Being old fashioned

I really hadn't realised how long it is since I've put anything on here. I think I'd sort of forgotten about it. Still - I've found it again now so we'll see whether this post is a one off or the start of me posting here again.

Facebook - hmmm. I've recently gone back to it and I'm still really not convinced. To be fair the reason for going back is because of the Cornish Womble - to see if we can use it to drum up some more business. We'll give it a go and see what happens - but I remain sceptical. I still really don't like the intrusive nature of it. The sense of 'being on show'. And does anyone else get that twinge of guilt when someone sends a friend request and you refuse it because actually if it wasn't for facebook you would have nothing to do with them?

Twitter - now what the heck is that all about? I signed up to try it out, and to be honest 5 'tweets' later (who came up with THAT name for them - I think of sylvester & tweetie pie every time I go on there) I still don't really have a clue 1. how it works, or 2. what the point is. I think i'm going to give up on that one as popular technology defeating me. Not that I really care.

I actually 'wrote someone a letter' the other day. As in - pen and paper (none of this typed stuff either). While obviously it took a lot longer than typing an email would have been, it was strangely therapeutic. There's something nice in writing by hand - it slows the brain down to really think about what you're writing. The fact that there's no 'delete' button means if you get it wrong - it's obvious and visible (well - unless you tear up the paper and start again!), so in turn you take more care over what you're writing. Everything's in such a rush these days - it was nice to do something the 'old fashioned' way.

I think I'm feeling my age. That 4 number is creeping up on me. Having '7' on the end of my age is closer to the mid point of the decade. However with the '8' approaching fast I've definitely turned the corner to be closer to the end of the decade. That means I'm in my 'late' 30's rather than 'mid'. It's kind of depressing.

Enough waffle for one day. I will probably be back.

New addition

We have a new addition to the family - Gizmo. She's a 2 year old black cat with white throat and toes. Absolutely tiny but very friendly and affectionate. We only picked her up last night but so far she's settling in very well. She hasn't met the dog yet but I'm sure they will be fine together when they do meet.

I'll get some pics up soon (when she stays still long enough for me to take any!).

What a month

Well - we've had an interesting few weeks! Some good, some bad, but overall it's all OK in the end.

I really can't be bothered going into it all but the headlines are: After Anthony picked up the van from Dad in early May, we thought that would make life easier - having 2 vehicles again. Sadly my car didn't agree with this so about 10 days later I was forced to take her to the place where she'll probably be turned into spoons. Back to 1 car again.

Mr Bobbins - the beautiful grey tabby cat - sadly died after being hit by a car in the early hours of a Friday morning. Fortunately he had no visible injuries so we can assume it was quick and he probably didn't even feel it. We will get another cat fairly soon.

I'm not diabetic. Yay! This may seem a little random, but I had a dodgy result from one test so had a nervous 2 week wait til the other one to confirm. The doctor thought it would be the test to confirm the diagnosis but it turns out he was wrong. It must have just been a blip. BIG sigh of relief when that came through.

Work are being as silly as they were before I went off last year - but I'm basically ignoring them now. As long as they pay me I don't care.

Anthony's work are being even sillier. Having told him he's being made redundant at the end of June, half way through the month we still haven't had anything official through. So I guess that means he's still got a job for now. Or at least - a pay packet. Still - he's working hard setting up his new businesses. AT Woodcrafts (where he's making furniture out of recycled wood) and AT Services (where he's doing handyman jobs that the other 'big guys' won't do as the jobs are too small). Both seem to be coming along nicely.

We're off on holiday at the end of June - I think after the last few weeks we need a break!

WE'RE ONLINE!!!!!

I don't quite believe it myself - but yes folks - since placing the order on 10th September 2009, I am delighted to be able to report that on the 10th May 2010 we are actually properly ONLINE!!!!

WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Now all that's left is to post the 3 page documentation of all the calls, conversations and other correspondence to the responsible company, along with the odd (I think) reasonable request for certain discounts and see what happens! (In case you're considering a TV/Phone/Broadband package I won't name who it is so you can avoid them, but let's just say we don't have cable in Cornwall...)

I'm not holding my breath though...!

