Pluming Problems

It's amazing what you find out on news websites. Apparently there is a pluming problem on board the International Space Station. Astronauts are awaiting the arrival of shuttle Discovery, it is bringing a new pump to fix their broken toilet. I would never have guessed that pluming was in the job description for astronauts, though I suppose someone would need to know how to fix a broken toilet, as there could be trouble on board if the aliens could not be flushed away, never mind the captain's log.

OOP's, It Wasn't My Fault

I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall (Sorry, barnacle on the bulk head) when the UK submarine came into contact with a rock in the Red Sea. The news said

"HMS Superb hit an underwater rock on 26 May and damage to its sonar equipment forced it to surface"

Damaged to it's sonar? if it was working in the first place how come it hit the rock?
Wonder what the driver (Cox) said to the Captain ? "Rock, what rock?"

Lucky

Hit the post tonight and scored, after straying off my weight loss plan last week (A few times) I was amazed to have had another half lb off. Need now to get back to the plan as I would like a lb and a half off by next Wednesday to get my Slimming World 5 and a half stone award. Here's hoping..

5 st 5 and a half lb off (So far)

Still Painting

Still painting away, I think the walls in the dinning room are made from sponge. Another two coats tonight and I'm thinking I'll need another couple of coats before it's finished.
No painting tomorrow night as It's weigh in night at you know where...

Bank HOLIDAY

Still trying to get into the good books. Off today on a bank holiday but to make amends for Friday (How long will my guilt last) I started to paint our dinning room. My LSD and LSD junior gave me a hand. Got the first coat of paint on and while it was drying off to Bangor to check out paving for the patio. After visiting two suppliers it possible a decision may be made on what type is wanted.

Went out for lunch in Bangor, I went for an omlette with a difference, it had chili-con-carne and cheese in it. Yummy

Something For The Weekend

Didn't have time to do a something for the weekend as I've been so busy.

Today I took my daughter and son in law out to lunch as it's their first wedding anniversary tomorrow. (Congratulations )

After the dinner my LSD and I went to the Belfast Wheel (The Belfast Aye) it was a beautiful day and with the continental market still on it was a wonderful afternoon with a few rotations of the wheel and a stroll around the market. Before you ask, I wasn't allowed any wine. (After Friday, maybe it's just as well)

Oh Dear

Went to the Continental market at the City hall last night after work for a juke and a little refreshment. Honest I only had four glasses of wine. My LSD picked me up and took me home where I apparently fell asleep eating my curry. I don't remember so I can't comment. Today I paid the price, I had to go shopping to keep the peace.
By the way the curry was vegetable.

Speed Ramps

What a fantastic Idea, perhaps they could put these at traffic junctions for the light jumpers ....

Weight Loss

Forgot to say, I had another 2 lb off on Wednesday evening at my Slimming World Group.

5 st 5 lb (So far)

Love Poems

Women's Love Poem

Before I lay me down to sleep
I pray for a man, who's not a creep
One who's handsome, smart and strong
One who loves to listen long
One who thinks before he speaks
One who'll call, not wait for weeks

Pulls out my chair and opens my door
Massages my back and begs to do more
Oh! Send me a man who'll make love to my mind
Knows what to answer to "how big's my behind?
I pray that this man will love me to no end
And always be my very best friend.

Mens Love Poem

I'll always love you long and dear
As long as you supply the beer

(Yep, men are pigs)

Big Head

My LSD treated me to a new golf club, a Hippo driver (No funny comments please). I went to the driving range last night with said club in hand. It was a while before I found the on switch, but when I did it started to hit the ball forward (Which is a bonus)

What I never took into account was my weight loss, now it seems I can take a full swing with a golf club. As I addressed the ball (Golf lingo) and made my swing I started to laugh as I saw the head of the club through the corner of my left eye at the top of the swing, that has never happened before it all the time I've been playing golf, it freaked me out. I was still laughing on the downswing (More golf lingo) I'm surprised I even hit the ball ... WOW

Getting Older

I think this is so true

Thanks Sam

It's A Dogs Life

Is no ones job safe at the moment, poor old Bilbo the Newfoundland has been shown the door! Perhaps a remake of Baywatch may get him employment

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Something For The Weekend (5)

Vegetable Curry

What you need
Fry Light
3 x Garlic Cloves (Peeled & crushed)
1 x Finely chopped red onion
2 x Tbsp mild curry power (Use hot if preferred, but don't forget to put the toilet roll in the fridge)
2 x Tsp finely grated ginger
1 x Large carrot (Cut into small pieces)
1 x Large courgette (Cut into small pieces)
500 ml x passata
1 x Tin of chopped tomatoes
100 ml x Stock (Veg)
1 x Packet ocra (Lady fingers) (Cut into small pieces)
Baby corn, Sweet peas, Green beans (And any other veg you fancy)
Low fat yogurt
Some fresh coriander (Chopped)

What you do
Get a frying pan and spray
Add the onion, ginger, garlic and fry for a few minutes
Add the passatta, tomatoes, stock and all the cut veg
Bring to the boil and simmer for around 20 minutes or longer (Depends on how crunchy you like the veg.
Season to taste
Place some low fat yogurt into a bowl and stir in the chopped coriander and add to the curry when serving.
Serve with or without rice.

