The things people say..........

First post of 2018, that's not bad, its only Feb (mid) seriously, by my standards that's not bad going at all.

I often want to post about things but then other things happen that make the things I wanted to post about seem less interesting or less important. Also, as I am sure you are fully aware by now, I sort of get easily distracted by, well by life and all its goings on. The outcome of that being it is often a looooong time between posts. I am not even going to say (anymore) that I will endeavour to post more frequently, on either this or the other blog, its unlikely to happen, isn't it? probably not no, still time will tell. I think I find myself saying that more recently, time will tell, you know when you are aware you say things regularly that annoy you, that's one of them, I must try to say it less, still time will tell, I can try.

I guess we all have those little sayings, nuances in ourselves that either annoy or humour us, possibly both. They probably annoy others too, although others may be totally unaware, we may think they are, but they aren't at all, something I may have to put to the test :-)

So what am I going to prattle on about nonsensically post about then, well I am not sure yet, it will come to me. If I were posting on the other blog I would (because of what I have done in the garage to today) ... (a bit of mystery eh, oooooh) have something to post about. Which probably begs the question why am I posting on this blog not the other one. Sorry, don't have the answer to that, well I sort of do, but like a lot of what happens it may not make total sense. Suffice to say I will undoubtedly post on the other one too at some point with a bit of an explanation, maybe.

When looking for inspiration for this post I was looking for images and the one /\ up there made me smile. Now I actually like bananas, one of the few fruits I do, but its more the words and meaning than the foodstuff that tickled me. I have never been one to put lots of stuff on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram (other social media platforms are available) or just casually mention things like "I had spaghetti for lunch, mad eh" or "the number 22 is late again, typical" or "just seen Beyonce in Starbucks" etc, etc, you get the gist. Not that there is anything wrong with that at all, it can be quite entertaining and a little bit of an insight into someones day, life, world, if that floats you boat. But, more recently I have been playing a little game (not in Jigsaw's "do you want to play a game" style)

cue pic

No, not in that way, though I am about to watch the latest (last year) reincarnation of Saw as my DB is working tonight so I have the house to myself. She is not a lover of horror films so I thought I would take the opportunity to enjoy one. See, I distracted myself again, as I say, I haven't been playing a game like that, more one to amuse me. It started when I saw a picture of a bat on a box, which I then took a pic of and put on Facebook, no idea why, it humoured me. It then developed/morphed into a variation of the word, not for any reason in particularly, purely my amusement. So I guess I may do post nonsense via the medium of social media at times, but its harmless, a bit like the "had a lovely banana earlier" comments.

I think it only becomes less harmless/more foolish when people don't think about what they post, tweet etc, or more importantly who may see it. There are plenty of stories out there about the person that posted something inappropriate about their boss or employer then wondered why they got a reprimand or lost their job. Equally, people that post things and do think about what they are posting and may be doing it to "have a dig at someone" over something they perceive is a problem but don't feel capable to say in person. That sort of thing is all good and well if no one else sees it, but when they do/can, well, that's probably more foolish and irresponsible than the category of folk that just don't think about what they post.

cue another pic

Thankfully I don't know anyone that would fall into that category, not that I would call a friend anyway, nor do I work with anyone like that, I am a lucky person in that respect. But they are out there, I have read things about the things people say. I guess there are many reason's people do it, I am sure IQ plays a part, as does good old common sense, or a lack of it, but I imagine a lot of it is borne from that old stalwart of, well, let me use a pic to explain.

Its been a bit pic heavy this post hasn't it, mine often are though, its also been a bit focused on Facebook for some reason, given it had no direction at the start I am bit worried it's focused on that, I am not paid to advertise I promise. Maybe the impending watching of a horror film has given the post a sinister edge, who knows, time will tell, see, the things people say, we all do it :-)

Actually time wont tell, not for this post anyway as I have a film viewing awaiting me but ti keep the pic theme going I will finish on one that amuses me somewhat.

Bye for now :-)

Yesterdays Tomorrow = Tomorrows Yesterday

It's ok, this isn't a competition. At least I don't think it is, it may end up as one, that's the trouble with some most of my posts, they end differently to how they started. Or, more accurately, I either go off on a tangent (something I am quite adept at I hasten to add) or I am not sure what I am going to go on about until I get started.

This is one of the latter.

Lets just see where it takes us shall we, we can always come back if we don't like it, cant we, did we get a return ticket?

I don't by the way, know lots of words, I will often use a word inappropriately, ok maybe not inappropriately (though occasionally) but more out of context. I also quite often read or hear a word I don't know and need to find out what it means, which I feel is a good thing. When I say quite often, I don't mean hourly, or even daily, probably not even weekly, to be honest I have never kept count or worked it out. Maybe I will, maybe I will post again in (insert number of days/weeks/months here) and give a breakdown of new words I have learnt, nicely presented in a pie chart.

