Christmas Niggles

Hello World - I'm back!

Christmas is on the horizon and it's driving me crazy!  Lots of things to be grumpy about! teehee

Firstly the Christmas songs playing in the shops!  Grrr!  And the one warbled by Macy Gray, in particular, makes me want to rip my own ears off! I know they're 'classics' but for God's sake, cant someone compose a 'new' classic!??

Manufacturers who make immovable sticky labels and the culprits who stick them on and ruin the purchase!

People who insist on sending 'gift card ' size Christmas cards!  Am I not worth a 'whole' one!  haha

Christmas paper that is SO thick you can hardly wrap the gift .... alternatively, gift wrap that is SO thin you can see what's inside when its been wrapped and the corners of the gift burst through the wrapping as soon as you touch it!  Can't win ... :(

Well,  I've made it this far; just gorra get through the next 5 days ..... see you on the other side *waves*

Sing-a-long-a Mouse ... or not!

Believe it or not, I was actually in the school choir and naturally I have a brilliant singing voice when I'm home alone!  haha  So how come I don't seem to have the same pitch as others?
I've noticed over the years (particularly at weddings and funerals) that my voice is too high to sing with the men and too low to sing with the ladies; which means I usually abstain, and therefore look bolshy and rebellious   :(

Well, today I found someone I CAN sing along with, who has the same pitch as me (or me he) and it's Gary Barlow of all people!  lol  I seem to be able to reach all his low notes without effort, AND I can reach his high ones without feeling the muscles in my throat painfully contracting as they do when I try to warble along with the female of the species.

So .... abnormality of the voice box .... TAKE THAT!

Fish 'n' Chips 'n' Cat

We're pretty sure our rescue cat looked after herself on the streets from a very young age; she has, therefore earned the  nickname of 'bin cat' along with her family name of Honey.

The reason being, she is far more interested in takeaway food than is good for any animal!  Take tonight, for instance.  Fish and chips! Yum!  She's up on the sofa next to me, nosing through the layers of paper concealing the food, even though I have a firm grip on her furry chest trying to keep her at bay!  lol

The fish is duly unwrapped, a little put into a bowl for her and put on the floor at my feet.  Her neck is craning over the edge of the seating eyeing up the fish in the bowl.

You can just SEE what's going on in her mind! Nah! I want it out of the paper like YOU!  It's not the same unless you eat it out of the paper!!

And you know what! She's right!  teehee

Inane Grinning

I am VERY wary of individuals who walk towards me ..... smiling!   *shudder*

They're not with anyone; they're not on the phone; they're just walking, alone, inanely grinning! haha

Don't they know its very unerving!  lol

Mouse x

Can't ignore the C word any longer

Well, I finally had to succumb to the 'C' word (that's Christmas to you and me!) as there are only 9 weeks to go, (YES, NINE!) so I thought I'd better take a look at me lists.

Actually, I managed to come up with a NEW list ... of things NOT to buy!  haha

No one needs any more mugs ... or 'funny' gifts ... or cheap toiletries ... etc etc and so the list went on.

I was going to try and make my purchases more constructed this year .... hmmm ...but where do I start!?? I haven't got a list any more!  lol

Mouse x

Just an Observation

Why are women in films unable to 'fall over' successfully?  Or 'walk into things' even?

They just cant seem to do it.  Very few women IMO can do slapstick. They're not funny; they just look clumsy and it makes it uncomfortable to watch.

'Nuff said.

Mouse x

The domino effect of thinking

This morning, my local radio presenter posed the following question ...
what do you think you'd be doing today, if you weren't doing what you're actually doing today?

Well, that really got me thinking.  I took it to mean work (although it could have meant anything, of course). From the age of 12 I always thought I would be doing something related to writing, journalism, maybe even becoming a novelist. And so I did for a short while, but then I ended up dedicating my life (willingly) to my family.

The book I always thought I would write was, in fact written, by J K Rowling!  lol  That should have been MY book!  All my adolescent poems, writings, musings thoughts and interests were all about the supernatural, the occult, the dark arts, witches, vampires or fairies. So that ambition went truly out of the window.

On a more sombre note, if I'm at all lucky, I may have another 25+ years left; but what am I going to do with them?  I suspect I'm going to waste them.  I don't have any burning ambitions .... there's nothing I want to do that I haven't already done and anything on a larger scale (ie. cruises, exotic holidays, new house, flash car) all involves large sums of money, so they're out of the window too.

Isn't it it's strange how your thoughts can race along at a phenominal pace just from one little spark!  So to answer the original question ... I don't honestly know!
But it's really got me thinking about the phase ......

Mouse x

Give them a medal ... Then take it away!

Drivers who adhere to the law of not driving whilst using a mobile phone are to be highly commended.
Of course, they are ....
... so why do they go and spoil it by pulling up anywhere they bl**dy well like to do so, without even indicating!

"Oh, my phone's ringing. I'd better answer it! But not while I'm driving. I'll pull over here.  RIGHT HERE!!"

