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Because you demanded it, here is a thread where I will try to make my long posts on. This should keep the people who read them (ER) happy as well as the people who don't (everyone else) who can just ignore it.

This is the point where I run out of things to talk about... :P

I've actually started writing in my diary recently (which is all down to ER in a roundabout way). I've been counting down the days I have left in my job and remembering what I was doing that year.

"Wednesday 24th January.

Cat behaved himself today after last nights crapfest.

1986 days left in the job. In 1986 I was 12 and in Primary 7. One afternoon my mum just took me out of school in the middle of the day. She was leaving my dad finally. We had just the clothes on our backs and went to stay with my aunt Gina & uncle Brian. The beatings had became more blatant, and weekends rather than a break from school were a thing of terror. He would later try to kidnap me on two occasions, starve my pets to death and send them to me through the post in a padded envelope filled with broken glass for bonus points. He also tried to run me and my older brother over with his car. There were threatening phone calls, and he'd try setting various government agencies on us or go sneaking around our house late at night, trying to break in. He even tried phoning my school to speak to me, where I spoke what to this day are still my final words to him "You are not my dad and you are not part of my family" before putting the phone down. I hope those words stung and hurt him. Anyway eventually and finally the judge granted a restraining order and that episode came to an end, although not before it caused a split in the family when one of my mum's brothers took my dad's side. Hell, not even my dad's own blood family took his side. I would not speak again to this particular uncle for many years and although eventually we all got speaking again, I was not upset when I was unable to attend his funeral (it was the day before I flew out to the Falklands. Unfortunately another uncle who I did like also died that day).

As we'd moved to a different area I had to go to a different school. Hayocks Primary School... Wow, that place was a s**thole. The teachers used to physically abuse the pupils, punching and slapping them. I'd been to 4 primary schools at this point as my family moved around and I'd never seen anything like this. I was never hit by my teacher (Mrs Robb), thanks to my gran. My youngest aunt was only 5 years older than me (my gran had 9 kids who lived) and this very same teacher had once slapped her. My gran went down to the school and gave the teacher a black eye for that, and the teachers were still afraid of her (she had to be in her 60's at this point). Needless to say however, Mrs Robb did not like me. We would clash verbally a lot that year. The hygiene standards in Hayocks also left a lot to be desired. I saw school meals (accidentally) dropped on the floor (which to me looked none to clean either) and picked up with bare hands, then put onto plates and served to the pupils. It was the worst school I have ever attended by a country mile and even by the standards of the day should have been closed (although it is still open to this day. I hope things inside have improved since then though). One guy, Sammy Black tried to bully me which I ignored until one day he spat in my face. After what happened next Sammy never as much as spoke to me again. Even then I was broad shouldered and stronger than most guys my age. Going to Hayocks was a real eye opener to me and I hated every day of it. I was so glad when summer rolled around and it would be time to move on to Secondary School, where I'd be back with my friends from my previous school (Ardeer). Shame the kids from Hayocks would also now be going there. Except Sammy... he found another Secondary school to go to.

Looking back on it, '86 was a tough year, but I got through it and figured that if I could do that and survive, then I could take almost anything life would throw at me. By the end of the year although I was back with my friends, they felt juvenile and somehow much younger than me, something that would remain with me throughout the rest of my school years until the last year. I'd lost interest in being a kid and life had moved me on wither I wanted to or not."

Jim walked into our office today and I said to him "Hey Jim, have you seen the trailer for the sequel to Rogue One? They are letting George Lucas direct it."
He replied "But how can they have a sequel, surely everyone in it is dead, well except for Vader."
This continued for a couple of minutes with Max and Inhumanly Tall Dave joining in, until Jim went to say "But surely a sequel to Rogue One would be Star Wa..."

At which point you could practically hear the penny dropping.

Your father sounds like toxic waste in human form.

Pretty accurate description. As I said before, for a long time I'd have killed him given a chance and done my prison time with a smile knowing I'd made the world a better place.

Fascinating entry, Alex, keep writing.

I am sorry your father was such a turd.  I was very blessed to have the best father any son could ever ask for, but I know not all are so fortunate.
keep writing!!

Preparing for a self audit course at the start on next month and taking notes on what a QAO, QSO, QSC and so on all are, although I can't figure out what SQAC or  indeed a SQEP are or do.

I am fairly proud of myself for working out UQCIM though, and being able to find where a copy of it was held online. You'd need more than a ball of twine to navigate our filing system maze and we have more dangerous creatures than a minotaur lurking there to be sure.

Next I have to memorise the 5 Why's?, the 6 S's and the 8 wastes. Of the 8 wastes I am pretty sure the main one is "My time".

It does not help that while I am trying to find reasons not to study the UQCIM work is steadfastly refusing to come across my desk.

Made all the notes for the rest of the story I am writing at the moment. It has six chapters and I am currently doing the climax of the second one, and our two intrepid investigators are about to find themselves knee deep in trouble. Not to worry though, they'll get much deeper before the story is over...

Today's diary (posting this one up just because given that things are running backwards on what I was doing on X year, this is effectively a prequel to the previous diary post. Still a better prequel than The Phantom Menace though and has 100% less Jar Jar Binks.

"Thursday 25th January.

Ususually warm for late January today (15 degrees celcius). Radio was having a man playing the bagpipes to celebrate Burns Night. Troube is he was playing a traditional Irish folk song as played by an Irish rock band. And while it was true that this is my favourite Irish rock band, that still doesn't make Phil Lynett Scottish.

Dagon behaved well last night. He is too much of a social beast to win these fights. The instant I lock him alone in the bathroom he is going to crumble, so he'll be on good behaviour now until the next bout of "I am going to be a little s**t today" strikes him. Besides Kristi says I sleep better when he is in the bedroom with us, and that I roll around in the bed less, and don't throw punches or kicks while I am sleeping.

I am so glad she never asks what it is I am actually dreaming about.

1985 days to go. In 1985 I had a crush on my teacher, Mrs Martin. She had short dark hair and matching eyes and was a mere 30 years older than me. Of course that means she is now in her 70's which is a scary thought. Equally I'd have a crush on her daughter when I met her two years later. She was at the same secondary school as me, although a couple of years older. Her brother was in the same year as me at secondary. Sadly, he was also the only one who ever came onto me. We were doing a week's sailing and cannoing on the isle of Arran when I was 15 (lovely place if you like the countryside) and the male toilets had two showers in it. I was in one and he was in the other. I'd just finished my shower and got out, when he walked out of his, pulled his towel off, turned around, bent over with his hands spreading his ass cheeks and, well I am sure you can guess what he asked me to do.

As much as I am legendary for missing come on signals, I got that one.

And no, I didn't. But this was still all some years in the future. Back to 1985.

I was suddenly doing much better in school throughout this year. I'd always been an indifferent pupil, but this year I'd been promised if I did well and got a good report card I'd get taken up to a big toy store in Glasgow and I could pick any toy I wanted. I had my eye on a Technic Lego set, and had been offered a reason to actually work hard in school. This academic improvement meant I was moved from the Yellow Table where I sat with my two best friends at the time, William Brownlee and Richard Stirrit, through the Green, Blue and finally the coveted Red table where the most academically promising students sat. As soon as I sat down, one of the girls at the table, Donna Willis told me that at this table they didn't talk to new people. This turned out to be wrong and anyway, the last time I saw her I was in my mid 20's and her career choices had reached the mighty heights of collecting tickets on buses. So much for all the academically gifted kids being put together eh? William was an incredible artist and I was rather jealous of this talent, although I had realised some time before where life was going to take him. It started later this year, when he had thrown a stick at some girl and she'd ended up losing an eye. He did time in a borstal for that (if you've ever seen the film 'Scum', I am told that is a pretty accurate representation of kid's prisons (I guess you'd call them Juvinile Hall in the US?) at the time. He was definately a different person the next time I saw him. I always felt really bad every time I went around his house, because his mum thought I spoke lovely (I was never allowed to speak in slang growing up) and repeatidly offered to swap sons with my mum in front of William). I've never looked for what happened to him in later life, but I hope he settled down and was able to use his talent to make a living. I did hear once about his younger brother Iain. He'd ended up getting a tear drop tattooed eye.

I remember during the Easter holidays that year deciding that the girl I'd had a huge crush on for the past three years (yeah, I had a lot of crushes) I was finally going to ask out. Helen Cambridge was her name. She was tall, blonde haired with clear blue eyes. So I came back from the school holiday, having built myself up to ask her, only to discover her family had moved to somewhere in Ireland.

Wow, that kind of killed my ego for a bit.

That summer we went on holiday, which was especially memorable for me. My dad had quit his job and was starting up his own business, but he was at home a lot more now and told me as we were on the beach that since he'd quit he'd gotten to know me a lot better and the more he knew me the less he liked me.

I feel vaguely proud of that actually.

Speaking of someone being proud it was also the one time I know of that I ever did anything that made him proud. I'd been out for Hallowe'en and had let two guys from the year below me go round with them to keep them safe. A guy from the year above me at school came running at us with a knife demanding our sweets. I fought him off while shouting at the two kids to go get help receiving for my troubles a slash across my left eyelid. This was my first knife injury, and compared to the later ones was barely even a scratch, although at the time I was pretty damn upset about it. Around the same time, my older brother who had always been my dad's golden child had his first arguement with my dad. He shut Jim out and turned his attention to me. This was neither wanted nor welcome. Indeed in some cases it made me feel incredibly uncomfortable.

It was also around this time that cracks started to appear in my family life, my mum had decided she was divorcing my dad. They were still living in the same house though. I'd hadn't ever thought too much of the beating I'd received from him, after all I'd seen both Richard and William get the same from their fathers and it seemed normal.

I guess just because something is normal though doesn't make it right.

With dad having quit his job, there was less money around than we'd had before. I remember my pile of Christmas presents being significantly smaller this year than any other. I hid my childish disappointment though, put on a huge smile and declared it the best christmas ever. The signs of how the next year would go were there, especially when I woke up one night to shouting and found Jim pulling my dad off my mum as he tried to shove her jewellry down her throat (she had taken to sleeping in our room at this point) and choke her to death.

Looking back it seems amazing to me now that I viewed myself as a happy, balanced child unaware that in fact my life was far from normal.

Ah, the joys of a gout attack. My knee is rather swollen up and I spent the night not sleeping. Still, better my knee which is only a moderate pain. If it hits my big toe then that jumps way up to severe. I have medication that will fix it up in a matter of minutes, but that leaves me feeling really sick for an entire day so I'll wait until I finish work tonight before I take them.

I am rather tempted to phone in sick, or at least phone in and ask for someone to come and pick me up rather than walking in but I know I'll make the journey in regardless. I hope it's a short day though as I'd like nothing more right now than to soak my knee in a hot bath. This is what happens though when I forget to take my meds for 3 days.

Anyway, I need to head off to work. Have a good day / night everyone, what ever you are.

Between putting up my last post and me getting to work, the cat was sick and I mistook a spray bottle full of vinegar for one full of water.

This necessitated me having to quickly iron a fresh pair of trousers for work.

Inhumanly Tall Dave walked into work this morning. I took one look at his face and thought "He doesn't look well." He sat down, put his head in his hands and then put a pair of dark glasses on and I am thinking, ok headache then, possibly a migrane, but given other things I suspect a stress induced headache. Since Dave doesn't tend to go home no matter how sick he is I decided I'd sit there and be a quiet as possible (he doesn't drink alcohol so unlikely to be a hangover).

Just as I was thinking this Max walked past me and put the radio on. Personally I dislike Chris Evans generally. I can only imagine how bad listening to that ginger chipmonk would feel with a bad head. I understand completely why Dave turned round at this point and decided to go home after all. Before I almost completely stopped watching terrestial TV I found that pretty much every male presenter on channel 4 irrirtated the hell out of me, with the possible exception of a guy called Richard Whitely. He was a very genial gameshow host on the kind of show your maiden aunt might watch, although there were rumours that as a younger man he'd been involved with MI5 or 6.

Still having urges to take off on some grand adventure. Given I am about 6 weeks away from Kristi giving birth, it would have to be a much shorter one and hopefully less stabby than usual. As an example, the stuff with Soozee took over a year of being involved with, and even then at the end I walked away from it deciding I would never get to the bottom of exactly who was behind the hate mail being sent to her. I had stopped the people who were doing that, but I never did find out who or why someone had got them to do it, only that she wasn't a random target. It's funny but when ever I think of that whole time I always catch myself absent mindidly scratching the stab would I named after her, on my hip (as a quick guide the one on my face (left side of the nose, between my nose and eye. It gives one half of my face a slightly oriental type look) is Lindsey, left shoulder is Stella, left hip is Soozee, right leg just below the knee wasn't caused by a woman either directly or indirectly, so hasn't gotten a name and neither have my chest wounds since unless I shave my chest you can't really see those ones quite so well).

Hmm, maybe I should get some more wounds on my right side just to balance things out a bit?

 :teddyr: :teddyr: :bouncegiggle:

Sitting by myself, while Kristi is resting in our bed. She was complaining earlier that Ash was lying in an uncomfortable position so I suggested she wriggle her belly around to move the baby, but she refused. I got an evil look later on when she overheard a conversation between me and a friend and realised that this had been part of a cunning plan on my part to try and get her to do the truffle shuffle. Hmm, I've seen ER mention something about wanting another baby. Maybe if she gets pregnant I could persuade her?

Oh well, I owe her one for cooking brussel sprouts last night. Not that I ate them. We (she) had dinner guests who didn't leave until quite late ruining my plans to read something I'd been sent and do some writing.

Got music playing. I want to put on a film, but its playing through my favourite songs and I can't quite bring myself to stop them. Oh well, after about 17 hours it will get down to the music that I am just ok with rather than loving and I am sure I can switch it off then.

I wonder what Ash will think of my music. Will it seem as out of date as my parents music from the 60's did when I was a child?

Saw an interview with the Turnip on TV today from Davos (wasn't that the creator of the Daleks?). He didn't exactly apologise for something, but he did say he would be prepared to apologise for it.

Got one of my swords out today and went through a practise routine, something I've not done for a decade or so. The moves and stances came back to me and felt refreshing. I'd have liked to get the katana out, but it's blade is a bit long for the space I have inside (and neighbours complain I've found if you leap around waving a sword in the air), so one of the shorter blades came out instead. For my fighting style the length of the blade is very important and it's surprising just how much of an advantage you get if yours is just a few inches longer than your oppoents (get your mind out of the gutter people!). I really was born about 800 years too late. Mind you, if I got to go back to that time I'd appreciate it if you could send back central heating too. And good music. Oh, I'd also need my toothbrush. Did you know the reason for the whole folded blades thing in Japan was because they had such poor quality iron and had to come up with a way to compensate? And people did not generally parry blades with their weapons (and if you used a two handed weapon you either kill them before they can get close or take the blow on your armour if you can't dodge it). That's what a shield was for. It you start clunking swords together, what you end up with is lots of chips out of your blade. And that point in sword fights were someone spins around. That point where your back is facing me as you turn around? That is the part where plunge my sword into your back, then give it a good hard shove so it comes out the front of your chest. Keep spinning around at that point if you want. It's only going make things easier on me disposing of the body. Seriously, if Highlander was real, it would take me less than hour to win the prize lol. Then you'd all be in trouble. Instead of a Dark Lord, you would have a queen, not dark but beautiful and terrible as the dawn! Tempestuous as the sea, and stronger than the foundations of the earth! All shall love me and despair!

Wait dammit, wrong evil plan again!

Although since I've gotten married I've found I no longer get up as soon as I wake up and have actually lain in bed until 10:30am recently (enjoy that while it last's buddy, those days are coming to an end real soon), I have been finding I get a sore back when I lie that late in bed.

Or maybe I am just having sympathy pains?

Although I've been cutting down on junk food, today I think I am going to give into my bodies craving for some Irn Bru and take a walk to the shop. It looks much nicer outside today than yesterday. We had storm force winds and rain which I don't mind individually but combined can be something of a pain. The various times I went out side required four changes of trousers, for each time I got back home.

Hmm, North Korea is almost bankrupt from making their nukes. That would explain the whole South Korea combined sports team thing. I guess they are trying to drum up tourism a bit. Didn't they learn anything from the fall of the USSR and trying to match your enemies weapons? Truth is (and sadly so), I believe if Kim kept himself off the international stage and just did whatever he wanted to do in his own country without all this posturing and trying to look big no one would really care what he did and he could run his country into the ground just as hard as he liked.

What is it about dictators and funny hair anyway? I mean Hitler had his side parting and 'tache, Mussolini had his enormous big bald head, Stalin had his comedy 'tache too. I bet Attila, Tamerlane and Genghis all had something funny going on headwise too. Somehow I picture Attila as a mullet man and I bet Genghis rocked a pompadour.

Maybe a requirement for world leaders should be "Must have good head of hair, kept in reasonable style as a sign of your mental stability"?

Hey people from around the world, how does YOUR leaders hair stand up on a crazy hair test?

Had a dream that me and Kristi had a raging argument last night. Can't remember what it was about. I do remember waking up at the end of it, telling her we needed to cuddle tighter so we wouldn't argue, wrapping her up in my arms and then going back to sleep though.

Hopefully the rabbits will be going today. The woman who is taking them runs a few of her own businesses and one of her employees was giving her some problems and had to be fired, so she wasn't able to pick them up on Friday. Funny, when I think of all my favourite pets they have all generally been predatory creatures, rather than leaf munchers. I guess I just find they have more personality.

Alas however, my request for a shark tank big enough for the pets I really want has been denied. Plus I'd have to either find a hitherto undiscovered pocket of surviving megalodons or y'know go all Jurassic Shark and have one genetically recreated.

More than 2/3's of the way through the story I am writing and almost not wanting to finish it, because when I get to the end of chapter 6, well that is it done and finished. When I first thought of this story, it was the end that came to me first, then the beginning and the middle parts I more or less have just made up as I've been writing it. So far the names of all the characters have changed once, the location six times and a myriad of tiny details altered, many of which had me combing through the rest of the story to find other parts that this then changed. Oh well time to check the world news.

Hmm, Turkey is squaring up to the US in Syria and sending tanks over the border, that could turn out to be interesting. The founder of Ikea has died (my first thought was wither or not his coffin would come with assembly instructions) as has a comic guy that Kristi likes. Does a strip about a layabout soldier Beedle Bailey which I'd imagine people in the US are more familiar with than me, someone crashed a car into some kids in London (does it make a difference that it doesn't seem to have been a terrorist attack and therefore doesn't get top billing on the report?) and another suicide bomber in Kabul has killed a load of people.

What a wonderful world we live in. Shame the news rarely reports on good stuff happening, but I guess that doesn't get as many viewers. Think that's enough news for today. It's a bright sunny day outside, I currently have a good life and that is reason enough for me to be happy and not sweat the small s**t. What's coming is coming and nothing is going to stop it. I am going to get dressed, have breakfast and go outside for a bit to enjoy the day with my wife.

Have a wonderful sun shiny day all. :)

Gandhi had no hair at all, so you may be on to something. Oh wait, wait, Lex Luther, supervillain, was also bald, so nope it can't be the hair's fault.

They were running a back up generator test at work today. No one thought to actually warn us about it in advance however, so all our computers shut down in the middle of us doing stuff. When the power came back on later, it had tripped a circuit breaker that we are not allowed to go reset (seriously!), so we'd to get the contractors out to do that for us.

Right, because as a technician with 17 years experience on aircraft I have no idea how to push a button.

Anyway, since we couldn't work I went over a copy of the story I'd finished writing, noting where words had to be corrected, dates altared and a few other minor bits sorted out. Once I finished that, I started mulling over another story I'd had lurking at the back of my mind.

It all started a few years back when Randy Savage had died. Some preacher had announced the world was ending a few days after this. Anyway needless to say said day came and went.

Some time after that I saw a cartoon where Jesus was lying on the floor of a wrestling ring and the Macho Man was dropping a flying elbow on him from the top rope, with the legend "Apocalypse? Not on my watch. Oh yeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaah".

Anyway that got me thinking about all the competiting religions as competing WWE factions and how that would go.

So I started thinking about that more. With his crown of thorns, crucifiction and whatnot, Jesus seemed a natural for the Hard-Core Champion and things just seemed to grow from there.

I figure if I was ever to actually post it anywhere or get it published it would be instant fatwah on my ass, which is a shame because I like the concept. And writing the story, it's surprising on how much of things actually fit really well into WWE type story lines. It doesn't just cover modern religions though. The first match is a tag team bout between the Gods Of Thunder (Zeus & Thor) against AnNILEation (a couple of Egyptian deities).

Who wins? Well thats for me to know.

Out to the hospital with Kristi for another scan. Not long to go now until the big day. Back up to the hospital tomorrow to talk to the anesthetist. Kristi was a bit shocked to discover the local hospital doesn't do epidurals, but she did some research and found out that they score incredibly highly on the stuff they do, do. She says she wants what ever they'll give her which I am fine with. I am not going to persuade her to go with a natural childbirth, cos well in the past I've had some pretty big poops and I know how much they hurt trying to get out and I am assuming children are worse.

I've been thinking the usual sort of thoughts any parent has to decide about when it comes to children.

What age should I let him first see Star Wars?
Which order should I show him Star Wars in?
Since me and the wife are both geeks, what do we do if he is into sports?
Will he try to take my favourite colour to play in Risk off me?
What will his favouite bad movie be?

Stuff like that.

Does anyone know anything about starting up one of those Kickstarter things? I was wondering if I could put one on to fund me buying my private island and build my evil genius lair on it. Backing it would get you a whole range of things right up to being one of my disposable guards if you back it with enough cash. Stretch goals would include things like snazzy uniforms for my minions, marksmanship classes for them, maybe evil healthcare and dental plans too.

Yeah, I know. I am a caring, sharing sort of evil genius.

Was trying to think of a name to market it under. I had thought of "Have Cat, Will Dominate", but that sort of sounds like a deviants porno.

There apparently was a man who set one up to fund the bringing of the elder gods into the world, and promised if you contributed, you'd be among the first to be eaten when the gods came through into this dimension, therefore sparing them seeing the horrors that awaited the rest of humanity, so maybe you could offer contributors clean head shots from your death rays in exchange for funding?

And to answer your question about Star Wars, there is no bad age for introducing a youngling to the wonders of that long ago and far, far away galaxy, but ease the lad into Jar-Jar, since he's been known to bamage drain cells.

Well I was figuring I want Ash to be old enough to remember his first time seeing it.

Ah the joys of getting up in the morning to go to work.

There has to be an easier way of making a living. Oh yeah, there was but I decided not to go down that route. Sometimes I wonder if I had though what kind of lifestyle would I now be leading? Hell, maybe I should even have taken Tanya up on her offer to be my manager and become a male escort lol. Oh well its at least pay day today. Kristi is asleep so it feels like I have money for a few hours at least.  :twirl:

My godly wrestling story seems to be going down better than I expected. I was worried it might offend people, although it isn't meant to. It all started because of a guy called Harold Camping predicting the apocalypse. Randy Savage had recently died and I saw a cartoon where he was dropping a flying elbow on Jesus and shouting "Apocalypse? Not on my watch. Oooooh Yeeeeaaaaaaaaahhhh!" and that got me thinking about what it would be like if the gods were in the WWE. That does actually come into my story later. I don't feel the story particularly has a plot or a point, it's just kind of a day in the life.

Still, it would be awesome if that was Pro-Wrestling for real.

Whats happening in the news. Supermoons, Teressa May's leadership is under fire, some royals are doing a visit to Sweden as part of a charm offensive in preperation for Brexit and football stuff. Well I've heard more depressing news so I'll put that one down as a win overall.

Time to go to work. Have a good day all.

Well the two hour long appointment to discuss discussy things with the medics turned out to be thirty minutes long.

Kristi was dropping hints that she'd like to eat out tonight, but since I have that huge bill coming up for her visa I decided no, we were saving money for once. I hate doing that, but you are talking well over $3000.

Went for a haircut today. I'd been thinking about getting it all shaved to the bone for a while now and since I had the beginnings of a bald spot at the back I figured it was time. I am not going to be one of these guys with a stupid combover or something trying to hide it. Kristi likes bald headed men and has been trying to get me to shave it all off for a while so I figured she'd be happy about it.

I walked in the house at lunch time. I hadn't told her I was getting it cut so she'd get a nice surprise I thought.

Yeah, I thought that would work. She burst out into tears when she saw me. The joys of a hormonally enhanced wife.

My poor angel. Only another six weeks to go. She went to the hospital wearing very light shoes with no socks. In Scotland, in the winter. I didn't notice until we'd gotten to the hospital and her feet were soaked since it was raining heavily. So afterwards I dragged her to the store for new shoes and socks. This is always fun as Kristi hates clothes shopping with a passion. Who'd have ever figured that one? A woman who hates shoe shopping.

Got my self audit course done today. Popped back into my normal work at lunchtime to get told I was doing my first audit next week on VASS (Visiting Aircraft Support Sqn). Well nice of them not the let the grass grow under our feet I guess...

In the afternoon I'd to go into Elgin with Kristi for her antenatal classes (this is me being supportive and taking part). We were all made to get up and dance with various ways of swinging your hips to help the pelvis.

I knew all pregnant women should do the truffle shuffle!

Got the Mormon missionaries around again for dinner tonight. These ones are two girls and the missionaries seem to love coming here as Kristi will cook them the kind of food they are used to back home.

Not sure how when people come to my house to eat, I am always the one who ends up doing the washing up?

Kristi caught Dagon tucking into the chicken she was preparing tonight and she want's him to be in trouble, which he is a little bit. But on the other hand I keep asking her to close doors so he just can't wander around everywhere and do things like that. Kristi being Kristi just doesn't do shutting doors. Or windows, or switching out lights. Maybe because we live by the coast she feels we need to act like a lighthouse, and to be fair in the almost five years we have lived here not a single boat or ship has crashed into our house.

Had a few aircraft try to land on it though.

Went to go for a bath last night only to find the pilot light for the boiler had went out and I could not get the damn thing to relight. Which also meant the central heating was off. Couldn't get someone out to fix it last night, so we had to wait until first thing this morning. It was pretty cold last night so we piled lots of blankets on top of the bed. I made a blanket fort, but Kristi invaded and knocked it down. That woman will wake me up through the night for any reason except an important one. I means he has woken to me up to see if I was asleep or not. She was feeling really cold last night even under all the quilts and blankets but didn't wake me up to tell me this. I keep and oil radiator in the garage for just these types of emergencies ffs! If she'd woke me up and told me I'd have quite happily went and got it, set it up in the bedroom and warmed at least that one room for her.

For some reason I am feeling super sleepy right now.

Found a photo of me and my combat squad back in the early 2000's. Wow, they look so innocent and cherubic. I should get that one scanned and put it up in here to see if people can spot which one I am. Can't remember half their names. Wonder how they look nowadays?

Number one uniform inspection day today. Which is great because I thought today was yesterday, when in fact it turned out to be tomorrow and I hadn't prepped my kit as a result and had to hurriedly do it this morning. Just as I was about to go outside for the parade one of my medals decided it didn't like the ribbon it was attached to and fell off. Despite a hurried attempt to fix it with a stapler I had to concede defeat and go on parade without them.

Measuring go-no go gauges in microns. This is less fun than I might have made it sound. No, keep going, you are still thinking that it is more fun than it really is. Came up with the start of a story, but not sure where to go with it after the intro. I could be a sci fi horror, or have a contemporary, historical setting, or indeed a rom com but I haven't decided yet. I may be lying about one of those options.

When the gods created the universe of light those things that dwelt in the void that had been were forced to flee, for the touch of things like light and matter pained them greatly. They found a hole in the centre of the universe where they could survive. There they waited, knowing that one day entropy would win out and the universe would return to being a cold void and would be theirs again for they are patient.

But as the gods of light and matter created life made of the same stuff as themselves, so had the lords of the void created their own pets and servants. They too survived, hiding in the dark corners of existence. They too waited, and they hungered.

For the universe of light and heat and life was not was not anathema to their kind as it was to their masters, although they loved it not.

Anyway, if anyone has any thoughts were I should go next with it feel free to comment.

Got a phone call this afternoon from someone claiming to be from my phone company. Apparently my computer has a virus on it that is infecting other computers world wide and is slowing down the entire internet this Indian sounding person told me.

Hmm, if that was the case I think I'd actually feel vaguely proud of that.

Anyway, they offered to take me through the steps required to clean the virus off my PC. Yeah, sure I am going to fall for that one.

Sometimes when I get phone calls like this, I'll just say its a stupid scam, I am not interested and put the phone down. Other times I can get a little creative. Some of the sample replies I have given...

'I have no friends, will you be my friend? I am sooooo lonely.'
'Herro, Wel Hung's Chinese laundry and artificial limb replacement service, how can I help you?'
'I am sorry, the owner of my building isn't here right now, but I can pass you her address. It's HRH, The Queen, Number One, Buckingham Palace. I am sure she will be more than happy to buy double glazing.'
'The blood... so much blood... I keep washing but it won't come off, the voices... they keep speaking to me, they just won't stop. I killed them, KILLED THEM, YOU HEAR ME!'
'This number is strictly top secret and not accessable to non security cleared personel. We are tracking your number and our representatives will be there shortly to question where you got this number from!'

Once I got a phone call from a particularly persistant salesman who was trying to sell me a conservatory extention to my house. Despite the number of times I told him it wouldn't be possible, he told me they could build a conservatory anywhere and guaranteed me a quote. I recorded this on my phone, gave him the base address and met him at the camp gate before escorting him to my block. "OK, you are on crown property. You have to get permission from the Queen to build here (actually the base commander would have been fine, but I didn't tell him that). My room is on the second floor, middle of that block there. How much?"

At this point he started telling me that he couldn't in fact provide me with a quote, however I had the phone conversation recorded, played it to him and demanded either compensation for wasting my time or a valid quote. All he did however was try and lambast me for wasting his time which I found ironic.

One day when I was feeling really mean to an ambulance chaser phoning to see if I had been in a car crash I said "I am sorry I have someone on the other line, I'll just have to put you on hold for a minute and then put this on my computer...

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ij1T2JxyjQ#)

and left the phone beside the speaker. Every five minutes or so I'd pick up the phone and say "Thank you for waiting, your call is important to us so please wait and one of our operators will be with you as soon as possible.

I think he stayed on the line for 27 minutes judging my how long the timer said the call lasted for. I can't imagine the hell he must have went through. Hopefully it made him clean his life up, get a proper job and be a nicer person. Or reduced him to a gibbering and drooling fool. Either option works.

I wonder if there is a help group for tramatised telesales and con artist type people. I did sign up for a thing where my phone number isn't supposed to be available to all these random callers (and it is in fact a criminal offence for them to call me unsolicited) so I really don't have any sympathy for them.

Since I've not finished my current story on the writen anything recently thread, I thought I'd post my other completed story here. It's something unusual for me that I have never tried to write before. It is a love story between a young man and an unfathomable creature from other dimensions.


When the gods created the universe of light those things that dwelt in the void that had been were forced to flee, for the touch of things like light and matter pained them greatly. They found a hole in the centre of the universe where they could survive. There they waited, knowing that one day entropy would win out and the universe would return to being a cold void and would be theirs again for they are patient.

But as the gods of light and matter created life made of the same stuff as themselves, so had the lords of the void created their own pets and servants. They too survived, hiding in the dark corners of existence. They too waited, and they hungered.

For the universe of light and heat and life was not was not anathema to their kind as it was to their masters, although they loved it not.
 
 
Hi there, my name is Paul Denning’s. My girlfriend who I call Lucy is a being who exists in more dimensions that I can conceive of without going totally insane. She also has a lot of tentacles and the things she can do with them… wow, just totally amazing.

I can see by the look on your face you wondering how we met. Don’t worry, it’s the natural question everyone always asks first when they meet you and your new girl. Oh, and Lucy isn’t her real name, but like Lucy herself many parts of her name don’t actually exist in the same reality as us which makes it hard to pronounce. I've tried, but I'll tell you about that later.

Lucy is good though. I like the name Lucy for some reason.

I was walking home alone late Friday night. The moon was full and I could see Polaris shining brightly. No one else was around in the streets and I didn’t know why back then, but I suddenly felt very nervous. I looked all around me and could see nothing, but I felt like I was being watched. But then a girl like Lucy can hardly just stroll up to you in a bar and ask you if you want to buy her a drink and I guess for something like her, this is the equivalent of making eyes at you across a crowded room. Anyhoos, back to my story. A feeling of nameless dread rose up in me, overwhelming my senses and I started running in a blind panic. I didn’t know what I was running from or where I was running too, just that I had to get the hell out of there. Some instinct must have made head for my flat though, as the next thing I knew I was slamming the door shut, my heart hammering in my chest. My hands were shaking as I poured myself a drink, wasting loads of whiskey as my trembling split more of it on the expensive carpet than went in my glass. I gave up and just glugged some straight from the bottle.

That’s when I saw her. She came drifting straight through my wall, I mean I am on the 15th floor. She was a black mass, roughly spheroid and about six feet from side to side, although as she turned around her height and width would alter rapidly depending on what parts of her were passing through the dimensions I could see. I could see no body, just a mass of writhing black tentacles constantly moving around. My senses reeled just from her presence, my sanity seemed to crumble, I could literally feel my mind breaking as she entered.

It was exactly how I thought love at first sight would be.

She moved over to where I stood, and I have to admit the stain on my suit trousers was not from the bottle I was spilling on the floor, but she gently stroked my face with a slick black tentacle so softly. I suddenly somehow knew that she wasn’t here to hurt me. I could… I am not sure how to explain it. It wasn’t quite telepathy, but I could pick up and understand some of her thoughts and feelings. You ever had someone know exactly how you are feeling? We have that me and Lucy.

We made love that first night. Mad, passionate love until the morning when we fell asleep together wrapped in one another’s appendages. She grabbed my clothes and ripped them from my body, then jumped on me, her weight knocking me to the floor. Some of her tentacles wrapped around my hands and pinned them to the floor, while her other tentacles… well let’s say they went exploring and leave it at that. We made love right there and then in the living room. Then in the hallway, the toilet, again in the hallway before we made it to the bedroom where we spent the rest of the night making the earth move together.

I’ve never been one to move too quickly in a relationship and it surprised me pleasantly when I invited Lucy to move in with me in the morning. We hardly left the bedroom that weekend and by the time I had to go to work on Monday morning I was exhausted, drained and very, very happy. She satisfied me in a way no other woman ever had. Several times she tried to tell me her full name, but it made my nose bleed. And my ears. So we settled on Lucy.

That first month was blissfully happy. I had never known anything like it before. Of course like any relationship it had its problems. We could hardly go out together and our attempts to were normally met by folk of artistic persuasions leaping off the tops of tall buildings, or covering themselves in petrol and immolating themselves. Still we persevered. At the end of the month though I was beginning to wonder could Lucy perhaps be a kleptomaniac. It was little things going missing. The kind of thing that you had got so used to being there that you hardly noticed them until you went to use them. The first thing I noticed was the tip of my right pinkie finger, then a mole on my shoulder. I let these little things go at first, but when I awoke one day with only one eye gone I did decide it was time to have a serious talk with Lucy.

She admitted it was her and apologised. She told me that sometimes during sex she got a bit carried away and had accidently consumed some of my essence. She was terribly upset about it and I felt really bad about bringing the whole thing up with her afterwards.

I decided to book us a secluded cottage in the Lake District for both of us to get away from everything and just spend some time together as a bit of an apology to her. It was a bank holiday weekend so we’d have an extra day together. I made it a surprise and the pair of us drove up late the Friday night. Traffic was surprisingly light, although we witnessed many accidents. All the other cars kept skidding off the road the drivers and passengers screaming as if in unholy torment before their cars exploded. That was pretty dangerous as they strangely seemed to explode as we passed, although I did think that in a perverse way the flames against the night was strangely romantic. Lucy spent the drive leaning on my shoulder, and did something naughty to me while we were driving that almost caused me to crash! I loved the feeling of her against me, her body so soft and pliant.

Thanks to the insane driving of everyone else, we made good time to the cottage. I picked her up and carried her in side. There we lay in front of a log fire and made more love. Normally sex between us was fast and frenzied, but this time we were slow and gentle with each other, exploring each other fully. I do have to say that Lucy was much more able to explore me with her being able to change the sizes of tentacles to fit into any space no matter what the size or shape.

It was unusual to say the least, incredibly unexpected… but not unpleasant once I got used to it. It was the best sex I’d ever had, and Lucy told me it had taken her to heights no one else ever had.

The only problem was when I woke up on the Monday morning I no longer had any arms or legs. I found this strange occurrence slightly disturbing, but I couldn’t bring myself to say anything to poor Lucy. She had been so upset when I confronted her about my missing eye and I did so want this long weekend to go perfectly. I had found myself walking past Jewellery shops on the way home from work and was thinking of an engagement ring. I had seem one I really like, white gold with 5 gemstones, alternating emeralds and diamonds. I was hoping she'd like it too.

When Lucy awoke we made love again. I don’t mean to sound like sex was all there was to our relationship, believe me it was much deeper than that. We’d go for long walks in the park, hand in tentacle and watch the ducks explode as we walked by, or joggers hanging themselves from the trees by the cords of their iPod headphones. Any second I spent with Lucy I was just so smitten with her. It seemed terrible that the rest of the world was falling apart while we were so in love with each other, but nothing else seemed important while we were together. We tried going to the cinema a few times, but the screen kept showing scenes from some of the other realities Lucy existed in, and well... lets just say I am glad I don't have to clean that mess up.

I am not sure what time I awoke next. My other eye seemed to have gone and I can’t hear, smell, taste or feel anything either. I think our love is so strong that mine and Lucy’s souls have merged and I just can’t use the senses she has. With practise though I am sure I will learn how to. I no longer hear her in my thoughts and that distresses me greatly, but I persevere and know that soon I will feel the soothing touch of her mind again.

I think I might have eternity to work on that and after all we do have a love built to last to the end of time.

Had to get up early today to get ready to go to a baby market.

Didn't realise you got to go shop for the damn things. I think I prefer the whole stork idea than having to go buy one. :P

Been trying to get dressed. It is currently 08:34. I got out of bed around 08:00 and so far I've got one sock on. Still it's progress right?

Our friend Karen (aka the worlds second worst driver) is picking us up. This worries me a lot. When Kristi goes out shopping with her, if they end up being late I start getting worried that she has crashed again. Kristi's habit of not phoning me, or answering my calls to let me know she is ok has gotten her into trouble with me on a couple of occasions.

Things I still need to buy for the shopping list today. A buggy and a changing mat. No doubt there are other things but that is what I have in my head right now.

Hey, I got my other sock on. Maybe I should go commando. Underwear seems too complicated today and I strangely feel sleepy for this time of day.

One leg is in my black jeans and I have a tee shirt on. I think I can make this look work. Hmm, looked outside and it's a bit rainy so maybe not. Kristi is feeling a bit sore. I reminded her that after we visited some friends who had just had a baby and were driving home, she is the one who slammed the brakes on, turned around to me and demanded "I WANT ONE OF THEM!". Experienced friends have informed me that this would be an incredibly bad thing to point out to Kristi while she is going through labour and would be akin to summoning some sort of end times type demonic entity for the havock that would then be wrought.

I have to admit though, that does sound strangely tempting. Michael Caine was right. Some guys do just want to see the world burn.

Wow, in 9 days I'll have been married for 5 years. How the hell did that happen? I need to think of something special to get Kristi for it. I kind of went too high on the first valentines day and since then I've had to try and beat it (I bought us matching titles, so we are offically Lord and Lady Corbett of Lochaber. If you are stuck for a present to get your other half, its not a bad one imho). The next year I did try to get a star named after her, but that turned out to be a con so I ditched that plan.

I am sure something special will occur to me, it normally does.

You should write Harlequin Romances!!!  LOL
What a neat tale of Lovecraftian love . . .

Got a cot for the baby today. Its of a lovely dark wood which fits in with most of the rest of our furnature so I am happy with that. Karen managed to only nearly crash the car while I was out with her today, so that is an improvement (she pulled out in front of an oncoming car at a roundabout). Anyway, after that I got dropped off at the house while Karen and Kristi went shopping. As it turned out they were to go shopping for eleven hours.

I figured out how to bridge the middle of my wrestling story to the end.

I consider people to be strange things, best observed from a distance. Increasingly I find the appropriate distance would be Mars to make sure I don't get caught in the blast zone when it all goes tits up, something I am more and more sure is going to happen in my lifetime.

I wonder if people felt like this leading up to WW1 and WW2?

How dare we as a species develop weapons that can decide the fates of billions regardless of their own hopes and dreams. What stupidity and arrogance to risk the fates of so many currently alive and generations unborn, then give that power to one man (or woman) based on a popularity contest. I mean is it just me or is that not completely insane?

And yet, it may be what held the peace for 70 years. But then again, nothing lasts forever.

I am not sure if I could, I would really want to truly understand the human race.

Take my ever loving wife for example (and I am not being sarcastic there, she loves me like no other woman ever could). On her birthday one of her nieces (who is 19) didn't send her a present, a happy birthday on facebook or a birthday card. I can understand Kristi being a little put out at this. She decided for the nieces birthday which is coming up shortly that rather than getting her an expensive present like we normally do, we'd just be sending a card.

I agreed with this. I considered it worthy of perhaps 30 seconds of conversation. Maybe a minute if I am required to say something sympathetic in addition to agreeing with Kristi.

Over the past month, I have heard this same story repeated numerous times. I am not sure if there is some code word I am supposed to say that I am just missing out on or something. I consider other things to be a lot more important, like the upcoming baby, the debt on my credit card (which while not a huge amount is the first time in my life I have ever been in debt and unduly worries me), is a big war going to kick off before or after I finish in the airforce and will I be recalled to active duty, or how in a snow storm how do the guys who drive them get to work?

You know, deep meaningful things. Quite why just sending a birthday card is worthy of repeated conversations I must admit has me totally perplexed. I have indicated my assent in this matter, Kristi knows me well enough to know if I decide on a course of action then it is almost impossible to get me to change my mind without presenting overwhelmingly good reasons, so I am highly unlikely to change my mind on agreeing with her.

Anyway, I grabbed a bottle of whiskey out of my drinks cabinet and have been pouring myself a few generously proportioned drinks on the basis that if this subject is going to come up again tonight I am going to require some alcohol to be properly fortified to continue to be understanding and supportive, rather than just being irritable about why we are talking about this again.

Mind you me being irritable is better than the alternative. When I was younger I used to be almost impossible to get angry. You (generally) had to try for years (although one guy did manage after four hours of giving me constant abuse to get me to snap when he said something about my mum. The next thing I knew, he was lying on the ground and I was choking the life out of him, apparently I grabbed him by the throat and more or less chokeslammed him on the ground and wasn't letting go. That was a record though. His name was George Winters. I wonder what he is doing now?) to get me to snap, but when I did it seemed to be fairly spectacular. I don't really remember because when my temper did go, I'd black out for a couple of seconds, and then after that I'd find myself standing there with some degree of pain in my fist and someone lying sparked out on the floor in front of me, or having a gap in their mouth where some teeth used to be.

I think being constantly mildly irritated about everything in life is most likely a more healthy reaction right?

I don't generally worry about big guys who constantly mouth off. You can see when they are building themselves up for a fight and get in there with a hit first and take them out, even just a flat slap just below the sternum will knock the air out of them and leave them winded. I've seen guys kicked in the nuts who could just keep on fighting. Take someones air away and they are not going to be doing anything other than lying on the floor gasping for breath. I don't give a s**t how tough you are. Going by my own experience, it's the quiet guys you need to be very careful of. You just never know what they are holding inside and if you are going to be the one who lets it all out.

The closest Kristi has seen me getting to angry happened early on in our marriage. She'd moved to Scotland by this point and kept on hitting me on the back of the head. When ever she did that I'd ask her not to and say "Look, one of these days you will do that while I am in the wrong mood and you are not going to like my reaction. Please stop."

Months went by of this and she wouldn't stop doing it.

A project I was coordinating at work involved me organising the removal of 28 tonnes of paperwork and sending it to the south of England, all in all from being given the job to the last sheet of paper leaving was just over two weeks. A lot of it had to moved by hand in big boxes and as I was some months later to find out I'd given myself tennis elbow and a sprain in my shoulder. My shoulder was incredibly painful and Kristi thinking it was funny walked over and gave me a very solid punch on my shoulder sending waves of agony down my arm. As a side note, it took 18 months of physio to repair this damage, although it also repaired some of the damage in my shoulder from the stab wound there and has given me more use of my left arm than I've had in a long time, even if I still can't quite move it as much as my right. Which is really annoying when you are left handed.

At that point I'd had enough. I leapt out my seat and roared at her that I'd had enough and the next time she hit me I was going to hit her back the same way and see how she liked it. Kristi ran off back to her chair, sat down and didn't say another word that night to me.

I still feel upset about this on a number of scores. That she (like every other woman I have ever warned not to do the same thing) wouldn't listen to me and back off, that I got angry enough to shout at her. I've always tried to aim at being a better man than my father was and when I do something like that I wonder how far the apple fell from that tree. I spend a lot of time fighting internal battles between being the man I think life and fate had me pegged out to be and the man I want to be, and when I do something like that I feel like I've failed on what I want to be. These things then pray on my mind for years.

For the next couple of years Kristi told me that she hadn't believed that I could ever get that angry and certainly not with her. Certainly doesn't sound like I am managing to be as far from my father as I would hope to be, although later on she did tell me that she had accepted that what she was doing was wrong and if you don't want to be hit (not that I hit her), you shouldn't go around hitting others. One night when I had drank a bit much I did let slip just how much I'd been upset that it took her so long to see that hitting each other was the wrong way to go. Plus I am genuinely terrified of what I would do if she actually got me to completely lose my temper. I have spoken to my psychologist type person about it and he gave me some stuff to read over.

Any good qualities I do have, I think I owe to the influence of my mother. I have no doubt without her guiding hand I'd have been a totally different person and not for the better. I owe her much more than I can ever repay and there is just no way to let her know how much I love and appreciate her for that. My good points come from her and my faults are my own. No one is perfect but she has always done the best she could for all her children at the time.

Love you mum.

Hmm, normally I have to finish a bottle off to get this maudlin, rather than just having the dregs from a bottle.

On a completely random subject change, if anyone else is still reading this far in. Does anyone have any clue what the **** Enya is singing about in any song? I love listening to her music be it solo or when she was with Clannad, but I'll be damned (oops too late there) if I can understand more than a word or two.

Hmm, I guess I am still feeling the urge for one last big adventure. But then I always feel this way before I enter a new stage in my life. I remember wanting it before I got married, before I joined the RAF, before I went to college. I want to collect up a bunch of my easily concealled knives, grab some essentials, steal a motorbike and head off to some random place and keep going until I found something exciting. The last time I actually did this, I rode as far south as Newcastle (on a borrowed rather than stolen bike) and it started raining heavily. Since I hadn't brought suitable clothing with me, I had to turn back around and go home. Wonder where I'd have ended up if I had kept on going. Properly Manchester. It has always struck me as a black hole type of place (i.e. it sucks).

Listening to Zakk Wylde doing his guitar stuff on 'No More Tears' now. Music is an easy way to change my mood. It's always had a big effect on me. Can't listen to Alestorm without wanting to hijack a ship and take to the high seas as a pirate in leather trousers and a silk shirt. Have a listen if you don't believe me.

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTyMhv7MCCs#)

And if that doesn't get your blood going, then try some Lordi (the Finnish heavy metal band, not the pop bint)...

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CsYaduIrCs#)

The world is not what we were supposed to make of it. We are all too busy worrying about our own little part of it, rather than worrying about the world as a whole. Love Thy Neighbour (or what ever other religion* you have) my arse. How many of us would rather close our borders (either our country, or our own more personal ones) than help a stranger?

*When I say religion here, I have a somewhat wider interpretation of religion than most. If you believe in science more than anything else, and believe it must be right, that no other possible interpretation for the universe could ever exist, then that too is your religion wither you care to accept it or not. Besides, if all you are doing is bringing down other people's beliefs without presenting something that does more good and less harm then what the f**k use are you?

Quite frankly none. You have became the same beast that you claim to hate and fight against. It doesn't have to be science either. I've heard many vegetarians and vegans and fruitarians (seriously, you think the entire world could survive that way? Get an effing grip you nutjobs). Even when I used to take great joy in breaking peoples religious beliefs I only ever did it to people who insisted on attempting to force their views on me. If you are happy to believe what you want to, and content and secure enough in those believes to let the world go on with what ever they want to go with, well that is one of the main reasons I signed up to do the job I do. To protect your right to believe in that without ramming it down the throats of others. Your religion can be anything. It doesn't have to be science or atheism, although they are the ones that most reverently deny it and in doing so become what they hate. It might be patriotism (do you believe your country is somehow better than all the others, regardless of what they have contributed to the world? Look deep into your heart, has your country really done things that no other country can match? If you think so, then look again with less rose tinted glasses. Any country throughout history that has ever had the power to do good has waded through a sea of other peoples blood to get there. The question you then have to ask is was it worth it and did your country act freely or did it have self interest as its main motive for doing so?).

