Sunday 23 November 2008

That blooming white stuff!

Yes we had the first snowfall of the winter this morning. From force of habit I normally wake up at 6 im the morning and when I looked outside it was dry with not even a touch of frost so being Sunday I did what any normal person would and went back to bed. After 30 years of shift work my days of getting up at 4.30 on Sunday mornings are a rapidly fading memory!

Next time I looked out was just before 9 and it was snowing hard and settling to boot! Fortunately by 11 it had turned to rain and cleared. However the road surfaces are still wet and if it freezes hard tonight there is always the delightful prospect of black ice in the morning. Luckily my car (Toyots Corrola) has pretty good roadholding but I am always wary especially of some of the idiots on the road these days.

I have actually spent some time trying to remember when we last had snow in November-normally does not happen until after Christmas.

Take care and keep warm
Andy

Friday 14 November 2008

Old Age Beckons

Dont know if anyone else saw the programme on ITV 1 tonight about increased life expectancy. The forecast aparently is that we will soon live to be 150. I dont know about anyone else the thought petrifies me. I will be 57 in a couple of weeks time and I am beginning to look forward to retirement in a few years time- 30 years plus of shift work takes its toll! It will be nice to have more time to myself and to do the things that I enjoy but if I live to be 150 I honestly think that I would end up being a burden on both state and society and being the individual that I am I would not wish that.

Talking of TV its Children In need night again today. Its something I tend to avoid although I know that it raises vast amounts of cash for very worthy causes. Tonight there is a good reason to watch (or at least listen) to it. Its being co hosted by one of my favourite jazz singers Clare Teal who is worth a listen any time. To be honest though I actually prefer Clare Martin!

Friday 7 November 2008

It seems to have been lonher

In fact its only been since 30th October that I last posted. The reason for my absence-my computer gave up the ghost and remedial treatment cost me £90 ouch!

So the American dream has come true Barak Obama is President elect of America. I have got to admit that I do not follow American politics although perhaps I should as what ever happens in Washington has a knock on effect throughout the world.

However what peturbs me was an article that I read in a newspaper to the effect that the American dream may well become thr American nightmare in so far as they reckon Obama might not make it to his inaugeration day as certain elements wish to remove him, hence the amount of security around him including 3 inch bullet proof glass. What price freedom.

In fact I am not really interested in British politics amymore. Until about 10 years ago I was a card carrying fully paid up member of the Liberal Democrats In fact I even spent time helping to distribute election material. The reason I was enthusiastic was that the candidate was honest and said that as a member of a minority he could not promise to reduce taxes or other wonderful things but he would do his best for all his constituants regardless of ther political persuasion. Come election night he polled so few votes that he lost his deposit. Incidentally the candidates name was Stephen Jaquobi who has gone on to become a prominent lawyer.

My ongoing battle with AO Hell continues and will do so until I recieve my laptop or a refund plus. The latest twist is that they rang me up and said that they would reduce my monthly payment to £14.99 and even though I said I had a letter from them saying it was going to be £6.99 he knew nothing about it. I will NOT give up on this one.

I have also found the pictures that go back to my days as a skinhead and my first love. I might publish a few later but at the moment I am wallowing in nostalgia, people-places- clothes etc. I suppose skinhead fashion was the ultimate unisex fashion statement. Short hair, jeans, braces etc we all wore the same.

Take care

Andy