,
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Monday, August 13, 2012
Family Values - Day 12
Thinking about what tactic to try next. Women are much easier to work out, Bobby, at least for hotties like you.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Family Values - Day 11
Having got to the end of the scheduled posts for this episode because the rest of the pictures had apparently disappeared from the album, I checked back and found they had reappeared!
Onwards and upwards.
Bobby's face shows so many emotions here: concern; worry he won't find the girl in time; shock at the horror of this man. Any more emotions you can identify in this apparently simple expression?
Onwards and upwards.
Bobby's face shows so many emotions here: concern; worry he won't find the girl in time; shock at the horror of this man. Any more emotions you can identify in this apparently simple expression?
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Plus ça change…
I found a bunch of old poems today. I have no idea how long ago I wrote them. The paper is yellowing, and other items with them date to the 1970s.
It's quite shocking to see how apposite they remain.
This one appears to be about the attitude of the haves to the have nots. It puts me a bit in mind of the summer riots of last year. Of course, in the late 1970s and early 1980s there were several instances of civil unrest in Britain. The Secondary Modern kids referred to were kids who'd failed an exam aged 11 and only got into the second best schools, while those who passed went to selective schools..
It's quite shocking to see how apposite they remain.
This one appears to be about the attitude of the haves to the have nots. It puts me a bit in mind of the summer riots of last year. Of course, in the late 1970s and early 1980s there were several instances of civil unrest in Britain. The Secondary Modern kids referred to were kids who'd failed an exam aged 11 and only got into the second best schools, while those who passed went to selective schools..
Fairmindedness
Well, there was this jolly decent chap, you see, George his name was,
and he said, well, he said, these Secondary Modern School kids,
They don't know what good for them,
I mean,
We're good enough to let them in on our way of life,
and what do they do?
They smash windows and steal, and do everything they can to break the rules and hurt us.
Some little perisher stole my comb the other day,
I ask you, stole my comb!
I think they should be caned every day, as a matter of course,
Bloody delinquents.
So I said, well George, old boy, I think you're far too easy on 'em.
I'd have the whole bloody lot put in a cage,
and only let them out whe it was time for them to do some honest work.
Family Values - Day 10
Bobby's rather angry that there are supposed to be over 400 pictures in this album, but because only a couple of hundred show up, I can't post any more for this episode.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Wednesday, August 08, 2012
This, That and The Other
This is The Pagoda, a house in Blackheath, not a million miles from the equestrian Olympics. Now my feet are feeling good for the first time in a couple of years, thanks to some steroid injections, I decided to go to the doctor's via Blackheath, passing The Pagoda on the way.
They're building some modern monstrosity next door. It might even be in what used to be the generous garden, which has been used in TV programmes in the past.
That's what my hand looks like with the stitches gone. Another scar, just what I wanted.
The other thing of note is the state of my tomatoes. They were bigger than this when I planted them out about 3 months ago. Then the temperature dipped and the rain fell non-stop for two months. The six or so fruit that are just about developing (not even sure if you'll manage to spot them) set before the weather turned, and are still mostly minuscule.
No, climate change is no threat to our food supply, then...
That's what my hand looks like with the stitches gone. Another scar, just what I wanted.
The other thing of note is the state of my tomatoes. They were bigger than this when I planted them out about 3 months ago. Then the temperature dipped and the rain fell non-stop for two months. The six or so fruit that are just about developing (not even sure if you'll manage to spot them) set before the weather turned, and are still mostly minuscule.
No, climate change is no threat to our food supply, then...
Tuesday, August 07, 2012
Monday, August 06, 2012
Double Jointed and the Opposite
Would it surprise you to find these are basically the same thing? It does me.
Hypermobility is the name.
When I attended the pain clinic while awaiting my hip replacement, I was still able to, no, not touch my toes, but actually lay my hands flat on the floor beside my feet - even when wearing four inch heels.
The doctor siad this could contribute to my joint problems, because it meant the ligaments and tendons were not supporting the joints well.
I suppose it's related to my former ability to wiggle my toes independently almost enough to use them for writing.
While trying to find some shoes today that can have a raise put in the left one to accommodate my uneven legs, and custom-made orthotic inserts to help my achy feet, I got chatting to the sales assistant. She is awaiting joint replacement surgery for osteo-arthritis in her hands. Apparently she and her children have been diagnosed with hypermobility, a genetic condition.
So the thing that makes people double-jointed also causes arthritis, and stiff joints as well as super-flexible ones. Work that one out.
Oh, and just for good measure, it can cause bladder problems. And I am ALWAYS wanting to pee.
