Woe is Me!!

I´m a bit lost at the moment because my computer gave up the ghost a few weeks ago. Internet shops are fine but it isn´t quite the same as nattering to your mates at midnight!

Not to worry as we are searching for a good deal for a new one and hopefully, normal service will be resumed soon.

I Really Fancy............

..............KFC. Three pieces of chicken, french fries, coleslaw and one of their lovely coffees. Yummy, yummy!

Absolutely no chance as it's over an hour's drive to the nearest and it won't taste the same as it does in England. Strange that. We hanker after stuff like sausage rolls, scotch eggs, black puddings and pork pies but when we get them they never live up to expectations.

I've just found a biography of Spike Milligan written by Norma Farnes. It's amazing what turns up in our spare room! I'm off to bed soon to start it and, hopefully, my late night cravings won't interrupt my concentration.

Next time you have KFC think of me!

Mark Jeff's Words

He's not a chap who readily gives in to doom and gloom but he did give me some food for thought this afternoon. He reckons we will all turn up and find that the Bowling Alley has closed and he doesn't think it will be long in coming.

On reflection, I agree with him. The leagues are dwindling, machinery is being repaired but not replaced, no adverts on the local radio and no-one has demanded the locker fees which were due on the first of the year. In fact, they haven't even been mentioned.

There is a general air of disinterest. The printer packed in weeks ago and internet access wandered away. All pretty obvious when the idea gets into your head.

I can't say that I would miss Sunday bowling but I do enjoy playing in the Monday league. Ros and I had a good win today against Carol and Eliot...........the first time they have been beaten this season!

Now I'm worrying about getting my ball and shoes out!

A Party!

It was Charlotte's seventh birthday today and having been invited to her party we had a walk down to the park this evening.

She looked really nice and natural in her 'Spanish Style' frock and was having the time of her life.

We didn't stay long and I missed out on the cake. Happen she will save us some.

Brilliant!

I'm into the habit of giving Clio three or four doggy biscuits during the evening. She isn't allowed any scraps or 'human food' so this is her daily treat.

She has to work for it though. We started with sit, then stay, shake a paw and now for the first time she did 'lie down' tonight. I am so impressed with her. Seven months old and she can do all that.

Such a wonderful puppy and I love her to bits.

Chewing Gum

I'm having a bit of a rant about this at the moment as I spend ages grooming Clio only to find that she is covered in the stuff when we get home.

The police, and rightly so, would fine me if I didn't clean up after my dog but it seems that it's ok for other people to throw gum wherever they want.

There's nothing else for it but to cut off the affected fur tomorrow which is so sad. Poor puppy!

Strawberries for Tea!

It wasn't until I uploaded the pic that I realised that the flash wasn't on. Apologies for the dark fuzzy photo but it's too late now! Pretty yummy though.

I've been a little 'blogless' lately as life has just trundled by without anything interesting to report. It has been the same old thing. Dog walking, cleaning, washing and a couple of beers before the usual telly stuff.

Those 'hidden object' games have claimed my attention just recently. You can spend hours searching for sea horses, hour glasses and frogs. Which puts me in mind of a boss I used to have years ago. He'd sit at his desk every morning and say 'Roll on death'!! I wonder if he felt the same when he retired?

Happy Birthday, Ray

Another year older mate xx. He starts a little flurry of family birthdays as Maisie has hers this week followed by Katie and lastly, our Tully reaches three.

Still on the subject of birthdays, Jeff, Brian's bowling partner was seventy today. Doreen arranged for a little celebration and cake. He reckons that he will be wheeled in for his next milestone.

It has been a quiet week and I've been trying to do a little spring cleaning. More fool me! As fast as I'm dusting and mopping the wind is bringing more dust and sand. Mission abandoned for the time being at least.

'Canary Watch' is entering it's last week as Sue and Don are travelling back next Sunday. It must be awful for them and their family having to wait two weeks for the funeral of Don's Mum. Really sad.

Spots, Doors and Bowling

My face and my back were itching like hell when I awoke this morning. It was awful and I looked like a boiled lobster. I did a health check on google and discovered that I could have all manner of things. It was quite amusing really.........open weepy sores..........call your doctor........itchy feet..........call your doctor!! I followed all the tracks and decided it was an allergy but to what I know not. Anyway, it seemed the best thing to do was to have a lukewarm bath without any bubbles. It's easier and we'll see how it goes.

I'm sorry to report that Don's Mum died on Friday and they are staying in England for a little longer.

We've had such dreadful winds this weekend and so I decided to check their house out before I went off to bowling. All was fine apart from their cushions and stuff on the balcony which I took indoors. Could I lock the doors afterwards? Too short for one and the other one wouldn't play ball..............I did it in the end but not before I'd uttered a few choice words!

Ros and I had another four all draw at bowling. Not bad!

Poor Vera

That was so sad. I haven't cried watching Corrie since Hilda Ogden left but I needed a few tissues tonight. Even Brian 'filled up'.

It was so well done though and very true to life.

On the lighter side. I had a bet that her last words would be 'Oh Jack!'.........lost that one. My daughter sent a text to say that at least he had a pigeon!

Lancashire humour!

Canary Watch

Sue and Don went off to England at Christmas leaving me in charge of their canaries. It's easy enough as I pop in every three days and feed and water them.

