Happy Snapper

I just love taking photos... Got a new snapper (Camera) so, I'm button pressing at whatever. My cat tigger is getting fed up with me snapping her (I can tell) this is the latest pic... Looks like she 's asking "What now?"

It's Saturday

Saturday has arrived so I thought as the weather forecast was for heavy rain hill walking was out. As I wanted to get some exercise in and still have plenty of time left to enjoy the day I thought I'd get up early and go swimming. (Seeing I had a few last night) Up at 6 ish, looked out the window and it looked nice but damp. Got showered and dressed and on the cycle by 7am. It was amazing how many people haven't even made it home from their Friday night out. On the way into town going past the old cricket ground, there were trainee thugs still drinking and making merry (I decided to pedal faster in case they wanted to include me in their merriment) and cycling up Royal Avenue there were bodies lying on city benches with their empty carryouts close by.. (Ah, those were the day's).....

Police Appeal

Way to go.. Photos, then name and shame. Here is a link to a BBC News website page, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8097911.stm the PSNI have appealed for the names of persons (Morons) they want to talk to in relation to riots in the so called Holyland.
Please visit the link http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8097911.stm and read the story.
If you recognise anyone in the photograph (Some butes I have to say) get on the blower to the PSNI..... Could be wrong, but it may do the Police some good if they look around Queens..... As I said, I could be wrong though!

A Little Humour

Three men married wives from different countries.

The first man married a woman from Italy . He told her that she was to do the dishes and house cleaning. It took a couple of days, but on the third day, he came home to see a clean house and dishes washed and put away.
The second man married a woman from Sweden . He gave his wife orders that she was to do all the cleaning, dishes and the cooking. The first day he didn't see any results, but the next day he saw it was better. By the third day, he saw his house was clean, the dishes were done and there was a huge dinner on the table.
The third man married a girl from NORN IRELAND . He ordered her to keep the house cleaned, dishes washed, lawn mowed, laundry washed, and hot meals on the table for every meal.

He said the first day he didn't see anything, the second day he didn't see anything but by the third day, some of the swelling had gone down and he could see a little out of his left eye, and his arm was healed enough that he could fix himself a sandwich and load the dishwasher.

TAKE HEED GUYS

Nice Car Shame About The Blonde

Could not believe it (OK I do) I was walking through town tonight during the evening rush hour when I spotted this blonde texting while driving at a main intersection in the city centre, and she continued to text while she drove and negotiated a right hand turn at traffic lights. What a bimbo..... Nice car though

It's Getting Harder

I'm finding it harder to find the time to blog (Or so it seems anyway) but I'm still alive (@ the moment) in case you wondered where I was. With all the good weather lately I've been out and about, and last week I ventured up to Belfast Zoo (Don't entirely agree with zoo's but went anyway) It has been years since I've went and the first thing I saw was the whole new entrance, looks pretty well may I say. After entry I saw the old Floral Hall... Looking at it, it was hard to imagine the place use to be a dance hall before it was used as an animal shelter...(Although knowing some of the clampets who use to go there, it may have been one from the very start)
The place is so far up the hill I'm sure people were done out before they even got their first dance or their 99.... There must have been an ice cream van parked outside? as I heard my brothers say a few times that when they got to the Floral Hall "It used to be, get the girl, go twice around the dance floor, then outside for a poke" (I was too young to go, so I wouldn't know)

What I did laugh at was a sign in the car park saying "Please remember where you park" Really ?... It is worth a visit I have to say.. Oh yes! there are some beautiful animals there...

Bank Holiday Monday

Day off work, yeah but only in the employment sense. I'm still in the process of getting the area ready for my new greenhouse. I have already started by building the base for it and the door (Just to get things moving) The area for it will need leveled but I'm unsure if I went flag stones, bricks or just the straight forward earth... Whichever I choose it will still need leveled. So I'm using the garage to store the pre-built stuff.
What I have got as a new addition to the garden is a solar powered bird bath (More like a bird shower) but is nice and if we get some sunshine during the summer we will have loads of clean birds flying about my garden (If the cat allows it, that is)

May Day Parade

Today my LSD and I decided to hit the City Centre for a dander and some lunch. Thought, bank holiday weekend there shouldn't be much traffic. Great clear roads until we hit the centre. The PSNI had roads around the centre closed as the Union's May Day Parade was taking part. It didn't take long. a few bands a few people walking behind them carrying banners and flags and one guy carrying a Russian flag (I have to say he looked like he wasn't old enough even to work, let alone be in a union)

The City was also hiving with street entertainers, from the Dirty White Rabbit playing the keyboard at Cornmarket to comedy groups, musicians and this musical trio I saw in Victoria Square... The City Centre is the place to spend a Saturday believe me......

