DiaryLand members area

ingfishers are elusive bu@@ers! I can only remember seeing 3; in my life. Redwings, on the other hand, tend to turn up, in droves, when food is scarce. I have no idea what they do the rest of the year. They are easily distinguishable by the colour of their open wings - have a guess. It is not a great time to be sending kids off to college and I wish YC well.

from portlypete :

McDonalds: I have often frequented these establishments (definitely not restaurants), but only in certain 'sanitarily challenged' countries: thay are the only place you can find a clean loo. I was pleased to find that *footnote at the end of your recent post. I knew the world had gone mad but not THAT mad!

from portlypete :

What impressed me most was you seeing a kingfisher and, if you had captured that on camera, it would have been super-impressive: but still omly an image. *sad face*

from portlypete :

"<i>With fewer (or no) parties, there will be a glut of party food in the shops.</i>" Be careful what you wish for: you may still be eating bargain pigs-in-blankets next June (and being grateful for them).

from portlypete :

I admire your thinking on the advantages of a Christmas lock-down, but am not so sure about Mrs. B’s less-than-caring attitude to your late arrival at the finish of your run, especially given your propensity to launch yourself face first into alluvium , or worse. Happy Christmas!

from portlypete :

There is no doubt that the whole Brexit thing is a shambles and, admittedly, B0ris is a blustering buffoon and a chancer to boot, but let's not pile all the blame on him. The EEC is hell bent on making us an example of how foolish it would be for other member countries to consider leaving the 'community'. Of course, we all know that there are two parts to this particular club: the minnow class - such as Greece, Italy and a raft of others, and the shark class: France and Germany (fishing analogy). It is an unfortunate coincidence that these negotiations are coming to a head just prior to elections in France, so M@cron is quite happy to throw large spanners in the (exceedingly slow grinding) mills of the Brexit negotiations for his own self-interest. I take heart from a conversation I had with an Italian waiter (back in the day, when one could) who, when he found I was a Brit, was really anxious to discuss Brexit. As I left, he gave me a thumbs up and called out, "Italy next!" Maybe, The Netherlands too? Interesting times.

from portlypete :

Just a few points re your last post. Firstly, reports I've heard, from people who have travelled long distances by train, are that it is really quite safe, because nobody is going long distances by train. Obviously, if there is a mass exodus of students, carriages might be fuller but only of students, and I understand that they are meticulous about observing social distancing: the irony emoji is apparently an upside-down face, BTW. There's even a vomit emoji for Trump-related messages. I hope YC gets home virus free.

from portlypete :

Mmmmm! Muffins, but not as we know them now. I must revisit ‘A Tale of Two Cities’. That opening paragraph still holds true today (although with a slight lean to the depressing aspect I’d say).

from portlypete :

I apologise for a couple of spelling mistakes in the previous message. I used to be so punctilious about such things. Spell-checker has spoiled me.

from portlypete :

Many thanks for your note. I beleive that previous generations, having far less, valued it far more. Regarding "David Copperfield", I can only agree that editing out of the most famous quote in the book ("Annual income twenty pounds ..") is a travesty! It is akin to producing a version of "The Importance of Being Earnest" and excluding those most famous words, "A handbag?" and the follow-up, put down: "The Brighton line?" ..." The line is immaterial". I freely admit to sitting through the entire film several times just to savour those two words, delivered so exquisitely by Edith Evans in the 1952 version - is there another? I would also include this sparring match: Cecily: This is no time for wearing the shallow mask of manners. When I see a spade I call it a spade. Gwendolen: I am glad to say that I have never seen a spade. It is obvious that our social spheres have been widely different.” Returning to Dickens for a moment, I do recommend you try, "The Pickwick Papers". The thing about this author is that most of his writing was drawn from experience (as I guess you are aware from your references to the Blacking Factory). Admittedly, in later years, he became a shrewd and succesful businessman, but that doesn't diminish the truth that he had met most of the models for the characters in his books and experienced their lives.

from portlypete :

Hi, it’s been a while. I was wondering how things are playing out for YC at Uni. It is a shame that her first year won’t be quite such fun as it should be. To hell with the lectures - on-line or off-line, the students will mainly be half asleep anyway (or was that just me, back in the day), but the social life, which is the main point of uni - and what you hand over all that dosh for - is going to be pretty much ‘expletive deleted’! Or not... ... ... ?

from portlypete :

I do suspect that this Conservative government will get its arse severely bitten sometime soon. I'm sure they have a plan - several, in fact - does anyone know which is plan A?

from portlypete :

What a shame you can’t claim any credit on the ‘nature’ side of things, only on the ‘nurture’ bit. Still, many congrats to the eldest - do I recall you mentioning Oxbridge?

