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 |  Empty or full, shiny or a little in need of washing and sometimes just cracked! |
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I heard about these blogs and wondered why people would want to air their dirty laundry online. But I feel safe on this site so maybe it's worth a try. We'll see. This blog is complete. Please find my new blog from the link below...
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I think there's something living in my stomach.  I suffer from a condition called 'Oesophagus Reflux,' which apparently is something I was born with. Basically it means the muscles around the entrance to the stomach are weak and tend to splash acid back. I wasn't aware of the condition until a few years ago when it started to hurt.  I take medication but still have phases when it flares up and causes discomfort.I'm going through one of those phases at the moment. But last night as I sat at the computer suffering the familiar burning sensation in my throat, my stomach started making peculiar noises. Not the deep rumbling of hunger or the gurgling of digestive juices, just a regular, intermittent clicking noise like a small pony trotting. I USED to have a very flat stomach. (Didn't we all?) After the birth of my son I concluded I must have been expecting twins and the other one was still in there. But 24 years later the twin still hasn't arrived, so I can only conclude something else is residing in there. Something that's learnt to say 'click click' every ten seconds or so. After a Caesarean section and later an hysterectomy the stomach muscles (what stomach muscles?) refuse to knit back together properly. Exercising the stomach is very difficult as it's not something we use in regular physical activity. Oh, I've got some of those devices for specific exercises but unless I use them for ten hours a day I don't think they do much good. Cosmetic surgery is out. I have to cough up £550 for dental treatment this week which will be a struggle in itself. God knows how much it would cost to have liposuction or a tummy tuck. Anyway, it's not always safe is it? But then neither is smoking or drinking. All this may sound terribly shallow and vain (yes, I admit I'm shallow and vain) but my theory is, if looking better makes you feel better, then you have more confidence and enthusiasm to go out and do some good in the world. Maybe I should tell the doctor about this creature living in my stomach that keeps making clicking noises. Maybe he'd send me for an operation to remove it and I could say...'While you're in there could you just tighten up some of this excess flesh?' Or maybe I'd better stop prattling about nothing and go cook the dinner. |
| I was very interested in reader's comments regarding school reunions which seem to back up my theory that you love 'em or hate 'em. I suppose it depends a lot on the type of school you attended, the era you were at school and the sort of friends and experiences you had at the time. I believe I've been very lucky in a lot of ways. I attended a Grammar School and much as I didn't like it that much, I made some wonderful friends and being a teenager in the sixties was something else. As happens, on leaving school friends drifted apart and I ended up barely keeping in touch with anyone. A few years ago I received a phone call from a lady inviting me to a 'Now we are 50,' reunion. I had mixed feelings for sure, but so wanted to see who'd be there and what they'd all been up to in the last 30+ years since I'd seen them. I'll never forget walking into the hotel and seeing all those familiar faces. Of course, you notice how everyone has aged; I guess you get used to looking in the mirror every day and forgetting you've aged so much too! But the initial observations are soon forgotten as you realise these are still the same people you grew up with and basically, no matter what we've done in life, we don't change that much. It was a wonderful evening and I have treasured memories and photographs of my first love from school with his third wife. (No, he never really settled either lol) Had I not attended that reunion I would not have been able to chat to him and catch up on things and when he died a year later my last memory of him would have been as a boy, not the man he'd become. It also enabled me to support and visit another friend in later years after he developed a rare form of cancer. He's quite well now, but had I not gone to that reunion, I probably would have known nothing about it. Since then I've taken on the reunion organiser's duty. Through the website 'Friendsreunited,' I've managed to track down almost all my friends from school and we meet twice a year as a group to catch up. The winter meet is a small group of very close friends and very informal, the summer one is larger and we often have a surprise guest if some one who emigrated pays a visit to England at the time. I wouldn't miss them for the world, but I know there are people who decide to never look back to the past, or just don't feel comfortable meeting people after such a long time. I sometimes meet up for a day out with some of the ladies from school too. lethomson 's remark that she hopes she's as funny as me in her fifties (No debates please - if Liz says I'm funny, I'm funny okay? It might be funny peculiar but that's another story) reminded me of something my friend Julia and I remember from school. Julia and I went to school together from being 5-15 and our birthdays are two days apart. She emigrated after leaving school but returned to England several years ago. The first time we met up after all those years we laughed over bottles of wine regarding a serious conversation we'd had in the chemistry lab aged around 12. Anyone born in 1950 was always acutely aware they'd have just turned 50 as the new century dawned. Over our bunsen burners Julia and I decided we hoped we'd have kicked the bucket before then because 5O was SO old. Thank God we're still around to celebrate passing that milestone. |