And so they do .... 10 meters off a roundabout ... on the brow of a hill ... just short of a T-junction ... the list goes on!  They hold the traffic up, completely oblivious to the chaos building up behind them, and finally when it's your turn topull out and over take them - you give them 'the look' of  despair as you creep by and yep ... guess what! The driver is on the phone!  What a surprise!  NOT!

Mouse x

Mugs

I've decided not to buy sets of matching mugs again.  Why?  Simple really.

When I open the kitchen cupboard doors of late, I get a bit of a pleasure *ahem* out of seeing the assortment of individual designs staring back at me.  It's taken me years to stop being a bit OCD about this (although I still have to have all the handles facing the same way! haha!) and I sort of momentarily enjoy (don't get me wrong, I don't actually stand in the kitchen with the cupboard doors open staring at the mugs!  lol  Now that WOULD be weird! haha) the story behind the purchase of each mug!

Who bought it; why they bought it; designs which are applicable to my daughter, my son, me and hubby. Even the grandparents have their own allotted mugs (note; mugs!) and they don't LIVE HERE! lol

Little steps, I know, but I'm starting to learn how to relax in my own home environment ... and it means a lot to me.

Note to self:   things don't HAVE to match!  Yay!
Now to tackle the self imposed rule that things are grouped/bought in two's and three's.

...... I may be gone some time ...... teehee

Mouse x

Only 93 Days ....

.... to CHRISTMAS!!!!

Bl**dy Winter Wonderful!  It's so unfair!  It's supposed to be 'a wonderful time of the year'! A time to be with family and friends; to exchange trinkets and gifts, to spend quality time with loved ones and little ones ..... instead it all kicks off at the end of August and by the time it does actually arrive in December ....I'm sick of it!    :(

Here we are mid-September and the supermarkets have already filled their 'seasonal aisles' with Christmas sweets and tins of biscuits and now the Christmas cards are creeping in.  Gift sets were noted this week, discreetly placed on the ends of aisles.  They can't fool me!  I CAN see them you know!  lol

And so the stress sets in.  What am I going to buy THIS year that I didn't buy last year?  How much is it all going to cost?  How can I maintain the quality of Christmases we've had in the past?  *groan*

I lost the spirit of Christmas years ago; such a shame because I used to love it.  Gone are the days of going on a 'special' outing for Christmas shopping; I just find myself plonking an extra item or two in the supermarket trolley along with the weekly food shop.  Great Christmas spirit THAT is.

My other half hates Christmas for its waste and over-indulgence. My Mouslets yearn for the Christmases of old, when they came downstairs to a MOUNTAIN of gifts and the incredible euphoria of anticipation. The Grandparents cant wait for it all to be over so 'things can get back to normal' .... so really ... what is the point?
So what does all this say to me?  Well, if I didn't bother with orchestrating this Season of Good Will, would it really happen at all?  Me thinks not.  But I'm not brave enough to put a halt to things, so I'll get the lists out, put the tree up and wrap pressies beyond midnight on Christmas Eve as I usually do, this year ... next year ... and forever hold my peace.

So let me be the first to wish you .... A VERY HAPPY (humbug) CHRISTMAS!   haha

Mouse xx

Oooops!

As it's a Bank Holiday weekend, I popped into the Supermarket just to top things up (as ya do). Having done so, and to keep said items dry from the rain, I trolley dashed back to the car boot.

Pressed the remote button to 'pop' the boot .... again .... and again .... and just once more for luck.  Oh, no!  Looks like the batteries in the remote have gone.  Aw, heck .....

Apparently, no they haven't ... as I  was trying to break into someone elses car!  Oooopps!  Hahahaha

Adverse Affect

I thought holidays were supposed to regenerate you; recharge your batteries ... yeah!  They do. So you can tackle the mountains of r*ddy washing & ironing when you return!

Mouse x

Wet, wet, wet

Holiday! Holiday! Bucket and spade!

Raincoat? Check!
Boots? Check!
Umbrella? Check!

Yep ... its a weekend away in the British Isles for me!  :(

Mouse x

Still Ranting

There's only two spaces outside the Post Office.  A little black KA is in front of me, she indicates, she pulls into the 2nd space ... making me overtake her, pull in and reverse in to the1st space in front of her!

What is she? Stupid? Thoughtless? Or BOTH!

Makes me furious!

Mouse x

Feline Amore (2)

Love is ....

Walking through the lounge, into the conservatory, out into the garden via the patio and in through the back door to the kitchen ...... so as not to disturb the cat laying in a little patch of sunshine in the doorway from the hall to the kitchen!   Talk about round-robin!

Mouse x

Feline Amore

Love is .......

Not making the bed all day ...  so you don't disturb the cat! lol

Mouse x

How lucky Am I

So, news has just broken, that Amy Winehouse died today.  Not quite the impact that the demise of Elvis or John Lennon had, but still the sort of news that momentarily brings you up with a jolt.

27 years of age ... that's no age at all, is it?

At 27, I had been married for 8 years; had just orchestrated a complete career change and was looking forward to enjoying my dream job.  
Little did I know at that time, but I would also have the birth of two children to look forward to; the move to a house where I would probably end my days and the love & support of my loyal hubby and my precious family.

When someone dies ... makes you think ... doesnt it.

Cinema Chaos

Went to the cinema this afternoon, to see the final Harry Potter film.

I wont spoil it for anyone, but it was brilliant! ..... Now I didn't spoil it for you, but  it was in fact, spoilt for me by the 38 school kids, aged from 8-15, who were there as a 'high achievers' treat.

Hmmm.  I was held back in my seat at least 3 times by my cinema companion, as I lurched forward to tell them to shut up, stop rustling, stop going to the toilet every 10 minutes, turn their phones off etc. etc.  Every cinema etiquette rule was broken in one afternoon.  Oh, yes, there were teachers there too, and what did they do?  B*gger all!!!

Listen to Myself

I've been told *ahem* that I often come across as confident ... informed ... sensible ... and sometimes knowledgeable(!), but how come, when the occasion arises, after I've regurgitated all this useful information that I've processed and stored over the years, in all of the above manner ... can't I take my own advice and make use of this wisdom I have a habit of spouting!

Mouse!  Tune into Mouseapedia and try listening to your own teachings!

Mouse x

A Nervous Twitter

Don't get me wrong ... I love Twitter ... and tweeting, but I think I've deleted more of my own tweets than I've .. erm .. tweeted!

For some reason it makes me nervous.  I tweet something; I'm obviously happy with my 140 character message/statement/quip (I must be otherwise I wouldnt click the tweet box) and then sometime later, I return and delete it!

When I've worked out why ... I'll let you know!   lol

Mouse x

Time Machine

It was just like going back in time! What a brilliant afternoon!  Rhythms of the World, a music festival, celebrated it's 20th year in the grounds of The Priory in Hitchin, Hertfordshire ... and I was a part of it!

Colourful Fair Trade stalls in abundance, food and drink from around the world, seven stages dotted around the grounds offering every style of music you could possibly think of.

But what really makes an event like this are .... the people!  Think Woodstock, think the Reading Festival of old.  The girls in their hippy dresses and flowers in their hair; people dancing with no thoughts of who'se watching ... it was truly amazing!  Ah ..... I am fulfilled.  :)

Mouse x

I Am The Problem

.... and apparently, I am the solution.  Sounds so simple.

*slinks off to find the solution*

Mouse x

Not All Is Well In My Garden of Eden

Armed with my trusty dustpan and brush and the kitchen scissors ... (well, gardening is only housework in the garden, isnt it! Who needs Black & Decker or Spear & Jackson contraptions when you've got a whole kitchen full of equipment) ... I proceeded to play Sherlock Holmes in the front  garden to try and find out what the God-awful smell is, as you cross the threshold of pavement and de Jardin de Mouse!

All too soon it was very obvious what it as.  It was the bark.  Bark that was lovingly and generously strewn over the flower beds last year, now has to be raked up and disposed of, because every animal known to mankind has pooped in it!  lol 
Mr Titchmarsh doesnt tell you that now, does he!  Oh, no!  In fact, wet bark doesnt smell too sweet on its own anyway, but with added essence of animal ... pheweeee!

So three hours later ... 'coz you cant stop there, cant you?  lol ... all the flowerbed debris and offending bark is now tied up in three massive black sacks.  I've raked and weeded, pruned and edged and the front garden now looks as I like it to be, not to Chelsea Flower Show standards granted, but to my satisfaction.

And I know its time to stop (as all unfit people usually do), because my buttocks muscles are screaming at me to do so! haha
And although the front garden DOES look lovely, I shall pay for it tomorrow ... BIG TIME!

Mouse x

Love It or Hate It

Not exactly lovin' ebay at the moment.  Well, it's not so much eBay itself, but some of the people who use it. 

*  Bought a book ... that didnt turn up; sent an enquiring message to the seller who replied accusing me of sending an offensive email!
*  Bought a small piece of Cornish pottery ... paid for it and the seller has gone AWOL!  They havent posted it to me and havent replied to my enquiry message (made damn sure this one had no signs of offensiveness in it! haha!)
*  Bought some dolls house furniture ... the photo quite plainly shows it being black & white; it's turned up and it's green & cream!  Slight difference there. (And i dont need to go to Specsavers! lol)

So the lesson to be learned here, is ... find something else to do in the evenings other than browsing eBay!

Will the Mouse never learn?  *shakes head in despair*

Mouse x

Stoned!

I've had six red geraniums kicking around the kitchen windowsill for the last three weeks,waiting to be potted outside. Finally, I found the time to do them and guess what?  There are NO stones in my garden, AT ALL to put in the bottom of the pots for drainage.

Where have all the stones gone? lol

Have I sifted all the flowerbed debris so well, over the last twenty years, that there are really no stones left?
Had to break up a well loved clay pot ..... sorry pot ... :(

Nice geraniums though!

Mouse x

Well, I Never!

You hear about it happening, but you never really think it's going to happen to you!  No ... I havent won the lottery (darn it!) but I have had my washer/dryer scrapped by John Lewis and a new one promised! Woohoo!

