A true friend

A true friend never lets you down and is reliable, faithful, trustworthy and dependable. Good looks count for very little as do the advancing years. The passing of time invariably sorts out the unreliable and I have to say that I'm very fortunate to have such good friends.

One of them is in France at the moment and, oddly enough, another is waiting patiently outside for me right now. We tend to go everywhere together. We are inseparable really...especially when storm clouds gather and the rain threatens to come down and dampen our spirits. There is a genuine bond, forged over many years and it hasn't escaped my notice that he always, but always offers me protection above himself. How lucky am I to have such a friend?

I'm about to accompany him to the local garage for a long overdue oil change. It's the least I can do for my trusty old Avensis. I might even ask for the bulbs to be checked while it's in...to improve it's failing eyesight so to speak.

The sun is shining today and life feels a good deal better than yesterday.

I caught Bev inspecting her toast this morning...very strange!

I've been invited to join another friend on facebook. I haven't seen him since 1967. His name is John Gates and no, he's not related.

I'm sure facebook is responsible for more broken friendships than what are forged...judging by the office gossip here.

Another friend sent a surprise email. Marie-Jose is French and David reminded her at church last week (in France) that we agreed to exchange emails in our native tongue to help each other learn one another's language better.

I'm pleased to have understood what she was writing.

Last night, with Eileen's help, I ordered a Concise Oxford Hachettes French dictionary from Amazon. It cost me a lot more than my last order from them (£1 +p&p) which indicates my resolve in getting to grips with the language. It also marks a major departure from habit as it's hardback. I wonder, if I tuck it under my arm as reading material, they'll let me on the plane with it without having to have it weighed? It's the only thing I'll be able to take if they don't, as Eileen reckons it weighs a ton!

Bev picked the car up after work and then came to pick me up.

There are two cases of swine flu at work today and, as everyone is bound to get it at some point, I'm hoping I'll get it quick so that I'll be over it before going to France. They believe it's only those with current health issues that need to be concerned. For everyone else it's just like normal flu.

It'll be the first time I've wanted to be ill as soon as possible and I'm psycholigically ready for it.

Bring it on! What's the worst that can happen? Mmm...right! Yes, well, let's not be too keen!

Spoke to Tom at last. He's happy to come to France with the van...if he isn't made redundant next week!

Life is never straightforward anymore, is it? He's quite positive though because he only has two years before retiring anyway.

My brother, a pensioner. I can scarce believe it.

What happens next?

Tony Jeffries had his third professional fight on Friday and I missed it! Had I been there and blinked I would have missed it anyway because it was all over in less than two minutes.

When he came round for dinner on Sunday, my sister tells me he had TWO dinners and has put on 11 lb. He'll be going to Ibeza now, then some really exotic place with Sarah and Las Vegas to finish off.

Dya know what, I wouldn't mind even being the one who suffered a two minute beating if it means weeks of holidays and a blossoming bank balance! I take it back. I forgot I'm a wimp and probably wouldn't survive. Even if I did survive, it'll take weeks of hospitalisation, counselling and medication for life, afterwhich, I would have to run myself into the ground just to start the cycle all over again. You deserve every penny you get Tony.

Tom wasn't back from the barbecue when I last called at 10:15 pm. Some barbecue!

The poet John Clare was born this day in 1793 and died sometime after the battle of Gettysburg. Actually, this is a stupid statement as we ALL will die after the battle of Gettysburg and he didn't fight in it anyway.

He wrote..."If life had a second edition, how I would correct the proofs".

This is taking my thoughts at the moment as I don't start work for another half hour.

Honesty forces me to admit there will be lots of corrections in my life but it doesn't matter anyway. It's academic...we only have one bite at the cherry. Mortality is a one-off experience.

Annie Lennox sings..."I've got a life, it's the only thing I've got. I've got a life, it aint over, it aint over".

I've just got to make sure from now on that the cherry isn't a bitter gooseberry. I think that what I bite into next will be quite significant as I don't want it to bite back, or for me to have regrets.

This reminds me of what happened on Saturday morning as Bev pushed a plate of toast towards me as she munched on a half slice and was already pushing the other half in. No thanks, I politely replied...pointing to the green mould along one edge.

She promptly spat out the entire contents of her mouth and wretched in disgust. It was so funny.

Anyway, life goes on and I must ensure I don't spew out anything I take in without due care and attention.

I notice that a meeting has been scheduled this afternoon with 'Targets' as the only point on the agenda. Why do I feel a sense of anguish? Why do I predict the temperature in the room to soar?

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT is the right title for today's post. Watch this space. This is my life, it's 'live' and unfolding right before me.

I notice that Earl Haig, the painter son of General Haig of WW1 fame died last Friday.
He apparently discovered his talent for painting as a prisoner in Colditz. You could say that he found his freedom there.

As I sit in front of this computer I feel we don't have to be behind barbed wire or bars to feel imprisoned and in need of setting free.

Oh my word...who's feeling sorry for himself and doesn't want to be at work today? Can't you tell it's Monday.

The meeting came and went along with it's unrealistic targets.

