Confused new Blogger from Cornwall

Sunshine and Festivals

2009-06-10T13:14:00.000-07:00

Really don't have much of an urge to write, but I do want to stay in touch with friends. Always hated the round-robin letters friends sent at Christmas. Part of me said 'if they can't be bothered saying something personal then why bother at all'. Over the years I've lost the urge to be personal and have become increasingly lax about staying in touch. It's been lovely to meet back up with several very old, mislaid friends on Facebook, but I barely manage to stay in contact with them. Friends remain friends, whether you see them or not, whether they're alive or not, even. You love them, they love you. I couldn't even begin to keep in regular contact with all the people who've been my friends over the years. I've moved around a lot; they've moved around a lot. There are some very special friends I'm sad to be unable to contact, on account of having lost a crucial address book many years ago. In truth, I'm one of those people who likes to have a handful of people around me: friends, neighbours and family. Not that I necessarily like them more than other friends who are more distant, but my life meshes with that of those around me. Our daily lives require co-operation and mutual aid for survival.

Having said that, I have sailed free from commitment to any local projects just for the time being. Apart from work and the family/friends thing, my only commitment is to the allotment, which is looking quite stunning as the herbs come into flower, and I do have some actual vegetables growing, mostly covered in netting or fleece to keep the rabbits and pigeons at bay. We are having close to perfect growing weather, with rain arriving just when needed. It is not an easy soil to cultivate and it is very lacking in nutrients, but to see how well Catherine's is doing is to remember that so long as you add manure and compost the soil improves with every year you work it .

Oh yes, I included 'festivals' in the title of this post. Calstock Festival to be precise. Wish I could have been there on the Sunday as well, but I had a long day at work instead. Still, Saturday was as wonderful a day as anyone could have wished for. The photos say it all...

http://picasaweb.google.com/kryskitt

2009-05-14T11:31:00.000-07:00

I'm creating a new post for the sole purpose of finding out if I can embed the videos I've been downloading from YouTube via Realplayer, my gorgeous new discovery. The version I used to have was unattractive and unappealing to me. This one is All Singing, All Dancing. Not only does it make sense of and display in an intuitive way the tracks I have stored in my own music library but it also links seemlessly to all the BBC radio channels and via them the BBC web site and iPlayer, along with many other free radio stations. The icing on the cake is a plug-in that places a download button above any recordable video, ie. most things on YouTube.

It seems to be working, though the processing seems to be taking forever. Anyway, this latest spurt of music/IT learning has spun me on a trip back into the sixties. First I acquired a whole batch of soul music - Tamla, Stax etc, and was back to disco nights at the youth club, and listening to Johnnie Walker on Radio Caroline in bed through the earphone. To hear all those old favourites with such pleasure made me realise it was time to come home to them. Yesterday I found a collection of videos on a YouTube users site - his favourites from the sixties. The Animals, Spencer Davis, Chris Farlowe, Dusty Springfield ... Actually Dusty wasn't on his top 200 list. Nor were any other female artists come to that. But I must say I'd be hard-pressed to come up with any other female artists who kicked ass in the sixties.

Assuming the Annie Lennox video ever completes uploading, I doubt if I'll be posting many in here - it takes too bloody long. Didn't take long for me to download them though.

10 minutes later... Was still trying to process so I've cancelled. No way could it have taken that long.

2009-05-09T23:05:00.000-07:00

Writing out of boredom really isn't likely to produce anything much in the way of inspired writing, but, well, it IS something to do when what I really want is work. Three shifts in two weeks isn't enough to pay the mortgage, let alone eat and support a large son. It's time for a shake-up. I've even got to the point where the allotment doesn't need any more attention that doesn't involve spending money.