I simply rang to arrange yet ANOTHER visit by an engineer, and was told that's it, enough's enough!  It's just not viable to repair your machine any more!  A letter will be sent out in 7-10 days giving you authorisation for you to choose another one - like for like.

Bloomin' 'eck, that's great, I thought, but 7-10 days ... can you imagine how the washing will pile up in that time (of course you can) but hey!  The letter turned up the next day .... I went down and chose one today ... it's being delivered Wednesday AND they're taking the old one away!  Holy macaroni!

One happy bunny (or Mouse in this case!) lol

Mouse x

Feline v. Bird

Whilst carelessly minding her own business and sunning herself on the livingroom window sill, our pouvre pussycat nearly had heart failure (as we did!) when the biggest, plumpest pigeon you ever did see, flew straight at her and perched, face-to-face through the glass, on the outside window sill, wings a-flapping!   Blimey!  This was one brave, but scarey pigeon!!!

The pigeon soon realised it couldn't get any closer (thank God!) so flew & perched on the nearest thing just about 5 feet away ..... and so began the staring competion!  lol 
Our cat, meanwhile, is in her hunting stance ie. lying low, ears pricked forwards, eyes as big as saucers and tail a-thrashing!  For a good 15 mins this went on.

And who won, you may ask???

Why, the big, plump, brave, but scarey pidgeon did!  That's who!  haha

Like a Mouse to Water

I baby sat and fed my Grand Mouselet for the first time today.  Squeak!

I was a bit nervous about it at first, I must confess, but it's surprising how quickly your 'mothering' skills come back ... or is it that they never really went away?

Rocking, whispering, singing, humming, pacing the floor, 'reading' a picture book and sniffing the warm, fuzzy little head nestled in the crook of my arm.  Yes .... that's a strange one, isnt it!? lol  But hey!  They all worked and she didnt cry!

Well done, Grand Mouse!   I am very proud of you!  teehee

Mouse x

Only 7 Months 'til Christmas! WooHoo!

.... good job too .... as my first Christmas catalogue was delivered today ... *groan*

Oh, for Heaven's sake!  lol

Mouse x

Billy No Mates

Where have my followers gone?

I had seven greatly appreciated followers and now their existance has been erased (hopefully not for long)

Apparently this is a 'known problem' by Blogspot .... Hmmmm ....

Actually, if you look very closely you will see a little white dot ... and that's all that remains as proof that 'someone' has too much time on their hands if they are reading my drivle! lol

Mouse x

Mmmmm ...

I think I've discovered the cheapest Carvery in THE WORLD!

Turkey, gammon, beef, yorkshire, peas, carrots, cauliflower with cheese, cabbage, new potatoes, roast potatoes, gravy ...... £3.69!!!

Blimey!  I could go there every night of the week!

With a Second to Spare

Talk about sailing close to the wind!  A small item was ordered on-line from Argos.  The info given for next day delivery was that it would be delivered between 7am and 6pm.

Guess what time it arrived!!!   Yes!  5.59pm!

They REALLY don't know how close they got to getting both barrels from the Mouse!  haha

Mouse x

Black Swan

I cant remember the last film I watched that simply blew me away (but on reflection it was probably Harry Potter!  lol) but I've just watched Black Swan. WOW! WOW! WOW! Surprisingly and amazingly I absolutely LOVED IT!
I say surprisingly, because I wrongly assumed it was just about ballet; and I say amazingly, because I watch a LOT of films and it's so easy to be ultra critical ... but this one ... definately had the WOW factor.  (And no Mum, you wont like and you can't borrow it!) lol

Mouse x

Up the garden path ...

... to the rubbish bin I went .... pulled a few weeds along the way (as ya do!) and ... 2 HOURS LATER!!!   Ooooh, my muscles are aching aleady!  Haven't been gardening since at least last September and boy did it show! Even the weeds were sprouting! 
The bird table was moved further down the garden earlier in the year, as a bit of building work is taking place on the patio, but what is very evident is that corn is ACTUALLY growing in the flower bed under where the bird table was!  There's about 6 stalks and they're about 3 feet high. I'm quite excited!

Bread anyone!  haha

Mouse x

Lazy Days

You wish and wish for a lazy day to come along, and when it does it's not always as enjoyable as you thought it would be!

I've had such a day and now I feel I've wasted it!  I'm tired and lethargic and I'm so mesmerised by the laptop screen, I keep glazing over and cat napping!

Lazy days are NOT good for me!

Mouse x

Good Book!

I have just finshed a fantastic book called Nightfall by Stephen Leather in FOUR days, which is a miracle for me (who ADORES reading) and usually only finds time for 6 or 10minutes (if I'm lucky) at the end of the day (usually midnight or more) to read.

So it just goes to show, if something is worth doing, you'll find the time to do it even though you may complain and winge and moan that you have no time to do it in or to yourself!

As I said ... it is a bl**dy good book and I'm off to find another one of his.

Mouse x

Euro(yawn)vision

Only four songs into the Eurovision Song Contest, and it's quite obvious the UK not going to win!  I'm not sure there's an actual formula to having a winning song, but it is possible as a viewer to say ... this one's a contender ... or that one could win.

