Potty brain

When younger, I used to enjoy pottering (yes even during those tender formative years, I enjoyed a good potter), growing plants, drawing plans which involved building small dams and irrigation systems.  All in a patch no bigger than 4ft by 1.5ft.  But it kept me enthralled for months.

Now, many years later, with less space than that assigned a dinner-ready rabbits hutch, i've found the delights of having plants nearby makes for calmer, healthier and more relaxed living quarters. 

I almost feel that i'm returning to harmonious beginnings, a long trek back to the welcoming heaving bosoms of nature, even whilst living in the depths of capital disposability and pollution.

So what plants are currently co-habiting my cramped space, swapping my obnoxious gasses for healthier ones?

First off, that old proverbial favourite the spider plant.  Next, albizia julibrissin (mimosa) which initially  required a lot of care and attention, but now appear to have settled in and zoomed off, followed by bucket loads of umbrellas.  These plants seem capable of growing in anything, anytime, anywhere; as long as they're swimming in it - water.  Which is always handy if you call  a canal your home.  A small but happy three pronged dracaena marginata.  Last but not least, two new additions; a lovely little four year old ficus retusa microcarpa (bonsai tree) and a somewhat spindly but vibrating guzmania - which is having re-orienteering settling in issues.

So how infectious is this growing affliction?  Extremely severe, would be a nice all encompassing phrase.

I've rediscovered the fine pleasure to be gained from pottering around tending plants, so it does seem that i have finally joined the potty-brained brigade!

Now, for matters more pressing...

Nothing to report here

Red eye

Fruit and veg luxury

In the uk a bastion of opportunity, fairness and democracy, it's telling how truly bad things are; when people start thinking of ordinary fruit and vegetables as an expensive luxury.

Tesco and the sausage factory

With venice sinking, cholera & anthrax rates practically doubling by the hour in sinkbabwe, parents running over each other to disregard the disregard mmr messages and have their children finally vaccinated against mmr, uproar over the police invading parliamentary privilege; i have a serious complaint about the fresh(?) cooked counter at tesco's!

In the past tesco was a favourite haunt.  A regular fix that ended once i parted with hundreds of pounds per month.  Even had home delivery's (admittedly they only managed 85% accuracy), until it became laborious, a pain and then a chore i could live without.

That aside, now and then I enjoy popping into the local store, as they're still the only place within an easy stroll which does a wonderful cooked sausage - and yes i know the rubbish and conditions that goes in to the making of them, but when breakfast has comprised of porridge made with water and honey (to cut cholesterol levels), the only thing my stomach and brain agreed on come shopping time, is that great big, curving, succulently juicy, calling my name - with a hint of spices about it - cumberland sausage!

One crafty sleight of hand carried out and which springs to mind in regard to tesco (which is why we should always keep receipts for moments like this), is the cooked foot and half long curvy cumberland sausages used to be 89p.  Now tescos have done away with those and plumped instead for a straight spicy sausage which is half the size of the previous monster, for - you've guessed it - 89p.

But on this particular occasion I popped in and made a bee-line for the counter (as that was the only thing I was going to buy) only to see a fellow customer there, not quite in an overjoyed frame.  After nearly a minute of  nothing happening or seeing any movement behind the counter, I asked him if he'd been served.  He said he'd been waiting there for ten minutes and hadn't been served yet. Okay, thought I, 10 minutes waiting...  Seeing a customer assistant to the right of me packing the shelves, i called him over and asked if there was anyone serving.  He said quite jocularly that as much as he would like to serve, he hadn't been trained in "not burning himself", with a wry smile, but he'd go to find someone.  And off he went.

By this time a fair little queue had built up, with people comparing the popping into tesco's experience as more akin to having teeth pulled and preferences been made for asda, as been far cheaper; lidl, for being a good bargain, and the odd trip to marks and spencers just to ensure there's still life kicking in those bargain basement corpses.

The upshot, the first customer had been standing there for nigh on 15 minutes, as the customer servicing agent that should have been there, was no-where to be seen.  The person who had 'temporarily' taken over didn't know where she was, and looked as if she really didn't want to be there anyway as no doubt an important mobile call was been missed.

The beginning of the end of tesco?  Lax, management?  Doubtful and they have enough clout to lop off the top heavy prices to become cheap enough so no-one'll care.  But there were five unhappy people at the counter, I wonder how many people they've spoken to, communicating miffed disgust?

That aside, how many days...?  Oh yes, 21.

End of year thoughts, part II

Ah, with each passing month that old saying fact is stranger than fiction, just can't help intruding its big nose into the virtual world of effluent froth.

Bah!

Only three  weeks to go before the elbow gouging, back stabbing, bunion crunching, present wailing time of year comes to its ultimate conclusion.  This year will be interesting, now that everyone - even those in numbers 10 & 11 - are aware that conurbations of people will avoid the annual round of spend and blubber. 

We may spend a bit more time thinking about what we (non-all-inclusive) can afford and what the presentee will be happy to receive, given the state of current financial straight-jackets.

If someone does decide to pop over offering buckets of mulled wine mixed with solace and kind words, you could just imagine them been greeted with a trebuchet full of warming pitch followed by sackful's of cards and a hearty clear off!

Sadly i digress.

End of year thoughts, will just have to wait until the end of the week and some poignant finishing touches.

In the meantime...

A matter of opinion

The best thing for rudolph?  Some might disagree.  The others?

Ofwho?

For those who thought ofgem was bad; ofcom makes that entity look like a staunch bastion of consumer hope and action, but enough about dinosaurs.

Ofcons charter has obviously been thrown out of the window, for been to problematic.  And why ofcon?  Because we have been so conned into believing this was an organisation set up for the benefit of the millions of people who use telephones, broadband, mobile services.  Those whose only sanction is to walk away and try to find a different provider.  But even that's beset with it's own problems. Want to port your number or port your broadband?  Tough!  Just come with us so we can make sure your options are encased in concrete before been weighed down by iron weights - like the good old days.  But, enough of smoke and mirrors.  Who needs good facts, when bad facts are twice as good for half the price.

So in honour of ofcom's inability to realise - or care, that consumers are been cheated, misled, taken round the houses on a mystery tour they're dearly paying for. In honour of ofcom (and the asa) like rabbits caught and blinded by the industry - it's supposed to regulate; it's time this useless guano was renamed something more appropriate, and my has there been many helpful (however questionable) names put forward already.

Sadly my t'penny ha'penny worth only came to, office of codswolloping odorous mange.

But onto more pleasing concerns...

Spidy do

The spider plants (given as a gift), as well as enjoying an ambient temperature of 15-17 degrees celsius, also appear to be enjoying my bodily expulsions and have thus grown by leaps and bounds.

A flower, with four more waiting in the wings, has burst open.  Which has surprised me.  As the only bit of colour I thought i'd see this side of spring/summer 2009, would be my face turning blue on cold & frosty mornings.

But the main reason for the shrubbery, is to help combat the never-ending pollution.  After waking in the morning (once the plants have switched from carbonising to oxygenating), the smell of heavy auto fumes hangs thick in the air.  Once the curtain and room's open to the world however, the fug only momentarily lasts before been replaced by a healthier brew.  No wonder i'm feeling high, so often. Obviously continual diesel/petrol fume inhalation isn't good for any extended period of time, but it certainly does open up a whole new view of the world!

   

The annual london tube fare rush

Seems a bit churlish mozzing on about the tube been like death and taxes, when people are been slaughtered, starving, raped and pillaged around the world.

But there it is.  My contribution to the stilted nonsense, furrowing through layers of mist.

Back onto the tube.  Shouldn't next years increase be in the travellers favour, sort of falling in line with inflation?  With january bringing the annual increase, it's fun to have a quick look back to a time before.  In this case january 1995 - or two years before the witch project began.  An ordinary 7 day, zones 1&2 travelcard, would have set you back a whopping £13.80p

In january 2009, the weekly travelcard will set customers back £25.80 and i'm sure, if memory serves correct, the zones are now smaller.  lt certainly loves their four-fifths of a pound, which considering how much everything else has shot up (although heading back down again); isn't to bad.  If you're disabled, under 16 or on a new deal, then (after stripping out inflation) it's cheaper to travel using public transport, today than in the last few heady days of the last discredited conservative party.  Oh how times feel eerily reminiscent, even if wafting different stripes.

And in a world of disasters, crimble catastrophes clingingly clamber...

Sack the claws

Nothing much in this one.  Crashes, murders, rapes, natural causes, a sharpened stone.

Hanging baubles

Murder, mayhem, mischievously mulch.

A tree is for life and not just for christmas

Each year the closing in of the days, are accompanied by scudding clouds wistfully skipping across grey distant horizons.  Tucked away, fast out of sight, a festive enclave waits in readiness.  Waits for the return of the christmas king - and his merry band of pixies.  Ready to watch in awe, the revered art of tree making.

Yes the lights are on, and it's a full throttle countdown.  Bugger the cost, its celebration time.

So without further ado, p'shop touch up jobs, or any fanfare. 

We proudly present, christmas 2008!

pictures © 2008 and courtesy of apa.

And now embodying christmas present...

 

A tree is for life and not just xmas

2.5% and a vat to nowhere

I've always wondered what it would be like to be up a creek without a paddle, or a boat. Now i know.

Weeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!

"Let's cut 2.5% off vat and people will be doing cartwheels in the streets with joy, they'll be overjoyed," darling said turning to gordan in triumph. "Won't they?"

Gordon could see the euro signs tumbling down from mammon heaven. As by time he'd finished the economy would be in its own 6x2, and he'd be on the world circuit; bypassing flighty arse in the earnings league.  Oh yes, he could see it all.

The top working 1% will be hit with a new tax rate of 45% - if Labour wins the next election.  So this whole exercise will be heading straight into the ground.  As cameron and co. will be in power and trimming the fat, sinews, bone, and soul from everything not helpful to the swings and roundabout nation.

