Those of you who use non-Blogger sites for your blogging, can you answer a question for me ?
Is it difficult to make them work as web pages with one page always appearing as a Home Page but also listing the other other pages ?
I am pondering a project for a friend, and wondered if there was a quick solution :-)
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Keeping Busy
Update to add :
Hi Victoria,
a fortnight is exactly two weeks long. Although archaic, it is still a word in everyday usage here :-)
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We have an official Welsh Assembly school inspection imminent, hence my infrequent posting.
Truth be told, I haven't been home much during the day during this last fortnight.
We have all prepared as much as we are able - teaching staff, support staff, everyone who works or helps out in the school, so it is all in the hands of the Inspectors now....... Gulp.
I'm glad it doesn't affect me directly, though some of the volunteer work I do will indeed be seen live by the Inspectors. I have been through the stress and come out in the "so traumatised I am chilled out" zone !
Hi Victoria,
a fortnight is exactly two weeks long. Although archaic, it is still a word in everyday usage here :-)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We have an official Welsh Assembly school inspection imminent, hence my infrequent posting.
Truth be told, I haven't been home much during the day during this last fortnight.
We have all prepared as much as we are able - teaching staff, support staff, everyone who works or helps out in the school, so it is all in the hands of the Inspectors now....... Gulp.
I'm glad it doesn't affect me directly, though some of the volunteer work I do will indeed be seen live by the Inspectors. I have been through the stress and come out in the "so traumatised I am chilled out" zone !
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Fifth Picture
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Home Again
Dear friends, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my dear brother.
He is safely home from the hospital, and is looking better than he has done for the last eight weeks. He is still very weak, and has a long way to go, but he is feeling better.
Half-term is almost over, and I still need to iron the school uniforms, LOL ! The girls are looking forward to going back to school.
The weather is lovely here; there is some real heat in the sunshine today. We even saw a rather confused honey bee flying around yesterday :-)
The young ones are going to a birthday party today, so they will have heaps of fun at that. I am seriously considering taking my earplugs........
And that is about all here. I will be checking Bloglines later today and hope to catch up with y'all very soon indeed !
He is safely home from the hospital, and is looking better than he has done for the last eight weeks. He is still very weak, and has a long way to go, but he is feeling better.
Half-term is almost over, and I still need to iron the school uniforms, LOL ! The girls are looking forward to going back to school.
The weather is lovely here; there is some real heat in the sunshine today. We even saw a rather confused honey bee flying around yesterday :-)
The young ones are going to a birthday party today, so they will have heaps of fun at that. I am seriously considering taking my earplugs........
And that is about all here. I will be checking Bloglines later today and hope to catch up with y'all very soon indeed !
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
My brother was indeed admitted this morning to hospital.
His treatment was begun in the Resuscitation room, then he was found a bed on a ward three hours later.
As far as we know, he will be kept in overnight and discharged tomorrow after review by the Gastro-enterology team.
He really is getting the best possible care, but sometimes it is very hard to leave things unquestioningly in the Hands of God...............
His treatment was begun in the Resuscitation room, then he was found a bed on a ward three hours later.
As far as we know, he will be kept in overnight and discharged tomorrow after review by the Gastro-enterology team.
He really is getting the best possible care, but sometimes it is very hard to leave things unquestioningly in the Hands of God...............
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
The Silent Treatment - NOT !!
I am not giving you all the silent treatment, honestly !
There is a lot going on here, mostly good, but which I am not at liberty to blog about for reasons of confidentiality.
Suffice it to say I am alive and well, extremely busy on a voluntary basis, and considering a career change, with DH's support.............
No doubt details will follow in due course :-)
There is a lot going on here, mostly good, but which I am not at liberty to blog about for reasons of confidentiality.
Suffice it to say I am alive and well, extremely busy on a voluntary basis, and considering a career change, with DH's support.............
No doubt details will follow in due course :-)
Sigh
My brother is very unwell again and has been seen by our family doctor, who has said he needs admission back into hospital for treatment.