Please note, that in all this I am not in some way claiming to be better than anyone. I have my own faults many of which I am painfully aware of, while others still no doubt go beyond my notice. Neither do I care to be blinded by patriotism or any other form of belief without criticising others right to believe in these things. I know that after years of detesting all forms of organized religion when we lost Lilly-Beth all I had to turn to for comfort was science, and in truth science is a cold hard b***h. Kristi could look to her faith and claim comfort in the thought that she would see our baby in another life. Science offered me no such comfort. Not believing in an all powerful god I couldn't even turn to hate. Believe me, if I die (I do not consider this to be a forgone conclusion. People who die just lack ambition) and I find out a god who could change things exists then there is going to be a war the likes of which has never been seen before. I would uproot all existence and turn the universe upside down before I would accept a benevolent deity who has let the world be the way it is.

Yes to all my god loving friends. If I should choose to reach the afterlife and your particular god turns out to be in charge, then yes I plan on making him answer for his sins against us. I find it funny that I am willing to fight and die for your right to have those beliefs but would equally tear your particular god a new a***ole for not making it better. I hope in the same way as I support your beliefs without sharing them that you accept mine without agreeing with them. Funnily enough there was a time in my life when I'd have given anything to believe in a god as a solid and concrete thing, but as much as I reached out for something, nothing was ever there. I am glad for you that you have found what you desire though.

So here I am, a raging mass of contradictions. I have tried to follow your beliefs, found them empty and found solice elsewhere, but willing to defend yours despite the pain they have caused me. It would be less painful for me to try to banish what you believe in, but yet find a way to follow them.

But for me there is no such balm.

Every day I wonder if my doubts about having a baby girl rather than a boy made my baby decide she was unwelcome. I cannot deny I wasn't sure what to do or how to handle a baby girl and that I've had found a boy easier to handle. Killing my baby was I feel an unnecessarily harsh way of teaching me a lesson I feel though. It brought Kristi closer to her god, but all I could think of was that if it was part of your gods plan that our child should die then you were not a god I cared to follow and I'd rather burn in hell than love such a being. Until that point I did really want to believe in something. After that, well if you are asking me to accept your god, then you are asking me to believe in something that decided that murdering our daughter was in some way a justifyable outcome. That I cannot accept anymore than I can accept the idea of orignal sin. Judge me on what I have done, not some forefather whose name I may or may not even know.

Actually, the whole original sin thing was something that caused my mum to lose her lifelong faith in the church. She couldn't accept that her children until the seventh generation would be cursed for their fathers sins (yes, my mother was willing to risk eternal damnation by rejecting the teaching of her church for her children. If your god thinks this is a hell worthy offence then he deserves what I am going to do him, or her. She has stuck to this point so firmly that she is no longer willing to have a priest be at her funeral and would rather take the chance of hell than accept it for us. There is no chance that I am not going to tear down the afterlife to safe her from this fate rather than let an innocent who suffered so much for me suffer more).

I will freely admit I have throughout my life been a very bad man. I have often used the excuse that I was protecting other people by taking on their sin, but really I didn't care that much or I would not have done the things I have done. Is that the fault of people I have kept safe or is it my fault? I plan on answering a lot of the unansweable questions about the universe simply by being burried in my Doc Martin boots and kicking god in the nuts.

The only question that concerns me there is what would I do if I was given the choice between spending eternity hating god, or accepting him simply to get to spend time with my child.

Will I be brave enough to say "NO!"  I will not be emotionally blackmailed into spending eternity with my child, or will I crumble and repent at the last rather than condeme others. I mean if it comes to my suffering then eff it, I can take what ever is dished out. If I have to make someone else suffer because of my choices then of course I am going to crumble. Makes a bit of a mockery of the whole "Your choice" bit. Either I stand by what I believe in and stand between your god and everyone damned to hell, or I refute what I hold most dearly and let your god ride roughshod over what I think is fair and let him condem people I think deserve otherwise to damnation.

When it comes down to it, I hope I am strong enough to stand up and say "NO! You are wrong!"

After all ,how can a perfect being ever truly understand that which is imperfect? Is it not ironic that if his holy books did not proclaim him as perfect I could accept him more? I mean I can take the idea of a god who did not see every result ofhis actions and isn' omniscient. I cannot accept a god who creates us knowing everything we will ever do before we are created, but yet expects us to act differently. And if we have a god that views that universe as being what he wants then f**k it, put all the sins on me. I'll take that pain knowing that I am saving others and I will be happy.

Just one thing though, if you do believe in god and this comes down to some sort of match between us, don't bet everything on him. Omnisience is no protection agasinst sizr 8's in the nut sack.

And if you have spent your entire life believeing in god and he turns out not to be what you expected, don't worry. I sure as s**t will be leading the revolution againstt him (or her). And if I am not, that means that f**king c**t is holding my child against me and isn't worth your worship and I'll be first huntng down those in charge, shortly followed by those who thought this was the right thing to do.

Welcome to my afterlife.

Now that was an interesting dissertation, my friend.
I think that it would be interesting for you and I to sit and talk about God sometimes.  Not in any attempt to bludgeon you over the head or anything, or try to compel you to share my beliefs, but simply to explain them, and then listen to you.
"Come, let us reason together" is a good creed to live by.

Don't worry, I was just getting increasingly drunk and rambling last night, as you may have gathered from my progressively bad spelling.

And if you wish to discuss faith sometime I am generally always up for an interesting discussion. I've always thought its a shame we don't have a chat channel on this page where we could put the same bad movies on at the same time and talk about them, or just shoot the breeze with each other.

That would be fun!

Went out shopping for baby stuff at the weekend. Got Ash a cot, some clothes and a pair of converse all stars, so all he needs now is the glow (bonus karma if you get the movie reference).

Today I have 1974 days left in the airforce. 1974 was also the year I was born in Glasgow at two minutes before midnight, which if you have to pick a time to be born at is a pretty good one. After all, I got my own Iron Maiden song.

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qbRHY1l0vc#)

I was taken away to get weighed as a shift handover took place and they forgot about both me and my mum. I was left on the scales and she was stuck in the stirrups until the cleaners came in, in the morning.

Not the best welcome to the world, but hey it worked for the Spartans. Well until there weren't enough of them left because all the babies kept dying. Spent the next three years battling all sorts of things like pneumonia, bronchitis and so on. I don't remember this time at all, but I am told I cried a lot as a baby.

Hmm, I wonder how much in today's much more litigious world that would be worth?

We stayed in a place in Park House Gardens then which I don't remember, but when I was around two we moved to Maryhill Road, which is a house I do remember somewhat. It was one of the old tenament blocks, although by this time all the houses had their own toilets rather than a communal one outside. I have mostly happy memories of that place, playing in the shared garden with the other kids, although I also do remember the night terrors I was used to get at night. There were three dreams  I would have regularly and I can remember the second and third ones perfectly, but not the first one for some reason. I'd wake up at the end of the third one and try to scream but my voice was frozen and I couldn't make any noise.

When I was four we moved to a new town called Cumbernauld. My dad had bought a house and we all headed off there, where I would meet my first girlfriend and at school I'd meet an Eskimo (his name was something like Ig, or Egg. No idea why his family had moved to the middle of Scotland).

We'd later move to the west coast, a little town called Stevenston when I was seven and that is where I'd spend the next 20 years.

Finished shaving my head on Sunday night. Damn, but pillows feel wierd now when I get into bed.

Nickleback just came on. Hmm, I remember when they got big. Can't remember the album name, but I do remember one of the four guys I was sharing a room with at the time used to play it a lot, and just listening to the album got me very, very angry. Not because I didn't like the music or he overplayed it, it just really brought up a lot of deep down rage from inside.

Got sent home from work with the squirts, so I have tomorrow off too.

Got some stomach cramps at the moment which is vaguely uncomfortable but not enough to stop me putting the time off work to good use. I am however I got fully dressed, and then have thrown another layer of clothing on top as I can't seem to stay warm.

Apparently typing stuff here counts as a good use to me. :)

Bored again when I was at work so I started writing another story. This one is set back in the 16th century, in Italy. Not decided 100% on a plot, so I am writing it and just seeing where it takes me too.

Kristi is on skype to her mom right now and they are discussing the baby blessing (the Mormon equivilent of a christening. Never thought that out of all my family I would be the only one to get his kids christened). I am only letting it happen though because there are no promises to bring up a child within the faith. My baby will make his own choices there, and if he want's to go to church then I am fine with that and will do my best to make sure he gets to go. If not though then he won't be forced to go either.

My head feels a bit like velcro right now. Wearing a hoodie right now and went to put the hood up and all the stubble caught on the material. This caused some amusement for Kristi.

Since I've put up songs for the past few days I should continue that. Here is today's song, a nice short ditty.

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tTHn2tHhcI#)

I wonder if I could persuade someone to go to the shop for me and get me an ice cream?

Time for some Sepultura.

Went for a couple hours sleep this afternoon. My knees and elbows are feeling stiff while my armpits feel swollen. It doesn't feel painful enough to be the 'flu though. As usual when I feel ill and anyone's attempts to look after me or make a fuss just irritate me, so I may lock myself in the man cave until I feel better.

I also have an urge to watch "9 deaths of the ninja". I know I've seen the film, although I remember nothing about it bar the title. Going to move the bedroom around tomorrow and then build up the cot. This also entails me and Kristi switching what side of the bed we sleep on.

Hmm, feeling light headed. Curious. I also have vague notion to watch some weird Korean film I saw years ago. Some woman (I think she can't speak and/or is deaf), works selling stuff to fishermen beside some lake. There is a rather disturbing scene where she tries to kill herself (any ladies reading this might want to skip the next part and go straight to the next paragraph) by putting a fistfull of fish hooks up her vayjayjay and then ripping them out. Wonder if that would hurt more than that scene from Antichrist?

Fortunately I don't actually own a copy of it to watch, or I'd be wondering what the hell I was thinking tomorrow.

Aren't I a bundle of joy tonight? Kristi says I look like Darth Sideous with my housecoat on and the hood up over my head. Oh well I guess that is better than Max telling me I look like Oddjob from Goldfinger.

I have a random urge to go find Kristi and cuddle her. I tend always to go with these random urges. Although I am waiting until the song I am listening to finishes (the Motorhead cover of David Bowie's Heros. Can't help but feel it is far superior to the original as much as I like Bowie).

Before I got sent home from work the topic of disussion had been stories from doing guard duty. Specifically had you ever had to chamber a round while on the front gate. Just to explain things a little, you have to deal with a whole variety of situations when on guard duty, most of which become funny stories to tell later on, although at the time they can be pretty serious. Turned out none of us had ever found ourselves in a situation where we felt it had gotten that out of control that we had to take that step. I have to say though, when you cock your rifle, that chunk-chunk noise you make as you pull the cocking handle back and let it slide forward should be the last word in any argument. If I had to that on the gate, I think I'd feel like I'd failed a bit, unless I am in a very extreme situation. Even the time a drunk guy tried to grab my weapon off me, where everyone thinks I should have used my rifle butt to smash him in the head I dealt with it simply by pushing the guy away with one hand and keeping my other hand on the pistol grip.

Plenty of other situations where I get to make ready, hell I even got to fire on full automatic once (three round suppression bursts, when you go on automatic you are generally looking at keeping other peoples heads down rather than shooting them, well unless you are at close quarters in which case pray and spray works pretty well). That's more a special forces thing though than what I get to do generally anyway. Plus I hate the standard issue NATO 5.56mm round. I'd much rather have the old 7.62mm SLR. Now there was a rifle. You could use it to paddle a boat, dig a trench with the butt as your spade, and the thing would still fire no problem. Plus if you shot someone they went down and stayed down. Damn heavy and you could carry less ammo, but then you needed less. It was too big and heavy for women to carry and everyone in NATO decided to use the same caliber rounds, so now we have the SA80. Oh well, I digress.

Heard two jokes today, but since the one is racist and the other isn't suitable for polite company I can't really tell either of them, which is a shame because despite both of them being very wrong and non-PC did make me laugh (in a I should not be laughing at this, but I can't help it sort of way).

Having a debate with Kristi at the moment. She thinks she should sleep downstairs and I should get the bed since I am running a fever now apparantly. I say she should have the bed and I'll sleep downstairs because she is heavily pregnant and needs to be resting in the bed. Pretty sure I'll win this one. If I put on my sad eyes and stare at her, she normally gives in.

Oh well, enough random ramblings. Good night everyone, whatever you are.

Aw, tell them, Alex, as the late, great Joan Rivers said, "It's comedy you f**king twats!"

Lol, if you really want I'll PM them to you.

Feeling better today, which is good since about 1am this morning I was considering taking myself up to hospital. Kristi was hoping I'd still be feeling blergh, so I could phone in and get a few more days off. Caused a panic when she got up and saw the rabbits weren't in their cage and the lid was open, but I'd been up early and put them in their run outside.

Kristi is heading into town today (everytime I am off work ill she always has a prior appointment elsewhere. I have not yet decided if she picks those days to go out to avoid being around me when I want to be left alone, or if I pick the days I know she is going to be going out to be off ill so I can have peace and quiet). Still it is better than my brother in law Marc who passes out when he gets a fever. His wife has found him a few times collapsed on the floor. Looking forward to seeing all of them when they come over in April / May time for the baby blessing. Hopefully the weather will be a bit gentler than that time of year in want to be in these parts. While she is out I'll get work done. I've given up trying to do things when she is in the house as she'll constantly interupt me for cuddles which my OCD really hates. Just let me get the work done and I'll cuddle you all you could ever possibly want.

Going to watch The Cloverfield Paradox while I wait for her to go out, see if it is any good.

Managed to get the windows cleaned though despite plantive wails for guess what... cuddles! Poor woman. I hope these iron pills help sort her out.

Had the thought that the reason I was so ill yesterday came down to the mental image on Maggie Thatcher naked that Inhumanly Tall Dave put in my head. Saw the Hollywood Vampires are playing Glasgow so I must contact Concerts Dave and see if he wants to go along with us if I can get the time to go see them.

Kristi gave me my anniversery present early, the new albuim from Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons. Given the band is actually made up from Phil's boys I can see why his wife is so upset at that name. She also got me the new Blade Runner, but dystopian or post apocalypic stuff tends not to be her bag so I'll watch that myself when she is busy.

Everyone here has been going on about a show on Netflix called The End Of The f**king World. I sat down to watch it, and just couldn't bring myself to like it or hate it. It was just on. Going to stick with it though until the end of the season.

After feeling fine yesterday I got up early to go to work and found myself again having to run to the toilet 3 times in half an hour. Figured since I was supposed to do earlys this week I should go in and make sure someone else was covering them as they expected me back in today. Went into work, Inhumanly Tall Dave was there, so told him I'd need to go sick again and turned around and walked home.

I guess it shows that despite how cynical I have became about my work, I still have some standards, and thats a good thing right?

Done a phone appointment with a nurse, off work until Monday and if I am still ill by the weekend go straight to hospital. Went from feeling ok when I got in the house to suddenly "Oh I am just going to sleep". Still feeling tired now, but I refuse to spend all day in bed. However I think attending Kristi's antenatal class with her today is off the cards as I have no wish to pass this on to a bunch of women all in the later stages in pregnancy.

Oh well I guess I should write some more. Continue the adventures of MÁrten and his fellow condettori, and while Kristi is out I can watch Blade Runner.

When it comes to cats I am with Mark Twain and HP Lovecraft.

Aah cats. Possibly the most evil little buggers on the planet, but we love them.

I wonder why? Is it because they are cute and adorable. I mean if they looked like toads would they still be kept as pets as much? Somehow I doubt it. I remember watching an old movie where a guy (I think it was Peter Cushing), plans on publishing a book showing how cats are secretly in control of the world. The cats use their mind control powers to get the publisher to destroy the manuscript and then kill the author in an ambush.

Still I wouldn't ever do without them.

Dagon has developed the ability to teleport. I can leave him in the man cave, close seven doors between me and him as I go through the house and yet when I turn around he is silently sitting there staring at me. If he could I swear I'd be worried about him wearing a hocky mask and carrying a machette.

Ever played the Friday 13th game where Jason can teleport around. That is Dagon.

When the revolution finally happens, I for one will welcome our new feline overlords. Although we are pretty safe until some daft bugger invents cat food that they can open themselves. Then when they have no more use for us... Not in flames with the end of human civilisation come, but with meows and hisses.

Rabbits, now there is a creature I am less a fan of. Offhand I cannot think of any famous historical figures who had great or even things to say about them. They aren't even great as a food source as you can eat as many of them as you want and you'll still die of starvation as many trappers found to their cost historically. When you get down to it, even Bugs was not a nice guy. And he had a terrible sense of direction. Wonder if he ever once managed to take the correct turn at Albuquerque? Don't be fooled by that cute fur and twitchy noses.

Earlier on this week I was taking Kristi's rabbit outside to their pen. Normally I'll go up to them, put my hand in the cage in front of them, let them sniff it and get used to me being there. I'll talk to them soothingly and then pick them up carefully. At which point said rabbit will start kicking and scratching leaving me with lots of bleeding cuts. Anyway, this particular morning I was in a hurry and just grabbed a rabbit in each hand and took them outside. When the rabbits inevitably started kicking, they were kicking each other instead of me.

Later on that night I brought them in the same way and again they kicked each other rather than me. Next morning I did the same thing and all of a sudden no more kicking. So much for treating them with kindness.

I swear sociable predators make better pets than vegetarian ones.

Hmm, come to think of it I tend to be the same way about houseguests.

Although I'd have to quantify that a little and say I've only had one vegetarian houseguest. She neither showered or bathed the entire week she stayed with us, complained about us feeding our other houseguests bacon and expected someone else to stay home and look after her dogs when ever we were all going out somewhere. She was the one person out of that group who did not receive an invite back to our house, although she attempted to invite herself on several occasions until I started a big argument with her and now she doesn't speak to me anymore. But nonetheless I shouldn't judge all of them by her standard.

Decided to try posting pictures up in here finally, so here goes.

This is me sleeping with my pet axe.

(https://i.imgur.com/iQmeyY0.jpg)

This is either my little brother, or a Bee Gee.

(https://i.imgur.com/pJxu4rJ.jpg)

And this is me with the biggest blister I've ever had. You might not want to look at it while eating though.

(http://i.imgur.com/GLCBGH4.jpg)

So Sharknado 5 is on Netflix. I guess I'll be watching that with my good lady later.

I know most people prefer dogs to cats but I am the other way around, although I do like dogs (well I like medium to large dogs, small ones I find yippy and annoying). I mean they are fine if you want something that is generally going to give you unconditional love (as long as you remain top of the pack), but I prefer the more independent attitude of a cat to a slobbering subordinate dog. My favourite breeds tend to be Golden Labs, Alsations and Huskies.

I did have a girlfriend who had a Pyranesian Mountain Dog, which was bred to protect livestock from bears and was of a size to match. She didn't put any time or effort into training him though and he kept trying to hump my friend Garry whenever he came round. Although Garry is pretty tall, the dog was bigger than him so I didn't argue with it, until it started growling one day at me. Figured I could not have an animal that large thinking it was anywhere but bottom of the pack, so I jumped on it and pinned it to the floor holding him there by the neck (without hurting him) until he stopped struggling. After that I had no more problems with him, although he would growl at his owner and her family still.

Was looking into getting a pet dog, but I figure with a cat and a baby on the way we have enough to worry about.

Got our bedroom rearranged last night and the cot (or crib depending on what you call them), built up. I am liking how the bedroom looks now.

Kristi and Cato are away out to Inverness to see Hairspray tonight, since I got them tickets as a christmas gift.

Yay for the joys of having the house to myself. Got the laundry done, some of the windows washed and general tidying up stuff carried out.

So who here has had a stalker? Had one myself for a few years (somewhere between 5 or 6). It is incredible how someone you may totally not care about can be so obsessed about you in return. Every little thing you do must in some way be concerned with them and connected to them without exception. Eventually I got rid of her with a combination of either ignoring or publicly humiliating her. This was only a cyber stalker though. I'd tried being nice and telling her i didn't want her back in my life nicely, then I tried being a bit more blunt and still she just wouldn't give up. She'd try, and I'd tell her where to go to, so she'd go off and say whatever about me on social media as if in some way this would hurt me and then I'd get peace for a little while and then she'd try again. The humiliation bit, well that was whenever she came on posting something about me, I'd turn it around and make it about her instead.

Funnily enough it was the ignoring her that got the biggest reaction though. When I started that, she apparently went ballistic (I deleted her posts on Bebo and put a message saying "This post with deleted without being read." I can quite believe the stories I heard from mutual friends about an animal howl of rage. She tried complaining to my work who told her to bugger off, so she then tried the police who I guess told her the same thing because I never heard anything from them either. But for years nothing I could do could possibly not in some way be all about her. She'd come up with fantastical connections about it too.

There are all sorts of levels of stalking from the full on going around your house type, to the much less dangerous ones like I had to deal with.

Never had a stalker? Hmm, perhaps have you been a stalker then? have you ever found yourself obsessing over someone else while denying it loudly to the world? Taking an unhealthy interest in someone elses doings and even when they aren't around it preys on your mind? Maybe you have entered the rejection phase and keep on blaming this person for everything. Yup, you are a stalker then.

Other random stuff for today. Well I watched a couple of decent horror movies and now I seem to have ran out of new ones to watch. So instead I am going back to 80's sci fi where films were directed by Charles Band and the music by Richard Band. Starting with Arena and then I'll see where it goes from there.

Good PSA, Alex!

So today is our 5th wedding anniversary. Wow, who'd have ever thought I'd meet a woman who would put up with me for 5 years?

Didn't do as much as we have in previous years, mostly because of me being ill last week and not getting anything organised, but I am looking at doing something this weekend to make up for it. Kristi cooked me a lovely dinner of slow cooked pork loin done in a BBQ sauce.

What she decided to have for herself... well she wanted Pepperoni Pizza (she craves it while pregnant). The only other thing she is craving is alcoholic, so she can't have that anyway. And besides she doesn't drink alcohol much anyway. I mean maybe three or four times all the while I've known her.

Although her first alcoholic drink was a couple of hours after meeting me for the first time. Make what ever you want out of that one.

I did manage to get Kristi flowers (I still don't understand why women like decaying organic matter. I mean would one feel the same way if I dug up a dead cat and presented it to them? Mind you with my regular choice in woman, yes would be a distinct possibility) and chocolates. We went out for a moonlight stroll, although not too far as there is only so far you can go with an 8 month pregnant woman before you need to head back home.

Kristi wants to cuddle up tonight and watch season 6 of Grimm. It's ace having a fellow geek for a wife. I never have to worry about going to see the latest rom-com.

Making arrangements for Kristi's younger brother and his wife coming over. Work has some flats that I can rent super cheap to put people up in for a while, so booked them in for a week. Its only a ten minute walk from our house. At the moment the grandparents on both sides get priority on places in our house, and we are going to have Kristi's mum over for three weeks and my mum and sister coming up at the same time so things might get a little crowded.

Holy crap. Just heard that one of my nephews (eight years old) in the states got frustrated when his friends wouldn't play the game he wanted to play so he told them that he was going to go get all his savings, buy a gun and shoot them. His parents aren't sure where he has picked this up from (they don't own any guns themselves). I can only imagine the talk his dad is going to be having with him when he gets home from work.

Happy anniversary, Alex! May you love as long as you live.

Went to give blood today, but since I had been ill last week they couldn't take it until next week. Oh well, at least I made the effort although part of me thinks if you want my blood you should damn well pay me for it. That stuff doesn't grow on trees y'know.

Well unless its the trees in my D&D campaign... but that is something I still need to update on that thread.

So today I have 1966 days left in my job.

Lets see what was happening in 1966, although since I wasn't born yet my memories of this time are at best vague.

In this year cigarette packets were first forced by law in the US to carry health warnings. In Spain the first Jewish child was born since they'd been cleared out in 1942. Wow. Batman, Dark Shadows, The Monkees and Star Trek all premiered on TV. Coup's were popular this year as they happened in Burundi, Indonesia, Uganda, Ghana, Burundi, Syria (twice), Nigeria (also twice), Central African Republic and Upper Volta. Lots of satellites were launched in the US and USSR (Luna's 9, 10, 11 and 13) Venera 3 (first man made object to hit Venus. Hmmm, I wonder if Venus has intelligent life on it? I bet if it does we crashed right into the temple of V'hurbnick the Lumbagious and they are really p**sed at us now and ever since have been planning war on mankind. Speaking of this how stupid are we to send out something like Voyager out there with handy things like how many people there are on our planet, what languages we speak, our DNA... I mean if I was some alien warlord and I received that kind of info I'd be like "Perfect, I know where they are, how many and how to use biological warfare to wipe them all out. I mean seriously people!), Saturn 1, Gemini 8 & 9 & Explorer 3.

In other news, the church of Satan was founded as was the Black Panthers. The Rolling Stones released "Paint it black". The Beatles decided they were more famous than Jesus and to be fair, I can name more number one chart hits of theirs than by Jesus so they may or may not have had a point? The 55th German F-104 Starfighter crashed. Over one hundred German pilots would die flying that aircraft earning it the nickname The Widowmaker.

One for our resident South Africans here. The number of people banned in South Africa reached 936 under various laws as were records by The Beatles. I don't know if that was connected to them selling more albums than Jesus or not though.

In Vietnam, North Vietnamese troops overran a Green Beret camp in Ashau Valley while in Wales a landslide caused by a waste material from a coal mine crashed into a school and killed 116 children and 28 adults. In New York in one day 400 people died from heart attacks and respiratory problems. That the city had its worst ever smog cloud which is believed to have caused the deaths. Ronald Reagan was elected governor of California and in these year we passed the general peace from the end of World War 2 became longer than the peace between World Wars 1 and 2, although I maintain that, that was really the same conflicts, but with a half time break to rearm and allow some people to switch sides. Of course, the specific peace wasn't so hot during those years as there were still plenty of other wars going on, just not a hot world wide one.

Lots of other stuff happened too, but they seemed to involve sports and I pay less attention to that stuff.

Ever had something on your mind? Something that you just couldn't get to sleep for wondering about? Was it something deeply troubling in your personal life, or of great import to the world?

Well here is the kind of thing that keeps me awake at night.

Last night as I went to bed to join Kristi I thought about how every single woman I have ever shared a bed with has taken up 75% to 90% of the available bed space, normally by lying in the middle and then spreading over to my side of the bed, so I get my 10 to 25% of the bed to get in to.

Lets assume this is a rough constant for most of the human race. Does that mean that in gay relationships men each cling to an opposite edge of the bed with a vast empty expanse in the middle, and in female relationships they have grabbed so much of the available bed space that they end up switching sides?

I must ask Dirk, Cath or Fi about that one the next time I see them.

Yup, this is my life. No doubt when the baby arrives he too will somehow manage to claim a portion of my bedspace, even though I have said the baby does not get to sleep in the bed with the adults.

(https://i.imgur.com/ewSrI3Q.jpg)

Something I saw about torture today made me think of interrogations.

The most effective 'interrogation' I have ever seen was done with nothing more than a cup of tea and a kind word. The guy was absolutely terrified about what was going to happen to him and when they brought him in for questioning he was shaking with fear. One of his captors sat down across from him, asked him if he was ok and offered him a cup of tea.

Something inside him just immediately broke. He started crying and pouring out every kind of detail you could possibly want.

The really strange thing was, it was only an exercise but this guy... wow. I mean don't get me wrong they make these things as real as possible and that includes getting seven bells knocked out of you and all the other things you can expect if you end up as a POW, but still. It really is amazing some of the techniques that these people have that don't involve violence and how they can watch group interactions and pick out who is what rank just from observing how many people talk to someone.

Ever seen the experiment where they divided up volunteers into two groups and made one lots prisoners and the other prison guards, or where they make people think they are giving someone electric shocks and tell them to keep upping the voltage? People really can be strange creatures.

I think my favourite was one Paul McKenna done where they designed an arcade machine where you were to shoot zombies. The game would hypnotise the person and while they were in the suggestable state, the put the people in a warehouse, with a fake gun beside them and had them people in zombie make up walk towards them. Wish I could find that segment online to put it up here.

EDIT: Thank you ER for correcting me. Here is the clip.

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKFwoaOi3F8#)

 I think Derren Brown did a variation of that zombie experiment.

Might have been him I saw do it and I've gotten the pair mixed up. Also might explain why I couldn't find any clips of it lol.

I have spent today very angry. I can always tell when I am about to explode, I get super polite when I am talking to people, my hands are curled up into super tight balls that after about half an hour will be causing cramp, but I'll still keep them tensed up anyway and when I am walking my arms won't swing at my sides at all.

The reason for my mood swing? Well my older brother who is currently working out of the country and not visiting the UK more than a few days a year so he doesn't have to pay tax put up a post saying that anyone wishing to use a hospital in the UK should have their passport checked first and if they are not from here they get no treatment.

I pointed out to him that one, my wife has a passport from the USA (and since she is an immigrant I had to pay a hefty surcharge for her to use the NHS). My son is going to have duel citizenship, so he will have an American passport (ok, he will also have a British one but still).

I pointed out to him that while he is dodging paying his taxes, his wife and family back in the UK are still free to enjoy the benefits of being here without actually paying for them.

This was first thing in the morning that I saw his post. I have spent the rest of the day getting increasingly angry. This isn't the first time he has posted something like this and it isn't the first time I have pulled him up about it in return, but it is the first time I have seriously considered that if he doesn't back down and apologise that I will tell him that he is no longer welcome in my house, and has no place in my life any more. Although I am also tempted to offer to book out the boxing ring at work if he really has such a big problem with this. The great thing about that is you can punch lumps out of each other in there and it is all perfectly legal.

How annoying.

Speaking of, ever seen what a tax cheat Bono is? In 2006 I got sent a gripe heavy letter for a tax bill from the Revenue Commissioners in Ireland for interest earned on US income since I was there long enough to make my domestic taxes active, and what I owed was not much more than the cost of paying some civil servant in Dublin to bill me, and I thought, oh, sure, come after me for being there a lousy few months in 2004-2005, and yet Bono gets off owing something close to a quarter-billion, and no one is saying a word to him? (Well, at the time, maybe he's reformed now, who knows.) I paid but I didn't listen to Achtung, Baby for a while.

As much as Bono has done some good and I love some of U2's tracks (especially The Joshua Tree) for many years now the guy has been stuck so far up his own ass that I am surprised he hasn't collapsed into his own black hole. I also love listening to Iron Maiden, but view their lead singer as being a total egotistical a***ole whom I once had the pleasure of chasing after with a 2 by 4 while shouting obscenities at.

But that is a whole different story. That was Evil Alex, and I killed him.

Or did he kill me and take my place? Pretty sure one of those options happened. Oh well.

Oh, if you don't see me here for a while btw, it means I have logged on to fb, seen whatever my brother has replied to my posts and as expected he hasn't apologised and then... well I am either on the run or doing prison time. Unfortunately he has a lot of my father in him.

U2 is an odd band. The guys turn out total garbage album after album, and just when you're about to write them off, they release something that ranks among the best that's ever been done in the history of rock and roll. I'd say they're due any time now.

Also the mostly reconstituted Pumpkins are coming to Columbus soon. Yaaaay!

Really hoping the strange dream depository is filled with people who had strange dreams about being stalked by Wyre Wizard last night now.

Still staying off facebook today. I am going to log in and deal with that at some point, but am just trying not to go in ready to rip heads off already.

Got my mum pinned down to when she is coming to visit finally, so her and my sister will be here on Monday. No idea how long they are visiting for, but she'll be here for her birthday so we are taking her out for a meal. We are just debating on where we are taking her.

Well Kristi is debating where we are taking her. I was asked where I wanted to take her, I said where I wanted to go and three days later she is still debating with herself on where we should go.

She is so turning into her mother.

Hmm, when we got married she told me that if she ever turned into her mother I would be allowed to go for a non contest divorce. Should I remind her of this, or would I rather keep my head on my shoulders?

You British are masters of interrogation. Without laying a rude finger on someone they can have the most hardened Fenian singing God Save the Queen inside of an hour. Y’all got it down to a science even better than we do.

I dunno, I always liked the whole windowless room and denial of REM sleep thing.

Ever had to face an interrogation exercise yourself, Alex? Aren't they a mess?

They are not cool things to go through, let alone see done to someone else. Even sitting in a freezing room, playing along, knowing they can't "really" do their worst, that they're on your side and it's all playing, it starts getting inside your head. You're bored, you're miserable, you want to get up, you want to sleep, it's cold, it's humiliating, you're trying to out think the others in charge but they hold too many variables, you're trying to keep an assigned secret for the purposes of the exercise, what do they know, what don't they know, all you have to do is tell and you can walk away but the longer you hold you the better you've done, but Jesus you want it to end, it's not fun, it is like your own brain starts splintering while your body groans in misery and the simplest thing you take for granted, like being able to stand up, or walk to the restroom, or get a drink of water, or get some sleep, or have the slightest privacy, it's all gone.

Anyone who shows you an ounce of compassion in that situation brings on an involuntary reflex to want to reach out to him or her no matter how much you KNOW that's part of it.

And that's just the training aspect. The real thing must be horrific to endure.

Add in fear of relatives' safety, or the idea relatives might be spared the worst if the person under the dot cooperates, and people start spilling without being touched.

Tell them kindly, "You know your people are going to suspect your family, but they don't know yet. We want to make them safe, please, for them, just give us something, and we'll pull them out, take them to a safe location."

Swear to God, the toughest Effies cry like children. Talking the talk's different from walking the walk.

As the Israelis been saying for years, beating someone is actually not effective if you want pinpoint information. Sure pain can crack someone, but what use is something said to stop torture? No one smart tortures. If someone tortures a subject, it's sign one you're dealing with an amateur....or someone holding a personal grudge. Grudges get you killed.

You know what works horribly well? When someone soils himself, either from stress and fear or the simple deprivation of being allowed to get up and go to the restroom, and they're left sitting in it. That seems to present a crisis that strikes at the heart of dignity and adulthood. Not so tough sitting in your own filth, are you, mate?

Ummm, back to regularly scheduled programming now?

We used to get capture and interogation courses. Basically you get dropped off in the middle of a wilderness area (yes, we still actually do have some in the UK), and you are supposed to evade capture by some special forces guys. At some point they will decide you've been out there long enough and just pick you up. I am sure they can do it pretty much at will. No matter how clever you think you are, they know how to find you.

Oh and the worst thing you can do at that point is decide you are a big hard man (or woman for that matter) who is going to fight his/her way out of it. Expect to have bones broken if you try this one.

Anyway, when they do get you, its bag over the head time and its time to see what you'd be put through if you got captured for real which can involve a whole variety of techniques.

I do agree that violent techniques are rarely productive. You'll say anything to get that to stop at some point, but how do you tell the truth from the lies? There are ways out there of breaking anyone no matter how tough you are without laying a finger on you, although being violent to someone else and making the person you are interogating watch seems to work well. I know that's one I struggle with. You can hit me a fair bit and I'll take so much, but threaten to hit someone else, especially a woman and that's it.

Ever seen someone held in a room and told they can leave if the soil themselves first? It seems about 90% of people are totally unable to do that no matter what they are offered, even their freedom. They have to be left until they just can't hold it anymore.

Ooooh, aren't we being all cloak and dagger today lol?

So got off work today at half two, which was a really nice early stack. Got home and Kristi was sleeping bless her. Cuddled her for a while and then got up to keep the cat amused and change his tray. Which always seems to need changed. It cat poop was a tradeable asset I'd be a rich man and be able to employ someone else to empty it for me.

Damn those venture capitalists. When the revolution comes they are going to be one of the first ones up against the wall. Although for all the people I don't like I might need to get a special super long wall built.

I wonder if I could get Mexico to pay for it?

Overheard it being debated today wither British politicians were messing up their country more or if the USA's were. The final decision was that the UK is in the lead on messing things up, but the US still has one hell of a Trump card to play.

I still suspect Gerald is behind it all. Illuminati my ass.

Completely surprised the cat earlier when I started dancing around the man cave singing me some Rob Zombie. Specifically his cover of 'I'm Your Boogie Man'.

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwfpBVmrC2g#)

He then surprised me when I was doing the dishes. He was sitting behind me and I swear he must have been flying through the air as I saw him out of the corner of my eye shoot past my shoulder and land on a worktop six feet away. For now I am going to settle for a beer, but later on I think I'll be having me an exorcism just in case that little bugger is possessed.

Kristi is getting a bit upset. She doesn't like me arguing with my older brother and my younger one is trying to get us to alter all the plans we'd made for my mum's birthday. She burst into tears, so I dragged her off to lie down in bed with me and let her just cry until she felt better. Then I dug into my emergency supply of chocolate I keep for unhappy women and now I am playing music she likes.

Mostly this involves cheesy 80's rock, although right now it's ! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9muzyOd4Lh8#) which to my mind anyway is a classic tune.

One of these days I am going to listen to that little voice inside and make life a lot simpler and less stressful.

But then if life was fair I'd have had torrid affairs with Michelle Pfeiffer, Debbie Harry and Sandra Bullock.

All at the same time.

Got a load of Kitten food that Dagon wouldn't eat (about a months supply of Whiska's he won't touch and lamb flavour Felix). I have been looking for someone to give it to and not finding anyone (And yes I had considered mailing it to AOTFan). I was sure one of the women at work had something to do with a cat charity but it turned out I was wrong. Someone did suggest though donating it to the foodbank we have in work. Hadn't really ever thought of putting pet food in there, but hopefully it will help some poor family out. Also put in a load of shower gels since I can no longer use them (got to use soap).

Lol, KISS just came on with Love Gun. THis song has creeped Kristi out ever since I informed her what a Love Gun would actually be.

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trR5ROuf1Uk#)

Then I explained pretty much that was what every KISS song is about. Her (at that time) 14 year old neice was promptly banned from listening to them (her favourite band). Wonder if I should point out what AC/DC's songs are about?

Ever do the wave pool? lolol Oh, boy. Nothing to do with interrogation, only training and testing, and it's voluntary though if you don't do it you're forever a wuss in the eyes of your team members who have done it, but imagine lying on your back in a specially designed wave pool which is set to send gently-moving currents of varying sizes over top of you for varying lengths of time, and all you have to do is stand up and it ends, but again, it's about how long you can last lying there while waves cover you, not for long each inundation, but it can feel that way. It sounds simple but it's not. The waves cover your face, sometimes just barely, sometimes you could put your arm up and not be out of water, and they rush back and then creep up again with no pattern or rhythm, and you never know when, they build up around you and build and you lie there and you fight panic and you think is this one going to be deep or shallow, so you're holding your breath, knowing they're monitoring you, they're not going to drown you (on purpose) praying the thirty minutes ends, you gasp in air when you're uncovered, you lie there panting, and you never know if you'll have seconds or longer before it begins once again. Water goes into your ears over and over, your nose, it grabs your hair, it sways you, the chugging sound as it flows, it's all you can do to keep letting it happen over and over, knowing another is coming and you must keep lying flat on this ledge near the pool's side if you're going to make it through. Occasionally they blare music out loud enough to make you jump.

And oh, yeah, it's done in darkness.

It's insanity but the feeling you get when it's over is one of the best in life, plus everyone in the team has to buy you something from the vending machine.  :cheers:

I was so young, too.

(And I bet James never did it.)

Have you ever seen Creepshow?

Oh wait, I forgot, you've never seen any bad movies ever. :P

Anyway, I was figuring you should get James on a work outing to a beach somewhere and bury him up to his neck in the sand when the tide is out. Pick a nice spot some distance below high tide.

Ok, so the plan went a bit sour for Leslie Neilson, but Ted Danson didn't look so good afterwards either.

I can't say I've ever had the option to do a wave pool, but it does sound fun.

WAIT! Stop the presses (do they even still HAVE presses???) I have seen Creepshow!!!

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Tonight truly has been a night of wonders.

It's funny the things we obsess over. Sometimes it will be someone we love or hate (or perhaps both and this is called stalking in polite society and is frowned on), a movie, a mental image a date on a calendar, a food you crave or just something totally random.

For me right now it seems to be a song. Its a cover version that I think is far superior to the original and I can't help thinking if it had been released as a single would have had a good chance of giving them a number one. I find myself listening to it every chance I get. According to itunes I've listened to it 35 times in the last 4 weeks. Plus a few more times I've listened to it on CD, or watched the video on youtube.

Anyway, have a totally different song to brighten up your day.

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2Ncxw1xfck#)

Did you know the guy who sang Big Bad John (Jimmy Dean) played a gay hitman in a James Bond movie?

Speaking of obsessions and James Bond, Max at work has an obsession for a Bond girl who was transsexual. I wonder if his wife knows about this kink?

But then Max is a slightly odd chap. Sometimes I think I am the only sane person in my work. Or at least the most sane one.

On Monday we are moving offices around so my department, my bosses boss and a couple of other related departments are going to be together in the one big room rather than split between three rooms as we currently are. That is going to be interesting to see how it works out. One of the guys I will be working with I have in the past threatened with physical violence thanks to his racist comments. He is also a bit of a perv. I mean I can ignore him dreaming out our bosses boss in tight rubber with a whip, but to me sniffing a chair a woman has been sitting in is just down right creepy. Or is this a thing that everyone else does. and I just have never had the urge to do?

I do have three songs that summon up just how I am actually feeling today though.

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV1-MA_xyx8#)

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVCSCvprP0M#)

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfmrX_WlM2w#)

What can I do to corrupt the world this fine day? Perhaps sir or madam you would care to engage in a trade for your soul? After all you don't use it and you won't miss it at all. Just sign on the dotted line here...

Just went slightly ballistic on my older brother on his views on migrants. He has been posting stuff for a while that to avoid a family argument I've done my best to ignore. The post he made the other day though finally got me to snap. I had made a reply to something he said and then had to step back for a few days to be this coherent.

"As someone who has a migrent wife and who knows other people who have immigrated to this country I can assure you they are not getting free healthcare. By this summer I think my bills will be around £10,000. The other people I know who have came to this country are facing similar bills. Beyond the headlines of things like the Daily Mail I have yet to come across anyone who is actually getting this much touted free health care (unless you are talking about the people from the EU where we are also entitled to healthcare in return until we leave).
And at least one of the guys out there in Saudi was offered a job back home with similar pay to what he is getting out there, but chose to go out there instead... Wasn't forced, had the option to and chose to go.
Personally I don't care if you pay tax or not, but I was pointing out that if you are going to live in a glass house you just might want to be careful about throwing stones.
Personally I've ignored a lot of the absolute bollocks and s**te you have been posting about migrants repeatidly, but every time you have I've seen Kristi getting hurt by it. If you are going to keep doing it I am simply going to cut off contact with you. I am not going to see my wife and child hurt any more with this ignorant bulls**t from you. Your choice on where this goes next but I have more than had enough of this. You can either have these views or my family in your life, but not both.
Oh and just so you know, I stayed off facebook for a couple of days to calm down enough to write this. Hope that gives you some idea of just how angry you have made me on this for quite a while now."

Waiting to see what he decides to do now.

We went for a walk this evening. Kristi decided that the horns and tail I had growing were enough and we needed a nice wander down the shore front.


This is the east beach in the late evening. The water closest to us is the river Lossie, with the North Sea in the rear.
(https://i.imgur.com/LSlk552.jpg)

This is part of the shore front of Lossiemouth.
(https://i.imgur.com/0Migxow.jpg)

Looking out over to Moray Firth. Scotland in winter.
(https://i.imgur.com/aU9AVK8.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/xJV4LDA.jpg)

The local golf club house.
(https://i.imgur.com/g7brUj9.jpg)

Someone out sailing
(https://i.imgur.com/vjlpP4K.jpg)

That's lovely. Where a river joins the sea is a prized place to find artifacts. I'd bet 1,000 to 1 Vikings landed there many times. Probably stone artifacts too.

A lot of the local area was actually under water until comparatively recently, including my workplace.
 
There is a castle a few miles inland that there are photos of boats sailing up to, just to give you an idea of how recently this changed. I can find out about vikings. My knowledge of local history only goes back to as far as the Stotfield fishing disaster (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stotfield_fishing_disaster if you are interested - short version every man in the village died).

Just down from the club house there is a memorial to the disaster.

Love the seashore pics!

Got dragged out for a walk. Normally it's me that makes Kristi go out for a walk, but she could see the way my moods have been this week and decided I needed some fresh air.

It was a lovely day out for a walk though and my darkness vapourised in the sunlight. What was just supposed to be an afternoon stroll turned into us popping into a local shop and picking up a bunch of Scooby Doo movies, a couple of pictures of tall ships that I really liked and a book on the history of the Normans (that would be the French type people, not people called Norman in general, although if you were called Norman I guess that would be a pretty cool thing to have a book all about people with the same name as you). When we got down the harbour front we decided to pop into one of the local restaurants (one we hadn't tried since it switched owners) for a meal. Took ages for our meals to get cooked, but I enjoyed just sitting holding hands with Kristi smiling, joking and wondering what the baby has in store for us and himself in the future. When the food finally arrived it was pretty good fare so I think it is somewhere we will try again (I do have to say, the onion rings tasted a bit off though, perhaps even a slight tad sour as if they'd been soaked in vinegar before cooking or something), although we'll know not to go there if we are absolutely starving and need food now. By the time we got out just after four the afternoon had faded into evening and it was starting to get dark. The air was feeling a little moist so we took a couple more pictures and then decided to head home.

Yesterday was a good day. And I hope it was good for everyone

Started watching a show on Netflix called Crazyhead. Initally the premise is nothing new, a couple of women find they have the ability to see demons, but unlike Buffy for example they have no other special abilities to deal with them. They are not martial arts experts and have no special knowledge of the occult. They have to google how to carry out an exercism and get into an argument when the first stage involves peeing on the person possessed.

Its something a bit different and has me interested enough so far to keep watching.

Done some prep for the parental visit tomorrow. Got the hall and stairs hoovered and cleaned out the oven while Kristi was out shopping. Still more I had planned to do, but I don't think it will all happen. Kristi is sleeping after her trip out. Poor dear is exhausted.

Thinking about taking a trip overseas to help a friend deal with a problem. I figure a day travelling each way and one to help out, maybe two if we make it fun and I can be back before the week is out. With all the stuff I've been dealing with recently helping someone else out with a problem should be pleasently stress relieving.

So another day at work passes, much as many before and no doubt as a few more to go yet (1959 left at most). Got away early to go to a scan with Kristi. I always find that a little difficult as to get there I have to pass the room where we lost Lilly Beth. This morning we had about a month to go before Ash arrives. Jump forward a few hours and well now he is pencilled in for the 8th. With Kristi being diabetic they are going to induce her early rather than waiting on the baby turning up on his own. At the moment he weighs about 2 1/2 kilos (maybe 6 pounds in old money).

Wow, just over two weeks to go. When you are being deployed it feels like it is months and months away until suddenly its happening in a week or two. We figured the baby would be like that, didn't expect the date to leap forward though. Certainly not three weeks.

Ever had a friend who you just wish you could hug and make things all better for them? But hey, if you happen to know who you are and are reading this then know you are in my thoughts if that helps.

Got the family watching Jonathon Strange & Mr Norrell on DVD since they have not seen it before. Now we are moving onto Krull which like most 80's fantasy stuff rocks.

Having a couple of whiskeys tonight and some fine bottles ales just in case I am in shock over the baby being here in sixteen days (subject to an appointment next week). Do I count myself as a dad at that point? Does Lilly Beth count for me being one already? (these are questions for me alone to answer, I am just being overly introspective at this moment. Alcohol may not be helping here).

I have never said this to Kristi, but for me to accept her god the way she would like, well to me I would have to say you have this being who controls everything in the universe and he decided our baby should die and to me that is murder. No one could ever persuade me otherwise. There is just no way I could ever pray to a deity who did that. It is a subject where my thoughts run very deep and I could spend a week, month or even a year explaining them and still not have scratched the surface.

Was listening to people being very jingoistic earlier. That sort of thing always amuses me. Empires, countries, even cities... they rise and fall and what does it really mean? Take a look at some ancient temples in Greece for example. What has any country made recently that will last as those ruins have, or the Pyramids. Ah the transcience of our achievements and how much we think of how little we create. When I was a kid I used to think the human race would grow and mature, ending up as something like the future predicted in Star Trek: TOS. I wish I could still believe that.

Lol, from me writing this you wouldn't believe I am totally hyper right now.

Well that is the buggy arrived and built up. All we need now is for the right size matress to turn up for the cot. I gave Kristi the measurements in inches thinking she would be able to deal with them easier than metric (although without a doubt, metric is the simpler system), but she'd to convert them into centimeters and got the size wrong, so the first mattress was too small. I then gave her the measurements the way they needed and the company sent us the wrong size.

At this point we are just getting one custom made.

At work today it was the annual formal inspection. An air officer (top of the tree type people), comes around, inspects the camp and assuming we pass we get awarded an extra day off as a thank you. It also means wearing a long sleeve shirt and tie rather than the more comfortable short sleeve shirts, and of course wearing our SD hats (or twat hats as we commonly call them). I have a problem that the RAF really doesn't do shirts in my size. I can have one that fits my arm length, but the collar is so tight that I can't breath, or I can have one that I can breath in but the sleeves will be hanging somewhere around my knees.

And none of the easy solutions to this that you have just thought of are allowed. I tried them and gotten away with some of them for a while but sooner or later someone notices. Yup, even that one.