Right! It's time to have a plan of action. I do not want to be here this time next year. I'm thankful for a job, but it's really time to move on soon for my own sanity.

It rained today...inside and out.

Is she in and Is he going?

Last night I tried to phone my brother Tom to arrange a visit after church. We knew that Newark will be packed with tourists and a big parade and wanted to avoid it by heading a different direction for a few hours. He didn't answer the phone but we decided to go anyway. He's almost always home on a Sunday.

I also tried to phone David and Wendy so we could drop by after church to check on a few of the wild flowers she wanted me to paint on the panels. There was no answer but we decided to drop by anyway on the way to my brother at Harston.

First stop after church...David and Wendy are out for the day in 'Matilda' (their VW retro camper).

Second stop...Tom and Lesley not in. They had just left to go to an 80th birthday barbecue.

My nephew Robert served us chilled Schloer to go with our picnic in the sun drenched garden . We chatted and ate and eventually said goodbye to Robert and headed home.

We missed the tourists and procession...and just about everything else we planned today.

We are enjoying a relaxing evening with the patio doors open and a welcome cool breeze gently blowing as we idly chat about this and that.

We noticed that Tom has a new transit van and was planning to come over this year to France. Dare we imagine he'll be able to bring anything over? There's chairs to go with the table the Flynn's bought us. Also mirrors, artwork, another rug, wardrobes, tiles, skirting boards, plants, shelving etc! etc! etc!

Yes, I know I've spelt Flinn wrong. If Eileen reads today's post, she'll smile and shouldn't take offence.

She took the gospel doctrine lesson today partly about high principled apostates who abandoned their religion through taking offence at the slightest provocation. One of them was as a result of having his name spelt wrong. Hard to believe, but true! Good lesson Eileen.

My mind is buzzing with the worldly possibilities of my brother's first visit to Bel-Air. Even if he can't bring anything, it'll be great to see him there. Out of all the family, I think it's Tom who would appreciate most about what we are doing with the place because renovation is his job.

I'll call him in an hour or so after speaking with my sister who I haven't heard from in weeks. I hope she's at home and picks up the phone!

cette voiture marche bien

This car runs well...but it's a miracle. It seems to thrive on neglect. It hasn't had an oil change in two years and the last time I washed it was... 'Mmm, now let me think!

We've booked it in for next week because we've just realised that we can't really do without it. For it to start complaining now would be quite a disaster. It's getting the works! We're going to be nice to it and hope it'll continue to be nice to us.

Jon paid us a surprise visit last night and stayed over...he's off to buy two bicycles in Mansfield, but we had to leave him this morning as we overslept a little and had to rush out.

The car got us to Tuxford today so that we could raise funds for Children in Kenya (CHiNK).

We did really well and a lot of people turned out to support it. It was outdoors and the weather was just perfect.

You wouldn't believe the variety of things on sale. I came away with the strangest of purchases...a hinged lidded wooden boxed 12" single fat Dutch cigar that originally cost 50 French Francs. It just has to be of interest to a collector, so I'll put it on ebay to see if I can raise extra funds for the charity.

It seemed strange buying a cigar...the first I've bought in decades. It's so big I'm sure it could be floated on water with a fully grown man on top, and sail it...all the way to Holland.

We were wiped out when we eventually got back, so a little nap was just the ticket.

I finished my book 'The Children of Freedom' when I woke up. I think it lost quite a lot in the translation to English, but a very sad read nonetheless. Worth reading though.

Painted the panels for the remainder of the afternoon. Bev was in the garden.

The fruit of Bev's labour...

Thanks for today's post title Roy, but I have to say you are making me feel guilty about my lack of effort in the French language department.

ps, If 5 photographs aren't showing on yesterday's post, can someone let me know? I seem to have problems with uploading them.

Donny

I usually write here as I go along and don't acually finish and correct the post until about 6pm or later.
In future I think I'll save a draft and only post it when I've checked it...starting next week perhaps.

I really enjoyed a forage into Randi's blog and read with interest about her prayers as a 12 year old relating to the Osmonds...many, many, many years ago!

I said I'd relate an experience I had with them.

It was a bolt out of the blue. A woman rang me around 9pm inviting me to a Donny concert and asking how many tickets I'd like. A total wind-up I thought.

As the conversation unfolded I became just a little bit more convinced but not much, so she handed the phone to Donny. I have to say he doesn't ring me often, so I obviously didn't recognise his voice therefore I didn't believe him either. He handed the phone to my son whose voice I did actually recognise. He was serving a mission in the Shetland Isles with Brandon Osmond and they were now all together in Glasgow as a family for a few days...Ashley had to go with Brandon because missionaries are to stay with each other wherever they go. So here they were having a great laugh trying to convince me it wasn't a prank.

Donny was so impressed with Ash that he wanted to meet his family...which is why he called and arranged complimentary VIP tickets so he could meet us all at his forthcoming concert in Nottingham.

We had a great time at the concert. We were ushered past the waiting queues and into his dressing room where we had a good laugh for half an hour prior to the normal meet and greet.

We then weaved our way through all the backstage areas before opening a door to the main auditorium and masses of screaming girls and women.

He gave a great performance and we had a memorable night.

