London Calling

A cat's life

2013-05-20T20:10:00.001+01:00

I think it may have been mentioned before that until I met the Better-half that I never had much to do with cats. I grew up in a dog house (not literally!). My parents bought their first dog when I was a baby and Lucy (a golden Labrador) used to guard my pram. When she was getting older my parents got her a companion, a not quite puppy (with a royal pedigree) called Leo.

When Lucy passed away we were all devastated, but we still had Leo to fill the void. When Leo passed away my parents swore of getting another dog... for about three months.

Enter Dodie a lurcher-cross rescue dog. She was followed by Joe, a collie-cross rescue... in case she got lonely.

In the meantime I'd moved out of the parental home, got myself a dog, and moved back again. Jack, a bearded-collie cross (and another rescue dog) stayed behind when I moved out for good.

Joe, Jack and Dodie were all about the same age and passed away within about 18 months of each other. That was the end of canine keeping for my mother.

In the meantime, I'd moved in with the Better-half and his cats Gizzie and Molly. Gizzie was a bad tempered white Persian who eventually decided that she hated us and went to live with a neighbour (you cant make these things up). Molly was a gorgeous black fluffy girl... not given to lap-sitting or playing. I did teach her to wash her face though!

This is the difference between cats and dogs... I forget who it was that said "Dogs come when they are called, cats take a message and get back to you". Dogs are needy, they have to be with people all the time - it isn't the same with cats (mostly) they can take you or leave you.

Having said that Casper has become quite a people cat. When I'm at home he usually spends pretty much the whole day with me. When I go to work he comes running to see me when I get in (and chew my shoes). He'll snuggle on the bed with me when he's feeling particularly social... and sit nearby when he just wants company.

He knows my routine as well as I do. When I get up to go to bed he races to the bathroom, demanding a drink from the tap and some fuss in the bathtub (where is purrs are amplified even louder!). Then he races to the bedroom, either to get first dibs on the bed or jump on the blanket box where he can keep an eye on me.

In return for all the feline purrs and head-bumps Casper gets games (chasing balls up and down the stairs, chasing the laser dot, playing with ribbons or toys on dangly sticks); he gets brushed (twice a day at the moment as he's moulting); and generally waited on hand and foot - all he has to do is miaow (or more usually yowl!).

I don't know about a dog's life... but it certainly is a cat's life!

My week in pictures

2013-05-19T13:58:00.001+01:00

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday Social (50)

2013-05-19T11:45:00.002+01:00

Linking up with Neely and Ashley again

1. What is your favorite kind of surprise?

Ones that I have no idea that are coming!

2. Flowers or chocolate?

I love chocolates, flowers are gorgeous too - but they do want looking after, and they wither and die. The rate I eat chocolates they last for ages!

3. What is your favorite summertime activity?

Sitting in the garden in the sun. Either on the patio bench or the bench at the end of the garden. Watching the birds, and other wildlife... it's all delightful. Listening to the birdsong and the windchimes.

4. Do you have any vacations planned this summer?

Kind of. The Better-half and I are getting married. So we've our honeymoon - two weeks of new married life!

5. Favorite summer holiday?

When I was a very small child we used to go to the South-West a lot. I have many happy memories of trips to the beach... flying kites... visiting farms... all sorts of adventures!

6. What is your dream vacation?

Anything that doesn't involve heat and beaches. I like city trips, seeing the sites, learning the history of a place, that sort of thing.

Playing Trains

2013-05-15T10:50:00.001+01:00

Today's Google Doodle celebrates the 150th Anniversary of the birth of Frank Hornby.

My Dad had a Hornby train set... we were never allowed to play with it unattended... it was attached to a folding board (with hinges) which stood on some builders wooden horses.

It was fantastic; beautifully detailed, and great fun.

It was fairly unpopular the occasion that it was plugged into a dodgy socket and blew the fuses in the entire house!

Sunday Social (49)

2013-05-12T08:00:00.000+01:00

Linking up with Neely and Ashley again

This week it is all about where we've been and where we're going

1. 1 year ago I was doing...