Cant decide whether or not to keep watching .... zzzzzz

What is it with Mondays?

In complete contrast to the Boom Town Rats and their "I Don't Like Mondays ... I happen to quite like them .... but don't try and get your hair done on a Monday where I live - all the Hairdressers are CLOSED!
Oh ... and don't try and order a takeaway meal on a Monday either ... as they are closed too!

In fact, the number of shops closed in our town on a Monday, is quite astonishing!

Mouse x
(Nice nails, but no hair appointment or chinese meal)  :(

I Would Have!

Today .... I treated myself to a manicure in town at .... the Fashion Nail's Salon .... WHAT!!???

I kid you not!!!!  

Surely SOMEONE in their business paperchain  ... the Bank Manager, the Building Society,
the SIGN WRITER, the Business Card Printer ... SOMEONE!  ANYONE!  Should have had the b*lls at some point, to tell these people they got it wrong ... oh, so very wrong .... 

Mouse x
(For anyone who didnt notice, there shouldn't be an apostrophe AT ALL , let alone in the wrong place!)

Sign of the Times

This most definately is a reflection of the times we currently live in ... and it aint pretty ...

A shop has recently opened in the town just over from mine, which is now selling goods on 'tick' ie. buy now, pay later; but its not credit, it's advertised as 'Your Weekly Payment' store.
This paints a very vivid picture of the community just not having the money to pay outright for things anymore ...  or they dont want to put it on their credit cards ... or even are unable to GET credit.

Also we see the return of the Pawn Shop (get the spelling right there, Mouse!) and the Cash for Gold shops.

I just feel like this country is going BACKWARDS!

And now to cap it all, we have the Government saying we can feed a family of 4 on £50 a week!  Sainsbury's were quick to take up the baton for that one, by taking out a 2-page colour spread in the National newsapers to promoting THEIR idea of a 7-day menu to reflect this.
It was immediately obvious thate there were no 5-a-day fruits in there, or desserts or treats in any way or form. 

Is this REALLY what's it's come down to? 

Please note: For anything in the future labelled the 2011's ... read the 1950's!

'Poor as a Church Mouse' ... Mouse x

Bargain!

I have just received an email offering me up to a 50% discount on West End Theatre tickets!  Woohoo! I said!

So ... I duly picked a date I might be persuaded to book, and waddayaknow ... I can book tickets with a face value of £65 for ... (wait for it, wait for it) ... £81.50!!!!   Bargain!   NOT!

They hooked me in with discounted tickets, but somehow forgot to mention other tickets that had been increased by 16quid+!!!

This mouse no born yesterday ...

Mouse :(

Countryside Lane Walkers. Pah!

Simple question really .....Why do 'lane walkers' walk on the wrong side of the road?
I'm not a lane walker, but even I know that you walk facing the traffic!
Why do I know that, and they don't?

Firstly, you've got the 'suicide strollers', often with a baby, papoose style, and/or rucksacks, for whom every day is Sunday. They  nonchanently walk with one foot on the raised grassy bit and the other on the road. Up and down, up and down. They never look behind them; just keep on trudging, head down, having complete faith that you're not going to knock them flat.
Then there's those who are taking the dog 'walkies' for heavens sake!  They are walking on the raised bit and trotty four-paws is tugging on its lead in all directions but mainly ... IN THE ROAD!
And THEN ... worse than that, is when you come across a WHOLE FAMILY 'crocodilling'! 
Meandering along, completely oblivious as to whether it's going to be a SatNav lost Argos truck that's going to take them out or a herd of wildebeast!  
Unbelievable!

As a car driver, it's quite apparent that I'm not a lane lover by any means, simply because you never quite know what's round the corner. 
For example, once I came round a bend, only to come across a horse lying in the road! Scarey, or what!  It's rider was unsuccessfully trying to coax it to its feet after the pair of them had slid down a dewy bank of grass. Even though I was assured that the stables had been informed and that a truck, with a winch, was on its way, the situation was quite impassable and I, too, was then in danger of being hit from behind.

Another time, a stag and I scared the bejeebers out of each other, when it suddenly veered out of the hedgerow, missing my driver's side by millimeters, ran a few meters alongside the moving car and incredibly managed to turn back into the greenery.  Now that WAS scarey!  For both of us!

Both were unforeseen road hazards, but just the sort of thing one should expect in the countryside ..... but lane walkers? Well, they are simply a needless hazard!
A danger to me and certainly a danger to themselves.

Here endeth the lesson ... according to ... Mouse x   teehee

Tattoo for You ... or Me?

Please explain to me ... what is it with people who have tattoos in places that THEY themselves cant SEE!!??  I don't understand!  What is the point of having tattoos on your back, neck or backs of your arms and legs? Just WHO are they having the tattoo for?  What are they saying to me?  Look at me; look at my design and know of the pain I went through in order to get your attention, so that you'll look at me .... Is that it?

