I can't believe it .....

I know I sound like a female version of Victor Meldrew, but ....

I really can't believe it ....

After reading (and re-reading) about Rachida Dati, the French Justice Minister, I could not believe that any woman should (or would even want to) return to work just five days after giving birth.

Ms Dati is a 43 year old, unmarried, first time mother to baby daughter, Zohra.

What kind of a message is she sending out to the rest of the world.  Those of us that are 'mere mortals'.  To me, this is not the message of somebody that is particularly bright.  It seems more the actions of someone in the grips of post natal depression, who lives in a world far-removed from the reality of my own.  As a mother of four, I know how I felt 5 days after giving birth to all of my children.

I really hope that she and her daughter don't suffer because of this single act of self-publicity and I sincerely hope, for all of womankind, that this 'trend' does not catch on.

First time for everything ....

Well, I did it!  After all these years of being a 'chicken' (or a 'wuss' as the kids would call it), I performed one of my New Year's Resolutions.

I was surprised at how quickly it was over, how painless it was and how efficient everything seemed to be.

Just really annoyed with myself now that I feel like I have wasted 30 years of not donating blood.

If I can do it, anyone can, give it a try if you haven't - click on the title for the link.

The car ...

'D's pride and joy has just been collected by the lovely tow man.  I'm sure 'D' will be pleased when I tell him that the tow man couldn't understand how anyone could afford to put fuel in one of these things!  I'm sure 'D' knows this already - so I won't be the one to enlighten him.  We love our old bangers - trouble is they are now getting extremely expensive to repair and we are b'rassic-lint - better buy another lotto ticket this week.

Oldest and dearest friend ....

What can I say about this photograph? Oldest and dearest friend.  We met for lunch on Monday and 'M' arrived wearing this hat.   I was speechless (which doesn't happen often).   Out we walked to go for lunch.   Now bear in mind that I am about 5'11" and 'M' is exaggerating when she says she is 5' tall!  We certainly got some looks.  Suffice to say that on Tuesday, when she again arrived in my office for lunch, she was not wearing 'the' hat.   'D' asked "Why no hat today?"   'M' replied that "even though ....(me) ..... hadn't said anything, my face had spoken volumes".  I think the later assumption that people had been staring, also swayed consensus on 'the' hat being seen again in a professional capacity.

I love her to bits, she has been a very good friend to me - I can live with 'the' hat, but sadly I can't stop my face from 'telling tales' on me ... even when I try really hard not to say anything at all!

For anyone that doesn't know 'M' she is a complete fitness freak.  She gets up at some unGodly hour, 4.30am or thereabouts to go running.  She will run before work, taking the dog with her.  Frequently then go on for a round trip in the gym or the pool before coming into the office.  We used to work together, for many years in the same office, until I defected and went to the dark side that was formerly known as 'Leisure'.  For a long time it was thought there was much pleasure in Leisure - though I witnessed much, I can't say that it was my own personal experience.  We were a strange bunch of people, thrown together through circumstance, with very different personalities.  Too complex an issue to be covered in this post - but maybe if I discover my dark side in the future, I might write about it then.

Wednesday

I didn't take this today (though the weather is pretty much the same). I took this one yesterday, sitting in the traffic on the way into the office, from the car window with my mobile. It seemed to sum up the optimism I had for the day.

When I reached the office 'D' (not 'D' hubs) was on a downer - despite our discussion the previous day of trying to maintain a positive mental attitude! Further discussions ensued and we soon put ourselves on the path with the sunshine instead of the snow.

'DMcG' returned from his holidays and was full of Menorca - he had never been there before but had experienced a great time with some of his extended family, taking long daily bike rides (short in comparison with his usual 30 mile stints at home). Several brochures were shown around the office of villas that he would like to buy (if they were cheap enough, if he could afford to live abroad, if he had a 'golden handshake' from work, if ....) I think a few people wanted to piss on his parade - but I was happy to let him keep his dreams .... what the hell have we got without them sometimes?

Second day of the year

Image courtesy of L


Just another Friday ...

Well, I guess it's just like any other Friday - except that I am not at work today! I guess when I do I will suffer the usual, annual problem of still writing 2008 until we are well into January!

E & L are busy singing along with the Beach Boys and watching The Simpsons - simultaneous - which is quite a feat, I'm sure you'd agree.

T went to hospital again last night - fainting/fever etc. Still it was good to hear from him as he rarely switches on his mobile these days.

