Oh. hello. You still here?
Thought you'd be long gone.
It just happens to be Christmas week, 2014. The 'big day' is just 3 days away, and what am I doing?
Well, whilst feeling far from 100% myself, I'm looking after a very poorly Hubby, who picked up some nasty little virus from me, which made me ill last week; the gifts are all wrapped, but not decorated; the tree finally went up on Sunday; there's currently no other decorations up apart from the Christmas cards. Oh. And I'm organising my mother's funeral.
As a female I'm quite used to multi-tasking, but nothing quite like this. This morning I was going through the Christmas food shopping lists and this afternoon, writing Mum's Eulogy. Surreal!
I think I ought to rename this BlogSpot 'Mouse-amoaning' rather than Mouse-amusings. I'm quite surprised that it's so much easier to write about things that make you miserable and angry, rather than happy things, because there's more of them.
Such is life ...........
Monday, 22 December 2014
Thursday, 20 March 2014
Real Life
It's been a while. How have you been?
I've been preoccupied with that old chestnut called 'real life'. What a funny ol' thing that is ... real life. That what governs everything. Moods, interests, time. Scoops you up, totally absorbs you, wrings you out and flings you back to pick up the pieces and just get on with it.
Don't get me wrong; that all sounds very depressing, but things are reasonably good at the moment ... well, today it is ... can't vouch for tomorrow though.
Let's see what tomorrow brings.
I've been preoccupied with that old chestnut called 'real life'. What a funny ol' thing that is ... real life. That what governs everything. Moods, interests, time. Scoops you up, totally absorbs you, wrings you out and flings you back to pick up the pieces and just get on with it.
Don't get me wrong; that all sounds very depressing, but things are reasonably good at the moment ... well, today it is ... can't vouch for tomorrow though.
Let's see what tomorrow brings.
Monday, 28 January 2013
End of Life
Only last week there was a news item on national television, about the Liverpool Care Pathway ........... and today I have a family member being placed on it.
There is only one word ... STUNNED!
Upon it's recommendation by the nursing staff, I could literally feel my head empty of all thoughts and any emotions simply drain away - a most peculiar feeling when you're not expecting it.
I'm more fortunate than most, as this is not a very close family member to me (ie parent or sibling) so it's a little easier to watch from the sidelines and absorb what's going on without observing through misty eyes.
So, to start with, over a period of days, all medications are with held. Then drips and oxygen, as it is assumed, at this point, that the patient is not responding to treatment, and has ceased to eat or drink.
Painkillers and sleeping drugs may be administered ... and then the waiting game begins.
It's different for everyone; how long we wait. We would hope for the patient, as we would for ourselves, to be comfortable and pain-free, and to simply drift away with dignity.
What more can we ask.
There is only one word ... STUNNED!
Upon it's recommendation by the nursing staff, I could literally feel my head empty of all thoughts and any emotions simply drain away - a most peculiar feeling when you're not expecting it.
I'm more fortunate than most, as this is not a very close family member to me (ie parent or sibling) so it's a little easier to watch from the sidelines and absorb what's going on without observing through misty eyes.
So, to start with, over a period of days, all medications are with held. Then drips and oxygen, as it is assumed, at this point, that the patient is not responding to treatment, and has ceased to eat or drink.
Painkillers and sleeping drugs may be administered ... and then the waiting game begins.
It's different for everyone; how long we wait. We would hope for the patient, as we would for ourselves, to be comfortable and pain-free, and to simply drift away with dignity.
What more can we ask.
Monday, 14 January 2013
Observations and Niggles
It's snowing .... and the Postman is STILL wearing SHORTS!
Car drivers who didn't use their indicators last year - are still not using them this year!
People who request your friendship on Facebook.
Then ask about you and for all your news; you tell them and ask theirs ... they don't bother to reply and then ... they never 'speak' to you again! What's THAT all about!?
People who let their dogs wander, attached to retractable dog leads.
The dog looks as though it's going to run into the road, but somehow manages to stop abruptly, millimetres from the curb! Eeek! Meanwhile, my heart is in my mouth and I'm sweating as adrenaline is pumping madly as I stamp on the brakes! Thanks a lot!
People who 'tag' you on Facebook and then fill your page with their junk! Grrr!
That'll do for starters! I'm sure they'll be more! lol
Car drivers who didn't use their indicators last year - are still not using them this year!