Every new baby in Scotland is entitled to a baby box filled with various things that come in useful for a newborn. Its an idea taken from one of the Nordic countries (I think Finland, but I am not sure). You get baby clothes, an ear thermometer, nappies, and various other sundry items. The box itself has a padded bottom and can be used as a cot if needs be. Anyway, ours arrived today and I opened it infront of my mum.

Anyway, the box contains a poem as well, which since ER reads these posts and likes poetry I'll repeat here.

Jackie Kay
Welcome Wee One

"O ma darlin wee one
At last you are here in the wurld
And wi’ aa your wisdom
Your een bricht as the stars,
You've filled this hoose with licht,
Yer trusty wee haun, your globe o' a heid,
My cherished yin, my hert's ain!
 
O my darlin wee one
The hale wurld welcomes ye:
The mune glowes; the hearth wairms.
Let your life hae luck, health, charm,
Ye are my bonny blessed bairn,
My small miraculous gift.
I never kent luve like this."


If you need a translation of that let me know.  :tongueout:

The first thing I picked up when I reached in the box was a couple of packets of condoms. Just what you want to do in front of your mum and sister.

Anyway, some of the other items are:

Mattress
Fitted cot sheets
Satin edged cellular blanket
Mattress protector
Pramsuit with hood
All-in-one day suit
Romper and bodysuit set
Scratch mittens
Short-sleeved bodysuit
Long-sleeved bodysuit
Long-sleeved bodysuit with integral scratch mitten
Long-sleeved wraparound bodysuit
Footed leggings
Fleece jacket with hood
Jersey trousers
Baby wrap
Hooded bath towel
Real nappy and liners
Digital ear thermometer and replacement hygiene cover
Natural bath sponge
Bath and room baby thermometer and battery
Dribbler bib
Organic cotton muslin squares
Comforter / soother toy
PlayTalkRead play mat
PlayTalkRead travel changing mat
Baby book
Nursing pads

The family are sitting downstairs talking. I think they are about to watch Wonder Woman, so I am taking the chance to go have a nice long relaxifying bath, shave my head and then join them for a bit. Maybe we'll even try a board game. I wonder how my mum would be with Pandemic Cthulhu?

That's a lovely poem, but Jackie Kay sure couldn't spell.  :wink:

(Blah, if someone had sent me a baby box with a packet of condoms, I wouldn't have Irish twins today.)

'Tis written in Scots which is a bit different from English.

Don't believe me, just remember how hard Trainspotting is to read.

Ooooh, sooo what you're saying is Scottish is like normal English, just with lots misspellings? I always figured Robert Burns had palsy and when they went to type out what he wrote out they thought that's how he was spelling it.

"Nae have wi' a heart saw heavy doth broke naught but pease shae where got doth troth onward areever shan be agaen, me Bonny rise where Hayven cometh."

(Tell me when I should start ducking. )

Hey if it works for you, go for it. There is only one Burns poem I am a fan of and that is 'A Mans A Man For A That', which should serve as a reminder to those with more wealth and power than someone else that they are no more different or special from any other.

You'd have to do a lot more than that to offend me. Like putting Dr Pepper in an expensive whiskey for example.

Seriously, Scottish is beautiful and Scotland's mostly darn great.

I recommend avoiding the area from Paisley along to Greenock personally.

Although if you do want to talk about spelling we could start with words like "colour", "armour" or "realise". :P

Ok, so since I blasted my brother about his immigrant views we have had a few conversations via facebook (he is working in Saudi at the moment so face to face is a bit more difficult).

I understand that he is upset with our government about the tax he has paid and the non existant support he got when he was made redundant. However I am also making it clear to him that if he chooses to make the broad statements he has been making then it is going to hurt people in my family and he is putting me in the position where I have to decide am I prepared to let my family be hurt by his freedom of expression in order to have him included in our life, or do I stop them being hurt by cutting him out.

If he had told me the problems he was having at the time I could have helped out financially, but being who he is he was too proud to ask. I no longer have the luxury of allowing him to make these posts unanswered though. Just cuddling Kristi and telling her he doesn't mean her when he makes these posts isn't going to cut it and I have to make a stand now. Anyway, hopefully things will be sorted out. Will have to see how it goes though.

That would TOTALLY ruin a good Dr. Pepper!

There is a few hundred miles between me and you.

Maybe you make it to the nearest door to run away, maybe you don't. We are about to find out.

So tonight I am going out with the family.  One of the local clubs is doing a country and western night.

Kristi assures me that I agreed to go to this. Damned if I remember that or if I could think of a single reason why.

To put it bluntly I am not a fan. If it comes down to it, then I like it more than some other types of music like rap, or (and I shudder here) freeform jazz exploration.

Y'know since the devil gets all the best tunes, guess what music you are going to get up stairs? Hope you are big Spice Girls fans (zig-a-zig-ah my arse), cos you are getting stuff like that, country and western and rap.

Enjoy that for eternity. Oh and don't forget elevator muzak. You get that too.

Anyway. 1957 days left in the RAF, 400 days left until Brexit and 14 days until Kristi goes into hospital. All of a sudden today the whole baby is coming thing decided to hit me all at once. I was beginning to wonder if those feeling were ever going to show up, but to put my mood earlier as being a bit skittish was putting it mildly. I remember when I was due to go out the Afghan the first time. I was much less worried about that than I thought I would be. To be honest I was more worried about my family back home worrying about me. I had assured my mum I was going off to do one of the safest jobs you can have out there and that I would be fine which had settled her mind somewhat.

Then my older brother turned round and told her, no it wasn't safe and that actually I would be in more danger than most. In his infinite wisdom he decided that she needed to realise just what it was like out there. I had an argument with him about that and pointed out that what the family was told about it was my decision not his, but at that point the damage was done.

As it happened I ended up not going on that tour, but I could have cheerfully punched him for saying that. Anyway the point of that little aside was to say that I am much more nervous about having a little baby around than I felt about going into a warzone.

Turned around at work today to speak to the guy behind me (Jim). Turned out he was watching porn on his phone with the sound off and I turned around just at the right time to see the money shot. That did not improve my day any I have to say. Not that I object to porn as such, but there is a time and a place. I've always felt that watching it shouldn't be a group sport.

The buggy for Ash arrived yesterday and a playpen today. Other than a correctly sized mattress I am not sure what else we need to get for him. What ever a baby shower is, they aren't something that happen in the UK, but one of our Canadian friends has organised one for Kristi on Saturday, and her sister sorted out an online one for her friends and family back home. This apparently explains the random baby things that have been arriving recently and not as I assumed Kristi having access to my credit card.

Also got my mums birthday dinner tomorrow night. We are taking her out to a local restaurant that has been pretty good every time we've been so we are all  looking forward to that. If you ever happen to find yourself in Lossiemouth then Guidi's does a decent stake. You can tell them I sent you if you want, but they won't have a clue who I am.

Just wait until you hold Ash in your arms that first time. It'll feel like you only came alive at that moment.

Oh, the only reason I met Kristi was because I ended up not going on that Afghan det mentioned above. I started playing an online game while I was stuck back home. At the time I was annoyed because I wanted to get my campaign medal and then leave the job.

Well I survived the night of country and western music.

Or since we were the youngest people there by quite some margin I have came to think of it Night of the C&W dead.

We got there at 20:00 just as the music was starting. We listened to the band playing a lot of songs and I remember thinking "Feels like we've been here hours, I wonder what time it is?"

It was 20:24.

Anyway, I smiled a lot and even got up for a dance with Elizabeth.

It's been unusually warm this week, but the temperature is supposed to plunge this weekend. During the day next week it will be in minus double figures and the wind will make that a lot worse. Guess I should dig out the cold weather gear.

Got home from work to find the family watching some sort of dancy thing. Trying to figure out what is going on.

Guy number 1 who I will call Mr Leapy Legs seems to be getting beaten up by what appears to be a fascist dance troupe?

As bad guys go they are somewhat lacking, being slightly less intimidating than say Kylo Ren.

Oh, the bad guys have taken a belt off of Mr Leapy Legs and given it to who I guess is their leader. He (or possibly she?) has spikes in his/her football helmet.

I must have missed something. The minions have now disappeared and Mr Leapy Legs is dance fighting with Mr/Mrs Spiky Head. And for some reason someone is leaping about in a sparkly jesters costume. Pretty sure that is a woman. Oh and Mr Leapy Legs has his belt back.

Good for him.

Maybe it is a magic belt.

Perhaps wearing it will allow him to walk like a normal person?

OK, whatever plot was going on I have lost the thread of. Everyone is now wearing sparkly silver and black stuff. I think they are still dancing. Well their legs are moving lots, but they are standing still. Its like some sort of strange tap dancing. And there is more jumping up and down and kicking legs.

Oh well, I am off to get ready to take everyone out to dinner tonight. Hopefully Stewart, Linda and Cammy will be here soon.

And I hope Mr Leapy Legs manages to keep his magic belt from Androgynous Spiky Head.

The thing the women were watching yesterday turned out to be called the lord of the dance.  I think I remember that as an 80's tune. I wonder if they are connected?

Kristi had her baby shower so me, Stewart and Cameron played the European board version of Ticket to Ride. Then Gary and Aidan turned up and we played Pandemic: Reign Of Cthulhu. We didn't do so well on that one and the world decended into madness, horror and eternal doom.

Maybe we should have stuck to Dead of Winter.

Went for a walk outside so Cameron and Elizabeth could catch some Pokemon. I caught Cameron and poked his belly thus inventing Pokacameron which I found more amusing. Having a birthday dinner for mum tonight. Cake is ready. Stewart etc go home tomorrow and Mum + Elizabeth go on Tuesday. I am looking forward to us spending our last few days as a duo together.

Warm hugs to all the BDMO'ers out there, especially anyone finding life tough right now.

Sounds like a fine day.  Me, I'm watching it rain for the fifth day in a row. 
Man, I miss the sun!  If I wanted weather like this I would move to the UK!

There was a photo posted recently from NASA. It had all of the UK covered in snow, except for a little triangle around the place where we llive. I'll see if I can find it andpost it up.

Weather is warm today and somewhat far from the predicted minus double figures predicted. Still it was a very clear sky last night and the ground was still frozen when I went outside so I am guessing the temperature plunged overnight. Can't see a single cloud in the sky.

Played Stewart at Boss Monster & Munchkin last night, had (quite) a few drinks and a good laugh. They came round for breakfast this morning before heading back home. Next time I see him Ash should be here. Wow, in less than two weeks I am going to be a dad.

After Stewart and family headed off I ran a bath for Elizabeth and then me and Kristi went for a nap. She slept, and I just lay there cuddling her. Dagon joined us at some point, so I had her lying with her head on my shoulder while my other hand was scratching the cat behind the ears. There are worse lives to have than the one I've got.

Today is a good day.

Glad you're having a good day!

(But your posts are getting shorter an shorter.  Pick it up or change the title of the thread!! LOL)   :teddyr:

K

(Couldn't resist).

Doing a nightshift this week. Other than guard duty, its been a while since I was last on one, something around five years. Looking forward to it. The only time I really enjoyed being on sqn was when I did three months of constant night shifts. Working with Inhumanly Tall Dave, Jim and one other, but I am not sure whom.

Weather is distinctly chiller today, although the predicted freezing winds have not yet appeared. At least however no one has asked to watch 'La La Land' again. I ended up going to bed at around 21:00 just to get away from it. The musicals I like are few and far between, but that one seemed especially bad. Good job I wasn't born in India I guess.

Neither me or Kristi managed to sleep well last night, but we did at least get some. Took me until lunchtime to get Kristi out of bed. Dagon spent the morning running around like a mad thing. Perhaps I should have thrown him into our bedroom and then listened for the stream of curses from Kristi as he bounced around everywhere. Although it is funny when he tries to lie on Kristi's belly and the baby moves and kicks him off.

Tempted to take a game in with me tonight. Perhaps I should teach the office to play Magic? Suspect I'll take a book in just in case it's all quiet. I can see IT Dave as playing pure blue and Jim, I think would be a red / green mix. He likes Pokemon so he might just be interested in M:TG.

The house is much quieter today than yesterday and will be a bit quieter again tomorrow. Its nice having my family visiting, but I also like having time to just me and the wife. Since this will be our last week like that I plan on enjoying every moment of it, although they are going to back up again pretty damn soon. I have suggested they just leave their suitcases here instead of lugging them back down the road only to turn around and come back up again carrying them again.

Fighting the urge to go to the shop and get some Irn Bru. The sun is streaming through the window although I know if I go outside that illusion of a nice day is going to very quickly evaporate. But I like to get out the house and see some sunlight each day and if I wait until I am going to work it is going to be dark. Plenty of flying going on today, so hopefully there won't be much in the way of night flying. There isn't a lot between our office and the runway and you get to hear the roar of the engines to say the least.

Just got word that Martin is coming over. I guess that means I should get properly dressed instead of lounging about in my PJ's until I have to get ready for work like I had planned. No idea how I managed to end up with so many Canadian friends, but for some reason I do. Normally I've managed to offend people by now and scared them off, but Canadians seem particularly hard to offend.

Outside my family, no one in my current circle of friends has known me for more than 15 years, although part of that is me moving around so much. Mind you, before I got married I was getting a security check done and the government couldn't find any proof  I existed on their basic checks. Given I've been working for them for 17 1/2 years you'd think that would have helped there, but I'd to bring in extra proof that I was really real. This isn't the first time I've came up against this issue, when I was nine I found out that all my medical records for before then had been lost. Nowadays I have a credit card and so on, so I'd imagine I am much less off the grid as I used to be.

And hopefully this post is long enough to satisfy Indy. ;)

If not I am sure I can expand on it later for him.

Apologiesthisthreadistooshort  :wink:

You lot are just never bloody happy.  :tongueout:

Much better! Back to form.

Last nights shift when well as these things go. Work mates were a bit jealous because Kristi had sent me in a chicken wrapped in bacon thing for dinner, while well they had things like soup. I wonder if it will be like the Falklands where I will be asked to tell her not to send me stuff as it upsets other people whose wife's don't treat them as well.

Yeah, well they know where they can stick that one. While I was at work Dagon decided to sit on Kristi's lap. Little s**t won't do that for me. I called him a traitor and a member of the rebel alliance, but apparently he was unimpressed with this.

Finished just after midnight, got home and caught up on the posts here before heading to bed a bit before 1am as I was starting to feel tired. This however very rapidly disappeared just as soon as my head hit the pillow and my brain went "BING!" time to be awake. Cheers for that.

As the night went on a number of things became apparent. One was under the quilt was incredibly warm, but outside of it the temperature felt below freezing. I had sweat lashing off me and soaking the bedclothes. I decided to get up, change the quilt for a lighter blanket and turn the thermostat up. This is when the second thing became apparent. I am currently having a gout attack in my knees, elbows and hip. This is much more painful in the wee small hours than during the day. I was having extreme problems bending my knee joints, so I decided screw this walking like an old man s**t, I am going to force my joints to do what I want them to do. Being in a lot of pain already and not quite fully awake my next move was to tumble down the stairs.

But hey, by happy coincidence that landed me just where the thermostat is. Every cloud right?

Got up early to see the parental unit off home along with my sister. Depending on what we get from today's hospital appointment they should be back up next week. Because my mum is a pensioner she has a bus pass and it only costs her 50p (around 37 cents I guess) to make any bus journey no matter how long. My little sister being handicapped has a similar pass so she gets to travel for free so its not expensive for them to pop over to the other side of the country to visit. Anyway, after that I had to go see my mental health nurse. I am getting signed off them. He thanked me for being a model patient and doing all the things they asked me to do. Got a review on the Thursday where they'll look at my meds, but the recommendation is to start bringing me off them in three or four months. I'll be happy with that. Means I can get fully upgraded and be deployable again. Not that I want to be deployed, but I feel if you can't be then you are taking the money for stuff you can't actually do and it doesn't quite sit well with me.

Me and IT Dave were discussing the joys of our job with getting that little bit older. Playing around with guns and doing contact drills etc sounds great when you tell someone about it, but when you've had to lie in a cold muddy puddle for six hours where you are tempted to pee yourself just so you can feel some warmth for a few seconds it isn't quite as glamorous. Certainly not when your body is in pain for the next few days with it either. Lots of fun up until your mid 30's but after that it looses some of it's charm. Besides have you ever had someone shoot at you? I remember my first time well. Me and a friend were on guard duty. He was in a Sanger (a light unarmoured one man bunker), while I was outside when the shot rang out. I hit the ground very well aware that since I had heard the shot, if it had been on target I'd already have been hit. Officially our ROE said only fire back at confirmed targets and I couldn't see anyone in the trees, but I fired some rounds in the general direction of some suspicious looking shrubbery (this was also the day I would later get into trouble for suggesting the Geneva Convention was more a set of guidelines than actual rules) just to show hey I have a gun too. There were no more incoming rounds after that. My Oppo in the Sanger radioed in for QRF to come reinforce us and when he got there he was trying to point out the direction the enemy had been in, but it is hard to see where someone is pointing when they are inside a bunker and you are outside.

Made me laugh anyway. And if you can keep your sense of humour while you are being shot at, then what else can life throw at you that is going to upset you?

Thing is, even with all the training and the best will in the world you never know how you are going to react until the time comes. And just because you make the right (or wrong) decision one time, doesn't mean that you'll do it the same way next time. Fight or flight is a strange unpredicatable beast for most people.

I guess from the news recently there are some people who are very aware of this right now.

Stilltooshort  :wink:

I am going to cut and paste a copy of War & Peace (in Russian) and then ask questions on it Trevor just to make sure you have read it all.  :teddyr:

HEEEELLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!! *

* I read one or two chapters in high school and saw the movie  :wink:

To Ash.

I promise that I you will never have to go hungry while I decide to play a computer game rather than go get a job, or to make you wait for food because I am playing a game.
I promise that you will never have to live in fear of me coming home drunk, angry and violent.
I promise to remember that since me and your mother decided to create a life, that we owe you, and not the other way round.
I promise to let you make your own choices and pick your own path, although I hope to help guide you and give you the moral framework to make these choices. You are not however a clone of us, or someone to be made to live our dreams through.
I promise to do my best to always be there for you, to help you and support you until you are old enough not to need this from me any more.
I promise to sometimes say "No" to you, just because a child has to know that he can't always have everything he wants.
I promise to try and appreciate every moment with you, even if there are some times when I don't want to change a dirty nappy or clean up after you.
I promise that no job will ever be more important to me than spending time with you.
I promise to keep embarrassing baby photographs of you to show to future girl/boy friends.
I promise that if you misbehave I will always care enough to give you into trouble for it.
I promise not to send you to bed just because I want peace and quiet.

Alex, that is really, really, really beautiful, and Ash will be a lucky little boy.

(But keep up such beautiful posts and we're going to have to rename you Bright Alex.)

Alas, most of those promises come from watching other people's actions. But hey, maybe I can take a turn at being a good guy for a change. It's been a while.

At work (on a break. I took a quick look out the window and neither the chinese, russians, north koreans, daesh or iran were coming over the horizon so I figure I can put my feet up for a few). Although you can never totally relax because well, there is always the french out there... lurking, waiting and being all frenchified. Not to mention the penguins. All of them just waiting for a moments weakness in Mankind's defences (yes, Mick Foley really is that important to the world).

Besides Shona and Jim can keep an eye out for 5 minutes.

Saved IT Dave's sanity earlier. He had done an A3 sized spread sheet in word that just refused to print out the way he had it all laid out. Boxes were being printed on top of each other and it was skipping the margins. If you have ever seen when John Cleese loses it with his car in Fawlty Towers, well imagine a taller, thinner version of Mr Cleese and replace the car with a printer and you’ll have the idea. Anyway, got him to send me a copy of it in Word, then converted it to a PDF so now it printed out perfectly fine.

Yes, I could have told him how to do that, but then how would I keep my reputation for being able to work magic on these things?

Found a letter I had written around 20 years ago but never posted. I knew a guy who said he wanted to become a druid and asked me to train him, so I wrote up an essay on the different groups explaining what they all did. Before I got around to sending it to him, he did something, just a minor thing people do every day without even thinking about it. But I knew when he did it that he wasn't suited to being my apprentice. I did hear many years later he had gone back to the anglican church so I figure I made the right decision. Besides despite what vegetarians like to think they are not fitting better into nature and all that crap.

Although I do have to say, I am feeding Dagon a vegan only diet. I know people say this is cruel and not natural for a cat, however I disagree. They have a fair chance to escape first (I believe a bit of exercise first makes the meat more tender and juicy). And what could be more natural than catching a prey animal for a predator?

I am sadly running out of vegans to catch in the local area.

One of my favourite tee shirts reads "Meat is murder. Tasty, tasty murder."

Because Kristi can't change Dagon's litter tray she left him locked in one of the bathrooms. I got in last night and went to bed. This morning Dagon let his displeasure at being locked up for no reason show when he jumped up, bit my hand and then clawed me a couple of times. Kristi who locks him up gets him to sit on her lap. I let him out and get mauled.

Cheers for that.

Funny thing is if we lock him up when he has done something wrong he will stay in his bedroom until we let him out without making a noise. Shut him away for any other reason (like the windows were getting painted and we don't want him licking paint) and he will make it very clear he doesn't like it.

This cat is more intelligent than he should be. It’s like an evil version of The Cat from Outer Space.

Just after 20:00 *checks outside* Still no invading armies infiltrating through the night. Or if they are they are wearing camo gear. If I was invading somewhere I'd wear a luminous pink clown costume, because no one would suspect that an army of clowns is going to take over their country. Go on, give me a logical denouncement of that one!

And if you are bored of reading this, just remember I still have somewhere around four hours of this to go.

Got the radio on. It had switched to a Jazz channel. What kind of seriously messed up person can listen to that and not feel their sanity running out of their ears. Anyway, I changed it to a light rock channel. Not my favourite, but most people can listen to that stuff without too many complaints. We’ve had Pink Floyd, U2 and that sort of ilk mostly, but also the odd bit of AC/DC too.

Found some work to do which looking at my watch took me 50 minutes to do. And still no one is invading. As I tax payer I protest at this waste of my taxes!
Mind you, it is bloody cold out there tonight, and any invading army had better be prepared to have their nuts drop off. It comes as a great shock to my wife’s family when they visit just how cold it feels here. Utah might have lower temperatures but we have higher humidity and more of a wind factor which makes it feel a whole hell of a lot colder. The winds we have here just skip blowing around your flesh and clothes preferring instead to go straight to your bones and make them cold instead.

Having looked in the microwave I have decided not to heat up tonight’s dinner and just go hungry tonight. Although tomorrow I am going to bring in some disinfectant with me.
 
Or maybe a flame thrower if I think I catch movement inside their again. Seriously how can people heat their food in what resembles a particularly messy mad scientist’s biological warfare lab? We have all sorts of NBC drills taught to us to avoid falling prey to that kind of attack.

Never thought in my family I’d turn out to be the neat freak. When I was living in the block if I saw a dirty plate sitting there for three days in a communal area I didn’t care who it belonged to, how much it cost or if it had some sentimental value. Out in the bin it went. I threw more than one microwave or George Foreman grill out in the bin too when they got too gross.

Think I am feeling ill. I keep shivering as if I was cold even though the heating is on quite high, my hips, knees and elbows are painful (which I am putting down to gout) and my skin is feeling super sensitive to the point where wearing clothes doesn’t quite hurt but is immensely irritating. Doesn’t have to rub against my skin for this, just touching it is enough. Better not mention to Kristi as she will just fuss over me and that irritates me even more. If I am in some way ill just leave me alone and let me get on with it. I’ll ignore it as best as I can until it decides to bugger off. I’ve always figured if you ignore an illness long enough it will die off out of embarrassment all by itself and not come back it case you show it up again.

Had an appointment with my head shrink nurse today. He reckons I am all better now and is discharging me from his care. I thought, “Yay, just in time to be driven crazy (I figure given all the things both me and Kristi have done to other peoples’ children that severe karma is incoming. We have fed them all the sugary drinks and E numbers they can eat, bought them noisy toys, taught them how to make really annoying noises. In an effort to head this off I have let everyone see that I have already bought Ash trumpets, drum kits, water pistols, kids TV series with annoying intro tunes. All of which will be hidden away when relatives are not around) by a child.” He thanked me for being a model patient and doing all the things they had asked me to do even when I thought they were idiotic. Another three or four months and they’ll take me off the anti-depressants and I can play with guns again.

Woopty doo.

Noisy, smelly things that require an inordinate amount of cleaning. Plus, I don’t think there is a rifle on this planet that has been designed to be comfortable to carry on a 40km march across rough ground.

Went to ask the XO something earlier. He wasn’t in his office but the light was on. I figured I’d go check the sign in/out board and see if he is about. So, I got to the board, looked at the mass of people in our building that share the same rank and thought “Bugger, which one of these is the XO?” I mean I assume he has a name and he has been here a year and a half so you’d think I’d have some idea, but no. I’ve even had conversations on multiple occasions with the man and he knows my name. Maybe XO is his name? Like when they are given the job they have to give up their identity. I know the hours they work they certainly give up any family life.

And to think they wanted me to go for my commission and be one of them lol.
 
I have considered a lot of other job types in the RAF, from working in intel (which I flirted with but ultimately said no to as being able to see the other sides point of view I would imagine could be a big disadvantage in that field), working in a NATO post in Europe (my abilities in other languages are mostly confined to insults), the Lightning II program for a two year posting to the USA so Kristi could be closer to her family (however after that I’d have been posted to the one base in the entire RAF I do not want to go to and I’d be spending a lot of time away from home on things that float until the day they sink and then you have a long swim home) and most recently working in Northern Ireland, but that was just after Kristi got pregnant and she understandably didn’t want to go for a move at that time.

Besides I think ER might slap me if I moved there willingly. I get the impression she isn’t the world’s biggest fan of it for some reason.

Speaking of ER, by the time I finish this I’ll be having my trophy back thank you. Hope you gave it a good polish.

Shona got offended when I suggested she did woman’s push ups (they do them from the knees rather than the feet). When she complained, I pointed out that unless I was missing my guess she was in fact a woman and therefore should shut up, get in the kitchen and make me a sandwich.

Part of that story may not be true; however, the other part is.

Maybe I should take another leaf from ER’s book and own up to something from my past. Only the only stories I have left that I can think of I no longer tell because no one ever believes what roadies get up to. Ah, here is one. I once accidently drank my own urine.

I was playing an online game and we were in the middle of a 15-minute-long boss fight and I was bursting for the toilet. As the main healer keeping the tanks alive I couldn’t just walk away and go for a pee, so I grabbed an empty bottle of Irn Bru. I managed to get my trousers and underwear down one handed while not letting Panzer die at the hands of the final boss in Molten Core (Ragnaros), put the bottle between my knees and felt sweet relief as I emptied myself and filled the bottle. I’d also been drinking heavily that night. After the raid finished it was in the early hours and I went off to bed. In the morning, I woke up feeling uncommonly thirsty, and reached for the first bottle of Irn Bru without really looking at it. As soon as it touched my lips the previous night came flooding back in a rush and I spat it all back into the bottle. I then brushed my teeth. Several times as I recall. Seriously I don’t know how other people can drink their own wee. It does not taste nice at all. So, if you’ve ever wondered the answer to that question, well now you know. And if you hadn’t... well now you know that too.
Oh, and the reason poop is brown is because that is the colour of dead blood cells.

Something else you didn’t know you needed to know until you knew it.

The others were discussing shoulder rubs (my seat faces away from Shona and Jim). I happened to mention I don’t like my shoulders being touched and when someone has done it unexpectedly I have turned around and punched them before I realise what is happening. As it turned out it was lucky that I mentioned that as Jim was coming up behind me to demonstrate his technique but thought the better of it. Shona meanwhile likes to swear a lot. She is even more foul mouthed than our resident sweary female person (you all know who I mean).

Still no Taliban sneaking in.

Mind you, since I am not armed at the moment the fate of the country could depend on my trusty letter opener and stapler. I could pull their turbans down and staple the cloth to their faces and then stab them with the letter opener while they can’t see what I am doing.

Hmm, Jason Bourne could learn a thing or two from me about improvised combat. Enough pop rocks and a card board tube and I’ll make you an improvised mortar, or an unguided rocket launcher from knicker elastic and some rocks.

Sat and watched of my favourite 80’s horror/thrillers today, The Hitcher. Watching it I wondered how Rutger Hauer would have done if he’d gotten the role of The Terminator? I like a lot of his films, but my own view is that he was never better than he was in this role, and the remake with Sean Bean was just a waste of time. It totally demystified the character, and failed for me in much the same reasons as the Friday 13th remake (and for that matter Nightmare on Elm Street).

Payday tomorrow. I wonder how much more Ash is going to cost me? After these things are born you can enrol them somewhere, and 16 years later they are delivered to you fully educated, well mannered, polite and respectful, right? I am sure that is how it works right?

I find it hard not to be respectful to babies though. After all they all look like Sir Winston Churchill. I think that is some sort of tribute to his achievements that for ever more all babies are born looking like him. For any faults he had, without him we’d be living in an entirely different world, and not one that would have been an improvement to my way of thinking.

I think I should actually do a RPG on BDMO. It might be a bit silly and hard to manage but if people were interested it could also be fun. But mostly silly. Hmm, which kind of setting though, fantasy, horror, sci fi, present day (booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooring) or something different like Paranoia or Murphy’s World?

My friend Garry wants to start up a modern-day Call of Cthulhu campaign where we play ourselves. I am reasonably fit, can handle weapons and generally hit a target reliably at 300 meters, got two college degrees, versed in mythology, the occult and not to mention all of Lovecraft’s stories. Kristi has arthritis and asthma, is heavily pregnant and hates guns (not to mention someone who talks with their hands should not be allowed anywhere near such items). On the plus side she is a very loving person, exceptional cook and excellent at researching things online and the best cuddler I have ever cuddled, dabbles in knitting and genealogy (which in CoC can actually be a very useful skill). While this makes her a great person she may not be the best person to take to the field against the agents of nameless gods. Plus I already have pills for being crazy and failing my SAN check. Nonetheless I think this might be slightly unfair concept for her. I mean if we were playing Star Trek who the hell would want to be the guy who stays on the bridge, never gets on an away mission, but does occasionally get to raise the shields?

Got home an hour earlier than last night, so yay for being home before midnight. Kristi has a bath ran for me which I am about to go soak in. Here’s to our wives and girlfriends. May they never meet. Name that quote for free karma (and I suspect one of the few people who will have read this far can do it without resorting to a search engine).

Hmm, what is happening in the world? People giving their opinions on things without ever having given me a reason to care about what they think. Skip all that for being boring and repetitive. Especially when it’s from a source I’ve seen being wrong before. Kind of makes me doubt its credibility. Such a waste.
Anyway, off to soak in some hot water and see if it soothes my joints a bit. Brb.

Feeling better now. Happy witching hour everyone and welcome to a new day. There has been a light snow dusting Lossiemouth tonight. Elsewhere in the UK, it is a full blown storm. Glad my mum went home today (well now yesterday) and not tomorrow (which is now today of course).

Hopefully I’ll get a good night’s sleep tonight. If not… well maybe things will be even more quiet tomorrow and I can just sleep through the shift. At one point I thought IT Dave had done one of his silent disappearing moves where no one hears him leave, but he is just gone. When I went round the corner however he was merely lying on the floor with his eyes open.

He is a little bit odd is our IT Dave, but a good guy.

Feeling hungry so I think I’ll go have something to eat, finish this off and then go cuddle up to Kristi. I am in the mood to give her warm hugs.

Of course no one warned me before we got married that when a woman gets 50% of everything you own, that this includes your body heat. She likes to drain me of all of mine like some infernal succubus.

Always wanted my own pet succubus.

Just as long as you don’t get mixed up and ask for an incubus instead it will at least have a happy ending.

I did once offer to sell my soul for the ability to cross roads and always have traffic lights in my favour. This only however seems to work when my little brother is with me.

Possibly I sold his soul by mistake?

Hey I wonder if I could do that to other people too. I mean if it worked once… I wonder gentle reader, what can I get for YOUR soul?

Really, a half-eaten packet of peanuts? Cheers muchly. ;)

Oh well, what is the point in having dark powers than man was not meant to meddle with if you don’t go having some fun with them? I mean really. The whole garden of Eden thing sounded like a bit of a set up to me. You know, don’t touch the fruit of this tree but place it somewhere eminently findable and not for example on a distant impossible to reach mountain top, on the moon, or in a lost world beneath the crust of the earth just as a few possibilities off the top of my head. I mean sooner or later someone was going to eat a damn apple as they went forth and multiplied thus damning the entire human race. Or if he’d set the angel with the sword before the serpent got to Eve and told it to keep snakes out?

It just all seems a bit… convenient to me I guess.

Anyway, that’s my random theology thoughts for this morning.

Kristi is being tormented by Dagon now. Ha! Not so much fun when he turns on you now is it? I told her he was treasonous. Maybe the next time I tell her to consign him to the dungeon with the probe droids she’ll listen.

Guess I’ll be giving her a leg massage later though to sooth the scratches. She is at the part of being tired where she talks like a three year old, which can be super cute, unless she decides she doesn’t want to go to bed. I actually have had to resort to saying “Kristi Lynn Corbett, you are acting like a toddler, now go to bed!” on a couple of occasions. But then you should see what she has to do to get me to go to bed, and not forgetting the night I almost mistook her wardrobe for the toilet door.

That would have required some serious apologising had I not realised something was up when the door wouldn’t open the way the toilet door normally did and I couldn’t get inside.

But that was Evil Alex. I killed him.

And now dear reader, for those few brave and possibly insomniac souls who have stuck with me thus far, my magnum opus is steadily drawing slowing to a close.
May you and all your family sleep well and safe this night and may what you bring into this world be visited back to you twice as much (this includes good and bad things). I hope Lord Morpheus blesses you with interesting dreams that fill up the strange dream depository in the morning and the fresh day greets you with your favourite type of weather (mines is the one where is rains beer. Yet to see this happen, but I like to be optimistic about these things. After all, what is the point in going through life miserable and depressed. The best you are going to get is to make other people miserable. More likely you attract scorn, derision and perhaps if you are lucky indeed, some pity).

As my undertaker likes to say, if you are going to go, go with a smile. 

Good night everyone out there… What-ever you are.

The trophy is yours again and likely to remain so! (But you just HAD to take away the one thing I had going here, you pee-drinking Scottish druid coach!) Huh, did someone say something? Thought I heard a seditious parenthetical whisper.  :smile:

I may kvetch about the parts of my childhood spent there and grumble about the whole island in a bleak effort at sardonic humor but the truth is Ireland is one of the most beautiful places anywhere, and the beer is so blessed and the women so charming Englishmen just couldn't stay home, and who could blame them? If you get a chance to go over, even if it is the North, take it. Ulster is, after all, the most glorious quarter of Eire....and naturally the one part that belongs to another country.

Lol no. I was just bored at work as I'd finished all the jobs I needed to do, helped with other peoples jobs, did some jobs that didn't need doing and then made up some jobs to do and had still ran out of things to do before 20:00.

If it helps though, you do get the award for the most beautifully written posts for some of your previous ones.

With all the snow that is hitting the country many roads and what not are all closed down. It's funny, when I was a kid this was would have been a moderate snow storm.

Still I guess actually dealing with problems like this instead of just whining about things you don't like doesn't quite fit todays sense of self entitled outrage that people increasingly seem to have these days. But in the spirit of joining in, I'd like to blame everyone older than me for making the world the way it is, and everyone younger than me for not doing anything to change it, thus neatly avoiding any personal sense of responsibility while allowing me a sense of (unjustified) moral outrage.

Kristi checked my temperature and decided I am running a fever (101.8 in old money). We ended up sleeping on opposites sides of the bed instead of cuddled up and she could still feel the heat radiating off me so I decided to get up and let her sleep. I'll mention to the doc tomorrow that I've been running this since Sunday or Monday.

Oh well, going to go find a comfortable couch to lie on, See you all later.

Karen is round visiting today. She is going to stay overnight, so I've planned out an evenings entertainment which includes Time Bandits, Ankle Biters, In Bruge and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Did I mention that Karen has a fear of midgets?

Snow kept on coming down all last night and is not what I would call at a respectable level. Some of the neighbours have built an igloo in their garden which is nice. You see a lot of kids out playing in the streets around here, which is something that doesn't seem to happen as much else where. But then we also have plenty open areas for them to play in which helps.

Anyhoos, I am doing my best to stay out the womens way, so what ever is going on down there (in my head it involves black pointy hats and at least one cauldron. I am convinced that the correct term for a group of women of any size greater than one is a coven of women, although I'd be also prepared to accept an unholy of women equally well).

Dagon is sitting staring daggers at me right now. I went to lift a box earlier and he leapt on my hand thinking I was playing, sinking his claws into the skin between my fingers, ripping them open. Later on I put fresh loo rolls on all the toilets and he then went to shred them and I caught him so he is now doing the cat equivilent of having a time out. He does not like being made to sit without any of his toys to play with.

Having done nights this week means my weekend has begun earlier. Once upon a time this meant getting beers in and getting the guys round for a party. Oh well, time marches on and drags us with it regardless of our wishes in the matter.

Two more full days of work to go before our trip to the hospital.

Hmm, I wonder if I could invent some sort of reverse ultra sound where you could beam pictures to baby instead of looking at the kids. You know, get them started watching bad movies while they are still in the womb.

Much like my electro shock collar for women who shop too long, I suspect that idea would get nixed, although that I at least got to build a fully working prototype of. Just a shame they wouldn't let me patent it, or use it as my final year project. I had all sorts of spin off ideas like underpants for men who cheat, lower voltage ones for children to encourage them to clean their rooms and so on. I would have marked them as my Pavlovian Reaction Range.

Ever read Johnathon Swift's (he didn't just write Gulivers Travels) A Modest Proposal For preventing the Children of Poor People From being a Burthen to Their Parents or Country, and For making them Beneficial to the Publick? If not it is worth checking out, although perhaps not as much as the reactions of some people to it. Especially those who thought it a good idea. No idea why it just popped into my head, but it did. Must be 28 years since I last read it.

Perhaps because of the movie I watched yesterday (The Bad Bunch). Some woman is dumped in the middle of the Texas desert in what is pretty much an open prison. The prison has two group of inhabitants (as many of this genre of movie seems to have), one lot who live in the town of Comfort, led by Keanu Reeves. Major hobbies in Comfort include taking recreational drugs and partying. The other lot, I am not sure if they have a leader or not, but they are called The Bridge People (although I saw no bridge) and well they get their protein where ever they can get it. One of them is played by Jason Momoa. Jim Carey also hangs around as some mute old crazy man.

The next part contains spoilers.

Anyway, shortly after arriving in this prison the heroine donates an arm and a leg to the Bridge People, but manages to escape by lying on a skateboard and pushing herself along by her remaining leg until she is rescued by Jim Carey who takes her in a shopping trolley to Comfort. She ends up killing Momoa's wife, kidnapping his daughter, and then rescuing her from Comfort. I think she falls in love with Momoa, who since he didn't seem to eat what was left of her I am going to guess finds her an acceptable replacement for his wife. I don't think he realises the heroine is the one who killed his wife etc, but that could make an interesting topic around the dinner table.

And given their diet, I guess there is even the option that the dinner could join in with his/her point of view on that.

I was writting up stuff for my D&D campaign so I wasn't paying 100% attention to the movie, which might answer some of the various questions I have about the film, but I got the impression a lot of stuff was just there for you to make your own mind up on.

Volunteered (yes, I broke the golden rule of never volunteering and I am now being punished for it), to help plan out a beach clean up and walk to some WW2 coastal defences. Rather than help plan it out, I am now planning the whole damn thing.

Burned there, well and truely.

We have quite a few fortifications in the local area since this would have been a very suitable landing ground should the German's have invaded via Norway (of which there was a good chance), some of which are in fairly good condition. Although alas they have removed the 6" navel guns which would have been fun to play with. A lot of the beaches still have the wooden posts that were put in place to stop enemy gliders landing, or would have barbed wire strung on them to hinder troops landing amphibiously.

I also have 1945 days left in the job. In 1945 6 long years of war finally drew to a close (although it was somewhat longer than that if you lived in China). Despite being on the victorious side, it was the final death knell for the British Empire as a third of its merchant fleet which kept the empire going was now rusting on the ocean floor (although in truth it was the failure of the country to be able to deal with the post WW1 situation which really finished the empire off. It had switched to producing war goods and the markets it had previously exported to learned to make the things they had previously imported for themselves. The empire was no longer economical to maintain although it would stagger on for quite some time. Hell, it wasn't until the late 70's if I remember correctly that the UK stopped having the biggest navy in the world)). Both my grandfathers would fight in that conflict, and one picked up a wound that would take until the early 80's to finally kill him. I have vague memories of him although both of them died before I had any chance to really get to know them well. They seemed like nice people. Ultimately the promise of peace that the end of the war might have brought instead descended into the joys of the Cold War.

It is strange how much of the world today is still in many ways dealing with the aftermath of that conflict and the problems that flowed from it (WW2, not the Cold War although yes it also still has repecussions). I wonder if those ripples will ever fully subside or do they just keep going, sometimes merging with other ripples and growing until they become a tidal wave...

Still for a while there was rejoicing and happiness and hope for the future. We should hold onto those moments and remember them always.

And finally it is here after almost nine months, we go into hospital tomorrow.

Kristi is fairly lucky that she actually has her date in advance. Normally (within certain limitis), the baby comes when the baby decides he is coming. Between our ages however and her being diabetic they are inducing her three weeks early.

Mum and Elizabeth are up visiting again. Since me and Kristi will be spending our time in hospital they are going to watch the house for us.

I guess I should look out some changes of underwear for that, and if I am feeling really fancy I might even wear matching socks rather than my normal "Yup, I have found two black socks, they can go on and no one will notice one is wool and one is cotton" type reaction when I normally select these things. I do improve my odds though by only having black socks.

Did my annual fitness test today, along with another NCO who is a bit higher ranking than me. We both passed, and because these things are all tracked I sent a message to the support cell telling them both myself and Dinky had passed. I also commented that Dinky might forget to email them as he is a bit old and may have a senior moment.

Ryan in the support cell decided to send an email out telling both me and Dinky that he had updated the stats sheet. And yeah, being Ryan he decided to do it by forwarding my original email to Dinky. I suspect when I get back to work in a couple of weeks I'll be on the receiving end of a one way conversation from Dinky. Fortunately I know Ryan's wife and I've asked her to flick Ryan on the testicles when he settles down to sleep tonight.

That'll teach him.

Some people have occasionally accused my revenge plots of not exactly being equal with the original offence and that I tend to go a bit overboard, but I figure if people understand that your retaliation is going to be much more severe than what ever they can do then they are much less likely to try something. I mean screw mutually assured destruction, just make sure your opponent understands that he is going to end up much worse than you and no one is going to mess with you.

And don't worry Indy, I haven't forgotten about that Dr Pepper comment. I am just biding my time... Patience after all is a virtue.  :bouncegiggle:

What'd Dutch Schultz say? "I'm done being mad, I just want my revenge."

Still in the hospital waiting for the baby to start moving out.

I knew I should have ordered him on Amazon Prime. Mum and Elizabeth popped in for a visit earlier. Kristi's mum doesn't know we are in the hospital yet and has already sent 12 texts (this is why she hasn't been told), but she'll find out when she gets home from work.
Kristi is alternating between sleeping and having cramps. The ward has a TV on in it, and we are getting treated to the finest in daytime TV. I have always considered those programs to be a very good incentive to get up off my arse and get a job.

Bloody Jeremy Kyle. I'd quite like to shove his smug face into a meat slicer and then stick a bag of salt and vinegar crisps over his head while he bled slowly to death. For anyone unfamiliar with Mr Kyle (rhymes with vile), think a slimier, less principled version of Jerry Springer.

I can stay in the hospital from 9am to 9pm after that, unless something is happening I need to head home. Although if anything happens in the middle of the night I'd be coming right back out.

This is how I know any gods out there is not an engineer. If they/he/she/something else entirely were, they'd have designed things much better and everything would happen on a prearranged schedule.

Possibly welding would be involved.

Been browsing the net, chatting with Kristi, reading Cold Print (Ramsey Campbell) or playing games on my laptop while Kristi dozes. She is currently playing Fallout Shelter. A couple of months ago she decided to put it on her phone in case I didn't have my phone with me and she needed something to amuse me on long journeys (Kristi does not approve of my usual way of amusing myself when bored of looking for random items to wear as hats. Especially if we are in a posh restaurant and I've been waiting on food for a while. I tend to start balancing menu's on my head). Of course she is now addicted to the game and I haven't gotten to see it lol. Just as well I have it on my own phone.

Shoulder muscles are feeling tender from the push ups I was doing yesterday. I need to get into doing them more. Still I passed my fitness test easily enough so I can't be doing too bad.

Update, we just got moved to a private room which is nice. Apparently as Kristi is getting induced she is entitled to one. She is having cramps on her lower back so I guess things are starting.

I see its international woman's day today. I am not quite sure what one of them is but, well happy day if you are an international woman.

Hmm, my gay German flight attendant friend has sent us a good luck message. He seems to have given up on trying to get me to get jiggy with him. Perhaps I am just losing my sex appeal as I get older. I would like to say having a gay stalker was interesting, but it really wasn't.

Watched the latest Thor film which was good but it feels like Marvel are doing these things by the numbers now. I wonder if Black Panther is any different. Hoping to take my mum to go see The Shape Of Water at some point next week. Tomorrow before I come out to the hospital I am going to swing by the cemetery and go put some flowers there. Will see if I can find a balloon or something with 'Big Sister' on it for Lilly Beth.

Baby (Iain Alexander Malcolm) Ash Corbett arrived today at 15:29 via C section. He weighs 6 pounds 14 ounces. Currently he is resting under a heater as he is a bit chilly and his blood sugar is slightly low but otherwise he is doing well. Mother is resting beside me having a well deserved sleep before my relatives start visiting in around 45 minutes. At some point I'll get home and maybe even upload a photo. :)

And yes Trevor, it is a short post. :P

Many, many, MANY congratulations and best wishes to you and your family, Alex!! There is no joy in this world like the kind babies bring into your life.

Congrats!  Glad to hear everyone is doing well!  I starting thinking c-section was going to be the route when you mentioned her back was cramping.  Looking forward to really long posts with baby stuff!

Thank you. I now have the awesomely difficult task of deciding just which bad movie should be his first.

Right now, Flash Gordon is top of my list.

CONGRATULATIONS, good sir!!   :cheers:

I hope you weren't overly fond of sleeping, or sex, or privacy . . . those days are done!  :wink:

Congratulations!    :smile:

Hey all. Not being too active at the moment, but I am sure everyone understands why. :D

And if you don't, well that is just tough for you. I am not about to lose any sleep over that.

Got up early, cooked breakfast for our visitors and then went out to the hospital. Kristi got all the tubes and stuff out of her and could get up herself and move around which made her a lot happier.

Ash's blood sugar is staying at much better levels so they can stop sticking needles in his feet which is making me happier. He is also keeping his temperature up which is good. Got him to feed a few times (which is helping with the temperature and blood sugar). One thing that surprised me is that he still hadn't been washed and had clots of blood in his hair. I told the nurse that "Look, you can either wash him, or I am going in the shower with him and I am going to wash him", so the nurse decided to clean him up. It really surprised me that this is something nurses no longer do. Although I don't mind doing it myself I did object to being told that we shouldn't. Other than that though the care has been great. There were five babies born the same day as Ash, and with the flu going round the ward is down to two nurses who are really working their arses off to keep everything running smoothly so much appreciation to the staff of Dr Grays for that.

Anyway, changed his nappy a few times while I was there. About 18:00 Kristi got some cravings so I'd to leaved for a bit and pick up stuff like sour cream and chive Pringles for her. On the way back to the hospital I decided I want another baby. He hasn't cried much, although we have been trying to get him to, to help clear his lungs of mucus and so on. Another kid in a different room has been crying constantly. I hope the little fellow is ok, but I am guessing that something is up there. We can see when Ash is building himself up to cry. It takes about three minutes and he will cry for 10 to 17 seconds and then stop.

At one point Kristi had fallen asleep and I was sitting holding Ash. I figured it was about time to start his musical education so I put some Led Zepplin on. As I was sitting holding him I thought I should read something to him. The only thing I had to hand was the horror novel I've been reading recently so I started reading that to him.

It seemed appropriate for me, besides James Herbert was my favourite author growing up.

After my twins were born, my wife demanded that I go to Burger King and get her a mustard Whopper.  Her poor stomach had been compressed to the size of a thimble that last month by the presence of two babies, and she was ravenous!  She managed to finish over half of it and fell asleep holding it; when I tried to gently take it out of her hands she yanked it away from me and GROWLED.  I let her keep it!   :buggedout:

Lol, you are a wise man Indy. The best advice I was given was if she wants something, get it for her right away, not in five mintutes.

I hope someday you read him Where the Wild Things Are. (And shield him from that movie.) And later The Graveyard Book. But WTWTA is childhood magic transferred to the printed page.

I have a copy of Where the wild things are.

Ok, well I have a Lovecraftian kids book that is based on WTWTA. It's called Where The Deep Ones Are.

