Wednesday, June 30, 2004

Still got the skitters, haven't eaten much for 2 days. I'm worried that soon I will fade away to a mountain. With the Doctor's help, we may have narrowed the cause down to a pork pie just edging past the sell by date. What the fuck! I mean they can't suddenly turn bad at 2 minutes past midnight on the date on the label can they? Anyway that sort of thing never happened to me as a vegetarian, well except once in Cuba and that was probably water.

I have "Blackcurrant" Rehydration Sachets, they are awful.

I took the opportunity of enforced leisure, with a few enforced absences from keyboard, to clear out some links on the left. If you haven't posted owt since May, you're out.

I have also included, with absolutely no responsibility whatsoever, a new blog, from my dear friend Reidski. I never sent you and you don't know me!
posted by timesnewroman at 1:32 PM  

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Tuesday, June 29, 2004

Sunday night Quiz and Me You and Him are well back on form! Looking good when only one of the Usual Suspects was present for the first round. He clearly wasn't the brains in the bunch, and we were even with the other contenders at Round 1. A second suspect arrived for Round 2. but we upped the gears a bit, a perfect 20 points thank you, which meant we were definitely out in front. Round 3 and we are blazing, clear 8 Points ahead of the closest rivals. Don't think anyone's been that good before. I think the difficult question for most was the what's next in the sequence E,A,D,G,B ? Pah piece of piss. Of course the win meant we had to stay for an extra round, which I knew I would pay for in the morning.

Boy did I pay for it. Guinness does that to me, but possibly more than the required amount of info. Only I kept having to run to the loo all day, and I had stomach cramps. thewife picks me up from station at 6:00pm. She had a bit of the skitters and tummy problem too, so she reckons its definitely not the Guiness. Come 8:30 I'm convinced. She out at her Thespian AGM and I'm in watching University Challenge between the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly. The Scots won, but I was gobsmacked that Robin Harper, Green M.P. was unaware that PPP related to the environment was the Polluter Pays Principle! Overall a thick bunch! Not one question about who Kate Moss fancies!

The wife returns, officially a nedette or a Senga, having been given a gift from someone she gives a lift to a lot. Unfortunately its not quite her taste, although the gesture was much appreciated.


There is no end to designer label greed. Me I aspire to own one of their 25 piece tool sets. 

Of course I spend the rest of the night and the next day running to the loo almost every hour.
posted by timesnewroman at 5:08 PM  

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Sunday, June 27, 2004

Cheap at � 20.

This idiot just spent an hour blogging about the last week, only to accidentally hit the computer off-switch just before uploading. Grrrr.

I was on holiday for the whole of last week. Being unable to go abroad, we decided to bring abroad to us.

Monday it was beautiful weather and for dinner we had Greek lamb casserole, which involved spinach and lemon, absolutely wonderful, washed down with a bottle of Retsina, despite her dislike of white wine and never having tasted it previously, thewife declared it extremely agreeable.

Tuesday was our Anniversary numero 3, so no cooking for us. A trip to Kilmarnock window-shopping, where we picked up an ideal thingy for forthcoming 60s theme party and lunch washed down with a pint of Staropramen in Paris Match. Then we bought a patio table and chairs - anniversary gift from Mumsy and home to set it up. Two, fortunately non-vital screws missing from the chairs, but sorted enough to sit out in the sun for a while before heading off to the Ship Inn, Harbourside, Irvine for our annual anniversary dinner. Damned fine it was too. Delicious Cullen Skink, followed by a really tasty Beef Casserole for me and an apparently divine Chicken Thingy in Pastry for thewife. Far too many vegetables and definitely no room for a pudding. Mr. Murray, the proprieter very kindly provided gratis bottle of red wine for the occasion.

Wednesday pishing with rain so can't sit out at our new patio table. This is just as well cos I am undergoing Child Protection Awareness Training for North Ayrshire Council's Sessional Youth Work Staff. Very thoroughly carried out it was too, by a friend of Lady El. Home to thewife's Slow Roasted Duck in Plum and Hoisin which was brilliant.