(Sorry no photo, I was hungry)

Pot - Kettle ?

Read an article online. Some judge remarked about Tyrone people as being typically thick. As the saying goes "The pot calling the kettle black"
Then again someone told me another saying "Tyrone born, Tyrone bred, strong in the arm, thick in the head"
I don't believe that for one second .....

Friday Madness

And there was me thinking I was making great time heading back to Belfast. Got as far as the Glens of Gormley on the M2 before it turned into a car park.

Nose to tail for about 40 minutes due to a lane closure (Could have been worse I suppose) at least it was a sunny day.

Reminded me of the bad old days, the Friday evening bomb scares, they effected me the most as they always made me late finishing work for the weekend. (Mind you, I was glad of the overtime)

My Star Week

After having an overboard celebration (Pizza, Wine, More Wine, etc) last Friday night for reaching my 5 stone target. I was worried my weight loss may have came to a standstill, but I had 2 and a half pound off last night at my Slimming World Group.


5 st 3lb


I was so pleased and on top of that my fantastic group voted me Group Man of the Year 2008. I got presented with a beautiful silver star paper weight, I now have a chance of getting to the National Finals in London.... (Who would have believed it)

Costa Del Bangor

Went down to Bangor today, had a look around the marina. With the fantastic weather it could certainly pass for one of the Costa's. The sun, the sea, the boats, all that was missing was the sangria. What I hear though is, Bangor Champagne is readily on tap (Buckfast) I hear so many stories about Bangor I'm sure they all can't be true. I remember when I was a lad, I heard a saying that goes "The people in Belfast live above their shops, but the people in Bangor live above their means"
(I wonder if that's the case)

Summer Sun

Isn't it just wonderful the sun we are getting at the moment. It was even sunny in Ballymena today.

Great Weekend

What a weekend. Great from start to finish. Felt that good (Hangover gone) I got started on the back garden hedge, need to finish it later. (Before winter)

Something For The Barbeque

Had family over last night for a barbeque. To our surprise a duck landed on my next door neighbours roof (Brought a new meaning to fresh meat for the barbee) It rested there for about 10 minutes before flying off.

So we just had the steak!

Something For The Weekend (4)

Potted Herring

What you need

12 x peppercorns

6 x fresh herrings (Gutted and boned)

2 x bay leaves

3 x cloves

1 x onion (slice finely)

1/4pt malt vinegar

1/4pt water

1/2 tsp sugar or sweetener

Salt & pepper

What you do

Pre-heat the oven to 325F

Salt and pepper the herrings

Roll the herrings tightly from head to tail, make sure the skin is to the outside

Put into a ovenproof dish

Cover with the onion and add the bay leaves, peppercorns and cloves

Mix the liquid together, adding the sugar or sweetener and stir, pour this over the fish

Bake in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes

After baking allow to cool in the liquid, drain and chill before before serving.

Time For Bird Watching

After reading this web page article I've got the binoculars at the ready and I'm now looking for an inconspicuous hide to get set up for a summer of twitching.

I just love nature.

What a Difference A Day Makes

My wonderful LSD said she thought french windows would look nice leading from our dinning room to a patio. I thought "Yeah, right" but I have to say, "I was forced into submission" Today they arrived to do the business. By the time I got home from work they had the job done and dusted and I have to say at this stage "I'm really impressed, it looks brilliant" (We'll see if it's still the same in winter time)

Latest Target Reached

I had set 5 stone as my latest target, I reached it with 3 lb off. I got my 5 stone award and my 10th Slimmer of the week. I'm really chuffed, my Little swamp duck had another 2lb off and she received her 3 stone award. "Didn't she do well" Slimming World

5 st and a half lb

Clarence Street West

For sometime now Clarence Street West in Belfast has been closed daily to vehicular traffic from about 7:30 am to around 5 pm Monday to Friday as a new hotel is being erected. I can understand road closures when building deliveries are being made or concrete work is being carried out, but I think now the builders are extracting the urine. More times than enough the street is turning into a car park for the builders vans. OK it happens, and they may have a valid point why they need their vans there BUT, they do not have the right to park on footpaths and hinder pedestrians. Can anyone tell me how on earth someone with mobility problems could get past this van?