I've never been told about this condition, but it's pretty obvious even to me that I have it. This woman was only diagnosed because her son's condition was so serious the whole family was entered for a study. Why aren't doctors joining up the dots?
Hypermobility is the name.
When I attended the pain clinic while awaiting my hip replacement, I was still able to, no, not touch my toes, but actually lay my hands flat on the floor beside my feet - even when wearing four inch heels.
(Yes I could once do this, with ease)
The doctor siad this could contribute to my joint problems, because it meant the ligaments and tendons were not supporting the joints well.
I suppose it's related to my former ability to wiggle my toes independently almost enough to use them for writing.
While trying to find some shoes today that can have a raise put in the left one to accommodate my uneven legs, and custom-made orthotic inserts to help my achy feet, I got chatting to the sales assistant. She is awaiting joint replacement surgery for osteo-arthritis in her hands. Apparently she and her children have been diagnosed with hypermobility, a genetic condition.
So the thing that makes people double-jointed also causes arthritis, and stiff joints as well as super-flexible ones. Work that one out.
Oh, and just for good measure, it can cause bladder problems. And I am ALWAYS wanting to pee.
I've never been told about this condition, but it's pretty obvious even to me that I have it. This woman was only diagnosed because her son's condition was so serious the whole family was entered for a study. Why aren't doctors joining up the dots?
Family Values - Day 6
Love that funky beard, Bobby. How did you get that growing out of your chin?
That neck though...
Sunday, August 05, 2012
Saturday, August 04, 2012
The Honourable Vixen
Most of you will already know about Portia Da Costa, "Our Wendy" in normal life, who is a writer of erotic fiction. She hails from Yorkshire:
What I don't know is if the 50 Shades of Grey phenomenon has hit the rest of the world. Just in case it hasn't, some bird has written an erotic novel (well, a 3-volume opus, really) that is being read by everyone everywhere. Not me, actually. I've heard it's badly written. Anyway, I have lots of stuff waiting to be read. But thanks to the 50 Shades phenomenon her publisher, Black Lace Books, is reissuing some titles, their principal offering being one of Wendy's:
It's the book of the week in some branches of the retailer WHSmith. Wendy/Portia came to the attention of the Vixens with her book "Entertaining Mr Stone", whose male lead character is based on Bobby Goren:
She then included him in a minor role in "Suite Seventeen", where the male character is one Valentino, who closely resembles Vincent's character in "The Velocity of Gary":
Wendy's books have the advantage over the 50 Shades books that they are well written. And both are still available on Amazon UK and US, as is In Too Deep - though to get the new soft-touch cover I think you will have to shop around.
In a brief post script, I'm glad to tell you that Wendy has just told me Our Man also appears in "In Too Deep". So that's a must-have, Vixens.
Sweet Dreams...
What I don't know is if the 50 Shades of Grey phenomenon has hit the rest of the world. Just in case it hasn't, some bird has written an erotic novel (well, a 3-volume opus, really) that is being read by everyone everywhere. Not me, actually. I've heard it's badly written. Anyway, I have lots of stuff waiting to be read. But thanks to the 50 Shades phenomenon her publisher, Black Lace Books, is reissuing some titles, their principal offering being one of Wendy's:
It's the book of the week in some branches of the retailer WHSmith. Wendy/Portia came to the attention of the Vixens with her book "Entertaining Mr Stone", whose male lead character is based on Bobby Goren:
She then included him in a minor role in "Suite Seventeen", where the male character is one Valentino, who closely resembles Vincent's character in "The Velocity of Gary":
Wendy's books have the advantage over the 50 Shades books that they are well written. And both are still available on Amazon UK and US, as is In Too Deep - though to get the new soft-touch cover I think you will have to shop around.
In a brief post script, I'm glad to tell you that Wendy has just told me Our Man also appears in "In Too Deep". So that's a must-have, Vixens.
Sweet Dreams...
Check this out
Today, when I popped into the chemist's for some bits and pieces, the pharmacist offered me a free health check. He's just been on a course and was obviously eager to try out what he'd learnt.
I know what he thought. He'd be giving me lots of warnings and guidance. After all, I'm considerably overweight, I'm 59 and I don't exercise.
I was pretty sure he'd get a couple of surprises. And he did.
For example, my blood pressure used to be 90/60, the level at which in hospital dramas people start to peg out. But it has risen in recent years. I was quite anxious before my operation the other week, and it had gone up to 140+ over something-or-other.
Tha pharmacist's eyes nearly popped out of his head when my latest measurement was just 119/88. Apparently his is worse than mine.
Then there was the cholesterol. I knew it was low the last time it was done, some years ago, but he was amazed at the current levels: 3.62, of which the ratio of "good" cholesterols is 2.59. Apparently that's pretty low. Again, better than his.
