Laura has sent emergency supplies (Southern Comfort). Opened at 12:01. Much appreciated. At least now the hallucinations have a cause.
Read moreDay 3 of self-isolation
I’m about to eat the wallpaper. Thing is, we haven’t got any wallpaper. I’m already hallucinating. Fuck. Set-in a lot quicker this time…
Read moreA weekend before a covid test
Due to the selfless dedication of one of Shaun’s colleagues who went into work with Covid-19 symptoms, last week ended on a high with jobs going out on time. For this week, their selflessness has given everyone the chance of a few days off. Shaun woke up on Saturday complaining of being hot. Sunday became […]
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At night, what sounds came up through the floorboards when you were a child?
For me, the peace before sleep would sound like a loud conversation, muffled — the occasional thud of the kitchen table with a rattle of uncleared plates — getting louder, falling soft, like a rhythm. A dog might bark. I could never catch what was being said. Back and forth — two distinct voices. One […]
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A weekend for a covid Halloween
Popcorn, sweets, and movies…
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‘Fairness’ — what is it? What does it mean?
The dictionary defines it as: Fairness (noun): impartial and just treatment or behaviour without favouritism or discrimination.
Read moreA weekend much needed
I think, with how life and its troubles are self-seen, that it is important to remind ourselves (when able) of the easy joys we can find without looking. It’s a quest to snatch — if we don’t take, we don’t have. Misery is free. A tiny snippet of joy is so easily missed. What would […]
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The need to achieve, a success
Today, I needed to achieve something a little more substantial than applying for jobs that I’m not going to get. In this aim, I was highly successful. Before: After: It took me an hour to reclaim the patio. The knotweed was a weaved mat — I’m dreading the rest of the allotment. I’ve already warned […]
Read moreA weekend chilled
After the full-on party action of last weekend, Myles read my mind and declared this weekend a chilled affair. Well, as chilled as movies, hot wheel tracks, and sugar-rushes allow.
Read moreA weekend P-A-R-T-Y-ing
It was Myles’ 6th birthday this weekend. This meant one thing… And party us lads did! Friday was all about the decorating. 150 balloons tied down in lovely places and piled into the sheet tacked to the ceiling ready for the balloon drop. Next it was bunting, about a mile of the stuff — even […]
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A weekend under a spot light
The restaurant underneath is opening in a few weeks as a Thai Tapas & Sushi place. I know! Sounds exciting! To prepare for their opening night, they’ve turned the lights on to light up their sign. To me, too. Except, they don’t light up the sign. Apparently, this was the best place to put them. […]
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Goodbye Bertie!!
The nice man from Car Components in Gosport cradled poor Bertie as he sobbed knowingly, this is the time I die… While ‘feeling emotional’ is a little excessive toward a car, there was a moment for thought while watching Bertie get towed to the carpark in the sky. All those near-misses — its scars as […]
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A weekend, the last with Bertie
The custom with a pet before having it put down is to spend its last few days before death doing fun things, having treats, and just generally enjoying the delights of life. This weekend, rail bridge repair work saw the A27 closed and my surrounding roads acquiring 30 min+ queues. So in the face of […]
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A weekend prehistoric
It’s taken us 3 attempts and hours of walking, but at long last we’ve found the prehistoric fern that’s been our motivation to go to Hundred Acre Wood! It’s a crazy looking fern. We turned ’round to the kid and said that there fern’s great-great-great-so-many-greats-grandparents got eaten by a Stegosaurus! In response, the kid complained […]
Read moreA weekend realising that a solution is needed
In my old flat, I’d open the door, take a step in, and hang my keys on the hook in front of me. I’d turn left, take a step, kick off my shoes, and drop my wallet in the box on the shoe rack. 6 more steps saw me in my living room. Another 6, […]
Read moreA weekend that required an extra day due to an administrational hiccup
It was technically this morning when I got to settling down to writing this weekend post, so I was running late, and figured I may as well wait until the other side of the day. The reason for my delay was that I was building my desk. In all truth, the desk was built, but […]
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A long weekend that ended with a forgotten weekend post
It all started bank holiday-esk enough with a cheery jaunt across national lines. England to Wales. Yep, parent visiting. (Need another bottle!) Things rolled as they tend to roll in the valleys, downhill and back up again (if there’s enough oomph). Fortunately, we ended up where we started, if not a little higher up the […]
Read moreA weekend hunting for my shaver
In the old flat, my shaver/trimmer/whatever — chin hair snipper — lived in a skull by the TV. Easy to find. Never need move, of course, as long as it wasn’t in use. A week last Thursday, I put said shaver in my brown carry-all, along with a few choice things that I wished to […]
Read moreA weekend (the first) in my new home
My bed has changed walls almost as many nights as I’ve slept in this flat. I’m loving how the ground floor (a restaurant) is terraced but our abode is detached in nature, very free of neighbourly disturbance. There’s sufficient space between our bedrooms that we can independently listen to music and bother no-one. By my […]
Read moreMy last night in this flat
I’ve had my last meal. I’ve taken my last stroll around the headland. Seen the lights twinkle. Heard the sea slosh. I’m going to watch my last movie. Have my last shower. Climb the stairs and struggle to sleep for the last time in this heat, in this flat. Tomorrow, like an obedient puppy following […]
Read moreA weekend too hot
I’m not built for 30C+. I’m definitely not built for 30C+ and moving. Fortunately, us boys took time out of melting for paddle boarding. Those few cool hours were the best all weekend.
