Friday Friday Comments

Apparently it was in 1297 that the Principality of Monaco gained it independence. I found it surprising that it was that long ago. It makes me wonder about how Monaco managed during both World Wars and other world events.

The time to relax is when you don't have time for it

Yeah right no s**t Sherlock!!!

And to Thursday 7th

In 1927 Basketball superstars, The Harlem Globetrotters played their first game.

This one brings back memories as I once went on a school trip to see the Harlem Globetrotters at Wembley Arena. In fact, apart from a very boring and sick making trip to our local sugar processing factory - this is the only school trip I ever went on. I really like basketball at school and I wasn't too bad at it. It was one game where I was not one of the last to be picked and I was quick and tidy on the court. Not the best at shooting the hoop! as I was always a bit under tall (now only 5 foot 2 3/4 inches) but I could get it forward and somebody else could always score.

It was the only sport I really enjoyed at school mainly because the horrid girls, the thick legs country girls, the bullies - couldn't give me a hard time over it. Anyway I digress, the trip was good, I went with my mate Angela and the boys PE teacher (who was also my RE teacher) and with whom I was madly in love. My first proper crush. It didn't matter he had a wife who taught Sewing or that he was Welsh. I actually found a photograph of him that I managed to sneak on that trip and he now reminds me of a 70's porn star with a proper curled down bushy moustache and sort of crimpoline beige trouser but hey it was in fashion at the time. I remembered he drove and really cool car - a red sports saloon and seemed much cooler than our other teachers.

Anyway the Harlem Globetrotters were just proper amazing - what they could do with that ball and the show was really entertaining. They were also so very tall. I remember having a good time and thinking it would be great to see them play (or perform) again. I never have - Yet.

Anyway the coach trip back was typical of my school, the cool kids on the back appeared to be a bit drunk, the popular girls sat on the back seats with the popular boys and one couple appeared to be actually having sex. I was so embarrassed (I was only 13 and not really ready to understand it all yet). I think me and my mate just tried to ignore the giggling, the groping sounds and general sex sounds and tried not to choke as the coach filled up with Embassy No 6 (green and blue packet) smoke.

I saw the guy who had sex at the back of the bus not long ago - his name was Richard ? and he looks really old now. God know what has happened to the girl, can't even remember her name. Guess she didn't end up as his wife!!!!

It's funny what things jolts our memories. Anyone else got strange memory connections?

And the quote for today

Great ideas need landing gear as well as wings.

Maybe sometimes its the landing gear that pulls us back to earth so quickly that we crash away our dreams.

Ummmmm

52 Books for 2010

52 Books for 2010

Thought you might find this interesting - I think it would be nice to just have the time to read a couple of them.

Driving and the Ice

I have always loved driving - almost from when I first passed my driving test (30 years ago now) I enjoy driving and will often find excuses to go out for a little drive. (This has ceased a little with the price of fuel). As I get older I find it harder to do very long drives, if I have to drive somewhere further away than about 3 or 4 hours I prefer to share the driving but I think this is just concentrating for so long and of course visiting when you get there. And the fact that every where is at least 3 or 4 hours away from Norfolk.

But this morning I really did not want to drive. It was very icy outside this morning, not snowing at all but just slippery under foot and as I have already fell over a couple of times in a the last couple of weeks I think it has slightly unnerved me.

But this morning I really did not want to drive. I haven't really used the car much over the last week or so which has not helped and just the whole rigmarole of having to de-ice the car, keep it clear and the perpetual problem of trying to keep the screen clean when my washers are frozen up. I was really nervous about my 25 mile drive to work and felt very tense about slipping or sliding all over the place. Once I got going I found myself holding on to the steering wheel really tightly and giving myself hand ache.

In the end it was a fairly uneventful trip. Lots of traffic going slowly but on the whole driving carefully. But by the time I got to work I felt worn out. Not a good start to a busy active day.

And then I had to be at work, looking out of the window seeing the snow come down rapidly and wondering if the journey home was going to be just as stressful. In any event it was a quiet and not too busy trip home but I was glad to be parked up and home.

Wed 6th

The legendary Russain ballet dancer, Rudolf Nureyev died this day in 1993.

And the inspiring quote for today is Goals are dreams with deadlines. Not sure I totally agree with this but hey it's our quote for today. I hope my dreams don't have any deadlines or I could be in big trouble.

New Year mean dieting again!

My life has changed drastically over the last few months. I am again the parent of a youngster. We are fostering an 11 year old boy - he is a distant relative and he has certainly brought new life to our home. I shall call him 'Boy' (sorry stolen from http://rhhblackthorn.blogspot.com/ but it works very well. I shall only be working a couple of days a week initially - it may end up only being one and looking around for school work or relief hours but I have decided with a little more free time (at least during the school day) that I will be spending more time writing.

I should of course be doing it now - but hey isn't this writing? Since Christmas I have been filling in a writing diary and trying to write something, however small, every day. I have just about managed it.

Being a foster parent is scary and wonderful. Both myself and Him wonder if we are up to the task, being a parent is the only thing you are never truely prepared for and never really know what you are doing. I have 2 grown up girls who are doing ok but I am often deeply aware of the mistakes I made whilst they were young. So why are we doing this again?

Because it feels right, he is a lovely lad who just needs someone to love him, care for him and guide him through life to allow him to be whatever he wants. Not an easy task but one I hope we are up to - well some of the time anyway.

So 2010 starts with new life, new family, new writing. Unfortunately it also starts with the same old bills, same old money worries but hey, who cares when I can walk on the beach every day, breathe the sea air and spend time with my family and animals.

I want 2010 to be the year I spend time with family and friends, understand about love and being loved and look on the bright side of life.

What more can I ask? Watch this space!