http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/A general musings blog about stuff (probably centred around me or my life or things I feel are important at the time, or...). Oh one warning my life isn't the most interesting one in the world!en-UKMokoFeed10http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/http://data5.blog.de/design/preview/8c/f824a3bbe1412aad6eacea8099954b_160x200.jpghttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2008/05/19/blue-army-4195616/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2008-05-19:/2008/05/19/blue-army-4195616/Mon, 19 May 2008 21:26:24 +0200 <p>Haven't posted here for ages. Anyhow, for those of you who have Sky Sports - I take it you watched the two matches of the season (so far)? The mighy 'County verses an incredably dirty and spitefull Wycombe? To be fair Wycombe were considerably less dirty in the second leg, but the first leg they were bloody disgraceful. And I think the Cheadle End let Paul Labert know what they thought last Saturday!! But the important thing is the right result occurred, so now it's off to Wembly to play Rochdale. </p> <p>Alas I can't make it because I'm on holiday <img src="/img/smilies/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>Mind you I didn;t enjoy my last trip there (9-men verses the Burnley !"*?) we could have won had a certain Mr Elery sent one of their's off as he should. But next Monday will be a different game and I'll have it to look forward to when I get home! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2008/05/19/blue-army-4195616/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>play-offsstockport-countyhttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2008/05/19/blue-army-4195616/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2008/04/22/back-up-friends-4080576/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2008-04-22:/2008/04/22/back-up-friends-4080576/Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:22:42 +0200 <p>My little girl decided this morning she just needed to draw a picture and write some words after breakfast (and so she did). I've just read the words:</p> <p><i><br> My best friend is J<br> My back up friends are K, K, M, E and L<br> </i></p> <p>I just think the idea of back up friends is an idea worth persuing! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2008/04/22/back-up-friends-4080576/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>kidsinsighthttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2008/04/22/back-up-friends-4080576/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2008/03/06/decorating-3827541/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2008-03-06:/2008/03/06/decorating-3827541/Thu, 06 Mar 2008 22:19:37 +0100 <p>Making a bit of a mess decorating the lounge today. It took me all day to do the coving (twice), ceiling (once) and buy and fit two bits of skirting board. Now I am knackered and can't watch TV because the lounge is a tip... Still the carpet men ran today and said the new carpet's ready for delivery (thankfully not this week!) </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2008/03/06/decorating-3827541/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>decoratinghttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2008/03/06/decorating-3827541/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2008/02/17/red_the_new_green~3741775/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2008-02-17:/2008/02/17/red_the_new_green~3741775/Sun, 17 Feb 2008 20:58:42 +0100 <p>Oh I'm just a little upset again with Internet shopping. I have to say I like Internet shopping - I could have done without the bank rining me up to say they've stopped one of my credit cards because of Internet fraud. Well actually I am glad they stopped it (obviously!!). But the thing that's ragging me at the moment is livingaidsonline (name and shame). Why? Well read on, actually it's all rather petty, but it's !*£"! me off a slightly.</p> <p>Our council went (like lots of others) a bit greener last year and we've got a green box for paper, cans and bottles. Well I keep on thinking that as the kids get older and want to help more in the kitchen, we should be thinking more about those nasty sharp edges on our tin cans. Also I am incredably nervous (paranoid's a better word) about the tops of tin cans in the box, and just know we're close to spraying the utility room (home of the green box) a rather unattractive shade of chrimson.</p> <p>So I surfed a bit for one of those safety can openners. And livingaidsonline had a ROSPA certified one, not cheap (£20) but better then lots of blood around the kitchen. So I bought it and waited... and waited and (well waited). Just to say it didn't take them long to debit my credit card... No joy so I rang them, and was rung back by a lady who said they didn't have any of that can-opener in stock. Well perhaps they should have said that on their site, or in there auto-email...</p> <p>She said they had another (style) in stock and asked if I wanted it, was it a saftey one? Yes she said, so I said okay. And I waited... and (you guesed it) waited... Last week I rung them again and asked where was it? Oh it was sent registered post... Well yes it was but not until *after* this second phone call.</p> <p>And it arrived yesterday. And I openned it and... nope not the saftey can opener I had in mind. In fact nothing of the sort. In fact after a quick surf I found it's a "good" can openner and it's available for 6.45 at one site (in a sale from £9.99). Mmm so let me think - it took about a month, it took several phone calls, it isn't what I ordered, worse it's just a normal opener and they've made at least £15 on the sale. </p> <p>!*""! off is the word and they'll be getting a venting of my middle-aged splene shortly.