I confess I don't actually have a tattoo of my own, but I would have probably  liked one when I was younger(although other members of the family would probably have disowned or stopped speaking to me!)  haha  But even so, I think I would have had one ... for ME!  My design; my pain; my tattoo. For ME to look at and admire; not on the back of my neck for others to admire. But for me.  Otherwise, what's the point?
I dont get it ....

I see tattoos being very personal things.  From the thousands of designs to choose from, you finally wittle it down to the one that's going to be indelably inked onto your body for pretty well the rest of your life. How do you go about making that choice?  Apart from the drunken mistake or the name of a current boyfriend etc. surely the owners's final choice must mean SOMETHING.  
Just doesnt make sense to me .... or am I missing something (or knowing me, just looking too deeply.)

I don't know *shakes head with despair*

Mouse x

Those Were The Days (My Friend)

 The sofa cushions are plumped and in their proper place; the kitchen worktops are clear of muck, grime and crockery; the washing line is empty and so is the ironing basket .....
a place for everything ..... and everything in it's place.

How BORING!

I can't remember the number of times when the little ones were, well, little ones, when I wondered if I'd EVER have a neat, tidy house ..... and now the little ones are big ones and making their own way in life, I have one. 
And it ain't what it's all cracked up to be!

But oh ... how I'd love to see toys all over the floor again, to find Lego in places you never thought Lego pieces could hide, maybe even some Playdoh trodden into the living room carpet or kiddie plastic drinking cups on the draining board!

Those were the days ... gone, but not forgotten, but not really appreciated at the time.

Long live the Lego Building Brick!

Mouse x

An AnonyMouse Note is Seemingly Not Enough!

According to the RSPCA ....

Thoughtless owners have left nearly 1,000 suffering dogs trapped, during the recent hot spells.
Staff have been called out to 968 dogs and 281 other pets which have been left in hot cars or buildings this MONTH alone!  Three of these animals actually died, but there could have been more.  They ended their report with ..."Dont leave your dog alone in a car. It's not enough to keep a window open."

This message just isn't strong enough! 

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE STUPID PEOPLE!!!!!

Mouse x

Wedding Fever

WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY FOR A WEDDING!  And a Royal Wedding t'boot!  lol

Oh, and didnt Kate look beautiful ... elegant ... and regal!  Her dress was, oh so .... *sigh*
Every inch a princess.
It was truly a day to lift the spirits of the British people.  No-one quite does a day like this, than the Brits!

Proud to be British, people!

May I wish the happy couple, the most glorious and happiest of lives together.

Mouse x

Testing! Testing!

Hmmmm .... that last post was a tad unreadable - hence the testing, testing now .... :)

Wonder if it had anything to do with adding the link .... (talking to myself again! lol)

Listen to Mr Angry on the Radio

As heard on the Jonathan Vernon Smith Show : Three Counties Radio today : 28.4.11

Listen to Melvin's call going viral around the world!

http://search.twitter.com/search?had_popular=true&q=melvin&result_type=recent

It is SO FUNNY but .... I found the presenter laughing even MORE funny!  lol  What do you think?

Support for Cameron

Oh, for heavens sake!  Have the people in Parliament completely lost their sense of humour!!??
Can't they see that Cameron was quoting from the Michael Winner commercials, when using the
"Calm down, Dear" phrase?  I thought it was FUNNY!

..... Oh, well, just me then.

Mouse x

Weird Weather

OMG!  What happened to the weather!!!???

Got the Mouse shorts out ... only to put 'em away again!   Brrrrr!   Really, really want to put the heating on, but no, I WILL resist ....

Busy Doin' Nothing

Anyone doing anything for the Royal Wedding on Friday?

Nah ... me neither ... phew! ... and that's a sigh of relief - not disappointment!  Ha!

Grumpy Mouse x

It's Only a Name ... or is it?

Each to their own and live and let live and all that .... but I was wondering .... why would a Catherine call herself Kate? (See Middleton) Surely it's more obvious to be called Cath, therefore a Katherine or a Kathleen would adopt the name Kate/Katie. 
In the same vein, (and in the Mouse book) a Rosemary should be called Rose and not Ros; otherwise it's a COMPLETE change of name!  How bizarre; and why is a William,  Bill?  And why is Prince Harry called Henry?  If you wanted to call him Harry ... CALL HIM HARRY!  Derrr!

Sorry ... soapbox was calling whilst reading the papers this morning!  haha

Moments to Cherish - Part 1

She came ....
.... we laughed;
We drank tea ....
....we laughed;
we drank more tea ....
.... we laughed;
We drank even MORE tea ....
.... and still we laughed;
We shared an evening meal ....
.... and we laughed some more;
No Mum!   I JUST CAN'T DRINK ANY MORE TEA!!!!
(Heavens above! What IS this woman putting in our tea!)  haha

But what a lovely afternoon we had - my Mum and me!
Thank you, Mum .... Love you!   Happy Easter!

Mouse x

The AnonyMouse Note

If you've not had the pleasure of receiving one, believe me, you are most fortunate.

I dished one out today, the first of the season ... and who to, you may very well ask?

