Sitting on a Cornflake

Coversation with my 3 year old, walking past a cemetery..

Amy: Look, that’s a nice place to have a picnic!
Me: Erm, probably not Amy. That’s a cemetery, where they bury the bodies of people who have died.
Amy: Oh.
Amy: I want to put Thomas in there, because he’s naughty, and horrible to me.

I thought it was nice that she hasn’t yet experienced negative images of cemeteries, and thought it a nice place. As for me, I was rather spooked by the fact that there was a ‘weeping angel’, just like the ones in Doctor Who!

I think I should have a word with the nursery about this Thomas…

“Energy supplier British Gas has reported annual profits of £571m at its residential arm, up from £95m in 2006.

Last month, British Gas said it would raise the amount it charges for gas and electricity by 15%, a move criticised by consumer groups and the Unite union.“
BBC News

So, they have massive profits.. and my bill goes up by 15%. Isn’t that just wrong?

Cindy has been kind enough to tag me.. which means I actually have to do some thinking! lol

Ok.. here’s the ‘rules’…
1. Link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post these rules on your blog.
3. Share six unimportant things about yourself.
4. Tag six random people at the end of your blog entry.
5. Let the tagged people know by leaving a comment on their blogs.

1 and 2 done. Now on to 3..

1. I have one eye far more short-sighted than the other. In fact, the other one is now oh-so-slightly long sighted.

2. Because of this, when I tried contact lenses, I only needed them in one eye, which felt a bit odd. And it kept popping out!

3. I don’t see the attraction of gardening. Maybe it’ll come with age?

4. I also don’t enjoy cooking.. it’s just something that needs to be done. (Cindy is probably calling me rude names by now! lol)

5. My God Parents have all played a very important part in my life. I find it a shame that no one seems to find God Parents important these days.

6. I’m terrible at making lists of things about myself!

Ok, so 5.. I’m going to tag Kell, Nici, Lucy, Katherine, Rachel and Imogen. Now I’m off to let you all know you’re tagged!

It’s very noisy on my book shelf at the moment, as I have so many books jumping up and down, and shouting for my attention! There are even some on the computer doing it aswell!

Here are a selection of those in progress, and those waiting…

Sarah Challis - Footprints in the Sand is in progress.. it’s fairly slow moving, but the settings are well written, and the characters interesting.

Patrick Gale - Portraits from an Exhibition is also in progress, and I’m getting very wrapped up in it. I’ll be looking out for more from this author.

Jennifer McKenzie - I have two ebooks on my computer, and Jenn, I PROMISE you I will get there very soon!

Lucy Diamond - Any way You Want Me has just arrived, and I’m keen to get going. Keep tuned for an interview with the author. (http://authorinterviews.wordpress.com/)

Imogen Howson - I’ve already read a little from this author, and am VERY keen to get to some more. Back to the Mobipocket Reader for me! Again, interview coming soon!

Rod Glenn - Sinema, which is something very different from the books I’ve been picking up recently. Should be interesting!

So, what are you keen to read, or enjoying right now?

I have just been reading a friend’s blog, and I really wanted to share some essential truths that she posted:

1. Everyone needs to have a purpose. It can be anything, even something seemingly insignificant.
2. Put your best into your work, whether it’s school or a job.
3. Do NOT put your entire life into your work. We are too often defined by what we do. We should be defined by who we are.
4. Indulge in your hobbies. That’s how you can express who you are. (Not by writing a paper on Neo-Confucianism…which is what I have to do today.)
5. Above all: Strive for balance in your life, in everything you do.

From Tuesday morning, until lunchtime today, I had no ADSL. I had to resort to dial up.. which meant sitting in the hall so I could be attached to the phone line, slower speeds, and watching every minute, because it was costing me.

I use my internet alot - it’s always on when I’m here, and I pop on and off. I keep an eye on my forum, I wander around blogs, I like to see my emails as soon as they come in. I also have trillian switched on, with my various online contacts - I don’t spend alot of time chatting, but I like to know they’re there.

With no ADSL, this is all taken away from me. I had to sit and write my emails offline, and wandering around forums and blogs is too much of a luxury when every minute costs. My internet is a link to alot of people, and I felt completely cut off.

Addicted? You bet! LOL

Yep, Bethany has today reached the grand age of 9! For some reason, she has been very excited about her birthday this year, although I do think that might have something to do with the fact that she has a party this year, at a local indoor play centre.

I tend to avoid parties and the such, as I’m not too good keeping control of other people’s kids. I did have a small party at home for her when she was about 6, and it was hard work! I didn’t realise that 6 year olds were no longer interested in playing ‘games’, and instead just wanted to mess about. I sorta got put off the whole idea..

Beth went to a friend’s party at this play centre, and she loved it! I also decided that with the play area to mess about in, they should keep themselves nicely occupied.. and hot food will be provided!

Interestingly, I found out later that not all the children that she’s invited are in her class. Apparently she often plays with the year above her, and some are from there. Although, it doesn’t really surprise me.

So, wish me luck this afternoon, and please join me in wishing Bethany a very Happy Birthday.

PS.. I’m trying to encourage her to use her new blog, so if you’d like to wish her a happy birthday, could you leave her a comment there please? Many thanks.

Most blogs have a list of links, and often these are other blogs. Every now and again, I’ll take a look at some of these other blogs. I try to leave a comment (or two) if something catches my eye, and some blogs I’ll add to my reader, to come back to.

This has gotten me thinking about comments. Personally, I really like getting comments, both from friends, and from people I don’t know. I like to know who’s visiting my little world, and if they think my ramblings are worth commenting on.

However, when I leave a comment on someone else’s blog, I wonder what their reaction is.. whether it’s along the lines of ‘who the heck is that then?’!

So bloggers.. how do you react? Do you like new comments, or prefer it if they’re only from people you already know? And if you see a comment from a new visitor, do you visit their blog.. and do you try to comment there?

I’ve just had a phone call from the vet, to say that he does have lots of crystals in his urine sample! :(  Poor little guy!

So, now we’re facing 6 weeks of a special diet. The vet has ordered a 5kg bag of dry food, which is going to cost another £38! (After the phone call, I realised I probably should have gone for the smaller bag, in case he needs to switch to the wet food… my decision making isn’t that good under pressure!) After 6 weeks they will re-test. I’m sure we’re facing a long term change in his diet though.. that’ll be fun with two cats!

Sigh!

Well, I finally got the sample from Louis.. but not in the way I was supposed to. I’d blocked off his usual litter tray this morning, but instead of using the empty one, waiting patiently for his sample, the *** pee’d on my bag.. another Christmas present! I grabbed the pipette the vet gave me, and sucked it up - it’s not ideal, but it’s the best they’re gonna get!

The good news was that although dark, there was no blood visible.. and at least we can make sure he doesn’t have these crystal thingies.. I really don’t want him on special (ie expensive!) food. (Would be very tough with two cats, as well.)

He’s still in and out of that tray alot, and washing ‘down there’ quite a lot too, but generally seems ok. I’m just keeping a close eye on him.

Sometimes I thinks pets are worse than children!

PS - Just seem a smear of red wee on the floor.. poor little guy!