Taking the Plunge

Yes, folks, I finally succombed to the temptation of being able to wear two pairs of earrings at once. I have so many pairs, it's the only way to get to wear them all...eventually.

I was having my hair cut, and my eye lighted upon the pictures of studs for their piercing service. Mine is most like the second down on the left, but it is tiny.

This time, I took advantage of the staplegun method. My first ear piercings were a different matter.

Almost 40 years ago, one of the Junior Year Abroad students from Colorado University at my Alma Mater Lancaster University offered her services. Her first piercing experience had failed, and when the holes had healed, her mother asked her if she'd like her to do it. Su accepted.

A few weeks later, she found her mother in the bathroom, ashen-faced, with a needle stuck in her own earlobe. Su finished off for her, and so her ear piercing career began.

I bought some sleepers and a bottle of hydrogen peroxide. I marked the precise place on each lobe that I wanted the hole to be. Su sterilised the needle and the earrings with contact lens solution, numbed my lobes with ice cubes, then homed in with her needle.

I didn't feel a thing. I heard the crunching sound though. When she'd done the first, she asked me if I was going to faint for her, and despite my denials, the crunching ensured I did her bidding, and passed out. I came to with my ears duly pierced, and I never had a single bit of trouble.

Hope this method is as trouble-free.

Happy Birthday Eric

Tomorrow is Eric Bogosian's birthday, according to the Birthdays column in The Guardian newspaper.

I've emailed them suggesting that they include our Vincent on June 30th.

Ruthless Rhymes

In 1899, Harry Graham published his Ruthless Rhymes for Heartless Homes. More Ruthless Rhymes didn't come along till 1930.

Over the next few weeks I'll be posting a few of my favourites.

Quite Fun

My son Augustus, in the street, one day,

Was feeling quite exceptionally merry.

A stranger asked him:"Can you show me, pray,

The quickest way to Brompton Cemetery?"

"The quickest way? You bet I can!" said Gus,

And pushed the fellow underneath a bus.

*****

Whatever people say about my son,

He does enjoy his little bit of fun.

Last Guy

Come for mummy.

Foxed

This is a picture of the London building that's now officially the tallest in the capital. It's known as The Shard.

This is an artist's impression of what it will look like when it's finished - a real shard of glass, or so they think.

Back in February, there was a story all over the news about this little fellah, nicknamed Romeo, who'd taken up residence on the 72nd of the building's 80 floors. No one knows how he got there, but he was fed by the builders on their lunchtime sandwiches. After his rescue he was released on to the streets of south London with strict instructions to keep his paws on the ground from now on.

Guy 6

Oh where is that right hand going...

New Arrival

My cousin's son just became the proud father of a 6lb4oz baby girl, April Rose, born on Monday. My cousin was pretty sure she was never going to become a grandmother (not that she minded) because her son is nearly 40, and he and his wife live in different places - he in the New Forest, she in London. Neither is keen to move.

So, welcome to the first Anglo-Iranian member of our family. If baby grows up half as beautiful as her mother, she'll be a stunner.

Here's the slightest glimpse of baby's mother at a family wedding soon after she and her future husband met, talking to her future father-in-law.

Don't Worry

Thank you all for your kind words. Let me reassure you. I'm not thinking of giving up blogging altogether, maybe just taking a day or two off for other things.

Before I discovered Vincent, I spent every Sunday morning entering my family tree on the computer, from a 30-page book sent to me by a recently rediscovered cousin in Germany who'd researched it back to 1645.

That tree may be impossible to access because of upgrades of programmes and computers that have made it incompatible with everything I try. I have also made no use of online search facilities because I didn't think I'd have time to make full use of subscriptions, which are pricey.

What's more, my mother's side of the tree is still only back to about 1805. I really need to do some more work on it.

Those of you who knew me way back when will remember the break from blogging I took to go tp a family reunion with folks I'd discovered as a result of my research. In Canada. Family history really does pay off.

Dunking digits in Island Lake, Athabasca, Alberta with fellow family historian Dorothy.


With Dorothy and cousins John and Don outside cousin Linda's house on Island Lake.


With cousin John at his daughter Lisa's house outside Edmonton, Alberta.

Before starting my family tree, I had no idea most of the 117 people at the reunion existed. John was the exception, but I didn't know where he was. Cousin Don (an ex-cop and ex-PI) found him for us all.

The 5th Guy

Lost for words.

Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics

Well, statistics, anyway.

I've just been checking mine, and they are down to only about a fifth of what they used to be not so long ago.

I could do with some time to get back to my family tree, which has taken a back seat to my blog for several years, so if I start to post less in the near future, don't be surprised.

At least those who are reading this have remained faithful, not just to me, but to Vincent.

Guy the 4th

I need to recap this with bigger picture size.

Sad Reminiscing

My old school friend Lesley (centre in the picture) died in January 2009 of cervical cancer.

Our mutual friend, Jenny (on the left) has kept in close touch with Lesley's widower and her mother.

Jenny and I meet up a couple of times a year, and this time, Jenny suggested we go together to see Lesley's mum, Joy, who's now in her late 80s.

I bought my house from Lesley's parents, and sleep in the room which was her bedroom for over 20 years. It added an extra layer of poignancy to talk about the things that have changed, and the people who have gone away, or died, since she moved away in 1977, as well as sharing our memories of Lesley.

I'm so glad we went. I look forward to the next time.

Guy Number 3

Up close and naked. Lucky bitch.

Poser!

For those who haven't seen it at TheReel or Nantz's blog, here's our gracious hero being...gracious! Or stalked...

A Second Guy

Clothed, but looking sooooo sultry.