Roccoco Gardens

On sunday we went to the Roccoco Gardens at Painswick near Stroud. She wanted to go to see the Snowdrops and take photos of them. It was only a minor sacrifice for me as I managed to tape the live game and took the paper with. I also took a few photies. Hope you like them.

5th Round
At 6.10am this morning I dreamed it was 7.ooam and woke up thinking my alarm was about to go off. Trying to go back to sleep I became obsessed with trying to remember which teams had qualified for the 5th round of the FA Cup. I knew the big four were there and Middlesborough because I had seen the game. There must be more premier league teams. I tried to forget about it and go back to sleep.
Portsmouth - I remembered Portsmouth were through. They had beaten Plymouth in the "Battle of the naval dockyards." That made six. Only another 10 to go. Cardiff - obviously and Rovers. West Brom had beaten Peterborough who are managed by Fergie's son - Darren. Seven more - there must be another premiership team. I went through them counting them on my fingers. I got to about 16 then gave up. Then I started scouring the country in my mind. None of the other north east teams were throught. Newcastle had lost to Chelsea and I couldn't remember Sunderland in the 4th round. Everton were out - so I went through the London teams. I remembered Huddersfield.
Pretty soon it was 7 and the alarm went off.
I went downstairs and booted up the computer while I fed the cat. I went straight to the BBC site. Man City. I had forgotten about them. They lost to Sheffield united. I hadn't been aware of that game.
I'm sure this sort of thing happens to you all the time.

Comedy
We went to see some comedy last night at the Comedy Box. It's upstairs in a pub. She queued on the stairs while I went to the bar. The barmaid overlooked me for another man. I gave him a look.
"Had you been waiting", he said. "I'm sorry."
"Not your fault", I said. "She should have noticed me."
When he was paying he asked her to serve me next. I ordered two drinks (Non-alcoholic - its still January) and nodded to the man in appreciation as I passed him on the way to the stairs.
"Excuse me", I said to a couple who were blocking my way. "Can I get past to join someone I'm with?".
"We're wanting to meet someone too." said the woman
"Oh". I said
"You can go past". She said.
I came across my partner at the door to a large black room with tables, chairs and a stage. I had "Comedy Box" stamped on my hand and we were ushered to a table for two near the front but at the side.
"This is a bit near" I said, " We might get picked on".
"You sit here then", she said, pointing to the chair nearest the stage.

We spent some time just chatting and fiddling with the flyers on the table. It was hard to read them by candle light. I went to move the night-light candle nearer to her so she could read more easily and my hand knocked the pint glass over with three quarter of a pint of orange juice and lemonade in it. It went all over her leg.
"Oh shit", I said, "Shall I get some tissues?".
She nodded and I headed for where I thought the toilets were. I found the ladies but in my panic couldn't spot the gents. I stood , peering into a room that a man had come out of looking to see the sign of the door.
"This isn't the toilet", said a large man with a soft irish accent. "It's the dressing room. The toilet's round the corner. I follwed his directions and he came with me to make sure I had the right place.
As she mopped her leg I told her that the man who had shown me the toilet looked like the poster image of the comedian we were there to see.

After the first act I went to the loo. As I left the same man crossed my path into the toilet. When he came on the stage two minutes later I was knew I would like him.

Out
"I'm going out next wednesday", I said.
"You're always going out", she said.
"No I'm not". I said.

Have a Go
After driving through 45 minutes of disgusting traffic -following a really stressful appointment he phoned me - when I was nearly there - to tell me that the table-tennis court wasn't booked. There had been a mix up between him and his friend - both thinking the other had made the booking. They were going to the pub to play pool instead.
"See you there." I said.
I arrived first and ordered a pint of orange juice and lemonade - its another nine days before I'm allowing myself to drink alcohol.
"£2.20", he said.
"They charged me £1.90 last night", I said. They had. He checked and charged me £1.90 muttering something under my breath. He turned up and I bought him a pint of the same and got some 50p pieces.
As we started the game he explained that he had never told his friend that he has booked it.
"He was swearing at me down the phone."
A few minutes later the friend hadn't arrived.
"Do you think he's gone of in a huff?" I asked.
"No", he said", "I think he'll come down here to have a go at me."

We're all talking about it
I booked tickets yesterday morning to see "No Country for Old Men" - the new Coen brothers film. We had discussed it on saturday and agreed to go. We had friends around for sunday lunch.
"Would you like to go to see the new Coen film?" he said over the washing up.
"We're going tonight", I said,"I've booked tickets. Aparently its quite gory".
"Gory" - she said, "You didn't tell me it was gory".
"I thought you knew about it", I said. "You like the Coens - it'll be fine".

After the film she said
"It was a good film and all that - but it wasn't really my thing".

When I got home there was an email from a friend. It said:
"I'm trying to get a gang together to go and see No Place for Old Men ".
I replied saying
"I've just come back from the Watershed. I saw a film called "No Country for Old Men". It sounds very similar to the one you're suggesting. I liked it a lot - but am unlikely to want to see two such similar sounding films in close proximity."

