Spanner In The Works

Left work with the growing holiday feeling, yee old grumpy feeling as distant as my next Ulster Fry (Full Irish if you're reading this down South) I even stopped and let cars move into my lane including a couple of taxis. The atmosphere in the car was as calm as a mill pond...
That was until I was trying to turn right off the main road. The traffic lights changed to stop for the oncoming traffic, so I thought I'll get across now. Wrong, this car just blocked the way. I nodded to the lady driver (In a nice way) that it would be possible for her to move forward another four feet closer to the car in front so I could proceed. The back windows of the car were darkened out, this arm came out of the darkness and gave me the fingers. (How rude)... the clam broke. I did asked the owner of the arm if they had a problem... When he showed his face I realised why the windows were darkened out. It was like a bull dog chewing a wasp...
She did move forward and I did turn right but I wish I'd taken a photo.....

Deck The Halls

The Christmas spirit is just increasing daily in our house. Just watched this years first Christmas film on TV "Santa Clause 3" (Nice wee movie)

The dinning room has now been converted into what looks like a scene from a Christmas movie, I can't wait until the the old bird is lying in the centre of the table (Turkey), spuds and veg close at hand and the family (Minus a few) sitting around the table on the Santa covered chairs. (I'll not go as far as saying, and singing Carols!)

I usually lose the Grumpiness over Christmas (Peace and goodwill to all etc etc) so just like me, if you have any senior neighbours don't forget to pop in and say hello and make sure they're OK!.

Have to say, today is a sort of sad day for me like. (Sort, like, street talk, no what I mean like) I'm selling my Santa suit. With losing my weight I think it just wouldn't be the same being the jolly old thin man in the big red suit and having white hair and beard. I've been doing Santa for years and years and have always had a big red suit in my wardrobe, but time to move on..... It was a dream job, only had to work for three weeks in any one year... HO HO HO

(BTW only four weeks til Christmas Day)

Bah! Humbug!

I may be Grumpyhead but I do love Christmas.. The trees went up in our house yesterday and they look fantastic (Well done Mrs Christmas)

We are off on a break at the end of this week and my very organised her in doors wanted to get the trees up before we go. (Still more to do with regards to the old decorations when we get back) then it will be all systems go..

I love my time off at Christmas, the turkey, the ham, those old Christmas films, my favorite being "A Christmas Carol" Starring Alister Sims (1951) as Scrooge.

Bah! Humbug (Has a certain ring to it don't you think?)

Ticket Day

The last of our holiday tickets arrived yesterday. Only five days to go before we fly out to Florida (The Mickey Mouse State) Starting to really get that holiday feeling. Sat for a while and put some destinations into the Sat Nav (Hotel, eateries, attractions etc) so hopefully when we get there in the dark, finding our way from the airport to our hotel at Cocoa Beach will be a doddle for the Sat Nav... (Still going to take a map though)

Last year when we were out one night in Orlando the rain was so heavy you could hardly see a road sign, and with it being also dark it took me ages to find my way out of the hotel car park. (He He)

Old Dog New Tricks

In the old days (What a saying) I got my friends around, put the projector and screen up, loaded spools and spools of Super 8 film, showed the movie and of course the hundreds of 35mm pics of the holidays, waved my friends goodnight and then tried to contact them the following day.. No chance! I had bored them away.... (Ok, nothing new there then I hear you say)

Equipment needed: A Super eight camera, spools of Super eight film (To be sent away for processing when finished, returned in about a week).. a projector and screen to play the films.. and things got even more complicated if sound was used. The 35mm films had to be sent away also for processing and at least two thirds of the photos were binned as they were dung.

Things are so different now... I just love the digital age... you can do all the above with the minimum equipment of just a mobile phone (With the required facility's of course, which most have anyway) some website or social network to host your movies and photos. and someones PC or upload straight from the phone. Another great advantage is you can view the result the second after you have taken the photo or movie and best of all, once uploaded to the web, if people want to see your media (Movies/Photos) it's in their hands, and they still remain your friends. I hear day and daily people saying "I'm to old to learn all that stuff" NONSENSE I picked it up and I'm nearly 45 (OK OK.. 50) (Oops, maths was never my strong point) Seriously.. it's great fun.... Give it a go... You're never too old for the digital age....

It's Started

The hustle and bustle of the festive shopping. To make things worse there is a pre Christmas sale on at one of the major stores in the city. Of course her in doors had to go... I tried to lend my support (Carry bags) but the pushing and shoving of the Christmas shopping psycho bitches just drove me out of the store ... like a demon being exorcised from a poor possessed soul.
Though it is great to see the City busy coming up to Christmas....

Give My Head Peace

OK OK, I know the blog hasn't been updated in a couple of weeks but there is a good valid reason.. "I couldn't be arsed" (Nah, only joking) The truth is I've been somewhat busy on the home front. Have been entertaining here and there and just had to prioritise my time. Been also getting ready for my up and coming holiday to Florida.
Looking forward to speaking to the locals and finding out their reaction to latest election result and what they think of the new President Elect.
I would usually stay clear of FRP (Football, Religion, Politics) but think it will be interesting to hear what some of the locals have to say.