</p> <p>It shouldn't be that hard should it? </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2008/02/17/red_the_new_green~3741775/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>going-greenrantshoppinghttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2008/02/17/red_the_new_green~3741775/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2008/02/06/the_gasman_cometh~3688174/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2008-02-06:/2008/02/06/the_gasman_cometh~3688174/Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:14:24 +0100 <p>It's just destined to be "one of those" fiascos. So we bought this bloomin' fire back in December, the plumber couldn't be arsed fitting it until after the New Year. By which point it was noted to be missing a couple of parts, which now out of it's "7 day bought over the internet" warrenty thing meant phone calls to Baxi for the parts (which they very nicely sent free of charge). And when fitted the plumber said he didn't like the fact that there was a really heat radiation occuring above the fire place in the plasterboard. Monitoring the situation, we didn't use the fire until the missing bits were installed. Then the plumber did and there's still this red-hot heat problem.</p> <p>So I ring Baxi and get one of their engineers out and he came today. To paraphrase an old AA advert, he was a very nice man. But... we had three incidents... firstly the fire was "behaving itself" in that there was no red-hot plasterboard. So he was just about to signoff when he put the facure back on. And then... hey what-do-you-know? Red hot plasterboard. Well Mr Baxi huffed and puffed and rang his boss, and his fire-specialist mate, both to no avail. Then put a call through to the fire-people back at Baxi, they were busy so they took his number and he (still some 3.5 hours later) is waiting for a return call.</p> <p>But at least the fire is doing what I said it was. But there's more - a small amount of smoke(?!) drifting up from the top of the fire surround!!! Which after inspection he thinks is "just some of the protective oil burning off", nothing to worry about... oh, really?</p> <p>So now he's gone (well he left at one o'clock). The fire's still on (burning off the noxious stuff), and I am still awaiting a call about the hot plasterboard.</p> <p>The moral - don't buy a fire off the Internet I guess. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2008/02/06/the_gasman_cometh~3688174/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>firebaxiplumbershttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2008/02/06/the_gasman_cometh~3688174/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2008/01/29/popcorn_tales~3651116/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2008-01-29:/2008/01/29/popcorn_tales~3651116/Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:01:21 +0100 <p>That's one of my little boy's words, it just makes me smile. He's a growing four now and loves Quavers and his favorite flavour is "popcorn tales". Yesterday he had chrisps as a snack at playschool, I asked him what flavour and he said "prawn cocktail". I and mum asked him another couple of times and he answered the same.</p> <p>Looks like one of his baby phrases is gone for good<img src="/img/smilies/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" class="middle" border="0"> I think "popcorn tails" sounds altogether sweeter! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2008/01/29/popcorn_tales~3651116/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>baby-wordshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2008/01/29/popcorn_tales~3651116/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2008/01/25/you_can~3632612/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2008-01-25:/2008/01/25/you_can~3632612/Fri, 25 Jan 2008 20:53:24 +0100 <p>Didn't want to post the same thing twice. But those who read this blog occasionally should maybe go and look at this post on my swimming blog, it just puts a lot of live in perspective.</p> <p>So please spare a few moments and <a href="http://swimmingwithbilly.blog.co.uk/2008/01/25/you_can~3632596" title="You CAN"><strong>**click here</strong>**</a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2008/01/25/you_can~3632612/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>ironmansponsorshiphoythttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2008/01/25/you_can~3632612/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2008/01/23/sent_to_try_me_plumber_that_is~3619782/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2008-01-23:/2008/01/23/sent_to_try_me_plumber_that_is~3619782/Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:30:29 +0100 <p>Well they're back and they are making good (aka finishing the fire and stuff they said/should have done). One of the things is a small bit of plaster work above the boiler. I could do it, but I am crap at plastering, and it's in a "difficult" place, and it's their job because "making good" was in the price...</p> <p>And they're doing the plastering (hurray), but I go in the kitchen and... (you've probably guessed it)... he's decided to use the kitchen sink for plaster mixing!!!!????!!!!! That'd be the kitchen sink that used to have clean breakfast things drying on it. But what really gets me is that the boiler's in the "utility" room which has it's own scruffy/well used/metal sink. It's right next to the bloomin' boiler. He doesn't even have to move to use it...</p> <p>Aghhhhhhhhhhhhhh (again) </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2008/01/23/sent_to_try_me_plumber_that_is~3619782/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>plumbersranthttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2008/01/23/sent_to_try_me_plumber_that_is~3619782/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2008/01/16/very_cross_with_plumbers~3585507/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2008-01-16:/2008/01/16/very_cross_with_plumbers~3585507/Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:24:45 +0100 <p>Oh I am in a right mood just now. This is my first post for ages and it's the first post of the new year. I had good intentions of starting to post earlier (didn't happen) and I had good intentions of being possitive. But boy am I a little bit hacked off at the moment!