For a while I've really enjoyed having the extra time to myself, but things can't continue like this. Like it or not I've got myself tied into the System and here we are at the second recession of my adult life and I have to be ready to make changes. Change number 1 - Spike has to rent this place from me so that he can claim rent and council tax benefit until he finds work. Once he does find work he can pay the mortgage and council tax just as he'd have to if he was living anywhere else. God knows, he'll never get a better deal. If we don't do this my savings are going to dwindle to nothing and we'll really be in the soup. Jackie's agreed that I can stay with her if I need to, but I don't want to mess up her benefits. Think I'll go to the CAB and housing benefit office next week and get some advice. I've been looking at live-in care agencies on-line and think this would be a solution to my problems, if I can get a job with one of them. The pay's brilliant, all expenses paid. You choose a work pattern - say two weeks on, two weeks off. I'd be able to afford the motor caravan I've been dreaming of and be free to live wherever I choose. It'd be nice to spend more time with Lili and Freya and I've always fancied spending nights at the allotment. Of course in reality there's no reason why I can't just stay here when I want to. I have got in a bit of a rut - a cosy cushion when times have been good, but little scope for really letting my hair down. Being 'available for work' is quite a burden, I realise, now I'm spending so much time 'available' rather than actually 'at work'. I can't even claim working tax credit because my hours have fallen under the minimum, though if I were unemployed for six months I could then go back and get the credit for 18+ hours as I'm over 50. Crazy system! Anyway, the sun's shining today, Jackie's meant to be coming over if I don't get work (which as the minutes tick by is becoming increasingly likely) and there's a whole summer ahead. I'm not prepared to stay in a state of constant anxiety when action is the answer. I could even spend the whole summer being a granny at festivals if the fancy took me, once the mortgage is taken care of. NIHIL DESPERANDUM!

Time - but no Money

2009-05-02T03:53:00.000-07:00

Such a long time since I've posted in here. It has replaced my thoughts book as the form of writing I don't do much of these days. I have been so worn out with the work and thinking about fucking community projects. Now, this Beltane week, I'm free from work, commitments and money. Time to go out and have fun, time to lavish care on my allotment and, just for the weekend, time with the house to myself.

Since the Youth Project fizzled out and I gently relinquished responsibility for the Village Hall I have been able to relax, acquire lots more music for my rapidly expanding library, read (a little) spend guilt-free time with friends, have visitors and be around to share time with them. Work shifts are adding up to just enough to get by on, though my first booking so far is on Tuesday. I'm tied by my availability to remaining close to home or carrying uniform with me wherever I go. A couple of weeks ago I was sipping green tea on Catherine's allotment after a productive couple of hours on mine when a call came through for a last-minute and very lucrative shift at Derriford. Somehow I managed it in 1 hour, 10 minutes, though still scraping soil from under my fingernails as I hot-footed it through the corridors and lift to the ward.

I do get jittery whenever shifts are scarce, mainly because I'm having to fork out money for the Garden Project. Spike's built me some great decking which just needs finishing off before he gets going on his cabin, which I've just had to leave him to get on with because whenever I express an opinion it results in an argument, so we agree to differ, I concede to his dimensions and he gets on with it, telling me when something needs ordering, fetching or paying for. I surruptitiously challenge his maths skills by insisting on him giving me exact dimensions and material quantities required. Buggered if I'm doing the calculations for him!

I say I've given up on the community projects, but I realise on reading back in my last blog entries that I rather clammed up after a few positive ones. The clamming seems to coincide with the point where a certain family decided to gang up on me and one member pointed his finger at me in public, blaming me for things about the youth club he was making up as he went along. This was the point where I knew I wasn't the best person to be involved in organising this - for my own sanity. I wasn't the only one! (No names but you know who you are...). But I do have some resources the new committee may find useful - and feel free to read the rest of this blog, some of which expresses my ideas and thoughts about the project. Yes, I've clammed up because a good few years ago I was prominent in local politics and I knew that once folks put two and two together they'd remember that I was the woman who organised the anti-poll-tax march in Tavistock and then went on to squat Shillamill Farm with a load of 'New Age Travellers' and became a born-again peasant. Always gobbing off in the Tavi Times. My ex used to call me Mrs. Henry Root.