I didn't expect to have the job again so soon though. Don's mum is seriously ill and they have had to jet off again this week. A sad time, especially after the loss of Bernard's father a few weeks ago.

Back to the birds...........she appears to be nesting. Flippin' heck, I'm not responsible enough, remember Ken?!

Spooky

As Clio reported on her blog, she ripped my magazine into thousands of pieces on Sunday. It took us ages to clear it all up but we obviously missed a bit. She wandered past me today with this in her mouth. That is really weird!!

What Now?

We were on our way to bowling this afternoon when Doreen rang my mobile. Everything cancelled because of a major fire in the car park below the bowling alley and the whole complex had been closed down. I must admit that I was pretty pleased as it is becoming a chore lately but what else could we do?

After a little indecision we nipped into Playa Paraiso and had a huge Sunday roast at Eldon House. The landlady is friendly with our mates, Liz and Lyndsay and as I'd received an email from them I could fill her in on their progress. All very nice and she sends her love, Liz xx.

Too stuffed to do much else we went home to catch the second half of the Bolton v Blackburn match. Well done Rovers! The darts final was good too.

I won't tell you what that wicked puppy did as I'm sure she'll tell you herself!

Flippin' Toothache

I awoke this morning with a mild niggle in one of my back teeth. As I'm so terrified of dentists, I've tried to ignore it for most of the day. Stupid move, or what? Nothing open until Monday and it's now reached the screaming level.

I reckon that whoever designed the human body really messed up as far as teeth are concerned. What's the point of giving out two sets before you reach ten years old when a second set would be so perfect at forty plus? Happen in those first days we weren't destined to reach such an old age! I don't know but I really wish that it didn't hurt so much.

A couple of Nurofen and bed. A miracle might occur and all will be well tomorrow.

Family Fortunes

Charlotte is well hooked on the TV programme, Family Fortunes, and we all get a chance to play it with her. It's well punctuated with dings and beep beeps and no-one seems to win!

Tonight's first question was 'who works at night?'. All went well until taxi drivers were mentioned. She was adamant that they only worked during the day. My turn for the first question tomorrow. Thinking cap is now on!

This is her latest pic featuring her new 'hairdo' and the latest gap in her teeth. Another euro from the Tooth Fairy.

Happy Birthday Sam!

Have a really lovely day. Lots of love xx

Silly Sunday

It was Sunday bowling again today after our two-week break. It did give me an opportunity to get out of the village but the bowling wasn't up to much.

It was more interesting to observe this woman who brought eight children for a birthday party. They all bowled and had a kiddies' meal whilst the woman propped up the bar drinking wine. All quite normal until she rounded up the kids and prepared to leave. She didn't have any money! League members retired to 'smoker's corner' to debate the issue but the manager kept her head and held the woman hostage until funds turned up. Fancy having enough neck to try to get away with that!

Jeff came back to the village with us and we settled ourselves outside San Juan bar for a couple of beers. All well and good until Dave and Charlotte turned up. Dave decided to bounce her football and all hell broke loose. It hit my head, then Brian's glass and poor Jeff got drenched! Thank goodness that he has a sense of humour and he's about to sign me up as a centre forward in his fantasy football league!

Gunfight at OK Coral

Well, it felt like it!

After flobbing around the house for most of the day we decided to walk Clio down to the Church Square late this afternoon. We all needed a little exercise!

It was amusing to listen to other folk's accounts of New Year's Eve. I think the award goes to Karen who managed to stay out until six thirty! We didn't have much to say as we were good kids and stayed in.

What really tickled me was the war going on between Charlotte and her cousin Shannon. Both being tired and hating each other, well at least for this afternoon, it looked like a murder might be committed. 'She won't give me a sweetie', 'I want her Pringles' followed by a stomp or three across the square. Shannon, being that bit older came out with 'Get over it and welcome to MY world'. Well funny and hard not to smile.

I'm glad that I only had a puppy to bring home!

2007 - For and Against

I've been sitting here thinking about the last year and wondering if I liked it or not. To be honest, it has been a bit bad and a bit good. We lost our Top but managed to keep Clio through her parvo virus. I had a couple of weeks in England at Easter and Brian attended his son's wedding earlier this month.

We managed to acquire English TV, a freezer and a hoover.........several other electrical devices hit the dust! Both of my budgies died as well as Ken, the egg.

Well, that's my year in a nutshell.

Happy 2008 everyone xxx

Can't Blame the Gremlin

I awoke well early this morning, made myself a coffee and settled down at the computer to check on this and that. By the time I was ready for coffee number two, I'd seen a game advertised on msn. One of those free for an hour jobbies.

Well comfy and settled in my chair.................then my monitor packed in!!

It had been creaking and groaning for a week or so and as I've had it for six years I can't complain. Thankfully, Caron had a spare which I can use until we get another.

My main worry was that it would get chucked into the spare room alongside the rest of the defunct electrical items that we tend to keep 'just in case'. After a bit of nagging, it was taken to the wheelie bin on the corner. Either, it was rescued by some enterprising soul or it's just been collected by the muck truck. Bless it!

As for my game, I'm well hooked. Will I pay twenty dollars for the rest of it? Happen not.