The so called traffic Marshall's pass day and daily and take no action, try and park your car in the same way and see what happens.

They're Everywhere

Knowledge brothers, bless them. Their intentions are good but they are a pain in the orifice. My Son-in-law and I went tonight to hit a bucket of balls each at Ballyearl golf range. This is only the second time my s-i-l has tried the golf. I recapped on a few pointers from the first time and let him get on with it. He was starting to hit well when the knowledge brother decided to gave him the benefit of his knowledge. I could only smile as he was trapped. "Do this, do that" is all I could hear and my poor s-i-l is to polite to tell the bro to clear off. Me on the other hand don't suffer from politeness but under the circumstances (my s-i-l being tortured by a kb) for once I kept my mouth shut. (What I saw of the kb himself using a golf club, he couldn't hit a cow on the back end with a big stick)

BBQ Time

Wonderful, the weather was that good last night my LSD and I had our first barbee of 2008. As we sat out in the rear garden, birds singing, meat sizzling, wine breathing, I thought of Van the man's song "When it's not always raining there'll be days like this"

Chain Email's

I never pass on chain emails, I tell my friends not to send them. I received one today from a friend in Australia, the email asked to pass it on to women. As I said I don't pass them on, but I read it and thought I'd stick it up unto the blog. I don't know if the name on it is true but the poem is really food for thought!

(In honor of Beautiful Women's Month and in memory of Belinda Emmett who lost her fight with cancer)

'If I had my life over'
By Belinda Emmett
(written after she found out she was dying from cancer)

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the Earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for a day...
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted into a rose before it melted in storage...
I would have talked less and listened more...
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained or the sofa faded...
I would have eaten popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace...
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth...
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband...
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed...
I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains...
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life...
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime...

Beautiful Sunday

Dear blog, up bright and early this morning and decided to try the cycle. Damp but not raining as I left the house. Ballysillan hill here I come, got further than the last time but still short of the summit. Once again it turned into a cyclewalk, and I did try it a second time with the same result. Better luck next time I hope.
Hey just heard on the radio that a taxi driver in Londonderry/Derry/Foyle/The Maiden City (Whatever) had a tyre of his taxi punctured by a crossbow bolt while driving in the Bogside area. Thank goodness no one was hurt, It's madness to think some idiot is knocking around the streets with a crossbow.
I wonder will they be nicknamed " William Tell from the Brandywell?"

Scheduled Post Publishing

What a great idea, wonder how it will work with photo of the day blogs, I'd love to see what next Saturday looks like. I find it hard enough at times to find something to blog about. (As I'm sure you're aware, if your reading this) Back to SPP, great idea don't you think ..... I did this post in January!

Something For The Weekend (3)

Chips, Poached Egg and Beans (Slimming World Type Chips)

What You Need

Potato's (As much as you like on a Green day, try sweet potato's)

Fry Light

Kitchen Foil

Egg

Tin of Beans

What You Do
Peel and cut the potato's into chunky chips

Boil for 5 - 7 minutes and drain into a colander and shake well roughing edges, then dry off

Prepare a baking tray with kitchen foil (Saves on the cleaning)

Spray a few squirts of fry light onto the foil

Space out the cut chips onto the tray, another few squirts of fry light over the chips.

Place in the oven at 240 for 25 to 30 minutes (Until chips are chrispy brown)

Serve with a poached egg and beans (Enjoy)

Saved By My iPod

I went to the see the nurse at my doctors on Wednesday as I wanted to have my blood pressure and cholesterol checked. Blood pressure checked out OK but after attempts on both arms no blood was available. "You have to comeback and see the other nurse " That appointment was this morning.
I arrived 15 minutes early for my 9.30 appointment and the waiting was already filling up (I thought, if my Doctor is that good why are there so many sick people in his waiting room) anyway, I noticed there was this woman sitting who would search around the room with her eyes like a radar. Once eye contact was made with someone she zoomed in like a heat seeking missile and started the interrogation. "Whats wrong with you, what tables you on" etc etc (I'm sure you know the sort) As the room started to empty one by one she picked someone new to collar each time.
In this type of situation I have found that my ever trusty iPod (ignore People often device) comes in to it's own. People look at you but realise there's no point in talking to you..... Happy days.....
BTW the nurse today got the blood first time.

Portadown & Out

Read today that Portadown are to appeal the Irish FA's decision to exclude them from next season's new 12-team Premier League. Apparently they were 15 minutes over the deadline the governing body had set for applications.
In my opinion it would be a sad day for Irish Football if a team with such a record were excluded from the Premier league for an application being 15 minutes late. In defence of the IFA though, why did Portadown leave it so tight for time to apply?
The mind boggles....