Nine Feet Underground

There are things afoot. If not thirty centimetres.  It's all hush-hush, secret squirrel, under the radar, between you, me and the gatepost, nod's as good as a wink, if I told you I'd have to kill you etc. All of which means I have very little to say (here), no time to play because today is a working day and that's the way it'll stay. On a minor note our Ring doorbell rang it's last and has shuffled off this mortal coil and gone to join the choir invisibule.  My first thought was that the transformer had given up all hope, but that appears not to be the case.  This will be fully confirmed when I replace it tomorrow, with the better version two.  Is a number two always better than a number one? I'm cooking risotto for six tonight (people, not the hour) but before that I'm going to speak to Q.  Q and her daughter are seeing The Chicks (formerly The Dixie Chicks) Manchester tonight. A new Ring has been delivered. One Ring to rule them all. It's the last ...

Late last night I remembered I had a hospital appointment this morning, and had to get transport sorted etc.  After imagining a very chilled day ahead, I realised this would not be the case.  Typical. Back from a reasonably successful check-up, just ahead of the early lunchtime carer call.  I have to make a quick trip to the shops, then return to do the last of the office reorg tidying, then...it will be time to chill. There are big changes in the air... I do not belieeeeeeeeeve it!  It's almost time to start making the dinner and I've only just finished (more or less) the office reorg (excluding the stuff I need to sell).  Ain't gonna be no time for no chill tonight, baby. Usual stuff, blah, blah, blah, blah. Work tomorrow.  Doves / 'Black and White Town'  / 'Some Cities ' [[ ]]

A late-ish start (late for me, at least) which coincided with a call with Q, who is also still in bed. I'm planning for a very busy day, with the hope that I can get the majority of the stuff that must be done completed, allowing me to have a chilled Monday. That's the goal! Spent most of the morning sorting stuff to take to the tip, aided by son #3. Once we've had lunch, we'll be off to the tip with all the crap we've sorted.  The vast majority of what we've sorted are cables for devices we don't have or don't use, and some the said devices. Stuff you accumulate - once it's out of sight, and all that. Back from a successful trip to the tip and I'm going to have a coffee before tackling the front and back gardens. Strimming, mowing and hedge-trimming. The excitement never ends.  I'm not a fan of gardening, in fact, as I was telling one of the carers, I believe that gardening is a form of torture devised  by Satan.  It's the strongest evid...

I'm not going to say it. I shall just note that it is the first of July.  Here we are. Busy day ahead of sorting out stuff for the tip trip planned for tomorrow. First, however, a trip to the shops and a haircut.  I wonder which one this week? It's amazing what you find when you're not looking for it.  One of the things I found was the notebook where I'd listed all the baby names we were considering when E was expecting sons 1 and 2. At the time we didn't know their gender, all that we knew was that they were identical. A very interesting pair of lists, and staggeringly legible handwriting from me. Whatever happened? It's evening and I've been so busy sorting stuff there's not been much of interest to talk about. Son #3, his gf and I made dinner and we all sat and watched the second episode of 'Black Ops' together. Ten Benson / 'I Don't Buy It'  / 'Benson Burner ' [[ ]]

It's Friday, and thus the last day of the working week.  On the early morning huddle call, people (including the project manager) are commenting that it's great that it's almost the weekend.   It's a sentiment that I endorse, but equally I feel it's sad that people are wishing the bulk of their life away.  Perhaps it's just human nature to feel that way, no matter what you do, but I reckon some jobs provide more fulfilment and enjoyment than others do. It feels like we got something fundamentally wrong, way back when.  Life is short, all too short, so why do we spend our time on this earth in drudgery?  Smash the cistern! Down to work! Cripohit! Izzy wizzy... Unexpectedly, I'm off out to the pub tonight, to meet up with friends who are visiting from Berlin.  I think there'll be a big group as it's 'come one, come all' invitation.  Change of dinner plans, as I needed something quick and early so that I can catch a bus to the edge of the campus...