On the other end of the political spectrum, 1% of people will be clapping their hands in glee but wondering why a 70% tax hike wasn't imposed instead.

So after the hoopla, the nonsense been talked up over a weekend.  How does this wonderful gb giveaway affect me and those around me?

Those small business owners i know, are battening down hatches, a drop in vat of 2.5% will be kept and not passed onto consumers. 

Since many basic food items are zero rated, gas and electricity not applicable, most people who use their stores won't benefit anyway - whilst the poorest of the poor, will still  be left wondering when a party will come to power that will actually be of benefit to them. 

With unemployment following the lemming led plunge of the economy, they are now ever farther away from reaching that nirvanic goal of gainful employment.

And once more, the only westminsterarian talking sense is vince cable. Perhaps he should do a stint on strictly come dancing, before been elected president!

Pixie dust

Woke up this morning, pulled aside the curtains; and blinked.

Was that?

Could it be?

Yes! A sprinkling of snow was littering the rooftop of cars, sticking stubbornly to tables.  So i quickly whipped it out.  Took a few snaps,  before the white stuff melted.  As this is the second month in a row we've had snow in london; i don't remember (will have to look up or be told) the last time that's occurred - at this time of year.  Hopefully then, come xmas time, it'll be the third and a snowy xmas scene for one and all.

However, if that is the way things are going, stock up!  Start buying those cheap tins of corned beef, snow shoes or snowboards, small camping gas bottles...  Because if it's a heavy snow fall over the xmas season in the  capital, you know everything will simply grind to a halt - for days.

 

   

Aarggghhhh for shoddy rubbish

The benefits of keeping a receipt - regardless of the time frame - finally showed its worth today.

A while ago - well at the start of the year.  A lovely swivel chair with ample padding, was purchased from Argos (what do you mean serves me right!), and promptly put together with nary a problem until the past week.  

I don't jump on, bang shut, slam down, wrench open, kick, thump or slap any of my belongings whether they're working or not; i tend to find they work far better and usually for longer, that way.  So when the chair started to wobble, I just thought it was the carpet giving me grief, or my centre of gravity changing and i was now seriously one cheek heavier than the other!

But all that was folded away and put back into their boxes, as (see pictures attached), the top part of the chair, fell back and off to the side - luckily carrying me with it.  The bottom portion which contained the upright, now had a very sharp jagged circular remnant from the base of the top - which would by the look and feel have cut and sliced a substantial portion of whatever bit of me it would have caught; with hospitalisation soon after if i'd survived to make that call.

So after making a call to argos, and been very surprised when the representative said, "take it back with the receipt to any argos for a replacement."  But then, saying that would be far quicker than a law-suit.

   

Before that grievous attempt on my good person, I was in the process of observing natures interplay.

Forceful delights

Waking up, no more than ten minutes ago.  I swept aside the curtains to look out on a bit of scenery.  On the right (of my position) a clear blue sky.  To the left an approaching cloud mass, that - according to the weather folk - might herald (no pun) a few measurements of the pristine christmas stuff.

So in a moment of madness, my camera, woolly socks and I, ventured out of the prison (sorry, really must stop saying that), out of the flat with camera in tow and snapped a couple of pics for the memory and for am unusually happy blog - however relevant.

Gloomy washing

Just when I thought it was reasonable to stick my head above the parapet another wave of doom and gloom charges across the horizon. 

I'm big enough, ugly and old enough to remember the past two downturns, if its really bad it'll be a decade or two before most parts of the populace feel as if things are on the up - looking as though it's heading that way.  On the other hand, it might be all over by 2012; if everyone else can jump on that float...

But it probably won't matter anyway.  After all the save energy infommercialistas pumped out, there are still people in the carbon producing, gas guzzling leading democracies who decide to do a full wash, with only three small items in a washing machine; we're doomed!

And they came from a two-parent-opposite-sex-male-female-household!

Wonder if there are any statistics out there which actually monitors the parentage of criminals.

Does mass murderer tb come from family type a), b), c), d), or e)?

1. Happy and stable male and female pairing with no skeletons, no lies, taxes done on time, tithe the correct percentage, or hold up the tenets of humanism, look after their parents and grandparents, recycle, have a hippo in the loo,
2. Happy and stable same sex pairing with no skeletons, no lies, taxes done on time, tithe the correct percentage, or hold up the tenets of humanism, look after their parents and grandparents, recycle, have a hippo in the loo.
3. One parent with the other parent absent.
4. One parent with other parent visiting and everyone been on talking terms.
5. From the orphanage.

But of course, not just for a mass murderer, but for any type of felon!  Then you roll it out to the general population, including biometrics, blood and urine samples.

In the middle of grey dampness

Just a couple of pics taken the other day on a gray damp afternoon. 

But even amidst swathes of bland regularity, the odd burst of colour manages to poke through, truly bursting through when tweaked.