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January 13, 2007
Of Sheila and Champagne
So I'm sitting here at the computer, at around midnight last night, when my phone rings and an unfamiliar voice announces that they're outside my house and they have my mother with them and she's "had a bit of an accident".
I race downstairs in my fluffy pink slippers to be greeted by said strangers and they did indeed have my mother in tow (the Sheila of whom I speak) with one decidedly smashed lens in her glasses and blood pouring down her face.
"I think she'll need to go to hospital" says the very kind lady
"I think you're right" says I
She has what can only be described as a letterbox on her forehead that I'm pretty damn sure wasn't there this morning. The gash starts millimetres above the innermost corner of her eyebrow and extends almost to the outermost corner but, this time, below the eyebrow. Yes, she's severed her eyebrow and one half of it is now hanging half an inch below it's buddy.
"Does it look bad?" she asks me
"We-ell, it'll definitely need a stitch" I say, trying not to let the horror show on my face.
Sheila has this habit. I say habit because she does it a lot, although generally not of her own volition. She hinges!
Most people would say she falls but this just isn't the case. There is no trip, no stumble, no genuflection. She hinges at the ankles and falls exactly like a felled tree. Several (ahem) years of age and yet she has still not discovered the value of hands during a fall. In other words, she does not put them out to save herself but simply falls flat on her face. This, I'm afraid, was another of those occasions.
So off we we went to Fazakerley Hospital. No, strike that, first we went to the Walk-in Centre (proudly advertised) in Litherland. The door was locked but we buzzed to gain entry. The moron twins behind the counter ask us if we have an appointment.
"It says on the board outside this is a walk-in centre"
"You need an appointment"
"Better take that sign down from outside then eh?"
I have to either drag her back into the taxi or hold her coat while she makes them sorry they ever discovered the meaning of sarcasm. The choice is difficult but I elect for the former.
So, then, we went to the hospital. Normally waiting times are ridiculous here and the thought of the Friday night waiting room full of cut-up drunks wasn't a pleasant one but I can only give thanks that she chose to take us on this latest adventure during January when everyone's spent up so the pubs are nigh on empty. We hadn't had our bums on the seats five minutes before we were called through.
I'll spare you the gorey details but suffice to say the maxillo-facial doctor was called and the end result was astounding. She's back to owning just the two eyebrows now at least. The stitches come out in five days, we'll know then whether it's going to hamper her planned modelling career.....
Anyway, I got to bed somewhere around 5.30am and my head was probably as sore as Sheila's today so a dull evening on the couch in front of the telly was this evening's antedote.
Oh and the Champagne?
It's my son's birthday tomorrow. Tonight he's gone out with friends. They went for a meal then headed into town to the clubs. In the interval he called home with a bottle of champagne that'd been presented to him by the host at the restaurant who is also a friend. He wasn't going to cart it round with him so he left it on the coffee table and a-boogeying he went.
Having enjoyed Harry Potter and the something of something, we were ten minutes into the Best of Top Gear when the world exploded, plaster fell from the ceiling and we only just managed to dodge the champagne cork as it ricocheted around the room. Plonker had taken the wire off the champagne cork hadn't he? So the cork just bided it's time... waited until I was sufficiently unawares... then BOOM!!
Still, it's his loss and my gain. Top Gear and champagne, the perfect Saturday night combination. Well it would be such a shame to waste it wouldn't it?
Posted by lilliebet at 11:14 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 10, 2007
You are what you eat
Unless you're my daughter that is.
Two years ago, she turned veggie. No big political motivation or anything, it was just a whim really but she gave up eating meat and, fair play to her, she's laid off it ever since.
The only trouble with being a vegetarian is... she doesn't like vegetables. Well, not many of them anyway. Or fish. She'll eat tuna and the occasional plaice or salmon but that's about all.
Then a few months ago, she decided she needed to lose a few pounds, so she started a diet. That's saturated fats out of the window then. No cheese, pastry or cakes.
As if that wasn't enough, she had an appointment with the neurologist last week. She's been suffering with headaches for some time. If you ask me, she's faint from lack of nourishment but what do I know? So his diagnosis was chronic migraine. And what's the treatment for chronic migraine? She has to cut out chocolate and caffeine!
So what's left? Nougat and gravy I think.
Something tells me we're all taking these food fads a bit too far. There's virtually nothing that's safe to eat anymore or that doesn't cause headaches/bloating/hives/gout or CJ-bloody-D!
Someone pass me the tripe n onions...
Posted by lilliebet at 07:35 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 08, 2007
Woohoo!
I did it. I only did it.