There is a slight problem in that our hospital has been very badly affected by the current Norovirus outbreak and eight wards are closed to new admissions, including the one my brother needs to be admitted to for what has now become urgent treatment.
Our GP has said he is admitting my brother tomorrow as an emergency to A&E if necessary, whether the wards are open or not.
Stress stress worry worry stress stress....you get the picture.
There is a slight problem in that our hospital has been very badly affected by the current Norovirus outbreak and eight wards are closed to new admissions, including the one my brother needs to be admitted to for what has now become urgent treatment.
Our GP has said he is admitting my brother tomorrow as an emergency to A&E if necessary, whether the wards are open or not.
Stress stress worry worry stress stress....you get the picture.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Snow ? What Snow ?
I bounced out of bed enthusiastically this morning at 07.11 (I know, because I looked at the clock !) desperate to see if the expected snow had materialised, and it hadn't.
It had stopped raining, however, and we now have glorious blue skies. Still very cold, but at least it looks more cheerful than unrelenting rain......
There was copious snow where DH is working, though !
It had stopped raining, however, and we now have glorious blue skies. Still very cold, but at least it looks more cheerful than unrelenting rain......
There was copious snow where DH is working, though !
Monday, February 09, 2009
Foul Weather
Yesterday and today we have had heavy rain. The rain has become progressively heavier since 3.30pm and has been torrential at times. Flood warnings have been issued for some areas.
Checking the Met Office's web site just now, they are warning that there is now a > 80% chance that the rain may turn to heavy snow late tonight and in the early hours of tomorrow morning.
This weather is seriously bizarre ! And cold !
Checking the Met Office's web site just now, they are warning that there is now a > 80% chance that the rain may turn to heavy snow late tonight and in the early hours of tomorrow morning.
This weather is seriously bizarre ! And cold !
Bletchley Park In Peril
Did you ever see the film Enigma, a few years ago ?
I was distressed to find out a few weeks ago that the historic Bletchley Park, home of the cipher breaking team during the Second World War, is literally in danger of falling to bits and being sold to developers.
This is such an amazing piece of history.....
and a CBS news video can be seen here.
If you live in the UK, please sign the online petition.
I was distressed to find out a few weeks ago that the historic Bletchley Park, home of the cipher breaking team during the Second World War, is literally in danger of falling to bits and being sold to developers.
This is such an amazing piece of history.....
and a CBS news video can be seen here.
If you live in the UK, please sign the online petition.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
More Snow
Tuesday's snow had all gone by midday yesterday, but we woke this morning to see another inch or two of snow transforming our street into a winter wonderland!
DoomHamster managed to get into work in The Big City, even though the City's local buses were not running this morning due to adverse weather conditions......it took her over two hours, but she made it safely.
I am so glad that DH was able to get home safely last night before the snow started where he works !!
Schools were closed again today, and we are currently in our living room with the wood-burning stove keeping us cosy.
I have put out plenty of food for my feathered friends, and I have seen all my regular visitors today except my pair of wood pigeons..........
Much of the snow has now melted, and I am trying to motivate myself to brave the cold and take the Dog of Doom for a walk :-)
DoomHamster managed to get into work in The Big City, even though the City's local buses were not running this morning due to adverse weather conditions......it took her over two hours, but she made it safely.
I am so glad that DH was able to get home safely last night before the snow started where he works !!
Schools were closed again today, and we are currently in our living room with the wood-burning stove keeping us cosy.
I have put out plenty of food for my feathered friends, and I have seen all my regular visitors today except my pair of wood pigeons..........
Much of the snow has now melted, and I am trying to motivate myself to brave the cold and take the Dog of Doom for a walk :-)
Worth a Look....
if you have a child in a state school in the UK.
Phil Beadle is an experienced teacher who manages to motivate some of the most unteachable and demotivated kids, even getting them to read and act out Shakespeare....much of what is in this book is sound common sense which does need to reach a wider audience. I have watched his TV programmes and he is a gifted and articulate teacher.
More Of My Recent Reads !
UPDATED TO ADD:
an interview with John Granger and information about his books on the Orthodox perspective on Harry Potter can be found here.