Back at work

Hi all

Well I've been back at this work lark for a couple of weeks now so thought it was about time I did an update. You know what? It's OK. I'm working on 'light duties' for the first 3 months so I'm not quite exposed to all the stuff that was going on before (which is nice). Basically that means I've been given 3 large projects to get my teeth into which have needed doing for a very long time but no-one's had the time (or inclination!) to do them. Actually they're quite fun! I'm writing a newsletter, completely redesigning the shared drive for the team's electronic files, and designing and creating a new team webspace. (The old one closed down on 31st March).

Apart from that I'm still doing Saturday's in Oxfam, and still loving it! They really are all as mad as hatters in there - but it's such a good laugh it's brilliant. The Ann Summers parties are a little slow at the moment, but I do the odd one here and there.

I think it's safe to say I'm keeping busy! Overall though, life is good, positive and I'm still smiling. Hope everyone else is as well. :-)

All about Blue

Well - according to the vet nurse this morning, our not so little bundle of chaos is particularly calm for his age and breed!!! Eeeek! I'd hate to meet one that wasn't calm! I suppose he is very well behaved really, and he's going through adolescence at the moment so deliberate naughtiness is to be expected. He's absolutely loving training though - and responding very well to it. (I guess I'm not doing too badly either!!)

He's growing well as well - 14.9kg this morning. Looks like he's going to be quite tall but skinny though - she reckoned this morning he probably won't really go above 17kg. I've just measured him as well - he's about 20" tall at the shoulder now.

So it's all looking like he's pretty much made for agility when he's older, which is nice. I want to do something with him anyway - he's too intelligent not to be doing something (and given that we don't have a farm yet ...!). He absolutely adores the few little bits we do in training - running through tunnels and so on. So roll on 31st August when he gets to 12 months. The adolescence should be over (yay!), and his bones will be solid enough to start doing agility properly.

The only real problem at the moment is him scratching & biting at the back of the sofa. We've stopped him going for everything else, but the problem with this one is that the cat does it. In the social structure in our house the cat is definitely below the dog! So it's hard to stop him doing something that the cat does - our only chance is to stop the cat doing it.

Anyone got any tips on how to successfully train a cat?!

Work update

Right - I've avoided posting much about work along the way as I've had a few differing ideas about what was going to happen. However, reality kicks in and the situation is this.

I'm no longer signed off work sick - as of last Thursday I am officially fit and well again. (It's actually been longer than that but a lot of the last month or more has been a paper / bureaucratic nightmare!) I am, however, currently on annual leave. Well - I needed a break from work after having 7 months off! ;-) (More of that bureaucracy again unfortunately). I'm actually going back to work on Thursday 1st April (and no it's not a joke!). In the meantime, to stop me going completely insane (...errr ... again?!?!) I'm starting this week volunteering at my local Oxfam shop. So there you go.

This being off sick lark has really raised a number of observations about "the system" though. It's quite ridiculous how difficult it is to return to work after being off. I've been trying to go back since the start of February! That may be just the Cornwall Council system of course - but overall things really aren't easy when you're off for any length of time. I even entered the murky realm of 'benefits'. Oh my word how complex is that system?! I'm supposed to be intelligent but even I couldn't fathom out what I was supposed to do with the reams of paper they sent me. The worst thing about the whole thing is that this system is supposed to be in place to help people who are ill. Well if you have the slightest hint of mental illness like I did, you don't stand a chance. Really - I now completely understand how people manage to lose their jobs, homes, families etc. through this.

I wouldn't wish the whole mental illness thing on anyone - it's not been pleasant - but now I've come out the other side I think it's really given me one heck of an insight into a very different world. It's quite humbling and enlightening really.

Have you ever tried to buy charcoal out of "season"? I mean - it really brings home how our lives are controlled by the powers that be in the world of commerce. All we want is to be able to fire up our newly made barbecue this Saturday for Anthony's birthday. Shouldn't be hard really. But no. It's "the wrong time of year" to have a bbq apparently. Why? Who decides when we're supposed to do these things? I can understand in March that it's not top of the retail priority list, but honestly - you'd have thought you could at least get it somewhere!

Still - I think I've sorted it by paying a ridiculous amount of money to Argos for their last 2 bags.