I finally finished my last assignment for the DMS. Remember this?
Just two weeks short of two years, I didn't think this day would ever come. I need to celebrate but it's way too early in the morning for a G&T.
Of course, I still have to have this one marked but I think it'll scrape through, I hope it'll scrape through. And we're awaiting the results of our integrative project. We won't hear that until the end of this month but I thought it was a decent job we did there. After ten weeks of hard slog, we deserve a good pass on that one.
So let's hope all that remains is the wearing of the silly cap and gown. I pooh-poohed that part all the way through but, right now, I'm kind of tempted. Especially as the post-ceremony celebration should be one to remember.
Right, I'm off to dump all those files off the top of my bookcase.... oh happy day :-)
Posted by lilliebet at 09:55 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 03, 2007
Thanks for the reminder OldGuy
The reminder to update the blog and also the reminder that I still haven't fixed the problem with Typekey. Hmmmm!
Ever since we reopened The Sandbox, I haven't been able to post comments through Typekey. Not a big deal really except that I have to approve my own comments. That's a strange feeling I can tell you.
I'm thinking too about categories. When I set this up, I didn't really have much idea where I was going with it. Not that I have any more idea now but, if I'm to keep my resolution, it's best I put some thought into it. Of course, if I change the categories, I have to reassign all the existing posts.... or not I guess.... hey hum.
Apart from all that, I've just started to read for my last assignment. I'm into some wonderfully interesting articles on Project Management. Interesting that is if you have no friends, no social life and a desperate urge to put your head in the oven. Back to it I guess....
Posted by lilliebet at 11:12 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
January 01, 2007
A Big Fat Happy New Year To Ya!
So here we are in 2007, doesn't it feel like five minutes ago we were planning our Millennium parties? Time flies as they say.
So did you make any resolutions? Have you broken them yet?
I'm only going to make one firm resolution this year, to keep this blog updated. Beyond that I'm not making resolutions because they're too easy to break. I will be making changes though. Mostly it's things about the family I want to change... they way we behave toward each other, the respect we should give each other but often don't ... that kind of thing. Day is an adult now, he's 19 in two weeks, Lou is pretty much there too (although, at 16, she's far more grown up than Day will ever be) and yet they still bicker like little kids. It doesn't get any better either and I'd hate to think in years to come they wouldn't have resolved their issues. One day I want them to appreciate each other as brother and sister. I never had a brother but I think it would have been cool. Anyway, that's that, some changes but not too many resolutions.
So what does Oh Seven have instore?
First thing - the final assignment for my DMS. I have until the tenth to submit it. Might be a good idea to make a start on it then. On the 5th my sister is due to move to France. She and her husband are buying a small hotel/restaurant in Correze called Le Bariolet. Right now I think she's having last minute nerves so we'll just have to wait until the sixth to see whether she actually goes through with it. Then it's Day's birthday of course. No doubt he'll be spending it with his mates in the pub, he doesn't have time for his poor mum anymore (oh woe!). Can't say I blame him but a family meal would be nice, maybe he'll surprise me.
On Feb 4th, Super League XII kicks off when Saints are away to Huddersfield. Remember Huddersfield? Can't wait for that - just 33 more sleeps!!
For Saints the season kicks off a week early to accommodate the World Club Challenge against Brisbane Broncos which has had to be postponed until Feb 23rd (bloody awkward Aussies). It was hoped it would be played at Goodison Park right here in Liverpool but, alas, Bolton's Reebok Stadium has the honour. I'm not sure that bodes too well, we were hammered by Sydney City Roosters at the Reebok a couple of years ago. But, no, let's put our positive heads on.
In April, my mum will decide whether or not she wants to retire from work. Since the Age Equalities Act came in this October, the compulsory retirement age has effectively been removed. That's a great thing for older people who aren't ready to retire but I'm not sure what effect it'll have on the young. Jobs are already at a premium, this can only make things worse surely? I think my mum's probably ready for retirement though but she was promoted last month and this new job may change everything.... watch this space.
In June, Lou turns 17 which means she can get her driving license. I don't know which one of us is looking forward to that the most. We do a lot of stuff together - rugby, shopping, days out - it will be so great when we can do them by car. Even visiting the rellies in Wales will become a breeze. She's only had one lesson so far but I have every faith in her.
I won't go on for the next six months, after all, all the above is all bound to change as the year grows older. And then there are all those things we don't yet know about. Ooh it's kind of exciting isn't it?
Whatever comes or goes, I wish a happy and prosperous new year to all my friends. Have a great 2007!
Posted by lilliebet at 02:34 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack