Long Suffering Wife

Funny people the welsh

2007-08-29T16:31:00.000+01:00

So being from God's own chosen country I was shocked to here that in a recent survey (by readers digest) that welsh people came last!

Through out my youth I've been used to seeing the welsh at the top of the surveys
1) Cosmo - most likely to be sexually deviant
2) Marie Claire - most likely to have tried most things
3) Zest - most likely to have an STI

so reading that the Welsh are the least funny people in the UK makes me wonder how we manage to attract members of the opposite sex to allow us to be deviant!

and as we seem to be sucessful in the bedroom is there a truth in the fact that funny men just don't get the girls, in a "I'd rather just be friends" kind of way?!

Aspirations and Expectations

2007-07-02T16:04:00.000+01:00

When I think about my children's long term future I think about University education, professional careers and high aspirations to be the best that they could be. Doesn't every parent?

So why do those around me get so excited that their child starting work as soon as they have finished their exams?

Am I middle class?

Babies

2007-06-27T14:36:00.000+01:00

I suppose that having babies is a bit like learning to drive and getting married in so much as you start to get obsessed and are convinced that everyone else is doing the same thing at the same time.

As such I've now started eyeing up all of my friends who are in long term relationships thinking they might also be having babies. Not really helped by the fact that nine of them actually are.

So if you find me looking at your stomach in a "has she eaten too much or is it something else kind of way - sorry!" I'm just nuts.

To quote...........

2007-06-12T15:30:00.000+01:00

Erica Jong,

"Love is everything it's cracked up to be…It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. "

Well it is when your tea's on the table when you get home.

Welcome to the house of fun

2007-06-11T12:25:00.000+01:00

A warm long suffering welcome to Girlie Tash to the Long Suffering Hall of Fame.

Tasha and I go back a long way from the days when we spun round on the swings and then tried to walk in a straight line, when I watered her (Like a flower!) and now to old age and marriage.

Badger Love

2007-06-07T10:45:00.001+01:00

As many will remember I've had my obsessions with road kill over the past few months (something to do with driving over 100 miles a day!) .

Yesterday evening there was a badger curled up on the side of the road. He'd obviously been hit and made it as far as he could off the road but no further before curling up and dying.

This morning there was a second dead badger curled over the first one as if in a protective manner, as if hugging it.

This had me thinking, as badgers are also creatures that mate for life,...

if I lost my mate would I consider it a better fate to die with my loved one,
or would I be too distort to even notice the on coming car?

Babies

2007-06-05T11:39:00.000+01:00

It's really starnge going from knowing that you're pregnant and not telling anyone, to being pregnant and the whole world feeling the need to share your experience!

As we've now survived the 1st third and are moving into the glossy hair and clear skin part of pregnancy (Bring it on!) I really should be more excited about the whole idea of being a mum. I suppose that the horror stories and nasties that everyone feels the need to share with us might be keeping us down to earth.

Having seen our sprog on the screen at the scan it's now becoming reality and I think we should be looking forward in a more positive mannor to the birth of our child.

Bestest Song

2007-04-23T15:28:00.000+01:00

In homage to the song by Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip. Here's an amended version of :

Thou shalt not steal if there is direct victim.
Thou shalt not worship Pop Idols, watch the show or discuss it in work the following day.
Thou shalt not take the names of JJ Williams, JPR or Gareth Edwards in vain.
Thou shalt not think that any male over the age of 30 that plays with a child that is not their own is a paedophile… Some people are just nice.
Thou shalt not read NME.
Thou shalt not stop liking a band just because they’ve become popular.
Thou shalt not question Stephen Fry.
Thou shalt not judge a book by it’s light blue or pink cover.
Thou shalt not judge a women's looks by her mother.
Thou shalt not buy L'Oriel products.
Thou shalt not buy Nestle products.
Thou shalt not go into the woods with your girlfriend's best friend, take drugs and cheat on her, "because you're on a break!".
Thou shalt not fall in love so easily.
Thou shalt not use poetry, art or music to get into girls’ pants.
Use it to get into their heads.

Thou shalt not watch The Apprentice.
Thou shalt not put musicians and recording artists on ridiculous pedestals no matter how great they are or were.
The Beatles - Were just a band.

Led Zepplin - Just a band.The Beach Boys - Just a band.

The Sex Pistols - Just a band.

The Clash - Just a band.Crass - Just a band.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Just a band.

Nirvana - Just a band.

Oasis - Just a band.

Radiohead - Just a band.

Bloc Party - Just a band.

The Arctic Monkeys - Just a band.

The next big thing - JUST A BAND.
Thou shalt remember that "proper" is not the correct term to describe really good or bad things in your life!

Thou shalt not scream if you wanna go faster.

Thou shalt not make some noise for Detroit.
Thou shalt not wish your girlfriend was a freak like me.
Thou shalt not complete sentences with the phrase "in it".
Thou shalt think for yourselves.

All go bang!

2007-04-12T17:06:00.000+01:00

This morning I crashed my car on the M1 (see picture!) due to some ejit being unable to break from the mega speed he was travelling at to allow me to get out of his way before he cut the nose off my car.

I'm fine (but thanks for the concern), shame I can't say the same for my vehicle.

Being Fat

2007-03-29T12:24:00.000+01:00

Over the past 8 months I've been on a weight loss programme brought on by a bout of mutual complaining about being fat with a friend while sat in the pub drinking wine and eating baked cheese!

So in September 2006 the same friend and I over ate curry for a week and then joined weight watchers (the curry being so that our weight would fall off in the first week).

So now I find myself in March 50 pounds light and in need of a new wardrobe receiving flattering comments from people I vaguely know and yet my friends who I haven't seen in over 6 months don't notice and don't comment.

This leaves me in a quandary am I still very fat and need to loose more weight or the weight lost wasn't sufficient to make a marked difference!

Football

2007-03-21T15:10:00.000Z

As the wife's noted this weekend was a sports fest (I won't even mention the glorious rugby score!) with him making his first start for the local church team. As a dutiful wife I left the warmth of the pub with the girlies to go and watch him.

Now as the kind of lass that's grown up watching competitive sport and having enjoyed a tussle of two on a rugby pitch, I'm not adverse to a bit of the old persuasion to your players from the touch line.

What I didn't realise is that a welsh accent can be mistaken for swearing when shouting at the top of your voice at your beloved.

As such I spend a good ten minutes explaining that I'd shouted "Come on Wakers, Commit to it" rather than a slightly more offsensive version.

Perhaps I should just feff and jeff at them as I would do at the North East's favourite loosers!

Road Kill

2007-03-06T08:46:00.000Z

Why is road kill fluffy? Why is it that the small creatures that end up under your wheels or on the road flat.

Yesterday I ran over a duck, there was nothing I could do about it and I missed his 8 friends but managed to turn him into a mushy duck and potentially fatally injured his mate who remained curled on the road after I'd passed.

Not only did this make me feel nausious but I also felt I needed to explain how it was an accident to anyone I met during the day and try and justify why I remained a good person and how I couldn't have avoided being a murderer. The sad bit is that my whole memory was tied up with the injured duck and the dilema of should I have reversed and killed him outright rather than let him die in pain on the road.

So feeling very sorry for myself (and the ducks) I drove home last night past the spot there I'd hit them, only to find that there was only one duck remaining in the road (there was no way he was getting up!) .

I told the wife with much delight that the mass murder was actually only a single hit and that as the second duck wasn't there then he must have got up and walked off....

"either that or he was dragged off and eaten by a fox. Sleep tight." replied the wife as he turned off the light to go to sleep.

Thanks for those words of comfort!

Weddings

2007-03-05T13:24:00.000Z

After 8 years together and nearly 4 years living in "marital bliss" (or so he tells me!) the wife and I are now facing those awkward questions from other well minding individuals who feel they need to review our relationship whenever we're out in public!

So after yet another wedding this weekend (and a very nice wedding it was too!) we have jointly and individually fended of the constant stream of "when are you having children?" and worse still "is there a reason why you can't have children?"

Why do people feel that because you're married and don't have children you have some medical issue that causes you not to be able to conceive. Do they never think that you've chosen not to have children at this point in your life and it would mess up your holiday enjoyment and would increase your debt!

Old Friends

2007-02-28T08:44:00.000Z

As the wife has noted, yesterday we said goodbye to a dear loyal friend for the last time.

Thsi car has been instrumental in many of the events of my life in the past 8 years that shes taken my future husband to meet my parents for the first time, taken the two of us back to the homeland, introduced me to the inlaws, and not forgetting the countless friday night trips up the M1 from the south east to see friends, weddings and St James park.

Unlike the wife I feel that letting her go for scrap is a far more dignified end for this friend that to let some spotty learner driver grind her gears, put in a stereo which is worth more than the car, and see if she can do 120 down the A52 (in her hayday, I'm told 100 on the coast road was easy!). So she's gone, never to be driven again.

The Beeb

2007-02-02T11:55:00.000Z

Now don't get me wrong I love auntie. I don't feel that my £131.50 is wasted on any of the quality products that I receive when I switch on the national channels and I think it's a great way to not have to endure the Adverts that polute all the films and shows on the commercial channels.

But...

I do object to being made to endue Dick and Dom on the radio on my way to work in the morning. What was the Beeb thinking! Now the alternatives for early morning breakfast are not good but no one show (not even Mr Moyles!) has made be feel quite so close to writing to the radio to complain about the lack of talent.

Who thought giving the Bogies duo a three hour radio show was a good plan?? Is it because I'm no longer young enough to listen that I feel so enraged or is it "'cause they is crap?"

Holiday, Celebrate

2007-01-30T08:44:00.000Z

Happy New Year! and welcome 2007 (where did 2006 go?)

The long pause of absence on the blog has been due to the wife and I going on sabatical to NZ over the Christmas period. Where a fun filled time was had by all.

Highlights include - paddling a tandum Kayak through the fiords surrounded by dolphins, jet boating, eating more fish than is left in the north sea, and puking spectacularly on the ferry between islands!

Heres to more holidays and time away from the office.

Age

2006-12-07T10:23:00.000Z

I was sat talking to someone in the office who questioned the number of children I had. When I explained that I wasn't old enough to have kids he told me that lots of people "our age" have children.

So this leaves two questions
question 1 - does he think he's the same age as me (late 20's)
question 2 - does he think I'm the same age as him (late 30's)

Either way I feel that I need to get on the Oil of Olay quickly!

Welcome to the cheap seats

2006-11-28T09:24:00.000Z

Ok so it's taken me a while but at long last welcome to the hall of fame/shame to a number of close personal friends and regular contributors to both my life and my sanity.

Bline in the meadows
Not much going on and
Silent word speak loudest

you are the first three (as chosen by our viewers) to be accepted into the long suffering hall of fame. Welcome

It's only f*@king November

2006-11-24T13:09:00.000Z

Ok.. rant on..

The neighbours have decked the house with christmas tinsel,
fa la la la la la la la la
November is not the season to be joly,
fa la la la la la la la la
Down with all this christmas cheer,
fa la la la la la la la la

Now I see the time and place for putting you're flashing Santa on your house and spraying the windows with fake snow. But it's still November!

...rant off.

BMX style skills

2006-11-20T16:13:00.000Z

As part of a scheme to try and get the wife back onto a bike after the "stag do incident" we've been cycling to and from venues, and as a present I purchased him a set of lights so that "it's too dark" can no longer be used as an excuse.

So having returned from the rugby on the weekend we set off back home, a little bit worse for wear when he spots a BMX ramp on the pavement and decides to take it on.....

So off he sets in a wobblying manner at the ramp, reaches the top and proceeds to fall over the edge onto his head! thus smashing the new bike lights, bending the bike and his head.

Why do I bother?!

2006-10-31T13:35:00.000Z

Last night in a harrassed state I put fuel in my car and then winged about how much it cost to fill the tank of the car.

Then I drove home from town (10 miles), this morning I drove to work (60 miles) and then realised that I've put unleaded petrol in my empty diesel car... something that should have stopped the engine before I left the forecourt.

So my car is currently being fixed in the garage and at 8:30 this morning I was the third person that the RAC man came to rescue.

Now that I know the cost I think I would have been better to just drive the car and keep topping it up with diesel until the unleaded was gone!

Me myself and I

2006-10-25T13:46:00.000+01:00

Having very little to do at lunch time I've been following the advice of Dave Gorman and have been looking for me in Google.

As a result I've realised what a busy person I am... I currently..

work as a vet lecturer at Nottingham University
am a realator in Michigan
i've run half marathons (and finished in the top ten)
I'm Canada's expert on Princess Diana

and better than that

I'm Miss Devine for Somerset.

No wonder I'm so tired!

Past It

2006-10-13T12:56:00.000+01:00

That sorry point in my life has now past... and as such I can confirm to those how are wee spring chickens (under 28) that the point at which middle age sets in is 28 and a week.

This morning on my way to work driving down the motorway I switched off Radio 1, due to the constant wingeing of Chris Moyles complaining about being famous (give it a break) and not playing any music, that I have subjected myself to all week, and turned over to Radio 2 to escape!

Not a totally bad thing in itself as a change is as good as a rest and variety is the spice of life, etc...

but

the old age issue occured when I found myself sat in the office looking up what was on the channel on the way home based on the fact that subconsciously I'd already decided that it was radio 2 all the way home.

Therefore in the words of Pete Townshed its too late I can no longer hope to die before I get old. I'm already old and listening to the easy listening on radio 2.

Birthday

2006-10-09T13:15:00.000+01:00

Friday commenced my 28th year on this planet and the slow demise into old age and the ever approaching 3 0 .

But having recently looked on a well known web based encylopedia I realise that I share my birthday with many a famour lovely
Ioan Gruffydd
Gerry Adams (not quite so mysterious now you can hear him!)
Britt Ekland
King Wenseslas.... and to top it all..
Niall Quinn!

Being me's not that bad after all!

Pastures New

2006-09-21T09:10:00.000+01:00

So today is my last day in the office, it's been good times and bad times.

I've found friends, completed by exams, traveled the east midlands......

been told I have a personality deficit, had my promotion overturned and been rollocked for talking to other members of staff.

So off I go to a job I'm not qualified to do, haven't done before and to a very scary boss...

but the car and the payrise should make up for this!

Man Flu

2006-09-13T15:49:00.000+01:00

He who must be obeyed has man flu! Worse than Bird flu or pleurisy!

The only pity is that the only woman who'd give him any sympathy, his mother, went home this morning!

Admitting it

2006-08-01T12:51:00.000+01:00

Is recognising that things aren't OK the first sign of sorting it out or is it just opening a can of worms which potentially will never be shut again?

Being one of the most insecure people (based on a very difficult and damaging relationship with a total w@*ker) I'm struggling to accept that when someone tells you they're only with you as you sleep next to them (or words to that effect) that they don't mean it and were only being flippant.

So what do you do? and how do you ignore something that's running through the back of your mind when they touch you?

Hurt

2006-07-31T10:33:00.000+01:00

At what point does your relationship enter the boredom phase when you cease to be the love of his life and start to be taken for granted.

Is it at this point that people have affairs just to prove that they are more than just the provider of tea? and dishwasher?

And when your at your lowest does it then become sport to hurt the other one so much that even when they try to be supportive you care so little that you just want to kick them when their down?

Is this the start of a slippery slope?

Inspiration

2006-07-12T14:19:00.000+01:00

A huge thank you to Jo for this.

It made me laugh, although not sure that the impact will be as required as surely this is aimed at women (wif the fluffi wuffi kitten) and not men - who we all know are the bigger wankers!

Duvet Days

2006-07-04T11:41:00.000+01:00

I've decided to campaign to change the way in which the world works.

The theory is based as follows -
There are work days where I'm so productive that I could work through from seven am to midnight and get loads done
on the other hand there are days (like today) when actually all I do is distract those around me and make them even less productive than I feel.

So the theory assumes that I can bank good days and hours works against bad days when I can stay in bed and not come to work.

Easy theory, just need to persuade the government to put it into law.

Holiday, celebrate

2006-06-29T11:24:00.000+01:00

So we're off on holiday! we've booked and paid for the majority of a three week adventure in New Zealand, just me and him.

I'm not sure what I'm more excited about..... holiday, a whole three weeks of quality time with my man, or being in New Zealand.

And the best bit is that I've only got to wait 6 months until I can go!

F Ball

2006-06-09T16:00:00.000+01:00

I can't help it but I can't get excited about the world cup! Not only was my team (Wales) cruelly not included in the finals but its also starting to interfere with my life.

The wife and I are both on holiday for the back end of next week and as such could go away for the day and enjoy each others company.... but no the footballs on on Thursday so we can't!

We could book our big holiday on Saturday afternoon together planning how and where we're going to spend four weeks of our precious time..... but no the footballs on so we can't!

Am currently planning on running away with an American, there team may be in the world cup but they don't care and don't understand it.

FooFoo

2006-04-21T09:59:00.000+01:00

As the wife and I have spent the last years of our life travelling thousands of miles up and down the motorway we have developed the art of car games, many of which are unique to us and other which we have "borrowed" from others (Thanks Jo and Ben).

The current car favorite is adding inappropriate wording to the pussy cat dolls song trying to make the other person laugh. First one to laugh looses so it goes as follows -

It's funny how a man only thinks about the bus
You got a real big heart, but I'm looking your socks
You got real big brains, but I'm looking at your mum
Girl, there ain't no pain in me looking at your

You get the picture.... but the highlight of the trip, the winning word and this weeks word of the week is foofoo

"Fufu, also spelled foofoo, foufou, or fu fu, is a staple food of West and Central Africa. It is a thick paste made by boiling starchy root vegetables in water and pounding with a large mortar and pestle until the desired consistency is reached. It may also be made by boiling flour in water, stirring vigorously with a wooden paddle until thick. In French-speaking countries in sub-Saharan Africa, fufu is often called cous-cous."

Babies

2006-04-18T15:53:00.000+01:00

The first of my grown up friends has had a baby..... and unlike my previous contact with new born babies this one is beautiful.

We went round to visit to drop off food. This is part of a church initiative where you and your family are fed for the first two weeks of your child's life....Which has me thinking..

1) Six months off work
2) Free cooked food for two weeks
3) Flowers and presents
4) an excuse to eat for two!

Almost enough to persuade me to have the 30 hour labour.... ALMOST

Knowing me, knowing you ahharh

2006-04-12T10:26:00.000+01:00

Four jobs I've had
Fish fryer for a well known fish and chip shop (worst job ever)
Accountant/Auditor
Sainsbury’s merchandising supervisor (I was the reason the things you wanted kept moving)
Serving wench for royalty (did manage to serve the gentleman’s last meal!)