Or not, maybe I wont, I wont, I decided, I might just eat a pie.

There was a program on television last night about words, we taped it. We didn't, nobody "tapes" things anymore. We "recorded" it via a different medium, no VHS or Betamax here, no no no, not that there is anything wrong with video players/recorders, it just things move on.



I am sure, at the time, back in the 80's it was a massive battle, VHS or Betamax, which VHS won if I remember right. I say won, it wasn't a lasting victory as now neither is used, certainly not by many people anyway.

QI is another good one for words, we watched a "taped" episode last night that had aired a few weeks previously and there were some real doozies of words contained within.

Yet another place I see words I haven't seen/read before is the Radio Times, although I am sure, much of the time they are out of place. I will often read the "pick of the day" part, that's not true, I don't, I skim it for any program (or program name) of interest to me. During such reading (of program I know or of interest) the review/write up will be going along smoothly, comfortably, then, from nowhere, a completely out of context word is used. Its not out of context with the meaning, its out of context in the review of that program. Its as if its been used for the sake of it, the rest of the piece is very much in a "Dick and Jane" style, or similarly as simplistic, then out of nowhere, a word slips in that is completely out of sink with the style the rest of the writing. This is probably to either (and I like this possibility) send people scurrying to look up what it means, the person writing the review will be sitting at home picturing various people reading the review then stopping at a given point to see what "that" word means. The other possibility (there are probably many, I am just giving you 2, you can think of more yourself if you can be bothered) is that the person writing it is being "arsey" (me using the wrong word again? maybe) and trying to portray themselves in a certain light by using a word that is not commonly known or used. Not commonly by a "non wordy" person like me anyway.




My dearly beloved Mrs R (henceforward to be known as DB, as I have already used this acronym on the other blog numerous times) is a very "wordy" person. She writes a lot (though not as much as she would like) and is rather good at it, she will no doubt be turning her eyes up at some much of this post, my grammar, sentence structure, appropriate use of words etc not being as they should be no doubt.

Did you notice that in the last paragraph, within the first bracketed part I possibly did what I moaned about certain radio times writers doing?

I have also realised this post and its contents are a sure sign I am getting old, I have mentioned the radio times far too much (I did earlier on Twitter today too) and have also gone on about video players and Dick and Jane, all things from long ago. Well not the radio times, you can still get that if you are so inclined, but the other things.

Before I draw this post to its ultimate end I think a quick musical interlude is required because, well, because I can.

INTERLUDE

I am a huge Talking Heads fan and the Tom Tom Club do have a rather close association, it also keeps the word theme going I feel.

Out of interest, is there another word for Thesaurus?

Dennis the Menace and......

No, not Gnasher, I know that's what you were thinking, isn't it?

If you say to anyone Dennis the Menace they will (most likely) think the following words are "and Gnasher", as in Dennis the Menace and Gnasher.

That is unless they are darts fans, then they may well think of Dennis "the menace" Priestley he of the "arrers" fame. Interestingly (or not) if you google "arrers" (well I wanted to make sure it was spelt right) the Urban Dictionary, which itself conjures up all sorts of weird and wonderful words/saying, puts "arrers" in a a sentence, in case you are in any doubt what it means. I've just flung my arrers (the UD says), I think it would work better with me arrers, not my arrers (go on, say it in your best Cockernee accent and see which works better) but that's the example they give, my not me.

So why the teeth, or gnashers, as we like to refer to them. I say we, I am not sure who I'm including in that, but I know a lot of people refer to teeth as gnashers.

I have posted about teeth or things related to them previously, how do I know that. Well I have this amazing memory about things I have said many years ago, no, that's not true. Some days I forget what happened the day before, I would have no chance in remembering specifics of what I have posted way back. The reason I know is the label in the post. I wanted to use the label teeth for this one and saw I have used it previously, twice in fact.

Why am I doing a post about teeth, well, they drive me potty (mine) some of the time, now being one of those times. I have several crowns (no, I am not talking regal) and 1 of the in particularly frequently comes loose and drops out, occasionally mid sentence, which can make for interesting interactions, particularly if I am talking to someone that doesn't know me. I often liken it to Conrad Poohs as it isn't just the one tooth. At any given time it could be a range of them, well different ones, sometimes more than one, not sure why they just make me think of dancing teeth.



There will be less dancing soon, of the teeth, not me, I don't do dancing, well, I have, but that's another post entirely.

Major work is planned and commences shortly, proper scaffolding up and planning permission stuff.

Well maybe not quite that serious, but its a big thing for me and took a while to get my head round.

I doubt very much this will be the last tooth post either and why should it be, at a pound a go (depending on tooth fairy rates) there is a financial benefit to them pooping out, or dancing, as I like to think of them :-)

Who knew

I didn't that's for sure, not prior to writing this anyway.