from portlypete :

I can't sympathise with you on the Student loans thing. It is (as always) totally your fault for raising such bright children. Youngest Child is rapidly becoming my favourite. I routinely shut the lid on the toilet - just so both parties are equally inconvenienced (an unintentional pun there). Good luck with the Barcelona trip. Weirdy, both BA and Easy Jet fly to the same airport, but EJ trumps (sorry for the expletive) BA by coming into Terminal 2 with a faster link to the city for rail users - or so I hear. That is yet to be proved.

from portlypete :

Thanks for your note. I had a brief ‘woopsy’ earlier this week, but in general I am coping OK. You are wise beyond your years to plan trips locally this year. The idea of a three, or more, hour journey in an airplane with recirculating air supply is too awful to consider. I remember having several happy holidays on caravan sites situated on the the south coast in my early youth. Some of them hardly smelled of cess-pitt at all! Good luck with the uni thing though.

from portlypete :

I recall a guy who always worked from home saying that he routinely left the house at 8.45; walked around the block and reentered the house just before 9.00. He then did a full day’s work before leaving the house again, going round the block and getting back home just in time to kiss his wife hello. He didn’t mention if he took a packed lunch. So child 3 is not the only odd one - in fact there are thousands of weirdos out there: you just have to watch the news to know that! Quite a few of them are running countries! p.s. I like the virtual coffee break idea.

from portlypete :

Hey, I was just re-reading your previous entry about holiday plans. How is that going I wonder. Even more seriously, I imagine upcoming Uni might be a tad stressful too. Good luck: I do sympathise.

from portlypete :

I had a similar pet experience, although replace 'cat' wirh 'rabbit'. As a parent what are you going to say, "your beloved pet has just suffered a horrible death"? Congrats on exam result and best wishes on your recovery. In our circle of friends, those manipulative health workers are known as Physioterrorists.

from portlypete :

If there is a cash shortage in our universities and you don't understand why, try googling 'Vice-chancellor of Southampton pay'.

from portlypete :

... defrib ...dL doesn't work that well on an iPad - I still love it for it's simplicity though.

from portlypete :

I can imagine it must be traumatic trying to do the best for your child as you've described. I rather suspect that, in the end, the whole think is a huge charade and you will have to trust to luck. Put your faith in all the years you have invested in bringing your daughter up in the right way: a way that will surely make you proud of her. What more can you ask? And I was really pleased to hear your story of the defrin

from portlypete :

Brexit. Let's just imagine for a second that Boris - clone of Donald T.Rump (as in arse) doesn't win. Wow, that's a relief! Now we've got Jeremy the Dubious as PM: undeniably more statesman like, but isn't he the guy who wants to privatise the NHS (after having bought shed-loads of shares in private health care companies - obviously)? Talk about "a rock and a hard place'!

from portlypete :

You really need to ditch that tin bath and get some 21st century bathroom fittings.

from portlypete :

You've got to love our quaint village names. I am just planning a few days away myself, and in one small area on the map, I found: Picklescott, Ratlinghope, Hook-a-gate and Snailbeach (which is pretty land-locked).

from portlypete :

Congrats on the promotion, which I hope came with a worthwhile salary increase.

from portlypete :

So, your last post was a week ago, which is a long time in politics, I hear. And you didn't think it could get much worse? As if there wasn't chaos enough in the EU; meanwhile, the rest of the world is tooling up for a major meltdown somewhere, sometime soon. There are plenty of options, I fear! and I wouldn't put money on which powder-keg will go up first? Sometimes, I dread turning on the news.

from portlypete :

So sorry to hear you were 'somewhat discombobulated' recently, but I can't recall the last time I heard someone say they were combobulated, although it appears it is a real word. The English languge is rapidly losing its charm: it seems that any word longer than two syllables can be easily replaced by, "and I was like, yeknow, what the ****, init" which is obviously so much more eloquent. I was pleased to find Yanis Varoufakis, who enjoys displaying his fluency in the English language, using the word 'bamboozle' in relation to his negotiations with the EU in the current BBC documentary on the European project.

from portlypete :

There's nothing about a vegan dish that wouldn't be improved by a slab of red meat. Having said that, I am trying to tweak the veg / meat ratio a tad.

from dangerspouse :

"No, your fat makes you look fat." HAHA! If I ever decide I've tired of this earthly existence, I'll remember that line. The clerk asking if you wanted the cake as takeaway too had me cracking up :)

from dangerspouse :

Child 3 left out port for Santa? You raised her well :)

from dangerspouse :