Anyway, right now I have to be here at the laptop - I've got an item coming up on ebay so must be ready to pounce at the last minute. My daughter needs a printer and I've earned no money this week... Oh well, lost that one. 2 hours till the next one comes up, but it's a sunny day, I need lunch and I honestly think a walk would be a good idea.

WOULD YOU EMPLOY THIS MAN?

2008-11-27T01:36:00.001-08:00

This is my son, Simon Kitt. You may know him as Spike, Streaky or Streakz. Earlier this year he moved back to Cornwall and took up employment at Chelfham School for boys with challenging behaviour, a part of the Priory Group. He was thoroughly enjoying the work and had received no complaints about his performance. Two weeks before the end of his six-month induction period he was sacked, the given reason being that one of his references had failed to materialise. No other substantial reason was given, he had had no supervision for 2 months, no warning letters and indeed received no written explanation for the termination of his employment. His line manager was baffled, as were all his colleagues.

Because his employment was terminated before the end of the probationary period he could see no option but to move on and started looking for another job. He applied for a job with Sunshine Care, attended a preliminary interview and was waiting for them to check his references before a formal interview could be arranged. Yesterday he received a letter from them stating that they were enable to offer him employment because Chelfham School had given him an unsatisfactory reference.

A.C.A.S. have advised him that he should not hesitate to pursue legal action, since Chelfham have acted illegally on several counts. Meanwhile, there seems to be a problem with his references, which is crazy since he had a ten-year unblemished employment record prior to this. We'd like to set this straight. If you know and love Spike, please write a short testimonial stating what you know of his character and skills and email it to me at kryskitt@googlemail.com

pov.jpg

2008-11-23T16:16:00.001-08:00

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Image

2008-11-23T16:15:00.001-08:00

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QDB: Latest 50 Quotes

2008-11-23T05:33:00.001-08:00

#870063 +(4358)- [X]
<djahandarie> we ain't here to do e-c-e

<djahandarie> we're here to do c-s-e on the w-e-b

<djahandarie> listen to me spit these rhymes

<djahandarie> while i program lines

<djahandarie> and commit web accessibility crimes

<djahandarie> word, son

<http402> You talk like your big on these I-Net kicks,

<http402> But your shit flows slower than a two-eighty-six.

<http402> I'm tracking down hosts and nmap scans,

<http402> While Code Igniter's got you wringing your hands.

<http402> Cut the crap rap,

<http402> Or I'll run ettercap,

<http402> Grab your AIM chat,

<http402> N' send a PC bitch-slap!

<http402> peace

<djahandarie> you're talkin bout down hosts and nmap scans

<djahandarie> while i got other plans

<djahandarie> you're at your new job, but you can't even do it right

<djahandarie> you just create a plight with your http rewrites

<djahandarie> i've been on the web since the age of three

<djahandarie> you just got on directly off the bus from mississippi

<djahandarie> respect yo' elders, bitch

<http402> You've been webbin' since three, but still ain't grown up,

<http402> Gotta update your config and send the brain a SIGHUP.

<http402> You say you're that old? No wonder you're slow!

<http402> You're knocking at the door while I run this show!

<http402> Elders my ass, you're shit's still in school,

<http402> Hunt and pecking at the keyboard like a spaghetti-damned fool,

<http402> Rim-riffing your hard drive like a tool,

<http402> Face it. I rule.

<djahandarie> i erase my harddrives with magnets (bitch)

<djahandarie> all you can do is troll on the fagnets

<djahandarie> and son, my brain's wrapped in a nohup

<djahandarie> it wont be hurt by the words you throwup

<djahandarie> dont mind me while i emerge my ownage

<djahandarie> while you're still over there apt-getting your porridge

<djahandarie> you say i'm still in school

<djahandarie> but the fact is that i know the rule

<djahandarie> cuz you need to go back to grade three

<djahandarie> and you better plea, that they take sucky graduates from c-s-e

<http402> Time to bend over and apply a patch,

<http402> Your brain's throwing static like a CD with a scratch.