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I am probably the last person on the planet who has read "Beedle the Bard" :-)
I did enjoy it, but it really is not a children's book at all, rather displaying some of the darkest undercurrents of the wizarding world and of Dumbledore himself in some of "his" comments and scholarly footnotes. For those of a sensitive disposition, do not read the tale about the Hairy Heart......
The Wee Free Men is a perennial TP children's and adults' classic. I think Tiffany Aching is one of his very best characters, on a par with Granny Weatherwax, Sam Vimes and Moist von Lipwig.
I was watching the BBC documentary last night following Terry Pratchett in the year following his diagnosis with a rare form of Alzheimer's known as Posterior Cortical Atrophy. I have met him on several occasions, and he is a very erudite, witty and humble man. So many folk are afflicted with varieties of Alzheimer's in particular and dementia in general, yet the Government seems to sweep it all under the carpet in favour of publically supporting/funding/emphasising the "popular" high profile illnesses.
It is good to see TP publically supporting and explaining this disease. I hope he shames the Government into doing something more constructive than wringing its hands and telling bosses they need to be watching their workforce for signs of dementia......
I still don't really know what to make of this book, to be honest. In many ways it is an interesting treasury of background information relating to the themes and issues, myths and legends which underpin the whole of the truly magical world of Narnia, and in this respect it is very useful. For those of us used to reading CS Lewis knowing a fair amount of his beliefs which were so very akin to Orthodoxy, it does rankle to see him described as an inadequate Protestant who doesn't really accept Sola Fidei. The author's theological knowledge of Protestantism seems Calvinistic rather than Lutheran/Anglican/Episcopalian and even the token mention of Catholicism seems rather condescending, IMO. No mention of Orthodox theology of salvation, of course, LOL.
If anyone else has read this book, I would **love** to know what you thought of it.....
I do so hope that someone will one day write an Orthodox understanding of Narnia, as has already been done so well with the Harry Potter series........
an interview with John Granger and information about his books on the Orthodox perspective on Harry Potter can be found here.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I am probably the last person on the planet who has read "Beedle the Bard" :-)
I did enjoy it, but it really is not a children's book at all, rather displaying some of the darkest undercurrents of the wizarding world and of Dumbledore himself in some of "his" comments and scholarly footnotes. For those of a sensitive disposition, do not read the tale about the Hairy Heart......
The Wee Free Men is a perennial TP children's and adults' classic. I think Tiffany Aching is one of his very best characters, on a par with Granny Weatherwax, Sam Vimes and Moist von Lipwig.
I was watching the BBC documentary last night following Terry Pratchett in the year following his diagnosis with a rare form of Alzheimer's known as Posterior Cortical Atrophy. I have met him on several occasions, and he is a very erudite, witty and humble man. So many folk are afflicted with varieties of Alzheimer's in particular and dementia in general, yet the Government seems to sweep it all under the carpet in favour of publically supporting/funding/emphasising the "popular" high profile illnesses.
It is good to see TP publically supporting and explaining this disease. I hope he shames the Government into doing something more constructive than wringing its hands and telling bosses they need to be watching their workforce for signs of dementia......
I still don't really know what to make of this book, to be honest. In many ways it is an interesting treasury of background information relating to the themes and issues, myths and legends which underpin the whole of the truly magical world of Narnia, and in this respect it is very useful. For those of us used to reading CS Lewis knowing a fair amount of his beliefs which were so very akin to Orthodoxy, it does rankle to see him described as an inadequate Protestant who doesn't really accept Sola Fidei. The author's theological knowledge of Protestantism seems Calvinistic rather than Lutheran/Anglican/Episcopalian and even the token mention of Catholicism seems rather condescending, IMO. No mention of Orthodox theology of salvation, of course, LOL.
If anyone else has read this book, I would **love** to know what you thought of it.....
I do so hope that someone will one day write an Orthodox understanding of Narnia, as has already been done so well with the Harry Potter series........
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
A Must-Read !