Well, I dont actually know them personally, but it was to someone one who would wrongly claim to be an animal lover.  Their name or gender matters not a jot!
Said note was firmly placed on the windscreen of their car, which was parked in a multi-storey carpark i happen to frequent from time-to-time; and it pointed out in no uncertain terms my disgust that they had left their poor yelping dog in the back of their car in the sweltering heat!

How utterly cruel!  Do they not read the papers and hear of other hapless animals that have actually DIED by being left in the heat like that!!!!  Christ!  I was hot enough in a t/shirt with the aircon. on let alone wearing a FUR COAT!

Makes my blood boil!  Not only was this poor animal in the back of the car, it was in a metal cage which was so small there wasn't even enough room for it to stand up!   There was one window open about 2.5cm - big bl**dy deal!
I checked their parking ticket and there was still another hour to go before it ran out!!!

Why take a dog to town anyway, if you're not going to put it on a lead and take it with you!
SO unfair!  So not right!  I am livid and very upset! (as you can tell.)  :(

So apart from heaving a brick through the car window which I seriously contemplated doing, the only thing I could really do was leave one of my AnonyMouse notes  (this isn't the first time, as you now know - in fact whilst away on holiday once,  i actually called the RSPCA out! Spoilt my r*ddy holiday too!)

So I'm sorry if anyone felt a little leftout at that beginning and wondered why they hadnt received one of Mouse's 'special ' notes  - I'm telling you now - you.do.not.want to!

Mouse x

The Alternative Voting Thingy *yawn*

Now... if I've got this right (and believe me, I quite often get it wrong!) this AV thing that's coming up .... you vote for people in the order of which you want them to win! (haha! that sounded so much better in my head!) teehee.

Its going to be the same system as they use in Formula 1 racing, isnt it, if so ... I say NO!!!

I VOTE  for the person I want to WIN!   That's how its always been, otherwise what's the point? 

You run the race to WIN!
You cross the line first - you WIN!
You get the most votes - you WIN!

You dont get as many points as you can for coming 2nd, 3rd & 4th and ... hey presto!  You've won! Not in my book you dont, anyway!  lol  

Feel free to put me right if I've missed something ......  :)

Mouse x

That cant be right, surely?

It seems .... that it's ok to collect someone-elses parcel or package from your local Post Office Sorting Office, so long as YOU produce THEIR Passport, Driving Licence or Bank Card ..... all because (in the name of anti-fraud) the name on the ID MUST match the name on the parcel/package.
Surely that cant be right! 

So, with or without the other person's permission ....wouldnt I have just fraudulently claimed a parcel/package using that person's ID?

It CAN'T be right ....  can it??

Text Talk

Years ago, I held a 90wpm certificate for writing shorthand, which in those days wasn't actually considered THAT fast, but if i did it now I expect i could impress a few people ..... but I cant!  The skill has long gone; and yet I'm using a form of shorthand when I text.

So the question I'm asking, has to be: when is it ok to use text talk and when isn't it?

I must confess, I have to keep myself in check when I send emails , and resist the temptation to use the simplist text talk like ... lol ... gr8 ... 2moro!  Jimmy Young on radio 2 many moons ago, used to sign off with TTF (ta ta for now) - I wonder if he realised how soon the world would follow?  haha

Newspaper reports have revealed that kids are using the abbreviations in their school work (much to the annoyance of the teachers!).  Now this i can understand isn't probably the right place, but I can see a time when its commonplace to use it in letters & reports.  So long as we all understand it ... what's the problem!?

So ... C U 2moro wiv my nxt blg thn!  lol

It's still a memory problem

It seems there was nothing wrong with my password after all.

No.

There wasnt enough money in the bank to pay the bill!  Haha

(Note to self:  put money in ... to take money out!)

Simples!

Memory ....

.... I wish I had one ....

Just went to pay a bill on-line and forgot the 'new' last digit/letter that they recently asked me to add!!

Damn,blast and ****!   Now I'll have to go to the bank tomorrow morning to sort it out!

I'll remember THAT, wont I ...  she says ... 'coz it's such an obvious addition.

.... obviously not.   :(

A whole new world

Having volunteered to get my daughter somewhere for 7.30am (YES! I DID say 7.30am!) this morning, I decided to make use of the early start by picking up a couple of bits at my local Sainsburys.  Unbeknown to me (as 7.30am doesnt really exist in Mouse world!) the supermarket didn't open 'til 8am.  So I sat and waited in the car ....
By the time the doors were ready to be unlocked, six men had independantly gathered outside (I'm guessing it was for cigs and a paper) but this in itself was a fascinating sight to me; but then ..... walking like zombies in the Stepford Wives film came couples, some pushing trollies, slowly gliding across the tarmac from all angles, having been sitting in their cars also, waiting for the grand opening of Sainsburys on a Saturday morning! 

Open.the.doors.and.they.will.come .....

Mouse x

Jordan ... or alternatively read ... Get that ruddy woman off the front of my newspaper!