Thursday raining again, and we are off to IKEA with an extremely limited supply of the realm's coinage having received letter from bank. Shit!!! We were very frugal, although I did spot these four square wavy bottles that I thought would be nice in the bathroom. thewife agreed, but pointed out that there is no room in the bathroom. Look at � 1.50 each, I'm sure I could rig up a shelf to put them on, so we get them. Later in the bargain bit I find a nice glass shelf for � 1.50 just perfect. So we head home via Homebase, where the only bracket that will do costs more than the bottles and shelf combined, but there's no turning back now. I put it together whilst thewife produces a wonderful Thai warm chicken salad, bucket of beer and then settle down to watch football and penalty shoot outs, ah the excitement. Actually I hate penalty shoot outs. Play to the death I say. First goal or last man standing wins.

Friday the weather is gorgeous, just the kind of day for sitting in the sun at your new patio table if you weren't rushing around like headless chickens trying to get ready for the wedding of frequent commenter, Radical Postman's Son #2. Notice the hash mark #? That was deliberate on account of him getting married to a girl from New Joisey. Loads of Murricans over for the wedding and everyone charming, polite, pleasant and genuine. Left the place intact, well as far as we know, the brothers of the bride were up for a considerable amount of partying and were having a great time throughout the week they had been here. thewife commented that one of the lads was possibly the most handsome young man on earth, you could tell this to be true the way women, mostly, looked at him. Brilliant wedding, we danced, drunk and danced drunk and generally had a great time catching up with people.

Saturday - rain again - hangover - stayed in bed. Simple meal at night and watched team IKEA tumble out of Euro 2004 in a penalty shoot out against the hapless Dutch. There was no Dutch mastery on show at all. If anything Dutch mystery as they displayed their new game plan Partial Football!

Sunday morning sun's out, looking good for the last day of the holiday sitting in the sun. Yipee.


 
posted by timesnewroman at 9:58 AM  

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Thursday, June 24, 2004

There is an air of the maestro around Karel Bruckner, the Czech Republic's football coach. Perhaps it is in the name, the demeanor or just the look of the man, that suggests he is an artist conducting one of the great orchestras, a sweep of his arm controls a fabulous symphony and chorus. This is truly an orchestra that he conducts, although sprinkled with many fine soloists. The beauty and simplicity is that the whole is greater than the many skilled individuals that make it up.

Times New Roman says Encore. Come on you Czechs! 
posted by timesnewroman at 6:34 PM  

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Monday, June 21, 2004

If Carlsberg ran music polls, this would be the best British Album ever, unfortunately it was the Observer's Poll, so instead we get the Stone Roses. Top 10 for sure but Numero Uno, I disagree. So I am running a wee poll of my own. List your top 10 British Albums of all time in the comments and lets see the pedigree of the readership. Please note any votes for Pink Floyd get imediately disregarded as a frivolous wastew of a vote, bit like voting SSP if you like. My own top 10 - and this is a spur of the hour sort of thing, no spending days agonising over whether its to be Five Leaves Left or Bryter Later (Just Kidding there - there is definitely no rom for Nick Drake in my top 300). Here Goes:

1. Revolver - The Beatles
2. The Queen is Dead - The Smiths
3. Never Mind the Bollocks - The Sex Pistols
4. London Calling - The Clash
5. The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
6. Psychocandy - Jesus and the Mary Chain
7. Searching for the Young Soul Rebels - Dexys Midnight Runners
8. 4 Symbols - Led Zeppelin
9. Screamadelica - Primal Scream
10.A Pagan Place - The Waterboys (Ooh how unfashionable!)

Father Bell, if you are around intrigue me!

 
posted by timesnewroman at 1:43 PM  

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Sunday, June 20, 2004

Jim Jeffries take note. The man on the left is a footballer. 
posted by timesnewroman at 11:35 AM  

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Saturday, June 19, 2004

I hate talcum powder. thewife likes talcum powder. It just gets everywhere. Yukk!
posted by timesnewroman at 3:10 PM  

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Tuesday, June 15, 2004

Football is getting the better of me. We did manage to get to the quiz on Sunday where we rediscovered our winning ways. Case of beer heading our way, although thewife says I haven't to drink it as its for a party we are concocting, why we have to provide beer as well beats the hell out of me.

The quiz was delayed somewhat, because of a certain football match, between our Auld Alliance Amis and our Nearest Neighbours. Naturally the pub erupted when a sure footed Real Madrid midfielder put the ball in the back of the net. Twice! We really have to get rid of that chip off our shoulder for god's sake. Its not like we are even in the bloody competition.

