When a cricket team reaches a score of 111, cuddly umpire David Shepherd skips about on one leg until the score changes. This is because the score has reached a 'Nelson', not the little irritating 'haha' chap in the Simpsons...but originally from bankers in pre-decimal days who coined (pun intended) the phrase for an amount of one pound, one shilling and one pence. But why Nelson I hear you cry? There are two offerings I have found for this - firstly that Nelson had one eye, one arm and one leg and a second, that he was victorious in three battles - won- won- won (much like the Arsenal of late with just a small glitch at Bolton). Whichever of those two offerings you choose to accept...it is considered most unlucky. Jolly old Umpire Shepherd, like most cricket fans, believes the score to be unlucky and so skips about on one leg until it changes to avoid the bad luck transferring to the batsman. What a nice chap. You can stop skipping now Mr Shepherd - this is blog entry 112 :)

Posted by kary at 02:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

If anyone finds a new unopened 'smoke' coloured eyeshadow between Whistable and Herne Bay - then its mine :)

Posted by kary at 10:05 PM | Permalink

In an attempt to finalise our outfits for Dan and Claire's 'wedding reception' next weekend, I visited Mother is good old Essex yesterday. Having failed to sort anything out in Chigwell, we headed off to Romford. It has been many years since I shopped in Romford...when I think about it, it must be somewhere around ten years. Once again making me feel very old!

Anyway. It was very strange. Obviously it is not going to be the same as when I left it, waiting and staying the same just in case I need the security blanket of returning to my old life. However, what has happened is very odd. It would appear that someone has put a lid on it. Buildings that were outside are now joined to other buildings that were outside by an expanse of glass and metal. It is hard to explain but the buildings are still there just joined to some others now. The whole of the old Romford in a big glass bubble.

I wonder what life would have been like had I returned to Essex after University. Would I have been able to tick the right boxes? Would things have gone the same way, just somewhere else? Would I still be carrying watermelons like I did last night? That old question of whether there is a hidden force that decides what we do and what happens to us - or if we are in control of our own life after all. It would be nice to be able to see what life would have been like had you made a different decision though, don't you think?

Posted by kary at 10:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

'...The cyclone had set the house down very gently--for a cyclone--in the midst of a country of marvelous beauty. There were lovely patches of greensward all about, with stately trees bearing rich and luscious fruits. Banks of gorgeous flowers were on every hand, and birds with rare and brilliant plumage sang and fluttered in the trees and bushes. A little way off was a small brook, rushing and sparkling along between green banks, and murmuring in a voice very grateful to a little girl who had lived so long on the dry, gray prairies...' (L. Frank Baum, 1900)

Ok so there was no cyclone and I didn't find myself in the midst of a country of marvellous beauty. No moreso than usual anyway. Nature had been trying all day to show me the colours in the world and until that moment I had declined to notice. A clear, sharp rainbow stood proudly over the motorway this morning and I saw fit to simply complain about the falling rain. But this evening, cycling back along the seafront and watching the late summer sun begin to set over the sea, it made me take a moment in the calm silence of the evening to think.

Things could be worse.

Posted by kary at 09:26 PM | Permalink

Men and cars. What is it about men and cars? Why can a man not admit that he got it wrong when it comes to cars. Why do all accidents have to be the other person's fault? For once, I can honestly say this one was not my fault. Fortunately my little car is unharmed - same can not be said for his - that will teach him for being nasty to me :)

Saturday started with a bike ride along the sea front. I surprised myself with the ability to ride a bike after all these years, remembering how to do it was in fact, as the saying goes...like riding a bike...sadly however, concentrating on cycling after a tiring gym trip meant that this goat had even less navigational skills than normal and I managed to get almost lost on the return leg. 'Almost' as I had no idea where I was but managed, somehow, to find home :)

On my arrival at home the phone rang and my mother announced that she was 5 minutes away, with a van full of paint and a builder. Earlier than I expected but no less welcome. The three of us worked very hard all weekend and I now have a kitchen/dining room without a single piece of yellow, in fact all the yellow has now gone from the flat - time for a celebration there. So thanks to Mum and Phil for all your help :) I will no doubt post some photo's when I have completed the sealant on the tiling.

Can not find a single interesting link to provide you with today :(

Posted by kary at 11:12 PM | Permalink

So the sun lasted into the weekend - hurrah! A silent Satruday with early morning gym action and then a family picnic at my brother's local park on Sunday afternoon. The weather was glorious and it seemed that the rest of London had the same idea as us. I have to say though - although nice idea in principle the Diana Memorial thingy was nothing to write home about - it is already stained and grimy...not going to look good for long.

On returning to mother's I inherited a push bike. She didnt't fit anyone else and so I think she is destined to live with me. She needs a bit of TLC but I think she will make an ideal gym companion. I think Alice herself would have liked her to go to a good home...so with a little help from Anthony, I hope we can make her better :)

I may even post before and after photo's although she has already had a shower so you wont get to see the spiders and cobwebs :)

For a reason I can not explain, I feel I have to look after this bike. Like she is going to be significant somehow. Just an odd feeling I get.

Posted by kary at 10:00 PM | Permalink

As I said....the sun will come out and it did. As soon as we were in that classroom, out it came.

Wednesday was a mad day. An all day course in how to deal with potentially violent situations and me being a tyrannosaurus rex (the staff will understand), then to Tesco, in, changed, out for the gym without touching the ground and then out with Matt for Wednesdayness as soon as... Breathing would have been good :)

Thursday was a certain little man's birthday. A huge 4 years old! Tea, balloons , presents, small people and much excitement was had :)

Today, a relatively normal day - as far as my days are normal during term time :)

I am fully intending to get up when the cats wake me and head off to the gym again tomorrow...but I fear it is becoming an obsession. Typical of me to start making myself feel bad about not going every other day :/ When I decide to do something I tend to do it. It will be more of an effort to stop myself going than to make myself go in the morning. It is all wrong :)

Well done to Matt on his first cake creation by the way...golden brown, texture like sun... etc etc

Posted by kary at 12:25 AM | Permalink