So yes - we're doing a bbq tomorrow night for Anthony's birthday. He's made a fabulous looking half oil drum barbecue for the event, and we'll have at least 3 chimineas available to keep us warm (which is a LOT of heat!). Plus the copious amounts of alcohol that are inevitable on these occasions mean we probably won't feel the cold anyway! :-)

Well what a revelation dog training classes are! I mean - I knew we needed a little assistance with our rather strong-willed intelligent puppy, but I hadn't realised quite how much was really required! We've only done 1 class and seen a massive difference already. In us, that is, not the dog. He already knows what needs doing. In fact I suspect he's breathing a huge sigh of relief today thinking 'finally - they're actually doing things properly now. I was waiting for them to figure it out'. It's quite scary thinking that your dog is actually probably more intelligent than you!

Here he is sitting on the sofa with the cat. It's nice that they get on so well, although they are a little Tom & Jerry-ish sometimes! It's odd to think that only 3 months ago these two were actually the same size!

Anyway I'm having a squeaky toy pressed into my leg as I'm typing so I think that's a hint that I've been on the computer ignoring him for long enough!

Spring has Sprung!!

Well at least that's how it feels anyway!

The sun is shining, it's not really cold, the daffodils are definitely growing (not flowering yet but it's only February after all!). There's a good feeling in the air today for some reason.

I think it's spring in my head as well - after a rather dark autumn and winter it's definitely feeling like time for a fresh new start for me. I don't mean in terms of what I'm doing - but in terms of how I'm feeling. It's good. Suddenly I feel like things are dropping into place and life is positive again. I am back in control of me again - which feels fab.

Wishing everyone who reads this a smiley Friday (or whatever day it is you read this on). :-))

S xx

You're not going to believe this...

I don't think I do either. But after FOUR MONTHS of waiting (actually it's a week or two longer than that, but what the heck) - we have a fully connected functioning landline!!!!! Yaaaaayyyyyy! (said in a Kermit style)

In fact it's been so long I can't actually find where I've hidden the phone cable! (minor detail - really not bothered by this.)

No more sitting in the garden when it's freezing just to make a call, or huddling on the freezing granite windowsill at the front of the house in the hope the signal will get through. No more me thinking my phone has signal but if the wind speed changes it doesn't so no-one can get hold of me. What a novelty this will be!!

Now I wonder how long it'll be before the broadband's connected..... ;-)

Brrrrrr.......

It's a little chilly here. Probably not as bad as the rest of you, I'll admit - but Cornwall doesn't have snow. Or so I was told. Anthony hasn't been able to get to work since Wednesday. It's only 5 miles away. (For those who have been here - the little lane at the front of the house is frozen solid. We can't actually move the car due to the ice.)

On the other hand, the dog absolutely LOVES the snow. He can't get enough of it. It's hard work keeping him inside - he just wants to play in the garden all the time - and when it's actually snowing as well it's worse - he tries to catch the flakes. It's very cute but I prefer sitting by the fire with a hot drink, personally!

Hope everyone else is coping with the weather.

A new year

So here we are - a brand new year, and maybe a bit of a new focus. I'm sitting here after a few days of feeling pretty damn miserable (not sure why) - and am trying to put into place a new positive attitude.

There are no problems that cannot be solved - and those that can't probably weren't the right ones to be trying to solve anyway. It's time for me to stop worrying about things I can't control, stop worrying about things that might happen because the chances are they probably won't anyway, and instead put my energy into solving the few things I can do something about. Like finding a new job. Hey - it's January in a recession in one of the more deprived parts of the country - how hard can it be?! ;-)

No - seriously - here's where I start a new year with feeling positive and being determined to get out of this odd place my head has taken me to, and to make life what I want it to be rather than being stuck somewhere because I think I ought to. Daft really.

Anyway - Happy New Year everyone. I hope yours is as positive as I intend mine to be.

Merry Christmas!

Well - it's Christmas Eve tomorrow so close enough!

I've been busy cooking yesterday and today, only a few things left to sort tomorrow morning and then we're all set! I think I'm ready to feed 28, never mind 8. (Is a choice of 3 puddings overdoing it, or just catering for all possible tastes?!) The home made decorations only sort of came about - we've got lots of holly everywhere, and some lovely dried grasses that have been sprayed shiny colours. None of the garlands or wreaths happened - but I guess that was a little optimistic anyway!

Dad & Lynn turn up tomorrow for a few days, which will be lovely. We've also got Jen & Ray (Anthony's parents) and Sara & Tony (Anthony's sister & partner) coming on Christmas morning. It'll be fun squeezing into the cottage with all 8 of us, plus over-excited puppy and cat...!

Anyway - I probably won't get a chance back on here for a few days now, so wanted to wish you all a very merry christmas.