Yes, my BMI is high (35.7) and I'm pretty inactive. Lots of aching joints will do that to you. He wants me to go for a diabetes test. Last time I had one of those, it was pretty good. Still, I'll indulge him. If I'm not going to have a fit old age, I might as well have a healthy one!
I know what he thought. He'd be giving me lots of warnings and guidance. After all, I'm considerably overweight, I'm 59 and I don't exercise.
I was pretty sure he'd get a couple of surprises. And he did.
For example, my blood pressure used to be 90/60, the level at which in hospital dramas people start to peg out. But it has risen in recent years. I was quite anxious before my operation the other week, and it had gone up to 140+ over something-or-other.
Tha pharmacist's eyes nearly popped out of his head when my latest measurement was just 119/88. Apparently his is worse than mine.
Then there was the cholesterol. I knew it was low the last time it was done, some years ago, but he was amazed at the current levels: 3.62, of which the ratio of "good" cholesterols is 2.59. Apparently that's pretty low. Again, better than his.
Yes, my BMI is high (35.7) and I'm pretty inactive. Lots of aching joints will do that to you. He wants me to go for a diabetes test. Last time I had one of those, it was pretty good. Still, I'll indulge him. If I'm not going to have a fit old age, I might as well have a healthy one!
Friday, August 03, 2012
Night and Day
Last night, when I put out the rubbish, I noticed some interesting cloud formations. To the north there were lots of little bubbles of cloud which sadly didn't come out clearly as, surprise surprise, it was rather dark...
To the south east was the moon which illuminated some rather lovely horizontal cloud formations:
This afternoon, sitting in the garden, I suddenly became aware that the birds sitting in the bushes in a neighbour's garden were making quite a din. When I remember Rachel Carson's The Silent Spring, I feel thrilled that there is still so much birdsong, even in overcrowded suburban London. I rushed in to get my camera. As soon as I started filming, my neighbour started to do what sounded like scraping some paving slabs with a spade. Then there was a plane going over, then police sirens, then an ice cream van's chimes! So much for my peaceful garden with birdsong. Here's the best I managed. It doesn't sound as loud as it did "live" but I hope it gives you some idea of the joyous birdie music:
To the south east was the moon which illuminated some rather lovely horizontal cloud formations:
This afternoon, sitting in the garden, I suddenly became aware that the birds sitting in the bushes in a neighbour's garden were making quite a din. When I remember Rachel Carson's The Silent Spring, I feel thrilled that there is still so much birdsong, even in overcrowded suburban London. I rushed in to get my camera. As soon as I started filming, my neighbour started to do what sounded like scraping some paving slabs with a spade. Then there was a plane going over, then police sirens, then an ice cream van's chimes! So much for my peaceful garden with birdsong. Here's the best I managed. It doesn't sound as loud as it did "live" but I hope it gives you some idea of the joyous birdie music:
Thursday, August 02, 2012
Wednesday, August 01, 2012
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Three Down One To Go
So, as the left hand and its carpal tunnel scar gradually recover from their trauma, on Friday I had steroid injections in my aching feet. Hobbling home across the park I reflected on the fact that only my right hand remains intact (though eventually that will be interfered with too).
Sadly, though I have the complexion of a 20-year-old (actually, I currently have a spot on my nose which makes it more like a teenager's) I appear to have the skeleton of a near-corpse. If I ever manage to reach retirement age before they raise it to the day after death, not for me the gentle strolls in the coutryside, or indeed anything else that requires my extremities to actually work without agony. The feet I quite liked the look of, and prided myself on, for much of my life haven't repaid my care. I give them the best treatment with rich creams, and all they do for me is have toes that are too supple and therefore get arthritis, arches that are too high and need support, and shoe requirements that are completely impossible to meet - especially when they need to be adapted for odd-length legs.
If I kill myself tomorrow, maybe they'll let me retire on Tuesday.
Sadly, though I have the complexion of a 20-year-old (actually, I currently have a spot on my nose which makes it more like a teenager's) I appear to have the skeleton of a near-corpse. If I ever manage to reach retirement age before they raise it to the day after death, not for me the gentle strolls in the coutryside, or indeed anything else that requires my extremities to actually work without agony. The feet I quite liked the look of, and prided myself on, for much of my life haven't repaid my care. I give them the best treatment with rich creams, and all they do for me is have toes that are too supple and therefore get arthritis, arches that are too high and need support, and shoe requirements that are completely impossible to meet - especially when they need to be adapted for odd-length legs.