Well, a year ago I was doing my old job with two fit-outs on site requiring all day meetings. I was also considering the passage of time (coincidentally) as my class photo was posted on Facebook. Just like this year the weather was cheering up in May and I was enjoying the sunshine. I also enjoyed the annual open day at the nearby Park.

2. 5 years ago I was doing...

Five years ago my life was very different. My MS wasn't as 'aggressive' as it is now and I was on my brief acquaintance with the Betaferon (until it scarred my arms, stomach and legs and I switched back to Avonex). I was off around to meetings all over the place with my job (and complaining about them) - and as Access to Work wasn't yet in my life, so I took the tube to and from work (and spent quite a lot of time complaining about it). It was also five years ago that the Mayor of London changed from 'Red' Ken Livingstone to Boris Johnstone (seems like he's been around forever!). Because I could move around more easily five years ago I spent a lot of time in the garden too admiring our wildlife (up close and personal)...

3. 10 years ago I was doing...

Cast my mind back to 2003. Quite a trip. I'd only just been diagnosed with MS and apart from occasional bouts of optic neuritis it didn't really affect my life. I hadn't taken the plunge from the first job I'd ever had (although I was looking) so I was working up on the 31st floor of the tower (there used to be a blog but it is lost to time and space). I still had my Charlton season ticket at this point, so football matches were a regular part of my life. Our good friends hadn't yet moved to the country so weekly pub quizzes were also a feature of weekly life! Ten years ago I was worrying about being 30... oddly I'm not now worrying about being 40!

4. 1 year from now I'll be doing...

I fervently hope that a year from now I'll be doing pretty much what I'm doing now, other than the Better-half will then be Husband! Maybe the economy will have picked up a bit and our situations will improve... maybe.

5. 5 years from now I'll be doing...

Five years from now. Things could be the same, things should be different. All economic reports I have read predict that things will be back on an upward curve by then; so hopefully our personal circumstances will have improved. Five years from now I'll know if this new role I've just taken on is working, so I will either be successfully making my way at my current employer or I will be working somewhere else (hard to imagine).

6. 10 years from now I'll be doing...

I don't really want to think about ten years from now. It's like a crystal ball filled with smoke and I can't really see. Maybe all the MS DMDs (disease modifying drugs) that are new to the market now will have enough data for me to consider them safe and take them. Maybe that will soothe the MS beast. Maybe I'll still have my current job... maybe it will have transformed into something else or somewhere else. I don't know where we'll be or what we'll be doing; but the Better-half and I will be together.

Monday - Things You didn't know about me (2)

2013-05-06T08:00:00.000+01:00

SHOES AND BAGS
I hate to be a typical girl; but until MS necessitated the need for bilateral walking aids I was a huge fan of shoes and of handbags.

Now (unfortunately) I have to wear flat shoes. Sensible flat shoes. Heels make my feet hurt; and as my toes are numb (and fairly useless) I can wear pointy shoes (my toes won't be coerced into them) or anything without a strap or laces (my toes won't hold them on).

Here are some of the shoes I have known and loved... and the ones that are now friends to my feet.

I have driven the Better-half to distraction with my handbags. Constant purchasing; chopping and changing. I have had many I have loved (and worn out) over the years... and I keep up the constant search for the perfect bag (which given the amount I like to cart around with me is probably a baby's changing bag!).

Bags reduced in quantity. From first to second shot... only bags that can be used with crutches have been kept.

Sadly now many bags cannot be used. Bilateral walking aids me now hands; which means bags with a decent shoulder strap only. If it isn't big enough the movement of the crutches sends the bag slithering down my arm! If the bag is small enough it can hang of the handle of my crutches!

Sunday Social (48)

2013-05-05T09:48:00.000+01:00

Linking up with Neely and Ashley again

This weekend it is all about things of four!

1. 4 favourite things to do on a weekend

Do things on a weekend! I aim to do as little as possible. If I need to have four things though I suppose:

1.playing some Xbox

2. movie night with the Better-half

3. Sunday on the sofa-of-sloth - watching rubbish TV, talking with the Better-half and pottering with the internet!

4. not getting up at 6am!