</p> <p>It all started at the end of last year, won't bore you with all the details but we "needed" a new gas fire and on the back of that what we really needed was a new central heating system (due to crap one that came with the house). So after getting an outragiously expensive quote from British Gas (not only was it vastly over priced but the quote contained 13 radiators (he couldn't count should have been 14) all of the same size and spec... err... nope a 4 foot radiator would look silly sticking out of the downstairs loo!!</p> <p>We got a quote of a local plumber, who'd done work at our last house. His quote was quite a bit less than BG, and when negotiating my OH got the plumber to throw in the fire fitting as a kind of "loss leader". So we're winning always round.</p> <p>To cut a story short. They fitted the new central heating before Xmas - hurray a warm house for the festive period! But didn't fit the fire (didn't have time...) so we agreed a date after Xmas - today as it happens. Now I bought the fire almost a month ago, so it's been sitting in a box in our lounge for the best part of 4 weeks. The central heating's fine (except that the radio controlled thermostat doesn't work). This has taken Mr plumber three weeks (well he doesn't want to work around Xmas does he?) to fix. But actually it's not fixed because the replacement doesn;t work. So we've now got an old fashioned (but working) timer on the boiler and no thermostat. Still he's got another style that he'll bring... next week. So we've got a hole on the wall in the hall where the 'stat should be - but isn't.</p> <p>But the thing that's really got me is, they turn up today and left at 12:30 saying we've done all we can do today, we'll be back next week. And I look at what they've done, and they've part fitted my new fire (no faciour, no gas, nothing other than the new fire in the hole). They can't finish it today because... nope didn't catch the reason (I think it was something like - can't be arsed, or similar). But better than that, they just left everything in situ. So now they've gone I've got to workout which bits of metal/screws/god-knows-what that they've left strewn about the place is actually part of the (finished) fire. And I've got to work out how to stop my little boy bending/pulling any other wires sticking out of the new hole in the wall.</p> <p>Oh I am just a bit hacked off really... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2008/01/16/very_cross_with_plumbers~3585507/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>plumbersranthttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2008/01/16/very_cross_with_plumbers~3585507/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/11/29/the_birds_and_the_bees_and_an_old_boot~3367609/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2007-11-28:/2007/11/29/the_birds_and_the_bees_and_an_old_boot~3367609/Thu, 29 Nov 2007 00:11:50 +0100 <p>Haven't posted for a while but this has amused me for the past week or so, and I've finally stuck the video on my machine and now on here:</p> <br><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/video/amorous_toby/2178156">Birds, Bees, Boots and Toby!</a></p> <p>If you remember back a couple of weeks ago we had some snow (well we did here anyway), well this story starts back then... Me and the kids had to go play in the half centermeter of snow, which we did them in their wellies, me in my old boots. When we finished it was back in and I put the boots in the "utility" room to dry out. </p> <p>Now some may know we've got a pet tortoise (Toby) who's 67 years old (middle aged for a spur-thigh apparently). Now he's not been the most active of beasts this summer. But now it's coming in to winter he's been bashing and crashing around the utility room for the past few weeks. But we didn't budget on the "boot-effect".</p> <p>I came home from work one night and my OH is all but wetting herself with laughter. She says "go and ask the girlie what Toby's been doing", so I do and she says "he's been fighting with my boot and making funny noises". Now I didn't know tortoises made noises, but Toby does apparently. Talking to my OH I find out that either Toby, or my left boot (not sure which), is an insatiable shag monster! And Toby's been displaying, butting, biting and shagging my boot. And not only that when he really gets going he squeaks (think of the sound of a creaky door in a mouse house!)</p> <p>And it's these noises that are killing my OH. She decided that the girlie, only being six, can live with the missunderstanding of Toby fighting. But perhaps I'll keep the video for her sex-ed lessons when she's older.</p> <p>So hopefully attached is a little bit of nature, just needing a whispering voice over from D Antenborough!!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/11/29/the_birds_and_the_bees_and_an_old_boot~3367609/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>sextobyhttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/11/29/the_birds_and_the_bees_and_an_old_boot~3367609/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/11/07/ransom~3259067/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2007-11-07:/2007/11/07/ransom~3259067/Wed, 07 Nov 2007 12:59:51 +0100 <p>The boss has just rung up to say the new recruite hasn't yet resigned but has been offered a job at another company. His story is that he was looking at them before he joined us (but we know that he went for a second interview yesterday). So he would like to stay but is tending towards this new company. So the boss wants to know whether we should bring forward his six month review and match/beat his prospective offer...</p> <p>I don't like being held to ransom... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/11/07/ransom~3259067/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>workhttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/11/07/ransom~3259067/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/11/07/a_day_of_flux~3258990/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2007-11-07:/2007/11/07/a_day_of_flux~3258990/Wed, 07 Nov 2007 12:38:55 +0100 <p>Mmm, strange day today. So far our latest recruit has been offered a bigger/better/shinier job so is on the verge of resigning. I don't mind this, but given that I've spent a lot of time this last couple of months training/mentoring him I could take this personally! And secondly (more importantly) the MD has just been replaced... "to help the business grow" apparently. Now the issue here is the "new broom" mentality and the new guy's got a bit of a track record (at least that's what google says).