<http402> Your connection got nuked and you've met your match.

<http402> You run a single process like a VAX with a batch.

<http402> I'd pass the torch to a real winner

<http402> But it'd just scorch a while-loop spinner

<http402> Caught in a loop that you cant escape,

<http402> I run clock cycles around your words and flows,

<http402> Cuz your rhyme is like a PS fan: it' blows,

<http402> Your water-cooled lyrics leak and it shows,

<http402> Take your ass back to alt.paid.for.windows.

<djahandarie> Good god, I can't even respond to that. :P

<djahandarie> You win haha

* http402 takes a bow

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How to Be Annoying Online

2008-11-23T05:06:00.001-08:00

browse
all articles
links
random
comments?
email
page
bookmark
how
to be annoying online
1. Make up
fake acronyms. Online veterans like to use abbreviations like
IMHO (in my humble opinion) or RTFM (read the fucking manual)
to show that they're "hep" to the lingo. Make up your
own that don't stand for anything (SETO, BARL, CP30), use them
liberally, and then refuse to explain what they stand for ("You
don't know that? RTFM").
2. WRITE
YOUR MESSAGES IN ALL CAPS AND DON'T USE RETURNS SO THAT EVERYONE
HAS TO SCROLL ACROSS THEIR SCREENS TO READ EVERY LINE. ALSO USE
A LOT OF !!!!! TO SHOW THAT YOU'RE EXCITED ABOUT BEING HERE!
3. When replying
to your mail, correct everyone's grammar and spelling and point
out their typos, but don't otherwise respond to the content of
their messages. when they respond testily to your "creative
criticism," do it again. Continue until they go away.
4. Software
and files offered online are often "compressed" so
that they won't take so long to travel over the phone lines.
Buy a compression program and compress everything you send, including
one-word e-mail responses like "Thanks."
5. Upload
text files with Bible passages about sin or guilt and give them
names like "SexyHousewivesI," then see how many people
download it. Challenge your friends to come up with the most
popular come-ons.
6. cc: all
your e-mail to Al Gore (vice.president@whitehouse.gov)
so that he can keep track of what's happening on the Internet.
7. Join a
discussion group and tie whatever's being discussed back to an
unrelated central theme. For instance, if you're in a discussion
of gun control, respond to every message with the observation
that those genetically superior tomatoes seem to have played
an important role. Within days, all discussion of gun control
will have ceased as people write you threatening messages and
instruct others to ignore you.
This
article first appeared in Spy, July/August 1994.
A version also appeared in The New York Times.

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Sunday like it used to be.

2008-11-23T02:21:00.000-08:00

This blog has become much more interesting since I started adding stuff I've found via Stumble Upon. Most of it can be dragged and dropped effortlessly with Flock browser clipboard, though not all of them work. I'm still such a novice at this, but I'm getting better.

Beautiful cob and wood buildings

2008-11-16T17:15:00.000-08:00

Images for now

2008-11-16T17:05:00.000-08:00

My World and Welcome... Funny Pages: Handy Latin Phrases

2008-11-16T15:28:00.001-08:00

Handy Latin Phrases

Non calor sed umor est qui nobis incommodat.

It's not the heat, it's the humidity.

Di! Ecce hora! Uxor mea me necabit!

God, look at the time! My wife will kill me!

Estne volumen in toga, an solum tibi libet me
videre?

Is that a scroll in your toga, or are you just happy to see me?

Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.

The designated hitter rule has got to go.

Sentio aliquos togatos contra me conspirare.

I think some people in togas are plotting against me.

Caesar si viveret, ad remum dareris.

If Caesar were alive, you'd be chained to an oar.

Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax
materiam possit materiari?

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck
wood?

(At a barbeque)
Animadvertistine, ubicumque stes, fumum
recta in faciem ferri?

Ever noticed how wherever you stand, the smoke goes right into your
face?

More Useful Latin

Sona si Latine loqueris.

Honk if you speak Latin.

