallway. Except everyone else writes mad things on it, so I don't always see it. Right now - an address for Boy No 1 not to deliver to. An award for Tool for Excellence in Class. Boy No 1's Exam Time table - now finished. A receipt for Petrol that I need to claim points on and a wee card which says "more than". because he does.

If you keep a daily planner, what is it like? If you don’t, why not?
I have spiral book at work where I write TTD. Things To Do. I score them off when I have completed them, but sometimes I forget, and then I get confused about what I've done and what I haven't done, and I spend more time trying to remember what I have done, and whether I have done it, and I fill up the pad with doodles and achieve nothing.

And singing hearts and flowers

I've been at the school for a meeting. Tool is going to Switzerland in 3 weeks time!

The kids are going to have a ball. The teachers are all really looking forward to it, and though trying to be "earnest" in their responsibilities - you can see they can't wait to get there and have fun. The kids will have a ball - if that it the frame of mind the teachers are in.

Only downside of this trip is that we have to get Tool to the Airport for 4 am on Wednesday morning ... wowser. I can't believe it,,,, so early. I think we have everything for her.... We shopped last weekend, - she has plenty of clothes. I handed the money in tonight, and we have the extra money here - for the trip thru france, and whatever extras she wants to buy.

Steven came with us - he wanted to see if there would be any pictures of him from previous trip - and thankfully there was so he was happy. And he was able to answer the odd question from parents as well.

Aw. My Baby. Heavens! What are we going to do without her to organise us for a week!

Inside everyone hides one desire

And in me, that desire would be to have loads of money, and just be able to do what I felt like, whenever I felt like it.

There are boats sit in our marina which their owners don't use. If I had a boat like any of those - I'd be down there sitting on it all the time, learning how to sail, venturing out the harbour walls and seeing what was out there.

I wouldn't be sitting at a desk, too hot, flipping sheets of paper back and forward, phoning the bank and juggling other peoples money back and forward.

How come is always those who don't need that have, and don't appreciate?

The Summer Sun Sitting High In the sky.....

Busy weekend for everyone! Isn't it always.

On Saturday both the kids had trials for the Scottish Schools Volleyball Squad. I had to take Tool over to Meadowmill in Edinburgh - except it was about 17 miles the other side of Edinburgh. I had to take 3 other girls, Hannah, Alison and Lauren. I have to admit I drove like a madman to get them there on time. Tool screamed directions at me towards the end, and eventually three of them actually recognised the place.

I dropped them there, and then headed back towards Edinburgh. I got totally lost, and ended up entering from Calton HIll which was a nice change.

Princes Street and Shandwick Place are closed and dug up because they are going to build tramways, which will be great, but hell if you are trying to drive in.

I parked at Castle Terrace, and browsed the Farmers market. It is there everyweekend, and is so popular there were queues at every stall. Well excepting the Woolie Hat shop - but that was probably because it was sooooo warm. It must have been in the low 20's easy.

I wandered down to the Meadows then, and was dismayed to find about 500 orange lodgers preparing for a walk. I had a quick skeg at the Taste of Scotland Fair -but it was £12 to get in so I thought, Nah.

I went from there, to Chambers Street, down the Cow Gate, along Grass Market, up Victoria Street, Along the Royal Mile, Down Cockburn street, Along Princes Street Gardens, along Rose Street, back along Princes Street, back into Rose Street to avoid the Orange March - which you couldn't really do considering there were about 600 of them, and covered the road, from the MOund all the way along Princess Street. Jeesus What a Racket. It should be outlawed.
From there I headed back up Lothian Road, down the Grassmarket again and back thru the Market. I stopped off and got a hog roast bun - with Apple Sauce. oh Heaven's it was Glorious. I was starving and thirsty.

I left Edinburgh then, and headed to Roslin, and made a quick stop at Roslin Abbey - the Site of the Davinci Rumours. What a beautiful little Abbey. And It is LITTLE. But the carvings are glorious. There is no other word for it. While I sat in the Garden, I found a little cat -what a lovely wee kit.

Then I went back and collected the girls, who were collectively knackered. It had been very very hard work. They had done an extensive warm up, which had almost finished them. None of them were particularly bothered about getting into the team. They were all just knackered, and felt like they had all been out their depth.




No 1 Boy, was doing the same thing for the Scottish Boys School Team. His went well and he was fair jumping about his trials. He had a good day. But he was knackered too.

Si was on an island, and heading up a hill! He had decided that since we were all going to be "away" he would take off by himself and climb a hill. Goatfell was his target for the day, and he headed off for the 10 am boat.


The boat was so busy, that people were being turned away. Luckily he got on, didn't get a seat, but got over. A wee Saunter past the Arran Brewery, sadly now in receivership, and then a long slow climb up to the Peak of Goatfell. What a day for it. The weather was glorious and he had views all over Ayrshire, and up the West Coast - and over to Campbell Town to the West. Look at the mountains in the Centre of Arran. Gorgeous,



We all had a lie in this morning, until I had a bit of an ASthma attack, and promptly heaved up. I couldn't settle again, so I headed downstairs, and then out the back where I lay in the sun for about hour and a half. I'm glad I did, because the clouds came over then, and the day ended in Rain. Heavy Heavy Rain.

Tool had a Swimming Pool party this afternoon - to add insult to the injury of training yesterday and tonight, the poor wee soul is away to bed, after an hour and a half in the bath, trying to ease her painful limbs. No 1 Boy has been out at his pals.... and has come in all quiet. Wonder what is up there?