I cant believe that once .... yes, once ....  I actually admired Jordan.  She was a self-promoted business woman, married with 3 children and appeared (at the time) to be able to turn her alter ego, Jordan, on and off, as required.  There were publicity shots of Jordan, as you would expect a glamour model to look and then the stay at home, Katie Price, who wanted nothing more than to curl up of an evening with her hubby, her kids and the dogs and watch a DVD.
How ideallic.
Now I shout, almost every morning ..."Get that ruddy woman off the front of my paper!"  It drives me MAD!  She's everywhere!  Does she really sell THAT many papers by being plastered all over the front page headlines!  Keep her to the pages of HEAT and all the other celeb. mags - not my paper!

Now, I'm the first to admit that I DO read a rather down market paper.  It's good enough to get the gist of what's going on out there, whilst standing with a mug o'tea in one hand and a slice of toast in t'other, of a morning, because that's all I want from a paper.   David Cameron ... yeah, yeah ... man beats up Coronation Street star ... yeah, yeah ... 9pm Waking the Dead ... oh good, a bit of decent telly!

I did have a 'proper' paper for about a week, but there was SO much in it I found I hadnt had time to read it all before the next one arrived!  haha

So if i really want to flick through early morning, worldwide trivia ... then I guess I'll have to put up with Jordan too.   :(

Mouse x

Impatience at a click of a button

I never used to be impatient ....

Now I live in a world where I, along with everyone else, expects everything to happen instantaneously!

For instance:
* when nothing happens, for all of a nanno-second, when i click my mouse (hello beloved mouse *hug*) I feel rising anger!  How is that?

* when the TV remote button clicks and the TV doesnt respond IMMEDIATELY!

* when the washing machine cycle has finished and you have to wait 90 SECONDS before you can open the s *dding door!

* when you've keyed in your credit card number over the phone and you have to wait listening to something they call 'music' while they verify your details

* when you've used the car door remote in the pouring rain, and you violently tug on the door handle .... only to find you've opened the boot instead!  hahaha

Calm Mouse, calm ....

Mouse x

Summer Duty

Summer is on its way! 
But it doesnt really matter what the weather will be like, because I will be on duty for other people's KIDS!!  
Needless to say i dont get any thanks, in fact they dont even know i DO it! I try not to, but i just cant help it!

On the beach:  I'm the one who wants to know why that child is on its own?  Who'se it with?  Is it lost?  And so I put down my book, and from my comfy deckchair, I survey from a distance, the crying child wandering along the sand.  It's parents have allowed it to go down to the waters edge, but dont seem to realise that children never come back up the sand from the same place they went down, which equals disorientated child.  Why do I know THAT and they dont?
Mum is dozing, 'catching the rays'; Dad is reading the paper; child is left to their own devices and WHAMO!  The child is lost.  I've been off to get ice creams before now, and come back and found it hard to locate our little beach settlement; so what's it like for a youngster?

At the boating lake/river:  I'm the one biting my knuckles, praying that the 3 year old doesnt fall in the water! Oh, yes, the parents are there shouting at little Charlie "Dont go near the water!" "Come back, come back!"  But the child shouldnt be allowed to go there in the first place! They should be holding an adult's hand or holding onto the buggy/pram? They give the child the responsiblity of looking after itself and quite frankly they are too young to do so.

And, and .... I'm even on duty in the car too!  Ever watchful of the little children who are allowed to run on ahead of their parents on the pavements!  There's too big a gap to save them when they fall; children are unpredictable and they will suddenly turn on their heel - straight into the road.  Some children have obviously been told to stop at the road, which they duly do, but with their toes hanging over the edge of the kerb!  So close to being sucked into the path of a passing car or scooped up by a piece of clothing ... oh, i cant go on ... it makes me feel sick at the very thought.

Oh, and another thing!  What about the 6, 7, 8 year old who is left in charge of a 2, 3, 4 years old!  Beggers belief!  My Mouselets werent allowed out on their own at those ages, let alone look after a little person even younger!

Parents - take responsibility for your own kids! The Mouse cant be on duty EVERYWHERE!

Mouse x

Well, Have They?

One of my greatest loves is ... diving my car!

Doesnt matter how great or small the journey is - I Love it!  The feeling of real independance is like no other ... BUT ... (there's always a but, isnt there!) what I've noticed, and it riles me EVERY time, is other people's lack of using their indicators!

My car is only 6 years old and has indicators - do newer cars not have them any more?  Have owners of older cars had them removed? Or What?

Senario:  You're sitting at a roundabout waiting to go, and somone else comes round the roundabout on your right (this is driving in the UK)) and they are not indicating, but they arent in a position that tells you if they are turning left off the roundabout, or going all the way round to exits 2. 3 or 4 (or whatever)  either! It drives me INSANE!!!

So, if you've ever heard the sound of muffled yelling as you nonchalently drive on by in your own little world, where YOU know where you're going .... and I bl**dy dont .... that'll be ME!!! 

Mouse x

What's the big Deal?

I AM an 'old school' Mouse, granted, but hey, that shouldn't make any difference! 

What I'd like to know is:  why cant men & women be called Manager & Manageress respectively? 
Now, you're going to tell me its all part of the equality thingy, arent you; but if that's so, then why adopt the the masculine term 'Manager' for both ... Men 1 v. Women O.

Mouse x