Four movies I can watch over and over
Sliding Doors (even when you cock up your life rights itself...)
X Men 1,2 and hopefully 3 (total escapism)
House of Flying Daggers (Style, grace and a truly engaging story and made me cry like a girl)Austin Powers (Yeah baby)

Four places I have lived
Mold (Without the U!)
Nottingham (Student days, and back as a professional)
Leytonstone (The delights of commuting on the Tube)
Guildford (Starting on the career path)

Four TV shows I like to watch
CSI (Slick, smart, intelligent drama)
House (grumpy and miserable on a Thursday night)
Grandstand (sport sport sport sport sport)
Soccer AM (cheerful pub humour on a Saturday morning)

Four foods that I like
Sweets
Pudding
Fish
Pork Pies

Four websites I visit daily
BBC (for weather, news, gossip)
Google
Right Move (You never know when the house of your dreams might hit the market)
HSBC (To curb the wife’s spending problem)

Four things I want to do before I die
Have kids
Travel to all continents
Only have matching underwear
Have a car of my own

Four places I would rather be right now
1. In bed with my wife
2. In a hot foreign country
3. In a beer garden in the sun with my mates
4. In my private swimming pool

Four people I'm tagging
Ben
Jo (Again)
Paul
Del

Sadness

2006-04-05T09:01:00.000+01:00

Last night I took to the streets (no money isn't that short to come by!)

I was out and about giving out food and hot drinks to the homeless as part of a charity/church project that's on going in the city.

So there I was handing out cheese sandwiches to the stereotypical homeless men with cans of special brew in their hands when I met a Polish family living on the streets with their three year old son.

They're not in a hostel as all those they tried were single sex and they're living under the radar trying to stop having their child taken from them.

What kind of life is it for a small child on the streets and what sort of future lies ahead for him?

It makes you realise just how lucky you are and just how sheltered your own childhood was in comparison.

Personality Defect

2006-03-28T17:24:00.000+01:00

So it's been a week of appraisals in the long suffering household.

We've had our ups and our downs (mostly mine!)

So the appraisal went like this:

We don't like your personality! We don't think you should talk in the office, We known you haven't finished the work we didn't give you time to finish, we want to consider it as if your not in, don't leave your desk, don't even bother to defend yourself.....

oh but some things you do are ok.

Thanks we'll talk again in more detail soon.

Not even a how are you! So I'm currently looking for a new job where my line manager at least gives me the time of day and considers starting the coversation with how are you.

Oh, and changing my personality to become an introvert.

Who would you emulate

2006-02-06T13:00:00.000Z

(Big words for a new post!)

Following the might "What would Sting do?" on Phil's blog and this article on in the Guardian I've been thinking who should I have has a positive life model - I'd do what they'd do and my negative life model - Never do what they do.

So after some thought the short list goes as follows
Positive Thoughts

Scotland's rugby team - after beating up the favorites France on Sunday. Anything they'd do I'd want to do
Pussy Galore - If it's good enough for pussy, it's good enough for me
Professor Robert Winston - He can get pissed on camera all in the name of science and talk about sex as if it's shopping at Tescos

Alternative Model

Jordan - you know as soon as you think that pink velour is good it's time to walk away
Posh & Becks - do you really want to sit on thrones when you get married or be best mates with Elton
Elizabeth Hurley - I wouldn't want to restrict my body size by starving or only eating brown rice
Carol Vordemann - as per above (detox is a no no)
Dame Ellen McArthur - Who cares if you're a record breaker, you've wasted the best part of your life on your own on a boat

What is love?

2006-01-31T16:30:00.000Z

Based on the past couple of weeks and in timely fashion for valentines day I thought I'd identify my definition of love -

Getting out of bed to feed the cast so the wife isn't woken by the constant mieowing
Warming the wife's towel on the radiator so that he can get out of the shower to a warm and fluffy towel
Making breakfast in bed while he's still asleep so that he can wake up
Driving 50 miles so he can watch a football game on the TV
Driving 50 miles after a party so he can sleep in his own bed
Not mentioning to the world that he was sick as a dog after a party (oh well that's that one gone)

Any what do I get in return?! Wingeing about me not turning the kitchen tap off fully when I finished the washing up!

Booze

2006-01-17T08:19:00.000Z

Ok so it's been a while since I last posted but here goes!

The wife and I have given up the booze.

This is both as a tribute to our livers which we think are in long term decline (following a particularly heavy Christmas week sesh) and a method of proving we have willpower and are able to commit to something and stick to it.

So 17 days in the following alarming things have happened

1) We have both lost over half a stone, which is terrorfying as we didn't think we drank that much on a regular basis

2) The wife cleaned the bathroom! This is the first time since we left the south east (about three years ago) that he has had contact with bathroom cleaner.

Cake!

2005-10-28T13:33:00.000+01:00

This was told to me by someone last night as an illustation of "willpower" and faith.

I think in truth it sums up most of the women I know when it comes to cake, chocolate, shoes etc! better than anything I've ever read before....

Toad baked some cookies. “These cookies smell very good,” said Toad. He ate one. “And they taste even better,” he said. Toad ran to Frog’s house. “Frog, Frog,” cried Toad, “taste these cookies that I have made.”
Frog ate one of the cookies, “These are the best cookies I have ever eaten!” said Frog.
Frog and Toad ate many cookies, one after another. “You know, Toad,” said Frog, with his mouth full, “I think we should stop eating. We will soon be sick.”
“You are right,” said Toad. “Let us eat one last cookie, and then we will stop.” Frog and Toad ate one last cookie. There were many cookies left in the bowl.
Frog,” said Toad, “let us eat one very last cookie, and then we will stop.” Frog and Toad ate one very last cookie. “We must stop eating!” cried Toad as he ate another.
“Yes,” said Frog, reaching for a cookie, “we need willpower.”
“What is willpower?” asked Toad.
“Willpower is trying hard not to do something you really want to do,” said Frog.
“You mean like trying hard not to eat all these cookies?” asked Toad.
“Right,” said Frog.
Frog put the cookies in a box. “There,” he said. “Now we will not eat any more cookies.”
“But we can open the box,” said Toad.
“That is true,” said Frog.
Frog tied some string around the box. “There,” he said. “Now we will not eat any more cookies.”
“But we can cut the string and open the box.” said Toad.
That is true,” said Frog.
Frog got a ladder. He put the box up on a high shelf. “There,” said Frog. “Now we will not eat any more cookies.”
“But we can climb the ladder and take the box down from the shelf and cut the string and open the box,” said Toad.
“That is true,” said Frog.
Frog climbed the ladder and took the box down from the shelf. He cut the string and opened the box.
Frog took the box outside. He shouted in a loud voice.
“Hey, birds, here are cookies!” Birds came from everywhere. They picked up all the cookies in their beaks and flew away.
“Now we have no more cookies to eat,” said Toad sadly.
“Not even one.”
“Yes,” said Frog, “but we have lots and lots of willpower.”
“Naff this” said Toad. “You can keep all your willpower Frog, I'm going home now to bake a cake!”

