tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277001112024-03-13T21:21:30.333+00:00The Diary of a Reformed WorkaholicThe best things in life are the people we love, the places we've seen, and the memories we've made along the wayAlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035888128164724701noreply@blogger.comBlogger780125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27700111.post-59834580058779805932011-03-02T17:10:00.006+00:002011-03-02T17:16:33.017+00:00Genetics<div align="justify">My son, (who incidently has just asked me if I am pregnant), has been named Home Economist of the month at school.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">And we thought the weakness was only down the female line in the family.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:78%;">Context: my mother taught Home Economics. Her sister taught Home Economics. I was known to teach some Home Economics. My cousin (mum's sister's daughter) also may have briefly taught Home Economics. My children are not allowed near either a chalk board or a baking bowl!</span></div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035888128164724701noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27700111.post-43783967194689735422011-02-28T18:21:00.001+00:002011-02-28T18:21:46.383+00:00I have a predicamentSmart casual.Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035888128164724701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27700111.post-69052293419410806782011-02-27T14:35:00.002+00:002011-02-27T14:38:45.590+00:00I thought as much<div align="justify">Convinced I had walked further than the just over a mile my pedometer told me I had yesterday, today the route was measured again using a diffenert program, and this time it came to 2.6 miles!<br /><br />I wonder does the extra mileage mean extra calories burnt off and does that in turn justify the extra Green & Blacks chocolate I snuffled to mask my disappointment.</div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035888128164724701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27700111.post-52442642906740717452011-02-26T15:53:00.003+00:002011-02-26T16:12:12.718+00:00Out for a dander<div align="justify">With the good weather and longer days, I had an urge this week to start walking again. So today, during the dry bits, I decided I should strike while the iron was hot and go walking.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">So I have just completed my first walk and am able to report that I was only overtaken by a jogger, a man on a bicycle, two children on scooters and a woman riding a mobility scooter. Who I swore gave me the finger.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">From my newly installed pedometer app, I have learnt that in 41 minutes I walked 2.423 km at an average speed of 3.55km/h. Is that good, I have no idea, but it was all up and down hills. Big hills.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">I also burnt off 103 calories which I thought was brilliant until I discovered that a packet of crisps has 133 calories in it, so the cream bun and latte I promised myself the whole way round the circuit sort of defeats the purpose.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">Reading back over those stats, I'm actually wondering does this pedometer app work, it seems ridiculous that I can expend all that energy and feel as knackered as I do and not even have worked off a single solitary packet of Tayto cheese and onion!</div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035888128164724701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27700111.post-39795340740400739002011-02-21T22:23:00.001+00:002011-02-21T22:24:42.655+00:00My son is bloggingGo look, <a href="http://www.flightradar24.com/">pilotsmurf</a>.Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035888128164724701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27700111.post-3004055892132660102011-02-16T10:12:00.004+00:002011-02-16T10:21:59.436+00:00Plane spotting for the modern era<div align="justify">As you may well know, we have a wannabe pilot in the house. Fixated with all things aviation, we used to be content just to watch them fly over our house on their way into or out of Belfast City Airport.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">Not any more. We have discovered sites where you can not only <a href="http://www.flightradar24.com/">watch</a> but also <a href="http://www.liveatc.net/feedindex.php?type=international-eu">listen</a> to aircraft in real time, and now hours are spent virtual plane spotting across Europe. <br /><br /></div><div align="justify">I warn you, before you click on the links...these sites are <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">truly</span> addictive!</div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035888128164724701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27700111.post-74717630347973528552011-02-16T09:45:00.003+00:002011-02-16T09:49:13.437+00:00A rant<div align="justify">Years ago, back in the good old days, when you bought a birthday card and it was wrapped in cellophane, the envelope was also inside same cellophane. Now they're not and you have to be intelligent enough to remember to lift an envelope with the cards.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">I have just bought two cards in cellophane and no envelopes. If Darwin's 'Survival of the Fittest' theory was correct, I'd have been extinct long since.</div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035888128164724701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27700111.post-3013401631530964662011-02-10T17:19:00.002+00:002011-02-10T17:21:54.285+00:00The Island<div align="justify">My son has to make an island for his geography homework. I don't think it's to be of the size and stature of the Palm in Dubai, because he only has a week to make it. Currently looking for an appropriate venue off the East coast of Northern Ireland.</div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035888128164724701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27700111.post-65511981162314665742011-01-23T19:58:00.003+00:002011-01-23T20:18:01.747+00:00Last night my mother did the 'TimeWarp'<div align="justify">Not only that, but she did it in front of 999 other people. Oh yes, she did! Apparently, she also <em>enjoyed</em> the experience. Who'd have thought?<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Time to state that the other 999 people were also doing the TimeWarp at the same time. No, not some kind of wacky Belfast flashmob event, but another SingLive concert, this time Movie Musicals.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Have you ever been to a concert where the conductor is dressed like an extra from the basketball court in High School Musical? I have! Mr Roberts at his stunning best.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Yesterday was momentous on a lot of counts, because not only did mum dance the TimeWarp in the Ulster Hall, but Ulster qualified for the quarter finals of the Heineken cup for the first time in 12 years. The last time they got this far, I had a baby. That <a href="http://chemicalsblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/break-in-transmission.html">won't</a>, be happening this time.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Even more exciting is the news today that thanks to Wasps who unexpectantly beat Toulouse today, we get to play Northampton, which means we get to go to England instead of having to travel to the South of France. <br /><br /></div><div align="justify">Who'd have thought you could get so excited about <em>not</em> travelling to the South of France?</div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035888128164724701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27700111.post-26440105456527146892011-01-15T19:59:00.000+00:002011-01-15T20:00:01.551+00:00I nearly don't want to say it, butit looks like for the first time since 1999 Ulster might...Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035888128164724701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27700111.post-1039976536861666342011-01-15T11:21:00.005+00:002011-01-15T11:37:58.135+00:00A long, long time ago<div align="justify">I was 'Young Cook of the Year' and went to London to represent Northern Ireland in the UK finals.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">Some years later, when I worked in the all girls establishment in North Belfast, I entered one of my students for 'Young Cook of the Year', and she travelled to Dublin to represent Northern Ireland in the All-Ireland finals, which she subsequently won.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">Yesterday, my son arrived home from school with an entry form for the Dairy Council Cook of the Year.....<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:180%;">oh dear!!! <br /><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></div><div align="justify">(That last comment was added by said son, who hacked my account)</div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035888128164724701noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27700111.post-74969368114341789922011-01-14T18:57:00.007+00:002011-01-14T19:35:30.832+00:00Flashing<div align="justify">I had to buy a replacement dress for my concert next week because there was some concern that whilst singing and doing actions to the 'TimeWarp' in the dress from the <a href="http://chemicalsblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/you-asked-for-it.html">skip</a>, there might be a jump to the left and a Janet Jackson like exposure to the right!<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Work eventually opened once they got the heating system temporarily fixed. My room is still cold though, and dark as one quarter of the lights in it aren't working.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">As I type, we have no water. Again. As it is the weekend and I have all the school uniforms and sports kits to wash I am not amused. Add to that the dishwasher is full of dirty dishes and one child went swimming and the other played rugby today and neither have had a shower, you get where I'm coming from. <br /><br /></div><div align="justify">The Dolly got very upset this week watching the floods in Australia on TV. Her disappointment stemmed not from the fact that there was so much destruction and devastation, but because God had broken a certain promise attached to a rainbow.</div></div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035888128164724701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27700111.post-33817269763823903852011-01-04T15:42:00.003+00:002011-01-04T15:46:15.041+00:00I've just had the call<div align="justify">Work is closed tomorrow. The heating system is, em, buggered. Kids are to stay at home and staff are to turn up in their thermals.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">This one looks like it could run and run</div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035888128164724701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27700111.post-50803005345453527002011-01-04T14:59:00.003+00:002011-01-04T15:27:42.818+00:00New Year Appeal 2011Dry taps, thirsty children, smelly arm pits and sick pensioners? Just £4 a day can help to go towards a taxi to Avoniel or Shankill Leisure Centres.<br /><br />People in Belfast have to walk for almost 10 minutes to get water and they have to carry it themselves - this is almost like work!<br /><br />many women on the way to Avoniel have been complaining about how cold it is in their pyjamas while they are queueing up. Your £4 will go towards proper trousers, fake ugg boots or 10 Lambert & Butler for those who have been queueing for more than an hour.<br /><br />Please sponsor a person from Belfast today and you can make a difference.<br /><br />For more information go to <a href="http://www.we">www.we'vesodall2drink.com</a> as the NI Water website is frozen<br /><br />Happy New Year.Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035888128164724701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27700111.post-55883800284582423972010-12-31T15:14:00.005+00:002010-12-31T15:37:30.727+00:00New knickers<div align="justify">Contrary to 'popular' belief, there was no water at 08:00 this morning. <br /><br /></div><div align="justify">I waited until 09:30 and then phoned NI Water. Now, you have got to feel sorry for the poor sods who are answering the phones, because they are not responsible for fixing the pipes, nor are they responsible for them bursting, but someone has seen fit to put them in the front line, answering angry phone calls from smelly customers, but have not seen fit to furnish them with any information except the (now widely acknowledged) totally inaccurate information on their website.