| I take it all back. I was wrong. I admit it. I'm eating humble pie with custard. (Scarlett kicks the dirt} Ooops sorry, been reading B.A.N.G and got carried away. I had a WONDERFUL night with my old schoolfriends. A dozen turned up, more than anticipated. Five ladies and seven men. All of them were looking good, keeping up youthful appearances, full of good humour and laughter prevailed. Maybe it's because I grew up with these people; we share memories of school life in the sixties, but whatever it is we had FUN. Another wonderful evening to file in the memory box. It's not a gender issue at all; more an attitude issue. I didn't even have a hangover this morning. As my grandma used to say, 'It's not the spirit you drink, but the spirit you drink it in.' Been a very bland, ordinary Saturday. Hubby in a 'feeling sorry for myself' mood and mother hinting she'd like me to take her on a holiday I know she'd never cope with. It's all very sad. This morning I thought I'd lost it completely. Signed in to WDC and went to click on the blog link. GAWN! Took me ages to work out they've moved it. Then had to catch up on blogs and there were the great Blogville News and B.A.N.G. editions to read. I'm not complaining but I really need the elixir of life to cope with this site. But I'll do my best. I checked out my blog links from the left and encountered a problem with maylee We are a family here and just as in other walks of life I worry when someone goes missing. I hope she's okay. That's about all I can offer at this time of night. Sleep unfortunately beckons. Such a waste of time. Night night my friends. WUB you all. |
| The government are funding a project here to find twelve icons which help define English identity. It will focus on England rather than Britain because officials think the English have lost out in recent years to Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland in terms of national identity. The project is called 'Icons Online,' and I've just spent far too much time looking at it.  There are many icons to vote for and the opportunity to nominate ones not already listed. At the moment these are the twelve suggestions put forward by the project leaders... Stonehenge S.S. Empire Windrush A cup of tea Jerusalem Punch and Judy Alice in Wonderland Holbein's Portrait of Henry VIII Angel of the North The Spitfire The King James Bible The FA Cup The Routemaster bus I find that a rather odd selection and disagree with some being representational of England. It's all a matter of personal opinion but this would be my list... Roast beef and Yorkshire Pudding Big Ben A cup of tea William Shakespeare The Beatles The Royal Family Fish and Chips Red Pillar Boxes. Stonehenge Football Wimbledon Queues That got me thinking about Icons for my area of England so in keeping with the 'dozen' theme I came up with these twelve for Nottingham... Robin Hood Nottingham Lace Goose Fair Nottingham Forest Football Club D.H. Lawrence Nottingham Castle Torvill and Dean Trent Bridge Newstead Abbey - home of Byron Sherwood Forest Highest ratio of women to men in England The Trip to Jerusalem - the oldest pub in England Where do you live and what icons would you choose to represent your area? |
| Boy, did I have some weird dreams last night. I couldn't begin to describe them, but in a way they were quite hilarious. I had to be up early this morning for my foot tickling session; it was pouring with rain and still dark as night. Didn't help my mood one little bit. My friend Gillian arrived and gave me a card postmarked 'Canada.'  I use her address for correspondence as my hubby is insanely jealous and cannot concieve that men and women could possibly be friends. It may sound devious but I'm afraid I consider it his problem, not mine. Anyway, enough of that.It seems my sister and most of you were right and I'm pleased to admit my fears were unfounded and morose. Can you imagine my face as I read these words? 'Just before the holidays my computer broke down completely and went to Cyberheaven. My family and I have to save to buy a new one but they don't seem too interested. How can a person go without a P.C? I hope you didn't think I'd died or got run over by a reindeer.' Such a relief. I'll miss our games and chatter but I can live with that now I know he's safe. We'll write to each other to keep in touch for the time being. I'd buy him a new 'puter myself and send it him if I could afford it. So, thank you all for putting up with my amateur dramatics and offering so much support and good advice. And thanks to the anonymous person who sent the C-card. I'll never fail to be amazed by the kindness of people on this site. Now, maybe I can direct my vivid imagination into writing instead of 'worst scenarios.' But don't hold your breath; knowing me, it won't be long until something else starts niggling at me. That reminds me...I haven't seen my Mexican friend online for a few days...lol. |