People who request your friendship on Facebook.
Then ask about you and for all your news; you tell them and ask theirs ... they don't bother to reply and then ... they never 'speak' to you again! What's THAT all about!?
People who let their dogs wander, attached to retractable dog leads.
The dog looks as though it's going to run into the road, but somehow manages to stop abruptly, millimetres from the curb! Eeek! Meanwhile, my heart is in my mouth and I'm sweating as adrenaline is pumping madly as I stamp on the brakes! Thanks a lot!
People who 'tag' you on Facebook and then fill your page with their junk! Grrr!
That'll do for starters! I'm sure they'll be more! lol
Sunday, 13 January 2013
Les Miserables - The Film
WOW! Just got back from seeing the above! Really, really didn't know what to expect, and prayed I wouldnt be disappointed.
And guess what! I wasn't! It was fantastic! And for once a film lived up to it's own hype! I loved it, and so glad that I saw it on the big screen first, before seeing it on DVD.
It followed the story that we all know, to the letter (thank goodness) although they did slip in a new song.
The beauty of the film is, that they had the 'space' to magnify everything; so you had an incredible feeling of the poverty and misery on the streets of France, which is nigh on impossible on stage.
In my opinion Russell Crowe (Javert) was poorly mis-cast. He might have had the stature, but there was no air of authority about him and his voice was that of a crooner, when I believe the character warranted a booming Barritone (but I'm probably being a bit biased here because of the stage show again).
I really didn't like Amanda Seyfried';s (Cosette) thin, warble of a voice, I'm afraid. It wasn't enough to spoil the film, but out of all the thousands of singers around the world .... I'll say n'more.
Hugh Jackman (Jean Valjean) was incredible. They managed to age him convincingly, he more than sang for his supper but his acting was outstanding and more than made up for the fact that he's no Alfie Boe. If there's an Oscar for the taking, it certainly should be his.
Now ... whatEVER happened to the characters of Thenardier (Sacha Baron Cohen) and Madam Thenardier (Helena Bonham Carter) for heavens sake!?
I thought the writers made these two a comedy couple to lighten the mood, and if that truly is the case then Sacha Baron Cohen was also sadly mis-cast. He was fantastic in Sweeney Todd, but certainly not in this. Again Helena BC proved herself in Sweeney, but it wasn't happening in Les Mis. Shame really because I was disappointed.
I LOVED Marius! (Eddie Redmayne) Excellent casting! The right age (for a change) convincing, emotional, beautiful voice and although not necessarily one of 'God's beautiful people' it was refreshing. (No disrespect to Eddie intended) :)
And my final say goes to Anne Hathaway!! (Fantine) WOW! WOW! WOW! Her rendition of I Dreamed a Dream was heart-wrenching! It didn't 'get me' in the stage show, but I sobbed (as quietly as I could) in the film ... Taxi for Susan Boyle!
Go see it!!!
And guess what! I wasn't! It was fantastic! And for once a film lived up to it's own hype! I loved it, and so glad that I saw it on the big screen first, before seeing it on DVD.
It followed the story that we all know, to the letter (thank goodness) although they did slip in a new song.
The beauty of the film is, that they had the 'space' to magnify everything; so you had an incredible feeling of the poverty and misery on the streets of France, which is nigh on impossible on stage.
In my opinion Russell Crowe (Javert) was poorly mis-cast. He might have had the stature, but there was no air of authority about him and his voice was that of a crooner, when I believe the character warranted a booming Barritone (but I'm probably being a bit biased here because of the stage show again).
I really didn't like Amanda Seyfried';s (Cosette) thin, warble of a voice, I'm afraid. It wasn't enough to spoil the film, but out of all the thousands of singers around the world .... I'll say n'more.
Hugh Jackman (Jean Valjean) was incredible. They managed to age him convincingly, he more than sang for his supper but his acting was outstanding and more than made up for the fact that he's no Alfie Boe. If there's an Oscar for the taking, it certainly should be his.
Now ... whatEVER happened to the characters of Thenardier (Sacha Baron Cohen) and Madam Thenardier (Helena Bonham Carter) for heavens sake!?
I thought the writers made these two a comedy couple to lighten the mood, and if that truly is the case then Sacha Baron Cohen was also sadly mis-cast. He was fantastic in Sweeney Todd, but certainly not in this. Again Helena BC proved herself in Sweeney, but it wasn't happening in Les Mis. Shame really because I was disappointed.
