Genre: Opinion/Argumentation

Diary style commentary on my daily goings on, mixed with the occasional observation and personal opinion on world events and the minutae of life. Written in an easy to read style (not too many big words) and with a generally light hearted approach. My aim is to provide myself with an outlet for my writing skills and to create something that people may enjoy reading now and then. I was driving down a country lane one morning when I saw a crow on the road ahead of me, It was pecking at something - a corpse, small and furry one of the many victims of the cars that hurry along the tarmac path between the fields. Roadkill I thought, Good morning Mr Crow, what is on the breakfast menu today then? is it a rat? It could be but I'm not too sure and I don't really want to look closely anyway. You seem to be enjoying your meal, I hate to disturb you but you're in my path I think you should fly until I go by. You look me in the eye resentful at the disturbance. It seems like you are playing chicken, testing me to see if I will stop if you don't move and I probably would have if you didn't but your nerve broke and you flew up in a clumsy clattering of wings it appears that you have practiced this move, calculating to the second when to go flapping up abandoning your meal but only for a moment, as I glance in the rear view mirror I see that you are back there already pecking in the road. Yesterday I went with my sister and daughter for a walk along the Leeds Liverpool canal, the route that we took covered about five miles and whilst having a break for a sandwich we were fascinated to watch a boat going through a series of four rising locks. The weather wasn't too bad for walking either, there was only one shower and it wasn't too cold. I am glad that we hadn't planned to go today (Sunday) as the temperature was so much colder a very marked difference. The dogs were not too concerned about fireworks that were going off last night, I think my positive training with them last year must have stuck Last night in the midst of the noise they spent about twenty minutes lying on the driveway chewing tasty bones (more positive association). So far so good. Thursday the first of November, the day is nearly over but if I'm quick I reckon I can get a post written before it ends. On Monday I had my flu jab, the injection site is quite uncomfortable it is red and tender but worst of all it is itchy. I am really having to fight the urge to scratch, instead I find myself rubbing the area with the palm of my hand to try to relieve the itch. I have had flu jabs before but never got this reaction it's worse than a mosquito bite. The jab is situated at the top of my left arm and as I have said, it is giving me grief but in addition to that I have a poorly finger; last night I went out playing darts and my finger got trapped in the door as we entered the pub. It has split under the nail and blackened my finger end so, you can imagine the night I had last night, itch itch at the top of the arm and throb throb at the end of it. I didn't get much sleep I am not too optimistic for tonight either. The only upside that I can think of is that the problems are both on the same arm so I am in fact alright down the right hand side Here endeth my tale of woe for tonight I'm sorry I haven't been around for a while. It seems that you have not been a priority in my life for a while now. I know you probably don't see it as a competition but let's face it, if it was, the activities of day to day life would certainly be winning the race for the claim to my time and mind. It's not just you that's been neglected with all the potential posts that I could have written remaining blank...I have friends here too you know and they like me to read what they write and give my two penn'orth in their comments boxes. I hope they don't think that I've abandoned them. I know, I know, friendships have to be maintained, you don't have to tell me that but it's not a deal breaker just to be quiet for a bit is it? So what, if your statistics are looking a bit pathetic, only one post entered in October and nothing that you can't count on one hand for the previous few months either..I've been busy. All the bits and pieces of things that consume my time have formed a coalition and together they've been keeping me away from you but don't worry, I'll always come back. I'm here now aren't I? So what do you want to hear about? Whatever, whatever Huh, well if you're going to be like that, I'll just go away again until you're feeling more receptive. Yes, I think that's exactly what I'll do! What do you mean I can't call myself a blogger if I don't blog and I'd be lost without you? Just because you are the only blog I've ever written, it doesn't mean I have to please you all the time there are plenty more blog sites in the cyber sea you know. Oh dear, don't cry, I didn't mean to upset you, I was only saying Look, look, let me write something. What if I tell you that Ruby went to the groomers today and she's looking gorgeous and how I'm planning on getting my flu jab on Monday or how I spent last weekend with my eldest daughter and we visited Windsor Castle and saw them preparing the place for a banquet with huge flower displays that smelled glorious What? you don't want me to try to cram it all in now; just tell a bit at a time when I feel like it. Yes, I think I can manage that, after all, that's how we've managed to get along this far isn't it I think I'm going to have a little moan this evening, the reason is that I haven't felt very well since I got back from my holiday. The trouble has been an unhappy tummy and lack of appetite but today I have a sore throat too and am sneezing (not a good sign) these symptoms often lead to me getting a chest infection. I have been taking cough medicine and paracetamol in an attempt to nip it in the bud. I hope it works, I don't want to be ill! Hello, I'm back. The holiday was an interesting experience, we went to Turkey. The weather was beautifully sunny and the place picturesque. The hotel that we stayed in was only average; it was clean but the beds were rock hard and there was no entertainment on site. The "interesting" (a word that I use with tongue in cheek) part was the three days that were wasted by being ill. First hubby started feeling and then being sick on Wednesday afternoon and was ill throughout Thursday then I became sick on Thursday evening and was confined to bed all of Friday. We recovered slowly over the next few days but not fully until after we got home So now we are back home and back at work feeling as if we haven't really had a holiday at all Oh well, sometimes things don't quite go to plan and this serves as a reminder that our bodies are not machines, unfortunately good health cannot always be guaranteed so I am looking on the bright side, at least it was a short term illness. Found this photo in my media, it's a picture of my old friend Jasper who passed away in 2007. I can hardly believe it was so long ago. This photo was taken when he was getting on in years. I think about him often. His companion Holly outlived him by a couple of years, I still miss them both so much Hello everyone, just thought I'd drop a few lines here this morning. I'm having a slow start to the day as I was working last night and consequently I don't feel like rushing about just now. I noticed the moon was full and bright in a clear sky as I made my way home last night; I love to see the moon like that, it looks gloriously beautiful and mysterious. Today I have the day to myself, no work (except housework if I choose to do it) and no hubby to get under my feet (he is away for a couple of days). As the sun is shining, a longer than average dog walk is on the agenda and the only appointment that I have to keep is for Ruby to go to the groomer this afternoon. Her long hair is high maintenance so she has to go there in seven/eight week intervals for a good wash and brush up. I will take a photo when she comes back, she always looks and smells lovely after her parlour treatments. The effect does not last long, within a couple of days she is back to her normal tatty (lived in) look. Talking of dogs, a friend of mine has recently acquired a dog from the stray rescue kennels where my two came from. I was surprised to hear that she paid much less (nearly 50% less) than I paid for mine. I found myself wondering why and can only assume that it reflects the fact that times are difficult and they are probably overwhelmed with huge numbers of animals to find new homes for. It is such a shame that people do not take pet ownership more seriously, often they get a puppy without giving any thought to the cost and work that is involved in caring for one properly.