2. 4 favourite things about your best friend

It's difficult for me to say that any of my friends is my 'best' friend above others. Anyway, I think the things I love about my friends are pretty universal!

1. always there for me

2. can pick up conversations weeks later as if they'd just stopped a few minutes ago

3.great for shopping, coffee, lunch or other pass-times

4. have the cutest kids.

3. 4 things you would do with $100,000

Well that is just under £65,000.

1. I'd pay off some debt

2. I'd get a cat enclosure in the garden for my scaredy cat, so he can enjoy the garden from a place of comfort and safety

3. I'd replace the computers which are beginning to get elderly

4. the Better-half and I would go to Boston (or New York) to see a Yankees/Red Sox game!

4. 4 favorite books you've ever read

I've read so many it is difficult to choose just four, but I'll give it a go (I'm going to enjoy having a look at other 'Socialers' to see if there are books I should be reading!)

1. Gone with the Wind (Margaret Mitchell). I was about 9 or 10 when I first read it, it was the first 'grown up' book I ever read, and I just adored the South and of course I wanted to be Scarlett!

2. Five People You Meet in Heaven (Mitch Ablom). I read this when I was on a business trip to Kiev. There wasn't much to do at the hotel except read as all the TV was in Ukrainian and so where all the magazines and papers; this was before the common advent of free hotel wi-fi (and before smart-phones and tablets too). It was such an unusual, but deeply touching story... perhaps more so when you're miles from home. The movie is good, but the book is better. Unlike the other books on this list I've only read it once.

3. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery). This book has been in my life so long I can't even remember when we first met. I adore the story, and the illustrations. I read it first in English but also the original French. Nobody can fail to love the Little Prince and his rose.

4. Dragon Prince (Melanie Rawn). A whole other world where dragons roam, and sun-runners weave light and use magic. A sort of mediaeval world with all the associated wars and intrigues. There are six books in total and I've read all of them several times! The first time I read them I was a student working a summer job as a cleaner/tea-lady. In the mid-morning whilst waiting tea orders and putting the dish-washer on I would sit in the attic kitchen and let the stories take me away!

5. 4 favorite snack foods

Due to the losing weight before my wedding regime I don't really do snack foods much anymore. However, when I allow myself a treat these are my choices

1. Guylian chocolates. Gift from the Better-half at anniversaries, valentines and similar. Strictly rationed!

2. Wasabi peas. I like savoury snacks, and the crunch bite of these little bits are fantastic, especially when you get an over-seasoned one which hits the back of your nose!

3. Beef jerky. I actually like Biltong better but it is much harder to come by. Lasts for ages that chewy, leathery meat!

4. Popcorn. Not often had but so easy to make in the microwave. Buttered flavour is the best!

6. 4 things that you must do daily

Ah, to cut the list to just 4, that is the trick here! I'm going to ignore all the dull things that make me ready to get through the day!

1. Play with, brush, or pet the cat

2. Spend an unreasonable amount of time on Twitter and Facebook

3. Call my mum, my gran, my god-mother... speak to family

4. Be kissed goodnight by the Better-half, I even have an embroidered pillow that says so!

Sunday Social (47)

2013-04-28T12:58:00.003+01:00

Linking up with Neely and Ashley again

1. Did you sleepwalk as a child?

Apparently I did. I don't remember (of course) but I do remember my Dad on the landing one morning saying "I met you here last night".

2. Did you ever try to run away or sneak out of your house?

No. I was lucky enough to grow up in a large five bedroomed house; if you wanted to sulk and get away you could go and hide in the spare room or at the end of the garden!

3. Did you have any imaginary friends?

A whole host of them! When I was far too old to still have them too!

4. Did you ever go toilet papering?

I don't think that is a UK thing. We did play knock-down-ginger sometimes... you ring the doorbell and run away.