Thanks very much for the extremely thoughtful, well reasoned note. You made some points I hadn't considered, and I enjoyed that. FWIW, I did ask if they'd queried the young lady I was actually talking to, and they told me her reaction was irrelevant. Just by saying the word "babe" I was creating a hostile work environment for all, regardless if the person I was chatting with herself took offense. Alas, the days of "pull him or her aside and work it out amongst yourselves" are now gone. At least at my company. Oh well, at least I come home and get great head regardless :)

from dangerspouse :

I have to admit I've been rather taken aback by the number of comments from people who either know, work with, or related to, a transgendered person. Had you asked me before Bunny came out to me I would have said their population was so small as to be insignificant. Now I'm rather of the opposite opinion. I guess I just wasn't as aware of my surroundings before, and was blind to them. Go figure. Thanks for the great note! :)

from portlypete :

If you want to deal with anyone in a company who might know something about something, I suggest you have a thick foam pad handy as quite a lot of head-banging is bound to be involved. They all hide behind a barrage of poorly paid call-answerers reading verbatim off a screen, and the phrase 'security reasons'; the call centres catch-all answer to 'health and safety' used in other businesses as a way of not doing anything. Doing anything on-line is also stressful. I tried to open a building society account recently. I had to think up a username - which had to contain a number, at least one capital letter but no puctuation and had to be an exact length; another word (I forget what that was for); a password; a memorable phrase and a secret question. I am willing to compromise my security by saying the question I came up with was, "What the hell made you think joining this BS was a good idea?'. They then had to send me a reference number, at which point I had to send a cheque to them and wait TEN days to receive yet another number before the account became live. My point (other than just venting my spleen) is that too much security can be counter-productive, I can log in in to my current account because it is simple enough, but I know that, if I forget which letters in my password I capitalised, I will be locked out and will be back on the phone to a Help Line - an oxymoron if ever there was one: consequently, I have no choice but to keep a note of them.

from portlypete :

You've got to love families - if your not yet ready to kill them!!!

from portlypete :

How'd it go?

from curious-me :

Congrats and good luck on your nuptials! Weddings that go off without a hitch are boring - lol - I just hope you and your new bride enjoy every moment of it!

from portlypete :

Really: very best wishes for tomorrow. Surely a truck-load of washing is just what you need to take your mind off the forthcoming nuptials. I'm certain everything will be fine(ish). What can I say! The best laid plans etc, etc ... but in the end, everyone will laugh, get drunk, have another drink and forget all the embarrassing, bad stuff that happened. Oh, wait! That was just me and my wedding. Yeah, it will go swimmingly. Remember, love conquers all. Joking aside, very best wishes.

from portlypete :

Re Thorpe - History can teach us so much if we care to listen. I wonder how finely balanced the scales of justice really are. Thank you for your note. I am touched by your faith in the UK electorate. When asked to vote for A.Rock or A.Hardplace, where does one put one's cross? In the end, we tend to muddle through despite our leaders; and that is the most optimistic view I can offer.

from raven72d :

Just as long as you use decimeters for something, sometime, somewhere!

from dangerspouse :

YOU HAVE A SPURTLE!! You know, I don't think I've ever had occasion to either say or type that sentence before. Fantastic :)

from dangerspouse :

Stew! Excellent choice for a winter's night - and for leftover potential. Well done :)

from raven72d :

Hah! Sounds good on the cards!

from dangerspouse :

Haha! Good coffee joke...still, after all these years ;) Wow, that was one smart cat. Even my wife can't make distinctions like that!

from dangerspouse :

Who the hell re-uses coffee beans? Over here, that's grounds for dismissal. (Ho ho ho - little coffee joke there...very little). Well done re-establishing hot water ingress into your home! Make some coffee now :)

from raven72d :

Now I must look up the difference between a gill and a dram.

from raven72d :

Glad that some of us from the old days are still here!

from raven72d :

Lovely entries.

from joistmonkey :

Ah, so Jacinta thingy is a bit of a Tony Blair charming thing. Proper set of teeth on her too - she'd need two gum-shields when she plays rugby innit. Yes. I am just wondering whether she might be the girl who played Amy in Neighbours twenty years ago because she is the only other person called Jacinta who I have ever heard of (Jacinta Stapleton). Australia and NZ are tiny and have small populations hence they must be the same person, right?

from dangerspouse :

Bwahaha! Er - are parrots generally sick where you are??

from dangerspouse :

"“Keep your saving private, Ryan” I wanted to say." was probably the wittiest thing I heard all week :) (Er...I'm coming over after work to teach you how to use a knife properly. Sheesh. Kids.)

from dangerspouse :