I foolishly organised a competition at work, which now involves me spending hours daily on a spreadsheet, and my own entry is doing dreadfully. Pah, football!
posted by timesnewroman at 9:34 PM  

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Saturday, June 12, 2004

Cinderella and Prince Charming in Cinderella, the Sequel 

Super Troupers

thewife has been thespianising again. For the past week its rehearsals every night and you can feel the tension building daily. Stagefright, her Community Drama Group are putting on a production of two 1 Act Plays, "Cinderella, the Sequel," which she is stage managing and "Hamlet, Prince of Irvine" in which she plays the part of Ballonia, a mad old woman. Piece of piss really.

Tragedy, very much a Shakesperian tradition struck on the morning of the first show. One of the stalwarts of the group, with a major role in Hamlet.. suffered a family bereavement. The director took over the role, explained the situation and apologised to the audience for needing to read from script. A small and familiar audience were perfectly at ease with this and in fact polished performer that she is was hardly noticed.

In fact, they were all pretty good (well okay the ghost was wooden) and the material was better than other stuff I have seen them do.

One more performance, and then the return of relative peace and tranquility to castle tnr.
posted by timesnewroman at 10:31 AM  

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Friday, June 11, 2004

Didn't Labour do well. Haha. Anyway enough of the politics, lets have a brief interlude and enjoy the footie. TNR is organising a competition at work, which involves predicting scores and eventual winners. I'm heading down the bookies to put a couple of bob on the Czech Republic.


TNR's hot tip for Euro 2004 
posted by timesnewroman at 10:24 AM  

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Thursday, June 10, 2004

Polling Day in the European elections and I suspect the turnout will be pretty dire. There was me, off sick and on my way to the chemist to get cold remedy and I just had to call in at the polling station and cast me vote. I was going to spoil my ballot paper but in the end voted for the only party I could bring myself to vote for. Despite my indignation over their members' activity in my trade union, I had to vote SSP, not because I'm with them 100% on policies, and yes their candidate is another of the middle classes out to "lead" the working classes out of their misery. As far as I am concerned its the most telling of protest votes in that if the Labour Party ever wants it back again, it knows in which direction it has to move.

Interestingly there was no Labour Party presence at the polling station, only one woman there from the SSP. thewife and I met the singingvet and son, who I suspect also cast their votes in the same direction as our goodselves. So it looked like a landslide.
posted by timesnewroman at 3:48 PM  

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Monday, June 07, 2004

Culture indeed. After the union meeting the other day, we bumped into the postpunkpoet who informed me and jimty that Linton Kwesi Johnson was doing a "performance" at a Burns (Robert the Ayrshire Bard) Festival in Ayr on Sunday. I said I'd be keen to go and jimty just looked puzzled. Linton who? Nevertheless, despite the postpunkpoet voting the wrong way at the meeting we went to see LKJ. He was excellent and we spent a harmonious half hour along the beach where we saw a huge bloody cruise ship that surely shouldn't have been anywhere near Ayr.

The it was round to Lady El's for dinner and another thoroughly pish performance at the quiz. At least there is next week.


The man himsel. 
posted by timesnewroman at 7:07 PM  

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Sunday, June 06, 2004

There's something intrinsically wrong about celebrating death, but what the fuck. Its a great day indeed when the world is rid of an evil bastard. Lets hear it for the grim reaper.


One Down 
posted by timesnewroman at 9:28 AM  

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Saturday, June 05, 2004

Groundhog Day

Further to the post on 30th April regarding Unison and our leadership's recommendation of "Take the Money" for those included. A recall meeting was held yesterday, despite the fact that our negotiators had not concluded that which was asked of them from the previous meeting, namely that they get the bits that are outstanding sorted, before coming back to us. Fewer people this time than last and despite the previous overwhelming success, this time the mood is different. There are a lot of people who stand to gain a lot out of the deal financially and management need it in place quickly, they have been regaling the world with how great a model they have and how fabulous the deal is. Last time, other than the platform, there were few speakers in favour of the leadership's motion. This time there were a few, none of them particularly good, excluding the convener who's a shrewd, if nippy sweety. One speaker actually has the honesty to say he wanted the money! Forget solidarity.

Looking round the hall at times it was odd, I noticed that management had successfully managed to create a division in the workforce and this was going to be close. The more absurd part of the whole proceeding was the SSP members effectively saying take the cash and sod solidarity comrades. Well they have lost 1 vote as they can fuck off next Thursday when I spoil my Ballot Paper, given that there are NO acceptable parties to vote for.

And the result was.....very close, but by 20 votes there is still power in a union.

posted by timesnewroman at 11:23 AM  

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