I do have a copy of the movie of which you speak, and I plan on it never blighting his childhood.

Mum and baby will becoming home tomorrow. I spent three hours today doing nothing more than letting him cuddle into my shoulder, just the same way his mum likes to.

deepest and most sincere congratulations from me and curtis! and tell ash thank you for being born on our 35th anniversary,and what would have been my parents 62nd anniversary! that is a memory we will always treasure, little ash!
   you were born into interesting times, little guy, but you are so lucky to have parents who will make that a scottish/american blessing, and not a chinese curse.
  my blessing is already in place, your good karma gave you great parents. may your karma keep growing better all your life, like your parents love will.

Kristi and Ash got home today (yay!).

I was sitting in the hospital with them this morning, Kristi was getting some much needed sleep and I was sitting with Ash lying against my chest, just holding him. I used to think I understood why my dad had turned out the way he did, but with him cuddled up holding him, I don't think I have ever felt quite so disconnected from him as I do now and I was really disconnected from him before. I really can't understand him or the things he did at all. Indeed if he dies without knowing that Ash exists, I will have no complaints.

It being a new week the weekend staff weren't in to say goodbye to which was a shame although we did chat to them at the end of their shift. One of the cleaners came in while I was playing some Led Zepplin for Ash (got to start education early after all). Turned out she was a big fan of the same kind of music as me, and when we mentioned his name was Ash she knew right off where we'd named him from lol, so we talked about Bruce Campbell movies a fair bit with her. Told her about Evil Dead: The Musical and I think her and her husband are now planning a trip to see it in Vegas.

Everyone likes Bubba Ho-Tep after all. Well, except for people who wouldn't know a good bad movie if it smacked them on the face.  I suspect anyone who doesn't like Bubba Ho-Tep doesn't like things like ice cream unless it's pralines and dick flavour and hey no one wants to be that guy (or gal I guess, I shouldn't be sexist about these things).
 
Some of the hospital staff would have liked them to stay in one more night, but Kristi was so ready to be home. She just hasn't had a good nights sleep there for the five nights she was there with the hospital staff waking her up and the general background noise. They were a little concerned about how he was feeding, but when we told them we'd picked up a breast pump they relaxed and didn't try and persuade us to stay another night.

After we got home, I'd to pop out and buy some stuff. Damn but I did not want to leave Kristi and Ash. I was about ready to bite someone's head off. Someone decided to involve me in an arguement they were having with a taxi driver and she got a surprise when I told her she was bloody stupid for walking out in front of a taxi, so that didn't go the way she thought it would and she ended up being the one who got their head bitten off. Anyway, I am home with them and feeling much more relaxed. Built up his Moses Basket and made everyone an Asian buffet for dinner so everyone was free to have what ever they liked. Made way too much rice though.

Letting my little sister and mum hold Ash as much as they want just now. They have to go home on Wednesday for a hospital appointment for Elizabeth and we want them to get as much time with him before they leave as they can.

Thank you for all the messages everyone has sent. Love you all. Ash and Kristi also send hugs n luvz.

Welcome to the part of parenthood the books never mention: primal protectiveness. Half the time among your bliss you feel like killing someone for little provocation because some teeny instinctive part of your DNA is telling you you have to protect your offspring no matter what against threats real and imagined. Shame you're not in Texas where it's socially acceptable to rock a baby and hold a loaded .357 at the same time.

An Ode to the Sensation is Will Smith's The Two of Us, in which he "sings" about going off with intent to kill on a bad driver. Respect, Will! Seriously, new baby=primordial slayer for that first fortnight. Enjoy it, it goes away too soon.

alex,grind up that rice and freeze it. 6 months from now, you'll be putting it in his bottle, like my sister and her girls have with their babies!  :cheers:

And Ash is getting his first movie. The 1960's Batman.

When I reached 27 I sort of got stuck. For the next few years (into my mid 30's) when ever anyone asked me my age I'd reply 27. I wasn't deliberately lying to anyone, it just seemed to take a long time to adjust to being older and unless I really thought about it I generally thought I was 27.

I've found myself going up stair cases two steps at a time the way I used to and feeling like I am 27 again. It is a feeling I need to hold onto, because I am going to need that energy.



Fortunately I live in a country where we don't need those kind of weapons to defend ourselves. If I did I'd really feel like I, and indeed the whole country had failed. While I can use guns and can own them if I really felt I needed to, I just don't need one. I always pity anyone who lives in a place where that sort of thing is needed, and I truly hope Ash will grow up never needing that or living in such an environment of fear where you don't feel you can go anywhere without a weapon. I mean I can honestly say that on none of the five occasions I've been stabbed having a gun could have stopped it from happening, although a tazer might have helped on some of them.

Besides my friend Garry's kids were at school with a lad who has cleaning his shotgun (he worked as a gamekeeper and was experienced with firearms) and it accidently went off killing his girlfriend (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1376850/Calum-Murray-accidentally-kills-girlfriend-Sophie-Taylor-turns-gun-himself.html (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1376850/Calum-Murray-accidentally-kills-girlfriend-Sophie-Taylor-turns-gun-himself.html)). He ran outside his house and turned the gun on himself. I will teach Ash ways to defend himself in other ways, including how to deal with people who do have guns.  If I ever have to, then I will teach him to shoot, but it would break my heart to do so and that we'd became weak enough to need them for protection.

Besides if I have to rip someone's head off, I am still quite capable of doing it with my bare hands should anyone bring out my protective instinct.  :wink:

Anyway, that is wandering way off topic and in to a discussion for a different thread and different people. Its the kind of thing that just has each side stating its POV and nothing gets changed.

Kristi just looked at me in absolute panic, put her hand on her belly and said "I've not felt the baby kicking for a while... Oh wait!"

I am sure other mothers out there are familiar with that sort of feeling, suddenly missing this bump that has been a tiny tyrant controlling them for the past 9 months.

Preparing for tonight like an army going into battle. Or more like prepping to deal with some alien thing invading...



Looking forward to mum and Elizabeth leaving tomorrow, but also wanting them to stay. I do like the idea of time with the three of us. When we go on holiday it tends to be with either her or my family and we don't get much in the way of time just us. We are very much everybodies property when we go visiting.

Some times I am glad we live so far from any of our family though. It does give us our private time.

Besides you have axes and swords.

Alas not any more. I got rid of them yesterday to a fellow collector, although I do have to say if any of them were actually used in combat, they'd have have been useless after the first hit. I am not willing to risk Ash playing with them and having an accident. Although most of them are not combat weapons, for example none of my daggers have blood channels in them which means once they go in, you ain't getting them back out.

Did you really? True love demonstrated there.

Yeah, decided it was time to grow up and stop dreaming about being a medieval swordsman. :(

Oh wow, just since guns were mentioned above...

Today is the 22nd anniverary of the massicare of school children at Dunblane. For tennis fan out there, Andy Murray was a survivor of this attack. Since then we haven't since had another gun attack and I hope we never do again. There are very few rights I can see as being worth the sacrifice children for and this certainly wasn't one of them. I am very well aware of the pain of losing a child and I hope no one ever has to go through it for anything as pointless as this one. I was working on a milk run at the time and I remember grown men in tears over it and donating wages they could ill afford to help out the familys hit by this.

May we never forget. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunblane_massacre (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunblane_massacre) and my thoughts are still with every family affected by this.

Indeed a special mention should go out to one of the surgeons that day who not knowing if his child has injured or dead worked tirelessly to save the lifes of other peoples children. If I remember correctly his daughter had indeed been killed and even after he found this out he still kept working.

That to me is the true definition of a hero.

And if that doesn't touch you inside, then you should have a look at 7,000 pairs of shoes.

you get it. so do i. thank you for the link,and the mention of that doctor, he IS a true hero.

Had our first visit from the health visitor today. I've been told you don't have this in the states, so I'll do a quick explanation. Basically its a nurse who comes round, checks the health of the baby and makes sure the parents are looking after their new born properly and so on. They did some blood tests of Ash and it turns out he has a bit of Jaundice so we've brought him back into the hospital and will be staying with him overnight. He is currently in an incubator with a UV light on him. We had been worried by the colour of his eyes so we were expecting his and its not something we are unduly worried about. Kristi was a bit panicky that I might blame her for bringing him home from the hospital, so I spent some time reassuring her that, that wasn't the case.

Ash is loving it. I am watching him just now lying here all stretched out and looking for all the world like his is happily working on a tan, although I do have to keep going and adjusting his tiny little eye mask. Watching his little chest going up and down. :)

He is learning how to roll onto his side which is fun. I was changing his nappy earlier and he had rolled up into a ball. Everytime I put him on his back he just went straight onto his side which had me smiling at him, even if he was making changing him difficult.

Kristi is having a much needed nap. We are taking it in turns to keep an eye on Ash to make sure he doesn't take the mask off.

Watching my second favourite sci fi TV show. Babylon 5 (behind Firefly). Or well, its on in the background while I watch Ash. Ooops, the little guy is getting pretty mobile at the moment and I need to check on him.

you make me smile, daddy!

Good. I will be here all night. Pretty sure I won't be sleeping any of it so if you require amusement just poke me.

It is fast approaching half one in the morning. I am still watching poor Ash. He has had a bit of diarehea tonight. Indeed it started running out of him while I was in the middle of changing his nappy which made it loads of fun. He has been through 6 nappies so far tonight, which is normally what he'd go through in a couple of days.

I had been looking forward to just the three of us having a night together. The hospital etc hadn't really figured in that, but hey we are all here with each other. I just wish I had brought a stack of DVD's to watch and make this all night vigil a tad more interesting. The lights on Ash do like I am watching a 3D movie without the 3D glasses.

Going to wake Kristi in a it over an hour for the babies next feed and maybe I'll try get some sleep. Don't see it happening, but I can try. I once got chewed out on an exercise for doing guard duty by myself all night instead of waking one of the younger guys to take over from me. Truth is I was used to working night shifts, so sitting awake wasn't an issue for me and quite frankly I didn't trust the other guys to be able to stay awake. None of them were out of their teens and I knew I could do a couple of days without sleep and still function.

Lol, how those skills fade with age. I can't imagine going three days without food any more, or days without any sleep.

One of the midwifes came in the room and was shocked to see me here. She says I should have went home at 21:00. However the midwives who were on earlier and the doctors (who saw me here at 23:00) seemed to want me to stay here. She said she is going off to check if some special arrangement has been made for me to stay here. I am going to say, yes there bloody well has been. My place is with my wife and son and as much as I like crawling into my own bed some things are just more important.

My copy of Yellow Submarine arrived today as well. I had only just put it on when we got a phonecall saying Ash's bloodtests had came through and they wanted us to bring him back into hospital.

Think I am losing the ability to tell which day it is though. Today certainly felt like a Sunday and Sunday is a day I will never forgive  for being so damn boring. When I was a kid all shops were closed on a Sunday and the TV was filled with religious programs.

Bloody Harry Secombe and his songs of praise. And Dame bloody Thora Hird.

Not to mention being taken to a church where other than my parents the next nearest my age person in the place must have been over 50 years older than me.

Nowadays some shops open on a Sunday, and I can freely avoid all the god bothering stuff, even with having a church going wife. I don't know if they still show all those faith based shows any more. I'd imagine they have at least one channel just for them, which I guess is fine for those who like 'em and fine for me since I don't have to watch them, or hear Harry Secombe singing. The man should have stuck to comedy with the Good Show. Although I would imagine if Spike Milligan had done a holy roller TV show instead it would have been much more watchable.

what you need to do is sing ALL the" day" songs you can think of to ash. then it won't matter what day it REALLY is, because he won't care, right?
  and begin quoting all the dialogue from the evil dead movies too. it's amazing how that sort of thing can keep you awake and put a baby to sleep.
  but really, DO try to sleep some, okay? you're no good to ash and kristi if you're zombified from lack of sleep. {{{alex}}}

I did grab a couple of hours kip. I am not sure about my singing though, there are a lot of babies here whose parents might not appreciate that kind of trauma.

Still a the hospital. Ash has lost a bit more weight since birth than the medics are happy with (up to 10% is fine, 12% is alarm bell territory and he is currently on 11.8%, with 5.8% of that happening last night, not overly surprising though given how many times I'd to change his nappies). I'll head home in around an hour, make sure Dagon hasn't destroyed the house and if he ends up staying in longer than expected I'll come back out with more stuff for Kristi. He is feeding plenty so we might have to mix his 'on the boob' meals with some top up formula.

We have a morning chorus of crying babies. I think Ash started them off and then does what he normally does and just stopping crying instantly leaving all the other kids bawling their eyes out, the little trouble maker.

Yup, he is my kid for sure. :)

I wonder if Ash will be able to come watch Pacific Rim: Extinction with me? I really need to get my Evil Dead triple pack back from my nephew so I can get him watching his namesake. Oh and for people who like giant robots fighting monsters http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1428582690/pacific-rim-extinction (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1428582690/pacific-rim-extinction) might be worth checking out for you.

I wonder if I could start an arena combat league using old black and white sci fi movie robots. Like Robbie Vs Gort and so on?

At home now, the cat is fed his tray is changed, I've had breakfast and I'm charging up my phone and then I'll get the stuff Kristi needs in case we have an extended stay in the hospital. Just waiting to see what the pediatrician says when they check him out. Anyway, here is the little guy.

Hmm, which plot should I use to take over the world?

(http://i.imgur.com/HLgwl2C.jpg)

My first leather jacket.

(http://i.imgur.com/evNO61H.jpg)

Me and Ash

(http://i.imgur.com/ERBqWNn.jpg)

Sleepyhead.

(http://i.imgur.com/BSpGMtU.jpg)

And hurrah, everyone is getting to go home today. :)

O.M.G!!! he looks JUST like you! and yay on going home! love the jacket, he'll grow into it fast ,i'm sure.
   now, are you and kristi eating properly? especially her, being diabetic and all. she needs lots of protein, plant and dairy based in particular,so ash gets lots of vitamin D &k ,and niacin and thiamin. and make sure she's drinking copious amounts of water, she'll need it.
  geez,i'm bossy,sorry. i'm taking classes to be a specialty dietician, these are things i learned in class.
 :cheers:

I am making sure she eats, even if it is in little but frequent snacks. Just made her some square sausage with cheese and mushrooms on bread. Vitamin D is a problem where we live, sunlight isn't a great feature here at this time of year but we do have supplements for him. And yes, Kristi has to drink a lot of water. I almost went into shock when she told me how many times she ate fast food daily and getting her on a more healthy diet has been a big thing of mine as well as getting her walking a lot more. The air here is a lot less polluted than where she is from and her asthma has been much less of a problem (instead of daily attacks she has maybe one a year now) so that's helped and Kristi has lost a lot of weight since she got over here.

Tomorrow I'll be taking the time to make sure we all have proper meals. Running back and forward to the hospital all the time hasn't been condusive to eating healthily, although Kristi at least got cooked meals while she was there. It was just me living off sandwiches and chocolate bars.

Tried waking Ash up for his next feed by playing some loud music. Nothing. Went and hoovered up the room, nope that didn't wake him up either. Ah, the joys of training a baby to sleep while noise is going on (and when you live next door to what is basically an airport you need to be able to sleep through noise). Oh well, stroking his feet works (he absolutely hates that).

We sat and watched Thor: Ragnarock tonight. Actually got to see what was going on this time. Once Ash has finished his current feed we'll try going to bed and see if we can get some sleep tonight. And if not... well at least we will be not sleeping in our own bed.

So today I had plans of getting the house all sorted and back in a state of semi order. I cleared the baby stuff off the living room floor and put it away. Kristi came in and did her thing of leaving everything lying where ever which made me wonder what the point in cleaning up was. Anyway, got a phone call asking us to go back to the hospital as they'd made a mistake on some blood test and they needed to redo them. Bit irritating, but we are doing our best to be understanding.

For once Ash wasn't screaming as they took the blood from his foot (#prouddad) and I felt less like punching the nurse making him scream. Got a good picture of Kristi holding Ash. She normally hates any pictures being taken of her, but this one she likes. I agree with her.


Hmm, think Jeremy Corbyn has just lost Labour the chance of winning the next election under him and he was doing so well beforehand. Unless it turns out the Russia wasn't the country that just used a nerve agent to poison a renegade ex KGB man and his daughter I am pretty sure we are going to be stuck with the Tories next time around again. Time was we'd have had a fleet in position around Russia already and a full on blockade in place while making it bloody well clear we were not amused. Oh well, time and the world moves on.

Put a harness on to carry Ash in out to the hospital rather than put him in the car seat and had a bit of a walk around carrying him on my chest like that. Pfft, women complain about carrying a baby for nine months? There was no weight to him at all. I don't know what they are moaning about.

Only kidding ladies. I know it can't be much fun having someone dancing on your bowel and kicking all night long. Love you all really. But I can just imagine the outraged expressions on your faces as you read that.  :bouncegiggle: Now I have your blood all up and ready for a fight. I wonder who is going to suffer for that. Mwah hah hah!

Funnily enough my friend used to do a similar thing to wind his (now ex) wife up. He'd get in an argument with her and just when he judged she was about to explode he'd say "You know what dear, you are right. I apologise." She'd be standing there like a volcano and have no where to go with it. Before you start thinking that is a mean thing to do, his wife was sleeping with a lot of other guys. Well, not exactly sleeping... more playing Monopoly.

Nah, it can be kinda fun to wind up pregnant women. Just make sure they know they're good and appreciated later. Or in my case, appreciated.

oh wow! kristi looks so much like my friend heather, it's positively eerie!! if ash grows up to be as handsome as her son sage, you are gonna be in DEEP chit! that boy has girls following him everywhere he goes, he gets very frustrated with it and asks if they think he's meat. he's a hoot!
good on the diet so far, and maybe check into a sunlight lamp?
  i'm just so happy for you 2, i can't even express it!  :cheers:

Those pictures are adorable! You guys look so happy!  I'm glad everything is going well.  I know it's annoying, but I am happy your hospital is on top of things.  I'm not sure that we get the same attention here.  It's been a while, so maybe I am just forgetting.  My friend is a nurse and has worked in L&D, the NICU and is now in lactation and I've heard her mention how common jaundice is in newborns and not a major concern like it would be for an adult - I'm sure you know that though.

You seem like you've got the right idea about being a dad.  You got a lucky kid there.

I am feeling a little disturbed by certain comments I have been getting from people (all women it has to be said).


Folks, that is called cannibalism and is frowned on in most polite societies.

i don't get that either. but then, i never understood why people were constantly pinching my face, it HURTS! my momma slapped a few grownup hands and it stopped. she was feisty.

Been a mostly good couple of days. My sister in law came down to visit for a couple of days and see the baby. Played a couple of rounds of Magic with little Adam (I used my Plague Rat deck and he used a pre-built deck so me winning was pretty much a given. Next time he is going to bring his own cards) who has sprung up in height since I last saw him at xmas.

Damn but typing is hard with a tiny person deciding he needs to suck on your thumb and not his dummy (or pacifier depending on what country you are in). I have no idea why, but sucking on my thumb seems to settle little Ash right down when he is upset.

Anyway, gave Adam a little model tank to build up which turned out to be the first model he has ever built and let him paint it up. We all went out for a meal for lunch and Ash behaved himself perfectly.

Kristi is having a sleep since we didn't get much rest last night. Ash is a creature of the night and was up all the hours of darkness. I stayed awake with him for quite a while, but eventually I had to wake Kristi and get her to feed the little guy. We had the health visitor coming at 10am so we couldn't even sleep late. The health visitor said it would be fine for Kristi to take baths now, which is good as she loves them.

Feeling a bit sad about ER leaving the forum. She has been the person I've chatted with the most here, but we are keeping in touch via email. I know there has been a lot of arguments recently, but I'll miss her posts. Plus I think she was about 90% of my karma supply lol.

Listening to an old Vincent Price radio show from the 70's. http://www.knightriderradio.com/post/171961124103/mysterytheater-the-price-of-fear-was-a (http://www.knightriderradio.com/post/171961124103/mysterytheater-the-price-of-fear-was-a) for anyone else who is interested in this sort of thing.

So cute!  When I had my daughter, I was up with her most nights so I started playing WoW to pass the time while sitting alone in the dark - we lived in a much smaller place back then.  I got pretty good at it with a baby in one arm!

Since you'll be in touch with her, can you tell her I will miss her and ask her if I can be invited to her compound in the event of a zombie invasion? :)
 

I will do Paquita. But you might want to reconsider going to her place in the event of a zombie uprising. You see I've stocked up on something that is going to be worth more than gold in such an event. Something no other survivialist has thought of stocking up on, and the man who has this stuff will rule the world.

I have a ten year supply of toilet roll.

All the cool kids might not be hanging out at my place, but the ones without smelly hands will be. ;)

it's good that you'll stay in touch with her, she's your friend. but i'm definitely coming to your compound instead, since i have that other precious item well stocked. 100 pounds of salt.
  so have all of the family members met ash yet? and when will he be coming to america to visit? we'll arrange to cross paths at an airport, lol!

My mother, sister, one of my sisters in law and her youngest son have met him.

Scheduled to meet him are my younger brother, his wife and their son at Easter with possibly my half brother and sister coming up around the same time. Some of my relatives are going to be coming up for that as well, although I don't know for sure yet which ones (my gran had 9 kids so there are a lot of aunts, uncles and cousins).

Kristi's mum, younger brother and his wife are coming over for his blessing (Mormon equivilent of a christening).

We are planning on a trip to the USA next year which will either include a visit to Disneyland or Yellowstone.

Got an email from ER saying she will miss you too Paquita and that you are welcome at her compound.

So took Ash out today to Elgin to register his birth. Bumped into a few people I know, and all the women went "SQUEEEE!" over seeing him. I guarded him carefully in case any of them were feeling hungry and had urges to eat babies.

Those brothers Grimm were a lot smarter than they are given credit for. Ash is a baby and not for eating!

Was a nice sunny day, although in the shade it is very chilly. Every time there was sunlight I was taking hats and what not off Ash so he can get some vitamin D. Everytime there was shade Kristi was bundling him up.

Had to go buy Ash some more packs of tiny nappies. When we'd picked up the others I told Kristi to get two, but she said he'd grow so quickly he'd be out of them before we used them all. I figured since he is going through on average eight nappies a day, the 24 pack would only last three days and unless radiation was involved he wouldn't be growing quite that fast.

Anyway, today strangely enough we picked up another two packs of tiny baby nappies.

I should so get people necklaces with the letters WWAD? on them (What would Alex do?). My old boss Scott learned to live by the following mantra "Alex is good, Alex is always right. If I repeat this to myself 50 times a day my life will get better". Took him a year or two to agree, but now he lives his life by it. Since after he left the RAF I helped get him a job that has allowed him to buy a 16th centuary farmhouse and do it up it seems to be working with him.

I do have to say he nearly blew the interview when he got the most basic equation for an electrician wrong (V=IR).

Although it has to be said he was less impressed when one of his little girls accidently broke one of his windows and he discovered he would have to pay a small fortune to get one done in the same style and craftsmanship as the original he was less impressed. It being a listed building he can't just get any old replacement put in and what he'd to pay for it is a couple of weeks wages for me. I wouldn't fancy his job, although in his first week doing it he was mapping an underwater cave system off the Azores (or somewhere similar) but he does have to do quite a considerable amount of time away from home.

Some guys from work came round with a big bunch of flowers for Kristi and some stuff for the baby. We have ran out of vases and are now resorting to putting flowers in jugs and things. I suspect we may have a secret triffid invasion going on, in what used to be the kitchen but is now a jungle.

Hmm, a new Indiana Jones movie is scheduled to go into production next year. Can we leave his son out of that please. Killing him off, offscreen with no further mention of him would be ideal. Or maybe Indy wakes up one day, finds Bobby Ewing in his shower and it turns out Indy Vs The Space Aliens was all just a bad dream. I'd be good with that.

Threatened to buy Kristi Star Trek: Nemesis today. It's the one Star Trek thing she hates, and making her watch it would be akin to asking for a divorce. But that doesn't mean I can't tease her with it. Assuming I like to live dangeously anyway.

Just out of interest Paquita, what class did you play in WoW? Used to play a priest but quit the game last year. I've had no urges to go back to it again.

I mainly played a male human paladin named Horncake.  I lost interest when I maxed out on levelling (80 at the time) and it became necessary to participate in groups/raids to advance and get better gear.  I also played a Draenei priest, but I think I liked the paladin better... being able to wipe out a mob of undead with one move was fun!

   

Been having some problems getting on BMDO over the past few days and the issue seems to be at my end. For the moment I have snuck onto another network that just happened to be lying around open...

I'd been promised I would get the watch 'The Shape Of Water' yesterday, but it didn't happen so to make up for it Kristi picked me up Leprechaun 3. Also watched Boss Baby which was better than I expected. Indeed the trailer for that one had actually put us off watching it. Then I put on The Omen which Kristi had never seen before. She thinks that it is a proper horror film and how they should be made, rather than randomly splattering blood around the screen.

Every day I find more reasons to love her. :)

Went into work today to show some people Ash and say thanks for the flowers and baby clothes they sent. Also had to pop in to see one of my old bosses and then to PSF (where all the women came to coo over him. I made sure they knew eating him was not an option. Seriously, do these women live in gingerbread cottages or something!?!) dropping off boxes of sweets as we went. On the way back I was feeling a bit hyper and started dancing on the street while singing "The Safety Dance", only I changed some of the lyrics. Kristi must love my upward mood swings so much. She was feeling a bit sore from the walking so when we got home she sat and fed the baby while I ran her a hot bath.

Do most women while taking a bath also run themselves a shower or is it just my wife?

I have for a while now split belief up into three levels. The first are people who believe in something and are content with that. If someone else expresses an interest they are happy to share it with them, but don't force it on anyone else. To me they are believers, generally decent people and they are OK. You can engage in a debate with a believer and present your own views. They might not be accepted, but they will let you have them.

The second level likes to actively encourage others to follow what ever they believe in, firmly convinced that what they say is best, and the world would be a better place if only everyone else followed their credo and will try and talk over anyone presenting an alternative view. I call them zealots, or possibly more accurately a***oles.

The third level will actively seek to deny and destroy the beliefs of others, quite often telling them if it was in their power they would destroy the belief systems of others. They will refuse to allow any point of view that deviates from their own attacking it passionately when they can. Normally they do not themselves follow the credo they espouse so vehemently seeming to be more a kind of "do as I say, not as I do" type of people. They will seek to turn any conversation to be about them and what they want and expect. Intelligence is split up into four separate areas, and the Emotional Quotient value for these souls tends to be drifting around somewhere in the gutter. If you protest against their views they will cry out about you denying them their freedom of speach or attacking them, while at the same time they will seek to deny you those same rights. They will attack others and when attack back will claim they have been provoked into striking back. Those people I think of as fanatics, or maybe I'll even drop the C-Bomb on them.

Thing is, you may be thinking this part of this post is about religion, and well yeah, kind of in a way. But here is the thing, it is about any strongly held belief. Wither you are pro or anti religion, atheist, flat earther, vegetarian, vegan, social justice warrior (why are they always warriors? I mean where are the social justice mages, clerics, barbarians and so on?), LBGT (or any of the other letters that get added to that) or any other cause.

So have a look at yourself in the mirror if you can and have a think. Are you a decent person, an a***ole or a downright c**t?

Got a nice email off the company I normally buy my WW2 figures from. They were wondering why I hadn't been there spending my usual amounts of money and are worrying that they've done something to offend me so they've given me a money off voucher. Fair enough, but the reason I hadn't bought anything is simply because I've been too busy with other things and have a stack of things to paint up including German infantry, Japanese support troops, Soviet artillery (my long desired Katyusha) and a Firefly tank (when something has an awesome name like Firefly, well you just gotta buy it). I think I still have a second German Panther or Tiger to build too and put up against Kristi's legion of Sherman tanks. Anyway going to use the voucher to get myself a Tank Destroyer for Kristi (M36 Jackson), a 105mm US Howitzer and a Forward Observation team for my Japanese. They could do with the fire support.

I did level a paladin who was one of my two backup mains (my main main was always my priest Lelandrá). I also had a Warlock, Saable and Lariadon was the pally.

Just had to share this one.

(http://i.imgur.com/ieQPFRP.jpg)

Oh, and I just got into trouble from Kristi. AC/DC just came on with 'If you want blood', and apparantly you are not allowed to use a baby to play air guitar with.  :thumbdown:

And I know, I am biased but SO CUTE!!!! SSSSSQQQQUUUUUUEEEEEEE!!!!!  (Oh I am so glad none of my old combat squad are on here).

Found out that work had me down as off today, so I get an extra day at home w00t! When I popped into work yesterday the XO was hobbling around on crutches. Bit of a skiing accident.

Ash is cluster feeding today so I guess he is preparing for a growth spurt. Poor Kristi is stuck on the couch feeding him and has been for the past four hours. She needs the toilet and I am helping by doing my impression of a dripping tap. When he wasn't feeding for a bit earlier I was holding him. He fell asleep on me and then Kristi leaned over and fell asleep on me too. Only one I didn't have sleeping on me was the cat. Oh well at least something I enjoyed was on the TV (Hellboy).

Going to go up to the man cave shortly and get some writing done. Not got much of that seen too recently. Still the thought of being back in work tomorrow and then off for the weekend followed by a week of nights is a good one. The sun is shining.

Today looks set to be a good day.

LOVE THE TUX!

First day back at work. Terrible to have to have to go in for one day and then get an early finish. Things look like they've been chaotic while I've been gone and calmed down just in time for me to get back. Perfectly timed then.

Got home and Kristi looked shattered so I told her to go to bed. She told me she was hungry and needed something to eat first, so I said well get some food then while I look after the baby. She told me she was really tired. I have a strong dislike of conversations like that, that just go around in a circle. Anyway, I sent her to bed in the end and I have food ready for her when she wakes up.

Sometimes I feel more like her dad than her husband. I don't like that either.

Ash decided to cry once Kristi was out the room unless I was holding him. Sometimes I'd let him cry a bit just so he knows he isn't getting his way when he cries but since I wanted Kristi to sleep I was trying to keep him quiet. Got a bottle ready for him (one handed since I also had to carry him), fed the cat (still one handed), and then had to go to the toilet...

That kid is merciless. Anyway, he is sleeping now since I fed him a bottle. Why he couldn't have slept earlier is a damn good question.

Did manage to get Dagon to come sit on my lap for a bit which is first. He has really grown in the past couple of weeks and I am pretty sure he is as big as he is goig to get which is a good thing. I don't think I want him putting on any more muscle.

Here is a random post for you. How the Polish army helped defend Scotland during the Second World War. http://www.makers.org.uk/place/PolishInScotland2WW (http://www.makers.org.uk/place/PolishInScotland2WW)

Then remember that today people in the UK complain about Polish immigration to the UK.

Recently I asked about why social justice warriors and not other classes?

Well by sheer coincidence I came across these later that day.

(http://i.imgur.com/m5RAXmk.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/WnYR8Gi.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/6BRtjjg.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/qTXTpYk.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/wurYjpg.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/ZcFAGem.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/s6ITKUl.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/Uz7poSp.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/B2i6BoA.jpg)

So the forums have been up and down for a few days. Hoping they stay up this time. There are a lot of people here I'd hate not to hear from again.

What has been happening baby wise in my world... Well Dagon has altered his meow so he now sounds like the baby crying. I managed to get Kristi to go for a nap this afternoon and put Ash in his bouncy chair. He had been sleeping there quite happily for a hour or so when all of a sudden out of nowhere he started screaming.

Now, I don't mean like a baby screams. I mean like full on being eaten alive or woman being chased by a knife carrying psychopath in a horror movie type screaming. It damn near gave me a heart attack as I leapt up out of my seat and jumped across the room thinking that somehow something was attacking him.

After about 5 seconds of this screaming he completely stopped and continued sleeping peacefully.

Ten minutes later my heart was still hammering in my chest.

Found out last night one of my Danish friends who is married to a guy in a metal band that is really big in her home country is getting divorced. Made me feel really sad all night long that not everyone is as happy as me.

Pretty sure that must be an oxymoron.

Although it is a reasonably amicable split, they were having problems dividing their possessions up between them today. I told her to lick anything she wanted to keep as that automatically claimed it for her. She has already done it to one of their chairs.

One night I grabbed Kristi's arm and licked it, thus entrapping her with me for all time. Mama didn't raise no fools there. That girl is a keeper. Besides I am out of chloroform to get me another one.

I also told Pernille my secret thing that I sometimes tell people to think of that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face every time you think of it. Well it works on women anyway, no idea if it would work on men too.

Working nights next week which is good. I like having the Friday off, plus it means that I can lie in bed a bit longer and get cuddles. If that tiny demon of our making hasn't imprisoned us and isn't forcing us to constantly feed him anyway. :)

Decided where to take the D&D campaign next. Writing up a quick adventure based in the city the party are in (although I could move the location easily enough) which is designed purely to give them a chance to make some money after losing almost everything when The Blood Raven sank. I have stolen it from an old WFRP scenario that I always wanted to run but never got a chance to. It will also give the party to fight against a particular genus of bad guys they haven't faced before. Plus I am going to drop a surprise in the end of it that should be a sufficient sting in the tail. How the party handles things will affect how long it takes The Dark Reflection assassins to track them down.

did i PM you my email? i THINK i did? or anyone else who wants it,PM a request. seems lik all of my boards are wonky lately.
 

I am afraid I don't have your email Barri.

Yay the forum is back up and I no longer have to look to the outside world for some sort of validation for my life. :P

Had the health visitor come round today. Ash is gaining weight again which is good, even if he isn't quite back up to his birth weight yet. Kristi was exhausted when I got home from work about 1 am this morning. Every time she held Ash he fell asleep only to wake up as soon as he was put in his basket so sent her up to bed and I sat with him. He fell asleep around half two, which was when he was due his next feed so I then had to try and wake him up. Just after three I gave up and took him up to bed. Kristi had left the windows open and the bedroom was freezing, so I shut them, put the heating on and lay in bed with him on my chest and the blanket over us until the room warmed up enough for me to put him in his cot at around half four.

Not sure what exactly is allowing me to function at the moment on less than three hours sleep every day, but I seem to be managing and I think I am coherent.

Mostly.

At work we have a big industrial sized air con pipe running overhead. One of the DEOC's decided since Jim left his car keys sitting out to hide them hanging from the pipe. Jim didn't notice his car keys were up there all night. I did decide to let him know they were there just before we were going home, as funny as it would have been to let Jim walk all the home to Foress.

Let the guys at work see a photo of me when I was younger and had long hair. Jim thought it was a picture of a woman and said "She is a bit plain Jane, but I'd do her."

Not sure how to take that one really. I mean for a start if I was a woman I promise my standards would be way higher than him. Bobette was working nights this week as well as Jim went on all night about how much he'd like to have his way with her. He also went into detail in which way he'd like that to happen. I think her standards are higher too though. I resolved never to mention the possible video thing I mentioned a while back, to Jim. He also went on a bit about our boss and what he'd like to do with her.

Yeah, her standards are higher too.

Indeed, I am not exactly sure how Jim got married. Hypnotism, drugging, Stockholm Syndrome, insanity... these have all occurred to me as possible explanations. I have never actually met his wife. She could also be a rubber doll that he has named. I've heard amongst certain groups of people that is a thing.

And I thought I was weird.

Took Ash back to the hospital today for his hearing test. Both ears passed so thats good. Our friend Cato came round today to see the baby and spent half the visit in tears.

On the way out to the hospital people kept stopping us to tell us how cute our baby is. I don't know if that is normal or not. I've certainly never stopped a random stranger on the street to give them a critique of their baby. I did ask Kristi we have any more could they be slightly less cute as babies so we can make it to appointments on time.

Hey, did you hear they have discovered a new human organ? It's being called the Interstitium and is one of the largest organs we have (I am guessing the skin is still the largest), but no one had really taken much notice of it before.

as a bartender of many years, i'm betting jim has an EXTREMELY dominating wife. i've seen the type before.
  and, you know, you ARE kinda pretty. i might have thought you were a girl if i saw you with long hair too. no offense.

Now, Alex, imagine every thing you are going through with little Ash right now, IN STEREO.

That's what having twins is like!  I still don't have a ton of memories from the mid-90's, other than being sleepy for the better part of five years there.

Let me give you a little story about Jim. Some years back we lost two jets and three out of the four aircrew died. I ended up helping out sort out the personnel effects of one of the dead men which was not a nice thing to have to do. The generic stuff he owned was fine, packing away uniform and clothes and so on was just something you packed away, but every once in a while you'd come across something that reminded you that this had been a real person. Things like a little lego pilot, or a coming across a wedding invitation and then it would hit you a little bit.

Anyway, we had a service of rememberence for the men which was attended by prince Andrew and his daughters (whose names I can't remember but they do wear stupid hats to weddings). After the service was over Jim was once of the ones who was helping pack everything away. He went over and sniffed the seats the princesses had been sitting on.

Something isn't right with that boy.

Waiting on Stewart, Linda and Cameron arriving so did some tidying up this morning. Kristi wanted me to go to bed and get some sleep, but if she had really wanted me to sleep then she shouldn't have woken me up at 5 am to ask me to go all the way around the bed to get a changing mat that was just out of reach for her to move a little and pick up. I may have sleepily stumbled into a few walls and things since I've been on minimal sleep for a while now and then did 40 hours awake looking after Ash so she could get some sleep.

I had hoped that once I'd done that I would get my turn at sleeping but apparently not. Been told I like somewhat zombified today but although I am very tired I just don't feel sleepy. Kristi seems to be feeling guilty about this, but it's not the first time she has woken me up for nothing and then said she wishes she hadn't. Somehow I don't think it will be the last either. Just one of those things.

Oh and being tired is making me feel slightly grumpy, but I'll get used to that. I just lose most of my ability to figure out what people are doing or saying (well what the really mean. When I am exhausted I just can't be bothered figuring out things like hints or subtext).

Just not that much of a people person I guess.

I'd fed Dagon this morning and changed his tray, and was changing a nappy for Ash when Dagon started demanding attention. When he didn't get it he went and pee'd on a bag of stuff nearby. He is now one sorry assed cat and is avoiding me whenever I walk by. He also spent the rest of the morning shut in his bedroom until I felt he'd been punished enough and let him out. Been paying him attention but if he goes back near the corner he pee'd in earlier he gets chased out. Kristi's breast milk pump was in the bag when he wet it  so I really can't just let him do things like that. Anyway, that is currently being sterilized.

You'd never guess I actually do love my little cat would you? I miss having him sleep in our bedroom (but while the baby is sleeping in our room he does not get in with us).

Saw a copy of Psychic Assassin yesterday, which is a movie I've not seen since the 70's. Since it was going for 50p I figured I couldn't not buy it. Watched it this morning and am now working through the rest of the Lone Wolf and Babycart films inbetween helping feed Ash and changing nappies.

Been after some Jayne Cobb hats for a while now. Today, two of them turned up...


Man walks down the street wearing one of them, everyone is going to know he isn't afraid of anything!

Oh, and these are just for 316Zombie. Since you were worried books were mistreated in my house I thought I should show you these. It isn't quite all our bookshelves, but hopefully it will reassure you that they find a good home with us normally.

(https://i.imgur.com/ddqalXc.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/dBRq2IN.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/9P0QLlg.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/xci85h2.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/ej9YVZS.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/i1hZyva.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/D1MPUXu.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/HZ5sV54.jpg)

Nice digs, man!

lol, indi, i think that MAY be part of why my sister likes your books, her twins, and now grandtwins.

YOU my friend, are a p**sant! now i'mgoing to have to spend an hour elarging the pics so i can read all the titles! but  inthe meantime, VERY cool! and that great big dark shelf ROCKS!

What if I told you that that big dark shelf cost me £45 (around $60)? I guess I could help you out a little bit by telling you what kind of books are on each shelf (I'll go edit the post), but I should warn you that we have multiple rows of books on some of those shelves so you won't be able to get the titles of all of them.

Wait, your sister reads my books???  Cool!

Ok, so these are mostly fantasy novels. The top row is David Gemmell, David Eddings and L. E. Modesitt, plus some Robert Jorden. Second shelf is my old game books (you might have heard of them as choose your own adventure?), R.A. Salvatore, more Gemmell, Harry Potter stuff and some Harry Turtledove. Next shelf down is my leather bound or hardback editions, Lovecraft, Robert E Howard, Verne, H.G. Wells and Tolkien. Below that is a bit of a mix of hardbacks, James Herbert, Clive Barker, Hobbs, and a few biographies.

Wow, today was busy. Went to meet my brother and his family in Elgin today. First off, I had to deal with an invasion by the Galactic Empire (ok, that wasn't too difficult as the storm troopers couldn't shoot for toffee). Then there were was a rampaging T-Rex to deal with, not to mention the super villians just generally getting all up in my way.

Hope your day was a bit less hectic than mine. :) Ironically the only injury I got all day was after I got home. The babies mattress is a bit too large for his cot and Kristi wanted me to cut it down a bit with an electric knife, but that wasn't working so great so I went to find a pair of shears to try instead and sliced my thumb open on a wallpaper scraper while looking for the shears.

Got the mattress cut to size eventually. Had to use the electric knife in the end. Took quite a few passes, but it finally got it down to size. Got hit with a sudden wave to tiredness, which I am currently fighting. Ash is sleeping gently in the Comfy Armchair of DOOOOOOOM!!! right now and Kristi is having a bath. I have a bunch of beers cooling nicely in the fridge which no doubt my brother will be sharing with me later.

Life is good today.

 hhmm.. i thought i had told you stacy reads your books, indi, she's a fan!  :cheers:
   thank you alex! some of them i couldn't see even by enlarging. you've got some awesome collectibles too. but that shelf is droolworthy.. all of them, really, great price!
   love the pics! you live in a very beautiful place, cool people too. that's something i miss about boston, besides the subway. architecture is a passion of mine,any kind really.any cool bridges near you? i love old bridges.

There are a couple of interesting bridges around. I'll take some pictures the next time our random walks take us that way. Kristi was amazed when she first moved here that a lot of the old cottages in Lossiemouth are older than the USA and she loves the architecture too.

So the worlds first independent (not as a sub division of the army or navy) airforce is 100 years old today.

Seems appropriate that it was done on April 1st though.

Sitting watching Justice League with Ash. Not a lot of sleep was gained in the Corbett househol last night so Kristi is getting some sleep while I take care of the baby. Not understanding the hate the movie got so far. I mean its no Citizen Kane, but so far I think its alright. Oh well, wouldn't be the first movie I liked that the rest of the world didn't care for. It has nothing different or special, the big bad guy is somewhat perfunctory but they are critisms I could level at many other movies. It was enjoyable enough though.

Hmm, got spam email to buy a military grade flashlight. Really that is a thing? I mean I've done 17 1/2 years in the military and not once have I ever came across a military grade flashlight. Normally we get given something cheap and get told to get on with it. Really not a major selling point for me.

Its a lovely sunny day outside. I would have liked to have went out for a walk with Kristi and Ash and although she is being a lot more mobile than most women in her situation I am conscious of not letting her overstretch herself. Putting herself back in hospital would not help anyone.

Life is good right now and I know which of my wolves I am feeding. Of course when things are as good as they are now, there is only one way things can go, but while it is all good I am going to take the time to enjoy it. I think Merlin summed it up best.


Oh, and since you mentioned collectables, here are a few random shots of various stuff I've accumulated over the years.

How many films can you identify from these objects...
(https://i.imgur.com/lYRSasX.jpg)

Dragons, books and a bad taste bear.
(https://i.imgur.com/E7ThVje.jpg)

Some of our board game collection (this photo is five years old. We have a lot more now).
(https://i.imgur.com/sCcuVFC.jpg)

Just because...
(https://i.imgur.com/1KjiMOH.jpg)

Kristi's WW2 army.
(https://i.imgur.com/j5rOwFb.jpg)

My Hoth battle scene
(https://i.imgur.com/jTGuuxz.jpg)

Star Wars Scum & Villany Fleet.
(https://i.imgur.com/Fw5xHp1.jpg)

Rebel Scum Fleet.
(https://i.imgur.com/ytpNnwb.jpg)

The forces of Galactic law and order.
(https://i.imgur.com/ItbqOL9.jpg)

My DVD collection somewhere between five and ten years ago. Just try reading the titles on those lol.
(https://i.imgur.com/ZplIkrM.jpg)

Next time I'll dig old photos of old houses etc.

Much more overcast today than it has been recently. But of course it is a bank holiday, so the weather is going to be bad.

Hmm, what is happening in the world. Child poverty in the UK is on the rise, and the government is cutting down on free school meals in england, northern ireland and wales. Thatcher would be so proud. London and New York seem ready to switch places on the murders per capita table if they haven't already. China is retaliating to trumps trade war. Given how heavily in debt the US is to China they have some very powerful levers they can use that would bring the US to its economic knees pretty quickly. Of course that too would have repercussions... I wonder which side will blink first. I dunno, but it looks to me like trump thinks he can take on the rest of the world all at the same time, including countries who would otherwise be his natural allies. It strikes me that he is trying to run a country like he would run a business and it just doesn't work that way.

Oh well, thats a problem above my pay grade so I am not going to worry about it.

The boiler went out last night. House was pretty damn cold so I got to lie with Ash on my to keep him warm until a plumber could get out to fix it. Although he did manage to get out to us in around an hour it did mean I spent the night awake again. I may just have to pass out tonight somewhere to make sure I get some rest before work tomorrow. The easter long weekend has been a good break and I am just relaxing now, listening to a bit of Brutal Planet.

April comes around once again. As you get older the years seem to speed past faster and faster, but somehow the days themselves seem longer.

Kristi is going out tonight with Karen so I get to keep Ash company. :) No doubt I shall pick out some suitable way of entertaining him.

Amd seven hours later, Kristi and Karen are still out shopping. And this from the woman who hates shopping lol. Oh well, means me and Ash get plenty of quality time together. He has been feeding like it would be his last chance to get food.

Hmm, perhaps Kristi should be on nappy duty when she gets home...

Ok, so I ran myself a bath. Normally once one of us has had a bath, we'll put some cooler water in and take Ash in with us and give him a wash.

So, my bath is ready and I decided it would be a good idea to strip Ash down to his nappy and then leave him wrapped in a blanket so he is ready for me to lift, take the nappy off and put him in the bath with me. When I took his babygrow off he had quite clearly filled his nappy, which had then overflowed. So the butt of the babygrow was filled with poop.

With me so far? Good.

Now, here is the strange part. There was also poop around one of the shoulder blades. Now there was nothing inbetween these two patches. Totally clean there.

I have gave it some thought and came up with only one logical possibility. Babies are capable of short bursts of movement at warp speed, and the poop came out at exactly the time he moved, thus apparantly missing the intervening material.

Anyway, I immediately put more cold water in the bath as my usual temperature would not be healthy for the little man, got him cleaned up. Of course, I've still not got my bath as my old one had poop floating in it, so I didn't really fancy climbing in after that.

alex. honey. you REALLY need to get some sleep, lol!

Sleep? Wassat?

Sometime, Alex, I will have to tell you the tale of the infamous Diarrhea Sunday.  It's a legend in my household.

I think I was visiting you guys when that happened  :wink:

So when you are in a conversation at work and a woman is complaining that if men had periods like women then they'd have invented something to make it painless what you shouldn't reply is "What are you, an effing Disney princess? Stop waiting around expecting a man to come along and solve everything for you. Get off your arse and go fix it yourself."

I have to admit though, it was worth it just to see the look on her face.

Ash got his tongue tie cut today. A bit irritated that I couldn't get the time off work to go with him, but that comes with the job alas. By all accounts he did fine, didn't cry except when they swaddled him up. You know how people say babies like to be wrapped up tight? Well not this one. If his arms are confined he goes ape. He also seems ot have picked up my habit of locking his muscles in place and becoming immovable. I was holding him and he gripped my shirt. Kristi wanted him to come over for a feeding. I had to explain that the only way I could get him to let go of my shirt would have been to hurt him, so she had to wait until he decided to let go.

Seemed to be a lot of people off sick today. Our office was down to 4 out of the 9 that should be there.

Or maybe no one wanted to come back to work after a long weekend off except for suckers like me.

Ash was being a bit fussy there. I figured the anaestetic was wearing off. Took a while but i managed to get him settled while Kristi relaxed in a bath. Trouble was the angle I was lying down at and where he was on my chest I found I was unable to sit up and had to text Kristi to come down and help. Guess I need to work on my core a bit, do some more sit ups.

Well doing any sit ups right now would be an increase on what I've been doing recently. Still, I have good arms and shoulders, and it doesn't take that long to get the rest back into shape. I just have to have the enthusiasm for that.

all 3 of my sister's girls were like that with the swaddling, but they had to have their feet free too or they went nuts. i always thought it was because they were like me, with "hot" hands and feet. they still have that issue,as do i . my doc said it would be just the opposite after menopause, not true. drives my sister crazy,she has" cold" hands and feet. i hope menopause changes that for her, at least. she's 51 this year, should hit her soon.

Finally got Kristi to make a doctors appointment about her cold spells. She had asked the midwifes about it and they told her it was normal, but I have never met another pregnant woman who was so cold it made her cry.

I think I might be in trouble at work (again). My computer was running really slowly and I was cursing at it. Jim leaned over and said I was speak to it the wrong way and I should treat it like I'd treat a woman.