Congrats!! You better post a damn good story about a goofy proposal now or I'll be very disappointed.

from curious-me :

Congrats on the engagement!! I was wondering if something was up when you were mentioning renovating your place! Great news!

from dangerspouse :

That entire post was wonderful, pictures included, but the "fresh ice" ending was just perfect beyond compare. Bwahahahaaaaa!

from dangerspouse :

RULE BRITANNIA!! Lol...thanks very much for the supportive note, kiddo :)

from dangerspouse :

50:25! Well done! (Although maybe you should consider changing your name to "sneakersruby" after that revelation.)

from musikoid :

I find No. 8 - your "Ruby Theorem" - to be fascinating.

from dangerspouse :

I hope you don't take it amiss that I thought the stories of you being a bit of a div were the best part of that entry :)

from joistmonkey :

Thanks for the note - I read about the Blancmange cover too this weekend, though am not brave enough to listen to it in case it spoils the ABBA sense of the original. Have spent ages trying to work out what the backing synth reminds me of - I think there is a bit of 'Libertango' in there. I'm also wondering why the Swedish only work a seven and three quarter hour day (notwithstanding lunch) and why it takes her an hour and a quarter to get to work but three hours to get home - which even with picking up Chinese takeaway seems long.

from peggypenny :

Someday I will tell you my real name and you can see a big statute outside Windsor castle with my great grandfather. There is also a large landing port in Canada of my family. I am 3rd generation American. Pegkins

from peggypenny :

It was refreshing to read someone from England, another country knowing how our USA electorate works. I can't say the same for our average population which seem to be rioting in the streets. Peggy

from dangerspouse :

I love "xylophonist" and fully intend you use it next time I see one. Which will probably be never. But I'm ready if it happens. ("Trump card" - I get it! Particularly as I've heard it at least 574 times in first hour after the election results were announced.) ;)

from joistmonkey :

My parents had a book about that D-Day Tapestry which I remember looking at as a child. Bayeux too. Which I saw in France. Had I known how close to where I lived in 1999-2001 was the D-Day museum I might've made the effort to go.

from dangerspouse :

Yeah, the ice vs. water cooling index is another great example. I think you should burn someone with a hot poker (a volunteer, of course) and REALLY give 'em a lesson they won't forget. Yay, science! :)

from dangerspouse :

Way to go, Racer Ruby! 42:41 is a terrific time for 5 miles. Well done, I say! (And relax about the Aged One's 80'th dining choices. Some things just aren't worth fretting over, particularly if it means so much to the party concerned. Have fun!) :)

from dangerspouse :

No corgis? In Wales?! Is everything I was told a lie? Wow. Funny story about the cat/corgi stand-off, though :)

from dangerspouse :

Great pics, and a wonderful trip described (the a q u e d u c t particularly), but...no corgis? You were in the Motherland!

from dangerspouse :

When it ends with buttered buns, it's a roll.

from dangerspouse :

Er, "obviously". Obviously.

from dangerspouse :

Way to go, Dr. CGF!!! She ubviously had a right proper upbringing :)

from dangerspouse :

God, I wish I could have fun like that. But I keep getting arrested when I hang around playgrounds. You're lucky you have kids as a beard. Good thinking!

from dangerspouse :

Sounds like crazy good fun indeed. I want some of that Shepherd's Pie!

from dangerspouse :

Oh no. Does this mean I've now stooped to your level? Shit.... ;)

from dangerspouse :

LOL @ "Boris - FFS" mistake!

from dangerspouse :

That was my second guess!! Lol. Y'know, I actually am familiar with Waitrose, as they put up some nice cooking vids on YouTube sometimes. I've seen quite a number. And that accent always makes me melt :)

from dangerspouse :

Ooo! Ooo! Was the deliberate mistake the vote for Brexit?? ;)

from dangerspouse :

I think I'm of the opinion that Messrs Johnson and Farage don't give a flying fuck about fulfilling anything other than their purses and aspirations of power. Which they will now surely do. It's always thus when the fearmongering card is played.

from dangerspouse :

Ok, so I read through that whole fiasco of an entry (actually, it was a lot of fun even if I disagree with the need to weave one's front wheel). Then I get to the end and see you've made veg shepherd's pie and start to salivate...but you don't say what you put in it! You can't do this to me! WHAT WAS UNDER THE POTATO BLANKET, GIRL?!

from dangerspouse :

What a great looking curry! If I ever dump NewWifey(tm), I know who I'm hitting on next.

from portlypete :