</p> <p>I feel some unrest approaching... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/11/07/a_day_of_flux~3258990/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>workhttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/11/07/a_day_of_flux~3258990/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/10/29/trouble_at_mill_part~3212507/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2007-10-29:/2007/10/29/trouble_at_mill_part~3212507/Mon, 29 Oct 2007 12:09:17 +0100 <p>I'm working from home today (as I do on Mondays, yes I know I am writing this but that's because my work PC as died a death and Infrastructure are trying to mend it). Any how, one of our elder neighbours has just left after having a quick rant to me (not at me, but to me).</p> <p>He starts with whether I heard the commotion yesterday. (Well I didn't because I might have been out, or playing with the kids in the house... whatever). Anyway apparently he's not happy with my adjoining meighbour as he's a "builder" type you seems to be expanding his driveway use to hording bits of crap/skips and so forth. I am not sure what the real issus is, other than both parties have had run-ins before. But my elder neighbour was in a right froth, and he's taking the fight to them... I think he wants to know whether I am up for signing some petition/letter or something...</p> <p>Later today, I think I'll try and have a chat with the other neighbour and see if they now anything (and they _hate_ the builder...!)</p> <p>I don't like street politics. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/10/29/trouble_at_mill_part~3212507/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>neighbourshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/10/29/trouble_at_mill_part~3212507/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/10/29/trouble_at_mill_part~3212472/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2007-10-29:/2007/10/29/trouble_at_mill_part~3212472/Mon, 29 Oct 2007 12:02:58 +0100 <p>Hmmm, can't say too much. But basically the in-laws seem slightly (apparently very) hacked off with me and my OH. Actually for a change I think they are more hacked off with her (because she's family). Yesterday whilst I did the kids swimming, she went for a pow-wow with her mother. From what I can gather (as is the way with these things?) it's about... well very little and has been/is being blown out of proportion. I can't say much more, but I think that the in-laws are just as culpable as we are, however you can't say that can you? </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/10/29/trouble_at_mill_part~3212472/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>grandparentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/10/29/trouble_at_mill_part~3212472/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/10/21/a_shiny_back_needs_a_shiny_front~3173749/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2007-10-21:/2007/10/21/a_shiny_back_needs_a_shiny_front~3173749/Sun, 21 Oct 2007 21:51:31 +0200 <p>And so it was that today whilst washing up (again, and please don't think all I do all day is watch my nabours through the window, of thinking about it maybe I do), what did I see? Great plumes of water spray coming from the house at the bottom of the garden.</p> <p>Not content with the shiniest roof at the back of the house, he's off doing the front now as well!! Stranger than fiction... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/10/21/a_shiny_back_needs_a_shiny_front~3173749/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>people-watchinghttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/10/21/a_shiny_back_needs_a_shiny_front~3173749/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/10/21/county_1_chester~3173733/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2007-10-21:/2007/10/21/county_1_chester~3173733/Sun, 21 Oct 2007 21:48:51 +0200 <p>Well I am going to miss the next home game (could be a blessing) as I've other commitments (Chris's memorial service). Mind you I am probably glad of the excuse, because yesterday was... awful. No, wait, it was worse than that.</p> <p>We dominated the first half, yet didn't have a shot (not one). We did score though - Jason Taylor put in a cross (a cross, not a shot) that their keeper made a complete hash of and pushed into his own goal. He then pushed it out hoping nobody had noticed. So we scored without a shot! Then the second half, we played "hoof-ball" and eventually Chester (who also played crap) managed to have two shots - primarily because we forced them to. And both went in! Actually I think they had a third that hit the bar. But really three shots in a game - not good really.</p> <p>Our substitution policy was a touch strange and hey there were no supprises that their second goal came when we took off a centre back, put a (non scoring) centre forward in defence the allow another non-scoring striker to do nothing.</p> <p>All in all, a right waste of time. Actually not true, because I got a new beanie, I got herself a really nice County t-shirt and my girlie a County water bottle. So a limited retail theropy goes some way to rectify things. Bit all in all, it's not good. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/10/21/county_1_chester~3173733/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>stockport-countyhttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/10/21/county_1_chester~3173733/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/10/15/he_s_there_again~3141412/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2007-10-15:/2007/10/15/he_s_there_again~3141412/Mon, 15 Oct 2007 19:51:00 +0200 <p>Okay, he's not there again <i>now</i>, but he was there again an hour ago! Up his ladder, standing heroically with power washer held like an AK-47... And now in the pitch blackness of quarter to eight, you can clearly see his nice and shiny roof!