Read moreA weekend with two homes
We got the keys on Friday! Sitting up in bed, here I come!!! Unfortunately, all my shit is in the wrong flat. After today, there’s two car loads moved and a very sleepy Tomos. A point for future note: Don’t move in the summer.
Read moreThought in a loop
I get a thought, something to say.I write it down, hip-hip-hooray!I read it back and ‘Ooo,’ I think,‘This thought of mine, better said like this…’ Press Enter twice — old down the page —And off I write, I start again!I read it back and ‘Ooo,’ I spy,‘It’s missing bits, this thought of mine…’ Expand, I […]
Read moreA weekend that started in full panic mode
Thursday was a busy day. Interview. See Myles. Drive to Wales. It all went well until I got Shaun to change my break bulb. I didn’t turn the engine fully off. Changing the bulb killed the battery. Click-click-click. This unexpected turn of events completely threw my mind mode into blind panic. I’m not very useful […]
Read moreA weekend flat hunting
The cupboard I call a flat is barely big enough for one, let alone two, especially not two and a half. What is needed is space, enough for two and a half men We need kitchen counters and cupboards. We need a living room that’s more than three steps from the centre of the kitchen. […]
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I don’t mean to be a self-horn tooter, but…
(It’s very apt.)
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A weekend putting finger to keyboard
For a change of pace, I have a letter to write! I love a good deep and meaningful, especially when all it brings about is circles. Around and around — is there an actual point? Because I couldn’t answer this, I spent much of the weekend watching movies.
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Another defrosted freezer, another pissed off cook
For the second time in a month, twat features here – Has turned the freezer off, not noticed, and defrosted its entire contents. It’s all mush. The cook is not pleased. There was a homemade doner longing to be eaten. Myles’ prickly palate had reasons to shout “Yum!” There was a lonesome Magnum that only […]
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A weekend of ‘moderate breezes’ (trees head-butting the pavement)
We had all that lovely weather when we couldn’t go to a beer garden, and now beer gardens are open, it’s Autumn in July! I think a strongly worded letter of complaint needs to be written to the arsehole who got the seasons muddled. We’re cool, Abe’s got it sorted. With the sun shining brightly […]
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Does a breakdown require a doctor’s signature?
I was talking to someone recently who’d been sectioned and we were discussing mental health and well-being, and I brought up my breakdown. I briefly covered my experience and got told that I hadn’t had a breakdown, I would know it if I had, and that a real breakdown requires a doctor’s signature. An uncle […]
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Advice and lip-service — I’m already sweet enough
On the day my funeral assessing role became surplus to requirements and I got the boot, I received advice that was echoed by two people in a position to know. Don’t give up, you’re born to be an assessor. Go for social care assessor roles, your skillset suits it well. Need anything, come to me. […]
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The care home/funeral home assessor paradox
If you’ve worked in a care home, you can go on to become a funeral assessor (if the fancy takes you). You don’t need funeral home experience. The care home world and the funeral home world cross-over and are totally related. If you’ve worked in a funeral home, you can’t go on to become a […]
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A weekend seeing puddle, thinking ‘jump’
Wellies on ✔︎ Coats on ✔︎ It’s raining buckets outside ✔︎ There are lots of big muddy puddles to jump in ✔︎ Our lads trip to 100 acre woods got filthy fast — mother wasn’t too pleased when we got back muddy.
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A weekend a foot shorter than the tallest nettle
This year, a lot due to Shaun’s shoulder, this covid way of life, and a little because of I-can’t-be-arsed-itus, the allotment has had the attention it’s been used to. Nothing’s been planted. We’ve hardly been to see it. With restrictions lifting, his shoulder mended, and motivation restored, we went to the allotment! And my gosh, […]
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A weekend with the foxes in the forest
To help Myles with his home-school work (and keep his teachers off his back) we went on a home-school trip to Foxes Forest. We had to find a bird. Find a tree. Spot some grass and find a breeze. And other things, like photographing flowers and leaves. We found lots of trees and birds, and […]
Read moreA weekend for my half-birthday *
* This half-birthday has taken 12 months! Because 2020 doesn’t really count, I’ve decided that I wasn’t 36 this weekend, I was 35½. I’m not going to be 36 until next June when apparently I’m meant to 37! Shit happens. And the best thing is, my maths works for everyone!
Read moreA weekend before the big 3-6
This time next week, I’ll be halfway to 72. With lockdown still happening, although ever so slightly eased, this week has seen a dream for Greek meatballs achieved. Homemade. It turns out, this cooking from scratch lark, is doable. Still can’t cook an egg, though.
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A long weekend trying to pick my way through the crowds for my lockdown constitutionals
The sheer volume of people on the common and seafront has been ridiculous. Ridiculous doesn’t even cover the sheer volume of people out and about. Social distancing? Hardly. Can’t do it. Too many people. Unfortunately, in addition, the council has closed roads and car parks to discourage these visitors, but sun-seekers need to park their […]
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A weekend fast & furious
The Fast and the Furious 2 Fast 2 Furious The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift Fast & Furious Fast Five Fast & Furious 6 Furious 7 Had we not been distracted by 2 and a half men, we might’ve been able to watch the 8th film. The Fate of the Furious But still, a […]
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A weekend ticklish
I don’t know whether it’s because my moobs are more sensitive because it’s that time of the month, or because I’m just generally more ticklish, but every shower this weekend has been a rib-tickler.
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A weekend for Shaun’s lockdown birthday
Technically, a lock-in…
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Trump! Ah shit!
Apparently, and this is cracking me up, I was very gassy the night before last and kept farting myself awake like a dog — trump, act all startled, fall back to sleep!
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A weekend that kept to its scheduled number of days
It’s Monday! I know it’s Monday! I’ve known it’s Monday all day! Yay! I even knew yesterday was Sunday! The day before was Saturday! I’m getting proper good with this changing named-days lark. I’ve been trying to remember the last time I went outside. I think it was Friday. I didn’t go out Saturday because […]
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In lieu of care (revisited)
A look back on what has been.
Read moreA weekend that gained a day because I lost one
The truth is, I’ve not known what day it is for ages. I have a running idea, but it’s often wrong. Most usually wrong. It’s Tuesday, right?
Read moreA long weekend celebrating 2 years of driving by not driving unessentially
It was Easter Sunday 2 years ago when I passed my driving test. Of course, it wasn’t Easter Sunday back then. It wasn’t a Sunday at all. It was a Thursday. And in those days, one could do things like take driving tests. It was a different time, full of the outdoors and high-fives. Because […]
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A weekend looking out at the sunshine
Despite the lure of a glorious blue sky and what looked like an element of warmth in the sunshine, this flathold stayed in all weekend. Watching TV. So many movies. Lie-ins. A very sedentary life. It’s bloody typical, though — all through that cold and drear I’ve longed for warmth, only for it to arrive […]
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March 31st — half-decade
This date again.
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A weekend locked-down
House-bound, so free to do an undone childhood task that brings back memories of a poltergeist-type-demon that ate all the children in the school next to mine.
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Lockdown brings peace, it’s bliss
It’s quiet outside. There are no people walking by and no cars using the street as a shortcut. The students next-door have stopped slamming their doors and the builders over the road have stopped cussing and dropping things. I haven’t heard a dog bark in days. The only life I see are two cats arguing. […]
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This me I be 