Boomtown, by Nowen N. Particular
This is a superb, good-humoured, rollicking older children's adventure story of a preacher and his family moving to an unusual town which has a fireworks factory. Within minutes of their arrival, they cause chaos, but are accepted whole-heartedly by the inhabitants, some of whom are highly unusual themselves, but are all tolerant of people's quirks.
The Preacher is worried to find that all his predecessors have died in very unusual circumstances, and true to form, his life is repeatedly in danger from freak accidents. Much to his surprise, he discovers and finally accepts that people who are unusual or who have problems don't always need to be "fixed", but accepted, loved, and cared for.........
The whole town accepts the new arrivals, and just when it seems that Boomtown is the perfect place to live, a series of mysterious thefts sets the townsfolk ill at ease. They are used to having their bank robbed as regular as clockwork by one inhabitant, who sulks if the police are late coming to arrest him, but these mysterious thefts are unnerving......
The ending is satisfying but rather bitter-sweet.
I look forward to more from this author !
Fretting......
..... about the birds which normally visit my garden, knowing they will find food here.
I filled up the bird feeder and made sure there was plenty of food on the ground for the larger birds which can't hang upside down from the feeder.
Within two or three minutes, the thick swirling snow had covered all trace of the ground-lying food, so I had to go and replenish it at regular intervals. I felt so sorry for the birds; if they do not find enough food, they will quickly weaken and die.
Now the snow is melting, I just hope there will be enough time for them to feed adequately from my garden before night falls and everything freezes again. They tend not to come for food after about 2.30pm..........
I filled up the bird feeder and made sure there was plenty of food on the ground for the larger birds which can't hang upside down from the feeder.
Within two or three minutes, the thick swirling snow had covered all trace of the ground-lying food, so I had to go and replenish it at regular intervals. I felt so sorry for the birds; if they do not find enough food, they will quickly weaken and die.
Now the snow is melting, I just hope there will be enough time for them to feed adequately from my garden before night falls and everything freezes again. They tend not to come for food after about 2.30pm..........
We Have Snow !
The small ones building their snowman :-)
A very fine snowman indeed ! Lots of fun was had by all.
We had approx 3 inches of snow last night and this morning, but it is melting as I type, and our enforced day off school is not likely to be repeated tomorrow unless we have an awful lot more snow overnight. At present, this looks very unlikely, as the sky outside is blue and cloudless :-(
Fun whilst it lasted......
Friday, January 30, 2009
More Books Finished
Another oldie; an older children's story set in the remote Scottish islands and depicting the hardships of crofting life and the emigration that followed. A truly wonderful book.
This was good, but not as good as I thought it would be - the life stories of British actors Sheila Hancock and her husband John Thaw, who died a few years ago.
Another oldie from the thrift shop ! This GP practice was the subject of a BBC documentary series in the 1990s, and I enjoyed the programmes so I thought the book would be good too. It did not disappoint me :-)
I have two more books currently being read, but I don't think I will finish them before the end of the month :-)
This was good, but not as good as I thought it would be - the life stories of British actors Sheila Hancock and her husband John Thaw, who died a few years ago.
Another oldie from the thrift shop ! This GP practice was the subject of a BBC documentary series in the 1990s, and I enjoyed the programmes so I thought the book would be good too. It did not disappoint me :-)
I have two more books currently being read, but I don't think I will finish them before the end of the month :-)
Books Finished
This was a gripping read - the true story of an SAS mission which went wrong in the first Iraqui war, and how one man survived a truly horrific ordeal.
This was a delight, a complete opposite to the first book ! It is an old book, dealing with two almost retirement age sisters who buy a tiny island, one mile offshore the coast of Cornwall, in 1965, and how they survived the trials and tribulations of a very isolated life with no amenities.
This was a very serendipitous find at a charity shop ! An Ellis Peters book that I had never read, published under her real name of Edith Pargeter. A rather lovely description of a young girl and her obsessive, Svengali-like great-aunt's fall from riches to reduced straits and how they both come to terms - or fail to- with the situation.