Nine out of ten cats

2005-10-24T17:00:00.000+01:00

Following the awful news from home that one of my friends has advanced stage breast cancer I have struggled to put into words how I feel about it.

According to the breast cancer awareness website one in nine women will have breast cancer at sometime in their lives. Following a quick tally of female friends that means that over 10 of us, according to the statistics, will be fighting the silent killer at some point in our lives.

It's left me flat and I've got to the point where crying in work about the injustice of it all is a possibility.

Joke du Jour

2005-10-19T08:49:00.000+01:00

"There are 10 types of people who understand binary,

those who do and those who don't"

OK so it made the techicie in me laugh when I was told it!

Hear No Evil

2005-10-18T13:19:00.000+01:00

Every day I travel to work on public transport and have done for years. The best thing about it is being able to read a selection of newspapers without buying one and overhearing people's conversations.

In the last weeks I have been privilage to such lovlies as
"She's such a pushy mother I'd never do that to Amy....... I think Amy should continue to dance so I'm going to make sure that she's in the Panto even if she doesn't want to be"

"It's a shame these Fathers for Justice feel the need to dress up like tw*ts all they do it attract attention to themselves"

"I've found a lump in my sack and I'm too embarrased to tell the doctor about it" - Why love you've just told 30 strangers.

So next time your on the bus watch out, you never knopw who's listening

Orange Liquid

2005-10-11T13:58:00.000+01:00

The wife and I went to Brum this weekend to celebrate the forthcoming doctorate of a friend from university. That is eight years from the moment that he started at university with us to finally being forced to look for paid employment.

So celebrating we a went into Brum and to the pub which specialises in cider and real ale. And so started the night of the orange pint. It felt fine to start with, but

Mistake number one - when asking for a half and being refuse, on account of being a girl, accept this rejection rather than stating "OK make it a pint then!"

Mistake number two - staying at the pub in a lock in until 2pm, having been drinking since lunch time.

Now I'm in the lucky minority who don't usually get hangovers and as such can't really deal with them on the minimal number of occasions with which they occur.

As such I spent Sunday in bed asleep and throwing up on trains and hoping the world would just f@*k off and let me die.

And that brings me onto the other issue - why are there always delays on the train lines when you want to be home yesterday?

Cat Wee

2005-09-06T13:50:00.000+01:00

My pussy cat! (an a significant move on for this blog! as I've managed to post a picture to the web!)

The reason for the photo is so that all can appreciate how cute she looks when she wants to... and to understand how the demon creature works everyday tasks to her own advantage!

Like having a pooh, it's now become punishment for who ever won't let her go and play outside in the front garden at 7am.

She asks to go out, we say no, she goes into the litter tray and lets out a beast. Then walks proudly back to the front door and mioaws quietly to be let out again.

Crafty things cats!

Pissing Me Off

2005-08-25T10:24:00.000+01:00

When Shelia Hancock was interviewed about her taking part in Grumpy Old Women she stated her shock and claimed that she had very little in her life which made her angry.

She then filmed the series and managed to rant for a full on six hours about what pisses her off.

So, although usually a calm person I just feel the need to rant about other people and the things they do that piss me off (Not a rant about the wife for a change)

I gave my phone number to someone in Church who has no money and in a weak moment suggested that if he needed to call me just ring twice and I'd call him back. So last night when the phone rang I rang him back to be told the number is invalid. Panicking and thinking that he might be in trouble I carried on trying to contact him.
When the phone rang next time I picked up to be greeted with a mouth full of abuse regarding my sexuality and preference. THIS IS NOT ON!
I love getting comments on my blog about things that matter to people and their impact on what I've said on mine. So was delighted to have a message from a random person..... until I read the message and realised that he was pressing next blog and leaving the same message to plug for his website and the shit that he was peddling via the blog community. WHO CARES ABOUT YOUR SHARES

OK Rant over!

Painted Pussy

2005-08-24T14:00:00.000+01:00

As you probably have grasped by now I live in a "project" and have spent the past twelve months discovering what a pillock the person who lived in my house before me was.

So last night after a hard day in the office I was painting my kitchen, listening to the dulcid tones of the wife as he swore at the DIY (it's starting to have a soothing effect on me). When I finished and collapsed on the sofa to drink my beer and stroke my cat when I realised that not only were my walls "morning sunrise" but also my cat, and the painted trail where her feet have been after the painting tray!

I've now realised that my cat's got a taste for paint. She has decided that she likes to lick it out of the painting tray and off the walls. Is paint bad for cats? Is it because I'm not feeding her properly? or is it because paint tastes great and I haven't realised it yet?

Curtains!

2005-08-23T08:30:00.000+01:00

We have curtains! For almost a year, since we moved into the house, we have had no curtain in our bedroom. This is not an issue in itself until you realise our bedroom is at the front of the house facing our nosey neighbour and the wife feels the need to get nekid with the lights on in front of the window!

This was part of Operation Tidy House - relating to our house warming/birthday/wedding anniversary party on the weekend.

As usual with DIY tasks it was surrounded with the usual blue haze of f words and general high volume new words for the children next door to learn. Why is this? Why does he have to swear at DIY?

So how did we celebrate having curtains?...... by oversleeping and being highly confused to wake up in darkness.

While trying to tidy our house I've also concluded that:

I hate washing up! It's one of those tasks that as soon as I finish seems to regenerate and double in size from the initial mound that I started with.

Exams

2005-08-19T14:59:00.000+01:00

Having watched the results coming in yesterday and all the shiney happy 18 year olds talking about the future it reminded me of my A Level exam results.

I got 2 B's and 2 C's (and an A in home ec which I ignore!) and didn't get into the university I wanted to go to.

I can remember being distraught about not being able to go to London to study engineering, and being told by my piano teacher than "Young ladies have a habit of ending up where they are supposed to be". Not the advice that I wanted at the time but better than by Nanny's "Oh well, that's not what you wanted was it?!".

Now eight years down the line I can see exactly what she meant that you do end us where you are supposed to be. I had three fantastic years in Nottingham, made more friends than you can shake a shitty stick at, partied until the cows came home.....

Oh yes, and met the wife (in drag! - but that's another story).

So this blog is dedicated to Kirsty - Who also got B's and C's and didn't get to go to London where she initially wanted to go, but like me is heading to the opposite side of the country from home, to start her student years in the "city of Kulture".

Age

2005-08-05T13:54:00.000+01:00

At the age of eighteen I was invincible (like all people!), until I was attacked and broke my hands.