</p> <p>I ask again... what was the point? </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/10/15/he_s_there_again~3141412/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>people-watchinghttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/10/15/he_s_there_again~3141412/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/10/15/there_s_a_man_on_a_roof~3137975/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2007-10-15:/2007/10/15/there_s_a_man_on_a_roof~3137975/Mon, 15 Oct 2007 09:09:13 +0200 <p>Couldn't start work without writing this, as it's been on my mind since yesterday evening... I was doing the washing up after tea and couldn't help but notice the really big ladders up the wall and on the roof of the house behind ours.</p> <p>And standing right at the top of the roof was the man-of-that-house holding a power washer and he's presure washing his roof!!!??? And it was almost dark!</p> <p>Now this morning I notice the ladders are still there and two thirds of the roof is all nice and shiney! </p> <p>But I have to ask - what's the point? A decidely odd behaviour methinks! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/10/15/there_s_a_man_on_a_roof~3137975/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>people-watchinghttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/10/15/there_s_a_man_on_a_roof~3137975/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/10/14/13_hours_and_50_odd_minutes_to_go~3136039/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2007-10-14:/2007/10/14/13_hours_and_50_odd_minutes_to_go~3136039/Sun, 14 Oct 2007 20:29:12 +0200 <p>Today's been a real blast. It's my little boy's birthday tomorrow (hense the title) and we did a "quite" birthday day for him today. Just us (him, mum, my girl and me). It started at about 6:30 when he got his sister up (or was it the other way around?) and she gave him his present from her (two more of Pixar's Cars). They scooted off downstairs and played really nicely together until I got up to do breakfast at about 9-ish.</p> <p>And the rest of the day was brilliant - we did his presents (took him about 2 minutes to open every thing). Then whilst me and the girl went swimming (also a real blast) he "grazed" on his new toys whilst watching Cars on TV.</p> <p>Then this afternoon it's been "Daddy will you play with me...?" from lunchtime until bed time. So we've played old (his Thomas train track) and new (Hot Wheels V-drop, Spiderman and Cars) and we've swapped between them umteen times!</p> <p>So the kids are now in bed and I'm buggered! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/10/14/13_hours_and_50_odd_minutes_to_go~3136039/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>kidsbirthdayhttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/10/14/13_hours_and_50_odd_minutes_to_go~3136039/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/10/10/i_can_clearly_see_a_rip_off_approaching~3113606/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2007-10-10:/2007/10/10/i_can_clearly_see_a_rip_off_approaching~3113606/Wed, 10 Oct 2007 13:04:21 +0200 <p>Just been to get my eyes checked at a local opticians. No problems, they are fine. Now my favorite optician has in the last year gone "whallop" <img src="/img/smilies/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" class="middle" border="0"> So I've had to switch my allegences. So I have, but my problem is with what they charge for. Okay so I have to pay for my check up (£27) phew that was more than I've paid in a while. But the bit that really got to me is... contact lenses.</p> <p>Now 90% of the year I wear glasses, I like my glasses, they look cool (I like to think so), so there's no problem. The other 10% I like to wear contacts, and I wear them for summer holidays and swimming competitions. I bought a job-lot of disposable ones some time ago and they last forever (because I wear them so rarely).</p> <p>So why does Mrs Optician want me to have two appointments, one for glasses and one for lenses? I can understand it if I wore them all the time. I can understand it if my normal prescription and health of eye had deteriated (it hasn't). So why do I need a second appointment (presumably another £27) and waste a pair of lenses just for the privilage of getting some new ones?</p> <p>Not hugely impressed, and nope I won't be having that appointment thank you. So it's off to the internet for a one month supply of new lenses that should last for 18 months, and costs less than a second option appointment! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/10/10/i_can_clearly_see_a_rip_off_approaching~3113606/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>opticianscontact-lensesrip-off-britaineyeshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/10/10/i_can_clearly_see_a_rip_off_approaching~3113606/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/09/30/i_am_so_so_soory~3064144/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2007-09-30:/2007/09/30/i_am_so_so_soory~3064144/Sun, 30 Sep 2007 20:16:15 +0200 <p>... and that's how a really good day took a bit of a downer. Read on...</p> <p>So we went swimming me, the girl and the boy and that was good. And there was much praising from me for both of them. We get home and my OH has had to go out on call (she's still out now and won't be back until late, but that's by-the-by). We do a good lunch, we have a good play and then we go to the park (just the stuff for a 6 and almost 4 year old). And we take the scooters.</p> <p>But first we (they!) play on the mini "adventure" park bit and have a right good time. Then it's time to go, and the kids are still having a good time. But on the way back to the car, the boy falls over, hurts his leg, and basically has all the fight knocked out of him. So instead of the scooters it's off home, for a drink, something to eat and a chill, before we brave going out again.