The rich cycle of life: Make mess, tidy mess, make mess, tidy mess...

The rich cycle of life: Make mess, tidy mess, make mess, tidy mess...
Originally uploaded by Vimrod1

I think I'll miss out the tidy mess stage, it will give me more time to make a mess!

A very scary thought

what worries me is that if the American elections don't go the way I hope they do this woman could become Vice president of the USA and even more worrying she could easily be president given Mcains advanced years. it's very worrying that she fell for this prank call.

The American Presidential Election

is almost upon us i hope as many people turn out to vote as possible.
This video encourages people to vote

9 things to do before you get out of bed...

9 things to do before you get out of bed...
Originally uploaded by Vimrod1

This is exactly what I did this morning!

Well we are still here!

Originally uploaded by Drunken Monkey

Well they have fired up the HADRON thingy and we are still here! But they still have to fire up the colliding beams of matter and anti-matter thats the worrying bit!

The strange things your parents tell you!

UK Newspaper 31 October 2006 Guardian Halloween
Originally uploaded by morph33

When I was a kid my parents told me the sitting on a newspaper would stop me from feeling travel sick when traveling in the car. I'd forgotten about this until recently. I then started to wonder if they were winding us up but it seems my Dad isn't the only person to have had this idea apparently it's supposed to be something to do with static electricity.

Big Bang Day!

The Large Hadron Collider/ATLAS at CERN
Originally uploaded by Image Editor

On September the 10th they will turn on the CERN Hadron collider I don't really understand the science but apparently the idea is to recreate the immediate aftermath of the "Big Bang" what worries me slightly is that they might recreate the "Big Bang" all over again. Well at least you will be able to follow it all on Radio 4.

Government incompetence!

Ballot box
Originally uploaded by knautia

Well I don't know why I'm surprised but sometimes the level of incompetence of local government amazes me. In the post yesterday I got a form from the city council asking me to confirm my entry on the register of electors. Deciding to be organised I tried to use the website, it wasn't found, there was something odd about the spelling www.canvassmaters.com/sheffield so I tried missing out one of the s's this took me to this website. I rang the information line to let them know that it wasn't working. They thanked me but said they knew and that the telephone line for automated registering wasn't working either. The nice lady had no idea when it would be working. She suggested posting the form might be the most reliable option.

I hear the strangest things on the radio!

Acceleration = Force Divided by Mass, Version 2
Originally uploaded by boristheblade

I tend to fall asleep with the radio on Radio 4 is fine but the world service can be surreal some of the stuff I hear I think I have dreamt it such as the recent attack on a Greyhound bus in Canada. If you are at all squeamish don't bother following the link to read this! And some is just plain silly. The offering the other night was "The economic slowdown is accelerating"

Christian the Lion

sarah told me about this,she told me it had made her cry I found and watched it; she wasn't wrong

I'm sure I can smell tea

I'm sure I can smell tea
Originally uploaded by lizjones112

I went to Chestnut Wildlife Centre" today with Mum mainly because I love Otters and owls and they have both there, I had read about it in a Wildlife guide in the Guardian and I wanted to get some photos of them. I found the whole place rather depressing, the otters were kept in smallish pens in an attractive wooded valley with a pretty stream running through it. However the otters didn't have access to the stream and a lot of them didn't even have water to swim in. Even worse where the owls quarters these were wire mesh pens among the trees about 5ft square and around 12ft high. The owls didn't look at all happy. As you can see from the picture the otters seemed a bit happier some did have pools to swim in.

Smoking

Abstract Smoke Photography
Originally uploaded by MillionSwords

Something strange has happened to me recently, I smoke, I don't really like the fact that I do, I don't like that I get something from it. I have tried to give up many times, Succeeded once for about a year when I had my son. But I always missed it. Because I was in agonising pain from a trapped nerve in my shoulder my GP prescribed gapapentin this is a recognised and authorised treatment for nerve pain. It seemed to work, my pain is much better. What is interesting is that it seems to have reduced my craving for my next hit of nicotine, but what is even more interesting and strangely annoying is that it has also removed my enjoyment of my occasional smoke. I don't smoke heavily but have always enjoyed it's stress relieving qualities and the comfort of the habit that a non-smoker would be hard pressed to understand. Although I should welcome this opportunity to quit I find my self annoyed and faintly irritated by this.