Here is my daughter waiting for Donny to autograph something... never having said a prayer in her life for such an experience to happen. This is for you Randi... when it eventually uploads.

I'll upload when I get home later.

Other famous people that I've been so close I could smell their aftershave or perfume...
Queen Elizabeth 11 and Prince Phillip... 1977 Jubilee in West Bridgford...I swear he winked at me as she waved. They were just two feet away in their car and our eyes met. I don't think they recognised me.

Dave Stewart (Eurythmics)...1968. We lived near each other in Sunderland and used to go to the same folk club which was a single room at the top of a pub.

Dianna Dors and her husband Alan Lake (he later committed suicide)...I sang to them in the Shepherds Restaurant in Cotgrave (Tony Wille and myself called ourselves 'Witchwood').
Aurthur Scargill was also there watching us (we got a very nice tip...unusual for Scargill).

Can't think of anyone else off the top of my head.

Martin waiting for everyone to arrive with my MIL...

He was actually being carried along here...
Bev having a hug...Juli being naughty...note where her hands are...

Serene and Sarah were also in there waiting patiently. It was so funny.

Coincidence, dreams, mice and things

Can nothing really be nothing? This is the question I was struggling with as I tried to get out of bed this morning. It was really confusing me.

I also dreamt in colour (not usual for me). The dreams were of large brightly coloured canvases loosely painted in a distinctive style. I wonder if there is a subliminal message there? Is this the direction I am to go perhaps? Dreams are funny aren't they?

My earliest dream (nightmare) was of me trying to avoid being hung on a hook like everyone else in a huge van type space. Everyone was scrubbed up clean and had their hair neatly parted and combed to the side. They were just hanging there silent and dead.
Let's hope it never becomes reality. If I can avoid the temptation of a toupee, it's not likely to now.
For the record, a toupee will never be an option!

Coincidentally, Karen and Kirsty both pulled a mouse from their bags by their long tails this morning. Not a single scream... and they didn't even jump up onto the desk for protection. They then plugged them into the back of their PC's. Yes, we've moved back upstairs, and what a pleasure it is to be back.

We are way behind with work now but I won't allow myself to be stressed.

It's no coincidence that the only time I feel calm and relaxed is when I'm calm and relaxed (don't laugh)...so I will make SURE I'm calm and relaxed now, even though I'm a little under pressure. I'll MAKE it happen. Positive thinking is what I'm about today. I think I'll experiment with it and see how I get on. If I'm calm and relaxed come bed time I'll be very happy.

I'm home now and feel okay really. I just said to myself, let it go, it isn't life threatening! There were no funny looks because they are used to me talking to myself.

I'm making a list of the paints I need for these panels Wendy wants me to paint. She'd like dandelion clocks, clover, cow parsley and grasses.

Checked out RB who is supposed to be having a break. Great quotes...don't know how he comes up with them.

I'm just going to finish the evening doing, thinking, writing and saying things.

I'm relaxed. I'm happy!

Page 16

We bought the Daily Mirror for MIL because she likes this newspaper.

If this is a reflection of what British society wants to read then Heaven help us.

The front page was split between a failed drug test for a second rate goalkeeper, how to obtain a free magazine, Posh and Becks and Michael Jackson's funeral.

Then you have to wade through pages of total rubbish...rumour, gossip, scantily clad society girls and special offers before reaching something newsworthy. Why do people buy this? Why did I buy it?

Page 16 made me sit up...156 dead as China takes on rioters.

The Muslim majority Uighurs in North West China are being dominated in the Capital by Han Chinese migrants who have taken over many political posts. They are using this political power to stir ethnic unrest. It's incredible to see the level of hatred and violence. Goodness knows where it's all going to end.

Why can't people just accept and respect the beliefs and traditions of others and enjoy a peaceful existence?

The worst thing is that we see the blood, anguish, distress and the injustice, yet we are powerless to do anything. All this carnage and suffering is often in our living rooms via the TV...then we pop into the kitchen for a snack, powder our noses or nip off to a dance or the pictures or some other peaceful happy activity and leave them to get on with it.

What are we to do? What CAN we do?

Such news makes me feel uneasy about how easily detached we can be.

On the work front, we are on the move again...back upstairs (now that Wmbledon has finished).
The work is still very demanding but at least we'll be back at our normal desks and familiar surroundings.

Last night I cleared my studio to accommodate the 6' panels I have to paint in the next two weeks, whileBev made a start with taking the wallpaper off the front bedroom walls. I gave her a hand for the last section.

Nearly finished the book I'm reading. I treasure reading in bed...it's a real luxury.

We are both back home now and ready to make a stir fry. Then it's tackling some more decorating.

I've just corrected my spelling mistakes in this post while Bev talks with her Mum.

I just thought of a line or two from a Dylan song...'If I had wings and I could fly, I know where I would go. I'd sit here on this bank of sand and watch the river flow'.

If I had wings and I could fly, I know where I would go...if I thought it would make a difference. But I don't think it will and besides which I can't speak Chinese. I'll just have to be discontented with being a pathetic page 16 passive observer and sympathiser.

So annoying!