Well I failed miserably to get anything constructive done yesterday. Well, if you discount all the playing about on the laptop. I HAVE TO cure myself of this particular problem as it does nothing at all for my procrastination.

To this end, I am going to limit the amount of time I spend on here and all of my other sites - it is all far too addictive. I think I will give myself computer time as a treat from now on, rather than as a right.

D went off to work in his borrowed van, still worrying about what to do with the car. Should he forget all the money he has spent trying to get it sorted out and give it up as a bad job? Or, should he carry on with it in the hope that they sort it out? Either way it's going to mean more money that we haven't got.

TTFN

The First Day of the Year 2009

Well I guess I could have tried harder to get up earlier ... but still - this probably means that I have started as I mean to go on.

Considering I am a morning person, I am not always sure why I find it so difficult to get up.

D has already done a good deed for the day; rescuing P and L who were stranded and needed to get to Wolverhampton within the hour. Off he went, without complaint, and took them there. He brought back the bacon for the sarnies that Lily and I were desperate for and the Daily Depression (newspaper: Independent). Off he's gone now in his borrowed van, which he has kindly been loaned until he can figure out what he will do with his 'broken' car. Poor bloke has thrown so much money at it and it's still not working. Our pockets are empty at the moment, well they're less than empty actually but I don't want to get depressed this early in the year so we'll skirt around that issue! LOL

The girls are busy making games (and a whole heap of mess) in the sitting room and I am yet again messing about on the computer when I should be doing other things more boring instead.

I have caught up with:

My emails
Facebook
My favourite blogs (you know who you are)

I need to:

Get ironing done - failed
Weigh myself - failed
Go on the treadmill - failed
Clean up the kitchen - partially succeeded
Try and find all the mobile numbers that the new phone has 'lost'- failed

2008 Review (Original idea courtesy of Macpurp)

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
I went to Cambridge

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No - failed miserably. Yes

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes. My Uncle Harry. RIP

5. What countries did you visit?
In 2008 I visited Italy and the Canaries (Fuerteventura)

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Job security, fewer arguments with a significant other, more energy and more sunshine


7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory?
Can't say that any date will do that from 2008

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Making the decision that I have one life and if I don't live it now, I never will

9. What was your biggest failure?
My ability to lose weight

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Only minor things compared with previous years - colds, migraines, pins and needles in fingers etc


11. What was the best thing you bought?
Probably my e-reader

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Mine!

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
T's (sadly)

14. Where did most of your money go?
Living, children, books, music, toys ...

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Holidays

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Mamma Mia - Abba

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder? Happier
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Everything that made me smile

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Wasting time on my laptop

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With Grandma and Grandpa in Saddleworth

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Kind of - but with the same person

23. How many one-night stands?
Never ever had one

24. What was your favourite TV program?
Well apart from Coronation Street, it would have to be Gavin and Stacey

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate is a strong word - so no

26. What was the best book you read?
A Year of Wonder by Geraldine Brooks (a tale of the Plague in 1666)

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
English: Duffy
Italian: Louise Setara

28. What did you want and get?
A holiday in the sunshine

29. What did you want and not get?
For my Dad's health to be improved

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Mamma Mia

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Dan took me for a lovely meal in Saddleworth as we were up with his parents, I was 46

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
General levels of improvement in a lot of people's behaviour

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
I wouldn't know where to start - there was a lot of black, more than a hint of orange and browns this year too

34. What kept you sane?
My children

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Strangely - probably James May (Top Gear)

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Does Barack Obama's speech count?

37. Who did you miss?
Uncle Harry

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Apart from all the wonderful friends on-line, probably Lynsey H. Loads of fun

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
That I shouldn't get so upset about being disappointed in people, it's life

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Now this I truly have stolen from the beautiful Macpurp - as I couldn't have chosen a better one myself ...


I have a dream, a song to sing
To help me cope with anything
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I'll cross the stream - I have a dream

What colour am I?

Your rainbow is intensely shaded violet, brown, and red.

What is says about you: You are a passionate person. You appreciate the roughness of nature. You feel closer to people when you understand their imperfections. You are patient and will keep trying to understand something until you've mastered it.

Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.

I saw the box above on my friend MacT's blog and thought, I'll have a go. Her's is clean, serene and beautiful - mine looks a little confused .... hmmm, I think maybe this is all telling me more about myself than I realised. LOL

The petition ....

Well - great news - have decided to create an online petition with the Prime Minister's office. Clicking on the highlighted link will take you there, so hopefully you can add your signature to the others shown.

More later ...