Note: You have to read this page from the bottom up in order to get the story straight!!
8 January 2004
The end of the year passed in a flurry of student work and getting royally drunk! Christmas Day began with a hangover (oops) but a good time was had by all!
Alwyn and I invested in a new TV set and then proceeded to spend nearly all of our Christmas break parked in front of it. Consequently, I now weigh nearly 9 stone. (I can't blame it all on the TV though, the four or five cases of Bud we consumed whilst watching it can't have helped ....)
Saffy had a bad back over Christmas. (No, I have no idea how she did that.) She's been on anti-inflammatories and seems to be making good progress.
13 November 2003
It has been quite a while since I had a chance to update this! Lots has happened. Alwyn and I had an excellent time in Gran Canaria and came back with super suntans! Pictures will follow when I get around to it ....
Mum went on her holidays six weeks ago. I have been looking after her dogs. They have been driving me bananas and keeping me laughing fit to bust in equal amounts! Mum is due back to Cardiff today, but is currently somewhere between San Jose, Boston and Heathrow.
Alwyn and I had a surreal experience a month or so ago. We were asleep in bed at about 1 AM when there was a knock on the front door. I staggered out of bed and looked out of the study window and was surprised to see a naked man standing in the road outside my house. Alwyn had also got out of bed and asked "Who is it?" I replied that there was a naked man ... no make that two naked men in the road. We went through to the front bedroom for a better look up the road and there was a group of six or seven naked men, running around and playing leapfrog. The only conclusion I could come to was a) they were drunk and b) they'd been playing naked "Rat-tat-ginger"!! Very strange!!
Alan (see Rogues Gallery) married Karen on 25 October. Photographs will be forthcoming, I hope! The wedding was held at the Adelina Patti Theatre in Craig-y-nos. It was a fun and interesting day!
The weekend before the wedding Alwyn and I had dinner with Alan and Karen. I asked Alan where he obtained his fishtank and he asked did I want it! The following day, Alwyn and I went over to collect said fishtank and have spent the last couple of weeks stocking it. We have some guppies (which are breeding already!), four Dalmatian Mollies, a catfish, a loach and three freshwater crabs.
We held a party for Halloween. What a laugh! There were some really great costumes and we had a lot of fun! Photographs to follow.
Needless to say, progress on my MSc is practically nil. However, I have been exploring the idea of doing something around the area of disability awareness/web accessibility.
2 September 2003
The summer is almost over, but I'm off on my holidays!! Two weeks in Gran Canaria with Alwyn, can't wait! I'M GOING ON HOLIDAAAAAAY!! (Getting the impression I'm quite excited about this?!)
Alwyn and I have had a lot of fun over the summer and the weather has been kind to us!
I had my boundary walls rebuilt in July, they look superb! Wes did an excellent job of it. I have new gates and rails in the garage waiting to be fitted. I am also looking for a house number plaque .... as it has to go on the outside gate pillar it needs to be pretty sturdy (porcelain just ain't gonna cut it!). I haven't found anything suitable yet.
I've been back in Lifelong Learning for three months now and I am loving it! When I come back from my hols I will be straight into teaching, the time is going to whizz by!
I'm still looking for a dissertation title that doesn't make me want to kill myself! It has to involve information systems and preferably something about teaching/training. Any (sensible) suggestions would be gratefully received!
10 July 2003
So much has happened in the last month or so! I have changed jobs twice - from Staff Development to LTSU to Lifelong Learning. I have just finished writing my own job description! My birthday - which I almost missed because I thought it was the following week! Exam Board for my MSc and I just squeaked through with a 58% average.
I have met a new chap - Alwyn. He's lovely *silly grin*
Jodie had seven puppies, but unfortunately two died. They were all boys, two brown and the rest black. They are gorgeous and are all due to go to their new homes over the next two weeks, with the bulk of them going this weekend.
7 May 2003
It is with regret that I have to note the demise of my relationship with Chris. To all of you out there, and you know who you are, who said "I told you so" thanks for your sage observation, it was most helpful ... not.
Aside from that, I have exams in a couple of weeks time, eek! Going to have to do some serious revision! This is the end of the taught part of my MSc. I have another 12 months writing a dissertation now *groan* and of course re-sits if necessary *lol*.