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">Anyway, being nice with the poor girl who drew my number managed to get me the information that although 'they' had been working all night repairing the pipes in our area, very early this morning there had been further bursts. And a further truth, that in fact nobody had any idea when we would have any water, even on rotation, and if I had somewhere to de-camp to, I should really de-camp.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">A whiff of my son's armpits and my daughters revelation that she had run out of knickers were the deciding factors, and de-camp we did with our wash gear and a load of dirty laundry.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">I'm sure my brother was delighted to see us arrive. I'm sure my niece was even more delighted as she had to vacate her bed and her room to allow us to use her shower. Thankyou!<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">And so we were able to shower, wash our collective hairs, use and even flush toilets, clean teeth, drink tea and wash clothes. Result! While there we also had opportunity to fill all out neighbours water holding receptacles, which we sold back to them for a small fee on our return.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">In conclusion, I'd advise the general public to abandon the NI Water website and instead resort to Twitter, Facebook and even this site for up-to-date, accurate information on water supplies. I'd also advocate the purchase of emergency knickers.</div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035888128164724701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27700111.post-91249434821755105212010-12-30T23:24:00.002+00:002010-12-30T23:35:50.517+00:00Water?Nope. Maybe tomorrow.Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035888128164724701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27700111.post-281444095965126332010-12-30T22:43:00.004+00:002010-12-30T23:25:53.560+00:00I should have been in bed<div align="justify">But I am unreliably informed by NI Water that our water (which has been off for just over two days now, 24 hours continuously) should be back on at 23:00 and I'm waiting to refill the stock saved in the bath. And then have shower. And definitely wash my hands. And put the dishwasher on. And maybe a clothes wash.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">I say unreliably because their website informs me that actually I had water up until 16:00 today, which is not right, and their emergency phone line tells me that I might not actually have water until 08:00 tomorrow. <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12096241">Shambolic</a>? Ineffective? I'd say!<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">Mind you, <a href="http://www.wateraid.org/uk/">here's</a> something to put it all in perspective.</div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035888128164724701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27700111.post-77673674946046888102010-12-29T15:54:00.004+00:002010-12-29T16:10:04.875+00:00The funny side of life<div align="justify">'Hello, NI Water, water bout ye?'<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">In light of the current water crisis, some people are calling for the renaming of our failing NI Water service to NE Water or even NO Water. Some wonder if we call it Ní Water can we blame the South?<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">So far there's been no statement from the Chief of NI Water, feeling is he's bottled it.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">One of our local MPs cleaned his teeth in Harp last night and this morning melted the remains of his snowman to get water for a shave. He also tweeted to remind us that other liquids such as beer, cider, wine, vodka and petrol may contain water.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">People have been phoning local radio stations and requesting anything by Wet Wet Wet, and checking WikiLeaks for information.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">We'll be OK though. It'll be sorted by New Year's Eve because a number of our MLA's apparently can't drink their whiskey without water. In the meantime hope of an efficient water system is but a pipe dream!</div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035888128164724701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27700111.post-83987488468699075902010-12-28T19:48:00.003+00:002010-12-28T20:17:02.808+00:00Water water everywhere....<div align="justify">From the BBC:<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"><em>'Thousands of homes and businesses in Northern Ireland are still without water, some since before Christmas. Northern Ireland Water said it was alternating supplies from reservoirs in a bid to give every area a limited supply, causing more interruptions. It has warned that the drought could last for several more days. Belfast City Council has opened three leisure centres to distribute drinking water, while free showers will be available on Wednesday.'</em><br /><br /></div><div align="justify">And so the panic buying began. Not a supermarket in Belfast has bottled water left for sale, except for the flavoured variety. You can go to a local leisure centre and get drinking water, but you are rationed to 20 litres and you have to have something to put it in. People are turning up with plastic bags. Drinking water is available from tankers at three council sites as well.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">Tomorrow all leisure centres in Belfast are offering free showers. <br /><br /></div><div align="justify">Tell me, seriously, how does a country where it rains <em>continuously</em> run out of feckin water?