If I kill myself tomorrow, maybe they'll let me retire on Tuesday.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Friday, July 27, 2012
Folie a Deux - Day 11
Poor Lynn's swansong. Same in Endgame with Roy Scheider. I don't think I could survive working so closely with him either!
No Apple-ogy
Steve Jobs must be turning in his grave. The company he lovingly set up losing value to rivals day by day. And now I know why.
Several months ago I bought the ebook George Harrison: Living in the Material World. It can do lots of things no ordinary book could do, and it should be wonderful.
Sadly, iTunes have ensured the opposite.
After a few days I was sent notice of an update. But the instructions didn't work. I couldn't even sign in - it rejected my password, and didn't accept my answer to a verification question. Well of course I'd get that wrong - it was only the birthday I've lived with for 59 years!
The bright spark I was dealing with meanwhile decided that it needed further investigation (nothing was done however) and refunded me the purchase price. I never requested this.
Over that May weekend I managed to get it working, and immediately told the clever boy so. He never mentioned any consequences of my having received his "goodwill" refund, such as I no longer owned the book, even though I had never asked for my money back.
So when another update notice was sent to me (why, if I no longer owned the book?) I tried to download it - and completely lost the book.
I have been in contact with iTunes - via the old case number, as they failed to answer my query on their website. It is, of course, all my fault, and I shouldn't expect to do anything more than give them my money again to get the book back. After all, I requested the refund, didn't I? Complaint closed by those it is against, not by the person making it.
I've often been tempted to buy a Mac. I've thought of getting a newer iPad.
No chance. They'll never steal from me again.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
No Joke
I'm sure no one thought I was exaggerating when said I was going to have a bandage like a boxing glove on my hand after my operation. I'd hoped the nurse was exaggerating, but sadly she wasn't:
The biggest problem was the wait before the op, because the surgeon was caught up in another theatre. I finished my book, and was dreading getting bored, but of course a waiting room full of women found plenty to talk about.
I'm feeling a bit bruised and sore, and of course I'm overdoing it. I can't help wondering what it will all look like when I take this monstrosity off tomorrow afternoon.
The biggest problem was the wait before the op, because the surgeon was caught up in another theatre. I finished my book, and was dreading getting bored, but of course a waiting room full of women found plenty to talk about.
I'm feeling a bit bruised and sore, and of course I'm overdoing it. I can't help wondering what it will all look like when I take this monstrosity off tomorrow afternoon.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Folie a Deux - Day 7
No matter how much fur you grow on your face, angel, it can't hide the sweetness of your features.
Olympic Torch Relay Operation Day
You know me. Why use a simple post title when a multiple one will do?
I thought I would miss the Olympic Torch Relay passing the end of my road as today was supposed to be my last working day of the term. But because I have my carpal tunnel surgery today, I finished work last week. Anyway, the relay was due to pass at about 8am, which would have left me plenty of time to get to work.
This is the Riverside day surgery unit at the local hospital where I will be spending part of my day.
Meanwhile, I trundled down to the main road shortly after 7.30 to be sure to be there in time for the torch. I wasn't quite prepared for the circus that preceded it. First they stopped the busy rush hour traffic on the main road:
Then the sponsors' vehicles went by, with "outrunners" giving bystanders their advertising flags to wave:
Then came the torch itself. No idea who was carrying it:
There was a friendly policeman nearby doing the easiest duty he'll ever have:
He even got to meet in passing the mother of a retired athletic heroine, my neighbour whose daughter, shot putter Myrtle Augee, took part in several Olympics and won Commonwealth Games gold:
I thought I would miss the Olympic Torch Relay passing the end of my road as today was supposed to be my last working day of the term. But because I have my carpal tunnel surgery today, I finished work last week. Anyway, the relay was due to pass at about 8am, which would have left me plenty of time to get to work.
Meanwhile, I trundled down to the main road shortly after 7.30 to be sure to be there in time for the torch. I wasn't quite prepared for the circus that preceded it. First they stopped the busy rush hour traffic on the main road:
Then the sponsors' vehicles went by, with "outrunners" giving bystanders their advertising flags to wave:
Then came the torch itself. No idea who was carrying it:
There was a friendly policeman nearby doing the easiest duty he'll ever have:
He even got to meet in passing the mother of a retired athletic heroine, my neighbour whose daughter, shot putter Myrtle Augee, took part in several Olympics and won Commonwealth Games gold:
Well, that's the Olympics over as afar as I'm concerned!
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Five and Five
Many thanks to JoJo (http://tahomabeadworks.blogspot.co.uk/) for this award:
I've now tried three times to do this post, and I've lost it twice.