Yet I find myself giving out "old person" advice to one of my friend's who's off to university in September.

So at what point did I stop being a student and start being an "old person"

Was it when I got married?, got a job?, left uni?, got a pension and a mortgage? Or have I always been old and just not realised it?

Butties (or sandwiches if your posh)

2005-08-02T13:01:00.000+01:00

I was obviously asleep while making my cheese and jam (don't knock it until you've tried it) sandwiches this morning as I'm now tucking into jam, cheese and mould sandwiches.

The really sad thing about it is we don't have enough money for me to walk into town to get another sandwich, so I'm stuck eating mould.

If this a bad thing? or will it help my digestive and immunity system?

Weather - Part 2

2005-08-01T12:23:00.000+01:00

I had Thursday and Friday off work last week to go to Newcastle and see the tall ships race which supposed to be a relaxing day sitting on the side of the tyne watching the ships leaving port with all their sails up sailing towards Norway.

What it actually was, was me sat in the rain in waterproofs and an umbrella watching a number of ships battling with the weather heading towards the North Sea.

10 of the ships had to turn round that evening and return to Newcastle due to sick crew and broken masts.

Think there should be a public weather warning issued when ever I go on holiday!

Friendships

2005-07-27T13:22:00.000+01:00

It's a funny thing friendship. One minute you don't know someone and the next you're chatting away telling this relative stranger your whole life story.

We've finally settled back into life in the Midlands and have now got a small, but fully functioning, friendship network. This is a result of returning to be a guide leader (me not the wife!), joining a church and socialising through work.

So why do I now feel in my heart that it might soon be time to more on again. To face new challenges and experiences?

Holidays

2005-07-21T09:35:00.000+01:00

I need a holiday!

I know this as I'm starting to

fantasise about holidays and not having to wake up to the cat alarm at 6 am
get ratty about nothing in particular
contemplate working part time
making pasta from scratch seems like a good idea

Only nine weeks to go until I get to spend 15 days stuck in a car with my in-laws.

Life just seems to get better and better.

Life's too short

2005-07-07T14:41:00.000+01:00

I'm currently sat at my desk feeling sick and potentially at my least productive since I started work.

I feel numb following hearing the news from London and have spent the best part of the morning trying to telephone all those I live with, worked with and love who are currently in the London area.

It puts into context just how futile my own worries regarding money, what's for tea etc really are and that life's just to short to continue to think about the future and what if's.

So for all of those who I love and who remain in the city. I thinking of you and you're all in my prayers.

Mourning

2005-07-05T11:30:00.000+01:00

This blogger is in mourning and if I was more technically minded I'd have changed the background to a somber black colour.

The season ticket money went out of the account this morning.

This means that the football season is about to start and all sensible (OK vaguely sensible) conversation has now disappeared from the Long Suffering household and has been replaced by drivel regarding who's at pre-season training and who's not.

I wouldn't mind that much if it was original opinion from the wife but all in all the total output is usually secondary opinion taken from
a) someone else's blog
b) NUFC.com
c) or The Mag

So here's to the next ten months of football - yippee!

Never trust Nottingham Weather

2005-06-24T16:02:00.000+01:00

When I moved here to the midlands as a young impressionable twenty year old student I bought an umbrella and a pair of gloves as my first purchases with my student loan.

As a lass from North Wales you'd think I'd be used to the wet but Nottingham rain is different from anything else as you don't need a brolly but know you'll be drenched by the time you get there.

Having now lived here for over five years in total you think I'd remember the wet and not leave the house wearing inappropriate footwear, but no....

I woke up this morning, the sun was shining and I put on summer clothes (mistake number one) and sandals (mistake number two).

When I got to work the skies opened and I had to go out to pick up photos at lunch time without an umbrella.

Friendships

2005-06-23T10:39:00.000+01:00

I met up with one of my Uni friends last night and then drove back home thinking about how things have changed since the invention of email and MSN and just how rubbish a friend I really am.

I don't phone people anymore I leave the mobile to ring if I can't be bothered to call people and I send one liner emails in response to other people's messages.

So as part of my be a better friend drive I'm going to email everyone with long boring letters about how dull my life is........ if only I could get into hotmail to get to my email addresses.

Sofa so Good

2005-06-22T13:58:00.000+01:00

(it was just too easy!)

Our new sofa's arrived this week and so far we have been spending the past two days commenting on how we managed on the cottage suite that has done us so proud for the past four years and running at the cat when ever she gets her claws out to scratch the back of the new sofas.

Life is a video

2005-06-21T08:23:00.000+01:00

If your life was a TV show what would it be?

I think I'd have to be an audition for Big Brother.

It'd be a whole life of freaks with the odd exception of people that you'd like to meet and you wonder what they're doing in the audition in the first place.

Also means that I can watch the bits of my life I'm not to proud about from behind a cushion cringing from the truth.

Chocolate

2005-06-20T09:51:00.000+01:00

I took my guides to Cadbury's World this weekend. Hotest day of the year and I went sampling chocolate! Not really ideal.

The strange thing is that after a quick trip to Birmingham I'm not worried about them all and their well being.

When I was 13-14 I didn't worry about what I looked like or what I stuffed in my face... but these girls worry about eating two chocolate bars in one day to the extent that one of them was crying all the way home about havign to do exercise.

What has the world come to when children as so pressurised by modern society that they are image conscious to the extreme and are making themselves sick worrying about their figures.

LET THEM BE KIDS! you're a long time grown up!

Money

2005-06-17T12:02:00.000+01:00

As a student I lived on £30 a week plus student loan (about £1k a year) I drank like a fish, I ate out most lunch times and I partied hard most weekends. I never remember not having any money and not being able to survive.

So why do I find myself four years after graduating struggling to make ends meet when I never seem to go out, I don't go to the pub, I make my own lunch and the last time I had a BIG night out was sometime in 2004!

I also feel like the wicked witch of the west as I spend most weekends drumming into my husband about how we have no money and can't spend anything thus making his life as miserable as my own.

Not fair! Not fair!

R & R

2005-06-13T08:36:00.000+01:00

Althought I enjoy being married there is nothing better at times that having a whole weekend to yourself and not having to worry about who else is in the house or what they want to do.

Paul was away in London village this weekend so I prepared myself for a girly pampering session - new moisturiser, rasor blades, hair mask, wine and chocolate cake.

I ran a bath and lay there in the warmth with my wine and my book for two hours only moving to turn the page or to top up the hot water when it started to get tepid.

