old dutch

Wot - no post?

2007-10-08T10:53:00.000-07:00

We have no post. The brothers are on strike, all out.
We have had no post since last Wednesday and in some way it is quite nice. No bills, no silly letters or holiday brochures. We will have no post now for another two days. After that they will go on strike from next week, as and when they feel like it.

Up with the workers!
Who gave the bloke who ran the Football Association the job anyway? What does he know about running a postal service, nothing I would say, he did not even do a good job at the FA.

Neighbours to the rescue

2007-08-27T04:54:00.000-07:00

Rosie's dad John lives below a lovely young redhead, who shares her flat with her man. Yesterday afternoon, he and I were both cutting our grass when the redhead asked through the back gate to his garden if she could climb into her balcony as she left her keys at work. My word, she got up there so quickly, John, Jack and I were amazed. Then it got trickey. The only way for her to get in was through a very small top window. She had a go but got stuck half in, half out. She wriggled back onto the balcony and took her belt off. In the meantime, her man is watching but not helping ! (typical) John suggested I tried to get in, as I was slightly smaller built but redhead decided to have another go. She got further in but her legs were still dangling from the window. We all 3 waited to see if she managed to get in, and she did !
It was great entertainment for two lovely old boys (and me).

Moving day at last

2007-08-18T23:41:00.001-07:00

After months of wrangling, delays and frustration, the day has come for my son to move into his new flat. We are picking up a van for him in the morning. So off we go to the rental place. There are three young women in a dirty shed all shouting at each other from behind computer screens. Where is that van? Where is the driver? Son is hungover and can't find his driving licence. Goes off to buy a bacon sarnie. Woman behind computer cannot find the paperwork for our van. She had it, she is sure she had it, where is it? Can't find it. Other women look for it, man looks for it. Can't find it. Son comes back with bacon sarnie, woman still hunting for paperwork, son quiety aksed: do you have the van? Oh yes, she said confidently, great sigh of relief. She has to do a check on the licence. Son is eating sarnie and is handed the phone to give his details on drivers office. MMMsss yess date of birth, mmmess swallow, yes,... In the meantime he is texting his friends who promised to help him. I thought only women are supposed to be good at multi tasking ! He is an expert.

Half an hour later, nearly done, I leave him to it - and lie down in a darkened room.

I've sprung a leak

2007-08-16T23:34:00.000-07:00

Omigod, water, can't deal with that since I left Holland where I lived near the sea.

We have had a lot of rain recently and when I walked down my garden yesterday I noticed standing water around my shed. It was strange because it looked like sandy, muddy water, as if it had come up from the ground. I went into my shed and that looked o.k. so off to work I went.

Late afternoon I received an urgent message from the council that there is a water mains leak which seems to come from under my shed! I rang my upstairs neighbours who told me there was a stream of water running along my fence. Fortunately when I got home, I found the water running away from my flat into the road, phew.

So today, the men in vans will dig up my garden (and possibly demolish my shed), whilst I fret at work and wonder what I am coming home to tonight, Oh dear, Oh dear.

Christmas is coming!

2007-08-07T23:45:00.001-07:00

We finally had some summer this weekend and -he ho, Harrods have opened their Christmas Department, wow, must rush.

I also booked my place for the first Christmas lunch of the year, on 19 December.

Mad or what ?

the appraisal

2007-08-06T03:17:00.001-07:00

It was time for my once a year appraisal with boss-man. The two previous occasions were not so good as I was ticked off for being "too helpful" which he said wasted time. He also did not have anything positive to say at all about my work or the fact that I turn up on time and do not go sick.

Well, this year was much better, I was "helpful - and cheerful" good god, I nearly fell off my perch! He still managed to squeeze in that I was sometimes too helpful, you can't win, can you!

Maybe it had to do with the fact that he had just fired our new trainee secretary as she could not spell and her grammar was pretty poor too so he realised I am not such a bad old stick after all.

At least that is out of the way for another year.

Rosie at the vet

2007-07-31T23:45:00.000-07:00

She was good, very good. Just cried all the way there in the car, but the vet checked her over and she is fine. Just a bit under the weight she should be (they should have seen her at Christmas when she first came to John!)