This last one, I think I enjoyed most of all. The author upped sticks, left his job, his wife and their two very young children to fulfill what can only charitably described as a mid-life crisis living in the wilds of Alaska for a winter.
The man was barking mad and had a saint for a wife, that's all I can say - but it was a truly amazing adventure nevertheless, and exceptionally well-written. Needless to say, he survived, but on several occasions it was a very close-run thing......
This was a delight, a complete opposite to the first book ! It is an old book, dealing with two almost retirement age sisters who buy a tiny island, one mile offshore the coast of Cornwall, in 1965, and how they survived the trials and tribulations of a very isolated life with no amenities.
This was a very serendipitous find at a charity shop ! An Ellis Peters book that I had never read, published under her real name of Edith Pargeter. A rather lovely description of a young girl and her obsessive, Svengali-like great-aunt's fall from riches to reduced straits and how they both come to terms - or fail to- with the situation.
This last one, I think I enjoyed most of all. The author upped sticks, left his job, his wife and their two very young children to fulfill what can only charitably described as a mid-life crisis living in the wilds of Alaska for a winter.
The man was barking mad and had a saint for a wife, that's all I can say - but it was a truly amazing adventure nevertheless, and exceptionally well-written. Needless to say, he survived, but on several occasions it was a very close-run thing......
Monday, January 26, 2009
Oh Yes .....
D'oh !
I have finally worked out that what I fondly thought was my addiction to chocolate is, in fact, an addiction to sugar.
How did I come to this earth-shattering revelation ?
Thecheapskate oops, company which manufacture the large tins of Heroes mixed chocolates have recently changed the brands included to provide a preponderance of less expensive brands. Gone are the delectable Dream bars, Time-outs and others, to be replaced by Bournville. Don't get me wrong, I like Bournville dark chocolate in small doses :-)
But when the remnants of the Christmas choccies meant that only Bournvilles were left in the huge tin, rattling around somewhat sadly, I decided that it was my duty to eat them, not least because we can't afford to buy any more sweet stuff for a while.
So I have been diligently munching Bournville, and my normal monthlycravings overwhelming urge for chocolate has not been satisfied, despite copious amounts of Bournville. Normally I would opt for milk chocolate, which of course contains milk and sugar in positively industrial quantities.
Aha !
So the six million dollar question is, do I continue going cold turkey and ruthlessly eliminate milk chocolate, driving my family to despair in the process, or do I pander to my whims and the sugar cravings ?
All comments welcome.......
How did I come to this earth-shattering revelation ?
The
But when the remnants of the Christmas choccies meant that only Bournvilles were left in the huge tin, rattling around somewhat sadly, I decided that it was my duty to eat them, not least because we can't afford to buy any more sweet stuff for a while.
So I have been diligently munching Bournville, and my normal monthly
Aha !
So the six million dollar question is, do I continue going cold turkey and ruthlessly eliminate milk chocolate, driving my family to despair in the process, or do I pander to my whims and the sugar cravings ?
All comments welcome.......
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Safely Home
I am pleased to report that the procedure was completed safely and my brother is safely home at my mother's house, tucked up in bed and recuperating from the ordeal.
We are so relieved, but now begins the battle to build up both his physical strength and emotional well-being after all his family upsets over the last few months......
We are so relieved, but now begins the battle to build up both his physical strength and emotional well-being after all his family upsets over the last few months......
Brother Update
Things are a bit hectic here, so apologies for my lack of posts.
My brother was admitted to hospital yesterday as an emergency. He is undergoing painful,unpleasant but necessary treatment. When I visited last night, he was understandably very anxious.
If you have chance, please remember Mark in your prayers. We are all so worried about him.
He will be discharged home this evening because they are so desperate for beds in the ward he is currently in, though by rights he should be in for at least two to three days after the procedure.
We are just glad he has at least had the necessary treatment..........Please God his health will start to improve again now.
My brother was admitted to hospital yesterday as an emergency. He is undergoing painful,unpleasant but necessary treatment. When I visited last night, he was understandably very anxious.