Shares in US gun companies rose on Monday. Smith & Wesson shares closed up 6.9% while competitor Sturm, Ruger and Company saw its shares finish up 8.5% (BBC News). Perhaps you were on the right track, and every citizen should be issued with a fire-arm. "Go ahead, make my day".

from dangerspouse :

I loved the sheepdog joke! LOL!! Er...and I've done naked runs too. Just not your kind. And not on purpose. Long story....

from curious-me :

"I don’t mean abandoned in the middle of the road. I did find a car park." This line made my day!

from dangerspouse :

Ooo, let me know how you like that hybrid bike once you get a few miles in the saddle under you. I've been toughing it out on my racing bike, but I'm starting to get tired of the constant hunch. I may go for a more uprite model one of these days if I can convince myself that I don't look like a nob riding one.

from curious-me :

RE: Rememberance Day - it's a Canadian thing BUT it's really only government workers who still get it off. Pretty much the rest of the world goes about their day but will respect the 2 minutes of silence.

from dangerspouse :

Haha! How weird is that, an ankle grab warning AND padlocked milk! Lol...they're on to me, alright. Thanks for the warning :)

from curious-me :

Just wanted to wish you a Happy Belated Birthday!!

from dangerspouse :

All fixed!

from dangerspouse :

Forty dollars...PER POOP?! My god man, I could be making 3, 4-hunderd dollars a day! Finally, a job that suits my only real talent. (And good point about the Colorado - "CO", btw - uber-cow. But I think they're already pretty impressively hung, if you've ever seen a male of the species up close, so it might be a moot point. Or moose point, as the case may be.)

from portlypete :

When the 'car' stopped, did you not think to say "go left"? It could have turned the entire election on it's head - or not.

from portlypete :

'Norf' has it's moments. I really enjoyed a trip to Dunstanburgh Castle, quite a few years ago. Thermal shorts are advisable.

from dangerspouse :

In your case it's necessary, if only to keep her from getting complacent. Clits - am I right?

from portlypete :

Thanks for reminding me why I had few regrets leaving a conglomerate for a small company run (allegedly) by a lunatic - such fun! And ... "and for those of you who are watching in black and white, the pink is next to the green."

from dangerspouse :

LOL! Thanks for the note - glad to know I'm not the only one with a Teen Tragedy story like that (actually, I bet we're part of a pretty large club). How did your dad react?

from stepfordtart :

YES. IT. DOES. Its A33 til just by that pub in Dummer, and then its A30. So there. :-P

from portlypete :

Rather late with a comment about the Brit's EU contribution: If I earn more (ha, ha!), 'The Government' takes 40 percent, so ... what's their problem? (Except Germany seems to have got off rather lightly, me thinks!)

from dangerspouse :

Yeah, but I was using a different accent this time.

from curious-me :

Happy Birthday! 2 parties are way better than 1! Live it up!!

from dangerspouse :

I'll keep that in mind next time I post a joke. Gotta post a translated version for the Limey contingent, too. :)

from jaysthoughts :

Just checking to see how many diarylanders still actually check their notes and stay active.

from dangerspouse :

I'm honored! (Just don't mess it up. If you're not a voice pro like me, stick to written re-tellings.) ;)

from dangerspouse :

Sorry it took so long for me to get back here and at least thank you for the great notes you left at my place, particularly the part about Q-Tips being inserted into Lady Bits. So allow me to rectify that here: THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT NOTES YOU LEFT AT MY PLACE, PARTICULARLY THE PART ABOUT Q-TIPS BEING INSERTED INTO LADY BITS!! I laughed. Then googled images of said insertion. Woooooooo!

from curious-me :

Wow - those pictures are gorgeous! What amazing scenery!

from dangerspouse :

Hehe. Thanks for the great note. Funny, from what I've heard, "please don't spit out the window" might well be the single most useful phrase one could learn if one were visiting China. Well, that and "please direct me to the anti-pollution device". I sympathize with your sister's ex-husband :)

from portlypete :

ps. But why solid chalk and a grater when the powdered stuff is so easily available?

from portlypete :

There is a simple answer to your confusion as to whether you were in BHS or Debenhams. You obviously, inadvetantly, reversed the polarity of the Neutron Flow in the 'Baby Section' - it's quite messy, but so easily done - and, as a consequence, you entered a Space-time continuum with the end result that you were transfered along a cosmic string ..... No, I have no idea :-(

from portlypete :

OMG! (as we youngster have it), are you that old?!?! Radio Caroline? Could I stick in a mention of Radio London also? I believe it did spawn the late Kenny E (or so my GGrandfather tells me).

from dangerspouse :

That clock would make a great Christmas present for my cat.

from curious-me :

I loved your pictures - and I love how green everything thing looks - I'm jealous! Also Mamma Mia...awesome movie - the bad singing is part of what makes it awesome ;)

from curious-me :

I loved #10 on your list! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas!

from portlypete :

And another thing! I've been going back in time - just like 'The Doctor' (but without the glamourous assistant)- and found 'the OFSTED song'. I will definitely be passing that link on to someone quite close who will relish the fact that she will never have to change the entire F***ing syllabus to jump through OFSTED's hoops again. ps I have noticed a slight education bias in your posts; am I right?

from portlypete :

Not my usual taste in music and I wouldn't have used those words, but the sentiments are spot on. In passing, I noticed they also do a little ditty charmingly entitled 'Menstrual Rag' which would be spot on for Dangerspouse's latest post. BTW, I liked the asymmetry of your plate design which added to its charm.

from dangerspouse :

LOL! Glad mine was not a unique experience :)

from curious-me :

Just wanted to write a quick note to say that I stumbled upon your diary a few months ago and have been enjoying playing catch up. I've added you to my 'buddy list' and look forward to keep on reading what you write! We may not have much in common (I'm a Canadian gal) but you are interesting to read & I've learned a few things as well! Take care.

from dangerspouse :

Ah, a fellow lexophile. Well met. (Or is it "well meat"?) Thanks for the apple info. That UK breed sounds like one I'd enjoy, as I tend to use less sweet varieties for my savory dishes. Regards your second note: you'll hear no quibbles from me about the quality of BBC announcers. They're the Gold Standard in the industry, and have been since Marconi. I myself was heavily influenced early on by Sir Wallace Greenslade (and his skewerings of John Snagge on "The Goon Show") and a constant diet of World Service programmes in the years since. I almost cried when I heard Fiona MacDonald sign off for the last time not too long ago. I wish I had half the abilities the majority of BBC presenters display.

from dangerspouse :

Yes that's sexual harassment. Because marriage by definition is sexual harassment. That is, if I may generalise my own experience to the population at large. (And thanks for the great notes!) :)

from joistmonkey :

Heh. You can't hotlink in these messages. I'm sure you can work out how to find out what I'm alluding to anyhow :-)

from joistmonkey :

I was fascinated that you could make a Sierpinski gasket with that 'random tangents within a triangle' method - quirky! The mess that was made of your rectangle by doing the same reminded me (though mathematically it doesn't seem very related) of Bertrand's paradox (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertrand_paradox_%28probability%29">Link</a>) which I can't remember if we discussed when talking about circle theorems.

from portlypete :

... or you could change your shower! But seriously, I have often wondered about what you were saying regarding succeeding at the expense of others. Now I know it has a fancy name, I shall be reading up on it.

from portlypete :

Windfarms - hmm. Not sure. As a friend of mine commented, "Not much good trying to explain to disgruntled passengers that their train won't run because the wind's not blowing". On the other hand, I reckon they would be grreat for producing hydrogen - isn't that pretty much the 'Holy Grail': energy storage? Mix with oxygen and, boom, you're off and running!

from stepfordtart :

Your commenty thing (and joistmonkey's) is a bit broken - wont let me scroll down to add a comment :-(. That means I have to ask you what the C in CGF stands for - I must have read it a while ago and forgotten and I cant think what it could be. *is stoopid* s x

from joistmonkey :

I had (Excel) assistance with the melons problem, writing something that would work out 1xa=8yb and 1xb=2ya for me for various inputs, but I got it to work with arms in the ratio of 2:1 to each other (longer on left) and a melon weighing 250g. [1kg * 20cm] = [250g * 8 melons * 10cm], and [250g * 2 melons * 20cm] = [1kg * 10cm], yes?

from heavensblue :

It seems I am always throwing money at my car to get it fixed, just when things seem to be going great, something happens with the car. Good Grief. ;)

from musikoid :

Woah dude! Blast from the past -- you and I have interacted many times in email exchange, but I have a different username here now. Just stopped to say hello.

from mjraven87 :

I was desperately trying to find something to occupy myself, and I was wondering who I could rant to. Then I remembered Diaryland!

from joistmonkey :

'Lo Mister Ruby sir. Could you do me the honour of sending me the password for your diary - have lost it, and my internet cookies, in the move. Joistmonkey at Diaryland dot com should work. Cheers!.

from mjraven87 :

I literally learned of the cows existence last week when my mum informed me of them! No idea where they are. The shopping centre is massive... I don't know how I am ever going to find anything in there when I need to! Good job I hate shopping so don't do it often :P

from mjraven87 :