Tescos

Tesco Winchester. Never-ending tills.
Originally uploaded by :Duncan

Today I popped into Tescos for a fw things on my way home from work. On all the main tills there was a sign asking shoppers with baskets to go to the express or serve your self checkouts;the automated ones that never work properly anyway!. There were about 4 checkout workers sat looking bored serving no one. I asked an assistant why the signs. She explained that it was part of an initiative to reduce the length of queues. It seemed that they were being audited on this, yet another example of an "outcome measure" being inappropriate. I felt the signs were slightly intimidating it wasn't a polite request to use the other till when possible when shopping for a small amount of stuff. Next time I will take a trolley and put my few items in it.

Messy desk

Clear your Desk
Originally uploaded by lizjones112

I have just recieved the following Flicker mail

hello,

my name is ania and i´m doing a research about chaos on the desk. i would describe myself as a very messy and chaotic person. in my diploma work i´m dealing with the topic how to handle chaos in an effective way, but without getting neat.
i saw your messy desk picture on flickr and would like to ask you for help. i would be very happy you could answer me these quetions. it would help me a lot!

1. is your chaos a problem for you or do you handle it well?

2. why does your chaos break out?

3. is there something you always know where it is, something you´re never searching for? and is there something you´re always looking for? if yes why?

4. how do you find the things you´re looking for? have you got any strategies or methods? or do you know any alternative search-for-method?

5. could you imagine something that helps you finding what you´re searching for?


thanks a lot!!!

best regards ania

Useful Rain...

English Summer
Originally uploaded by Lady Vervaine

According to tonights weather forecast at the end of the BBC news tonight we are going to get some useful rain tomorrow.... WTF is that?

Why I havn't blogged for a while...

Shoulder
Originally uploaded by Movements Afoot

I've not bogged for ages as I've been laid up with a very painful shoulder and arm. I have no idea how I did it, all I know is that I woke up on Bank Holiday Monday morning with pain in my shoulder with a bed pain in my shoulder.Initially I just thought I had "slept funny" but as I tried to get up and about I realised quite how bad things were. I tried to drive;that was impossible! I rang around my friends. Very kindly Colett and her boyfriend took me to A & E at the Northern, I felt bad for taking up the time of A & staff but I was in agony. The pain was going all down my left arm. They were fantastic, I got seen quickly no doubt because pain radiating down your left arm can be a sign that you are having a heart attack. Thankfully I wasn't. The only thing I could fault the A& E staff on was thinking that my friend Colett was my daughter, she is ten yours younger than me but... my only defence is that I looked terrible because I was in so much pain! Somehow I have got through the past few weeks without cracking up completely like most nurses I am a terrible patient. For that I have to thank my wonderful friends especially Sarah for taking Ben to my Mums, feeding me and generally cheering me up and Lise for lifts to physio etc. My GP Alison who is in the final stages of her training to be a GP has been fantastic too, sympathetic and tolerant of my long winded descriptions explanations and occasional tearfulness. She has always discussed treatment options with me and I have always felt as though I am working in partner ship with her rather than being told what to do. The pain has been excruciating at times apparently I have a trapped nerve. It has sent horrible pains down my arm and caused pins and needles in one side of my hand. It is gradually easing but It has taught me to think about my posture I slouch far too much and hunch over the computer keyboard. I'm just hoping the improvement continues ...

This is interesting...