Why don't men understand the power of the bath and the enjoyment you can get from just lying there and not doing anything for hours at a time? or have to ask you how long you're going to be in there for after only ten minutes?

What kind of animal do I feel like today - any sort of new born animal as I'm struggling to keep my eyes open

What kind of animal do you feel like today?

2005-06-11T11:37:00.000+01:00

Travelling for work purposes this week I was listening to Colin and Edith on Radio One talking about their daily feature "what kind of animal do you feel like today?" so I thought I'd carry this on with my blog.....

Today I feel like a hedgehog - slightly prickley, in constant need of sleep and with an uncanny ability to get your ass into situations where you put yourself in dangers for no reason at all.

Spiritual Alignment

2005-06-10T09:28:00.000+01:00

For the first time in my life I went to a church small group meeting yesterday.

It's a method used by our church to allow people to get to know each other and make friends while doing spiritual things.

Having ummed and arred about what we want from this meeting on a personal level and came up with a wish life - young, outgoing, married couples who are not freaks.

So having picked a short list we set off to try the first group. I felt like a child on the first day of school I hung onto Paul's hand and was dragged apprehensively into this new environment complaining of tiredness and generally not wanting to be there.

We were met by an eclectic (spell checked for you pedants out there!) group of people, which we later found were in the majority the members of latest Alpha group who made us welcome.

I'm not a big fan of group therapy, I like my life to be like it is and I like to have some privacy now and then. So when it comes to being prayed for I don't like to discuss the bits of my life where things are shitty.

But I persevered and was really suprised with some of the things that were said and the incites into my life (none of which I had previously mentioned) and then when praying for someone else I saw all sorts of images in my mind which I was later told related to her life.

Overall there were instances and areas where I wasn't comfortable but I'm sure that finding yourself spiritually isn't supposed to be comfortable.

I felt so refreshed when we'd finished that for someone who was so tired to managed to kept the better half awake for hours after getting in with constant talking, theres got to be something in it.

Holidays & Chickens

2005-06-06T09:16:00.000+01:00

You know you need a holiday when

You can't talk to each other without snarling
You fantasize about not having to get up at 6:45
You can't wait to spend three days in the company of all your grandparents, parents and siblings in one small house

So off we set to Bath for three days of R&R.

My Grandmother is the woman that they based Hyacinth Bucket on and she just gets more obstinate with age. So when the wife and I were preparing chicken curry she bustled into the kitchen and questioned why we hadn't washed the chicken breasts before we cooked them, as according to a magazine article they could contain any number of bacteria, trying to removing the bits that the wife was frying in the pan and wash them under cold water.

Following said incident (which the wife won in the end) she was heard to mutter that she didn't read or follow all the rubbish she read in magazines as they were all just fads and there was never any truth in them.

Now the wife's a bit worried that I could become just like her in time.............roll on old age

Pussy Cat

2005-05-31T11:05:00.000+01:00

My pussy cat went to the cattery this morning, and I managed to get her in her box within five minutes flat, unlike the half hour wrestle that has been incurred in that past.

I think this proves that she loves me more than my other half and that she obeys commands like a dog after Ben spent the weekend trying to teach her to return the mouse to him after he threw it across the lounge.

So the trick is to stick the pillow from the bed in the box and also throw in some Whiskas' Cat pockets (equivalent to chocolate truffles for our cat!) and in she runs no questions asked.

So I'm now sat in work worrying about 3lb of cat missing me and worrying that she might feel that we've abandoned her permanently.

Sad person that I am

New Office

2005-05-26T14:59:00.000+01:00

When I started my new job 18 months ago I thought I'd never feel part of the firm as all my peers had trained at the firm and worked their way up the ranks... but..

I'm currently sat in our Derby office and I know no-one and when ever I speak to the person sat accross the divide from me I get mono-syllabic answers.

So I think what I'm trying to say is that I must now feel like part of the furniture in Nottingham and that I've been accepted as part of the team.

Sad how you only notice something when it's gone.

The Wife

2005-05-13T14:17:00.000+01:00

Good things

He can cook (sort of)
He understands my love of CSI
He let’s me have a list (even if it is restricted to 10 people)
He lets me borrow his socks
He can put up shelves and make the toilet seat work
He's unblocked the toilet on at least one occasion
He puts me to bed when I've had too much to drink and lets me snore into the bin

Not so good things

He’s f@*king miserable in the morning
He’s got no monetary understanding
He has hour long phone calls with his mother and then tell’s me they didn’t talk about anything, and then looks confused when four days later he tells me news from the toon that I didn’t know
He’s pissy when I borrow his socks
He won't eat salad
He growns when we leaves his seat
He hords crap and gets shitty when I bin his slippers
He checks my blog and then comments on the "grammer" and spelin'!

Ebay

2005-04-29T08:26:00.000+01:00

I love ebay.

I love the fact that I can buy anything and always think that I get a bargain whenever I manage to win items (from a digital radio to hoover components).

But I've slowly started to notice a darker side to the ebay market. I now watch items for days and then only bid on them at the last second so that no one else can bid for items that I want. Thus dashing the hopes of the person who's had the leading bit for days, and my own hopes of sleep (why do they always end at midnight?)

And even if an item is a bargain at £80, that's still £80 of my hard earned cash that I have to part with to get said item. So it's either eat or have ebay item.

Therefore the morals of my ebay story is that although the best thing since sliced white bread, both do have some health risks.

Tidying Up

2005-04-28T08:46:00.000+01:00

Why is it that when I ask him in doors to tidy up the lounge while I clean the bathroom/kitchen etc he always puts his CD collection into alphabetical order??!

Political Turmoil

2005-04-27T08:23:00.000+01:00

As a girl growing up in the 80's I consider Margaret Thatcher to be a bit of a role model. The first woman to become prime minister show all us your women that anything they can do we can do better.

In hind sight we now realise that she pretended to be a man to suceed and that many of us can enter the male dominated industries and suceed as women.

So politically I'm a tory (not extreme right wing I'd like it noting), and have managed to cancel the Wife's vote out for the past three elections.

None of the political leaders float my boat. Not one of them is a serious contender in the long suffering ideal world.

Tony's screwed me over for the last two terms (I have no children, paid tuition fees and can't find a dentist within 8 miles of my home!).

Michael Howard, well I'm with Ann Widdicome on this one!

Charles Kennedy - Nice guy, but leader of the UK, come on your having a laugh

So in an ideal world I'd spoil. I'd go to the ballot boxes as women died to get me the vote and write something witty all over my voting paper but not cross any boxes........

Then Kilroy-Silk arrived in Erewash!

