Be sceptical. Be very, very sceptical.

As I’ve said before in my blog, I’m extremely sceptical about the need for all the arrests recently, and the so called ‘terror threat’.

I got this link to Craig Murray’s blog from my cousin – very interesting reading.

I really have a hard time believing anything the government tells us, and newspapers are just falling for the ‘propaganda’ hook line and sinker. We are moving further and further down the road towards a ‘1984′ world – one that scares the bejesus (I love that word!) out of me.

A friend tells me that my blog is rather cynical – rather that than blinkered and duped.

We’ve had enough of the stupid parking

Richard and I are planning to leave the note below on a car that has been parked opposite a junction (on the way to Mum’s from the main road), on and off the car has been there for months. We’ll have to wait and see what happens!

OWNER OF CAR REGISTRATION NUMBER: P423 VNJ

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING RULE (No: 217) FROM THE HIGHWAY CODE (current version at http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/  see section on Waiting & Parking)

WE DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS NOT JUST BECAUSE PARKING HERE CAUSES DIFFICULTIES ON THIS BUSY ROAD, BUT ALSO BECAUSE IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT DUE TO THE POSITION OF YOUR VEHICLE, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY YOU WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY YOUR INSURANCE.

Whilst we understand that parking is difficult in the area, in light of the above it might be beneficial to all if you moved your car around the corner.

This note is left on behalf of everyone who has drive on this piece of road, in a hope that we can improve the safety.

217: DO NOT park your vehicle or trailer on the road where it would endanger, inconvenience or obstruct pedestrians or other road users. For example, do not stop
• near a school entrance
• anywhere you would prevent access for Emergency Services
• at or near a bus stop or taxi rank
• on the approach to a level crossing
• opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorised parking space
• near the brow of a hill or hump bridge
• opposite a traffic island or (if this would cause an obstruction) another parked vehicle
• where you would force other traffic to enter a tram lane
• where the kerb has been lowered to help wheelchair users
• in front of an entrance to a property
• on a bend.

The great escape – tiggy on an adventure

Tiggy in the garden
Originally uploaded by Merrony’s Moll.

Last night I shut Tiggy in the garage as he kept going up and bothering Mum. Richard came home from the pub (we won’t talk about that) and for some bizarre reason tried to get into the garage; and let Tiggy out (we didn’t know for about an hour and then realised that he’d gone).

We decided not to tell Mum, and Gee and I spent a good hour looking for him – no joy, he’d gone.

By 12.30 we went to bed, exhausted. At 1am I had a brainwave, if I opened the garage door a tiny amount (rolling the car down so that no-one could open it any further), he might come back.

At about 1.30am I thought I heard something downstairs, sure enough, when I opened the door from the kitchen to the garage Tiggy shot through like a rocket!!

Heaven knows where he’d been, but I was very pleased to see him.

What the F**K?

A headlines from the news today -

Boy tied up and beaten with brick
A four-year-old boy was left in a pool of blood with part of his ear hanging off after he was tied to a tree and battered with a brick.

What a lovely world.

*UPDATE* – the police have arrested an 11 year old boy for the assault – 11 years old, what they hell is the world coming to?

Big Brother – finished

I know it’s been a while, and I should have posted this some time ago but I couldn’t find a picture I liked! Typically isn’t it, I’ve never before bought ‘OK!’ magazine but Mum wanted to read about Pete, so this picture comes from the ‘Pete World Exclusive’.

When Big Brother started I was not interested at all, I’m not interested in celebrity gossip or reality tv – but being at Mum’s and it being on I of course got dragged in…….aaaaahhhhhh!

Anyway, I really enjoyed the last week or so of the programme. Watching the relationship between Nikki and Pete was a bit cringe making, but over all I was torn between wanting Pete or Glyn to win the £100,000.

I can’t believe that I know who won, let along watched avidly and cared!!

Anyway, I think the best man won (Glyn has won in his own way anyway), and as the picture above shows, Pete is gorgeous!! Let’s hope he doesn’t get sucked downwards by the media.

So, that is possibly the first and last post you will ever about celebrity on my blog.

Chocolate Courgette Cake – a success!!

120g butter (softened)
125ml sunflower oil
100g caster sugar
200g soft brown sugar
3 eggs, beaten
130ml milk
350g plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
4 tbsp cocoa
450g courgettes, peeled & finely grated
1 tsp vanilla

Preparation time: 10 mins – yeh right!!
Cooking time: 45 mins

Instructions

1. Line a 20x 35 cm baking tray with baking paper and set the oven to 190C/350F/Gas mark 4.

2. Mix the butter, oil and both sugars together until light and fluffy. Gradually add the eggs, one at a time and then the milk until mixed throughly.

3. Sift the dry ingredients together and fold into the mixture. Stir in peeled and grated courgettes, vanilla.

4. Spoon into the tin and bake for 30-45 minutes.

5. Cut into squares whilst still warm.

(this recipe came from www.riverford.co.uk – they suggest that it’s a good way to get kids to eat vegetables, but they neglect to mention that there is LOADS of sugar it it too!!)

Anyway, it tasted yummy.

CONGRATS!

Not that I’m surprised, but Rob has done amazingly well in his GCSEs (and the German A Level) – 10 A*, 2 A and an A in the A Level.

I’m so impressed, and pleased for him – he’s so laid back, I think I’m more excited than he is!!

Wonderful Edward Gorey

I had to post a link to the wonderful work of Edward Gorey; an American illustrator (now sadly died) who’s dark humour I think is fantastic -

Take a look at the Gashlycrumb Tinies one of his best and funniest works.

Read more about him at Edward Gorey House

I first discovered his illustration in a book I had as a child called ‘The shrinking of Treehorn’, later (a few years ago) I rediscovered his work and now own many of his books and a very large poster of one of his pieces. What I’d really like is some of the books which he illustrated the front covers for, but most are very long out of print or were only available in the States.

In fact it amazes me that Gorey is not very well known in the UK.

ramblings…..

Last night I went to bed early and Gee (my aunt) sat up with Mum watching tv. Mum was sleeping on and off, but woke up at one point and just said,

“you and Sarah are going to have to sort the shape of that policeman out”

Gee just agreed that we’d get to it in the morning!!

a loving disposition….

Last week I had my palm read by the machine above in ‘Steam’ Museum in Swindon, this is what it said -

Your hand denotes a loving disposition. The course of true love nevr did run smooth, but in your case it does. Love is the most important thing in your life. Use a little more firmness, especially with the opposite sex. One of whom you stand rather in awe has a deep affection for you. Romance is very much in the air in your future. Show more willpower and concentration, as you lack these attributes. It would make for permanent success. Don not be over-confident, however.

So, that’s pretty general then!!