| Not my own words but something forwarded from a friend. I thought it rather poignant. 'To realise the value of a sister, ask someone who doesn't have one. To realise the value of ten years, ask a newly divorced couple. To realise the value of four years, ask a graduate. To realise the value of one year, ask a student who has failed a final exam. To realise the value of nine months, ask a mother who has given birth to a stillborn. To realise the value of one month, ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby. To realise the value of one week, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper. To realise the value of one minute, ask a person who has just missed a train. bus or plane. To realise the value of one second, ask a person who has survived an accident. Time waits for no one. Treasure every moment you have. You will treasure it more when you can share it with someone special. To realise the value of a friend or family member, lose one.' The last line reinforces the way I've been feeling since the start of this year. I just hope it's my morbid imagination. Appreciate, validate and communicate with those you care about today; tomorrow you may not have the chance. That's all I can offer at the moment. |
| It's very rarely I feel surprised at anything I read or hear regarding the News. Often deeply saddened, which is probably why I generally avoid it. Ostrich syndrome I call it. But something I spotted yesterday left me rather gobsmacked. Apparently, forty-one year old Sharon Tendler from London has just travelled to Eliat, in Israel where she was married to her sweetheart of fifteen years. Nothing unusual about that you might think, except her partner is a dolphin. The bride wore a traditional white wedding outfit and the groom was naked as far as I can see. The groom however is called Cindy, so I can only conclude that's the reason they married at the aquatic theme park and not in church. The bride is a rock concert producer in London. Methinks the company concerned may gain a little publicity from this bizarre event. She is also a millionairess. I wonder if she'll ever really know whether the dolphin has only married her for her money?  If it wasn't so cold I'd be thinking it was April 1st |
Will you please remind me never to sit up late blogging and supping again?  I promised not to be a misery today. I'm not - I feel too lousy to be miserable. lol GAWD! Will I ever learn? |
| Positive moments after getting up and observing the disaster area supposedly called a kitchen? NONE. Positive moments after shopping at the hazard area called a supermarket, then standing in a queue for half an hour? NONE Positive moments after waiting an hour for a meal to be served in an overcrowded pub where half the population still off work decided to eat? NONE Positive moments checking no new e-mails and chatting to all my absent friends online? NONE Positive moments after forcing myself to take a lonely walk on a cold, damp, dreary day? NONE I guess it's a case of 'once a grumpy old woman, always a grumpy old woman,' and accepting life just doesn't smell of roses too often. BUT...WAIT...I sign into WDC and read a few blogs. I smile, I laugh, I sigh, I empathise, I lose my self pity and realise, no matter how bad or uneventful my day has been, here I feel at home. Nada   has made my day by praising my CC effort for B.A.N.G. (GAWD it was difficult lol) and by admitting she's having problems zipping up.  SO, when my diet kicks in, she can pass on all those beautiful gowns and I'll go on a cruise with the second most handsome man in the world, once I find out who he is. (and blindfold him lol) I WILL TRY to be more positive ...tomorrow...I apologise for being a misery...there are reasons...too many and complex for this time of night. I wish I could be happy with a simple life...sigh. |
| I've not started the first day of January feeling my best but as usual, that's self-inflicted so I expect no sympathy. I have started the new year with a few worries and concerns already, but then I wouldn't be Scarlett if something wasn't chewing my brain. No resolutions or promises for me either, I know myself too well to contemplate making any dramatic changes or promises I can't keep. I will try to concentrate on positives however (well, for today anyway lol) and so I look ahead at 2006 with these things hopefully already to look forward to.  Two school reunions. A small one later this month and a larger one in July. A holiday to the island of Sardinia in early June. Later in June, a stretched Limo taking myself and friends to the races at Ascot. Another special birthday treat in August. Hopefully a day out on a barge. A weekend in London in September, including tickets to see Robbie Williams. Most of these things are a long time away and there are the drab winter months ahead but I hope to keep looking for positives every day. Reading friend's blogs daily will certainly be one of them. Hope you've all started the year well. |
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