Still Sick

See title, update over.

Ho Ho Ho

Merry Christmas

Cough

What a b.....y stupid day to get ill. Dry, ahcki9ng cough, no energy, aching all over, and a headache. Great!

By An Open Fire

So last night I decided to play around with the new digital camera a bit. Oh, I do like being able to see the results immediately. Makes it much easier for playing around with exposures. Now, I know these aren't quite right, unfortunately there is a blue reflection which is from some Christmas lights, and the bottle needs to be three quarters full, and in an ideal world the wine in the glass needs some legs. But I think (b) is the winner for now.

a)

b)

c)

Cue, Action

I never thought I would say that the end of the XFactor would be a dilemma. But sadly it appears to be so. We had got into this "tradition" of sitting down together to watch it and have a tea of dips. "A" loved it, as much because it was a family thing and us all sitting together on the sofa. So without it what can we watch. And there really was nothing else tonight. "A" had the bright idea that we could all watch Peter Pan (the Disney cartoon), well sorry but that wasn't going to happen. I am not spending an early evening wathching Peter Pan. We bought Polar Express for her recently because we thought she enjoyed it at the cinema, but she didn't want to watch that. In the end we settled for Madagascar. Could have been better, but could have been worse (High School Musical 2 being a current favourite of hers).

Holidays A'Comin'

I am sometimes asked if I miss being in practice. And the true answer is "never". But especially not when I have just finished work for the Christmas break. In practice there is really no such thing as a Christmas break. If you are lucky then you get Christmas Day off. But you know that the Christmas week is going to be busy. Gastrotomies on dogs that have eaten too much turkey fat. Dogs with chocolate poisoning. Cats which have argued with the carving knives. I won't go in to full details, especailly of trying to stitch up a dog after emptying its stomach, and the floor being covered with half digested turkey fat (sorry, did I go too far there?).

Anyway, time to relax (as long as our turkey gets delivered on Christmas Eve, otherwise panic and sausages for lunch). A decent break, and not one phone call expected at three in the morning to get me out of bed (Sal, that is not a challenge).

Whizz Whir

Or I think you are completely mad, and I run from the room the moment your back is next turned

Don't Click

So what I used to do, and what I think black and white is so good for, is go down to public areas and take pictures of people. Crowds, individuals lost in the crowd, etc. Today, rather short notice, I needed to go to London. So I thought it would be a good opportunity to take my new camera. Set it to monochrome. And try to get some atmospheric shots. And lucky me, I was going to be at Euston. That should be good. Quack Quack Oops. Apparently you are not allowed to take pictures in train stations. I ahve been told. After I took a photo. A rather insistant man came up to me, with two policemen in the background, one of whom was carry a gun. And he told me I couldn't take photos. And then he had problems understanding that I was saying sorry and that I wouldn't do it again. He got more and more agitated explaining that it was security, and it wasn't allowed etc. I just calmly said I understood, I was sorry, it didn't use to be a problem, I won't do it again, I'll delete the one photo I had taken if it helps. And had to repeat myself again and again. After a three minute lecture he finally realised that I wasn't complaining, wasn't being trouble, and was genuinely apologising. And I felt lucky to get away.

Click

Very excited. My new camera arrived today. Finally taken the leap of buying a digital SLR. The Canon EOS 40D. Not quite as complicated as the picture here (look closely at the different buttons) but certainly more complicated than the EOS 30 I have been used to. But really exciting. I am especially looking forward to the fact I can swap between colour and black and white at the press of a button or two. Sometimes I really like black and white photography but it can be a pain when you haven't completed a film (for a while I did run two cameras, one for colour, one for black and white). Anyway, recently I haven't been taking a lot of pictures but now I will start again. Looking forward to it.

Hee Hee Hee (Which Do You Do?)

Top Vote

So the Lib Dems have voted David Cameron as their leader. No, sorry, I mean Nick Clegg. No, No, listen to the way he talks, how he moves his arms, it IS David Cameron. Can't be, can it? Or is this what he meant by bringing them together, head up both parties and pool the votes.

Closed Case

So go back to this story that the NHS have a £2 billion pound surplus. Then compare and contrast with this one, that they are closing down two of the few places that can treat specialised psychiatric illness. Doesn't make much sense does it? Even ignoring the social side of such a service, the economic arguments to keep the hospitals open are strong as they prevent more serious injuries and violence that would involve the police as well as the NHS. Short term thinking leads to a further step backwards in the long term. Politics controlled by a balance sheet.

Fa La La

It was bad enough that he got to the final. But it is a travesty that he won. Leon cannot sing. That is the downright truth. He misses more notes than he hits. Rhydian however has a fantastic voice, and I am not ashamed to say he can bring me out in goosebumps with the emotion he puts into a song. So how did Leon win? I really think I need to get the TV checked because I heard something very different to other people obviously. The relief is that Leon will be a one hit wonder, whilst Rhydian will, without doubt, be given a contract and go on for a long time. In this case talent defintiely was the loser, I am just not sure what made the untalented one win.

Footsteps

Action - No, Please, No, CUT

How could a world leader (in the broadest sense) think that it would be a good idea to make a video of his dog and release it to us all. It appears that this is a tradition at Christmas and that this is in fact the 6th in the series. I suppose it is meant to be inspiring although in reality it is fairly cringe-worthy. In fact, if you can make it to the end, it gets worse. Because there is a guest appearence by Tony Blair, at his most embarrassing. This is a man who remains desperate for attention, any attention, and has no concept of shame.