I shrugged my shoulders and thought, well at this point it is worth a try.

I gently ran my fingers tenderly down the side of the monitor and said softly "Get in the kitchen and make me a sandwich!"

Alas my (female) boss was also in the room when I said that.

Its odd how suddenly the meaning of a word can change. Dad is no longer a word that fills me full of loathing for example.

Registered Ash with the local doctors, then had to go in and show his birth certificate to PSF so they could then retroactively give me the parental leave I took when he was born. Of course all the woman in PSF went all gooey at the sight of a baby. Then because Jane had been on holiday when we'd taken Ash into my work we'd to take Ash to work so she could get to hold him for a bit. Then after Kristi had left with him Terry and John both complained they hadn't gotten to see him because of phone calls and whatnot.

He is a baby, not a rare painting or some great film. Bloody weirdos. I mean I do not go up to other people and say "Hey, I'd really like to hold your kids."

Pretty sure you'd end up in a special place in prison for that one.

1915 days left to go until I am free. In 1915 the expectation that The Great War would be over by christmas the previous year had disappeared (obviously) as both sides realised that although they had millions of men under arms, so did the other side and they objected to the whole marching through each others countries.

I wonder if both sides couldn't have just agreed to go for a stroll through each others countryside or major cities and then go home. Would have saved a lot of needless dying.

Anyway, major battles fought this year included the second battle of Ypers (called Wipers by the British troops fighting there, but I think it is pronounced Ip), the disasterous Gallipoli campaign (a survey of the area before the war had concluded that the channel could be secured by a combined navel and amphibious assault, but for some reason it was decided to not to do a combined assault and lots of people died needlessly, mostly Australian and New Zealanders) and the battle of Loos, which at least they could make jokes about dying on the Loos I guess. I mean if the British ever stop finding toilet jokes funny then you'll know we've all been taken over by pod people.

Other stuff may have been going on in the world at this time, but history books don't seem to find them quite as interesting.

For some reason Snow White popped into my head there and I though "To hell with her, its the evil queen I'd want." Thats the kind of woman who knows what she wants and you know, she'd have the whole older, more experienced woman thing going for her too.

But then it would be a strange world if everyone was the same. I am sure some guys would prefer Snow White, and others still would rather have Prince Charming. Hell, I bet the fairy godmother has a few admirers too.

Just as long as you don't have a thing for the horse its all good.

Kristi ended up staying awake all last night with Ash. I'd felt exhausted and ended up crashing out before half nine. When I woke up, I went downstairs, dragged the pair of them up to bed and lay little Ash on my chest. He loves going to sleep there. Lay beside her for a couple of hours, not sleeping. Just holding her and Ash while they did. Eventually I carefully got up taking the baby with me and left her to get some more rest while me and Ash went and watched my favourite Scooby Doo movie (Scooby Doo & The Witches Ghost).

Going out shortly. Several people have accused me of being nice recently so I am going to go looking for some old people to randomly punch just so universal  balance is maintained. Kristi is awake now and getting the baby ready so I guess I should pull on some jeans and a tee shirt, then go out and embrace the big ol' sun shiney world with joy in my heart.

And punch some old people.  :tongueout:

AHA! i knew i forgot to tell you something! you know the american tv show"supernatural"? last week they did a crossover with scooby doo!! * don't punch any old women, they'll eat ash if you do, you know*

Yeah, we are big Supernatural fans. I was really surprised when I got Kristi into watching it. We got to watch the Scoobynatural episode tonight and I am looking forward to catching up with the rest of this season.

We decided to sit up tonight and watch Wrestlemania tonight. We do it occasionally. It starts at 1 am UK time, but I am on nights next week so I don't have to be up early.

Besides I think Ash needs to decide on who his favourite wrestler is early on. Shame he won't get to grow up watching the Ultimate Warrior taking down Ravishing Rick Rude though, or the Undertaker.

Actually got the D&D game going again. I had been worried with the break and then the baby we wouldn't get it going again. Wasn't the smoothest game as Ash had a bit of constipation (he hadn't pooped in over 24 hours), so we took some medical advice and gave him some sugar water. Apparently this works (although I must confess I'd had my doubts). He filled his nappy several times over and I think Kristi just about had a fit when she went to take his nappy off. We took a break from the game and I changed it instead before she threw up.

Got my 6 monthly assessment just before I came home. Was a big improvement on last years, but then I am in a much better place now, although I still have aways to go until I am back to where I was. Its been a long process but I am getting there, and if you are reading this Trevor, so will you my friend. :)

good on you, my brotherfriend. i can't say much else right now. later, okay?

Working for a living sucks. Why can't I have a fantastically wealthy relative who after leading a long and happy life died and left me all his/her wealth?

The universe is pretty selfish when it comes to things like that I find. It keeps all that kind of stuff for people who aren't me and expects me to work for it instead.


Ever noticed that people who claim they can't be fooled are actually the easiest to fool? Or that those who loudly proclaim their greater intellect or superiority over others are most often sadly lacking? Ah, to see outselves as others do. Now that is a rare gift, but it would be even better to able to look at ourselves without ego or self delusion and see who we really are.

But then, for many people I suspect that would be a terrifying thing to behold.

The joy of getting home from work on a Thursday and knowing that you are not back at work until Monday. Gotta take pleasure in the little things too.

Nice night walking home. Last night Kristi put Ash in the pram to come up and meet me and we went for a midnight stroll.

Watching the new Ghost in the Machine. It doesn't strike me as being as bad as everyone made it out to be, although it isn't great either. I don't remember the cartoon being this slow, but then it was a long, long time ago that I last watched it.

Trying to get the little fellow to go to sleep, but he just isn't getting tired tonight. Maybe I shouldn't have let Kristi put on Ash Vs The Evil Dead for him.

So we've hit Syria. Guess it is time to find out if Putin is willing to back up his words. Will wait to hear how the strikes went, but my advance guess is he will shout more but not do much. Besides I would imagine as with much that Russia has been going under him he is happy that it keeps the world distracted while he does stuff in areas that are more interest to him. Syria really is just a smoke screen and a side show is my bet at the moment, and unless Putin is going to the beat of Bolivian marching powder or something he isn't going to go to war on this one.

Now, there are some potentially very famous last words lol.

Couldn't get Ash to settle down to sleep today, so put on some metyal to listen to while I kept him amused. Of course he immediently dropped off to sleep. Kristi was less than pleased when I smiled and said "We have the baby from "Shoot 'Em Up." She does not like that film and told me she didn't approve of movies where people are trying to kill children.

Which as I pointed out to her confused me quite a lot, I mean she loves Harry Potter and that is what 7 films of exactly that.

Sometimes I can really see how people work and I can figure out what they are going to do and how they are going to react to things long in advance. Times like that the entire species just seems to confuse me. Oh well.

Hmm, one of my friends kids just posted a meme saying "Not In My Name - No War In Syria." I mean that right there confuses me. There has been a war raging in Syria for eight years now and I am pretty sure it has nothing to do with him at all.

Been cleaning up the house in preparation for the horde of visitors that starts a week today and goes on for a solid three weeks. In two weeks I estimate we will have 17 house guests.

Ouch.

Got Kristi to go out today with Ash so I could concentrate on getting some work done around the house. Man cave has been sorted out and the carpet cleaned, kitchen floor was scrubbed, laundry has been done, dishes washed and the front grass... well I've made that shorter. I am not one of those people who lovingly spends hours mowing the lawn so it looks perfect. But I do now have shorter grass. Was hoping to get some movies watched, but there is always later tonight. Dagon got out earlier and made straight to try and eat a bee flying around at the far end of the garden. Managed to stop him from chowing down on it on the basis that while there was the potiential for him to learn a valuable lesson, I also didn't fancy any possible vet bills.

We were planning on watching a movie tonight together but Ash is cluster feeding and it is leaving Kristi too tired. Ran her a bath, then had one myself afters, while she made dinner. So instead I am going to write some more stuff for tomorrows adventure and have some Hobgoblin Ale.

Hey, when you are done would you come to Texas and clean my house??

Sure, my rates are $25 an hour plus expences (ie you are paying the plane fare :P ).

Although my rates drop to $5 if you supply the beer too. And none of that US domestic stuff, I want proper alcohol. Canadian or European for preference.

Slightly tired today. Ash wouldn't settle last night so I ended up lying down with him resting on my chest. Lay that way until 3 or 4 in the morning. He was still lying there with his eyes wide open. However it turns out Ash can sleep with his eyes open and I have no idea at what point he actually fell asleep at.

Kristi woke me about around eight to ask how much sleep I'd gotten. Go figure.

Anyway, me and the boy are watching Hell Comes To Frog Town while I do some writing. Possibly got a big battle scene coming up which leads onto the next major chapter for the party. Pretty confident at least one party member will die when they hit that, but the rewards for it are equally high.

Or at least I was trying. Kristi just brought a very messy cat up to me. Ever tried bathing a cat?

I think I remember when my life was simpler, but that could just be a delusion brought on by tiredness.

Oh, 1666 posts. The year the great plague ended in London, and the year of the great fire of London.

Shame it didn't wipe the city out. London really is a tacky s**thole.

Got into work this morning. The expected computer apocalypse hadn't happened from a software upgrade. The random drug testing team arrived today and I got nominated to give a sample. Went over there needing a pee already, but had to wait in a bit of queue before I could give my sample.

A whole hour later.

Still, I'd rather be nominated to give a sample than be one of the guys who has to stand there and watch people peeing to make sure they give a sample and don't have someone else doing one for them or anything. One of my workmates was however voluntold for that duty. Poor guy, he is having a rough time of it right now. Come September his wife is going for major brain surgery. Poor lad is (understandably) in bits worrying about it. He looks how I felt a year ago.

Found a copy of the 1977 version of The Hobbit. Made Kristi dinner tonight and ran her a bath, while we watch it. It is enjoyably bad.

Until this day, I never thought I'd ever use the phrase "Take your finger out of my nose young man." Mind you in recent days I've also had to (try and) say "Yes, well done Ash. Your arm does indeed fit in my mouth down to the elbow" (that one was a bit muffled mind).

Sat all day in work waiting on a vitally important thing coming in that was supposed to arrive yesterday. Then it was a arriving some time this morning. Eventually it turned up just as I was leaving, but I handed it over to the next shift.

Other than that it was absolutely quiet, well except of Jim and Shona complaining. They complain a lot. I got fed up enough of listening to it and went for a walk for half an hour or so just to get away from it.

Got home and I am guessing from the way Kristi shoved Ash into my arms and told me she needed to go out that she'd have a rough day, so we picked up dinner from a fish and chip shop and had a walkabout. She is looking a lot more relaxed now.

Feeling an extreme need to go shave, but spending quality time with the family just now. Watching the new Jumanji which is a decent enough movie, with a few good laughs along the way. Older brother is visiting tomorrow, which will be the first time I've seen him since we had a big arguement. Not expecting him to bring it here, but if he does while I am at work Kristi will just tell him to leave and that will be that. Like I said though, not expecting that.

Still keeping Pernille amused by sending her drummer jokes. There are a lot of drummer jokes out there. When I used to be a roadie I came up with a theory that every time they hit a drum a brain cell dies. :P Telling her put a smile on her face. She wants me to move to Denmark so I can amuse her more. She also wants me to bring Kristi and Ash. She isn't trying to steal me away from her or anything lol.

Making plans to meet my mother in law on Saturday. Got a friend willing to pick her up on the way back from hillwalking, but I'd like to be there to welcome her too. It would be nice to have Ash with me, but that would mean taking him, a buggy and a car seat unless I just carry him in the seat all day. I am looking forward to a whole 9 days off work.

Watching Trick R Treat just now. One of my favourite films to watch for Samhain, but I couldn't find where my copy is last year. Found it on some netflix style site Kristi signed us up to recently. Its got a lot more of the type of movies I like than Netflix too.

The nights aren't getting dark here now until after eight. The weather is getting better and we are slowly gliding towards summer. Hope it is a good one for everybody.

Postsarestilltooshort  :wink:

Some people are just never happy. Alas I have a baby who limits my time writing on the forum.

Seriously, he put parental controls on and everything.

More whining from my work mates today. I have started wondering if perhaps euthanasia would be a mercy killing for them if their lives really are so miserable.

I always try to help people in need. Although the help I provide might not be what you expect.

Or want.

Still, I could find out if something I have always wondered about it actually doable or not. Kill two birds with one stone so to speak. Still, I just have tomorrow to go and then I have 9 days off. And I don't know how many people coming to visit in that time. My diary is filled with notes along the lines of Person X arrives via plane to Place 1 at insert time and person Z is leaving via Place 47 half an hour later. Be at both places and Travel to Edinburgh for 2 days with X,Y,Z and K.

The last time I had to look after this many people we were in Disneyland and I was in charge of the children. By the time their parents has resc collected them, I had renamed them all Bob (as I couldn't be bothered remember all their names, I simply changed them all to Bob thus making my life much easier), and I had taught them how to fart the national anthems of 3 major world countries. Well except for the girls. That would just be wrong and unladylike. I taught them how to belch the alphabet instead.

Jim (the co worker, not the brother) told me he loves me today. First time since I've gotten back from the Falklands that he has said that. I always just reply "I know." That isn't a Star Wars reference either.

Some people really are only alive because I think if I kill them, someone would make me fill in paperwork afterwards. And I'll do a lot to avoid doing paperwork. Hmm, just had a thought there. Could just be that I am thinking too small a scale here. I mean if you kill a few people then yeah you are going to have to do paperwork on it.

Pretty sure though if you took out enough people the requirement for the paperwork would eventually go away...

Starting to struggle on new drummer jokes, so I've started sending Pernille memes. There should be a decent enough supply out there to keep her going for a while.

Warned Kristi that tomorrow after I finish work I am going to be on a cleaning kick. When the mood takes me to clean up, its best to just stay out of my way and let me get on with it. My OCD kicks in on full flow and anyone between me and what I have decided to do does not get a fun time of it.

you are going to need a vacation after your vacation.
  what's the name of the site kristi signed you up for, please?
enjoy your time with your family, and write when you can!

So Friday CDT decided to return to camp. Ended up being one of their assistants so spent the whole day in a very hot toilet watching men pee.

That was a great start to the weekend I must say. Got home and just felt shattered. I can deal with the cold much better than heat. Plus doing a full time job, then coming home and doing all the housework and helping look after the baby finally just caught up with me I think. I was staggering around, walking into walls while doing housework so I went for a nap about half eight and slept for twelve hours, which is a significant improvement on my normal four hours, even if it did mean I then had loads of stuff to do before Lori arrived.

My mother in law arrived yesterday all safe and sound. She is staying for three weeks so I think its a good thing that we actually get on well. She spent most of yesterday cuddling Ash. Kristi ended up staying up with him all last night though. Dinner last night was dairy heavy and had jalapeños in it, and Ash didn't seem to appreciate that combination. She is now getting to sleep and I just finished feeding him a bottle of formula.

Cranked up the record player and we've been listening to some classic vinyl. Started with Meat Loaf (Bat of out Hell), onto some smooth Nazareth (Close Enough For Rock & Roll) and currently we are grooving to Iron Maiden (Piece Of Mind). Got up around seven o'clock this morning and just enjoying it being the two of us.

Even if the little fellow has another case of hiccups.

Took some leave so I am off all next week, which gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

Yesterday was a lovely and warm day (although Lori found it chilly, I'll put that down to her natural habitat being a high mountain desert). Today is a lot cooler and overcast, although the clouds aren't heavy enough to portend rain. Hoping it clears up a bit and I'll take everyone a walk down to the harbour later, pick up some ice creams for everyone.

Maybe I'll even make the trip into Elgin and see if I can find a new bad movie to add to the collection. :)

Ended up in Elgin, but didn't get any new movies. I bought a deck of MTG cards instead. Forgot to get a new light bulb for the man cave which continues a week long streak of forgetting to buy one. Hey, maybe when I have to go back in tomorrow I'll remember. Still it could be worse, Lori realised she left around $600 of her holiday spending money back in her house. Luckily for her though her son has a key for her house and can pick it up for them coming over on Wednesday. On the plus side, Lori brought me over a copy of 'Love At First Bite' which I can remember seeing in the cinema with my mum when I was just a little kid.

Lori brought 3 suitcases with her. Once all the baby clothes she'd brought over were emptied out, the remaining stuff she has doesn't fill one suitcase.


Been tidying up and so on. Just finished washing the dishes (yes I know you can buy dishwashers, however I don't like them). We now have a stack of washed pots and plates that to appreciate the size of you'd have to be with the Miskatonic expedition to the Antartic in 1930 when they found those mountains...

From a rather disappointing day it has turned into a glorius evening and although black clouds are on the way I am going to enjoy the sun shine while we have it.

Not many people seem to be fortunate enough to lead a life free of pain. By some peoples standards I've had a tough life but sadly I get to hear a lot of sob stories and when it comes to hardships faced mine doesn't even come in the top 50 worst I've heard. One thing that has struck me for a long time is that those who have only had a few terrible things to face seem to let it define themselves and how they face the world as a result, while those who have faced so much more seem to end up being such shining examples of what we can be at our best and be truly beautiful souls.

When I hear the story behind someones pain I listen carefully. Sometimes I admire their strength in facing pain in so many different ways and overcoming it.

Of course sometimes I hear these tales and think "Oh right, so that is your excuse for being an a***ole."

For myself while I acknowledge my pain as being part of me I try to not let it define me. Although it does play a large part in helping me decide who I don't want to be. If I was to let anyone who had hurt me in the past define me then they have won and I am stronger than that.

Question is who do you let define you? Are you strong enough to defy your tormentors, prove yourself better than them and win or do you crumble before them and be fit for nothing more than spreading your misery to others, striking out at the world in a hundred different but all equally futile and impotent ways?

What wretched useless wastes of skin the latter group are. Perhaps I should have more sympathy for them, but all I can feel is pity and contempt, while at the same time being in awe of those who can rise above it and make the world a better place. They will always have my respect and admiration and while I may not be equal to them it gives me something to look up to and strive to match. On the other hand I do have sympathy for those poor souls who have indeed faced the worst the world can throw at them time and time again and been broken by it. If I can help one of those rebuild their lives then I will try.

Dagon decided to curl up beside Ash today.

(https://i.imgur.com/gXFMM4t.jpg)

I think the rest of my family are thermal vampires and live off my body heat.

This includes the cat.

It is not unusual for me to find myself in the morning with all three of them all cuddled into me, seeking to claim their share of my precious body heat. I suspect they are some sort of Japanese demon. The Japanese have some seriously messed up supernatural creatures from living coral that must keep their bowl like heads filled with water to women with detachable heads which fly around at night eating people and all sorts of other things that... well they go a long way to explaining hentai. Curiously though, the week I was spiking random fevers, Kristi had to sleep as far away from me in the bed as she could due to the heat radiating off me.

I guess all those bad sci fi movies and TV shows where they cause creatures who live off energy to explode by overloading them with it were onto something.

Decided to put some of the scented wax in the heater thing Kristi got me, so my room smells of apple cinnamon right now.

Ash managed to flood his nappy this morning with poop. Fortunately though the baby grow he was wearing appears to have some sort of waterproof properties and managed to hold it all in. Sadly despite such sterling service the clothing may not be savable following the high degree of trauma.

I am looking suspiciously in the direction of Trevor and wondering if he has somehow been teaching him tricks.

Made up a bunch of bottles of feed last night and done all the feeding last night to let Kristi get a full nights rest. As Ash woke up every time I put him in his cot it also meant I sat up with him all night letting him sleep on my chest. Going to pick up Kristi's younger brother and his wife from the airport shortly. Marc has a think about socks and in his honour I am wearing two mismatched ones as that will totally freak him out. One is black and yellow while the other is gray and purple. Really, if you have a weakness like that you really should never, ever tell me as I will use it whenever the chance arises.

Mwah hah hah!

Also got my mum and sister arriving today, the health visitor is popping in to check up on Ash and then tomorrow we go off to Edinburgh for two days. Marc is used to travelling and ignoring jet lag, but I wonder how his poor wife Hali (pronounced Holly) will react. She has never been out of the USA before. With just a week over here she gets hit with it she isn't going to get over that in the time available. For a seven hour time difference I recommend at least 3 weeks, but getting a baby sitter for four kids for that length of time is tough.

Their flight is being steadily delayed so waiting to see when they actually leave the ground.

 :buggedout: :buggedout: +  :bouncegiggle: :bouncegiggle:

First smile of the day, thanks  :teddyr:

 :teddyr: :teddyr:

Uncle Trevor has been known for many years as the designated fun Uncle.  :smile:

ah yes, the yokai..i have an index of them, i'll  see if there's a heat demon..i think there is.
 

Been a few days since I've been able to post. Got Marc and Hali and we all trooped off to Edinburgh for two days. We didn't do too much the first night other than go to Hard Rock for a meal (they come all the way from the USA and want to go to a chain you can get back home? Oh well). Everyone else was too tired to go do anything at night, although I had insomnia so sat up all night in our hotel room with a baby who likes to make strange noises in the dark. Our hotel was close to the Playhouse where the Ozzy Osbourne incident happened so many years ago. Or didn't happen depending on how you want to look at that particular day.

Anyway about 1 am Ash made a noise and this is the thought that went through my head.

"If some sort of squid type alien had just gotten into our room and attacked Ash that is exactly the noise it would have made."

Good job the logical part of my brain knew that the chances of that happeing were so close to zero as to be completely ignorable.

About 10 seconds later I leapt out of bed, checked Ash was ok and then examined all possible ways into our room for any signs of any alien ichor or forced entry via air vents and so on.

I also really wished I had a flare gun as lets face it, if you have to deal with some sort of alien invasion a flare gun is the weapon that 9 times out of 10 is going to deal with it for you.

Since they are big Harry Potter fans we went to the Elephant House cafe where those books were started, then went down the street a little way to Grayfriers cemetary where she got some of the names for the characters from (so I've been to the final resting place of Tom Riddle), not to mention the whole Grariers Bobby thing. A quick look around the National Museum followed and then we split into two groups. Kristi and her mum Lori went shopping in the old town, while I took Marc, Hali and Ash up to the castle. Being from the US it amazed them that we have buildings almost a thousand years old (the oldest surviving party of the castle is a chapel dating from 1138, although there has been fortifications on the site for the last 2000 years.

After that we went to Frankensteins for a meal. 'Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man' was playing while we were in there. Although the sound was off I knew the script pretty much off by heart.

Finally we popped into the National Art Gallery as Marc loves that stuff (via a walk through the Princess Gardens), before it was time to get the train home. Got back about midnight. Unfortunately Ash who had been much better behaved that we expected the whole trip then decided this was the time to start crying, and pretty much didn't stop until around 1 pm. Everyone else is out shopping in Elgin, but I figured he needed some time not being held and just chilling out, so he is sleeping on the COMFY ARMCHAIR OF DOOOOOM!!!!! while I am playing some Thin Lizzy (Chinatown for any fellow fans). It was pouring down rain this morning which somewhat confused my desert dwelling relations, but it looks like the afternoon has turned into a lovely day. At some point I'll get the photos sorted out and stick some up here from the trip.

Family shot from Ash's naming day.

(https://i.imgur.com/25Bhk0W.jpg)

From left to right we have James, Cameron, Dawn and Adam (my older brothers family), Hali (Kristi's sister in law), me, Marc (Kristi's younger brother), Kristi and Ash, Lori (Kristi's mum), my little sister Elizabeth, Linda & Stewart (younger brother & wife) and then my mum.

Nice  :smile:

Well that is Hali and Marc heading back off to the states after a somewhat frentic week. Two down and three more guests to go. My mum and sister go home tomorrow and Lori on Monday. After that we can start putting our lifes back in order lol. Our bedroom looks like a terrorist group targetted it for major destruction.

Marc was asking me if we'd be settling in the UK or the USA when my contract is up in five and a half years. It's something we have discussed a lot. We do actually have a list of things that we prefer in each country but pretty much two major issues decided on us remaining in the UK, although occasionally Kristi has shown some sign of homesickness so that might change. Pretty much it comes down to we prefer the gun laws and medical system in the UK. Marc did mention that the US is a big country and the chances of Ash being in a school when it was attacked are incredibly low, but I also countered that the last time I was over a massacre was very narrowly prevented at a school his niece had attended which kind of brought things a bit closer to home for him. I don't like the idea of moving to another country though and trying to change it, so I guess that is something I'd have to get used to were we to decide to move.

Some of the things on the preferences list are slightly odd, like we both prefer the way toilets flush in the US, and that a Country Boy Double Burger with Bacon and Cheese is the best burger I have ever had, and kept me fed for almost two days. We also perfer driving on the wider US roads. How the military is treated is a big mixture, with both sides doing certain elements better than the other.

I think in the end though, we decided if we were going to move, we'd split the difference and go to Canada.

Not the French speaking part though obviously. I have some standards y'know.

As of yesterday, the day of leaving is 1888 days away. Did you know wax straws were first patented in 1888? Or that a three day blizzard in the north eastern US killed 400 peoples? Also the first football league was formed.

Come to Texas and I will teach you the fine art of arrowhead hunting!

Hunting with nothin' but some tiny sharpened stones?  :buggedout:

I thought you needed a bow & some sticks & feathers & a bow string &...

 :wink:

Early finish tonight, the joy of which is slightly tempered by the news we heard that one of the guys from the base has died out on ops. We had actually heard last night, but we were keeping it quiet until after his family had been informed.

One of the topics of conversation tonight was about how they would repatriate the body to bring him home. From what we've heard it sounds like he was accidently hit by a taxi. You travel that far around the world to help fight a war and you get killed in a way that could happen to anyone walking down the street.

And then there was one.

My mum and Elizabeth went home today just leaving Lori, who goes home on Monday, which by coincidence is also my birthday and most years also a national holiday meaning I very rarely had to go to school on my birthday and well as getting it off work.

Went in on nights, got all all my work done by about five past six and my boss said, fair enough. If you've done everything you can go home. Not going to complain about that. And I don't have to worry about going back until Tuesday.

As always it is nice having visitors, but it is also nice just to have time to ourselves when they've left.

We seem to be having a bit of Jurassic movie night tonight. Lori had only ever seen the first one. I have a cousin who worked on the computer effects for the sequels. Charles always did love computers.

Mentioned to my mum that me and Kristi were going to go off for a weekend or something together after our guests have left and she insisted on giving me £100 towards that. I worry she isn't leaving herself enough money but if I refused it, it would only hurt her feelings.

Hoping I can get some time and I'll do some writing while we are back to just the three of us. Of course Ash may have some say in that and what I do with my free time.

Discovered my mother in law hadn't seen any Star Wars films since Revenge of the Sith. Given its May the fourth, today it seems appropriate to have a Star Wars day. We are starting with Rogue One, The Force Awakens and then The Last Jedi.

Of course I prefer tomorrow, when its Revenge of the Fifth.

Dagon got his first set of immunisations yesterday. He is a bit older than I'd normally have liked to get them given he is around a year old now, but it has been a busy year. He was fine when he got the jags but boy did he look ill last night. He just lay slumped on Kristi until she had to move and then he crawled over into his travel case and lay inside there, which is all very unusual behaviour for him. Normally he is running around all night looking for attention. Anyway, I took him upstairs when I went to bed and Kristi decided to sleep downstairs with the baby in his cot. Dagon didn't move all night. Fortunately he appears to feel a lot better today and is back to his normal self.

Spent last night looking through bestiaries looking for two suitable creature types for the D&D campaign. Finally got two that will work and will hopefully provide a surprise for the party. Hopefully we'll get another game next weekend as all our guests will have went home. What can I say, having a break from reality helps keep me sane.

Certainly a lot of the films I watch need something to counter balance them lol.

Watched Black Panther yesterday, so I guess I am all caught up now and ready to see Infinity Wars. To be honest I couldn't see why BP was such a big hit beyond people going to see it because there aren't many big mainstream movies about black superheroes I guess.

Or maybe there are and I've just never heard of them?

There was a Scottish theme day on in the town today, so we took Lori in for that, so she could see the pipe bands and whatnot. They had some battle reenactments going on, which I struggled not to mock. They were parrying each other blades with their claymores rather than their shields and doing the thing when you spin around to strike at your opponent. You know what I call that bit of a fight?

That is the bit where I stick my sword into your back and let it protrude from your chest. Hey, if you can keep spinning once I've done that you'll even cut yourself in half for me. Hollywood has a lot to answer for there.

And don't get me started on the whole holding the gun sideways and firing thing that they do. You want to get a jam in your gun, cos unless you are using a revolver that is a good way to get one.

Took Ash into a toyshop today. I figured he is owed 8 weeks worth of back pay on pocket money and got him some toys. Got him a microphone thing so he is getting random noises out of that just now which seems to be keeping him amused. The others he can get a few months down the line. Kristi did stop me from buying him a huge lego kit though.

It was going to write about something light and moderately amusing tonight, but my mind has wandered to other places.

I find it slightly ironic that as my depression slips away that I am finding something I had thought long gone returning. My anger at the world. It is no where near what it was from my early teens all the way through to my late twenties, but it is building. All the venom that has been missing since I went to the effort of putting a curse on someone.

Quite a few people have told me I am a nice guy. Until I was about 12 to be honest I'd have agreed. After that I spent somewhere around a decade and a half living on rage and hate. Oh, if only I could tell them of the things I had done during those years. Things that I am aware would be considered bad, even evil (although what you consider evil and what I consider it may vary quite considerably) and yet I feel no guilt about them. But then guilt is a rare visitor on my emotional plane. I tend to maintain a group of friends who I look at as being my conscience for me since I don't seem to carry one around with me. The people that fulfil that role change over the years and rarely know that I think of that way.

I can't even say that all of that is in my past and I am a different man now, or that I wouldn't do the same again if I was put in the same situation. Even to this day I still reserve my anger for people I feel have used me. This comes in handy when I decide to plot some long gestating revenge plot. I seem to have taken a line from a movie I watched as a child to heart. "Don't get mad, get even."*

One thing is different though these days from the younger me, who if you'd given him the big red button would have happily pushed it and let the gods sort out the mess afterwards.

For once in my life I actually have a stake in the future. I have a little man who for some years to come is going to depend on me (and his mum) for everything.

Despite my years as a roadie, casual sex and whatnot, I have made sure of one thing. I have no fear of a knock at the door and someone turning up and saying "Hey, you are my dad!" The same precautions have also ensured that I've never picked up an STD either, so I am fairly confident they have worked.

When I look at little Ash lying in my arms and his three states that define his world (I am hungry, I am asleep, I am lying awake but not crying), I wish I could be passing a better world onto him.

For someone who (in Druidic terms) rode the apocalypse train (a term we used to describe those who despared of the human race sorting itself out and encouraged it to race to its own self destruction as quickly as possible in order to let some other species have a go) this is a new thing. Then again, just finding someone I could share a house with, without wanting to kill them within 3 weeks is quite something. I really never expected to be married, never mind that we have lasted five years together. It can't be easy on Kristi living with me, but she seems to manage it pretty well.

As one Indian tribe said (or maybe it was the vikings?), in every person there are two wolves battling for supremacy. One seeks to bring goodness to the world and the other one hatred. Which one wins?

Well, that depends on which one you feed the most. Sadly the majority of people can't even take a good look in the mirror and admit to themselves which one they feed. After all, it takes strength to chose one, whereas only weakness is required for the other.

So I guess right now, mine are going ten rounds, no point draws, no TKO's, only a full 10 count will do.

Do I embrace the new future and the promise that I can hold in my arms or do I go back to old (and it has to be said, comfortable) ways?

I'd imagine anyone still bothering to read this far is saying, "Well of course the former". But do you inside truly embrace that spirit too? Do you always take the path of forgiveness and understanding or do you lash out in your pain and anger? There is a question to ask yourself in the small hours of the night when you can't get to sleep.

I guess I could ramble on this way at quite some length but I am going to feed one particular wolf tonight and go hug my wife and baby.

Blessings be on you, and may you feed the right one.

*Animal House.

All of us have two natures, to some degree.  I have spent years trying to "feed the positive dog," as my wife puts it.
But the bad boy gets awfully hungry sometimes . . .  I still try to starve him.

So today my long awaited secret business plan has went into effect. I have decided to go into farming, although not just any kind of farming. The road sign going up somehow makes it feel all official.

(http://i.imgur.com/njuVAyu.jpg)

What could possibly go wrong with this scenario?

So the group activity I've ended up having to plan myself for my work instead of the people who were supposed to plan it (but then dropped out while I was on leave meaning I came back to work and found I'd to do it) has finally all been sorted and signed off.

Just as well really since it is on Monday.

We are going to a nearby wood, where I am going to murder them all one by on..., *cough* ahem, where we are going to see the remains of old World War Two defences and then go to the beach and do a clean up. Each person also has to do a stand where they talk about some topic I have set them. For example mines is "Following the fall of France, it was thought that there was a real threat of the Axis invading via Norway. What was done to discourage the Germans from invading this area (physical defences and counter intelligence).

If I had thought about it though I would have made every one elses topics "Your bank details and pin numbers."

Ash got his first immunisations yesterday. Yes, I know they cause autism, chem trails are a real thing, the royal family are really lizard people and I have a tower in Paris that I can sell you, but you know what? We decided to take that chance. Anyway, he screamed while the needles were stuck in him, but was fine two seconds after they had beem removed. We were watching him last night for side effects which didn't seem to appear, although today he has been a bit off.

Tomorrow afternoon I have a formal do to go to. Shirt, tie and pass the port properly or you get fined. I'll let you know how that one goes later.

thank you not being one of the conspiracy freaks about vaccinations. you have no idea what that means to me.   :cheers:

My younger brother had to get a kidney transplant and as a result he has a compromised immune system. He has to rely on herd immunity so immunisations are a big thing for me.

The posh meal went well. I don't consider the food to have been worth the £30 it cost but hey, I made the effort to socialise with people. Eat with your cutlery started from the outside and work your way round, pass the port the correct way round the table (not forgetting to pour for the woman on your left), don't leave the table while food is being served and all that kind of stuff. I am aware of the etiquette I just don't care for eating that formally.

Although frankly it was more about getting away from work for an afternoon.

Got the beach clean tomorrow morning, another half day out the office. My warrant officer is rather unhappy with me for giving him a talk to do, as is the flight sergeant. I got an email telling me I may not have made the best career move in giving him extra work. Well, he gave me the task of setting up this walk so he can damn well get some of it passed right back up to him. :P

Heh heh heh. It is said that in the military s**t rolls down hill (meaning that the lower your rank the more crap jobs come your way). Guess what, I am an aircraft technician. It is my job to make s**t fly.

Kristi took Ash to church today. Sunday is supposed to be the day though that I get to spend one on one time with him while she is at church. I don't mind him going with her now and again, but I have said that if the weather is nice next Sunday I'll be taking him a walk along the east beach (I've got a harness that I can carry him on my chest with rather than trying to push a buggy through the sand).

Kristi suggested playing a game of X-Wing tonight. By the time we got everything set up though it was too late to start the game. We've left it set up though to play tomorrow. I am taking my Black Sun Skysharks (five Z-95 Headhunters) and a couple of friends (a Starviper and a Lancer) while she is going with a fat Han (means a Millenium Falcon with a ton of modification cards), a X-Wing, a B-Wing and a captured TIE fighter. She plays a lot more modification cards than me, while I tend to prefer a large number of ships with only a few mods scattered through my fleet.

So the training day arrived and off I went with a select bunch to do a beach clean and check out some of the local world war two defences. We got lovely weather for it, although it turned out that there wasn't that much litter to pick up.

It is a little known fact that the beach I picked for our tidy up had another group do a tidy up on it last week.

Heh heh heh.

Anyway, since I was in charge of the walk (although there were senior ranking people on it too, its sort of complicated that way) I did my talk first. When everyone else had there turn I gave them prizes depending partially on how well they'd done, but mostly on how much I like them. I'd also picked up some Snickers bars that had different names on them like "Grumpy" (which was awared to Dinky for complaining that I had misspelt his name), "Irritatable" (which went to the Warrant Officer for complaining that I had given him a talk to do), or "Broken" which went to Al Airey for not being able to complete the threee and a half mile walk (Al is a civvy with two bad legs).

Hazel made a comment about how she only liked the really big ones which had me laughing so much Irn Bru came dribbling down my nose. Anyway, if anyone is interested in this sort of thing, my talk is reproduced below.


We walked from Roseisle Wood (although it is no long an isle), to Findhorn. When we started the Warrant started walking along the shale, which is actually pretty tough to walk along. After we'd stopped for the second talk he complained that we should swap sides of the beach and the people who had been walking on the wet sand should take the shale instead. I said fair enough. This meant I got to watch him get wet feet when he tried to jump the stream running along the middle of the beach. About ten minutes later he found himself trapped between the incoming tide and the now swollen stream and had to get wet feet again.

Truly it is the little things in life that provide the greatest pleasure. Not that my Warrant is a bad guy as Warrant's go but when you get the chance to do these things to your boss...

Anyway, we made it to Findhorn and sat at a little cafe overlooking the marina while we waited for our mini bus to arrive. The last stand of the day was the aforementioned Warrant's. I'd been giving up various bars of chocolate as prizes all day long, but since the Warrant had mentioned last week he was on a diet I took out a big bar of chocolate and said "This is what you could have had, but since you are on a diet have an apple instead."

I had a fun day, although I am pretty sure I successfully killed off any last lingering possibilities of promotion with it.

Ok, this is just a purely personal thing, but here are the things that bug me about The Last Jedi.

When the First Order arrives at the start the order is given to take out the ground base first and then the fleet. Why? If you took out the fleet first the ground base is going nowhere. They seemed to have no anti spacecraft weaponary on the ground so the base presented no threat to the fleet.

On the ground assault later in the film there is no orbital bombarment to soften up the defences before the assault is launched. While the fleet was damaged by the light speed manoveur if it is still capable of landing a ground force, then surely something would equally be capable of launching an attack at the defenders.

Everytime a distraction appears, be it the Falcon or Luke all guns are ordered to fire on this target rather than sending part of the available forces to deal with it.

Not looking for a big debate into movie logic. I mean afterall, it is all fantasy but for some reason these points are irritating me when I watch it.

I have 1875 days left in the job. In 1875 the first recorded hockey game was played in Montreal. There were also bread riots in the same city. Snooker was invented by a bored British army officer in India. Alexander Graham Bell made the first sound transmission (I'll assume that is supposed to be via wires, as making any noise involves sound transmission). The first roller skate rink was also opened, which was in London.

Some days you spent lying on the beach, basking in the sun shine while some attractive waitress brings you cold drinks as you enjoy the millions you have stashed in your bank account.

Other days you sit and somehow manage to get a huge blockage of snot out of your son's nose using only the cap off a pen.

I will let you, gentle reader decide which kind of day mines was.

Odd to think that we are really only just getting out of winter and yet the longest day is not far away.

We have booked tickets to go to a concert in Inverness this weekend. It is a Bee Gees tribute act who do there music in a heavy metal style. Should be interesting.

So yesterday I sent out an email to a section basically saying can you let us know if you have received tech instruction number blah blah blah. Nothing particularly interesting or special about that. It is one of the more mundane and unremarkable things I have to do in my job and something I've done I suspect thousands of times before.

Today I got a reply from the Flt Sgt in charge of this particular section repremanding me for my tone and being condescending. I mean the email was about 10 words long including saying 'Good morning' at the start and 'Regards' at the end.

I wanted to reply with an email saying 'Dry your eyes cupcake', but my boss suggested that, ok she didn't suggest she gave me a flat out hell no. I wrote a second version that was more polite, but my ending of it with "Apologies for you reading that email in a tone that wasn't intended" made it sound as if I was having a go at him.

Well to be fair, by that point well yes I was. I mean the original was in no way meant to cause offence and to the best of my knowledge no one else ever has taken it as such.

Anyway, to cut a long story short I was told just to not reply to the message.

I wonder if he will now get offended at me ignoring him? Oh well, I guess being a snowflake isn't limited to millenials.

I am thinking about reviving something we used to do as teenagers where every year in December we'd pull some big practical joke. An idea occured to me and I am having a problem saying no to it. I am thinking about replacing pictures of Jesus with ones of Ewan McGregor as Obi Wan Kenobi just to see how long it is before anyone notices. It isn't quite as grand as some of the japes we pulled in previous years, but it is a start. It all started because of a sign outside a newsagents with the headline of the day on it. It read "Armed Robbers Wanted!".

By the time we'd finished with it, it read "Armed Robbers Wanted! Apply within." It then went on to list the terms and conditions of employment and so on. The next year we arranged christmas dinner to be brought to the addicts ward in the local hospital.

Yup, we took them cold turkey.

And things went on from there for the next four and five years.

 :teddyr: :teddyr:

As someone who was addicted to painkillers for two months - not long, I know but I was and am a recoveree - I would have appreciated that turkey and the gesture.  :thumbup:

That was actually a pretty complicated plan involving getting uniforms, fake IDs and so on.

So on a whim Kristi decided when I finished work today, we'd go out to the local fleapit and watch Deadpool: Even Deader (hey it is the tagline it should have went with in my book!). Alas since it is rated a 15 in the UK they wouldn't let us take Ash in.

He is 10 weeks old, can't yet focus properly on objects, has decidedly limited vocal skills (ok, some of the noises he makes I do not understand how they can come out of a human throat, but if it is a language he speaks, then it is not one meant for mortal men) and yet the cinema staff thought he might be corrupted by the content of the movie.

I mean when I was a child I could watch pretty much any film I wanted until the video nasty scare hit and it never corrupted me. I mean I hardly ever kill anyone. Unless they deserve it, get in my way somehow, if I am irritated, because it is my job or I think it would be funny (I try to be humane about though I mean just last week I'd to take out some old man and I put my slippers on when I kicked him to death so it wouldn't hurt as much), or someone else pays me. Funny though, for all the times people offered me money to kill someone, no one has ever offered me money to kill them. Actually, thinking about it suicide by hitman wouldn't be a terrible idea. You could take out a huge bank loan to pay for it, pay the hitman with the cash and then die with the satisfaction of knowing that by dying owing money you have finished ahead of the game.

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26wrvblgGP0#)

Anyway, we decided to go out for a meal after getting our tickets refunded.

Saw a post from someone talking about the latest school shooting in the states and that there was no way to prevent these things happening. Yeah, says someone from the only country in the world where this happens regularly. He also claimed it was his god given right to own guns. Well, not sure I ever read that in any of my bibles (it might surprise you to know I own 6 or 7 bibles and have even read some of them, although I cannot claim to have read it cover to cover. As Yoda would say "Page turners, they are not!"). Pretty sure that was a human decided thing, unless I missed a section of the commandments that said "Thou shalt be allowed to own guns" or maybe Moses or Jesus once said "Thy guns are more important than thy children. Suffer ye not the little children to live but instead sacrifice them on the altar of the second amendment."

You might have a small dick or just feel sexually inadequate, but hey you can make up for it by having a big gun.

Maybe other people will find this strange given my job, but I think that everyone that is pro gun ownership should be made to walk through a morgue with children that have been killed by firearms and forced to look at the face of every dead child to make sure they understand what they are promoting. But then, I think it is easy to promote that kind of thing unless you actually have to face the consequences of your actions and beliefs. Look into those eyes that have began to cloud over, feel the skin that feels like cold clay and then stand up and say "Hell yes, this is worth it."

Look at yourself in the mirror. Could you really do that? And if you can you really say you are a fit human being? I leave that question up to each persons conscience. Right now, I am just feeling for parents that are never going to see their child come running home again. I ache for them and hope that I'll never find myself in such a position.

One of the few times I will give my own free time for something work related thing is when they plant a garden of remembrance. They didn't do one last year, I guess because the conflicts we are involved in aren't grabbing headlines, but the last time I did it we were planting little crucifixes with a remembrance poppy and a photo a soldier who had died in Afghanistan or Iraq on it, until there was one planted for every fallen soldier. At one point I had to plant three of them in a row where the ages of the combatants had all been 18. I put them in, looked at their young faces and the thought that came across my mind was "Oh for f**ks sake's lads. Did your mothers even know you were out?"

I've heard a lot of people say it is a good thing to give up your life for your country. I dunno, dead is dead to me however it happens. A dead body feels like cold clay regardless of how it gets there, and believe me decomposing does is no respecter of why you died. Besides I have never seen the flag, uniform or country that has stopped a single bullet or shed a tear to say it appreciated your unasked for sacrifice on its behalf. But then such symbols have always had no meaning for me. It surprised me when I found out it upset Kristi when she saw her flag being burned in a protest in the middle east. To be honest the question that goes through my head at times like that is generally "Where do they get those flags from?" I mean is there a chain of "Flags R Us" across the middle east where you can go buy a flag of whatever country has upset them this week and burn it in the street? Anyway, if I ever die in the line of duty I don't want anyone to think I was some kind of hero. I was doing it simply because they pay me well, and if you were able to ask me about it I am willing to bet I'd say I am really p**sed off about being dead. Honestly I don't feel any different from a mercenary, except on the occasions when someone or someones have done something that has actually touched me inside. If you get that kind of reaction from me, it can be for better or for worse but its a reaction you'll remember for the rest of your life.

Insert appropriate angry music.
! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nXCZhqTIps#)

So back to our night. Had a nice meal in one of the local bars and did some shopping at the local supermarket. Kristi could tell I was feeling a bit down about not getting to see the movie, so I got to buy some DVDs and got myself a bottle of Jim Bean. Once upon a time it would have been Jack Daniels, but for several months some years ago that disappeared from the shops and when it returned the price had doubled. I didn't drink Jack Daniels because it is good. In fact quite the opposite. I drink it because it is crap, it doesn't have the bite of a good whiskey that burns the back of your throat but doesn't taste terrible, you can throw several of them down your throat in rapid succession and I don't feel bad if I pollute it by adding coke or Irn Bru or what ever. Since JD is now £26 to £30 per bottle and which for that sort of money I can get a decent quality whiskey I switched to Jim Bean at £14 a bottle. Tastes just the same too, although JD does have the cooler looking label.

I am currently reaching the end of my second Jim Bean and accelerating fast. Who wants to join me for a drink and we'll solve the worlds problems together? Or maybe I'll just let my rage loose and see how much of the world I can burn down.

Or maybe I'll look at this and feel a reason to be less angry. Or just angry in a different way because we and the generations before us have failed to pass on a better world to them. And I include myself equally in that. No point raging at the rest of the world if you can't look at yourself and see where you have failed. Not doing so just makes you a whiny p***y.

(http://i.imgur.com/dgG4AA8.jpg)

Ok, mostly my solution involves blowing up the parts of it that annoy me. Or countries/continents I've not slept with some woman from (I am looking at you Antarctica, Central America, Russia and the whole of Africa*** (I have never actually met a female African over the age of consent. I am going to blame Trevor and Bruce for this, who are the only African's I know, indeed they were both born in the same country).

***Please note that this doesn't mean that I've had sex with women from every other country in the world, but I have managed a fair chunk of them (including a few most people aren't aware exist) before I got married but I did manage most of the important ones.

I tell you, Alex - I'm a teacher.  I am about to put on a coat and tie and watch 17 young people that I have taught for six years receive their diplomas tonight.  The thought of them lying in a pool of blood, dead before their time, because some nut with a gun had a grievance (real or imagined) horrifies me. Personally, I'm ready to throw every single AR-15 in America into a volcano tomorrow.

But - I also teach our history and our constitution.  Like it or not, the Second Amendment EXISTS.  And to remove it would take a 2/3 majority either in both houses of Congress, or of all the state legislatures, simply to send the new amendment out for ratification.  To actually add it to the Constitution would take a 3/4 majority of all the states!  And there are many Americans who are so afraid - either of crime in their neighborhoods, or of a tyrannical government, or of change itself, that you would literally have to pry the guns from their cold dead hands.

I don't know what to do.  I actually like the principles behind the Second Amendment, but they have become perverted and misused over time.  And it's not JUST the guns.  When I was in High School, around 1978-82, in a rural Texas town - there were rifles in the gun rack of every truck in the parking lot during deer season - both faculty and student vehicles!  And yet no one shot up a school.  Guys who had a beef got in fist fights behind the school after 3:30, or somewhere off campus, and that was the end of it.  Something in our culture over here has changed.  I don't know what it is and I don't know how to fix it, but I am TIRED OF DEAD KIDS.  More tired than I can possibly say.

So I do what I can.  I love the ones I cross paths with, I try to teach them right from wrong and let them know they are worthwhile and cherished.
And I pray the next gunman doesn't come through our doors. But if he does -


he'll have to go through me to get to my kids!

The thing is my friend that I am not totally against gun ownership. I do however believe there has to be reasonable rules in place about who can own them and how they are stored and OK, I am viewing this through the lens of the media from another continent, but from what I hear it seems that certain vested interests are determined that there should be almost no rules in place to govern things and they have the money and influence to get their way.

The very thing that is supposed to guarantee freedom seems to have brought instead the tyranny of the gun instead, which is all the worse because people have brought it on themselves. Believe me, I gave up hoping for a real meaningful change in gun laws some time ago, and well in the end of the day it isn't my country, I don't get a say and all I can do mourn with the bereaved.