5. Did you ever sneak TV shows you weren't allowed to watch?

No. My Gran lived with us growing up and my Mum worked part time so the TV was well policed! My parents were quite strict about what we were and weren't allowed to watch; so TV didn't play a big part in our lives - we were more inclined to play games. My cousins spent a lot of time with us so there were four of us to play; whether it was card games, board games or cricket in the garden!

Happy St Geroge's Day

2013-04-23T08:00:00.001+01:00

Great Google Doodle!

"...And you, good yeoman,
Whose limbs were made in England, show us here
The mettle of your pasture; let us swear
That you are worth your breeding; which I doubt not;
For there is none of you so mean and base,
That hath not noble lustre in your eyes.
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game's afoot:
Follow your spirit, and upon this charge
Cry 'God for Harry, England, and Saint George!' "

Shakespeare - Henry V

This is Marathon 2013

2013-04-21T16:14:00.001+01:00

It's the end of April and almost St George's Day and a Sunday. That means one thing to most of SE7... stuck in your island as the marathon maroons you. I've been living here for over a decade, and seen most of the marathons (when the weather was fine, anyway).

Never having been a runner I don't know whether it is better to have the vile wet and cold weather of recent weeks or the sudden sunny burst of spring that has burst upon us. It certainly was nice for those of us standing watching to not shelter from the weather!

This is the empty street just after 10am (when they start two miles away on Blackheath).

A practically cloudless sky (dare we hope Spring is really here) waits for the runners. Probably a bit warm for running; but pleasant for standing on the sidelines cheering.

Lucky I wore an old pair of glasses with the 'reactions' lenses and a baseball cap (to hide my bird's nest hair) which kept the sun off my face and out of my eyes.

About 15 minutes after the start the first runners begin to pass us. We're on the red route; the majority of which are either from running clubs or running for charity. I've certainly not ever spotted any of the more outlandish costumes, or any celebrities.

There are three starts to the marathon to space out the huge number of runners across the not very wide streets of South London.

I noticed the pace setters (maybe they're always there and I've never noticed) they hold a flag telling you how long it'll take you to finish the race and how many minutes a mile you're running. You can see they attract quite a pack!

Apparently Wombles run marathons too! Just a couple of the more imaginative outfits I saw today.

More to come further down the page.

Aerial coverage from one of many helicopters

Beginning to get busy now

Rhino spotted!

One of several supermen and a wheelchair runner

I wonder if that is the tiger that used to live up the road?

Another rhino and a panda

The pack is thinning, the rhinos are still going

Mickey and Minnie - a big hit with the nearby kids!

An Olympic torch no less

Back markers with the security motorbike

Ola Señors! Olé!

The last few runners

The support bus passes the two mile marker

What a glorious sunny day

You'll never see the road so quiet

Every year the street is blocked...

Beautiful spring from one of my neighbours

Reactions still not faded...

There are the runners I saw on the TV!

Slow wander back today, I usually see them round the Cutty Sark

I definitely saw those two girls!

Whilst I watched today I saw young and old, tall and short; I saw several Supermen, Bananaman, Snow White, a panda, a gorilla a chicken, a mole and several rhinos... I saw a smurf, Bagpuss, two Sonic the Hedgehogs and some Wombles. I saw people running from the MS Society and the MS Trust (to whom, as always, I say thanks) and so many other charities I can't remember them all.

90% of the runners today sported a small black ribbon; remembering the tragic events in Boston six days ago. If it wasn't hanging on a wall I'd have borrowed the Better-half's Boston Red Sox cap to show my respect.

Well, apart from the irritating half marathon later in the year (it has only been going a few years, I think it should take itself off to North London and cause chaos there) we are done running until next year.

Marathon 2007
Marathon 2008
Marathon 2009
Marathon 2010
Marathon 2011
Marathon 2012

Sunday Social (46)

2013-04-21T06:24:00.000+01:00

Linking up with Neely and Ashley again

1. What is your shopping weakness?

Handbags and scarves. It used to be shoes; but since I can only wear flats (and boring ones at that) I've lost my shoes fetish. I own way to many handbags, and rather a lot of scarves!