Up and Up

After the rehearsal on Monday, last nights ceremony had the potential to be a disaster. There are a number of reasons why I was not as good on my lines as I would normally expect to be. A number of reasons which I don't feel like going in to here. All that matters is that Monday I was a shambles and, as the rest rely on me to be strong, the evening rapidly degenerated. I was therefore very nervous last night. And I didn't get the time pre-ceremony that I hoped for to sit in the chair and think about my lines. Too busy setting up the tables for the meal afterwards.

So, in the end, I was extremely pleased with last night. There is no doubt that, on another night, I would have been berating myself for not doing as well as I ought. But we got through it smoothly. Where I couldn't remember the exact words I at least knew the story well enough to be able to bluff my way through. And I led the team forward as I should. We got through it, no injuries (!), and all happy, with many visitors telling us what a fine ceremony (a third degree) it was.

And the relief this morning when I woken up. A load off my shoulders. And I do this for fun! But one more ceremony, an installation, and I am finished in the chair. It is already downhill from here.

Oh S@@@

Normal service will be resumed shortly but Lodge meeting tomorrow night and I really don't know my words, last nights rehearsal was a disaster. Panic mode.

Huey and the News

Right, I have to be honest, living with a five year old can make you a bit cynical. Today we are supposed to be meeting Zippie and "D" for lunch. So "A" starts saying she feels sick about 2 hours before we are due to leave. This is strange because she enjoys seeing Zippie and "D" (not Uncle Zippie and Aunty D, oh no, lot of trouble if I say that) but I think that maybe she doesn't fancy the 2 hour drive. I certainly don't actually believe her. And I am still not believing her, although I have rung and cancelled, when "A" is violently sick. And she doesn't eat anything all day, and she goes to bed half way through the afternoon, and even when she isn't in bed she sits quietly on the sofa for almost the entire day (one or two half hearted reconnoitres but nothing major). Oh bad Daddy, for ever doubting his daughter.

So Fa Lo

While it is not my first choice of watching we have developed a family tradition of watching X-Factor on Saturday night while eating dips (I make a wicked home made salsa). So can someone explain to me how Leon has made it to the final. There has not been a week where he didn't sing out of tune. I was amazed tonight when Cowell said "you only sang slightly out of tune". When I was young, in 4-5 choirs at school, there was no such thing as slightly out of tune. Either you hit the note or you don't. It is an on-off thing, there is no degree to it. Sadly I suspect that slightly out of tune means it is something that can be electronically rigged in the studio (I refuse to buy the new Sugababes song because, although I like it, I heard them sing it live and they were terrible, obviously fix in the mix). Anyway, for weeks I have thought Leon should go and, although not convinced by Nikki, this evening she did nail a Fleetwood Mac song.

Swings and Roundabouts

Yea, managed to get tickets to see Varekai by Cirque du Soleil in London. It is difficult to get good tickets. Firstly, don't go through the link on the website which takes you to an official ticket dealer, they never seem to have the good seats. Instead go to he Royal Albert Hall website itself and use their booking. But it's complicated, once you have chosen a date and "Best Price Available" it automatically puts the seats in your basket, before you are able to decide if you actually want them. And there is a limited number of tickets you can have in your basket. So you have to delete them before going back to the booking page, picking a new date and trying again. So by the time you have gone therou a month of dates it has taken you three quarters of an hour. Frustrating. But this time my persistance has been rewarded as I found ringside seats in February. Exciting.

Giddy

Sending emails at work can be a risky business.

Yes Squeak, Welsh and Proud Of It

Burning Bright

Every evening
I light this lamp
In the hope
You'll see this beacon
Return
To this empty home
And make it
Whole again.
Every morning
I awake
Alone.

Heat

I want to walk
In the pouring rain
Not caring
That my clothes are soaked,
To stand
On the highest places
And shout with freedom,
To see
The glistening colour
Of your eyes
Knowing
That the look
Will be followed
By intensity,
And
Most of all
To live
Filled with passion.

Watch Out For Hobbes

I am bumping this up (well, reposting) because it is great and if you haven't yet watched it you should, if you have watched it then watch again. And also because living with Scooby in this house is like living with Hobbes.

Sucks

The day started with a new Christmas decoration blowing. It ended with the computer playing up. In between was much the same.

This Month Day 10

Not for the video, but the music

Well, It's Nice To Know

You're an Expert Kisser

You're a kissing pro, but it's all about quality and not quantity You've perfected your kissing technique and can knock anyone's socks off And you're adaptable, giving each partner what they crave When it comes down to it, your kisses are truly unforgettable

What Kind of Kisser Are You?

The Feeling - I Love It When You Call

Dreamt

A dream

Of the warmth
Your arms around me,
Holding me
Passion reflected,
A want
A hunger,
A shining in your eyes,
That feeds my soul,
Meets my heart -
Ache -
A desire
For knowing
A knowing
We should be
Held
Forever

As I wake
To cold
Too cold

Hunted

Every step
Further, faltering
Blood
From the deep wound in my side
Leaving a trail for the beast
Following
Licking every drop
Unwilling to lose
So sweet a meal
And closing
Slowly
Until it catches
Devours
My being
Leaving
Only
Faint memory

Calvin and Hobbes Breakaway

Red Rose

I watch the red petal
Floating to the ground
From the rose flower
In your hand
And I know
By the time
It touches the grass
Colours blending
I can say a sentence
That will
Explode
Our World

Whoosh

For a Saturday this was busy. I had meant to go to a lodge rehearsal earlier this week but hadn't been able to make it in the end. So I drove down to Cardiff this morning, spent a couple of hours with my father going through the upcoming Third Degree ceremony, then rushed back. We have a family ritual of eating dips while watching X-Factor and I had to be back for that (well I was 10 minutes late, but not bad).