The very model of a modern parish minister

Radio 4 - The Archers - Message Board
Originally uploaded by robinhamman

I've just found this on The Archers website-


The very model of a modern parish minister
by Mr Snowy

Gilbert and SullivanMr Snowy, a regular contributor to the Fantasy Archers topic of The Archers message board. is a master of intricate wordplay, as this Gilbert and Sullivan parody proves.

I am the very model of a modern parish minister
You'll find me non-judgmental, I would never damn the sinister
I don't go in for hell fire, no; on right and wrong I'm flexible
As long as I'm bang up to date; on that I am inex'rable

I've taken up each trendy cause, I've filled the manse with down-and-outs
I'm very good at counselling (I say "It's swings and roundabouts")
It won't be long till I've removed all pews from the vicinity
But please don't press me hard about the meaning of the Trinity

Oh please don't press him hard about the meaning of the Trinity
Oh please don't press him hard about the meaning of the Trinity
Oh please don't press him hard about the meaning of the Trini - trinity

I've modernised our services, we're singing Graham Kendrick songs
I will not rest until we're all performing Jimi Hendrix songs
I must replace the organist now he's octogenarian
I rather fancy someone who has leanings Rastafarian

I get about by motor-bike, my attitude is uber-cool
I love to turn each female head, you really should see Shula drool
And though the village dinosaurs might find my actions sinister
I am the very model of a modern parish minister

And though the village dinosaurs might find his actions sinister
He is the very model of a modern parish minister

I'm practised in accountancy, my parish funds are watertight
I won't offend the upper-class (however much my daughter might)
Though I detest their politics they're rather good at giving dough
I'll even schmooze the frightful Peg, what I'll do for a living-o

I've got a view on everything from strawberries to pesticides
From how we should dispose of poo to skylark nests and set-aside
I'll speak on how to save the whale, the best ways of preserving Earth
As long as I am never asked about such things as Virgin Birth

As long as he is never asked about such things as Virgin Birth
As long as he is never asked about such things as Virgin Birth
As long as he is never asked about such things as Virgin Virgin Birth

Of sins I am forgiving, I will not condemn philandering
In various translations from Hungarian to Mandarin
And though the village dinosaurs might find my actions sinister
I am the very model of a modern parish minister

And though the village dinosaurs might find his actions sinister
He is the very model of a modern parish minister

I am the very model of a modern parish minister
I welcome all inside my church, the righteous souls, the sinister
I'm truly ecumenical, inclusive of the heathens here
There's one who says she'll marry me; we've gone and booked St Stephens, dear

The Echo now has stirred things up, it's picking up some vocal taints
It's rooted out the choicest quotes from shopkeepers and local saints
But now it's run this story and I have to say it's utter tripe
God help Ross Adams when I get my hands upon that guttersnipe
Perhaps I'll knock his block off; they might find it out in Finisterre
Will Ross regret his mocking of a modern parish minister?

Perhaps he'll knock his block off; they might find it out in Finisterre
Will Ross regret his mocking of a modern parish minister?

Burma Cylcone

Yangon - Nargis Cyclone (329)
Originally uploaded by luisrene

The recent cyclone in Burma has wreaked havoc in a way that we cannot imagine. The BBC report that around 22,000 people have lost their lives! Words fail me to express my horror at this level of devastation and loss of life. I can't help but wonder if global warning and climate change due to the damage we do to our wonderful planet is too blame. Why can't we realise that we live on this earth; the only one we have, we should look after it! If we considered the planet as a spaceship that we inhabit maybe we would be more careful?

Courtesy Car

200710 peugeot 308
Originally uploaded by superciliousness

My car had to go in to the garage today for some work, a recall on the brakes. The garage provided me with a courtesy car a 308. I was a little surprised to find it was running on fumes and I had to put some fuel in as I had to go to a meeting in Belper, but I suppose that's standard practice. Once I got used to it I really enjoyed driving it it was a lot more powerful than my car. I went down the quick way but cut back across the Peak, I'm afraid it was a bit muddy when I returned it. I didn't want to give it back!

Better luck at Beauchief Abbey

Beauchief Abbey
Originally uploaded by Evil Yoda

We did find the cache here at Beauchief Abbey it was almost too easy this one. But the nice thing about geocaching is that it encourages you to go to places you've never been before.

Mushroom Lane

Mushroom Lane
Originally uploaded by polly.jayne

Colett and I went geocaching again today, the coordinates seemed to indicate the cache was on Mushroom Lane, we wandered up and down getting annoyed as the distance to the cache kept counting down and then back up again. Never getting close enough to really start looking. Eventually we gave up and went to the cafe in Weston Park Museum. When I thought about it I twigged that the cache must be on the other side of the high wall we had spent so long staring at. So it must be somewhere in Weston Park.

See you Humph..

See you Humph..
Originally uploaded by Project 404

The wonderful Humphrey Lyttelton has died what a sad loss to the world a man who appeared to live life to the full, never lost his sense of humor, he had wonderful timing and a wonderfully smutty mind without ever loosing his dignity. I have laughed so many times with him and his compatriots on "Sorry I haven't a clue".

Chicken fillets

219.365days
Originally uploaded by rumblemumbles

I got the giggles in the cab home from a night out with Colett tonight, she thought I was pissed! what was making me laugh was that i had noticed two ovals of gel on the floor of the cab, I thought some poor lass had lost her "chicken fillets " on the way home from a night out. I was speculating in my head how she had come to have "lost" them both. It turned out that they were in fact the gel insets you can put in your shoes to cushion your feet!

Best geocache so far.

through the trees
Originally uploaded by lizjones112

This was a mutipart cache in Sheffield's General Cemetery with a series of clues to find to work out the coordinates for the actual cache, despite the GPS not always working too well because of the tree cover we eventually found it. More because of the application of brain and a little local knowledge. This sort of cache is much more interesting than the standard kind.

childhood memories

childhood memories
Originally uploaded by lizjones112

This wonderful shop has been there for a long time, I was quite surprised to find it was still there and even more delighted to find it hasn't changed a bit since I was little. My Dad used to go in here when he was a kid, he took me and my brothers there regularly, it was great to take Ben in there again, he had been in once when he was little. It is packed to the gills with every kind of toy imaginable; all the things you remember from your child hood, things that you had forgotten about.

Teachers strike

Teachers, College Lecturers, and Department of Work and Pensions staff on strike against pay offers lower than inflation, i.e. pay cuts
Originally uploaded by Roger Blackwell

No work today because the teachers are on strike so Ben's school was closed. Now don't get me wrong I think most teachers do a great job and I wouldn't want to do it. They have been offered 2.73% this year.The nurses pay offer has just been announced we have been offered 2.75% this year, given the rapidly rising cost of living thats hardly going to allow the ordinary staff nurse to buy petrol. Just how would everyone react if nurses went on strike?
Out of interest at present a newly qualified staff nurse gets about £20,000, a newly qualified teacher about the same.

Just what is all that about?

I brought some mince this weekend it was labeled as per the picture just what does suitable for use in recipe dishes mean!? So If I don't have a recipe is that OK ?

A find at last!

Ben and I went geocaching today in Graves Park, we had much more success than my first attempt. The rules of geocaching are that you arn't allowed to give away the location of the caches in case someone steals them or trashes them so this is a close up picture of our find, it was hidden under some stones and leaves and stuff. It was very cold today though so there weren't to many people about to worry about them seeing us people not in on geocaching are known as Muggles the term presumably stolen from the Harry Potter books.

I can't stop laughing!

Female hysteria

Complete Satisfaction
Originally uploaded by abneypark

I was watching Casualty 1907 last night for a while, I don't usually watch this as I can't shout at the TV telling the team what they should or shouldn't be doing as I have no idea about the disorders and illnesses they had to cope with in those days Thank Goodness! But I did learn about one condition and it's treatment. Female hysteria It's not a recognised diagnosis these days but in Victorian times it was thought that this condition caused many ills. Last nights show had a woman presenting at the hospital with various problems her doctor told her that he knew what was wrong with her and what the treatment was a massage he then produced a rather crude looking device the scene discreetly changed some while later the woman emerged from the consulting room with a smile on her face! I was it fits of giggles by this time! I must be very naive or I missed out on my education somewhere but I had never heard of this cure. As you will see from the links the supposedly repressed Victorians invented some very "interesting" devices .

no cache just dog crap

Well I figured out how to use my GPS; well sort of! So off I went geocaching along the canal near Mums. We didn't find any of the three caches we were looking for but we did find lots of these little plastic bags of dog crap!. Why on earth don't people take them home or move the dog crap into the undergrowth where it can rot away naturally it's going to take a long time for these bags to decay they were festooned all over the trees and brambles !

This is What a Headache Looks Like

This is What a Headache Looks Like
Originally uploaded by RW PhotoBug

Well my GPS thingy arrived in the post this morning, I was excited, couldn't wait to get started! I eventually got it out of it's packaging made a cuppa and sat down to try to work out how to use it; I'm never very good with technology I hate reading the instruction book but I tried, read it and per usual I was none the wiser, I played with all the buttons. Eventually I got a satellite fix by putting it on the window sill. But I still can't work out exactly how to set it to find a geocache !
Now I have a headache!!!

Geocaching

Geocaching
Originally uploaded by AntiochOG

I have just brought a garmin on ebay for geocaching, for those of you who don't know geocaching is a tecchie forn of a treasure hunt. I'm hoping that I might have found a hobby that both me and my 13 year old son can enjoy!

Gardening

Bleeding Hearts - Dicentra
Originally uploaded by lizjones112

In an attempt to live up to the daffodil garden post i have spent most of today trying to tidy up my garden. My back and shoulders ache but I feel good because my garden looks better than it did yesterday. I found my bleeding heart plant. I've tried to cut the lawn, trimmed the climbing hydrangea from around my kitchen window despite hating climbing the ladder David lent me!

Why mess with nature?

In an effort to live up to the previous post I visited B&Q today to buy some plants and seeds for my garden. Needless to say I didn't buy these!

The Daffodil Principle

daffodil bokah
Originally uploaded by lizjones112

Sarah has just sent me a link to this inspirational story.


The Daffodil Principle

Several times my daughter, Julie, had telephoned to say, "Mom, you must come see the daffodils before they are over." I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from my place by the beach to her lakeside mountain home.

"I will come next Tuesday," I promised, a little reluctantly, on her third call. The next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and so I got in the car and began the long, tedious drive.

When I finally walked into Julie's house and hugged and greeted my grandchildren, I said, "Forget the daffodils, Julie! The road is invisible in the clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and the children that I want to see bad enough to drive another inch!"

My daughter smiled calmly, "We drive in this all the time, Mom."

"Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears and then I'm heading straight for home!" I said, rather emphatically.

"Gee, Mom, I was hoping you'd take me over to the garage to pick up my car," Julie said with a forlorn look in her eyes.

"How far will we have to drive?"

Smiling she answered, "Just a few blocks, I'll drive ... I'm used to this."

After several minutes on the cold, foggy road, I had to ask "Where are we going? This isn't the way to the garage!"

"We're going to the garage the long way," Julie smiled, "by way of the daffodils."

"Julie," I said sternly, "please turn around."

"It's all right, Mom, I promise, you will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience."

After about twenty minutes we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church I saw a hand-lettered sign ...


Daffodil Garden


We got out of the car and each took a child's hand, and I followed Julie down the path. As we turned a corner of the path, and I looked up and gasped.

Before me lay the most glorious sight. It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it down over the mountain peak and slopes. The flowers were planted in majestic, swirling patterns, great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, saffron, and butter yellow. Each different-colored variety was planted as a group so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue.


Five acres of the most beautiful flowers I had ever seen!

"Who planted all these?" I asked Julie.

"It's just one woman," Julie answered, "She lives on the property. That's her home," and she pointed to a well-kept A-frame house that looked small and modest in the midst of all that glory.

We walked up to the house and on the little patio we saw a poster ...

Answers to the Questions
I Know You Are Asking

50,000 bulbs
one at a time
by one woman
2 hands, 2 feet
and very little brain
Began in 1958

There it was ... "The Daffodil Principle"

For me that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this woman whom I had never met, who, more than thirty-five years before, had begun - one bulb at a time - to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountain top.

Still, This unknown, old woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. She had created something of magnificent beauty, and inspiration.

The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of celebration:

* learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time,
(often just one baby-step at a time)
* learning to love the doing,
* learning to use the accumulation of time

When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We can change the world.

"It makes me sad in a way," I admitted to Julie, "What might I have accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five years ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all those years. Just think what I might have been able to achieve!"

My daughter summed up the message of the day in her direct way, "Start tomorrow, Mom," she said, "It's so pointless to think of the lost hours of our yesterdays. The way to make learning a lesson a celebration instead of a cause for regret is to only ask ... "

"How can I put this to use today?"

Author - Jaroldeen Asplund Edwards

My dragon photo used for educational project

Dragon on Sheffield Midland Station
Originally uploaded by lizjones112

I don't mind too much when people use my photos as long as they don't use them for commercial purposes. I particularly liked this use of my photograph of a dragon on Sheffield station

Celebrating Linda Smith

Linda Smith
Originally uploaded by Alun Salt

Last night I went to a show celebrating the great and very funny Linda Smith at The Studio at the Crucible here in Sheffield which was where she went to university met her boyfriend Warren and lived for many years. She was once voted the wittiest person on radio.
She was a lovely warm friendly and intelligent person, it's so sad she died so young. The show last night was both funny and moving, you wanted Linda to be there delivering her material in hew own inimitable style. Which you can see here.

Tiggy

Tiggy in the garden
Originally uploaded by Ms. Moll

I got in from work this evening and was rather surprised to hear loud and slightly pitiful meowing from the attic bedroom! Somehow Tiggy, next doors cat had got into my house, I thought I'd locked the cat flap as we no longer have a cat. But obviously not;the problem seemed to be that poor Tiggy couldn't work out how to get out again. Maybe it's because I've been feeding him for a few days he thought he'd pay me a visit!

Frogs Crossing

Frogs Crossing
Originally uploaded by Bobby:

I saw a frogs crossing sign today, it had a sticker on it saying RANA I wasn't sure what that meant but apparently it's the genus name for frogs.

Clutter, declutter, clutter, declutter...the rich cycle of life...

Clutter, declutter, clutter, declutter...the rich cycle of life...
Originally uploaded by Vimrod1

Anyone who knows me will know why this made me laugh. It's just that I don't don't get around to the declutter very often!

Lunch at the Blue Moon Cafe

Blue Moon Cafe
Originally uploaded by evissa

I had a lovely lunch with one of my oldest friends Alexandra today at the Blue Moon Cafe. This was followed by a potter around town and catching up on the gossip. I also got lovely presents for my birthday.

Getting the Giggles

Unfortunately I missed poor Charlotte Green getting the giggles on Today on Radio 4 yesterday morning but they played it again on PM. Poor Charlotte was reading the 8am news, there was an item about a very old sound recording that had been found. While it was playing a colleague commented to her that it sounded like a bumble bee caught in a jar. Unfortunately the next item was an obituary as Charlotte valiantly tried to get through the item she was taken over by the giggles, even when her colleague James Naughtie tried to rescue her he also was having trouble.
If you missed it it's here