Just now I spoke to a friend after misinterpreting his blog. He's part of the gang going on monday.

Jogging in the Early Morning Rain
Jogging in the early morning rain
Feeling good about the pain
Twenty minutes up the cycle track
Ten minutes there and Ten minutes back
All is quiet I see no one
I may as well have nothing on
Except 3 youths in tops with hoods
Who probably aren’t up to no good
And one cyclist who doesn’t smile
We cross each other single file.
Jogging in the early morning rain
I tell myself that I must gain
From all this pumping all this sweating
And the aching - not forgetting
All the washing – early rising
But I like it – that’s surprising
In ear headphones-MP3
No one’s up to bother me
Delaying when I check the time
No one to cheat the agenda’s mine
Making sure I breath out and in
And finding that it stops the pain.
Jogging in the early morning rain
It’ll be easier if I do it again
Feeling like my body’s real
Blood and sweat from head to heel
In Sundays race I’m far ahead
As everyone is still in bed
And I forget I’m forty two
And that my belly’s turned to goo
And I forget my hairline’s high
I feel the rain I see the sky.
Jogging in the early morning rain
I’m on my street I’m back again
I pass my door but walk on past
My walking pace is just as fast
I love the stretch the warming down
I feel in my pocket for two pounds
I put them there to use them later
And hand them over for my paper
I place it underneath my mac
And hold it there as I walk back
Jogging in the early morning rain
Feeling better about the pain.

Down
I didn't feel like blogging yesterday. I was a bit down and I wasn't sure why. I was partly being tired and coldy, partly a bikt depressed about having the afternoon at home with my some and not doing anything nice together. H played playstation and I did a but of tidying and a bit of messing around on the computer. We did play three hands of Doctor Who Uno (all of which I won) - but it felt half hearted. He didn't even have any homework for me to bug him about because he's been off school all week with a cold. He's watching The Simpsons Movie now on DVD. I'm going to try to do something together today.
Watch this space.

Scrabulous
This is a page of one of my games of scrabulous on facebook. It is in danger of being pulled
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7191264.stm
I thought I would save it for posterity. Any ideas for words would be appreciated as I'm losing

Sad
I went to a funeral this morning. It was sad. They played "Comfortably numb", "I Will Always Love You", and a Led Zeppelin song called "Ramble On".

This afternoon I shed a tear as I listened to a woman talking about her murdered husband.

Sicknote

Non-anagrams
Did you know that Lentil soup isn't an anagram for pencil case. Other non-anagrams include American Psycho which isn't an anagram for Analytic Therapy and Austistic Spectrum which isn't an anagram for Pass the Butter Please.
It took me ages to think if these. If you have any other non-anagrams - could you please send them in to add to my collection.

Role Reversal
My mother had been visiting this weekend. I have enjoyed it. Mostly its been relaxed and easy.

Today we went shopping in Clark Village in Street. Nearing the end of the afternoon we were all a bit tired. We were walking towards some steps when she told my partner to walk the other way so she wouldn't have to go up the stairs carrying her bags. This was the first irritating thing she had said all day. As we walked towards the ramp my mother tripped slightly and let out a yell. A stray laugh jumped out of my mouth. I think I caught it before my mum noticed it - she was focused on the pain in her leg which she had pulled. I was racked with guilt for about 67 minutes.

When I was in Marks and Spencers I lost my mother for a while. Everywhere I looked I saw mirrors and not old women that I recognised. I was suddenly 6 years old on Porthcawl beach having come out of the sea and not able to spot my parents. After 8 seconds of blind panic I was back in M&S and I found my mum.

Back at home I have been managing time with my mum in exactly the same way she managed me as a child. I've put her in fornt of the telly. Everyone's happy.

Old Acquaintance
I phoned an old friend today. I wasn't sure about it - because I have mixed feelings towards him. He was a close friend - but he didn't always treat me well. Anyway - he sent me a christmas card and I appreciated him making the effort to stay in touch after all these years - so I called him. The chat went fine - him explaining that he didn't use computers much or watch TV because he didn't like looking at screens - me saying that that was very good - but I was addicted.

We discussed various old school friends we had been in touch with. He mentioned having seen one recently with his wife.
"She still holds something against me for something I said nineteen years ago".
I wanted to say something understanding - like - "some people are like that" but what came out was - "You reap what you sow".
He didn't react to this and it was only later in the day that I realised the meaning of what I had said.

Work Life Balance

This is my first post written on my partners new MacBook. I'm not prejudiced.

This morning was the second friday of my new work pattern. I made a "Work Life Balance" request and now I leave at 1.45 on fridays so that I can pick up my son from school. I make up some of the hours by starting at 7.00 on that day. I quite like coming in early. It gives me a couple of hours to get on with things without being interrupted. I get up at 6.30, get to work at 7.00 - forsaking both shower and breakfast. I seem to have started a tradition of having breakfast at 9.00 of 3 slices of toast with marmite and lunch at 12.00 of 4 slices of the same. You either love it or you hate it!