Sonia xx

Christmas and all that jazz

Well - it's not long to go is it?! Only 3 weeks today. That's come around fast. Having the time to do it properly this year, what with not working still, is making it quite an enjoyable process. We're having christmas here in the cottage - I shall be cooking for 8 which I'm really looking forward to. We're going rustic, home made, and local with everything. So it may not be the prettiest meal, with the mis-matched plates and so on, but my goodness it should taste good! I'm really looking forward to it.

I'm also about to venture into the world of home-made decorations. We've got such an abundance here of natural things that are stunning that it seems wrong to use plastic shiny stuff. Well ok there will probably be some tinsel around cos I've already got some - but I'm making my own wreath and going to try some other stuff as well. Loads of evergreens, holly, ivy and so on round here. If I succeed I'll put some pics up.

Suddenly with only 3 weeks to go there seems an awful lot to do though - I've still got to make my curtains for the living room, and Anthony's going to try and get the new dining table made. I'm sure we'll get there though. It doesn't really matter if we don't - it would just be nice if we could. :-)

Still no landline. BT were due to put up the new pole last week, but got to the day and realised they'd "forgotten to order the temporary traffic lights". So they've had to place a new order. We don't have a new date yet. We're not holding much hope of having it installed by Christmas - it's less than 4 weeks away so on current form (the order was placed a week before we moved in here on 15th September) I reckon we may have a phone line by February. Maybe.

On the other hand this mobile broadband thingy seems quite good. Despite our atrocious signal here in the house (solid granite walls - very pretty but completely useless for phone signals), even just one dot of connection seems to allow us to get online. And it's not as horrifically expensive as I thought it would be. We bought a stick with £15 of credit on it 3 weeks ago now - and we've still got £10 left on it. Not bad really.

The dog is growing!! He's already 7.2 kg and towering over the cat (they were the same size when we brought him home 4 weeks ago). I'm sure he does stretching exercises in the night when we can't see him. He's gone very leggy at the moment. Still - he's wonderful - very well behaved, intelligent and learning quickly. He's already off the lead in fields and walking nicely to heel. Recall is good, and he'll sit, lie down and give a paw nicely. Not bad at only 13 weeks old. I'd prefer it if he didn't chase the cat quite so much, and left the shoes alone - but we're working on those! ;-)

Causing chaos!!

Oh dear. The phone saga continues! It appears not only do we need to have the main road dug up by the house to have a cable installed so we can have a connected phone line - BT also need to put a new pole up as well!!! It had to be us really - we don't like doing normal easy things!! ;-)

Meet Blue

This is our little bundle of chaos!

And this is him playing (sort of) nicely with the cat!

We're back!!

Finally! 2 months of no internet access has been rather strange! Especially when moving house and setting up things like utilities - it's quite staggering how much is now set up to be accessed online. Even things like terms and conditions of new policies and so on - you can phone up and arrange contents insurance, but for the full details they say 'you can see those on our website'. Err - no I can't actually. Quite odd. In a strange (albeit occasionally frustrating) way it's been quite liberating not being tied to such things.

Anyway - there is a ton of stuff to update you on so I'll try and stick to the headlines only.

1. We haven't got a landline yet I'm afraid. I've bitten the bullet and gone for pay as you go mobile broadband for now - it was the only option available. They have been to connect the line - but it seems there aren't any spare wires available in the closest exchange box. Which means they need to install more. Which means they need to dig up the road to get at it. It may be some time before this is resolved....!

2. We've settled in really nicely - loving the new house, loving the area, the village is very friendly, we're near friends and Anthony's family here as well - everything is just as we wanted it really. No regrets about leaving St Ives at all - we both grew to loathe the place. Still - this place is great and we're really happy here.

3. We've got a dog! "Blue" is a black and white border collie - currently 11 weeks old - with one traditional dark brown eye and one a piercing blue colour (hence the name). He's gorgeous, very intelligent, incredibly friendly and seems to get on with everything and everyone we've thrown at him so far! He's also appearing to be very easy to train as well, which definitely helps. Once he's had his 2nd vaccination next week we can get out and about with him properly. Lots of long bouncy walks with this one I think! The cat seems to be coping with him as well.

4. I'm still not at work but working through the process of feeling better. It has its ups and downs but I think overall the curve is heading back up again which is a relief.

That's enough waffle for now. I will get pics of the dog up on here soon.

S x