2. What is your food weakness?
When I was younger it was definitely chocolate. As I've got older I've lost a lot of the sweet tooth. I guess now it is take out. Chinese, Indian, Pizza - try to limit it to once a week or less!

3. What is your go to movie to watch when nothing is on?
Any of the old movies; the ones I've seen so often I can almost recite. Whether it is Gene Kelly "Singing in the Rain" or Grace Kelly living "High Society" or Julie Andrews sorting out the nursery as "Mary Poppins".

4. What is your go to breakfast food?

It depends on the time of year, the day of the week and how enthusiastic I'm feeling. Anything from oatcakes (current lazy option), through toast, to porridge or even eggs (fried, boiled or scrambled).

5. Do you drink coffee? If so, how do you take it?

Too much coffee. How I take it depends on where it is coming from. At work we have instant so white. At meetings or dinner when it is coming out of a French Press then black. If I'm in a coffee shop... well anything goes. I love Starbucks specials... I had a Caramel Macchiato the other day, gorgeous. I also love their pumpkin latte at Halloween.

Monday - Things you didn't know about me (1)

2013-04-15T17:32:00.002+01:00

MUSIC

When I was 8 years old I started learning the recorder. I hated it. Played well (preferably a wooden instrument) it is beautiful; played badly it is awful. I still have mine (treble and alto) - the treble has a cracked mouthpiece where I threw it at the wall during practice. The alto was even worse - nobody properly explained the clef and how 'c' was now in a different place on the stave and now needed different fingering.

Around the same time I started learning classical guitar. I didn't do well at that either, even with my 7/8 size guitar my fingers didn't have the reach.

At age 11 I happily abandoned the recorder and took up piano; which I would study on our second hand upright for the next five years. My first piano teacher also taught me another use for the guitar; and I learnt to accompany myself whilst singing.

Teaching my dog, Leo, the guiatar

At the same time I started singing lessons and joined the church choir. I had finally found my instrument, voice.

I studied music for GCSE and for A-level; wrestling with Bach's harmony rules and learning to identify the composer of music by working out the period; the style, the instruments. I enjoyed A-level music so much that I spent a year at University doing a Bachelor's degree. Only the thought of what I would do when I graduated threw me off this path.

This means I've always preferred 'classical' music. From medieval through baroque and renaissance through classical to the romantics. I always drew the line at modern (famously swearing alliteratively at an assignment on Bartok).

The nearest I got to popular music was the 1960s until my very late teens; and to the present date my discovery of music has been through TV, friends and the Better-half.

You may or may not have know all that about me... but things you don't know about me; what is on my iPhone right now to listen to:-
Rammstein - Amerika
All Saints - Never Ever
Black Eyed Peas - Boom Boom Pow
Bob Marley and the Wailers - Jamming
The Dresden Dolls - Coin Operated Boy
Status Quo - Pictures of Matchstick Men
The Damned - New Rose
Boyzone - Words
Scala & Kolancy Brothers - The Blowers Daughter
Frank Sinatra - Something Stupid
Carter USM - Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere
Faure's Requiem
Slik - Forever and ever
Debussy's Clair de Lune
Barber's Adagio for Strings
Ima Robot - Greenback Boogie
Brandi Carlile - The Story

...that's a few of the 479 that just came up as I pressed the next button. Eclectic, no?!

Sunday Social (45)

2013-04-14T09:00:00.000+01:00

Linking up with Ashley and Neely for the Sunday Social

We're talking about Twitter, my favourite internet time suck! Somedays I do nothing but sit and spend time with the world's longest conversation!

1. When did you join twitter?

The handy website "When did you join Twitter?" tells me that it was the 14 May 2008. That sounds about right as it was a year after I joined Facebook (give or take). I wasn't an early adopter of social media!

2. Who is your favorite non-celeb to follow?

Hard question. I like keeping up with what my friends are up to via Twitter. Also that is asking me to choose from nearly 200 people! I have excellent conversations and random musings with some very interesting people though:- @wombat37 for pure random thought; @dochackenbush because he posts cool artwork; @tomroyal because he is a fellow geek and posts pictures of his cats.

