Wet Thursday

There are often reasons to criticise Blogger, not that I am the critical type, but I have just checked the WordPress Blog and found a response there.  Word Press did not inform me of this, though I am sure they used to do that.  

I find it a somewhat difficult page to operate, though that may be because I rarely use it.  The 'Blocks' are not simple, and I am not technical.  Just make things easy is all I ask.  And as for that Gravatar thing what is that all about?  

Enough, I'm sticking with this place for my meaningless diatribes.

Nothing much has happened today.  With people being sent to jail for 20-35 months, some considerably longer, the joy of rioting is hitting home with the rioters.  Around three quarters caught so far are known to the police, this can be no surprise.  One got 3 years for hitting a constable, though he did have 14 previous convictions before that.  Tommy and Nigel know their people and have been well advised by rich Americans and others guiding their response.

Both have gone into hiding.  Tommy in Cyprus, though he has now fled to Athens as Cyprus was going to hand him over, Nigel is being quiet, he has been identified with the riots and is now trying to stop people calling them '@Farageriots.'  Fat chance there boy.  

Many well known names have been posting, often stirring hate and division, you know 'asking questions, and it is to be hoped the plodding police will plod along to their door in time, one the 'working class right wing thugs' have been put away.  It is time a few big names went down.

 

Thursday? What Day is it...?

This Magpie was chancing his luck yesterday.  I caught him from a fair distance via a dirty window.  He was sitting quite contentedly in the area belong to the Crows of this parish.  Had they seen him there would have been a stramash of epic proportions.  These birds are very jealous of their roost and the surrounding area. He was not in their roost, that is over the other side, but this is their feeding grounds and had he met them then he would have been their feed.  

A bird has a difficult life.  From learning to fly, by being pushed out of the nest by mum, to seeking food, nuts, worms, beetles, scraps etc, and all the while keeping a wary eye on larger birds or other animals that might delight in making you lunch.  You never see small birds just resting, their heads are always warily on the move, one eye on the surroundings.  A little bit like me wandering around Tesco this morning.

Thursday is a good day to shop.  It once was the town's 'closed day,' a chance for those forced to work Saturday's to have a day off.  Some still close Thursday but it has really come to an end that attitude.  However, the townspeople still react by not shopping on Thursday, all shops take less on that day than any other, the museum was the same.  Naturally, for this reason I try to shop Thursdays each week.  I will pop up to Sainsburys for bread and milk on Saturday but hopefully all other items are now in.  

It was once the norm for each town to have a 'half day closing,' in Edinburgh when I was a boy it was Saturday!  Until the 60s Edinburgh's main shops closed on Saturdays, Leith on the other hand closed on Wednesday's.  That explains why I was dragged through Leith on a Saturday, in spite of the crowds, and 'up town' on other days.  All very confusing for a wee boy.  

Today almost everywhere is open all the time, holidays included.  Easter and Christmas may see a day off for many, but even deliveries to your house may be made seven days a week, rather than a more sensible five days and Saturday morning.  

The nation requires a rest day.  The idea that we can have what we want, when we want it, sounds fine, unless you are forced to work those days.  Busy traffic seven days a week outside your house may benefit some, but it does not do you much good.  Living in big cities or towns does have advantages, it is also noisy, polluted and horrible at times.  Having this seven days a week lowers the lifespan, stress, neighbours, noise, all add up and wear you down.  We need a day off.

The Romans had many days off for 'religious' reasons.  Some say they took a month off altogether once a year, if I read that right.  Less lucky people do not get a day off, let alone a week.  How lucky we are.

The biblical one day off to rest and worship God, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath,"  is a good way to deal with things.  Six days is enough for most to obtain what they want, few really need to shop on a Sunday, no matter what most say, and I have done seven day shifts in the past, plenty of time to obtain the needful.  A quiet street, even a busy one is always good, the locals need it, the people need a day to themselves, and not like it was in the 50s where nothing at all happened, and the parks were locked in some places.  Enjoyment must be the thing on such a day, not more misery.

