Jasper
Lots has been happening in the news
and I've hardly commented on it
so thought I should perhaps
say something
although it's quite difficult to know
what to say
because it's all so bad
particularly in Lebanon
where bombers are firing
at each other
killing a load of innocent people
both sides
thinking they are right
and the civilized world standing by
doing very little
and then there is british gas
stuffing the british public
with prices that are unreasonable
then there are the sporting cheats
who dose up to win
the whole place is mad
glad it's only a twinkling of an eye
and one day
I'll be it looking at
a place that
shines with the glory
of God
and its brilliance
like that of a very precious jewel,
like a jasper, clear as crystal
which of course
I can't imagine!
Lots has been happening in the news
and I've hardly commented on it
so thought I should perhaps
say something
although it's quite difficult to know
what to say
because it's all so bad
particularly in Lebanon
where bombers are firing
at each other
killing a load of innocent people
both sides
thinking they are right
and the civilized world standing by
doing very little
and then there is british gas
stuffing the british public
with prices that are unreasonable
then there are the sporting cheats
who dose up to win
the whole place is mad
glad it's only a twinkling of an eye
and one day
I'll be it looking at
a place that
shines with the glory
of God
and its brilliance
like that of a very precious jewel,
like a jasper, clear as crystal
which of course
I can't imagine!
In my gardenHaving come back from Paris - quite bizarre that I should see this little fella in the back yard.
Isn't she (or he, who knows!) cute. We don't have a pond, but do have plenty of slugs - so maybe he (or she) comes for her (or his) supper (or tea).
Guess where
Yep, we've been to Paris.
This is the base of Eiffel's tower.
It's big!
Paris was
and probably still is
great.
Very hot
Lots of people
Strong coffee
Bicycles
And a few steps up to
Sacre Coeur
FlyMayBe
Did us proud
Some night time pics
in My Photos.
Scotland
Perth in Scotland, not Australia
So all the BBQ stuff yesterday was wasted
No wonder I could do it all in a day.
However FlyMayBe tried their best to stretch it over the 24 hours! Good company can be found in Edinburgh airport. So the wait was very pleasant. I struggled with the accent a couple of times in the office. But that's because I was listening to calls including some guy in London. I couldn't work out any of his words in about 10 minutes of conversation. But Tanya who took the call was fantastic. Funnily enough, she was from Australia.
And the hottest day in England since records began
was replayed in Scotland as misty / low cloud, which
burnt off eventually, but was always near to hand.
Perth in Scotland, not Australia
So all the BBQ stuff yesterday was wasted
No wonder I could do it all in a day.
However FlyMayBe tried their best to stretch it over the 24 hours! Good company can be found in Edinburgh airport. So the wait was very pleasant. I struggled with the accent a couple of times in the office. But that's because I was listening to calls including some guy in London. I couldn't work out any of his words in about 10 minutes of conversation. But Tanya who took the call was fantastic. Funnily enough, she was from Australia.
And the hottest day in England since records began
was replayed in Scotland as misty / low cloud, which
burnt off eventually, but was always near to hand.
Hot CoalsThought these should be seen
to continue the food theme
And in the interest of you who hate
meat - I've eaten the steak.
Never know what to do at the end
with the hot coals
Done marsh mallows and toast.
Seems mean to douse them with water
to save them for another occasion.
So they just burn away.
Can't beat a good BBQ though.
Talking of which - I'm of to Perth tomorrow.
I understand our Aussie friends like a good ol' barbie.
Probably on the beach.
So maybe I'll get one tomorrow.
I am struggling to understand how I can get there and back in the same day.
Sloppy Giuseppi (pizza)
So named after the chef who first put hot spiced beef, green peppers and onions onto a classic base. Anyway I've had 4 of these in the last 10 days.
First with some friends whilst putting the world to rights.
Second with some colleagues putting a team together.
Third with a wife putting in some quality time.
Fourth with the parents catching up before a show.
I've probably had enough Sloppy Jo now - but it was good while it lasted. Not as good as the company of course.
All I need now is to burn off the excess calories.
Ah, I almost forget. I also ordered a take out pizza. I said to the guy one Sloppy Jo please, to go. He said is it just for you. I said yes. He said can I cut it into slices for you. I said yes. He said 4 or 6 slices. I said I'm not hungry enough for 6, so better make it 4.
I'm off for a run.
So named after the chef who first put hot spiced beef, green peppers and onions onto a classic base. Anyway I've had 4 of these in the last 10 days.
First with some friends whilst putting the world to rights.
Second with some colleagues putting a team together.
Third with a wife putting in some quality time.
Fourth with the parents catching up before a show.
I've probably had enough Sloppy Jo now - but it was good while it lasted. Not as good as the company of course.
All I need now is to burn off the excess calories.
Ah, I almost forget. I also ordered a take out pizza. I said to the guy one Sloppy Jo please, to go. He said is it just for you. I said yes. He said can I cut it into slices for you. I said yes. He said 4 or 6 slices. I said I'm not hungry enough for 6, so better make it 4.
I'm off for a run.