House

Serie de TV - House
Originally uploaded by smirk.wordpress.com - 5

I kind of like the TV series House, and have watched quite a few episodes of it on DVD since Sarah introduced me to it. However maybe it's because I'm a nurse I find my self being slightly cynical about the plots. There seems to be a formula to it. Let me explain….
It always starts with someone collapsing or having some sort of "funny turn" almost always in front of other people. It then cuts to the titles. Then we see House arriving at the hospital; being greeted by one of his team who he is normally horrible to making disparaging comments about them or their personal life. They then manage to get him interested in the case by it being something so unusual that no one else could possibly figure out what has caused the illness. His arrogance is almost always what drives him. He will then convene a meeting of the team with the obligatory flip chart or whiteboard taking center stage. The team then comes up with a series of theories which House then shoots down in flames. The most obvious investigative procedure to allow them to reach a diagnosis then proves impossible to do because the patient is allergic to the contrast medium or the scanner is broken. They then proceed to try a series of treatments, often against the teams better judgment, these treatments often make the patient worse but add information to the diagnostic process. At some point one of the team will be dispatched to the patient’s home, place of work or other significant location to try to learn more. Often breaking into the patient’s house or gaining access to their work place by some slightly less than legal means; often placing themselves in danger. The patient or the family will at some point rebel against the suggested treatment plan but are eventually won over by House's slightly less than ethical persuasive consultation style. The patient will then have several medical catastrophes which the team are always on hand to resuscitate them from. Eventually the patient gets better and goes home, almost always in a wheelchair being seen off in the foyer by the team when House for a moment will let his arrogant uncaring façade drop and will show a little humanity and pleasure at seeing the patient well again and going home, but will not loose the opportunity to score points or belittle his team. Occasionally aspects of either Houses private life or his team will encroach on the plot line but these are there to illustrate Houses arrogance and inherent vulnerability, which of course he would never admit.

My Birthday in Prague

The day dawned with beautiful blue skys and presents and a card from Colett.
We set off to explore the Hradcany area of the city and the palace.

The views across the city were great but it was very busy around the palace and cathedral

the hill up to the palace was a little steep Colette made a friend on the way up the hill.

we explored around the castle a little and wandered around the outside of St Vitus's Cathedral.
We the set off down the hill for a sit down in Old Town Square. The stalls of the easter market filled the square and they even have an easter tree and all the stalls are trimmed with flowers and ribbons.

we then wandered back to the hotel for a rest, our feet were aching!


In the evening we went out for a meal and then explored a few bars. The last bar wasn't quite the typical Prague bar,it was in a cellar with loud rock music, in Prague you usually sit down at a table and someone comes to take your order. After watching for a while we realised that you had to go to the bar, it was my round so I went to the bar and ordered two beers a was a little bemused and Colett was most amused when I was served with two half liters and one slightly smaller beer. She wasn't quite so amused when the same thing happened when she tried to order two beers a little later in the evening.

Day two in Prague

Friday was our first full day in Prague. The hotel had internet access but it didn't work too well in our room but it did work in the breakfast room, so after dragging Colett away from Starship battles on Facebook and posting silly messages on my Facebook by accident we headed off into town. The light wasn't so good but we decided to explore the National Museum at the head of Wenceslas Square.The museum is rather dated and dusty a little how I remember museums such as the National Museum in Edinburgh from my childhood, no interactive displays here; just a slightly scary lady "guard" with the second most unbelievable wig I have ever seen and rows and rows of stuffed animals and fossils.
There is also a memorial to Jan Palach who set fire to him self in 1969 as a protest against the Russians presence in Prague.

We then went to explore the Jewish Quarter of the City, the Pinkas Synagogue is one of the many there, the walls are covered with the names of the many thousands of people from the area who's lives were lost in the holocaust; 77,279 people.

The weather then got a bit cold and wet, the perfect excuse to find a bar, the one Sarah and John had recommended to us The Hany Bany. were we had a "few" beers and the wandered back to the Hotel via the most surreal Tescos well it seemed odd to us but maybe that was the beer but it only sold booze, chocolates, stationary and toiletries;just the essentials of life then.