And on a completely different note, me and Kristi went to a gig last night to see a band called Tragedy. If you've not heard of them I can recommend checking them out. They do covers of songs (mostly Bee Gees), but in a heavy metal style.  The energy between the band members really helps make the night. They come out all wearing glitter and silver hot pants combined with some death metal make-up, drawn on tattoos and so on.

Anyway, we had a great night. The support act was a The Police cover band that had one of the best guitarists I've heard in a long time. Little things like the band announcing they were changing their name to "King Neil Dimond King Of The Jews" and then launching into a super charged version of Sweet Caroline really made the whole thing for me. Shame there was only about 50 people at the gig as it was a really good one, but if they do another UK tour (they are from New York), I'll be doing my best to encourage more people to go see them.

Our friend Cat babysat Ash for us. I was impressed Kristi wasn't phoning home every fifteen minutes to check everything was ok. Songs they played included Stayin' Alive, Africa, YMCA, Country Roads, Grease, You Are The One That I Want, How Deep Is Your Love & You Should Be Dancing.

Some years ago, not long after we first moved into this house we had a huge invasion of ants. I ended up one day having to skip work to deal with it. At one point there were so many of them on the kitchen floor, I just filled a bucket of water and poured it over the floor to kill them off. Ant powder was then deployed in strategic places around the house where they could get in. Since then we have had peace, but this year they have found a new way in.

And just because I've not posted any baby pictures for a while.

(http://i.imgur.com/MK0CqSP.jpg)



(http://i.imgur.com/QA8Uwt1.jpg)

And here is some pictures from the gig.

(http://i.imgur.com/3EGGMNH.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/AnnCDhp.jpg)

ants? i can help. obviously you don't want anything toxic having a furbaby and a human baby.
  corn starch is your friend. sprinkle it anywhere you see them coming in, in the backs of cupboards, etc...they will literally smother in it, and it eats their feet too. add in eucalyptus oil in window and door ledges, no spiders either. or roaches, or any of those evil little bastiges!  :cheers:

I can feel my life energy being slowly sucked out of me. I don't know how much longer I have.

The most depressing person I have ever met has been invited round for dinner. As I was supposed to be on nights this week this wouldn't have been a problem except things got switched around. Normally if she is going to come round I require two weeks notice to mentally prep myself to face her, but this time I had just over a day.

The plants in the house have started wilting already since she arrived seven minutes ago. I think I want to find a polar bear and flick it in the nuts. At least it will be a quicker death than the slow sucking of my will to live.

One of my work collegues asked if there had been another shooting spree in the US this morning. Someone else answered, "If not wait a few hours and there will be."

Sadly from what I am hearing on the news this seems to be true.

 :teddyr: :teddyr:

My Mom can assist with the plants - she has green fingers like the Hulk never had - but she will leave the polar bear up to you.  :wink:

I used to keep Venus Flytraps. I'd even catch flying insects and feed them to the plants. All you really have to do with them though is keep them out of direct sunlight and give them water. I left Kristi to look after them for two weeks while I had to go somewhere and came back to find them all dead.

Went out a walk after work today since we are still having nice weather. This upcoming bank holiday weekend is supposed to be scorching weather.

This makes me suspicious as bank holidays never ever have nice weather.

The only reasonable explanation is that I have done one of my semi regular slips into an entirely different reality. As Sherlock Holmes would say, once you remove the impossible, what ever is left however improbable is invariably true.

I heard that one of my ex's has split up with yet another boyfriend in pretty much the same circumstances as she has split up with every other man she has ever been with. It is always all their fault. Still, she has (or at least had, I don't know if she still has) a group of friends who believe her every word and will no doubt coo all over her, offering an appropriate amount of sympathy and so on. I'd have to say though that Schadenfreude is my word of the day as although I've been trying not to, I can't help smiling when I think of her being miserable. Part of me is even tempted to drop her an email saying "Hey, how you doing? Been a long time. I am happily married with a baby, work is going great and life couldn't be much better. Hows things with you?" just to rub salt into the wound, but since it took me five years to get her to stop messaging me (to the point I had decided right, one more message and I am going to see about a restraining order) I am pretty sure I won't go down that path. She told me once that I would end up dying alone (along side telling me I was crap at relationships, rubbish in bed and all sorts of other things). Funny thing is, I believe ultimately we all die alone. However that what we don't have to do is live life alone, and I am pretty sure that is what fate has in store for her. Not something I'd wish on anyone, but I also wouldn't wish having to put up with her on anyone either.

On our walk today Kristi kept on asking me how I felt about various things that I have no particular opinion on either way. After the third, fourth or maybe it was fifth question I just started singing "I'm Easy". I also tried hitting the high notes, and putting high notes in where there weren't any. Given I will cheerfully admit that I am not a good singer, I'll let you imagine just how that sounded. It did get me lots of strange looks from people passing by (mind you, you should have seen the looks I was getting the other day in the local shop. I was carrying Ash in a harness with him against my chest and "Addicted To Love" came on the shop radio and I started dancing around with Ash), but it made Kristi laugh.

I'll do a lot to get to hear that woman of mine laugh. I love the sound of it, and if acting like a bit of a clown gets me there then that is what I'll do.

After we got home Ash wouldn't settle unless he was in motion. Kristi was trying to write some stuff for her new job and I wanted her to have peace and quiet for it, so I spent an hour walking up and down the living room to keep Ash settled. Eventually he went to sleep, so I've snuck him up the stairs with me. Had to change his diaper. He'd done a huge baby poop, so I was changing that and he decided to pee as well. He then started kicking his legs just to mix it all up together.

Yay for babies. Although more yay for the plastic changing mat I had him on which prevented me from having to scrub the carpet. Anyway. gave him a bath and now his mother is taking over for a bit.

An email went round looking for people to tell inspirational stories of how they got into their job to tell to school kids. I filled in the form, but I don't think they are going to want me to tell my story to children...

(http://i.imgur.com/8ToF90Z.png)

Still, overall today has been a good day.

let me give you an idea why these shooting are continuing, from personal experience.  my youngest niece goes to ashwaubenon high school, just outside green bay wisconsin. she graduates this year. but she, and about 1/2 of the other seniors will NOT be attending their graduation ceremony. why, you ask?
   because one of her classmates posted on instagram that he intended to buy a gun when he turned 18( which was last week) and go to the school and kill the people on the list he posted. he didn't say what day this would happen, and the only punishment he received was a week's suspension. he will still be allowed to graduate with his class.
 my niece and her crowd weren't on his list, but as she said, the people who are will be spread through the seated graduates and semi automatics in the hands of amateurs don't know who is who, they just spew out bullets.
   this boy has been violent since they were in junior high, and his parents have always bought his way back into school. THEY say he's " just kidding, it was a joke, he's a good kid".
   my cousins have been stationing themselves outside the school as a just in case, as there are only 2 security gaurds and plenty of easy access inside a school with many doors and windows.
  so my country family plans to host a ceremony for the kids who prefer not to risk their lives instead. the location isn't being broadcast, syd and her friends are gathering the list of people who want to be there, and they will be notified of the location that morning. the kids can pick up their diplomas at a later date, or have them mailed from the school.
  i sincerely hope the kids who DO go to the official ceremony are safe, but why take chances, right?
    i hate the thought that the kids in this country, especially my great niece and nephews, will probably end up going to schools that resemble prisons, but i think that's what it will take to protect them. and that SUCKS!
  okay, off the soapbox, sorry if that was TMI.

No, it isn't TMI at all. I just can't honestly understand why (well actually I do understand why. It all comes down to $ and manipulation, but that is a much longer conversation) nothing gets changed. If another country or a terrorist group were causing this many deaths I am pretty sure they'd get bombed back in to the stone age, but what I keep hearing from people is variations of "I hate that this is happening, but it is the right of people to own guns" and then they just shrug their shoulders.

I can do what I do for a living without losing a moments sleep, but for some odd reason the killing of innocents on the other side of the world needlessly bothers me.

Kristi made put a few baby pictures together which I am going to post just to cheer things up around here. Although if you are prudish you'll just have to edit out the nipple slip yourself.

(http://i.imgur.com/53Fzozi.jpg)

i am in love with those hats!  :cheers:

They are very cunning hats.

Oh hey Barri, if you look really closely at some of those pictures, you might just see the titles of some books.

So today was a lovely warm day outside. Our main boss is away, and we found out today when she comes back she won't be our boss any more. That was kept pretty quiet. I know the guy who is replacing her pretty well and I think things will be much more chilled out and relaxed under him. Not that Ali is a tyrant or anything, but she does now and again have her moments.

Anyway, back to the nice day. Bally tried to stand people down and send them home since work was a bit slow. I already got Monday off so I was happy to cover for other people to get some time off. You'd have thought we'd offered to bite them with a rattlesnake. I mean, you offer me the chance to go home and unless I have work I really have to do I won't be around for you to ask a second time or change your mind. One of my workmates, Cliffy is due to become a dad on Monday unless his wife decides to give birth over the weekend. When he was offered the chance to disappear he didn't want to go.

This is one of the many reasons why deep down inside I believe I am not actually a member of the human race. Not sure what species I really am, but I seem to have very little in common with the rest of you lot. Kristi wants me to do one of those DNA things and get my ancestry traced. I have the suspician that if I did that I'd have serious looking people turn up and "ask" me to accompany them to a lab somewhere where I'd never see the light of day again.

Possibly this would explain why I often feel homesick for somewhere I have never been?

Kristi decided that since I was now on days instead of the expected night shift this week that I could tonight A) Take Dagon to the vets for his immunizations (yes, I also believe in getting my pets done, even if it causes them to be autistic too) & B) Accompany her to the theatre club tonight. Now I finish work at 16:30 roughly. Depending on how long it takes to brief the oncoming shift it might be as late as 17:00 when I get away. She'd booked the appointment for 17:10 and it takes me 20 minutes to get home. So I broke a few laws of physics and bent reality a little to get home in time, changed out of my uniform, settled Ash down who was upset and crying, quickly got changed and took Dagon for his jab, got home had dinner, washed the dishes and then got ready to go to the theatre club.

Got there and the OC (Chris) had decided not to turn up. I announced to Kristi that she would thusly be heading off to the local shop to pick me up some beers in return for making me alter all my plans to suit her for the night and she would just have to put up with the smell of alcohol on my breath tonight as a result.

Beware of grumpy Scotsmen, for they are quick to anger and not subtle.

My local cinema opened a little extension which can be rented out. It only sits like 12 people, but you can rent it to watch movies on for £85 (around $130). I am seriously considering hiring it to watch MEG! on when it finally comes out.

Can't decide if I want to invite any one else to watch it with me or just see it alone though. If I do decide to invite other people and you fancy coming to watch it, let me know and I'll send you an invite.

Started watching Lucifer and am quite enjoying it. Then I got Kristi to watch some of it and she enjoyed it so I am having to watch the first season again so she can catch up with me. Bank Holiday on Monday (like a State Holiday in the US I guess), so not back in work until Tuesday. I went through our games cupboard and discovered that we had only played around a third of the games we own. Some of this is down to the number of players required (one for example needs 7 people to play), so we are going to use this weekend to play some of them as well as catching up on some of our favourites. Hoping to get a game of X-Wing in where I can use my C-ROC, not to mention I wouldn't mind a shot with our Imperial Decimator that I've had for over a year and not used (Clockwork Canary may well go into shock if he reads that, ooh, that reminds me I need to PM him about something).

Wonder if I can get Kristi to play me at Axis & Allies. Being a WW2 junkie I love that game. I also have the Normandy landings version which is one of the many never been played.

Of course all such shenanigans is all subjects to the needs to the baby and assuming we get enough sleep to feel up to learning new games. He is sleeping through most nights, but now and again he has his off night.

Don't worry RC, the PM to him won't be anywhere as disturbing as the one I sent you. Hopefully thinking of it isn't causing you sleepless nights, nightmares or any other kind of trauma, but if it does well now you know why curiosity killed the cat. And if you are wondering what was so disturbing about that message, trust me you do not want to know. File it under mysteries of the universe that were not meant to be known by mere mortals.

Mind you, this is advice coming from the man who when he was accused of meddling with dark powers beyond his understanding shrugged his shoulders and said "What else are you supposed to do with dark powers but meddle with them?"

With it being a lovely day I've asked one of the higher up bosses (all the lower level bosses aren't here) if we can stand our civilians down early. He said he'll have a think about it, which I will put down a "No, but I am not going to say no outright." Oh well I tried.

Practically everyone else in here is a boss. If we worked anywhere else we'd be bosses, but not in this building.

The drug testing team is on station again although we managed to get out of having to watch people pee by virtue of there not being enough people to cover our work. Makes a much better start to the weekend quite frankly than having to watch men pee all day.

Although quite frankly while there are worse ways to start your weekend, that is still a pretty damn bad one. Unless you are like some sort of perv who gets their jollies from that sort of thing. Not my place to judge, but if you do, yes you are a perv.

I am in a happy mood today. The kind where I could continually tazer someone over and over again and never get bored of it. Cattle prods are more fun to poke people with but harder to get, so I just have to make do with what I can get.

I've been accused a few times of being too happy and possibly losing my dark nickname, so I've been making sure that people understand just because I have a happy, smiley baby I have not undergone some dramatic personality change and I am still the same person who finds torturing friends and strangers alike amusing. Especially making them watch terrible, terrible movies.

I think I'll even delve into my secret supply of chocolate and treat Kristi. I firmly believe that every man should have a secret stash of chocolate for his woman (and I guess lesbians should have a stash for each other too), and when ever she is having a bad day just out of nowhere present her with some.

Unless of course your significant other has some allergy to chocolate of course. In which case you should only present her with such after taking out a high value life insurance policy and a really good airtight alibi.

One of my workmates, Ryan has been hospitalised with Cellulitis. We had no idea what that is so did some googling and found out it is potentially fatal. I asked if he died would we get the day off to go to his funeral and was told yes. Apparently then asking "But would we then actually have to go to the funeral" was a 'cold' thing to do.

Some times I fail to understand the modern use of language. Cold is like cool but better right?

Kristi went out today and left me and Ash alone today. I may have caught him planning to crash the moon into the earth.




Not that I am a huge fan of the royals or anything, but I saw a post where a woman was complaining about Harry's wife getting a coat of arms. Now to me I don't care one way or the other. I have a scale of importance of things where I measure them against how much it makes my eggs in the morning taste different. That rates a zero as well do most things. However I got into an arguement with some random female troll who was announcing that this was the end of all things British and a betrayl of our heritage blah blah blah.

Some other random female troll jumped on my and sent me a PM concerning my child. Spent the next couple of hours ripping into her until she decided to quit the internet for a while.

Tragedy seems like an awesome band!  Thanks for posting about them!  I hope I get a chance to see them one day!  That reminded me that I once made up my own alternate lyrics to Tragedy out of a real life situation: “Tragedy!  When you drop clean socks in the litter box, it’s tragedy!”  And that’s as far as I got.  Yep, I'm on my way to being the next Weird Al.

Your little guy is so cute!  Love the evil overlord look.  I know I don’t post much but I do check in a lot and the pictures always make me smile.  You all look really happy together.  I’m really looking forward to my little guy’s arrival, but I’m not nearly ready enough yet.  I hope he doesn’t turn out to be a jerk .

I think you will be fine. You sound like a pretty cool mum to me. And as me and my wife say to our parents "I am exactly the child you raised me to be" I am sure you won't raise a jerk.

i agree. paquita, he'll be weird, of course, but a GOOD weird with you as his mom.
  and may i mention that i lust for DB woodside from lucifer...hachacha!

Sunday rolls around yet again. Nice day, but we are having no D&D game tonight as Anders is once again ill. Which is a shame as both me and Kristi were looking forward to tonights fun and games. I'd like to know if the party is going to keep the latest mask they found or hand it over. Plus I think I have been a bit stingy handing out magic items so I'm going to be rectifying that one.

So, the first female to try for the RAF Regiment has had to drop out as the training was more physically demanding than she thought it would be. Big slap in the face for the PR attempt. This is going to be a bit controvesial I guess, but the truth is that men and women are different and just deciding that men and women should serve together on the front line doesn't mean that it is going to work (and yes, there are women out there who are capable of equalling men in the field, however there isn't enough of them. They are the exception rather than the rule). I suspect what will happen is that they will lower the fitness standards so women can compete, but that then hits battlefield performance. Three women initially applied to join the regiment when the rules were changed to allow them in. The other two were judged not fit enough to even attempt the training. I mean a woman is quite capable of doing my job no problem. And if you want to have an all female combat force for the field, that is fine, but my feeling is that mixing men and women on the battlefield is a mistake.

All in the name of making things look good. Equality taken too far.

Then again maybe I am just a caveman who is behind the times.

The days stretch out into that long period people dream of all year called summer.

Then when it comes around they complain it is too hot and they want winter back.

Losers. Just enjoy it while ya got it.

We spent today relaxing a lot, took Ash on a walk to a local cemetary. I figure over the years he'll do that a lot with his mum so might as well get him used to it. The one we went to is a Commonwealth Grave Yard. One of the still legible graves for example was a soldier who died in the Battle Of Toulouse in 1814.

Ended up having to explain that someone who died in Russia in 1894 did not die in any of the Boar Wars however, although Kristi seems to insist that this was a possibility. Perhaps there was a whole Russian front going on there, that I have hithero remained unaware of? I admit I am not an expert on those conflicts although I have read over the campaigns in the past.

Still don't remember anything to do with Russia though.

Watched a film with Johnny Depp's daughter, Kevin Smiths daughter and a ton of cameos including Stan Lee. It wasn't a very good movie though. It did have that kid from The Sixth Sense as a nazi though. It was pretty awful in an enjoyable enough way.

Back to work tomorrow. Got two people with infected feet problems to deal with tomorrow. One got bitten by a Tsusu(sp) fly while visiting Africa on part of a world tour who is now popping in to stay with us for a few days, the other is a work mate with Cellulitis who gets assessed by the medics tomorrow which might then effect my shift pattern as my other work mate should by now be a dad and starting his paternity leave.

Good night out there, what ever you are.

The wave of assorted sicknesses continues to strike. My department is today down to me and half of Jim (he is only doing mornings after his breakdown).

*Looks out the window* Yup, no Taliban or Sovie.., sorry Russians coming over the horizon.

Doing my job successfully then.

Cheered up people at work yesterday by showing them the photo I took of Ash done up as Ming The Merciless. None of the women can quite believe Kristi didn't kill me for that. Do these people have no fun in their lives? Bloody conformatists.

Ugly Kid Joe just came on the radio. Wow, that takes me back.

So here is a random question for you. Having (presumably if you are on this website) watched a ton of bad movies you have no doubt saw many films where someone in a house alone hears a noise and goes to investigate. Here is the question. If you are alone in the house and hear a strange noise what do you do? Do you be like the person on the screen and go check it out being aware that you have almost screamed at the TV telling the person not to be so stupid, or do you secure the room you are in and not venture forth until morning or what?

I am down to 1860 days left in my job. In 1860 The State Bank of the Russian Empire is established, the paddle steamer Lady Elgin was lost in Lake Michigan with 340 people drowned. Abe Lincoln was elected president of the USA. British and French troops captured Beijing leading to the signing of the Treaty of Tientsin and ending the Second Opium War. Britain also launched its first Ironclad warship (HMS Warrior).

One of the two new guys assigned to work in our department arrived yesterday. As everyone who works here has an obsessive hobby I asked what his was. Turns out he is into WW1 re-enactments. He is also ginger haired and has therefore automatically lost any and all arguments before the begin.

Looked into some of the Flat Earther's beliefs. Apparantly Australia is a lie and does not exist. Airline pilots are all in on this deception and while you may think you have been there, you haven't. They landed somewhere else. TV shows and movies from Oz are all computer generated fakes.

Next, I shall have to try and find out why it would benefit someone out there to convince the world that it was round and have this gigantic conspiracy. And is it just Australia that is fake or is it the whole southern hemisphere that is fake? Does that mean that our very own Trevor is in fact a Max Headroom, computer generated type person?

Enquiring minds want to know.

 :teddyr: :teddyr:

After Matt Frewer came to South Africa to make Darfur for this guy

(https://resizing.flixster.com/8t_hGkihqzVtFX35Lhd-dZXywzw=/443x594/v1.cjs0NTE1MDtqOzE3Njg1OzEyMDA7NDQzOzU5NA)

he wasn't the same ever again.  :wink:

A heavy fog hangs over Lossiemouth this week. Visibility is down to somewhere between 50 to 100 meters. Despite my highest hopes however, no ghostly pirate ships have come out of it to spread murder and mayhem.

Our visitor (Cheri) is off on a tour of the highlands today so I’ll have a few hours with just Kristi and Ash tonight. I like those quiet moments. Ash is starting to put himself to sleep without being held until he drifts off. He still likes to be held, and as much as I love having him in my arms I need to get him sending himself off to sleep. A couple of nights ago he was lying on my chest. I looked down and he had the widest, crazy looking eyes staring up at me, and he was clawing away with his sharp little baby nails. All I could see of his was his head, shoulders and arms with this insane looking stare and I thought “F**K! I am being attacked by Belial from The Basket Case!”

He makes me such a proud dad at moments like that.

Cheri (Kristi’s friend from the states) commented that Ash looks delicious. I guess San Diego has its own cult of cannibal baby eating women. She will not be spending any alone time with Ash until she is safely on her way to Norway, the next stop on her world tour.
I just hope she isn’t planning on eating a baby from every stop on her tour. She did mention that she wanted to eat something unusual from every country, but I thought she meant like, haggis and stuff.

Maybe I should have suggested she visits Ayr and goes to see the caves where Sawney Bean and his three generations of descendants lived. She’d fit right in with them.

Either as a fellow cannibal or possibly in their bellies (although to the best of my knowledge the entire Bean clan was wiped out, but you just never know, maybe some of them escaped, had children and continue to munch down on lone travellers).
So, what is the most messed up thing you know about concerning the history of where you grew up?

Oh, don’t get the impression that Cheri is an unwelcome guest. She is fun and an undemanding visitor. We are also prepping for our next two visitors (that we know of), while also trying to get away together. This is looking unlikely given how many people we have off right now.

Just checked out the window. Still no Taliban, ISIS or Russians invading at the moment, nor any army of French people running away having encountered a dangerous looking blade of grass… or whatever causes French armies to run away. During the middle ages they (French knights) did earn the nickname of “Hares in armour” and it took them a long time to shake that one off.

But then losing a fight when you ambush the enemy and outnumber him 15 to 1 will get you that kind of moniker.

Everyone else for various reasons seems super stressed out right now. I am just sitting her in my own private oasis of calm. Had a nice beach walk last night. Don’t recall ever seeing the tide out as far as it was yesterday. The beach looked endless and I could have walked along it for hours. Had Ash in a harness and he slept for most of the walk, although he neatly managed to wake up just as we got back home. I thought having a late evening sleep might have kept him awake all night again, but the fresh air seemed to work and he slept quite well. Kristi did wake up about 3am with him, got him back to sleep and then couldn’t get back to sleep herself.

I figure that is just her body balancing things up for the 18 to 23 ½ hours she slept per day while pregnant.

"So, what is the most messed up thing you know about concerning the history of where you grew up?"


I live in Greenville, TX.  Our most sordid and awful bit of local history is that, 110 years ago, a black man was burned alive on the courthouse square here for having sex with a white woman.  Oh, and the locals took pictures of the event and sold them as post cards.


The American South was a VERY messed up place back then!

Boss stood me down from work today at lunch time. Never going to complain about an early stack.

Half way home I remembered two things.

One: Kristi was out for the day with Cheri.
Two: I had left my keys at home.

Kristi had however left the living room window open (but on a security latch). Took me seconds to run my finger along the bottom of the window frame, disconnect the latch and open the window wide.

On the one hand I am happy that I got in the house and did not have to sit outside like a spare prick at a wedding. On the other hand I keep asking Kristi to shut the windows before she goes out and not to leave the house unsecured so now I have to decide on wither to be annoyed or not.

Equally I am guilty of leaving the utility room window open for the cat. I guess not being annoyed wins the day. Besides it is Friday, it is a payday weekend and the weather is glorious. Whats not to like?

Oh and if you don't know about the Pineapple and Pen thing, in the name of all the gods, science or the flying spaghetti monster DO NOT google Pineapple and Pen!

Having one of my regular "People are talking too much" moods when I just want everyone around me to, well not shut up but not use more words than are required. I very much like it when people can give me whatever information they feel the need to give me, but in as few words as possible.

Considering how much I love reading I consider this odd, especially how much I go for longer books.

It is somewhere north of 1 am and I am not feeling tired yet. I should get sleep while I can, but its been rare for me to be so wakeful recently so I am going to enjoy it while I can. Spent most of the night listening to old tunes.

Including this awesome slice of 80's cheese.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbpxH1uvpmg# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbpxH1uvpmg#)

Shame Zodiac Mindwarp never quite managed to equal the heights of their debut album after that.

If I had a copy of Axel Pressbutton to read I'd have no random desires left to fulfil right now. Or at least none for tonight. Last day with Cheri tomorrow, so hoping everyone will want to do something with the day rather than just hanging about and 'chilling'. She has picked up a Californian valley girl accent and every time she speaks I keep wondering what the question was.

Perhaps I would go to bed, but Kristi has camped out in the middle of it and is all spread out so I am not sure there is actually any room for me in the bed. This is odd considering the number of times I've been woken up and told I need to move over the bed to let her in only for me to have to point out I am already at the edge of the bed and moving over any further would involve me falling onto the floor. Since Kristi is a thermal vampire and lives on my body heat I suspect should I fall out of bed and thus deny her my body heat, she'd freeze to death. More than once I have woken up to find the only reason I've not fallen out of bed is because I am holding onto Kristi.

Hmm, was just sent a link I may need to watch later and see if it is any good.

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO1s_wNm2Ac&feature=share#)

Hmm, got an odd FB message from a group with an interesting name asking how much my services cost. I wonder which services in particular they are asking about. Still it is nice to know random strangers want to pay me to do what ever it is that they want me to do lol.

Saw Cheri off this afternoon as she heads off on the next leg of her trip. She is seeing Edinburgh tomorrow followed by Norway and making her way around until she ends up in Australia. I imagine she'll be heading back to California after that.

Was on a forum dealing with a long defunct roleplaying system. The author was talking about how great it was, how clever he was at writing it and slagging off other systems (primarily D&D). I like both systems, but I couldn't help but think "Yeah, that is why your game was cancelled within a few years of coming out and D&D has managed about 40 years. Damn clever there Mr Davis!"

Mind you that isn't the first time I've read something like that. I picked up a copy of an old British rpg called Dragon Warriors where the writer went on about how much he loathed games like D&D and he wanted a more fully formed realistically functional world. Seemed a rather strong turn of phrase to use for the game without which you would never even have had the idea for your version. Oh well, that was another game that went down the toilet.

Maybe instead of being b***hy they should have sat and taken notes instead? Oh well.

Ash managed to roll over today. Got a video of him doing it, which I tried to post up but won't seem to work. Oh well, I guess you'll just have to figure out some way to survive without ever seeing that.

Oh well, I should get back to writing tomorrow nights game.

Good night out there... What ever you are!

the most messed up thing i can think of about middleboro..hhmm...well, it will be 350 years old next year, and it's part of an area referred to as " the bridgewater triangle" by those into the supernatural elements of this country. it's also wampanoag country, i am part wampanoag.
   to this day, parents still use the pukwudgies to terrorise children, much like other areas of the country use the bogeyman. the messed up part is that pukwudgies ARE real and have been seen many times, usually by children. kids know they only torment grownups, but the grownups forget that when they grow up, i guess. i always wondered if all people forget stuff like that when they grow up, or just the ones in my town. i wasn't born there, i've never forgotten that the puks LIKE kids.

So after playing role playing games since I was twelve I finally saw the first funeral of a dead party member.

To be fair though he was the NPC who drove their wagon for them (he was a crotchity old man with an addicition to driving as fast as possible, swearing, drinking amd who owned a Blunderbuss that everyone else in the party thought was a magical item never having seen firearms before).

Never mind that when the party cleric died after being bitten in two by a giant albino crocodilegator, they left his body lying in the sewer without a backward glance.

When I asked the party about this they replied "But Bran was useful!"

A certain amount of hotdesking goes on between shifts at work. Shona often complains about the state of the desk she works at when she starts her shift. Crumbs and reminants of food, coffee mugs that have not been washed and so on.

Kristi baked a bunch of chocolate chip cookies and ginger cookies to take to work in a couple of resealable bags. Guess where I put all the crumbs from the bottom of those bags?

Heh heh heh.

The thing that gets me is no matter how many times I pull tricks like these and no matter how many times I tell people it was me that did it, they always blame someone else. I mean you'd think after the third time they'd figure it out.

do they ask you who you're covering for when you tell them it was you? i used to get that alot...

No, just when I tell them it was me they go "Oh yeah, the guy who caught us out with many things before has caught us out again. How the hell did I not think of that beforehand."

Funnily enough though when Kristi does something I always get the blame right away.

What are your services and what do they cost?  :wink:

Thanks to working nights the weekend has started now. :cheers: Heading into Aberdeen tomorrow to go see Jurassic World, Deadpool 2 and possibly Solo depending on how much time we have available. Looking forward to it. Kristi has decided she is going down to see my mum next week and take little Ash down. With the number of people we have off sick at work I have no chance of getting leave at the moment to join her.

So we got to see' Jurassic World 2' and 'Solo' with Ash. He slept through most of Jurassic World, but he sat on my lap wide eyed and gurgling happily through 'Solo'. I am lining up our next film to watch together


Picked up some fun stuff from Plan 9 (my 'local' games shop. Or as local as a place that is almost two hours away can be), including a new Munchkin set. Started reading a novel I last read when I was eight (King Solomons Mines) on the train.

Still couldn't get the wee fella into see Deadpool 2 though.

Trevor, if you want to know how much my services cost, just PM me what you want and I'll send you a quote.

Wandered into a second hand bookshop. The owner fell in love with Ash and insisted we leave with some free books for him.

Man, we're not getting Jurassic World: The Fallen Kingdom until June 22!!  How do YOU rate???   :hatred: :bouncegiggle:

Indy, it is terrible. You will hate it with a passion. Imagine if George Lucas had been asked a direct it. If you dare watch it you will leave the cinema with blood gushing from your eyes as your brain attempts to avoid further pain by shutting itself down.

Only joking. I thought it was interesting. Not as good as the previous one, but still worth a watch and the ending poses some questions that are worth asking. I can't say too much about that though without going all spoilerifc. If you fancy a trip to the movies it is worth going to see. If not, then it isn't the end of the world if you catch it on TV later. It does feel very rushed though. What I thought was going to be the main focus of the movie turns out to only be the opening act and the film has to pack a lot in, in not a lot of time.

I make no secret that I find people generally confusing. I can be pretty good at figuring out what any particular person will do in a given situation, but I never quite understand the why as the consequences are often not useful to them. One of the little things I've noticed about people however is that if they have their eyes closed, it means they do not want to talk. I consider it to be an important social more if you like. Interestingly enough, my wife who is by far the more sociable one of us (What do you mean you want to have dinner guests around tonight, didn't we invite people around to dinner five years ago and you want more people already???), seems to be completely oblivious to this. I can be lying in bed either asleep, trying to sleep or engaging in mindfulness exercises (I am not convinced they work, but I was asked to do them as part of my depression therapy, although when I am concentrating on my inner self and trying to imagine my leg breathing all I can think of is how it lacks lungs and breathing apperatus in general, and since it isn't designed to swell up with an intake of air that it would actually be an incredibly painful experience to undergo. Why imaging this is supposed to help me I have no idea) and yet she (Kristi) will just let loose with a constant barrage of questions while I am trying to imagine myself being the centre of a whole world of pain.

Having considered all the possibilities I have came to the conclussion that it is some sort of test where if I lose my temper or even just ask for peace and quiet that I will instantly fail. However I am not convinced that lying there ignoring the questions is also a good choice. I consider being woken up by a ton of questions to be the 4th worst way to wake up that I have experienced (1st being licked by a dog or some other pet, 2nd During an earthquake & 3rd Having a razor blade dragged down my arm so someone could lick my blood).

Anyway, dealing with this sort of thing tends to leave me feeling somewhat emotionally worn out, hence why at 11 am I cracked open a beer for some spiritual healing. Beer is good, beer is your friend. Your liver is evil and must be punished!

Ash decided at 3 am to wake up and has been awake since. I told Kristi to get some sleep while I took him out for a wlak. She is still napping which means she gets a nice rest and has the unintended, but still useful consequence of meaning I don't have to wonder why I am being asked all these questions. Is there something deeper behind them all? Isn't silence lovely. I enjoy silence. Why can't I have some right now?

I do love her, she is an awesome person and way more than I deserve. I just struggle to understand her motives at times. But then, she is hardly unique there.

Sharks, now there is something I understand. You see it = You eat it. Babies seem to follow the same equation but in a more complicated way that involves much more crying and changing nappies.

I like sharks.

Time for a second beer since I made the last one last an amazing one hour and twenty minutes. Shame I just can't spend the day getting drunk. I remember doing that as a teenager and enjoying spending all day just having some beers. Surprising how something so simple could be so enjoyable.

Got the leader of Kristi's church coming around tonight with some guy who is interested in joining, but also likes D&D type stuff, so they are coming around for a games night. I am wondering what I should dig out. Possibly one I have, that hasn't been played yet called 'Dante's Inferno'. The idea of it is to save souls from hell by going in and resucing them.

Dragon Quest also generally works. The one problem is that the church guy (Perry), gets uber competitive at games and does not take losing well.

Possibly this is why I enjoy beating him so much lol.

I think today needs a song of the day. I am going to go with one of the classics for it.

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAgnJDJN4VA#)

Ash seems to like a bit of Led Zepplin. We heard 'Immigrant Song' being played a few times yesterday and when Robert Plant was giving it his Aaaaaaaahhaaaaaaahhhh bit, Ash kept joining in.

I consider this to be a good sign.

And I bet this post still isn't long enough to satisfy Trevor, however I have a cunning plan to fix that.

Good post, man!
As far as JW goes, if it has dinosaurs stomping around and eating people, I am in!
I do love that the new franchise includes a mosasaur, since I have found hundreds of bones from those critters over they years.
Of course, their mosasaur appears to be about twice the length of the longest known specimen on record, but still, it's neat to see the big guy on screen.
(FWIW, I dug up the biggest member of the mosasaur family ever found in Texas - he's somewhere between 48 and 52 feet long!)
Well, I'll leave you to your beer and baby!

Well the Mosasaur does make a couple of appearances so that should keep you happy. Make sure you pay attention at the end of the movie when Jeff Goldblum is speaking. Eating people does happen but be prepared to sit through a lot of movie before you see any of that.

Duly noted!
I love this entire franchise - even JP3, which wasn't that great, but the pterdactyls were SO cool!

I have a cousin who did some of the computer effects for the second and third movies.

Decided today to make someone afraid just by saying something nice to them and reassuring them that nothing bad is going to happen to them.

The more I insist that I am just paying him a compliment the more he will worry.

He could just accept I am being nice to him and maybe feel a tiny bit better, but I'll bet he won't.

Watching a slasher movie I've not seen before. Over half an hour into it and the first victim has just been killed. It does seem to have Ted Ramini in it though. And I can't see him and not think of this song...

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnMCh2aXitg#)

He should so have gotten his own spin off series.

My little brother went to see Jurassic World 2 yesterday, my older brothers wife and kids went to see it today. I think pretty much everyone I know has seen it now.

Well, except Indy obviously. I think he is going to be the last guy on the planet to get to see it.

 :teddyr: :teddyr:

Nah, it's OK, thanks  :wink:

It was released here last Friday.

So are you going to see it before Indy too? Man, that poor guy is going to have such a hard time avoiding spoilers. I bet if aliens were to land tomorrow, they'd have picked up some stray transmissions and got to see it before Indy too.

 :teddyr: :teddyr:

I've heard that when Chris Pratt stretches out his arm to Blue and says "You know me" he gets it bitten off.  :wink:

You guys!!   :bouncegiggle: :bouncegiggle: :bouncegiggle: :bouncegiggle:

Also, Bryce Dallas Howard wears roller skates instead of high heels this time  :wink:

Still, it brought a tear to my eye when the T-Rex won the presidency despite all the dirty tricks tried against him and celebrated by eating all the other candidates.

 :bouncegiggle: :bouncegiggle:

You know we love (to tease) you really.

I did a rather silly thing today. Jim offered to show me a video on his phone and I let curiosity got the better of me.

So, this video (and I promise you, this won’t be going the way you’d initially assume) featured two attractive and very naked women.

One is bent over and tied (well her legs seemed to be wrapped in cling film) securely to a metal 'A' frame with her bare bum sticking up in the air. The other woman has a conker, maybe an inch radius and with its spikey outer shell still on. And she also has a catapult that seems to be built into the floor and a couple of feet worth of elastic material attached.

She fires the spiked ball at the other womans butt eventually getting it to hit, well we will term it the ‘bullseye’ where it then sticks. This is then accompanied by (and not unexpectedly I have to say) some squeals and screams from the bound woman in no recognisably human language.

Welcome to my morning. How does your compare? I do have to say, out of all the video's I have heard Jim talking about, this one was comparitively tame.

Our old boss found out today that she is now our old boss and is now in a new post. She took it well I thought. Terry (the new boss), is a pretty chilled out guy who I’ve known for a few years so got no worries about working for him going ahead.

Kristi and Ash leave to head down to my mums tomorrow. What will I do all left alone in the house myself?

Loud music, bad movies and alcohol may be a feature.

Woohoo!

To be honest I would rather go with them, but for various reasons we are down to two serviceable people left (me and Inhumanly Tall Dave) working, one of us has to cover days and the other nights. If either of us joins the list of sicknotes, then there is a big problem.

I love cuddling up to that woman of mine. I am sure when I am sleeping uninterrupted by babies needing fed through the night I’ll miss her. Although I do have to be fair and mention that Kristi mostly does that during the week so I can sleep and be ready for work the next day. I try to cover the weekends but sometimes she decides I need to sleep and covers them too.

Lovely woman.😊

I guess that also means I get to cook for myself. If I am cooking you are pretty much going to get either a steak, a cheese burger, fish finger sandwich or I’ll randomly fry up any unfinished opened packets of stuff from the freezer.

If I am hungry enough you might even get all four options, but that is pretty rare. Hmm, I could have a hot curry. Used to love eating very hot food, but as they set off Kristi’s allergies I don’t get to eat them very often and I’ve found my tolerance has went down without regular practise.

Boss wanted a get to know you chat earlier. Hmm, I don’t like them. My favoured option is for my bosses to know neither my name or face, although with the man power cuts we’ve had, that is an almost impossible position to get into nowadays.

Dug out one of the board games we hadn't yet played (funnily enough a Dungeons & Dragons one). It is a very kid friendly one that we will have to play with Ash when he is a bit older.

 

So trump and kim have signed something, but no one seems to know any of the details. Anyone care to take a guess on what they have signed before the details come out? Is North Korea going to become the newest US state? In a more serious guess I'd imagine that in return for reducing troop numbers in South Korea the North is going to get rid of its nuclear weapons. Kim is going to be very happy because he is getting legitimised on a world wide stage and that means a lot to his ego. He did look a lot more composed and in control body language wise than trump who came off as being a bit desperate to control things, while Kim just sat there calmly, and making it look like he is the one in control.

I await more details with interest. Traditionally history has looked back poorly on people who sign treaties with dictators. Will be interesting to watch how this one goes, especially given the USA's increasingly poor reputation for signing treaties and then backing out of them recently, something that seemed to start being mentioned in international news when Bush backed out of the Kyoto Protocols, but has reached a height under trump with the increasing view that an agreement of any kind with the US is only good until the next president comes along.

Makes for an interesting time to be watching world events, trying to figure out where the world is going and so on.

Sometimes I wish it is a time I could be reading about in a history book rather than living through it though.

I wonder how our own "interpid" leader (she of the voice like nails being dragged down a blackboard) is currently doing, floating between the various camps within her own party and simply drifting on the tides of what stream keeps her in power rather than forging her own path. I do not think she is going to be a PM who makes the history books or is long remembered. Unable to keep her promises or stick to any one course she just gets carried along. It is no way to run a country.

Well, you can run a country that way. Mostly into the ground. We have a situation where unemployment is heading downwards, but people are worse off because although more jobs are being made they simply don't pay enough. Possibly more worrying is that many companies are making plans to relocate to mainland Europe and those low paying jobs might not be available for long.

Sometimes you've just got to expect the worst and hope for the best.

Kristi has travelled down to stay with my mum until the end of the week. Got some relations who couldn't travel up to see Ash, so she is taking him down to meet them. Hoping they'll manage to meet up with Aaron and Leona too while they are down there.

Watching an 80's sword and sandles film I haven't seen before called Sorceress. It has the same music score as Battle Beyond The Stars, but more boobs. I guess that is an improvement.

Before heading off, my good lady was nice enough to prepare me some pork belly. Time to enjoy it I think. :)

I think I like pork belly even more than I liked Jurassic World 2 (I bet you thought you were going to get away without any more mentions of this Indy. Don't worry, only 10 more days to go. 10 days of no Jurassic World 2, no dinosaurs chomping down on people, no seeing if the leading lady turns up with high heels on this time. A mere 240 hours still to anticipate it).

Unless of course a giant meteor crashes into the earth and wipes out everyone (or any other similar extinction level event. I mean volcano's are pretty active right now, maybe an undetected super volcano is prepping to blow?). Then you just wouldn't get to see it at all! How terrible would that be?

That's all right, my home movie theater in heaven is stocked with every film that ever has been made/will be made, including the lost director's cut of NOSFERATU.  There is  also a Dr. Pepper fountain in the front yard, an all you can eat sushi buffet, and a pet T-Rex in the back yard.


So bring on the super-volcano! :teddyr: :teddyr: :teddyr:

Other than the Dr Pepper (although my brother in law (who is a Dr Pepper addict) tells me the stuff they make in the US tastes entirely different to what they sell in the UK so maybe I'd like the taste of that stuff more) and sushi it does sound like a great place to watch the apocalypse from. :)

sshhh...don't tell indi that baby groot IS the great dinosaur whisperer...sshhh...

Was Groot's cameo your favourite then? I liked Bill Murrays too.

Was walking into work this afternoon and my mind as usual was wandering around, mulling over what ever random thoughts happened to come through it. Was taken a little bit by surprise when a jogger suddenly passed me. As I hadn't heard her coming up behind me my brain instantly went into fight or flight mode and I my elbow automatically moved to hit her in the throat. Managed to quickly get control and stop it before my elbow had done more than move two inches.

Not quite sure how I'd have managed to explain accidently driving my elbow into some strangers throat otherwise.

Mind you, this morning when my alarm woke me up at 6am I thought "Why has my alarm went off, I am on nights this week." I reached over, put my alarm off and went back to sleep. At 06:55am I woke back up and rememebered that in fact I am on days this week and I now had fifteen minutes to get ready and leave for work so it wasn't the only slightly unusual thing to happen.

Good job I had shaved last night and ironed my uniform already. Anyway, I got into work on time and had a long lie in so it is all good.

The chocolate cupboard at work had one Kit Kat left in it. Knowing that many people at work love them I removed the said last Kit Kat and replaced it with a note which read "I have kidnapped the last Kit Kat. If you ever want to see it again leave one tray of non-sequentially numbered donuts on the table in Eng Records. Any police involvement and the chocolate bar gets it!"

Hopefully tomorrow we'll have fresh donuts. And if that doesn't work, I'll kidnap the tea and coffee supplies instead.

Oh, one for RC. This is the cover of the Call Of Cthulhu movie I mentioned to you.

(https://i.imgur.com/Hk1NGGO.jpg)

1845 days left in my job. In 1845 Britain was at the height of the first industrial revolution and had earned the title "The workshop of the world". The Irish Potato Famine was in full swing, eventually leading to the repeal of the Corn Tax in the UK. Poe's 'The Raven' was published, The Texas Annexation Bill was voted through and Florida also joined the union. The first edition of Scientific American was published, which is now the longest running American publication. Self raising flour was patented in Bristol, while in London rubber bands were patented. A a corrugated sheet-iron lifeboat was also patented in New York. HMS Erebus and HMS Terror set off to find the North West Passage. This did not go well for them. Tannhäuser premiered and Ether was first used to assist with childbirth.

I really enjoyed that version of THE CALL OF CTHULHU.  The same company did a version of THE WHISPERER IN DARKNESS that I have never seen.

It is worth a watch Indy.

Just for Barri.

(http://i.imgur.com/KIQWmmw.jpg)


(http://i.imgur.com/pbGqqtp.jpg)

There, a couple of bookshelf photos (shelvies?) where you should be able to make out the titles of the books.

There is just enough room for a couple of my novels to be tucked in there . . .

If you do a horror novel (or novels) it will indeed find a place in those particular shelfs. Although I will of course expect you to sign it.

I don't know if I have a full-on horror novel on the horizon, but when I publish my short story anthology it will have a nice collection of horror tales in it.  Your wife might enjoy my current stuff, though.

Hmm, I am actually looking at the moment for christmas presents that she won't expect (remember folks only 28 more Mondays to go). That might just be something to add to the list.

This is most of our more religious type books (plus for some reason Kristi's LOTR soundtracks). I do have some more bibles and other holy books scattered around other shelfs.

(http://i.imgur.com/tRFkKz4.jpg)

After a break of some months I started painting again tonight. Starting with my Kubelwagon and some German infantry as my German and Japanese forces are considerably smaller than any of the allied armies we've collected and naturally enough that limits the size of our games. Got a load of German and Japanese stuff to paint up as well the odd allied vehicle (Sherman Firefly & a Soviet Katyusha rocket launcher). Although I am painting most of my stuff up in early war uniforms (because it is a lot simpler to paint plain gray than do the camo scheme they had), I've decided to do the Kubelwagon in black and go a bit Hollywood WW2. Maybe paint some decals on the wings.

Got sent a video from Kristi. Ash has almost mastered crawling. We'd been debating on wither or not she should come home on Friday or Sunday, since Saturday night is the Sergeants Mess Summer Ball, which means very loud music can be heard all over the town until the last of them pass out drunk, normally sometime past 5 in the morning. Our house is soundproofed against the noise of jet engines taking off, but apparently not against the summer ball.

Oh, I seem to remember some people saying how much they liked the Gargoyles cartoon. Not one I am familiar with, but I did see this http://epicstream.com/news/Jordan-Peele-Reportedly-Wanted-To-Turn-Gargoyles-Series-Into-A-Live-Action-Reboot?utm_content=bufferfd4ef&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=epicbuffer (http://epicstream.com/news/Jordan-Peele-Reportedly-Wanted-To-Turn-Gargoyles-Series-Into-A-Live-Action-Reboot?utm_content=bufferfd4ef&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=epicbuffer) which may interest fans.

A friend posted up some old pictures of us together.

(http://i.imgur.com/GPkJwN9.jpg)

This was us about to pass out of basic training. Funny how much the world would change for us exactly a week after this picture was taken.


(http://i.imgur.com/CHfVrW1.jpg)

Me with my first command. My combat squad was about to load up our gear and head into the field. Just before taking this picture, the photographer said "Everyone show me your war faces!" I fear my squad somewhat let me down in this regard.

Ash has apparently decided to claim the Peoples Eyebrow as his own!

(http://i.imgur.com/FSSga8R.jpg)

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG GGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

WEAVE WORLD! you own weave world! i KNEW there was a reason i like you! *kidding* . for the longest time i thought i was the only person i'd ever know who read the whole book, even my brother and sister couldn't get through it. and then i met my BFF, ans the first conversation we had was about this book. we've been besties for 22 years now. you have good taste!

I liked Weaveworld a lot. Have you read his Abarat novels?

Well looks like I am not going to be finding this fathers day to be as painful as the previous two were. I was given some comics (a Deadpool one and an old Marvel one called 'Chamber Of Chills' from '72. Its got an adaption of a Robert E. Howard story), and a set of Munchkin (Munchkin Fu for anyone familiar with this series of games).

Kristi and Ash are off to church although I really wanted him to stay home with me today. I think next week I'll insist on dad & baby time.

actually, i haven't read those. i get obsessed with authors and i have learned when i need to back off for awhile, sometimes for years at a pop. clive was one of them. i'll get back to him soon, i think.

I liked the Hellbound Heart, wasn't quite as big a fan of the Books Of Blood. The best way I can describe Abarat is him doing a kids book, but still very much in his style.

Think I might need to put in for a weeks leave. Not to do anything in particular. Indeed quite the opposite. I think I want to spend it doing nothing.

Of course, as all the parents out there will very well know, doing nothing is a highly relative term.

My job isn't stressful (well it has it moments, but in general), but I am finding myself feeling very stressed at work and I am not sure why. I hope I am not starting to care about it again, that is the last thing I need. I suspect I just haven't killed someone I should. After all, stress is what you get when you don't kill someone who deserves it. ;) Or maybe I just want to be at home watching Ash grow.

Had to get Jim to send me the video of the two women and the conker. It is strangely facinating. Mostly because of the sounds the women makes. Maybe there is just something wrong with me, but it is like car crash TV.

Thinking about getting one of my fellow wargamers to paint up some figures for me. I do not care for the painting side of the hobby, but it would be nice to have an army painted up to a nice standard I guess.