I LOVED Marius! (Eddie Redmayne) Excellent casting! The right age (for a change) convincing, emotional, beautiful voice and although not necessarily one of 'God's beautiful people' it was refreshing. (No disrespect to Eddie intended) :)
And my final say goes to Anne Hathaway!! (Fantine) WOW! WOW! WOW! Her rendition of I Dreamed a Dream was heart-wrenching! It didn't 'get me' in the stage show, but I sobbed (as quietly as I could) in the film ... Taxi for Susan Boyle!
Go see it!!!
Tuesday, 1 January 2013
Happy New Year 2013
Out with the old, depressing 2012 .... and in with the new upbeat, positive 2013!
Well, it's a start, isn't it. Don't get me wrong, I do like Christmas; I'm not an old bah-humbug like I might sound, but I am glad it's all over.
It's New Year's Day and the tree is still up, but everything else is back in it's box. I'm loving all the clear surfaces and seriously thinking of not bringing all the bits back down, which were taken upstairs to make way for Christmas. Wonder how long that will last.
There's no NY resolutions for me this year. I set my aims too high and am always bitterly disappointed when I don't achieve them, so it's a new, Devil May Care, Mouse for now ... let's see how I get on with THAT then!
HAPPY NEW YEAR to ya!
Well, it's a start, isn't it. Don't get me wrong, I do like Christmas; I'm not an old bah-humbug like I might sound, but I am glad it's all over.
It's New Year's Day and the tree is still up, but everything else is back in it's box. I'm loving all the clear surfaces and seriously thinking of not bringing all the bits back down, which were taken upstairs to make way for Christmas. Wonder how long that will last.
There's no NY resolutions for me this year. I set my aims too high and am always bitterly disappointed when I don't achieve them, so it's a new, Devil May Care, Mouse for now ... let's see how I get on with THAT then!
HAPPY NEW YEAR to ya!
Saturday, 3 November 2012
What's The Point?
Recently, I had an opportunity to take a stall at a local Christmas Fair (notice the word had) and jumped at the chance, as I am a greetings card maker. I love it! I'm good at it! But as the whole world and it's dog can now do everything they want on a computer, including the printing of - handmade cards are very difficult to sell. It doesn't matter how fantastic they are, people don't want to pay 'proper' money for them. Why should they when they can do-it-themselves or go to Poundland!?
Anyway, I have been busy, busy, busy, as only a Mouse can be, and have been making cards at every God given moment. The house has gone to pot and you can write your name in the dust on pretty well every surface! (Any excuse!) And now I've been informed the Fair might not go ahead! Bloody marvellous! NOT!
Years ago, I used to supply a craft shop in town. The first box of cards I took in, she bought all ten on the spot. Then she asked to see twenty, but still only bought ten. Then she started to get picky, choosy, telling me what she wanted and didn't want me to do. Enough already! I couldn't keep up with her demands. So I went elsewhere.
Then the market was changing and people didn't want to pay up front; they wanted 'sale or return'. Fine ... but cards would go 'missing' and they didn't look after them, so any returns came back dog-eared and un- saleable.
So for the past few years I've just been making cards for family and friends' special birthdays and getting the odd order here and there, and if the Fair doesn't go ahead, I've got 35 handmade Christmas cards going begging.
Interested?
Anyway, I have been busy, busy, busy, as only a Mouse can be, and have been making cards at every God given moment. The house has gone to pot and you can write your name in the dust on pretty well every surface! (Any excuse!) And now I've been informed the Fair might not go ahead! Bloody marvellous! NOT!
Years ago, I used to supply a craft shop in town. The first box of cards I took in, she bought all ten on the spot. Then she asked to see twenty, but still only bought ten. Then she started to get picky, choosy, telling me what she wanted and didn't want me to do. Enough already! I couldn't keep up with her demands. So I went elsewhere.
Then the market was changing and people didn't want to pay up front; they wanted 'sale or return'. Fine ... but cards would go 'missing' and they didn't look after them, so any returns came back dog-eared and un- saleable.
So for the past few years I've just been making cards for family and friends' special birthdays and getting the odd order here and there, and if the Fair doesn't go ahead, I've got 35 handmade Christmas cards going begging.
Interested?
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