Good girl, Rosie

Ronnie the cat

2007-07-29T23:20:00.000-07:00

Ronnie's owners finally came home Friday night but he was getting worse by the day and unfortunately had to be put to sleep on Sunday morning. Poor Ronnie, he was such a lovely big softie and I will miss him badly.

I am taking Rosie Lee to the Vee EE Tee tomorrow to get her registered and get some flea stuff for her. . She won't like it but it has to be done.

Although she has been with John just before Christmas I did not want to stress her more by taking her but now she has become fat and fluffy, and more relaxed, the time has come.

On the move

2007-07-28T05:34:00.000-07:00

Our Litigation Department is moving this weekend, which meant packing up, sorting out and getting very dirty yesterday. It will be good as we are going up one floor where it is lighter and there is a nice kitchen with dishwasher. More importantly, we get away from the very noisy Debt Collection people who spent the days shouting on top of their voices down the phone. One fat bloke has a particularly irritating Brommie accent. Yak.

So, I was prepared, I sorted a filing cabinet, box, cupboard, desk every day and on Thursday our packing crates arrived. I asked Boss-man: will you be doing your own packing (he has piles of dusty files, around his desk and two very tall cabinets, with boxes and files). Packing? He asked, looking puzzled. Me: you know we are moving tomorrow. He: oh yes, - where are we going? (His wife is practice manager who is in overall control of the move, so they obviously do not speak).

I got him a map showing where he was going to be and where his furniture would end up.
He says: I'll do my own, I am in tip top condition, when I joked that I did not want him to injure himself, so he could sue his own firm.

Friday arrives and as usual, loads of panic typing. Never mind, by 4pm we close the computers down and the other secretaries and I start packing. Boss-man is still playing with his computer and is on the phone. By 4.30 I asked him if he could start getting things of his shelves. He took the boxes from the top shelf and left the rest to us.

Next, other nice boss-man, young Sven, the sweetheart. He: you are so organised, I leave it to you. Thanks pal.

I got home late, dirty filthy and dying for a beer. Never mind it's done and I do not work on Mondays when the real chaos will occur and nothing will work.

brov's here

2007-07-22T06:54:00.001-07:00

I have decided it is totally non productive to have a long whinge and moan, but it is only day 2 of their visit and it is as bad as I had expected, and worse.

It's probably me, I have become very territorial in my old age and like my own space, but there are considerate guests and the other lot.

Say no more...

brov's coming

2007-07-21T02:36:00.000-07:00

My younger brother and his wife Jenny are arriving today. Ronnie is very sick and deteriorating every day. So I think maybe the visitors will bring some distraction as I am really fretting over Ronnie. I have e-mailed his owners to ring me as I am not sure what to do as he not eating at all and looking really weak. He is such a lovely sweet thing and I am upset, which is stupid as it will be much worse for them (and for him of course). The vet has given him only a few months to live.

In the meantime, I am going up to Richmond this afternoon to Doris and Oli's owners who are having a leaving party in a lovely pub as they are emigrating to Vancouver next month. I will really miss them and the cats of course. They have invited me to come to Vancouver and look after the cats there and I may just take them up on that! Vancouver looks fantabulous.

As brov and wife are taking up my bed, I will go and stay at Ronnie's house tonight and comfort him.

A cat carer's tale

2007-07-15T05:56:00.001-07:00

Looking after people's cat is my second job and gives me great pleasure, but this week has been a tad too much.

I had arranged to look after Ronnie and Barney who live in the next road, from Tuesday whilst their owners, the Griffiths are in Spain for two weeks.

At the same time I had booked to spend a weekend in Richmond with Oliver and Doris, whose owners, the Hancocks went to a pop festival. Should be no problem as Richmond is only about an hour away and I could pop back at the weekend to look after Ronnie and Barney.

till last Sunday when Mrs Griffiths rang to say Ronnie had a cold and could I give him two more days of his pills. Yes, of course, no problem. Oh by the way, they were taking him for a last check up on Monday as a tumour had been found in his stomach.