I've always lived in areas that seem to vote sensibly but now from the eight candidates standing for my vote three are the far right.

So I'm met with a political dilema do I hope that the rest of Erewash sent Kilroy, the BNP and UKIP packing back to where they came from, or do I have to vote tactically to try and stop any of the muppets representing me?

And then if the area has all three of the far right standing does that mean that I'm in the political minority anyway and that they would be representing the majority (please god NO).

So really I think that what I'm saying is that I'd like an educated Erewash to vote with it's heart not for Kilroy, BNP or UKIP even if their vote is for the Millitant Elvis.

What's the difference between in laws and outlaws?

2005-04-26T13:39:00.000+01:00

Outlaws are wanted!

Don't get me wrong I like my inlaws but at times I'm not sure that they feel the same way. Firstly my mother in law sobbed when we told her we were engaged.. she also wore black to my wedding (subtle hint?).

Now with your own parents you can tell them to f@*k off and stop trying to change your life into their's but with in laws you have to take what ever little bit off info they give you and be helpful.

Now to the real issue... in a slightly inebreated state at New Year I agreed to go on a two week holiday with the inlaws driving across the states. Not too bad you say! Yes, but I also agreed to plan and book the whole thing from scratch.

So having booked two weeks holiday for 50% less than the brochure holidays covering the same thing I handed the information over to them pleased with myself havign sorted this holiday to let the two of them rip the whole thing to bits and complain about what I've done.

The urge to leave them here or push them into the grand canyon on holiday is growing on a daily basis.

So why, do they hate me? or am I tired and letting them piss me off for no reason?

Cat

2005-04-25T13:14:00.000+01:00

When we originally looked at getting a cat she had to meet with strict criteria -

Female
Between the age of 1 and 4
Not too violent
And most importantly not frightened of the huge alsatian next door

So when the cat went out to play for the first time this weekend, initially attached to a piece of string to ensure that she didn't run directly into the main road and away from the house, it was a relief that she didn't seen too concerned about the barking and the general noise from next doors dog.

The only concern was when she saw his ugly dog face hanging over the fence and she fluffed her self up to about three times her usual size and ran into the house and hid under the kitchen cupboards!

Maternal Instinct

2005-04-18T09:13:00.000+01:00

As mentioned earlier by both myself and the wife, we have a cat. This weekend for the first time we left her over night on her own as we went off to Cardiff for the football.

The strange thing is that I've worried about her being on her own all weekend and couldn't wait to get home to see her. So much so that we had a blinding row in the car on the way home as to wether we could afford the time to stop and eat our service station pasties or if we should plow up the motorway home.

Is this the way that parents feel when they leave their children at home alone or with someone else for the first time? and if so why do I have these feelings about a cat?!

Until........

four am when she sat at the end of my bed miaowing and miaowing and then started running up and down the bed between us. And why is it that at 8am when I left for work she was fast asleep curled up in a ball?

Am I being unreasonable?!

2005-04-15T08:13:00.000+01:00

When you first move in with someone you care about you ignore those little things that really piss you off, like when he takes his clothes off and dumps them on the floor when the linen basket is only a few inches away from where his clothes currently are lying!

But, over time these things start to get on your nerves and you realize that although you can have a rant about the big things (his allergy to washing up for example) you can't go on about the little things without looking anally retentive.

So you'd think I'd understand that he loves the football team more than me BUT I DON'T and I don't think I'm being unreasonable when I want to talk to him after a long day in work and all I'm met with is monosyllabic answers as he can't draw his eyes from the telly.

So how do you deal with a relationship where instead of checking you're OK in the morning when you wake, rolling over and giving you a hug and (perhaps) a kiss, he switches on the TV and checks the rumour mill on ceefax, just in case anything has happened over night with the beloved NUFC.

I'm sure that if I ever had children he'd be that bloke at the football match when the tannoy goes in the first half "Mr Wakefield you're wife has gone into labour" and then in the second half "Mr Wakefield just to let you know you're wife's had a baby boy".

So last night as the goals started pouring in and the language got worse and worse the cat and I retreated upstairs and hid (shameful as it is) from the f@ing monster that was down stairs.

As a result of my first post on the blog am I being unreasonable to want to spend some time with my husband without the other person in our marriage??

Engineering Degree

2005-04-14T08:24:00.000+01:00

In August 2001 I graduated from a reasonable University with a degree with Electronics, so you'd think I'd be alright at understanding the complexities of XHTML and other programming languages.

But here comes the confession, I've never learnt to programme and don't understand the basics.

Throught my degree I've used every inch of the girly charm that I had to persuade the men folk on my course to help me (i.e. do it for me) and learnt the basics of C Plus polly parrot fashion (after persuading the examiner to give me a clue as to the exam contents) to pass the exam.

On one memorable occasion I got better marks for a project that I copied from someone else as I'd girlyfied it.

So it's quite frustrating that it's taken me over two hours to change to font on the heading of my blog, and I still can't make it do what I want it to do.

The cat ate my homework

2005-04-13T08:35:00.000+01:00

I've managed to persuade my husband to let me have a cat. This is a big event as he's never had a pet in his life and thinks that getting an animal will stop him seeing his beloved NUFC!

But finally we found a small grey cat that fitted the bill and brought her back to our house. The poor thing has had psychological issues in the past and as a result isn't sure if she's a cat or a dog. She follows you round the house like a dog and waggs her tail when she's happy but manages to do aloof as only cat's can.

So having left work on time last night I had to take some work home, which, of course I didn't touch and am now sat in the office at 8:30 trying to get it finished. But having reopened my bag in the office the cat has taken offence to the large green file I was working on and has eaten the top of the file.

As this is not the professional image that really I need to present I'm now working hard to re-file everything on top of having to finish the work from last night.

Moral of this story - Don't take work home and start to believe implausible excuses for not doing work.

Making Time

2005-04-12T15:47:00.000+01:00

At what point does your relationship get to the stage where you have to make appointments in your calendar to ensure that you spend time together?

Well we're arrived at this time in our lives. 18 months into our marriage we now have appointments in our diaries to ensure that we spend Tuesday nights together! The only issue is what to do once you're bust a gut all day to allow you to get home on time and in time to meet up with your other half. I'm tired and the best thing I can think of doing all night is sleeping, but doesn't that defy the point of getting home early to spend time together?

Is this therefore the price of a good career and a happy worklife that the most time you spend with your partner is washing up and arguing over who's turn it is to take our the cat litter.

I think that if this is the future..... stop the world I want to get off.