I can also listen to music while I work - if no one is around. I pause my MP3 when the phone rings. This morning I was alone pretty much from 7.00 until 1.00. I listened to seven Bob Dylan albums (The Basement tapes - both discs; Highway 61 Revisited; John Wesley Harding; Nashville Skyline; New Morning; Oh Mercy and  The Freewheelin'). I've been a bit obsessed since seeing "I'm not there".

A colleague came in briefly about 9.00.

"I couldn't listen to Bob Dylan for more than about 3 hours a day" I quipped.

"Yes it can be a bit samey", she said, missing the point.  

Get away
I met three men at work today to talk about the refurbishment of our office. I shook their hands and introduced myself. The forst was a skinny white guy in a suit. The second was and older white guy with a clipboard. The third was a well built black guy with a leather jacket. I'll call him Jim.
"We'd quite like that wall removed" I said "to open the kitchen up a bit".
Jim considered this for a while.
"We could do that", he said."You could get away with that".
"I'd like a glass partition wall with a sliding door to make a small office." I said. We discussed issues related to access to the fire door.
"You could get away with that", He said, "as long as you don't block the way."
"I'd like a shelf there with two computer points - one in each corner".
Jim liked this idea. He explained the benefits of it to my director who was also there. He went as far as speculating that we might get away with it.

Passing on
I worried through the night that my partner had the sickness virus that's going around. I wondered if I should go into work if I might be contagious. She turned out not to have it.

I got an email this morning telling me about her ex and son's father who had died. I got another email from another friend who had recieved the email asking me something about it. I realised that she had accidently sent this email to all the people I had invited to by New Year Day Brunch.

I spoke to my friend this evening. We have been playing telephone tennis since early december. It 40-15 to her in the final set. I'm glad I got through finaly today because of the death of the ex. I had known him through my work and used to give her updates about him when she moved away. She told me that the funeral was next wednesday and not many people would be there. I asked if she would like me to come. She said she would. She told me that someone had suggested that they play "Comfortably Numb" at the funeral.

Blogless
It has been noted - by at least one person that my intention to make this blog a daily occurence was in fact interupted prematurely yesterday. There are several possible reasons for this:-
a. Monday did not actually happen this week and week went straight from sunday night to tuesday.
b. I did write a blog - but it is only visible to those who choose to see it.
c. I went out very soon after work and forgot
d. My dog ate it.
(Delete as appropriate)

Loyalty
" I went to the game at Ashton gate today" I told him on the phone. He had called me because he had noticed a missed call from me. I expalined that I was at the ground and wanted to be kept updated of the Cardiff score. He had been in the same boat as he had been at the races with work.
I told him that I would be looking out on match of the day to see if we coul;d be seen in the crowd as I had lifted my son in the air when we had scored.
"I think you should take some time to reflect on that last sentance" he said with a chuckle in his voice.
"I said we didn't I" I said - emabarrassed.
He made understanding noises - saying you've got to get into it when you're there etc...
"I did say it", I said " and I can't unsay it"
"I've not been saying we all day - but I said it when I'm speaking to you of all people."
He asked me about the game and we moved on in the conversation. I couldn't understand why I had said it as I had felt like a Cardiff supporter all day - but I had said we at the ground so I could get into it with my son.

More Fireworks

Bristol City v Middlesborough - FA Cup 3rd Round

Struggle
This isn't funny. Its just boring - so I wouldn't bother reading if I were you. I set myself certain targets in January - you might call them resolutions - I don't. This year I have 3. The first is only for the month of January. I call it a January detox. I've done it twice before so I know I can. I'm abstaining from the following:-

• alcohol
• caffeine
• take-aways
• eating out
• chocolate
• cakes
• crisps

Its now day 4 and I'm getting fed up. I'm really knackered - having arrived in work at 7am and a nice bar of chocolate would make me feel better

Number 2 is to do 20 minutes exercise a day. Yesterday and the day before I did a 20 minute walk at lunchtime - which was easy because I felt pious in front of the people at work who weren't doing such things. Today I am counting walking around town for an hour with my son in his wheelchair. I don't feel like doing any tommorow.

Number 3 is to blog every day. This was a struggle too.

Fireworks

No Point
"Would you like to eat at the table or in front of the TV?"
"In front of the TV"
"OK get your table out."
I brought his tea in and put it on the table in front of him. It was 5.50pm. I came back a minute later with his drink.
"If you want to watch the TV you'll have to switch it on", I said
"The Simpsons isn't on yet", he said.
As I returned to the kitchen I heard his older brother laugh.
"Did you hear that?" he said.
"What did he say?"
"He said - If the Simpsons isn't on - there's no point in turning the telly on..."

Resolution

Happy New Year all. I'm back and I resolve to be regular. I won't chat now as I have brunch to cook for several. Here's a pic from my xmas in Cornwall.