Mum has not long come back from a WHOLE MONTH in the states with Bro and family. I looked after her four dogs during this time. For one week I also had Jodie Doberman staying with me. Due to the fact that I am actually a lazy devil, I walked all six/seven dogs at once, rather than in two groups, which made walking quite an interesting experience. Thanks must go to Jen, Michael and Matthew and Helen who came over on a regular basis to help out with the walking.
Jodie Doberman is in pup and at the last count is due to have 8 puppies some time around 19 May.
12 March 2003
Ah yes, in my usual efficient fashion, I haven't fixed the buttons on this site! I've been far too busy listing things on ebay! If you'd like to see what I am selling, follow the link:
Saffy's Stuff on eBay
Dave came over and very kindly sorted my bike out, and Becky changed the fuse in the fridge/freezer.
Becky's Dobe, Jodie, finally came into season last weekend. Jodie is going to a stud dog this coming weekend, so keep watching these pages for news of an impending litter of dobie puppies *fingers crossed*
Saffy is in trouble again! She grazed her knee and her chest flinging herself around and then would not let the grazes alone. Consequently she is now "Lampshade Dog"!
24 February 2003
A weekend of disasters. My fridge/freezer has packed up. I didn't discover it until about 9pm on Saturday evening. It had obviously gone AWOL early in the day as things were starting to defrost. Pants! Had to do a quick trip to Mum's with a cool-box, a laundry basket and a suitcase. If the neighbours were watching they must have thought I was doing a moonlight flit or something!
My proposed trip to Scotland is off. Chris has to work. This may be a good thing as the tickets for the match we were going to see turned out to be £45 each.
Feeling very p'd off and in need of cheering up, I got my bike out of the garage. It choked, it stalled, it produced a VERY impressive back fire and then it died completely. Not a happy bunny.
So today I call the fridge/freezer insurance people when their office finally reopens after the weekend, and they won't send anyone out until I have checked the fuses. What do I pay these people for???????????????? A great lack of service is one obvious conclusion.
I'm doing a good line in not talking to anyone today. I'm rather afraid I might lose it completely. Could be a blood bath!
I redid the buttons in the NavBar over the weekend, and I have to admit that a) they look pants and b) there are two "My Dogs" one of which actually points to this page. Doh! What shall I put the juju on next I wonder???
20 February 2003
I started restocking Saffy's shop on eBay last night! And then I managed to wash the bathroom floor with beer ... oh yes really! I was lying in the bath with a book and a beer. The side of my bath has a slight slope to it, but if you position things correctly they don't slide. I obviously didn't place the bottle correctly, as I placed the beer on the side of the bath for a second and then saw it start to slide towards me. I made a grab for it and managed to flick the bottle away from me, whereupon it sprayed half of its contents, in the manner of a bottle of Grand Prix winner's champagne, across the bathroom floor. Pants! What a mess!
19 February 2003
Chris came down last weekend and I held a party, because it's February! Lots of people came along and a good time was had by all. I should have taken photographs, but somehow swilling down a few gallons of bucks fizz seemed more important at the time! Thanks to everyone who came along. It was great to see you all!
The weather has been very cold and dry, which is GREAT! Becky and I went horse-riding a week or so ago, which was very enjoyable (particularly because I didn't fall off or get my feet stood upon!).
I am still selling things on eBay. The holiday fund is coming along quite nicely. So far we have just about covered one ticket! Saffy's Shop is currently empty. I shall have to start re-stocking (listing more items!) this week.
My Masters is still chugging along. I'm doing a module on Databases & 4GL this year. I actually understand nested "IF" functions now! Blimey moses!
My friend Becky is waiting for Jodie Doberman to come into season. Jodie is, we hope, going to have a litter of puppies later this year. Fingers crossed and pictures to follow!
A very peaceful Christmas and New Year, spent with my family and also revising! Back to work and straight into exams. Still the revision paid off because I passed my exams. I am now exactly half-way through the Masters.
Another good month of selling things on eBay. Chris and I would like to go to the USA in September or October, so we have decided to sort out things to sell on eBay in order to raise money for our airfares.
I took a trip to Hay-on-Wye with Helen, Mum and Pat. Hay-on-Wye is one of my favourite places to go! We had a lovely day, mooching around the bookshops and all came home with something! Fantastic!