Bill Posters

I wonder which one of these two defacers is called Bill?. As if the city isn't bad enough with litter bugs, we also have to put up with guys like this who have nothing better to do than stick up posters usually for unknown music groups that you need to blocked to listen too, and more than likely the posters end up blowing around the streets and left for someone else to clean up.

Anyway, if guys like these are caught breaking the by-laws of the city, they should be not just fined but made to do community service by removing posters from around the city centre for a start.

Speaking of Squareports

After yesterdays post, I've now read, from today the George Best City Airport is not allowing motorists or taxis (Not based at the airport) to drop off or collect passengers outside the main terminal. A £1 surcharge will be imposed on taxis based at the airport. People hiring a taxi based at the airport will have the £1 surcharge past onto them through the fare. The £1 surcharge has been imposed by the GBCA. What will be interesting is, will they charge each passenger a £1 or is it a £1 per fare. (See also: Drop off ban arrives)
I have stopped using the airport taxi's anyway, as I found them unpleasant and in my experience they make you feel like a hindrance if you are only going into the city centre instead of further afield. Maybe now they'll be glad of any business.... (Still wont be mine though)

Belfast International Squareport

A news item regarding Belfast International Airport caught my attention today while surfing the BBC News website. The security staff at the airport had "a complete lack of consideration for those with mobility problems". Read the article
This happens all around the place. I witnessed a lady (Who has mobility problems) ask an outside security person at the terminal building at the George Best City Airport if she could get her local taxi to pick her up outside the building. She was told no and she had to walk to the portacabin at the short stay car park and wait. Not even a chair in the portacabin... How considerate
Anyway, I'm off to BIA tomorrow morning to pick some people up. I haven't been at the airport in ages so I thought I'd visit their website and check for any changes in parking arrangements. I went straight for the FAQs section. I can only say that even I was surprised at the most popular FAQs: (Even for Northern Ireland) Can I pack my souvenir Samurai sword in my hand luggage?

Mystery Shopper

I have to say my LSD must be the best mystery shopper.. It's just a mystery to me how she knows how to get the bargains. We went to good old Tescos as she had to get some food stuffs and I had to get a little speaker for iPod's, mp3 players even works on the laptops.. In fact they work on any audio unit with a 3.5mm jack plug (You even get a 2.5mm converter, just in case) Anyway... they had been reduced in price last week from £19.98 to £ 9.98.. We were told tonight by one of Tescos staff that the speakers had gone back up to full price (I had seen them in a high street store in London last week at over £24.00) LSD said to me to lift one and use one of the in store scanners... Hey Presto.. it showed £9.98.. (Happy Days. I bought three, one for me and two for a friend)
I then fancied some North Belfast champagne to drink later, they had an offer on but none were sitting on the shelf. LSD once again gets a member of staff to go and look "Out the back" as she calls it. (Kitchen house reared you see) It's so refreshing not to hear the usual "If it's not out, we don't have it" they looked, they saw and I was amazed... out came the champagne... (Getting into it when this blog has been updated......

The Power Of The Sun

No, this it's not about the newspaper or global warming. It about how good the nice weather makes you feel. No mater who I was speaking to over the last few days it was evident that the good weather made them feel great.
I enjoyed sitting out in the garden, listening to the birds singing and of course having some sparkling water.... But I'm still Grumpy.
Is it any wonder after watching the football yesterday. One thing though, I'm glad I wasn't one of those supporters who paid a little fortune to travel to the game and pay in to see their manager put a, well lets just say it didn't do what it said on the tin team. It's like paying to see a top band in concert only to find out it's a tribute band.... and they're miming at that....

Wotsits Or Wine?