On Monday evening Dr Griffiths rang in a flap, he was at the vet and the tumour had grown and Ronnie had to go the cat hospital to have a scan and possibly a biopsy. Could I pick him up from there on Wednesday/ Yes sure.

On Wednesday, the hospital rang to say they were keeping him in overnight for observation. The tumour is not malignant but is fibrous and nasty and he had been weeping from the needle wound and was on a drip AAAAhhhhh, poor Ronnie.

In the end I picked him up on Thursday night after paying the hefty sum of nearly £700 (the Ritz would have been cheaper). I had to call his owners in Spain and they were o.k with that, as they are insured, lucky for them.

Poor Ronnie is not well and very subdued but seemed to be pleased to be home, at least.

So Friday morning after feeding Ronnie and Barney, off I got to Doris and Oliver. Back to the boys Friday night, Up Saturday morning to Ronnie and Barnie home again to Oli and Doris, back again in the afternoon to R & B.

I basically spent the weekend on trains !

Tomorrow I am taking Ronnie back to the vet for a blood test. His owners stil have a week of their holiday in Spain to enjoy, well bully for them.

I am just no good with sick cats, soppy me.

2007-07-10T23:44:00.000-07:00

Is Mercury in retrograde ??

Everything yesterday went a bit skewwif. My friend Sue and her little girl Mya were due to visit in the afternoon as part of a tour of South London friends and relatives, but Sue broke her car key and it got stuck in the lock which meant that instead of arriving around 4pm, she arrived at 8.30. Poor little Mya was already tired but very well behaved and made friends with Rosie the cat.

In the meantime, Ronnie the cat is in the cat hospital having his scan today, but the vet got confused and rang me yesterday telling me I had to bring him in at 8am this morning. We worked out between us that I was not a vet's receptionist and that the hospital had to call the vet to arrange delivery of poor Ronnie for his scan today. His owners are in Spain on their hols and his brother Barney looked slightly lost and abandoned this morning, having lost both his owers and big brother Ron.

No Rosie, you don't live with me and I do not feed you anymore so please do not sit outside my bedroom window at 5 am howling, you need to go and see John.

Oh well. I really do love cats.

Le Tour de France

2007-07-08T06:41:00.000-07:00

Today I went to watch the Tour de France going through Greenwich and Woolwich on the way to Canterbury. I felt it was a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to see this great cycle race as it very rarerly starts in England. and Greenwich is only 6 miles or so up the road.
So I set off nice and early to get a good spot and lo and behold found a nice place near a bend. I was lucky there as it was just outstide a very small church (I had not even noticed that). The church people were very kind and let me use one of their chairs, gave out free coffee and cake to the crowd and let us use the loo.

The downside of course is that for the hour and a half I had to listen to their preaching and signing and hallelujah generally, but who cares they very nice and kind (but serious).

Then the excitement started and the leader cars and French gendarmes on bikes arrived. The cyclists themselves went past very fast, I believe it was less than a minute, but it was great to see them and has inspired me to definitely do more cycling than I do now.

2007-07-07T23:54:00.000-07:00

It's my son Tom's birthday today. He is 35 and has grown up to become such a wonderful, nice kind, successful, good looking and amazing person. In fact both my sons have turned out to be the most wonderful human beings for which I am eternally grateful.
He is chilling out today but came over to see me yesterday and was pleased with his presents and cards that some friends and family had sent to me as he is on the move.

Happy birthday Tom, I love you more than words can say

Your mum

George Melly died today

2007-07-05T11:02:00.000-07:00

For those of you who never heard this great jazz singer and bonne vivant, it is a sad day. I saw him loads of times and he was just such fun to watch and hear. There are not many like him around.

Can't write any more, as I had a manic day today. We are 3 people down in our (small) team.

My neighbour Jack

2007-07-03T00:20:00.000-07:00

My next door neighbour is the sweetiest, kindest, funniest elderly gentleman I know. I have never heard him complain, he sings, wistles and laughs out loud to the radio or TV.