I could have blogged about loads of stuff, from family visits, Children In Need, The Christmas Market, being discriminated against by a local establishment because of my tattoos (Will blog later about that one when I've finished speaking to the equality commission) just to name a few. OH yes! and my good old slimming class (Yes I'm still there weighing in at)
7 Stone 2 and a half lb off)
I'm going to blog when on holidays.... I know some will say how sad, taking timeout to blog! Listen I just want to tell all about the fantastic time I'll be having (So you can be jealous) I may even include some video so you can see where we have been.
Loads and loads to still do.... Christmas cards written, one Christmas tree up and two to go, they will go up this weekend so the house is in the festive mood for our return.
Speaking of Christmas, Belfast City Council have done a great job this year with the Citys Christmas decorations......

Who's A Naughty Boy Then

Crossed the line last night at my Slimming World Class. As I said in a last weeks post "Opps, How Did that Happen (29/10/2008)" I had gone over my allowance of weight loss as a target member. (Weight loss target reached, I go for free) This week I dropped another lb, making my weight loss:


7 Stone 4 and a half lb


It earned me an ear bashing from my Slimming World Consultant Sharon (A wonderful person)
I can explain.... After last weeks upset I decided to go off the motorway (Express weight loss route) to the more scenic route (Being that little bit bad) I was out for a meal, a bottle of wine on Thursday night, a few drinks on Friday night and a great cheese board, a wonderful meal plus wine and cheese on the Saturday night (I even had chocolate) finished off with a fantastic Sunday chicken dinner. I was daft and felt guilty (I should know better) I thought to myself that I should up my daily fitness routine. Mon, Tues and Wednesday I hit the gym twice a day,(Even had a walk up the Cave Hill) and that's why I had the result of more off last night..... Lesson learnt ... (Sorry Sharon)

The Holidays Are Coming

Ho Ho Ho.... The holidays are coming.... Christmas trees and decorations are already up in Ballysillan (Not sure if they ever came down from last year) I was passing a house last night and the tree and window decorations were glowing (No not on fire) Christmas lights.

I was passing the City Hall and a notice board for the Continental Christmas Market with be in town from the 19th November to the 20th December... Happy Day's

An MLA Candidate ??

After reading this news item I was wondering if this is the sort guy that would fit in nicely at Stormont. A US politician's bid to sue God has been thrown out after a judge ruled the suit could not be served because the Almighty has an unlisted address.

All About Walking

I was telling my friends about Saturday's walk, and out of the blue came an email with these one liners...

1. Walking can add minutes to your life. This enables you at 85 years old to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing home.
2. My grandpa started walking five miles a day when he was 60.. Now he's 97 years old and we don't know where he is.
3. I have to walk early in the morning, before my brain figures out what I'm doing..
4. Every time I hear the dirty word 'exercise',I wash my mouth out with chocolate.
5. The advantage of exercising every day is so when you die, they'll say,'Well, he looks good doesn't he.
6. I got a lot of exercise the last few years,......just getting over the hill.
7. We all get heavier as we get older,because there's a lot more information in our heads.That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
8. Every time I start thinking too much about how I look, I just find a Happy Hour and by the time I leave, I look just fine.

Hope at least one of them made you smile.

A Walk In The Park

What a wonderful afternoon I had yesterday. For the first time in over 30 years I ventured up Belfast's Cave Hill. I had said to a friend a few weeks back that I fancied giving the hill a climb and she said she would go with me. To be honest I had reservations about my fitness (I know it's only a wee hill, but for me it looked like Everest) but I made it to the top. I met Una at the entrance to the grounds of Belfast Castle then we started our assent (I'm even talking the talk) The weather was fantastic for this time of the year. I could not believe how many people were out on the hill, all ages from the very young to the not so very young. My friend Una is a very experienced hill walker and I was so pleased that I was able to keep her in my sight (I think she took pity on me and went at my pace, or perhaps it was because she has a sore ankle) We reached the summit (Told you I can talk the talk) and the view was nothing short of fantastic. The view of the City, Belfast Lough, Slemish Mountain all in County Antrim to Strangford Lough, Scrabo Tower and the magnificent Mourne Mountains all in County Down.
(Una has said that she will make me climb Slieve Donard sometime soon. We will see about that)

Whats That Sign Say ?

Had to laugh when I read this article from the BBC News website

PC ???

I went into Paperchase in the House of Fraser @ Victoria Square. Saw a few items for sale which I'm still not convinced won't offend some shoppers... You can make up your own mind...
You can buy a money box in the form of a Holy Statue, make Holy Toast or even cover that devil of a scratch with a Holy Plaster.
What do you think ??

Word Of The Week

SNATTERS is the word of the week. As the comments on the post “Eating Out” seem to be around this word, I thought I’d create a post on the Word. The word brings back childhood memories from my old head.