</p> <p>Now the girl takes this a bit badly, so when we get home I tell her we'll go out on the scooters later... I promise. Sadly not good enough! Because whilst I'm making them a drink she's gone upstairs and is sitting by his Car's movie picture with a pen, drawing glasses around each of the bloomin' cars on the poster<img src="/img/smilies/graybigeek.gif" alt="88|" class="middle" border="0">. She shouts are me (alarmed) to go away as I say "I hope you are not doing what I think you are...". </p> <p>So I give her time to finish/stop and when I come up stairs the next time, she's in the bathroom with the door locked.<img src="/img/smilies/grayconfused.gif" alt=":??:" class="middle" border="0"> So I go about trying to rectify what she'd just done, managing to get most (but by no means all) of the glasses off. Eventually (whilst I was downstairs) she comes out of the bathroom and into her bedroom (with door shut). And after another five minutes or so I ask her to come and see me in my bedroom. This she does appearing with a hand written note saying (and I quote)...</p> <p><i>"I am so so soory Daddy. I spos I shoud have to go to jaial!"</i></p> <p>So she sits on the bed and we have a grown-up conversation about how what she'd done was a very bad thing (Cars is my boy's religion) and how, whilst I wasn't going to tell him yet (because I don't think I could cope with the consequences), she would have to go to bed early (earlier than her not-yet-four brother) for the next few nights and that she's no longer alowed pens in her bedroom. This she all takes with good grace, but she's clearly (and rightly) upset with what she'd done.</p> <p>So there we are, a really uncharacteristic blot on her saintly record, the last time she did anything bad was... nope I can't remember, so may be every six years isn't so bad. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/09/30/i_am_so_so_soory~3064144/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>problemskidshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/09/30/i_am_so_so_soory~3064144/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/09/17/potential_land_lady_trouble~2996093/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2007-09-17:/2007/09/17/potential_land_lady_trouble~2996093/Mon, 17 Sep 2007 20:48:19 +0200 <p>It must be how I pick them. we (my and herslef) went away a few weeks back for her birthday to Scarborough (lovely place, don't knock it until you've tried it). And our B&B had an "interesting" land lady shall we say. And she and I didn't really get on when I said (on the first morning) that I wanted poached egg on toast, not the full English she'd (her husband - the "chef") had cooked for me!</p> <p>Well today I booked a B&B in Wolves for this swimming competition on Sunday, I don't want to drive down (before) first thing on Sunday so I surfed the good old Internet and found "Guest House X". And have duly booked with them, I probably shouldn't have since after ascertaining they'd got a room I then told them I wouldn't be there until late... "Well how late? 9, 10, 11...?" (stop please you're being silly) so I guessed some time between 8 and 9. But then we got on to breakfast.</p> <p>On Sunday it's from 9:00, well that's no good because I want to be at the pool for 9:00. "Well 'they' don't get in until 8:30, you could have cereal then - but not a cooked breakfast...". But I don't want a cooked breakfast... I just want a bowl of muselea and a cup of tea... </p> <p>I can see stress problems this weekend. Perhaps I should move up market... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/09/17/potential_land_lady_trouble~2996093/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>wolverhamptonbed-and-breakfasthttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/09/17/potential_land_lady_trouble~2996093/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/09/15/reap_that_harvest~2985836/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2007-09-15:/2007/09/15/reap_that_harvest~2985836/Sat, 15 Sep 2007 21:16:29 +0200 <p>Okay not great I know, but our first forray into home grown veggies has finally started to return. Over the past couple of months we've had five (yes count them) five small tomatoes. But today I went out and... a whole bowl full of the little red buggers - and (lots) more on the way.</p> <p>So happy about this that I had to send my OH a photo-message whilst she's in Amsterdam!</p> <p><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/163/1976163_752a4c3234_m.jpg" alt="Little red beauties!" title="Little red beauties!"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/09/15/reap_that_harvest~2985836/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tomatoeshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/09/15/reap_that_harvest~2985836/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/09/14/spelling~2979734/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2007-09-14:/2007/09/14/spelling~2979734/Fri, 14 Sep 2007 15:49:04 +0200 <p>Big day today. Just picked my girlie up from school and there she is sporting a "good spelling" sticker on her chest. She got 10-out-of-10 for her first spelling test, and is (rightly) very pleased about it! Got to keep her enthused about spelling so she doesn't end up like me, the presure's on for next week...! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/09/14/spelling~2979734/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>schoolkidshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/09/14/spelling~2979734/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/09/13/be_careful_luv~2973237/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2007-09-13:/2007/09/13/be_careful_luv~2973237/Thu, 13 Sep 2007 13:54:46 +0200 <p>I'm working from home today, because my OH is off to Amsterdam for the weekend with some friends. Anyhow I noticed a couple of days ago that one of my break lights had broken, so I asked her to get me one this morning before she set off (because she had to go to town). She duly came home with one and was amused by the customer service she got, because she's a "bird" I guess. Basically it was along the lines of "you've got to be careful luv, with this bulb and put it in the right way round, if you don't luv, then you could break it or worse your car's light cluster. If you want luv, bring your car in and we'll do it, okay luv...". You get the drift.