</div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035888128164724701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27700111.post-74288042010118114252010-12-24T20:47:00.001+00:002010-12-24T21:11:56.880+00:00Christmas<div align="justify">This is the message of Christmas: We are never alone</div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035888128164724701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27700111.post-61233273994924184052010-12-23T13:00:00.001+00:002010-12-23T13:00:32.008+00:00Now making only essential journeysTwo essential journeys today; one to collect the turkey at 08:00 this morning (our turkey is an early riser), the other to take Dolly to the doctor. <p>One was successful, the other resulted in me being rescued by three burly guardian angels when the mini-bin steadfastly refused to move either backwards or forwards on the icy road. <p>Funny how you would never normally hand the keys of your car over to a total stranger and let him drive it with your children inside, but in snow...<p>Sent from my iPhoneAlihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035888128164724701noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27700111.post-21483048343595612512010-12-22T17:08:00.006+00:002010-12-22T17:30:57.218+00:00Enough is enough<div align="justify">The novelty of the snow has worn off. A White Christmas has long since lost it's appeal. It's starting to be a major inconvenience now.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">The pipes to my washing machine have frozen, again. So I took a load of washing to mums today to discover the pipes to her washing machine had also frozen. I have discovered a laundrette about a mile away from home. I'm keeping their number handy.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">We are using heating oil at the same rate Jamie Oliver uses goose fat this Christmas. Because the kids have had three extra days off school due to snow, and the fact that the temperature outside has not risen above minus something very low, the heat has been on in the house continuously. With the result we have about a third of a tank left, but unfortunately no one can deliver more until next week. Next Thursday to be precise. We had to embark on a mission to secure emergency barrels of oil today; as we need oil to run the heating <strong><em>and</em></strong> the range for cooking, Christmas day without it would be a complete and utter disaster.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">Our bins have not been emptied. The bin lorry couldn't make it up our hill, although funny enough an oil tanker making a delivery to a well-organised neighbour managed it. Uh huh. As bins are emptied fortnightly, ours already contains two weeks worth of rubbish. We now have to try and squeeze in two more weeks worth. Of Christmas rubbish. And as two weeks takes us to the New Year holiday I'd say there's another two weeks to squeeze in on top of that and all.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">The snow has induced panic buying. Not just the usual <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">pre</span>-Christmas panic buying, but a whole new level 'is the world coming to an end?' panic buying. I went to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tesco</span> on Monday to buy some milk and butter and nearly got trampled to death by the masses, so in this house the motto now is if we <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">don't</span> already have it, we're not having it.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">And finally, I am going out for dinner tonight. Instead of getting dressed up and donning a dress and heels, I am actually dressing down and have the look of someone setting out on an Arctic expedition. I am also taking extra clothes with me in case our hill is impassable due to further freezing and I have to walk up it at the end of the night. Never before have I gone out for dinner and taken a suitcase!<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">So, I say again ... enough is enough. Bugger off snow and let us enjoy our holiday. Thankyou</div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035888128164724701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27700111.post-21815143898721093882010-12-21T15:09:00.002+00:002010-12-21T15:11:57.439+00:00-10oC<div align="justify">We reached this positively balmy high at lunchtime today. It's to fall to -20oC tonight.<br /><br />An observation; leather seats in the car look great but scald the arse off you in the summer and freeze your butt in the winter.</div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035888128164724701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27700111.post-5900026272587093182010-12-19T23:10:00.003+00:002010-12-19T23:19:08.922+00:00Post Script<div align="justify">We were due to fly back from Bristol on the 20:55 EasyJet tonight. It was showing delayed from just after 16:00 this afternoon.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">The flight was rescheduled and rescheduled with the most recent ETD put at 23:55<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">Even though the Bristol airport website is still showing a scheduled departure time of 23:55, the EasyJet site has just declared the flight cancelled. <br /><br /></div><div align="justify">There's a lucky break, <em>not</em> camping out in the airport or alternatively trying to find a hotel room in Bristol at 23:14 with a very tired and still not quite well 10 year old.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">And, the Brucie Bonus ... had a phone call tonight to say school is closed early for Christmas because of our weather conditions. Two extra days holiday!<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">Quids in all round, and so to bed.</div>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035888128164724701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27700111.post-72704006102565290842010-12-19T18:54:00.006+00:002010-12-19T19:18:18.650+00:00What a weekend!<ul><li>Idyllic winter scenes on the way to the airport </li><li>Nail biting 'will it/won't it' moments </li><li>Watched a superb game of rugby; well done the Ulstermen! </li><li>Celebrated with mulled wine</li><li>Great rugby craic</li><li>Bumped into old friends</li><li>Ate in some very nice restaurants</li><li>Tramped around the city on snowy pavements</li><li>Gorgeous Italian nougat at the Christmas Market </li><li>Caught in late night snow showers</li><li>Snowball fights</li><li>Hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows</li><li>Dicey, slippy-slidy journeys</li><li>Never left the Province</li></ul>Alihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18035888128164724701noreply@blogger.com0