It turns out, that Flossy is the name of a Spanish shoe manufacturer's/retailers. I'm loving the camper van greeting on the first page of their website and some of their stuff actually looks ok. I may even buy a Tony in the sale, well 2, one would be no good would it, I probably wont though if I am honest, but for that money, can you go too wrong?

I genuinely do need a basic pair of slip on shoes for "slipping on" (they named them well didn't they) quickly before popping outside . The sort of thing you keep near the back door, for when you need to get the washing in, or put something in/take something out of the garage, or put the bins out, or wipe down your Flamingos because they have become too greasy. Well maybe not the last one, but I am sure most people "pop out" quickly (not in a Micky Flanagan going out way). . .(which to me remains funny however much it is viewed) to do something or other in close proximity of their house.

Assuming you are one of those people who do something or other in close proximity of your house and you don't have some slip ons already, get some, try it, you may find its the best thing you have done, or not, who knows. All I know is I was saying to Mrs R the other day that I need to buy another pair, I threw my last pair in the bin of our old home as we moved out, it was quite a cathartic moment, so I am currently 1 pair short. That's not to say I have other pairs, saying I am 1 pair short makes it sound like I have many and when I last audited I realised a pair had gone, that's not what I mean at all. I just mean that at this moment in time, I don't have any, but would probably like a pair. Maybe stumbling across Flossy's shoe site was an omen, or maybe that's just a book and a film.

Believe it or not, my starting point for this post wasn't slip on shoes at all. It was giant Flamingos, well bigish ones, actually 1 to be specific. A Flamingo affectionately nicknamed Flossy, who now (only for now) lives in our porch. I should add that Flossy isn't one of the Flamingos evacuated from the Florida Zoo as the hurricane bore down. She hasn't been "safely evacuated" to our porch from the USA, that would be bonkers, to coin a phrase (another person that makes me chuckle) no, she originated in the UK. I am not sure where she was "made" but we acquired her from Cornwall, following a recent trip, really, don't ask.

Before anyone contacts the society for the prevention of undue weirdness to Flamingos (or its equivalent) I should explain that she isn't real. Well she is in that she is a tangible object, she exists, she isn't imaginary, but she isn't alive. She isn't deceased either, she was never alive, she is made of metal, or tin, or some such material. My slack description of what she is made of is probably a sign I am becoming bored with describing her now, so I will stop.

I am sure I will return with more tales or talk of Flossy at some point in the future, for now though, all you need to know is that she is metal (ish) in the porch and came from Cornwall. Oh and she lights up too, did I forget that bit, yes she lights up, apparently.

As much as its lovely going back to Cornwall, my mother is Cornish and someone very special lives there (my son) I do worry about what comes back with us sometimes, Flossy being a point in question, still she seems to be settling in, in the porch!

Distraction

Yes, distraction.

I have been finding myself distracted by numerous other things and thus haven't posted on here (or the other one) for over a year, yes a whole year. Its actually less than 3 months short of 2 years since the other blog had any attention, let a lone a post. 

See, distraction.

In my defence (I know I don't need one, but just in case I ever do) I have been super busy with other things, lots of other things. If you throw getting married and moving house into the mix too you can see why I may have been distracted. 

I also got distracted, well, distracted myself, when looking for a first image for this post. I was going to go on about not posting for so long due to liking the symmetry on my dashboard, no I don't have a new car, so can't blame that as a distraction too. Interestingly the new car (not that it is now) arrived on the day of the Brexit Vote (23rd June 2016).......

........so not long before the last post, but not since it so doesn't officially qualify as an excuse or distraction. I call it the brexit vote, of course its correct title was the "United Kingdom European Union membership referendum 2016" just rolls of the tongue doesn't it. Anyway my reason for bringing it up (the vote thing) is that I want to go into more detail about how the economy, housing situation and confidence in the government has been affected. I particularly want to examine, then, with the input of those who are reading this, carry out a detailed appraisal of.................. honestly I really really don't, another case of distraction I fear.

The dashboard I was actually talking about (prior to my distraction) was the blog dashboard. Refer to the stuff I a was going on about in the last post, all that time ago. With that in mind, I was going to post something along the lines of my delay in posting being based purely on the fact I didn't want to ruin the 14 plus 14 thing I had going on. As the post was going to start that way and be based around that I was looking for an image along the lines of "I wont lie to to you" because I would have been, at least initially, by saying the delay was due to keeping the symmetry and 14 - 14, before then going on to say "I cant lie" (and possibly including another image) and coming clean, keeping up, good. That was far too long a sentence, something I make a habit of, not just in the written form either, breath Neal, breath, stop distracting yourself too and get to the point.

So I started looking for said image and stumbled across the one that I started the blog with instead, because it tickled me when I saw it, see, distraction. 

I should add that I really am fine, very fine, or mighty fine in fact, it's just that the image tickled me. 

Will it be a year before the next post, will the blog get some attention layout wise, will the other blog ever get posted in again, for the answers to this and more, stay tuned.....