Si Hoc Legere Scis Nimium Eruditionis Habes

If you can read this you're over-educated

Sentio aliquos togatos contra me conspirare.

I think some people in togas are plotting against me.

Vidi Vici Veni

I saw, I conquered, I came

Vacca foeda

Stupid cow

Mihi ignosce. Cum homine de cane debeo congredi.

Excuse me. I've got to see a man about a dog.

Raptus regaliter

Royally screwed

Si hoc signum legere potes, operis boni in rebus Latinus
alacribus et fructuosis potiri potes!

If you can read this sign, you can get a good job in the fast-paced,
high-paying world of Latin!

Gramen artificiosum odi.

I hate Astroturf.

Nihil curo de ista tua stulta superstitione.

I'm not interested in your dopey religious cult.

Noli me vocare, ego te vocabo.

Don't call me, I'll call you.

Nullo metro compositum est.

It doesn't rhyme.

Non curo. Si metrum non habet, non est poema.

I don't care. If it doesn't rhyme, it isn't a poem.

Fac ut gaudeam.

Make my day.

Braccae illae virides cum subucula rosea et tunica
Caledonia-quam elenganter concinnatur!

Those green pants go so well with that pink shirt and the plaid
jacket!

Visne saltare? Viam Latam Fungosam scio.

Do you want to dance? I know the Funky Broadway.

Re vera, potas bene.

Say, you sure are drinking a lot.

Utinam barbari spatium proprium tuum invadant!

May barbarians invade your personal space!

Utinam coniurati te in foro interficiant!

May conspirators assassinate you in the mall!

Utinam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam
suffodiant!

May faulty logic undermine your entire philosophy!

Radix lecti

Couch potato

Quo signo nata es?

What's your sign?

O! Plus! Perge! Aio! Hui! Hem!

Oh! More! Go on! Yes! Ooh! Ummm!

Mellita, domi adsum.

Honey, I'm home.

Tam exanimis quam tunica nehru fio.

I am as dead as the nehru jacket.

Ventis secundis, tene cursum.

Go with the flow.

Totum dependeat.

Let it all hang out.

Te precor dulcissime supplex!

Pretty please with a cherry on top!

Magister Mundi sum!

I am the Master of the Universe!

Fac me cocleario vomere!

Gag me with a spoon!

Te audire no possum. Musa sapientum fixa est in
aure.

I can't hear you. I have a banana in my ear.

Estne volumen in toga, an solum tibi libet me
videre?

Is that a scroll in your toga, or are you just happy to see me?

Prehende uxorem meam, sis!

Take my wife, please!

Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax
materiam possit materiari?

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck
wood?

Nihil est--in vita priore ego imperator Romanus
fui.

That's nothing--in a previous life I was a Roman Emperor.

Recedite, plebes! Gero rem imperialem!

Stand aside plebians! I am on imperial business.

Vescere bracis meis.

Eat my shorts.

Sic faciunt omnes.

Everyone is doing it.

Fac ut vivas.

Get a life.

Anulos qui animum ostendunt omnes gestemus!

Let's all wear mood rings!

Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput
tuum saxum immane mittam.

I have a catapult. Give me all the money, or I will fling an
enormous rock at your head.

Last revised: 07/11/2001 18:08:11

UP to The Funny Pages main page, or

All the way UP to The Dr Foo Home Page.

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spEak You’re bRanes » Appalling

2008-11-16T15:25:00.001-08:00

Strange business this censorship.

First they came for Brand, but he’s an egotistical maniac so I didn’t mind.

Then they came for Ross, but he’s paid too much so I didn’t care.

Then they came for Mock The Week, but I don’t watch it so I didn’t care.

Then they came for Clarkson, but that’s on BBC2 so I didn’t care.

Then one day I turned on the TV and it was blank.

- Dave, Edinburgh, Uk, 4/11/2008 10:26

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hemp.jpg

2008-11-16T15:24:00.001-08:00

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wallpaper

2008-11-16T15:13:00.001-08:00

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080924_rescue_plan.jpg (JPEG Image, 600x403 pixels)

2008-11-12T12:36:00.001-08:00

080924_rescue_plan.jpg (JPEG Image, 600x403 pixels)

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The Daily Drivel

2008-10-07T00:45:00.000-07:00

Well it's all happening. Got a call from the scout group treasurer saying they'd like to use the hall until they can find somewhere to put the portacabin they've been given (lucky so and sos). I wonder if there's a chance of sharing it in the future - I told her Tania Horrocks is looking into us using Fosters Field to site a cabin for the youth club. Found out the course I'm supposed to be doing is booked up, but they may be able to squeeze me in. Otherwise, no news so far. Don't know what documents Brian's got from the solicitor.

So actually nothing much to write about today, other than about the horrendous storm that's been blowing all night. Seems to have calmed down a bit, which is a relief as I've got to drive to work.

Later. Have discovered a flaw in my technique: when I highlight text to copy to Notebook it stays highlighted in the post, leaving it marred with yellow. Must see if I can do it some other way.

This is nothing to do with the Hall, except that it's probably to do with everything. Today was the day the banks all but crashed, with the government finally agreeing to bail them out with the 'taxpayers' money. In fact, since none of this money actually exists until someone draws up a loan, we have to just wait and see whose agenda will play out. The astronomically rich will doubtless be buying up entire countries before long - the ones they don't already own, that is. So what are the chances of getting hold of funding for the hall? We'll be forced assess how to achieve the maximum benefit for the community for the least money and we will need to demonstrate convincingly that whatever we plan will involve the lowest running costs and the smallest carbon footprint. Indeed the entire project can be most convincingly argued on the understanding that it will bring activities and jobs to the village so that people will be less dependent on travelling to nearby towns and the city. Initially we should apply for funding for a feasibility study, as well as assistance with short-term running costs. But I'm realistic enough to know that if refurbishment of the hall proves to be unfundable, there remains the option of selling the building (though who would want it?) and using the proceeds to build a new community centre elsewhere, such as at Fosters Field. Still, what I dream of is the hall run on combined heat and power, with a glazed south-facing roof casting light through to the ground floor.

Burble, burble ...

Plainly that didn't work again. The post remains a lurid yellow. Most unpleasant. Back to the drawing board! Perhaps I'd better just write in a word document...

The Daily Drivel

2008-10-05T00:32:00.000-07:00

Having decided to keep a regular verbal flow going in here I'm now writing without the least idea of what I want to say. But I guess that's better than yesterday when I knew what I wanted to say but lost it!

Had intended to go to the end of season party at the Monkey Sanctuary, but the weather was so awful us girls couldn't face it so Nick went and Jude and I stayed at Catherine's watching The Wrong Door. It rained steadily all day and is still raining today. Back to default weather after a couple of dry, sunny weeks. Might just as well have been working, but I didn't feel like it and had a busy week. Now at least I've got the hang of using this blog site and have resolved to write my ideas in here regularly. It's been so long since I kept a regular journal - and to be honest, once I started working instead of actively campaigning and working on projects there was little to write home about. Though I remember a time when I regularly wrote about work as well. Just lost the inspiration to write somewhere along the way. At the very least this is improving my typing, since I'm endeavouring to touch type properly, using the correct fingering. I've never really got the hang of typing on this lap-top though it's definitely easier than my last one.

My stated aim for writing yesterday was to be clear to myself what I'm doing here in Gunnislake. The goal is Sustainable Development in Calstock Parish - ecological and financial. My main concern as we've been meeting with the goal of restoring our hall is the thought that maybe the people of the village won't use it. For a start, no doubt there are a good many people who don't know anything about it, who don't use the village facilities at all because it's difficult to park or because the facilities aren't what they need. Let's face it, the shop isn't exactly well stocked, though for emergency supplies it's ok. Pierce's, on the other hand, is good enough for most purposes. And we have a fish and chip shop there now, as well - selling really nice fish and chips. The advantage of there is the parking space and the ease of catching all the passing trade.

Anyway, the answer to this is to try and ensure that the hall supplies some of the things people have to leave the village for at the moment and to attract people from elsewhere in the parish and surrounding area. Recreation, education and entertainment are all needed, apart from the pubs. It occured to me yesterday that the W.E.A. might be interested in using it as a venue, for this would be so closely in keeping with the original (we think) bequest of the hall. If further education were at the core of our refurbishment programme, we might stand a chance of making a cafe pay its way, especially if augmented by use from visitors. Every weekend groups of hikers come in on the train from Plymouth, but there is no-where for them to enjoy a healthy snack with stunning views of the lovely valley they've come to explore.

Perhaps if I break possible usage down by key words with examples:

Health - indoor sports, excercise classes, complementary therapies, healthy eating, Weightwatchers, martial arts

Arts and crafts - photography, ceramics, art therapy, music, drama, films

IT and Literacy - Transfer educational functions of Oasis to the Hall in IT suite

Youth - GYP, homework club, over-elevens participation in classes and sports

Commercial - farmers' market, Fair Trade shop, charity sales, community cafe, private functions

Most of the ideas I've laid out above pre-suppose a major refurbishment of the building, including the addition of an upper floor with cafe, IT suite and 'messy' craft room. For now we're assuming that the Social Club will remain in the basement and take on a lease for exclusive use. We don't know yet whether they will be able to afford such a lease, since this will depend on an independent valuation. Should that prove prohibitive, would they be prepared to share the space?

If parking is a real issue, could the community bus be brought into use as a shuttle service? Car-sharing is a sensible alternative, with pick-ups arranged according to need. I assume this is what most people do anyway for friends and family. A good notice board is probably the easiest way of solving such problems. And, not wanting to sound harsh, most people would benefit from the walk up and down the hill - if we're healthy, have good mobility and live within half a mile of the hall why bring a car at all? Say no to obesity! Get that heart pumping! On the other hand, a shuttle bus and car-sharing would make travel from other villages in the parish a possibility for those currently unable to attend evening events because of lack of transport.

Here endeth today's lesson.

The Daily Drivel

2008-10-04T03:02:00.000-07:00

Hello what have I done wrong. Just composed 2,200 words of well-reasoned writing and I've lost the f*****g lot.

Have to do it all again with a view to producing a discussion document by Wednesday. Have to put my brain in the same place as this morning. Reminds me of the time I'd written the article for a competition while at Lifespan, when Nicki unplugged my laptop to plug in her hairdryer before I'd saved the piece. I sat right down again and re-wrote it. Didn't do the same today - just went to Jude's and drank coffee, but had a really good brainstorming there for all the things that we need to deal with at the hall now. The checklist reads:

Heating (access to gas/electric meters and switches)

Lighting, furniture, decor - drab and uninviting

Safety

Storage

Notice boards

Booking system

Keys and access to bar area. Bar as storage space?

Who will use? Questionnaire

iGoogle

2008-06-06T15:43:00.000-07:00

iGoogle: "An English guy was very ill and his son went to visit him in the hospital. Suddenly, the father began to breathe heavily and grabbed the pen and pad by the bed. With his last ounce of strength he wrote a note, dropped it, and died.

The son was so overcome with grief that he didn't remember slipping the note into his pocket. At the funeral, he reached into the pocket of his coat and immediately felt the note. He excitedly read it thinking it might be something he could recite during the service. It said:

YOU WANKER -- GET OFF MY OXYGEN PIPE!!!"

First attempt...

2007-05-06T05:13:00.000-07:00

God this is all so confusing. But I'm getting there - probably. Brain like fried spaghetti. Forgotten how to type. Bit of a learning curve as I negotiate all the stuff involved in setting up my new Windows Vista laptop with broadband and e-mail, sort out my photo files, download music. It's taken over my life. Out there we're having one of the most glorious springs I can remember and here I am, sitting at my desk, wasting (?) away my hours in this virtual reality. Never mind bags under my eyes - I've got luggage! Must remember to eat.