Milton Keynes confuses me greatly, but I'm sure I'll get used to it, as I have only visited the once so far!! I'm looking at fun things to do in London now as it's so close! Never been to any of the museums or shops so this is something I am aiming to rectify.

from mjraven87 :

Yes, I got it thanks :) I haven't changed my email ever; it is still the first ever account I had!!

from stepfordtart :

Plenty good enough! You say the time and place and I'll bring the funnel and length of tubing. Euuurgh, actually that sounds quite unpleasant but I would deffo buy you a pint should you so desire. s x

from minstrelite :

I'm glad you see it as I do. There's a constant blast of sensory overload on Facebook that I find really hard to take. And I agree that it's a poor substitute for people actually getting together 'in-real-life' every couple weeks for catch-up. I really don't understand why people are so attached to Facebook. Maybe it's just an addictive thing, or a trendy thing - hard to say.

from minstrelite :

Hey Ruby, good to hear from you. For some reason you were on my radar and I included you on some email lists including my newer tunes. And yeah, 80's music is where I live pretty much, that and some of the romantic-to-impressionist-to-20th Century. Sure, send the user/pass in an email reply to the 'Happy Halloween' mail I sent, if you don't mind my reading you. Hope you're doing well!

from stepfordtart :

Yes, you're absolutely right but at the mo I only have it on hearsay. Will have to get cold hard facts before I let them feel my wrath/righteous indignation combo! s x

from mjraven87 :

hehe, well it has been good :) I would like to point out that I was VERY drunk when I made that entry lol. I shall probably get around to writing something out properly when I am not stressing over my uni work load, eeeek!!

from stepfordtart :

Hey! ref the ex thing. Regardless of who's right and who's wrong, if it doesnt impact on your settlement/diviion of spoils etc and you dont have kids, its sometimes easier to 'admit' to unreasonable behaviour (which is a catch-all for 'I dont like him any more') than to have to go through the counterclaim. With unreasonable behaviour, you have to cite six things that you consider unreasonable (or at least, you did when I was getting divorced)and then the other person gets to say "yeh. Fine. OK" or to counterclaim - along the lines of "Yeh? Well SHE did...." Luckily for me, one of the things I found unreasonable was 'he's shagging my friend' whcih changed it from an Unreasonable Behaviour petition to an Adultery one. Get some advice from a solicitor but it really might be easier (and quicker) in the long run to just say "whatever". L contested his ex wife's petition and five years later they were still bickering about it (and still married to each other!) - the only person who came out ahead were the solicitors. Lets face it, YOU'LL know the real reasons (and so will she). Its a crappy thing to go through so if you want some moral support you can have bucketloads from me and L. s x

from mjraven87 :

thank you :) I'm well happy!

from joistmonkey :

ALL living things, including plants and animals and anything eating these, as well as the atmosphere it's self, has the same ratio of carbon 14 (14C) to carbon 12 (12C) in it, and this balance is maintained as we eat and breathe (it's approximately one carbon 14 to every trillion carbon 12s, but since there are hundreds of trillions of carbon atoms in everything, there's enough to measure). Only after we die does the amount of 14C start to decline via radioactive decay, as it is not replaced by eating or breathing in any more 14C as we do when we are living). Half the 14C atoms will turn (actually to nitrogen, I was wrong) every 6000 years, as we know. So if we find an ancient body (or wooden artefact), we can compare the amount of 14C left in it to the amount of 14C we'd expect of a living sample of the same size, and using simple maths (not just multiples of 6000 - you can work it out quite easily from the amount left) can work out how long since it died.

from joistmonkey :

Carbon dating - every organic (i.e, once living) substance contains millions of carbon atoms, a small percent of which will be the unusual, radioactive and slightly unstable carbon-14 type. Imagine your archealogical artifact contains 1000 of these carbon 14 atoms (for similicity sake). Now we can't predict (qv. Schrodingers Cat) when any *individual* carbon 14 atom will decay and fall apart, but we know that via the laws of probability, half of them will have decayed in the 'half life' of the element carbon 14. So we'll have 500 left of the original 1000 after 6000yrs. Since the numbers of atoms are much larger in real life (say 10 million in a few grams) but overall decay is quite constant (and can be assessed by comparing the number of carbon 14 that has changed to carbon 12) we can assume that if half the carbon atoms have changed, it's 6000yrs old. If a quarter have changed, it's 3000yrs old, and so on... I think it relies on the fact that a living thing will keep a relatively constant ratio of carbon 12 and carbon 14 in their body (as they are eating stuff that replaces the balance, and they don't life thousands of years) but when they die, the 14's slowly start radioactively decaying to 12's.

from wombaby :

You could, I'm not that good!

from wombaby :