Read yet another interesting article online, but this one is of special interest to me (Seeing I'm trying to keep weight off, and I drink wine) The article headline says "Average wine drinker puts on half a stone of fat a year, says campaign group" Apparently wine does what it says in the headline. Here are some statistics that I'll try and remember.. Hic!
Large glass (250ml) of average strength red wine = 214 calories = one bag of Cheesy Wotsits.
A bottle of average strength red wine = 644 calories = 14 jaffa cakes or McDonald's Cheeseburger and medium fries.
Large glass of medium dry white wine = 190 calories = two and a half digestive biscuits.
One pint of premium lager = 330 calories = one four ounce fillet steak
One pint of cider = 200 calories = one KFC chicken drumstick
source: Human Nutrition Research and weightlossresources.co.uk
Scary to read... Anyway I'm off to pour myself another glass of Cheesy Wotsits. followed by a glass of McDonald's Cheeseburger and medium fries...Hic!

Space Cadets

We meet space cadets everyday of our existence, but have you ever given time and stopped to think what it must be like to be a real live Space Cadet... (Nah, me neither)... I just needed some sort of a lead in to the web link I'm going to post. It shows the time scale and the building of the International Space Station. Whether or not you're interested in space, this is worth a look.... Who knows perhaps someday it could be trundling earthwards towards you and a least you'll know what the hell is coming...... (CLICK ON THE PICTURE)

Wedding Dance

This is for all the in love people who are planning their wedding. You've picked the date, picked the venue, picked where the reception is to be held and possibly even picked the grub everyone is going to eat. What about the entertainment? two piece band?, group?, karaoke? or Disco?. If you have chosen the later, "CHECK THIS OUT"
Go on, you know you really want to do it at your wedding..... If you are going to do it I'll bring my camcorder........

A Green Day Today

My LSD bought me a greenhouse today. It's something I've wanted since moving to our present address. I opened the flat pack to find the instructions.. (AGGGHHHHHHHH) hundreds of parts to be checked.... It took me ages (Not the brightest you see) Hooray, all parts present and correct. Now to find the time. and a sunny day or two to put them all together.
(Fun times ahead, but I know she can do it)

Please Be Quite

This post goes out to those of my friends and colleagues who think I've lost the power to put weight on.

LAST WEEK, A HALF POUND ON

THIS WEEK, FOUR AND A HALF POUND ON

There, thanks for your concern now, please back off and leave me to it.......

Dumping Dogs

Spotted these two dogs running around a common in Cambridge, they had their two big white husky looking pets with them. The common is a place by the river where families walk and play, considerate dog owners carry poop scoops and plastic bags for you know what. These two couldn't have give a crap themselves, the dogs just dumped their winalot and ran off to play. One of the humans with them walked over to the drop zone and I thought she was going to do the right thing and pick it up, but alas, she just stopped, studied the deposit for a lot of seconds then merrily dandered off. Perhaps she goes to Cambridge University and is reading you know what.....

The Return Flight

Thought I'd treat you to a wee taste of the return flight. Never added any music (Copyright etc) The take off and flight were good but the approach and landing, well lets just say the jury's out on that one (Coming in up the lough is a bit windy at the best of times) but I wasn't sure if we had landed or were shot down..... lol ... only joking it was fine. I've also put this video up unto YouTube (Grumpyhead55)

A guy is sitting in the bar in departures at a busy airport..A beautiful woman walks in and sits down at the table next to him.He decides because she 's got a uniform on, she's probably an off-duty flight attendant.So he decides to have a go at picking her up by identifying the airline she flies for,thereby impressing her greatly.He leans across to her and says the Delta Airlines motto 'We love to fly and it shows'.
The woman looks at him blankly. He sits back and thinks up another line. He leans forward again and delivers the Air France motto
'Winning the hearts of the world'.
Again she just stares at him with a slightly puzzled look on her face. Undeterred, he tries one last time saying the Malaysian Airlines motto
"Going beyond expectations.
The woman looks at him sternly and says 'What the fec do you want?'