Another start, though today I'm greeted by rain after a rubbish night's sleep, don't know if I was vocalizing. Perhaps not. The cleaner arrives, hotly followed by the bin men so I have to rush to take the non-fox proof rubbish bag out shortly after which the first carer of the day arrives. At times it seems that there are no hours of the day which aren't interrupted by an arrival or departure of one sort or another. It's going to be a busy working day, and, luckily, my access has been restored. This week's poem is rather different. It's not the use of words and the way they are ordered, more the emotional power of someone's memory. I don't think it's a favourite, but equally there is some echo or memory which evoked by the words. It's called 'Handbag' and it's by Ruth Fainlight: My mother's old leather handbag, crowded with letters she carried all through the war. The smell of my mother's handbag: mints and lipstick and Co...

Another day, another dollar. Last night's sleep experiment seemed to pay off - no three am disturbance.  I will stick to this for tonight and see if this is the new approach.  I had a slightly earlier start to the morning as son #2 is heading into his office for the day, so he needs to shower early, which means I need to shower first if I'm not to be late.  Son #2 heads for the bus as I head off for a walk and we say goodbye before parting company. My day proper thus starts with a brisk walk, which also coincided with a chat with Q, thus making this a doubly positive start. Q is waiting to travel to London for the day and is on board a very crowded train. Now down to serious business. Blow me down with the leg of a chair!  I've only gone and lost my access again. The bells of hell. Usual shenanigans, except this time, thirty minutes or so after it was returned, it went again.  I must be cursed! There was some other work, wearing my other hat, that I could progre...

Seems like I must have slept through part of June, as it's hard to believe the month is almost over. Guess the weather has made it fly by. So far. Pontification aside, it's time to get down to work again.  (I wonder if that's what James Brown is referring to?) It's going to be a busy week and I also have to find time to complete a review for my team and for myself by the end of the week. We have new software to use and learn, so that will add to the fun. That's it. My working day is over.  Hopefully someone else is making dinner tonight. Son #3 is returning home with his gf this evening, so there will be five tonight. I managed to steal enough time to watch more of QOTSA at Glasto, but not enough time to watch it all. Time. Planning a new approach to sleep tonight to see if it will stop me waking in the wee hours.   I'll know if it works tomorrow! The Jesus and Mary Chain / ' Happy When It Rains' / 'Darklands ' [[ ]]

As usual, I have a lot to cram into today, but, also as usual, I'll probably not get everything done. When I'm in Liverpool my car is often parked under trees, and at this time of the year they ooze some sticky gunk that drops onto whatever's underneath.  Added to that, birds insist on resting in trees and none of them appear to be toilet-trained.   Consequently, I'm off to the car wash this morning, which will waste a fair bit of time when I could be doing something more useful. Pig's bum. One thing I didn't find time to do was sort out any of the stuff I need to sell, take to the tip, etc.  Highest priority was going to be sorting through the Folio Society books I'm going to sell. First step is listing them. I didn't find time to read the papers either, owing to a photographic distraction, and then it was time to make dinner. Ate dinner watching more Glasto: Sparks followed by Queens of The Stone Age.  Blistering start from QOTSA!!! Zebedee intervenes ...

Sunday arrives all too soon.   It's been quite a week, but now it's time to pack up and head south. Whilst I pack, Q makes breakfast for me, because she is wonderful. According to Google the journey will take around three-and-a-half hours if I leave now.  Not too bad, if it works out. We've said our goodbyes and I'm off. I'm back now after another magical mystery tour (minus the magic), there having been multiple detours and a very early departure from the motorway through the Oxfordshire countryside.  Nice views. Bloody slow. In the end, the journey took an extra hour, but in the grand scheme of life what does it matter.  There are bigger fish which need to be fried. Battered first. I'm feeling lazy after the drive, so I'm planning on watching some of Glasto on iPlayer and chilling, and suggest ordering a takeaway. and that is how I find myself watching Warpaint and Charlotte Adigéry with Bolis Pupul whilst eating an Honest Burger.  No one wants ...