Friday, July 29, 2005

Heading Due South Eastish then Westish

We are off, well we will be in a few hours heading down to Tintagel in Cornwall via Reidski's. We'll be here with Reidski and Father Bell from 4.30 on Saturday. Thence off to see Eden and whatever comes our way.
posted by timesnewroman at 6:17 AM  

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Wednesday, July 27, 2005

The New Neighbour

His hair is longer and he has more tattoos!

I swear its him though. he has moved into the house opposite with two teenage girls and one of those ugly dogs. A steady stream of weird visitors but no anti-social behaviour of the like of this (18th April 20003) accompanied by assorted pished antics on a weekly basis. He obviously (like thewife) gets no mobile phone signal indoors so he has to pace around the green in front of our houses when on the phone. Despite the facial tattoos, he so far has been the perfect gent.

I was at a training course yesterday. Absence Management. Given that I have the responsibility for staff, I have to go on this course so that I know how to kick butt when he's off malingering like. Interestingly the course had 2 tutors and 12 participants and I was the only bloke amongst them. Maybe this explains why! Not that I'm complaining.
posted by timesnewroman at 6:03 AM  

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Saturday, July 23, 2005

Oops Factor

Unbelievable breaking news that the man that the metropolitan police shot in Stockwell tube station had nothing to do with the bombings earlier in the week. Turns out he exited the wrong block of flats wearing the wrong clothing and colour of skin and foolishly ran away from about 20 plain clothes police officers chasing him. Scary shit indeed.

Speaking of scary shit what about this load of wussies then. Not one to cast national stereotypes but for fucks sake Leicester and Norwich. Get a grip!
posted by timesnewroman at 4:42 PM  

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Thursday, July 21, 2005

Scotty Beams Up

Jeezuz, it's been so long since I've blogged I've almost forgotten how to work this bloody thing. Despite the time passing, I can't say it's been filled with excitement. More of a slow countdown until we get off on our summer holidays. Long time coming but in 8 days time thewife and I are heading for Cornwall with a car, a tent, provisions and determination to find cider and generally enjoy ourselves eating pasties and cream, not necessarily on the same plate - although that may depend on the cider. We are going via Reidki's on the way down for a short stop of some real life reminiscences with a glass or ten of vino.

So what of note has happened in the past couple of weeks? Extremely good shit ( I remember him visiting Edinburgh and getting bottled - (No not pished - hit by bottles! Had it been Glasgow they may have been broken first) and not so good shit.


Fare-thee-weel Scotty

Had to drive to work this past week on account of I am not getting a monthly Rail Ticket because I'm off on holiday soon (Did I mention that already) and I am not getting a weekly ticket for 4 days. I really miss the calm of the train and the opportunity to struggle with the Guardian Crossword (No not the wee one!) That and there are times on the way home where on the train I would nod off, but you can't for fear of this happening.


Aspiringly Middle Class

The barbecue was wheeled out on one of those beautiful nights we had recently. And we fully displayed our middle class aspirations/pretensions by sitting out the back yard eating bloody good steaks accompanied by very fine wine indeed. Thewife was a bit of a connoisseur, still is if the money will stretch that far, so this little beaut is usually nearly twenty quid in Tesco's and they have it on offer for £12.99 practically a steal I say. Of course then the local kids show up and climb up on the lockup roofs and start doing all that macho kids stuff crap. Which kind of brought us home to fact that if we really have aspirations/delusions to/of grandeur then we really should think of living elsewhere, but we love it here so I suppose we'll have to put up with it. But hey, kids leave the buddleias alone!

posted by timesnewroman at 6:35 AM  

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Saturday, July 09, 2005

Happy Birthday June!

Done it again haven't I

This is extremely brave of me. I may have to watch my back for sometime as this young woman is fed up with me sticking her face on leaflets and the internet from the age of 2 upwards! It was her birthday yesterday and she invited us to it which was nice considering. A great time was had by all. My one regret is that the camera batteries died on us which meant we couldn't have the same immense fun we had the last time we went to the Golf Hotel. You see there's a speed camera on the way home from the hotel and if you get really drunk you can hang around it and take photos of cars as they pass. Keeps the streets a damn sight safer I say.