'Ah!' he says, sitting back with a smile on his face................... "Ryanair"

Budget Transport

I'm sure like me you have used so called budget airlines at sometime. Last Saturday LSD and I traveled to London Stansted on the first flight out with Ryanair. Flight left at 06:30 which meant we were up out of bed around 04:30. Got our seats on the flight and I thought for the first time ever I'd have something to eat on the flight. I ordered two breakfast baps (For me and my lsd) at a cost of £5 each. The drinks trolley came around and I ordered a diet coke (£1:80) for a tiny tin and was told the baps would be another ten minutes. They arrived within two, my lsd said to me that her breakfast bap was cold in the centre. I bit into mine to find the omlette was still frozen in the middle. (I nearly boaked) I called the steward down and pointed out the fact that both were inedible. "I'll reheat them" he said. (Not even an offer of two fresh ones. No you won't, I'd like a refund. He said they can't give refunds and that I'd have to write to Customer Services in Dublin. I asked him for proof of purchase and that too was beyond him. So, I'd written the fact on my boarding sheet and asked him to sign it, he refused. Then as if magic he returned with a receipt. Strange that isn't it.



(Lesson learnt)

New Drink

I frequently research the Internet for new things to add to my ever growing list of foods I can eat and drink to help me in my new life style,of the reduced me.
I found a mention of a new fizzy drink online, but I'm not sure if they do a light/diet version of it. Check it out in case you can help?

21 Lines To Make You Smile

1.. My Wife and I divorced over religious differences,she thought she was God and I didn't.
2.. I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.
3.. Some people are alive only because it's illegal to kill them.
4.. I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.
5.. Don't take life too seriously; No one gets out alive.
6.. You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me
7.. Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.
8.. Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.
9.. I'm not a complete idiot - - Some parts are just missing.
10. Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.
11. God must love stupid people; He made so many.
12. The gene pool could use a little chlorine.
13. Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.
14. Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?
15. Being 'over the hill' is much better than being under it!
16. Wrinkled Was Not One of the Things I Wanted to Be When I Grew up.
17. I Have a Degree in Liberal Arts; Do You Want Fries With That?
18. A hangover is the wrath of grapes.
19. They call it PMS because Mad Cow Disease was already taken.
20. A picture is worth a thousand words, but it uses up three thousand times the memory.
21.. Ham and eggs...A day's work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment for a pig.

Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends!
Life is too short and friends are too few!

Sore Bum Bum

Nearly wrecked myself at the swimming pool this week. I had made a little promise to myself that when (And if) I started blogging again I wouldn't mention anything about my weight loss, well I think this is funny. I'd been at the pool for my daily swim, when it came time for me to get out, my path (Watery as it was) was occupied by a lot of tourists. Me being from Gods own area of this wonderful Island, didn't want to be ignorant by forcing my way through to the steps. (The steps being the ladder out of the pool) I have always found this the easiest way to exit the pool as leaving via the pool edge (because of my bulk) took a lot of upper body strength and about three attempts. But needs must so I got myself in the frame of mind and went for it, back to the edge, arms bent and a power lift. I used the same power as I would have before I lost the seven and a half stone. To my surprise I shot out of the water like a penguin being chased by a killer whale. I landed full force on my arse at the side of the pool (Wonder has that ever happened to a penguin?, no not at the pool) I thought my tail bone was broken to the amusement of the ones who just happened to be watching. I tried the same move yesterday with the same result.
Perhaps I'm just getting stronger...

Soccer

I'm sure it's the same in most sports, but the hate between fans of soccer in my opinion, would be at the top. We are into the closing stages of the champions league and my facebook has become a place of taunt between some of my friends who follow Liverpool FC / Manchester United .... They even went as far as using the application "The Teams I Hate With A Passion ". Now that's sad, even for them. The word HATE is described in the Oxford Dictionary as:

• verb feel intense dislike for or a strong aversion towards.
• noun 1 intense dislike; strong aversion. 2 informal a disliked person or thing. 3 before a noun denoting hostile actions motivated by intense dislike or prejudice: a hate campaign.
— DERIVATIVES hatable (also hateable) adjective hater noun.

Don't get me wrong, I like soccer, and I have the teams I prefer, but in all honesty, I can't say I hate any of the others. If my teams win or lose (They sometimes lose) it makes no difference in my life whatsoever. So I just don't understand the problem. I think some people just love to get annoyed, they look for stuff to offended them. The idea of paying mega pennies in travel, gate tickets etc, just to go along and watch soccer, get my blood pressure to boiling point, ruin my day if my team is beaten, just does not appeal to me.
Do you think for one moment that the superstars of these teams, who are getting paid mega pennies (Thanks to you and people like you) worry about how our lives are effected by their off days when they have a bad game and are beaten, especially when they drive home in their top of the range sports car to their luxury pad? (I don't think so) ...... Think about it....