3. Who is your favorite celeb to follow?

I don't follow many celebs - I'm not very interested in what most of them have to say; and you practically never have conversations with them! I looked for the blue ticks (verified accounts) and about half were MPs (who I only follow for my armchair activism). I guess it's a close call between @NathanFillion as he tweets very random stuff and @EddieMcClintock as following him meant I bought the coolest Tshirt ever for the Better-Half (and thanks to @JodiBean328) for making that happen!

4. Have you ever had a celeb respond to a tweet?

No, but as I hardly ever bother to tweet them that doesn't surprise me. After all, they are just one person with thousands of followers. If they replied I would suspect that they had an intern running their account!

5. What is your favorite store/brand to follow?
Oddly the only ones I ever have followed are tea related. Strange. I stopped most all as it was drowning out the conversation!

6. Give us three tweeps we should be following.

Well me, obviously! If you like to talk and see picture of cats and rainbows then I'm your girl @nat_mach. Also @CatFoodBreath - interesting (often funny) views of life from a cat. Finally (hard to do this, as I like all the tweets I read) I'll give you @catster - more cat tales and photos.

A percentage of my Tweets aren't me, they are services providing auto-updates; I let them do it as they are sites like Goodreads (what I'm reading), Raptr (what I'm playing), and Instagram and Blipfoto (what my camera is up to) - I hope people find these things interesting. Please do drop by and say hello on Twitter... we'll have a chat!

Friends, family... everyone

2013-04-13T09:04:00.004+01:00

Yesterday I went to a funeral.

All funerals a sad. They necessarily involve the loss of someone from your life. Yesterday it was a school-friend. She died very suddenly; no accident, no illness. She leaves behind a heart-broken husband and a beautiful three month old daughter.

I hadn't seen my friend in years, we'd talked about meeting up on Facebook sometimes... but some barrier always prevented things from happening. After a while we stopped trying to sort things out. We stopped, because there is always plenty of time. Next week, next month, next year.

It tuns out though, that there isn't. You don't know how much time you may or may not have. So whilst I mourn the loss of my friend, who once was such a presence in my life; I am determined that I shall make more effort to spend time with friends and family; because you never know when .

I also got to thinking as friends and family stepped up at the funeral to give eulogies; what about my life. Is it all it could be; what would people say about me?

At the funeral a poem was read; I'm not much one for public emotion, but this did make me cry. I remembered enough of the words to find it share it below.

So if I suddenly call you, or write to you... even though it's been a few years. Well, now you know why - I'm not waiting for tomorrow any more.

Sunday Social (44)

2013-04-07T11:42:00.001+01:00

Linking up with Ashley and Neely for the Sunday Social

Unfortunately something has happened to Pinterest which means that it no longer wants to play with my blog. I tried embedding pins and it broke the layout. I think it is because I'm upgraded to the new layout... now everything is javascript and my blog hates that! I wouldn't mind but it has taken two hours to do and undo that mess!

I'll give you the links to the boards for the the questions... and you can take your pick!

1. What is your favourite outfit pin?

My style pin-board

I'm a Marks and Spencer girl, as you can see. Some of these I do actually own!

2. What is your favourite food pin?

Actually don't have any. Very remiss!

3. What is your favorite wedding pin?

Wedding board

You'd think there'd be more as I'm getting married this summer! I like me as Grace Kelly (just for fun - not my wedding dress!)

4. What is your favorite DIY/craft pin?

Again don't have any. Not much into DIY/craft due to numb clumsy fingers!

5. What is your favorite quote/verse/lyric pin?

Thoughts and Quotes board

A lot of these are in my photo collage screen saver at work! I love the 'Still and Silent Place' one.

6. Share on more random pin you love.

Cat Stuff board

I'd love to have a pendant of Casper's nose print... he'd never stand for it though!

Sorry for the lack of re-pins. Like I said... Pinterest and I have fallen out. I guess this way you get to explore my boards!

It's OK Thursday (6)

2013-04-04T08:00:00.000+01:00

Linking up with Neely and Amber for "It's OK Thursday" again

It's OK...

that the week is over before it has even started
I missed my Water Workout because it was school holidays
it's April but my head is still in February
my to-do list is getting bigger not smaller
I talk to the TV (argue with the TV?)

Wordless Wednesday - Work

2013-04-03T08:00:00.000+01:00

Things to do in London (1)

2013-04-02T08:00:00.000+01:00

Now that all the small children I know are getting older it is time for days out... and sometimes I am lucky enough to be asked along. I had such a day last Friday when my cousin and her daughter (who for simplicity rather than my first cousin once removed I call my niece) invited me along to the Surrey Docks Farm with them.

I pass nearby most mornings on my way to work, and have lived in this corner of London for over a decade... but I never knew it was there!

It is a real working farm, tucked away in a residential corner of Deptford/Bermondsey/Rotherhithe. You can walk up to the Thames Walk nearby, and from some spots you can even see Canary Wharf!

You can read more about it over at the Occasional Tourist.

April Fools

2013-04-01T10:28:00.000+01:00

The annual silliness and tom-foolery on the internet is upon us as the calendars turn from March to April.

Emails from various companies and internet sites (led, as always, by Google) are joining in the fun.

Links are included (but may expire at noon) - click on the images for a full view.

My inbox has been pretty busy already; from floating pets to invisible gifts and scratch and sniff photos:-

http://www.iwantoneofthose.com

http://www.petsupermarket.co.uk

http://www.snapfish.co.uk

The rest of the internet that isn't bothering my inbox has been busy too. The charge is led, as always, by Google.

Do you want to try Google Nose?

Smelling, it would appear, is believing. Google haven't stopped there, perhaps you would like to try Gmail Blue?

Or if this isn't to your taste... perhaps a treasure map would give you something to do on your Bank Holiday?! Just go to Google Maps and click on the 'Treasure' option.

The rest of the internet hasn't been idle by any means. From the BBC to the Guardian and in between strange stories abound. Some of these have been picked up by other sites, so I'm not always sure who started it!

PC Net reports that if next day delivery isn't fast enough for you Amazon is working on a new project which will instantly deliver your merchandise - Amazon Tube.

YouTube, meanwhile, reports that its 10 year service has been a competition to find the best video and at midnight it will shut down and re-open 10 years from now when the best video is found, showing only that entry.

The BBC reports on a German flea circus. I'm not sure that Professor Heinz Mehlhorn working at Dusseldorf University actually does have a flea circus?

The Metro reports that Mars Curiosity Rover is set to quite Twitter and destroy the earth. Some very creative Photoshop editing has been going on here!

Twitter itself is going to be even harder to understand as it threatens to drop vowels and make all Tweets consonant only.

The best of the rest are shown below, they need no explanations:-

I don't know if Blogger is having technical difficulties or it is their idea of an April Fool but every hyperlink in this post had to manually coded as they all pointed to Blogger.com!

Internet madness from 2008 - 2012 (for some reason nothing from 2011) can be found at the following links:-
April Fools 2008
April Fools 2009
April Fools 2010
April Fools 2012

Whatever the weather

2013-04-01T08:00:00.000+01:00

The one constant in the weather here in London the last week has been the cold.We started the week with flurries of snow which even settled on the ground for a while. It was grey and overcast - which lasted on Monday and Tuesday.

Wednesday and Thursday the sun broke through. Still bitterly cold, but sunshine and a little bit of Spring. Early morning in the office with sunshine coming through the window quite cheered me up.

Unfortunately by Friday, although it started sunny, it was still bitterly cold. Not the ideal weather for our trip to a city farm!

I can't speak to the weekend weather as I stayed indoors and kept warm! Still cold, that much is for sure.

Events collide!

2013-03-31T15:12:00.000+01:00

Happy Easter to those who celebrate. Yes, Easter is early this year... still in March (just).

He's a week late - donkeys are more Palm Sunday

Chicks emerge from eggs - symbolising resurrection

If you're in the UK you'll also have gained some sleep last night as the clocks went forward an hour at 2am.

Our badly behaved radio controlled clock which takes time to adjust!

If all that wasn't enough... tomorrow is April Fool's Day. So keep an eye out for internet tomfoolery (possibly less than usual as it is the Easter Monday Bank Holiday).

Sunday Social (43)

2013-03-31T13:24:00.001+01:00

Linking up with Ashley and Neely for the Sunday Social

What is your favorite type of workout to do?
I've been going to the gym quite regularly recently. I do use some of the equipment (recumbent cycles, treadmill, etc.), sometimes I do laps in the pool; but my favourite workout is the 'Water Workout' (aqua-aerobics). I get to stand up when I'm in the water and do all sorts of exercises that crutches would make impossible... plus it is a really good workout for so many muscle groups; and when we get going it's even a good cardio-workout. Oh yes, and all the other people who do it are really friendly too!

What is your favorite guilty pleasure candy or sweet?
There is only one Guylian chocolates. I love them so much. Luckily the Better-half knows this and I get a regular supply. Christmas lasts to Valentines. Valentines lasts to our Anniversary. Anniversary lasts to Easter. Those have to last... well a long time!

What is one thing you continuously forget to do?
Take my Tuesday tablets. I take a tablet every morning; but on Tuesday I have to take my massive horse-pill dose of Vitamin D. Every week I forget the tablet I take every other day as well as the Tuesday tablet!

Do you prefer post-its or phone reminders? Why?
Phone reminders rule. I live and breathe Toodledo which is both web-based and an app. I have it on my iPhone and my iPad. Work reminders, home reminders. Always with me. Post-its lose their stick and float off; and are anchored to the location you stick them.
What is your favorite picture currently on your phone that always makes you smile?
This photo of Casper reading the notices! The back of his head looks so thoughtful!

Sunday Social (42)

2013-03-24T10:00:00.000Z

Linking up with Ashley and Neely for the Sunday Social

What is your favourite thing about spring?
New life. Wildlife getting together - hatching eggs, having cubs and so forth. I love the baby foxes and squirrels as they get to know the new world.
What is your favourite kind of flower to grow or receive?
Sunflowers and geraniums. They are the only ones I have any success with growing. I do also love my rose bush (Peace rose) and my fuchsia (Phyllis - honestly named after my grandmother). To receive; well roses.

One of my sunflowers

Phyllis after the rain
What is your favourite nail polish colour?
Pink. Pale pink, bright pink, sparkling pink, deep pink. I don't wear it much because my useless hands make it hard to apply.
What is your favourite outdoor activity?
Sitting. I don't much do activity other than my Healthwise gym programme. A nice walk in the park if I've got the wheelie-walker but I'm a bit inclined to go too far and tire myself out!
Do you have any fun spring plans? Details! :)
Not really. This year is all about the Summer when the Better-half and I are getting married. We have lots of plans for that!

Earth Hour 2013

2013-03-23T17:00:00.004Z

Earth Hour 2013 - "Uniting People to Protect the Planet". Turn out your lights for one hour -it's a little bit of electricity but it visibly shows you care about the planet. Watch on-line as landmarks around the world 'go dark' - some already have (as it happens local time).

Google the phrase and it will tell you:

The Panda made me do it!

The week that was

2013-03-23T07:05:00.000Z

Another busy week. Monday started too early with hot-chocolate in the middle of the night. I went to the gym and joined a 'Water Workout' class. As I was there I popped in to see my friend who lives round the corner on the way back; very excited daughter whose birthday was on Friday; the little girl had the cutest slippers - I'd love a pair of those clogs!

Tuesday was back to work. Horrendous traffic; took over two hours to do a 50 minute journey - it is all the fault of the Rotherhithe Tunnel and its new width restrictions... although the horse drawn carriage in St James's didn't help!

I also had to take a trip to the basement at work. Terrifying. Full of all sorts of junk that really needs disposing of.

Things that cheered up my week; the cat not wanting to get out of bed; finding a cat toy in the bathroom; a picture from my niece; earring made by my God-mother.