Went through my fb page deleting people who were only on friends list because of some online game or another that I no longer played. I've kept a few people who became online friends there, but I went from 244 people down to about 178. I am pretty sure I don't actually like that many people though, must be a few more I can cut out. Whereas some people like to have as many friends on there as possible I seem to prefer having the minimum I can get away with.

I had a dream last night. Ever read the book 'I Am Legend'? Well, it was sort of that situation only the last surviving human was Indy and rather everyone else being vampires everyone else in the world had seen Jurassic World 2 except for him. It had went through the cinema and he hadn't been able to see it, every time he went to buy it on DVD it was sold out, and his internet connection was too slow to stream it online. He bought the book of the novel to try and at least read it, but the only copy he could find was written in Mandarin.

Had a board game night tonight, playing Munchkin Fu and Dungeon. Still need to get to play Lovecraft Letter though. We are slowly working our way through our unplayed board games, but then playing board games and buying them seem to be entirely seperate hobbies.

poor indi...should that end up being a prophetic dream, my niece can teach him to read mandarin.

You are REALLY mean, dude!!!   :bouncegiggle: :bouncegiggle: :bouncegiggle: :bouncegiggle: :bouncegiggle:

Only another couple of days of this to go Indy.  :wink:

Unless of course my dream comes true...

 :bouncegiggle: :bouncegiggle:

I haven't seen it yet either  :teddyr:

What is a conker?

One of these.


(http://i.imgur.com/WBOTSRB.jpg)

You mean you have the option to go see it, but just to torture Indy that little bit more you are going to sit there and say "Nah, not going to see it. Even though I could."

There are people in some parts of the world who are desperate to go see it and would really appreciate the options you have. Stop being so mean to poor Indy. Go see it before him! Then you can reassure him of how great it is and how much he needs to go see it thusly putting his mind at ease.

It would be selfish not to.

OK, get in all the teasing while you can.  I BOUGHT MY TICKETS TONIGHT!!!!!
Unless the theater burns down before 7 pm tomorrow, I am seeing this movie!!!

(Wait . . . why did I say that??  What if - oh snap!!)

I was thinking of all the ordinary things that could potentially go wrong with making it to the cinema. Your car might break down, there could be a power cut and the theatre has no electricity, as you said there could be a fire or an accident that blocks the route...

Really the odds of getting there seem to be about 1,000,000 to 1.  :bouncegiggle:

 :bouncegiggle: :bouncegiggle:

The cinemas here www.brooklynmall.co.za (http://www.brooklynmall.co.za) - the nearest ones to me - are screening it, but.................... I'm too lazy to go  :wink:

I see that they're screening it in 2D and 3D: nah, I'll wait for the 1D version  :wink:

Saturday morning rolls around once more. Went through to bed a little early last night (it isn't getting dark here until about midnight and gets light again about 1 or 2 am) to read some books I'd downloaded that have been sitting on my computer for a while now. If something peaks my interest I tend to be like that. I'll make a note of it, sit it to one side and come back to it later. For example one of the things I wanted for my Soviet army was a Katyusha rocket launcher. I've had it sitting there for I am not sure exactly how long, maybe a year and I am only just now getting around to building it up. In the case of the books it has only been a month or so, but it is books I've been wanting to read for the past 20 to 30 years.

Anyway, Kristi came through to bed in that short slice of darkness that passes for night here. From the way she was losing her balance I could tell she was pretty tired, but when she almost collapsed on top of Ash's cot I grabbed her, pulled her into bed and got her ready for bed lying down (no she wasn't drunk, she very rarely drinks and when she does its only one). Ash just wouldn't settle and she'd been sitting up with him. After getting her sorted I got Ash to drop off to sleep and when he woke up a few hours later persuaded him to go back to the land of nod by lying him on my chest. This generally works pretty well. I lay there until I figured it must be around 10 o'clock, the day was wasting and it was time to get out of bed.

Turned out to be 07:30.

Oh well, I can get on with things. We have people coming round today for board games, tomorrow there is a small comic con going on in the next town, so we'll be going to that. I hadn't planned on going while as much as I want to support it I felt at £28 a ticket it was overpriced (the big guest was in a couple of episodes of season one of Game of Thrones), however a friend won some tickets and gave us them, so we'll be going tomorrow after all.

The big news at work is that Shona the complainer has been posted out. I must admit to be mildly surprised when I felt my heart lift in joy at that news. We only have to put up with her until late September. I normally wait until I find out who is replacing someone before I get excited about things, but in this case apparently I am making an exception.

Anyway, finished painting up Kristi's M36 Jackson so she has some firepower capable of taking on my German big cats. My reinforcements for the Germans... well I have a Kubelwagon, which I have to admit I bought more because it is a cute looking vehicle rather than for its effectiveness. Rather than go with any of the standard camo paint patterns or even just a flat gray I decided to paint it black but with nazi symbols on the doors. It will make a suitable transport for their command squad and hopefully attract a lot of firepower that would otherwise be directed at more valuable targets.

Next up I am going to finish up painting my figure of Sir Christopher Lee in his WW2 days.

Went to the local convention today. It was decent I guess. I'd like to say it will grow and be bigger in years to come, but it was sold out and I am not sure where there would be a bigger venue locally.

Had Perry round last night and some guy called Ross who wants to join our D&D game. Played them at Axis & Allies. Perry took the allied side, Ross went Germany leaving me with Japan. We demolished the Soviet Union in pretty short order and generally overran Asia and the Middle East, then Perry conceded defeat. First time I've played that game for many years and I enjoyed getting it out again.

My burst of energy for painting is continuing and my slowly, bit by bit my backlog of work is getting cleared up. Still got work to do on these, but this is where the vehicles I am doing currently sit.

Going for a slightly Hollywood villain look for the Kubelwagon, although the crew will be painted up as Heer rather than Waffen. Not sure any of those cars were ever actually painted up that way during the war, but it says "bad guys car" to me. I don't really go to a huge amount of effort when painting. All of it could be done to a much higher standard but I am happy with this level of work on them. Might work in some green camo pattern onto the Jackson and a bit of weathering on the Katyusha.

(http://i.imgur.com/EKZ8GKZ.jpg)

Not sure how it ended coming up in conversation today, but apparently when I mentioned an ex-gf of mine while she had good looks, also had the body of a reversable ironing board. Apparently this was just about the funniest thing the other guys had ever heard.

Whatever works for them I guess. Oh, yeah I remember now. Someone was asking if they'd ever replied "No dear, its the fat that does that" in reply to being asking by their significant other if a dress made their bum look big, and somehow we got onto her from there. Jim want's to look up a picture of her now as he has the mental image of an ironing board with a head and limbs.

Pretty accurate description really. She did have those dark eyes and hair that was always a weakspot of mine.

Hopeless between the sheets though. Only woman I've ever sound sex boring with.

Oh well, that was many years ago.

Someone got into an arguement on Kristi's fb page about video games causing violence. I'd previously had an arguement with this guy. He was extremely pro-gun and so I pointed out the inconsistancy on his position and for other reasons called him out as a coward. I thought my point was proven when he didn't respond, however it did turn out that Kristi had unfriended him.

After we went to see Tradgedy live we decided to listen to some of Neil Diamonds music. Turned out that beyond his big hits we didn't like his music afterall.

Anyway, this guy I do like. Nothing wrong with a bit of Elvis.


! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2amU_FkZJo#)

Oh, forgot to mention. On Sunday I got into trouble from our friend Cat. Apparently telling her 5 year old to run up to strangers and do a puppy dog impression (lick them) is a bad thing. Who knew?

Woke up this morning. Ash was a bit gurney so picked him up to let Kristi sleep and took him through the man cave to feed him. Dagon had gotten out of the kitchen and been sick on the carpet, so had to put Ash down and go clean that up. Ash then had a nappy full of poop which I’d to change, after which I got him settled with a bottle and went for my morning shave. Emptied the cats litter tray, accompanied all the time to hearing Dagon yowling somewhere else in the house. Went to see what was up and found I’d been a bit slow cleaning his tray so he’d pee’d on the changing mat.

I guess there are worse places he could have done that.

Carefully picked up the changing mat and threw it in the shower. Swore at the cat.

Went to go iron a shirt, but could tell from the smell that the cat had filled his litter tray again, so went down stairs, changed that again and finally got my uniform ready. Ash had fallen asleep, so I carefully picked him up, put him in his cot before giving Kristi a goodbye kiss (carefully so not to wake her) and headed off to work.

Couldn’t help noting it was not yet half past seven and I’d already had to deal with pee, poop and puke. This does not bode well for how the rest of the day.

Story of my life right there  :wink:

Got this sent to my work email address.


Now I don't find this ridiculous because of the spelling or grammer. Or even that we don't have web cams at work, so they wouldn't be able to turn them on and record me if I was to try something like this at work, or even because the net access controls at work would prevent me getting on something like that.

I find it ridiculous because our net access is so damn slow that the idea of trying to watch porn on it would be more frustrating than anything else lol.

That's creepy.

I can write you a letter using the filthiest Afrikaans I know which you can forward: this idiot will probably think you're giving him a compliment.  :teddyr:

I did consider replying saying I don't have the money, but if you wait a week I can send you $10,000. Every week I'll send a new email offering more money if they just wait a bit longer and see how long I can string them along.

Manage to shut my thumb in a door today and dislocate it. Think I put it back in place correctly. Luckily Kristi wasn't there to see it, but it had been pushed back down my hand and the skin was all folded up around it like some Elizabethan nobles collar only not as fashionable. She did wonder why there was a stream of cuss words coming from me in the utility room though.

My sister in law and two of her kids dropped in today. Always good to see them. I was donating blood today, and she was kind enough to give me a lift to the town hall.

Getting increasingly hard to answer their questions about where the blood comes from. Maybe I should try giving some of my own instead of someone elses.

Well this morning involved much less puke, pee and poop than yesterday. That has to be a good start. Or at least a better one than yesterday. Fed Ash and Dagon. With people visiting last night he (Ash) ended up being up later than usual and the more tired he gets the harder it becomes to get him to go to sleep.

Gets that from his mum.

He is starting to learn how to hold his bottle, although I am not sure that isn’t just an extension of him gripping onto anything that comes in range of his tiny hands and not letting go.

Yeah, that one he gets from me.

The news is full of Germany being kicked out of the World Cup. Many predictable jokes about how they got the same result the last time they went into Russia. Of course, having defeated Panama and Tunisia football pundits and fans are declaring that England are going to win the cup.

On the grand scale of things, beating those nations at football is the equivalent of beating Steve Wonder at golf I am told and is not really a sign of imminent world domination.

Got Ash’s second round of immunisations to go for today. Hopefully he’ll find them less painful than last time.

Topics of conversation at work today have included a TV show where someone admitted to improvising a condom out of a chocolate bar wrapper. I am slightly familiar with the brand of chocolate in question and while I have never tried, I am pretty sure girth wise I wouldn’t be able to fit inside one of them, never mind it not being long enough. Bravo to the man for being brave enough to admit to have a tiny manhood on national TV though.

Decided to put in for a days leave and have tomorrow off. Going up to Inverness tomorrow with Kristi and Ash. She needs to get some biometrics done for her latest visa. You'd think the £2300 we'd to spend on it would be enough.

Went along to the theatre club with Kristi tonight. It is more Kristi's thing that mine but she has gotten into all of my hobbies so I have been looking for something of hers I could get into and this was it. We read a couple of comedies and they seemed to think I had previous experience of acting. Well, that depends if you include my school play when I was 11 and played Mr Nasty.

Found out this week that one of my bosses for a while on a detachment had to work in Area 51. He didn't see any aliens or flying saucers, but they did bus them out every Friday and they couldn't come back until Sunday night so I figure that is when they let the little green men out for a walk. Mind you Area 51 is exactly the kind of place I would come up with if I wanted to keep aliens secret. I'd have a top secret facility somewhere else and make some false stories up about 51 and then let that get all the public attention while my nefarious deeds went unnoticed somewhere else entirely unexpected.

I suspect Trevor's underpants drawer opperates on a similar sort of scheme.

Read a book to Ash tonight. It is one I loved as a kid called Smoke & Fluff. Don't know how long it has been out of print, but tracked a copy down on ebay while Kristi was still pregnant. After that I have been teaching him how to stick out his tongue and make rude noises. He is a quick study. :)

You need to get him a book called PARTS.

Trust me on this.  It was my girls' favorite kids book!

I will look out for it Indy.

Went out with the family to Inverness. Saw a game I'd been wanting to pick up for a while (Firefly Adventures: Brigands & Browncoats). Its from the same company that did the the Firefly boardgame where you fly about completing missions. This one is actually doing missions on planets. The first one is a lot of fun to play so I have high hopes for this one.

I'd gotten up just after three to feed Ash. The clouds where heavy and gray, and looked like a big storm was incoming, but it passed peacefully. Something I was quite glad for.

One of the groups I am a member of is all about WW2 wargaming. Another member asked for some photos of peoples Italian armies to inspire him to paint up his own. I went to get mine out for a photo.

What do you know, they'd ran away!

Still painting up German big gun crews atm. Wanted to pick up some British paratroopers, but Firefly won out.

On our intranet page at work they were asking for people to complete a communications survey.

Fair enough. No problems there.

The survey went live on the 22nd of June, but only today (3rd of July) did they notify anyone. Oh, and it closes on the 6th of July.

Best of all, when you complete the second page of questions there is no button to press to go onto the third page of questions.

Says it all really.

 :teddyr: :teddyr:

I have a vending machine stocked with pre-used undies.  :wink:

Got a message from Kristi while I was at work. Despite it being a text message she still managed to convey a sense of panic.

Apparantly Dagon had brought home a mouse. Kristi was wondering how to rescue it and my replies, well I was more concerned about having a rodent lying somewhere in the house if she didn't let him finish it off rather than having something bleeding on the carpet or kindly sharing any parasites with us. Anyway, she didn't want to deal with it herself so since he had ran into the dining room with it. She managed to chase him outside and I told her to shut the internal doors, leave open the patio door and if the mouse was capable of escaping it could make its way outside. If not, well Dagon would come back in and finish it.

Pfft. Come back and tell me about womens lib when you can deal with your own spiders in the bath and dead creatures lying around. :P (The women who can do that can have the vote, equal pay and all the other good stuff).

There is a week long Seafest thing going on. Tonight was a families night so we went along for it. Ash slept through the very loud music, which since it was K-Pop I was quite in agreement with him on.

Ever seen a picture of Reese Witherspoon? Apparantly many people have. The big question is though, have you ever seen a picture of Reese Withoutherspoon?

17 years in one job. Wow. Before I joined it, I'd never worked for a single employer for more that six months. Only intended doing 12, maybe 15 years tops. But then the pension started calling to me and well, here I am.

Since it was a hot day today I decided to pick up mini ice creams for everyone in the office (a handy trick I picked up from watching Dexter). I'd also taken in a cake Kristi had baked. Shona complained that people had left crumbs from it and demanded that I clean then up.

If anyone else had asked then I might have. I am looking forward to September and her leaving. I guess it is a sign of your popularity in a section though when you have to plan your own leaving do because no one else is interested in doing it for you. Certainly not one I plan on attending. Did have the neighbours round for a BBQ tonight though so I am not being totally unsociable. Seem like a nice enough couple with three young kids. As per usual, Kristi cooked way too much food. Don't get the idea that I am complaining though. I love that she likes to make sure everyone goes home fed.
Turns out the husband is into the same sort of (board) games as we are, so hopefully we'll get a few games with them.

My knee is swollen up like a balloon. Getting around is ok unless I have to go up or downstairs. Ah the joys of gout. The warmer weather we are having helps though.

Happy fourth of July to all my American friends and family.

In 2019, I celebrate 30 years in the same job.  :smile:

My life seems to have become some sort of scoreboard, where both Ash and Dagon score points by being sick, pooping or peeing, or alternatively demanding to be fed. I am not sure what the rules are, how to play this game or who is winning.

One thing I am pretty damn sure of though is that I am losing at it.

I seem to be constantly convinced I have an appointment somewhere else, or something I need to go and do, but I’ll be damned if I know what these days. At work it’s not so bad. I don’t have to remember things. I have postits that remember things for me. Not so easy at home where I just can’t cover every available surface in little yellow squares of paper. Well, not unless I really want to wind Kristi up.

*Makes mental note to redecorate the house in postits at some future point*

Very overcast this morning when I left the house. Thought we might even get a bit of rain, but the clouds have cleared leaving a glorious blue sky once again. Yesterday when I looked out the south window it was heavy grey clouds portending a storm while out the west window it was a fantastic looking sunny day (this is not unusual for dramatically different weathers to be visible out our windows and you have to actually go outside to see what is happening).

Also screw the north window for making false promises. I like a good storm now and again. As long as it has thunder and lightning anyway. Those three months we had a couple of years back where it was just constant gale force winds the whole time are less enjoyable. Plus it isn’t as interesting to watch people playing golf without the whole lightning thing going on.

Ash managed to do a fart so loud it frightened the cat who fled out the room. Kristi happened to take a picture of his expression (Ash’s) at just the right moment.

The potential new front-rank fighter for the group has created his character. Having an Assimar* Paladin in the group shouldn’t change the dynamic too much, but we shall see.

*Basically he is half angel.

 :bouncegiggle: :bouncegiggle:

I once made a noise near our brood of feral cats: one of them got such a scare, it knocked itself stiff on the security bars.  :teddyr:

1- i freely admit to severe arachnophobia, since i was bitten by a brown recluse an have the scar to prove it. BUT, i deserve equal pay etc. because the MEN i've worked with can't handle emptying the critter traps, that's always MY job.
2-you know i love kristi like a sister right? but like my baby sister, if you ever come visit, PLEASE give me 24 hours to get rid of the postits, they control my life for me.
3-cool to hear you have neighbors you could be friends with! not buttheads like our paquita's neighbors!

Had a chat with my older brother yesterday. Only the second one since I told him if he didn’t watch what he was saying about immigrants he wouldn’t have a place in my life. He is going to be home next month and will drop in for a visit. I’ve suggested we go out for a few drinks together when he is back. More because there is stuff me and him need to talk about reference one of our uncles who died last year.

Hmm, Chris Pratt has tweeted that he is practising saying “Hello there”, in preparation for a role. I really can’t see him playing the first character that comes to mind from that. Think I’ll file that under practical jokes.

Terry bought us all bacon rolls this morning and Shona bought everyone a drink from the Combined Operations Strategic / Tactical Annex as well as bringing in a cake. It was her birthday and with getting the posting she wants she is almost approaching what could potentially one day develop into being in a good mood.

Ooops, spoke too soon. She is complaining about her own cake.

Another grass fire up at Hopeman. Makes 4 this week plus one in Lossiemouth itself. Our fire service guys have been sent to help out so it must be fairly serious.

One of the chiefs was trying to wind me up. He used to work beside my older brother and was slagging him off. I just nodded and agreed with everything he said. Could see him getting quite wound up that I just wasn’t reacting. Besides Jim is big enough to look after himself there. I’ll mention to him the next time I see him, and if he bumps into the guy when he gets back I am sure Jim won’t be shy about speaking to him about it.

So this week we have our annual Seafest going on in Lossiemouth.

Every year I keep hoping for a heavy fog to come rolling in filled with undead pirates out for revenge. Every year has been a disappointment so far, but there is always next year.

We went down to the harbour front for the last day today. On the way Kristi informed me of all the things she'd do with the life insurance money if something unfortunate and... accidental were to happen to me.

I am going to be checking my drinks for ground glass and the bed for poisonous creatures under the bedsheets before getting in I guess.

Got more to write, but I need to go do stuff for tomorrow nights game.

a wise woman ALWAYS has a plan for anything the future could throw at her. :cheers: :teddyr:

Shona made a few mistakes tonight. She commented about some other guys life being like an episode of Jeremy Kyle (UK Jerry Springer type show). I laughed internally at that but decided not to say anything. Then me and the FNG (f**king New Guy) were having a Brexit discussion. We were talking about how messed up the UK's position is. She being pro Brexit decided to interject. I pointed out why her particular position wouldn't be great (reverting to WTO rules) for us. She asked if I had voted in the referendum. With a bit of smile I told her no. She asked what right I had to have an opinion and pointed out I'd been on a deployment on the other side of the world at the time. FNG pointed out that this was a pretty damn good reason for not being able to vote. I also explained I'd tried to authorise Kristi to be my proxy vote but it took too long for the UK to get the paperwork out to me.

When I then mentioned I'd transfered my savings into dollars before the referendum being aware the pound was about to crash and she accused me of avoiding tax. Not exactly sure what taxes she thinks I would be dodging there and asked her which ones she thought I was avoiding. I then also mentioned I know the rules on doing this and unless she did trying to argue with me on it wasn't going to go her way.

After that she climbed back into her shell and didn't complain about anything for the next 15 minutes. Perhaps I should do this more often?

Getting some light rain over the past few days. My only problem with this is that I hung some washing up on the line to dry, but a bit of rain is good and I just have to suck it up there and use the drier instead.

So England play there biggest for 20 years tonight. Do they get to go to the World Cup final or will they be singing "England's coming home?".

No idea, although from the media it seems they already have it in the bag. All they have to do it turn up and they've won. Best of luck, but I am told by people who are more into football than me that they've had an easy run compared to the team they'll be playing tonight who have overcame much more difficult opponents, and that England have had a great deal of good luck to get as far as they have. Maybe. Is it better to be good or lucky?

I'll just say may the better team on the night win. No in fact since both my teams in the office sweepstakes went out in the first round screw everyone involved. :p If I am not winning the money from it, then I want all sides to lose. :P Kev has told me this is impossible but I don't care. If a cricket match can go on for 5 days and end in a draw then I don't see why football can't.

I did suggest to Kev that it would be a more interesting game if they crossed two pitches so they were in an 'X' shape and had four teams playing. Oh and allowed pro-wrestling moves. I mean these guys are great at faking injury. They could teach the WWE people a thing or two.

Come back and talk to me when you are playing a real man's game and not being 22 overpaid millionaires chasing a bag of air around some grass. I always preferred something a bit more physical for my sports, rugby when I felt like being in a team, judo when I didn't and running when I just wanted to be completely away from people.

I did have one English friend tell me I should get behind the England team. I don't see why. As I told him I don't get behind my own nation on any of the occasions they've made it through, oh and weren't you the same guy who was slagging off an English formula one driver the other day? Shouldn't you just get behind him?

But then I have never entirely got the concept of supporting a team. I find it especially confusing when people refer to the actions of the team they've been supporting as if they had actually done something (for example "When we the league last year blah blah blah", well you didn't win the league, they did while you sat on your couch watching TV unless you feel in some way your positive vibes tipped the balance in their favour, but I am diverging here). The sports I enjoy when I watch them I appreciate a well balanced contest between two equal opponents. And of course the occasional giant killer when some team thinks they don't need to play at their full potential to beat another and ends up getting hammered. Always fun to see, but I find it hard to be partisan about it generally and root for one team over the other.

Everything seems to have gone wrong on the other side of the office tonight. Nights at work are supposed to be stress free (well to be fair they are for me). Feeling glad that I can sit here and feel the chaos and stress without having to be part of it. I have offered to help. Perhaps this would be a nicer things if I didn't already know that the answer is no (its all to do with a spread sheet they are working on that can't be split up and worked on in separate chunks), but hey it is the thought that counts right?

Besides its keeping a certain person too busy so they can't complain constantly.

Having problems getting Ash to sleep. He seems to have combined his mothers thing about fighting sleep when she is tired with his fathers ability to get by on four hours sleep a day. So much for the sleeping 18 hours a day thing babies are supposed to do. I have ways I can get him to drop off to sleep, but the trouble is he maybe stays that way for half an hour and then he is super wide awake again. Everyone who meets him keeps commenting on how alert he is (oh and that he has inherited my eyelashes. For some reason women have always liked my eyelashes. If he had my dimple his poor mum would have no chance).

A sample conversation.

Person A "I am going to have to take my glasses off, I am starting to get the stabbing pain I get in the back of my eye when I wear them."

Person B (Vaguely concerned) "Are you sure you have the right prescription?"

Person A "I don't actually have a prescription."

Person B (Slightly confused) "Then why are you wearing glasses."

Person A "Specsavers told me I needed them, but when I got my eyes tested by Boots they said they were fine."

Person B (Sighing Heavily Inside) "So why are you wearing the glasses?"

Person A "Well they help me a bit when I am working on a computer screen."

Person C "You need to go back and get a new prescription."

Today is something of a milestone day.

We got a letter from the government confirming that Kristi now has indefinite leave to remain in the UK. No more saving up thousands of pounds to apply for the next visa.

This in itself is fairly momentous (for us as any rate), however it also marks something else. I no longer need to remain in my current employment. I could leave now and she wouldn't have to go back home whereas previously I had to be earning over a certain amount or she'd need to go home.

Mind you with just under 5 years left before I get my pension, it strikes me that it would be silly to leave now but it is damn nice to have that option and not to feel a prisoner of your job.

Originally when me and Kristi got serious the plan was that I would leave the job and move to the states when we got married, but one too many school shooting caused a change in our plans, followed by a cinema getting shot up. I can understand why she didn't want to bring up a child somewhere were going to school could be more dangerous than my job.

Occasionally she does get homesick and mentions she might want to move back there once I am out. I think that very much depends on wither or not trump gets a second term in office or not. Speaking of the Tango Orange one, he is visiting the UK currently. Unusual for a president (or any visiting dignitary for that matter) to land in Aberdeen rather than London but then he isn't someone I would describe as normal. And not in the weird way that I like my friends to be. As much as it pains me to admit it, he does occasionally say or do something I agree with. Pulling up a load of NATO nations on their defence spending I would say is something he is right on.

Besides in the near future governments are going to have to look at funding two entirely new arms of the military. Will be interesting to see which nation is the first to have an independent cyber force (as opposed to having one that is part of another branch of the military as currently tends to be the trend). There are reasons why having these things in separate branches is a good idea. You have people who understand that arena of combat and are specialized in it rather than having someone who may know nothing about a particular type of warfare being put in charge of it.

Hmm, I wonder why the intelligence services aren't viewed as being a separate section of the military? I would argue that it is another specialised area. Still, equally I can understand why governments would want to keep their intel and military services separate. If warfare is just diplomacy by different means then what is spying? I am considering mostly actions against other nations here, but are domestic operations really so much different?

Oh well, that is my random thoughts for today.

Not glanced at the news today. I've been answering a lot of questions from friends in the US about how trump is viewed over here. Lets just say when it comes in insults, my nation can get creative.

For example when he visited Scotland after the Brexit vote...

So why mention this now? Well other than I've been arguing with one of the few trump supporters that I know over wither or not he is a straight talking man who tells it like it is or a big orange, pasty faced gobs**te of the highest order. Oddly enough he is also the guy who was telling me I should support england in the world cup while at the same time he was slagging off Lewis Hamilton. What I find really strange is the guy has a serious medical condition. Under trumps changes to health care he wouldn't have a hope in hell of getting an insurance company to cover him.

American presidents in my life time have been a mixed bag from an international view point. Some have been respected (Obama, Bush Snr and even Bill Clinton to a degree), viewed with mild amusement (Reagan & Bush Jnr) but where trump is different is that he is the first person I've seen who has actually brought the level of respect for the office of president itself down and quite significantly at that. Maybe Nixon had the same kind of reaction but that is a little before my time. Hell, the politician who overrode the local council and allowed him to build his gold course got quite quickly voted out of office and he had been a pretty popular figure before that.

I'd love to see how his visit here is being covered back in the US to compare. I know he is avoiding London. Guess he isn't quite brave enough to face those protests. So much for him wanting a purple heart I guess if he can't even take being unpopular.

American citizens have been advised to remain indoors during his visit in case people hold them responsible for their president. I find that just as disgusting as trumps actions frankly. If you are going to pull the same s**t as his supporters then really what is the difference between you? Luckily Kristi is well known in the area as a friendly soul and I have few fears on her behalf while she remains here. Certainly I know after the Brexit vote and trumps election there was violence south of the border against all manner of foreigners. Kristi ended up having to cancel a trip to see some of my family in the north of England while I was out in the Falklands as a result.

I don't know if the President of the EU's reply to trumps comments have made it over the Atlantic or not, but if they haven't he said (rough translation) "Be nice to your allies trump, you don't have that many any more."

I like to think that refers specifically to trump rather than the whole of the USA. Its a country I've visited a fair view times now and while just like any other country it has its faults and flaws I happen to like it on balance.

Goes to show there, no matter where you go in the world there are a***oles.

What else is happening? Well, today is Friday the 13th. Kristi wanted to watch a F13 movie, so I stuck on the only one she hadn't seen. The 2009 remake. I wonder if in a couple of nights she'll be too terrified to step out into the dark at night? After that she decided we should have a Hammer House Of Horror movie marathon, although next  I am going to go looking for one of the episodes of their TV series that always creeped me out as a kid (The House That Bled To Death I think, but I am watching it to check). Just the music to that show used to give me the shivers. It doesn't quite have the same effect nowadays alas and alack. Damn, the episode I thought it was isn't what I was looking for. Still, I will keep trying.

the EU president's remark pretty much personifies what i've been telling  the RWNJers for quite some time now. trump is an isolationist, and he is rapidly destroying any good will this country had from other countries, and alienating our allies while sucking up to dictators.
   not to mention rolling back environmental protections that WERE putting a stop to a huge amount of pollution here, all for the love of money. he is an evil man, and i am shocked at the amount of people i no longer feel are sane, intelligent compassionate human beings. THEY are people who have kids and grandkids who will be the ones to deal with living a filthy polluted hellhole that will be WORSE than a 3rd world country in less than 50 years. but THEY also want money now, and screw the future of the next generations.it's terrifying.

Alex- Trump does NOT represent America- he was elected by hook and crook.
With the help of TV addicted morons and hillbilly idiots- which we have an abundance here.  :bluesad:

I understand that mate. Believe me I know a lot of good people from the USA who want nothing to do with him. And I know he didn't even manage to win the popular vote. Me and Kristi actually landed in the US on election day. When I woke up in the morning and it was confirmed he had won I felt physically sick.

i WAS physically sick, literally threw up from fear.

Oh Cool.  I knew you were in Scotland.  My family's Irish, both sides, all the way back.  But we're American born and bred.  The impression I have is that the resident of the United States is not well liked there.  

Many Americans - maybe all - felt physically ill.  Political leaning has never been a deal breaker for me; I'm not political.  It's a much needed lesson to America.  I believe Donald Trump has served the American people a great service.  

Sometimes people like him make me feel that democracy is too precious a thing to be put in the trust of the people.

The People didn't elect him. MONEY elected him.
People who sat at home (like me) who thought "It can never happen here" elected him.
You can bet your ass I'm gonna vote from now on.

so is my husband, for the first time in his 64 years. starting at the local level on the 17th. i'm very proud of him.

I hope that he doesn't do anything truly stupid during his time in office and people realise the consequences of their vote.

He's gone beyond "truly stupid" a long time ago.  :bluesad:

Believe it or not, there is much worse he can do...

I am 54 years old.  I came of age during the Reagan Revolution and he is still my favorite President (during my lifetime).
I have always leaned right of center, but I don't even recognize what my political party has become.
It's nauseating to see some of the pure hatefulness and bigotry that comes out on social media on any political subject now.
Many people I like and respect voted for Trump (including my Mom and my closest friend) because they were so terrified of Hillary Clinton being President.
I couldn't do it.  I didn't like Mrs. Clinton, but Trump nauseated me from day one.  And the fact is, I think out of the 17 GOP candidates that started the race, ten of them could have beaten her easily.  But people were angry and afraid, and we know where anger and fear lead . . .


So here we are.

A lot of the people I know from Utah did go with a third party candiadate simply because they could not bring themselves to vote for either trump or clinton.

I have asked an Irish friend how trump goes down over there. I'll let you know what the reply is.

Ok, got a reply a bit faster than I was expecting...

Alex: Asking for some American friends. How is Trump viewed in Ireland?
Lisa: A load of s**te ! Sorry, but honestly yes, he is hated, and seen as a misogynist, sexist, racist, plonker
Alex: That is what i figured.
Lisa: There may be some who like him but most don't, sorry
Alex: And I think that is the first time I have ever seen you swear.

I voted third party for the first time in my life.  And if he is the GOP candidate in 2020 I will do it again.

I am from Utah (for those who don't know me it shouldn't be hard to figure out who I am, although I only read this thread when instructed to by Alex) and this is the first time in my life that I can remember a Republican Candidate or any Presidential Candidate campaigning in Utah, and the fact that the Republican's had to run a smear campaign to stop an independent candidate from winning says a lot about how Utah views him. He didn't win a majority of votes there he just managed to get the largest chunk of them. This was the first Presidential election since 1996 that I did not vote in, but you can bet I'll be using my mail in ballot for the 2020 election, even though I have doubts that they are actually counted. I have a family member that I spent many an hour on skype discussing the candidates with and was happy when they told me that they could not bring themselves to vote for Clinton (she really rubbed them the wrong way when she was First Lady) but they would not vote for Trump so they took the time to look into the third party candidates and voted for one of them. The thing that impressed me with that is she was someone who had voted Republican her entire voting life and had never actually looked into the candidates. I do think that this election led a lot more people to be politically aware, and yes I'm looking on the bright side.

Alex and I have said it's like both parties chose the worst candidates and ran them against each other, I preferred Mrs. Clinton over Trump but I don't necessarily think she was the best person for the job. I really wish someone like John Huntsman Jr would run (or that he would just run again, he chose a bad time to run last time, there was no way the Republican's wanted to Mormon candidates and Romney fit the party more than Huntsman did) in the 2020 election, he's someone I know I could support.   You are right that most of the other Republican candidates would have easily beaten Mrs. Clinton in both the popular and electoral vote and would have done a good job as President. I hope that the Democrats choose some one that isn't as divisive for the next race and that there are some challengers in the Republican party that the party can get behind.

That, of course, is my point. 

Thanks to everyone who has been taking part in this conversation. Its nice to have a talk about politics without it desending into name calling and arguements, although I guess that is easier when everyone seems to be on the same side lol.

Don't remind me.
He's alienated NATO,he's embracing scumbags like Putin and Kim.... ARGH! I can't type no more!

Oh hey he's managed to anger pretty much all of the UK in one day. He managed to keep the Queen waiting outside in the heat by being 15 minutes late, failed to bow to her as visiting heads of states do (according to the article I just read he's the first not to do it) and then walking ahead of her in an inspection of the guard. He needs a better cultural liason to help him out I think. Oh and hey he gave an interview to the Sun of all newpsapers, insulting the Prime Minister and saying that Boris Johnson would do a better job, before heading into a meeting with her. He then went on to say something that I would usually agree with no questions asked, that the Sun is Fake News... it seems he may have gotten a talking to for that interview and realized how big of a misstep it was.

I did have an interesting thought, to me at least, he keeps calling these stories fake news not false news, so in a way he's saying that they aren't newsworthy not that they are untrue.

A nice relaxing Saturday. One of the reasons I love doing night shift is the three day weekend. That extra day just makes such a difference.

Its very gray outside, but also very warm. We've reached that couple of weeks of the year when everyone wishes air conditioning was more of a thing over here. Catching up on movies. I have a rough aim of watching more movies than there are days in the year. Last month fell badly short though so I have some catching up to do.

After a few weeks of Ash refusing to sleep for more than about half an hour a day he is finally sleeping loads. 11 hours the night before last, and then other than waking up for a bottle he slept most of yesterday. Today he is settling more back into his usual sleep pattern.

No doubt at some point he will throw up in my ear again. That was a terrific experience the other day.

Still, I am going to go and have a long relaxing hot bath shortly. If the baby isn't driving Kristi crazy then the cat has been. He injured a leg yesterday. We think he was fighting with a couple of dogs and was limping heavily although the leg didn't have any visable damage or feel broken. He seems to be walking ok today. I am keeping him in the house until tomorrow though just to make sure. I hope he figures out quickly that some places just aren't for him to go exploring in. Ash sat watching films with me today, gurgling especially happily as MacReady torched The Thing.

What else has happened this week? Well we had a big parade and flyover in London as part of celebrating the RAF being 100 years old. The flyover was of 100 different aircraft. Big treat for all the spotters out there I guess. I loved how one of the old veterans pointed out for the last big flyover he'd been at many years ago we'd had 168 aircraft while this time getting 100 up was a stretch.

Got Kristi to go to the shop for ice creams while I try and persuade Ash that he really should go for a sleep.

For those that are interested, some pictures from the anti trump protests in George Square in Glasgow.



That isn't quite all the pictures, but i am sure you get the idea from this lot.

I just see a huge string of images saying "The image you are requesting does not exist or is no longer available." I'm guessing that all of those images were deleted already?

Odd, I can see them all no problem. Anyone else not able to see the pictures?

I can't see them, you can even come look at my computer screen if you want to

Ok, will try posting them again. Let me know if you can see them or not.


(http://i.imgur.com/9hQGDYM.jpg)


(http://i.imgur.com/m58iMoM.jpg)


(https://i.imgur.com/Yz2FAfr.jpg)


(https://i.imgur.com/DQIEvII.jpg)


(https://i.imgur.com/JbEzRo9.jpg)


(https://i.imgur.com/DOLkzCe.jpg)


(https://i.imgur.com/yjbVerW.jpg)


(https://i.imgur.com/p0OmdFP.jpg)


(https://i.imgur.com/dakYFJn.jpg)


(https://i.imgur.com/FNTAMQ5.jpg)


(https://i.imgur.com/9jLskAZ.jpg)


(https://i.imgur.com/XX1jn3c.jpg)


(https://i.imgur.com/hn8CpRU.jpg)


(https://i.imgur.com/70lysDf.jpg)


(https://i.imgur.com/UUP1hgA.jpg)


(https://i.imgur.com/v5Apc40.jpg)


(https://i.imgur.com/iIxvAST.jpg)


(https://i.imgur.com/mahYcHD.jpg)


(https://i.imgur.com/xNrRoA4.jpg)

So, I get the feeling he isn't very popular?  :lookingup:

Did you hear about the blimp they made in London for him? It was a giant inflatable orange baby.

Oh yeah.
I saw a great series of photoshops where they put that blimp in over the real Trump in every public appearance he made.  Pretty darned hilarious!

Oh, if that square looks vaguely familiar you might have seen it in World War Z. They used it to stand in for (I think) Philadelphia at the start of the movie. Was a little strange seeing it with American road signs up and whatnot.

"Way back..." during the election there was a meme floating around with a handful of CHOICE "Scottish" insults.  The Scottish do have a superior talent for swipes.  I think I choked from laughing when I read them... the best of the above is the "SCOTLAND HATED HIM FIRST" poster... LOL...  

ALEX, I can see all of those hilarious pix.  On the previous page, no!  Those I had seen when you first posted them... but I think all of today's pix are different.   :smile: 

(https://scontent.fewr1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/37115743_2207985232818825_2588660416607420416_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=55f1fea52b23a0d97cb67e131fcf5b9e&oe=5BD04BE3)

Today started with getting pee'd on. And not in some kinky water sports type way. Not that I would have enjoyed that either. It is an area of fetishdom that I don't quite understand (ok, one of many I don't understand. I mean what the hell is it with all those 'Bronys', I mean really?).

I had only just got dressed, popped to the shop and then went to change Ash's nappy and bingo. Well those trousers were worth the effort of putting on for a whole 20 minutes then weren't they? Just as well I was doing the laundry anyway.

Ash has also managed to figure out the other half of rolling over, so he can now sometimes get from his back onto his front.

The world cup is finally over. Some team won it and the rest didn't I guess. I am not sure which one but well done to whomever. I was kinda hoping for some tiny nation to win it, but then I tend to support the underdogs.

Just found out that Sam Jones is going to be at the Con in Edinburgh I plan on going to. I mean it was cool that The Hoff is going to be there, and I am stoked for Lou Ferango, but SAM FRIKKEN JONES!!!!! I mean Flash Gordon is the best sci-fi film ever made ever! After all Lucas only made Star Wars because he didn't get to make Flash. Now if only Brian Blessed were there too. Bret Hart is going to be there as well which will be cool, but I don't know if I'd go for his autograph.

Oh if Ornella Muti wants to come too, well... Although she will have to understand, bro's before ho's y'know.

Man, she was smoking hot in that film.

one of the best pics i saw about the trump visit was ctually VERY polite, but funnier than all get out, since my aussie friends say the same sort of thing about disliked visitors. it said" dear queen, don't give him the GOOD biscuits! 

Some of those Scots phrases take me back to high school where I had several Scots friends who used these quite a bit :bouncegiggle: :bouncegiggle:

Jobby: poo
Baws: balls
Bawbag: scrotum  :buggedout:
Roaster: troublemaker

I especially loved the "Donald where's your trousers" one  :teddyr: :bouncegiggle:

Monday morning. Not sure why everyone hates it so, or why so many people I know have trouble sleeping on Sunday with the thought of going to work the next morning. Not that I have a perverse enjoyment of work or anything, I just try not to take it home with me or think about it too much in my private time.

Hell, some days I don’t even think about it while I am there. :P

Jim found a Weevil. I think he is confusing it with the Pokemon game he likes to play and is trying to train it. Ooops, no. The Weevil escaped between the gaps in his keyboard keys.

Guess he ain’t choosing that one anytime soon then.

Kristi’s friend Vicky wants us to dress Ash up as Ted for the Edinburgh Con. As his father I am vetoing that and insisting on the Emperor Ming. If he is going to Cosplay he is not going as a Furry.

Plus I don’t like the idea of him cooking in a fur lined costume. I’ve seen some of the outfits parents put kids in when I’ve been to Disney in California. Poor buggers look like they are about to collapse from heat exhaustion.

Reminds me, Alex, when Paramount bought a local amusement park in the '90s they had these costumed Klingons walking around the park glaring at people, and on a 100 degree day I saw one fall flat on his back from heat stroke because they had him wearing all this leather armor and a cape, with the full lobster tail makeup on his head. Cosplay is best in cooler weather.

For the past year or so any time I pick up a new pair of work shoes they seem to tear my feet apart. They haven't been fully healed up in that time with constant shredded skin, blisters and all the sort of thing. Anyway, it looks like currently the worst is over and I am actually heading towards them being 100% (although some bits still need to heal up. Over the weekend in particular I was peeling layers of dead skin off the 'knuckle' of my big toe. There was about 4 layers I could remove then a rather bruised and blooded circle of skin right beneath that. Tonight half that layer started to come off by itself, so I was gently encouraging it to come off the rest of the way. The last little part was still normal tissue though, so ripping that off would get a bit difficult. I got a pair of scissors out and cut the dead skin off.

Having completed this to my satisfaction and happy that the wound wasn't infected or anything I cleaned it up, looked up to find a fresh bandage only to find Kristi looking at me as if she was going to throw up.

Good job I decided against cauterising the wound I guess then.

i vote for emperor ming too.

Tuesday rolls around with the inevitability that presages Wednesday and the half past week point. Alas that however still lies in the future and trying to mess around with time gets me funny looks.

Still I am off work next week. That is a plus. Taking Ash down to my mums until the following Saturday and then coming back up the road with some friends from Denmark who are going to spend the week with us. Its Zolis and Val from my D&D game (or Anders and Tina if you prefer). Hoping we can get a game with us all around the table while they are here. Since my favourite games store has been closed I’ll be popping into my second favourite one (even though Tom closed ‘The Dragon & George’ a couple of years back, it still remains my favourite) in Glasgow. One of the things I do love about Utah is the size and frequency of their gaming stores. Especially that I can pretty much cross the road from Kristi’s mums house to get to one. The geek state indeed.

I would love to say what I think of trump’s visit to the Sovie… sorry, I mean Russia but for various reasons I will keep my thoughts on what he has said to myself. If you know anything at all about body language though it was very telling when they were both standing together (trump and comrade putin). One looked shame faced, ill at ease and out of his depth, the other was totally in control.

I did see the mock up for the expected Typhoon replacement. From the front it looks like a Lightning II, from the back a stealth bomber. I think by the time it comes in though piloted fighter aircraft will be a thing of the past.

Now there is a question. Would you be happy to fly in an airliner without a human on board? Just some spotty kid on the other side of the world flying you by remote control. Or perhaps being flown by an onboard computer? What about hackers taking control of the plane and holding it to ransom? How about that for a way to bring back hijacking aircraft in a big way?

Roughly you will get an error per 100 lines of code in a computer program. Something like Windows has millions of lines of code… How about those blue screens of death, or when your computer just runs really slowly for no reason you can figure out?

I’d fly in one I guess, but I can’t help thinking I would like to have someone who can fly as a backup, even knowing just how much modern aircraft need computers to fly them. Oh, and don’t think just because of my job I have any idea how to fly an aircraft.

I can promise I’d get a plane down on the ground (providing there is ground in range) if I had to fly one. I just can’t promise it would be in one piece or that anyone else would survive.

I'm reasonably certain that the airliner I flew in on Saturday didn't have a pilot as the plane was almost an hour late.  :thumbdown:

Just remember when you are flying Trevor that the engines are not keeping you in the air. All the do is provide forward momentum. All that is keeping you aloft is a bubble of air beneath the wings. Also bits fall off of airplanes in flight a lot more often than people realise.

Happy flying y'all.

1811 days to go.
In 1811 Britain was at war with its only serious rival for world prominence (the French under Napoleon). The Peninsular War raged in Spain and Portugal, which would prove to be enough of a constant drain on Napoleon’s forces for him to blame his Spanish adventure on his eventual defeat.

Tensions were rising between the US and the UK over the Royal Navy stopping American shipping to search for potential deserters from the RN due to the need for man power for the Napoleonic War. The US also had designs on Canada and the stoppage of ships provided a valid casus belli. Some men suspected to be British citizens on US ships were hung without proof of nationality or trial. This would in the next year lead to a war between the two powers which would end in a draw. The US forces would on balance perform better at sea than the British, however on land the British generally had the upper hand as invasions of Canada failed, although in retaliation for the destruction of public buildings in Canadian settlements the British would land a punitive raid on Washington itself burning the White House and the Library of Congress in revenge (I wonder what it was called before it had to be painted white? One for Indy I think). It was meant as a clear signal to say if you don’t stick to the rules of war then neither will we. The (proto) White House had to be evacuated in the face of advancing British troops (to the point where the troops were able to have a hot meal curtesy of the White House due to it being abandoned in the middle of dinner).

Although the war would rumble on for a few years, British focus was mainly on continental Europe and soon after the defeat of Napoleon the war would end. Britain no longer had a requirement to seize sailors ending one of the major causes of the war. The US had failed in its aim of seizing territory in Canada and with Napoleon defeated the British suddenly had a lot more troops to send to the war, but the public had little appetite for another major conflict. The Iron Duke was put in charge of British forces for example, but refused to leave home having been away campaigning for so long and conducted the war from the UK. While the then Prime Minister of the UK wanted the US to concede land as part of the peace treaty, the Duke Wellington informed him in no uncertain terms that they had not made the territorial gains south of the border that would allow them to do so.

Both sides agreed to end the war as it was no longer in either sides interests to continue. Due to slow communications one final (and for the British disastrous) battle was fought (New Orleans I think) after the peace treaty had been signed. Although declared a draw people on either side do still argue the various merits of both sides and that one side or the other won.

Although this (to date) was the last was between the two countries there would be several incidents over the years since that would bring both nations to the brink, including (and this is my favourite) a war that was nearly fought over a pig. The US would go on to make further plans for the invasion of Canada (most famously in the Rainbow Plans, which when made public caused something of a hitch in diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1974) although to date none of them have been tried again and the border between both nations is the longest non- militarized border in the world.

Been thinking more and more recently of taking a break from BMDO. The last time I did that it was before the last US election when I got tired of seeing people arguing with each other so I stayed away for four months (being down the Falklands helped there as my net connection was crap). Seeing people who have been here a lot longer than me arguing is getting a bit depressing. I’d have to keep coming back to update my movies watched list though. The first two years I wanted to do that I couldn’t modify my posts. The third year I spent 6 months in the aforementioned Falkland Isles. The forth I lost the thread for a few weeks so gave up, so this year I am determined to complete it.

I should pack my stuff tonight for going away next week. Kristi finally decided on coming down with me and Ash, so we need to take the cat too. Suspect we’ll be going down very early on Saturday morning although this is still being debated. Looking forward to a week of gaming with Tina and Anders. It’s just a shame I could only get next week off and not the week following that instead. Hoping I’ll finally get to take Kristi to the Transport Museum in Glasgow.

Don't be a stranger, dude!

For something that was an integral part of my childhood I never managed to take to any of the Dr Who's that followed Tom Baker in quite the same way and indeed this is something that extends into the new series. Dr Who's adventures took months to unfold, not solved in a single episode with a monster of the week format.

I don't even consider the new Dr's canon if I am completely honest. Even if they are damn good I just can't bring myself to look at them the same way.

On the part of my cycle where I just can't be bothered with drama. Soon enough the angry part will start to rise and I'll feel better, but right now things just p**s me off and I just feel irritated at them. I find that harder to deal with than the anger. Other peoples emotions are just exhausting to try and keep up with. On the plus side though over the next two and a half months I'll be getting weened off my anti depressants and then I'll get a review where I'll hopefully be pronounced cured. Helps knowing all the stuff I am supposed to say in advance I guess and studying the little tells from peoples body language.