I should talk like this.  Once more I had to check the calendar and the laptop to ensure this is Thursday the 23rd.  Each morning I have to ask 'what day is it?'  A day off would just confuse me!

Thursday Twaddle

Dismal week so far.  Feeling a bit rough and today was the first time I could attempt some exercise properly.  The past few weeks have jaded me somewhat with the latest bug.  Things get done but slowly and sometimes twice because I forgot to actually do what I intended to do.

There was some time spent on Twitter defending Kate Forbes from the gay and trans lobby.  How dare she believe something and take it into politics just like they do?  How dare she threaten their privileged position within the SNP and stand up in public and state how she would vote against their behaviour?

Tsk!  Such beliefs ought to be kept to yourself, unlike the beliefs of the gay and trans mob who are free to say and do what they like!  

Such fun!

Especially as the Bishops in England are getting deeper into the mire, and that conflict is ongoing.  So, I had enough of this and have attempted to avoid Twitter for a day or two, I was to tired to continue, and have been dwelling in the realms of fantasy instead.  er, I mean searching YouTube for fantasy seascapes, or ships at sea, to give a background far from home.  There are masses of You tubes worth watching, and being on laptop there are no adverts thanks to AdBlock Plus.   The masses of irrelevant ads on the phone amaze me.  Lying in bed last night, searching YouTube for a video on the phone, reminded me of reading the 'Beano' under the covers by torchlight!  No mother came in to complain.

PlusNet did play up again.  The bill came in and I logged on, but it refused my login even though it has not been changed.  I fussed and raged but it made no difference.  I attempted a new password but still nothing gave in.  I left it until today and it logged on straight away!  Why?  I suppose we will never know.  Tech is such an improvement to our stress.

Thursday Thrills..

Another day wasted doing laundry and such like.

When young and fit, with nothing but an exciting view of life ahead, cheerfully looking into the adventures of travelling the world, or at least a day in Cardiff, life was good.

Today, having learned that being an adult means wondering what is for tea tonight, drying your laundry over the heater as a cold draft comes in the open window, ignoring the ironing awaiting, and once again trying to turn the energy off, all the while using it to dry things.

At least when the sun shines all appears well.  Note the pigeon happily sitting high up among the bare branches seeking what sunshine he can gather.  They do not appear too bothered about the weather, nor anything else.  The heavenly father feeds them, usually long before most of us have risen from slumber.

I glanced at the excitement caused by Rishi flying to Blackpool for nothing very important, or the fuss engendered by Nicola and her Gender Bill, and the many other vitally important subjects mentioned, or if they involve a Tory Chancellor dodging tax, not mentioned in the media, and ignored them all.

Today, I just wanted simple things, like sleep, food, and no disturbance.  So far so good.  So I will switch everything off ow and hide in my bed until tomorrow's exciting arrival...

I hope your busy day was better than mine.

What Day is it?

 

The bright early morning sun brought me into the world early again this morning.  I rose, washed, weighed myself, and found I was now 16 stone and 6 or so pounds!  I sought breakfast carefully.

By 9 am I was ready for work, the recycling was put out for the men coming on Saturday, I do it today, Friday, as after the Bank Holiday it is collected early Saturday morning.  

Full of beans, too full I think, I checked the cars in the car park, both my downstairs neghbours were in, he possibly from a night shift.  So, I then hoovered the entire shanty at that time, before he fell asleep, and I even did the bits usually missed.   I then cleaned the kitchen, now with a bright shiny sink, one that is usually missed, and by 10:20 I sat down, exhausted.  Changing the bed, as it is a new month, can wait till the afternoon.

I am now ready for the weekend, tidy, organised, prepared.

Then, happy with things I begin replying to my many emails, both of them, and it was then that I discovered it is Thursday!