</p> <p>It's good to see male galentry is still alive and well. The thing he didn't/doesn't realise is that: my woman knows pleanty of stuff about cars and fixing them; her husband (me!) is actually going to fix it; and her husband (me) is generally pretty crap around cars - I can put the diesel in and know where to get it washed... enough said.</p> <p>I wonder what'd happen if I rolled up (luv) in my car (luv) asking them to fit my bulb (luv) because my love's luv is rubbish at this sort of thing?! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/09/13/be_careful_luv~2973237/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>male-chauvinistcarshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/09/13/be_careful_luv~2973237/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/09/11/ripped_off~2964843/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2007-09-11:/2007/09/11/ripped_off~2964843/Tue, 11 Sep 2007 22:20:11 +0200 <p>Well not quite. I've been empowered by the latest(?) naff PC World advert. The one where some young female student's getting her dad to buy her a new laptop for college and when they've chosen one she says "Dad, you need a new external hard drive..." and off they go smiling happily.</p> <p>Well it obviously effected me, because now I am trying to fill my disk with (all!) my CDs. Granted I only started yesterday, and today I've spnt most of the evening hopping between the lounge (where the pro-40 cricket is on) and the study (where I am slowling ripping my collection).</p> <p>I am about to call it quits for the night. And I've got to... well halfway through the letter "C", and I am not doing my OH's CDs (is that right?!) at least not first off. That's not quite as bad as it sounds, because she's not got an MP3 player... may be Father Christmas will bring her one. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/09/11/ripped_off~2964843/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>mp3musichttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/09/11/ripped_off~2964843/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/09/09/time_for_a_bed_or_two~2952452/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2007-09-09:/2007/09/09/time_for_a_bed_or_two~2952452/Sun, 09 Sep 2007 20:38:06 +0200 <p>Today's been a very busy day. We bought our girl one of those half bunk bed things (the one with just a top bunk) and it arrived (flat pack) last Monday. And today was the day for putting it up. Before that we had to dismantle the boy's bed and move the girls old bed (partly dismantled) into his tiny (aka the box room) bedroom.</p> <p>This took a bit of time as we got the bed stuck against the walls in the boy's room! However we managed it eventually. We also had to move his small wardrobe and pretty much everything else in and out to get it all done. By the end he was one happy bunny - much excited squealing and shouting.</p> <p>Then it was on to her new bed and with my little girl helping we eventually managed it. The only thing we got wrong was the direction it should be facing. This was a bigger problem that it sounds because it was too big just to turn and needed that strange lifting and twisting and swearing routine to get it just so... However whilst they were being bathed I finally managed to sort the last piece out.</p> <p>So they hurried out of the bath, kind of skipped supper and went straight to bed. I just hope she doesn't need a wee in the middle of the night because I can see that being a bit of a problem!!</p> <p>Anyway it's amazing how happy kids can be when you through £200+ at them!! And now we can't move house ever again, unless we have to leave two beds in the rooms! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/09/09/time_for_a_bed_or_two~2952452/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>kidshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/09/09/time_for_a_bed_or_two~2952452/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/09/03/very_cross_victor_meldrew_moment_approac~2917438/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2007-09-03:/2007/09/03/very_cross_victor_meldrew_moment_approac~2917438/Mon, 03 Sep 2007 15:52:13 +0200 <p>Oh am I "hacked" off at the moment? Nope, I think it's a touch worse than that... I got the short straw to take my boy to the "health visitor" today. Now he's missed/cancelled the last couple before the summer because he was "under the weather" and they pick times that just don't fit in with working parents. But today, working from home and 13:30, yes I could do it.</p> <p>Now I don't like this whole process - because it ultimately upsets my little man. And today he was all enthusiastic about the process - until he remembered what it was actually all about... And I don't like my little boy in tears.</p> <p>But the *!"!ing "health visitor" - well excuse me, but isn't it your job to interact with little people? Well she was pretty rubbish at that - which I could have excused, but what I can't excuse was some barbaric needle work - yes that made him cry/howl. But worse than that she didn't have any cotton wool in her surgery!!!!!!!!!??????? So out she went to find some whilst I sat there with a howling boy who has now noticed the lake of redstuff coming out of his arm. When she gets back his little bicep is pretty much covered as is my hand and, hey - what's that all over my thigh?! </p> <p>Then she does his other jab, in the other arm. Equally well (badly!!) performed, more tears and more blood and more cotton wool - well more cotton wool eventually. So there's more blood trailing down his arm and on my trousers. <i>"Oh, it looks like Daddy will have to change his trousers..."</i>. Yes it does - but Daddy shouldn't have to. And whilst my boy is howling and noticing the blood oozing down his arm, he starts noticing it on my clothes and my hands (whilst I am trying to hide that from him). <i>"That blood shows how healthy you are..."