I give up. Let's just say Terry Pratchett, Peter James, Jane Austen, Reginald Hill and Abbe Prevost, and those interested can choose their own books by those authors!
Meth Cops Vincent Calendar
Bev has asked everyone who can to contribute a picture to a calendar to raise money for Vincent's favourite charity. She's requesting pictures of Vincent taken of/by/for you. You can read the details here:
http://bluevelvetvincentdonofrio.blogspot.co.uk/
Wish I had one I could contribute :-(
http://bluevelvetvincentdonofrio.blogspot.co.uk/
Wish I had one I could contribute :-(
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Who "Owns" LOCI Pictures
There is a certain person who copies photos from Vincent blogs and publishes them on the Facebook page. Sometimes she does things to them first - including removing or overwriting watermarks.
I'm getting pretty sick of it, especially since she now seems to be challenging the ownership of these photos. Maybe she thinks they just appear out of thin air.
Well, I don't claim to own them to make money from them, like a certain Jeannette in her Attic on Ebay. They are really owned by NBC/Universal.
Nevertheless we Vincent bloggers spend many hours producing stills from the programmes - and from Vincent's films. Typically it takes up to two hours to play-pause-capture, edit out the duff pictures, watermark them (so we can see when people like Jeannette is trying to make money selling them) and upload them to Photobucket (where I for one have so many pictures I have to pay the Pro fee). Initially, of course, I have to buy the DVDs. So the process is not cost-free. But it is a labour of love.
Until some lazy little bint who can't be bothered to achieve the finished product by the sweat of her own brow nicks my hard work and acts like it's hers. No credit. No thanks. No, scrub that. I don't want your thanks. I just want you to do the hard work yourself and leave my stuff alone. (To those of you who save the pictures to enjoy them, I am only too glad to oblige.)
So, Leann Gomes, Miss Lee, make your own originals, leave everyone else's alone (we're past my being satisfied with being credited with the originals. Just leave my pictures alone). Do you think the other Vixens would be happy with you if you annoyed me so much I shut my blog down? The only other way to go is comment moderation, and that means even more work for me, and I'm not prepared to do that. So Vixens, please join me is wishing this lazy, selfish person goodbye. Not sure who moderates the Facebook page, but perhaps you'd kick her off. I'm tired of getting emails with her stolen pictures in, so I'll probably leave it, too.
Folie a Deux - Day 5
Bobby scratches his ear. Oh no, wait, he's on the phone. You can't see it in that great big mitt.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
End of an Era
Today was my last day teaching Alex. After three-and-a-half years, it was a big wrench for us all. Alex will be going to college next year, and we visited today. It's going to be a huge change for him, but I think he will thrive.
Our last school outing was to the recently restored clipper ship Cutty Sark. We had a great day. It's an interesting place, as you can see:
No doubt you will have heard about the Olympics security bollocks-up. Private enterprise, so beloved of our wonderful government, has failed to deliver on its mult-multi-multi-million pound contract, but didn't own up till last week, and the Home Secretary didn't notice. So troops just back from Afghanistan expecting leave (and then, of course, redundancy) will have to do the job instead. Some of them will probably get to sleep on here. The lucky ones. Others will be in tents in fields.
Above Alex is pictured with me and with his nurse. Below he is surrounded by figureheads from now-disappeared ships. Nannie, wearing her cutty sark, or petticoat, is centre back holding the tail of Tam O'Shanter's horse:
I didn't get round to taking a picture of the surprise we saw from the ship, but thanks to the internet, I can show you HMS Ocean, a helicopter carrier and troop carrier, here for the Olympics.
No doubt you will have heard about the Olympics security bollocks-up. Private enterprise, so beloved of our wonderful government, has failed to deliver on its mult-multi-multi-million pound contract, but didn't own up till last week, and the Home Secretary didn't notice. So troops just back from Afghanistan expecting leave (and then, of course, redundancy) will have to do the job instead. Some of them will probably get to sleep on here. The lucky ones. Others will be in tents in fields.
Alex and his mum gave me a leaving present - a picture of us together in an antique-style frame, and a super-cute cushion similar to this one (but much better) of a Guinea pig in a Queen wig:
Pauses for a quick tear.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Autumn into Summer
Remember the painting I did the other week that looked as if autumn had arrived before we'd even had summer?
Well, I bought some acrylics at the weekend and did what I said. I painted out most of the red, and here is the finished result:
The photo is a bit dark because the flash showed up the weave of the canvas. I much prefer this version.
Well, I bought some acrylics at the weekend and did what I said. I painted out most of the red, and here is the finished result:
The photo is a bit dark because the flash showed up the weave of the canvas. I much prefer this version.
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