Innit typical?

 

Not far from me workmen have been doing something, I know not what, at the mini-roundabouts.  This means a backlog of traffic outside my window.  With the road being one way, just up the road in the other direction, and with Sainsburys sitting up that way traffic continues all day.  This means for the third day in a row I am 'entertained' by the 'music' coming from the open windows of each vehicle.  Today, in between white youths playing Black Rap, we have heard very loud 1970's vile music, occasionally noise eminates from the car leaving me wondering if it is the exhaust that is troubled or the occupant? And many things that go 'Tish Boom' repeatedly, it is indeed a delight.

I raided the fridge for less fattening centres and failed to find any.  What I ate tonight finished off what was lying around, I think it may finish off me!  Now, as I settle into the evening routine I notice my left foot is fat!  My weight is slipping down there.  Now I enter a positive weight loss regime, or die...

Thursday Afternoon Work

 
Thursday, when attempting to sleep of my cough, I was dragged back into the museum to cover for the women, all the women, who had taken the day off to have their hair done!  Valentine's Day and they were on the make.  However much to their displeasure not all the women could skive as there was a meeting arranged for councillors in an attempt to get their attention on the museum.  The many great works in which they are participating affect us and two lassies and the manager, who did not require having his hair done, called the meeting to harangue the council.
So I was left on my own with all the work.

One couple on a day out and a local wasting time were all the visitors, at least once the councillors had decided to arrive.  These were an interesting bunch.  Some I knew, intelligent women with, shall we say 'drive,' who have been 'getting things done for thirty years,' others rather younger and much better looking who will be the same in thirty years time.   Council men came and went and one or two ought to 'went; as far as I am concerned.  Just how do these people get elected?  Some are capable and others make me look a genius, so that says much.  Almost all are Tories, and many look like it, but one appeared to be like Farmer Jones who had never moved out of the suburbs, most worrying.  
Will anything follow from this meeting?  Maybe...
Today I am resting my cough.  Why do these coughs not go away?

 

Private Eye

Thursday

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I was awoken early this morning by the council men clearing the rubbish strewn across the park by the adolescents frolicking yesterday evening.  One of them nudged me with that sharp stick he was carrying and insisted somewhat rudely that I should make my way from the bench on which I had reposed last night and "Geta'arhtofit!"  I gathered my possessions, wrapped them in my neckerchief and tied it to a stick.  I then fastened my army surplus apparel around me and went to look for my breakfast.


The sun was shining brightly, the sky blue, birds sang in the trees around and large black crows were feeding of  a dropped takeaway Pizza.  Well they were until I stepped in.  I continued on my way, head down searching for dropped coins, and sauntered along at a leisurely pace, I cannot do fast any more.  I smiled happily at one and all, cheerfully greeting the young lassies as they passed, occasionally receiving a less than cheerful reply. One young lass indeed stopped to chat while I had cornere been chatting to a young blonde, she appeared very interested in me, my bags, where I was off to and what I thought I was doing. Eventually she let me off with a caution but next time she will arrest me she said, speaking into her radio and encouraging me to move elsewhere.  


Having taken the hint, and not bothered to collect a copper or two (see what I did there?) I made my way through the town and entered the dole office yet again.  It is a bit disheartening when as you enter the staff are discussing the arrangements for the Christmas party and ask if I will be going!  I watched the usual faces, the small children happily playing in the corner, their mother discussing a query with her money and was cheered to see how clean and smart this little family looked, the mothers school uniform was in excellent shape I thought. I noted also that this government has successfully removed over 111,000 thousand civil servants and has plans for many more to go by the end of the year.  Loudly they claim the private sector has filled 40,000 in that time.  Hmmmm possibly too many who make up the statistics have been removed also as I can see a fault here. However I continued smiling at everyone, strolled around, cheerful and pleasant to one and all. You see whatever the situation, I am not one to complain.....


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