1. Nose Icicles
2. Bogie Tracks
3. Face Tinsel
4. Glass Legs ...... Just to name some….

When I was young there used to be a wee girl (NO not Wee Dolly Bird) in our street (Avenue actually) who always had Nose Icicles. You were classed as a tough lad if you dared to kiss her... (Or a psychopath if the kiss turned into a snog)

Feel free to send me your interpretation of SNATTERS... Wikipedia does not have the word’s Snat or Snatters (Too common) so maybe someone should put up an Ulster Snats Version ?

A Poem
Have you ever seen a bunny?
With it’s nose all green and runny
You may think it’s funny
Well, it’s snot…………

Wake Up To The WWW

Happy day's, how we embrace technogly: As the traditional Irish wake goes online.
READ FULL STORY

OOP's, How Did That Happen

Just back from Slimming World. As I said last week I'm in the business now of trying to keep my weight within a three lb bracket of my target. (7 stone). Slipped up this week. I don't normally weigh myself through the week but I was out last Friday night for a few glasses of wine then home for a wonderful steak dinner and I have to confess I went overboard on the cheesecake (Three slices) then a cheese board, had more of the same on Saturday, coffee and muffins on Sunday. I got on the scales on Sunday and I had two pound ON.
I re-focused and I hit the gym and went swimming Monday, Tuesday and Today hoping to at best maintain (Same weight as last week). What a surprise I got when I got on the scales tonight... Another pound and a half off...

7 Stone 3 and a half lb

That means I've broken the rules as a target member by going a half pound under my allowance.... Need at least a half lb on by next Wednesday. Looks like I'll have to be bad the weekend.... I know.. life can be a bitch at times....

Blonde Moment

True Story: I was standing at a ground floor lift (Elevator, if you are from the USA) When I was joined by this blonde. The doors opened and she asked me if I was going UP..... I replied "I didn't know this lift went Down"
Total silence for five floors.....

Scum News

Who said it can't get any worse. Read this article about so called human being who can only be described as scum who attacked two defenceless blind brothers in there own home. "SOMEONE KNOWS WHO CARRIED OUT THIS SAVAGE ACT"
Can't say I'd shed a tear if I saw the scum being paraded to the Police station with a placard around their next saying SCUM
It's made me so cross, my heart goes out to the brothers.......

Sign Of The Times

What a time and place we live in. When dung happens there is always someone out there in fantasy land who puts it down to social frustration, broken homes, or (wait for it) there is nothing for the young to do. OK, nothing for them to do? so that's why they steal cars, set them on fire then attack the firefighters who are called to put the fire out, these men put their lives on the line everyday in order to save lives? The nothing to do team broke into an ambulance, damaged it and stole vital equipment.
Then you have the something to do team, who in front of the many young spectators (And of course TV cameras which broadcast the disgraceful scenes nationwide) in the name of their sport bring their true up bringing to the field and display nothing short of "Thugs in boots"
I do hope their sports govern body brings the full weight of the rule book down on them. Violence has no place in our society, especially sport.

Should Have Gone To Specsavers

I had to go and collect a new supply of contact lens today at Specsavers. The car park at the shopping centre is operated by a one way system. Needless to say there was a driver coming around the wrong way... HE should have gone to Specsavers....

Computer Say's Noooooooo

My poor sicky bad PC seemed to be on it's death bed. It's vital organs had started to shut down one by one. With the help of a electronic miracle in the form of a re-installation (Rather than a re-incarnation...) It seems to be making a slow but steady recovery, what a pain it is having to reset everything an install the extra programs. It's going to take a while...
Glad I've the laptop

Eating Out

The odd time my vast experience in driving is called upon to become an unpaid chauffeur .. I don't mind, as it's usually to take my wonderful LSD into the city for some window shopping (I mind her purse). As a reward I'm granted permission to go to my favorite oyster bar for a few glasses of sparkling wine while my LSD continues to window shop... The Oyster bar is in the House of Fraser at Victoria Square. There's nothing better than having a few glasses of wine, oysters and granite's (Chili, lemongrass) and of course a good splash of Tabasco. The best thing is, the bar is in situ beside a shoe emporium (OK, sales rack) it's an education watching women trying to choose shoes. It's brill when they see the price.... OMG...then you hear all the reasons why they don't want the shoes.... wrong colour, too small, too big... NAH... I say TOO DEAR...dear.
Anyway, I've yet to see anyone buy shoes there.... But, then again, I've yet to see the way out.
PS: My LSD drives ME home......

A Long Weight

I know it's been a while, so I thought I'd start back blogging with an update about my weight. Just back from Slimming World. I'm in the business now of trying to keep my weight within a three lb bracket of my target. (7 stone) Pleased to say it's working fine so far. I'd another half lb off tonight...
7 Stone 2 lb
Saw a sign today for JD's advertising a Christmas dinner and a class of wine for £5:99 ... Great deal (Or no deal ,as the case could be)
I thought, great value in this time of the credit crunch, but I'm a great believer in you get what you pay for.... "Road Kill & Vinegar" came to mind....

Back Soon

It's been over a month now since I've updated the blog, but I will be starting back to the blog very soon. Really been up to my ears with other things.
I have been pleased though, with how many people have mentioned to me that they read my blog on a regular basis and wondered why I have stopped updating it. (I told both of them I will be updating again soon...honest)