This post was bought to you by the letter d (for distraction), the number 15 (work it out, the clues are there) and the colour blue, not because I am (far from it) but its a good colour :-)

Double 14

An interesting image?

Probably not, unless you are a darts fan, but it is there for a reason, please allow me to explain.

As you may have noticed, it’s been rather a long time since my last post (over 9 months) and if it hadn’t been for the meaning behind the image ^ up there ^ it would have been longer.

It’s surprising how time flies by (it is most definitely an age thing, like many things) and I have always been the type to be easily distracted, ooooh look, a spider…… Where was I, that’s it easily distracted :-)

It has been a very busy 2016 thus far, with one thing and another (or even many things and many others) so the blogs (and other things) have taken a back seat, due to me being distracted.

There has been much wedding planning, for ages it seemed a long while off (well it was) but now it’s getting in to that, we really need to decide, do, arrange, book, xyz as we have less than 6 months to go. It’s all rather exciting. I have also been busy work wise, for numerous reasons that may or may not feature in a future post. On top of that we have acquired a kitten too quite recently. I should say at this point, I am not a lover of cats and allergic to them, I will just leave that comment hanging there for a while……….

When I say I am “not a lover of cats” and allergic to them, the 2 actually go hand in hand and as it turns out are both bare faced lies inaccurate, totally inaccurate. I think I have always been not keen on cats due to being allergic, so it’s not a case of not being a lover of them, I think I just always knew (thought I knew) I couldn’t allow myself to get close to them because of the allergy monster lurking inside me. Long story short (not easy for me as you know) it turns out there are certain cats that are better for those with allergies. This is a good thing, my dearly beloved fiancé adores cats, used to have one and has wanted another for a long while. However, this was not possible, after all, I’m allergic remember, turns out I am not, not to all cats anyway. We did some research, found an incredibly helpful and lovely breeder of said cats, spent many hours over several visits with said breeder (and cats) and the above pic is the end result. She is the cutest most adorable cat I have seen with a wonderful temperament and super personality. Sneezing, runny eyes, no sir not I, ok, a little (very little) initially, but it was also peak hay fever time when she arrived which most likely didn’t help. So the moral of the story, I don’t know, does it need one?

Ok, ok, I will provide one. Don’t assume something is unchangeable. I know, it’s rubbish as “morals of the story” go, but I never planned on providing one, this post is supposed to be about 2 lots of 14.

Coming back to that, as said I nearly didn’t post here today. I was actually going to post in the other blog (which has also been neglected for a prolonged period, again) but I couldn’t. Well I could, of course, that was my aim, but then I saw the number of posts on each blog. The other blog (28) and the number on this one (14) which was good and appealed to my even number freakiness and sense of tidy, balanced order.

So what’s the problem you say, well, it wasn’t actually 14 on this one, if it was, I could have stuck to my original plan and posted on the other blog, after all, the symmetry couldn’t last forever, unless I never posted again, which to be fair it did look like after my extended hiatus. On closer examination though it transpired I had a “draft” post on this blog so it looked like 14 but was actually 13. So you see I had no choice, not really, if I had posted on the other one, it would have been 29 and 13, well that doesn’t work in any way does it. At least for now there is a sense of orderliness and balance on my blogger dashboard, yes that will change, of course it will, but for now, there is tranquillity, which is nice :-)

A quick one

Not The Who album, or with addition of "while he's away" the song, although I feel its worthy of a mention and a link. It was Townshend's first proper go at the "mini opera" style you know (pre Tommy), the song (a quick one while he's away) not the album (a quick one), keeping up, good.

All a bit linktastic there wasn't it, 4 in 1 paragraph, wowzers! I think we will have 4 in the next one too, purely for continuity :-)

So why a quick one, well, because mostly that what's this post is. I wasn't going to post here at all, I had no intention of doing so, a bit like Micky Flanagan not planning on going out, but it just happened. I was going to post on the other blog, not here, it wasn't even on my mind, but before doing so I noticed from the dashboard, (those familiar with Blogger will know what I mean when I say dashboard) .... (for those that don't I am not referring to the bit of your car that holds your steering wheel to the windscreen). Its an area where you can get an overview of your blog, nothing exciting sorry, while there I noticed that this one (blog) had 13 posts, cue dramatic music, I mean come on, 13, I couldn't leave it at that, can you imagine the perils, pitfalls and misfortunes that could befall me, those I know and possibly the world if I left on 13.

No exactly, nothing would have happened, its just a number, although I do have "a thing"about odd numbers, or more specifically even numbers. An example, well, when adjusting the volume on something with numbers, I do like to leave it on an even number, if someone else does it fine, but if I do, its not staying on uneven. In saying that I do sometimes do it, where its not practical (for volume purposes) to have it even, as the best volume is in between 2 evens (yes, an odd) but you get my drift, I have "a thing" about it.

We all have "a thing" about something and our own unique quirky ways, its what makes us individuals and the the world an interesting place.

My point?

We all have thoughts, behaviours and emotions that differ, most of the time this is fine and not a problem but every now and then it causes us or someone else a problem, as I kept hearing today, its all about perception. Whilst I don't necessarily agree its "all about perception" one thing I do agree with (that I also kept hearing today) is that we all have mental health. The trouble is, the person saying it didn't mean it that way, they were referring to mental illness mental disorder mental difficulty unsoundness of mind or mental ill health call it what you will, there are as many terms as classifications in the ICD 10. What they didn't grasp is that WE ALL HAVE MENTAL HEALTH, please stop referring to "having mental health" as if its a bad or negative thing or something requiring intervention.

GRRRRR

Rant over :-)

Happy Anniversary!

Let me start by saying I really don't like the "keep calm" trend that dictates you can seemingly now place the words in front of anything (and everything) to make it, more humorous?

Neither is the post linked in any way to love, despite the heart being present at the top of the image.

The image above purely exists to mark the wonderful occasion the ongoing neglect that is 2 years old today, It being that long since I last posted on this poor, cobweb riddled and dust covered blog.

I am tempted to have a rant about the vast array of products that now feature "keep calm" etc etc, I am also tempted to do a little piece about hearts (biologically and love related) but will refrain from these things for now, though will likely (if I post again within the next 2 years) produce a love related post, but more on that at the time.

So, 2 years eh, wow, what can I say, would it really matter or excuse the total disregard I have shown, does anyone really care, so many questions..........

Interestingly (at least I find it so) the last post (yes, 2yrs ago) made reference to my eyesight and the fact I was so proud of myself as I had been to the opticians that day and had been given the all clear, much to my surprise. Well, a few weeks ago, I repeated the exercise and this time (drum roll please)

Yes, I was given a pair of the finest glasses you ever could see, I couldn't, obviously, well, not without my glasses on but it appears that (as the Optician said to me) "its finally caught up with you" (meaning old age) (which incidentally I have known for a long while lol) and subsequently I now need reading glasses. To be fair, they have proved most beneficial (and clearly much needed) for reading and close up work. The flip side to this, is when looking at anything past about arms length while wearing them I seem to enter a strange world of distorted images with a degree of disorientation, not helpful. There is a remedy though, one that all you spectacle wearers will already be well aware of, the "end of the nose perch position" as I refer to it. This enables me to look at things and people in the distance, and also see things close up, by looking down my nose at them (not that way) although I am told (by some) it looks a bit disconcerting (probably a polite way of saying weird), still, I don't notice this, just those looking at me when I am doing it so I'm happy :-)

Prior to posting today, I took a quick peek at previous posts (including the first one) and remembered that I had said at some point I may well post a link to this (and my other) blogs predecessor, my first foray into blogging if you will. In theory a perfectly good idea, but first I had to find it (the predecessor) after all, its been a while and as you know (2 years since posting here) I am not the most active or attentive blog poster/owner. After a bit of hunting, I managed to find it and took a glance at some of the posts. I remember changing the layout and look of it when it was "decommissioned" so some of the images and videos don't "sit right" on the page (I'm being fussy) but it was good to look back at some of it. My reason for telling you all this, well, one is to post the link in case any one is bored interested enough to take a look (its there on the right under the "In the beginning" heading) as I said I would in my first post here, back in June 2011. The second reason, its an excuse to repost one of the photos I stumbled across on there as it made me smile, his name is Bob incidentally.......

On a warm day like today its probably a little odd to see snow, so focus on Dignity instead if you want (the red bug in the background) not the word, or song about a ship (good tune). He (Dignity, not Bob, he melted) is in Cornwall now with my (truly wonderful) son and has his own page on the internet (Dignity, not my son) made by his previous owner.

On a final note (I need to get on with other things and for reason and another its been a day of much writing) although I neglect my 2 current blogs, I don't think I was as bad with their "predecessor" at least not initially. It was only active for less than 2 years (8th Sept 2009- 28th May 2011) and had 94 posts during hat time, compare that to the same time period on this blog and its actually 94 more!

I will definitely definitely definitely not leave it so long next time, which thankfully gives me 729 days to play with until I need to post here again, I imagine it will be much sooner though, now I have reacquainted myself with "Neal by mouth"

Further ongoing neglect

However, last time I suggested I was being neglectful it had only been 3 months between posts, the longest gap to date is the 345 days prior to this post......

On this occasion, it has only been a mere 250 days between posts, while this is much longer than 3 months gap leading to me initially suggesting I was neglectful, it is not as long as the record 345 day gap. What can we take from this, anything you want really, I'm just supplying the facts, what you make of them is up to you (too much use of the word "this" so far, need to remedy this, that)

So where have I been? What have I been doing? Is it even interesting?

I would love to be able to tell you but unfortunately I am unable to for safety reasons, yours, not mine. If I started to divulge to you the events of the last 250 days of my life, I guarantee it would not take long until you nodded off, this, could obviously be dangerous, depending where you are reading. in saying that, its been (in general) a jolly good 250 days, I just cant be bothered to recount it all, it would take far too long, suffice to say there have been no changes you need to be aware of dear reader, if there were I would tell you, you know that.

Opticians, I went to see them today, well I am off for a few weeks (with 3 days work in between) so am using the time to catch up on things I need to do, opticians, dentist, BLOGGING and other assorted "I really must do that" things that have been put off. So why do I mention it, well for the past few weeks/months my lovely Fiancé has been of the opinion that I may need glasses. To be fair, I have been tending to agree with her, due to me doing odd things while holding things to read. I don't mean breaking into an impromptu version of the Riverdance, Michael Flatley I am not, nor do I mean thinking it would be lovely to visit Old Trafford and watch Gollum do his best to emulate old purple nose....... Sorry, my mind and fingers feel soiled now just typing it, eeuugghh, sends a shiver down your spine.

No, its none of those things, the odd things I have been doing are a sure sign of age, moving the item I am reading back and forth in front of me as I try to read it. This is something I have been doing at varying degrees recently and I genuinely thought I may need glasses in some shape or form. It turns out I was wrong though after receiving a clean bill of health today at the opticians. I was told my eyes are starting to deteriorate (its an age thing) and the "slowness in adjusting" that I demonstrate when reading things in certain light close up will only increase (can slowness increase, do I mean decrease, nope, I mean increase) but at the moment no further intervention is required. I am to return in 2 years, though if it gets bad before that I am to return sooner, either way, its good news. I'm deteriorating, degenerating and generally falling apart slowly as I get older, but I am still just about hanging on in there.

Curiosity

Yes, we all know what it did to the cat; although I have never seen proof of this, more "heard about it" apparently it got killed by its curiosity. Not to be mistaken for the 80's group by the same name I hasten to add.

My curiosity relates to something that has occurred around me, not to me, or by me (although at times I know I have been guilty of it) but not the particular incident this post is about, no, this happened around me (by another) Making no sense am I, nothing new there then. It is difficult for me to be too specific. In order to protect the innocent (or guilty, depending on your viewpoint) so I will get to the point, if I can.

I'm curious, actually I'm not, I'm completely baffled, as to how (or why) someone (male or female, young or old, short or tall, rich or poor, you get the drift) would spend a few years of their life, learning to do something, training to do something, but not trying to do something. Still making no sense, excellent, lol.

I know we are all individual, have different motivations, things that drive or inspire us, equally things that distress, de motivate and stress us, but not trying is an infuriating trait, particularly for those trying to help, guide, support, encourage etc. etc. etc. the person in question.

To me, it seems a waste, to do something for a few years, but not actually do it, unless the goal was to never do it, in which case not trying would be seen as a success by the individual, as they never planned to succeed.

Another of life's great mysteries I guess…………

Countdown (no relation to Bob Holness)

Yes, only 20 days to go.

Until what you ask?

Until its been a whole year since I last posted, how lazy is that!

Actually its not really laziness, I have been somewhat busy with numerous other things. I spoke in my last post about a piece of “pre course work” I had completed, well, I have now completed the training that the pre course work preceded, with me? Good.

Suffice to say, undertaking this particular training (for almost 5 months) along with various other things that have been going on, has led me to put the blog on the back burner for a while a year (almost).

Have I missed it, ummmmm, in a way yes, its nice to have a medium (long while since I was that) to spout views, opinions and general nonsense. But if I'm completely honest, it hasn't been at the forefront of my thoughts for a while, other things have been much nearer the top of the “to do list”. So when I say missed, I possibly mean forgot, but not now. Now its no longer forgotten, its remembered and once again active.

Not sure how frequently I will post, or what about, but I certainly wont go (almost) a year again without posting.................

A form of neglect?



I know it could be seen as neglect, after all, it's been nearly 3 months since my last post, but I have a valid ish reason.

Not long after I last posted I started on a piece of “pre course work” for additional training I want to start next year (I wont go into details now but no doubt will at a later date). Anyway, this piece of “pre course work” consisted of a 10,000 word assignment that I had 10 weeks to complete.

Suffice to say the last thing on my mind during that time was writing anything extra (in the form of a blog post) so I didn't, hence the neglect.

Thankfully its completed and submitted (last week) so I feel I can now look a keyboard in the eye (???) again and tippety tap away on it making letters into words.

I do (like many) use a keyboard at times during work and also at times during leisure but I'm not one that writes, or should I say compiles a collection of words together (a big difference lol) for any other reason than if its work/academic/assignment based.

Well, one other reason, blog post related, but any one that has read this or any other post will know that they really are just a collection of words clumped together, still, keeps me amused..........

Flim Flam!

Please don’t ask why, I have no idea, I was driving home from work and the words just sprung (if a word can spring) into my head, the words flim and flam.

I was going to leave it at that and move on but as I hadn't posted for a while I thought, I know, I will post about flim and flam, should be a pair of magicians shouldn't they, the mysterious flim and wondrous flam. There probably are a couple of artistes of some discipline (if not magicians) plying their trade under the name of flim and flam.

So I got home, googled the word flim flam (or flimflam, whatever takes your fancy) as I wasn't sure exactly what it meant, I though it was something to do with nonsense, bit like this post, bit like many of mine, but it doesn't, not strictly. It can mean nonsense but its more aligned to meaning to swindle or related to a confidence trick.

There the post was going to stop, but I thought I would look at google again under flim flam to the extent of its reach , its a film (The Flim Flam Man) a book about unicorns and other strange things (Flim Flam Physics) and even numerous songs, also an album made by members of the counting crows (Shim Sham Flim Flam).

As for images related to Flim Flam, well, there are lots of weird and wonderful ones,  I was initially looking  for a pic to accompany the post and there are loads, however I didn't use any, as you can see.

Seeing as its most notably linked to confidence tricks I thought I would go with an image linked to one of my favouritest (I know its not a real word) TV programs instead.

Too much time on my hands?, possibly, going for a bath now, goodnight :-)

I would like to say

As today is her birthday and she truly is the worlds greatest girlfriend.

Right, that’s that bit out of the way (all heart and a true romantic aren’t I lol) I have been back from my holiday for over a week now so should have posted sooner, but didn’t, as you can tell, not sure why I explained it really.

We had a lovely time away although WGG (worlds greatest girlfriend) …. (I will choose a more appropriate title but for now I’m sticking with that, at least for this post anyway), where was I, that’s it, WGG was unable to relax as much as she wanted as one of the little dogs was poorly prior to us leaving so she was understandably worried about him while we were away. He was in good hands (father and mother of WGG were looking after him) but we were both keen to get back and see how he was. Unfortunately he was still a poorly bunny (no not a rabbit, just me using that word) when we got back so we took him to the vets the day after we returned.

Not good news and he didn’t have long left bless him but after a few injections he was able to have an enjoyable and restful last few days with us and his brother before being put to sleep last week, he will be missed greatly by me and I didn’t get to know him anywhere near as well or for as long as WGG did, he was quite a character though and I became rather fond of him. The good thing is his brother (who is still full of beans)…(not literally, I was just using that word)…(like I did earlier when I said bunny)…..(do I really have to keep explaining all this) as I was saying, his brother, seems to be adjusting really well and very quickly to being an only dog, which is good J

Back to the holiday, we had relatively good weather and it was the first time WGG had been to that part of the UK, I’m pleased to say she liked it and is happy to return in the future, its my favourite part of the UK so I’m glad she felt happy and comfortable there (later in the year she is taking me to her favourite part of the UK and somewhere I have never been)

Back to the birthday, today WGG is something or other years old and I know she has had (and hopefully will continue to have) a lovely day, although she will never be as old as me, I’m realllllllllly old.

It's......

Time :-)

So I shall be neglecting my blog, all things work related and generally having a bloomin good time :-)

I may return in a week.......

Ok, I will return, obviously, I have to as its only booked for a week, but at some point, I’m not sure when, but at some point, there is every possibility I will go there and not come back, like I did many years ago, except I did come back then (after 6 years or so) but then you know that because I’m here now, what do you mean I’m making no sense lol, maybe I will explain when I come back, maybe not J

You don't say.....



You know when you read something and think to yourself “really, you don’t say” well that’s me that is. That’s exactly the response I had after reading this particular article (WARNING, DON’T CLICK ON THE LINK IF YOU ARE OFFENDED BY THE F WORD)

When I say f word I don’t mean fringillaceous or even floccinaucinihilipilification, I think we all know the word I mean, so if offended, don’t look and if you did already I apologise lol.

For those that didn’t look, it’s basically a small piece about Brian Wilson (Beach Boys singer/songwriter) explaining how drugs “messed” his brain up.

Stating the obvious perchance??????????  Just slightly……..

He describes how LSD led to auditory hallucinations that he still experiences to this day, but hey, initially he felt really creative after using LSD so that’s ok then.  A brief increase in creativity is worth a lifetime of hearing voices making continual derogatory comments about you isn’t it? (that was sarcasm ladies and gentleman, I’m not being serious)

Still, if one person learns from Brian’s experiences and as a result doesn’t use or stops using illicit substances then it’s a good thing he has gone public with it. Equally if it raises awareness of the link between drug use and mental health difficulties then it’s positive.  It’s not always easy for people to speak openly about their experiences with mental health problems, or drug use so fair play to him.

By the way, the Beach boys song I linked to is (in my opinion) a long way off being one of their better songs, there are loads that I like and I enjoy listening to now and again, Barbara Ann not being one of them lol. The reason I linked to that particular song was so that I could go off on a complete tangent (I do that, you may have noticed) and link to another video. Its a different version of Barbara Ann by THE greatest drummer of all time, granted his singing is appalling but that wasn’t what he was known for. I have seen it many times and it never fails to bring a smile and a chuckle :-)

This is just.......

……. a quick celebratory post, a celebratory post in recognition of the passing of a rather unpleasant chapter in my life. I say chapter, it was a few weeks and although unpleasant I am probably over doing it somewhat.

I’m talking about the abscess (as mentioned in the last post)

Without wishing to tempt fate and say the wrong thing, but in hushed, whispered, walls have ears, carless talk, nudge nudge wink wink, keep it under your hat (etc etc) type way, I think….

I’m over the worst

Hence a celebratory post, ok, I admit, it’s a bit of a lame reason to celebrate, but celebrate I will J

I feel slightly confused

Probably more than “slightly”

It doesn’t take much to confuse me, but as I sit here typing this (with immense pain in my mouth) I must admit to being very confused by the above saying.

I appreciate that in certain circumstances “no pain no gain” can make a bit of sense and may even be justified, but I would imagine that in many more circumstances it sounds like utter twaddle to the person experiencing said pain.

If I were in training for something or trying to achieve some personal goal re endurance etc  then maybe, just maybe I would agree, but I’m not, I’m sitting here with an abscess in my gum, deep beneath a tooth, pressing on a nerve and feeling more sensitive by the hour, oh and its expletive expletive agony L

So that’s the pain part established, now for the gain part, ummmmmm ,  oh, I know, once I have endured this pain my gain will be a reward of some sort from the government, possibly linked  to events in Libya and how my abscess played a central role in a positive outcome? A knighthood maybe, for services rendered to the dentistry profession? What about an enormous sense of wellbeing and inner peace because I know my suffering was not in vain and others will benefit from it………. No? I wonder what it will be then.

Let’s be honest, none of those will occur and nothing good will come of it, there is no gain linked to the pain I’m currently in, the only gain will be when it stops but that’s a daft reason to have pain, knowing it will be nice to endure because when it stops you will feel better. That’s like hitting your thumb with a hammer repeatedly while putting a shelf up because you know that when you stop hitting it you will be happier, of course you will be, but that’s not the point, don’t hit it in the first place!

No pain no gain? Sorry, don’t agree at the moment, more like pain with no gain…………

Still, on a brighter note at least the shelf is up and the swelling in my thumb has gone down, I’m joking, I wasn’t hitting my thumb with a hammer, although I was putting a shelf (or 2) up J

I feel invigorated

It's lovely to be in a position to ramble away freely again, witter away wildly, generally spout nonsense or vocalise what may be lurking in my head.

I should say hello shouldn’t I, HELLO!

So why am I invigorated, what’s this wonderful invigorating thing that’s occurred to cause so much invigoration, it’s this, this here, on the screen, the blog silly.

I had one previously (it still exists out there on the tinterweb, I may even post the link at some point in the future for those bored enough to peruse its ramblings) but for various reasons it reached a natural end and a new one was needed, a new 2 actually, that’s part of the reason why the old one had been deemed to have run its course,  the need for a second “additional” blog,  but more of that later, not necessarily in this post, but certainly at some point.

I haven’t started the second blog yet, well I have in a way, but not to the extent of posting anything yet, so this post is officially the first post of the 2 new blogs. I will link to the second blog at a later date for those reading this that are interested in seeing something else, but not yet, the time is not right, mainly because there is nothing to see there yet, not in a Naked Gun way, just in the way that there really is nothing to see there, very little anyway, a few words that’s all, either way, this is definitely the first post on either of the “new” blogs.

What do we want to talk about then?

Anything at all, really, you don’t mind, ok then, what about the amphibious ice cream van? We can talk about that? Don’t fancy it, ok then, what about the F1 car hurdling man, no, not your thing? Ok, we can talk about the 5 best places to drink tea, surely that’s worth discussing isn’t it?

Not easily pleased are you, I suggest three things and you don’t want to talk about any of them, talk about fussy, ok then, I will.

I am incredibly so, predominantly in relation to what goes in my mouth, that’s not why I named the blog Neal by mouth, I’m not implying I don’t eat anything, I called it that because that’s my name, Neal (not “by mouth”) so it seemed appropriate, although its more Neal by keyboard as I’m typing this not speaking it, also being a nurse I couldn’t resist a bit of malapropism.

Anyway, back to the fussiness, as I said, I am, very, although I have improved (I mean I’m becoming less fussy, not getting better at being fussy) over the past 6 months or so, I actually eat the occasional vegetable now, something that was unheard of a year ago, still not keen on salad though, much prefer chocolate……..  mmmmmmmmmmmmm chocolate, I’m going now, need some cohoclate, thanks for listening reading.