Further fun was had on the way home from work. Bloody demonstrators demonstrating on the George V bridge and generally causing traffic chaos and gridlock all because they want to save the planet from global warming. So I can't get the bus and have to walk. Not only do I have to walk but I have to take a bloody big detour. To make matters worse I get caught up in amongst a large line of foul smelling, long haired bedraggled hippy types with rainbow flags and black flags and drums and expensive looking cameras and I'm really beginning to think that this lot are just the sons and daughters of the middle classes taking their summer break from uni to have a good time and party before settling down to a life of comfort without a hint of the poverty that surrounded them when they set off from Glasgow's East End. Still I'm sure their hearts are in the right place and I'm only a bit bolshy because I was mildly inconvenienced at the end of a long hard (okay okay less of the exaggeration) day.
posted by timesnewroman at 2:31 PM  

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Friday, July 08, 2005

Fuck the Dalai Lama

thewife and I were sitting watching the Elephant Diaries for a bit of respite from the awful news from London. thewife remarks how human-like the elephants were in their compassion for other elephants. I'm actually thinking no. they are better than that. For a start they don't seem to have any organised religion in their world, which they use to justify obscene acts of carnage. They just seem to pretty much take care of each other and help each other through good spells and bad.

Some may think one a bit harsh for indulging in a critical attack on such a seemingly innoffensive character in the heading of this post. I don't care! ANY organised religion is simply a stepping stone towards a belief that one religion is superior to others and where its easy to dehumanise other humans beings because their beliefs are less pure.

I know its a simplistic approach and I know that the causes of the London bombings are far more complex than this and I know that most religions actually preach creeds that are basically decent. Unfortunately the interpretation is left to humans, who lets face it despite their inherent innocence at times are far too capable of acts of the most incredible barbarism. I know that the vast majority of Christians, Muslims, Jews, Bhuddists, Hindus etc, abhor violence. That said, an end to organised religion might not solve all the world's problems but its a bloody good place to start.

Not for one moment though, does this let our own leaders bury their heads in the sands of their superior liberal democracy. Whilst they export this freedom with bombs that kill children they can hardly be fucking surprised if somebody takes the hump and decides on their own bloody path of retribution. Which in turn will certainly lead to an escalating religious/racist tension in our communities thus further alienating already isolated groups thus exacerbating an ever increasing spiral of hate and mistrust. Just the kind of breeding ground for fascist vermin. Lets face it thats exactly the result that the scumfuck/s who bombed London wanted.

posted by timesnewroman at 11:01 PM  

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Sunday, July 03, 2005

Cha Cha Cha

thewife dances with my spritely 82 year old uncle

Completely missed out on all the g8 stuff as we were at my cousin's daughter's wedding yesterday. Fabulous time was had by all. On arriving at the church, who should be the first peops we see but very good friends from Wales. Turns out the groom was the son of the brother of the O'Reillys, so most pleased to be able to spend some time and catch up with them and also with loads of relatives I hadn't seen in ages. Marvellous spread and copious amounts of alcohol and entertainment in the form of a one man high class Karaoke act without the tv set but oozing style and panache. He did splendid covers of the subject of Reidksi's post here, as well as Tony Bennet and Nat King Cole. So cool was he that even thewife and I had to dance to a some of his numbers. thewife complimented him at the end of the evening and suggested that the only thing missing from his act was a loosened bow-tie. He replied that there was an idea so maybe next time. My uncle James did what he did at our own wedding and danced the night away having enjoyed a few beers. Bloody amazing considering he's 82 and I reckon if I can do half of what he does at that age I'd consider my self blessed. Only 2 complaints about the whole day, 1) the price of the beer in the place was wicked and 2) on the way there, the bloody road into where the wedding was being held was blocked off by the police as there was a major gathering of the same pricks that spoiled our morning!
posted by timesnewroman at 2:43 PM  

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Saturday, July 02, 2005

Compare and Contrast

I love to be woken up early on a Saturday morning to the sound of music. Well with two exceptions. When the neighbour next door plays that crappy high speed dance music that sounds as if its been recorded by two guys in a kitchen with a portable cassette recorder and the other is when a bunch of pricks march down the street in their bowler hats and sashes playing big fucking drums and accordions with flags and banners! I guess they're not taking part in the G8 Demo. If I wasn't going to a wedding today I'd wish it poured with fucking rain.

I heard some music last night too, by a young(ish) band, whose keyboard player does some youth work at the same place as me. That was much better, very enjoyable and a much harder, rockier sound than when I heard them previously. Nice lights as well.
posted by timesnewroman at 8:02 AM  

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