</i>. Well excuse me but he's not even four, and he's upset because it (a) hurt and (b) he can see *his* blood all over the place and what he doesn't need to hear is that it is actually all over the place and on himself, his arm, my hands, my trousers... No, Mrs Bloomin' Health Vistor, he doesn't.</p> <p>At the age of coming up to four people like you should be reinforcing the good aspects of hospital/doctors visits. It is possible, because the practice nurse did an excellent job on him last time. This "performance" was way, way, way below what I'd call an acceptable level - especially for a young child.</p> <p>Mr Meldrew will be venting his splean this evening... <img src="/img/smilies/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/09/03/very_cross_victor_meldrew_moment_approac~2917438/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>childrendoctorshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/09/03/very_cross_victor_meldrew_moment_approac~2917438/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/08/26/i_ve_had_a_good_day~2874616/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2007-08-26:/2007/08/26/i_ve_had_a_good_day~2874616/Sun, 26 Aug 2007 20:51:48 +0200 <p>Today's been pretty good so far and I've really enjoyed it. I've suddenly got quite conscious that the school holidays will be over at the end of next week and it'll be back to the "grind" for them (kids) and the rest of us, so I'm really trying to enjoy the whole thing and not get on their backs too often.</p> <p>So today was good: took both swimming (big hurray) at the moment it's okay taking them seperately because kids go free (that finishes end of next week <img src="/img/smilies/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" class="middle" border="0"> ). Started with the boy, that meant getting out of my pit "early" - which in some ways is a shame because the kids have gotten into a really good habit of playing really nicely with each other first thing. However we were up, fed, dressed and out for 9:30. And swimming was good - the little pool was really empty so me and him had a right good play. And he went down the slide and under water (because I didn't quite catch him accidently - heh, heh, heh!).</p> <p>And then I took the girlie and she had a good swim, she's really coming on now. In yesterday's lesson she suddenly managed 4 (or was it 5?) widths ot the little pool unaided on her front - first time ever! And today she did more of the same in the big pool. Then with goggles on she started trying to do dolphin kicks (as we played mermaids under water). And she kind of/almost/just about jumped in for me. All in all we had a good one.</p> <p>Phew... then after a family lunch (doesn't happen often enough) the boy and I went food shopping - because we're making Mum lunch tomorrow. That was fun, and then a quick stop off at Focus for some emergency undercoat. All of this done with his three "bad cars" which we talked/raced and drove everywhere. And then he and I did manly-jobs: removing tree stakes from the ground and sorting Toby's (tortoise) outside run out. This was really good fun because whilst I got my tools out of the garage, he ascertained what the problem was and when to his kids/plastic Black-and-Decker work bench and brought out: 1 x ruler, 1 x screw driver; 1 x spanner; 1 x saw; 1 x hammer and 1 x jigsaw. And we job-shared the work between us.</p> <p>Then the girlie wanted to do something (spent most of the afternoon crashing in front of Scoobie Doo, to recharge her batteries!) So we decided to have an early tea and do the (new) scooter thing around the local park. Again, because it was 17:30-ish the park was nice and warm and really devoid of most people. So we/they had a blast scooting around and playing in the bushes.</p> <p>And when we got home I ran the bath whilst they played on the front garden. The looked so funny I videoed some of it and the boy asked if he could watch it. So after bathing they had their supper watching what's currently on the tape. The boy cracked up seeing himself playing in the kitchen, and the girlie went all embarassed (and so she should!) at the bit of her doing 6-year-old Karaoke to ABBA on her birthday a couple of weeks back.</p> <p>So now there in bed snoring away, and it's time to make tea before herself gets home. But just had to write because today's been a good one! <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/08/26/i_ve_had_a_good_day~2874616/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>happy-dayskidshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/08/26/i_ve_had_a_good_day~2874616/#commentshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/08/25/timing_is_everything~2870208/tag:oddthings.blog.co.uk,2007-08-25:/2007/08/25/timing_is_everything~2870208/Sat, 25 Aug 2007 22:36:59 +0200 <p>My little lad is a big (no not right, bloomin huge, enormous) fan of Pixar's Cars movie. And he's slowly collected most of the die-cast cars from said film. Now months ago he lost "Boost" (one of the bad-gang cars) and we looked everywhere: here, Granny's, Grandma's, Child Minder's, Play School... everywhere. Eventually deciding that it's lost, or left at play school and taken home by another child.</p> <p>So as his birthday's the next on the list, I've started buying him his presents. And this morning Amazon delivered a two car set of "Boost" and "Snotrod", this was cheaper than buying them individually. So I've hidden them in the "usual" place, quite happy with my lot.</p> <p>So then we go to my folks for lunch (and me to leave the kids before football). My sister and family are there this weekend, and in their making of the sofa-bed, what did they find? Go on, have a wild guess...?</p> <p>So now (he doesn't know it yet) we've got two Boost cars!!!! Still he's very happy to have it back. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/08/25/timing_is_everything~2870208/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>kidsbirthdaycarshttp://oddthings.blog.co.uk/2007/08/25/timing_is_everything~2870208/#comments