This morning at 7am I was cleaning my kitchen. Why? Because my plumber is coming today to do some jobs and I want to make a good impression. Then this very bright coloured ambulance stopped outside our block and the driver came out and went through our gate to Jack next door.

They have taken him into hospital for a check up. He had these attacks before and hopefully he will be o.k. I am trying to get hold of his daughter who has no anwerphone !

Come back soon Jack, I miss you already.

Brov called

2007-07-02T00:18:00.001-07:00

My brother rang from Rotterdam and said he had to ask me a serious question. I sat down and wondered what was up. He told me that the grave my father is buried in has "expired" and asked if I agreed for the bones to be dug up and buried in a mass grave. My father shares his family grave with his parents and his sister, Theadora (Aunt Dora to us, she was so scary !).

Now I was never very close to my father, and knew none of my grandparents, but it made me feel quite sad that I live so far away and do not get a chance to visit my parents' grave. Of course we agreed it was the best thing to do and it was nice of my brother to get my agreement

Fortunately we arranged a "forever" grave for my mother, who is buried in a lovely spot near the beach and close to her youngest sister. Whenever I go to Holland I go to see her and fortunately my brothers and I will not be faced with a similar decision at all, ever.

Smoke free, at last!

2007-07-01T10:52:00.000-07:00

Finally, it has arrived, July 1st. Hoorraaahhh, no more sitting in smokey pubs and restaurants, with watering eyes, a sore threat and smelly clothes. Absolutey marvellous.

I have not yet tested the pubs, but I have every intention of doing so tomorrow.
I can go out now, to listen to music and have a meal without having to run out as soon as I have chewed my last morzel..

Question is, why did it take so long ???

I have mulberries!

2007-06-30T10:48:00.001-07:00

I planted a lovely little mulberry tree about 3 years ago.
It has produced fruit for the first time. Hoorraaah. (they are for the birds by the way, not for me)

the honeymooners

2007-06-30T10:48:00.000-07:00

Well folks, it was my office mate's missus, who rang in on national radio. More amazingly, they have made it to Scotland for their honeymoon, as he e-mailed the office on Friday.Now why oh why is he checking how things are at work, he is a legal clerk, for gossake, he is not the owner, partner, or even a lawyer. And he confirmed his Sharon had rang the radio station.I find it strange that a very junior worker, on his honeymoon, wants to check how things are in the office.Weird, or what, or is it ME??

my honeymoon: what do the stars say?

2007-06-28T12:21:00.002-07:00

Last Monday late afternoon I was reading and half listening to the radio. At that time BBC Radio 2 (national Radio) has an astronomer going through the star signs and doing his predictions for the week. He also takes a couple of calls from members of the public ringing in. This lady called Sharon rang and said she got married last Saturday to a guy called Toby, who is an aries . I work opposite a man called Toby who got married on Saturday. Sharon then said they were planning to go on honeymoon to Scotland but had not yet gone as some parts of our lovely country were flooded.
Her question to the astronomer ws "what will my honeymoon be like". He seemed somewhat taken aback by that question and said it was too complicated to discuss over the radio and he would post it on his website.

Now why on earth would a newly married woman want to go onto national radio to ask a total stranger about her honeymoon. Strange, or what.!! Of course we had a bit of a giggle about it in the office, and I now wonder how they are getting along.

Nought so strange as folk !!

my honeymoon: what do the stars say?

2007-06-28T12:21:00.001-07:00

Who has been eating my flip flops?

2007-06-26T23:58:00.000-07:00

Well, here we are and I have a question for anyone out there.

Who or what likes eating plastic flip flops?
I had a cheap pair by the back door so I could easily go out in the garden. They were there for about a year and then two nights ago, one disappeared. No worries I had a nice new pair bought in Old Navy in Chicago. Lovely they were with the stars and stripes of the US of A.

So left foot were stripes, right foot stars. I made the mistake of leaving them on the mat outside the back door and this morning one was chewed up halfway down the garden, the other gone.

I am crying in my tea! They were really lovely and what on earth is eating them.??

Any suggestions would be much appreciated. I am going shopping today for a new pair.