I don't know. I'm not an accountant ... yet :p

from wombaby :

Accountants', both!

from wombaby :

Your buying me plasters would not be a purchase. A purchase is something which is bought with the intention of reselling to make a profit.

from wombaby :

Though I do still have quite a lot of plasters left. I only had to buy more because I was in Essex and my plasters were not.

from wombaby :

Thanks. It doesn't work for me either. I just haven't had time to fix it.

from mjraven87 :

Glad to know I'm not the only one excited by it!! I also think I deserve the wine after the news I've had in the last few days!

from stepfordtart :

Me neither, its vile. I only go there under sufferance if Ive already tried everywhere else for some elusive foodstuff. Mind you, a little wander around there for half an hour always makes me feel really pretty and thin and well-dressed and posh. Try it next time you're feeling a bit down on yourself - the other shoppers there just make you feel glad to be you! *wink* s x

from mjraven87 :

Except from the fact that you can probably afford better wine than me!

from stepfordtart :

http://www.lydd-airport.co.uk/ They've done it up a bit since I was there last! Nothing can top the airport at Chichen Itza in Mexico - like Stoney Cross with one of those cricket huts from ChavVille Sports Centre stuck on it. The 'refreshments' were an oil drum, filled with ice, into which had been tipped a load of bottles of Coke. Its surrounded by jungle and the runways REALLY short so you kind of take off vertically just before you hit the trees! Bearing in mind we were travelling in what amounted to a minibus with wings (and when it rained mid-journey, we got WET!), it was all a bit scary! s x

from stepfordtart :

Ever been to Lydd airport? Its like someone's driveway. And a shed. Makes Chigley look like JFK. Did a play once (Terry Johnson's 'Insignificance') where I had to recite some big fat chunks of Einstein's Relativity stuff. As I was playing Marilyn Monroe (and so had also had to learn the voice!) it was a party piece of mine for a few years afterwards! lets face it, you dont learn all that stuff and then never repeat it, do you?! s x

from stepfordtart :

It isnt. But then, its not Christmas yet either! The market was kind of OK, in a horrid 'forced jollity' kind of way. The singers were good, in a kind of 'for Chigley' way. s x

from stepfordtart :

Lounge is Non U. So is living room (implies that every other room is for dying in!). I would only use a lounge to keep my serviettes, my perfume, my dresses and (possibly) my loo in! My napkins, scent and frocks would be in the sitting room, or preferably the drawing room. heheehee! ; ) s x

from stepfordtart :

Did you hack at it manfully with the bread knife, or wave a hairdryer over it and hope for the best? The freezer, I mean, not the safe! s x

from stepfordtart :

"what goes in DL stays in DL". Oh, Holy Hell, YES! ; ) s x

from stepfordtart :

Im here now! Ta very much. I laughed a lot at the Southampton thing cos, yes, thats where Im from. But also found myself astonished to click back a few entries and read about the delayed opening of the cinema in you-know-were cos thats where I live now! I call it Chigley in my diary, seeing as its a pisspot of a railway town full of people with wooden heads but hey, Hello, Neighbour! I shall add you to my buddy list if thats OK. s x

from stepfordtart :

Hi! My splendid old pal, smashthegas, tells me i should be reading your diary, since you mentioned my hometown! Any chance you could email me the password? Im at stepfordtartATdiarylandDOTcom. Thanks everso. s x

from mjraven87 :

Tis cheaper!!!

from student-bum :

Ah thanks for letting me know :)

from wombaby :

Well it didn't work for me - I just kept going back and taking more food. You'd be surprised by how many mini-eclairs a little thing like me can tuck away. Well, you would lol, you've seen me eat. Dad was surprised though.

from wombaby :

It was an eclair, and I was holding it because I was half way through eating it when the photo was taken. The other thing was sandwiches on a stick. No I don't know why they served them like that. Only had 3 guests and Uncle Peter had to watch the ceremony from Lecture Theatre 1 because I could only get 2 tickets for the Congregation Hall, but the pictures are from the reception. Grannie was supposed to come too but she couldn't make it because she had a kidney infection.

from mjraven87 :

I'll try not to :) My mum had a frozen shoulder and she said it isn't. Looked up various things and can't find anything that really fits the pain. A massage machine thingy hasn't helped either! Might go to the doctors on Monday as I've got to hang around that general area waiting for my sister to hand in a project at school anyway.

from wombaby :

Why would I look it up? I already know what it means.

from wombaby :

Look what up? The crossword? I'm rubbish at crosswords, never do them.

from wombaby :

Yeah, I know what you mean! Mercifully not that. Did you know all your notes have been deleted?

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