If you have chance, please remember Mark in your prayers. We are all so worried about him.
He will be discharged home this evening because they are so desperate for beds in the ward he is currently in, though by rights he should be in for at least two to three days after the procedure.
We are just glad he has at least had the necessary treatment..........Please God his health will start to improve again now.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Thank You !
Thank you all for your kind comments and prayers for the repose of my beloved father.
He was indeed a special person - larger than life, ebullient, friendly, happy, honest and blunt, always willing to help anyone or anything, at no thought of the cost to himself.
He adored children and they all adored him.
He treated everyone the same, with kindness and concern, no matter what their station in life.
I have been told by so many people that no-one ever had a bad word to say about him, and that says a lot.
I have a lot to live up to.
He was indeed a special person - larger than life, ebullient, friendly, happy, honest and blunt, always willing to help anyone or anything, at no thought of the cost to himself.
He adored children and they all adored him.
He treated everyone the same, with kindness and concern, no matter what their station in life.
I have been told by so many people that no-one ever had a bad word to say about him, and that says a lot.
I have a lot to live up to.
Stoopid !
That's what I am.
I did something so mind-numbingly stupid that I am ashamed to 'fess up. But I will, even if only to make you all laugh......and to act as a cautionary tale !
When I had my shiny new web book, I set up my user name and account and tweaked a few settings. I also set up an admin account and password, picking something I would easily remember as a password. In my excitement, I neglected to write the password down.
Bad, bad move.
I have used the password on numerous occasions, even as late as the beginning of last week, but when I went to type it in on Friday, my mind went blank. Utterly, completely blank. No problem, I thought, I will sleep on it and try again Saturday.
Could I remember it on Saturday ? Not on your life. I have tried 75 passwords and none of them worked. In the end I had to 'fess up to DH, who rolled his eyes at my foolishness but graciously spent several hours sorting the mess out. If I had just got Ubuntu on the machine there would not have been a big problem, but because the machine came from a company which had put their own proprietary "Ubuntu for Dummies" user interface on there as well, the standard protocols did not apply and special, nay, almost heroic measures were taken by DH.
I am pleased to report that he was successful, that a new password has been duly set up and written down in a place of safety. To be even safer, DH has set up a seperate admin account and password which is also written down in a place of safety, so we both know both of them.
Hopefully he won't have to do this again .
I think I have learnt my lesson, but it was a steep learning curve, LOL.
Always keep a record of crucial passwords in a safe place !!
I did something so mind-numbingly stupid that I am ashamed to 'fess up. But I will, even if only to make you all laugh......and to act as a cautionary tale !
When I had my shiny new web book, I set up my user name and account and tweaked a few settings. I also set up an admin account and password, picking something I would easily remember as a password. In my excitement, I neglected to write the password down.
Bad, bad move.
I have used the password on numerous occasions, even as late as the beginning of last week, but when I went to type it in on Friday, my mind went blank. Utterly, completely blank. No problem, I thought, I will sleep on it and try again Saturday.
Could I remember it on Saturday ? Not on your life. I have tried 75 passwords and none of them worked. In the end I had to 'fess up to DH, who rolled his eyes at my foolishness but graciously spent several hours sorting the mess out. If I had just got Ubuntu on the machine there would not have been a big problem, but because the machine came from a company which had put their own proprietary "Ubuntu for Dummies" user interface on there as well, the standard protocols did not apply and special, nay, almost heroic measures were taken by DH.
I am pleased to report that he was successful, that a new password has been duly set up and written down in a place of safety. To be even safer, DH has set up a seperate admin account and password which is also written down in a place of safety, so we both know both of them.
Hopefully he won't have to do this again .
I think I have learnt my lesson, but it was a steep learning curve, LOL.
Always keep a record of crucial passwords in a safe place !!
The Dog Who Thinks He Is Human
The girls had been snuggled up on the sofa, with a pillow and a blankie, watching TV. They then went upstairs to do something and I walked in and found Basil had made himself very comfortable. The girls and I were in fits of laughter,and I managed to snatch this photo before he reluctantly got up !!!
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