Your friends love you anyway
A few tips that I've picked up in life:
1. Never get tempted to write a list of tips about life.
2. There is a very fine line between a hobby and mental illness.
3. You should not confuse your career with your life.
4. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
5. It ain't as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.
6. If you ever find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time, then you have found a gem.
7. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.
8. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is age eleven.
9. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
10. Your friends love you anyway.
And maybe the best and most useful tip:
11. A person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person.
HeatToday was really hot
especially in the office
We talked about the hottest places we'd ever been
Ranging from Thailand, Rome, Africa.
And for me the 3.30 from Liverpool Street to Norwich a couple of weeks ago
When hot we usually love to take a dip, like the wonderful hippo here. Although he could do with brushing his teeth a little!
However, all I could do today was sit and sweat (and probably smell).
But I love it.
Funny this, but I just saw a similar hippo on Big Cat Week - what a fantastic programme.
Gut Rot
It's a long time
Since I wrote
A rhyme
But here goes
as I've had enough
of prose.
Zidane Zidane
You not a man
Like a rutting stag
You decided to bag
A young Italian
And we will fix
The world cup of 2006
In our meaning
with:
Sven leaving
Beckham leaving
Zidane leaving
And of course James
leaving
the rest of his family
behind
well done buddy!!!
So does my stomach ache
have anything to do with this
or more like
was the bbq
dodgy.
It's a long time
Since I wrote
A rhyme
But here goes
as I've had enough
of prose.
Zidane Zidane
You not a man
Like a rutting stag
You decided to bag
A young Italian
And we will fix
The world cup of 2006
In our meaning
with:
Sven leaving
Beckham leaving
Zidane leaving
And of course James
leaving
the rest of his family
behind
well done buddy!!!
So does my stomach ache
have anything to do with this
or more like
was the bbq
dodgy.
Silence
"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends"
"Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter: therefore, ye soft pipes, play on"
One quote by Martin Luther King, the next by John Keats.
I've been thinking about silence recently. Someone said to me that we all tend to run away from it. And we don't often (if ever) allow ourselves to enjoy silence. Take me for example. Get up, put on a radio, and an iPod while cycling to work. People all day at work. And if not people, then concentrating on email, or website, or powerpoint slides, or something or other. iPod home. TV, Music, Laptop, Book, Sleep.
So when I do want some peace and quiet, that usually means listening to some peaceful music. Or picking up a book. The last time I just sat in silence , with no distraction, and nothing to fill or obliterate the silence was......never, probably. Maybe I'm scared of it, or maybe it's such a stranger to me.
I think I'm going to find time to listen to the sound of silence - to discover what it's like. But not just yet.
"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends"
"Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter: therefore, ye soft pipes, play on"
One quote by Martin Luther King, the next by John Keats.
I've been thinking about silence recently. Someone said to me that we all tend to run away from it. And we don't often (if ever) allow ourselves to enjoy silence. Take me for example. Get up, put on a radio, and an iPod while cycling to work. People all day at work. And if not people, then concentrating on email, or website, or powerpoint slides, or something or other. iPod home. TV, Music, Laptop, Book, Sleep.
So when I do want some peace and quiet, that usually means listening to some peaceful music. Or picking up a book. The last time I just sat in silence , with no distraction, and nothing to fill or obliterate the silence was......never, probably. Maybe I'm scared of it, or maybe it's such a stranger to me.
I think I'm going to find time to listen to the sound of silence - to discover what it's like. But not just yet.
Full houseTo complete the picture.
Another day
Another prom
Another taxi run
Another proud dad
(well, same dad actually)
Another tear
Another use of my suit
Another mega set of pixels and bytes used up
I wonder how much storage space there is left in the world. I've used up a fair chunk of it recently.
Talking of another, I learnt another word or phrase today.
'Fix-up'
I'm told it means sort yourself out and get a grip boy (of girl).
I'm going to try it out tomorrow
Cherries
The good part of today was picking cherries in my back garden. We've had a tree for 13 years. In the early years it was too small. Then we never got much fruit, and for the last few years the birds and squirrel has pinched them all. However, this year a bumper crop. Lovely. Mind you a bet I looked pretty stupid half way up a tree with cherries falling about my head. And I'm sure a couple of blackbirds were plotting against me.
The bad part of the day involved spilling water - where water wasn't really wanted.
The cool part of the day, was that it was so hot.
The good part of today was picking cherries in my back garden. We've had a tree for 13 years. In the early years it was too small. Then we never got much fruit, and for the last few years the birds and squirrel has pinched them all. However, this year a bumper crop. Lovely. Mind you a bet I looked pretty stupid half way up a tree with cherries falling about my head. And I'm sure a couple of blackbirds were plotting against me.
The bad part of the day involved spilling water - where water wasn't really wanted.
The cool part of the day, was that it was so hot.
The PromThe prom girl and outfit,
both looking good.
So, I how can I possibly turn into a grumpy old man when I have someone like this around me.
But be warned, she, and her bro, will go soon. Go out into the big wide world.
And I'll be empty nested.
And maybe grumpy and old(er)
On the other hand.
I may be out every night, have lots of holidays, have a bathroom to myself, be able to find food in the cupboard, watch the TV I want too.....
There you go - you can see my potential grumpiness festering below the surface!
Back to the girl......
you looked great, well done.
