Anamnesis 2

The dog was carrying what I thought was a piece of...

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:52:23 +0100

The dog was carrying what I thought was a piece of bark…and then I saw the teeth.

Nasty…but what is it ?

"What do you do when you win ? Party ! What do you do when you lose ? Party..."

Sat, 02 Apr 2011 22:44:47 +0100

“What do you do when you win ? Party ! What do you do when you lose ? Party harder !”

- House, M.D.

Chillin'

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:44:33 +0100

Sitting outside just now with a few neighbours and rather than go to the pub we (for a variety of reasons) had a drink in the courtyard. So typically British - I had the gas burner on (no, we don’t use it more than a handful of times a year), a North Face jacket on and a woolly hat on.

But the very “not going indoors to our lovely heated homes” Britishness of the situation seemed just about right. People from countries that actually get reliable warm weather are often bemused how we see the sun poke out from behind a cloud and take our shirts off.

I guess we have just learnt to make the most of it while we can.

Dreams

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 11:27:51 +0100

Dreamt all night last night it seemed. It was a very long and detailed dream about a plane crash and surviving the earthquake that caused it and it’s aftershocks while trying to lead a large group to safety through the devastation.

I particularly remember the plane flying so low that buildings with tiled roofs were collapsing and threatening to bring us down. Later I remember grey concrete structures in semi-destruction, like a car park after a bomb blast, and trying to get a large group of people away to safety. Yes…dreaming of being a hero again !

Just at this moment (it is now close to lunchtime) I have the feeling that right at the end I woke up to something not so pleasant but thankfully I can’t remember that bit.

Ah…the joys of madness and dreams !

So his owner was stuck at work. Could I check on him ?...

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 18:13:24 +0100

So his owner was stuck at work. Could I check on him ? Sure. Nice to send the owner a picture to show just how stressed he is at having been left for a while !

It takes a particular type of person to see the irony of sitting...

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:55:22 +0100

It takes a particular type of person to see the irony of sitting in a comfy chair in the sunshine at 11:30 in the morning, no apparent care in the world, reading a book entitled “Overcoming Depression”.

This is the view I encountered from atop a small mound while...

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 22:13:54 +0100

This is the view I encountered from atop a small mound while walking with my neighbour and his dog today. Lovely isn’t it ?

It can be easy to forget how wonderful the countryside round here is. Just five minutes in the car and we’re on a walk that takes us into fields of loveliness.

So today I failed to get most of the things done that I needed to but overall it was a good day.

If you’re in a negative mood or just want a smile before...

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 23:58:31 +0000

If you’re in a negative mood or just want a smile before bedtime, Harry Hill’s TV Burp really is the answer :)

When I think of Reefer Madness I think of the University of...

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 22:13:21 +0000

When I think of Reefer Madness I think of the University of Toronto production I saw some years ago or Kristen Bell on my DVD version. But thanks to those channels you never normally watch, I have found the original on my TV. Awesome !

In other news, I swung (swang ?) an invite out for drinking this afternoon and kept that going until not long ago. I sighed three times because I still can’t get over my crush on SWMBO but otherwise it was quite pleasant.

Relationships are hard. Watching my neighbours makes that clear.

"Aw, you always mean to say the nicest things."

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 22:09:22 +0000

“Aw, you always mean to say the nicest things.”

- Marge Simpson, to Homer, of course.

Okay, let’s try another tack. It is Friday and unlike...

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 21:37:51 +0000

Okay, let’s try another tack. It is Friday and unlike Rebecca, I’m not all that bothered.

But here’s the thing - I can do what I want. I can go out. Stay home. Watch TV. Eat. Sleep. I have every option and nothing stopping me.

So why am I posting on a bloody blog ? I can’t even focus on watching the TV programme I put on which is turning out better than expected.

Bah…I need to make things happen before I’ve missed all my chances.

Musing

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 20:50:19 +0000

So I could go for a beer. The thing is, it will probably be one and probably be lonely (despite the crowd). That’s how I think of myself and it is well supported by the facts.

When I know that there are things going on that I’m not involved in I feel excluded. That’s not always fair because I do things that don’t include everyone else.

I guess I just want to feel that people would like to make their plans with me. I am trying to think of myself as a good person and focus on the many good qualities I have. However it seems that they just aren’t what people really respond to.

I guess I’d ask that you don’t whine about how hard it is to make things work with your girlfriend or how hard it is to find a man who is kind and loyal. It makes those of us who consider ourselves kind and loyal, and who are single, feel even crappier.

If only I could fundamentally change who I am…that might work.

"Cooler than the cool side of the pillow."

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:00:37 +0000

“Cooler than the cool side of the pillow.”

- Family Guy, and also the loveliness I’m experiencing right now.

Went to see “Rango” today and enjoyed it. Sure it...

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 21:37:06 +0000

Went to see “Rango” today and enjoyed it. Sure it isn’t anything new plotwise but that’s kind of the point.

If people want to make a western today, they’ll make it like this. If they want to make a Disney-style movie, they’ll make it like this.

Certainly the characterisations in this were more engaging than in several live-action films I’ve seen recently.

Great quality of animation and pleasing for the whole family.

Finally went to the doctor about the leg I hurt walking the dog....

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:35:24 +0000

Finally went to the doctor about the leg I hurt walking the dog. He said I should get some physio and that he would refer me.

I asked how long I might have to wait and he said “well the waiting list was about six months but I think it’s come down a bit…”

How shocking. I am a big fan of the NHS in many ways but someone could be crippled in that timescale.

Sad thing is, if you can afford to pay for it yourself, you can get a local appointment tomorrow :/

I wasn’t being productive again today so felt lime being...

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 17:55:03 +0000

I wasn’t being productive again today so felt lime being unproductive outside in the nice weather.

Then I got a text asking if I would let the dog out if I was around. So after some negotiating with him about lying on towels and not watching the gateway, Hugo settled down for a nap.

Then his owner came home and fed him a hide chew.

Then Hugo went in his house and threw up on the kitchen floor.

And that was Wednesday. Now I’m lying here listening to familiar noises outside of people venting frustrations with their loved ones and remembering that they’d rather do that than involve me in their lives. Ah well…not sure how you counter that if just “being nice” isn’t going to cut it.

Sickness

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 21:41:36 +0000

My sister is currently suffering from labyrinthitis but mine is the head that is spinning. I do wish I could switch life off and just “be” from time to time.

Some drinks were consumed yesterday. No grand plan, it just...

Sun, 20 Mar 2011 22:11:42 +0000

Some drinks were consumed yesterday. No grand plan, it just panned out that way. A good time was had by all I think but there were some tired locals today !

We had three very well-behaved littl’uns about and around and one created this lovely portrait of his daddy. Most amusing.

"Could you pop round and help me move a couple of gravestones ?"

Sun, 20 Mar 2011 20:09:35 +0000

“Could you pop round and help me move a couple of gravestones ?”

- My neighbourly invitation, Sunday

So there’s chickenpox in the courtyard and I have...

Sun, 20 Mar 2011 16:26:59 +0000

So there’s chickenpox in the courtyard and I have certainly been exposed. The question is, am I right that I have already had it ?

My parents have both passed away so I can’t ask them and it isn’t the sort of thing that appears on your medical record because you treat it at home.

I think so…but I’ll be watching carefully !