Did you know for example if you are talking to someone and they start rubbing their ear it is a sign that they don't like what you are saying to them or disapprove of it?

I am not sure how much the pills helped. I think getting Dagon and Ash have helped more than anything else and I am looking forward to getting off them. I know some people can get addicted to them and I've always had a very strong thing against being addicted to something. I put it down to why I never really got into the drugs scene the way my friends were.

Catching up with Supernatural, getting through season 12 at the moment.

you're going to LOVE season 13! i'll just say i cried tears of joy several times, and you will too!

Heading off tomorrow for a week. Seems as good a time as any to take a break from here while I am at it. Hopefully people will have stopped sniping at each other by the time I log back in. No idea when that will be though. Maybe I'll miss you lot too much and be back as soon as I get home.

Got to walk in a light rain to work today. It felt nice after the heat of recent weeks. One of my more enjoyable and relaxing strolls into work. Of course it helps that its a Friday and I'm off work for a week.

Hoping to get a night with just me and my brother drinking. Not sure that will happen, especially with the joys of parenthood. Ah, the things you have to give up when you have someone else to be responsible for. This is all part of the price I knew I'd have to pay, and it is worth it.

When I see him smile I don't feel quite as much like wringing some peoples necks. Happy babies save lifes!

Apparently I am doing a bang up job of taking a break. The trip down to Glasgow went about as well as any such trip with a baby and a cat can possibly go. No delays or troublesome people. Made a nice change not to have to deal with any drunks.

Alec (Ash's godfather) popped over to see him, although since he isn't feeling very well he couldn't get to hold him which was a shame. Hopefully he'll be better before we leave. Stewart, Linda and Cammy also came over for a quick visit. Linda isn't happy about the idea of me and Stewart going out for a few beers together. I'd have to say tough on that.

Mum has bought me a nice bottle of Haig. No doubt I'll  be trying that one with her before I head back up the road.  :drink:

Fixed mum's dvd player for her, so now we are watching Studio Ghibli movies (which she is a huge fan of). Well she likes a lot of anime although me and my younger brother have always been very careful to vet anything she wants to watch beforehand. That is one shocked phone call I never need to take from my mother.

hope you are all having a great time! :cheers:

Having a good time, but still sucking at not checking up on here.

I am a teetotaler but I would join you for a lager with a lot of lemonade in it.  :smile:

Not Sprite which has changed its' taste so much it tastes like day old pee.  :drink: :twirl:

Me either. Though I have seen episodes of the revival that were good on an individual basis the tone of the original series has never been matched or replicated. The show used to be fun; now it is always trying too hard to either be artificially deep, or to make points about the real world that take me out of the story.

Met up with Aaron and Leona yesterday. Would have stayed out longer but despite repeatid applications of baby sun cream little Ash looked ready to start getting sun burn, so got him home. My very lucid horror dream the other night seems to have turned into something of a stream of dreams. Had a couple more last night that woke up me. One was a stalk and slash type thing slightly flashbacking to one of the times I got stabbed, can't remember the other one though.

Such delicious nightmares. I love them. Hey, you either own the bad things that have happened to you, or they own you.

Been watching cartoon type family films with everyone today. I have an urge to watch something darker though. Maybe I'll put something on my laptop, stick headphones on and just drift away into a world all of my own.

Maybe I'll really disturb everyone and watch the remake of The House Of Wax.

To be fair though out of all the films with Paris Hilton in them that I have watched, I can't deny that it is the best one. Follow that one up with Reeker.

Got the mini guild meet tomorrow evening. Going to spend the whole day in Glasgow though, heading up with Kristi and hoping to hit a few places before we meet up with Roy, Anders and Tina that evening and then take Tina and Anders home with us for a week.

Making plans to go see Phil Campbell playing in November. Linda doesn't want Stewart to go to it. But then Linda disapproves of a lot of things. Mostly I get Stewart to do them just to wind her up. Plus it is things he enjoys doing. I don't quite get why she objects to him doing them. Oh wait, bit of a control freak.

Should have heard the fight over wither or not he got a man cave. Linda was determined he wasn't getting to convert the unused spare bedroom, then she agreed to it being a family hobby room, but Stewart went ahead, cleared the junk out of the room and made it one. She tried telling Cammy that I didn't have a man cave, that it was a hobby room but I said "Nope, it is my man cave. It is the one room in the house I get to decide how it gets decorated and I get to put all my stuff in it."

I got shot a very angry look from Linda for that, but Kristi also said "Yes, it is his man cave." Not going to lie to him just because she doesn't like the way we set up our world. When the ice cream van comes round they have that poor boy told that the sound of its horn means he is out of ice cream. I do not plan on treating Ash like that. I know as parents its there choice, but I have my doubts that it is a good one.

Oh well.

Ash is full of giggles and laughter today. I wonder what life has in store for him and what choices he will make. Going to be interesting to see how it all works out for him. I just hope we can guide him enough that he makes the right ones for himself without being controlling.

The most terrifying thing about parenthood is when you get there and find out it is all ad libbed.

The very hot and sunny weather finally broke today. Now it is raining.

But still hot.

The plan for today is to go up to Glasgow, leaving home around 12. I want to visit Static Games, take Kristi to the Transport Museum and possibly a few drinks at the Solid Rock before we meet up with friends at Meat Bread Meat.

At some point I'll update things and see how much of what I am hoping will happen actually takes place. I wonder if Sarah will be there? Me and her haven't spoken since she started slagging off the whole #Metoo movement. The last I heard of her she was complaining about the amount of help Stephen Hawking got compared to her (please note, that Sarah has difficulty moving around, but isn't wheelchair bound and is quite capable of talking without using electronic assistance). One of the reasons we have chosen Meat Bread Meat is because she is vegan and may not turn up just based on the name. She has annoyed most of our group in the comparitively short time we have known her. One of those people who thinks she is free thinking, but is just a facist in another outfit who would force everyone else to follow her beliefs if she had the power. Still she has quit politics. The party she was a member of invited the guy who raped her twice to join and told her they didn't believe her it had happened.

And back home again.

Still not managed to take Kristi to the transport museum. By the time we'd collected Tina and Anders we didn't really have time to get up there.

Still, I've only been trying for 7 years, there is still time.

Trains home were crowded, but without incident. I normally take a laptop, listen to music, read books... Anything to discourage random strangers from talking to me.

Kristi, however likes to talk to random strangers. Anyway, I didn't get the rest of King Solomans Mines read like I had been planning due to random stranger conversations. Still at least she didn't mention what I actually do for a living to said random strangers this time. As I have explained multiple times to her, that puts a risk I am not willing to take on her and Ash's safety.

Found an online copy of an old DOS game I used to play called Ascendency. The AI is a bit lacking but I still enjoyed the game, oh must be about 20 years ago I used to play it. Messing about on it just now. You start off with no technology on some planet and built up to having a galactic empire and compete with other space faring races. Finally got large ship hulls (which takes ages to get, and then quite quickly afterwards you get gigantic hulls). Anyway, my first large ship (a warship, Thug class) is moving to defend one of my systems from an incoming attack. Hopefully they don't have the same technologies yet and will get a nasty suprise when they (a race called the Occulons) arrive in my space. Not found any of the other species yet which is unusual, but I know they are out there... waiting in the cold darkness of space.

Went to the raft race with the family and our guests. Couldn't get anyone to go on any of the funfair rides with me as apparantly being spun round at high speeds makes them sick.

Or, secretly they are all big girls blouses and were scared. You decide.

Tina made an  A4 leather book cover for me with the D&D logo on it, Kristi got a personalised Kindle cover and they made Ash a mobile with knitted dice on it that I want for myself!

Played a round of Firefly tonight. It was supposed to be a two hour scenario, but we called it after four hours with no one near winning. But it had been a lot of fun still, so that was good. Back to work tomorrow. It has been a pleasent week off work and I wonder what rare delights await me tomorrow.

You will have a certain South African at your front door, begging for the use of your washing machine to clean certain undergarments  :wink:

Just before I saw this message from you I set one of my passwords as "Pantsofdoom666" (hey it is something I will remember tomorrow, if a tad simpler than the passwords I use for my home stuff). Guess great minds think alike.

OK, so this is happening in my home town. Just let me know who I have to kill to get tickets!

http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/John-Carpenter-tickets/artist/1486823?awc=3589_1532973452_e43882b51030f4d82c8e38715db65063&camefrom=CFC_UK_BUYAT_378349 (http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/John-Carpenter-tickets/artist/1486823?awc=3589_1532973452_e43882b51030f4d82c8e38715db65063&camefrom=CFC_UK_BUYAT_378349)

Saw a photo of someone on facebook and I thought it was someone in remarkably good Cosplay dressed as one of the frog people from Innsmouth in the middle of transforming from a human into the final stages of being a Deep One and I congratulated them on the make up job that truly invoked the correct feeling of eldrict horror.

Turned out it was their (now deceased) grandmother.

Bugger.

An update to this story is that Kristi has informed me that telling her family that "She isn't dead, she just swam out to join her other Deep One kin beneath the sea" will not engender a sense of wellbeing knowing that they haven't actually lost there somewhat bactrian relative, but will instead... well I am sure you can figure the rest out.

Having a late lunch today. Bally had to borrow my hat to go out, so now I need to wait until he gets back before I can leave. I don't mind as it means that I have less time in work this afternoon. Even if it works out as the same length of time on balance it still feels better.

Put on 'The Last Lovecraft' & 'Gamers: Dorkness Rising' for Tina and Anders last night while we played some Munchkin and Pandemic. Ash slept from about 21:00 until 05:00 at which point he wakes up all happy smiles and gurgles which wakes both of us up. I miss the days when I only used to sleep 4 hours a night and function perfectly well at those times. Oh well, I guess since that stopped when they put me on happy pills that should be a good thing.

Somehow I think Kristi would be happier if I could still happily get up at 4 am and go deal with everything. Mind you I don't think I am locking my body up when I sleep now either. Used to be when I went to sleep all my muscles just seemed to freeze in place. A few times Kristi woke up in the middle of the night wanting the toilet, but found that my arms were holding her tight and she couldn't get me to let go without waking me up. I also seem to have stopped throwing punches in my sleep, although that may have more to do with Kristi being told that trying to wake me up when I am in the middle of a nightmare is the worst thing she can do and she needed to let them run through.

Pay day today. I am considering backing a game on Kickstarter called 'Moonshiners Of The Apocalypse'. Sounds fun. Would cost $60 to back high enough to get a copy of the game, but I'd also need to pay for the shipping and shipping stuff from the US is expensive. We've discovered it is much cheaper to send things to there rather than the other way.

There has been a persistant rumour at work that one of the women working here is a lesbian. Can't really say I'd bothered one way or the other, but on Sunday I did see her at the raft race with another woman. She completely blanked me and walked past as quickly as possible while her friend referred to her as "Darling". If she is and didn't want anyone to know it seems a bit silly to attend something with your partner  when you know there is a high chance of bumping into workmates. Still there are many other reasons she could have been there with just a friend and calling her that could I guess just be a term of endearment. I mean people from Cornwall refer to people as "my lover". Came as a bit of a shock to me the first time Big Tony called me that I can tell you!

Wonder what he is doing now? After he got kicked out of the mob he moved back to Cornwall to marry a woman who hated him being in our job then two years later was divorced and I've not really heard anything since. Got him on FB. Maybe when I get home I'll check up on him. Although I did recently do a clear out of people on FB that I don't really talk to. For some reason I like to keep my friends list short and went from somewhere around 250 contacts to 160ish. I see some people with over 3000 contacts and wonder how the hell they manage to keep tract of any noticeable percentage of that number of people.

Harley Davidson have announced they are going to be making electric bikes. Hmmm, can't form a mental image on any of my biker friends on one of them. Not that most of them would ride a Harley if you paid them. They tend to come down on the side of some other touring bike whose name escapes me at this moment.

Went to go for lunch yesterday. It was a hot day and I left my jacket at work. Alas I also left my keys in the house. Kristi had went shopping and so I was locked out. One of the windows had been left open so I broke into the house by climbing in the window. This quite surprised Anders who was wandering around the house in a tee shirt and his underwear. Kristi texted me to ask if I could just take the afternoon off and watch Ash so she could go shopping. Had to let her no that absolutely this was not an option. I can't just up and abandon work on a whim. Well I could, but you get to go to a place called The Glasshouse when you do things like that in my line of work, and well that just doesn't seem a fun place to go to if you ask me. I've attended someone else's court marshal and I have no wish to go through one all of my very own.

Although I am some days impressed that I've managed to avoid one of them for this length of time. Maybe I should go for one on my last day?

One of the party in my D&D game died tonight. But you'll have to read my D&D thread later when I've updated it to find out whom.

So, the second party death has occurred in my roleplaying game, removing the groups big gun. How this will affect party dynamics will be interesting to watch. When Kristi’s character died she effectively rebooted the character and simply carried on. Anders certainly wasn’t talking about playing another wizard (and Kristi really makes that post redundant filling both caster and healer roles).  There are other types of casters however and Anders was musing over one of them. This also leaves Val as the only surviving character (and the one who knows the most about the Mask’s. She carefully bundled up the one that Zolis had been wearing and has packed it away. I wonder if any other party members.

Slight update there, Ander’s new character looks to be an elvish Arcane Archer (an archer with a little magical talent which can be used to enhance his shots).

The weather continues to be slightly too warm to be comfortable, but I am still enjoying it. As well as D&D we had a short game of Cards Against Humanity last night which was fun. Think me and Anders will be playing X-Wing tonight. He wants to play the rightful forces of law and order (The Imperials). I think I’ll stick with my bounty hunters to face him rather than trying out Kristi’s terrorist forces (The Rebel Alliance).

Work is slow today. I have ran out of jobs I can find to do and the oppressive heat has robbed me of any desire to walk around the building to see if anyone else needs help with anything. Looking forward to October and those still long days that herald the arrival of Autumn. Or well they used to. What weather you get these days is anyone guess.

Anders is cooking dinner tonight. He is making a lamb dish which will be interesting. I am not a huge fan of lamb (although I wouldn’t say I dislike it and I certainly haven’t ate it for around 20 years). It just isn’t one of my favourites. Kristi meanwhile has never tried lamb before. I am sure it will be a good meal though. And it is nice for someone to be cooking a proper meal for Kristi. She has tried to get me to cook more complicated food but she gives me verbal instructions on how to cook something which I’ll have forgotten about 30 seconds later. One of these nights I am going to surprise her with something special though. We’ve been married for 1,995 days, perhaps I should do something for our 2,000th?

Yesterday some work came in last thing. Since no one is on the night shift for us this week I could either stay late and do it, or catch up with it in the morning. I looked at the stuff, assessed it as non urgent and able to wait for the morning. Nothing ususual or untoward there. Besides it had been a slow work and having a bit of work to do the next day seemed like a good thing.

Today something totally unrelated (and as it happens only tangentially connected to my job and nothing to do with me) was discovered to have went badly wrong at some point in the past. I had to dig out a lot of information for the senior engineer types and in addition work poured in. About 6 o'clock my boss came in and said it was ok, just wrap up, go home and we can finish looking into it tomorrow.

That gave me a chance to catch up on the work from yesterday. Tomorrow I still have some of yesterdays (as well as some of todays) work to do.

Had to phone Kristi and let her know I'd have to work late and go ahead with dinner without me. Although she didn't get to have dinner as Dagon managed to get into some cream cheese and has been sick all day. He got taken to the vets and I had a £60 bill to pay for some medication for him. If he is still being sick tomorrow he'll have to go back and find what a joyous experience it is for a cat to go on a drip.

Ok, question for all those of you out there with a significant other. Does your partner have odd habits you can't figure out why they do it? As an example, I tend to make myself a sort of nest area if I am spending a lot of time in a room. Be it my desk in my man cave, or when I visit my mum she has a fold out table and I tend to sit in a corner of the room on a dining chair rather than a couch seat. Now when I make myself one of these areas Kristi will start putting things on it. Examples of this are when she first moved over to Scotland I would come home from work and find my desk buried in piles of paperwork. Some of these would be bills and things which since she was newly arrived I can understand why she'd put them there for me to deal with, but other things were just random pieces of paper that had absolutely nothing to do with me. And I do not mean one or two things. When I say buried under paper work I mean an inch or two deep of the stuff. After two days I got fed up with this and simply picked it all up, dumped it on her desk and since then I have never came home to a pile of paperwork on my computer desktop again. When we are at my mums all manner of things get put on the table, baby things, books, drinks and they all get sat on top of what ever I am working on. This tends to irritate me and after a couple of days I'll start moving them elsewhere. I had to move my special chair from the man cave down to the living room and replace it with one of the living room recliners so it would be more comfortable for when she was feeding Ash in the man cave. This isn't a problem but everytime I went to sit on my chair again it was always buried under stuff. Might be baby clothes, laundry, shopping or what ever but my chair was never available.

Now here is the part that really confuses me. As I've mentioned, I get annoyed with this within a day or two and dump the stuff off where ever it is being put. Sometimes I'll put it somewhere else, sometimes I will simply dump it on the floor out of irritation. When I start doing this Kristi will then start sitting in my 'nest' and gets annoyed with me if I want it back. I mean does she not want me having an area I am comfortable in? Is it she wants to be a part of any of my areas or I am being told I am not paying enough attention? Does she even realise consciously what she is doing?

I study people a lot, but this is definately a behaviour I can't quite figure out and while I do have several theories, none of them seem to overwhelmingly be more possible than any other.

Anyway, do you have someone in your life who does something along these lines?

if they don't ride harleys, they ride indians, guaranteed. .
  and i categorically refuse to answer the questions in the post above this one. my hubby reads this thread.

Ok, I can sort this.

To 316Zombies husband.

"You are hereby exilled from this kingdom. Let no man, woman, or child offer you comfort, rest, food or drink. You are outside the protection of the law and declared outlaw! Any man finding you within our borders is free to kill you without punishment or judgement. From now until the end of your days, you are accursed in the sight of gods and men!"

There you go Barri, you can now post what you like without fear.  :tongueout:

lol, he wants to know if that means he gets to make me move to iceland like he wants then?
   psyched for our weekend adventure of seeing frank& trace from MST riffing movies and shorts live at the orpheum!! THE MADS ARE BACK!

Read something unusual today. It was an interview with some of the surviving family of Osama bin Ladin (his mother, and half brothers). His mother couldn't understand why he had turned out the way he did and mostly blamed other people in his life for leading him astray. Most of the family seem to want to move away from his legacy and the article presented the liberilisation of laws in Saudi as an attempt by the kingdom to move away from the kind of society that would generate such a person. However it is worth noting that one of his (either child or grandchild, I disremember which) descendants is trying to follow in his footsteps.

Other than that he had came from a wealthy family in Saud, I wasn't aware of too much of his background pre Mujahadin days and from that point of view I found it an interesting read. Most of his family, although not under any special observation or so on, is however not allowed to leave the country. As one of the wealthiest and most influencial families in the kingdom that must present some challanges. Not that I sympathised much with them. Must be terrible to be trapped in such a luxurious prison.

Been having to help deal with the kind of major situation at work that I can't really go into any details here. It has been an exhausting couple of days. Kristi asked me what was wrong and I couldn't tell her. I was tempted to reply "Well, haven't you seen the news all day? The third wave of bombers has now successfully been launched at Russia and we are knocking them back into the stone age", but something tells me neither her nor my guests would have found funny.

Tina and Anders are off to Edinburgh now. We enjoyed their stay and hopefully they enjoyed it too. I finally got to play Kings & Things.

If he want's to ask questions he will have to post them himself.

Except he can't because he has been exiled. Although he might get a pardon if you tell me that he spent at least 6 hours pampering you, giving you massages on demand and serving you your favourite alcoholic drink and so on.

Oh, and he has to watch at least 5 chick flicks of your choice with you.

He can go to Iceland if he wants, but being an outlaw he no longer has a legal passport and might have to swim it. You can go if you wish, but are under no obligation. Oh, and after doing some research on medieval law this also entitles you to annul your marriage with you receiving all assets and leaving him with nothing.

The weekend arrives and this one is an especially welcome break from the working week.

Kristi has gone out to meet some friends. I am chilling out at home with Ash (who is currently sleeping. If he won't settle down for a sleep Kristi will generally hug and hold him until he does fall asleep. Me, well I put him in his cot, go in the man cave and put the music on loud enough that I can only just hear him crying and let him cry himself to sleep. To me he has to learn that sometimes he has to go to sleep under his own steam). As he gets quieter I'll check in on him, make sure he is ok and slowly turn the music down so I can still hear him until he is sleeping. of course his nap will only last maybe half an hour and then I'll have to feed him).

Having two of the missionaries visiting for dinner next week. Should I wear my Falklands tee shirt for it I wonder? :P

With our guests off to Edinburgh I managed to get some housework done with everyone else gone. Hoovered up, washed dishes, done laundry. I wanted to wash the windows too, but with it raining I didn't see the point. I have in fact washed so many dishes that I have ran out of room to wash any more and they all need to get put away before I can go and wash the rest.

Having a frustrating time in Ascendancy this weekend. The game consists of a number of star systems loosely strung together with jump points. Blue jump points are easy to travel through while red ones take longer. The area of the universe I am in seems to be roughly in the shape of an large 'O'. All the battles I am fighting are on one side of the large 'O' while my planets best suited to making ships are all on the other side of the 'O', so I make up ships and then have a journey of some weeks to get them somewhere useful.

Ah, got to love those logistics chains.

I've already exterminated one species (the Balifids, a sort of cute looking mouse type race with 3 tongues. They declared war on me and refused any of my offers of peace, even when they were down to one planet left and I had an enormous ship hovering over their planet ready to invade having destroyed all their orbital defences. Their ground forces are incapable of stopping mine (each race has a special power. Mines is that planetary invasions always succeed). I offered unconditional peace, but it was refused so I invaded).

Anyway, the Chomancies (bipedal lizards) also declared war on me. I have mostly been advancing into their space slowly (although they did kick me out of the last system I conquered on the way to finding their home planet and I am currently rebuilding my forces for another push (and hence the frustration with the big 'O'. Although I have been told that for some people high levels of frustration when trying to deal with a big 'O' are not uncommon).

Finally got to see the latest Avengers movie. Not as many superheroes died as I had been led to believe and I thought they'd actually die fighting Thanos not kind of just fade to dust. Blergh, I bet time gets turned back in the next movie and they are all back.

Watching a film called Dark Shock. It appears to be a low budget remake of Aliens, even using some of the same lines, only set in an abandoned Venice with costumes only the 80's could have unleashed. Also watched Logan and some other random movies. Got work tomorrow, but no enthusiasm for it. Spending the weekend tidying up the house seems to have killed my enthusiasm for more work.

Ash is continuing to growl in lieu of his normal gurgles but he has a big smile on his face while he does it so that is all ok right?

So now I am going to watch a film about a satanic unicorn instead. Pretty sure I know how Dark Shock finishes anyway.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0141m1f/quatermass-and-the-pit-1-the-halfmen (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0141m1f/quatermass-and-the-pit-1-the-halfmen)

So large parts of the planet are going to become uninhabitable (to humans anyway) in decades according to a new report, unless we change our planet damaging ways. Somehow, I doubt we will do anything about it. People have too much faith in science and think some miracle way of repairing the damage is just around the corner. Besides having blind faith in science is no different to having blind faith in any other religion.

Or they deny there is a problem at all.

I do find it fairly mind boggling that people think we can wrought the changes we have done over thousands of years and that there would be no larger effect. I don’t expect the human race to come together in some sort of grand effort and work towards saving ourselves. That is the stuff of Hollywood.

Besides, I have high hopes for Frogtown come the apocalypse. All hail our new froggy overlords! And if Sahndal Bergman wants to dance, then who I am to say no.

After months of being tormented by James over her fear of moths, Liz discovered today that James has a fear of wasps when one flew into the room. Much revenge was had with James running around trying to get the wasp with a ruler and Liz taunting him.

1791 days left in the job. In 1791 the Bill of Rights (USA) was ratified, and Vermont was allowed in the union (USA). The Brandenburg gate was complete (Germany) and the Day of Daggers happened in France during one of their revolutions (it is a lot more boring than it sounds. People turned up somewhere with daggers, got disarmed and went home. Bunch of drama queens. I mean compare that to the German Night of The Long Knifes which had much more happening. Bloody cheese eating surrender monkeys. The French had a lot of revolutions, although only one seems to have made the news. And when they finally had a successful one to get rid of the king what did they do? The go and make someone an emperor instead). The steamboat was patented (although there were two separate claimants (USA)), the Magic Flute premiered and Mozart died (possibly killed by the guy from the (bloody awful) remake of ‘13 Ghosts’, but unlikely).

In Ascendancy I have pushed the bipedal lizard people back to their home world and have blockaded them in their home system while I send some of my fleet for repairs and upgrades before finishing that war. I also sort of provoked a war with another race because they were spoiling my view of a nebula. Just been doing a holding action against them but once the lizards are wiped out I’ll give them some serious attention. I have a whole other fleet that is doing nothing on the other side of the galaxy but standing guard. Maybe I should start a war over there just to give them something to do? Pretty sure there is an alien race just beyond my explored borders. Decided to get a bit lazy in ship to ship battles. Normally I fit my battleships with the biggest guns and engines out there and chase the enemy until they run out of fuel and then blow them up.

I feel Ryan Johnson owes me royalties for that tactic.

However, with my latest ships I’ve been equipping my ships with a device that drains the power of their engines so they can’t run away and I can just sit there and blow the hell out of them. For the occasions when the enemy ships decide to fire back, well I’ve equipped another gadget that blows up enemy weapons. I also have another toy that basically mind wipes the crew leaving them inexperienced. Of course, with any tactic there is one very important thing to consider. When you go to use a strategy against the enemy make sure you know exactly how to counter it should they decide to later use the same thing against you. When I was a teenager and war gaming competitively I lived by that motto. I had a very long undefeated streak (13 years) simply because I would use a new tactic for a few games, then my friends would try using it against me and I’d already know how to beat it. Never understood why they didn’t think ahead and come up with their own ways of beating me rather than trying to use mine against me.

I guess it is like when one player is clearly winning at Risk. The other players don’t ally together against him, instead fighting amongst each other to try and be strong enough to stand against the leader alone. Says a lot about human nature does Risk.

Going to Ash and Kristi to the doctors later. It is has last round of immunisations, although there is one that isn’t available in the UK that Kristi wants him to get when we are next in the US. Watching TV in the states has made me very wary of parts of the American medical system. I keep seeing 30-second-long adverts for assorted medicines for various conditions another 30 seconds of them listing all the possible side effects of the medication, which very often include the very condition they are designed to prevent oh, and death. The possibility of death seemed to come with every televised medicine. Yeah, this will cure your constipation, but you’ll bleed out from the heart due to arterial damage, liver and kidneys shut down, then you get to s**t yourself uncontrollably followed by an agonising death lying in a pool of your own excrement.

But hey, your constipation is now cleared out.

Based on my travels through various countries I have to say that isn’t normal (much like the sign outside Disneyland declaring that the park contains chemicals known to cause cancer), although I can see three possible reasons for such lengthy disclaimers. 1) The system is highly over regulated to avoid damage claims but doesn’t stop it so the rules get more complicated but the claims keep coming. 2) The system is highly under regulated but has a ‘healthy’ damages claim culture. 3) Things are just messed up. What the hey. All part of the fun of adjusting to other cultures. Compared to some other parts of the world… well there are a lot more messed up things out there in other countries. You should see the trouble I have in the middle east being left handed. One of these days I need to sit with Kristi and find out what she thinks is weird about the UK (other than its penchant for committing political and economic suicide).

I do assume that all those side effects are not that common, but when I watched the adverts it did not fill me full of confidence. But then being charged $1000 for a bunch of tests on Kristi when they couldn’t find anything wrong with her when we were on holiday, only to get a diagnosis of what was wrong within 30 seconds of a doctor’s appointment when we got back home may have biased me against it there. Plus, the problem we had getting the bill paid. The hospitals computers were not set up to take an address from outside the US. It took over a year to get it all sorted in the end. The money was there from the insurance company, we’d paid the excess but still this thing just dragged on and on. Kristi was (and still is) worried about it possibly affecting her chances of getting treatment in the US in the future.

Hmm, this post seems longer than most of my more recent ones. I should dedicate it to Trevor.

Thinking about going on a holiday back to Norway. I can find no other justification for it though beyond Oslo has some awesome geeky bookstores (one right outside the main train station). Don’t know if I can sell that one to Kristi. I should possibly give Denmark a go though, since we do have many friends from there who want us to go over and visit. I have technically been in Denmark before. I was flying elsewhere and according to the location tracker we were just over the north western most corner when I went for a poop.

Oh, and people from Denmark get very offended if you ask them “Isn’t Denmark the most northerly province of Germany?”

Another hot day is over in the office. Found out one of my bosses is moving onto the same street as me. Yay, I have not long gotten rid of my all my previous bosses out of my street. Ash is playing a game where I put him down on his back. He rolls over onto his belly and then starts crying until he gets put on his back. To distract him I've given him a stuffed Murloc to play with.

I really must start his man logic lessons soon.

Is there such a thing as fate? Are things predestined, or do we have a choice in things. Maybe we just think we are independent creatures. And if there is such a thing as fate how strong would one have to be to defy it and go their own way? 'Tis another quirk of human nature that people who believe themselves smart and not easily fooled are in truth the easiest people to fool. Mostly because they believe they can spot any con and are unaware of their own gulibility, or at least live in a constant state on denial. I think fate if it exists. Those who are most convinced they are in control of their actions would be the ones most easily controlled.

Caesar Augustus said:  "We write our names in the sands of time, and then the tide comes in and washes them away."

So, my big invasion fleet was all repaired, modernised and ready to finish a war that has been rumbling on for almost 2000 days. I clicked on the star system my ships were in and… they were all gone. I pulled up the status sheet for my fleets and somehow my entire main battle fleet had somehow been teleported back to my home system quite a few light years away. It is going to take a good bit of time to get back there giving the enemy time to rebuild. My victory against them at this point is still inevitable, but it is now going to take longer and involve more casualties.

Ash hasn’t quite been his usual self the past couple of days and doubtless his injections yesterday didn’t help his mood. Kristi had been sitting up with him from 2am until just after 5 when I took over. Managed to get him to sleep while I got ready for work by feeding him a bottle. Lifted him carefully to put him carefully in his cot just before I left the house and of course his eyes shot open and he was wide awake with a great big smile on his face that says I am awake, ergo the rest of the house must now wake up and attend to my every whim!

The big news in the UK is that a politician commented that women wearing a full burka look like letter boxes. Not a fan of Boris Johnson but I’d have to say, well fair comment. I don’t see it as Islamophobic. Slightly rude possibly?

Today marks 100 years since the start of the Battle of Amiens which marked the end of trench warfare in WW1, and ultimately the defeat of Germany. The soldiers actually fighting in the battle seem to have had no idea how close to losing Germany was, believing the war would go on for another year (ok, so it didn’t end until 1919 when the surrender was formally signed, but since fighting stopped in 1918 I think that it’s just a technicality). The German general in charge of the part of the front where the fighting was taking place described it as a black day for the German army as morale just collapsed and whole formations surrendered en-masse. Reinforcements heading to the front were yelled at by retreating German troops accusing them of prolonging the war. Tanks were used in massed formations and broke through the previously static trenches with easy (although after 4 days of fighting only 6 remained in a fully serviceable condition).

Police have arrested three people on suspician of killing a man shortly after his release from prison for torturing and murdering a baby 30 odd years ago.

Can't help thinking if they are guilty they should get some kind of civic award instead.

Why do they even let people like that out???
They should execute them the day after they are convicted.

Finally got round to watching Horror and Hamsters. It is different, I'll give it that. Not that it is one that I am recommending to anyone.

Making Kristi watch it with me since she picked it though.

Going with Jim, Cameron, James and Adam to see The Meg tomorrow. Looking forward to that, although I don't have overly high expectations of it. I just want to see a giant shark movie on the big screen. Ash hass went to sleep early tonight. I suspect that just means that he'll be awake earlier in the morning.

Your prediction was correct, he was up early and was grumpy because of it.

I have a friend who (for a few years now) has decided that she is part of a particular cause and has been increasingly strident that people can either support her or get out of her life.

Trouble is while I may support her, I don’t really care about her cause and the more stridently she insists on other people being all for it, the less I feel like supporting it. I have been wondering what affect her actions are having on her family, particularly her husband who has been having some problems of his own. The exact area of this particular field she is involved with seems to change every couple of years. Kind of feels as if she is jumping from stance to stance like some sort of fad or fashion statement and I’ve mostly stopped paying attention. Kristi asked me what I thought of the latest thing the friend had said and I just kind of skim read it, shrugged my shoulders and told her I’d lost interest in trying to help out there.

If I decide to support a cause or a person then it is going to be because I have decided I want to. Not because I feel emotionally blackmailed into it. Especially when as I’ve mentioned I am worrying more about the effects on the people closest to her.

Then again, maybe I just don’t understand her situation. It isn’t something I have any experience of. Maybe I could be a better friend there. It could even be I am just tired of other people thinking that their problems and situations should be everyone else’s and the rest of the world can agree with them.

Doing another night shift will little work available. I am saving doing it until later and in the mean time I will sit here writing this. Lucky, you, you get to read my random wittering’s written in a desperate attempt to stave off boredom.

Ever noticed how quick people are to judge things from history from today’s standards? I wonder how many of them have ever considered what people from history would think of how we live and operate today? Would the suffragettes still have fought so hard to win the vote and equality if they could see women going out in skimpy clothing and getting so drunk they pass out on the street? I can’t presume to speak for them, I just wonder if they would think their struggle was worth it, or would they be horrified? I am not wondering about that one aspect of society. Just one example from a general consideration. There are many other examples out there. I generally believe that judging people from history in this way is a good indicator that this person has a lack of empathy.

Reminds me of a quote from a man involved in the Nuremberg trials.

Ash has learned how to eat his own foot. Not sure what to make of that, but I guess if he ever finds himself caught in a bear trap it might come in handy? Was having a bath earlier when I heard a cry of despair from Kristi. Ash had been sick all over both of them. I told her just to bring him through to me and put him in the bath with me. Since my baths are somewhat deeper and warmer than the ones he normally has I put him in very carefully watching for any sign of discomfort, but he seemed fine as I held him so he was effectively floating on top of the water. I’ve been teaching him how to splash in the bath and he decided the deeper water was perfect for kicking and splashing in. He has been a very happy baby all day, just laughing and giggling even while playing by himself or just lying in his cot. He didn’t want to take naps at his regular times through the day (he only sleeps for an hour tops at a time during the day, preferring to have long sleeps at night, which is something I am not going to complain about).

Kristi spent last night playing the new Warcraft expansion on opening night. It’s the first one I’ve not played and I didn’t have any real urge to go back and experience it. Blizzard did give me a weekends free playtime a couple of months back. All I did was log in, say hi to some friends and send all my gold to Kristi.

She can earn huge amounts of money in that game, but she always spends it on bloody shoes and making sure her outfits match.

Being colour co-ordinated does not make you invulnerable. No doubt if it did that fashion designer wouldn’t have gotten shot a few years back.

This isn’t the first time I’ve bailed her out financially in game, but I guess it will be the last time. Felt slightly odd not being in game myself, but not enough to make me want to play again. My days of keeping a bunch of suicidal nutters alive while they charge through lava pools, acid baths and poison clouds to attack some big bad guy seem to be over. Most players quit, come back and so on in an apparently endless cycle, but I just seem to have went straight to no more playing. I think 12 or 13 years on one game though is quite enough. I’ve made friends, enemies and lovers in game (and some who were all three), some of whom I will remain in touch with for a long time. I’ve had good times, but after 8 months of not playing I am satisfied I am not going to decide to go back no matter how much my wife and her friends try to convince me to start playing and go join their guild.

If anyone out there plays Total War: Warhammer II I wouldn’t mind doing a co-operative grand campaign though. It would be interesting to play that kind of game on that scale.

 :buggedout: :buggedout: +  :teddyr: :teddyr: :teddyr:



 :teddyr: :teddyr: :teddyr:

Kristi was up at 5 am with Ash so letting her have a sleep this afternoon while I watch the baby. Of course this is being remarkably easy as he has decided to sleep too.

I am going to put that down as me being an awesome dad lol.

I'll need to be getting her up soonish. I start prepping for work at 15:00 and it is 14:25 right now. But I can let her sleep a bit longer yet.

Kristi for a while now has been trying to deal with a guy in her guild who is to all intents and purposes stalking their guild master (mistress? Not sure on the feminine of that one). Anyway, they had a guild meet where he wasn't going to be turning up and rented a house. Apparently he decided to then turn up and went into the GM's room and climbed into bed with her. After some discussion he has been kicked out of their guild and chat channels etc. Kristi wants to say "Look I told the GM everything that was going on. I've heard the real story of what happened at the guild meet and I no longer want to have any contact with you."

I've said, hell yes cut all contact with this guy but don't go telling him that you let the object of his affections know what he was saying to you. Just end things as simply as possible and walk away. I really, really hope she listens to me. From what she has said the guy clearly has issues and I don't need to be worrying that he is going to decide that it is all Kristi's fault this woman wants nothing to do with him and come up to settle the score with her. While I am sure I can protect her, I am not in the house all day and all night long. Even if I could get a gun, Kristi is not the type of person who could really use one. She talks with her hands too much which is never a good thing with firearms. Anyway, I made her promise me that she wouldn't tell him and if she has to talk to him at all to keep it to the absolute minimum and give him no extra information.

I wonder how I would occupy my free time if it wasn’t for other people’s dramas? Even when I take steps to distance myself from it, other people seem to do their level best to drag me back into it. I can outright tell someone that I have absolutely no interest in whose ever affairs and yet I still get told about them regardless. Does life just seek to drag me in and involve me, or is it some strange instinct of the human race to make sure that everyone gets pulled into the whirlpools that make up the tumultuous events of other people’s life’s? Sometimes it is irritating and frustrating, like when I specifically unfollow someone on Facebook simply because I do not want to know what they are up to and other people insist on telling me every detail of that person’s life. I mean really, what part of “I do not want to know what this person is doing. Please stop telling me. I have no interest in what they are up to now” is it that people just don’t seem to get? Other times (like now) it just seems curious.

And If one particular person has read that and is thinking I am referring to them there, I am not. This is about other people. You know who you are.

I am hoping things are over with this stalker. I guess it depends just what kind of stalker he is. I know in my particular experience it took 5 years of telling the woman that I wasn’t interested and rejecting her every single damn time she contacted me. I had to make sure there was absolutely no doubt that I was not interested in having her in my life in any way. Mostly I ended up having to publicly humiliate her, but that was done to the methods she would use to try and contact me and just saying simple things like “The sooner we are both out of each other’s life’s the better” just didn’t cut it. I really had to step things up quite a lot and even today, 10 years after all this happened I am not convinced that if she thought she had a route back into my life she wouldn’t try and get in again. When my (then) friend and I went to college he got a bit obsessed with a female friend of mine. He’d keep touching her on the knee and leaving his hand there and was on a very low level of stalking with her, but one that was slowly ramping up. Even after she found the kiddie porn on his computer and reported him to the police, he kept trying to pursue her until he was threatened with expulsion from the college (they couldn’t just kick him out for the porn as he hadn’t been convicted of anything at that point, just accused) if he didn’t stop. Apparently, he said to the lecturer something along the lines of that he had been laying It on a bit heavy and he agreed to back off a bit. He was then told no you must completely cut off trying to contact her or you will be expelled. I have no idea if he took up stalking her again after college finished the next year or not, or indeed in the years since.

Anyway, to get back to the original topic. I fear this poor young woman may just be at the start of being stalked rather than an ending. I really hope I am wrong there. I did say to Kristi to tell her friend that if she is worried, upset or just needs a break she can come up and stay with us for a bit. The days of me offering to go to other people’s places to help them are now over, but it doesn’t mean I can’t still help out a bit.

Ah, that precious hour between midnight and one in the morning. Never quite understood why it is referred to as the witching hour. Having wandered the streets at all hours I am yet to find a time when no one else is around, but this hour is as good as any other for silence. Both Kristi and Ash are sleeping and I am just sitting enjoying the silence.

I am told that about 3 weeks with no contact with another human is enough to break someone. Although I can't imagine me ever getting the chance to, sometimes I'd like to test myself against that. Would I find a new appreciation for people and no longer find their company quite as irksome? Or would I settle happily into a life of solitude.

Not that I would try it out while I have Kristi and Ash. It is nice to have someone around who I don't want to strangle after about an hour in their company. I am pretty sure though if I got rid of everyone in the world who would annoy me there would not be enough people left to form a stable gene pool and avoid inbreeding.

How would I cope without people to dislike then I wonder?

May the dark night bless you all with a peaceful nights sleep free of Bogarts and Boggins.

12 + 1 = 13

After Dad passed in 2008 and I got home after being with Mom for two weeks, I didn't physically meet or talk to anyone for a fortnight: I did stay in touch with Mom via telephone.

Guess that explains it.

Kristi was getting stressed out this morning, so I sent her to read while I watched over Ash. Got him to fall asleep and now Kristi is sleeping too. Peace reigns for the moment. Spent most of the day watching old episodes of Knight Rider before I got bored and now I am watching Firefly. Getting bits of the adventure written far in advance. Last night in work and then a 3 day weekend. Never a bad thing. Seems like every time we sit Ash down he throws up at the moment. Washing a lot of blankets.

When it comes to babies it seems you can never have enough blankets.

Thursday night shift and the end of the working week is looming. Kristi has challenged me not to have any beer until I am next down at my mums on the condition she equally doesn't have any carbonated drinks.

Sometimes I get the impression that she doesn't want me drinking.

Went into work at half four in a happy mood. At five minutes past five I went to the toilet and sat there for fifteen minutes so I didn't scream at someone to shut the f**k up.

Considering taking Kristi to the cinema tomorrow, but that would mean dragging her away from her computer for a day. I know what it is like when a new expansion comes out and you want to level through it and gear up for raiding, so I am giving her a bit of a pass for a while, but not forever. I spent a month coming home from work, doing all (and other than the cooking I mean doing all) the housework and at the end of the month something snapped inside. I can't do everything on my own. It isn't like Kristi wasn't doing anything, she was looking after the baby. It was just I was going to work in uniform and being Cpl Corbett, coming home being dad and husband and just got no time to just be myself for me. Trying to make sure I do a bit more of that to keep myself (my own version of) sane and balanced.

Watching for any work coming in, checking out the window for any pesky Russians invading and in the meantime writing here and D&D stuff. Sometimes the quietness of being on nights is rather useful :)

Looking forward to getting into bed tonight and cuddling up with that woman of mine. She really is the worlds best cuddler, not to mention a wonderful cook, exceptional wife and lots of other good things. I just have to think of her happy and it makes me smile so much. Coming home to her is always a good thing, although it is even better when she decides to walk up to meet me when I am coming home from work.

Hmm, not seen Dave for a couple of hours. I wonder if some badly designed 80's style aliens have invaded and when he wandered out into the dark corridors became their first victim? Mind you, if it turned out that Dave himself was an alien I would not be surprised. Despite his odd habits though he is not a bad guy to work for. Far from it.

Hmm, that is two people I have said nice things about tonight. Going to have to slam Liam's fingers in the door or something to make up for that.

Or maybe I could just duct tape someone's mouth shut...

Went to go to bed, but just as we did Ash decided to wake up and appears to have no intention of altering this any time soon, so I've gotten back up with him to let Kristi at least get some sleep.

It is odd how quickly some people rush to make fools of themselves. Grabbing any chance they can get to do with both hands. Repeating the same actions again and again, but somehow expecting a different result. Might not be the definition of insanity, but it certainly seems to fit the bill on stupidity perfectly.

Watching Death Line (aka Raw Meat) while I wait for him to fall asleep.

No sign of that happening any time soon. And then once I have moved him there is the simple matter of lifting him up and taking him through to his cot without waking him.

Shona was looking for a taxi company to pick her up tomorrow (well today now) and take her to the station. Since she didn't have any numbers herselfand didn't want to just google one, I gave her a number for a taxi company. She freaked out when she heard how much it would cost her but booked the taxi anyway.

If she hadn't irritated me so much all day with her complaining I might have given her the number of a much cheaper company lol. Still, she only has 6 more working days left in this post and I am going to be away on leave for two of them.

Hope everyone else gets a more even nights sleep than I am doubtless about to not get lol.

Last night turned into out to extend well into today with Ash having a rough not sleeping day. One moment he'd be all happy and giggles, then the next he'd be screaming his lungs out. Managed to get him to go to sleep about 19:00 and he will hopefully have a good nights sleep. Kristi went for an early sleep so she could be awake should Ash decide not to sleep through the night tonight (although I have a funny feeling he will do).

Its a lovely dark night out there. Enough clouds to hide the stars and moon so the night sky looks like a sheet of dark velvet. If Ash wasn't sleeping I'd be taking him and Kristi (who has just woken up from her sleep) out for a late night stroll. The older I get the more I love the dark, although I had the regular kids fear of it when I was 4 years old. But then I do try to embrace my fears and learn to enjoy them. There is only one time a fear has been able to defeat me and I have never let it do that again (while I was recovering from my 4th stabbing I went to leave the house one day and I just couldn't get my muscles to walk me through the door. I had to go back inside and sit down for half an hour and then for whatever reason I could now walk outside no problem. Never had that issue since). I prefer not to be one of those people who lets the bad things that have happened to them define them and I have a great deal of respect for those who can do it, many of whom are much better at it than me. I have sympathy for those who try and rise above these things in their life but can't, and pity for those who have suffered and who can only react by seeking to hurt others and become that which they hate.

For me the difference between sympathy and pity is that those coming under the former can be helped. I can somewhat empathise with their situation and they deserve understanding. With pity, you have some elements of sympathy but it is tainted with contempt and the knowledge that if you try and help that person they will only seek to drag you down to their level rather than trying to climb out of their pit of misery. In my youth I put a lot of energy into trying to assist both types, but nowadays I've learned just to walk away from the latter without a second thought.

Mind you, quite a lot of people who just seek to bring others down don't even make it as far as having pity. It seems some people are just determined to be life's losers. Best I have found you can do there is mostly ignore them, perhaps engaging in a policy of détente and when they decide to try chewing at your heels, slap them down. Or if they insist on pushing it, you can always just take to constantly insulting them and putting them down until they figure out they are not going to get what they want out of you. Not the best way of dealing with someone but sometimes it is the only way. Luxuriating in misery seems to be a way of life for some and they will fight to remain there and it is one of those few times when showing mercy and kindness actually is a weakness.

Heard today that SyFy almost did a TV mini series sequel to The Thing. One of my favourite movies there, and I'd hate to think what SyFy would have done with it, although it did at least have a good directer associated with it. http://bloody-disgusting.com/tv/3516165/know-syfy-almost-made-sequel-miniseries-thing-back-2005/ (http://bloody-disgusting.com/tv/3516165/know-syfy-almost-made-sequel-miniseries-thing-back-2005/) for anyone who is interested in the details.

This year seems to be flying past. Christmas and New Year doesn't seem very long ago and here I am planning what to buy people for the next one. Going to have to see about dropping some hints to Kristi on what I'd like, although she did a pretty good job of surprising me last year when one of the presents I opened turned out to be a copy of The Tingler.

Found a website that I really liked where people discussed hypothetical historical and modern day situations like if the British Empire was still intact how would a war between it and the USA go (my guess, US seizes Canada early and tries to cut Australia off with its Pacific fleet. Chances are the Brits still have the larger navy and are able to defeat this move. The war then settles into something of a stalemate other than naval clashes unless other countries get involved, or someone goes nuclear), the usual what happens if the US never entered WW2 (finishes with the defeat of Germany some 12 to 18 months later than in reality and a lot more Soviet dead. UK develops the nuclear bomb instead of sharing the technology required with the US and letting them build it and the main thrust to defeat Germany comes through Italy rather than via France to prevent the Soviet Union gobbling up eastern Europe), what happens when China and the US go to war (really don't know, could go either way, although the manufacturing capacity of China would be a major factor and quantity generally seems to win over quality) and so on. Anyway, the site seems to have sadly disappeared. The debates I get at work rarely touch these kinds of subjects and are more along the lines of gossip and scandal which interest me less.

Think I will drag the family out for a bit tomorrow. If it is nice, perhaps I'll put Ash in his baby backpack and we can have a stroll along the beach with ice creams. I will be damned if I am going to try and push a buggy or pram along dry sand.

Hey Alex, if you like that kind of speculation, you might enjoy the novels of Harry Turtledove.  He has written a number of "alternative history" bestsellers.  My favorite was a series he did that covered World War I, the Twenties, the Depression, and World War II in a timeline where the Confederates won their independence and were a separate country from the USA.  The U.S. allied with Imperial Germany and Austria; the Confederacy allied with Britain, France, and Russia - it was tremendously well done, with lots of cameos by real historical figures in alternative roles.  The Commanding General of the U.S. Army was a crusty 75 year old ex-cavalry officer who still grew his hair way longer than regulation - George Armstrong Custer.